Written Answers of 8 June 1990

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Accountancy Firms
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby on 15 January,Official Report, column 17, he will provide a list of the accountancy firms used by his Department.

  Mr. Cope
  The information requested was given in my reply to the hon. Member on 20 April (Vol. 170, column 1044). That answer included one firm, John Compton Associates, which was not employed on accountancy work. The figures given in my reply on 15 January to the hon. Member also included some firms not employed on accountancy work and contained an element of double counting. I am grateful for the opportunity to clarify the position.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Science Teachers
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the numbers of science teachers he expects to be employed in schools in 1991.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  It is for LEAs and schools to decide what teachers to employ and how to deploy them. It is therefore not possible to estimate with any precision how many teachers will be employed and in which subjects. In 1988—the most recent year for which figures are available—provision for science in secondary schools in England was made by the equivalent of some 27,600 full-time teachers. We expect that in 1991 a similar number of science teachers will be needed.

  School Closures
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools were closed in each of the past five years in the Wiltshire education authority area.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The number of schools which were closed in each of the past five years in the Wiltshire education authority area was as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1989

  5

  1988

  6

  1987

  1

  1986

  None

  1985

  8

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  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools were closed in each of the past five years within the area now covered by Greenwich local education authority.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Greenwich local education authority came into being on 1 April 1990. Information on school closures in Greenwich is not readily available before this date as it is not possible to identify accurately those schools in the former Inner London education authority that fall within the Greenwich area. Information on schools closures held by the Department is coded at local education authority level. The codings could be subdivided to areas below this level only with the assistance of LEAs concerned, and would involve disproportionate cost.

  The Department is not currently aware of any closures in Greenwich since April 1990.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools were closed in each of the past five years in the Cambridgeshire education authority area.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The number of schools which were closed in each of the past five years in the Cambridgeshire education authority area was as follows:

  Number

  1989

  8

  1988

  12

  1987

  7

  1986

  10

  1985

  16

  Students
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the number of (a) undergraduate and (b) postgraduate students in England who have home addresses in Wales.

  Mr. Jackson
  The requested information is as follows:

  Welsh domiciled full-time and part-time higher education students in England, 1988–89

  Postgraduates

  Undergraduates

  Total

  Universities

  1,177

  6,971

  8,148

  Polytechnics and Colleges

  492

  9,247

  9,739

  Source: Universities Statistical Record.

  Further Education Statistical Record.

  Youth Service
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was local government expenditure on the voluntary sector of the youth service in 1990 and equivalent figures for 1979–80 and each year from 1984–85 to 1989–90.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  There have been several changes over the period 1979–80 to 1988–89 in the coverage of the categories in local education authority spending returns which relate to expenditure by local education authorities on the voluntary youth service. So it is not possible to give the figures requested on a comparable basis. As a rough guide, however, the trend in spending in the relevant categories is estimated as:
  717

  £ million cash

  1979–80

  9·0

  1984–85

  17·2

  1985–86

  18·7

  1986–87

  18·0

  1987–88

  17·5

  1988–89

  20·6

  Figures for subsequent years are not yet available.

  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list by education authority(a) expenditure on the voluntary sector of the youth service and (b) the related grant-related expenditure allocation for 1988–89 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Not all local education authorities have yet submitted spending returns for 1988–89. Of those that have, 23 have recorded expenditure on services provided by voluntary associations relating to the youth service, as follows:

  £'000s

  Bexley

  15

  Bromley

  51

  Croydon

  227

  Merton

  53

  Birmingham

  921

  Coventry

  109

  Knowsley

  1

  Wirral

  90

  Bolton

  34

  Rochdale

  102

  Doncaster

  38

  Bradford

  750

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  7

  South Tyneside

  79

  Avon

  1,129

  Buckinghamshire

  152

  Devon

  492

  Humberside

  217

  Lancashire

  368

  North Yorkshire

  101

  Oxfordshire

  90

  Suffolk

  83

  Warwickshire

  6

  ENGLAND TOTAL

  5,115

  No figures are yet available for spending in 1990–91. There has been no sum specifically identified for spending on the voluntary sector of the youth service within the grant-related expenditure or standard spending assessments of individual LEAs.

  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was central Government expenditure on the voluntary sector of the youth service in(a) 1990, (b) 1979–80 and (c) each year from 1984–85 to 1989–90.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The information is not readily available in the form requested. The table sets out total expenditure by the Department on the youth service as a whole. While the majority of this expenditure is specifically on voluntary work in the field, the figures include payments for general support made direct to national youth bodies.
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  Expenditure on the youth service

  £ thousand

  Financial years

  Current

  Capital1

  1979–80

  1,623

  4.003

  1984–85

  3,158

  263

  1985–86

  3,493

  511

  1986–87

  3,592

  536

  1987–88

  3,727

  511

  1988–89

  3,940

  463

  1989–90

  4,190

  368

  1990–912

  4,577

  651

  1 From 1981–82, the responsibility for grant-aid for local voluntary building projects for the youth service and for village halls and community centres devolved to local government.

  2 Estimates provision.

  A-Levels
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans the Government have for the future of A-levels.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Government are committed to maintaining the standards of A-level and Advanced Supplementary examinations and improving their effectiveness in meeting the needs of students and the requirements of higher education and employment.

  My right hon. Friend asked the School Examinations and Assessment Council last August to draw up general principles to govern Advanced level syllabuses and examinations, with a view to having an improved system in place by 1994. These principles will provide controls on standards, syllabus development and progression from GCSE. Draft principles will be considered by the council in July, before wider consultation.

  My right hon. Friend has also more recently asked the council to advise him in July on the scope for embodying in the programmes of all Advanced level students a range of core skills needed for adult working life; and on the possibilities for credit transfer between Advanced level and vocational qualifications.

  My right hon. Friend will consider carefully the implications of what the council proposes.

  Voluntary-aided Schools
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out the criteria which his Department applies in considering requests for the establishment of new voluntary-aided schools.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Under section 13 of the Education Act 1980 a voluntary body of any religious persuasion which wishes to establish a new voluntary aided school, whether or not the school already exists as an independent school, is free to seek the approval of the Secretary of State, after consulting the relevant local education authority. When making the decision whether to approve an application for voluntary-aided status, the Secretary of State considers each case on its merits, taking account of a number of factors, including:

  (i) the overall need for school places in the area, as well as denominational need;

  (ii) whether the proposal has the support of the LEA, which would be responsible for the cost of maintaining the VA school;

  (iii) whether the premises are up to standard;

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  (iv) whether the teachers are suitably qualified and the school is able and willing to deliver the national curriculum and to provide equal opportunities for boys and girls;

  (v)whether the promoters are able to meet the expenses which would fall to them.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Know-how Fund
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the use of the know-how fund to date.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Expenditure for 1989–90 under the know-how fund for Poland was £2·3 million. The know-how fund for eastern Europe now covers operations in Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and the German Democratic Republic. Commitments are growing rapidly, and we expect to spend fully the £15 million available for expenditure in the current financial year.

