Written Answers of 7 June 1990

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Higher Education
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the numbers of people who applied for higher education, by higher educational establishment, for each of the last five years.

  UCCA Applicants1

  Year of entry

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Home domicile

  157,085

  152,588

  152,520

  156,981

  171,802

  Overseas domicile

  19,468

  21,191

  23,726

  26,633

  24,285

  Total

  176,553

  173,779

  176,246

  183,614

  196,087

  PCAS applicants2

  Year of entry

  1985

  1986

  1987

  19883

  19894

  Home domicile

  130,230

  130,329

  134,811

  159,522

  Overseas domicile

  n/a

  8,647

  9,578

  11,329

  10,157

  Total

  —

  138,877

  139,907

  146,140

  169,679

  Sources

  UCCA—UCCA Annual Reports.

  PCAS—1986–88: PCAS Annual Reports.

  1989: Statistical Supplement to 1988–89 Report.

  1Candidates applying for admission to UK universities (excluding the Open University and the University of Buckingham) through UCCA for full-time undergraduate first degree or first diploma courses.

  2The PCAS admissions scheme started with entry for 1986 and covered 30 polytechnics in England and Wales offering full-time and sandwich first degree and Dip. HE courses.

  3 For 1988 entry, institutional coverage extended to include eight of the larger colleges of higher education in England.

  4 For 1989 entry, the scheme was extended to cover entry to full-time HND courses.

  Undergraduate Courses
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the latest figures for applications to undergraduate courses beginning in September 1990 and September 1991.

  Mr. Jackson
  By 31 March 1990, there had been 851,693 applications through the Universities Central Council on Admissions (UCCA) from UK domiciled students for admission to UK universities at undergraduate level and 603,105 applications through the Polytechnics Central Admissions System (PCAS) for admission to undergraduate courses including HNDs at polytechnics and colleges in England and Wales. Information on applications deferred to 1991 is not yet available.

  Sources: UCCA and PCAS

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Nazi Regalia
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Attorney-General what consideration he is giving to granting consent for proceedings under part III of the Public Order Act 1986
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  Mr. Jackson
  Complete information on the numbers of candidates applying for entry to individual institutions, each of which will typically make applications to several institutions, is not held centrally.

  Many candidates applying for admission to an higher education course through the Universities Central Council on Admissions (UCCA) and the Polytechnics Central Admissions System (PCAS) make use of both schemes, and the candidates are included in both instances in the table as appropriate. Just over 92,000 candidates for entry in 1989 were common to both schemes.

  Information on the numbers of people applying for higher education through the two central admission agencies is as follows:

  against the owners of Cutdown, formerly of 40 Ridinghouse street, London W1 in connection with the alleged sale of Nazi regalia.

  The Attorney-General
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman very shortly.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  IGM Polsotersystene AG
  Mr Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning the operations in the United Kindgdom of IGM Polsotersystene AG; and what action he intends to take.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None. I shall be replying soon to the hon. Member's letter of 24 May about a non-UK company, which may be the company he has in mind.

  Cable Television
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements he proposes to make for licensing under the Telecommunications Act 1984 existing cable television relay systems which do not at
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  present require to be licensed under the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984, should the proposals in the Broadcasting Bill receive parliamentary approval.

  Mr. Forth
  Relay systems of any size carrying only the four terrestrial TV channels will be covered by a class licence under the Telecommunications Act. Other relay systems, not requiring a licence under the Cable and Broadcasting Act at the date the new proposals come into force and not at that date carrying all four terrestrial TV channels and all five DBS channels will be allowed to continue to carry those channels that they carried on that date also under the terms of a class licence. Any subsequent upgrading will be treated for licensing purposes as a new system and the right of first refusal for existing broadband cable licensees or local delivery operators will apply where appropriate.

  Relay systems of any size which carry all four terrestrial TV channels and all five DBS channels on the date that the new proposals come into force will thereafter be authorised to carry any TV or radio services other than those proscribed under provisions contained in clause 165 of the Broadcasting Bill. Those restricted to a single building or to adjacent dwelling houses will be covered by another class licence. Larger systems will, however, require an individual Telecommunications Act licence for which they will need to apply in advance of the new regime.

  Such licences granted in respect of systems covering fewer than 1,000 homes will be on the same terms as those for new systems of the same size. Unlike licences for new systems, the award of these licences will not be subject to the right of first refusal procedure. Multiple licence applications will not, however, be accepted in respect of systems that had previously been connected to form a larger system of over 1,000 homes. Further details about the licensing arrangements will be given later this year.

  Systems of the type described in the previous paragraph, covering 1,000 homes or more and lying within a cable franchise area will, under the terms of the Bill, be deemed to have a Cable and Broadcasting Act diffusion service licence with an initial life of five years. Each such system will also receive a concurrent Telecommunications Act licence.

  Systems covering 1,000 homes or more and lying outside any cable franchise area will, under the provisions of the Bill, be deemed to have a local delivery licence, with an initial term of five years. These will also receive individual Telecommunications Act licences, similar to those in the previous category and, in particular, not granting the licensee powers under the telecommunications code.

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements he proposes to make for licensing cable television systems covering fewer than 1,000 homes under the Telecommunications Act 1984.

  Mr. Forth
  My hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State, Home Office confirmed on 2 March 1990 at column 351 that subject to parliamentary approval of our proposals, cable TV systems covering fewer than 1,000 homes will not require to be licensed by the Independent Television Commission. All such cable systems will, however, continue to require licensing under section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1984.
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  Systems restricted to single buildings or to two adjacent dwelling houses will be covered by a class licence which will authorise them to carry any TV or radio service not specifically proscribed under provisions contained in clause 165 of the Broadcasting Bill. We would be prepared to consider extending this class licence to cover groups of up to, say, five terraced houses if there proved to be a significant demand for such systems from groups of neighbours. Individual licences will be granted in respect of other systems passing fewer than 1,000 homes subject, in areas where a licence has been granted to a broadband cable or local delivery operator, to the right of first refusal being given to that licence holder. These individual licences will contain similar authorisations to those in the class licence and run for 10 years. They will be renewable.

  The first refusal procedure will operate only if the system lies wholly or partly within a cable franchise area licensed under the Cable and Broadcasting Act by the Cable Authority before its abolition, or within that part of a local delivery operator's area for which the operator has undertaken to provide a service. The cable or local delivery operator will be given the right to provide an alternative service to that proposed unless he is in default of his build timetable or has failed to honour a previous commitment to provide an alternative service elsewhere in the cable/LDO area. Any operator that qualifies for this right will be given 20 working days in which to offer to provide an alternative service. We would expect the service to be fully operational within four months from the date my Department offers the operator first refusal. The service must provide a similar or superior service to that proposed by the SMATV applicant, at a reasonable price, and, in particular, include at least the same major satellite and terrestrial channels and a similar range of alternative channels. In the case of cable franchise areas, the alternative system should be capable of being upgraded to a broadband service without further internal rewiring.

  If the cable operator/LDO waives the right of first refusal or fails to honour his commitment to provide an alternative service, the SMATV operator will be granted an individual Telecommunications Act licence of 10 years' duration and renewable. The licence, would, however, be liable to revocation if the promised service was not provided within four months of the licence being issued.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Population
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent it is estimated by his research unit that demographic trends reduced the number of people entering Her Majesty's prisons in the last five years; and what is the projection for the next five years.

  Mr. Mellor
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legal representation is available to those who seek asylum in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It is open to asylum seekers in the United Kingdom to approach solicitors, law centres or other organisations who may make representations on
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  their behalf. Asylum seekers are eligible to apply for legal aid. Representations from any source are considered carefully before a final decision is taken. When we are minded to refuse an applicant who is not legally represented and who does not have a right of appeal exercisable in this country, the case will normally be referred to the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service which will consider making representations.

  White Lion Public House, London
  Mr. Chris Smith
  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 into the cost, during the past four months, of police time and resources devoted to visits to the White Lion public house, in Central street, London EC1.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Metropolitan police officers have visited the White Lion public house in Central street, London EC1 on a number of occasions over the last four months as part of ordinary police duties. Information is not available to enable the costs of these visits to be calculated.

  Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what stage of development the demand reduction task force, the setting up of which was announced by the Prime Minister at the world ministerial drugs summit in April, has reached.

  Mr. Mellor
  An interdepartmental steering group is actively considering how to take forward this initiative and other actions following on from the summit. We hope shortly to announce how the task force will be organised and will approach its important work. In the meantime, my right hon. and learned Friend is discussing with the Secretary of State for Health where the co-ordinating group for the task force might best be located.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been set aside to help with the setting up of the demand reduction task force.

  Mr. Mellor
  Subject to parliamentary approval, the funding of the task force will be £257,000 in the current financial year and £500,000 in subsequent years.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will be receiving a reply to the letter he wrote on 22 March regarding the television concessionary licence and Walsall council.

  Mr. Mellor
  I replied on 5 June.

ENERGY

  British Coal
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether the future external financing requirements of British Coal have yet been determined, as indicated in paragraph 93 of Cm. 1005.
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  Mr. Baldry
  British Coal has reviewed its external financing requirement (EFR) for 1990–91 in the light of the final outcome of its negotiations with the electricity supply industry, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has agreed to its proposal that its external financing limit (EFL) for 1990–91 should be set at £905 million. This is consistent with British Coal achieving profitability this year. Within this figure my right hon. Friend has also agreed that the corporation's capital allocation for 1990–91 should be £445 million. This compares with the provisional EFL and capital allocation figures of £385 million and £490 million respectively shown in Cm. 1005. This increase in the EFL will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure. A supplementary estimate for restructuring grant, deficiency grant, and loans on vote in order to finance this increased EFR will be presented shortly. The EFRs and capital allocations for later years remain under review.

  Electricity Supply
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether suppliers of renewable energy in Scotland who have a contracted use of the interconnector can sell electricity to England and Wales as part of the non-fossil fuel obligation.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his earlier question on 8 February 1990,Official Report, column 724.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to ensure that contracts to supply electricity under the non-fossil fuel obligation are of sufficient duration to secure the viability of capital-intensive wind energy projects.

  Mr. Baldry
  The terms of the contracts concluded in order to meet the requirements of the non-fossil fuel obligation are a matter primarily for the public electricity suppliers concerned. I am satisfied that sufficient flexibility exists under the NFFO arrangements to secure an adequate number of viable projects. In addition my right hon. Friend proposes to set a tranche of the NFFO next year specifically for wind projects.

