Written Answers of 19 June 1990

TRANSPORT

  M1/M6 Junction
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish the consultants' reports on the proposal to add an extra lane in each direction to the M1 immediately north of its junction with the M6.

  Mr. Atkins
  The study I announced last December was of existing conditions and the feasibility, in general terms, of a range of widening options.

  The next step will be the appointment of consultants to prepare and design a scheme for particular lengths of the motorways to be widened.

  Bids have been invited for a design commission covering the section referred to by my hon. Friend. I hope that that will enable us to publish firm proposals during the summer of 1991.

  Environmental Damage
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies have been published in each year since 1980 by his Department identifying means of(a) transport for passengers and (b) manufactured goods from Britain to Europe by the least environmentally damaging means; and what specific criteria have been used in order to make such assessment.

  Mr. Atkins
  We have not published any specific studies on the movement of people or goods from Britain to Europe by the least environmentally damaging means. However, a number of Government publications include information on the environmental aspects of different modes of travel.

  Bus Companies (Subsidies)
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the present annual cost to public funds of subsidies to bus companies.

  Mr. Freeman
  In 1988–89 fuel duty rebate of £157 million was paid to operators of local bus services, and rural bus grant of £13 million to operators of rural services (this grant has now been phased out). In addition, support for London bus services and local authority support of individual local services outside London came to £345 million.

  Automobile Fire Risks
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is able to make any assessment of the fire risk in automobiles and as to whether lead-free petrol is safer or less safe in the event of such incidents.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: The difference in fire risk between leaded and unleaded petrol
  474
  is negligible. The performance of certain fire-fighting foams can be affected by the amount of alcohol used in either type of fuel. Petrol blended in the United Kingdom does not contain any added alcohols. Small quantities of imported petrol may contain alcohol up to the levels permitted in British standards. They pose no problems for the current generation of fire-fighting foams.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the road research laboratory has undertaken research into the possible relationship between different forms of fuel, including lead-free petrol, and post-accident fires; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: The transport and road research laboratory's work on car fires has concentrated on their immediate causes, such as electrical systems. There is no evidence to suggest that the severity of these fires is dependent on whether the fuel is leaded or unleaded.

  British Rail (Investment)
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he will take steps to ensure that British Rail assess all new investment schemes for external benefits which would attract funding by Government grant;

  (2) whether any of the approved investment by British Rail will be met by Government grant in recognition of benefits to the users of improved services.

  Mr. Freeman
  InterCity no longer receives subsidy from the taxpayer. Its investment programme and that for channel tunnel services will be determined by normal commercial criteria.

  As far as provincial and Network SouthEast are concerned, there is no case for subsidy for investment for which passengers are willing to pay and which meets the normal financial criteria. However, the new objectives for British Rail set out in my right hon. Friend's letter of 19 December to the chairman make it clear that where investment to increase the capacity of the system cannot meet the normal financial criteria, a cost-benefit analysis should be carried out so that a decision can be taken on whether capital grants would be justified on wider social and economic grounds, such as relief of road congestion. The majority of the provincial sector's investment is like for like renewal which is not required to earn any return and is effectively met from revenue grant.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he will take to ensure that. in the period after the channel tunnel is opened and before a high speed rail link is constructed, there is no reduction of local rail services in south London owing to inadequate track capacity.

  Mr. Freeman
  This is an operational matter for British Rail. British Rail gave an undertaking to Parliament during the passage of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987 that existing domestic rail services would not be curtailed in consequence of the need to find capacity for through channel tunnel services. I understand that British Rail stands by its undertaking.

  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in the construction of the road links to
  475
  the channel tunnel, an assessment has been included for the cost of increased congestion and accidents resulting from greater volumes of traffic on other roads.

  Mr. Atkins
  The assessment of all trunk road schemes includes an appraisal which takes account of costs associated with delays—that is congestion, accidents and changes in vehicle operating costs, for the road in question and the surrounding network.

  Assessments have been made of the extra traffic expected to arise from the opening of the channel tunnel. This extra traffic is expected to be quite small when compared with the forecast growth of traffic generally. For appropriate schemes, such as those on the M20, relevant channel-related traffic has been added to predictions of general traffic growth.

  Disabled People (Railway Station Access)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with British Rail the provision of station access for disabled people.

  Mr. Freeman
  The provision of facilities for disabled people at stations is the responsibility of British Rail. They pursue an active policy of making rail travel as accessible as possible to all who wish to use it. I shall be meeting the board's adviser on disability on 26 June.

  Traffic Area
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has reached any decisions regarding the future of the Traffic Area organisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Extensive consultations have been held with interested parties about the future number and pattern of Traffic Area offices and Traffic Area boundaries.

  In view of the reducing workload for the organisation, I have decided that the Traffic Area offices in London, Nottingham and Newcastle should be closed, and that the following changes should be made to the present Traffic Area boundaries:
  The North Eastern Traffic Area will be extended to include Nottinghamshire and will be administered from the existing Traffic Area office in Leeds.
  The North Western Traffic Area will be extended to include the whole of Derbyshire and will be administered from the existing Traffic Area office in Manchester.

  Actual Start of works

  Programmed Start of works

  Programmed completion

  Contract 1: Catthorpe Interchange:

  February 1990

  —

  Summer 1990

  Contract 2: Catthrope to Rothwell:

  —

  Spring/Summer 1991

  Spring/Summer 1993

  Contract 3: Catthorpe to Rothwell:

  —

  Spring/Summer 1991

  Spring/Summer 1993

  Contract 4: Rothwell to Kettering:

  March 1990

  —

  June 1991

  Contract 5(N): Kettering Northern Bypass:

  —

  Summer 1991

  Winter 1992/3

  Contract 5(S): Kettering Southern Bypass:

  Febraury 1990

  —

  February 1992

  Contract 6: Kettering to Thrapston:

  May 1989

  —

  May 1991

  Contract 7: Thrapston to Brampton:

  November 1989

  —

  July 1991

  Contract 8: Thrapston to Brampton:

  —

  Spring 1991

  Autumn 1992

  Contract 9: Thrapston to Brampton:

  —

  Summer 1991

  Summer 1993

  Contract 10: Advance works for Railway Bridge on Kettering Northern Bypass:

  April 1990

  —

  November 1991

  476
  The Eastern Traffic Area will lose Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and will be extended to include Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and the whole of Essex. It will be administered from the existing Traffic Area office in Cambridge.
  The Western Traffic Area will be extended to include Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and will be administered from the existing Traffic Area office in Bristol.
  The remainder of the present South Eastern Traffic Area will be combined with the remainder of the Metropolitan Traffic Area to form a new Traffic Area consisting of London, Surrey, Kent and Sussex. The new area will be administered from the existing Traffic Area office in Eastbourne.
  There will be no changes to the West Midlands, South Wales or Scottish Traffic Areas and offices.

  These changes will yield worthwhile savings and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation as a whole.

  I have been particularly concerned to create opportunities for staff in the offices being closed. I have agreed that staff in the Traffic Area offices at Newcastle and Nottingham will be given the opportunity, so far as practicable, to transfer to the new posts being created in those cities by the Driving Standards Agency.

  The Department will consult those concerned about the implementation of these changes and the transitional arrangements. We will aim to complete the bulk of the work by the middle of 1991.

  As required under sections 3(2) and (4) of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 my right hon. Friend will in due course lay an order before the House setting out the Traffic Area boundary changes.

  A1/M1
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he now expects that each stage of the A1/M1 road in Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire will be opened;

  (2) when he expects to let the contract for each of the remaining stages of the A1/M1 road in Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire.

  Mr. Atkins
  The following is the information requested. Start of work on contracts 2, 3, 5(N), 8 and 9 is dependent upon the outcome of outstanding statutory procedures.

ENVIRONMENT

  Housing Action Trusts
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much expenditure was envisaged under the Government's expenditure plans in each of the years from 1988–89 to 1992–93 on housing action trusts; how much expenditure has been incurred to date; and what are the latest estimates of likely expenditure over the current and next two financial years on housing action trusts.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Details of planned expenditure were given in the 1988 public expenditure White Paper (Cm 288–11). These were revised in the 1990 public expenditure White Paper (Cm 1008) in the light of the Housing Act 1988 requirement for tenants to be balloted. No expenditure has been incurred so far.

  Radioactivity (United Kingdom Coast)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from Greenpeace concerning radioactivity around the United Kingdom coast.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has received no such representations from Greenpeace this year.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will make an order under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 confirming the charge caps on those local authorities which neither accepted the caps he proposed nor put forward alternative amounts within the statutory period of 28 days of their being designated for capping.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I cannot make an order under section 106 of the 1988 Act unless a draft of it has been laid before and approved by resolution of the House of Commons. I have today laid before the House a draft section 106 order confirming the caps of the three authorities which did not respond to the caps which I proposed. As required by the

  Region

  Property type

  Shops

  Factories

  Hotels and boarding houses

  Offices

  Mines

  Northern

  8·89

  5·31

  12·75

  6·69

  11·16

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  9·95

  6·54

  13·18

  7·41

  22·28

  East Midlands

  8·73

  5·78

  14·38

  6·89

  15·65

  East Anglia

  10·46

  6·94

  12·89

  8·53

  —

  Inner London

  9·62

  7·17

  12·95

  6·96

  —

  Outer London

  9·41

  6·32

  11·99

  7·24

  —

  Rest of South East

  10·64

  7·09

  14·44

  10·23

  10·89

  South West

  11·10

  7·18

  10·90

  9·80

  5·96

  West Midlands

  7·22

  4·53

  12·91

  6·47

  18·22

  North West

  8·36

  5·17

  12·31

  6·61

  14·59

  England

  9·52

  6·10

  12·85

  7·47

  16·81

  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the overall increase or decrease in the total rates paid by non-domestic rate payers in each local authority in England, by authority, between 1989–90 478
  statute, the amount of the cap is the same as that which I proposed for each of the authorities concerned. The authorities and the caps are as follows:

  Implied reduction in budget

  £

  £ million

  £ per adult

  Basildon

  23,700,000

  4·2

  35

  Bristol

  56,600,000

  7·6

  26

  Doncaster

  178,500,000

  11·6

  53

  This will be welcomed by the charge payers concerned.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authorities and other interested bodies regarding(a) the new requirement for debt payments from capital receipts and (b) advanced leasing arrangements.

  Mr. Chope
  Since publication in July 1988 of the Government's proposals for a new system of local authority capital finance my Department has received numerous representations from local authorities and other interested bodies on many aspects of the new system. No detailed analysis is available of all the points raised.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by local authority, the cost of collecting the community charge per individual.

  Mr. Chope
  I have today arranged for the available information on budgeted costs for 1990–91, as shown on returns made by local authorities, to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the overall increase in rateable values in the 1990 rating valuation list as compared with the rateable values previously in use for the categories of(a) shops, (b) factories, (c) hotels and boarding houses, (d) offices and (e) mines and (i) in total for England and (ii) by economic regions.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: Revaluation factors indicating the increase in rateable values shown in the lists deposited with local authorities on 20 December 1989 for the property types requested are given in the table.

  and 1990–91 (a) including the effects of transitional arrangements and (b) excluding the effects of transitional arrangements.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: Estimates of the information requested by my hon. Friend, based on the

  479
  rateable values shown in the lists deposited with local authorities on 20 December, have been placed in the Library today.

  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the relationship of community charge to rates in both gross

  Ranges of 1989–90 equivalent net household income (£ per week)

  Under 75

  75–100

  100–150

  150–200

  200–250

  250–300

  300–350

  350–400

  400–500

  500+

  All Households

  Domestic Rates

  Gross

  7·45

  7·96

  8·16

  9·07

  9·71

  10·40

  10·67

  11·57

  12·13

  14·13

  9·47

  Net

  2·46

  3·01

  5·59

  8·67

  9·56

  10·34

  10·67

  11·54

  12·12

  14·13

  7·99

  As a percentage of net income in each range

  Gross per cent.

  9·8

  9·3

  6·8

  4·3

  3·6

  3·2

  2·9

  2·8

  2·7

  2·0

  4·0

  Net per cent.

  3·2

  3·5

  4·7

  4·1

  3·6

  3·2

  2·9

  2·8

  2·7

  2·0

  3·3

  Community Charge

  Gross

  8·83

  8·15

  8·46

  10·31

  10·81

  11·04

  10·62

  10·40

  10·01

  9·98

  9·67

  Net

  2·34

  2·76

  5·58

  9·15

  10·08

  10·46

  10·18

  10·06

  9·76

  9·72

  7·71

  As a percentage of net income in each range

  Gross per cent.

  10·9

  8·9

  6·5

  4·5

  3·7

  3·1

  2·7

  2·3

  2·0

  1·3

  3·7

  Net per cent.

  2·9

  3·0

  4·3

  4·0

  3·4

  3·0

  2·6

  2·3

  2·0

  1·3

  3·0

  Notes:

  1. Rates are 1989–90 actuals.

  2. Community charges are 1990–91 settlement assumed charges.

  3. Equivalent net household income is calculated using the McClements scale.

  Double-Glazing
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received concerning proposals to make double-glazing a requirement in the planning of all new houses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Double-glazing is one of the thermal insulation measures which can be used to satisfy the requirements relating to the conservation of fuel and power in the amended Building Regulations which came into force on 1 April 1990. My Department receives many representations concerning the conservation of energy in new houses and some of these call for the installation of double glazing to be made a mandatory requirement under the Building Regulations. But we consider that the designer and builder should be given the flexibility to choose the most appropriate insulation to suit the particular circumstances.

  Right to Buy
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to review the right-to-buy provisions of the Housing Act 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The right-to-buy legislation is kept under constant review; there have been a number of changes to it since its introduction in 1980.

  Leeds Development Corporation
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out in 1990 prices the level of funding for the Leeds Development Corporation for 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.
  480
  and net terms in each band of equivalent net income in (a) pounds per week and (b) as a proportion of net income in each band of equivalent income in 1990–91.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 12 June 1990]: The table provides the information requested on the same basis as the figures placed in the Library on 15 February 1990. Equivalent income has been calculated using the McClements scale factors.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The actual amount of grant in aid provided to Leeds development corporation was £2·743 million in 1988–89 and £8·75 million in 1989–90. £14 million is available in 1990–91.

  Langland Bay
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make available the results of the epidemiological study carried out in 1989 at Langland bay; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Today I have placed in the Library copies of a comprehensive report prepared by the Water Research Centre on the findings of studies to test methodologies for assessing the risks of contracting illnesses from sea bathing. The report is based on research carried out at Langland bay last summer with the assistance of Swansea district council.

  Two types of study were carried out. The first study involved interviewing bathers who were on the beach of their own volition, and obtaining information of any perceived symptoms by means of a questionnaire and, subsequently, by telephone.

  The second study used two groups of healthy volunteers. One group was asked to swim in water meeting EC standards while the other group did not swim. The volunteers were examined medically both before and after the day at the beach. Ethical clearance was obtained for this work which is the first of its kind to examine participants medically so as to provide an objective assessment of symptoms.

  Water quality during the studies was good and well within European standards. As found in previous surveys higher proportions of bathers reported ear and throat symptoms than non-bathers but unexpectedly fewer

  481
  bathers reported gastro-enteritis than non-bathers. No significant association was found between reported symptoms and clinical diagnosis.

  The studies demonstrate that both approaches with minor modification appear capable of yielding statistically reliable conclusions if carried out at a larger scale.

  The contract with the Water Research Centre will be extended to provide for further studies in the coming summer.

  Insulation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of(a) dwellings completed under the energy conservation programme and (b) grants paid under the homes insulation scheme in (i) the London borough of Camden and (ii) the London borough of Islington for each year from 1979, including the current year so far.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 12 June 1990]: Figures for the number of grants paid under the homes insulation scheme and the number of local authority dwellings benefitting from works under the energy conservation programme are published in "Local Housing Statistics" (Nos. 66, 70, 74, 78, 82, 87 and 90) for the years 1979 to 1988. In 1989 the London borough of Camden reported two grants paid and Islington reported nil.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current rate of growth of homelessness in the United Kingdom per annum; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 15 June 1990]: Between 1988 and 1989 the estimated number of households accepted by housing authorities under homelessness legislation increased by about 8 per cent. It should be stressed that there are people for whom accommodation has been found.

