Written Answers of 25 June 1990

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Archbishop of Canterbury
  Mr. Gow
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what finance has been made available by the Commissioners for the administration of the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury in the current financial year.

  Mr. Alison
  The Commissioners have paid the stipend of the archbishop and met the costs of his supporting staff and their equipment.

  Ordination of Women
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, how many priests he expects to be paid redundancy and severance payments in the event of women being ordained in the Church of England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alison
  No authoritative projections exist of the numbers of priests likely to leave the Church of England in the event of women being ordained to the priesthood.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Neill Joseph Patterson
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he has anything to add to his answer of 19 December 1988,Official Report, column 92, to the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Stanbrook), on the result of the trial of Neill Joseph Patterson.

  The Attorney-General
  Yes. The three extraterritorial offences for which Patterson was prosecuted were not tried before a jury. The offences were charged as alternatives to offences allegedly committed in Northern Ireland. As Patterson was convicted of the offences allegedly committed in Northern Ireland the judge did not return a verdict on the extraterritorial offences and ordered them to lie on the file. The result of the trial should therefore read—"No verdict returned; left on file." I regret the inadvertent mistake in the answer.

  Criminal Law Jurisdiction
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he has anything to add to his answer of 14 May,Official Report, column 280, to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) concerning offences allegedly committed in the United Kingdom.

  The Attorney-General
  Yes. At the time of my reply the Irish authorities had indicated that the offences alleged against John Brendan Brady were committed in Northern 2
  Ireland. However, they have subsequently reported that the offences were committed in the Republic of Ireland, albeit with the intention that offences should be committed in Northern Ireland. I understand that the confusion arose because the offences were charged contrary to provisions of Irish legislation, as amended by the Irish Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act, 1976 (CLJA). Whilst the offences could not have been prosecuted but for the amendments to Irish law effected by the CLJA, the prosecution was not an extraterritoral prosecution under that Act.

  Mrs. Hanif Bibi
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Attorney-General when the appeal of Mrs. Hanif Bibi, TH/9473/88, is to be heard by the immigration tribunal; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The appeal of Mrs. Hanif Bibi is to be heard on 26 June 1990.

  Mr. Zabur Khan
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Attorney-General when the immigration tribunal is to issue its determination in the case of Mr. Zabur Khan, TH/13322/88; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The determination was issued to Mr. Zabur Khan's representatives in the United Kingdom on 21 June 1990.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Poland
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total amount of bilateral and EC aid received by Poland from the United Kingdom in 1988.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Poland received no bilateral aid nor EC attributed aid from the United Kingdom in 1988.

  Mekong River Project
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Nations commission for the Mekong river project or any of its subsidiary bodies last met; what plans are currently in hand for the furtherance of the programme; and what contribution Her Majesty's Government expect to make to the solving of any problems that are preventing its progress.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The last meeting of a Mekong commission body was held by the interim Mekong committee from 24 to 27 April 1990. An extensive work programme has been drawn up by the secretariat including some 70 projects planned for implementation in the period 1990–92. These are divided into three main areas: basin planning, data collection and information systems, and resources development.

  The British Government already contribute to the cost of various research studies and we have indicated our willingness to consider support to other activities. This could include assistance, with other donors, for a further phase of the water balance study once all members of the committee have agreed the way forward.

  Ethiopia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much food aid has been provided to Ethiopia by the EC and member states since July 1989.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Detailed information is readily available only for the period since 1 November 1989. This indicates that at least 370,000 tonnes of food aid, worth some £70 million, has been provided or pledged by the Community and its member states in this period for the benefit of the people of northern Ethiopia.

  Guyana
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid has been given to Guyana, and to what projects, in each of the last 10 years.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Financial aid to Guyana in project form was suspended in 1983 because of defaults on the

  £ '000s

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Project

  1. Essequibo sea defences

  319

  1,188

  686

  412

  31

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2. Tapakuma irrigation

  847

  397

  629

  757

  10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3. Dredging equipment

  323

  152

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4. Plant and vehicle

  15

  —

  13

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Programme

  1 Agricultural spares

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  733

  2. Fuel oil

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4,942

  Technical co-operation

  852

  738

  396

  382

  378

  354

  487

  635

  521

  986

  TOTAL

  2,356

  2,475

  1,724

  1,555

  419

  354

  487

  635

  521

  6,661

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the European Community Council of Development Ministers discussed aid to Namibia at the meeting on 29 May; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 18 June at column 392.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the European Community has to grant a beef quota to Namibia under the Lomé agreement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have not yet received the Commission's proposals for Lomé accession arrangements for Namibia. The United Kingdom will support generous terms of accession for Namibia to the Lomé convention. We will give sympathetic consideration to any proposal for a Namibian beef quota.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Reserved Matters
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will introduce measures to ensure that applications for approval of reserved matters are published for consideration by interested parties.
  4
  repayment of development loans. Financial aid was resumed in 1989 in support of Guyana's economic recovery programme, but in the form of balance of payments support, a grant of £13·7 million being signed for this purpose in June 1989. The technical co-operation programme has continued throughout.

  In addition, a bridging loan was agreed, also in June 1989, for the purpose of helping Guyana to clear its arrears to international financial institutions which had led to suggestion of assistance from the institutions concerned. The loan—US$ 10·5 million—was activated on 19 June this year and with bridging finance from other donors and the Bank for International Settlements, has resulted in the clearance of the arrears in question. The World bank and the IMF will shortly be meeting to consider finance for the programme of economic adjustment on which Guyana has embarked.

  Expenditure figures for 1980–89 are as follows:

  Mr. Needham
  I have no plans to change the measures which already exist. Applications for reserved matters are advertised if the proposals have created particular interest at outline stage or where objectors have so requested.

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to produce for Northern Ireland the information contained in tables in the answers to the hon. Member for Stretford of 24 April,Official Report, columns 177–82 and 185–86, and to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist) of 14 March, Official Report, columns 251–56, on wages councils.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is given in the tables. There were no prosecutions in Northern Ireland in 1989 under the Wages (Northern Ireland) Order 1988.

  Table 1

  Establishments covered by wages councils on register at 1989

  Wages council

  Number of establishments

  Baking

  286

  Boot and shoe repairing

  94

  Catering

  4,404

  Clothing manufacturing

  140

  Laundry

  15

  Linen and cotton handkerchief and household goods and linen piece goods

  49

  Paper box

  15

  Road haulage

  1,927

  Sugar confectionery and food preserving

  21

  5

  Wages council

  Number of establishments

  Northern Ireland totals

  6,951

  Table 2

  Establishments checked and underpayments found in wages council trades—1989

  Wages Council

  Establishments checked by all methods

  Percentage of register checked

  Establishments checked by visit

  Percentage of register checked by visit

  Establishments found underpaying

  Percentage of all establishments checked underpaying

  Percentage of establishments visited underpaying

  Baking

  34

  11·9

  33

  11·5

  6

  17·6

  18·2

  Boot and Shoe repairing

  10

  10·6

  10

  10·6

  —

  —

  —

  Catering

  912

  20·7

  714

  16·2

  96

  10·5

  13·4

  Clothing manufacturing

  28

  20·0

  27

  19·3

  5

  17·9

  18·5

  Laundry

  2

  13·3

  2

  13·3

  —

  —

  —

  Linen and Cotton Handkerchief and Household Goods and Linen Piece Goods

  7

  14·3

  7

  14·3

  1

  14·3

  14·3

  Paper Box

  3

  20·0

  3

  20·0

  1

  33·3

  33·3

  Road Haulage

  415

  21·5

  207

  10·7

  11

  2·7

  5·3

  Sugar Confectionery and Food Preserving

  2

  9·5

  2

  9·5

  —

  —

  —

  Northern Ireland totals

  1,413

  20·3

  1,005

  14·5

  120

  8·49

  11·94

  Table 3

  Workers covered by Wages Councils and results of checks—1989

  Wages Council

  Number of workers covered by wages Order

  Workers whose pay was checked by all methods

  Workers whose pay was checked by visit

  Workers found under-paid

  Percent under-paid of all workers checked

  Percent under-paid of all workers checked by visit

  Arrears paid £

  Arrears not pursued at workers request £

  Arrears not assessed for other reasons £

  Total arrears as due £

  Baking

  996

  193

  146

  29

  15·03

  19·86

  8,083·67

  —

  397·50

  8,481·17

  Boot and Shoe Repairing

  59

  7

  7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Catering

  15,567

  2,862

  2,337

  277

  9·68

  11·85

  6,227·23

  234·00

  2,238·56

  8,699·79

  Clothing Manufacturing

  9,965

  1,834

  1,834

  20

  1·09

  1·09

  972·42

  —

  231·13

  1,203·55

  Laundry

  306

  19

  19

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Linen and Cotton Handkerchief and Household goods and Linen piece goods

  1,410

  363

  362

  1

  0·28

  0·28

  35·84

  —

  —

  35·84

  Paper Box

  841

  45

  45

  2

  4·44

  4·44

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Road Haulage

  6,904

  725

  449

  16

  2·21

  3·56

  2,896·60

  —

  252·00

  3,148·60

  Sugar Confectionery and Food Preserving

  226

  53

  53

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Northern Ireland Totals

  36,274

  6,100

  5,252

  345

  5·66

  6·57

  18,215·76

  234·00

  3,119·19

  21,568·95

  Table 4

  Checks carried out and underpayments found by Northern Ireland Wages Inspectorate—1989

  Number

  per cent.

  Establishments checked by all methods

  1,413

  —

  Percentage of register checked

  —

  20.3

  Establishments checked by visit

  1,005

  —

  Percentage of register checked by visit

  —

  14.5

  Establishments found underpaying

  120

  —

  Percentage of all establishments checked underpaying

  —

  8.49

  Percentage of establishments visited underpaying

  —

  11.94

  6

  Table 5

  Workers whose pay was checked by National Insurance wages inspectorate: 1989

  Number

  Workers whose pay was checked by all methods

  6,100

  Workers whose pay was checked by visit

  5,252

  Workers found underpaid

  345

  Percentage underpaid of all workers checked

  5.66

  Percentage underpaid of all workers checked by visit

  6.57

  Arrears paid

  £18,215.76

  Arrears not pursued at workers request

  £234.00

  7

  Number

  Arrears not pursued for other reasons

  £3,119·19

  Total arrears assessed as due

  £21,568·95

  Wages Council

  Table 6 Establishments found failing to post wages council notices—1989

  Table 7 Establishments found failing to keep adequate records of wages paid—1989

  Table 8 Establishments found failing to keep adequate records of hours work—1989

  Baking

  9

  —

  3

  Boot and Shoe Repairing

  4

  —

  —

  Catering

  193

  4

  40

  Clothing Maufacturing

  3

  —

  —

  Laundry

  —

  —

  —

  Linen and cotten Handkerchief and Household Goods and Linen Piece Goods

  —

  —

  —

  Paper Box

  —

  —

  —

  Road Haulage

  87

  1

  11

  Sugar Confectionery and Food Preserving

  —

  —

  —

  Northern Ireland Totals

  296

  5

  54

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those areas which have been declared sites of special scientific interest; and for which other areas he has proposals to become sites of special scientific interest.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The following sites have been declared as areas of special scientific interest:

  Carrickbrawn, County Fermanagh

  Gortnagory, County Antrim

  Moneygal Bog, County Tyrone

  Garry Bog, County Antrim

  Teal Lough and Slaghtfreeden Bogs, Counties Tyrone and Londonderry

  Black Bog, County Tyrone

  Glenariff, County Antrim

  Cleggan Valley, County Antrim

  Monawilkin, County Fermanagh

  Lough Beg, Counties Londonderry and Antrim

  Beagh Big, County Fermanagh

  Garvroa, County Fermanagh

  Moneendogue, County Fermanagh

  Lergan, County Fermanagh

  Drumlisaleen, County Fermanagh

  Inner Belfast Lough, Counties Antrim and Down

  Glen Burn, County Antrim

  Strangford Lough (Part 1), County Down

  Ballymacormick Point, County Down

  Strangford Lough (Part 2), County Down

  Kiltubbrid Loughs, County Armagh

  North Woodburn Glen, County Antrim

  Dunloy Bog, County Antrim

  Strangford Lough (Part 3), County Down

  Moninea Bog, County Fermanagh

  Proposals for a further five areas are currently under consideration and declarations are likely to be made later this year. Other areas will be designated in the future as a result of continuing survey work, but it is not possible at this stage to predict which sites will be designated.

  Rivers (Sewage)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to separate control of rivers and foul sewage disposal.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The control of river pollution and foul sewage disposal are already separated in the sense that the functions are carried out by separate directorates 8
  within the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. We have not proposed at present to alter that system.

  Gargoyles, Newtownards
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 5 June,Official Report, column 387, why some gargoyles at the Old Cross, Newtownards were replaced.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Gargoyles decayed beyond recognition were removed and replaced with new ones based on those remaining. The two original gargoyles, which were better preserved, were retained in order to perpetuate the market cross.

  Schools (Selection)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received about the selection procedure transfer system from primary to secondary level schools.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I have received representations about children who have not been admitted to the school of their parents' choice because the school is oversubscribed. It has always been made clear that parental choice is limited by the physical capacity of a school and that an independent appeals tribunal in each education and library board area will consider appeals from parents about the way schools have operated their admissions criteria.

  Shopping (Republic of Ireland Residents)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will raise at a meeting of the Anglo-Irish Ministerial Conference the decision of the European Court to reject the restriction by the Government of the Republic of Ireland on its residents shopping in Northern Ireland; if he will oppose the alternative proposal of a 36-hour restriction on such shoppers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  We have already conveyed to the Irish through a number of channels our anxiety that the European Court judgment should be given early effect and
  9
  intend to discuss the matter at the next intergovernmental conference. I have yet to consider the "36-hour rule" proposal with those of my right hon. Friends who have an interest in it.

  Cuan Sea Fisheries
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the length of the case of Cuan Sea Fisheries against the Department of the Environment (NI) in the High Court in Northern Ireland; what was the outcome; what payment is being made to Cuan Sea Fisheries; what are the estimated legal costs to the Department; and what legal costs of the claimant will be paid by him.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The case of Cuan Sea Fisheries Ltd. against the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland and others lasted for 85 court days. The plaintiff ultimately agreed to withdraw its claim against the defendants in consideration of an ex gratia payment of £1 million to include costs and outlays. The Department of the Environment maintained its denial of liability. The estimated legal costs to the Department are some £320,000.

  Juvenile Crime
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available to indicate the length of time between commission and detection of a juvenile offence and prosecution in court; and what has been the trend for such periods over the past five years.

  Mr. Cope
  The Chief Constable has informed me that the information requested is not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate costs.