  Wave Power
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether disciplinary action is to be taken against any Atomic Energy Authority staff or civil servants who produced misleading comparisons of the cost of wave power; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr Peter Morrison
  The question of disciplinary action does not arise, since no misleading comparisons have been made. A series of research reports has been published in recent years each contributing to the understanding of wave power. There is considerable uncertainty about the costs of wave power and this is reflected in the range of assumptions incorporated in the reports.

  Leukaemia
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what studies have been undertaken of the incidence of leukaemia in the children of people working for the Atomic Energy Authority;
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  (2) what studies have been made of the incidence of leukaemia in the children of people working in nuclear power stations.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  I am advised that no studies have yet been undertaken specifically to examine the incidence of leukaemia in the offspring of people working at nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom or at Atomic Energy Authority sites. However, in February of this year, a report from the Medical Research Fund epidemiology unit at Southampton (Professor Gardner et al) was published in the British Medical Journal. This study documented a statistical association of leukaemia and non-Hodgkins lymphoma in children living near the Sellafield reprocessing plant and the employment of their fathers at the plant.

  In view of the importance of this complex matter, the Government referred Professor Gardner's study to the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) for its urgent consideration and preliminary advice. On 2 April my hon. Friend, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, announced to Parliament that the Government had received COMARE's preliminary advice and accepted all its recommendations. The relevant Government Department's bodies have set up arrangements to enable them to take this work forward as speedily as possible.

  In its advice, COMARE recommended that high priority be given to a study which it had recommended at an earlier stage to consider any possible health effects on the offspring of parents occupationally exposed to

  £ million

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Emergency Aid

  0.244

  1.056

  0.070

  0.436

  1.541

  Project Aid

  3.298

  2.713

  5.604

  3.651

  5.421

  Programme Aid

  0.206

  0.005

  0.016

  17.126

  12.626

  Technical Assistance

  2.867

  2.784

  3.510

  6.392

  6.766

  Other

  2.556

  2.018

  2.979

  1.374

  2.046

  Total

  9.171

  8.576

  12.179

  28.979

  28.400

  Global Warming
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what he estimates to be the third-world population at risk from a loss of agricultural income if global temperatures rise by(a) 0·5 deg, (b) 1 deg, (c) 1·5 deg, and (d) 2 deg, by 2030;

  (2) what studies or research his Department has commissioned on the effect of global warming and sea level rise on developing countries;

  (3) what estimates are available of the area of land in developing countries that would be flooded by a sea level rise of (a) 20 cm, (b) 50 cm, (c) 70 cm, and (d) 1 m;

  The project aid figures include funds invested through the Commonwealth Development Corporation. The 1989 figures are provisional at this stage.

  The majority of the emergency aid has gone to the northern and eastern parts of Uganda. Project aid has largely been disbursed in the Kampala, Entebbe, and Jinja region on the rehabilitation of Owen Falls power station, certain key roads and Mulago hospital, and on support to the police force. Programme aid has been allocated mostly to transport, industry and agriculture; no data are readily available on its distribution by region.
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  radiation. I understand that the UKAEA and Nuclear Electric are fully committed to assisting with any independent studies recommended by COMARE and accepted by Government.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Angola
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how he will respond to the appeal by the United Nations Secretary-General for emergency assistance to Angola.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We are making available £500,000 for emergency supplies to help alleviate the consequences of drought in southern Angola. We are already discussing with British and international relief agencies the most effective uses to which our assistance can be put.

  Uganda
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown of (1) emergency aid, (2) project aid and (3) programme aid to Uganda for each of the last five years, giving details of the regional distribution and sectors supported.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Gross British bilateral aid to Uganda over the five-year period 1985–1989 was as follows:

  (4) what estimates he has of the number of people who would be forced to relocate by a 1 m rise in the sea level in (a) Bangladesh, (b) Egypt and (c) the Maldives;

  (5) what estimates are available of the number of people in developing countries who currently live on land that would be flooded if the sea level rose by (a) 20 cm, (b) 50 cm, (c) 70 cm and (d) 1 m; and if he will estimate at expected population growth rates what these populations are likely to be in 2030;

  (6) what is the estimated global cost of building sea defences in developing countries to protect land against a sea level rise of (a) 20 cm, (b) 50 cm, (c) 70 cm, and (d) 1 m;

  (7) what estimates are available of the effect of (a) a 1 deg and (b) a 2 deg rise in temperature on agricultural output in (i) west Africa, (ii) east Africa, (iii) southern Africa, (iv) south Asia, (v) south-east Asia, (vi) central America and (vii) Latin America.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The scale and effects of sea level rise and changing agricultural productivity arising from global warming on people in developing countries remain uncertain. The most detailed study is that carried out by the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC), now nearing completion. Copies of the IPCC's report will
  675
  be placed in the Library of both Houses when it is published. Last year the ODA commissioned a study on options for limiting CO2, emissions in developing countries. I will place a copy of the report in the Library of both Houses.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment has been made of the results of the World Health Organisation's tobacco and health programme aimed at helping countries elaborate on their tobacco control policies;

  (2) whether his Department has been approached by any developing countries asking for advice about (a) anti-smoking education and (b) information gained from epidemiology of smoking-related diseases;

  (3) what is Britain's contribution to the World Health Organisation tobacco and health programme.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The World Health Organisation's tobacco or health programme was approved by the World Health Assembly in May 1989 based on a plan of action for 1988–1995. A meeting of the director-general's technical advisory group on tobacco or health was held from 28 to 30 November 1989 to evaluate the first year of practical implementation of the plan of action and to study and advise on issues concerning the various aspects of the programme. This group will continue to review the content, scope and activities of the programme. The United Kingdom supports the World Health Orgnisation's tobacco or health programme through its assessed contribution to the total regular budget of the World Health Organisation. Our budgetary contribution is paid by the Department of Health and totals £9.041 million in the 1990–91 biennium. About 0·18 per cent. (US$1·197 million) of the total WHO regular budget for this biennium is allocated to the tobacco or health programme. The United Kingdom has received no requests from developing countries for assistance with anti-smoking education or the epidemiology of smoking-related diseases under the United Kingdom aid programme.

  Kenya National Parks
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with the request from the Government of Kenya for equipment to improve the communications system in the Tsavo and Meru national parks.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The draft project proposal was discussed recently with the Kenya wildlife service. A few details remain to be settled, but we hope to agree the project with it shortly.

PRIME MINISTER

  Rain Forests
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessments she has made of Her Majesty's Government's financial assignment for helping preservation of the rain forests; and what study she has made of proposals to give intellectual property rights to indigenous peoples.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I have been asked to reply.
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  British aid for tropical forestry is continuously monitored and assessed by the ODA. On intellectual property rights, my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Industry wrote to the hon. Member on 24 May. ODA officials met Dr. Darrell Posey on 16 May and the issue is under study.

  West Yorkshire
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to pay an official visit to west Yorkshire.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has at present no plans to do so.

  High-tar Tobacco
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the impact on public health in the third world of the expenditure by the European Economic Community on the production and dumping of high-tar tobacco; and if she will make a statement.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government are concerned at the grave consequences on health of smoking cigarettes and other forms of tobacco both in Europe and in the third world. We have long been critical of the Community's CAP tobacco regime. We have consistently argued that support for this crop should be reduced. We were successful in securing the introduction in 1988, of measures to reduce expenditure and discourage the production of the less-marketable and higher-tar varieties, for example through the stabiliser mechanism. Further reductions in support for certain of the less-marketable varieties were agreed in this year's price-fixing negotiations. Our objective is less production, reduced intervention and less subsidised export, of the higher-tar varieties. We shall take every opportunity to continue to pursue this policy in future negotiations.

  Air Ambulances
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on co-ordination between the Department of Health and the Scottish Office on the provision of air ambulances.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I have been asked to reply.

  It is for health authorities in England and the Common Services Agency, of which the Scottish ambulance service is a division, in Scotland, to decide the level, nature and extent of patient transport services required taking into account their resources and the competing demands upon them.

  Engagements
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.
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  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 7 June.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has given an address at the luncheon of the North Atlantic Council at Turnberry. Later today she will begin a visit to the Soviet Union.

  Brymbo Steelworks
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will visit Brymbo steelworks to meet steelworkers.

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

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Panama
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply of 22 February,Official Report, column 871, what is the latest information he has on the number of Panamanian civilians killed as a result of the invasion of Panama by the United States of America.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have no independent source for such figures. We understand that information from the Panamanian Institute of Legal Medicine suggests a figure of 202. Other estimates range between 200 and 300.

  Eastern Europe
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to his answer of 2 May,Official Report, column 568, if he has any proposals to provide further reinforcement for the United Kingdom diplomatic missions in eastern Europe following democratisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Sixteen new diplomatic service and 28 locally engaged staff posts have already been authorised to reinforce our embassies in eastern Europe and the Soviet Union since October 1989. Further strengthening is currently under consideration.

  Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if British nuclear tests will be affected by the agreement between the United States of America and the Soviet Union of verification protocols to the threshold test ban treaty and the peaceful nuclear explosions treaty and the ratification of those treaties.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  For many years the policy of the United Kingdom has been to test nuclear devices within the 150 kiloton yield limit imposed by the US-Soviet threshold test ban treaty. Because our nuclear tests are conducted at the Nevada test site we have agreed that the verification measures, which will allow each party to monitor the yield of certain tests conducted by the other, can be extended to British tests. We are satisfied that these arrangements will not significantly affect British tests and that there are no security implications.

  EC Council of Ministers
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Environment Council will meet on 7 and 8 June. The Presidency hopes for agreement on the amended waste framework proposal to amend directive 75/442 which establishes the basic structure for waste management in the Community; on the proposal on the labelling, use, content and disposal of batteries and accumulators containing dangerous substances, and on a resolution to establish policy targets on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The Council will also seek to conclude a Community negotiating position for the London ozone layer conference in June. There will be a discussion and possible agreement of the proposal to add four substances to annex II to the directive concerning the discharge of dangerous substances to water, and the Presidency hopes for agreement on the proposal to establish a committee to facilitate amendment of existing directives on drinking water, bathing water and surface water quality. There is likely to be detailed discussion about the protection of waters from pollution by nitrates, and about the proposal to consolidate Community anti-pollution standards for all sizes of motor car. The Presidency will report progress on the proposal concerning the protection of habitats and of wild fauna and flora and on the proposal to treat municipal waste water before discharge into the environment.