  City Grants
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total allocation for the current financial year of money for city grants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: The total resources available for city grant in 1990–91 are £49 million, including expenditure on previously approved urban development grant and urban regeneration grant schemes. Payments made in any year relate mainly to projects approved in previous years.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses, and of what type and anticipated rents, he has requested to be incorporated into the West End Development scheme application for city grant; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: It is not our practice, for reasons of commercial confidentiality, to reveal details of developers' proposals.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what stage has been reached in the consideration of the application for city grant by 3Ds Ltd; and if he will make a statement.
  482
  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: 3Ds Ltd has submitted details of its proposals for the West End development scheme and discussions continue with the Department on what further information may be needed.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the largest grant so far made of city grant; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: The largest city grant approved so far is £6·3 million for a project at St. Helens to reclaim a derelict and contaminated 50 acre site.

  M2 Widening
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the proposed widening of the M2 motorway in Rochester, Kent; and what was his response.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: None.

  Hawkshurst Moor (Coal Mine)
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received the inspector's report on the planning inquiry on British Coal's Hawkshurst moor proposal for a new coal mine in Berkswell near Coventry.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: Yes. The report has recently been received and I shall announce a decision in due course.

  County Hall, London
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make an announcement on the future of the County hall, London SE1.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 21 May Official Report, Volume 173, column 28.

  Football (Arrests)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the 92 Football League clubs together with the total season's attendance for football league matches, total number of arrests made at such matches and the number of arrests as a percentage of the total attendance, for the seasons 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90;

  (2) if he will publish a table showing the total attendance at Football League matches in England and Wales, the total number of arrests at such matches, and the number of arrests as a percentage of the total attendance, accurate to four decimal places, for the seasons 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have been asked to reply and will do so shortly, when figures for the 1989–90 season become available from the Association of Chief Police Officers.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  VAT
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of value added tax refund claims under Customs and Excise notice No. 719, "Refund of VAT to Self Builders", processed during the fiscal year 1989–90.

  Mr. Ryder
  The total number of claims processed under this relief during the fiscal year 1989–90 was 9,817.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new businesses registered for value added tax in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Table: Number of EIB loans, per year since 1985, to companies and other bodies, with breakdown by Her Majesty's Government or other guarantee.

  Number of loans

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Companies

  with Her Majesty's Government guarantee

  3

  5

  3

  3

  0

  with other form of guarantee

  10

  16

  6

  23

  47

  Sub-total

  13

  21

  9

  26

  47

  Other bodies

  with Her Majesty's Government guarantee

  8

  16

  16

  1

  0

  with other form of guarantee

  27

  25

  34

  1

  0

  Sub-total

  35

  41

  50

  2

  0

  Total number of loans

  48

  62

  59

  28

  47

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Natural History Museum
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will discuss with the Governments of France and West Germany the means of continuing taxonomic support for teams working in Malaysia and Cameroon in the light of staff reductions at the natural history museum;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the implications of reductions in the Heteroptera section of the natural history museum for work sponsored by his Department (a) in Surinam on shield-bugs as transmitters of agricultural diseases and (b) coccid research and its agricultural implications for United Kingdom supported agricultural development programmes.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I am investigating the possible implications for our programmes of the planned staff reductions at the natural history museum and will give a full reply as soon as I have the information.

ENERGY

  Nuclear Power Stations (Decommissioning)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what decommissioning cost the Government have approved for British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.'s present plant;
  484
  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: On the basis of Customs and Excise data on registrations, the number of businesses registered for value added tax in the 12 months ended 31 March 1990 was 266,084.

  European Investment Bank
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply of 11 June,Official Report, column 21, if he will publish a table showing the number of loans made by the European investment bank to companies and to other bodies, respectively, in the United Kingdom in each of the past five years; and if he will further indicate how many of these loans, in each year, were guaranteed by Her Majesty's Government and by other bodies, respectively.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: A table listing this information follows:

  and if he will give a breakdown of this expenditure as between the plants at Sellafield, Springfields and Capenhurst.

  Mr. Baldry
  Estimates of the cost of decommissioning British Nuclear Fuels plc's plant are matters for the company.

  British Nuclear Fuels Ltd
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.'s investment in the next 10 years is planned to be financed by debt; and whether this debt will be guaranteed by the Government.

  Mr. Baldry
  I understand from British Nuclear Fuels plc that it is envisaged that between 5 per cent. and 10 per cent. of the company's currently projected capital investment programme over the next 10 years will be financed by additional borrowing. The majority of these loans are likely to be supported by Government guarantee.

  THORP
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the latest expected cost of the THORP reprocessing plant at Sellafield in 1989–90 prices; and whether this capital sum is inclusive of the costs of waste effluent discharge plant, and any other ancillary constructions that arise as a consequence of building the THORP plant;
  485
  (2) what is the capital cost of planned investment in reprocessing and waste management at Sellafield other than that which is required for the THORP plant.

  Mr. Baldry
  The expected capital cost of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield is some £1·8 billion making due allowance for future inflation. This capital cost includes the receipt and storage facility and an appropriate share of the facilities for converting highly active wastes into vitrified form. The other facilities used in association with THORP include storage ponds that have already been constructed, and facilities for the treatment of less active wastes and effluents. The capital costs of these supporting facilities are estimated at some £0·9 billion.

  Ministerial Visit
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy during his visit to North America this month, what proportion of his time he intends to devote to the promotion of the nuclear and oil industries, and what proportion of time to the energy conservation and renewable fuels industries.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I visited Canada and the United States from 5 June to 13 June. My visit to Canada was mainly to support the United Kingdom offshore oil and gas industry in its attempts to win business in Atlantic Canada, particularly offshore Newfoundland. I met senior members of the provincial government and oil industry representatives. In Washington, my talks were concerned primarily with energy policy in the context of climate change; that concerns all our energy-related industries. I signed a memorandum of understanding on collaboration in energy research and development, covering non-nuclear energy R and D, with Admiral Watkins, United States Secretary for Energy. While in Washington I opened the offices of BNFL Inc.—the United States subsidiary of British Nuclear Fuels plc.

  Electricity Prices, South-West
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the increase in the price of electricity supplied to domestic householders by the South Western electricity board in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Baldry
  This is a matter for South Western Electricity.

  Diatoms
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what research his Department has undertaken into the importance of diatoms in maintaining the world's atmosphere, through their production of oxygen.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  None.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the effect of the reductions made in the diatom and palaeo-botany sections of the natural history museum on the international deep sea drilling project and research into petroleum and other fossil fuels.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  My Department no longer maintains an interest in the international deep sea drilling project. I do not believe that our interest in the other matters will be affected by the reductions at the natural history museum referred to.

PRIME MINISTER

  United Nations
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to pay an official visit to the United Nations.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will visit the United Nations for the general assembly in September.

  European Parliament
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next intends to visit the European Parliament.

  The Prime Minister
  During the British presidency of the Community in the second half of 1992.

  Commercial Fishermen
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government have any proposals to provide compensation for commercial fishermen when they are prevented from landing and selling their catches because of health requirements initiated by local authorities or Her Majesty's Government; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No. The recent warnings against the consumption of shellfish from the north-east coast of Britain were in response to the threat to public health posed by the natural and temporary phenomenon of algae blooms. Such blooms have been known to occur periodically along this stretch of the coast for many years.

  It is in the interests of fishermen that the public is properly protected. Their present and future receipts depend upon public confidence in the quality of British fish products.

  Global Warming
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister how many letters she has received in the past four weeks on the dangers of global warming, ozone depletion and associated matters; and if she will make a statement on any further initiative the Government is considering taking with regard to these issues.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received numerous letters on both these and other environmental issues in the last four weeks. I announced on 25 May 1990 the part that the United Kingdom is ready to play in international action to tackle global warming. At the meeting of the parties to the Montreal protocol in London next week we will urge all countries to join the protocol and press for strengthening of its terms. We will be publishing a White Paper this autumn on the whole range of environmental issues.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussion she has had with President Gorbachev on article VI of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty during her visit to the Soviet Union.

  The Prime Minister
  The question of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty did not arise during my talks with Mr. Gorbachev, but our discussions included a number of arms control issues such as the talks on conventional forces in Europe (CFE) and the conference on security and co-operation in Europe (CSCE).

  North Sea
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Prime Minister what actions have so far been taken by the United Kingdom to develop a programme to end sewage sludge dumping, promised at the North Sea Conference at the Hague on 7 to 8 March 1990.

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked the water companies concerned to submit to him by the end of the year their detailed plans and programmes of work for phasing out disposal of sludge to sea.

  Film Industry
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals she has for the British film industry; and if she will make a statement on her proposals to meet leaders of the film industry.

  The Prime Minister
  I met leading figures from the film production industry on Friday 15 June to discuss their proposals for taking advantage of the opportunities now facing the industry. The Government agreed to provide £5 million over the next three years to provide pump-priming finance to support European co-production; the Department of Trade and Industry would set up a working party to examine the structure of the industry and how to attract greater private sector finance into film production, and to report back in the autumn; the industry would explore what changes it suggests to the tax regime for film production and report to Treasury Ministers over the next few months; we would continue discussions in Europe on how best to support the film production industry, notably through the media programme; we would study proposals from the industry for a films commission to improve the promotion of British films in the United Kingdom and overseas.

  Islington (Official Visit)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the involvement of Vallin Pollen International in the arrangements for her official visit to Islington.

  The Prime Minister
  None for which the Government have responsibility.

  German Unification
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the procedures for incorporating a united Germany within the EEC; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I expect this subject to be discussed at the European Council in Dublin on 25 to 26 June.

  Natural History Museum
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals she has to promote(a) indentification programmes for scientific and popular use, (b) the development and management of the European plant data base and (c) the British plant data base and other research based at the natural history museum of relevance to the study of climatic change.

  The Prime Minister
  These activities flow from the priorities and objectives set out in the natural history 488
  museum's corporate plan 1990–95, which was unanimously approved by the museum's trustees in April. The Government increased the museum's grant-in-aid by 16·5 per cent. this year to over £25 million.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 19 June.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 19 June.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 19 June.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, including the Director General of the International Atomic Agency and the Foreign Ministers of Angola, Bangladesh and Somali. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today, including one with Mr. Attali, president-elect of the new European Bank for Reconstruction and Development who has his headquarters in London.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Film Production
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Government will provide initial financial support as seed money to enterprises to simulate the growth of transnational film production, training and distribution within Europe.

  Mr. Forth
  We announced on Friday 15 June that the Government would provide £5 million over three years to provide pump-priming finance to help support European co-productions. We also announced that we would pursue discussions in Europe on how best to support the film production industry, notably through the MEDIA programme. The Economic Community's proposals for this programme include assistance for trans-national training and distribution.

  Enterprise Scheme
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies in Lancashire have been helped by the enterprise scheme; and if he will provide a statistical breakdown on the types of help provided.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Assistance to companies in Lancashire under the enterprise initiative since its inception in January 1988 comprises:

  Consultancy Initiative

  Business Reviews conducted 1,313

  Consultancies commissioned 1,288

  (of which completed as at 31 May 1990) 419

  Regional Initiative

  Regional Selective Assistance: 143 projects assisted; grants paid £14·39 million, 2,685 jobs created and 823 jobs safeguarded.

  Regional Enterprise Grants (wef 1 April 1988)

  For Investment: offers made: 47 (£354,043)

  For Innovation: offers made: 6 (£140,815)

  Research and Technology

  SMART awards: 1988 Round, Stage 1:1

  1989 Round, Stage 2:1

  489
  Enterprise and Education

  The three advisers in Lancashire have contacted 1,226 local employers, resulting in 3,893 offers of work experience for pupils and 716 secondment opportunities for teachers.

  Export Initiative

  Approximately 1,000 companies are in regular contact with DTI-NW staff providing export assistance. Four hundred and twenty-one company representatives attended 13 export-related seminars.

  EC Legislation
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the short title of each of the 86 legislative Acts for which European Community member states must take national implementing measures by 31 December 1989; and what action each state has taken by 1 June in relation to each.

  Mr. Redwood
  The short titles of the 86 legislative acts for which European Community member states must take national implementing measures by 31 December 1989 are set out in the answer to your question of 9 January 1990,Official Report columns 600–8. Information on the action taken by each member state by the end of June is not available. However, the latest report on the implementation of single market measures is to be found in the European Commission's fifth progress report on completion of the internal market. This lists the measures due for implementation by end February 1990, and sets out the action taken by each member state. I am glad to say that the report shows that the United Kingdom has the best record on implementation, with only nine measures out of 90 remaining unimplemented. I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Instant Coffee
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to complete its report on instant coffee prices.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Commission has been asked by the Director General of Fair Trading to report on the supply of soluble coffee in the United Kingdom by 8 January 1991.

  Limited Liability Status
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions a request for registration as a company with limited liability status was rejected in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Redwood
  The number of applications which were rejected in 1987, 1988 and 1989 were respectively 11,300 (estimated), 9,846 and 7,953.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the amount of regional assistance in 1989 per head for(a) Scotland, (b) north-east England,(c) north-west England, (d) the west midlands, (e) east midlands, (f) south-west England and (g) south-east England.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The amount of regional preferential assistance per head in the most recent year for which figures are available is as follows:490

  Expenditure per head of civilian working population, 1988–89

  £

  (a) Scotland

  61·4

  England—Regions

  (b) Northern

  92·3

  (c) North West

  27·7

  (d) West Midlands

  9·6

  (e) East Midlands

  4·5

  (f) South West

  7·0

  (g) South East

  nil

  Export Credits
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning his Department's adoption of the portfolio management system in assessing the Export Credits Guarantee Department cover.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: My right hon. Friend has received many representations from both Parliament and the exporting community about ECGD's portfolio management system. We will be giving these representations careful consideration before the portfolio management system is introduced.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the current premiums charged by the export credit agencies of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, including the premiums levied by the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: The export credit agencies of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development members do not as a rule publish the premiums which they charge. Premium rates are determined on a case-by-case basis by most agencies. Although the agencies periodically exchange details of their premium rates for individual countries, this is clone on a strictly confidential basis. It is not practicable to try to list all the premium rates of all the OECD countries.

  Industrial Development
  Mr. Crowther
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions since 1980 expenditure has been incurred under section 3(2)(a) of the Industry Act 1980 to acquire securities of a company; and if he will give, for the last five occasions, the name of the company concerned, the sum of money involved, the date of the payment and the nature of the security acquired.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 15 June 1990]: Since 1980 section 3(2)(a) of the Industry Act 1980 has been used to purchase securities on 13 occasions. The last five occasions were:

  Company

  Sum £ million

  Date of payment

  Nature of Securities

  BL plc

  80

  17 December 1982

  Ordinary shares of 50p each

  BL plc

  110

  28 March 1983

  Ordinary shares of 50p each

  BL plc

  90

  1 November 1983

  Ordinary shares of 50p each

  Rover Group plc

  680

  30 March 1987

  Ordinary shares of 50p each

  Rover Group plc

  547

  12 August 1988

  Special security ("the Instrument")

  Financial Reporting Council
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide a list showing those members of the Financial Reporting Council who have any connections with the accountancy firms or their successors sued by the Government for negligence.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: So far as I am aware, none of the members of the Financial Reporting Council has any such connection.

WALES

  Special Educational Needs
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many children in each local education authority in Wales were placed in a non-residential special school following the completion of a statement of educational needs for each year since April 1983; and what this is expressed as a percentage of(a) the total number of children with statements in the local education authority and (b) the total number of statements made by the local education authority in that year;

  (2) how many children in each local education authority in Wales were placed in a special unit following the completion of a statement of educational needs for each year since April 1983; and what this is expressed as a percentage of (a) the total number of children with statements in the local education authority and (b) the total number of statements made by the local education authority in that year;

  (3) how many children in each local education authority remained in mainstream schools following the completion of a statement of educational needs for each year since April 1983; and what this is expressed as a percentage of (a) the total number of children with statements in the local education authority and (b) the total number of statements made by the local education authority in that year;

  (4) how many children in each local education authority in Wales were placed in a residential special school following the completion of a statement of educational needs for each year since April 1983; and what this is expressed as a percentage of (a) the total number of children with statements in the local education authority and (b) the total number of statements made by the local education authority in that year.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  No information is held centrally on the number of children who are newly statemented each year by type of placement.