  Mr. Jim Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to provide assistance in support of Operation Lifeline II in Sudan.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I have allocated £3 million, of which I have pledged £1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross for its relief operations in southern Sudan. The balance will be apportioned between British non-governmental organisations and international agencies once their specific appeals have been received and evaluated.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  War Loan
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would he the cost to the Treasury of holders of 3½ per cent. war loan having their stocks redeemed at par value.

  Mr. Ryder
  The cost of redeeming 3½ per cent. war loan at par would be £1,909 million.

  Tax Returns
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people from whom a completed tax return was not obtained because, after inquiries, they could not be traced there were in 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Lilley
  No count is maintained. Address details are nearly always held for the people from whom returns are wanted.

  Gross National Product
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will tabulate for each fiscal year since 1963–64 the proportion of gross national product represented by(a) public expenditure, (b) taxation and (c) the public sector borrowing requirement.

  Mr. Lilley
  The information requested is in the table.
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  As a percentage of money GDP

  General government expenditure (GGE)

  Taxes and national insurance contributions

  PSBR

  1963–64

  36·2

  29·1

  3·3

  1964–65

  35·8

  29·5

  2·7

  1965–66

  37·2

  31·2

  2·6

  1966–67

  38·7

  32·0

  2·9

  1967–68

  42·4

  33·3

  4·9

  1968–69

  40·9

  35·2

  0·8

  1969–70

  40·3

  36·9

  –1·3

  1970–71

  40·6

  36·3

  1·5

  1971–72

  41·1

  34·7

  1·6

  1972–73

  40·6

  32·4

  3·6

  1973–74

  42·7

  33·2

  5·8

  1974–75

  48·0

  35·6

  9·0

  1975–76

  48·4

  36·1

  9·2

  1976–77

  45·9

  35·7

  6·4

  1977–78

  42·3

  34·6

  3·6

  1978–79

  43·2

  33·8

  5·3

  1979–80

  43·2

  35·0

  4·8

  1980–81

  45·8

  36·2

  5·3

  1981–82

  46·3

  39·3

  3·3

  1982–83

  46·5

  38·8

  3·1

  1983–84

  45·4

  38·4

  3·1

  1984–85

  45·5

  39·1

  3·0

  1985–86

  43·7

  38·5

  1·6

  1986–87

  42·3

  37·9

  0·9

  1987–88

  40·0

  37·9

  –0·8

  1988–89

  37·3

  37·2

  –3·0

  11989–90

  38·1

  36·7

  –1·5

  1 PSBR is outturn, GGE, and taxes and NICs are 1990 budget estimates. Ratios are adjusted for the distortion to money GDP arising from the abolition of domestic rates.

TRANSPORT

  London Bus Routes
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bus routes have been put out to tender by London Regional Transport; and what savings have been achieved.

  Mr. Freeman
  To date approximately 180 routes have been put out to tender, which is about 25 per cent. of the London Regional Transport bus network. LRT estimates that tendering of routes has resulted in real net savings of some 15 per cent. on total operating costs.

  Vehicle Emissions
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further provisions he is making to reduce emissions from motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Amendments to the Construction and Use Regulations were laid before the House on 5 June.

  The new amendments follow up European requirements on gaseous emissions that are already being applied in the Type Approval Regulations. They also apply the strict stage II emission limits for small cars set by Community directive 89/458 from 31 December 1992. This means that virtually all new petrol-engined cars from 1993 onwards will need to be fitted with catalysts.

  Limits on particulate emissions from diesel cars are also introduced.

  The regulations require the user of a vehicle to keep the engine in tune and any emission control equipment, such as a catalyst, in good working order. It is important for drivers to recognise this responsibility and it is in their own

  721
  interest to do so. Keeping the engine in tune helps to reduce fuel consumption as well as keeping emissions down.

  The new regulations also introduce the first gaseous emission limits for lorries and buses. Community directive 88/77 covers diesel-engined vehicles over 3·5 tonnes gross weight. These limits for heavy duty diesels are just a first step. The Commission has just announced proposals for a substantial tightening of these limits and the introduction of a particulate standard. However, they do not go quite as far as I would like. The Government believe that for the mid-1990s the European Community should adopt limits for other gaseous and particulate emissions as close as possible for the United States 1994 standards, which are the strictest worldwide.

  Business Aviation
  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received representations from companies operating in the United Kingdom concerning their possible need to relocate to continental bases because of current restrictions at London Heathrow on business aviation.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend has received representations concerning the restrictions on business aviation at Heathrow, asserting that adequate access to the airport is important to maintain the United Kingdom's international competitiveness. It has also been stated that inadequate access could lead business aircraft owners and operators to relocate to other countries, but specific cases have not been put to us.

  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence has been obtained by his Department from business aircraft operators concerning their operations at London's airports following publication of document CAP 559.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My Department has frequent and continuing contacts with business aviation interests through which it obtains information and views on the effects of Government policy in this area.

  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the competitiveness of London's airport provision for business aviation; if he will make a comparable assessment of the strategy of the Paris airports; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Business aviation interests keep before us their views on the sector's needs in the London area. It is our policy that the peripheral London airports should accommodate business aviation displaced from Heathrow and Gatwick. If the industry felt that a dedicated facility on the lines of Paris Le Bourget was desirable, we should expect it to develop proposals.

  Air Service Agreements
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the current round of talks with the United States of America on bilateral air service agreements.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Negotiations are continuing.

DEFENCE

  Plutonium Contamination
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans or studies have been made by his Department to assess what measures would have to be taken in the event of contamination by airborne plutonium resulting from a nuclear weapons accident aboard a Royal Navy ship docked at Greenwich; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans or studies have been made by his Department to assess measures that would have to be taken in the event of contamination by airborne plutonium resulting from a nuclear weapons accident aboard a Royal Navy ship docked at Greenwich.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It has been the policy of successive British Governments neither to confirm nor to deny the presence of nuclear weapons on Her Majesty's ships. There are, however, detailed contingency plans for dealing with the extremely remote possibility of an accident involving the release of radioactive material from a weapon while in the custody of the Royal Navy, and these include plans to deal with such an accident on board a warship.

