Written Answers of 13 June 1990

THE ARTS

  Departmental Achievements
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the major achievements of his Department in the last four years.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 11 June 1990]: The Government's achievements in the arts in the last four years have been numerous and varied. Among the most important I would list the following:

  The maintenance of central Government support for arts activities, and the introduction of measures to encourage greater self-reliance among arts institutions—the arts budget for this financial year stands at £494 million, and will rise by 22 per cent. by 1992–93.

  The establishment of a three-year programme of funding for the arts, to give arts bodies a firmer base from which to plan their activities.

  The introduction of corporate planning for the national museums and galleries and other non-departmental bodies, linked to the three-year funding programme.

  The major expansion schemes at some national museums and galleries, including the Clore gallery at the Tate, the new Tate gallery in Liverpool, the redevelopment of the imperial war museum, and the opening of the Victoria and Albert museum's theatre museum at Covent Garden. The building and maintenance grants to the national museums and galleries have increased by 15 per cent. in real terms over the past four years, and in December 1989 an incentive funding initiative was launched to help these institutions get their fabric into prime condition by the year 2000.

  The participation of over 2,000 museums in the Museums Year celebrations in 1989, with visitor numbers reaching over 100 million in that year.

  The Government's support for the development strategies designed to give the regions a larger share of arts spending facilities and to increase access to the arts.

  New initiatives to encourage arts bodies to market themselves more professionally and to improve the quality of their management.

  The significant and continuing upsurge in business sponsorship of the arts, encouraged by the business sponsorship incentive scheme through which nearly £33 million of new money for the arts has been raised.

  The development of incentive funding schemes for the performing arts and for public libraries, designed to encourage subsidised bodies to become more self-reliant in their development and growth.

  The maintaining of the public lending right scheme introduced in 1981, by which authors are paid for the borrowing of their books from public libraries. This year, the PLR provision is £3·5 million, and it will rise to £4·5 million in 1991–92.
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  The very substantial progress that has been made with the British Library's St. Pancras project, the first phase of which is on schedule for completion in 1993, still within its budget of £300 million. This will bring together most of the Library's London-based collections and reading rooms on a single site, and provide much-improved storage conditions.

  The publication of the consultative paper "Financing the Public Library Service: Four subjects for debate" prompting possibly the widest debate on the service this century, and resulting in the protection of the core of the free public library service, through the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

  The continuing commitment to preserving the nation's heritage. Over £105 million of public money has gone into the national heritage memorial fund since it was established in 1980.

  The growth in the use of the acceptance in lieu of tax provisions. In 1989–90, a record level of tax was satisfied in this way, with over £11·5 million satisfied by 14 offers.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  ECOFIN Council
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council.

  Mr. Major
  The ECOFIN Council met in Luxembourg on 11 June. The Paymaster General and I represented the United Kingdom. Future progress towards economic and monetary union was discussed and oral reports were heard from the chairmen of the central bank governors, monetary and economic policy committees and from President Delors. The Council agreed that it was important to ensure that stage 1 was successful and that more work was needed in how the Community might progress beyond that stage. It was agreed that Finance Ministers should be involved in the forthcoming intergovernmental conference on EMU. The presidency will submit a progress report to the European Council before its meeting on 25 to 26 June.

  Political agreement was reached on a package of three corporate tax measures to encourage cross-border co-operation. When finally implemented, these measures will end the double taxation of subsidiaries which transfer dividends to a parent company in another member state and will remove the tax disincentive to cross border mergers. This is a very welcome step forward and will be of real benefit to British industry.

  The Council also welcomed a report from the Commission on the main features of its new proposals for a system of VAT control and for the collection of infra-EC trade statistics after 1992. The raising of travellers' allowance was also discussed. It was agreed that the Court of Auditors report on export refunds should be submitted to the Committee of Permanent Representatives for urgent further consideration. The investment services directive was also discussed, and it was concluded that the Council should aim to reach a common position on the directive by 31 December 1990.

TRANSPORT

  Protected Countryside
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy concerning the avoidance of motorway and major road construction through designated protected countryside; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Parkinson
  There has been no change in the Government's longstanding policy, which is to keep roads away from protected areas like areas of outstanding natural beauty and sites of special scientific interest wherever possible. Special attention is also paid to the effects of new roads on inalienable land owned by the National Trust. In national parks, the Government are committed to ensuring that no new trunk route will be constructed or an existing road upgraded unless there is a compelling need which cannot be met by any reasonable alternative means.

  Carbon Canisters
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about the relative cost implications to the motor industry of fitting large or small carbon canisters to motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Carbon canisters are used to control evaporative emissions from motor vehicles. The component cost is likely to range between £15 and £40. The cost of installation is difficult to estimate, but is likely to be higher for the larger canisters that are designed to capture refuelling emissions, because they are more sophisticated and require electronic controls.

  Tachographs
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has of tachograph discs in heavy goods vehicles being discarded when used up and being replaced with new ones so as to allow a further nine hours' driving time; what steps he intends taking to prevent this from happening; and if he has any plans to introduce a system of serialised tachograph discs.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department carries out checks on tachographs of heavy goods vehicles both at the roadside and at operators' premises. These can detect the person who drives for a period and then inserts a new chart. There is no evidence that this practice is common. I will write to the hon. Member shortly about the serialisation of tachograph discs.

  Pedestrian Crossings
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pedestrians were(a) killed and (b) injured, while using zebra or pelican crossings in 1989.

  Mr. Atkins
  Provisional estimates are that 109 persons were killed and a further 4,978 persons injured while crossing the road using pedestrian crossings during 1989.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been for failure to stop for pedestrians at a zebra crossing, since the introduction in the current year of the spot fine.
  188
  Mr. John Patten
  The information collected centrally does not separately identify fixed penalty notices issued for the offence of failing to give precedence to pedestrians at a zebra crossing.

  Motor Vehicles (Roadworthiness)
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions in the last five years vehicle examiners from the Department of Transport have carried out checks on the roadworthiness of motor cars on garage forecourts in accordance with the Road Traffic Acts; and how many prosecutions have been successfully instituted.

  Mr. Atkins
  The vehicle inspectorate has not hitherto maintained separate statistics of such inspections, but is now starting to do so. Any subsequent prosecutions would normally be pursued by local authority trading standards officers.

  Jet Engines (Exhaust Fumes)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made an assessment of the potential damage being caused to the ozone layer as a result of exhaust fumes from jet engines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  For the most part, aircraft operate in the troposphere. Increasingly, however, they are reaching into the lower stratosphere and the Warren Spring laboratory has been asked to consider what contribution they might make to stratospheric ozone depletion. This is an issue that is also the subject of an extensive three-year programme of research by NASA in connection with possible future supersonic transport development programmes. These are important studies, and the results could have a bearing on future policy decisions with regard to aircraft engine emission standards.

  M11 Link Road
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the inspector in the M11 link road public inquiry has submitted his report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The report has been received and is under consideration together with all the objections and representations made. The Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport will announce their decisions as soon as possible.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he has received from Messrs. Eurotunnel details of the inspection procedures which will be made on cars and other vehicles before they enter the channel tunnel; and if, in particular, any progress has been made in providing X-ray machines for vehicles as referred to in the debate on 3 February 1987,Official Report, column 943;

  (2) if the intergovernmental commission and safety authority has reported to him on the safety arrangements for inspecting vehicles going into the proposed channel tunnel; and if it has indicated whether it is satisfied with the arrangements.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn) on 11
  189
  June at column 62. Eurotunnel's designs and operating procedures in relation to safety and security are being considered in accordance with the arrangements specified in the treaty and concession agreement. Further work remains to be done before final approval can be given.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest estimate he has received of the number of vehicles which are likely to go through the proposed channel tunnel each day.

  Mr. Freeman
  A joint working group, representing the Department of Transport, Kent county council and Eurotunnel, has forecast that an average of 10,000 vehicles per day will use the tunnel in 1993, rising to 14,000 in 2008.

  Motorways
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the number of miles of new motorways completed since 1979.

  Mr. Atkins
  Since 1979, 285 miles of new motorway have been completed, and 30 miles of existing motorway widened.

  Danbury Bypass
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to build a bypass around Danbury; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 12 June 1990]:This is a matter for Essex county council as local highway authority.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Mr. Alexander Bora
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now allow Mr. Alexander Bora, a United States citizen, to enter the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Mr. Bora was refused leave to enter the United Kingdom by an immigration officer at Gatwick airport on 12 March 1987.

  So far as I am aware, Mr. Bora has not sought admission since that date. Should he do so, his case would be given full consideration in the normal way.

  Obscene Telephone Calls
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total number of prosecutions under section 43 of the Telecommunications Act 1984.

  Mr. John Patten
  It is not possible from the information held centrally to identify offences under section 43 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 from others under the aforesaid Act.

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on nationally recommended minimum standards to maintain civil defence cover.
  190
  Mr. John Patten
  There are no nationally recommended minimum standards for civil defence.

  Arson (Wales)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the National Association of Probation Officers concerning his Meibion Glyndwr police investigations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received a letter from the National Association of Probation Officers calling for an independent inquiry into recent arrests by north Wales police. He replied on 11 May confirming that the chief constable had decided that the circumstances of the arrests should be investigated by a senior officer from another force under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the terms of reference of the investigation being conducted by Lancashire police into the way in which North Wales police have undertaken action relating to the arson campaign in Wales; whether the investigation is into the entire sequence of police action since the arson campaign first started; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The investigation relates only to certain arrests, the circumstances of which were referred to the Police Complaints Authority by the chief constable of North Wales under section 88 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. The authority approved the appointment of an investigating officer from the Lancashire constabulary and is supervising the investigation. I understand that the terms of reference are:To enquire into the circumstances leading to and surrounding the arrest of Bryn Fon, Anna Wynne-Williams, Henryd Myrddin Jones and Dyfed Wyn Thomas, to determine whether or not the police action was proper and reasonable.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which groups concerned with reforming the law on Sunday trading he has met; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Since 1986 my ministerial colleagues and I have met individuals and groups with widely differing views on the subject. In the past year these have included representatives of OPEN (previously, the Community Shops Group), the British Hardware Federation, Keep Sunday Special Campaign, the Association of District Councils, the British Videogram Association, the Retail Consortium and the Shopping Hours Reform Council. No proposal to reform the law has yet been put forward which seems likely to command sufficient support to pro vide the basis for legislation.

  Chinese Refugees
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received concerning the refusal to grant asylum to Chinese refugees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Representations have been received in respect of one Chinese national who was refused asylum
  191
  here but was granted exceptional leave to remain. We have also received some 20 representations about the decision not to consider the asylum applications from 33 Chinese nationals who came here from Panama. This group has failed to comply with their terms of temporary admission and their cases will be further considered when they are traced.

  Police Buildings
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what approval he has given for the acquisition or building of new police headquarters and at what cost in England and Wales since 1980.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information for force headquarters buildings is as follows:

  £ million

  1982

  Avon and Somerset force headquarters—purchase of site and preparatory works

  0·974

  1983

  Metropolitan police—Bessborough street and Vauxhall Bridge road adaptations work (lease rental £1·175 million per annum)

  1·28

  Metropolitan polioe—Drummond gate adaptations work (lease rental £1·795 million per annum)

  1·64

  1984

  Leicestershire force headquarters—phase 1

  3·655

  Dyfed Powys force headquarters

  5·9

  1989

  Thames Valley force headquarters—acquisition of site

  1·1

  Avon and Somerset force headquarters—phase 1

  4·772

  Avon and Somerset force headquarters—phase 1A

  1·5

  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to value the

  Table 1

  Age

  Charge

  14–20

  21–25

  26–30

  31–35

  Over 35

  Total

  Males

  Riot

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  4

  Violent disorder

  19

  37

  20

  7

  6

  89

  Affray

  7

  10

  8

  —

  —

  25

  Public Order Act

  Section 4

  21

  45

  17

  6

  2

  41

  Section 5

  10

  18

  11

  2

  —

  41

  Grievous bodily harm

  1

  2

  —

  1

  —

  4

  Other assaults

  6

  22

  8

  3

  2

  41

  Burglary

  12

  8

  3

  3

  1

  27

  Theft

  12

  8

  3

  —

  —

  23

  Dishonest handling

  10

  2

  4

  —

  —

  16

  Criminal damage

  4

  15

  6

  1

  2

  28

  Arson

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Enclosed premises

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Obstructing police

  6

  11

  5

  —

  1

  23

  Highway obstruction

  8

  8

  4

  1

  1

  22

  Drunk and disorderly

  —

  1

  1

  —

  3

  5

  Drugs

  1

  3

  2

  —

  —

  6

  Total

  119

  195

  92

  24

  18

  1448

  Females

  Riot

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Violent disorder

  4

  4

  3

  —

  —

  11

  Affray

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  192
  police estate in England and Wales, and for the more effective management of police buildings, within the 43 Home Office inspected forces.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The ownership of the police estate is vested in police authorities, or, in the case of the Metropolitan police, the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District.

  Home Office circular No. 32/1987, issued in May 1987, asked the authorities to review their management of the police estate with a view to identifying accommodation and sites which are surplus to requirements, either for disposal or, where appropriate, to meet emerging new needs for accommodation. The procedures for reviewing the estate are matters for the police authorities themselves, but Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary has generally expressed its satisfaction with the arrangements which have been made.

  A proposal to carry out a valuation of the Metropolitan police estate on commercially accepted principles and updating the information on a continuing basis is being considered.

  Trafalgar Square (Incident)
  Mr. Nellist
  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 on those detained, following the 31 March incident in Trafalgar square, as to hose(a) released without charge, and (b) charged, by offence, and by age, sex and place of residence.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that by 8 June 471 people have been arrested in connection with the disorder which occurred during and following the demonstration against the community charge which took place in London on 31 March. Of these, 58 were subsequently released without charge.

  The information readily available about the charges preferred and the age and sex of those charged with these offences is set out in table 1:
  193

  Age

  Charge

  14–20

  21–25

  26–30

  31–35

  Over 35

  Total

  Public Order Act

  Section 4

  4

  3

  1

  —

  —

  8

  Section 5

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Grievous bodily harm

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other assaults

  2

  4

  2

  —

  —

  8

  Burglary

  7

  —

  —

  1

  —

  8

  Theft

  3

  2

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Dishonest handling

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Criminal damage

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  Arson

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Enclosed premises

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Obstructing police

  2

  3

  3

  —

  —

  8

  Highway obstruction

  1

  3

  1

  —

  1

  6

  Drunk and disorderly

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Drugs

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Total

  28

  20

  12

  1

  2

  163

  1 Some individuals may be charged with more than one offence.

  The stated place of residence of those arrested (including those subsequently released without charge) is set out in table 2:

  Table 2

  Numbers

  London

  245

  No Fixed Abode

  31

  Essex

  21

  Hampshire

  15

  Avon and Somerset

  15

  Surrey

  16

  Kent

  14

  Hertfordshire

  9

  Sussex

  9

  Yorkshire

  8

  Nottinghamshire

  8

  Berkshire

  7

  Greater Manchester

  6

  Lancashire

  5

  West Midlands

  5

  Cambridgeshire

  4

  Merseyside

  5

  Buckinghamshire

  4

  Dyfed

  3

  Humberside

  3

  Leicestershire

  3

  Suffolk

  3

  Oxfordshire

  3

  Wiltshire

  3

  Eire

  3

  Channel Islands

  2

  Cleveland

  2

  Dorset

  2

  Spain

  1

  Malta

  1

  Derbyshire

  1

  Devon

  1

  Gloucestershire

  1

  Norfolk

  1

  Northamptonshire

  1

  Staffordshire

  1

  Warwickshire

  1

  Worcestershire

  1

  Glamorgan

  1

  Dumfries

  1

  Shropshire

  1

  France

  1

  Strathclyde

  1

  Rosshire

  1

  Gwent

  1

  Total

  471

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to review the effectiveness of the current provisions to prevent undue pain and suffering in experimentation on live animals.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no such plans.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the annual number of lethal dose toxicity tests permitted over the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Lethal dose toxicity tests have been separately identified in the statistics since 1987. The numbers of such tests carried out in 1987 and 1988 are published in table 14—columns 8 and 9—of the annual "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain" for 1987 and 1988, Cm. 515 and 743. Copies of these publications are in the Library.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has made to the pharmaceutical and other commercial companies undertaking tests on live animals to move towards alternative methods of testing;

  (2) what further steps he proposes to encourage provision for alternative methods for use in basic research in toxicity testing and drug development to replace experimentation on live animals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It is a fundamental principal of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 that animals are used in scientific procedures, for whatever purposes, only where there are no alternatives to their use. All applicants for a project licence issued under the Act must satisfy the Home Office that they have given thorough consideration to the scope for using alternative methods not involving animals.

  While the use of animals for research and safety testing will remain necessary for the foreseeable future, those involved in animal procedures are well aware of the need to move towards non-animal techniques whenever possible. Work involving living animals is not permitted where alternatives exist.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report those

  195
  organisations which have received grants from Her Majesty's Government for research into replacement alternatives to experimentation on live animals indicating the amount of the grant in each case.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In 1984 financial assistance was provided to two organisations concerned with animals in research. Some £185,000 was given to the fund for the replacement of animals in medical experiments (FRAME) to help with three projects: a feasibility study of validation of in vitro techniques which might replace animal experiments; work on a possible database of tissue culture techniques; and on examination of the use of human tissue cultures instead of animals in medical research and toxicity testing. Some £30,000 was given to the universities federation for animal welfare (UFAW) to support an evaluation of the effects of various cage sizes and social groupings on the well-being of laboratory rats.