  The Royal Ulster Constabulary has discretion under the juvenile liaison scheme, through which all such cases are dealt with, to issue a caution as an alternative to prosecution. It does so wherever possible so that not every case reaches court. In cases that are taken to court it is estimated that the average length of time between initiation of proceedings and the final court hearing is three months. I understand that hearings are often adjourned to allow reports on accused juveniles to be obtained from probation officers. An important feature of the juvenile liaison scheme is that juvenile liaison officers visit the parents of the accused juvenile offender before court action is commenced. Sometimes this is not readily possible and, where difficulties arise, alternative arrangements have to be made. Delays of up to a few weeks between detection of a juvenile offence and initiation of court proceedings can therefore occur in certain cases.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether consideration has been given to extending the police juvenile liaison system by establishing a juvenile branch to deal with all prosecutions against juveniles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  Under the juvenile scheme individual sub-divisional commanders have discretion to decide how an offence committed by a juvenile should be dealt with. This is in line with police policy elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Detection of offences by juveniles are therefore often not followed by a prosecution. Cautions are issued whenever possible. The Chief Constable tells me that he 10
  has no information to suggest that the use of discretion by sub-divisional commanders is a major factor in delays in the prosecution of juvenile offenders. I understand that he recently examined the desirability of creating a central juveniles branch within the Royal Ulster Constabulary and that he concluded that the case for doing so had not been made out.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will announce the 1990–91 social fund budget allocations to social security offices in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is as follows:

  Social Security Office

  Loans £

  Grants £

  Total £

  Andersonstown

  915,636

  424,212

  1,339,848

  Antrim

  448,449

  229,953

  678,452

  Armagh

  317,106

  166,613

  483,719

  Ballymena

  383,728

  192,327

  576,055

  Ballymoney

  265,554

  136,757

  402,310

  Ballynahinch

  48,703

  29,384

  78,087

  Banbridge

  162,037

  92,455

  254,492

  Bangor

  196,414

  108,115

  304,529

  Carrickfergus

  175,273

  92,650

  267,923

  Coleraine

  429,403

  226,051

  655,454

  Cookstown

  254,167

  143,750

  397,917

  Corporation Street

  1,059,369

  601,174

  1,660,543

  Downpatrick

  172,124

  88,394

  260,518

  Dungannon

  400,736

  214,197

  614,933

  Enniskillen

  327,961

  194,388

  522,349

  Falls Road

  799,911

  387,353

  1,187,264

  Holywood Road

  529,377

  291,329

  820,707

  Kilkeel

  61,022

  34,367

  95,289

  Knockbreda

  286,501

  168,729

  455,229

  Larne

  178,239

  92,327

  270,566

  Limavady

  162,347

  84,517

  246,863

  Lisburn

  652,879

  339,746

  992,625

  Londonderry

  1,204,827

  650,955

  1,855,783

  Lurgan

  730,837

  400,229

  1,131,066

  Magherafelt

  394,742

  237,957

  632,699

  Newcastle

  80,162

  45,232

  125,394

  Newry

  678,334

  362,648

  1,040,982

  Newtownabbey

  304,808

  145,336

  450,144

  Newtownards

  163,269

  89,635

  252,905

  Omagh

  394,944

  199,907

  594,851

  Portadown

  221,537

  121,907

  343,444

  Shaftesbury Square

  586,871

  294,472

  881,343

  Shankill

  403,126

  214,459

  617,585

  Strabane

  409,558

  218,574

  628,132

  A note explaining how these allocations were calculated has been placed in the Library.

PRIME MINISTER

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on publishing the United Kingdom's proposals relating to economic and monetary union before they are submitted to the EEC; and what notification she has had of the date of the intergovernmental conference at which these proposals are to be considered.

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer placed a copy of the Government's most recent proposals on economic and monetary union in the Library of the House on 21 June and reported this to the House in answer to a question
  11
  from my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley). The precise date of the intergovernmental conference has yet to be set but we expect that it will be discussed at the forthcoming meeting of the European Council on 25 and 26 June, which I shall attend, and the results of which I shall of course report to the House in the usual way.

  Visits, 10 Downing Street
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make arrangements for hon. Members to arrange visits to 10 Downing street.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  International Atomic Energy Agency
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what considerations underlay the decision to transfer financial responsibility for the mission to the International Atomic Energy Agency to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and to which Department Her Majesty's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors in Vienna is responsible.

  The Prime Minister
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office traditionally has responsibility for the costs associated with missions to international organisations including those in Vienna. Until recently the Department of Energy paid for 50 per cent. of the costs, including overheads, of Her Majesty's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency and his personal assistant. These costs were transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in order to bring together responsibility for and control of resources and in the interests of greater efficiency. Her Majesty's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency is concurrenty permanent representative to other United Nations organisations in Vienna. Although on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office establishment, he also reports, therefore, to a variety of Departments in London.

  Economic Advice
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what provision she makes within her office for the assessment of economic advice from unofficial sources and what estimate has been made of what the cost has been in the last year.

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing further to add to the reply I gave the hon. Gentleman on 18 June at column 403.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Prime Minister what is her policy with respect to the elapse of time before a letter sent by an hon. Member to the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities should receive a reply; and what action will be taken to staff Department of the Environment Ministers' offices adequately to permit prompt replies to hon. Members' letters.

  The Prime Minister
  It is the aim of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment that his Department should reply to letters within three to four weeks of receipt. However, the volume of correspondence about the new local government finance system has been 12
  very large and I regret that it has taken substantially longer to reply in many cases. A special unit, now comprising 20 staff, has been established to deal with this correspondence and as a result the Department has replied to 58,000 of the 65,000 letters on this subject received from hon. Members and members of the public so far this year. In general, letters from hon. Members on local government finance are being answered at present within about seven weeks and many are being dealt with more quickly than that; with current staffing the aim is to reduce the period significantly as soon as possible.

  Global Warming (Diatoms)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will raise the importance of work on diatoms and related studies at the forthcoming conference on global warming.

  The Prime Minister
  The work on diatoms is certainly an important component of scientific research into global warming and part of the research work to which I have referred and will continue to refer in speeches and conferences on global warming.

  Donna Maguire
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise with the Prime Minister of the Irish Republic the implications of the failure of the extradition attempt by West Germany of Donna Maguire; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No. This is a matter between the authorities of the Republic of Ireland and West Germany.

  Energy Costs
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answers of 6 June,Official Report, column 615, and 30 April, Official Report, column 385, what is the square footage of office space to which these figures relate.

  The Prime Minister
  My answers on 6 June and 30 April relate to holdings of 417,784 and 586,843 sq ft respectively.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister how much was invested in improving the energy efficiency of the Cabinet Office in the latest available year.

  The Prime Minister
  Energy efficiency in the Cabinet Office has concentrated on encouraging staff to abide by commonsense measures to reduce energy wastage. Details of expenditure on other measures, such as the planned maintenance of boilers and the use of modern energy-saving lighting systems in refurbishment programmes, are not available.

  Raoul Wallenberg
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Prime Minister if she discussed the case of Mr. Raoul Wallenberg during her recent visit to the Soviet Union.

  The Prime Minister
  No. But our concerns have been raised with the Soviet authorities on many occasions. The Soviet Union continues to maintain that Raoul Wallenberg died in prison in 1947, but we do not have information about the precise circumstances.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  New Books
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will take steps to direct local education authorities to ensure the recommendations of standards on new book purchase set out in the Bourdillon report;

  (2) if he will list those education authorities which (a) meet and (b) fail to meet the Bourdillon report standards, and what is the number of new books per thousand population purchased for each of the last five years by each.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Bourdillon report deals with the public library service. Neither local education authorities nor my right hon. Friend have any responsibility for this service. Responsibility lies with the Office of Arts and Libraries and local authorities.

  Disabled Teachers
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers with disabilities are currently employed in each local education authority in England; and what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of teachers with disabilities.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  This information is not held by the Department. Responsibility for the employment and deployment of teachers, including disabled teachers, rests with local education authorities. The Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 covers all employers with more than 20 employees, including local education authorities.

  Overseas Students
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what tuition fees overseas students were charged in each year since 1978–79; and what is the percentage change in real terms in the level of fees currently charged to overseas students compared with that in 1978–79.

  Mr. Jackson
  Fees are set by institutions and details of the fees actually charged are not held centrally. However, the then Secretaries of State for Education and Science recommended fee levels for all overseas students in 1978–79 and 1979–80 and, in respect of non-EC overseas students who embarked on their courses before 1980–81, between 1980–81 and 1984–85. Since 1980, EC students have been charged fees at the home student rate. In respect of non-EC overseas students embarking on their course in 1980–81 and subsequent years institutions are expected to charge fees sufficient to cover the full cost of the provisions made. The Council of Local Education Authorities and, until 1988–89, the University Grants Committee recommended fee levels to institutions in their respective sectors. Between 1981–82 and 1983–84 the then Secretaries of State also issued similar recommendations to institutions grant-aided by the Department. All the relevant recommendations for the years up to and including 1988–89 were promulgated by the Department. Details are in the Library. Because no information is held centrally on the fees actually charged, it is not possible to answer the second part of the hon. Member's question.

  Music
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for increasing opportunities for children at school to be taught music.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Music is a foundation subject in the national curriculum. This means that it will form part of the curriculum for every pupil aged five to 16 in a maintained school in England and Wales. We hope to make an announcement soon on the machinery to be set up to advise on the national curriculum requirements for music.

  Primary Schools
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a list of all Her Majesty's inspectorate reports on individual primary schools in England published during the last four years, indicating for each the number of pupils attending.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I am today placing in the Library a list of all Her Majesty's inspectorate reports on individual primary schools published between 1 June 1986 and 31 May 1990 showing for each the number of pupils on roll at the time of the inspection.

  In a small number of cases that information is not immediately available and I will write to the hon. Member with it in the near future.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was invested in improving the energy efficiency of his Department in the latest available year.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  A sum of £10,000 was spent on power factor correction equipment at our Darlington headquarters building in the 1989–90 financial year. This builds on the sum of £28,000 spent by the PSA on electrical lighting control sensors at the same site in the previous financial year.

  Capital expenditure on energy saving equipment for the Department's London headquarters site is not justified, as there is insufficient time left to recover the financial outlay that would be necessary before our impending move to new premises.

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to the answers of 10 May,Official Report, column 217 and 30 April, Official Report, column 392 about energy consumption, what is the square footage of office space to which these figures relate.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The area of office space to which these figures relate is 540,023 sq ft.

  Ministerial Visit
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the ministerial visit to Coventry schools of the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Howarth) on 22 June.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I was glad to have the opportunity to visit schools in Coventry on 22 June. I was impressed by
  15
  the professionalism and commitment of the teachers I met. It was helpful, following my meeting with representatives of Coventry LEA in February, to be able to see at first hand some of the problems of the physical conditions at these schools. The Department will do everything it can, consistent with the need to be fair to all authorities, to assist Coventry LEA in its task of improving conditions in its schools.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Drug Trafficking (Gibraltar)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has of the use of Gibraltar for drug trafficking.

  Mr. Maude
  There is no evidence of drug trafficking on a significant scale. But the Gibraltar authorities are always ready to co-operate actively with their Spanish counterparts to investigate all leads which might relate to drug trafficking in, or organised from, Gibraltar.

  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are taken to prevent the use of Gibraltar for the trafficking of drugs into the European Community.

  Mr. Maude
  Gibraltar's laws against the import, possession, supply and dealing in drugs are as comprehensive as those in the United Kingdom. The laws are rigorously enforced, in co-operation with the Spanish and other EC countries' law enforcement agencies where appropriate.

  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have received from the Spanish authorities concerning the use of Gibraltar by traffickers in drugs.

  Mr. Maude
  The Spanish authorities have raised the problem with us on several occasions. We have repeatedly assured them of the British and Gibraltar authorities' full co-operation in acting against drug trafficking and urged them to supply us with any evidence they have of such activity in Gibraltar.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings of the Council of Ministers there have been since the start of 1979; and if he will list the Ministers who attended each of these meetings.

  Mr. Maude
  Meetings of the Council of Ministers, with details of the Ministers who attended each meeting, are listed in annex A of the six-monthly White Papers on "Developments in the European Community".

  Cyprus
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effect the United Kingdom's present relationship with northern Cyprus has had on extradition and the effective pursuit of crime.

  Mr. Maude
  Our policy of non-recognition of the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" does 16
  not preclude operational contacts between British police forces and the Turkish Cypriot police. These are working effectively. The question of extradition has not arisen.

  EC (United Kingdom Representation)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of people seconded to the United Kingdom's permanent representation to the European Community in Brussels in each of the years since the United Kingdom entered the European Community; and if he will break these figures down by Department of origin.

  Mr. Maude
  The exact figures requested are not easily available and their collection would involve a disproportionate cost. Since 1973 more than 150 non-FCO officials have been seconded to the United Kingdom's permanent representation in Brussels. At any one time roughly half the accredited diplomatic staff at the representation are seconded from the home civil service. The largest number are from the Department of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The Departments of Employment, Energy, Environment, Health, Social Security and Transport, Her Majesty's Treasury, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Offices and the Bank of England have also been represented.

  Igor Rodionov
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Soviet Government in an effort to secure the release of Igor Rodionov.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The case of Igor Rodionov has recently been added to those which we raise in our contacts with the Soviet authorities. We shall continue to press the Soviet authorities until all such cases have been satisfactorily resolved.

  Middle East
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the implications of the further settlement of Jews in east Jerusalem and the occupied territories on the prospects for a middle east peace settlement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made clear in the House on 13 June, east Jerusalem is, in our view, occupied territory. We have urged the Israelis to cease their settlement programme in the occupied territories. Such settlements are illegal, provocative and an obstacle to peace.

  Bulgaria
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received a copy of the Council of Europe's observer team's report on the general election in Bulgaria; and if he will congratulate that country on returning to an acceptable form of democracy; and if he will explore ways of encouraging Bulgaria to play a useful role in the European context.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are looking forward to receiving the Council of Europe observers' report. But it is already
  17
  clear from the reports we have received from other observers that Bulgaria has made a considerable step towards democracy. This should help Bulgaria to play its full part in European affairs.

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 30 April,Official Report, columns 404—05, about energy consumption, what is the square footage of office space to which these figures relate.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The energy consumption figures in my reply of 30 April relate to office space of 137,376 sq m. The figure for the ODA is 21,280 sq m.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was invested in improving the energy efficiency of his Department in the latest available year.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  In the year 1989–90 a total of £55,360 was invested in improving energy efficiency in FCO buildings. The old public offices are also being refurbished. It is expected that improvements to the fabric and the introduction of building energy management systems will bring further savings in energy costs.

  European Commission
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens are currently employed by the European Commission; and if he will classify them by grade.

  Mr. Maude
  [pursuant to his reply, 21 May 1990, c. 33]: The details of United Kingdom staff in the other principal Community institutions are as follows:

  Number

  European Parliament

  A grade

  69

  Linguist grade

  59

  B grade

  32

  C grade

  84

  D grade

  17

  Total

  261

  Council Secretariat

  A grade

  23

  Linguist grade

  46

  B grade

  11

  C grade

  54

  D grade

  5

  Total

  139

  European Court of Justice

  A grade

  10

  Linguist grade

  21

  B grade

  11

  C grade

  22

  D grade

  3

  Total

  67

  Economic and Social Committee

  A grade

  8

  18

  Number

  Linguist grade

  13

  B grade

  7

  C grade

  9

  D grade

  3

  Total

  40

  Court of Auditors

  A grade

  15

  Linguist grade

  6

  B grade

  2

  C grade

  7

  D grade

  1

  Total

  31

  Grand total

  528

  Guyana
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ministerial or other official visits have been made to Guyana, for what duration and for what purpose in each of the last 10 years; what information he has as to the proper conduct of elections scheduled for 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information requested by the hon. Member in the first part of his question is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The most recent ministerial visit to Guyana was when my right hon. Friend (Mr. Patten), the then Minister for Overseas Development, visited Georgetown from 9–10 July 1989 when he signed a new aid agreement with the Government of Guyana. I reminded the visiting Foreign Minister of Guyana on 21 May of the importance which this Government attach to the principle of free and fair elections and of the need for elections to be seen to be fair.