  The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 11 June to discuss multilateral surveillance of member states' economies and the possible development of economic and monetary union beyond stage 1. On 8 May 1990 the Commission published its technical proposals for VAT, mutual assistance and intra-EC trade statistics, based on the agreements reached at ECOFIN at the end of 1989. Initial discussion of these proposals is expected. The Council is expected to discuss the investment services directive, and may also discuss the package of three tax measures to encourage cross-border co-operation between companies (mergers directive, parents/subsidiaries directive and arbitration procedure) and hear a statement by the Taxation Commissioner on the Commission's corporate taxation policy.

  The Consumer Council will meet on 13 June. After lengthy and inconclusive discussion on the directive on general product safety at official level, Ministers will be asked to give a clearer direction for future negotiations. They will be particularly concerned with the main areas of contention, notably the scope of the directive, its overlap with other directives and the procedure of handling emergencies at Community level. A draft directive on unfair contract terms is in preparation within the Commission and a progress report is expected. The French have requested a discussion and are expected to press the Commission to step up efforts in this area. The Commission has asked the Dutch Consumer Safety Institute to lead a working party to undertake a review of achievements of the European home and leisure accident surveillance system (EHLASS), and its report is to be tabled at the Council on 13 June. There is likely to be a presentation in the margins by the Commission on a three-year plan for future priorities in consumer policy, which has been agreed and is in the public domain. An

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  item on the package travel directive has been included at the suggestion of the French. However, the Commission has recently accepted a number of substantive amendments proposed by the European Parliament. No revised text will be available from the Commission in time for the Council discussion, although the Council could still act by unanimity to adopt the common position text agreed at Internal Market Council in February 1990.

  At the Foreign Affairs Council on 18 and 19 June, Ministers will discuss preparations for the 25 and 26 June European Council (including political union; economic and monetary union; the free movement of people; and co-operation against drugs and international organised crime). The Commission will present a draft mandate for approval by the Council on the opening of negotiations to create an enhanced free trade area with the EFTA countries, and will present a new strategy for strengthening economic relations with the Mediterranean countries in general. The Council will propose ways of enhancing the EC's co-operation agreement with Yugoslavia and the association agreement with Turkey. There will be an orientation debate on the Communities' relations with central and eastern Europe, and discussions of voting rights in local elections and of the situation in the occupied territories. Ministers will consider the current state of play in the GATT Uruguay round, and preparations for the Houston economic summit on 9 to 11 July. The food aid directive and Community policy on the generalised system of preferences 1991–2000 may also be discussed. Ministers will also discuss political co-operation subjects.

  The Transport Council will meet on 18 and 19 June. Ministers will discuss aviation matters which cover the components of the second liberalisation package. It is expected that restrictions on market access and the approval of fares will be further relaxed. Air traffic control discussions should centre on increasing capacity in Europe by integrating air traffic control systems and optimising the traffic route network. On shipping cabotage Ministers hope to establish a basis for a balanced agreement on liberalisation acceptable to all member states. Regarding prevention of accidents causing pollution, we advocate strict compliance with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972. The Council will support all appropriate measures to improve passenger safety which may be tabled. On road haulage, Ministers will discuss crisis measures to ensure corrective measures will be available to reduce the impact of any possible disruption resulting from increasing liberalisation. It is proposed to fix the Community quota for 1991 and 1992, hopefully increasing the proportion of operations under Community authorisations and ensuring smooth transition to a fully liberalised road haulage market. Discussion on vehicles hired without drivers should ratify abolishing restrictive clauses. The road safety resolution is likely to be discussed, and we strongly support it as drafted because it is in line with United Kingdom views in pressing for early EC agreement on improved construction standards as a means of significantly reducing road haulage casualties. The high-speed network may be discussed under any other business, and we will support the concept of co-ordinating plans, but consider that the case for additional links must be assessed on a commercial basis. Ministers are also likely to discuss fiscal harmonisation of road haulage and infrastructure cost coverage for goods vehicles.
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  The Internal Market Council will meet on 20 June to discuss a number of measures relevant to the completion of the single market.

  The European Council will meet on 25 and 26 June in Dublin. Heads of Government are likely to discuss political union, economic and monetary union, the 1992 programme, the environment, drugs, German unification and the EC's external relations.

  The Agriculture Council will meet on 25 and 26 June and is likely to discuss poultry meat marketing standards, non-food uses of agricultural products, foot and mouth disease, the veterinary fund, animal health (horses), trade in live animals, Aujesky's disease, poultry hatching eggs, enzootic bovine leukosis, pesticide residues and pesticide approval. It may also discuss pathogens in feedingstuffs, welfare of calves and pigs, veterinary medicines and organic farming.

  The Fisheries Council will meet on 27 June and is likely to discuss technical conservation measures, Mediterranean fisheries, negotiations with third-world countries, seasonal price adjustment for herring, allocation of additional quotas at Greenland, structural measures for small-scale fisheries, submission of data on landing of fishery products, and EC/USSR. It may also discuss revision of 1990 TACs and quotas for 1990.

  At the Telecommunications Council on 28 June Ministers will discuss the open network provision (ONP) which sets out to define the terms and conditions under which telecommunications administrations will be required to give access to users in general and private service operators in particular to the telecommunications network infrastructure and certain specific services. The proposed directive on ONP does not itself specify any detailed ONP conditions but sets out a legal framework within which subsequent measures dealing with specific areas are to be drawn up. A common position on the proposal was reached as a result of a political agreement on two market measures to open up the Community telecommunications services markets to competition and the Council may be expected formally to adopt the directive. The Presidency may seek to obtain political agreement on aspects of the mutual recognition of type approval for telecommunications terminal equipment proposal, which aimed at ensuring the mutual recognition of type approval procedures for telecommunications terminal equipment as between different member states and as a necessary step to the creation of a single market in those equipments. Ministers may discuss the integrated services digital network (ISDN), based on the 1989 progress report on the implementation of Council recommendation 86/659/EEC on the co-ordinated introduction of ISDN in the European Community. The progress report presents several proposals for discussion on further activity at the Community level in respect of ISDN. A proposal for a resolution has not yet been received from the Commission. The Council may hold orientation debates on co-operation with eastern European countries in the telecommunications field, and on proposals for a directive and a recommendation aimed at establishing the necessary conditions for the commercial exploitation of digital European cordless telecommunications (DECT) technology throughout the EC. Ministers will also discuss the resolution on frequency management which lays down policy guidelines on management of the radio frequency spectrum aimed at strengthening European co-ordination

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  of the allocations of radio frequencies, taking full account of the role of the conference of European post and telecommunications administrators in this field.

  The Research Council will meet on 29 June. It is expected that common positions will be agreed on the EURET (transport) and EUROTRA II (machine translation) research programmes. The human genome research programme may be adopted. The Research Council will have a preliminary discussion of the Commission's papers on scientific and technological collaboration with third-world countries and eastern Europe and will also discuss a draft Council resolution on the participation of central and eastern European countries in COST (European co-operation in the field of scientific and technical research). The Council may also discuss general issues arising from the proposals for specific programmes of the recently adopted framework programme for R and D, 1990–94.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits in Kind
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much the yield of national insurance contributions would be increased if all taxable benefits in kind were treated as earnings.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much the yield of national insurance contributions would be increased if all taxable benefits in kind were treated as earnings.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Any increased yield of national insurance contributions would depend on the effects of the employees' upper earnings limit and the various earnings limits for employers' contributions. Because of these factors, the information available about the value of taxable benefits to individual employees compared with their levels of other earnings is insufficiently precise to enable an accurate estimate of additional contributions to be made. However, based on predictions about the total of taxable benefits in kind that are likely to be made available to employees during 1990–91 it is thought that the additional yield could amount to some 1 to 2 per cent. of national insurance contribution income.

  Action Credit
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how participation in action credit affects eligibility for housing benefit(a) while a claimant is on a part-time placement and receiving the income support disregard and (b) when a claimant remains unemployed after the scheme and is receiving accrued wages and income support disregard.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  A person on income support is entitled to maximum housing benefit and maximum community charge benefit. This applies both during participation in action credit and if a person remains on income support after the end of such participation in the scheme.

  Benefit Payment
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make arrangements for it to be possible for payments made by his Department to be a cheque on the request of the claimant or his accredited representative.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Arrangements exist for benefit payments to be made by girocheque where an immediate payment is necessary or payment is for a short period only. Regular payments of benefit are normally made by order book encashable at a post office.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Adelaide Hospital, Dublin
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make representations at a meeting of the Anglo-Irish Ministerial Conference to have the present Protestant medical ethics at Adelaide hospital, Dublin, retained in the proposed new hospital to replace it.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have no present plans to do so, but the right hon. Gentleman knows that his actions will have ensured that the Irish Government will be aware of his concerns.

  Running Cost Limits
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the 1990–91 running cost limit for the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments.

  Mr. Cope
  The running cost limit for 1990–91 for the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments is being set at £592·6 million. Further details of provision for individual Departments are set out in the appropriate estimates volumes.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average rates bill as a proportion of earnings for a one-earner family with two children on 75 per cent. average earnings in 1989–90; and what he estimates the proportion of income going on the poll tax will be for the same family in 1990–91.

  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average rates bill as a proportion of earnings for a one-earner family with two children on 75 per cent. average earnings in 1989–90; and what he estimates the proportion of income going on the poll tax will be for the same family in 1990–91.

  Mr. Chope
  I shall write to the hon. Members.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much, in cash and as a percentage of local government income, was met by(a) revenue support grant, (b) uniform business rate and (c) community charge in England in 1990–91.

  Mr. Chope
  The figures are given in the table.
  683

  £ billion

  Per cent.

  1989–90

  Rate support grant

  9·6

  33

  Non-domestic rate income1

  9·5

  33

  Domestic rate income2

  9·7

  34

  1990–91

  Revenue support grant

  9·5

  29

  Non-domestic rate income

  10·4

  32

  Charge income3

  12·7

  39

  Notes:

  Figures shown for 1989–90 and 1990–91 are not on a comparable basis because of extensive changes to the system of local government finance.

  In 1990–91, local authorities also received special transitional grants totalling £187 million.

  1 Net of disabled non-domestic rate relief grant and enterprise zone grant.

  2 Net of domestic rate relief grant, but including domestic rate rebates.

  3 Including community charge benefits and household transitional relief grant.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions officials from his Department met officials of Westminster city council in December, January, February and March to discuss matters relating to the community charge.