  With the passing of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, the Home Office established a scheme which is administered by a sub-committee of the Animal Procedures Committee to grant aid research to reduce, refine or replace the use of living animals in scientific procedures. The Home Office also funds research concerned with the welfare of laboratory animals. In 1988–89, the first year of the operation of the scheme, it was decided to fund the following four projects:

  (i) Dr. P. A. Botham and Dr. G. J. A. Oliver, ICI Central Toxicology Laboratory. "Validation of an enucleated eye model" (£26,700 over two years)

  (ii) Dr. A. F. Bristow and Dr. S. Poole, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control. "Assay of Pyrogens measuring lymphokine production in vitro". (£72,700 over three years)

  (iii) Dr. A. Robinson, Public Health Laboratory Service "Alternative potency tests for cellular pertenssis". (£9,800 over three years)

  (iv) Dr. R. M. Stagg, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Scotland "Fish cell culture for toxicity assessment". (£25,700 over two years)

  In 1989–90 it was decided to fund the following projects:

  (i) Dr. M. E. G. Boursell, AFRC Institute for Animal Health. "Recombinant vaccine against infectious burial disease virus". (£77,700 over three years)

  (ii) Dr. M. Ferguson, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control. "The use of in vitro assays for the potency of rabies vaccines". (£10,000 over two years)

  (iii) Mr. A. Knight, Wellcome Research Laboratories. "A replacement for the clostridium chauvoei vaccine potency test". (£67,000 over three years).

  (iv) Professor D. B. Morton, University of Birmingham. "Evaluation of welfare in the husbandry of laboratory rabbits". (£59,900 over three years).

  In addition, on the advice of the Animal Procedures Committee research sub-committee, the Home Office commissioned a report of an investigation into antibody production. The Home Office has also supported, and part-funded, international work on acute toxicity testing aimed at further reducing the need for formal LD50 tests.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the number of experiments on live animals carried out in each year since the 1986 provisions took effect, showing how many animals were used for scientific testing in each year.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information is published in table 18 of "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain, 1988", Cm. 743, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Colin Wallace
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his consideration of the representations made on behalf of Mr. Colin Wallace concerning his conviction, referred to in a letter of 4 June from Mr. J. H. Miller, Private Secretary to the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, to Mr. Wallace.

  Mr. John Patten
  We hope to be able to reply shortly to the latest representations made on Mr. Wallace's behalf regarding the safety of his conviction.

  Plutonium Contamination
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on plans or studies that assess the measures that would have to be taken by the police or civil defence authorities in the event of widespread contamination by airborne plutonium resulting from a nuclear weapons accident aboard a Royal Navy ship docked at Greenwich.

  Mr. John Patten
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces to a question from the hon. Member and the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 8 June, at column 724.

  War Crimes
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to investigate the allegations made by Arthur Lane of alleged war crimes committed by Kiyoaki Tanara and Shigeyuki Hashimoto; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 22 May.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Mortgage Repossession
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the number of private mortgage possession orders granted in each English region, for the years(a) 1986, (b) 1987, (c) 1988 and (d)

  The Attorney-General
  The number of private mortgage possession orders made in county courts in England for the years 1986 to 1989 are as follows. The numbers of such orders made in the six circuits within England are also given.

  Private mortgage possession orders granted in England 1986–89

  Circuit

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Midland and Oxford

  9,382

  9,304

  8,405

  8,756

  North Eastern

  6,548

  7,727

  7,221

  5,847

  Northern

  6,323

  7,342

  8,167

  7,984

  South Eastern

  11,300

  11,738

  11,844

  18,832

  Wales and Chester

  714

  811

  564

  647

  Western

  4,784

  4,861

  4,160

  5,027

  England total

  39,051

  41,513

  40,361

  47,093

  The figures given for Wales and Chester circuit exclude private mortgage possession orders granted in Wales.

  Divorce
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on progress towards a fair and equitable system for all parties in divorce with particular regard to maintenance of, and access to, the children involved.

  The Attorney-General
  The Children Act 1989 represents a major reform of the law relating to children including access to them. It is, however, only a first step in a programme to review family law and its administration which includes consideration of the Law Commission's expected report on divorce later this year, conciliation arrangements and the Government's current consideration of the assessment, collection and enforcement of maintenance.

  In considering and implementing policy on all these matters, the Government recognise the need for fairness and equity, but regard the interests of the child as their first priority.

  Mr. Kevin Taylor
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on developments since the Director of Public Prosecutions was in touch with Greater Manchester police about the outcome of the trial of Kevin Taylor.

  The Attorney-General
  The question of any action subsequent to the DPP's letter of 19 January 1990 to the chief constable of Greater Manchester is one for the chief constable alone.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to grant specific relief or exemption from part of the community charge for those couples who are both blind.

  Mr. Chope
  Disabled people, including those who are registered as blind, can already receive higher levels of community charge benefit, which may reduce bills by up to 80 per cent, because of their disability. The income level at which they are entitled to maximum community charge benefit, and where the sliding scale of reductions begins, is higher than for other people. A disabled person who is not a former ratepayer or the partner of a former ratepayer may also be entitled to extra transitional relief.

  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the inquiries or audits undertaken by the Audit Commission on the finances of individual local authorities in 1990.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 12 June 1990]: As for every financial year, auditors appointed by the Audit Commission will undertake audits of the accounts of all local authorities for 1990–91. Information on public interest reports made by auditors to local authorities under section 15 of the Local Government Finance Act 1982 is held by the Audit Commission.

  Beaches
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ensure that hoteliers and business are compensated against loss of earnings as a result of drops in the tourist trade due to dirty beaches.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No.

  Water Charges
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what alternative methods of charging for water supply and sewerage disposal for domestic customers have been discussed between him and chairmen of water companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  None. Subject to the general supervision exercised by the Director General of Water Services, it is a matter for each water company to decide what methods of charging to adopt for its services before charging by rateable value is prohibited in the year 2000.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the estimated costs of installing meters in all properties now charged on rateable values.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No estimates have been prepared. The cost of installing meters depends on a variety of factors and in some cases installation may not prove practical without excessive cost. I understand that information on the costs of installing meters will be contained in the second interim report on the national metering trials which the water industry intends to publish early in July. The decision whether to install meters on a wide scale will be taken by each water company, in the light of all the circumstances in its area and under the general supervision of the Director General of Water Services.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's contribution to the water meter trials by area; and what is the total cost of each water meter trial.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The latest estimated cost of each metering trial and the Government's contribution to each trial is shown in the following table:

  Total cost £

  Government contribution £

  Isle of Wight (Southern Water)

  16,133,000

  7,394,000

  Chandlers Ford (Southern Water)

  124,700

  62,350

  Chorleywood (Rickmansworth Water Company)

  220,000

  nil

  Briston-Hotwells (Bristol Waterworks Company)

  331,300

  165,650

  Haling Park (Thames Water)

  548,400

  274,200

  Bromsgrove (East Worcestershire Waterworks Company)

  382,500

  191,250

  Brookmans Park (Lee Valley Water Company)

  694,200

  347,100

  Turlin Moor (Wessex Water)

  197,500

  98,750

  Broadstone (Wessex Water)

  307,000

  153,500

  Camberley (Mid Southern Water Company)

  319,600

  159,800

  Hutton Rudby (Northumbrian Water)

  331,200

  165,600

  South Normanton (Yorkshire Water)

  375,800

  187,900

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  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with the Director General of Water Services to ensure that competition is assured in the provision of water services in Yorkshire and value for money is obtained by consumers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  None. The Water Act requires the director general, in carrying out his regulatory functions, to protect the interests of customers in respect of charges and other terms on which services are provided, to promote economy and efficiency on the part of appointed companies and to facilitate effective competition, subject to the primary duties to ensure that water and sewerage functions are properly carried out and that appointed undertakers can finance the proper carrying out of those functions.

  In setting the initial charges limits for the companies the Secretary of State was subject to the same duties. He took account of the comparative efficiency of each company and incorporated target efficiency savings in the cost projections on which the charge limits were based.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will consider making adjustments to the payment of the uniform business rates to help with the loss of the former business rates paid to the town and parish councils; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what representations he has received from town and parish councils over the introduction of the community charge and the uniform business rate and their effects on financing local government; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he intends to take action to assist in the retention of town and parish councils where the reform of the business rate is having some effect on their future; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend has received many representations from town and parish councils about the introduction of the community charge and the uniform business rate, and about the effects on financing local government. District councils have powers to assist town and parish councils in meeting their costs. The new system means that all councils are now accountable to their charge payers for their decisions.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what evidence he has of evasion by hotels, guest houses and tourist accommodation of their obligations to pay the uniform business rate;

  (2) if he has any plans to investigate the use of the fire certificate threshold of six letting bed spaces as a suitable starting point for imposition of the uniform business rate.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 12 June 1990]: I have no evidence of such evasion. I have received representations from home owners providing bed-and-breakfast accommodation for a more generous exemption than the 99-day maximum which currently operates: but others, particularly the hotel trade, believe that any exemption in this area could lead to unfair competition. The tourist authorities have represented that the existing exemption could lead to a shortening of the season in which some accommodation is available. We are considering these arguments and others that have been put to us.

  River Quality
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the criteria used to determine river quality are identical throughout the European Community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Member states each use different systems for monitoring and assessing river quality. A review of the various European systems prepared for the Department in 1987 included a comparison of the quality of European rivers according to the classification system in use in England and Wales. This showed that 95 per cent. of river length in the United Kingdom was of good or fair quality compared with 75 per cent. in the European Community as a whole. The review showed that no other member state bettered our position.

  Disabled People (Employment)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the respective percentage of registered disabled persons who are employed by each urban development corporation.

  Mr. Moynihan
  At 1 April 1990, the percentage of registered disabled people employed by London Docklands development corporation was 0·7 per cent. and by Trafford Park development corporation 2·3 per cent. The other corporations currently employ no registered disabled people.

  Sewage Discharges
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the extent of his programme to monitor the presence of viruses in sewage discharges; and what research is being undertaken to establish any possible health implications resulting from the presence of viruses in sewage discharges.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The monitoring of sewage discharges is a matter for the National Rivers Authority. The Department has commissioned research into the health effects of bathing in sea water, and the results are expected to be available soon.

  Housing Action Trusts, Lambeth
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department intends to proceed with proposals for housing action trusts for the Angell and Loughborough estates in Lambeth.

  Mr. Chope
  No.

  Shopping Facilities
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest guidance given to local planning authorities regarding the design of new shopping facilities.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Planning policy guidance note 6 sets out the Government's general planning policies for major retail development. My right hon. Friend's statement of 6 March, about standards of design for major new buildings, made it clear that considerations such as the density and bulk of a development, and its compatibility with its
  201
  surroundings, may be relevant planning issues. Only exceptionally should planning authorities seek to control design details, if the sensitive character of the area or the particular building justifies it.

  Sea Birds (Poisoning)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been undertaken to establish any possible adverse environmental impact resulting from the discharge into the sea from the north Norfolk coast of glycol; what permissions exist in respect of such discharges; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The National Rivers Authority and the former Anglian water authority have undertaken extensive monitoring of discharges of glycol and a survey of the receiving waters off the north Norfolk coast over the past two years. The results have shown that the discharges are having no detectable impact on the North sea.

  Details of discharge consents and information from routine monitoring of the discharges are held on the public registers maintained by the Anglian region of the National Rivers Authority, under the terms of the Water Act 1989.

  Local Government (Legislation)
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the Acts of Parliament made in each year from 1969 to 1989 which relate to(a) local government and (b) local government finance.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Public general Acts of Parliament between January 1969 and June 1979 which affect local authorities in England include

  Local Government Grants (Social Need) Act 1969*

  Mines and Quarries (Tips) 1969

  Nuclear Installations Act 1969

  Tattooing of Minors Act 1969

  Public Health (Removing Nuisances) Act 1969

  Vehicles and Driving Licences Act 1969

  Housing Act 1969

  Transport (London) Act 1969

  Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969

  Children and Young Persons Act 1969

  Transport (London) Amendment Act 1969*

  Expiring Laws Act 1969

  Rent (Control of Increases) Act 1969

  Police Act 1969

  Food and Drugs (Milk) Act 1970

  Local Employment Act 1970

  Education (School Milk) Act 1970

  General Rate Act 1970*

  New Forest Act 1970

  Parish Councils and Burial Authorities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1970

  Riding Establishments Act 1970

  Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970

  Local Authority Social Services Act 1970

  Trees Act 1970

  Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970

  Indecent Advertisements (Amendment) Act 1970

  Education (Handicapped Children) Act 1970

  Local Authorities (Qualification of Members) Act 1970

  Courts Act 1971

  Water Resources Act 1971

  Rating Act 1971*

  Fire Precautions Act 1971

  Highways Act 1971

  Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act 1971

  Education (Milk) Act 1971

  Housing Act 1971

  Town and Country Planning Act 1971

  Local Employment Act 1972

  Road Traffic Act 1972

  202

  Deposit of Poisonous Waste Act 1972

  Sunday Theatre Act 1972

  Police Act 1972

  Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1972

  Children Act 1972

  Housing Finance Act 1972*

  Local Government Act 1972*

  National Theatre and Museum of London Act 1973

  Housing (Amendment) Act 1973

  Furnished Lettings (Rent Allowances) Act 1973

  Fire Precautions (Loans) Act 1973*

  Education Act 1973

  Education (Work Experience) Act 1973

  Employment of Children Act 1973

  Land Compensation 1973

  Rate Rebate Act 1973*

  National Health Service Reorganisation Act 1973

  Employment Agencies Act 1973

  Water Act 1973

  Fair Trading Act 1973

  Maplin Development Act 1973

  Slaughterhouses Act 1974

  Local Government Act 1974*

  Charlwood and Horley Act 1974

  Town and Country Amenities Act 1974

  Control of Pollution Act 1974

  Housing Act 1974

  Education Act 1975

  General Rate Act 1975*

  Housing Rents and Subsidies Act 1975*

  Reservoirs Act 1975

  Referendum Act 1975

  Nursing Homes Act 1975

  Mobile Homes Act 1975

  Housing Finance (Special Provisions) Act 1975*

  Children Act 1975

  Local Land Charges Act 1975

  Community Land Act 1975

  Education (School-Leaving Dates) Act 1976

  Rating (Caravan Sites) Act 1976*

  Police Pensions Act 1976

  Adoption Act 1976

  Foods and Drugs (Control of Food Premises) Act 1976

  Rating (Charity Shops) Act 1976*

  Police Act 1976

  Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Amendment) Act 1976

  Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976

  New Towns (Amendment) Act 1976

  Weights and Measures &c. Act 1976

  Education Act 1976

  General Rate (Public Utilities) Act 1977*

  Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1977

  Control of Office Development Act 1977

  Local Authorities (Restoration of Works Powers) Act 1977

  Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977

  Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978

  European Assembly Elections Act 1978

  Home Purchase Assistance and Housing Corporation Guarantee Act 1978*

  Local Government Act 1978

  Rating (Disabled Persons) Act 1978*

  Homes Insulation Act 1978

  Inner Urban Areas Act 1978

  Public Lending Right Act 1979

  Acts relating (at least in part) to local government finance are marked with an asterisk (*).

  For Acts after June 19791 refer the hon. Member to the answer of my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities to the hon. Member for Copeland on 4 May at columns 676–78.

  Bathing Water Directives
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what beaches in Europe outside the United Kingdom are subject to legal proceedings for failing to meet the bathing water directives; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I understand that the Commission is pursuing legal proceedings against all member states except Portugal in respect of directive 76/160/EEC.

  The Commission has powers under the EC treaty to take proceedings against individual member states which it considers are not complying with their obligations under the treaty. It is for the Commission to decide when to commence such legal proceedings.

  Voluntary Organisations
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to monitor the effects of the community charge on grant aid to local voluntary organisations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government monitor the main categories of expenditure of local authorities, which this year will be affected by the introduction of the community charge and the level of charges, but the grant aid which local authorities provide to voluntary organisations is a matter for them to decide, not the Government.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the effects on grant aid to local voluntary organisations of local authorities not recovering the level of community charge anticipated when preparing their budget.

  Mr. Chope
  If authorities collect charges efficiently, there is no reason why the cash volume of arrears should be greater than under the rating system. There is no reason why local authorities, or those voluntary organisations which receive grant aid from local authorities, need be in any way disadvantaged in the way the right hon. Member implies.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all groups and organisations within the Sunderland borough council area that have received urban programme support in(a) 1989–90 and (b) 1990–91; and if he will identify the level of grant received in each case and any conditions attached.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I regret that the detailed information is not readily available to the Department. However, Sunderland borough council, as managers of the urban programme, should be able to provide the information requested direct to the hon. Member.

  Builders and Decorators
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans for, or anticipates direction from the European Commission on plans for, a standard registration for all builders and decorators; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no such proposals, nor does he anticipate any from the European Commission.
  204
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the protection available to individuals who receive unsatisfactory service from people purporting to be builders and decorators; and how this is likely to change after 1992.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, in contracts for the supply of services, which would include building and decorating, the service must be carried out with reasonable care and skill. Any materials used must be of "merchantable quality", and fit for the job in hand. If the builder or decorator fails in these obligations, the law treats the matter as a breach of contract and the consumer may then look to him for redress through the courts. A number of trade associations operate insurance-backed guarantee schemes, offering protection for the individual against the "cowboy" builder. The Office of Fair Trading is also working with the industry to devise a model fair deal contract for small home improvement works and is examining how an industry-led body could carry out the assessment and approval of insurance-backed guarantee schemes.

  The position would be unaffected by current proposals for the completion of the single European market.

  Homelessness (Sunderland)
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many(a) families and (b) single people accepted as homeless within the borough of Sunderland area are at present in (i) bed-and-breakfast accommodation, (ii) other forms of temporary accommodation and (iii) of no fixed abode, and are in receipt of state benefits.

  Mr. Chope
  The latest available figures for the number of homeless households in bed-and-breakfast and other forms of temporary accommodation are for the end of December 1989. These appear in table 7 of "Local authorities" action under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England; Results for the fourth quarter of 1989; Supplementary Tables", which is the Library.

  The number of single people among the households accepted as homeless is not reported to the Department by local authorities and we have no estimates.

  Statistics on the numbers of homeless people in temporary accommodation or of no fixed abode and in receipt of state benefits are not available centrally in the form requested.

  Bottled Water
  Mr. Knowles
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what responsibility his Department has for bottled drinking waters.

  Mr. Trippier
  Responsibility for regulating the quality of the two main categories of bottled waters—natural mineral water and artificially carbonated mineral or spring water—lies with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Responsibility for any other bottled water has hitherto fallen to the Secretary of State for the Environment, because my right hon. Friend has overall responsibility for EC directive 80/778 on the quality of water intended for human consumption.