TRANSPORT

  Railway Crossings
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet with the chairman of British Rail to discuss the safety of unmanned, no-barrier crossings on provincial lines.

  Mr. Freeman
  The installation and operation of all unmanned level crossings on public roads must meet stringent safety criteria laid down by the railway inspectorate. The inspectorate liaises closely with British Rail and the appropriate local authorities in all matters of crossing safety. There is the opportunity for discussion of any safety issue with the chairman of British Rail either at our regular meetings or at specific meetings, where necessary.

  Channel Tunnel
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any public funds have been made available towards the cost of a freight terminal linking Scottish industry and commerce with the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Freeman
  No subsidy is being made available to British Rail under its current plans for the channel freight terminals.
  19
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he proposes to make an assessment of the demand for regional freight terminals to link with the channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  This is a commercial matter for British Rail.

  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his statement of 14 June,Official Report, column 483, what information he has on the terms of reference given to Professor Halliday of Durham university and other consultants by British Rail for considering alternative routes for the high-speed rail link to the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that British Rail is still considering these matters and I will ask it to write to my hon. Friend when it is in a position to provide this information.

  Public Transport (Rural Areas)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he proposes to take any new measures to improve public transport in rural areas.

  Mr. Atkins
  Public transport in rural areas is mainly a matter for the transport operators. Since deregulation bus mileage outside London and the metropolitan areas has increased by some 21 per cent., with 83 per cent. being run commercially. Local authorities have powers to subsidise additional socially necessary services. In addition, the rural transport development fund receives up to £1 million a year from my Department to support the introduction of innovative services in rural areas.

  Public inquiry finished

  Inspector's report received

  M6 Widening between junctions 20–21A

  May 1990

  Awaited

  M20 Widening between junctions 5 and 8 (Maidstone bypass)

  March 1990

  Awaited

  M65 Blackburn southern bypass

  March 1990

  June 1990

  A1 Tempsford grade separated junction

  December 1989

  March 1990

  A1 Dishforth-Leeming improvements—Phase 1

  November 1989

  March 1990

  A3 Milford bypass

  April 1989

  July 1989

  A5 Little Brickhill bypass

  February 1990

  May 1990

  A5 Fazeley, Two Gates and Wilnecote bypass

  May 1990

  Awaited

  A11 Besthorpe—Wymondham improvement

  June 1990

  Awaited

  A12 Hackney Wick—M11 link

  January 1990

  March 1990

  A14 M1-A1 link road contracts 8/9

  February 1990

  Awaited

  A14 M1-A1 link road contracts 2/3/5 north

  February 1990

  Awaited

  A16 Ludborough bypass

  April 1990

  May 1990

  A16 Spalding-Sutterton improvement

  June 1990

  Awaited

  A17 Leadenham bypass

  January 1990

  April 1990

  A17 Wigtoft-Sutterton bypass

  February 1990

  April 1990

  A23 Handcross-Pease Pottage improvement

  May 1990

  Awaited

  A27 Crossbush bypass

  January 1990

  February 1990

  A27 Westhampnett bypass

  February 1990

  March 1990

  A30 Oakhampton-Launceston

  May 1990

  Awaited

  A31 Newbury bypass

  November 1988

  March 1989

  A40 Gypsy Circus junction

  November 1989

  A40 improvement

  Joint inquiry August 1989

  Western Circus junction

  A41 Aston Clinton bypass

  May 1990

  Awaited

  A41/A421 Bicester bypass—Stage 2

  November 1989

  January 1990

  A259 Guestling Thorn diversion

  April 1989

  July 1989

  A406 East of Silver Street—A1010

  Joint inquiry

  February 1989

  A406 Dysons Road-Hall Lane

  November 1988

  A406 Regents Park Road junction

  February 1989

  August 1989

  A423 Southam bypass

  March 1990

  May 1990

  A428 Bedford Southern bypass

  May 1990

  Awaited

  Cardiff-Wales Airport
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to improve security at Cardiff-Wales airport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The United Kingdom aviation security programme is drawn up and administered by the Department of Transport. Its purpose is to protect commercial aviation against terrorist attacks. It is not intended to cover private aviation which is not generally at risk from such activities. The incidents at Cardiff airport which have recently been reported in the local press relate to areas of the airport where private flying takes place, and they have no implications for the security of commercial aviation operations there. In common with other airports, the aviation security arrangements at Cardiff have been tightened considerably in recent months. Further improvements—which will also apply to other airports—are in the pipeline.

  Trunk Roads
  Mr. Mudd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all trunk road schemes for which public inquiries have been completed but no ministerial decision has yet been made on the inquiry inspector's recommendation, giving the date on which the inquiry was closed; and, where the report has been submitted by the inspector, the date on which the report was presented to the Secretary of State for decision.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 22 June 1990]: The following schemes in the national programme for England are awaiting a decision following a public inquiry:
  21

  Public inquiry finished

  Inspector's report received

  A629 Skipton-Kildwick improvement

  June 1990

  Awaited

  A650 Airedale route (Crossflatts-Cottingley Bar)

  March 1990

  Awaited

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Iraq
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the main financial constituents of trade protocols one, two and three with Iraq.

  Mr. Redwood
  The main constituents of the first three financial protocols were as follows:

  Year

  Amount £ million

  To Finance

  1983

  250

  Capital goods/projects

  25

  Pharmaceuticals line of credit

  1984

  250

  Capital goods/projects

  50

  Pharmaceuticals line of credit

  1986

  50

  Pharmaceuticals line of credit

  Under the financial protocols with Iraq, the Export Credits Guarantee Department undertakes to guarantee the repayment of an agreed amount of finance to be used in support of United Kingdom exports to Iraq. This lending is available for particular contracts or projects, or through lines of credit.

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he proposes to take to ensure that transputers ordered by Jordan are not used as a missile guidance system by Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: Her Majesty's Government's policy on missile proliferation is well known and all appropriate steps are taken to prevent the proliferation of equipment and technology. A licence is required to export transputers to any destination under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1989, as amended. Applications for a licence to export transputers for a missile guidance system are considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with stringent criteria. It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on individual licensing matters.

  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether all contracts in the United Kingdom for providing sensitive military components for Iraq have now been identified; and what further action his Department intends to take.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: Exporters are responsible for applying for, and obtaining, export licences for goods which are subject to control under the Export of Goods (Control) Order. My officials stand ready to advise whether an export licence is required.

  Takeovers
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he plans to alter the scope and emphasis of the work of the takeover panel to take account of the effect of Europewide takeover policies in the run-up to 1992;

  (2) if he intends to prepare Europewide takeover regulations as a replacement for the takeover panel.
  22
  Mr. Redwood
  The draft directive on the regulation of takeovers provides for each member state to designate an authority or authorities to discharge the functions specified in the directive. These matters are regulated in the United Kingdom by the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers through the takeover code. The Commission is currently revising its proposals. When discussions resume, the Government will be seeking to ensure that supervisory authorities in member states can operate with a combination of flexibility and certainty. The takeover panel's experience has shown this to be necessary for effective takeover regulation.

  Accountancy Bodies
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, before granting qualifying body status to an accountancy body, he will(a) require it to appoint an independent ombudsman to hear the students' complaints against the body itself and (b) seek the comments of its present-day students.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. However, the Secretary of State will take into account comments received from the public, including accountancy students, when determining applications for recognition of professional qualifications under the Companies Act 1989.

  Auditing Standards
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will create a body, independent of the auditing industry, to formulate auditing standards.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will legislate to ban auditing firms from writing up the board minutes of companies and then auditing the same.

  Mr. Redwood
  I see no reason to do so. Under existing legislation, a person who is an officer of a company—or a partner or employee of an officer—is prohibited from being appointed as auditor of the company. Moreover, under the Companies Act 1989 the Secretary of State will be able to recognise a supervisory body for auditors only if the body appears to him to have adequate rules and practices designed to ensure that company audit work is conducted properly and with integrity, and that persons are not appointed as company auditors in circumstances in which they have any interest likely to conflict with the proper conduct of the audit.

  Departmental Inspectors
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make it his practice to inform the Chairman of the Trade and Industry Select Committee of the number of his Department's inspectors linked to the accountancy firms criticised by disciplinary committees of the accountancy bodies.
  23
  Mr. Redwood
  No.

  Institute of Chartered Accountants
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in his consideration of qualifying body status for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales under the Companies Act 1989, he will require that its students will be made aware of his Department's inspectors' criticisms of auditing firms.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. The Company Auditors (Examinations) Regulations 1990, which came into force on 20 June, set out the subjects which a qualifying body must test by examination if its qualification is to be recognised under the Companies Act 1989. Although inspectors' reports are not specified as such, the Secretary of State will wish to satisfy himself that the examinations are a proper test of the subject matter, and reflect current best practice, as indicated in inspectors' reports or otherwise.

  Riot Control Vehicles
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in what circumstances licences would be granted under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1989 for the export of riot control vehicles which have been specially designed or modified to be electrified to repel boarders (PLI500(F)).

  Mr. Redwood
  Licences are required for the export to all destinations of riot control vehicles which are subject to control under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1989 —SI 1989 No. 2376—as amended. Licence applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with stringent criteria, which include an assessment of the human rights record of the country concerned.

  It is not the practice to grant a licence for the export of equipment which is likely to be used for internal repression.

  English Estates
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is the overall disposal strategy and mechanism of sale receipts in relation to the sale of assets of English Estates; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what policy will be adopted by English Estates in the disposal of individual terrace units in relation to the sale of its assets; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what is the policy in relation to existing tenants of English Estates who wish to acquire those premises where they are at present tenants; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what is the policy of his Department with regard to asset sales of English Estates; and what policy will be adopted in relation to the sale of assets of English Estates, the manner in which such assets are to be sold and their specific timing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The policy with regard to the sale of English Estates' property portfolio was set out in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's reply to a question on 26 April. English Estates is currently in the process of drawing up proposals for the conduct of the disposal programme which will best meet the broad objectives that have been laid down.

  Home Income Plans
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he proposes to discuss the Life Assurance and Unit Trust Regulatory Organisation report on home income plans with LAUTRO or the Securities and Investments Board.

  Mr. Redwood
  Home income plans involving investment business are a matter for the SIB and other appropriate regulatory bodies which, I understand, are currently considering them.

  North Sea Oil Markets
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will place his Department's joint submission to the New York courts with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission on regulatory jurisdiction over North sea oil markets in the Library.

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) on 24 May 1990.

  Investor Compensation Schemes
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the investor and depositor compensation schemes his Department monitors in the financial services industries, together with the compensation ceilings, the date from which they operate, and the criteria for claims.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Policyholders Protection Act 1975 provides compensation for private policyholders if an authorised insurance company becomes insolvent. A total of 90 per cent. of any admissible claim will be paid. There is no limit on the size of claims. Responsibility for the investors' compensation scheme lies with the Securities and Investments Board.

  British and Commonwealth Group
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has received from creditors of the British and Commonwealth Group.

  Mr. Redwood
  I am not aware of any representations from creditors. However, some correspondence has been received from and on behalf of shareholders.

  Car Imports
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what differences the agreement negotiated in the European Economic Community on 19 June on Japanese car imports makes for the import into the continent of cars produced in the United Kingdom by Japanese-owned or other factories; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  An informal discussion of the future treatment by the Community of cars produced by Japanese-owned companies took place between Ministers on 19 June. Commission officials will shortly participate in further talks with the Japanese authorities. Although formal agreement has still to be reached among member states and with Japan, I remain confident that cars
  25
  produced in Britain, including by Japanese-owned companies, will continue to enjoy unlimited free circulation throughout the Community after 1992.

  Voluntary Organisations
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list for each inner-city task force those voluntary organisations which have received grants in the current and previous financial years, and make a statement on his policy towards the voluntary sector projects so funded.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 22 June 1990]:This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, since my Department's records do not specify the nature, voluntary or otherwise, of grant-funded bodies.

  The task forces work with many different groups, including voluntary organisations, which can help fulfil their enterprise and employment objectives. Moreover, since task forces have a limited life, they devote some of their energy to strengthening local organisations which can step into their role when they leave. Voluntary organisations have an important part to play here, provided that they represent the most cost-effective approach in each case.

  Independent Television Franchises
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to monitor share dealings in companies which hold current independent television franchises.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 22 June 1990]: None. It is for the Independent Broadcasting Authority to enforce the ownership provisions in section 20 of the Broadcasting Act 1981.

  Textile and Clothing Industry
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement outlining the steps which are currently being taken by his Department to ensure that exports by the apparel, knitting and textile industries do not face unfair barriers erected by other countries.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 20 June 1990]: The question of unfair barriers to exports of all categories of goods is one of the subjects for decision in the current Uruguay round of multilateral trade negotiations. The Government supply information on barriers which we would like to see removed to the Commission, which conducts negotiations on behalf of member states. The Community's aim is to achieve a reduction by all parties in their tariff and non-tariff barriers.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has concerning the level and value of exports of textile and clothing products from the United Kingdom in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what percentage these figures are of those for the same months in the previous year.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 20 June 1990]: The available figures are as follows:
  26

  United Kingdom exports of textiles and clothing by value

  1988–89

  £ million

  1988

  April

  259.3

  May

  251.0

  June

  276.8

  July

  276.6

  August

  271.5

  September

  323.7

  October

  313.9

  November

  325.8

  December

  277.1

  1989

  January

  234.1

  February

  273.4

  March

  321.7

  1989–90

  £ million

  1989–90 percentage of 1988–89

  1989

  April

  255.4

  98

  May

  290.2

  116

  June

  289.5

  105

  July

  306.2

  111

  August

  284.0

  105

  September

  353.7

  109

  October

  371.4

  118

  November

  349.7

  107

  December

  320.6

  116

  1990

  January

  277.8

  119

  February

  327.7

  120

  March

  377.8

  117

  Source: Overseas Trade Statistics (CSO).

  Note: Textiles and clothing is defined as divisions 65 and 84 of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC).

  Milford Haven Docks Company
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received his inspectors' report on the affairs of the Milford Haven Docks Company; and when he expects to publish it.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 21 June 1990]: The inspectors' report has not yet been submitted. A decision on publication will be taken when it has been received and its contents considered.

  Dunsdale Securities
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what dates and for what periods his Department authorised Dunsdale Securities to conduct business.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 21 June 1990]: Dunsdale Securities Ltd. was first granted an annual licence to deal in securities on 7 November 1977. Further licences were granted each year until the Financial Services Act came into force on 29 April 1988.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what monitoring was carried out on the firm Dunsdale Securities during the period it was authorised for business by his Department.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 21 June 1990]: Dunsdale Securities Ltd. provided duly completed monitoring

  27
  returns to the Department from September 1983 until it ceased to be licensed by the Department, as required by the Licensed Dealers (Conduct of Business) Rules 1983. Prior to 1 June 1983, there was no requirement for companies to provide returns.