  Mr. Jonathan Moyle
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the capacities in which the late Jonathan Moyle served Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Royal Air Force records show that the late Jonathan Moyle served as an officer in the Royal Air Force from 1980 to 1988.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits (Blyth Valley)
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total sum of unclaimed social security benefits in Blyth Valley and Northumberland in the latest convenient 12-month period.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Such estimates can be made only at national level.

  Local Offices
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to increase the local office allocations previously announced to the House; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  We have no plans to do so, but are continuing to monitor local office budgets closely.

  I regret that there were errors in the list of 1990–91 social fund budget allocations in the Official Report on 26 March at column 35 for Portsmouth, South and Havant local offices. Boundary changes in Birmingham, following the closure of Birmingham Bradford street office, and in London South region have also resulted in revised allocations to four offices. The amended allocations for the offices concerned are set out in the table.
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  Loans

  Grants

  £

  £

  Havant

  198,973

  78,996

  Portsmouth South

  222,318

  84,125

  Birmingham Ladywood

  623,631

  260,652

  Birmingham Ravenhurst

  492,642

  214,821

  Oval

  370,937

  179,390

  Balham

  480,070

  205,798

  Posts (Newcastle)
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of the jobs announced in April for the Newcastle Central office at Long Benton are(a) existing posts relocated to Newcastle and (b) completely new additions to his Department's overall manpower.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Of the 1,000 jobs to be located at the Newcastle site for the contributions agency, 800 are existing posts from the Department's regional organisation dealing with contributions record keeping. The centralisation of this function will enable a better service to

  Average amounts of National Insurance paid, 19871 (£ per week)

  Age group

  All single men

  Single men paying contributions (all classes)

  All married men

  Married men paying contributions (all classes)

  16–19

  3·37

  6·73

  7·92

  7·92

  20–24

  8·21

  11·35

  9·13

  12·42

  25–29

  10·85

  13·39

  11·83

  14·09

  30–34

  10·53

  13·83

  13·70

  15·78

  35·39

  9·99

  13·94

  14·20

  16·07

  40–44

  9·78

  14·05

  14·26

  16·29

  45–49

  9·31

  14·44

  13·45

  15·50

  50–54

  8·74

  12·93

  11·59

  14·63

  5–59

  8·29

  12·43

  10·26

  13·84

  60–64

  4·78

  13·26

  5·96

  12·40

  1 Source Family Expenditure Survey, 1987.

  Fraud
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the amount defrauded from the social security system as a total cash amount and as a number of pence on the basic rate of income tax.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  No reliable estimate is available of the cost of fraudulent social security claims.

  Disabled Young People
  Mr. Jerry Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to improve the benefit entitlement of disabled young people.

  Mr. Scott
  Yes. We propose that where single young people of 16 to 17 who qualify for the disability premium are claiming income support independently from their parents, they should in future be entitled to the higher rate of personal allowance normally appropriate for those of 18 to 24. Thus their income support rate, including the premium, will rise from £37·30 to £44·20.

  We estimate that this will help some 4,000 disabled young people at an annual cost of £1,500,000. Regulations to provide for this change are being laid today, with a view to bringing it into effect from 2 July 1990.
  724
  be provided. The offsetting staff savings will fall in very small numbers over approximately 450 local offices throughout the country. About 200 new posts will be created to form the headquarters of the agency, but because of efficiency savings overall there will be no commensurate increase in the Department's total manpower.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the average amount of national insurance paid by(a) married men and (b) single men, in the age groups (i) 16 to 20 years, (ii) 20 to 25 years, (iii) 25 to 30 years, (iv) 30 to 35 years, (v) 35 to 40 years, (vi) 40 to 45 years, (vii) 45 to 50 years, (viii) 50 to 55 years, (ix) 55 to 60 years and (x) 60 to 65 years, in the last five years.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information is not available in the exact form requested. The latest available information which relates to 1987 is in the table.

  Separated Parents
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to assist separated parents by the provision of financial assistance towards long-distance travelling costs of accommodation.

  Mr. Scott
  A separated parent may obtain help with these costs from the social fund. If receiving income support, he or she may be awarded a community care grant, whether for visiting a child living with the other parent pending a custody decision, or where the child or other parent is ill, or where the payment would ease a domestic crisis. Alternatively, crisis loans are available to anyone where payment is the only means of avoiding serious risk or damage to the health or safety of the applicant or a member of his family. We have no plans to alter these arrangements.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has of the total cost to public funds on an absolute and per-employee basis of support for manufacturing industry and on both national and regional levels in the five most recently available years in(a) France, (b) West Germany, (c) Italy, (d) Denmark and (e) the United Kingdom.
  725
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information is as follows:

  Aid to manufacturing (excluding shipbuilding and steel) in national currency at constant 1986 prices (millions)

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  France

  40,655

  40,793

  41,481

  38,794

  36,173

  West Germany

  15,254

  14,449

  14,949

  15,836

  15,601

  Italy1 2

  26,360

  33,994

  30,760

  29,263

  34,851

  Denmark

  2,182

  1,975

  1,495

  1,762

  1,107

  United Kingdom

  2,867

  1,940

  2,185

  1,975

  1,906

  Aid in manufacturing (excluding shipbuilding and steel) as ECU per employee in manufacturing—average 1981–86

  Millions

  France

  1,223

  West Germany

  940

  Italy1

  5,951

  Denmark

  609

  United Kingdom

  757

  Source: European Commission.

  1 Italian figures are to be revised downwards.

  2 In billion Lira.

  Steel Imports
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the amount of special engineering steels imported into the United Kingdom, from which countries, by tonnage and by estimated price, for each of the years 1980 to 1989.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 7 June 1990]: Data are not available on the basis indicated.

HEALTH

  Mentally Ill and Mentally Handicapped People
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give a breakdown by age of the patients resident in each of the hospitals for the mentally ill and the mentally handicapped which he listed as becoming empty over the next five years in his answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) of 5 April,Official Report, column 737.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Community Care
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the £50 million bridging fund to improve community care for people with mental illness or mental handicap has so far been claimed on behalf of mental handicap services and mental illness services, respectively.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The capital loan fund provides for £10 million to be allocated in England this year with a further £15 million and £25 million respectively in the following two years; thus establishing a £50 million rolling programme. A substantial number of applications for funds has been made and are now being assessed with priority being given to mental health projects which develop care in the community facilities, without distinction between mental handicap and mental illness. The intention is to announce successful applications which will cover the first year's allocation by the end of the month.