  Dyslexia
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new measures he intends to undertake to help dyslexic children in the schools of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The benefits of the national curriculum, which has now been introduced into schools, will apply to all children, including, as far as is practicable, those with dyslexia.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many dyslexic children are educated in each of the counties of Wales; and if he will make a statement;
  492
  (2) how many specialist teachers of dyslexic children there are in each of the local education authorities of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  This information is not available centrally. The Education Act 1981 abolished the categorisation of children by particular disability.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many children aged under 16 years received free eye tests in each county in Wales(a) in each quarter in 1988–89 and (b) in each quarter in 1989–90;

  (2) how many people on family credit or income support received free eye tests in each district health authority area in Wales in each quarter of 1988–89 and in each quarter of 1989–90;

  (3) what percentage of children aged under 16 years received free eye tests in each county in Wales (a) in each quarter of 1988–89 and (b) in each quarter in 1989–90.

  Mr. Grist
  Estimates of numbers of sight tests for different types of patient are based on a 2 per cent. sample. This sample is not sufficient to make robust estimates by patient types within county or district health authority areas.

  Housing
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he intends to take with respect to the problem of housing in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The Department has announced a number of initiatives directed to the problems of housing in Wales. In particular, last autumn we announced for the current year a 40 per cent. increase in the provision for Housing for Wales, a 15 per cent., increase in the gross local authority provision for housing and generous provision to support home renovation grants. Details of current policies and plans for housing programmes are given in chapter 4 of "Public Expenditure in Wales: 1990–91 to 1992–93 A Commentary by the Welsh Office."

  Bathing Beaches
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 13 June, on bathing beaches, if he will extend the testing of water quality to all bathing beaches in Wales by including those which are not currently subject to European Community designation.

  Mr. Grist
  This is a matter for the National Rivers Authority.

  GP Budgets
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many general practitioners or general practitioner practices have expressed an interest in becoming practice budget holders within each authority in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is shown in the following table:
  493

  Health authority

  Number of general practitioners

  Number of GP practices

  Clwyd

  34

  6

  East Dyfed

  15

  4

  Gwent

  12

  3

  Gwynedd

  6

  2

  Mid Glamorgan

  59

  10

  Pembrokeshire

  11

  2

  Powys

  14

  3

  South Glamorgan

  26

  5

  West Glamorgan

  47

  9

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the names of the general practitioners or practices which have expressed an interest in becoming practice budget holders in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  It would not be right to reveal the names of individual general practitioners or practices which have expressed an interest in practice fund holding. There is in any event no commitment on either side at this stage.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many general practitioners and general practitioner practices will be eligible to become practice budget holders within each health authority in Wales.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many general practitioner practices are now eligible to become budget holders; how many have expressed an interest in budget holding; if he will name those practices.

  Mr. Grist
  It is not possible to place a figure on the number of practices meeting the eligibility criteria for fund-holding status. While each practice fund will require a minimum of 9,000 patients, smaller practices are enabled to group together to attain this number. In addition to its patient list size, each practice will need to demonstrate its ability to manage a practice fund.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Family Law
  Mr. French
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation to provide for indexing of maintenance payments in divorce proceedings to the retail price index.

  Mr. Patten
  [pursuant to the Attorney-General's answer, 2 February 1990, c. 400]: Our review of the wider arrangements for assessing collecting and enforcing maintenance payments is still in progress. It is, however, clear that measures to improve the ability of the courts to ensure that payments ordered are received, are practicable and desirable. We accordingly intend to bring forward legislative proposals when an opportunity permits which would give the courts in England and Wales power to prescribe the method by which maintenance payments are made and to order the attachment of earnings without having to await evidence of arrears or default.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Turkey
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Turkish Government on behalf of prisoners of conscience on hunger strike in Turkish prisons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We understand that the hunger strike referred to by the hon. Member ended earlier this month.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations through the European Community for the repeal of articles 141 and 142 of the Turkish penal code; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Turkish Government are aware that we expect them to adhere to the human rights conventions to which they are a party. They are now actively reviewing the future of articles 141 and 142.

  Western European Union
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been done to examine the potential of the Western European Union as a vehicle for assessing possible threats to member countries and for research into the prospects of an all-European security area in respect of(a) defining a sufficiency threshold in defence matters, (b) analysing the concept of shared security and (c) developing means of arbitration, confidence-building measures and disarmament.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We believe that NATO remains the right place in which to assess threats to WEU member states. The question of future security arrangements in Europe, together with arms control and confidence-building issues, have been extensively discussed within the WEU. The need for sufficiency rule is part of the western position in the CFE negotiations.

  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response Her Majesty's Government will be making to the Western European Union Assembly's proposals that the Western European Union Council should(a) use the modified Brussels treaty as a juridical basis for the presence of forces of member states on the territory of other member states and (b) convene regular meetings of chiefs of staff of member countries to examine European armaments requirements.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Formal responses to recommendations in reports of the Western European Union assembly are the responsibility of the WEU permanent council. We have no plans to make a separate response.

  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the date on which a member country can use the right fixed by article XII of the Western European Union treaty to give notice to the depository government of its desire to cease being a party thereto.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  After 25 August 1998—that is, 50 years after the date on which the Brussels treaty entered into force—each of the high contracting parties has the
  495
  right, under article XII of the modified treaty, to cease to be a party thereto, provided that it has previously given one year's notice of denunciation to the Belgian Government.

  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to use the Western European Union to guarantee the permanency of member countries' frontiers and to ensure respect for the commitments entered into by its members in the context of agreements limiting forces or armaments or the non-production of certain weapons.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The inviolability of the frontiers of WEU member countries among others is affirmed by the Helsinki final act, of which all WEU member countries are signatories. We are confident that all WEU member countries respect, and will continue to respect, their international commitments.

  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the consequences of a devolution of the Federal Republic of Germany's commitments to a unified Germany for the application of the Western European Union treaty with regard to(a) co-operation between the Western European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation under article IV, (b) military assistance under article V, specified in paragraph III.4 of the Hague platform, (c) article VII and (d) implementation of article VIII, paragraphs 2 and 4 and protocols Nos. II, III and IV.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We remain in close touch with the Federal German Government and other allies on these and other aspects of future European security.

  Falkland Islands
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on how many telephones were disconnected for non-payment in each of the last five years on the Falkland Islands.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I am told that records go back only as far as October 1989 when the new telephone network came into operation. Thirty telephones were cut off in that month. The number fell sharply in ensuing months and in May only two were cut off.

  German Reunification
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been done to ensure that countries participating in the conference on the external aspects of German reunification are fully informed of the guarantees offered by the modified Brussels treaty for the security of both Germany and its neighbouring countries and for the establishment of a new peaceful and secure order in Europe; and what has been the response of the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The modified Brussels treaty is a public document. We are not aware of any recent Soviet statements relating to it.

  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is Her Majesty's Government's policy that the commitments entered into by the Federal Republic of Germany under the modified Brussels treaty shall also be valid for a unified Germany.
  496
  Mr. Waldegrave
  We support the principle, mentioned in the Helsinki final act, that participating states have a right to be or not to be parties to treaties of alliance. We welcome the FRG's intention to go on playing a full part in western security arrangements. We support the expressed view of both German Governments that a unified Germany should be a member of NATO. The two German Governments have yet to express their views on WEU membership.

  Hong Kong (Vietnamese Refugees)
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the status determination procedures used to decide whether or not Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong shall be returned to Vietnam; and how many and what percentage of people submitted to such procedures have been(a) screened in as refugees and permitted to stay and (b) screened out, so that they must return to Vietnam.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Hong Kong's status determination procedures were designed, in conjunction with UNHCR, to apply the criteria of the 1951 convention and the 1967 protocol relating to the status of refugees as follows:

  (a) all new arrivals are briefed on the screening process on arrival in Hong Kong;

  (b) under the Statement of Understanding between the UNHCR and the Hong Kong Government, the UNHCR accepts responsibility for providing legal advice and assistance to asylum seekers at all stages of the screening and review procedure. UNHCR has unrestricted access to the asylum seekers for this purpose;

  (c) asylum seekers are interviewed by immigration department staff to record their personal data and their claim to refugee status. The interviews follow a questionaire designed in agreement with UNHCR. Interpreters are provided by the Hong Kong Government. Legal counsellors of the UNHCR have unrestricted access to all screening interviews;

  (d) the first instance decision on the claim to refugee status is notified to all persons after screening. If refugee status is granted, the person concerned is moved immediately to a refugee camp to await resettlement. If refugee status is not granted, the person concerned is advised that he or she has a right to seek review of the decision;

  (e) at the same time as the asylum seeker is notified of the first instance decision, a copy of the immigration department file, including a record of the interview and the reasons for the decision, is given to the UNHCR, with a separate copy to the legal consultants who on behalf of the UNHCR will assist asylum seekers in applying for a review of the decision. An asylum seeker must apply for review to the refugee status review board within 28 days of being notified of the first instance decision;

  (f) the refugee status review board is headed by a former judge, and comprises four panels of two members each, drawn from both the civil service and the community at large. Their task is to review the facts of the case and the immigration department's decision, in the light of the asylum seeker's claim as recorded at the original interview, and any further representations made to the review board. The board may, where it considers it necessary, interview either the asylum seeker or the immigration officer conducting the interview;

  (g) the decision of the review board on the application for review is notified to the asylum seeker as soon as possible after it is made.

  As at 11 June 1990, the director of immigration had completed screening for 13,647 people, of whom 1,460 were screened in (10·7 per cent.) and 12,187 screened out

  497
  (89·3 per cent.). The RSRB has considered 9,872 cases. The director of immigration's decision was upheld in 9,026 cases and overturned in 846. This gives an overall post-appeal total of 2,306 screened in (16·9 per cent.).

  EC Enlargement
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received concerning further enlargement of the European Community.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have received no formal representations concerning further enlargement of the EC in recent months.

  Republic of Ireland
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek compensation from the Government of the Republic of Ireland for the damage caused to the economy of the United Kingdom as a result of the 48-hour restriction on shoppers visiting the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. But we are at present considering the implications of the European Court of Justice judgment in the 48-hour rule case and whether other action may be necessary.

  Poland
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom is a signatory to the treaty setting out Poland's present frontiers; and whether Poland's western frontier will be discussed within the four plus two talks on German unification.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Potsdam protocol contains provisions relating to Poland's borders, but the United Kingdom is not a party to any of Poland's treaties with its neighbours concerning borders. The Polish Foreign Minister has been invited to attend the two plus four ministerial meeting in Paris on 17 July, when borders will be discussed.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Identity Cards
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which Council of Europe states identity cards are(a) compulsory and (b) voluntary.

  Mr. John Patten
  Identity cards are compulsory in Belgium, Cyprus, the Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Spain and Turkey; and voluntary in Austria, France, Italy, Liechtenstein, Portugal and Switzerland.

  There is no system of identity cards in Denmark, the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden or the United Kingdom.

  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which European Community states identity cards are machine readable; and how much information can be contained on the cards of the states which use machine-readable cards.
  498
  Mr. John Patten
  I understand that the identity cards issued in the Federal Republic of Germany are machine readable. They contain details of the bearer's name, birth, description, address and nationality, together with the date and place of issue of the card, its number and its expiry date.

  Data Protection
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which countries have acceded to the Council of Europe convention on data protection.

  Mr. Mellor
  Austria, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

  Police Statistics
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the police force areas in rank order according to the number of notifiable offences of violence against the person per 100,000 population in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Notifiable offences of violence against the person recorded by the police per 100,000 population

  England and Wales 1989

  Police force area

  Number of offences per 100,000 population

  Lancashire

  206

  Dorset

  214

  Hertfordshire

  224

  Thames Valley

  228

  Sussex

  233

  Warwickshire

  236

  Surrey

  237

  Gloucestershire

  245

  Hampshire

  245

  Norfolk

  245

  Kent

  247

  North Yorkshire

  253

  Devon and Cornwall

  259

  Essex

  263

  Cheshire

  269

  Suffolk

  271

  West Mercia

  296

  Dyfed-Powys

  312

  Lincolnshire

  317

  Leicestershire

  318

  Cambridgeshire

  328

  South Wales

  348

  North Wales

  350

  Avon and Somerset

  352

  Derbyshire

  355

  Merseyside

  355

  Wiltshire

  357

  Cumbria

  362

  West Midlands

  364

  Greater Manchester

  371

  Northamptonshire

  371

  South Yorkshire

  375

  Northumbria

  380

  Bedfordshire

  401

  Durham

  405

  West Yorkshire

  435

  Gwent

  444

  Cleveland

  445

  Metropolitan Police District and City of London

  451

  Staffordshire

  501

  499

  Police force area

  Number of offences per 100,000 population

  Humberside

  678

  Nottinghamshire

  716

  England and Wales

  351

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the police force areas in rank order according to the number of notifiable offences per 100,000 population in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is given in the following table.

  Notifiable offences recorded by the police per 100,000 population by police force area

  England and Wales 1989

  Police force area

  Number of offences per 100,000 population

  Dyfed-Powys

  3,817

  West Mercia

  4,903

  Surrey

  4,542

  Hertfordshire

  4,975

  Wiltshire

  4,978

  Suffolk

  5,016

  Cheshire

  5,016

  North Yorkshire

  5,017

  Devon and Cornwall

  5,196

  Warwickshire

  5,234

  Derbyshire

  5,284

  Essex

  5,299

  Sussex

  5,330

  North Wales

  5,370

  Kent

  5,501

  Cambridgeshire

  5,668

  Gwent

  5,672

  Staffordshire

  5,748

  Cumbria

  5,762

  Hampshire

  5,942

  Norfolk

  5,995

  Dorset

  6,077

  Lincolnshire

  6,102

  Thames Valley

  6,180

  Leicestershire

  6,185

  Lancashire

  6,507

  Gloucestershire

  6,671

  Northamptonshire

  6,837

  Avon and Somerset

  7,087

  South Yorkshire

  7,305

  Bedfordshire

  7,704

  Durham

  7,723

  West Midlands

  8,749

  South Wales

  9,079

  West Yorkshire

  9,178

  Merseyside

  9,381

  Nottinghamshire

  10,484

  MPD and City of London

  10,595

  Humberside

  10,742

  Cleveland

  10,984

  Greater Manchester

  11,414

  Northumbria

  12,684

  England and Wales

  7,681

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the police force areas in rank order according to the number of police per 100,000 population in the last year for which figures are available.
  500
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Officers per 100,000 of population1

  Number

  City of London

  2

  Metropolitan Police

  396·7

  Merseyside

  324·6

  Greater Manchester

  273·2

  Cleveland

  271·6

  West Midlands

  263·4

  West Yorkshire

  256·7

  Northumbria

  248·1

  South Wales

  243·3

  Cumbria

  240·2

  Humberside

  236·0

  Nottinghamshire

  232·6

  South Yorkshire

  231·9

  Lancashire

  231·6

  Durham

  230·4

  Gwent

  226·5

  Surrey

  222·8

  Gloucestershire

  220·7

  Avon and Somerset

  218·1

  Staffordshire

  213·2

  Sussex

  209·2

  North Wales

  209·1

  Warwickshire

  207·8

  Lincolnshire

  205·5

  Leicestershire

  204·7

  Bedfordshire

  202·0

  Dyfed Powys

  201·8

  Northamptonshire

  200·1

  Hertfordshire

  198·9

  Kent

  198·5

  Cheshire

  197·5

  North Yorkshire

  197·4

  Wiltshire

  197·1

  Essex

  195·6

  Derbyshire

  194·0

  Dorset

  193·8

  Devon and Cornwall

  193·2

  Hampshire

  189·7

  Norfolk

  189·2

  Thames Valley

  188·7

  West Mercia

  188·7

  Suffolk

  188·5

  Cambridgeshire

  184·9

  1 Based on mid-1988 population figures from OPCS (latest available) and latest 1990 establishments.

  2 Resident population of City of London is 5,000.

  Football Matches
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the total charge made to the 92 Football League clubs for police attendance at league matches in England and Wales during the 1989–90 season; and what is the change, in percentage terms, from the 1988–89 figure.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information on charges made to Football League clubs by the police are not collected centrally by the Government. I understand that the Football Trust has published a figure of £4,136,000 for the season 1988–89, but has not yet published a figure for the season 1989–90.