  Mr. Portillo
  None.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance was given to local authorities and what allowance was made in standard spending assessments for provision for bad debts and non-payment of the poll tax; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on what local authorities should allocate for this provision.

  Mr. Chope
  It is for each charging authority, in setting the community charge for its area, to make such reasonable provision for non-collection as may be necessary in the light of its individual circumstances. Since there are approximately twice as many charge payers as ratepayers, the absolute number of slow payers can be expected to he greater, but there is no reason why the cash volume of arrears should be greater than under the rating system. Losses through non-payment represent a reduction in revenue rather than an item of expenditure, and are therefore not reflected in standard spending assessments.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the cost of extending to one year the period during which empty properties are not subject to the standard community charge.

  Mr. Chope
  The information is not available. But charging authorities already have the discretion to extend the prescribed three-month period for which no standard charge is payable. We are currently collecting information on the use which authorities have made of their discretion and, from the evidence so far, it is clear that a number have decided to extend this period to 12 months.

  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to withdraw the discretion given to local councils to fix the level of community charge on property which is not classed as the main or principal residence; and if he will make a statement.
  684
  Mr. Chope
  We have made it clear that if local authorities do not make sensitive use of the wide discretion available to them we shall introduce more prescription in time for 1991–92. My right hon. Friend will make a statement on this as soon as we have completed the review of local authority standard charge practices.

  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the cost of granting an automatic 50 per cent. community charge rebate(a) to all retirement pensioners and (b) to pensioners over the age of 75 years.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: Many pensioners are already entitled to reductions in their community charge through the transitional relief scheme or community charge benefit or both. Many of these already pay less than 50 per cent. of the full charge. The cost of allowing all pensioners who currently pay more than 50 per cent. a reduction to 50 per cent. in 1990–91 is estimated at about £600 million. Of this, about £200 million is for pensioners aged over 75.

  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the cost of basing transitional relief for the community charge, for a full financial year, on(a) £56 and (b) £106, in place of the limit of £156.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: It is estimated that the transitional relief scheme will provide £350 million of relief in 1990–91. This is based on a threshold of £156, equivalent to £3 per week. Reducing the threshold to £2 per week would increase the estimated cost to £570 million; and reducing the threshold to £1 per week would cost £900 million.

  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the cost of granting exemption from the community charge for mothers with a child(a) under the age of five years and (b) under the age of 10 years.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: Assuming an average personal community charge of £363, it is estimated that exempting mothers with children under five from the community charge would mean a revenue loss of £0·8 billion and exempting mothers with children under 10 years of age would mean a revenue loss of £1·4 billion.

  Peat
  Sir Gerard Vaughan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the action his Department is taking to safeguard the peatlands from commercial devastation.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government are committed to assessing the practical operation and implementations of the powers contained in the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 and to consider the available options to balance nature conservation against existing mineral extraction interests on key peatland areas. The Government are encouraging research into alternatives for peat and are working with commercial firms in the re-evaluation of alternatives currently available. Whenever appropriate, we are encouraging the use of alternatives.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will review all pre-1948 planning permissions for the extraction of peat which affect sites of special scientific interest; and if he will make a statement.
  685
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government are committed to assessing the practical operation and implementation of the power contained in the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 and are considering the available options to balance nature conservation against existing mineral extraction interests on key peatland sites.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the peatland resource data inventory; how many full-time and part-time staff are involved in carrying out the research at the Nature Conservancy Council; what funds the Government have provided for the research; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 5 June,Official Report, column 480, concerning the peatland resource data inventory.

  I am advised by the NCC that it is currently recruiting two full-time staff in addition to the three full-time officers currently employed on the survey. It is for the NCC to decide what portion of its grant in aid of £44·069 million should be devoted to this project.

  Ryedale District Council
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will direct the Audit Commission to undertake an extraordinary audit of the accounts of Ryedale district council, north Yorkshire, under section 22(2) of the Local Government and Finance Act 1982 in respect of treatment of receipts from the rent revenue account; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  No. The Secretary of State may direct an extraordinary audit if it appears to him in the public interest to do so. No matters have been brought to his attention which would warrant his making such a direction.

  Palace of Westminster (Cleaning)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the panelling and shelving adjacent to the Members' and Strangers' Dining Rooms were last cleaned; who supervised such cleaning; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The cleaning contract requires panelling and shelving up to a height of 5·5 ft to be dusted daily. Direct responsibility for supervising the work rests with the contractor; the Serjeant at Arms or the Refreshment Department are responsible for checking that the work has been done.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the interior of the Palace of Westminster was last thoroughly cleaned; what inspection was made of that cleaning; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  My Department is responsible for cleaning only parts of the Palace—generally public areas and meeting rooms. The work is carried out at the frequency set out in the contract specification. Cleaning of floors and dusting for example is a daily task.

  Inspection of the work is the responsibility of the Serjeant at Arms, or Refreshment Department, who bring any shortcomings to the attention of the Parliamentary Works Office's office keeper.
  686
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take to ensure a thorough cleaning programme is implemented and supervised in the Palace of Westminster; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Subject to agreement of the details with the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee, the Parliamentary Works Office will shortly commission a review of the cleaning arrangements. It will look at options for setting up a coherent management structure, to replace the existing fragmented arrangements, and at the means of ensuring a consistently high standard of cleaning throughout the Palace.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the arrangements which he has now made to ensure that the Members' Tea Room is properly cleaned.

  Mr. Chope
  The discussions that I mentioned in response to the hon. Member's earlier question on 10 May,Official Report, column 190, have:

  (a) clarified the existing responsibilities of the Refreshment Department's and Parliamentary Works Officer's cleaning contractors,

  (b) confirmed that the arrangements cover all the cleaning requirements, and

  (c) established new arrangements for reporting any shortcomings in the work.

  These arrangements, particularly the use of the two contractors in one room, will be considered further in the proposed review of cleaning arrangements generally within the Palace of Westminster which I referred to in answer to another question by the hon. Member today.

  Tyneside Enterprise Zone
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what payments he expects to make in 1990–91 to(a) Newcastle and (b) Gateshead metropolitan district in order to offset forgone uniform business rate in the Tyneside enterprise zone; and what payments he made in 1989–90 in respect of business rate forgone.

  Mr. Chope
  In 1989–90 the payments to Newcastle upon Tyne city council and Gateshead metropolitan borough council in respect of business rates forgone on the Tyneside enterprise zone were £1,845,007 and £12,921,234 respectively. Under the new local government finance system business properties in enterprise zones are exempt from rating. The amount which Newcastle and Gateshead contribute to the national pool reflects this exemption. A figure broadly equivalent to the amount of rates that would have been paid but for this exemption was added to the revenue support grant for England for 1990–91.

  Contracts
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to place contracts for materials and services to his Department with companies and orgnisations that have conducted an environmental audit of their operations.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My Department is currently considering the scope for cost-effective measures to improve environmental performance in purchasing and
  687
  building management. We are also looking at further ways of encouraging industry to adopt positive environmental policies.

  CITES Inspector
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if Her Majesty's Government are prepared to match the offer of £30,000 per annum made by the World Wide Fund for Nature towards the costs of the investigation and enforcement officer employed by the CITES secretariat; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if Her Majesty's Government intend to make a contribution towards the operating costs of the investigation and enforcement officer employed by the CITES secretariat; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government are fully committed to CITES and are considering the World Wide Fund for Nature's request for a contribution towards the costs of the investigation and enforcement officer employed by the CITES secretariat.

  London Residuary Body
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many properties have been transferred to London boroughs or sold to sitting tenants by the London residuary body at less than market value.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith), on 30 March,Official Report, column 564.

  Ivory
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 1 May,Official Report, column 504, where information is held on tradeable ivory currently in the United Kingdom; and what steps he is taking to monitor it.

  Mr. Trippier
  Details of ivory which may be allowed in trade under current CITES controls will be known only to traders and individuals who possess such ivory. Such information as the Department has is limited to individual records of import, export and sale applications. Records of imports and exports of ivory are maintained by the Department in accordance with article VIII.6 of CITES for the purpose of monitoring international trade.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 23 May, if he will give details of exemptions granted under article 6.1 of EC regulation 3626/82 since October 1988.

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

  Fenn's Moss
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will give details of the proposals put to his Department regarding the preservation of Fenn's moss; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if his Department will provide funds for the Royal Society for Nature Conservation to purchase the Fenn's and Whitehall mosses as a national nature reserve; what representations he has received on this matter; and if he will make a statement.
  688
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No proposals have yet been put to my Department. I am advised by the Nature Conservancy Council that it is considering a number of options to secure the future of the site, including a possible lease or purchase. Neither the Department nor the NCC has however been approached by the Royal Society for Nature Conservation for funds to enable it to purchase the site. Almost 200 representations have been received concerning this site.

  Home Improvement Scheme
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to what time scale the Government are working in introducing the new means-tested home improvement scheme.

  Mr. Chope
  The new house renovation grants system will be introduced, under part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, on 1 July 1990. A commencement order, bringing into force the relevant sections of part VIII, will be made shortly.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice is being issued to local authorities about the new means-tested home improvement grants.

  Mr. Chope
  Two departmental circulars will he issued to all local authorities in the next two weeks. These will contain detailed advice on all aspects of the new house renovation grants system, being introduced under part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations were received in response to the consultation process on the revised procedures for means-testing home improvement grants to people with disabilities; and if he will list those for and those against.

  Mr. Chope
  Ten organisations responded to the consultation exercise on the proposed test of resources for the new disabled facilities grants, being introduced under part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Consultees were invited to submit comments on the content of the test of resources regulations and not the principle of resource-testing such grants which had already been approved by Parliament.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money his Department has awarded in housing renovation grants in each of the last 10 years at (i) current prices and (ii) historic prices.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: The amounts of Exchequer contribution given by the Department to local authorities towards their expenditure on home improvement grants for the financial years 1981–82 to 1988–89 are shown in the table. Information is not available for years prior to 1981–82.

  Current prices

  Historic prices

  (£000s)

  (£000s)

  1981–82

  225,927

  137,522

  1982–83

  284,345

  185,564

  1983–84

  415,401

  283,760

  1984–85

  517,255

  370,871

  689

  Current prices

  Historic prices

  (£000s)

  (£000s)

  1985–86

  562,222

  424,702

  1986–87

  588,585

  459,744

  1987–88

  605,780

  498,557

  1988–89

  609,533

  537,364

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money his Department awarded in grants for housing renovation purposes in 1989–90.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: Figures for 1989–90 are not yet available, but the amount of Exchequer contribution given by the Department to local authorities towards their expenditure on home improvement grants for 1988–89 was £537·4 million.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth will be sent a reply to his letter of 26 March concerning Mr. P. G. Tolan of Kenilworth.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I have replied to my hon. Friend today.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will reply to the letter of 20 April from the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth concerning development in the A5 corridor.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I wrote to my hon. Friend today.