  Criminal charges have been brought by the Serious Fraud Office against Mr. Miller, the director of Dunsdale Securities Ltd.

  Company Accounts
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consult the Financial Reporting Council and other interested parties on the need for a statutory definition of true and fair in company accounts.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 21 June 1990]: It is generally considered that the concept of
  "a true and fair view"
  is not readily susceptible of definition in a manner suitable for inclusion in a statute. However, I will draw the hon. Member's question to the attention of the Financial Reporting Council.

  Chinese Imports
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take action(a) unilaterally and (b) through the EEC to deal with Chinese imports that infringe the basis of their duty free status.

  Mr. Ryder
  I have been asked to reply.

  As explained in an earlier reply to a similar question, HM Customs and Excise undertakes verification inquiries on imports for which preferential treatment is claimed. Where infringements of the EEC origin rules are detected, appropriate action is taken which includes the charging of full duty.

  There is regular exchange of information between the Customs authorities of all EEC member states about infringements of the preferential trade arrangements. That information is used in the control of preferential imports to the EEC.

  Manufacturing Investment
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the level of manufacturing investment in the north-east for each year since 1979 giving 1979 as 100.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information is not available for investment expressed at constant prices because there are no regional price indices. The table provides the required indices for data at current prices:

  Manufacturing investment in the north-east1 at current prices and expressed as a percentage of the 1979 level

  Year

  Percentage

  1979

  100

  1980

  76

  1981

  53

  1982

  55

  1983

  58

  1984

  69

  1985

  91

  1986

  82

  1987

  90

  1988

  131

  28
  1The north-east is not a standard region of the United Kingdom but can be defined as the north less Cumbria. It comprises Cleveland, Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear.

  Sports Clubs (Television Rights)
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will amend the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to give protection to the governing bodies of sports clubs and associations regarding exclusive television agreements.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are no plans to amend the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to give legal protection to governing bodies involved in sports events or to change the provisions relating to the copyright protection of television broadcasts.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Mechanically Recovered Meat
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to ensure that all meat products containing mechanically recovered meat are labelled as such.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Food Labelling Regulations 1984 already require that where a food or an ingredient has undergone a specific treatment, reference to such treatment shall be included on the label if its omission could mislead the intending purchaser. It is for the decision of the courts whether mechanically recovered meat included in a meat product is subject to this rule.

  Bovine Somatotropin
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animal test certificates are still in operation under the Medicines Act for BST, how many(a) farms and (b) cows the certificates cover; for how long the certificates are valid; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  There are currently three animal test certificates. Each one is valid for two years and is renewable. They allow a maximum of 1,287 cows to be treated on 23 sites, although in practice many fewer cows are receiving BST at any one time.

  White Tigers
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the diagnosis of white tigers at Bristol zoo as suffering from spongiform encephalopathy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Spongiform encephalopathy and other lesions were discribed in the brains of four out of six white tigers which died or were killed in Bristol zoo between 1970 and 1977. All six cases had a similar illness of between one and five months' duration with behavioural changes. The changes described by the authors did not resemble those seen in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Subsequently, mice and chimpanzees were inoculated with brain material from the tigers but none developed clinical signs suggestive of a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 30 April,Official Report, column 458, what is the square footage of office space to which these figures relate.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information previously supplied related to all departmental accommodation, not just office space. It related to an area of just under 600,000 sq m—about 6·5 million sq ft.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much was invested in improving the energy efficiency of his Ministry in the latest available year.

  Mr. Maclean
  A total of £40,000 was spent in the 1989–90 financial year specifically on energy-saving measures. Other maintenance and structural works also contributed to energy saving to a greater or lesser degree without this aspect being a separately identifiable element in the costs.

  EC Surplus Food
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a method of distributing European Community surplus food that ensures all people who are entitled to receive this surplus food do so; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 19 March,Official Report, column 444. An announcement will shortly be made to the House of the names of the organisations that will be designated to distribute this food.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  China (Imports)
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to investigate infringement of the EEC's generalised system of preferences, country of origin rules in respect of imports from China; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise checks the entitlement of imports from China to the beneficial rates of duty under the European Community generalised system of preferences. Some imports are selected for verification, and in the event of any infringement of the European Community origin rules appropriate action is taken, which includes the charging of full duty.

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answers of 14 May,Official Report, column 274 and 30 April, Official Report, column 443, about energy consumption, what is the square footage of office space to which these figures relate.

  Mr. Ryder
  The square footage is as follows:

  sq ft

  Government Offices Great George Street SW1

  331,536

  Chessington Computer Centre, Surrey

  86,625

  Alencon Link, Basingstoke, Hampshire

  16,164

  30

  sq ft

  Grosvenor House, Basingstoke, Hampshire

  11,851

  Riverwalk House, London, SW1

  66,851

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answers of 30 April,Official Report, column 444, and 14 May, Official Report, column 274, if he will break down the figures for solid-liquid fuel into solid fuel and liquid fuel.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 22 June 1990]: The figures shown in both answers refer to liquid fuel.

  Skills Training Agency
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place a copy in the Library of the Treasury guidelines within which the process of receiving bids and the disposal of assets relating to the sale of the Skills Training Agency were carried out.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The general principles covering the disposal of assets are set out in "Government Accounting", a copy of which is in the Library. To ensure that the process of receiving and considering bids reflects best commercial practice, Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte were employed as sale advisers. No general guidance was issued for the bidding process, but Treasury officials were consulted throughout.

  Public Finance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest forecast of the public sector surplus or borrowing for 1990–91.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The latest forecast for the public sector debt repayment in 1990–91 is the Budget forecast of £6.9 billion.

  Borrowing Requirement
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the Government's borrowing requirement in May.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The public sector borrowing requirement in May is estimated to have been £1.7 billion.

  Efficiency Unit
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out in the Official Report a breakdown of the £1,300 million savings by Departments resulting from the work of the efficiency unit referred to in his speech to the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants on 9 May.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 19 June 1990]: The figure of £1,300 million is a cumulative total of savings agreed by Departments as a result of over 350 scrutinies and multi-departmental reviews carried out since 1979 under the guidance of the Prime Minister's efficiency unit.

  Scrutinies and the savings resulting from them are the responsibility of the departmental Minister concerned. However, I am informed by the efficiency unit that, in the period 1983–90, a period for which disaggregated information is readily available, the largest departmental

  31
  contributors in absolute terms were the Employment Group, the Departments of Health and Social Security, the Ministry of Defence and the Inland Revenue.

  Letters (Cornwall)
  Mr. Mudd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne may expect a reply to his letter of 27 March on behalf of Mrs. S. L. Penna, of Laurel Cottage, Greenwith Hill, Perranwell Station, Truro, Cornwall.

  Mr. Lilley
  I replied to my hon. Friend's letter on 25 June.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Foreign Police (Training)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been trained in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years from (i) Portugal and (ii) Greece; and in how many of these cases the cost of training was met from British public funds.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In 1989, two Portuguese police officers attended training courses in the United Kingdom under central arrangements. The costs were met from public funds. No officers from Greece have made centrally arranged training visits in the last five years.

  Animal Experiments
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total number and names of research establishments where(a) cosmetic and (b) drug experiments on animals are conducted, the nature of the licence involved and the type of animals used.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The safety testing of cosmetics on animals is authorised at six designated establishments. It is not possible to identify separately establishments at which work on pharmaceuticals is carried out, although research work on medical, dental and veterinary products or appliances involving the use of animals is authorised at about 170 designated establishments.

  Details of the number of procedures for the safety testing of cosmetics and for research on medical, dental and veterinary products or appliances are published each year in table 3 and tables 1, 4, 7, 11, 12, and 13 of "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain" (1988 Cm. 743), a copy of which is in the Library.

  It is not our practice to identify individual establishments by name.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many research establishments using live animals in experiments for cosmetic or drug purposes have had their licences rescinded in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None, other than at the request of the certificate holder.

  Female Prisoners
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for the latest date available what was the certified normal accommodation and the actual population for each female prison in England and Wales.

  Mr. Mellor
  The latest available information on certified normal accommodation and prison population at each of the prison establishments for females in England and Wales is as follows:

  CNA1

  Population2

  Askham Grange

  134

  111

  Bullwood Hall

  126

  113

  Cookham Wood

  120

  118

  Drake Hall

  288

  226

  Durham

  40

  35

  East Sutton Park

  84

  81

  Holloway

  517

  481

  Low Newton

  36

  38

  New Hall

  122

  96

  Pucklechurch

  56

  45

  Risley

  92

  98

  Styal

  208

  188

  Exeter

  5

  0

  1 Certified Normal Accommodation as at 11 March 1990.

  2 Population as at 22 June 1990.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female prisoners in England and Wales are classified as mentally ill or mentally disordered.

  Mr. Mellor
  On 30 September 1989, the latest date for which information is available, 19 female prisoners in England and Wales were considered by medical officers to meet the criteria for detention in hospital as set out in the Mental Health Act 1983. Of these. 12 were considered to be mentally ill within the meaning of the Act.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities exist in female prisons in England and Wales to assist with visits from dependent children.

  Mr. Mellor
  All female prisons have facilities for inmates to receive visits from their dependent children, including in some establishments play areas with games and toys and baby changing and feeding facilities. As circumstances and resources permit, the opportunity is being taken to improve visits accommodation in prisons. We are also seeking to encourage the provision of visitors' reception centres. The assisted prison visits scheme can in certain circumstances provide financial assistance with the cost of visits by children to their mothers.

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the basis of what energy consumption figures he will be monitoring progress towards the target of 15 per cent. reduction over five years.

  Mr. Waddington
  The basis for monitoring progress towards the target of 15 per cent. reduction over five years has been set by the Energy Efficiency Office at the Department of Energy. The actual consumption for 1989–90 will be the starting point and the consumption of all fuels will be converted to a common unit of kilowatt hours to enable direct overall comparisons to be made.
  33
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the consumption by prisons for each year from 1978–79 of(a) kWh of electricity, (b) therms of gas, (c) litres of liquid fuel and (d) tonnes of solid fuel;

  (2) what was the spending by prisons for each year from 1978–79 on (a) electricity, (b) gas, (c) liquid fuels, (d) solid fuels and (e) all energy, expressing the spending in (i) money terms and (ii) real (1990) terms.

  Mr. Waddington
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his question on 5 June, at column 423.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was invested in improving the energy efficiency of his Department in the latest available year.

  Mr. Waddington
  A total of £123 million was invested in the financial year 1989–90 in improving the energy efficiency of the prison service estate. I am not able to provide the information on the remainder of the Home Office estate, as the responsibility for most of it rests with the Property Services Agency at the Department of the Environment.

  Immigration Offices
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of letters unopened in the(a) postroom and (b) registry at Lunar house, Croydon and the nationality department at Liverpool on the first day of each month for (a) 1988, (b) 1989 and (c)

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The available information is set out in the table:

  Letters unopened in IND

  1988

  1989

  1990

  January

  47,469

  976

  4,726

  February

  56,067

  779

  7,663

  March

  53,091

  2,192

  6,996

  April

  33,347

  2,982

  3,471

  May

  7,053

  940

  5,244

  June

  545

  2,371

  4,437

  July

  226

  1,630

  —

  August

  491

  855

  —

  September

  253

  1,932

  —

  October

  2,889

  4,498

  —

  November

  3,281

  8,732

  —

  December

  173

  4,772

  —

  On average, letters are being acknowledged within three days of receipt in the Department. There are no unopened letters in the Liverpool nationality office, since correspondence is opened immediately on arrival and passed direct to caseworkers.

  Naturalisation Applications
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cheques and postal orders were cashed on each day at his Department in May for applications for naturalisation; and what was the value of the cheques.
  34
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Naturalisation fees and registration fees are recorded together. The amounts brought to account on each day in May 1990 and the numbers of applications were as follows:

  Value of

  May

  Applications (Number)

  Total amount (£)

  Cheques

  Postal orders

  Cash

  1

  105

  10,645

  9,360

  645

  640

  2

  93

  7,675

  7,065

  260

  350

  3

  104

  10,000

  8,940

  360

  700

  4

  115

  11,820

  11,050

  660

  110

  8

  127

  14,390

  12,890

  300

  1,200

  9

  120

  12,580

  11,160

  460

  960

  10

  106

  9,990

  9,390

  600

  —

  11

  114

  11,795

  10,285

  870

  640

  14

  115

  12,390

  9,990

  1,175

  1,225

  15

  99

  10,725

  8,480

  875

  1,370

  16

  108

  12,450

  11,450

  590

  410

  17

  87

  8,954

  8,554

  400

  —

  18

  114

  10,915

  9,665

  360

  890

  21

  87

  9,565

  9,145

  180

  240

  22

  125

  13,180

  11,880

  730

  570

  23

  115

  11,940

  10,385

  815

  740

  24

  93

  10,122

  9,432

  400

  290

  29

  96

  9,473

  9,123

  350

  —

  30

  82

  8,110

  7,470

  640

  —

  31

  103

  10,400

  8,320

  690

  1,390

  Totals

  2,108

  217,119

  194,034

  11,360

  11,725

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time for dealing with the cases of(a) naturalisation, (b) variation of leave for visitors, (c) political asylum and (d) variation of leave for visitors who subsequently apply for indefinite leave.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The available information is given in the following table:

  Estimated average length of time between the receipt of an application and the decision, for cases1 decided in the first quarter of 1990

  Months

  Applications for naturalisation

  27

  Application for variation of leave as a visitor

  2

  Application for refugee status

  9½

  1 Includes, where relevant, cases decided in the Public Enquiry Office as well as in caseworking groups.

  Nationality (Registration)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the new target date for the completion of all registration cases made under the British Nationality Act 1981.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Hicks) on 21 March 1990, at column 634. At that time, we held some 18,000 transitional registration cases where a response from the applicant was awaited. That number has now reduced to 10,000. We cannot set a date for completing these applications as this will depend on how soon applicants respond. For the continuing classes of registration case, our aim is to reduce waiting times below 12 months as soon as practicable.

  Energy Costs
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answers of 18 June,Official Report, columns 430–31, 10 May, Official Report, columns 197–98, and 30 April, Official Report, column 400, what is the square footage of office space to which these figures relate.

  Mr. Waddington
  The square footage of the buildings is 3,445,664, but this is not all office space, as the buildings listed include offices, stores, laboratories and residential training facilities.

  Trafalgar Square (Incidents)
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by age, sex, offence, last known address, and prison, or place of confinement, those people remanded in custody following the incidents in Trafalgar square on 31 March, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Details of the charges preferred against those arrested in connection with the disturbances in central London on 31 March and the readily available information about the age, sex and place of residence of the arrested and charged are set out in my reply to a question from the hon. Member on 13 June at column 192. I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the other information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Passports
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passports were held at the Home Office for each day of each month of 1990.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Nationality

  Variation of Leave1

  Asylum and related casework1 2

  Naturalisation

  Registration

  General immigration casework

  Eastern European casework

  January

  64,402

  47,622

  28,023

  1,251

  14,475

  February

  65,355

  42,791

  26,602

  1,376

  15,031

  March

  65,050

  38,832

  26,359

  1,609

  16,272

  April

  63,902

  35,780

  24,581

  1,616

  17,270

  May

  64,273

  33,755

  21,914

  1,530

  18,150

  1 The casework figures include referred entry clearance applications.

  2 These figures are a total of all work outstanding in the Refugee Unit.

  Kurdish Refugees
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be in a position to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Glasgow, Central of 5 December 1989, ref. 28762/89, on Kurdish refugees.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that the response has been delayed, and I shall reply to the hon. Member in the near future.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of entry clearance have been referred to him for each month of 1990.
  36
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to amend the passport regulations to allow widows and widowers holding joint passports to continue to use them.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The proviso that passports which include particulars of the holder's spouse are not available for use when the spouse (including a widowed spouse) is travelling alone accords with general international practice, and there are no plans to change it.