  Immigration
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the application for British citizenship, Home Office reference S444754/5(S), is still unresolved; when he expects a decision to be made; and if he will make a statement.
  501
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. and learned Friend expects to make a decision in this case soon.

  National Lottery Bill
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received concerning the National Lottery Bill; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Between 18 April, when the current private Member's Bill to make provision for a national lottery for the benefit of the arts, sport and the environment was introduced, and 18 June, we received a total of six letters about the Bill, all from the same member of the public, who in that period also copied to us other correspondence about his support for the measure.

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his answer of 12 June to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North, what consideration he has given to Commander Monk's speech on child abuse; and if he will make a statement on action which he will institute in the Department arising from it.

  Mr. John Patten
  We are considering Commander Monk's speech and will take his views into account in the development of our strategy for the treatment of sex offenders.

  British Refugee Council
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what public assistance is given to the British Refugee Council.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Home Office has agreed to pay grant of £685,400 to the refugee council in the current financial year. The council also receives significant income from other public sector sources including the employment training scheme, the European social fund and the hostel deficit grant system.

  Livestock Thefts
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were reported in 1988 and 1989 involving the theft of farm livestock.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information collected centrally does not enable thefts of farm livestock to be distinguished from other thefts.

  Mrs. Pat Dale
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the result of police investigations into the claim of Mrs. Pat Dale of Middlesex that she and her family had been subjected to harassment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 12 June 1990]: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that all incidents reported by Mrs. Dale to the police have been fully investigated. The police have found no evidence to substantiate the allegations or on which to base further inquiries.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Special Needs
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many children in each local education authority were placed in a special unit following the completion of a statement of educational needs for each year since April 1983; and what this is expressed as a percentage of(a) the total number of children with statements in the local education authority and (b) the total number of statements made by the local education authority in that year;

  (2) how many children in each local education authority were placed in a residential special school following the completion of a statement of educational needs for each year since April 1983; and what this is expressed as a percentage of (a) the total number of children with statements in the local education authority and (b) the total number of statements made by the local education authority in that year;

  (3) how many children in each local education authority were placed in a non-residential special school following the completion of a statement of educational needs for each year since April 1983; and what this is expressed as a percentage of (a) the total number of children with statements in the local education authority and (b) the total number of statements made by the local education authority in that year;

  (4) how many children in each local education authority remained in mainstream schools following the completion of a statement of educational needs for each year since April 1983; and what this is expressed as a percentage of (a) the total number of children with statements in the local education authority and (b) the total number of statements made by the local education authority in that year.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  This information is not available in the form requested.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the total cost to public funds of the Student Loans Company to date; and what is his estimate of the total cost for the whole of the current and the next financial year.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend will make a statement shortly on the administrative costs of the student loans scheme.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assistance his Department or the Student Loans Company has enlisted from consultants in(a) management, (b) information technology, (c) advertising, (d) marketing and (e) public relations, in respect of the student loans scheme in the current year; and at what cost.

  Mr. Jackson
  Relationships between the Student Loans Company and its suppliers are commercially confidential. The Department has not separately received consultancy advice on the student loans scheme in the current year.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate how long after application students can expect to wait until they receive a loan from the Student Loans Company.
  503
  Mr. Jackson
  The Student Loans Company's objective will be to make the great majority of loan payments within 21 days of receipt of correctly completed eligibility certificates and application forms. The company's success in meeting that objective will depend upon the speed with which students return the loan agreement forms which they will be sent once their application forms have been processed.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what communications will take place between the Students Loans Company and the bank branch holding an individual student loan applicant's current account; and for what purpose.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Student Loans Company will make loan payments into students' bank or building society accounts by electronic transfer, through the bankers' automated clearing services and will receive repayments by direct debit from borrowers' accounts. The company will have no other contact with banks or building societies holding students' current accounts.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list(a) the banks which have participated in any discussions with the Student Loans Company in the current year, (b) those banks which have not yet participated and (c) those banks which have refused to participate.

  Mr. Jackson
  Discussions between the Student Loans Company and other financial insitutions are strictly and mutually confidential.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if a student in agreeing to the terms and conditions of a student loan authorises the Student Loans Company to make future searches on their income, via employers and banks.

  Mr. Jackson
  The terms and conditions of a loan agreement will not authorise the Student Loans Company to investigate borrowers' incomes through their employers or banks. Borrowers wishing to defer repayments will be required to produce evidence that their income falls below 85 per cent. of national average earnings.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations his Department has had with the National Union of Students in respect of administration of the student loans scheme.

  Mr. Jackson
  The National Union of Students has been kept informed of developments in the student loans scheme. Officials will be meeting shortly to discuss the scheme.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how the Student Loans Company proposes to ensure that student loan applicants' referees maintain regular contact between the Student Loans Company and the student over the repayment period;

  (2) if a student loan applicant who fails to find a referee will be refused a loan.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Student Loans Company will not ask loan applicants to nominate referees. The company will ask applicants to nominate on the applications form two 504
  individuals, one of whom should be a relative or guardian, who can be contacts in the event of the company losing touch with the borrower. If the application forms are not fully completed, applicants will not receive a loan.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if his Department has yet agreed a system of student certification for the purpose of a student loan application with institutions of higher education.

  Mr. Jackson
  The duties of academic institutions are set out in regulation 10 of the Education (Student Loans) Regulations, laid before Parliament on 13 June. Representatives of the Student Loans Company and the Education Departments will be holding a nationwide series of meetings with the higher education institutions in the next two weeks to help the institutions prepare for their role in the scheme.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if his Department will be reimbursing the total administrative cost of student certification for the purpose of a student loan application; and if he will estimate that cost in the current and the next financial year.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Student Loans Company will make a payment to academic institutions of £3·50 for each eligibility certificate which is correctly completed on its first submission to the company. The total administrative cost will depend upon the number of students who seek certification of eligibility and on the number of correctly completed certificates.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the itinerary of visits to be undertaken by the three higher education liaison officers appointed by the Student Loans Company.

  Mr. Jackson
  The role of the academic liaison officers is to help institutions fulfil their responsibilities under the legislation governing the student loans scheme. To that end, the liaison officers have already visited a wide range of institutions; are meeting representatives of institutions at regional meetings in the next two weeks; and will, on request, visit any institution with eligible students.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guarantees have been offered to staff of the Student Loans Company in the event of a change of Government policy on student finance.

  Mr. Jackson
  None. Staff of the Student Loans Company are employed under arrangements which reflect current practice in the commercial sector.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when students can start to apply for a loan from the Student Loans Company.

  Mr. Jackson
  Students will be able to apply for a loan as soon as they have been certified as eligible by their academic institution.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when is the deadline for application for a loan from the Student Loans Company; and whether students who apply for a loan which is less than that to which they are entitled can later apply for the remainder.
  505
  Mr. Jackson
  For the academic year 1990–91, the Student Loans Company will issue loans in respect of loan agreements received by the company by 31 July 1991. Eligible students may make one application for a loan each academic year; they may draw down the loan in up to three instalments.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions the Student Loans Company has had with the clearing banks in respect of the payment and repayment of student loans.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Student Loans Company will make loan payments and receive repayments through the bankers' automated clearing services. These arrangements have been discussed with the company's bankers.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his latest estimate of student take-up of the student loans scheme.

  Mr. Jackson
  For planning purposes, the Government continue to assume an 80 per cent. take-up rate of student loans.

  Access Funds
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he plans to publish details of how institutions of higher education will administer access funds.

  Mr. Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffihs) on 21 May 1990,Official Report, column 46.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will have any power to alter the criteria adopted by an institution of higher education in respect of access fund disbursement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Provided that an institution of higher education complies with the conditions of payment under which it receives an allocation from the access funds, the determining of criteria to be adopted for the disbursement of money from the funds to students is entirely a matter for the institution itself.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if individual students refuse an access fund award by their institution will be able to appeal against the decision.

  Mr. Jackson
  Institutions will be entirely responsible for the administration of their share of the access funds including the handling of appeals from individual students.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance he will be issuing to institutions of higher education in respect of the disbursement of access funds; and what will be the nature of any such guidance.

  Mr. Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 21 May 1990,Official Report, column 46. I understand that the Universities Funding Council and the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council will be issuing guidance to the institutions for which they are responsible by the end of June.
  506
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if students will have any powers of appeal in respect of the criteria adoped by an institution of higher education for the disbursement of access funds.

  Mr. Jackson
  It will be for the higher education institutions themselves to decide what criteria to adopt for the disbursement of the access funds and whether to consult their students about those criteria.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance he is giving to institutions of higher education in respect of disabled students' needs when access funds are distributed.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Universities Funding Council and the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council will be responsible for giving guidance to institutions in their sectors on the distribution of the access funds. Paragraph 1 of the conditions of payment of the access funds to the two funding councils (a copy of which was placed in the Library on 21 May) make it clear that physical and other disabilities are among the possible reasons for financial difficulties which the access funds are intended to address.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what account will be taken of variations in regional housing costs in respect of the distribution of access funds to institutions of higher education.

  Mr. Jackson
  It will be for the two funding councils to determine how the access funds are to be distributed to institutions in their sectors. The factors which my right hon. Friend has invited the funding councils to take into account are set out in paragraph 5 of the notes of guidance for the UFC and the PCFC a copy of which was placed in the Library on 21 May. One of the factors is"the particular needs of students in private accommodation in areas where the cost of accommodation is especially high, eg London and the South East."

  Universities and Polytechnics (Funding)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the figures for the revenue and research monies received by each individual university and polytechnic, expressed in terms of funding per student.

  Mr. Jackson
  Information on universities' incomes and student numbers are contained in tables 1 and 12 respectively of volume 3 "University Statistics—Finance" published by the universities statistical record.

  Available data on polytechnic expenditure and students are published by the Department in table D15 of "Statistics of Education—Finance and Awards".

  Copies of both publications are available in the Library.

HEALTH

  Adoption
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures exist to enable adults, adopted early in life, to make contact with siblings.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Adoption Act 1976 gives adopted adults the right, after counselling where required,
  507
  to the information which will enable them to obtain a certified copy of their original record of birth. Some adopted people may wish to use this information as a starting point in an effort to trace the whereabouts of their natural relatives and sometimes to contact or meet them. The Registrar-General is usually prepared to note on a person's adoption record that there is a natural relative, including a sibling, who would welcome contact; and, if the adopted person applies for information about his birth record, to tell him about his relative's wishes. The Children Act 1989 provides for an adoption contact register to formalise these arrangements; we plan to implement the Act next year.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the costs of the consultancy management team study of waiting lists in Newcastle, Durham and East Cumbria referred to in the reply given to the hon. Member for Stockton, South (Mr. Devlin),Official Report, 20 March, column 555; where such costs are accounted for in national health service budgets; what conclusions this study reached; what actions have been taken as a result; and if he will place a copy of the consultancy team's report in the Library.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Waiting lists in these three districts are among 100 specialty lists being investigated by Inter-Authority Comparisons and Consultancy (IACC) in 1990–91. The costs are not separately identified by district, but amount to £420,000 for the national programme of studies and are met centrally from the waiting list fund.

  The aim of the studies is to investigate why waiting times for treatment are so long, and to draw up contracts with the districts for agreed workload levels and reductions in waiting time in return for additional funding. A total of £12 million from the waiting list fund has been earmarked to fund the recommendations of the studies. So far £45,000 has been allocated to Durham to reduce the number of patients waiting over a year on the general surgery/urology list, and £121,000 to East Cumbria to reduce the wait for general surgery. Newcastle's plastic surgery list is still under consideration.

  A copy of IACC's summary report "Examining some of England's longest waiting lists" is in the Library. This describes IACC's work in 1989–90, which by March 1990 had resulted in a reduction from 29,580 to 15,042 in the number of patients waiting over a year in 43 key specialties. A full-year report is in preparation.

  Family Planning
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to improve the family planning service provided by(a) general practitioners, including women doctors and (b) health authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The day-to-day management of family planning services is a matter for individual health authorities since they can best judge local circumstances and priorities. The Government continue to regard family planning as an important preventive service. Guidance issued by the Department of Health makes clear that health authorities should ensure that full use is made of family planning services and that a proper balance is struck between services provided by specialist clinics and 508
  those provided by GPs. This guidance was recently reiterated in a letter to regional general managers by the director of operations and planning on the NHS management executive. The Government also remain committed to encouraging and helping women doctors to enter general practice. The new contract which came into force from 1 April 1990 benefits women doctors in a number of ways:

  —capitation-based system encourages partnerships to offer the patients the choice of both men and women doctors.

  —women doctors will be particularly attractive to partnerships if they offer one of the specialties for which the new fees are being paid, for example, minor surgery, child health surveillance.

  —arrangements for part-time working and job sharing are being formalised.

  —qualifications for locum cover during confinement have been eased.

  Head Lice
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has received linking lindane, or gamma benzene hexachloride, to leukaemia and kidney damage; and if he will consider taking action to prevent them being used in head lice treatment.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Lindane, also known as gamma benzene hexachloride, is an insecticide which has been available for a number of years in low concentrations in licensed medicinal products for external use. The Committee on Safety of Medicines has received no reports of leukaemia or kidney damage associated with lindane treatment.

  Lindane is an effective treatment for scabies. As a consequence of the emergence of resistance it is no longer commonly used for the sole treatment of head lice. Low concentrations of lindane when used topically and as recommended have a good safety record over many years of extensive use.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the level of funding of community health councils in England and on the role of his Department in ensuring adequate levels of funding for individual community health councils.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The expenses of community health councils are met by and form part of the total expenditure of the health authorities concerned. It is for health authorities to decide on the level of funding that they provide to community health councils.

  Toxic Shock Syndrome
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of toxic shock syndrome there have been in each of the past five years; of those cases, how many proved to be fatal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information received by the public health laboratory service (PHLS) indicates that from 1984 to 1989 there were around 15 confirmed cases a year of toxic shock syndrome in the United Kingdom and that around three cases a year proved fatal.

  Transplant Service
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health where the new special health authority to manage the United Kingdom transplant service is to be situated; what staff and budget it will have; and when it will he operational.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We will take decisions on these questions in the light of the implementation study to which I referred in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) on 11 June at column 35.

  Optician Services
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the most recent impact of prescription charges on the take-up of opticians' services(a) nationally and (b) by national health service region.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The independent survey of sight tests, carried out by NOP and commissioned by the Government, considered demand on both a national and standard region basis. The information was not, however, analysed by national health service region. The survey found that sight test uptake during the first three months of 1990 was well in line with projected trends over the 10 years up to 1987. It implied that there was no evidence to suggest that people were being deterred from visiting their optician because they now had to pay a modest private charge. Copies of the full NOP report along with an analysis of the findings by the Government statistical service have been placed in the Library.

  Larynx Cancer
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has conducted or commissioned any research into cancer of the larynx resulting from asbestosis, explosives or industrial substances.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No such research has been commissioned by the Department. The Medical Research Council (M RC) is the main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research in the United Kingdom. The MRC receives its grant in aid from the Department of Education and Science.

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress which has been made on each of the projects of research on child abuse listed in his answer of 27 January 1989,Official Report, column 798.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The current position on the projects on research on child abuse listed in the reply that my hon. and learned Friend the then Minister for Health gave the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 27 January 1989 at column 798 is as follows:

  Intervention in child sexual abuse: project extended to 30 September 1990.

  Normal sexual knowledge in children: continuing.

  A study of co-ordination in child abuse: continuing. Decision making intervention and outcomes in respect of children at risk of abuse: continuing.

  Parental perceptions in child abuse: commissioned. Period of support, 1 October 1989 to 30 September 1992.

  510

  Feasibility of prevalence study: under consideration.

  Parental participation in child protection case conferences: commissioned. Period of support, 1 October 1989 to 31 March 1992.