  The existence of separate legal and administrative regimes for different types of bottled water has inevitably caused confusion to producers, local authorities and the

  205
  public. The current Food Safety Bill will make it possible to establish a single regime under the Food Acts and the food hygiene regulations for all types of bottled water. The Prime Minister has therefore agreed that the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in conjunction with the Agriculture Ministers in Wales and Scotland, and the Minister for Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland, should in future have ministerial responsibility for all types of bottled water.

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

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 6 June 1990]: Information at district level is not available. Nationally, we estimate that 90 per cent. of dwellings with accessible lofts have insulation and 15 per cent. of all dwellings have cavity wall insulation. The proportion which meet the

  Households by number of adults and sex and ethnic group of head of household: 1988 England

  (a) Number of households (thousand)

  Sex and ethnic group of head of household

  Single pensioner

  Other single adult

  Two adults

  Three or more adults

  1All

  Males

  Indian

  1

  5

  111

  68

  186

  Pakistani/Bangladeshi

  1

  3

  70

  23

  98

  West Indian

  2

  24

  65

  25

  116

  Other

  3

  26

  112

  37

  178

  All ethnic minorities

  7

  59

  359

  152

  578

  White

  587

  1,180

  9,247

  2,417

  13,433

  All ethnic groups

  595

  1,239

  9,606

  2,569

  14,011

  Female All ethnic minorities

  16

  101

  36

  13

  166

  White

  2,135

  1,343

  712

  203

  4,396

  All ethnic groups

  2,151

  1,445

  748

  217

  4,563

  All

  Indian

  4

  17

  119

  73

  212

  Pakistani/Bangladeshi

  1

  8

  71

  24

  104

  West Indian

  6

  78

  80

  30

  194

  Other

  12

  58

  125

  39

  234

  All ethnic minorities

  23

  160

  395

  166

  744

  White

  2,723

  2,524

  9,959

  2,620

  17,830

  All ethnic groups

  2,746

  2,684

  10,354

  2,786

  18,574

  (b) Percentage of all households

  Sex and ethnic group of head of household

  Single pensioner

  Other single adult

  Two adults

  Three or more adults

  1All

  Male

  Indian

  1

  3

  60

  37

  100

  Pakistan/Bangladeshi

  1

  3

  72

  24

  100

  West Indian

  2

  21

  56

  22

  100

  Other

  2

  15

  63

  21

  100

  All ethnic minorities

  1

  10

  62

  26

  100

  White

  4

  9

  69

  18

  100

  All ethnic groups

  4

  9

  69

  18

  100

  Female

  All ethnic minorities

  10

  61

  22

  8

  100

  206
  higher standards of thermal insulation required by new building regulations, introduced in April this year, is not known.

  Household Statistics
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the total number of households in England and the numbers and percentages of those households which are(a) single-pensioner households, (b) other single-adult households, (c) two-adult households and (d) three or more adult households;

  (2) what are the numbers and percentages of total households, broken down by sex and racial composition, of people living in (a) single-pensioner households, (b) other single-adult households, (c) two-adult households and (d) three or more adult households in England.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 13 June 1990]: The available estimates from the 1988 labour force survey are as follows:
  207

  Sex and ethnic group of head of household

  Single pensioner

  Other single adult

  Two adults

  Three or more adults

  1All

  White

  49

  31

  16

  5

  100

  All ethnic groups

  47

  32

  16

  5

  100

  All

  Indian

  2

  8

  56

  34

  100

  Pakistani/Bangladeshi

  1

  8

  68

  23

  100

  West Indian

  3

  40

  41

  15

  100

  Other

  5

  25

  53

  17

  100

  All ethnic minorities

  3

  22

  53

  22

  100

  White

  15

  14

  56

  15

  100

  All ethnic groups

  15

  14

  56

  15

  100

  1 Includes a small number of households with no adults.

  Source:—1988 Labour force Survey—estimates are subject to sampling is too small to provide the same breakdown as for male heads.

PRIME MINISTER

  Mr. Jonathan Moyle
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement about the death of Mr. Jonathan Moyle in Chile; whether any official of Her Majesty's Government has made a statement as to cause and nature of his death; and what representations Her Majesty's Government have received from Mr. Moyle's family.

  The Prime Minister
  The tragic death of Mr. Jonathan Moyle is under investigation by the Chilean authorities. Her Majesty's coroner for Exeter and East Devon has also opened an inquest. It would not therefore be appropriate for me to make a statement at this time. No official statement has been made by any Government Department or agency in London or by the British embassy in Santiago as to the cause of. Moyle's death. Consular officials in London are in regular contact with Mr. Moyle's family.

  Mr. Colin Wallace
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what criteria have been used since October 1989 when separating papers relating to Mr. Wallace's case between 10 Downing street, the Ministry of Defence, the Home Office and the Northern Ireland Office.

  The Prime Minister
  Departments are given copies of relevant papers.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Fair Employment
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the numbers of employees in each public organisation by the Fair Employment Agency's definition of Protestant and Roman Catholics in(a) the Omagh council area and (b) with a postcode BT79 for those companies or organisations on the fair employment register.

  Mr. Needham
  Of the 101 public authorities specified in the Fair Employment (Specification of Public Authorities) Order (NI) 1989, only two—Omagh district council and the Western education and library board—have registered addresses in Omagh. The number of employees in the former is 293 and in the latter 3,514.
  208
  The only public authorities with registered addresses with a postcode of BT79 are Omagh district council and the Western education and library board.

  The Fair Employment Commission is not releasing information on community composition from individual monitoring returns at present.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish the Planning Appeals Commission's report on the public inquiry into the SIBEC (Scotland) Ltd., proposals for a shopping centre, food court and leisure facilities at Bloomfield road, Bangor; and if he will treat the matter as an issue of urgency.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 11 June 1990]: Planning decisions on the applications submitted by SIBEC (Scotland) Ltd. were issued on 5 June 1990 and the report of the Planning Appeals Commission on the public inquiry is now available for public inspection or purchase. A copy of the report was sent to the hon. Gentleman for his information on 7 June.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present level of unemployment in Londonderry city; and what were the corresponding figures in 1969, 1972, 1979 and 1985.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 12 June 1990]: The information requested is as follows:

  Numbers

  April 1990 (latest available)

  7,588

  April 1985

  9,070

  Similar information is not available prior to 1984.

  "Making Belfast Work"
  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a list of the names and addresses of groups which have received money under the "Making Belfast Work" initiative since it was set up and the corresponding amount given to each group in the relevant financial years.
  209
  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 12 June 1990]: In view of the large amount of material to be collated, I will write to the hon. Member and place copies of the information in the Library.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Romania and Bulgaria
  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans he has to visit Romania; and what steps are being taken to promote trading opportunities there;

  (2) what plans he has to visit Bulgaria; and what steps are being taken to promote trading opportunities there.

  Mr. Redwood
  At present, my right hon. Friend has no plans to visit Romania or Bulgaria. My Department promotes United Kingdom trade with both countries by providing companies with information about economic conditions and about specific business opportunities; by using joint commissions and other official contacts to find out as much as we can about local economic policies and priorities; and to support British companies pursuing significant business. I myself led a delegation to Romania in February 1990, and senior officials have recently visited Bulgaria.

  Additionally, in Bulgaria, we are supporting trade promotion events such as the Plovdiv autumn fair; and we would support similar events in Romania.

  Waste Minimisation
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department has taken on waste minimisation in industry; how many staff are employed in this area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Waste minimisation in industry is a key focus of my Department's environmental programme. In November 1989, the Department published a business guide to waste minimisation called "Cutting Your Losses". Some 29,000 copies of the booklet have been taken up so far. The Department and the Confederation of British Industry are currently running a series of regional seminars to inform businesses of the requirements of new legislation on waste and to promote waste minimisation.

  The Department's environmental inquiry point at Warren Spring laboratory gives general advice to business on a range of environmental issues including waste minimisation; and smaller firms needing more detailed advice from consultants can receive assistance under the Department's consultancy initiatives. My Department is also assisting the development of new environmental technologies through a growing range of initiatives.

  Separate figures for the amount of staff time devoted specifically to waste minimisation are not available, but the topic involves many members of the Department's environment task force and they also call upon assistance and advice, for example from the Department's research establishments and regional offices, as well as from external organisations.

  Single Market
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give consideration to amending the terms of reference of the Office of Fair Trading and the 210
  Monopolies and Mergers Commission in the light of Britain's forthcoming membership of the single European market.

  Mr. Redwood
  The achievement of the single European market does not require changes in the statutory duties of the Director General of Fair Trading and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. The Fair Trading Act provisions allow the director and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to take account of competition from outside the United Kingdom—whether from in the Community or elsewhere—in looking at whether a merger would damage competition in the United Kingdom. Mergers with a Community dimension as defined by the EC merger control regulation will, from 21 September this year, be subject to examination by the European Commission. Under the regulation, mergers leading to or strengthening a dominant position and significantly impeding competition in the Common Market will be prohibited by the Commission. The director and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission will retain their important competition responsibilities within the United Kingdom, including responsibility for mergers outside the scope of the regulation.

  Harrods Bank
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to hear from the Bank of England regarding Harrods bank.

  Mr. Redwood
  My right hon. Friend hopes to hear from the bank before long.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on discussions between his Department and the Bank of England concerning the control of Harrods Bank Ltd.; and whether the Bank has been sent any recommendations for action since receiving the official investigation report in August 1988.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department sent the report to the Bank of England in view of the Bank's regulatory responsibilities under the Banking Act.

  It is for the bank alone to determine whether any action by it is required under that Act.

  Financial Reporting Council
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the members of the Financial Reporting Council, together with other relevant information as to their experience, directorships and partnerships.

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his question on 5 June at column 435.

  City Regulation
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his Department's latest assessment of the effectiveness of City regulation.

  Mr. Redwood
  Regulation of investment business is for the most part the responsibility of the Securities and Investments Board, which is the designated agency under the Financial Services Act 1986. Other aspects of City activity are regulated under other arrangements. such as
  211
  the Insurance Companies Act 1982 and the Banking Act 1987. I am generally satisfied with this regulatory structure.

  Overseas Trade
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to increase the profitability of overseas trade; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  It is for individual companies to consider how best to increase their profitability.

  Packaging
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to encourage industry to reduce the amount of packaging used for products.

  Mr. Forth
  The promotion of waste minimisation in general is a key focus of my Department's environmental programme. The need to minimise packaging and, where essential packaging is concerned, to use materials which lend themselves to recycling, is being promoted through my Department's participation in relevant seminars and conferences and through meetings with representatives from the packaging industry.

  In March, my Department was co-organiser with the Institute of Metals of an international conference which discussed all aspects of the design of products so as to avoid harm to the environment, including the minimisation of packaging. An example of a product designed with reduced packaging in mind is included in the booklet "Design for the Environment", which my Department has produced with assistance from the Design Council.

  Caravans
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that all caravans meet fire safety standards.

  Mr. Forth
  The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations came into force, with respect to caravans, on 1 March 1990. Their enforcement is a matter for the trading standards departments of the local authorities, which have the necessary powers to inspect businesses selling caravans.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the cost to the caravan industry of complying with fire safety legislation in March 1990 instead of 1991.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department's cost compliance assessment of improving the fire safety in caravans by the introduction of the 1988 regulations estimated the cost to the industry to be between £3 million and £4 million per annum.

  Public Safety
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department takes to ensure that correspondence with firms and trade associations relating to public safety is received and acknowledged.

  Mr. Forth
  Every effort is made to send prompt replies to all letters asking questions, seeking information or 212
  raising issues about product safety. The views of a wide range of trade associations, consumer bodies and representative organisations are sought by the Department on matters relating to product safety. These views are always taken into account but not all such correspondence requires an individual response. If the hon. Member is concerned about a specific case, perhaps he would let me have the details so that I can investigate the matter.

  Bank Accounts
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made on the implementation of the European Community's bank accounts directive.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department intends to issue a consultative document before the recess inviting comments on draft regulations to implement the EC bank accounts directive. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  The directive establishes common rules in relation to the content, valuation methods, audit and publication of the individual and consolidated accounts of banks and other financial institutions.

  The consultative document will report on the responses to the consultative document issued on 31 July 1989, and will explain the decisions which have been taken on the scope of application of the directive and on the way in which the member state options it contains should be exercised. It will also explain that, in the light of the arguments presented in the responses to the consultative document issued last year, and the significant progress which has been made recently in the development of statements of recommended accounting practice (SORPs) and of an international accounting standard aimed at providing fuller disclosure in the accounts of banks and similar financial institutions, the Government have decided not to include disclosure requirements in the regulations which go beyond those in the directive but to leave the banking industry to develop its own response to the need for fuller disclosure. However, the consultative document will make it clear that, if there is undue delay in the preparation of appropriate SORPs, the option of legislating to impose such requirements will be reconsidered.

  Iraq (Trade Losses)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the cost to public funds of payments made during the last three years to compensate creditors for losses in respect of trade to Iraq; and when the last such payment was actually made.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 8 June 1990]: I am replying to this question, since I believe that it relates to ECGD's operation.

  It has been the policy of successive Governments not to publish details on individual countries arising from the operation of ECGD cover, not least since this could prejudice the position of the commercial parties involved.

  Live Horses (Export)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy insofar as his Department's responsibilities are concerned not to allow the export of live horses to Europe for slaughter to start again.
  213
  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 11 June 1990]: The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is not responsible for the live export of horses to Europe, which is a matter for the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  Hunterprint
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the company Hunterprint had, or has outstanding, any printing contracts for work associated with privatisations by his Department since 1983.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 11 June 1990]: Hunterprint has not been engaged as primary contractors for printing but may have been used as a subcontractor on DTI privatisations. However, this information is not available within the Department and to obtain it would be at disproportionate cost.

  Trade in Services
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the proposed GATT framework agreement on trade in services; when he expects the European Community to reach a common position on this matter; and whether the Commission is insisting on the inclusion of financial services in the agreement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 12 June 1990]: The Government attach a high priority to achieving, as part of the GATT Uruguay round, an agreement which will extend GATT rules and discipline to trade in services. The United Kingdom and the European Community are aiming for a comprehensive agreement, covering all service sectors, including financial services.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Eastern Europe
  Dr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the projects supported by the eastern Europe know-how fund to date.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis) on 14 March at column 236. The additional activities approved since then under the know-how fund are as follows:

  Poland

  Consultancy assistance in advising on inward investment applications to the Foreign Investment Agency—£100,000.

  Four privatisation consultancies for the Privatisation Foundation—£1,600,000.

  Secondment of an accountant and secretary to the Privatisation Foundation—£112,000.

  Secondment of three expatriates to the Export Development Bank—£600,000.

  Audit studies of nine commercial banks—£200,000.

  Company doctor training for official and private sector participants—£350,000.

  Advanced corporate finance training for commercial bank staff—£15,000.

  Assistance with auditing standards and establishment of a professional body—£250,000.

  Advice on accountancy standards to the Accountancy Association of Poland—£15,000.

  214

  Provision of accountancy books to university libraries and management training institutions—£275,000

  Four workshops for accountants with particular reference to joint ventures—£137,000.

  Short-term industrial attachments with British companies in cooperation with the Confederation of British Industry—£270,000.

  Secondment of an adviser on financial markets to the Ministry of Finance—£100,000.

  Assistance to the Ministries of Industry and Finance for industrial restructuring—£300,000.

  Four consultancies in the energy sector looking at the economic restructuring of the hard coal, oil and gas, lignite and electricity sectors, and a study on gas pricing —£1,600,000.

  Management training for Polish railways—£150,000.

  Hungary

  Secondment of two staff to the State Property Agency—£350,000.

  Management training course for the National Savings Bank—£55,000.

  Small enterprise development project managed by B'nai B'rith—£150,000.

  Short-term attachments by all 14 State Secretaries—£35,000.

  Czechoslovakia

  Follow-up visit by Czechoslovak employment officials—£8,000.

  Seminar attended by Czechoslovak environmental officials—£13,000.

  Health workshops for Civil Forum and the Ministry of Health —£13,000.

  Study tour of Czechoslovak social security officials—£4,000.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Income Support
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answers of 6 June to the questions by the hon. Member for Sunderland, South on income support, what information is maintained at(a) national and (b) sub-national level on the numbers of, and expenditure on, people on income support living in private residential care.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Information on all income support claimants is collected by way of quarterly and annual 1 per cent. samples of live cases in each local office. This method means that, for the small population of claimants in homes, reliable information is limited to numbers of claimants and expenditure at national level. Reliable data on claimant numbers at regional level can be obtained from averages of a number of quarterly surveys.

  Severe Disablement Allowance
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answers of 6 June to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South on severe disablement allowance, what information is maintained at(a) national and (b) sub-national level on numbers in receipt of the severe disablement allowance.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Information on severe disablement allowance is maintained as follows:

  A return is made every calendar month by each local office producing a figure comprising the number of claimants to the benefit and including those cases where final action is still outstanding although benefit has ceased. These figures are collated regionally and nationally.
  215
  Additional statistics based on a 1 per cent. sample of cases, are produced once a year for Great Britain and for standard statistical regions. Reliable figures cannot be produced for any smaller geographical area.

  For completeness, pursuant to my reply on 6 June, I would add that information on recipients of the income support severe disability premium is maintained at a national and regional level.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 6 June to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South on attendance allowance, what information is maintained at(a) national and (b) sub-national level on the numbers in receipt of attendance allowance and payments from the independent living fund.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  No information is maintained at(a) national and (b) sub-national level on numbers in receipt of both attendance allowance and payments from the independent living fund.

  Pensions
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to be able to make a statement in the light of the outcome of the Barber case on pension ages, in the European Court.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 21 May at column 10.

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many nuclear test veterans have made claims for pensions; how many have been awarded; how many have been rejected; and how many are still under consideration.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Records show that 248 claims for war pension have been made by ex-service men, or the widows or dependants of ex-service men who participated in the United Kingdom nuclear weapons test programme. Most, but not all, of these were for disablement or death resulting from alleged exposure to ionising radiation. Fourteen claims are still under consideration. The war pensions scheme provides for pensions where there is reliable evidence which raises a reasonable doubt that a condition is caused or aggravated by service or that death was due to or substantially hastened by service. It is accepted that the evidence raises such a doubt in the case of participants who have contracted leukaemia (excluding chronic lymphatic leukaemia) or multiple myeloma. Two war disablement pensions and eight war widows' pensions have been awarded as a result.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be(a) the gross and (b) the net cost of raising child benefit in a full financial year in line with the rise in tax thresholds in between 1989–90 to 1990–91 uprated according to the statutory formula.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The costs would be about £345 million gross and £260 million net.