  Immigration
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received from hon. Members on individual immigration cases for each month of 1990.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  For each month of 1990, written representations or queries from hon. Members on individual immigration cases have been received as follows:

  Number

  January

  532

  February

  508

  March

  510

  April

  430

  May

  512

  Information on the number of representations made orally is not available.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outstanding applications for(a) naturalisation, (b) registration, (c) variation of leave and (d) asylum applications there were in each month of 1990.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The available information relates to casework in B1 and B4 divisions in the immigration and nationality department and is as follows:

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information is not available centrally.

  Variation of Leave
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to introduce fees for applications for variation of leave; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I am considering how and when the provision for charging for indefinite leave to remain under section 9(1) of the Immigration Act 1988 might be implemented. An announcement will be made at the appropriate time. There are no present plans to introduce fees for applications for other variations of leave.

  Distress Warrants
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of distress warrants issued by magistrates courts in 1989.

  Mr. John Patten
  This information will not be available until around the end of July.

  Refugees from China (Permits)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refugees from the People's Republic of China have been granted(a) entry permits and (b) residence permits since 4 June 1989.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The available information is given in the following table.

  Grants1 of refugee status or exceptional leave since 4 June 1989 to Chinese nationals who have applied for refugee status

  Number

  Granted refugee status

  37

  Granted exceptional leave

  11

  1 Provisional figures which may be underestimates.

  These figures do not include Chinese nationals who apply to remain here on an exceptional basis, and are being allowed to stay under the terms of the announcement to the House on 20 December 1989 at column 274.

  Voluntary Organisations
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each local authority those voluntary organisations in receipt of section 11 funding, money from crime prevention schemes or any other projects administered by his Department.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 22 June 1990]: Under present arrangements, section 11 funding may be paid only to local authorities. Although posts funded in this way may be based in voluntary organisations no collected information is kept of such posts.

  Grants under the safer cities programme are currently made in 16 local authority areas and I will write to the hon. Member with a list of the voluntary organisations that have received funding to date.

  Most Home Office grants to voluntary organisations and projects are not allocated by reference to local authority area. The latest available information about Home Office grants was given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Hayes) on 11 May at column 254.

ENVIRONMENT

  Nuclear Waste
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he was last in communication with Nirex regarding possible sites for a nuclear waste repository.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he was last in communication with Nirex regarding possible sites for a nuclear waste repository.
  38
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he was last in communication with Nirex regarding possible sites for a nuclear waste repository.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not yet been in communication with United Kingdom Nirex. His predecessor last met senior representatives of Nirex on 15 March 1989. Officials are frequently in contact with Nirex on various matters.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money his Department is spending on research into the storage, treatment, handling and transport of nuclear waste.

  Mr. Trippier
  My Department plans to spend about £9 million in the current financial year on radioactive waste management research, including the storage, treatment and handling of nuclear waste. The transport of radioactive materials is primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

  Second Homes
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the number of second homes for each local authority in Britain, on the basis of information collected for the community charge.

  Mr. Portillo
  I am at present collecting estimates of the number of properties giving rise to a standard community charge.

  Suffolk and Norfolk Broads
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the working of the Suffolk and Norfolk Broads Act 1987, and particularly the planning aspect.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Broads Authority submits its five-yearly management plan, annual comprehensive work programmes and quarterly grant-in-aid information to the Department.

  Waste Management Conference
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution was made by his Department to the 92nd annual waste management conference held on 12 to 15 June.

  Mr. Trippier
  I was pleased to address the 92nd conference of the Institute of Waste Management on 12 June. Officials from the Department were present for the rest of the conference.

  Ozone-depleting Substances
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals Her Majesty's Government are putting to the second meeting of parties to the Montreal protocol on ozone-depleting substances in London on 20 to 29 June.

  Mr. Trippier
  The European Community negotiating position, based on that of the United Kingdom, is as follows:
  39
  CFCs: 50 per cent. cut on 1986 levels by 1991–92; 85 per cent. by 1995–96; phase out by 1997 or at least before 2000. Halons: 50 per cent. cut by 1995; phase out by 2000 except for a limited number of essential uses. Methyl chloroform: 25 per cent. cut by 1994; 50 per cent. by 2000; consideration in 1994 of further and faster cuts. Carbon tetrachloride: 50 per cent. cut by 1991–92; phase out by 2000.

  UN Environment Programme
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he intends to put forward at the United Nations Environment Programme governing council meeting in Nairobi on 1 to 3 August.

  Mr. Trippier
  I shall be attending the special session of the United Nations Environment Programme governing council from 1 to 3 August which will consider priority evolving environmental issues. I will be calling for international support for action on major issues such as climate change, the ozone layer and biodiversity. I will also seek to ensure that the governing council sends a strong message to the preparatory committee for the 1992 United Nations conference on environment and development about the major issues facing the world today.

  Letters (Cornwall)
  Mr. Mudd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne may expect a response to the letter forwarded to his Department on 5 March on behalf of Mrs. Barbara Toyne, of 24 Penmere crescent, Falmouth, Cornwall.

  Mr. Chope
  I replied to my hon. Friend on 16 May.

  Mr. Mudd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne may expect a response to the letter forwarded to his Department on 18 April on behalf of Mrs. G. M. Prowse, of 1 Woodview, Woodland avenue, Penryn, Cornwall.

  Mr. Chope
  I replied to my hon. Friend on 15 June.

  Mr. Mudd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne may expect a response to the letter forwarded to his Department on 23 April on behalf of Mr. A. R. Jago, of 5 Lister street, Falmouth, Cornwall.

  Mr. Chope
  I replied to my hon. Friend on 15 June.

  Liverpool (Ministerial Visit)
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the recent visit to Liverpool of the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities.

  Mr. Portillo
  I visited Liverpool on 14 May and 21 June. On the first visit, I met the dean of the Anglican 40
  cathedral, to see the development being carried out on the precinct site, below the cathedral, and to hear the dean's ideas for future initiatives in the area. I was encouraged by what I saw and heard. I then visited the Granby-Toxteth task force, and had a quick tour of the area with its leader, before touring the Liverpool part of the Merseyside development corporation's area.

  During my visit on 21 June, I met the leaders of the Princes Park and Granby community council. The group recognised the value of programmes being carried by central and local government, but expressed the view that the Toxteth area was not benefiting and that there could be better co-ordination of the programmes of the statutory agencies active in the area, and improvements in consultation with the local community. I found it a helpful and positive meeting. I then met the board of the Merseyside development corporation, to discuss its recently published strategy and its future policies and programmes. I was impressed by the achievements of the corporation so far, and I encouraged it to continue to take a vigorous and dynamic role in its much-expanded area.

  I look forward to visiting Merseyside frequently in future, in my roles as Minister with special responsibility for the Liverpool city action team and the Granby-Toxteth task force.

  Incinerators
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he intends to bring forward in response to his Department's study of municipal incinerators, carried out by Warren Spring laboratory; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I am considering an investigation to determine which incinerators can or will be modified to meet the new European regulations on emissions.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will consider the fire certificate threshold of six letting bedspaces as a starting point for the imposition of uniform business rate;

  (2) if he will seek powers to change the limit of 100 days of opening below which accommodation operators will not be subject to uniform business rate.

  Mr. Chope
  We have received a number of representations which argue that the threshold at which bed-and-breakfast accommodation provided in an individual's own home comes into non-domestic rating is inappropriate. We are at present considering these representations, and whether there is any case for altering existing provisions.

  Water Charges
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will meet the Director General of Water Services to discuss the workings of the water and sewerage infrastructure charges; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to meet the Director General of Water Services. The detailed application of infrastructure charges is a matter for individual water and sewerage companies, within the terms of their instruments of appointment. It is the responsibility of the director general to ensure that individual companies are complying with their terms and conditions of appointment.

  Water Quality
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all independent research bodies that are carrying out public interest work on water quality and supply, funded by his Department.

  Mr. Trippier
  During the 1990–91 financial year, the following independent research bodies will be carrying out research on water quality and supply for the Department:

  Water Research Centre (1989) plc

  Hydraulics Research Ltd.

  Altwell Chemistry Ltd.

  Public Health Laboratory Service

  North West Water Ltd.

  Natural Environment Research Council

  —Plymouth Marine Laboratory

  —Institute of Freshwater Ecology

  —Institute of Hydrology

  Brunel University

  University of Dundee

  Atomic Energy Authority Technology

  Management Information System
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to place a copy of MINIS 11 in the Library; and if he will make a statement on its conclusions.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I expect to place a copy of MINIS 11 in the Library by the summer recess.

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answers of 10 May,Official Report, columns 189–90 and 30 April, Official Report, columns 382–83, what is the square footage of office space to which these figures relate.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The amount of office space to which the figures in my earlier answers relate is 1,209,645 sq ft. This area excludes specialised sites such as the royal parks and palaces which were included in the consumption and expenditure figures but to which the concept area is not appropriate.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the consumption by the Property Services Agency for the civil estate of(a) kWh of electricity, (b) therms of gas, (c) litres of liquid fuel and (e) tonnes of solid fuel for each year from 1978–79 to 1989–90, breaking the figures down by Government Department;
  42
  (2) what was the spending by the Property Services Agency for the civil estate on (a) electricity, (b) gas, ife) liquid fuels, (d) solid fuels and (e) all energy, expressed in (i) money terms and (ii) real 1989–90 terms for each year from 1978–79 to 1989–90, broken down by Government Department as far as possible.

  Mr. Chope
  This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was invested in improving the energy efficiency of his Department in the latest available year.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Expenditure on energy efficiency measures within my Department for 1989–90 is estimated to have totalled £120,000.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will extend the categories of persons receiving transitional relief for community charge to include the registered disabled.

  Mr. Chope
  Registered disabled people are not excluded from transitional relief and some may be eligible for extra help. All charge payers, including disabled people, may be eligible for relief where the assumed community charge for the area exceeds the assumed rates bill for 1989–90 by more than £156 a year. In addition, for disabled people who did not previously pay rates or who were not the partner of someone paying rates, extra relief may be available on any amount of assumed community charge that exceeds £156 a year.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to monitor capital and revenue spending on sport, recreation and leisure services in local authorities following the introduction of the new capital control system for local authorities.

  Mr. Chope
  Information on local authority spending on sport, recreation and leisure is collected as part of regular statistical returns by authorities. Relevant budget information on revenue spending has now been submitted by most authorities. We plan to collect information on capital expenditure which separately identifies 1990–91 spending on sport and recreation when local authorities report their outturn expenditure after the end of the financial year.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the estimated cost of allowing transitional relief for community charge to all persons who are registered disabled.

  Mr. Chope
  Disabled people who were formerly ratepayers qualify for transitional relief on the same basis as other charge payers. Extra help is available for disabled, and elderly, people who were not formerly ratepayers, nor the spouse of a former ratepayer. No estimate is available for the cost of extending the extra help to all persons who are registered disabled.
  43
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations have taken place on the proposed changes to the community charge in 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government have not brought forward any proposals for changes to the community charge.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to increase Government assistance to local authorities to reduce the community charge bill; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities on 17 May,Official Report, column 508.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many suggested alternatives he has received for amending the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I continue to receive suggestions on all aspects of local government finance.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met representatives of the local authority organisations to discuss possible changes to the community charge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend met representatives of the main local authority associations on 21 May, when these matters were discussed. Since then there have been a number of informal meetings with association chairmen.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he Will make a statement about proposed changes in the poll tax legislation.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government have already announced that they intend to bring forward legislation to amend the law on the standard community charge as it relates to caravans.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to extend universal community charge-capping powers over all local authorities in England and Wales.

  Mr. Chope
  No.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the capital value rates bill payable on a property in Ealing worth(a) £50,000, (b)

  Average Charge £

  Revenue Support Grant £ million

  Safety Net £ million

  Special Grants1 £ million

  Specific Grants £ million

  Bradford

  276

  157·8

  9·8

  8·1

  64·6

  Craven

  256

  5·0

  1·6

  0·4

  1·5

  Easington

  278

  13·3

  6·7

  1·9

  4·8

  East Lindsey

  277

  17·5

  0·0

  0·0

  7·8

  Merton

  280

  42·9

  0·0

  0·0

  17·4

  Richmondshire

  276

  5·0

  0·6

  0·0

  2·2

  Rochester upon Medway

  249

  22·9

  –2·5

  0·0

  14·0

  Scarborough

  276

  11·4

  4·0

  0·6

  6·8

  South Herefordshire

  279

  5·7

  –0·6

  0·0

  2

  South Kesteven

  279

  13·6

  0·0

  0·0

  4·7

  Teesdale

  245

  3·6

  0·8

  0·5

  1·9

  44
  £80,000 and (c) £100,000 in the current year assuming a rate to raise the same amount of money as with the community charge.

  Mr. Chope
  Figures placed in the Library on 4 April show illustrative levels of capital value based rates in 1990–91 were such a system to be used to raise the same amount nationally as the community charge. The implied bills in Ealing for properties worth(a) £50,000, (b) £80,000 and (c) £100,000 are £567, £907 and £1,134 respectively.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of local authorities which received standard spending grant and other grants from central funds which were 50 per cent. or more greater per capita than that secured by Rotherham.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: Twenty-four authorities are expected to receive revenue support grants and other revenue grants from central funds in 1990–91 which were 50 per cent. or more greater per capita than that secured by Rotherham. The authorities are as follows:

  Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

  Bradford

  Knowsley

  Birmingham

  Liverpool

  Manchester

  City of London

  Lewisham

  Greenwich

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Wandsworth

  Southwark

  Camden

  Lambeth

  Westminster

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Islington

  Hackney

  Tower Hamlets

  Waltham Forest

  Ealing

  Haringey

  Brent

  Newham

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the community charge levied, the standard spending grant given and the total of other grants from central funds for all local authorities which have fixed personal community charges of below £280.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 18 June 1990]: The information for 1990–91 is as follows:
  45

  Average Charge £

  Revenue Support Grant £ million

  Safety Net £ million

  Special Grants1 £ million

  Specific Grants £ million

  Wandsworth

  150

  118·1

  24·0

  11·0

  39·9

  Westminster

  195

  116·9

  -10·1

  7·2

  33·5

  York

  264

  11·9

  4·0

  1·4

  2

  1 Inner London Education grant and Low Rateable Values grant.

  2 Budget returns are not yet available for south Herefordshire and York.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many ratepayers were summoned for non-payment of rates in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and to March 1990.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 22 June 1990]: Figures published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting on the number of summonses issued by local authorities in England for non-payment of rates are as follows. These figures do not contain returns from every authority and I have therefore indicated the response rate in each year.