  A study of the patterns of use of child protection registers: commissioned. Period of support, 1 October 1990 to 31 December 1992.

  Computer-based techniques in diagnosis: pilot study commissioned. Period of support, 1 January 1990 to 30 April 1990.

  Evaluation of inter-disciplinary training under consideration.

  Perpetrators of child sexual abuse: under consideration.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people on family credit or income support received free eye tests in each district health authority area in England in each quarter of 1988–89 and in each quarter of 1989–90.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Statistics prior to 1 April 1989 were not broken down by patient group. Since then family practitioner committees have collected data on sight tests paid for under the general ophthalmic services on a six-monthly basis. District health authorities do not collect such information. The table gives estimated numbers by patient group and regional health authority for the period in question:

  NHS sight tests paid for during April-September 1989

  Regional health authority

  Adults (IS-FC)

  Northern

  40,000

  Yorkshire

  39,360

  Trent

  51,880

  East Anglia

  16,050

  North West Thames

  34,030

  North East Thames

  34,980

  South East Thames

  39,010

  South West Thames

  23,510

  Wessex

  29,390

  Oxford

  13,510

  South Western

  46,310

  West Midlands

  74,690

  Mersey

  27,810

  North Western

  60,160

  These figures are based on a 2 per cent. sample of NHS sight test application forms processed by family practitioner committees. They do not take into account sight tests paid for after 1 April 1989 but conducted before that period.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with glaucoma and diabetes received free eye tests in England(a) in each quarter in 1988–89 and (b) in each quarter in 1989–90.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 13 June 1990]: Statistics prior to 1 April 1989 were not broken down by patient group. Since then family practitioner committees have collected data on sight tests paid for under the general ophthalmic services on a six-monthly basis. A total of 114,210 NHS sight tests for diabetes and glaucoma sufferers were paid for in England during the period 1 April to 30 September 1989. This figure is based on a 2 per cent. sample of NHS sight test application forms processed by family practitioner committees. It does not take into account sight tests paid for after 1 April 1989 but conducted before that period.

  Abortion
  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the total number of abortions, under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967, in the Sheffield health authority area for each of the last three years for which figures are available; how many of these abortions were performed(a) on ground four and (b) ground five; and how many of these abortions were notified in the national health service sector, and how many in the private sector.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Abortion data by district of termination are not released on grounds of confidentiality; data for usual residents of Sheffield district health authority are shown in the table:

  Number of abortions performed under statutory grounds (a) four and (b) five of the Abortion Act 1967, and by category of premises, usual residents of Sheffield district health authority, 1987, 1988 and 19891

  Year

  Statutory grounds

  Total

  Category of premises

  Four

  Five

  NHS

  Non-NHS

  1987

  28

  —

  1,485

  814

  671

  1988

  15

  —

  1,507

  901

  606

  11989

  12

  —

  1,503

  889

  614

  1 Provisional

  Statutory ground 4: there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped.

  Statutory ground 5: to save the life of the pregnant woman.

  Performance-related Pay
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which managerial and administrative posts in the Oxfordshire health authority attract performance-related pay; what proportion of their pay is determined by performance; how frequently performance is reviewed; and who is responsible for undertaking the official assessment.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We do not hold this information centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of Oxfordshire health authority for the information he seeks.

  General Practitioners Budgets
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners or general practitioner practices have now expressed an interest in becoming practice budget holders within each health authority in England.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The programme "Funding General Practice" issued to all GPs in England in December invited practices that were interested in fund holding to return a form to their regional health authority. By the end of February over 850 practices had expressed an interest in this way and others have done so subsequently. The table sets out the position in each region:

  Region

  Number of practices expressing an interest February 1990

  Northern

  65

  Yorkshire

  64

  Trent

  57

  512

  Region

  Number of practices expressing an interest February 1990

  East Anglian

  36

  NW Thames

  78

  NE Thames

  58

  SE Thames

  61

  SW Thames

  58

  Wessex

  55

  Oxford

  61

  South Western

  85

  West Midlands

  70

  Mersey

  51

  North Western

  55

  Total

  854

  Of these 854 practices, around 150 had to be rejected simply because they did not meet the size criterion and did not wish to join with another practice, around 400 are likely to undertake preparatory work to enable them to become fund holders in 1991 and over 150 have indicated that they wish to consider becoming fund holders in 1992.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the names of the general practitioners or practices which have expressed an interest in becoming practice budget holders.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners and general practitioner practices will be eligible to become practice budget holders within each health authority in England.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The criteria for participation in the practice funding scheme will be set out in regulations made under clause 14 of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill currently before Parliament. However, as indicated in the programme "Funding General Practice" issued last December, copies of which are available in the Library, practices which have over 9,000 patients (or group together to meet this criterion), can demonstrate the ability to manage a fund and are adequately computerised are eligible to participate. It is not possible to state how many practices meet all these criteria.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners practices are now eligible to become budget holders; how many have expressed an interest in budget holding; if he will name those practices; and if he will give the information by region.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my replies today to the hon. Member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye (Mr. Kennedy).

  Natural History Museum
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications of the reduction of the Heteroptera sub-section of the natural history museum for research related to bed bugs, as vectors of diseases.

  Mr. Dorrell
  None. We are not aware of any new problems which would necessitate the Department sponsoring research in this area.
  513
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications of any reduction of research work on fossils and fossil plants at the natural history museum for medical research.

  Mr. Dorrell
  None. The Medical Research Council (MRC) is the Government's main agency for the promotion of medical and related biomedical research in the United Kingdom. The MRC receives its grant in aid from the Department of Education and Science.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what instructions have been issued by his Department or the national health service management board in relation to the vocabulary or terminology used to promote, describe or present, "Working for Patients" and the National Health Service and Community Care Bill.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  None.

  NHS Reform
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes have been made since November 1989 to the list of 79 units preparing for self-governing trust status; and if he will give an up-to-date list of those making plans for 1991.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 25 April at columns 217–18. An up-to-date list is as follows:

  Northern Regional Health Authority

  Freeman Hospital

  Newcastle Mental Health Services

  Newcastle General Hospital

  Northumbria Ambulance Services.

  Royal Victoria Infirmary and Dental Hospital

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  Bradford Acute Services

  Leeds General Infirmary and Associated Hospitals

  St. James University Hospital, Leeds

  Trent Regional Health Authority

  Children's Hospital, Sheffield

  Doncaster Royal Infirmary and the Montagu Hospital

  Lincolnshire Ambulance Service

  Nether Edge Hospital, Sheffield

  Northern General Hospital

  East Anglian Regional Health Authority

  East Suffolk Community Services

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney Priority Services

  Norfolk Ambulances

  West Norfolk and Wisbech Community Services

  West Norfolk and Wisbech Acute Services

  North West Thames Regional Health Authority

  Central Middlesex Hospital

  Harefield Hospital

  Hillingdon Hospital

  Mount Vernon Hospital

  North West Hertfordshire Priority Services Unit

  North Hertfordshire Acute and Community Services

  North East Thames Regional Health Authority

  City and Hackney (St. Bartholomew's, Homerton, St. Marks Hospital Trust

  North Middlesex Hospital

  Southend District Services

  The London Hospital Group

  The Royal Free Hospital

  514

  The Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital

  Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital

  South East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Brighton Acute Services

  Bromley Acute Services

  Bromley Mental Health (Ravensbourne)

  Guy's and Lewisham Hospitals and associated Mental Illness Services

  St. Thomas's Hospital and associated Community Services

  South West Thames Regional Health Authority

  Croydon Mental Handicap Unit

  Croydon Community Unit

  Kingston Hospital

  Mid-Downs West Unit

  Mid-Surrey General Unit

  North West Surrey Mental Handicap and Mental Health Units

  South West Surrey Acute Unit

  St. Helier and Sutton Hospitals

  Wessex Regional Health Authority

  Lymington Hospitals

  Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases

  West Dorset Acute Services

  West Dorset Community and General Hospital Services

  West Dorset Mental Health Services

  Oxford Regional Health Authority

  Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford

  South Western Regional Health Authority

  Bristol

  Cornwall Mental Handicap Services

  Cornwall Community Services

  East Somerset

  East Gloucestershire NHS Trust

  North Devon

  Plymouth Acute Services

  South Devon Health Care Trust

  West Somerset

  Weston

  West Midlands Regional Health Authority

  Alexandra Hospital

  Mid Staffordshire Mental Health Unit

  Mid Staffordshire Community Unit

  Rugby District Services

  Walsall Acute Services

  Mersey Regional Health Authority

  Arrow Park and Clatterbridge Hospitals

  Broadgreen Hospital, excluding Mersey Regional Cardio-Thoracic Unit

  Crew Acute Services

  Halton Community Services

  Regional Adult Cardio-Thoracic Unit, Liverpool

  Royal Liverpool Children's Hospitals

  Royal Liverpool Hospital

  Whiston St. Helens Hospital

  North Western Regional Health Authority

  Central Manchester Hospital and Community Services

  Christie Hospital

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether a unit applying for self-governing trust status will be allowed to withdraw their application(a) after it has been submitted to the regional health authority, (b) after consultation with the regional health authority and (c) after it has been submitted to him.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Applications may be withdrawn at any time before my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State signs the order establishing that particular trust.
  515
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the criteria he will use when making decisions about an application to establish a self-governing trust.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State will consider applications for national health service trust status individually in the light of all relevant information. We will expect them to meet the criteria set out in the White Paper "Working for Patients".

  Health Authority Chairmen
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many district health authorities and family health services authorities there are in each of the three bands for remuneration of chairs; and if he will list the district health authorities and FHSAs in each of the bands.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  For the remuneration of district health authority and family practitioner committee chairmen the number of authorities in each band is as follows:

  Average daily available beds West Berkshire health authority

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Acute

  1,068

  1,021

  1,012

  1,013

  1,021

  911

  967

  946

  897

  846

  Non-acute

  1,919

  1,799

  1,746

  1,691

  1,605

  1,512

  1,457

  1,389

  1,306

  1,241

  The numbers of patients treated in all specialties rose from 44,000 to 50,000 between 1979 and 1987–88. Figures for 1988–89 patient activity are still provisional.

  AIDS
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in the United Kingdom were born with AIDS in 1989; what were the figures for the previous three years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 15 June 1990]: There are no reports to the public health laboratory service communicable disease surveillance centre or to the communicable diseases (Scotland) unit of children being born with AIDS. The cumulative total of reports of children born with HIV antibody, to end 1989 is 144. Most of these children are not infected but acquired HIV antibody from their mother. If the child is not itself infected this maternal antibody disappears within the first 18 months of life. There have been 23 reports of children developing AIDS, whose parents were HIV-infected or at risk of infection.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the United Kingdom will be infected with the AIDS virus by the year 2000 if the current rate of growth is maintained.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 15 June 1990]: It is not possible to predict how many cases of AIDS or HIV-infected individuals there will be by the year 2000. The Day report "Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome in England and Wales to end 1993", published in February 1990, projected that there would be 4,980 cases of AIDS at the end of 1993, and up to 46,450 people infected with HIV by the end of 1990.
  516

  Band

  District health authority

  Family practitioner committee

  1

  50

  15

  2

  98

  61

  3

  42

  14

  A list of the district health authorities and family practitioner committees in each band has been placed in the Library.

  West Berkshire Health Authority
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of beds, broken down by acute and non-acute, in West Berkshire health authority in each year since 1979.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is given in the table:

  The Day report made it clear that predictions beyond 1993 are subject to great uncertainty. A copy of it is available in the Library.

  Gamete Infra Fallopian Transfer
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to seek the views of the President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on the procedure known as gamete intra fallopian transfer which may result in higher order multiple births; and what reply he has received.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  On 14 May I wrote to Sir George Pinker KCVO FRCOG FRCS (Ed) the President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. I am publishing as follows the text of my letter and of his reply of 15 June. This makes it clear that the council of the college does not favour the statutory regulation of such procedures. Instead, it proposes to issue professional guidance to fellows and members about procedures which may result in higher order multiple births once the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill is enacted.

  Sir George Pinker CVO FRCSEd FRCOG

  President

  Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

  27 Sussex Place

  Regent's Park

  London

  NW1 4RG

  14 May 1990

  Dear George,

  MULTIPLE PREGNANCY RESULTING FROM INFERTILITY TREATMENTS
  Now that continuation of research on the early human embryo has been agreed by a Committee of the whole House of Commons, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill is being considered in detail by a Standing Committee in the usual way. At its first session the Standing Committee

  517
  discussed an amendment which, if accepted, would have brought the GIFT procedure under the control of the Statutory Licensing Authority.
  The view of the Council of your College, which you kindly provided for me last month, was made available to members of the Committee. There was a lengthy debate which, of course, was reported in Hansard (copy enclosed). You will see that the concerns expressed about GIFT related entirely to the possibility that it can result in triplets or higher order multiple births, just as could IVF, if too many eggs are replaced. However, as I explained, such multiple pregnancies also result from the use of superovulatory drugs alone in the treatment of infertility. To introduce legislative control of GIFT for this reason would thus point to a need to regulate superovulatory therapy in general which would indeed take us well on to the slippery slope of wider regulation of medical practice—something which in the long run would not, it seems to me, to be to the advantage of patients or doctors.
  As you will see, the Committee rejected the amendment, but in view of the concerns expressed about the difficulties which may be experienced by women carrying and giving birth to triplets or more, I promised to write to you to ask that the College give consideration to ensuring that its Fellows and Members are fully aware of the Parliamentary concerns about high multiple pregnancy. The problems associated with this have been well documented in recent research by Frances Price of the Child Care and Development Group in Cambridge, whose research has been supported by the Department and which will be published by HMSO soon.
  Clearly it would be most reassuring to those members of Parliament who have expressed concern about triplets and higher order multiple pregnancies resulting from infertility treatments if the College were prepared to convey this concern, perhaps with some advice, to its Fellows and Members.

  Yours ever

  Virginia

  Mrs. V. Bottomley, MP

  Minister of State for Health

  Department of Health

  Richmond House

  79 Whitehall

  LONDON SW1A 2NS

  15th June 1990

  Dear Mrs. Bottomley

  Re: Multiple Pregnancy Resulting from Infertility Treatment Thank you very much for your letter of 14th May regarding the concern of the Members of Parliament about procedures such as GIFT resulting in higher order multiple births.
  As you know, the Council of the College has on occasions discussed this and felt that regulation of procedures such as GIFT will not only set a precedent in terms of regulating medical practice but also that, as these forms of treatment are still evolving, any framework regulating the current practices may restrict further development. Therefore we feel that GIFT and similar procedures should not be included in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. I think your point that legislative control of GIFT could also lead the way to regulating other treatments for infertility, such as the use of gonadorophins for ovulation induction, is extremely important.
  We have in the past relied on the ILA, which as you know evolved from the VLA set up by the RCOG and the MRC, to issue guidelines to those of our Fellows and Members involved in the management of infertility patients where treatment such as IVF and GIFT were provided. The College would certainly be willing to reinforce this advice by circulating guidelines to Fellows and Members. We are now working on these and they will cover the following areas: counselling, the use of gonadotrophins in induction of ovulation, number of embryos or eggs to be transferred and other matters relating to the practice of GIFT. Once the Bill receives Royal Assent these will be put in their final form and circulated.
  I look forward to receiving as soon as possible a copy of Frances Price's paper.

  Yours sincerely,

  George D. Pinker.

NOTHERN IRELAND

  Violent Deaths
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of deaths caused by violence in Northern Ireland in the years(a) 1984, (b) 1985, (c) 1986, (d) 1987, (e) 1988, and (f) 1989 respectively, and how this was subdivided by the number of (i) Catholics, (1) civilian, and (2) Irish Republican Army or paramilitary groups (ii) Protestants (1) civilian, and (2) Ulster Defence Regiment or other paramilitary groups (iii) security forces (1) local or (2) British and (iv) others.