  Newspaper Deliveries
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to prohibit the employment of young people aged under 16 years in the delivery of newspapers.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have no such plans. Only children over the age of 13 may be employed in the delivery of newspapers as provided in the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and local authority byelaws made under that Act.

  Sugared Medicines
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he has any plans to prohibit or reduce the use of sugared medicines for children;

  (2) what steps the Government are taking to overcome the dangers of tooth decay inherent in the use of sugared medicines for children.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The danger of tooth decay in children from the use of sugared medicines is small in comparison with that arising from their consumption of confectionery. Although sugared liquid medicines which have to be taken by children for long periods are undesirable, sugar may be useful in a formulation, to improve palatability or as a natural preservative. Nevertheless, a move towards sugar-free medicines has been accelerated by the recent report on dietary sugars and human disease by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy. New sugar-free medicinal products are emerging and, in addition, a briefing paper prepared for health professionals by the Health Education Authority, based on the report, recommends that when medicines are needed, particularly in the long term, parents and medical practitioners should select sugar-free formulations.

  Non-milk Extrinsic Sugars
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the consumption of non-milk extrinsic sugars.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The steps are twofold. First, we sought and have published COMA's authoritative advice on the relationship between dietary sugars and human disease. Secondly, we are acting on the report's recommendations. One of the main recommendations was that the population as a whole reduce its consumption of non-milk extrinsic sugars. The recommendations for action in support of this aim were mainly directed at health education. I am pleased to say, therefore, that the need to reduce the consumption of non-milk extrinsic sugars is now an integral part of the Health Education Authority's major new programme of nutrition and dental health education. The HEA has already produced a well-received briefing paper for health professionals based on the COMA report. In addition new guidelines on all aspects of diet, including sugars consumption, are being prepared jointly by this Department, the HEA and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. These will be published shortly.

  Other Government action includes encouragement for more sugar-free medicinal products and for manufacturers to adopt current MAFF guidelines that suggest inclusion of sugar content as part of nutrition declarations on food labels.

  Child Protection Teams
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of child protection teams allocated to each health board within the United Kingdom; and what is the number of people in each team.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is for local agencies in England to decide in the light of local needs and circumstances on the allocation of staff to child protection work. Information on the number of staff working specifically in this field is not collected centrally.

  Arrangements for the rest of the United Kingdom are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of cases reported to child protection teams in the United Kingdom in the last 12 months; and what was the number of cases actively pursued.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information is not collected centrally about the number of cases reported to child protection teams or the number of cases actively pursued. For England, information is collected centrally about the number of names added to child protection registers. The most recent information relates to the year ending 31 March 1989 and is published in the provisional feedback "Children and Young Persons on Child Protection Registers England 1989". Copies are available in the Library.

  Statistics for the rest of the United Kingdom are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Child Psychologists
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many child psychologists were employed in National Health Service clinics in(a) 1989, (b) 1984 and (c)

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is not available. However, the hon. Member may like to know that there were 291 (whole-time equivalent) clinical psychologists working with children and adolescents in England in 1989. This is the first year for which such data have been collected.

  Child Abuse
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to meet representatives of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Association of Directors of Social Services, the Children's Society and Childline to discuss the co-ordination of information relating to ritual child abuse and child abuse networks.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Officials from the Department of Health and the Home Office held a meeting on 3 May 1990 with representatives of the NSPCC, the Children's Society, Childline, the National Children's Home, local authorities and the police. It was agreed that the Department of Health would continue to meet individuals and groups during the summer further to explore the issues involved.

  Cerebral Palsy
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current cost of treatment being offered to children suffering from cerebral palsy.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not available centrally.

  Minor Surgery
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether the new guidelines on the minor surgery list will preclude general practitioners from conducting minor surgery in which they are totally competent on the basis that they are not competent in all the areas of minor surgery which are listed on the revised claim forms; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what effect upon waiting lists for minor surgery he expects the revised provisions for payment and competence to have.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No changes have been made to the criteria for admission to the list of doctos providing minor surgical services or to the remuneration arrangements for these services. To be admitted to the minor surgery list a doctor must display competence in all the approved procedures. This is to encourage GPs to extend their skills and provide additional services to their patients. By this means patients will be saved the inconvenience of attending an out-patients department and waiting lists should be relieved.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for how many minor surgical procedures claims may be made in an appropriate period by general practitioners; and who will be responsible for such minor surgery once these limits have been reached.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  General practitioners on the minor surgery list receive payment on a sessional basis. A session consists of at least five procedures. A GP is allowed to claim three sessional payments a quarter. Where a GP is a member of a partnership or group practice he or she may claim a higher number of payments in a quarter up to a maximum of three times the number of partners or members of the group. There is of course nothing to stop a GP doing more procedures if he or she wishes, but they will not generate any further income.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Passports
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons are for renewing passports after 10 years.

  Mr. John Patten
  The validity of the United Kingdom passport is normally limited to 10 years in line with international passport practice. As a document of nationality and identity, a passport must reflect the changes that can occur over time in a person's appearance and national status. There is also the problem of wear and tear.

  Police Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are being held in custody at police stations(a) in the Metropolitan area and (b) outside the London area, as of 1 June; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The number of prisoners held in police cells in the Metropolitan police area and elsewhere in England and Wales from 1 June were as follows:

  Date

  Metropolitan police area

  Elsewhere in England and Wales

  1 June

  245

  809

  2 June

  245

  809

  3 June

  245

  809

  4 June

  216

  864

  5 June

  218

  893

  6 June

  177

  900

  7 June

  143

  951

  We very much regret the current situation which has resulted in part from industrial action by prison officers in the London area—now over—and from difficulties we are facing in getting prisoners into prison establishments following the recent prison disturbances. My right hon. and learned Friend is determined to return to the situation where it is no longer necessary to resort to the use of police cells, and I am sure the great majority of responsible prison officers will wish to do likewise.

  Crime Figures
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to discuss crime figures.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. and learned Friend meets the Commissioner on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of policing matters, including crime in London.

  Concessionary Television Licences
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received over the past 12 months about concessionary television licences.

  Mr. Mellor
  In the year ended 31 May 1990 we received four petitions and 1,463 letters about free or reduced price licences for pensioners. One thousand two hundred and two of the letters were cyclostyled and clearly sent as part of a local campaign. Of the rest, 123 were from hon. Members.