  Year

  Number of summonses

  Response rate (per cent.)

  1984–85

  1,107,000

  96

  1985–86

  1,147,000

  95

  1986–87

  1,189,349

  93

  1987–88

  1,112,970

  85

  1988–89

  1,102,148

  84

  Figures for 1989–90 are not yet available.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cases have been brought by local authorities to date through the magistrates courts against their charge payers under the Community Charges (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1989.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 22 June 1990]: This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many local authorities are employing(a) their own bailiffs, (b) certificated bailiffs and (c) non-certificated bailiffs to enforce the Community Charges (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1989; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make it mandatory for local authorities to use only certificated bailiffs to enforce community charge debt through magistrates courts under the Community Charges (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1989.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 22 June 1990]: The rules governing enforcement are clearly set out in the Community Charges (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1989. The number and type of bailiffs employed by a local authority is entirely a matter for the authority. My Department's detailed practice note for local authorities on enforcement advised that an authority considering using private sector bailiffs should take up references and ensure that the firm and its employees are reputable and qualified.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what periods of time a merchant seaman 46
  must be resident in each of the local authorities in England and Wales before being made eligible for community charge; what guidelines are issued to local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 22 June 1990]:It is initially the responsibility of the individual community charges registration officer to decide whether a person is solely or mainly resident in his area and therefore subject to a community charge. My Department issued guidelines suggesting that merchant seamen be treated in a way consistent with their royal naval counterparts. These informal, non-statutory, guidelines suggest that a home-owning seaman might be deregistered if he is away on board ship for a period in excess of six continuous months, while a single seaman with no permanent address will not be registered for the charge unless he spends periods on shore in excess of 61 days. If a person feels aggrieved by a decision on their sole or main residence then they can appeal to his or her local valuation and community charge tribunal.

  Bristol Channel
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will detail in percentage terms water pollution in the Bristol channel for the different sorts of pollution and polluter.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  It is not possible to quantify water pollution in the Bristol channel in percentage terms. Details of discharges to controlled waters, as defined under the Water Act, are held on the public registers maintained by the National Rivers Authority. Details of licences issued for waste disposal at sea are held on the public register of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Further information on water quality including the quality of fish and shellfish is available in the reports compiled by MAFF in the "Aquatic Environment Monitoring" series. These are available in the Library of the House.

  Environment White Paper
  Mr Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report all those organisations which have made submissions in advance of the Government White Paper on the environment: and if he will deposit in the Library copies of submissions not expressly marked confidential.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  We have welcomed written and oral contributions from a wide range of individuals and organisations, including the following:

  Advisory Group on Recycling

  Airfields Environment Federation

  47

  Arts Council

  Association for the Conservation of Energy

  Association of British Chambers of Commerce

  Association of Consulting Engineers

  Association of County Councils

  Association of District Councils

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  British Aggregate Construction Materials Industries

  British Agrochemical Association

  British Cement Association

  British Consultants Bureau

  British Maritime Industries Federation

  British Property Federation

  British Waterways Board

  Builders Merchants Federation

  Building Employers Confederation

  Building Services Research and Information Association

  Business in the Environment

  Chartered Institute of Building

  Chemical Industries Association

  Civic Trust

  Combined Heat and Power Association

  Confederation for British Industry;

  Consumer Association;

  Council for Environmental Education;

  Council for the Protection of Rural England;

  Country Landowners Association;

  Countryside Commission;

  Cycling Tourist Club;

  English Heritage;

  Environment Council;

  Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors;

  Friends of the Earth;

  Garden History Society;

  Genetics Forum;

  Green Alliance;

  Groundwork Foundation and Trust;

  Historic Royal Palaces Agency;

  House Builders Federation;

  Housing Standards Co. Ltd.;

  Institute for European Environmental Policy;

  Institute of Directors;

  Institute of Waste Management;

  Institution of Environmental Health Officers;

  International Chamber of Commerce;

  Landscape Institute;

  Marine Conservation Society;

  Marine Forum;

  National Association of Waste Disposal Contractors;

  National Consumer Council;

  National Council of Building Material Producers;

  National Farmers Union;

  National Federation of Demolition Contractors;

  National Heritage Memorial Fund;

  National Home Improvements Council;

  National House Building Council;

  National Rivers Authority;

  National Society for Clean Air;

  National Trust;

  Nature Conservancy Council;

  Neighbourhood Energy Action;

  Noise Abatement Society;

  Noise Council;

  Office of Water Services;

  Open Spaces Society;

  Pesticides Trust;

  Property Advisory Group;

  Ramblers;

  Royal Commission on Historic Monuments of England;

  Royal Fine Art Commission;

  Royal Institute of British Architects;

  Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors;

  Royal Society for Nature Conservation;

  Royal Society for the Protection of Birds;

  Royal Town Planning Institute;

  Royal Yachting Association;

  Rural Development Commission;

  Science Museum;

  Scottish Environmental Education;

  48

  Seas at Risk;

  Shellfish Association of Great Britain;

  Tidy Britain Group;

  Town and Country Planning Association;

  Trades Union Congress;

  Transport 2000;

  UK Petroleum Industry Association;

  United Kingdom Environmental Law Association;

  United Kingdom Reclamation Council;

  Volume Housebuilders Study Group;

  Water Research Centre;

  Water Services Association;

  Wildlife Link;

  Worldwide Fund for Nature.

  As these contributions were not part of a formal consultation process, we do not have permission from contributors to place their submissions in the Library.

  Mineral Extraction
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against licences for mineral extraction he has considered each year for which records are available.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Department records appeals made under sections 36 and 37 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 involving mineral extraction. The number of such appeals decided in each year for which records are available, is as follows:

  Year

  Appeals decided

  1984

  18

  1 1985

  18

  1986–87

  37

  1987–88

  36

  1988–89

  43

  1989–90

  41

  1 After 1985, records are available only for financial years.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why the decision was taken to include in table 3.2b of the United Kingdom radioactive waste inventory uncommitted low-level waste arisings.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 26 March 1990,Official Report, column 12.

  Rural Disadvantage
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amounts of social policy expenditure have been allocated by his Department and its agencies to combat rural disadvantages.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Rural Development Commission, which is the Government's principal agency in England for carrying forward our policies on the rural economy, is developing and implementing a wide range of initiatives which deal with economic and social problems in the countryside. The Commission's expenditure on its social programmes in 1989–90 was £4.7 million.

  District Councils (Searches for Solicitors)
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the length of time taken by district councils(a) nationally and (b) in Staffordshire to conduct searches for solicitors.

  Mr. Chope
  Ministers at the Department of the Environment receive occasional representations about the length of time taken by district councils to conduct searches. No recent representation has referred specifically to a council in Staffordshire.

  Local Government Salaries
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much he estimates would be added to the local government wage bill if all local government employees were paid at least two thirds of the national average wage in 1990–91.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 12 June 1990]: My hon. Friend may want an estimate of the cost of paying two thirds of the national average wage to those local authority employees earning less than this figure, or he may also want account to be taken of the consequences for those earning more than this figure, who will want to maintain differentials. However, on either basis, I regret the information is not available centrally.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the London borough of Greenwich has applied for permission to run a portable discount scheme for local authority tenants in 1990–91.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 21 June 1990]: The London borough of Greenwich's bid for resources under the 1990–91 homelessness initiative originally included proposals for a portable discount scheme. This element of the bid was subsequently withdrawn by the council. There is, however, no reason why the council should not consider running a portable discount scheme without such special funding, using its own resources.

  Denitrification
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the research which he has commissioned into denitrification technology; what reports he has received; and if he will place copies in the Library.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 21 June 1990]: The Department has been involved with research into denitrification processes as follows:

  (1) 1972–74, research by the Metropolitan Water Board, Middle Lee Main Drainage Department and the Water Pollution Research Laboratory into the denitrification of sewage effluent by the modified activated sludge process (part funding);

  (2) 1973–75, research by the Water Research Centre into denitrification by ion-exchange and biological processes;

  (3) 1977–79, field studies by the Anglian Water Authority of ion-exchange denitrification using fixed bed and experimental continuous loop plants (part funding);

  (4) 1980–82, field trials by the Anglian Water Authority of fluidised bed biological denitrification plant (part funding);

  (5) 1987, review by Consultants in Environmental Science Limited of the effects of nitrate removal on water quality in
  50
  distribution; and collection of information on the operation of denitrification plants in Europe and the United States of America;

  (6) 1988–89, studies by the Cranfield Institute of Science and Technology of the combined use of ion-exchange and biological denitrification processes (part funding);

  (7) 1988–89, project by the Cranfield Institute of Science and Technology to develop a computer model of the ion-exchange process for optimum operation;

  (8) 1990, studies by the Water Research Centre to improve the biological denitrification process.

  Reports in various forms on all the projects were received, but not all are readily available.

  I am arranging for copies of reports on projects (5) and (7) to be placed in the Library of the House.

  New Homes
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to increase the number of homes built in 1990–91.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 21 June 1990]: The Government do not attempt to forecast output of private housebuilders, who build some 85 per cent. of new houses. Output of subsidised dwellings by housing associations financed by the Housing Corporation in England is expected to rise substantially between 1989–90 and 1990–91, more than offsetting an expected decline in new housebuilding by local authorities.

  Toxic Waste
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the ports that received toxic waste in each year since 1987, the quantity of such waste imported, the composition of the waste, and the country of origin and ultimate destination of the waste.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 21 June 1990]: The information is available in the detail required only since the introduction of Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988. Provisional figures for imports of hazardous wastes through English ports in the year to 31 March 1990 by country of origin and destination, and by waste disposal authority, are as follows. Figures for types of waste imported are summarised, as information for individual ports is not available in a concise form.

  Imports of hazardous waste 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 via ports in England

  By country of origin

  Tonnes

  Chatham

  Belgium

  409

  Dartford

  Belgium

  1,137

  Dover

  France

  16

  Switzerland

  5,144

  Total Dover

  5,160

  Felixstowe

  Australia

  279

  Austria

  29

  Belgium

  306

  Canada

  62

  Germany

  439

  Ireland

  1

  Italy

  1,169

  51

  Tonnes

  Luxembourg

  17

  Malaysia

  34

  Netherlands

  5,670

  Norway

  424

  Singapore

  39

  Switzerland

  13

  Total Felixstowe

  8,480

  Fleetwood

  Ireland

  154

  Flixborough

  United States

  4,237

  Gravesend

  Austria

  25

  Grimsby

  Germany

  39

  Harwich

  Austria

  52

  Belgium

  64

  Switzerland

  35

  Total Harwich

  150

  Heysham

  Brazil

  33

  Ireland

  582

  Total Heysham

  615

  Immingham

  Belgium

  1,712

  Denmark

  17

  Italy

  620

  Netherlands

  4,937

  Norway

  170

  Sweden

  1,241

  Total Immingham

  8,696

  Ipswich

  Germany

  185

  Liverpool

  Canada

  506

  Ireland

  193

  Switzerland

  37

  Total Liverpool

  736

  Middlesbrough

  Belgium

  184

  Poole

  Channel Islands

  30

  Portsmouth

  Spain

  2

  Purfleet

  Finland

  12

  Ramsgate

  Belgium

  2,958

  Seaforth

  Portugal

  73

  Southampton

  Singapore

  5

  Teesport

  Switzerland

  90

  52

  Tonnes

  Tilbury

  Brazil

  12

  Uruguay

  3

  Total Tilbury

  15

  Great Yarmouth

  Denmark

  8

  Total

  33,399

  Imports of hazardous waste 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 via ports in England

  By Waste Disposal Authority of destination

  Tonnes

  Chatham

  Greater Manchester

  171

  Torfaen BC

  238

  Total Chatham

  409

  Dartford

  Greater Manchester

  23

  Hampshire County Council

  448

  Torfaen Borough Council

  666

  Total Dartford

  1,137

  Dover

  Greater Manchester

  4,778

  Torfaen Borough Council

  382

  Total Dover

  5,160

  Felixstowe

  Essex County Council

  424

  Greater Manchester

  1,198

  Hampshire County Council

  163

  Suffolk County Council

  22

  West Midlands

  5,401

  Torfaen

  1,272

  Total Felixstowe

  8,480

  Fleetwood

  Cheshire County Council

  110

  Greater Manchester

  44

  Total Fleetwood

  154

  Flixborough

  Humberside County Council

  4,237

  Gravesend

  Torfaen Borough Council

  25

  Grimsby

  Essex County Council

  39

  Harwich

  Essex County Council

  15

  Greater Manchester

  35

  Torfaen Borough Council

  100

  Total Harwich

  150

  Heysham

  Greater Manchester

  530

  Nottinghamshire

  1

  West Midlands

  51

  Torfaen Borough Council

  33

  Total Heysham

  615

  Immingham

  Greater Manchester

  6,714

  53

  Tonnes

  Hampshire County Council

  72

  Nottinghamshire County Council

  33

  West Midlands

  17

  Torfaen Borough Council

  1,860

  Total Immingham

  8,696

  Ipswich

  Torfaen

  185

  Liverpool

  Greater Manchester

  164

  West Midlands

  77

  Torfaen Borough Council

  495

  Total Liverpool

  736

  Middlesbrough

  Greater Manchester

  184

  Poole

  Lancashire County Council

  15

  Warwickshire County Council

  15

  Total Poole

  30

  Portsmouth

  Torfaen Borough Council

  2

  Purfleet

  Essex County Council

  12

  Ramsgate

  Greater Manchester

  22

  West Midlands

  2,936

  Total Ramsgate

  2,958

  Seaforth

  Torfaen Borough Council

  73

  Southampton

  Nottinghamshire

  5

  Teesport

  Greater Manchester

  90

  Tilbury

  Torfaen Borough Council

  16

  Great Yarmouth

  West Midlands

  8

  TOTAL

  33,399

  Imports of hazardous waste 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 via ports in England

  By type of waste

  Tonnes

  Inorganic acids

  10

  Alkalis

  282

  Toxic metal compounds

  822

  Non-toxic metal compounds

  167

  Metal oxides

  1,644

  Inorganic compounds

  427

  Other inorganic materials

  10,894

  Organic compounds excluding PCBs

  2,080

  PCBs/PCB contaminated material

  2,986

  Polymeric material and precursors

  181

  Fuels, oils and greases

  410

  Fine chemicals and biocides

  600

  Miscellaneous chemical waste

  1,426

  Filter materials, treatment sludge and contaminated rubbish

  5,490

  Interceptor wastes, tars, paint, dyes and pigments

  3,499

  Miscellaneous wastes

  2,234

  54

  By type of waste

  Tonnes

  Total

  33,399

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  European Legislation
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Lord President of the Council when the revised arrangements for considering EEC legislation will be implemented; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  In the light of the House's forthcoming debate on the Procedure Committee's report on the scrutiny of European legislation and the Government's response to it, the Government will table motions to make the necessary detailed amendments to Standing Orders. The Government hope that the new arrangements will operate from the start of the next Session.

  Natural History Museum
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make space available in the Palace of Westminster for an exhibition of the palaeontological, palaeo-botany and diatom work of the natural history museum.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The Upper Waiting Hall is available for Members wishing to arrange for an exhibition to be held there. The procedures agreed by the Services Committee are set out in the leaflet "Exhibitions in the Upper Waiting Hall" and I am arranging for a copy to be sent the hon. Member.