  Mr. Cope
  A total of 427 deaths arose from the security situation in Northern Ireland during the period 1984–89. The data collated do not differentiate between Catholic and Protestant, or civilians or paramilitary groupings. The table sets out the available information:

  Deaths in Northern Ireland arising from the security situation

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  RUC

  9

  23

  12

  16

  6

  9

  Regular Army

  9

  2

  4

  3

  21

  12

  UDR

  10

  4

  8

  8

  12

  2

  Civilians1

  36

  25

  37

  66

  54

  39

  Total

  64

  54

  61

  93

  93

  62

  1 category includes known or suspected terrorists.

  Condoms
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make representations at a meeting of the Anglo-Irish ministerial conference to have the present prohibition on the sale of condoms, in the Virgin Megastore in Dublin removed.

  Mr. Brooke
  The matter is not one which it would be appropriate to raise at a meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference.

  Replacement Dwellings
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he proposes to introduce conditions requiring the demolition of the building to be replaced to be attached to grants of permission for replacement buildings.

  Mr. Needham
  No. Each application is treated on its merits.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average size of approved replacement dwellings in amenity areas of special control in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Pensioners' Christmas Bonus
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any plans to increase the Christmas bonus for pensioners in December 1990.

  Mr. Needham
  I have no plans to do so.

  Beef Premium
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many farmers applied for special beef premium between 1 April 1989 and 31 March 1990; and, of these, how many were accepted and payment made.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Between 3 April 1989 (the commencement date of the scheme) and 31 March 1990, 23,375 farmers submitted 37,595 applications for beef special premium. Of these, 36,761 have been accepted and paid to date; 337 applications have been disallowed.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reasons were given for disallowing claims in respect of special beef premium between 1 April 1989 and 31 March 1990.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The reasons for disallowance of claims were:

  (a) Failure to comply with the on-farm retention requirement.

  (b) Inclusion in claims of animals on which premium had previously been paid.

  (c) Inclusion in claims of female cattle.

  (d) Inclusion in claims of animals below the minimum eligible age of 8 months at date of lodgement of the claim.

  (e) Producers making more than three claims (the maximum permitted) in a calendar year.

  Reduced Earnings Allowance
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons in Northern Ireland receive reduced earnings allowance; and what were the total sums paid out in Northern Ireland during the last two financial years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Needham
  At 8 May 1990 4,191 persons in Northern Ireland were receiving reduced earnings allowance.

  Over £13 million was paid in benefits (including reduced earnings allowance) under the industrial injuries scheme in Northern Ireland in each of the 1987–88 and 1988–89 financial years. Separate figures are not available for reduced earnings allowance.

  Teachers
  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total amount of teaching time taught by part-time teachers and in the form of additional hours for full-time teachers in the North Eastern education and library board area additional hours budget, broken down by college.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: The hours taught by part-time teachers and the additional hours taught by full-time teachers vary throughout the year depending on demand. However, all FE colleges make a standard return each year to the Department of Education in respect of the position in the third week of October. In the week ending 20 October 1989 the following hours were worked in colleges in the North-Eastern Board area.
  520

  Part-time hours

  Additional hours

  Antrim

  209·9

  27·4

  Ballymena

  376·42

  130·50

  Coleraine

  169·5

  100

  Larne

  109

  13

  Magherafelt

  129·07

  68·68

  Newtownabbey

  489·96

  44·46

  North Antrim

  85

  55

  Northern Ireland Hotel and Catering College

  41·16

  2·66

  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of part-time lecturers employed in each further education college in the North Eastern education and library board area, broken down by college.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: The use of part-time lecturers is reported to the Department of Education annually to show the position in the third week of October. In the North-Eastern Education and Library Board area the following numbers of part-time lecturers were employed in the week ending 20 October 1989.

  Number

  Antrim

  48

  Ballymena

  78

  Coleraine

  40

  Larne

  24

  Magherafelt

  23

  Newtownabbey

  140

  North Antrim

  28

  Northern Ireland Hotel and Catering College

  5

  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Department of Education has approved the 24 redundancies announced by the North Eastern education and library board.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: The North-Eastern Education and Library Board has assessed the number of full-time lecturers which each of its further education colleges will require to deliver the youth training programme courses under the new block funding arrangements and has decided that the existing number of full-time YTP posts should be reduced. The revised number of YTP posts has been agreed with the Department of Education.

  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what specific measures have been taken by the North Eastern education and library board to avoid redundancies.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: The board has examined the possibility of redeployment within each college and to other colleges and schools in its area. It has also identified a number of full-time lecturers who wish to take early retirement. These steps have reduced the number of compulsory redundancies to a minimum.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken by the North Eastern library board to avoid religious discrimination against Catholics in further education colleges.
  521
  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: The North-Eastern education and library board has published an equal opportunities policy statement indicating its commitment to the principle of equal opportunity in relation to both persons seeking to be employed by the board and persons already so employed. The board has recently made its statutory monitoring return to the Fair Employment Commission and will be reviewing its current position to determine if any corrective action is required to redress any imbalances that might be shown to be present.

  Training
  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the staff/student ratio for each YTP course in the North Eastern education and library board area.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: The information requested is not available in respect of each individual YTP course. However, the staff/student ratio in respect of the YTP provision in each college in the North-Eastern education and library board at 31 December 1989 was as follows:

  Ratio

  Antrim

  7·7

  Ballymena

  13·7

  Ballymoney

  6·6

  Coleraine

  10·1

  Larne

  10·1

  Magherafelt

  11·1

  Newtownabbey

  8·5

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Bishopbriggs Resettlement Unit
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will provide a breakdown by age of the residents in the Bishopbriggs resettlement unit in the last full year for which figures are available;

  Single person

  Married man with 2 children

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  Year

  Average weekly earnings (£)

  Standard rate unemployment benefit1 (£)

  Benefit as a percentage of net income3

  Average weekly earnings2 (£)

  Standard rate unemployment benefit1 2 (£)

  Benefit as a percentage of net income2 3

  October 1972

  39·70

  13·75

  47·7

  40·60

  22·10

  68·0

  November 1979

  114·10

  31·79

  39·8

  122·10

  54·64

  59·7

  November 1982

  160·60

  25·00

  23·3

  172·30

  52·75

  42·5

  April 1987

  224·00

  31·45

  20·2

  238·50

  65·35

  36·8

  April 1989

  269·50

  34·70

  18·1

  284·00

  70·60

  33·1

  1 Earnings-related supplement is included with the rate of unemployment benefit up to and including November 1979.

  2 The amounts at columns 4, 5 and 6 include family allowance/child benefit.

  3 Net income used in columns 3 and 6 is income after deduction of tax and national insurance contributions.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will be making extra staffing available for social fund duties to improve the rate of unprocessed applications.

  Mr. Scott
  Compared with the year 1989–90, the share of the total staff resources allocated to social fund increased by 1,615 posts for the year 1990–91. These resources, available to local offices from April 1990, reflect the ongoing review of resource requirements carried out by
  522
  (2) if he will provide a statistical breakdown of the length of stay of residents in the Bishopbriggs resettlement unit in the last year for which figures are available;

  (3) what was the total number of people who used the Bishopbriggs resettlement unit in the last full year for which figures are available;

  (4) if he will list the agencies which have referred individuals to the Bishopbriggs resettlement unit in the latest 12-month period for which figures are available, and the number of individuals referred to each agency.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information requested is not available.

  The resettlement agency does not collect detailed statistics of individual residents because resettlement unit residents, who by definition are a transient population, are often resentful of detailed questioning. When admitting people the aim is to provide warmth, shelter and food and to restrict questions and statistics to the absolute minimum.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of bed spaces available for use at the Bishopbriggs resettlement unit.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The number of bed spaces available at Glasgow resettlement unit (Bishopbriggs) is 77.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing unemployment benefit, including earnings-related supplement, as a percentage of average earnings for the years(a) 1972, (b) 1979, (c) 1982, (d) 1987 and (e) 1989 for a single person and a married man with two children, both on average earnings.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information requested is in the table.

  the Department. Both the resource needs and organisation of the social fund in local offices will continue to be kept under review by departmental officials.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps are being taken by his Department to improve the collection of outstanding national insurance contributions from employers and employees; and what are the specific staffing, computerisation and time resources committed to collection.
  523
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Arbuthnot) on 21 May at columns 80–81 about improving the collection of national insurance contributions.

  At present some 1,600 inspectors are employed. There will be better training for these inspectors and in the first instance there will be 100 more of them to perform the tasks.

  A fully computerised national insurance records system is used for recording contributions and providing information in relation to benefit claims. It also identifies potential underpayment and non-payment of contributions in relation to employed people and employers. It is the intention to develop further the information technology support available, to record such contributions and to assist the inspectorate.

  Student Benefits
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received concerning the proposals to remove students from income support, unemployment benefit and housing benefit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Representations have been received from a number of individuals and organisations, including the National Union of Students and other organisations representing students' interests, the all-party disablement group, the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, the British Dyslexia Association and the Dyslexia Educational Trust.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the circumstances in which he would consider reinstating student entitlement to housing benefit.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Government's view is that students should generally be supported by the educational maintenance system and not social security benefits, although students in vulnerable groups will retain eligibility for housing benefit and income support. The introduction of student loans and the creation of the access funds will result in an increase in student support of well over £100 million in the 1990–91 academic year. The operation and adequacy of these new funding arrangements will be kept under review.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to monitor the impact the withdrawal of entitlement to housing benefit will have on the income of students attending institutions of higher education in areas of high-cost rented accommodation.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Government are considering a further survey of students' income and expenditure following the introduction of student loans and withdrawal of benefits from most full-time students. In addition, we will be monitoring the operation and adequacy of the access funds.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Social Security Advisory Committee reports on Government proposals to withdraw 524
  student entitlement to social security benefits are to be published; and when the Government plans to respond to the reports.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We are giving careful consideration to the report of the Social Security Advisory Committee on draft regulations to implement our policy on students' benefit entitlement. The report will be published when that consideration has been completed.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what external advice his Department has received on the legal status of his proposals to withdraw entitlement to unemployment benefit for students who have made national insurance contributions.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We are satisfied, following legal advice, that we have the necessary statutory powers.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to publish the regulations cancelling student entitlement to housing benefit and social security.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We are currently considering the implications of amendments to the Social Security Bill carried in the House of Lords, and we will make an announcement about timing of regulations in due course.

  Pensions
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost to the national insurance fund of incentives to take up contracted out personal pension plans in the financial years 1989–90; and if he will provide estimates for 1990–91 and succeeding years.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The cost to the national insurance fund in 1989–90 of the 2 per cent. incentive payments to personal pensions was about £680 million; this represented payments of incentives in respect of both of the years 1987–88 and 1988–89.

  By the end of the year 1989–90 a little over 4 million personal pensions were in force. Assuming that the number in force remains constant through to 1992–93 the estimated cost in 1990–91 is £500 million (relating to year 1989–90) and in the years 1991–92 to 1993–94 (relating to years 1990–91 to 1992–93) the estimated cost can be expected to rise in line with general increases in earnings.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the latest figure of the number of people claiming family credit.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The latest information about the family credit caseload, to include backdated awards, is a provisional figure for the end of March 1990 of 308,000.

  Mobility Allowance
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will extend mobility allowance to children under five years of age.

  Mr. Scott
  We have no plans to do so.

SCOTLAND

  Animal Cruelty
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will seek to extend the sentencing provisions of the Protection of Animals (Penalties) Act 1987 relating to the penalties for those found guilty of animal cruelty and in particular those involved in dog fighting, so as to cover Scotland.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The Government intend to seek to increase the maximum fine available to the Scottish courts in respect of offences of cruelty to animals at the next suitable legislative opportunity.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number of bovine spongiform encephalopathy cases which have been confirmed, by covenient geographical area within Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Bovine spongiform encephalopathy was made notifiable on 21 June 1988. Records kept from November 1986 to 8 June 1990 show 456 confirmed cases have been recorded in Scotland. The incidence by region is as follows:

  Number

  Borders

  15

  Central

  17

  Dumfries and Galloway

  79

  Fife

  30

  Grampian

  104

  Highland

  29

  Lothian

  14

  Orkney

  6

  Shetland

  2

  Strathclyde

  125

  Tayside

  35

  Western Isles

  —

  Estate Agents
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to introduce legislation to regulate the activities of estate agents in Scotland.

  Mr. Forth
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Estate Agents Act 1979 and its subordinate legislation already regulates the activities of estate agents in Scotland, as elsewhere in the United Kingdom. I announced on 19 April my intention to make, and lay before Parliament, orders under section 3 and regulations under section 18 of the Act to deal with malpractices by some estate agents and to add to the list of offences which can trigger banning action Official Report, columns 1009–10). Drafts of the orders and regulations, which will apply throughout the United Kingdom, were sent out on 18 June for consultation. It is also the Government's intention, as soon as legislative time is available, to amend the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, which applies to Scotland, to cover misdescription of property.

  Drugs
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which organisation will be responsible for paying drug addicts to attend drug dependency units when general practitioners have their own budgets.
  526
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Drug addicts are not paid to attend drug dependency services. The introduction of general practitioner practice funding will have no detrimental effect on health care provision for drug misusers. A general practitioner fund will take account of factors such as the profile of the practice list, previous hospital treatment and prescribing patterns, and the number of potentially "high-cost" patients. There will therefore be no financial or budgetary disincentive to general practice fund holders taking on drug misusers as patients and referring them to hospital or community-based services when necessary. In their assessment of the health needs of their resident population and of the range of provision required, health boards will be able to ensure that the needs of potentially vulnerable groups such as drug misusers are properly taken into account.

  Handicapped Prisoners
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether there is any extra provision of services and support for prisoners who are physically or mentally handicapped; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Physically and mentally handicapped prisoners are assessed by the medical officer on arrival at prison regarding their general condition, mobility and awareness of their situation. Prison establishments seek to meet the needs of these inmates on an individual basis. The medical officer ensures continuation of any medication in addition to referral, as required, for psychiatric and psychological opinion.

  Students
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what level of community charge students in Scotland who pay 20 per cent. of the community charge where they are studying, pay on their own property which is not classified as their sole or main residence, or is empty for three months or more.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Regulation 4 of, and paragraph 4 of schedule 2 to the Standard Community Charge (Scotland) Regulations 1989 prescribe a standard Community charge multiplier of 0 (that is, no charge payable) in respect of a dwellinghouse.

  (a) in respect of which the standard community charge is, or would be, but for the regulations, payable by a person who is undertaking a full-time course of education or nursing education within the meaning of section 8 of the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, as amended; and

  (b) which was the sole or main residence of that person immediately before he undertook that course.

  Bathing Beaches
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the beaches that meet the blue flag award standards, and those which fail to match the criteria of the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The blue flag award scheme is organised under the patronage and sponsorship of the European Commission. The criteria for the award of a blue flag relate both to water quality and to the management of the beach and its general facilities. It is for local authorities to decide whether they wish to apply for such awards for beaches in their areas. I understand that currently no Scottish beaches hold a blue flag award.

  Natural History Museum
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the implications of reduction in the Homoptera section of the natural history museum for Scottish agriculture and horticulture.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No implications for Scottish agriculture and horticulture as a result of restructuring within the natural history museum are anticipated.

  Fishing Industry
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to the self-decommissioning plans submitted by one of the United Kingdom's fishing vessel agencies; and whether such a plan would be eligible for European Community aid.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: The success of such a scheme would be dependent on the support of the industry itself. When my right hon. and learned Friend met representatives of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation on 8 May he encouraged them to let him have their views on the proposals but they are still considering the matter. The question of European Community aid is a matter for the Commission in the first instance.

  Methane Discharges
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he first learnt of the intention by the operators of St. Fergus gas terminal to release a quantity of methane into the atmosphere; if his approval was sought; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: Shell UK Ltd. approached HM industrial pollution inspectorate for Scotland in January 1990 to discuss its plans for depressurising the main gas line in order to permit it to comply with the requirements of the Off-shore Installations (Emergency Pipeline Value) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989/1092) introduced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy following the Piper Alpha disaster. The plans included a proposal for venting a quantity of methane to atmosphere.