  Police Cells
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women were being held in police cells in England and Wales on 21 May.

  Mr. Mellor
  On 21 May there were 1,047 male and no female prisoners held in police cells in England and Wales.

  Crime Figures
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the chief constable of Nottinghamshire to discuss crime figures.
  730
  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the chief constable of South Wales to discuss crime figures.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. and learned Friend meets chief officers of police on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of policing matters, but he has no present plans for meetings to discuss crime figures in particular.

  Burglaries
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of burglaries reported in each of the last three years.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is published in table 1 of the Home Office statistical bulletin 10/90, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Court Users Committees
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many court users committees are now operating in England and Wales.

  Mr. John Patten
  Up-to-date information is not at present available, but it should become available by the end of the year as part of the returns for the magistrates courts management information system.

  Women's Issues
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to appoint a women Minister as chairman of the ministerial group on women's issues.

  Mr. John Patten
  Ministers attend the ministerial group on women's issues on the basis of their departmental responsibilities for matters within the remit of the group. The group is chaired by myself, as the Home Office Minister of State with special responsibility for equal opportunities. The vice-chairman is my hon. Friend the Member for Mitcham and Morden (Mrs. Rumbold) who is also co-chairman of the Women's National Commission.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policy initiatives have been undertaken as a result of discussions by the ministerial group on women's issues.

  Mr. John Patten
  The ministerial group was established in 1986 to provide a co-ordinated examination of policy issues of special concern to women, and with a particular duty to consider the Government's response to the forward looking strategies for the advancement of women (adopted during the UN Decade for Women). The main initiatives taken as a result of the group's discussions have been:

  (i) A review of the Government's policy in areas covered by the Forward Looking Strategies (published in April 1987);

  (ii) the issue of guidance designed to ensure that civil servants recognise the equal opportunities implications of policy proposals;

  (iii) the agreement of initiatives aimed at increasing the number of women appointed to public bodies;

  (iv) the agreement in April 1989 of a five-point plan designed to improve the range and quality of childcare options, followed by a second five-point plan on childcare agreed in February 1990; and

  731

  (v) a package of initiatives drawn up in July 1989 to tackle domestic violence.

  Copies of the group's report on the forward looking strategies were placed in the Library in 1987. Further details of the initiatives on equal opportunity "proofing", child care and domestic violence are given in the press releases that were issued after the group's meetings in October 1988, April 1989, July 1989, October 1989 and February 1990 (copies of which have been placed in the Library).

WALES

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to appoint as chairpersons and new members of health authorities in Wales persons resident within the district which their authority serves.

  Mr. Grist
  Persons appointed will usually live, work or have connections with the area served but it would be unnecessarily prescriptive to adopt the policy requested.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to introduce any change in the salary of the chairpersons of health authorities, or in the terms of reference of the appointment of members of the authorities, following their reconstitution during 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  We expect to introduce changes in chairmen's current remuneration levels which will reflect their greater responsibilities accruing from our planned programme of NHS reforms. The terms of reference of members will remain substantially as at present.

  Training Credits
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many training and enterprise councils in Wales have made a bid for the introduction of training credits for young people.

  Mr. Roberts
  Two TECs in Wales submitted outline bids. The North-East Wales TEC has been invited to develop its bid further.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the budget for the Training Agency in Wales was in 1988–89, and 1989–90 for youth training schemes; and what his estimate is of the budget 1990–91.

  Mr. Roberts
  The budgets for 1988–89 and 1989–90 were £55·278 million and £50·884 million respectively. For 1990–91 the budget is £45·750 million. This is a reflection of the decline in youth unemployment and demographic change.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment his Department has made of the contribution made by the Training Agency and the managing agents of youth training schemes in 1988–89 and 1989–90 to the finances of each technical college in Mid Glamorgan.

  Mr. Roberts
  The contribution has been significant but no formal assessment of it has been made.
  732
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 16 May,Official Report, columns 479–80, if he will list the occasions since the introduction of service planning paper 5 when a health authority in Wales has failed to follow the consultation provisions of that document; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Community Hospital Beds
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 21 May,Official Report, column 62, (1) on what date he asked district health authorities to submit new local strategies for health; what guidance he gave on local public consultation; and if he is taking any steps to monitor the progress in developing these strategies;

  (2) what is his Department's guidance to health authorities in Wales on publishing strategic options which are currently being developed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  In November 1989 the Department launched a wide-ranging consultation exercise on the Welsh Health Planning Forum's proposals for developing a better basis for long-term strategic planning in the NHS in Wales. The planning forum recommended that district health authorities and family practitioner committees should submit their long-term response strategies to the Welsh Office by December 1991.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will shortly announce his response to the consultation exercise. Health authorities will then be given advice on a range of related issues, including timetabling and arrangements for monitoring the progress of the planning exercise.

  Advice on district health authorities' short-term "pathfinder" procurement and unit business plans was contained in Welsh Office circular WHC(90)19, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. No advice has been given on the framework for publishing these plans, as this is a matter for individual health authorities.

  Gwynedd Health Authority
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 21 May,Official Report, column 58, whether any consultative bodies in Gwynedd will be allowed to comment on the proposed list of chairman and five members of the Gwynedd health authority, as reconstituted under the provisions of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill; and by what date he hopes to publish these names.

  Mr. Grist
  No shortlist of names will be published for consultation.

  District Health Authorities
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what directives he has issued to district health authorities in Wales during the past 12 months on the need to reduce administrative and clerical spending; and what assessment he has made of the performance of each health authority in Wales in this regard.

  Mr. Grist
  No such directives have been issued in the last 12 months. Management costs of health authorities
  733
  are the subject of monitoring and assessment by the Welsh Office as part of the process of annual review of performance. Authorities are reminded of the need to subject such costs to the most rigorous scrutiny and to keep them to the minimum.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state how much expenditure has been increased by his Department in each of the past five years on consultants, investigations and reports relating to district health authorities in Wales; and if he will list those district health authorities which are currently being helped by financial consultants in respect of their strategic options and business plans for the period from 1 April 1991, and for which his Department is meeting either part, or the whole, of the consultancy costs, noting in each instance the Department-borne part of the costs.