  Repetitive Strain Injury
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on present policy towards compensation for repetitive strain injury; and what changes are being considered.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Two forms of upper limb disorder caused by repetitive movements are included in the list of prescribed diseases allowing entitlement to industrial injuries benefits:Cramp of the hand or forearm due to repetitive movements—in any occupation involving prolonged periods of handwriting, typing or other repetitive movements of the fingers, hand or arm.
  Traumatic inflammation of the tendons of the hand or forearm, or the associated tendon sheaths—in any occupation involving manual labour, or frequent or repeated movements of the hand or wrist.

  The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, who advise the Secretary of State on matters relating to the industrial injuries scheme, announced on 5 June a study to review all new evidence which has become available since 1986 on the occupational causation of upper limb disorders.

  Family Benefits
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently receiving family credit or income support in(a) Wales as a whole, (b) each county in Wales and (c) each district council area in Wales.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 18 May at column 568. Income support information is only available by social security region, or for Wales as a whole. At November 1989, some 253,000 claimants in Wales were in receipt of income support.

  Source: Quarterly statistical inquiry November 1989.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Research and Development
  Sir Gerard Vaughan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out the procedures and criteria for deciding priorities when allocating funds for scientific and technological research and development in Europe.

  Mr. Jackson
  Funds from the science budget are not specifically allocated for the support of European scientific research. From the resources made available to them annually, however, research councils and other agencies expend substantial sums on collaborative research within Europe. Decisions on priorities will generally reflect the scientific judgments of those involved. In reaching decisions in individual cases account is likely to be taken of a range of factors including the added value likely to be achievable from particular collaborative arrangements; their complementarity to domestic research priorities; their scope for improving the quality of European science; the likelihood of technology transfer; the pursuit of research goals requiring study of trans-border issues; and the extent to which the costs and risks of large-scale investment may be shared.

  Retirement (Ill Health)
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many ill health retirements took place in maintained further and higher education for each academic year from September 1979 to August 1989, inclusive.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  January

  Total number

  Percentage aged

  Under 30

  30 to 39

  40 to 49

  50 to 59

  60 and over

  1980

  77,941

  7·1

  30·6

  33·4

  24·7

  4·2

  1981

  77,465

  6·1

  30·9

  33·0

  25·4

  4·6

  1982

  77,378

  5·6

  31·4

  32·7

  25·7

  4·6

  1983

  79,036

  5·4

  31·6

  32·8

  25·6

  4·6

  1984

  79,852

  5·2

  31·1

  33·4

  25·7

  4·6

  1985

  80,408

  5·0

  30·4

  34·4

  25·6

  4·6

  1986

  80,288

  4·9

  30·2

  34·9

  25·7

  4·3

  1987

  80,776

  4·5

  28·5

  36·8

  25·9

  4·3

  1988

  82,167

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1989

  81,538

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1 Not yet available.

  Note: All figures include lecturers in establishments now funded by the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council.

  Building Programmes
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much public money has been spent in real terms on major building programmes in maintained further and higher education for each academic year from September 1979 to August 1989, inclusive.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information (by financial rather than academic year) is as follows:

  Capital expenditure on maintained further and higher education (1979–80 prices)

  £ million

  1979–80

  82·2

  1980–81

  108·2

  1981–82

  76·4

  1982–83

  88·7

  1983–84

  84·4

  1984–85

  87·4

  1985–86

  88·5

  1986–87

  94·1

  1987–88

  73·5

  1988–89

  76·8

  The figures refer to gross capital expenditure in England, and include expenditure from the urban programme.

  Management Consultants
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the studies conducted inside his Department by management consultants over the last 10 years, naming the consultancy, the cost, the subject and the outcome in each instance.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The studies conducted during the financial years 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90 were as follows:

  Teachers (Further Education)
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many full-time teachers aged(a) less than 30 years, (h) 30 to 39 years, (c) 40 to 49 years, (d) 50 to 59 years and (e) 60 years and above were employed in maintained further and higher education for each academic year from September 1979 to August 1989, inclusive.

  Mr. Jackson
  The numbers and age distribution of full-time teachers in establishments of further and higher education maintained by local education authorities in England and Wales are given in the table.

  1986–87

  Arthur Young-Financial Management

  Deloitte, Haskins and Sells-Audit Management

  1987–88

  CCTA—Education Information Study

  Coopers and Lybrand—Financial Delegation to schools

  Peat Marwick McClintock—Review of Inspection reports

  Research Services—Undergraduate income and expenditure survey

  Deloitte, Haskins and Sells—Financial Management advice and assistance to the UGC

  Spicer and Pegler—Review of accounting procedures at one of the grant aided bodies

  1988–89

  Ernst Whinney—Management of HMI travelling and subsistence

  Peat Marwick McClintock—Resource Management

  ITS Ltd—Training review

  Coopers Lybrand—Management framework

  Deloitte, Haskins and Sells—Financial Management of UGC

  1989–90

  Peat Marwick McClintock—Financial management survey of SERC

  Peat Marwick McClintock—Student loans

  Price Waterhouse—Student loans

  PAS Limited—Parent awareness survey

  It is not possible to state the amount paid in respect of each consultancy without breach of commercial confidentiality. The total cost was £23,200 in 1986–87; £255,413 in 1987–88; £153,939 in 1988–89 and £332,502 in 1989–90. The results of these studies where appropriate have been implemented. Details of studies undertaken in previous years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Scientific Research
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he intends to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils that higher education institutes should receive an
  219
  extra £259 million for additional equipment to support current scientific research and an extra £200 million for equipment to initiate new scientific research;

  (2) what are his latest estimates of the cost of additional equipment necessary for higher education institutes to (a) support current levels of scientific research and (b) initiate new scientific research.

  Mr. Jackson
  The "Survey of Academic Research Equipment in the United Kingdom" commissioned by the Advisory Board for the Research Councils and published in November 1989 identified the equipment needs of universities and polytechnics. The advice which the A BRC offered my right hon. Friend last year on the Government's expenditure plans for the science budget took into account these needs.

  The increases to the science budget announced on 15 November included substantial provision for expenditure on equipment in higher education institutions via the science budget, the UFC and the PCFC.

  The funding requirements for the science base, including equipment needs, will of course be reviewed again in this year's survey in the usual way.

  Governing Bodies
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to repeat the survey on the composition of governing bodies; and how many business men or women without connections with the education world are members of governing bodies.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The third in a series of surveys, currently being conducted by the National Foundation for Educational Research, will provide further information about the composition of school governing bodies. The results will be available in the autumn. The second survey in the series, conducted last year, showed that over 40 per cent. of working governors, other than heads and elected teacher representatives, came from business or the professions.

  John Ball School
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the case of Regina v. London Borough of Greenwich ex parte the governors of John Ball school.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from local authorities following the judgment in the case to which my hon. Friend refers. These have been carefully considered.

  Mr. Evenett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to

  Table A

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  Local education authority

  Training of licensed teachers

  Expected number licensed teachers

  Implied average training costs1

  Barnet

  30,000

  10

  3,000

  Bexley

  37,100

  10

  3,710

  Bromley

  9,000

  10

  900

  Ealing

  48,400

  10

  4,840

  Enfield

  47,700

  10

  4,770

  Haringey

  72,000

  14

  5,142

  Harrow

  52,000

  9

  5,777

  220
  introduce legislation to amend the Education Act 1980 in the light of the judgment in Regina v. London Borough of Greenwich ex parte the governors of John Ball school.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend is not at present contemplating a change in the law following the judgment in the case to which my hon. Friend refers.

  Licensed and Articled Teachers
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the local education authorities participating in(a) the licensed teacher schemes and (b) the articled teacher schemes, with the number of trainees in every case, and the estimated cost per place, together with an estimate of the cost of training, by postgraduate, of certificate of education and bachelor of education route.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Licensed teachers are appointed by local education authorities and schools to specific posts, and the nature and the cost of the training to be provided will depend on the needs of the individual teachers appointed.

  The training costs of licensed teachers are eligible for support under the local education authorities training grants scheme. Table A lists the local education authorities which are to receive support for licensed teacher training and associated costs in the financial year 1990–91. The amount of eligible expenditure to be supported, the number of licensed teachers expected to be supported and the average training costs implied by this for the financial year are also shown in each case. However, local education authorities and schools may appoint licensed teachers beyond these.

  Consortia of local education authorities and initial teacher training institutions were invited to submit bids to run articled teacher pilot schemes in June 1989. The number of places allocated to successful consortia is listed in table B, together with the participating local education authorities and the estimated costs per student.

  The annual cost of PGCE and BEd places varies considerably from institution to institution. For the 1991–92 academic year the guide price for initial teacher training places applied by the UFC is £3,500, which includes the tuition fee but excludes any research costs. Institutions in the PCFC sector have been advised that, as an upper reference point, the mean unit of funding in 1990–91 is £1,950 and that they should assume that they will receive through the tuition fee £2,500 for a band 2 student (which includes PGCE students and some BEd students) and £1,675 for a band 1 student. Both the UFC and the PCFC sector figures exclude provision for student maintenance.
  221

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  Local education authority

  Training of licensed teachers

  Expected number licensed teachers

  Implied average training costs1

  Havering

  31,000

  10

  3,100

  Hillingdon

  42,700

  15

  2,846

  Hounslow

  14,600

  5

  2,920

  Kingston upon Thames

  26,000

  10

  2,600

  Merton

  30,000

  10

  3,000

  Newham

  91,000

  16

  5,687

  Redbridge

  17,500

  5

  3,500

  Richmond upon Thames

  10,000

  15

  666

  Sutton

  28,000

  6

  4,666

  Waltham Forest

  58,000

  11

  5,272

  Greenwich

  13,000

  20

  650

  Hackney

  37,000

  30

  1,233

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  17,000

  12

  1,416

  Islington

  106,000

  140

  757

  Kensington and Chelsea

  30,000

  10

  3,000

  Tower Hamlets

  38,330

  10

  3,833

  Wandsworth

  31,500

  20

  1,575

  Westminster

  8,000

  6

  1,333

  Coventry

  31,800

  7

  4,542

  Dudley

  42,000

  10

  4,200

  Sandwell

  48,250

  10

  4,825

  Bolton

  3,000

  1

  3,000

  Stockport

  1,000

  1

  1,000

  Bradford

  20,500

  5

  4,100

  Bedfordshire

  35,000

  10

  3,500

  Berkshire

  30,000

  10

  3,000

  Buckinghamshire

  72,000

  14

  5,142

  Cambridgeshire

  27,360

  6

  4,560

  Derbyshire

  34,000

  12

  2,833

  Devon

  24,500

  6

  4,083

  Dorset

  20,000

  6

  3,333

  Essex

  162,000

  25

  6,480

  Gloucestershire

  30,330

  10

  3,033

  Hereford and Worcester

  6,000

  2

  3,000

  Hertfordshire

  93,000

  32

  2,906

  Kent

  120,000

  35

  3,428

  Lancashire

  30,000

  10

  3,000

  Lincolnshire

  40,600

  20

  2,030

  North Yorkshire

  24,000

  15

  1,600

  Northamptonshire

  138,000

  25

  5,520

  Nottinghamshire

  12,200

  4

  3,050

  Oxfordshire

  10,950

  10

  1,095

  Somerset

  28,400

  6

  4,733

  Staffordshire

  28,000

  10

  2,800

  Surrey

  50,000

  16

  3,125

  West Sussex

  10,000

  3

  3,333

  Wiltshire

  38,300

  10

  3,830

  1(a) ÷ (b).

  Bid area

  Participating LEAs

  Number of student places allocated

  Annual cost per student excluding bursary (£)

  Cambridge

  Cambridgeshire Bedfordshire Hertfordshire

  50

  4,000

  Hampshire

  Hampshire West Sussex Isle of Wight

  50

  3,181

  East London

  Havering Tower Hamlets

  34

  4,681

  Leeds

  Leeds

  50

  4,810

  Buckinghamshire

  Buckinghamshire

  16–20

  4,655

  Kent

  Kent

  50

  1,747

  Cheshire

  Tameside

  30–35

  3,223

  Devon

  Devon

  60

  4,053

  Humberside

  Humberside

  36

  3,810

  North East London

  Newham Tower Hamlets

  30

  3,607

  222

  Bid area

  Participating LEAs

  Number of student places allocated

  Annual cost per student excluding bursary (£)

  North London

  Brent Islington Camden Hackney Enfield

  50

  1,210

  South West London

  Wandsworth Kensington and Chelsea Hillingdon Westminster Croydon Ealing

  52

  607

  Warwickshire

  Warwickshire Coventry Solihull

  15

  5,876

  Central/ North London

  Camden Hackney Harrow Islington

  40

  5,000

  223

  Bid area

  Participating LEAs

  Number of student places allocated

  Annual cost per student excluding bursary (£)

  Manchester

  Oldham Rochdale Salford Wigan

  50

  4,983

  Bristol

  Gloucestershire Wiltshire

  30

  4,357

  Notes:

  1. Costs are incurred for two academic years.

  2. Figures exclude institutional funding from the UFC and PCFC which will be based on 0·5 of a full-time equivalent place each year.

  3. 65 per cent. of the costs will be met from the LEA Training Grants Scheme; the other 35 per cent. will come from LEAs.

  4. The cost of the bursary per student, over the two year training period is £13,000 in London and £11,000 elsewhere.

  Local Management of Schools
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers in which local education authority areas have been declared redundant as a consequence of the introduction of local management of schools.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  This information is not available. Where there have been reports of possible teacher redundancies, it is by no means clear that these would be solely a consequence of the introduction of local management of schools rather than a reflection of the constant process of adjustment that has always been necessary as the circumstances of individual schools change over time.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what data are collected by his Department about the consequences of local management of schools.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department is collecting budget information for 1990–91 from statements prepared by each LEA under section 42 of the Education Reform Act. Information on actual expenditure in 1990–91 will also be collected from outturn statements, prepared under the same section. We are monitoring and reviewing all aspects of the effects of local management with the help of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools.

  Higher Education Expenditure
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was(a) recurrent and (b) capital spending by the Government on (a) universities, (b) polytechnics and (c) colleges of further education for each year since 1978–79 in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms, indexed so that 1978–79 = 100.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding reply 11 June 1990]: The information for universities covered by the University Grants Committee and, from April 1989, by the Universtities Funding Council, is as follows (real terms figures are derived using the GDP deflator):

  Financial year

  Recurrent

  Capital

  Cash £'000s

  Real terms

  Cash £'000s

  Real terms

  1978–79

  612,599

  —

  79,304

  —

  1979–80

  741,190

  634,622

  101,370

  86,795

  1980–81

  956,464

  691,997

  110,598

  80,017

  224

  Financial year

  Recurrent

  Capital

  Cash £'000s

  Real terms

  Cash £'000s

  Real terms

  1981–82

  982,335

  647,316

  116,308

  76,642

  1982–83

  1,193,333

  733,413

  118,926

  73,091

  1983–84

  1,240,179

  728,217

  117,616

  69,063

  1984–85

  1,272,416

  707,007

  119,195

  66,230

  1985–86

  1,302,752

  691,686

  132,688

  70,450

  1986–87

  1,341,817

  689,021

  145,465

  74,696

  1987–88

  1,490,175

  726,267

  144,106

  70,233

  1988–89

  1,608,497

  731,818

  157,457

  71,638

  1989–90

  1,711,604

  726,968

  179,247

  76,131

  It is not possible to disaggregate from other local education authority expenditure that element which represents recurrent or capital expenditure on colleges of further education or polytechnics which were or are funded by local authorities.

WALES

  Beef
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about the need for direct governmental assistance towards additional promotion of the sale of beef; and what has been his Department's response.

  Mr. David Hunt
  This issue was discussed at a recent meeting between the Farmers Union of Wales and my Department.

  Promotion of the sale of beef is a matter for the Meat and Livestock Commission, whose promotional activities are supported by the industry itself.

  Housing Improvement Grants
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he sent to local authorities in Wales draft application forms for housing improvement grants under the new legislation which comes into force on 1 July; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Application forms for the new renovation grant regime are included in the Application for Grant (Prescribed Forms and Particulars) Regulations 1990, which will be laid before the House shortly. Copies will be placed in the Library and will be sent to all housing authorities.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters he has received concerning the poll tax since its introduction in April; and how many of these have been(a) in support of and (b) opposed to the new system.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Between 1 April and 8 June 339 letters have been received from members of the public and 239 letters from hon. Members on behalf of constituents. These have covered a wide range of issues concerning the community charge. Many have sought information or explanation about particular aspects of the new arrangements as they affect individuals. No meaningful analysis along the lines requested by the hon. Gentleman can be provided.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to advertise in the press in Wales
  225
  the method of transitional relief operational in Wales for poll tax payers, and to counteract the incorrect impression given by advertisements placed in English newspapers, relating to the different transitional relief system operational only in England.

  Mr. David Hunt
  No Government advertisements have conveyed an incorrect impression of the Welsh transitional relief scheme. In Wales transitional relief does not have to be claimed. The appropriate reductions have been made by the local authorities concerned.

  School Meals
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many and what percentage of children took school meals in 1989; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is the number and percentage of free school meals provided; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Roberts
  In September 1988, the latest year for which information is available, the number and percentage of pupils provided with school meals in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in Wales were as follows:

  Pupils

  Number of pupils provided with free school meals

  59,802

  as a percentage of all pupils on roll

  14·6

  Total number of pupils taking school meals

  213,341

  as a percentage of all pupils on roll

  52·0

  Local education authorities are empowered to provide at their discretion refreshment and facilities for the consumption of refreshments in the middle of the day for pupils in schools maintained by them. The Social Security Act 1986 requires that pupils whose parents are or who themselves are in receipt of income support should receive such provision free of charge.