  A consent from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy is required under section 12 of the Energy Act 1976 for any discharge of methane into the atmosphere.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy in respect of treatment of methane discharges resulting from pipe replacements at gas terminals.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: Gas terminals are scheduled works under the terms of the Health and Safety (Emissions into the Atmosphere) Regulations 1983. Section 5 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places a duty on the owners of such works to use the best practicable means to prevent the emission into the atmosphere of noxious or offensive substances and for rendering harmless and inoffensive such substances as may be so emitted. This duty applies to the control of hydrocarbon discharges arising from pipe replacements.
  528
  All discharges whether by flaring or releasing unignited natural gas into the atmosphere require the consent of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy under section 12 of the Energy Act 1976.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to require the 14,000 tonnes of methane anticipated to be released in the process of pipe work at the St. Fergus gas terminal to be flared off; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: Following discussions with Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate, Shell UK Ltd has undertaken to dispose of any gas which cannot be utilised by burning it at the St. Fergus terminal in facilities provided for that purpose. The quantity of gas requiring disposal by this means is not expected to exceed 5,400 tonnes.

  There is provision on site to safely vent the gas to atmosphere via an elevated stack but flaring the gas is the preferred environmental option.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has made an assessment of the environmental implications resulting from the release of a large quantity of unflared methane from the St. Fergus gas terminal; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: Assessments of the environmental impact of venting methane at the St. Fergus gas terminal have been made on behalf of the company and these have been considered by Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate.

  Mr. Saied Ebrahimi
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information was given to the Crown Office about an incident on 5 June on flight PA61; what action was subsequently taken in relation to Mr. Saied Ebrahimi; and what were the circumstances under which the legal action against him was abandoned.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: The full information given to Crown Office by the procurator fiscal at Ayr about an incident on flight PA61 is confidential. As has been stated by Crown Office, Crown counsel instructed the release of Mr. Saeid Ebrahimi from custody. The reasons for Crown counsel's decisions are not disclosed.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fur Farms
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he takes to satisfy himself as to the proper dispersal of mink remaining in fur factory farms which close.

  Mr. Maclean
  Farmers disposing of their mink must inform the local MAFF office, which issued their licence. They must also inform recipients of the mink of the obligation to obtain a licence. Deliberately releasing mink into the wild is an offence.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many mink fur factory farms there are in environmentally sensitive areas.
  529
  Mr. Maclean
  None.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many chinchilla and fitch fur factory farms there are in the United Kingdom; and in which counties they are.

  Mr. Maclean
  Farmers do not need licences to keep these animals, and we do not collect this information.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has given to fur farmers in the light of current market conditions.

  Mr. Maclean
  It is for the fur industry to decide how to respond to market conditions.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to ensure that the Council of Europe's welfare standards for animals on fur factory farms which are currently under discussion will take full account of articles 3 and 4 of the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes 1976.

  Mr. Maclean
  Any welfare standards agreed by the Council of Europe will be adopted as recommendations under article 9 of the convention. As such, their purpose is to set out detailed provisions for the implementation of the general principles contained in articles 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the convention.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licences for fur factory farms on the Isle of Wight he has issued.

  Mr. Maclean
  One mink farm has been licensed annually on the Isle of Wight since 1986.

  Mink
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there is a feral wild population of mink on the Isle of Wight.

  Mr. Maclean
  There have been reports of feral mink on the Isle of Wight, but none confirmed.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to which species of native fauna aleutian disease may be transmitted by mink.

  Mr. Maclean
  I am not in a position to confirm the native fauna to which aleutian disease can definitely be transmitted from mink. However I am aware that the disease has been found in ferrets and polecats and that a disease similar to aleutian disease has been observed in otters.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action his officials take once aleutian disease is discovered in mink on farms.

  Mr. Maclean
  No statutory action is taken once the disease is discovered in mink on farms.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of mink in farms are infected with aleutian disease; and how many farms this affects.
  530
  Mr. Maclean
  Since aleutian disease in minks is not a notifiable disease, no official statistics are available on its incidence in mink farms.

  Arctic Foxes
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the incidence of feral Arctic foxes in the United Kingdom; and whether his Department has planned any response.

  Mr. Maclean
  There is no evidence of feral Arctic foxes in the United Kingdom.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he proposes to implement the EEC ban on beef exports from herds which have had an incidence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy; whether the ban applies to herds in which were raised and sold cattle subsequently fallen to bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Beef will be exported from the United Kingdom to other European Community member states in accordance with European Community Decision 90/261 of 8 June 1990 and be certified as such. Bone-in beef for export must be derived from cattle which have not come from holdings in which bovine spongiform encephalopathy has been confirmed during the previous two years. Beef derived from cattle from any holding can enter into intra-Community trade in boneless form.

  Advisory Committee on Pesticides
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether members of the advisory committee on pesticides have to declare any interest or connections with agrochemical industries; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what information he has as to how many members of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides act as paid consultants to companies which produce or market pesticides; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Members of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides sign a declaration that they have no commercial or financial interest which would be likely to prejudice their work on the committee.

  ADAS
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 6 May,Official Report, column 468, if he will provide information for the South Western and Wales regions not included in the table; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information on regional training on wildlife and landscape conservation for the South Western region and Wales is as follows:

  1987

  1988

  1989

  11990

  South Western

  2

  1

  1

  1

  Wales

  —

  1

  —

  2

  1 Planned.

  531
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of national training courses on wildlife and landscape conservation that have been held for Agricultural Development Advisory Service officers in 1989.

  Mr. Maclean
  One national training course on wildlife and landscape conservation was held in 1989 for specialist Agricultural Development and Advisory Service advisers.

  Emphasis is now placed on regionally based conservation training, and in 1989, 11 courses were held for ADAS advisers.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 6 May,Official Report, columns 468–69, if he will list the location, date and subject matter to be discussed at the six national and eleven regional training courses proposed for Agricultural Development Advisory Service officers in the current year.

  Mr. Maclean
  National and regional training courses completed or proposed for Agricultural Development and Advisory Service advisers in the current year are as follows:

  Location

  Date

  Subject

  National Courses

  Worcestershire

  February

  Field margins

  London

  March

  Ponds and lakes

  Shropshire

  June

  Grassland

  Shropshire

  September

  Wetland and woodland

  Shropshire

  September

  Wetland and woodland

  Regional Courses

  Yorkshire

  May

  Species identification

  Yorkshire

  May

  Habitat recognition and landscape appreciation

  Warwickshire

  May

  Habitat recognition and landscape appreciation

  Warwickshire

  June

  Habitat recognition and landscape appreciation

  Warwickshire

  June

  Habitat recognition and landscape appreciation

  Somerset

  June

  Habitat recognition and landscape appreciation

  West Sussex

  July

  Habitat recognition and landscape appreciation

  Dyfed

  September

  Heather and moorland management

  Details of the remaining one national and three regional courses have yet to be confirmed.

  Farm Animal Welfare
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the expenditure incurred giving the last full financial year by his Department, item by item, on farm animal welfare.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Department's expenditure in connection with farm animal welfare was estimated at £2·5 million in 1989–90. This comprised £2·4 million staff costs and £0·1 million for Farm Animal Welfare Council expenses. A further breakdown by item is not available.

  Census Returns
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the data from each of the 1987, 1988 and 1989 agricultural census returns at parish level will be available at the Public Record Office at Kew.
  532
  Mr. Maclean
  The dispatch of 1987 agricultural census returns at parish level to the Public Record Office at Kew was completed on 25 May 1990. It is anticipated that the 1988 returns will be sent to the Public Record Office in February 1991.

  Due to the rapidly increasing use of census data, and the availability of more powerful analytical tools, a review is currently being carried out of the appropriate level of aggregation for publication of agriculture census data. Until this review has been completed information requested for 1989 returns cannot be supplied.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food why parish level agricultural census returns are no longer available for public inspection at the Ministry censuses and surveys division at Guildford; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Parish level agricultural census returns are now held at the Ministry offices at Guildford for the latest published year only. There is insufficient space at Guildford to retain returns for earlier years and provide adequate facilities for the public to inspect them. Data from the latest published years returns are supplied by Guildford staff to the public by telephone (minor enquiries only) and, more normally, by post upon payment of the pre-determined fee.

  Parish level agricultural census returns for earlier years are available for public inspection at the Public Record Office at Kew.

  Natural History Museum
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the implications for(a) agricultural research and (b) fisheries related research of reductions in the Heteroptera section of the natural history museum.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Departments' central science laboratory has expertise in entomology and is involved in the identification of storage pests, plant pests and beneficial insects. For this purpose, reference collections of insects are essential and those at the natural history museum are used periodically by visiting MAFF staff. We do not expect the planned changes at the natural history museum to affect our use of these collections. The Heteroptera section of the museum has no practical relevance to the fisheries interests of the Department.

  Countryside Survey
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has been consulted by the Natural Environment Research Council on its proposed 1990 countryside survey; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have been asked to reply.

  The 1990 countryside survey is jointly funded by the Natural Environment Research Council and DOE. Officials of my Department have consulted the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Officials during the formative stages of the project and MAFF will participate in monitoring its progress.

DEFENCE

  Bush-Gorbachev Summit
  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the defence implications for the United Kingdom of the recent Bush-Gorbachev summit.

  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the defence implications for the United Kingdom of the recent Bush-Gorbachev summit.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the defence implications for the United Kingdom of the recent Bush-Gorbachev summit.

  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the implications for British defence policy of agreements on defence matters concluded between the presidents of the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

  Mr. Tom King
  NATO allies are agreed that our peace and security will continue to depend on nuclear deterrence; for this policy to be effective, nuclear systems will need to be kept up to date where necessary.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he expects to be made in the removal of nuclear weapons from Europe, following the summit which took place earlier this month between the leaders of the United States of America and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I welcome the progress made at the recent superpower summit on the wide range of security issues that were discussed. With regard to the removal of nuclear weapons from Europe, I look forward to the successful completion of the process of removal of all United States and Soviet intermediate-range forces from Europe provided for under the INF treaty. NATO has also made clear that it endorses the United States intention to begin negotiations with the Soviet Union on short-range nuclear forces shortly after the conclusion of a treaty on limiting conventional forces in Europe.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if in the light of the recent summit between Presidents Gorbachev and Bush, he has undertaken a review of his policy of retaining nuclear weapons on the Clyde.

  Mr. Tom King
  We welcome the progress made at the United States-Soviet summit in Washington, and, like both those countries, we intend to retain sufficient strategic nuclear deterrent forces to guarantee our security.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent consideration has been given to the deployment of nuclear armed sea-launched missiles.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent consideration has been given to the deployment of nuclear armed sea-launched missiles.
  534
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent consideration has been given to the deployment of nuclear armed sea-launched missiles.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 5 April at column 832.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last reviewed the safety arrangements for the transportation of nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last reviewed the safety arrangements for the transportation of nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Safety arrangements for the transportation of nuclear weapons are kept continuously under review.

  Defence Review
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to reduce spending on defence in the light of developments in east Europe; and If he will make a statement.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for a full-scale defence review.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the internal reassessment of United Kingdom defence commitments and expenditure currently being undertaken within his Department.

  Mr. Tom King
  As I made clear in my speech yesterday opening the defence debate, we are examining options for change in the structure and deployment of our armed forces in the light of changing international circumstances.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received suggesting (i) reduction of the Royal Navy to 32 ships and (ii) reduction of the Army to 32 battalions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received suggesting(a) reduction of the Royal Navy to 32 ships and (b) reduction of the Army to 32 battalions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received suggesting(a) reduction of the Royal Navy to 32 ships and (b) reduction of the Army to 32 battalions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A range of possible changes to the structure of our forces is being considered in the light of the changing international situation. A number of representations have been received from hon. Members and members of the public.

  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce his proposals following consideration of the forthcoming report on options for change within NATO.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill) on 14 June at column 330.

  West German Defence Minister
  Mr. Allen Mackey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to meet his West German counterpart to discuss European defence and disarmament.

  38. Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to meet his West German counterpart to discuss European defence and disarmament.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to meet his West German counterpart to discuss European defence and disarmament.

  Mr. Tom King
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Blyth Valley (Mr. Campbell).

  Frigates
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to place the next batch of orders for type 23 frigates.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about frigate procurement and the likely needs of the Royal Navy in this field.

  Mr. Neubert
  As I informed the House during the Navy debate on 5 February, at column 657, we plan to invite tenders for a further batch of type 23 frigates towards the end of this year. A decision on the size and timing of an order will be made once tenders are submitted by shipyards.

  START Agreement
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the defence implications for Trident and United States supply of the D-5 missile of a START agreement.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the defence implications for Trident and United States supply of the D-5 missile of a START agreement.

  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the defence implications for Trident and United States supply of the D-5 missile of a START agreement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There is none.

  Military Assistance
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military assistance programmes his Department has with overseas Governments.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 212 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1990", Vol. 1 (Cm. 1022–1).

  Defence Diversification Agency
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department intends establishing a defence diversification agency.
  536
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department intends establishing a defence diversification agency.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department intends establishing a defence diversification agency.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  No. It is for the commercial judgment of management to decide in which markets its company competes.

  Radar Stations
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about radar stations in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about radar stations in the United Kingdom.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations have been received by his Department on the proposed development of the over-the-horizon radar near St. David's in Dyfed.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about radar stations in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (M r. Davies).

  Low Flying
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to respond to the Defence Select Committee's report of the current session on low flying.

  Mr. Neubert
  As with all Select Committee reports, the aim is to reply within two months of publication of the report.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about low flying below 250 ft.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about low flying below 250 ft.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about low flying below 250 ft.

  Mr. Neubert
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer given earlier today to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike).

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the report of the Defence Select Committee into low flying.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the conclusions of the Defence Select Committee's report on low flying; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  The report by the House of Commons Defence Committee on low flying (HC 120) is currently
  537
  being considered very carefully. There will be a response to all of the report's recommendations in the Government's reply to the Committee.

  Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations his Department has received from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament since the publication of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1990".

  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations his Department has received from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament since the publication of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1990".

  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations his Department has received from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament since the publication of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1990".

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A number of representations have been received since 2 April.

  Ulster Defence Regiment
  Mr. Gow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the level of recruitment for the Ulster Defence Regiment.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The level of UDR recruitment remains sufficient to enable the UDR to carry out its duties in support of the RUC.

  Soviet Union (Threat Assessment)
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has altered its threat assessment of the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has altered its threat assessment of the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) on 6 February 1990, at column 600.

  Warsaw Pact
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what defence contacts his Department has made over the past 12 months with Warsaw pact countries.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what defence contacts his Department has made over the past 12 months with Warsaw pact countries.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  During the past 12 months there have been regular meetings with representatives of Warsaw pact nations at ministerial and official level. Recent contacts have included a visit by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the Soviet Union last month, and a meeting between my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces and counterparts from Poland, Norway and 538
  France in Oslo on 26 May. I recently met the German Democratic Republic State Secretary for Defence, Herr Marczinek in London.

  Military Doctrine
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution his Department made to the military doctrine seminar held in Vienna under the confidence and security building measures negotiations.

  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution his Department made to the military doctrine seminar held in Vienna under the confidence and security building measures negotiations.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ipswich (Mr. Irvine) on 3 April at column 594.

  Nuclear Test Victims
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about the level of compensation for nuclear test victims.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A number of recent representations have been received from right hon. and hon. Members and other regarding compensation for nuclear test veterans.

  Armed Forces (Women Employees)
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department is taking for the wider employment of women in the armed forces.

  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department is taking for the wider employment of women in the armed forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Navy is extending the role of the Women's Royal Naval Service to include service at sea in surface ships. The number of posts open to women in the Regular Army is being increased by up to 6,000 and in the Territorial Army by up to 4,000. The RAF has started recruiting women as pilots and navigators and is increasing the number of women in ground trades by 2,000. These developments will offer a wider range of job opportunities to women and we shall continue to explore the possibility of opening further employment areas to them.

  Defence Procurement
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken in connection with defence procurement costings.

  Mr. Buckley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken in connection with defence procurement costings.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Defence what steps have been taken in connection with defence procurement costings.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Hardy).
  539
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department is taking to gain value for money in defence procurement.

  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department is taking to gain value for money in defence procurement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  As part of our commercial approach to defence procurement we seek value for money through the use of competition wherever possible and the encouragement of the widest possible range of companies to compete for contracts. In the year to 31 March 1990 a record 67 per cent. by value of all contracts and amendments were let competitively, or priced otherwise by reference to market forces.