  Pollution
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date he intends to issue a consultation paper on the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 10 May,Official Report, column 187.

  Water Charges
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has now determined the charges limits for all the statutory water companies.

  Mr. Trippier
  Yes. I have placed in the Library a summary of the limits—the "K" factors—for all the statutory water companies up to 1999–2000. Our proposals will allow charges to rise by 6·5 per cent. a year on average in real terms over the next five years and by less than 2 per cent. a year on average in the following five years.

  Shetland Seabirds
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made by the marine top predator group under his Department's chairmanship co-ordinating a multi-disciplinary study of seabird and sand-eel breeding interactions, with particular reference to the breeding failure of Shetland seabirds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 6 June 1990]: The marine top predator group has been making good progress. Its
  690
  first remit was the co-ordination of two major research projects on seabird and sand-eel breeding interactions in the Shetland-Orkney region: a Natural Environment Research Council study to look at seabird dynamics, and a collaborative project funded jointly by Government, NGOs and industry on sand-eels.

  A successful pilot project to assess the best geographical sites for study was funded by this Department last year and the NERC study commenced in the autumn for a three- year period. An announcement will be made on the parallel sand-eel project shortly.

  Methane Emissions
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer of 8 May,Official Report, columns 105–8, why the constant emission factors for methane from coal are higher for (a) domestic sector and (b) power stations than for other sectors.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 6 June 1990]: Emission factors used in preparing the national emission inventory are derived from the latest data available. Where possible, they relate to specific source categories. Methane emissions from fuel combustion in each source category are affected by the combustion conditions and the fuel mixture.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Select Committee on Education, Science and Arts
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the airline used, and the destination of each of the overseas visits undertaken, by the Select Committee on Education, Science and Arts for the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  In the 12-month period from 1 May 1989 to 30 April 1990 the Committee undertook two visits overseas. In May 1989 for a visit to Paris the Committee flew by British Airways, except for three Members who, for the return journey, flew by Air France to London, Birmingham and Manchester respectively. In March 1990 the Committee visited Heidelberg, Grenoble and Geneva, flying from London to Frankfurt and from Geneva to London by British Airways, except that on the outward journey two Members flew by Lufthansa and on the return journey one Member flew by British Airways from Geneva to Manchester.

HEALTH

  Family Planning (Government Expenditure)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the level of Government expenditure for each year since 1979 on family planning services.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The available information relates to expenditure on health authority community health services, including overheads, the contraceptive fees paid to general practitioners and the estimated net ingredient cost of contraceptive drugs and appliances prescribed by GPs and dispensed by retail pharmacy and appliance contractors.
  691
  In each year since 1979 for which full figures are available, these components give an estimated total cost as follows:

  Expenditure on family planning

  Year

  £ million

  1979

  37·7

  1980

  46·8

  1981

  51·4

  1982

  58·5

  1983

  65·4

  1984

  71·0

  1985

  76·7

  1986

  81·6

  1987–88

  90·3

  Cancer
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the records of newly diagnosed cases of cancer as submitted by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys on magnetic tapes, for the Yorkshire region for the last three years for which records are available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys collects data on newly diagnosed cases of cancer from the regional cancer registries on an on-going basis, and publishes such data when it is judged that all regions' data for a year are reasonably complete. Receipts from Yorkshire region since 1984 are shown in the table. Nationally the years 1984 and 1985 are deemed to be complete, and are analysed and published. Subsequent years are not considered complete.

  Number of receipts of records of newly-diagnosed cases of cancer1 for Yorkshire region, 1984–901

  Year

  Number of receipts of records

  1984

  17,036

  1985

  17,759

  21986

  16,798

  21987

  16,305

  21988

  6,730

  21989

  11

  21990

  —

  1 International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code 140–239.

  2 Provisional as records are still being received.

  Tobacco Advertising
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the third annual report of the Committee for Monitoring Agreements on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Committee for Monitoring Agreements on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship has submitted its third report and copies have been placed in the Library. I am very grateful to the committee, and particularly to the chairman, Sir Peter Lazarus, for its valuable work in continuing to monitor the agreements, and for its third report to the United Kingdom Health Ministers and to the Minister for Sport. It shows that, in general, the system of voluntary agreements is working well and that the tobacco companies have continued to honour their commitments.

  The chairman has expressed the hope that the Government and the tobacco industry will soon reach
  692
  agreement on the replacement of old signs without health warnings. My colleagues and I note his comments which in our view are fully justified. We are currently discussing how to update the advertising agreement with the tobacco industry and will press for early progress on this issue.

  RU486
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations he has received in connection with the introduction of RU486 into Britain; and if he will list the total number of(a) organisations and (b) individuals (i) in favour of and (ii) against its introduction.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In the past 12 months we have received 86 representations about the drug RU486. Five were in favour of its introduction, 42 against and 39 sought information. Eighty-five were from individuals and one was from an organisation opposed to introduction of the drug.

  Mr Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what directives he has given to directors of social services arising from the recommendations of the report of the inquiry into child abuse in Cleveland in 1987.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [pursuant to her reply, 2 May 1990, c. 548]: The social services inspectorate's inspection of Cleveland is now complete and the report is being published today. The inspection was conducted by the social services inspectorate with advice and assistance from representatives of Her Majesty's inspectorates of constabulary and schools. In addition, the Northern regional health authority made available as advisers a consultant paediatrician and a community unit general manager, both from outside the Cleveland area. The findings of the report are positive and the progress made by Cleveland since the last inspection is encouraging. The inspection has been a valuable exercise and the lessons learnt will be helpful for all agencies that undertake collaborative working for the protection of children from abuse. Copies will be placed in the Library.

SCOTLAND

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each five-year period from the year 1960 to the present, the amount spent on the Health Service, expressing it as(a) a percentage of the United Kingdom gross domestic product and (b) for each five years the percentage increase over the previous five years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Complete information covering the period requested is not available.

  Milk Marketing
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken with regard to the two smaller milk marketing boards in Scotland following the completion of the study on Scottish Pride quality dairy foods.

  Mr. Rifkind
  My Department has now completed a study on the relationship between the Aberdeen and district milk marketing board's producer activities and its
  693
  commercial division. Copies of the report are now available in the Library of the House. The study on the North of Scotland milk marketing board will be completed shortly.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has issued any circular guidelines to Scottish local authorities regarding the use of their discretion in waiving small amounts of community charge payments due from persons who are deceased; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: Although my right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to issue formal guidance on this question, he hopes that individual authorities, when deciding what their policy is to be towards the collection of community charge amounts that are outstanding at the time of a person's death, will discharge their duties sensitively. In making such decisions, authorities will probably wish to take the advice of their legal advisers and auditors.

  Sand-eels
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information his Department has on the recruitment level of sand-eels in Shetland waters in 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1989.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 6 June 1990]: The latest assessment of sand-eel recruitment in Shetland waters—the number of young fish which become available to the fishery each year—is as follows:

  Million

  1986

  48,955

  1987

  2,258

  1988

  1,273

  Insufficient data on the 1989 year class are available so far to give a reliable estimate. The figures refer to "0" group fish—that is, young of the year at 1 July.

  Insulation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of dwellings in each district in Scotland are insulated to the standard required by his Department.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 June 1990]: The Scottish Office does not lay down insulation standards for existing houses, but gives guidance to housing authorities on standards where application is made for insulation grant. Information of the type requested by the hon. Member is not held centrally.

  TVEI
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received with regard to the future of the technical and vocational education initiative within Highland region; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 24 May 1990]: I have been asked to reply.

  Highland region's director of education has written to ask that Highland may start to extend TVEI to all 14 to 18-year-olds in maintained schools and colleges in August 1990. It will do so.

TRANSPORT

  Lorry Tax (West Germany)
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the decision by the West German Government to impose a lorry tax on foreign vehicles.

  Mr. Atkins
  The German Government have announced that from 1 July they will introduce a new lorry tax for all vehicles using German roads. The EC Commission considers this tax to be in contravention of articles 5, 76 and 95 of the EC treaty of Rome. On 10 April the Commission served the German Government with an article 169 letter, the first step in a process leading to the European Court of Justice. On 17 May my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport wrote to the EC Transport Commissioner Van Miert congratulating the Commission on this positive step. He also wrote to the West German Transport Minister expressing concern at effects on United Kingdom hauliers and pointing out the danger to Community plans to complete the internal market if other states take retaliatory action. On 4 June, Commissioner Van Miert advised that the Commission had sent a "reasoned opinion" to the Germans, requiring a response by 22 June. The United Kingdom strongly supports this action.

  Cross-channel Ferries
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the fire drill regulations for cross-channel passenger ferries.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The international convention on the safety of life at sea 1974 requires that a drill takes place every week on a cross-channel passenger ferry, and that each member of the crew participates in at least one such drill every month. The Merchant Shipping (Muster and Training) Regulations 1986 apply this requirement to United Kingdom-registered ferries.

  British Rail
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chairman of British Rail to discuss the relationship between rail and car transport.

  Mr. Freeman
  Before the current objectives for British Rail were published last December.

  Jumbo Jets
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations govern the amount of fuel which should be held in reserve by jumbo aircraft approaching Heathrow.

  Mr. Parkinson
  The international standards for fuel and oil supply are contained in annex 6, part 1, to the convention on international civil aviation, at section 4.3.6. The fuel required varies according to several factors, but in general terms, for flights into Heathrow the aircraft must be able to make an approach, then divert to an alternative aerodrome and hold for 30 minutes at the alternate aerodrome, plus a further reserve determined by the state of registry of the operator.
  695
  The international standards are amplified in states' regulations which apply to aircraft registered in those states. In the United Kingdom the Civil Aviation Authority has the statutory responsibility for the regulation of civil aviation and the regulations concerning fuel are contained in the Air Navigation Order at article 26.

  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has had any discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority regarding the desirability of an in-flight engineer on board Boeing 747–400 aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Parkinson
  No. The composition of flight crew is entirely a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority, which has the statutory responsibility for the safety regulation of civil aviation. I understand that as a consequence of the duty time limitations imposed by the CAA, one or more pilots in addition to the basic two are employed on long-range flights.