  Mr. Grist
  The expenditure incurred directly by the Department in each of the past five years on consultants, investigations and reports relating to district health authorities in Wales was as follows:

  £

  1985–86

  Nil

  1986–87

  C. Squares Ltd.—Data envelopment analysis

  1,150

  Taylor Nelson Group—Welsh inter-censal study

  17,250

  1987–88

  Deloitte, Haskins and Sells—Gwynedd DHA—Financial review and development of action plan

  173,650

  University of Birmingham—Inter authority comparisons

  5,000

  1988–89

  Deloitte, Haskins and Sells—Oncology study

  40,250

  Cancer treatment study

  40,030

  Touche Ross—Report on paymaster function

  13,141

  Deloitte, Haskins and Sells—Gwynedd DHA—Assistance in implementing action plan

  6,326

  1989–90

  Deloitte, Haskins and Sells—Cancer service study

  67,930

  Cancer treatment services

  7,370

  Price Waterhouse—Project 2000

  79,922

  The Department's contributions towards the cost of preparing pathfinder district procurement and unit business plans for 1990–91 are as follows:

  £

  Clwyd

  20,000

  East Dyfed

  9,000

  Gwent

  27,500

  Gwynedd

  26,500

  Mid Glamorgan

  12,000

  Pembrokeshire

  20,000

  Powys

  44,000

  South Glamorgan

  35,000

  West Glamorgan

  2,034

  The pathfinder plans will inform district health authorities for 1991–92.

  With the exception of the funding provided to Gwynedd health authority, which represented 50 per cent. of the costs of a management consultancy to assist with the determination of strategic options and the production of a pathfinder business plan, it is not possible to say how much of the money made available to individual district health authorities will be used to engage the services of
  734
  management consultants. This is a matter for individual district health authorities to decide in the light of their own local management arrangements.

  Beef
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the state of the beef industry in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The December 1989 sample census figures showed that the Welsh beef breeding herd had increased by 6 per cent. compared with December 1988. Specialist beef producers have also benefited from last year's 42 per cent. increase in the rate of suckler cow premium which was worth some £8 million to producers in Wales in the 1989–90 scheme year; and hill livestock compensatory allowance payments on cattle in 1989 amounted to more than £8 million.

  Following the devaluation of the green pound agreed at the 1990 price fixing, support prices have increased by 8·5 per cent. with the rate of beef special premium increasing from £29·19 to £31·80 a head from May 1990.

  Although market prices are currently depressed, the beef intervention system can now be managed very flexibly to provide support where it is most needed.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the effect on beef production in Wales of France's continuing ban on British beef; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  It is not possible to separate the effects of the illegal French ban from other factors which affect the beef market.

  Local Management of Schools
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he expects there to be any cuts in the staffing of schools of less than 200 pupils in Wales as a result of the implementation of local management of schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Roberts
  There is no evidence that the introduction of local management of schools will lead to a reduction in the number of teaching jobs. Local management of schools of itself in no way affects the overall amount of money available within authorities for school education. It simply represents a more open way of distributing the same resources to secure better educational value for money.

SCOTLAND

  Press Releases
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many press releases have been issued by himself, his Minister of State and each of his Parliamentary Under-Secretaries, from May 1989 to the present date.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The total number of news releases issued by the Scottish Information Office in the period 1 May 1989 to 31 May 1990 covering the activities of myself and my ministerial colleagues was 1,286. The number issued on behalf of each Minister was as follows:
  735

  Number

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  307

  Minister of State (Commons)

  336

  Minister of State (Lords)

  118

  Minister for Home Affairs and the Environment

  284

  Minister for Health and Sport

  241

  Life Sentences
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prisoners serving life sentences have been granted parole or released on licence during the past 20 years in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A total of 335 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment or detained during Her Majesty's pleasure or without limit of time were released on licence in the 20 years to 31 December 1989. Separate figures are not maintained for life sentence prisoners alone, nor are such prisoners eligible for the grant of parole.

  Land Registration
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list(a) the areas in respect of which the provisions of the Land Registration (Scotland) Act 1979 relating to registration have come into operation and (b) those areas in respect of which said provisions have not yet come into operation showing when it is estimated that provisions will come into operation.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As regards(a), I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave her on 19 December 1989 at columns 145–46. By definition, the remaining areas of Scotland are not yet operational. No new areas are currently planned to become operational before 31 March 1993. My right hon. and learned Friend has asked the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland to present to him, this financial year, a phased programme for extending the Land Register to the remaining two thirds of Scotland.

  Farm Pollution
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to stop the increase in farm pollution cases in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am pleased to say that the number of farm pollution incidents has fallen from 713 in 1987 and 572 in 1988 to 462 in 1989. The Government are presently considering the outcome of public consultation earlier this year on proposals for regulations to control silage, slurry and agricultural fuel oil installations on farms with the aim in due course of laying new regulations before Parliament.

  Polmont Young Offenders Institution
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of the new perimeter fence and other recent increased security arrangements at Polmont young offenders institution.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The figure is £1,265,000 (including VAT).

  Bed-and-Breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the speech on Friday 18 May by Superintendent Donald McLean, president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, on the subject of homeless young people in bed-and-breakfast accommodation funded by the Department of Social Security.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 7 June 1990]: The Scottish Home and Health Department already has a copy of the speech on which I commented at the association's annual meeting.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  El Salvador
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in investigating the murders in El Salvador in 1989 of six Jesuit priests, their cook and her daughter.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the right hon. Member for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Sir D. Steel) on 5 June at column 465.

  Nuclear Non-Proliferation
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of countries other than the existing six nuclear weapons states which either possess, are about to possess or plan to possess nuclear weapons; if he will name the countries concerned; and which of them are signatories to the non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  There are five nuclear weapons states (NWS), of which three are signatories of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT). There are six states not parties to the NPT (Argentina, Brazil, India. Israel, Pakistan and South Africa) which have significant unsafeguarded nuclear activities, though none has declared itself to have or to be seeking nuclear weapons. North Korea, which is not recognised as a state by Her Majesty's Government, has acceded to the NPT, but has so far failed to conclude a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), although it also has significant nuclear facilities.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government will be making to the non-proliferation treaty review conference.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 9 May to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) at column 181.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest information on the status of military nuclear developments in Brazil.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Although not a party to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT), Brazil has signed and ratified the treaty of Tlatelolco which bans nuclear weapons in South America.
  737
  The Brazilian constitution introduced in October 1988 provides that Brazil's nuclear activities are to be for peaceful purposes only. However, there are some unsafeguarded nuclear activities in Brazil which appear to be concentrating on the use of nuclear propulsion for submarines.