  Soviet Union
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his recent visit to the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his recent visit to the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Tom King
  I visited the Soviet Union from 14–18 May at the invitation of Marshal Yazov, the Minister of Defence. As well as having several useful meetings with Marshall Yazov and his senior colleagues, I called on the Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I also visited Soviet army units at Ryazan Leningrad, the Black Sea fleet at Sevastogol and the air force base at Kubinka.

  Throughout my visit I was received with great warmth and openness, which indicated the good bilateral relationship that now exists between two countries.

  NATO Summit
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the defence implications arising from the NATO summit at Turnberry, Scotland on 7 and 8 June.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the defence implications arising from the NATO summit at Turnberry, Scotland on 7 and 8 June.

  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the defence implications arising from the NATO summit at Turnberry, Scotland on 7 and 8 June.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  NATO Foreign Ministers attended a meeting of the North Atlantic Council at Turnberry on 7 and 8 June. They discussed a range of politico-military issues including German unification and progress in arms control negotiations. A copy of the communiqué has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Warships
  43. Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average operational availability of frigates and destroyers.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In 1989–90 an average of 42 out of 48 destroyers and frigates were available for operational deployment either immediately or within a short period.

  Bullying
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent steps have been taken to counter bullying in the armed forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The armed forces have banned all initiation ceremonies and the subject of bullying is covered on various officers' and NCOs' courses. The Army has made significant progress towards implementing the range of measures announced to the House on 7 June 1988 by my right hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman). It has been made clear throughout the services that bullyng and ill-treatment will not be tolerated, and that every allegation is viewed most seriously and will be thoroughly investigated.

  Military Exercises
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he intends to change the arrangements for military exercises in urban areas.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Such arrangements are revised when necessary.

  Soviet Navy (Modernisation)
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's assessment of the Soviet Navy's modernisation programme.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's assessment of the Soviet Navy's modernisation programme.

  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's assessment of the Soviet Navy's modernisation programme.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) on 3 April 1990 at column 600.

  Army Equipment Exhibition
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he has made for accountability of arms sales abroad arising from the British Army equipment exhibition at Aldershot on 3 to 8 June.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he has made for accountability of arms sales abroad arising from the British Army equipment exhibition at Aldershot on 3 to 8 June.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  No special arrangements are needed in respect of defence equipment sales arising from the British Army equipment exhibition at Aldershot on 3 to 8 June 1990. No defence exports are permitted unless they are consistent with the national interest and our international obligations.

  Radiation
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent consideration he has given to the level of radiation exposure of submariners and dockyard workers.

  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent consideration he has given to the level of radiation exposure of submariners and dockyard workers.
  541
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent consideration he has given to the level of radiation exposure of submariners and dockyard workers.

  Mr. Neubert
  Radiation exposures are authorised only on the basis that they are justified, comply with MOD and statutory limits and are as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP). They are kept under continuous review.

  Trident
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current position of the Trident programme.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Trident programme is on time and within budget and continues to make satisfactory progress towards its in-service date of the mid-1990s.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to reduce the number of Trident submarines on order in view of the new international climate.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  While the Government welcome recent positive developments in the international climate, there nevertheless remain considerable uncertainties, and we therefore fully support the view of the NATO alliance that for the foreseeable future the deterrence of war will continue to require the maintenance of strategic nuclear forces. In the circumstances we remain entirely convinced of the need for Trident. We continue to plan on the basis of a four-boat force, which will provide us with the means to ensure that one boat can be kept on patrol at all times.

  Air-to-surface Missiles
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about the proposed sitings of tactical air-to-surface missiles.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms. Primarolo) on 15 June at column 379.

  Fisheries Protection
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the vessels assigned to fisheries protection duties by(a) type, (b) overall length, (c) gross-registered tonnage, (d) age and (e) the estimated dates of contracts for the construction of replacement vessels.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is given in the table. It is envisaged that, for the foreseeable future, the fishery protection task will be carried out using existing vessels.

  Name and type

  Length overall (meters)

  Displacement (tons)

  Age (years)

  Alderney

  Offshore patrol vessel

  59·5

  925

  10

  Anglesey

  Offshore patrol vessel

  59·5

  925

  11

  Blackwater

  542

  Name and type

  Length overall (meters)

  Displacement (tons)

  Age (years)

  Minesweeper

  47·5

  1890

  4

  Brereton

  Minehunter

  46·6

  360

  35

  Dumbarton Castle

  Offshore patrol vessel

  81

  1,427

  8

  Guernsey

  Offshore patrol vessel

  59·5

  925

  12

  Jersey

  Offshore patrol vessel

  59·5

  925

  13

  Kellington

  Minehunter

  46·6

  360

  34

  Lindisfarne

  Offshore patrol vessel

  59·5

  925

  12

  Orkney

  Offshore patrol vessel

  59·5

  925

  13

  Shetland

  Offshore patrol vessel

  59·5

  925

  12

  Soberton

  Minesweeper

  46·6

  360

  32

  Upton

  Minesweeper

  46·6

  360

  33

  1 Full load tonnage.

  Volunteer Reserve Forces
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what success the volunteer reserve forces campaign has had since its launch in September 1988.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Response to the volunteer reserve forces campaign has been most encouraging with pledges of support for the volunteer reserves received from over 1,100 major employers representing well over half of the United Kingdom work force. We are confident that the campaign has widened public understanding of the importance of the volunteer reserves.

  NATO Comprehensive Concept
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department is still working to NATO's comprehensive concept.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department is still working to NATO's comprehensive concept.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The principles of alliance security set out in the comprehensive concept of arms control and disarmament, reaffirmed by the defence planning committee in May, will remain the basis for our further work in taking forward the review of NATO strategy.

  Mr. Colin Wallace (Allegations)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will widen the inquiry arising from the allegations made by Mr. Colin Wallace to include new allegations concerning authorisation of dirty tricks by Ministry of Defence staff.
  543
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I am aware of no new allegations for which there is substantive evidence which would justify a wider inquiry.

  United States Defence Minister
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to meet his United States counterpart to discuss European defence and disarmament.

  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to meet his United States counterpart to discuss European defence and disarmament.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to meet his United States counterpart to discuss European defence and disarmament.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend had discussions with Secretary Cheney on a range of current defence issues at the NATO nuclear planning group and defence planning committee meetings in May. He expects to meet him again later this year at NATO ministerial meetings.

  Tanks
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to the method of eliminating tanks following a CFE agreement.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to the method of eliminating tanks following a CFE agreement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Considerable work has been done on establishing an efficient method of destroying tanks following a CFE agreement. The United Kingdom has made a significant and well-received contribution to this, involving disablement by explosives.

  Aldermaston A-90 Building
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the construction of the Aldermaston A-90 building.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the construction of the Aldermaston A-90 building.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the construction of the Aldermaston A-90 building.

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

  Peacekeeping
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of countries in which the United Kingdom carries out a peacekeeping role.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friend to page 23 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1990", Vol. 1544
  (Cm. 1022–1) which gives an account of the United Kingdom armed forces' involvement in international peacekeeping and monitoring operations during 1989–90. The British contingent to UNTAG in Namibia has since been withdrawn on the successful completion of its task.

  Emergency Assistance
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department has given in the past 12 months to the civil community.

  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what emergency assistance his Department has given in the past 12 months to the civil community.

  Mr. Hamilton
  In general, responsibility for providing emergency assistance to the civil community in the United Kingdom lies with the civil authorities. If required the Ministry of Defence is able to provide further assistance through a variety of means. Search and rescue teams are regularly in action and there is frequent small-scale co-operation between civil and military authorities.

  In the United Kingdom during the last year, larger-scale service assistance was provided during the periods of severe weather in January and February. The services also provided temporary accident and emergency cover during the civilian ambulance services dispute.

  Soviet Conventional Weapons
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made concerning Soviet production of conventional weapons over the past 12 months.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made concerning Soviet production of conventional weapons over the past 12 months.

  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made concerning Soviet production of conventional weapons over the past 12 months.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) on 3 April 1990 at column 559, which remains our most recent assessment.

  Namibia
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  8.3. To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution his Department made to the United Nations transition assistance group deployed to Namibia.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes).

  BAOR (Nuclear Weapons)
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the safety of nuclear weapons assigned to the British Army of the Rhine.

  90. Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the safety of nuclear weapons assigned to the British Army of the Rhine.
  545
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock).

  Astra
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department first met Astra representatives to discuss the proposed alleged Iraqi supergun.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  In the light of charges laid against individuals and in the light of the continuing investigation by Customs and Excise, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on these matters.

  Dutch Defence Minister
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to meet his Dutch counterpart to discuss European defence and disarmament.

  Mr. Tom King
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Michie).

  Personnel Retention
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department is taking to retain trained service personnel.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have taken a wide range of measures to encourage retention of trained service personnel. These include changes in pay and allowances, including the introduction of bonuses in areas where retention is a particular difficulty, and improvements in the quality of service life. We are also examining a range of options for offering service personnel further assistance with housing.

  Western European Union
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution his Department makes to the Western European Union.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United Kingdom is fully committed to the Western European Union and its aims. The British Government took a leading role in reviving the Western European Union in 1984. The Ministry of Defence contributes extensively to the work of the Western European Union in discussing defence matters of a specific European interest.

  Surface Fleet
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy on the size of the surface fleet.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Our policy at present is to maintain a surface fleet of about 50 destroyers and frigates, and three carriers. It is not possible to say at this stage how this policy might be affected by our current examination of options for change.

  Environmental Protection
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department is taking to protect the environment.
  546
  Mr. Neubert
  I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. King).

  Tain Bombing Range
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will report on progress with regard to the noise evaluation survey in the vicinity of Tain bombing range; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The noise survey undertaken last month coincided with a prolonged period of adverse weather conditions. As this prevented collection of sufficient noise data to assess the noise environment a further survey is planned to take place at the beginning of July.

  As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement said on 3 April at column 1016, a high priority is being given to this work. This remains the position and we shall endeavour to keep any delay in the publication of the noise report to the minimum consistent with the need to complete a thorough analysis and evaluation of the noise data.

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the orders for the European fighter aircraft.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Rhondda (Mr. Rogers) on 26 March at column 24.

  NATO Secretary-General
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to meet the Secretary-General of NATO; and what subjects he proposes to discuss.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has regular meetings with the Secretary-General of NATO. The last occasion was at the NATO defence planning committee ministerial meeting last month. Their next scheduled meeting is in the autumn. A range of defence issues will be discussed.

  RAF Biggin Hill
  Sir John Hunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further consideration has been given to the proposed closure of the officer and aircrew selection centre at RAF Biggin Hill; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The case for the transfer of the selection centre to RAF Cranwell remains compelling on both operational and financial grounds. Preparations for the move are well in hand.

  Mid-air Collision, Hexham
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the report on the mid-air collision near Hexham on 9 January to be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  A military aircraft accident summary will be published once the report of the board of inquiry has been completed. This is expected to be within the next few months.

  Overseas Disaster Relief
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance during the past year his Department has made to overseas disaster relief.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The major contribution made by the services in overseas disaster relief during 1989 was in the aftermath of hurrican Hugo in September. A full account is given at page 30 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1990", Vol. 1 (Cm. 1022–1). In March 1990, a contingent of some 20 Royal Engineers from the garrison in Belize was deployed for four weeks to Western Samoa to help restore services and repair damage in the aftermath of cyclone Ofa.

  Thurleigh Airfield
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what criteria he has laid down for permitted development of the airfield at Thurleigh;

  (2) what proposals there are for providing road and rail access to Thurleigh airport to facilitate its development;

  (3) what proposals there are, in the event of his Department not requiring the airfield at Thurleigh, for the sale of the freehold;

  (4) whether development projects other than aircraft-related ones are envisaged for the use of the airfield at Thurleigh;

  (5) whether research and development will continue to be undertaken at Thurleigh; and for what period.

  Mr. Neubert
  The future of the RAE Bedford (Thurleigh) airfield is under consideration as part of a study into the future of the three Procurement Executive airfields. It is too early to say what the outcome of the study might be.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much land, other than the actual airfield, at Thurleigh is owned by his Department;

  (2) what acreage of land is involved in the area designated at the airfield at Thurleigh.

  Mr. Neubert
  The land in the ownership of the MOD at Bedford comprises 1,420 acres, of which the airfield occupies 1,206 acres.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to how many people live within(a) 1 mile, (b) 3 miles, (c) 5 miles and (d) 10 miles of Thurleigh airfield.

  Mr. Neubert
  This information is not held by the Ministry of Defence.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he proposes to make a statement on the future of the airfields at Thurleigh, Boscombe Down and Farnborough;

  (2) what consultation has taken place with local residents about the use of the airfield at Thurleigh.

  Mr. Neubert
  I hope to make a statement as soon as possible on the outcome of the procurement executive airfields study. There will be full consultation with interested parties.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what proposals have been put to him by United Parcel Services of the United States for the running of the airfield and facilities at Thurleigh;
  548
  (2) how many groups have approached him about the possible commercial use of the airfield at Thurleigh for freight movement.

  Mr. Neubert
  There have been a number of informal, preliminary inquiries about the possible commercial use of the airfield at Thurleigh. This has included an approach from United Parcels Service (UPS). Discussions are continuing. The details are a confidential matter between the parties concerned.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost of maintaining and administering the airfield at Thurleigh.

  Mr. Neubert
  The annual cost of operating the airfield at RAE Bedford is approximately £2 million.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what time scale he proposes to privatise the wind tunnels and related facilities at Thurleigh.

  Mr. Neubert
  There are no plans at present to privatise the wind tunnels and related facilities at Thurleigh.

  Military Aircraft (Flying Levels)
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum flying level for military aircraft in Britain and other countries in Europe.

  Mr. Neubert
  I refer my hon. Friend to the evidence on this subject which my Department presented during the recent Defence Committee inquiry into low flying and which is printed at page 168 of the Committee's fifth report for the Session 1989–90 (HC 120).

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish recruitment targets for the Territorial army on a regional basis for the next 10 years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have no plans to set recruitment targets for the Territorial Army on a regional basis.

  Air Force Training
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training role for air force students from Europe or overseas he plans for the period 1992 onward; and what scope he envisages for RAF establishments to train non-service pilots.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The MOD has no present plans post-1992 to relinquish its long-standing role to train students from other NATO or friendly overseas air forces. I would envisage only limited scope, at most, for training of non-service pilots.

  Defence Spending
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for future reductions in defence spending outlays.

  Mr. Tom King
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 24 May 1990 at column 373.

  Military Sites (Environmental Impact)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has any plans to establish an environmental impact report programme at military sites; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 14 June 1990]: The MOD well recognises the potential for conflict between defence activities and the environment and the importance of monitoring our practice to ensure that adverse effects are avoided or minimised. Examples of such monitoring are environmental impact assessments, which are undertaken
  550
  in the case of appropriate new projects, and the programme of noise surveys being undertaken at 40 military airfields.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to review the present safety of all seabed disposal areas used for (i) surplus explosives, (ii) surplus chemical and biological weapons and (iii) surplus radioactive materials arising from defence activities.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 13 June 1990]: Ministry of Defence seabed locations were chosen to ensure the safe disposal of the materials concerned. There are no grounds for a further review at present.

  GAMETE INTRO-FALLOPIAN TRANSFER TREATMENT: LICENSING CONTROLS
  GAMETE INTRO-FALLOPIAN TRANSFER TREATMENT: LICENSING CONTROLS
  MEDICAL PATENTS: EC REQUIREMENTS
  MEDICAL PATENTS: EC REQUIREMENTS
  DEFENDANTS: ELECTRONIC MONITORING EXPERIMENTS
  DEFENDANTS: ELECTRONIC MONITORING EXPERIMENTS
  PRISON POPULATION: STATISTICS
  PRISON POPULATION: STATISTICS
  RECALLED LIFE SENTENCE PRISONERS
  RECALLED LIFE SENTENCE PRISONERS
  RECONVICTED LIFE SENTENCE PRISONER LICENSEES
  RECONVICTED LIFE SENTENCE PRISONER LICENSEES