  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average price of a school meal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Roberts
  The average price of school meals in primary schools in September 1989 was 68p. It is not possible to give a figure for secondary schools as most operate a cash cafeteria system.

  Coed Mawr Site, Bangor
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether proceeds from the sale of the Coed Mawr offices site at Bangor are included in the former financial plans of Gwynedd health authority.

  Mr. Grist
  No.

  Arthritis
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of arthritis sufferers in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Rheumatologists
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many rheumatologists are employed by each of the health authorities in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr Grist
  The information which relates to consultants with a main specialty of rheumatology is given in the table:

  Numbers of consultants in post

  Health Authority

  Whole time equivalent

  Clwyd

  0·9

  East Dyfed

  0·1

  Gwent

  —

  Gwynedd

  —

  Mid Glamorgan

  2·0

  Pembrokeshire

  —

  Powys

  —

  South Glamorgan

  2·5

  West Glamorgan

  2·0

  Wales

  17·5

  1 Provisional figures for September 1989.

  The level of staff and resources for rheumatology services in Wales is an operational matter for the district health authorities to determine.

  Job Creation, Fishguard
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what special measures he intends taking to create jobs in the Fishguard, Pembrokeshire area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  There already exists a range of measures which are helping to reduce unemployment and create jobs in the Fishguard area. The fact that unemployment in the Fishguard travel-to-work area fell by 122—two percentage points—in the year to April 1990 is evidence that this policy is working.

  Bypasses
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many bypasses in Wales are currently under construction; how many further ones are planned before the year 2000; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Roberts
  Seven are under construction and 25 planned schemes are included in "Roads in Wales: Progress and Plans for the 1990s". Bypass schemes identified as a result of route studies are likely to be added to the forward programme.

  Beach Pollution
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities in Wales have the resources to maintain up-to-date information on pollution levels on beaches in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  Provision is made for local government's environmental protection responsibilities in the annual local authority revenue settlements and is thus reflected in standard spending assessments for revenue support grant purposes.
  227
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to arrange the display of information on beaches in Wales to show accurately the level of pollution recorded for such beaches.

  Mr. Grist
  Although it is for local authorities to determine whether and how to display information on bathing waters, we shall be encouraging them to make the information more readily accessible.

  Ophthalmic Clinics
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many attendances at ophthalmic clinics were recorded in the last quarter of 1989 in each district health authority area in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The total ophthalmology out-patient attendances recorded in NHS hospitals is given in the table:

  Total attendances during quarter ended December 1989

  Health authority

  Number

  Clwyd

  7,565

  East Dyfed

  5,072

  Gwent

  6,111

  Gwynedd

  4,564

  Mid Glamorgan

  7,483

  Pembrokeshire

  1,685

  Powys

  690

  South Glamorgan

  7,710

  West Glamorgan

  6,556

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children aged under 16 years received free eye tests in Wales(a) in each quarter in 1988–89 and (b) in each quarter in 1989–90.

  Mr. Grist
  The data requested were not collected centrally prior to 1 April 1989, since when they have been collected on a six-monthly basis.

  The available information is given in the table.

  Estimated1 number of sight tests paid for by family practitioner committees

  Six months ending:

  Children aged under 16

  30 September 1989

  36,680

  31 March 1990

  41,950

  1 Estimates based upon a 2 per cent. sample of all such sight tests.

  Teachers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his parliamentary answer of 5 June,Official Report, column 454, regarding teacher wastage, if he will provide, in a form similar to table 1, information on wastage among teachers of Welsh.

  Mr. Roberts
  Information on teacher wastage by subject taught is not available.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will list those managing organisations of youth training schemes in Wales which submitted proposals for the future development of youth training in response to the request last year by the Training Agency in Wales.
  228
  Mr. Roberts
  [holding answer 8 June 1990]:The following organisations submitted proposals to the Training Agency for schemes under the new youth training arrangements.

  South Glamorgan

  Glamorgan Counties GTA

  Focal Development

  Post Office Counters

  Resource UK

  Atlantic College

  Royal Mail Letters

  Neway

  Vale of Glamorgan Training Agency

  TDS

  Link (Wales) Ltd.

  Howells

  Cardiff ITEC

  AMS

  Albertos

  Cardiff Inner City Initiative

  JHP Training

  Metcon

  HCTB

  South Glamorgan Area Health Authority

  Cardiff City Council

  South Glamorgan County Council

  Beacon Training

  Bros. Constantinou

  CITS

  ACE

  Cardiff Group Training Consort

  West Wales

  Neath Borough CTA

  Neath College

  Link Wales

  Kenyons Ltd.

  Ford Motor Company

  Link Services

  Neath ITEC

  Work Skills Training

  Port Talbot YOC

  British Steel Corporation

  West Glamorgan CC

  Indent

  Swansea City Council

  STACS

  Swansea ITEC

  BEVIS

  ACO

  David Evans

  Post Office

  Neath Borough CTA (Initial Training)

  Swansea City Council (Initial Training)

  Cardiff GTA (Initial Training)

  Glamorgan Counties GTA

  WDA

  Llynfi Training Workshop

  DVLA

  Llanelli TA

  British Steel (Tinplate)

  Acclaim

  East Dyfed ITEC

  St Teilo

  Dinefwr Borough Council

  European Profiles Ltd.

  Focal

  HCTB

  Preseli District Council

  Nayland Training Initiative

  Dyfed County Council

  Carmarthenshire and Wales Game Farm

  Mainport

  West Dyfed ITEC

  LTA (Initial Training)

  Nacro (Aberystwyth) Initial Training

  Community Industry

  Nayland Training Initiative (Initial Training)

  229

  Luton and Dunstable

  Mid Wales Development

  Post Office Counters

  Welsh Water Authority

  Resource UK Ltd.

  Post Office Counters (N Wales)

  BP Chemicals

  Gwent

  Beacon Training

  ICI Fibres

  Lucas Girling

  Michael Carter

  Focal Development

  Heads of Valleys GTA

  Islwyn BC

  Victoria Training

  Agency for Caring Environments

  Lloyds British

  Borough of Torfaen

  Alfred Teves

  British Alcan

  HCTB

  Pill Enterprise Project

  CITS

  CITS Youth in Business

  CITS Initial Training

  Crosskeys College of FE

  Gwent-Train

  Newport College of FE

  USK College of Agriculture

  JHP Training

  Michael J. Smith Associates

  BSC Panteg

  Glamorgan Counties Training Services

  Training Development Services

  AMS

  Royal Mail Letters

  Link Organisation

  RO Glascoed

  Saunders Valve

  South Wales Switchgear

  Resource U.K.

  Arrow Training

  BSC Orb

  BSC Llanwern

  BSC Tinplate

  Blaenau Gwent BC

  Blaenau Gwent ITEC

  Monmouth BC

  Newport Training Services

  Gwent Training Ltd.

  Newport and District GTA

  Ebbw Vale College of FE

  Gwent CC Planning Department

  Pontypool College of FE

  Post Office Counters

  Crosskeys College of FE Initial Training

  Alberto Education Centre

  Gwent Skillcentre

  North West Wales

  Penyffridd

  Ynys Mon Borough Council

  Gwynedd Health Authority

  Arfon Borough Council

  Community Industry

  TEC area

  Engineering

  Motor vehicle trades

  Science

  Filled places YTS at 30 March 1990

  YT contract

  Filled places YTS at 30 March 1990

  YT contract

  Filled places YTS at 30 March 1990

  YT contract

  Mid Glamorgan

  1,107

  1,262

  303

  237

  0

  0

  South Glamorgan

  165

  222

  221

  293

  23

  23

  West Wales

  591

  555

  464

  471

  29

  11

  Powys

  60

  59

  62

  72

  3

  21

  North East Wales

  459

  404

  120

  178

  10

  76

  North West Wales

  192

  116

  159

  179

  11

  55

  Gwent

  376

  452

  215

  314

  2

  132

  230

  Llandrillo CFE

  Vale of Clwyd ITEC

  University College of North Wales

  North Wales Training Agency

  Post Office

  Gwynedd CC Agriculture

  Gwynedd CC Multi Route including ITEC

  Hotpoint

  Anglesey Training

  Penrhyn Quarry

  Arfon/Dwyfor

  Mid Wales Training

  Skills Development Agency

  NECTA

  Mid and North Wales Training Group

  Coleg Pencraig

  Northop College of Horticulture

  Clwyd Training

  North East Wales

  British Steel Corporation

  British Aerospace PLC

  Skills Development Agency

  C and M Training (UK) Ltd.

  NECTA

  Air Products Ltd.

  Llysfast College

  Clwyd Training

  Delyn Business Partnership

  Northop College of Horticulture

  Wrexham Training

  NEWI

  Clwyd County Council

  Wrexham ITEC

  Deeside ITEC (now merged with NEWI)

  Iceland frozen foods (contract now with NTP unit Moorfoot)

  BICC

  Commercial Consultants Europe Ltd.

  Mid and North Wales Training Group

  Tamic Institute

  Powys

  Laura Ashley

  Coleg Powys

  Mid and North Wales Training Group

  Powys Training

  Mid Wales Training

  Ministry of Defence

  Welsh Water Authority

  WSJ Training Ltd.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate his Department has of the number of young people, under the youth training scheme, pursuing training in(a) engineering, (b) advanced motor vehicle maintenance and (c) science in 1989; and how many young people are expected to pursue such courses in the year following the issuing of new contracts for managing organisations in Wales.

  Mr. Roberts
  [holding answer 8 June 1990]: The Training Agency's estimates are set out in the following table:
  231
  Notes:

  1. Figure for Mid, South Glamorgan and West Wales are based on Training Occupational Classifications (TOCs) throughout.

  2. Figures for Gwent, Powys, NE Wales and NW Wales based on TOCs for occupancy at 31 March 1990 and Standard Occupational Classifications (SOCs) for YT contracted places.

  3. Specific information on Advance Motor Vehicle Maintenance is not held, but Training Agency Area Offices confirm that demand for training at this level can be met through the network of providers contracted for Youth Training.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate his Department has of(a) the expenditure on youth training in (i) 1988–89, (ii) 1989–90, (iii) 1990–91, (iv) 1991–92 and (v) 1992–93, (b) the number of school leavers aged 16 and 17 years entering the market, (c) the numbers joining YTS or YT and (d) the gross public cost in pounds per trainee week, in each of those years.

  Mr. Roberts
  [holding answer 8 June 1990]: Expenditure on youth training in Wales for 1988–89 and 1989–90 in respect of those places contracted by YTS providers with local area offices was £52·610 million and £50·746 million respectively. Additionally, it is estimated that a further £10 million of expenditure per year is spent on youth training in Wales through the Training Agency's national providers unit which contracts with large companies with outlets throughout the United Kingdom. For 1990–91 planned expenditure in respect of those places contracted by YT providers with local area offices is £45·750 million. Figures are not available for future years.

  The number of 16 and 17-year-olds leaving school in Wales in the school years 1988–89 and 1989–90 was 30,200 and 29,000 respectively. For future school years, the estimate is 28,000 in 1990–91, 26,900 in 1991–92 and 26,500 in 1992–93. These figures refer to all school leavers and not just those entering the labour market, for whom separate figures are not available.

  The numbers joining YTS in the 1988–89 and 1989–90 financial years was 18,758 and 17,781 respectively. For 1990–91, the provisional estimate for those entering youth training is 17,300. No figures are available for future financial years.

  Figures on the gross public cost in pounds per trainee week are not available for Wales. Figures for Great Britain for the financial years 1988–89 and 1989–90 were £49 and £50 respectively. For future years the Great Britain estimate is £42 for 1990–91, £37 for 1991–92 and £33 for 1992–93.

HEALTH

  Blood Products
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the first known sero-conversion to HIV took place in a person with haemophilia as a result of using English factor concentrates.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not available centrally. The routine reporting of HIV infection in haemophiliacs to the public health laboratory service communicable diseases surveillance centre does not cover the country of origin of factor concentrate.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of factor VIII concentrates were imported into the United Kingdom from United States-based pharmaceutical companies each year between 1979 and 1985 and the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will list the pharmaceutical companies involved, along with their share of the market.
  232
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all known forms of disease and infection which his medical and scientific advisers consider may have some connection with toxic waste incineration, and in particular relating to all forms of dioxins which may be created by the incineration process.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Emissions of toxic compounds, including dioxins, from hazardous waste incinerators, are restricted to levels well below that which might be expected to cause harmful effects. Studies conducted in the United Kingdom have found no evidence of an unusual incidence of disease around such incinerators, nor is there evidence that human disease or infection has resulted from dioxins arising from the process of toxic waste incineration.

  The independent expert Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products, and the Environment (COT) reviewed the extensive toxicity data on dioxins, and this review was published in "Dioxins in the Environment", (pollution paper No. 27 1989), a copy of which is available in the Library. The report describes a range of effects, such as chloracne, following massive accidental dioxins exposures, as well as those described in animal experiments using high exposures over a long period of time.

  The COT noted that the available data on the toxic effects of dioxins in human health are, on the whole, reassuring. However, the COT recommended action to identify sources and control emissions of dioxins, in order to reduce human exposure. The Government have therefore extended rigorous controls, on combustion conditions and emissions, to all incinerators, which should reduce dioxin emissions from such sources by up to 90 per cent.

  Distinction Awards
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his reply of 23 April,Official Report, column 28, what is the salary of the chairman of the Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards; and if he will give a breakdown of the committee members' expenses; what are the number of consultants who hold awards,, and the number of consultant obstetricians or paediatricians who have held awards in the North West Durham health authority since the advent of medical and management audit; and how often the chairman and vice-chairman of the Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards have met those consultants who do not hold awards.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I regret that the figure given for committee members' expenses was incorrect in my reply to the hon. Member on 23 April at column 28. The correct figure for the year ended 31 March 1989 is £15,552. This is broken down as follows:

  233

  £

  Overnight subsistence, travel, miscellaneous expenses for the visits by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman to the 15 Regional Committees

  4,102

  Chairman's secretarial expenses

  2,976

  Travelling expenses of members of the Advisory Committee

  164

  Subsistence and travel of members of the 15 Regional C awards and higher awards Committees, and of the Dental Sub-Committee

  8,310

  The salary of the chairman of the Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards was £11,990 in 1988–89. Following a review of the responsibilities of the post, the salary was increased to £21,450 in 1989–90.

  In England and Wales 5,698 consultants currently hold a distinction award. As previously stated, statistics on awards by district health authority are not maintained centrally.

  About 11,000 consultants do not hold an award. It would not be practicable for the chairman and vice-chairman to meet non-award holders collectively or individually. However, it is open to any consultant to submit a case for an award to the chairman or relevant regional committee.

  Clinical Standards Advisory Group
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health from which quarters he will draw his appointments for members of the clinical standards advisory group.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Membership of the group will be from nominations made by medical, midwifery and nursing royal colleges.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the intended role of the clinical standards advisory group; and what is his Department's definition of the term clinical in this instance.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is described in the Government's amendment No. 198 to the National Health Service and Community Care Bill debated in another place on Tuesday 12 June at columns 245–46.

  Medical Services, North-East Thames
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will call for a report from the North East Thames regional medical advisory committee about reductions in medical services caused by financial pressures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I understand that North East Thames regional health authority is working with the regional medical advisory committee to consider the current provision of medical services across the region.

  Multiple Births
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will indicate the number of(a) twin, (b) triplet, (c) quadruplet and (d) quintuplet pregnancies occurring through (i) IVF, (ii) GIFT and (iii) other forms of assisted reproduction during 1989.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The figures requested are not available for 1989. Data relating to multiple pregnancies 234
  following IVF treatment and GIFT for earlier years are given in the annual reports of the Interim Licensing Authority (copies of which are available in the Library) which was set up jointly by the Medical Research Council and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

  Serious Illness
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to investigate ways in which the families of individuals who are seriously ill can be given better financial security.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Life-threatening illnesses vary greatly in the speed with which they need to be treated in order to avert the threat. The National Health Service is founded on the principle that help should be given most rapidly to those patients whose condition requires the earliest clinical intervention. That will always be its objective.

  Population Density
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current population density in thousands per square mile for each of the English district health authorities.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The latest available population estimates for district health authorities, relating to mid-1988, have been published in OPCS monitor PPI 89/1 (revised), a copy of which is available in the Library. Information about the area of each authority is not kept centrally.

  Disability
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has had from the North Regional Association for the Blind; what reply he is sending; if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department has received a letter from the association suggesting that ophthalmologists may no longer be eligible for a fee for examining blind and partially sighted people for the purposes of registration with the local authority. This suggestion is wholly unfounded. There has been no change in the terms and conditions for payment of this fee. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State will respond to the association shortly.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations the Minister of State has received from Crossroads Care; what replies he is sending; if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have received a number of letters about the future role of Crossroads care schemes in the light of community care proposals. We have a high regard for the work of the organisation, whose central administrative costs we fund at the level of £80,000 a year. We anticipate that Crossroads will continue to make an important contribution in the years ahead.

  Ambulance Dispute
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appreciation certificates were issued by South West Thames regional health authority in respect of the ambulance dispute; to whom were they issued; and how much they cost.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This is a matter for the South West Thames regional health authority. The hon. Member way wish to contact the chairman, Baroness Cumberlege, for the information he requires.

  Social Workers
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to improve social service workers' knowledge of social work law.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work receives funding from the Department for a programme of improvements in social work training. This currently includes a project aimed at improving the quality and effectiveness of the teaching and learning of relevant law. This includes the definition and assessment of legal competence in a social work practitioner, and the elaboration of the CCETSW's requirements in relation to the law for all social work courses, particularly the new diploma in social work programmes. In addition the CCETSW's routine approval and monitoring of qualifying courses pays particular attention to the teaching of law.