  Fire Risks (Tottenham Court Road Underground Station)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call for a report from the chairman of London Underground as to which of the 126 fire risks at Tottenham Court Road station, as detailed in its fire hazards analysis, have been rectified; if he will list all those which have not been tackled to reduce the fire risk to a level acceptable to the London fire brigade; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  In 1988, London Underground commissioned John Brown Engineering to carry out a study of potential fire hazards at Tottenham Court Road station. The consultant made a detailed survey to identify risks arising from combustible materials and how each material might be ignited. The consultant considered that 73 of the potential risks could be dealt with satisfactorily by the provision nearby of fire extinguishing appliances. I understand that action has been taken on the remaining 53 items.

  When the LFB inspected the station on 3 November 1989, it found one item which required attention. I have been assured that London Underground has taken action on this.

  Departmental Savings
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the value-for-money savings in his Department's operations identified by internal audit and internal efficiency arrangements and by external audit and by management consultants retained by his Department between 1983–84 and 1988–89; and what is the amount of those savings fulfilled to date.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: The results of the many such studies are measured on different bases and are not aggregated centrally. Improved quality of service may be as significant as savings. The results are reflected in the budgets and targets set out in the annual departmental management plans, and the business plans of the Department's agencies, copies of which are placed in the Library.
  696
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what mechanisms exist in his Department for identifying and tracking value-for-money savings in its operations.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: In the Department and its agencies, which comprise some 60 per cent. of manpower, prime responsibility for identifying and delivering value for money rests with a range of managers with delegated financial authority. Their responsibilities are reflected in the targets and plans included in the Department's management plan and in the business plans of the agencies. These plans, which include specific efficiency targets agreed with the Treasury, are all published and placed in the Library. Managers use a number of mechanisms to satisfy themselves about value for money, including market testing, efficiency scrutinies and management reviews, depending on the type of expenditure. These mechanisms are discussed from time to time with Treasury and are subject to scrutiny by the National Audit Office.

DEFENCE

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will be receiving a reply to his letter of 26 April regarding a constituent's wish for assistance for his late sister's headstone renewal.

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

WALES

  Euro Info Centre
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what are the locations of the offices of the Wales Euro Info centre; and whether he has plans to establish additional such offices;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the objectives of the Wales Euro Info centre;

  (3) if he will make a statement on the funding of the Wales Euro Info centre, giving the financial contribution of (a) the European Commission, (b) the Welsh Development Agency, (c) local authorities and (d) other bodies.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Wales Euro Info centre is part of an EC-wide service which aims to help small and medium-sized businesses by providing a one-stop shop for information about the European Community. It will enable Welsh businesses to be well informed about such matters as EC directives, grants and tendering opportunities. The centre will also provide a means to inform the European Commission about the needs of Welsh business.

  The Wales centre is operated by WEIC Ltd., a consortium consisting of the Welsh Development Agency, Clwyd county council and the university of Wales college of Cardiff. The European Commission will provide 50,000 ecu (£35,000) in the first year and 20,000 ecu in each of the next two years. The Welsh Development Agency will contribute £65,000 in the first year, with the other two partners contributing library and accommodation facilities. The budgets for succeeding years have yet to be

  697
  determined, although it is expected that an increasing proportion of income will come from charges for services. The Wales centre has offices in Cardiff and Mold. I understand that there are no present plans to open additional offices, but the position will be kept under review.

  Rented Accommodation
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average rent for new lettings of(a) Welsh Development Agency and (b) Development Board for Rural Wales properties in 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90 and the average rent for new lettings in 1990–91; and what projections he has made for the financial years to 1992–93.

  Mr. David Hunt
  This information is provided in the Welsh Office commentary to the 1990 public expenditure White Paper, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's policy on the level of rents for new lettings of Welsh Development Agency and Development Board for Rural Wales properties.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on Tuesday 5 June.

  Hospitals, Buckley
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will meet members of staff of Dobshill hospital, Buckley;

  (2) if he will meet members of staff of Meadowsla hospital, Buckley;

  (3) if he will visit Meadowslea hospital, Penyffordd, Clwyd;

  (4) if he will visit Dobshill hospital, Buckley, Clwyd;

  (5) if he will make a statement on the future of Dobshill hospital, Buckley;

  (6) if he will make a statement on the future of Meadowslea hospital, Buckley.

  Mr. Grist
  The future role of Meadowslea and Dobshill hospitals is entirely a matter for Clwyd health authority at this time, and at present neither I nor my right hon. Friend have plans to visit them.

  Water Shortages
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what measures he has taken to avoid water shortages this summer; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will list the investment and public works to avoid water shortages in Wales undertaken since 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Comprehensive information on works undertaken to reduce water loss and improve the water supply distribution system is not held centrally but among the most important are the River Wye transfer scheme and continuing work on the mini-grid system in south-east Wales.

  It is the responsibility of Dwr Cymru Cyf to ensure that water supplies within its area can be maintained. The company, in liaison with the National Rivers Authority which has overall responsibility for water resource management, is keeping the present position under review.

  Beef
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from the farming unions concerning the problems of Welsh beef producers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have received representations from the farming unions concerning the effects of interest rates and BSE on Welsh beef producers' returns and about the level of suckler cow premium. My agriculture colleagues and I are currently considering the suckler cow premium rate for 1990–91 and will make an announcement as soon as possible.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take urgent steps to assist the beef farmers of Wales following the recent difficulties in that sector; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Beef producers in Wales will benefit from the intervention arrangements agreed in 1989. At the tender which closed on 30 May 1990, all United Kingdom bids were accepted and some 2,045 tonnes of beef will be purchased into intervention in Great Britain over the two weeks ending on 15 June. At the beef management committee meeting on 1 June it was also agreed that a further tender for automatic intervention should be opened immediately.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to meet the farming unions of Wales concerning the impact of BSE upon the farming industry and the consumer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I intend to meet the Farmers Union of Wales to discuss the whole range of issues affecting Welsh agriculture. My officials have already met representatives to discuss BSE.

  Salmonella, Clwyd
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the Clwyd salmonella outbreak of 1989.

  Mr. Grist
  The draft report by the Department on the handling of the outbreak was sent to Delyn borough council and Clwyd health authority last month. We have asked for their comments by the middle of this month. The report will then be finalised and published as soon as possible.

  Holyhead-Crewe Railway Line
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish his Department's reasons for not supporting proposals to electrify the Holyhead to Crewe railway line.

  Mr. Roberts
  It would be for British Rail to bring foward the necessary investment proposals. The Government are always willing to approve investments put forward by British Rail provided that they are worth while. No economic case has been made however to justify the cost of electrifying this line.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales with which chairpersons of health authorities in Wales he or his predecessor has met since 1 January; and on how many occasions he has met each such person during this time.

  Mr. Grist
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not met chairmen of health authorities in Wales since 1 January; he will, however, meet both DHA and FPC chairmen on 10 July.

  Gwynedd Health Authority
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales with whom he is holding consultations concerning the future membership and terms of reference of Gwynedd health authority following the coming into force of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill.

  Mr. Grist
  No formal consultation has been held, but suggestions for membership of all reconstituted authorities have been received from various sources.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he began inviting nominations for the chairmanship of Gwynedd health authority for the period following 3 July when his present appointment expires; by what date nominations should be received by him; and whether these same procedures will be applied for the nomination of other members for that authority to fill vacancies which will arise with the expiration of current appointees following that date.

  Mr. Grist
  Consideration is being given to the appointment of chairmen of district health authorities whose appointments terminate on 31 July 1990. Nominations were not invited.

  It is proposed that the appointment of non-executive members of the reconstituted authorities will be made under the provisions of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill currently before Parliament. Anyone who wishes to put his name forward can do so or nominate others.

  Cystic Fibrosis
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what contribution his Department is making to the funding of the pilot programme of screening for cystic fibrosis which will be carried out at the university of Wales medical school, Cardiff.

  Notifications of Tuberculosis

  Welsh District Health Authorities

  To Week Ending

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  11988

  11989

  118–5–90

  Clwyd

  48

  42

  36

  41

  33

  46

  39

  28

  22

  19

  16

  4

  East Byfed

  47

  30

  27

  17

  25

  26

  26

  21

  12

  13

  6

  Pembrokeshire

  18

  19

  10

  10

  18

  7

  9

  7

  8

  Gwent

  49

  56

  41

  49

  42

  29

  32

  34

  44

  25

  37

  9

  Gwynedd

  42

  40

  39

  34

  38

  19

  27

  22

  21

  33

  23

  8

  Mid Glamorgan

  90

  79

  80

  60

  51

  71

  51

  46

  45

  37

  49

  9

  Powys

  12

  14

  1

  5

  5

  4

  2

  6

  4

  1

  3

  2

  South Glamorgan

  80

  68

  62

  52

  50

  70

  49

  46

  44

  37

  37

  18

  West Glamorgan

  50

  44

  36

  37

  44

  34

  38

  23

  24

  28

  28

  17

  Wales

  412

  390

  325

  323

  299

  308

  274

  249

  232

  201

  213

  81

  1 Provisional

  700
  Mr. Grist
  None. I understand from the university of Wales college of medicine that this pilot project is to be funded by the Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust.

  Training Agency
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of trainees pursuing(a) mainstream and (b) non-mainstream schemes under the aegis of the Training Agency of each of (i) Gorseinon, (ii) Neath, (iii) Swansea and (iv) Afan colleges.

  Mr. Roberts
  The number of contracted employment training places for each of the colleges is shown in the table:

  Mainstream

  Non-mainstream

  Gorseinon

  160

  5

  Neath

  155

  5

  Swansea

  262

  8

  Afan

  112

  8

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average payment per trainee paid by the Training Agency in(a) the financial year 1988–89, (b) the financial year 1989–90 and (c) the current financial year for (i) Gorseinon college, (ii) Neath college, (iii) Swansea college and (iv) Afan college; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Roberts
  Details of unit allocations are confidential to the Training Agency and individual training managers.

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report, the reported cases of tuberculosis for each health authority in Wales, for each year between 1979 and 1990.

  Mr. Grist
  The number of notifications of tuberculosis made to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys each year from 1979 to 1989 and for the first 20 weeks of 1990 are shown in the table. Data for 1982 onwards may not be strictly comparable with that for earlier years as the system was revised to enable notification associated with chemoprophylaxis to be excluded.
  701
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the correlation coefficient between the incidence of HIV infection and the incidence of tuberculosis in Wales over the period 1980 to 1990.