  Council of Europe Officials
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the number of senior officials employed by the Council of Europe from the United Kingdom and other member states; and what steps are taken to ensure a balance between the numbers.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  On I May 1990, 23 of the 138 senior officials (grades A4 to A7) of the Council of Europe came from the United Kingdom; others were: Federal Republic of Germany 23, France 21, Italy 20, Netherlands nine, Belgium eight, Austria five, Switzerland five, Sweden five, Spain four, Turkey four, Greece three, Republic of Ireland two, Luxembourg two, Cyprus one, Denmark one, Malta one, Norway one. British nationals occupied two of the 25 top A6 and A7 posts (France seven, Italy four, Federal Republic of Germany three, Switzerland two, and one each from Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands and Spain). We are broadly satisfied with the current overall balance, which reflects the requirement that posts should be fairly distributed among member states. If an imbalance were to arise we would discuss it with the Secretary-General, who has statutory responsibility for the question.

  Cambodia
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current Khmer Rouge offensive in western Cambodia, Kompong Speu province and Phnom Penh; and what steps he is taking individually or with the international community to prevent the reimposition of tyranny on the Cambodian people.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We note with concern reports of increased military activity by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, but cannot confirm their accuracy. As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, we continue to work for a comprehensive political settlement enabling the Cambodian people to elect a Government of their choice, free from the fear of Khmer Rouge atrocities, foreign occupation or civil war.

  South Africa
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has made to the decision of the Government of the Republic of South Africa to end apartheid in the health services.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Our goal remains the complete eradication of apartheid in all forms. We welcome the opening of hospitals to all races as fZurther evidence of the South African Government's commitment to this objective.

  Mediterranean Basin
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what commitment has been made by the Government of Gibraltar in support of the Nicosia charter to protect the environment of the Mediterranean basin.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 21 May 1990]: The principal aim of the Nicosia charter was to reiterate the commitment of the parties to the convention for the protection of the Mediterranean sea against pollution (the Barcelona convention). The United Kingdom and Gibraltar are not parties to this convention, although Gibraltar does comply with relevant provisions of it. We naturally welcome measures which will lead to an improvement in the Mediterranean environment.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Potato Marketing Scheme
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest state of play on the amendments to the potato marketing scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The Potato Marketing Board has submitted proposed amendments to Ministers, the main purpose of which is to involve non-producer interests in the board's market management decisions, as requested by Ministers in July 1989. The amendments will also reduce the size of the board. The Secretaries of State and I have made certain modifications to the board's proposals, as a result of which they will be implemented more quickly. An order will be laid before the House shortly.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of Agriculture Council held on 6 June; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement that I made in the House last night.

EMPLOYMENT

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list the category of businesses which were registered for value added tax in 1988 in the counties of North, South and West Yorkshire;

  (2) what are (a) the category of businesses and (b) the numbers in each category which came off the value added tax register in 1988 in the counties of North, South and West Yorkshire.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested is given in "VAT registrations and deregistrations: analysis by county: 1980–1988" which is available in the Library.

  Employment Training
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of participants on employment training over the last year and the number that have not had a place on a training scheme or found employment on leaving employment training in Avon.

  Mr. Nicholls
  At 30 March 1990, the latest date for which information is available, there were 3,134 people on employment training in Avon. Information about the destinations of people leaving employment training is not yet available for Avon.

  Energy Conservation
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 1 May,Official Report, column 471, whether the study to examine labour market and skills implications of increased environmental awareness includes an examination of opportunities in the field of energy conservation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Employment Department Training Agency-funded study of increased environmental awareness will focus on the labour market and skill implications of air and water pollution control and solid waste management. It will not deal directly with energy conservation.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the locations of the training and enterprise councils which have been approved.

  Mr. Eggar
  The following 13 training and enterprise councils have signed operational contracts:

  Hertfordshire

  Thames Valley

  Devon/Cornwall

  Dorset

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  Cumbria

  ELTEC (East Lancashire)

  Oldham Rochdale

  South and East Cheshire

  Teeside

  Tyneside

  Wearside

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many training and enterprise councils have been approved; and how many are waiting approval.

  Mr. Eggar
  Thirteen training and enterprise councils (TECs) have signed operational contracts, and 63 TECs are in their development stage and preparing their corporate and business plans. I expect a further six to enter the development phase shortly.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in how many of the approved training and enterprise councils the post of chief executive has been filled by a person who was in post as a regional manager of a training commission; and in how many cases such people have negotiated an entitlement which would allow them to return to the training commission.

  Mr. Eggar
  Of the 13 training and enterprise councils so far operational, 10 have chief executive posts filled by 740
  people who previously held civil service posts within the Training Agency. One of those has resigned from the civil service and become a TEC employee, the remaining rime being on secondment. All secondees remain in the civil service and have the right to return to the Employment Department group at the end of the secondment period.

  Leptospirosis
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the incidence of leptospira hardjo and Weil's disease among those in occupations of greatest risk over the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There were 299 confirmed cases of leptospirosis in England and Wales in the period 1985–89, of which 180 are known to have been occupationally related. Leptosprosis hardjo, which is associated with cattle, accounted for 139 of these cases among agricultural and abattoir workers, those involved in pig, cattle and dairy farming, and veterinary workers. Weil's disease can develop from any leptospiral infection but is most common in infections associated with rats, although few cases actually occur. Those at risk include sewer and water workers. In the five-year period there were 15 deaths from leptospirosis infection reported in England and Wales.

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for each year from 1978 the energy consumption, broken down by fuel, of the buildings occupied by his Department, expressing the figures in(a) cash terms, (b) 1978–79 money terms and (c) units of consumption for electricity in kilowatt hours, gas in therms, liquid fuel in litres and solid fuel in tonnes.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: I regret that this information is not available. Before April 1990 the PSA was responsible for energy monitoring and did not retain this information in the form requested.

ENVIRONMENT

  Disabled Facilities Grant
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the maximum disabled facilities grant payable in respect of eligible works amounting to(a) £5,000, (b) £10,000, (c) £15,000, (d) £20,000 and (e) £25,000 to (i) a single disabled person with a disability premium, (ii) a single disabled person with a severe disability premium, (iii) a married couple, one of whom is in receipt of a disability premium, (iv) a married couple, one of whom is in receipt of a disability premium, and with two children and (v) a married couple with two children, one of whom is in receipt of a disability premium, where, in each case, there were (1) no savings and where there were savings of (2) £3,000, (3) £5,000, (4) £8,000 and (5) £10,000.