  Oral Questions
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will bring forward a motion to approve the recommendations of the Select Committee on Procedure's first report of Session 1989–90 on oral questions.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  I hope to do so shortly so that, if the House agrees, the recommendations can take effect from the start of the next Session.

  Energy Costs
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to the answers of 30 April,Official Report, column 406 and 10 May, Official Report, column 199, about energy consumption, what is the square footage of office space to which these figures relate.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  The Privy Council Office covers 15,372 sq ft. This area includes office and storage space, and courtroom of the Judicial Committee.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how much was invested in improving the energy efficiency of the Privy Council Office in the latest available year.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  No specific part of the Privy Council Office vote is dedicated to improving energy efficiency, but staff are encouraged to be economical in their use of energy resources.

  Child Care Facilities
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Oldham, West, 24 May,Official Report, column 297, if he will make it his policy to ensure that (a) the staff unions and (b) the staff creche committee are consulted about the design and operation of the feasibility study of the provision of child care facilities in the House.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  Extensive consultations over the past few years in relation to the provision of child care facilities have clearly identified the nature of provision desired by both groups to which the hon. Member refers. They will, however, be given the opportunity to update their observations once the feasibility study has been completed.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Official Duties
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many official visits he has made as Chancellor of the Duchy since last replying to questions in the House.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  One.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Marginal Tax Rates
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the marginal tax rate incurred by a combination of income tax, national insurance, housing 56
  benefit rent withdrawal taper, and the community charge benefit withdrawal taper in 1990; and what is the contribution of each of these to the total.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The marginal tax-benefit withdrawal rate on additional gross income for someone paying standard rate income tax, and national insurance contributions, and receiving both a rent rebate and community charge benefit is 86–8 per cent., from April 1990, where the earner is not contracted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme; and 86–4 per cent. where the earner is contracted out. These overall withdrawal rates break down as follows:

  Percentage of additional gross income

  Per cent.

  Contracted In

  Income tax

  25

  National insurance

  9

  Reduced entitlement to income related benefits

  Rent rebate taper

  42·9

  Community charge benefit taper

  9·9

  Contracted Out

  Income tax

  25

  National insurance

  7

  Reduced entitlement to income related benefits

  Rent rebate taper

  44·2

  Community charge benefit taper

  10·2

  Note: Rent rebate and community charge benefit entitlement is calculated on the basis of net income, after deduction of tax and national insurance contributions. The withdrawal tapers applied to additional net income are 65 per cent. for rent rebate and 15 per cent. for community charge benefit.

  War Widows
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will supplement the pensions of war widows whose husbands, while holding United Kingdom citizenship, were killed in the service of a Commonwealth country, whose pensions they now receive, to bring them up to the level of war widows whose husbands were killed while serving in the United Kingdom armed forces;

  (2) if he will supplement the pensions of war widows whose husbands, while holding United Kingdom citizenship, were killed in the service of a Commonwealth country during either of the world wars and whose pensions they now receive, to bring them up to the level of war widows whose husbands were killed while serving in the United Kingdom armed forces.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The pensions paid to war widows by other countries are matters for those countries. There is no provision under the war pensions scheme to pay pensions to widows of men who died as a result of service in the armed forces of another country.

  Deaf People
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research his Department has carried out into the additional costs that deaf people face.

  Mr. Scott
  The Government commissioned the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys to carry out major surveys of disability in Great Britain between 1985 and 1988. The reports include information about the additional costs incurred by people with a range of disabilities, including hearing. The six OPCS reports of the surveys' findings are in the Library. A follow-up study to the family expenditure survey has been carried out to compare the actual spending of disabled and non-disabled people, and the results of that study will be published shortly.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the answer of 23 April,Official Report, column 36, on residential homes, if he will make available such information as is available to him on this subject.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The average total number of income support recipients in residential care homes and nursing homes whose recorded fees were below the appropriate income support limit for the period November 1988 to August 1989 was 22,000 rounded to the nearest thousand. This represents just over one eighth of the average total claimants in such homes in that period.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many claims for income support were received during the last financial year from residents of care homes which had been transferred from local authority to independent management or ownership;

  (2) what guidance has been issued by his Department as to the eligibility for income support of residents in care homes managed by charitable trusts set up by local authorities.

  Mr. Scott
  Eligibility for income support is defined by regulations, which provide that benefit is available in 58
  respect of fees, up to certain limits, to residents of registered residential care homes and certain other types of homes. Independent adjudication officers are provided with guidance on the interpretation of the regulations by the chief adjudication officer in the adjudication officers' guide, but no specific guidance has been given on this point. Information on numbers of people living in transferred homes who have claimed income support is not available centrally.

  Attendance and Mobility Allowances
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many doctors are employed by his Department for the purpose of assessing attendance allowance and mobility allowance claims in(a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole; on what basis they are employed; what salaries or fees they receive; and whether such payments are related to the number of claimants they examine.

  Mr. Scott
  The numbers of doctors who carry out examinations of claimants to attendance and mobility allowances in the areas mentioned are:(a) Inverclyde—30, (b) Strathclyde—428, (c) Scotland—982. The work is of a casual nature, the available cases being allocated among the doctors who are available and have been trained in the work. Payment is from a scale of fees agreed between the Treasury and the medical profession's representatives. A fee is paid for each case completed, individual case fees depending on the time taken to deal with that case.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average and what is the longest delay in hearing of appeals against refusals of mobility allowances, during each of the last five six-month periods for which records are available.

  Mr. Scott
  Appeals against refusal of mobility allowance can be made to a social security appeal tribunal if the decision was not on medical grounds and to a medical appeal tribunal on medical questions. Information about these appeals is not available in the form requested. The national average clearance times, during the last 10 quarters, for appeals on mobility allowance to social security appeal tribunals, from date of lodgment to hearing, were as follows:

  Quarter ending

  Weeks

  30 June 1987

  19·1

  30 September 1987

  20·6

  31 December 1987

  20·1

  31 March 1988

  23·3

  30 June 1988

  20·1

  30 September 1988

  20·5

  31 December 1988

  20·8

  31 March 1989

  21·8

  30 June 1989

  18·8

  30 September 1989

  17·6

  The Department has recently began compiling information on the clearance times for appeals to medical appeal tribunals, but this has not been running long enough to provide representative figures. Information about the time taken to have a hearing on an appeal to a medical board is not kept.

  Information about the longest delay in hearing any of these types of appeal can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Local Government Finance
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in(a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole are entitled to poll tax rebate based on claims for refund of rebate received from Strathclyde regional council and other regional and island councils; and what percentage of poll tax payers this represents in (a), (b) and (c) above.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The caseload returns made by regional councils do not provide information separately for parliamentary constituencies and district councils. The latest available caseload information for Strathclyde regional council shows that at the end of February 1990 about 490,000 community charge rebate cases were in payment—(counting rebates to couples as one case). The latest 1989–90 caseload estimate for Scotland is 930,000. The total number of individual charge payers receiving help with the community charge is not collected. It is not, therefore, possible to show the proportion of individual charge payers helped by benefit.

  Office Relocation
  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on progress on the relocation work from local offices to Glasgow.

  Mr. Newton
  I am pleased to announce that relocation of all backroom work from the first cluster of four London offices—Ealing, Southall, Acton and Notting Hill—to the social security centre was completed on schedule on 18 June 1990.

  My Department recently undertook an evaluation study to establish whether the initiative had resulted in an improved service to our London customers. The results were most encouraging. Claims are being processed much more accurately. The error rate has fallen significantly from 29 to 9 per cent. Work is also being dealt with faster. The average time taken to clear a claim has been reduced by 50 per cent., from 11 days to five days. Caller waiting times have also been reduced, and a sampling exercise revealed that, already, between a third and half of customers have noticed an improvement in the quality of service provided. It is also encouraging that these improvements have been made against a background of greater efficiency: the cost of processing a unit of benefit has reduced by half, from £12 to £6. I am arranging to place a copy of the evaluation study in the Library.

  Invalidity Pension
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what representations he has received on the question of members who serve on local authorities and are in receipt of invalidity pension having the invalidity pension disregarded when assessing the payment of allowances etc. for serving on their local council; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he has considered disregarding the payment of invalidity pension for those members who serve on local authorities and are disabled, when assessing payment of allowances to councillors; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he has discussed with local authority organisations the question of the disregard of invalidity pension for members of local authorities who are in receipt of invalidity benefit when receiving allowances for local government duties; and if he will make a statement.
  60
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The question of entitlement to local authority allowances is the prerogative of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and is a matter over which we have no jurisdiction. I understand, however, that invalidity benefit has no bearing on the amount of local authority allowances payable.

  Entitlement to invalidity benefit is dependent upon a person being incapable of work and is not, therefore, normally payable where any work is performed. However, following discussions with hon. Members and councillors' representatives special arrangements were introduced for councillors. These provide that councillors can receive invalidity benefit in full in addition to any local authority allowances to which they are entitled up to the level of the therapeutic earnings limit—currently £35 per week. Where local authority allowances for any week exceed this limit, invalidity benefit is reduced only by the excess. These arrangements have operated since May 1987 and continue unchanged.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of income support claimants are living below the appropriate scale rate of benefit because they are repaying social fund, or benefit overpayments, or fuel arrears(a) nationally, (b) regionally and (c) in each local Department of Social Security office area.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information is unavailable and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of successful social fund applicants are in paid employment(a) nationally, (b) regionally and (c) in each local Department of Social Security office area.

  Mr. Scott
  I regret that the information requested is not collected.

  Letters (Cornwall)
  Mr. Mudd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne may expect a reply to his letter of 7 April, on behalf of Mr. T. G. Harry, of 20 Barripper road, Camborne, Cornwall.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I replied to my hon. Friend on 22 May.

  Mr. Mudd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) when the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne may expect a reply to his letter of 7 April on behalf of Mr. P. McKenna, of 8 Greenfield terrace, Portreath, Redruth, Cornwall, reference POS (3) 2223/240;

  (2) when the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne may expect a reply to his letter of 28 February on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Thomas of 19 Castle View Park, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I replied to my hon. Friend on 20 June.

  Retirement Pensions
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether there are any plans to harmonise retirement pensions in the European Community.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  There are no plans to harmonise retirement pensions in the European Community.

  Debt Recovery
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 11 June,Official Report, column 53, whether his Department makes any distinction in its treatment of debt collection between moneys owed by (a) current social security beneficiaries and (b) former social security beneficiaries, liable relatives and national insurance contributors.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Department undertakes a wide range of debt recovery work and seeks to do so in the most cost-effective way possible. The action taken will depend upon the nature of the debt, the individual circumstances of the debtor and the legal powers available. In the case of current beneficiaries, for example, it is possible to recover sums due by deductions from benefit.

  Disabled People (Benefits)
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions he is having with disablement groups regarding the proposal to introduce a disability employment credit; and when he last met the Disablement Income Group.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how he proposes formally to consult disability organisations on his proposals outlined in "The Way Ahead—Benefits for Disabled People";

  (2) when he expects to publish draft proposals for the disability employment credit.

  Mr. Scott
  We regularly meet the disability organisations to discuss a wide range of issues. I met the Disability Benefits Consortium—an umbrella group representing over 250 disability organisations including the Disablement Income Group—on 5 April in the second of a series of meetings to discuss their views on "The Way Ahead".

  The proposals for a disability employment credit were outlined in "The Way Ahead"; the Government propose to implement these proposals by bringing forward legislation at an early opportunity.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will continue to answer parliamentary questions on the full range of social security issues after the proposed executive agencies for social security are established.

  Table 1: Single Pensioner

  Gross income1

  Net income2

  Annual charge 300.00 CC Benefit per week

  Net income less Community Charge

  Annual charge 400.00 CC Benefit per week

  Net income less Community Charge

  Annual charge 500.00 CC Benefit per week

  Net income less Community Charge

  56·90

  56·90

  3·34

  54·49

  4·88

  54·11

  6·41

  53·72

  66·90

  66·90

  1·84

  62·99

  3·38

  62·61

  4·91

  62·22

  76·90

  75·32

  ·58

  70·15

  2·11

  69·76

  3·65

  69·38

  62
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 6 June, at column 615.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report the latest estimates of the proportion of (a) pensioner households, (b) households with dependent children and (c) other households who are taking up their entitlement to housing benefit, showing the division between council tenants and others.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) on 29 March at column 300.

  Community Charge (Members' Questions)
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the reasons why he was unable to reply until 14 June to the priority written questions about community charge rebates tabled by the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton for answer on 23 May; and what steps he takes to ensure that answers are provided on the day selected by an hon. Member for priority answer.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  All questions for priority written answer by this Department are answered on the specified day, although some may not receive a full reply on that day. Out of over 1,000 questions tabled for priority written answer this Session, fewer than 150 have been given holding replies: these are given only where the information requested is so detailed or complex that a full reply cannot be provided in the time allowed by the hon. Member concerned. Neither of the questions on community charge rebates tabled by my hon. Friend for answer on 23 May was straightforward. A costing was made as quickly as possible in reply to one question. In the case of the other question, detailed consideration led to the conclusion that no estimate was possible.

  Pensioners
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures for(a) a single pensioner and (b) pensioner couples showing the effects of community charge benefit on their net weekly incomes, assuming a community charge of (i) £300, (ii) £400 and (iii) £500, and weekly incomes other than the relevant state basic pension of £10, £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90, £100, £150 and £200.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 17 May 1990]: The information requested is set out in the tables.
  63

  Gross income1

  Net income2

  Annual charge 300.00 CC Benefit per week

  Net income less Community Charge

  Annual charge 400.00 CC Benefit per week

  Net income less Community Charge

  Annual charge 500.00 CC Benefit per week

  Net income less Community Charge

  86·90

  82·82

  —

  77·07

  ·99

  76·14

  2·52

  75·75

  96·90

  90·32

  —

  84·57

  —

  82·65

  1·40

  82·13

  106·90

  97·82

  —

  92·07

  —

  90·15

  —

  88·23

  116·90

  105·32

  —

  99·57

  —

  97·65

  —

  95·75

  126·90

  112·82

  —

  107·07

  —

  105·15

  —

  103·23

  136·90

  120·32

  —

  114·57

  —

  112·65

  —

  110·73

  146·90

  127·82

  —

  122·07

  —

  120·15

  —

  118·23

  196·90

  165·32

  —

  159·57

  —

  157·65

  —

  155·73

  246·90

  201·52

  —

  195·77

  —

  193·85

  —

  191·93

  1 "Gross Income" comprises, the basic state retirement pension plus £10, £20, £30 … £100, £150 and £200.

  2 Net Income is gross income, calculated as at 1, less income tax. For the purposes of independent taxation, it is assumed that in pensioner couples all income other than the wife's state retirement pension is allocated to the husband.