  Leukaemia
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking in respect of its Leukaemia Research Fund's report entitled "Leukaemia and Lymphoma: an Atlas of Distribution in parts of England and Wales", a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We have received from the independent Leukaemia Research Fund its report entitled "Leukaemia and Lymphoma: an Atlas of Distribution in parts of England and Wales", and we have given copies to members of the expert independent Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment for information. COMARE will no doubt wish to take account of this

  Age distribution of reported HIV infections Cumulative to 31 March 1900

  Age group is as at when first tested positive

  Regional health authority

  Age group

  0–14

  15–24

  25–34

  35–44

  45+

  Not Known

  Northern

  12

  42

  113

  43

  22

  101

  Yorkshire

  17

  78

  137

  83

  28

  13

  Trent

  1—

  91

  150

  65

  37

  10

  East Anglia

  1—

  25

  66

  37

  30

  24

  North West Thames

  29

  504

  1,378

  872

  358

  932

  North East Thames

  32

  329

  795

  485

  238

  384

  South East Thames

  37

  263

  547

  276

  142

  169

  South West Thames

  11

  55

  130

  67

  53

  21

  Wessex

  1—

  63

  96

  53

  36

  36

  Oxford

  1—

  79

  136

  55

  32

  56

  South Western

  1—

  67

  108

  52

  30

  12

  West Midlands

  33

  93

  100

  79

  40

  69

  Mersey

  17

  29

  56

  36

  17

  22

  North Western

  31

  165

  314

  155

  70

  12

  Channel Islands

  1—

  1—

  10

  1—

  1—

  1—

  236
  database, together with other relevant epidemiological studies, in pursuing the programme of work outlined by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, South (Mr. Yeo) on 10 January at columns 662–63.

  Milk
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the present retail market share of various infant milk formulations; and if he will distinguish separately those using products containing soya, giving their aluminium content.

  Mr. Curry
  I have been asked to reply.

  Soya-based infant formulae have been analysed for aluminium content by my Department. The content was in the range of 0·64–1·34 mg/litre, with a mean of 0·98 mg/litre. These results, which have been published in the scientific literature, are similar to those reported by other research workers. It is not our policy to disclose information by brand name. The Department of Health's independent Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment has considered this Department's results and has advised that no action is needed to reduce aluminium from infant formulae.

  HIV
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish in the Official Report for each health authority in England, the number of persons infected with HIV; and if he will separately distinguish these numbers by age.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 7 June 1990]: The number of reports of cases of HIV infection to 31 March 1990 is 11,638. The following table shows the totals reported by age and health authority to the Public Health Laboratory Service communicable diseases surveillance centre. In line with the procedure followed in reports under the AIDS (Control) Act, and to safeguard confidentiality, actual figures in the range of one to nine diagnosed in individual regional health authorities are not published. These are indicated by1—.
  237

  Regional health authority

  Age group

  0–14

  15–24

  25–34

  35–44

  45 +

  Not Known

  Total (England)

  11,638

  1 To safeguard confidentiality, actual figures in the range of one to nine diagnosed in individual regional health authorities are not published.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give a breakdown by regional health authority area of the incidence of confirmed cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease for each of the last 30 years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 12 June 1990]: Accurate information on numbers of cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is not at present available. The study to be conducted by Dr. R. G. Will, with support from the Department of Health, will attempt to gather together this information from the recent past, as well as making arrangements to collect it in future.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many prayers relating to statutory instruments which have been tabled during the current Session have not so far been debated either on the Floor of the House or in Committee and how many of these undebated prayers have been the subject of representations seeking that they should be debated, including representations by letter and by means of a business question.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  Up to and including Tuesday 5 June 1990, 127 prayers relating to statutory instruments had been tabled this Session. (This total does not include motions to similar effect relating to S.I.s and other laid papers, eg motions for disapproval, withdrawal, revocation or that drafts be not made in the form submitted.) Fourteen instruments with prayers against them have been debated on the Floor of the House, and 11 have been debated in Standing Committee. Two revocation motions relating to previously prayed against instruments have been taken on the Floor of the House, one such instrument has been debated in Standing Committee and one stands referred to a Committee. (In addition, one instrument stands referred to a Standing Committee under a revocation motion and a business motion, although it had not previously been prayed against.)

  It is not possible separately to identify how many undebated prayers have been the subject of representations without incurring disproportionate costs.

  Vote Bundle
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what saving he estimates would be made to public funds if written and oral questions were not reprinted in the Vote bundle after appearing for the first time.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  It is estimated that savings to public funds of between £1 million and £2 million could arise. It is not possible to be more precise, since a radical change of this nature would require a fundamental review of how the relatively fixed costs of HMSO's parliamentary press are recovered in the pricing of various documents produced for the House.

ENERGY

  Spent Magnox Fuel
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will make a statement on the safety assessment of the storage of Magnox spent fuel in ponds at Sellafield;

  (2) what recent assessment he has made of the safety and appropriateness of storage in ponds of spent Magnox fuel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The safe storage of spent Magnox fuel, at nuclear licensed sites, is a matter for the site operators who must satisfy the licensing requirements of the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate.

  The NII carries out regular inspections of the storage facilities. Arrangements to ensure their safety include the provision of safety assessment cases by the operator for review by the NII.

  With regard to Sellafield, the NII reviewed and was satisfied with the safety assessment case prepared by British Nuclear Fuels plc for the Magnox storage facilities in the new fuel handling plant (B311) before it became operational in 1988. The most recent safety case for the older storage pond (B30) was received by the NII at the end of 1989 and is currently being assessed.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what publications, and in what numbers, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority has produced for educational distribution on the nuclear nonproliferation treaty in preparation for the nuclear non-proliferation treaty fourth review conference in August and September of the current year.

  Mr. Baldry
  I am not aware of any such publications.

  Nuclear Materials
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has agreed the criteria adopted by the safeguards authorities of the International Atomic Energy Agency to define significant quantities of nuclear materials; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The definition of a significant quantity of a particular nuclear material is given in paragraph 107 of the IAEA safeguards glossary 1987 edition [Ref. IAEA/SG/INF/1 (Rev.1)], a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. This definition is accepted by the member states of the IAEA, including the United Kingdom.

  Radioactive Waste Storage (Sellafield)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what countries currently have contracts with. British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. for the storage of radioactive waste at Sellafield.
  239
  Mr. Baldry
  British Nuclear Fuels plc does not have contracts purely to store radioactive waste. BNFL has contracts to reprocess spent fuel from overseas utilities in Canada, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Since 1976, BNFL's overseas reprocessing contracts have contained options for the return of wastes arising. The Government intend that such options should be exercised and that wastes should be returned.

  Rural Electricity Supplies
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what grant or other aid is available for rural householders or farmers seeking to have a main electricity supply installed.

  Mr. Baldry
  I do not believe that arrangements for rural supplies require financial assistance by the Government.

  Under the new arrangements for post privatisation those requesting a supply do have the right of appeal to the director general if they feel that connection costs quoted by a supply company are unreasonable.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the isotopic composition of the Central Electricity Generating Board/South of Scotland Electricity Board origin plutonium sold, or currently leased, by Nuclear Electric or Scottish Nuclear to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority for fast reactor research and development since 1969.

  Mr. Baldry
  The plutonium supplied to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority by the utilities for the fast reactor research and development programme is mostly plutonium 239 in a variety of concentrations up to 80 per cent.

  Insulation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his answer of 5 June,Official Report, column 409, if he will give the appropriate figures for the savings in (a) gas and (b) solid fuels (i) in absolute terms and (ii) as percentages of total consumption if the same range of insulation measures were applied.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  If all cost-effective insulation measures (as listed in my answer to the hon. Member on 12 June) were applied to the United Kingdom housing stock, a saving of 272·1 PJ of gas and 64·8 PJ of solid fuel might be achieved. This represents approximately 14 per cent. of the gas and a similar proportion of the solid fuel consumed under boilers, kilns and furnaces and in other heating appliances in the United Kingdom.

  As indicated in my response of 5 June, householders are likely to opt, at least in part, for greater warmth rather than simply saving energy.

  Offshore Supplies Office
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will clarify the role of the offshore supplies office post-1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  After 1992, the Offshore Supplies Office will be responsible for ensuring fair opportunity for 240
  the United Kingdom offshore supplies industry in the home, European and overseas markets. It will continue to support the development of new technology on the United Kingdom continental shelf and promote United Kingdom exports to international oil and gasfield markets.

DEFENCE

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what specific actions have been taken by the United Kingdom in pursuit of its obligations under article VI of the non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have been asked to reply.

  We and our NATO allies fully support negotiations aimed at balanced and verifiable arms control agreements, which aim to enhance security at lower levels of forces. We are currently involved in negotiations aimed at reducing conventional forces in Europe, and welcome the prospect of a START agreement between the United States and Soviet Union.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action Her Majesty's Government have taken since 1985 to reduce their stocks of nuclear weapons in accordance with the provisions of the non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Since the United States and Soviet Union possess between them the majority of nuclear weapons, prime negotiating responsibility falls to them. We fully support their efforts to secure a START agreement and welcome the progress made at the recent Washington summit.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-flying sorties at less than 250 ft have been authorised over the United Kingdom in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Neubert
  In 1989 the number of movements authorised for flying below 250 ft within tactical training areas was as follows:

  Tactical training area

  Operational low flying movements

  Number of days on which operational low flying was authorised

  Northern Scotland

  817

  129

  Central Wales

  89

  105

  Borders

  1,788

  157

  Figures for sorties that have been flown below 250 ft are not available, but figures for movements for previous years have been given in the replies given by my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman) to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 30 October 1987 at column 487 and on 20 January 1988 at columns 764–65, and in the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy on 25 May 1989 at columns 732–33.
  241
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum permitted number of aircraft in a formation during low-flying training at less than 250 ft in each of the three tactical training areas.

  Mr. Neubert
  The number of aircraft in a tactical formation at low level is determined by aircraft role and the type of exercise being carried out. However, formations do not normally consist of more than eight aircraft.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the authorised low-flying movements below 250 ft over the United Kingdom in each of the years from 1985 to 1989 consisted of continuation training sorties to maintain aircrew currency in flying at less than 250 ft, as opposed to work-up training for specific Flag exercises in north America.

  Mr. Neubert
  I regret the information requested is not readily available and could not be provided without disproportionate effort.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the forthcoming survey of noise levels from low-flying military aircraft to be conducted; and at what location the survey will be held.

  Mr. Neubert
  A trial is currently being conducted at the Royal Aerospace Establishment West Freugh range to obtain further information on noise levels generated by military aircraft at low level and, weather permitting, will be completed during this month. Following evaluation of the data, the results of the study are expected to be available early next year.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the lateral radius, expressed in nautical miles, of the avoidance areas around noise-sensitive sites in tactical training areas.

  Mr. Neubert
  Avoidance criteria adopted in any case will depend on the site concerned.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what purposes RAF C-130 Hercules aircraft undertake low flying; and under what circumstances they receive clearance to fly between 100 and 250 feet.

  Mr. Neubert
  The tactical transport role of the RAF C-130 Hercules aircraft requires it to be capable of operating in a potentially hostile environment at low level. Aircraft may be cleared to fly at under 250 ft in the United Kingdom to undertake training in the three tactical training areas or to carry out free-drop training on designated drop zones in military danger areas.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flights in the United Kingdom low-flying system were undertaken during the years 1987, 1988 and 1989 by(a) RAF C-130 Hercules, (b) USAF C-130 Hercules, (c) USAF C-141 Starlifter and (d) USAF C-5 Galaxy; and how many of these flights for each of those years were in areas 14, 14T, 14C, 16 and 20T of the low-flying system.

  Mr. Neubert
  The information requested is not readily available and could not be provided without disproportionate cost and effort.

  Air Force Exercises
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what Royal Air Force participation is planned in exercises (1) Green Flag 90–4 and (2) Red Flag 90–5; how many and what types of RAF aircraft will take part; and how many work-up training sorties will be conducted in the United Kingdom in preparation for these exercises;

  (2) what joint work-up training between French air force and Royal Air Force Jaguar units took place in Britain prior to the French participation in exercise Red Flag 90–3.

  Mr. Neubert
  None.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the planned dates and locations of the main United Kingdom air activity, for exercises(a) Central Enterprise, (b) Mallet Blow, (c) OSEX, (d) Salty Hammer and (e) Elder Joust, during 1990.

  Mr. Neubert
  The information requested is as follows:

  Exercise

  Dates

  Locations

  (a) Central Enterprise

  18–22 June 1990

  No significant activity in the United Kingdom

  (b) Mallet Blow

  26–30 March and 30 July—3 August 1990.

  North England and Borders

  (c) OSEX

  9–13 July 1990

  Mid and North Wales, North Lancashire and South Cumbria

  (d) Salty Hammer

  22 May 1990

  North England and South Scotland

  (e) Elder Joust

  2–3 October 1990

  East Scotland and North and East England

  There are some minor variations against the planned dates given to the hon. Member on 3 April (columns 595–98.)

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations have been made to the United States authorities(a) to relax the minimum height restrictions for sorties in the first two days of Red/Green Flag exercises in respect of Royal Air Force aircrew already qualified to fly at 100 ft and (b) to relax the regulation prohibiting offensive or defensive manoeuvring below 300 ft for Royal Air Force aircraft participating in Red or Green Flag exercises.

  Mr. Neubert
  None.

  RAF Combat Training
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on future policy on realistic combat training for Royal Air Force strike/attack units following the recent NATO decision to abandon plans for a tactical fighter training centre.

  Mr. Neubert
  Following the decision by NATO Ministers not to pursue further the sites under consideration for a NATO tactical fighter centre, the EURO/NATO training group has been invited to consider alternative ways of meeting NATO training requirements in this area. Future United Kingdom training requirements will naturally need to take account of the outcome of our current examination of options for change.

  Controlled Airspace (Unauthorised Penetrations)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the regulations concerning the requirements for aircrew to report incidences of unauthorised penetration of regulated or controlled airspace in the event of having to climb out of the United Kingdom low flying system unexpectedly; and how many such unauthorised penetrations were reported in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Neubert
  Aircrew are instructed to report any such unauthorised penetrations of regulated or controlled airspace, but very few occur and separate statistics for such incidents are not maintained.

  Sea Harriers
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any Royal Navy Sea Harrier pilots are currently qualified to fly overland at less than 250 ft; and what consideration has been given to requesting Sea Harrier participation in flag exercises in north America.

  Mr. Neubert
  It is not our policy to disclose the operational capabilities of Royal Navy pilots. I can say however that the Royal Navy does not participate in the flag exercises held in north America, as these are designed to train pilots in roles not normally assumed by the Royal Navy.

  Aldermaston
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the construction of the Aldermaston A90 building.

  Mr. Neubert
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newbury (Sir M. McNair-Wilson) on 18 May 1990, at column 578.

  Nuclear Testing
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if there has ever been a joint United Kingdom-United States nuclear warhead test in (i) Nevada, (ii) the Pacific islands or (iii) Australia.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All United Kingdom nuclear tests in Nevada have been joint United Kingdom-United States activities; the United Kingdom permitted the United States to use its Pacific (Christmas Island) test site for the Operation Dominic series of tests in 1962; all tests in Australia were United Kingdom national tests.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information in support of the United Kingdom nuclear weapons and warhead design and development has been made available by the United States under the 1958–59 as amended mutual defence agreement on atomic energy matters; and for what period this agreement will remain in force without requiring amendment.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It has been the policy of successive British Governments not to disclose information exchanged under the terms of the 1958 United Kingdom/United States defence agreement. The agreement will remain extant until 31 December 1994, when article III is due for renewal.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the financial savings made if the planned number of warheads for the Trident D5 programme were reduced by (i) 50 per cent. and (ii) 75 per cent.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It has been the policy of successive Governments not to reveal details of this nature, for security reasons.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery) of 15 May,Official Report, column 729, what matters with regard to nuclear non-proliferation were discussed at the NATO nuclear planning group in Kananaskis, Canada on 9–10 May.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The alliance's long-held position with regard to the proliferation of nuclear weapons remains unchanged. However, given the profound political changes in the countries of central and eastern Europe over recent months, the meeting of the NATO nuclear planning group, which took place in Canada on 9 to 10 May, concentrated its discussions on the implications of these developments for the alliance's nuclear policy. A copy of the final communiqué issued on completion of the NPG meeting is available in the Library.

  Management Strategy
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made towards introducing its new management strategy.

  Mr. Neubert
  Good progress has been made in preparing for the introduction of the new management strategy in April 1991.

SCOTLAND

  Fisheries
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of any research commissioned or financed by him on square mesh panels as a means of conservation.

  Mr. Lang
  I refer to the reply given today to the hon. Member by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry), which sets out the various research work being carried out on square mesh panels throughout the UK, including the major contribution by the marine laboratory in Aberdeen.

  Mental Health Programmes
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make more funds available to the Training Agency for people with mental health problems.

  Mr. Rifkind
  No. The Training Agency has sufficient resources to meet the demand for training places for young people and unemployed people with special needs including those with mental health problems.

  HIV
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the first known sero-conversion to HIV took place in a person with haemophilia as a result of using Scottish factor concentrates.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available.

  Bankruptcy
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce maximum hourly rates of remuneration for work carried out by trustees in terms of section 53(4) of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have been asked to reply.

  An evaluation of the Scottish bankruptcy system is currently taking place and this will cover remuneration.

  Water Supply
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide details of the progress of the programme of action required by the European Community water directive, to bring Scotland's water supply up to the European Community standard; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  All Scottish water authorities have now given undertakings, which my right hon. and learned Friend has accepted, to carry out improvement programmes to meet the standards set in the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990. The regulations incorporate the quality requirements of the European Community drinking water directive.

  The programmes mainly concern improvements to meet the standards for aluminium and for iron derived from unlined cast-iron pipes. Improvements in respect of aluminium are mostly due for completion by 1996, while
  246
  those in respect of iron will be completed over a longer period. Improvements to disinfection will also be made, especially to rural supplies, to ensure that microbiological standards are met at all times. Much of this work will be completed within the next two years.

  Programmes for meeting the European Community standard for lead should be complete by the end of this year except in two small supplies and three where major improvement works are in progress.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what are the Government's estimates of toxic waste imports to Scotland in each of the next five years;

  (2) if he will list the quantity of imported waste destined for Scotland in each of the last five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Returns by district and islands councils indicate that the total amounts of waste imported into Scotland in 1987 and 1988 were as follows:

  Year

  Amount (tonnes)

  1987

  15

  1988

  453

  Information is not available for earlier years; returns for 1989 are not yet complete.