  Mr. Grist
  There is no evidence of a correlation between HIV and the overall incidence of tuberculosis in Wales.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet representatives of the Child Poverty Action Group to discuss child benefit.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I will be meeting representatives of the CPAG tomorrow.

  Charitable Giving
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on his proposals to encourage charitable giving.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Budget proposals to encourage charitable giving have been widely welcomed by the charity world.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effect of the Treasury's incentives upon the level of charitable donations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  Since 1979 we have improved and extended the range of tax reliefs for charitable giving. These have helped charitable giving to increase substantially in real terms. For example, the Charities Aid Foundation's estimates show that donations to the top 200 fund-raising charities have doubled in real terms since 1978–79.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy on the use of interest rates to influence the number of small business start-ups.

  Mr. Ryder
  The best way to encourage small businesses is by creating and sustaining an environment in which they can flourish, and that means defeating inflation. The only way to achieve this is to set interest rates at the appropriate level.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Confederation of British Industry on the current level of interest rates.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of such representations.

  Mr. Benn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will next meet the Governor of the Bank of England to discuss interest rate policy.

  Mr. Major
  I meet the Governor of the Bank of England from time to time to discuss a variety of matters.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what impact he assesses his interest rate policy has had on the level of unemployment.
  702
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The effects of the Government's interest rate policy were taken into account in the discussion of the prospects for unemployment published in chapter 3 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" at paragraph 3.48. The defeat of inflation is essential for economic prosperity and employment.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the effect of interest rates on Scottish economic performance.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the effects of interest rates on Scottish economic performance.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the effects of interest rates on Scottish economic performance.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the effects of interest rates on Scottish economic performance.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of such representations.

  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the current level of interest rates.

  Mr. Ryder
  Bank base rates are 15 per cent.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the extent to which high interest rates add to the rate of inflation, other than in the effects from home mortgage rate increases.

  Mr. Ryder
  By curbing demand growth, high interest rates, supported by a firm fiscal policy, will in time reduce inflation.

  VAT
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to review the rate of value added tax on energy efficiency products.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend keeps all taxation under review.

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what benefit he expects to flow to small companies as a result of his corporation tax proposals.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Over 20,000 companies—40 per cent. of all companies paying corporation tax at more than 25 per cent.—will pay less tax. The reduction will amount to about £40 million in a full year.

  Mr. Bidwell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much corporation tax has been paid by United Kingdom branches of United States banks for the six years to 31 December 1988; and how much tax has been assessed and stood over for the same period.

  Mr. Lilley
  I regret that the information could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

  Inflation
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the contribution made by wage and salary increases to inflation.
  703
  Mr. Major
  Excessive wage settlements threaten job prospects rather than sustained higher inflation.

  Mr. Allen Adams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the underlying rate of inflation.

  Mr. Ryder
  There are a number of ways of estimating the underlying rate of inflation. As measured by the RPI excluding mortgage interest payments and the community charge, it was 6·5 per cent. in April.

  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what distinction he draws for policy purposes between price rises and inflation.

  Mr. Ryder
  Policy is set to bring down inflation, defined as the change in the aggregate price level. It would be entirely inappropriate to seek to control movements in the relative prices of individual goods and services, since these are essential for the efficient working of a competitive economy.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the Governor of the Bank of England to discuss policy on reducing inflation.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend meets the Governor of the Bank of England from time to time to discuss a variety of matters.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect upon the annual rate of inflation he expects the introduction of the community charge to have.

  Mr. Ryder
  The average personal community charge in Great Britain is estimated to be 34 per cent. higher than the analogous rates per head figure in 1989–90 for households covered by the RPI. This increase has added about 1 percentage point to the annual rate of retail price inflation.

  Environmental Considerations
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the decisions on taxation he has taken since becoming Chancellor informed by environmental considerations.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend takes into account all relevant considerations, including where appropriate the effect on the environment, before making any decision on taxation.

  Local Government Expenditure
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total cost to central Government of support for local government expenditure throughout the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Central Government support for local authorities in 1990–91 is planned to be £41·8 billion.

  Growth Rates
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the growth rate of(a) the United Kingdom, (b) Germany and (c) France during the last decade.

  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the growth rate of(a) the United Kingdom, (b) Germany and (c) France during the last decade.
  704
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Since 1980, growth has averaged 2·7 per cent. a year in the United Kingdom, compared with 2·1 per cent. in France and 2·0 per cent. in Germany.

  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the expected growth for the United Kingdom economy for 1990.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  GDP growth is forecast to be 1 per cent. in 1990, as published in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report."

  Economic Performance
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the Governor of the Bank of England to discuss United Kingdom economic performance.

  Mr. Major
  I meet the Governor of the Bank of England from time to time to discuss a variety of matters.

  Taxation
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of gross earnings the married couple with one earner on 75 per cent. of average earnings, with two children, paid in tax, treating child benefit as negative income tax, in 1978–79 and in 1989–90.

  Mr. Lilley
  A married man on 75 per cent. of average male earnings with two children would have paid 8·1 per cent. of his gross earnings in income tax in 1989–90, the same proportion as in 1978–79. Over the same period he has enjoyed an increase in real net income of 30 per cent.

  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to impose any form of taxation upon newspapers, magazines and books.

  Mr. Ryder
  No.

  Mortgage Rates
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will next meet the Building Societies Association to discuss mortgage rates.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so at present.

  Business Investment
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his forecast for the growth of business investment is for 1990.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  My latest forecast, published in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report", projects business investment to fall by 1 per cent. in 1990. Some slowdown in the growth of business investment in 1990 must be expected as growth in the economy as a whole slows; but this follows three years when business investment has grown by over 40 per cent.

  Building Societies (Bad Debts)
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from building societies about increasing the provision for bad debts.
  705
  Mr. Ryder
  None.

  Interest and Exchange Rates
  Mr. Yee
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the Finance Ministers of the Group of Seven countries to discuss interest and exchange rates.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend met his counterparts in the other Group of Seven countries in Washington on 6 May.

  Executive Pay
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on current levels of executive pay.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend has recently received some letters from members of the public on the pay of company directors and senior executives. Levels of pay are a matter for the parties concerned as only they can know what is right for their particular circumstances. However, the Government have said repeatedly that we are opposed to excessive pay increases since they threaten jobs.

  Village Shops
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice he is giving to district valuation officers in respect of the valuation for the purposes of assessing the business rateable value of village shops.

  Mr. Ryder
  Valuation officers are required to determine the rateable value of village shops having regard to the provisions of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. An estimate has to be made of the rent at which the property might reasonably be expected to be let from year to year.

  European Monetary System
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average inflation rate of countries in the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system.

  Mr. Ryder
  The average inflation rate of members of the exchange rate mechanism of the EMS was 4·3 per cent. in March 1990.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the Madrid conditions concerning United Kingdom entry into the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system to be met; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  I refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 26 April at column 475.

  Public Spending
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average annual public spending from(a) 1970 to 1979 and (b) 1980 to 1989 as a percentage of gross domestic product.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The averages of the annual ratios of general Government expenditure (excluding privatisation proceeds) to GDP for the financial years 1970–71 to 706
  1979–80 and 1980–81 to 1989–90 are 43¾per cent. for both periods. In the earlier period the ratio peaked at 48½ per cent. in 1975–76. The highest level in the later period was 46¾ per cent. in 1982–83; the ratio in 1989–90 was 39 per cent.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much total public spending will be in 1991–92.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Planned general Government expenditure, excluding privatisation proceeds, in 1991–92 has been set at £230 billion.

  Monetary Growth (Prices)
  Mr. Gow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the relationship between the present rate of monetary growth and the Government's declared purpose of achieving stable prices.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The role of monetary policy in the defeat of inflation, the central objective of the medium-term financial strategy, was fully described in the FSBR. Consistent with this objective, the FSBR set a target range of 1–5 per cent. for MO's 12-month growth in 1990–91, although the FSBR noted that it could take some months for MO growth to fall within the range.

  EC Contribution
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the net contribution to the EC in 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  The latest estimate of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the Community budget in 1990 is £2,175 million. This appeared in the recently published "Statement on the 1990 Community Budget" (Cm. 1059).

  Freezones
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the outcome of the Treasury's evaluation of the freezone experiment.

  Mr. Ryder
  A copy of the evaluation report on the United Kingdom freezone experiment (1984–89) by the Treasury's consultants Roger Tym and Partners is being made available today in the House Libraries. Further copies are available from the Treasury.

  The experiment has shown that freezones can be worth while and viable enterprises in the United Kingdom. The Government have therefore decided to offer a further designation for 10 years from August 1991 to the three currently operating freezones at Birmingham, Liverpool and Southampton. In addition, the Government intend to announce later in the year objective criteria against which further similar designations of freezones under existing EC and United Kingdom legislation will be considered by Customs and Excise. Applications from potential freezone operators will be invited at that time and will be judged primarily against the criteria of their commercial viability without public sector assistance and sufficient volume of demand to justify the Customs resources required at the freezone.

  Finally, the Government have decided in the light of the evaluation report to introduce certain improvements to

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  the freezone regime. Subject to EC approval, VAT zero rating will be allowed for supplies of imported freezone goods where, under an agreement with the supplier, the customer is required to clear the goods from the freezone. Furthermore, the Customs and Excise guidance on the freezone regime will be updated and consolidated to take account of technical amendments made since the scheme was introduced to ensure that the scheme operates as clearly and simply as possible within the necessary EC and Customs procedures.

  Tax-exempt Special Savings Accounts
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many banks and building societies have expressed an interest in TESSA.

  Mr. Lilley
  Most of the main high street banks and building societies have welcomed this proposal and indicated that they will offer TESSAs.

  Departmental Savings
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanisms exist in the Treasury for identifying and tracking value-for-money savings in its operations.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: The core mechanism is the annual cycle of delegated budgeting and work programming in which progress against objectives is assessed and forward priorities are established. This is supported by information technology and purchasing strategies, by rolling programmes of staff inspection and reviews, internal audit and market testing and by other efficiency studies.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the value-for-money savings in his Department's operations identified by internal audit and internal efficiency arrangements and by external audit and by management consultants retained by his Department between 1983–84 and 1988–89; and what is the amount of those savings fulfilled to date.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: Total efficiency savings and gains amounted to some £2.2 millon in 1988–89 and £2.6 million in 1989–90. The principal methods of identification were purchasing savings and staff inspections and reviews. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available because of machinery of Government changes.