  Mr. Chope
  Regulations laid down before the House today (the Housing Renovation etc. Grants (Reduction of Grant) Regulations 1990—SI 1990 No. 1189) provide that the amount of disabled facilities grant will depend on the cost of the eligible works, the composition of the
  741
  applicant's household and the applicant's income, including notional tariff income in respect of any savings in excess of £5,000. There will be no overriding maximum grant.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, in respect of disabled facilities grants where income exceeds the lower income threshold and the universal £20 grant premium, and every 20p in the pound is regarded as being available to help finance the works through a notional loan secured on the property, what are the currently proposed loan generation factors for owner-occupiers and for tenants for every excess £1 per week.

  Mr. Chope
  Regulations laid before the House today (the Housing Renovation etc. Grants (Reduction of Grant) Regulations 1990—SI 1990 No. 1189) provide for a loan generation factor of 51·54 to be applied to owner-occupiers' applications for disabled facilities grants, and a factor of 34·62 to be applied to tenants' applications. These factors incorporate the 20p in the pound contribution rate.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the proposed lower income thresholds for disabled facilities grants for(a) a single disabled person with a disability premium, (b) a single disabled person with a severe disability premium, (c) a married couple, one of whom is in receipt of a disability premium and (d) a married couple, one of whom is in receipt of a disability premium, and with two children and (e) a married couple with two children, one of whom is in receipt of a disability premium.

  Mr. Chope
  In accordance with regulations laid before the House today (the Housing Renovation etc. Grants

  Case

  Upper net income threshold for disabled facilities grant entitlement—£pw (£pa) by cost of eligible works

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Works costings

  5,000

  10,000

  15,000

  20,000

  25,000

  (i) Single, disabled

  184·11

  281·12

  378·14

  475·15

  572·16

  (9,600)

  (14,658)

  (19,717)

  (24,776)

  (29,834)

  (ii) Single, severely disabled

  212·31

  309·32

  406·34

  503·35

  600·36

  (11,070)

  (16,129)

  (21,188)

  (26,246)

  (31,304)

  (iii) Married couple, one disabled

  211·71

  308·72

  405·74

  502·75

  599·76

  (11,039)

  (16,098)

  (21,156)

  (26,215)

  (31,273)

  (iv) Married couple, one disabled, two children

  255·56

  352·57

  449·59

  546·60

  643·61

  (13,326)

  (18,384)

  (23,443)

  (28,501)

  (33,560)

  (v) Married couple, two children, one disabled

  243·86

  340·87

  437·89

  534·90

  631·91

  (12,716)

  (17,774)

  (22,833)

  (27,891)

  (32,950)

  These figures assume that income includes earnings, and take into account the appropriate earnings disregards (£15 per week in cases (i) to (iv), £10 per week in case (v)). In each case it is assumed that the application is in respect of an owner-occupied property, that the adults are between 25 and 59 years old, any children are aged 11 to 15, and that any capital, after any appropriate disregard, in £5,000 or less.

  Housing
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list Government policies for housing help for people with HIV or AIDS.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Department's capital allocation to housing authorities enable them to take into
  742
  (Reduction of Grant) Regulations 1990—SI 1990 No. 1189), the lower income thresholds (or applicable amount) for disabled facilities grants in each of the cases cited will be as follows:

  (a) single disabled person £72·10 pw (£3,760 pa)

  (b) single severely disabled person £100·30 pw (£5,230 pa)

  (c)Maried couple, one disabled £99·70 pw (£5,199 pa)

  (d) Married couple, one disabled, with two children £143·55 pw (£7,485 pa)

  (e) Married couple with two children, one disabled £136·85 pw (£7,136 pa)

  In each case the adults are assumed to be between 25 and 59 years old and any children are 11 to 15. These thresholds do not include the appropriate earnings disregards (£15 per week in cases (a) to (d), £10 per week in case (e)).

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the proposed upper income thresholds for a disabled facilities grant for eligible works amounting to(a) £5,000, (b) £10,000, (c) £15,000, (d) £20,000 and (e) £25,000 to (i) a single disabled person with a disability premium, (ii) a single disabled person with a severe disability premium, (iii) a married couple, one of whom is in receipt of a disability premium, (iv) a married couple, one or whom is in receipt of a disability premium, and with two children and (v) a married couple with two children, one of whom is in receipt of a disability premium.

  Mr. Chope
  In accordance with regulations laid before the House today (the Housing Renovation etc. Grants (Reduction of Grant) Regulations 1990—SI 1990 No. 1189), the upper net income thresholds for disabled facilities grants in each of the cases cited would be as follows:

  account any special housing needs of people with AIDS. The Housing Corporation will also consider bids from housing authorities on behalf of people with AIDS.

  Management Consultants
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what(a) guidance and (b) encouragement is given by his Department to local authorities to use management consultants to improve the efficiency of local government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  None. It is for authorities themselves to decide whether to use consultants for this or other purposes. The Audit Commission and its auditors issue a great deal of very valuable advice to help authorities improve their efficiency.
  743
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what involvement his Department had in the recent study by the PA Consulting Group and Local Government Chronicle entitled, "The Management of Change in Local Authorities"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  None.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of Stste for the Environment what are(a) the average cost per person of Government provision towards local government services and (b) individual community charges in each district of Devon.

  Mr. Chope
  The amount of external support (revenue support grant, special grant and business rates) per adult and the community charge for each district in Devon are:

  District

  External support

  Community charge

  (£ per adult)

  (£ per adult)

  East Devon

  426

  345

  Exeter

  462

  344

  Mid Devon

  462

  339

  North Devon

  470

  319

  Plymouth

  481

  350

  South Hams

  431

  334

  Teignbridge

  441

  365

  Torbay

  458

  395

  Torridge

  511

  285

  West Devon

  443

  331

  744
  In addition the Government contribute towards the cost of local government through specific grants, community charge rebates, and transitional relief.

  Beaches
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department takes to monitor beaches round the United Kingdom for the presence of viruses in water; and if he will publish the most recent figures available.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The measurement of viruses in bathing water identified under directive 76/160/EEC is a matter for the competent authority, which in England and Wales is the National Rivers Authority. The available results for the 1989 bathing season are in the report placed in the Library on 25 January (Official Report, c. 785.).

  House Prices
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish for each county, metropolitan district and London borough area latest estimates of average house prices for(a) all houses, (b) flats, (c) terraced houses, (d) semi-detached and (e) detached houses.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 5 June 1990]: I have today placed a table giving the available information based on the building society mortgage survey in the Library.