  Centrally, there are no estimates for the import of any wastes in future years.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department is currently taking to monitor and investigate the incidence of illness arid death among humans and animals in areas where there are incinerators and landfill sites; and if he will make a statement on safeguards to the general public in such areas.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 district or islands councils as waste disposal authorities have powers to reject any application for the use of land, plant or equipment for the disposal of controlled waste which the council believes will cause a danger to public health. Health boards and environmental health departments are responsible for investigating particular incidents.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to strengthen current legislation to protect public health and the environment in the specific area of landfill sites and incineration.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Yes. The Environmental Protection Bill will tighten controls both on air pollution, from incinerators and other sources, and on waste disposal to landfill sites.

  Lead Contamination
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money his Department has spent on publicising the effects of lead in water in Scotland annually between 1979 and 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In 1983, £76,000 was spent on a publicity campaign in Scotland to inform the public about
  247
  the hazards of lead in the environment, including the effects of lead in water. A leaflet was sent to all households in Scotland and newspaper and radio advertisements were placed to publicise the distribution of the leaflet. There is now an adequate degree of public awareness of these hazards.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been allocated by his Department for the provision of lead replacement grants by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Capital allocations to local authorities in 1990–91 on the non-housing revenue account block total £124·635 million, of which £22·250 million is earmarked to clear the backlog of pre-1984 repairs grant applications in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Within these allocations resources are not earmarked centrally for particular programmes such as lead replacement. It is the responsibility of each local authority in the light of local circumstances to decide on the priority which should be attached to particular programmes such as lead replacement within the block allocation made available.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of Scottish Office spending plans in the area of water and sewerage over the next three years; how much of this allocation will be spent on dealing with the problem of lead in water; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  For 1990–91, capital expenditure provision for authorities' water and sewerage

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Board

  Gross allocation £ million

  Distance from parity Per cent.

  Gross allocation £ million

  Distance from parity Per cent.

  Gross allocation £ million

  Distance from parity Per cent.

  Gross allocation £ million

  Distance from parity Per cent.

  Gross allocation £ million

  Distance from parity Per cent.

  Greater Glasgow

  360·607

  + 4·78

  383·516

  + 4·16

  411·541

  + 404

  457·513

  + 3·95

  484·025

  + 4·2

  Highland

  51·044

  -2·13

  55·520

  -1·18

  59·945

  -0·70

  66·684

  -1·27

  73·532

  -1·35

  Tayside

  126·932

  + 7·17

  135·633

  +4·44

  146·535

  + 2·27

  162·924

  + 2·30

  174·143

  + 0·68

  Forth Valley

  63·788

  -2·74

  68·391

  -3·32

  74·820

  -1·70

  82·441

  -1·38

  90·525

  -1·26

  Borders

  20·211

  -6·71

  21·903

  -4·85

  24·648

  -3·90

  27·421

  -3·32

  30·521

  -2·95

  Dumfries and Galloway

  35·535

  -3·05

  37·547

  -1·46

  40·898

  -2·07

  45·258

  -1·62

  50·229

  -1·61

  General Practitioners
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many budget-holding practice groups he envisages being in operation by April 1991.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Health boards are conducting discussions with the practices that have expressed an interest in the general practitioner funding scheme with a view to determining which of them are suitable for undertaking the necessary preparatory work. It is not possible to anticipate how many fund holders will be in place for April 1991.

  Divorce
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications were made for legal aid in connection with actions for divorce in the latest year for which figures are available; in how many of these cases legal aid was granted; and what was the cost to the legal aid fund.
  248
  programmes was set at £142 million. Provision for 1991–92 totals £170 million and for 1992–93, £190 million, a 50 per cent. increase over the comparable figure for 1989–90. Each regional and islands council determines priorities for expenditure within its capital allocation.

  All but five of the 103 programmes of improvements required to meet the standard of lead set in the EC drinking water directive are due to be completed by the end of this year. It is estimated that remaining expenditure on treatment to meet the EC lead standard will amount to about £1·7 million in 1990–91 and about £1 million in 1991–92.

  The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990 set tighter standards for lead. To meet the new standards authorities are currently assessing the expenditure required, and this will be taken into account in determining allocations in future years.

  Health Authority Revenue
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the annual budgets over the last five years up to and including 31 March, and the percentage they have been over or under Scottish health authorities revenue equalisation parity in each of these years, for(a) Greater Glasgow, (b) Highland, (c) Tayside, (d) Central and (e) Borders and Dumfries and Galloway health boards.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  On the assumption that the reference to Central health board should be to Forth Valley health board the information is as follows:

  Mr. Rifkind
  The information for 1988–89 is set out in the table:

  Legal aid for actions of divorce: Scotland

  Number of applications made

  Number of applications granted

  Cost1 £

  Sheriff Court

  11,182

  8,610

  5,330,902

  Court of Session

  217

  143

  2,223,971

  Total

  11·399

  8,753

  7,554,873

  1 The cost shown represents expenditure in 88–89, not expenditure on cases for which legal aid was granted in 1988–89.

  Mentally Ill People
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients were detained in Scotland under section 26 of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Rifkind
  In 1989 the number of episodes of emergency detention under section 24 of the Act which
  249
  were subsequently continued under section 26 was 1,211. This figure includes patients who were subject to these detention provisions on more than one occasion during the year.

  Social Work
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was local authority expenditure on social work in Scotland for each of the last five years; and what is the expected figure for each of the next three years.

  Mr. Rifkind
  From information supplied by local authorities in Scotland net expenditure (cash) on social work was:

  £ million

  1985–86

  316·7

  1986–87

  334·8

  1987–88

  375·5

  1988–89

  421·6

  1989–90

  1473·4

  1990–91

  2552·1

  1provisional outturn

  2budget estimate

  Notes: Figures up to 1989–90 are exclusive of central administration; those for 1990–91 are inclusive.

  Expenditure in future years is a matter for local authorities to determine.

  Fine Collection Officers
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fine collection officers are now in post in Scotland; and in what sheriff courts they are based.

  Mr. Rifkind
  There are 15 fines officer posts. The sheriff courts at which they are based and the number at each court are as follows:

  Numbers

  Aberdeen

  1

  Airdrie

  1

  Dundee

  1

  Dunfermline

  1

  Dumbarton

  1

  Edinburgh

  2

  Falkirk

  1

  Glasgow

  13

  Hamilton

  2

  Kilmarnock

  1

  Paisley

  1

  Includes one post presently vacant and in the process of being filled.

  Offenders' Hostels
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hostels there are in Scotland providing accommodation for offenders; how many bed places these contain; what the occupancy rate was in the latest year for which figures are available; and what percentage was taken up by occupants on bail.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Offender accommodation grant-aided by the Scottish Office under section 27B of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 takes a variety of forms. The number of bed places fluctuates but is currently around 90. Detailed information on the level and nature of bed occupancy is not available centrally. A recording system is,250
  however, in the process of being introduced, and a preliminary assessment of some of the accommodation has indicated an occupancy rate of 80 per cent.

  Security Firms
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many employees of his Department have been made redundant in the last five years in consequence of the employment of private security firms.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Three patrolmen at the marine laboratory, Aberdeen, were made redundant on 30 November 1986 as a result of security duties being taken over by a private security firm.

  Legal Aid
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of legal expenses incurred by the Scottish Legal Aid Board in connection with their recent application to the Court of Session to countermand the order for the chairman of the Scottish Legal Aid Board to appear before a sheriff to explain matters arising from the handling of an application for civil legal aid.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The last such application by the Scottish Legal Aid Board was made over two years ago, and the information requested is not readily available.

  Seals
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many grey and common seals were shot in each of the past 10 years, under section 9 of the Conservation of Seals Act 1970, during(a) the close season and (b) the rest of the year and what steps he is taking to regulate this killing of seals under the terms of the Berne convention.

  Mr. Lang
  Information is not held centrally on the basis requested. No prior permit, or subsequent reporting of shooting of a seal, is required under the provisions of section 9 of the Conservation of Seals Act 1970.

  My right hon. and learned Friend's obligations under the Berne convention in respect of seals in Scottish waters are met by the provisions and operation of the Conservation of Seals Act.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many licences have been issued for the shooting of seals under section 10 of the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 in the years, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1938, 1989 and so far in the current year.

  Mr. Lang
  The figures requested are as follows:

  Year

  Licences Issued

  1983

  1—

  1984

  4

  1985

  31

  1986

  34

  1987

  52

  1988

  34

  1989

  0

  21990

  0

  1 No figures are available.

  2 to date.

  251
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current policy on the issuing of licences to shoot and kill grey and common seals for the prevention of damage to fisheries and fish stocks.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend is reviewing this matter in the light of a number of current applications for licences.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken in order to assess(a) the scale of damage inflicted upon the stocks of fish farms by birds and seals and (b) the number of birds and seals killed in order to prevent predation at fish farms.

  Mr. Lang
  There is no general requirement for fish farmers to report damage by predators to their stocks or equipment. Applicants for licences to shoot seals under the provisions of section 10(1)(c) of the Conservation of Seals Act 1970, or to shoot protected birds under the provisions of section 16(1)(k) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 are required to indicate the damage which shooting under licence is expected to prevent and to report the numbers of seals or birds which are shot in accordance with a licence.

  Information on numbers of seals and seabirds shot under provisions other than licences is not available centrally.

  Gourock Ropeworks
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received concerning the present circumstances and future of the Gourock ropeworks in Port Glasgow; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have received representations both for and against the retention of the Gourock Ropeworks building.

  It is a category A listed building in private ownership for which I hope a suitable use can be found. Its demolition, alteration or extension would require listed building consent in terms of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972. I am not aware of any application for listed building consent to Inverclyde district council as planning authority.

  Training
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how he intends to ensure that there is adequate training for those with special needs in Scotland; and whether the Training Agency will fund the programme of the Scottish Association for Mental Health at the level of 1989's net cost, plus an appropriate allowance for inflation.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 7 June 1990]: The Government offer the guarantee of suitable training through youth training to all young persons aged between 16 and 18 years who want a training placement and through employment training to all persons who have been unemployed for over six months and who seek training. To ensure sufficient suitable placements are available to meet the needs of all trainees including those with special needs, the Training Agency contracts for training places with a wide range of training providers throughout Scotland.
  252
  These include voluntary organisations, such as the Scottish Association for Mental Health, with particular interests in providing for specific special needs. The number of contracted places to meet particular special needs is determined by the potential demand for them from people eligible to join either youth training or employment training. The Training Agency does not fund a Scottish Association for Mental Health programme: it contracts with that body through employment training for the provision of training places.

  Syringes (Cumbrae)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department will co-ordinate efforts to establish the source of used syringes washed up on the shores of the Isle of Cumbrae over a period of several weeks; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 June 1990]: I am making inquiries locally and will write to the hon. Member.

  Ardrossan-Saltcoats-Stevenston Bypass
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the timetabling of the proposed Ardrossan-Saltcoats-Stevenston bypass.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 June 1990]: All schemes in the trunk road programme are allocated scheme ready dates which indicate when the necessary preparatory work is expected to be completed. Thereafter, decisions on which schemes will proceed to construction in the following year are taken annually each March on the basis of the relative priorities of the schemes which are ready, and the financial resources available. Preparatory work for an Ardrossan-Saltcoats-Stevenston bypass is expected to be completed this year if outstanding objections to the scheme are satisfactorily resolved, but no decision has been taken on when a bypass might be constructed. Decisions on the priorities for funding in 1991–92 and beyond will be greatly assisted by the results of the major trunk and key principal road network review, which will by then be substantially complete.

  Scottish Homes
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the capital programme for Scottish Homes for the financial years 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 June 1990]: Final accounts for 1989–90 are not yet available: Scottish Homes' gross capital programme expenditure is, however, expected to be £299 million. The gross capital programme for 1990–91 is £311 million and assumes that Scottish Homes achieves projected capital receipts of £110 million.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the new build projects undertaken by Scottish Homes in the financial year 1989–90, and the projected new build programme for Scottish Homes for the current financial year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 12 June 1990]: When approving Scottish Homes' programme for any year my right hon. and learned Friend also agrees the

  253
  amounts which Scottish Homes proposes should be spent on particular functions. The allocation of funds to individual projects is then a matter for Scottish Homes.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  El Salvador
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will undertake to visit El Salvador to examine the human rights situation there.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans at present to visit El Salvador. We receive regular reports on the human rights situation from our embassy in San Salvador and take appropriate opportunities to register our concerns with the Salvadorean authorities.

  Middle East
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current initiatives to secure the release of United Kingdom hostages in Beirut.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has been taking to gain the release of the British hostages currently held in Beirut; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The release of two American hostages in April shows that Iran and Syria can, if they wish, secure the release of hostages in Lebanon. We are persevering with our efforts to persuade them that the holding of hostages is in no one's interest.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the measures he is taking to advance the peace process in the middle east and the release of British hostages held in the Lebanon.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The recent visit of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the middle east has convinced us more than ever of the urgent need for direct dialogue between Palestinians and Israel. I can see no other starting point for a genuine peace process. We shall continue to work for this with our friends in the region and elsewhere. The grim alternative to dialogue is extremism and more killing.

  The release of two American hostages in April shows that Iran and Syria can, if they wish, secure the release of hostages in Lebanon. We are persevering with our efforts to persuade them that the holding of hostages is in no one's interest.

  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any further proposals for a peace settlement in the middle east; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's contribution to finding a diplomatic and peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict acceptable to the international community.
  254
  Mr. Waldegrave
  The recent visit of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the middle east has convinced us more than ever of the urgent need for direct dialogue between Palestinians and Israel. I can see no other starting point for a genuine peace process. We shall continue to work for this with our friends in the region and elsewhere. The grim alternative to dialogue is extremism arid more

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to visit Israel to discuss the middle east peace process.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs would hope to do so at some stage but has no firm plans at present. However, the Israeli Government are well aware of our views on the urgent need for direct dialogue with representative Palestinians.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Israeli Government about the occupation of the west bank and Gaza strip.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Israelis are well aware of our view that they should withdraw from territories occupied in 1967 in the context of a comprehensive settlement of the Arab/Israel dispute; and that pending withdrawal they should administer the occupied territories in accordance with their obligations under international law.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government about the continuing murders in the occupied territories; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Israeli Government are well aware of our deep concern about the continuing violence in the occupied territories and the numbers of Palestinians killed and wounded. We continue to take every opportunity to urge the Israeli authorities to administer the occupied territories in accordance with international law.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Iraqi authorities regarding President Sadam Hussein's statement concerning Israel on 10 May at a meeting with Yasser Arafat.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are not aware of the statement to which the hon. Member refers. According to our information, President Saddam Hussein did not meet Mr. Arafat on 10 May.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he authorised British Airways officials on flight 657 from Tel Aviv to London on 23 May 1990 to detain the passport of Mr. John Richardson.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens have been excluded from Israel for each year since 1985, giving the figures since December 1987 by month.
  255
  Mr. Waldegrave
  No records of this kind of information are available to us.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British embassy was involved in the exclusion of Mr. John Richardson from Tel Aviv airport on 23 May; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No.

  South Africa
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the timetable for constitutional reform discussed at his most recent meeting with President de Klerk.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  During President de Klerk's recent visit, we encouraged him to maintain the momentum of constitutional reform in South Africa. We were impressed by his commitment to move forward as rapidly as possible.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what amount of British money has been made available to black political groups in South Africa; what groups have received this money and what amounts have been paid to them; what are the conditions laid down by the Government for the money to be granted; what procedures have to be adopted to make an application for the money; and who administers it.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  A scheme was established in March 1990, separate from our aid programme, to help those organisations previously excluded from the political process in South Africa prepare to enter negotiations. This scheme provides practical support, on a non-discriminatory basis, to those making the transition to normal political activity.

  Since the scheme's inception, we have made £75,000 available and have given assistance to the following organisations: African National Congress (c £10,500), PAC (Internal) (£2,784) and Inkatha (£4,681).

  In each case, the money has been provided in the form of practical material support, designed to help the organisation concerned function as a political party and thus to help towards achieving a negotiated transition to a multi-party democracy.

  Any organisations seeking help under this scheme may apply direct to the British embassy in Cape Town/Pretoria, or to any of the three other British diplomatic offices in South Africa. The scheme is administered by Her Majesty's ambassador in South Africa.

  Colombia
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the implications of the outcome of the recent Colombian elections on the international war against the drug barons.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We congratulate Sr. Gaviria on his victory in the Colombian presidential election and look forward to working with his Government in the fight against international drugs trafficking. President-elect Gaviria has made clear that he intends to continue President Barco's policies directed against the drugs trade.

  Romania
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations the Government have made to the Government of Romania.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We made a number of representations before the recent elections urging the Romanian Government to ensure a free and fair campaign and poll. On 11 May we summoned the Romanian chargé d'affaires to register our concern on this point.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Romania, following the elections which took place there on 20 May.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We hope for warm and co-operative relations with Romania. This will depend in part on continued progress by the Romanian Government towards democracy.

  Eastern Europe
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit eastern Europe to discuss political and economic co-operation.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs plans to visit Czechoslovakia in late July. We have regular discussions with east European leaders during high-level visits in either direction and in the margins of international gatherings. We are extending our co-operation with these countries ever more widely as they make progress in economic and political reform.

  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure that assistance to the countries of eastern Europe is conditional upon significant political and economic reform.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Our policy remains that the type and degree of aid to the reforming eastern European countries should match the stage of political and economic reform they have each reached.

  Dr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to lessen the cost of visa applications to managers in eastern Europe who wish to visit the United Kingdom to acquire management skills.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Managers from eastern Europe visiting the United Kingdom through the know-how funds are issued visas gratis. Those coming under other auspices are eligible to apply for two-year multiple-entry visas, which are cheaper, pro rata, than single-entry visas.

  German Unification
  Mr. Siliars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's current policy on German unification.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's current policy on German unification.
  257
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's current policy on German unification.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We warmly welcome the prospect of German unification. We are working with the Foreign Ministers of the United States, France, Soviet Union, the two Germanies and others concerned, to settle the external aspects of German unification as soon as possible.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of the reunification of Germany on the United Kingdom's position within the European Community.

  Mr. Maude
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor) on 22 May. We welcome German unification as a positive factor for Europe and the Community.