EMPLOYMENT

  Restart
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans there are for the options courses or other restart menu items to be made compulsory.

  Mr. Eggar
  As my right hon. and learned Friend announced to the House on 11 May, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security intends to introduce regulations later this year which will enable employment service staff to require the attendance at a restart course of those who have been unemployed for two years or more and who, at subsequent restart interviews, refused to participate in any of my Department's708
  employment and training programmes. In some areas, restart courses are known locally as options courses and they will be covered by these regulations.

  There are no plans at present to make attendance at any of the other opportunities offered at the restart interview compulsory. However, the conditions attached to Department of Employment programmes are kept continuously under review.

  Special Needs Training
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what specific new measures are expected to be made available for the training of people with special needs arising from disabilities and learning difficulties in each region.

  Mr. Eggar
  The new training and enterprise councils (TECs) are required to set out how they intend to meet the training needs of local people, including those with disabilities and learning difficulties, in their corporate and business plans.

  Subject to approval of these plans, and to certain general contractual requirements, it will be a matter for individual TECs to decide what specific new measures they adopt.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to appoint a TEC director to have explicit responsibility for the disabled and people with learning difficulties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  It is for each training and enterprise council (TEC) to determine the membership of its board within the broad parameters set out by my Department.

  Collectively, the TEC board will be responsible for identifying and meeting the training needs of people in its area including those of people with disabilities.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are being taken to encourage TECs to fund the higher unit cost training of disabled people.

  Mr. Eggar
  Training and enterprise councils will be expected to offer a full range of training opportunities for people living in their area including people with disabilities.

  TECs will also have access to specialist residential training providers offering places to people with disabilities who need special facilities and support.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many board members are on training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Eggar
  There are 175 board members on the 13 operational training and enterprise councils.

  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many training and enterprise councils have been formed.

  Mr. Eggar
  Thirteen training and enterprise councils have signed an operating contract and a further 63 are in their development stage.

  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many board members on training and enterprise councils are women.
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  Mr. Eggar
  There are 17 women board members on the 13 operational training and enterprise councils.

  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many training and enterprise councils have a woman chair.

  Mr. Eggar
  To date, one training and enterprise council has appointed a woman to chair the council.

  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many board members on training and enterprise councils are from industry and what is the make-up from other entries.

  Mr. Eggar
  There are 122 board members from the private sector on the 13 operational training and enterprise councils (TECs). Other board members include 15 representatives from local authorities, nine representatives from trade union organisations, six representatives from voluntary organisations, six representatives from local education authorities, five representatives from educational institutions, two representatives from local health authorities, two representatives from employers associations and two representatives from economic development bodies. Six chief executives are also board members.

  TVEI
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his oral reply to the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) of 22 May,Official Report, column 161, concerning the implementation of the technical and vocational education initiative, how much was allocated to the London borough of Newham for the current financial year; and how much is indicated for 1991–92.

  Mr. Eggar
  Newham has been invited to start the extension of its technical and vocational education initiative this year. The precise amount available to it in 1990–91 will be subject to contract and detailed discussion is under way. The amount available for 1991–92 onwards will be reviewed annually so that it can be contained within available resources.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to continue funding the technical and vocational education initiative in Scotland.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 17 May 1990]: The Government are committed to TVEI and to extending it to all 14 to 18-year-olds in maintained schools and colleges throughout Great Britain.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 14 to 18-year-olds have participated in the technical and vocational education initiative within Highland region since its inception; and what proposals have been submitted to him for participation in further projects.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 24 May 1990]: Over 700 14 to 18-year-olds have participated so far in the TVEI pilot project in Highland region. A further 200 are due to participate in the next academic year. Highland will start extending TVEI to all 14 to 18-year-olds in its maintained schools and colleges later this year.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the total moneys involved in the 710
  setting up and running of the technical and vocational education initiative in Highland region since inception; what are the costs involved in evaluating, preparing and submitting any proposals for future projects; what are the anticipated costs of such future projects; and when he expects to be able to make an announcement with regard to future projects.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 24 May 1990]: By the end of March 1990, Highland had spent £1·2 million on the technical and vocational education initiative. The pilot initiative is still proceeding with £0·9 million planned to be spent by summer 1992. The education authority will begin the extension phase of TVEI in summer 1990. Highland is participating in the TVEI-funded modern language Scottish project and Scottish flexible learning project.

  Age Discrimination
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to assess the impact on employers of his Department's encouragement not to discriminate against employees on the grounds of age.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My Department is using a number of means to monitor the effect of our policy of encouraging employers not to discriminate against employees on the grounds of age. A survey of vacancies notified to jobcentres was carried out in 1989 which showed a reduction, as against the previous year, in the number of vacancies specifying age limits. The Institute of Manpower Studies has recently conducted research, on behalf of my Department, into the employment and utilisation of older workers and will report shortly. Research was also carried out in support of the National Economic Development Office and Training Agency report, "Defusing the Demographic Time Bomb", which showed an encouraging number of employers are taking steps to widen their recruitment sources, including initiatives to attract mature workers.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level in money terms from the Government of funding granted to APEX, north-west region, for employment training from 1 April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is confidential to the Training Agency and individual ET training managers.

  Departmental Savings
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the value-for-money savings in his Department's operations identified by internal audit and internal efficiency arrangements and by external audit and by management consultants retained by his Department between 1983–84 and 1988–89; and what is the amount of those savings fulfilled to date.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 5 June 1990 ]: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what mechanisms exist in his Department for identifying value-for-money savings in its operations.
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  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: Mechanisms to identify and track value-for-money savings include internal audit; follow-up of NAO reports; reviews by management services; external consultants; policy evaluations; efficiency scrutinies; internal reviews; energy efficiency; and a purchasing co-ordination unit. In addition, since 1989–90, value-for-money savings on running costs have been identified in management plans for each part of my Department.

  I also expect the establishment of the employment service as an executive agency and of the training and enterprise council network to produce greater value for money in the delivery of my Department's objectives.

  Workshops for the Blind
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many workers are employed by workshops for the blind in England and Wales at the latest date;

  (2) what funding is made towards the upkeep of workshops for the blind in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will list the workshops for the blind in England and Wales; and if he will indicate how they are funded.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 6 June 1990]: The employment service, which is responsible for the sheltered employment programme, became an executive agency on 2 April 1990. Mr. Mike Fogden, the employment service agency's chief executive, will be replying in writing to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to provide direct funding support for workshops for the blind.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 6 June 1990]: There are no plans at this time to change the existing arrangements for the funding of sheltered workshops.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received on the threatened closure of the Birkenhead, Liverpool, workshops for the blind; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 6 June 1990]: My Department has received representations from the National League of the Blind and Disabled about the decision by the management of the Liverpool Workshops and Birkenhead Society for the Blind to close their workshop from 1 October 1990. I understand that this decision was taken following the withdrawal of support for the workshop by one of the four sponsoring local authorities. Officials of the employment service are working closely with the sponsoring local authorities and with organisations involved in supporting sheltered employment in seeking to find suitable alternative employment for the workpeople affected.

  Departmental Policies
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out(a) the failures and (b) the successes of his Department's policies since May 1979.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 4 May 1990]: Since May 1979 my Department's policies have met with considerable success. This can be illustrated by taking for example the fields of employment, training and industrial relations law.
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  In the field of employment, policies to remove unnecessary restrictions and barriers from the labour market and to stimulate enterprise have helped create conditions under which employment can flourish. At over 27 million, the work force in employment now stands at its highest level ever and the number of self-employed has risen by 1·4 million since June 1979, after little change in the 1970s.

  In the training field, we have established ET, the largest adult training programme ever launched in this country, and YTS, which has provided high quality training to thousands of young people and will be further enhanced as the new youth training programme. We have built imaginative and effective links between the worlds of education and work through the technical and vocational education initiative (TVEI), compacts and the enterprise in higher education initiative. Our programme to give local employers responsibility for the design and delivery of training through a national network of training and enterprise councils (TECs) is some two years ahead of schedule.

  A further example of success is our step-by-step reform of industrial relations and trade union law. We have redressed the balance between management and unions, and helped make union leaders properly answerable to their members. It can be no coincidence that these reforms have coincided with a dramatic reduction in the number of working days lost because of industrial action. In the 1970s nearly 13 million working days were lost every year; in the 12 months to February 1990 only 5 million working days were lost, and the number of stoppages in February was the lowest since 1933.

  I am satisfied that my Department's policies and programmes have generally proved sucessful. We keep them under review and are always looking for ways to improve their effectiveness.

  Lambeth Skill Centre
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the sale of Lambeth skill centre to the Training Business Group; what information he has on(a) access for transferred staff to trade unions, (b) proposed redundancies and (c) renegotiation of staff contracts; and whether the Training Agency will meet the owners of the centre to discuss these issues.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: The sale of the business at Lambeth skill centre to the Training Business was completed on 11 May. The centre is now in the private sector and issues relating to trade union recognition and any renegotiation of staff terms and conditions are matters for the new owners and their staff. However, I understand that a number of staff at the centre have volunteered for redundancy and I have no reason to believe that the Training Business will not meet its contractual obligations.

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the number of energy audits carried out in his Department in the last five years and for each audit a statement of its main conclusions.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: Over the past five years energy surveys have been undertaken on 171

  713
  buildings. Because of the large number of surveys and the wide variety of recommendations it is not practical to list the main recommendations for each of the surveys.

  Implementation of the recommendations of the surveys has led to reduced consumption and cost savings.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the number of dedicated energy managers in his Department and the number of person years devoted to energy management in the latest year.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: The Department does not have any full-time dedicated energy managers. Energy management forms part of the duties for those staff engaged in estate management. The total number of person years devoted to energy management in 1989–90 was four.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the numbers removed from the unemployment register since October 1989 as a result of(a) actively seeking work suspensions and disallowances, and (b) disqualifications for refusal of employment.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: The employment service became an executive agency on 2 April 1990. Mr. Mike Fogden, the employment service agency's chief executive, will be replying in writing to the hon. Member.

  COMPUTER VIRUSES AS BATTLEFIELD WEAPONS
  COMPUTER VIRUSES AS BATTLEFIELD WEAPONS
  FREEZONE EXPERIMENT: REPORT
  FREEZONE EXPERIMENT: REPORT
  USED TYRE DISPOSAL
  USED TYRE DISPOSAL