  EC Inter-institutional Conference
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the main conclusions of the European Community inter-institutional conference, held in Strasbourg on 17 May.

  Mr. Maude
  There were no formal conclusions.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the last meeting of the European Community Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 24 May.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what subjects will be discussed at the next meeting of the European Community Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what subjects he intends to raise at the next European Community Council of Ministers meeting.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters he will be raising at the next meeting of the European Community Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The issues are likely to include preparations for the Dublin European Council, relations with EFTA, the GATT Uruguay round, and other EC external policies.

  Libya
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will expect to visit Libya and discuss United Kingdom-Libyan relations.
  258
  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has 130 plans to do so.

  Short-range Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to meet the United States Secretary of State to discuss short-range nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met Mr. Baker and other NATO colleagues at the North Atlantic Council meeting held at Turnberry on 7 and 8 June. NATO agreed at that meeting that negotiations on United States and Soviet short-range nuclear weapons systems in Europe should begin shortly after a CFE agreement is concluded.

  We shall continue to be in close touch with the United States on this subject in preparation for the NATO summit in London from 4 to 6 July.

  EC Policies
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further proposals he intends to place before his European Community partners for the development of Community policies.

  Mr. Maude
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 9 May. We shall continue to play a constructive role in Community discussions.

  CSCE Conference, Copenhagen
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement of Her Majesty's Government's aims at the current CSCE conference on the human dimension in Copenhagen.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said when he addressed the conference on 5 June, we want the Copenhagen CDH meeting to extend CSCE human rights undertakings, specifically on free and fair elections, the rule of law, and freedom of expression, of association and peaceful assembly, and of movement. We shall also play a full part in the detailed review of participating states' implementation of their CSCE human rights commitments.

  Guyana
  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to meet the President of Guyana.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend has no present plans to meet the President of Guyana.

  Czech and Slovak Federal Republic
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic since the elections held on 8 June.
  259
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the elections in the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic on 8 June.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We warmly welcome these free and peaceful elections. The exceptionally high turnout shows the enthusiasm with which the Czechoslovak people have greeted the restoration of democracy in their country. Our relations with Czechoslovakia are excellent.

  We look forward to the formation of a new Government. They can rely on our help and support in meeting the challenges ahead.

  Cambodia
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will review his policy regarding the Cambodian seat at the United Nations.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  With our EC partners we are reviewing our policy towards Cambodia's representation at the United Nations. In doing so we shall be taking into account the efforts of a range of countries, notably the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, to achieve a comprehensive political settlement.

  British Colonies
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning democratic arrangements for residents of small British colonies.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have received no such representations in respect of our Caribbean, Atlantic or Pacific dependent territories.

  India
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to meet the Indian Foreign Minister.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs looks forward to meeting the Indian Foreign Minister again as soon as both their programmes allow this.

  Antarctica
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning proposals to make Antarctica a world park.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have received representations from many hon. Members and members of the public. We fully support and comply with the relevant obligations under the Antarctic treaty system and the Antarctic minerals convention, which offer the best possible means of protecting the Antarctic environment.

  Chile
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the support which Her Majesty's Government are giving to the democratic Government of Chile.
  260
  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have increased our contribution to the World University Service to enable it to help with the repatriation of exiled Chileans. We have also doubled our bilateral technical assistance programme.

  European Community Foreign Ministers
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Foreign Ministers of the other European Community countries; and whether he discussed the importance attached by the European Community to the implementation of measures agreed by the Twelve.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised the subject of implementation of European Community legislation at the informal meeting of European Community Foreign Ministers on 19 and 20 May.

  Nuclear Arms
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of how proposals to extend the competence of the European Economic Community into matters of non-proliferation would affect the United Kingdom's obligations under the non-proliferation treaty;

  (2) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards extending the competence of the European Economic Community into matters of non-proliferation.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  There are no proposals for such extension of European Community competence.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the British Government's preparations for the nonproliferation treaty fourth review conference in Geneva in August-September.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have played a full and constructive role in the preparations for the fourth review conference of the non-proliferation treaty. The third preparatory committee successfully concluded procedural matters and the allocation of administrative posts.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his proposals to extend and develop the non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of 15 December 1989 to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas).

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government intend to put forward at the fourth review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in regard to developing energy aid via provisions of articles III and IV of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We do not intend to put forward any proposals in this regard. We do, however, already provide assistance to a number of developing countries, via the "Footnote A" projects, under the International Atomic Energy Agency's technical assistance programme, for the development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
  261
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent to which the development of the British Trident system is compatible with the Government's obligations under article VI of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Negotiations on the reduction of strategic weapons are being conducted by the United States and Soviet Union. We welcome the prospect of a START agreement this year. Our position with regard to the British strategic deterrent is that, if United States and Soviet strategic arsenals were further reduced very substantially and there had been no significant improvements in defensive capabilities, we would consider how best we might contribute to the arms control process in the light of the changed circumstances.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the composition of the British delegation to the fourth review conference of the non-proliferation treaty in Geneva in August–September.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which United Kingdom-based non-governmental organisations have been granted observer status for the fourth non-proliferation treaty review conference; how non-governmental organisations obtain such status; and what financial assistance is Her Majesty's Government giving to United Kingdom non-governmental organisations to attend the conference.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Gentlemen to my answer of 11 June to the hon. Member for Stockton, North (Mr. Cook).

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has prepared an educational video on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty for use in schools and colleges.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. However, the arms control and disarmament research unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office publishes notes on arms control on an approximately monthly basis and a quarterly review. Both publications regularly include information on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the fourth review conference and are available on request.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions Her Majesty's Government have taken to fulfil their obligations under article IV of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty; and what initiatives the Government are considering to expand the provisions of article IV to include other energy sources.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We contribute annually to the "Footnote A" projects, under the International Atomic Energy Agency's technical assistance programme, and there is a considerable amount of trade and co-operation in the nuclear area involving British companies. We are not considering any initiatives to expand the provisions of article IV.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions Her Majesty's Government have taken to encourage Albania to become a party to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
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  Mr. Waldegrave
  None. In common with the other depository powers of the NPT, we do not have diplomatic relations with Albania.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those meetings concerning nuclear weapons proliferation arid nonproliferation measures at which his Department will be represented between now and the fourth quinquennial review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The three preparatory committees for the NPT review conference have been concluded. No further multilateral meetings devoted specifically to this subject are planned before the review conference, although the subject will be on the agenda of a number of bilateral meetings.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives are being considered by Her Majesty's Government to expand the terms of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty so that source or special fissionable material or equipment or material specially designed or prepared for the processing, use or production of special fissionable material, can no longer be transferred from states party to the treaty to non-nuclear weapons states for non-peaceful purposes without the application of treaty safeguards.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  None. In accordance with article III of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the nuclear suppliers guidelines to which all major nuclear suppliers subscribe, source or special fissionable material or equipment or material especially designed or prepared for the processing, use or production of special fissionable material may be transferred to non-nuclear weapon states only for peaceful purposes and only if the source or special fissionable material is subject to safeguards.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now re-open the British embassy in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have no plans at present to re-open our embassy in Kabul.

  Drugs
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the interdiction of drug trafficking in the Caribbean basin.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Local Governments and aid donors have taken steps to combat the flow of drugs through the Caribbean, but trafficking remains a major problem. We recognise the seriousness of this threat and are committed to helping Caribbean nations fight it. We have provided over £3 million of anti-drugs assistance to the region since 1987 and will provide a further £1·2 million to help our Caribbean dependent territories in their efforts. We co-operate fully with other anti-drugs agencies in the region.

  Lithuania
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Lithuania; and what Her Majesty's Government are doing to assist its economic recovery.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Unfortunately, talks between Vilnius and Moscow have still not been launched, despite the readiness of the Lithuanians to suspend the legislation adopted since the declaration of independence. The economic measures imposed by Moscow continue.

  We have no programme of assistance specifically for Lithuania. But Lithuania is able to participate in our wider programme of exchange and co-operation with the Soviet Union.

  Open Skies Conference
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the open skies conference in Budapest which closed on 13 May.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are disappointed that it was not possible to reach agreement on an open skies regime at the last round of negotiations in Budapest. We remain determined to pursue an open skies agreement, which could make a significant contribution to confidence building. We hope for an early indication that the Soviet Union is willing to negotiate constructively on the outstanding issues.

EMPLOYMENT

  Mentally Ill People
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he proposes to take to avert staff redundancies and unfilled training places in the programmes run by the providers of training for those with mental health problems.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Contracts with providers are negotiated for the number of places considered appropriate to meet local needs and in particular those who have special training needs. Training providers are responsible for running their programmes in accordance with their contract. Thus they are responsible for their own staff, including staff redundancies should they occur.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total sum of money allocated to training and enterprise councils; what percentage of this sum has been taken up; and what percentage of training and enterprise council funding is provided from European Community sources.

  Mr. Eggar
  The total budget allocated to training and enterprise councils in 1990–91 will be dependent on when individual training and enterprise councils become operational. To date the combined budget for the first 13 training and enterprise councils that have signed operational contracts is £215 million.

  The extent to which training and enterprise councils will receive funding from the European Community
  264
  through the European social fund cannot be determined fully until individual projects are considered by my Department.

  National Insurance Credits
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether a person who has been disallowed national insurance credits for not being available for or not actively seeking work has the right to appeal against the decision; what other procedures are open to them if they wish to dispute the disallowance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  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. Lady.

  Employment Exchanges
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give full details of the consultative process to be undertaken by his Department before he considers closing any local part-time employment exchange.

  Mr. Eggar
  When the employment service plans to close a part-time local office it follows the established practice of ensuring that the hon. Member in whose constituency the part-time office is located is informed of the reason for the planned closure.

  Repetitive Strain Injury
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on(a) research, (b) prevention and (c) compensation for repetitive strain injuries.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places general duties on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees; and in particular the provision and maintenance of plant and systems of work that are, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health. These general duties apply to the prevention of repetitive strain injury and are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities.

  The HSE intends to publish later this year new guidance on work-related upper limb disorders which will give authoritative advice to employers on ways to prevent them. HSE funds an extramural biomedical research programme which includes support for research into repetitive strain injury. A report from the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), "Clinical Epidemiological Study of Relations between Upper Limb Soft Tissue Disorders and Repetitive Movements at Work", has recently been published.

  The HSE has also funded research projects at the IOM and the university of Birmingham which investigate the relationship between work routines and activities and specific upper limb disorders. Reports on these studies are still awaited.

  State compensation for industrial injuries is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fisheries
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of any research commissioned or financed by him on square mesh panels as a means of conservation.

  Mr. Curry
  We are currently spending about £1·25 million a year on research related to fishing gear. Square mesh panels are one of the several options presently under investigation in our work to develop more selective fishing gear which will improve conservation by reducing the take of undersized fish. The marine laboratory of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland at Aberdeen has already undertaken, in addition to basic research on square mesh netting, a study on the behaviour of fish in codends with a square mesh panel and a further study on the process of capture in a seine net with various codends including one with a square mesh panel. This summer a study, in conjunction with the Shetland islands council, will investigate as part of a wider project the comparative catches of a codend with a square mesh panel and a conventional codend in a twin trawl. Depending upon the results further studies may then be made.

  Further, the Government work with and fund work by the Sea Fish Industry Authority. In 1989–90 a trial was undertaken comparing the catches of a conventional 90mm trawl and one fitted with an 80mm square mesh panel and a further trial mainly looking at codend circumference and extension length also did some work on a square mesh panel. Further trials are taking place this summer in both trawl and seine nets and directed at haddock and cod as trials so far have focused on whiting. The effect of factors such as gear shape and towing on the openness of square mesh will also be studied. We also authorised an industry-led and funded trial to use 80mm square mesh panel rather than the minimum legal size of 90mm.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate losses to farmers and dealers in the United Kingdom as a result of bans on imports by European Community governments in the light of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  At any time there are many factors affecting markets and no meaningful estimate can be made of the specific impact of the prohibitions on trade recently applied by several member states. In the wake of increased support to the market under the CAP regime for beef and the agreement reached last week in the Agriculture Council, I am pleased to note that market prices have improved significantly.

  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will support a unified European Community research programme to study the causes and treatments of BSE.

  Mr. Maclean
  Yes. The Council of Ministers agreed on 7 June to ask the European Commission to implement a Community-wide programme of research into BSE.
  266
  David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the(a) number and (b) percentage of beef herds affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy on a county-by-county basis.

  Mr. Maclean
  Bovine spongiform encephalopathy is not a disease affecting cattle herds but rather one which affects individual animals within a herd.

  The information requested for Great Britain up to 11 June 1990 is as follows:

  County

  Confirmed cases

  Per cent, of total beef herds in county

  Scilly Isles

  0

  0·00

  Cleveland

  0

  0·00

  Durham

  9

  0·96

  Tyne and Wear

  0

  0·00

  Northumberland

  12

  1·06

  Cumbria

  15

  0·56

  Yorkshire North

  22

  0·97

  Yorkshire South

  1

  0·31

  Yorkshire West

  2

  0·24

  Humberside

  12

  2·42

  Lancashire

  6

  0·63

  Merseyside

  0

  0·00

  Manchester

  0

  0·00

  Derbyshire

  5

  0·49

  Leicestershire

  5

  0·78

  Nottinghamshire

  3

  0·97

  Cheshire

  0

  0·00

  Shropshire

  7

  0·52

  Staffordshire

  7

  0·67

  Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  23

  1·41

  Warwickshire

  5

  1·00

  West Midlands

  1

  0·97

  Lincolnshire

  5

  0·65

  Norfolk

  18

  2·65

  Suffolk

  9

  2·37

  Bedfordshire

  3

  2·17

  Cambridgeshire

  6

  2·12

  Northamptonshire

  5

  1·44

  Essex

  5

  1·66

  Hertfordshire

  6

  3·16

  London

  1

  2·08

  Berkshire

  3

  1·67

  Buckinghamshire

  2

  0·51

  Oxfordshire

  6

  1·45

  Hampshire

  12

  2·32

  Isle of Wight

  1

  0·93

  Surrey

  9

  3·14

  Sussex West

  9

  3·07

  Kent

  11

  1·96

  Sussex East

  10

  2·22

  Gloucestershire

  7

  0·97

  Avon

  8

  2·00

  Wiltshire

  20

  3·78

  Dorset

  12

  2·02

  Somerset

  27

  2·01

  Devonshire

  37

  1·10

  Cornwall

  42

  2·01

  Gwynedd

  7

  0·37

  Clwyd

  8

  0·68

  Powys

  63

  2·08

  Dyfed

  25

  0·72

  Glamorgan South

  1

  0·81

  Glamorgan Mid

  1

  0·25

  Glamorgan West

  1

  0·30

  Gwent

  11

  1·54

  Highland

  13

  0·73

  Grampian

  35

  1·85

  Tayside

  16

  2·04

  Strathclyde

  10

  0·47

  Central

  4

  1·14

  Fife

  6

  2·76

  Lothian

  2

  0·92

  Borders

  6

  0·87

  267

  County

  Confirmed cases

  Per cent, of total beef herds in county

  Dumfries

  13

  0·93

  Western Isles

  0

  0·00

  Orkney

  4

  0·48

  Shetland

  0

  0·00

  Agricultural Improvements
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to publish his review of standard costs for agricultural improvements; and what aspects he will be taking into account in determining the uprating factor.

  Mr. Curry
  The Department is currently reviewing labour and material costs relevant to the setting of standard costs for agricultural grants. The question of any announcement must await the outcome of this review.

  Nuclear Accidents
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of any recently produced reports by the French nuclear authorities indicating the potential dangers posed to agriculture in France and the United Kingdom arising from an accident at nuclear power stations located on the channel coast in northern France.

  Mr. Curry
  I understand that an annual report produced recently by the head of Electricité de France's general inspectorate for nuclear safety presented an overview of nuclear safety within the company as at the end of 1989. I am not aware that it indicates any new or increased threat to agriculture in France and the United Kingdom.

  Under an existing bilateral agreement, signed in July 1983, we would be notified immediately of a serious incident involving the release of radioactivity in France. We would also be informed under the terms of both the International Atomic Energy Agency convention on early notification and decision 87/600/Euratom of the European Community Council of Ministers.

  Prompt notification of a nuclear incident in France would enable the Department to initiate precautionary monitoring and other action to protect the food chain. We would do this within the framework of the new national response plan established by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, which encompasses the radioactive incident monitoring network (RIMNET).

  Scrapie
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the percentage of the British sheep flock which had scrapie in 1984.
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  Mr. Maclean
  Accurate information about its incidence is not available since scrapie is not a notifiable disease but it is currently estimated to affect about 10 per cent. of British sheep flocks.

  Poultry
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has with regard to the chemicals used on Spanish poultry post slaughter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have no information about the use of chemicals on Spanish poultry post slaughter.

  The rules for the production of poultry meat for intra-Community trade are laid down in EC directive 71/118. All consignments of poultry meat imported from other EC member states for human consumption must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate confirming that they have been produced in accordance with the directive and passed as fit for human consumption.

  Slaughterhouse Standards
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food following the report by his veterinary officers on slaughterhouse standards, what percentage of premises visited had satisfactory health standards in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The reports by the veterinary officers are made to the local authorities (district councils) which are responsible for the enforcement of hygiene legislation. The information provided is for the local authority to act upon.

  Contaminated Feed
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 15 May,Official Report, column 395, if he will make a further statement about animals, other than pigs, having been affected by contaminated feed.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have now received a report that some of the contaminated feed was fed to breeding geese and mallard on a Derbyshire farm in March. A sample of feed has been analysed by the Ministry and traces of isofenphos have been detected in it but at very much lower levels than those found earlier in contaminated pig feed.

  Set-aside Land
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to permit the grazing of set-aside land by farm livestock.

  Mr. Curry
  One of a number of options for the better management of set-aside land which I have been considering is a limited form of grazed fallow. I shall shortly be inviting applications for the third year of the scheme and will announce then any changes to the conditions which I decide to introduce.

  ECOFIN COUNCIL, 11TH JUNE
  ECOFIN COUNCIL, 11TH JUNE
  BST IN COWS' MILK: RESEARCH
  BST IN COWS' MILK: RESEARCH
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  EC BANK ACCOUNTS DIRECTIVE