  Table 2: Pensioner couple

  Gross income1

  Net income2

  Annual charge 300.00 CC Benefit per week

  Net income less Community Charge

  Annual charge 400.00 CC Benefit per week

  Net income less Community Charge

  Annual charge 500.00 CC Benefit per week

  Net income less Community Charge

  85·10

  85·10

  7·78

  81·38

  10·84

  80·60

  15·90

  79·82

  95·10

  95·10

  6·28

  89·88

  9·34

  89·10

  12·40

  88·32

  105·10

  105·10

  4·78

  98·38

  7·84

  97·60

  10·90

  96·82

  115·10

  115·10

  3·28

  106·88

  6·34

  106·10

  9·40

  105·32

  125·10

  125·10

  1·78

  115·38

  4·84

  114·60

  7·90

  113·82

  135·10

  135·10

  —

  123·60

  3·34

  123·10

  6·40

  122·32

  145·10

  143·83

  —

  132·33

  2·02

  130·51

  5·10

  129·75

  155·10

  151·33

  —

  139·83

  ·90

  136·89

  3·98

  136·13

  165·10

  158·83

  —

  147·33

  —

  143·49

  2·84

  142·49

  175·10

  166·33

  —

  154·83

  —

  150·99

  1·72

  148·87

  225·10

  203·83

  —

  192·33

  —

  188·49

  —

  184·65

  275·10

  240·04

  —

  228·54

  —

  224·70

  —

  220·86

  1 "Gross Income" comprises, the basic state retirement pension plus £10, £20, £30 … £100, £150 and £200.

  2 Net Income is gross income, calculated as at 1, less income tax. For the purposes of independent taxation, it is assumed that in pensioner couples all income other than the wife's state retirement pension is allocated to the husband.

  Home Ownership (Pensioners)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has on the proportion of retirement pensioners who own their own homes(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in those other European Community member states for which information is available.

  Mr. Chope
  I have been asked to reply.

  Comparative information for owner-occupation by age categories appears in table 10.24 of the Building Societies Association's "Housing In Britain", which is in the Library. More recent figures available for some countries are as follows:

  Percentage of owner-occupiers among households with a head aged 65 years or over

  Country

  1984

  1985

  Great Britain

  47

  49

  Netherlands

  —

  32

  West Germany

  —

  40

  France

  56

  —

  Note:

  The West German figure of 63 per cent. for this age category in 1982 appearing in the BSA publication should read 33 per cent.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has on the proportion of retirement pensioners(a) aged over 75 years and (b) aged 65 to 70 years who (i) own their own homes and (ii) have income from occupational or private pensions.

  Mr. Chope
  I have been asked to reply.
  64
  The available estimates are from the 1988 general household survey and the 1988 family expenditure survey and are as follows.

  Age of head of household

  1 Percentage who are owner occupiers

  2 Percentage with income from occupational or private pension

  65 to 69

  56

  66

  70 to 74

  53

  57

  75 or over

  48

  49

  1Source: 1988 General Household Survey (Great Britain).

  2Source: 1988 Family Expenditure Survey (United Kingdom). Includes covenants and annuities.

  The two surveys used as sources do not cover the institutional population, and so exclude people in nursing homes, rest homes or residents permanently in hospital.

WALES

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

  Mr. Grist
  The data requested were not collected centrally before 1 April 1989, since when they have been collected on a six-monthly basis.
  65
  The available information is given as follows:

  Estimated1 number of sight tests paid for by Family Practitioner Committees in the six months ending

  30 September 1989

  31 March 1990

  Persons aged over 40 who are relatives of glaucoma suffers

  2,950

  4,910

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

  Skomer Marine Nature Reserve
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress of his negotiations with the Welsh Yachting Association over the establishment of a marine nature reserve at Skomer.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The draft order in respect of the Skomer marine nature reserve was published in March 1990. Three representations were received during the statutory 28–day objection period including one from the Welsh Yachting Association. The points raised by the representations have been resolved and all the representations have since been withdrawn. We are therefore now proceeding with the designation of the area as a marine nature reserve in accordance with the requirements of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

  Education Act 1981 (Appeals)
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of appeals received under section 5(6) of the Education Act 1981 by local education authority; and what were the decisions taken by the appeals tribunal for each year from April 1983.

  Mr. Grist
  Appeals under section 5(6) of the Education Act 1981 are made directly to the Secretary of State. Four appeals have been made since April 1983 and in two cases the local education authority concerned was directed to reconsider its decision not to complete a statement of special educational need. The details are:

  Local education authority

  Year

  Number

  West Glamorgan

  1983

  1

  Gwent

  1986

  1

  South Glamorgan

  1987

  2

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of appeals received under section 8(6) of the Education Act 1981 by local education authority; and what were the decisions taken by the appeals tribunal for each year from April 1983.

  Mr. Grist
  Appeals under section 8(6) of the Education Act 1981 are made directly to the Secretary of State. Nine appeals have been made since April 1983. The Secretary of State found in favour of the local education authorities in respect of seven cases; the remaining two are still under consideration. The details are:

  Local education authority

  Year

  Number

  Clwyd, Mid Glamorgan

  1985

  2

  Clwyd, South Glamorgan

  1987

  2

  West Glamorgan

  1988

  1

  Gwynedd, South Glamorgan

  1989

  2

  Clwyd, Gwynedd

  1990

  2

  Disabled Teachers
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of students with disabilities who have entered initial teacher training in Wales for each of the last 10 years; and what percentage of the total number of student teachers these represent.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many teachers with disabilities are currently employed in each local education authority in Wales; and what steps his Department is taking to increase the numbers of teachers with disabilities.

  Mr. Grist
  Information on the numbers of teachers with disabilities is not held centrally. The initiatives being taken by the Government to increase the supply of teachers are directed at all prospective teachers, including those with disabilities.

  Schools (Access)
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wailes what specific funding has been available to Welsh local education authorities to enable access to school and college buildings for pupils and teachers with disabilities in each of the last 10 years; and if he has any plans to make specific grants available to local education authorities to carry out necessary capital works to facilitate physical access for people with disabilities.

  Mr. Grist
  Under the arrangements agreed with local authorities in Wales, capital resources are not hypothecated to specific services. It is for the authorities themselves to determine priorities between and within services, and therefore to decide how much to spend on facilitating physical access to educational buildings for people with disabilities.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice he gives to local education authorities in Wales on the standards of access for people with disabilities for new designs for and adaptations to school and college buildings; and whether he will consult interested parties regarding statutory provision for standards of access for new school and college buildings.

  Mr. Grist
  Guidance is given to local education authorities in design note No. 18 (1984) "Access for disabled people to Educational Buildings" and in building bulletin 61. The design note is based on the recommendations of a working party comprising representatives of interested parties.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many nursery, primary and secondary schools in Wales are fully accessible to pupils and teachers with disabilities; what are these figures as percentages of the total number of schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Clwyd TEC
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State forWales if he will take steps to enable Alyn and Deeside district council to have direct representation upon the Clwyd, Gwynedd 1990 2 Clwyd TEC; and if he will make a statement.
  67
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  No. The Government's White Paper "Employment for the 1990s" said that training and enterprise councils were to be employer-led. Two thirds of the directors, including the chairman, must be local business leaders from the private sector. The balance may be drawn from other sectors including local authorities, but this is for individual TECs to determine. The TECs will need to work closely with all relevant groups in the community, including the local authorities, and must demonstrate that they have widespread support before their plans will be approved.

  Deeside High School
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet(a) Shotton town council, (b) Queensferry community council and (c) Haversden community council to hear their views concerning the proposed closure of Deeside high school.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  No. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 7 February 1990, column 661.

  Children Act 1989
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the expected date or dates for implementation of the provisions of the Children Act 1989 in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Some minor provisions covering the admissibility of hearsay evidence, the meaning of "parent" for certain provisions of the Child Care Act 1980 pending its repeal, and tests to establish paternity came into effect on Royal Assent to the Children Act on 16 November 1989. An amendment to the Education Act 1981 in respect of provision outside England and Wales for certain children came into force on 17 January 1990. We expect to bring the remaining provisions into force in October 1991.

  Group and type of staff

  WTE Staff of residential accommodation for elderly and elderly mentally infirm people

  WTE Staff of residential accommodation for younger physically handicapped people

  WTE Staff of residential accommodation for mentally ill people

  WTE Staff of residential accommodation for mentally handicapped adults

  WTE Staff of residential accommodation catering primarily for mentally handicapped children

  Officers in charge or equivalent

  193·0

  4·0

  12·0

  32·0

  11·0

  Deputy officers in charge or equivalent

  229·2

  8·6

  9·0

  22·6

  9·8

  Other care staff1

  435·7

  21·8

  5·5

  133·8

  38·7

  Care assistants

  1,586·4

  46·3

  53·7

  187·9

  24·4

  Other staff

  1,427·0

  41·1

  32·4

  72·5

  17·9

  Total

  3,871·3

  121·8

  112·6

  448·8

  101·8

  1 Including trainee care staff but excluding care assistants.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons aged 65 years and over were in accommodation for the elderly in each local authority in Wales, and how many in each local authority were in accommodation provided by(a) local authorities, (b) voluntary homes and (c) private homes in each year since

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to make a decision on community health council reform in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  I hope to announce a decision shortly.

  Obstetric Accidents
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if, in the light of recent evidence published in the British Medical Journal of 26 May on the causes of certain obstetric accidents, he will undertake a review of the training of junior doctors in Wales in relation to foetal heart monitoring and the use of obstetric forceps.

  Mr. Grist
  Standards of training are laid down by the General Medical Council and the content of training programmes for junior doctors in this specialty is essentially a matter for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

  Nursing Homes
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of private and voluntary residential care and nursing homes the independent sector provides for each year since 1980 in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  Private and voluntary residential homes are all in the independent sector.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are employed by(a) voluntary registered homes, (b) private registered homes and (c) local authority homes in Wales; and, in each case, what appropriate formal qualifications they have.

  Mr. Grist
  The number of people employed by voluntary and private registered homes is not held centrally. The number of people employed in local authority homes as at 30 September 1989 is shown in the following table. Information on their appropriate formal qualifications is not held centrally.

  1980; and if he will estimate what the change will be in these figures in the future due to changes in community care policy.

  Mr. Grist
  The number of residents aged 65 years and over in accommodation for elderly people in local authority and private and voluntary residential homes is shown in the following table:
  69

  As at 31 March

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Clwyd

  Local authority

  887

  914

  976

  955

  946

  886

  868

  814

  787

  690

  Voluntary and private homes1

  757

  821

  830

  985

  1,249

  1,484

  1,698

  1,893

  1,998

  2,069

  Dyfed

  Local authority

  1,042

  1,081

  1,101

  1,117

  1,157

  1,143

  1,131

  1,152

  1,116

  1,086

  Voluntary and private homes1

  76

  78

  86

  91

  157

  275

  447

  531

  631

  790

  Gwent

  Local authority

  955

  967

  962

  979

  958

  951

  945

  948

  962

  929

  Voluntary and private homes1

  62

  67

  59

  130

  208

  235

  260

  321

  447

  422

  Gwynedd

  Local authority

  812

  802

  822

  814

  826

  813

  824

  809

  813

  787

  Voluntary and private homes1

  184

  198

  249

  276

  367

  523

  639

  767

  916

  1,021

  Mid Glamorgan

  Local authority

  1,154

  1,180

  1,203

  1,198

  1,192

  1,209

  1,222

  1,242

  1,231

  1,207

  Voluntary and private homes1

  85

  100

  96

  131

  172

  247

  320

  357

  517

  611

  Powys

  Local authority

  380

  371

  369

  383

  395

  396

  381

  394

  397

  398

  Voluntary and private homes1

  32

  35

  69

  100

  115

  143

  168

  195

  224

  241

  South Glamorgan

  Local authority

  909

  928

  921

  890

  870

  851

  781

  747

  747

  748

  Voluntary and private homes1

  405

  410

  457

  496

  659

  748

  987

  1,168

  1,297

  1,375

  West Glamorgan

  Local authority

  833

  859

  857

  837

  829

  840

  888

  874

  836

  777

  Voluntary and private homes1

  118

  122

  129

  130

  158

  253

  296

  317

  361

  368

  Wales

  Local authority

  6,972

  7,102

  7,211

  7,173

  7,173

  7,089

  7,040

  6,980

  6,889

  6,622

  Voluntary and private homes1

  1,719

  1,831

  1,975

  2,339

  3,085

  3,908

  4,815

  5,549

  6,391

  6,897

  1 Separate figures for the voluntary and private sectors are not available prior to 1989.

  Changes in patterns and volumes of care will take place on the basis of social care plans which are to be produced by social services authorities working with health authorities and other interests and which are to be published by April 1991.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many residents in voluntary and private homes were sponsored by local authorities for each year since 1980; and what information he has on the proportion accounted for by supported residents in(a) voluntary homes and (b) private homes in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The data as at 31 March are shown in the following table:

  Supported residents in private and voluntary homes

  Percentage of these in voluntary homes

  Percentage of these in private homes

  1980

  729

  77·4

  22·6

  1981

  586

  81·6

  18·4

  1982

  577

  86·1

  13·9

  1983

  576

  83·7

  16·3

  1984

  519

  88·1

  11·9

  1985

  422

  93·4

  6·6

  Homes, Places and Residents for Elderly People as at 31 March 1980–1989

  Clwyd

  Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Wales

  (a) Registered Private and Voluntary1

  1980

  Homes

  45

  5

  4

  22

  2

  2

  16

  5

  101

  Places

  801

  94

  67

  266

  102

  67

  435

  137

  1,969

  Residents

  775

  78

  63

  184

  85

  49

  409

  127

  1,770

  70

  Supported residents in private and voluntary homes

  Percentage of these in voluntary homes

  Percentage of these in private homes

  1986

  217

  99.5

  0.5

  1987

  128

  99.2

  0.8

  1988

  162

  98.8

  1.2

  1989

  182

  100.0

  —

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (i) private registered homes, (ii) voluntary registered homes and (iii) local authority homes for the elderly there were in each local authority in Wales(a) how many places these provided and (b) how many residents there were, for each year since 1980; and what estimate he has made of the likely change in these figures as a result of changes in community care.

  Mr. Grist
  The information required is shown in the following table. Changes in patterns and volumes of care will take place on the basis of social care plans which are to be produced by social services authorities working with health authorities and other interests, and which are to be published by April 1991.
  71

  Clwyd

  Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Wales

  1981

  Homes

  55

  5

  5

  27

  3

  2

  16

  5

  118

  Places

  1,043

  95

  74

  306

  131

  68

  448

  142

  2,307

  Residents

  839

  80

  68

  198

  100

  56

  417

  130

  1,888

  1982

  Homes

  59

  5

  5

  27

  4

  3

  20

  7

  130

  Places

  1,131

  95

  109

  360

  135

  88

  511

  155

  2,584

  Residents

  846

  88

  60

  250

  96

  89

  464

  133

  2,026

  1983

  Homes

  68

  7

  7

  31

  6

  4

  24

  9

  156

  Places

  1,359

  124

  155

  393

  147

  123

  558

  156

  3,015

  Residents

  1,012

  92

  132

  279

  131

  110

  502

  135

  2,393

  1984

  Homes

  86

  10

  11

  45

  9

  5

  35

  11

  212

  Places

  1,672

  173

  245

  550

  201

  139

  732

  182

  3,894

  Residents

  1,282

  161

  212

  372

  175

  127

  671

  163

  3,163

  1985

  Homes

  101

  21

  15

  49

  15

  7

  41

  21

  270

  Places

  1,921

  307

  315

  716

  303

  162

  815

  278

  4,817

  Residents

  1,517

  282

  269

  540

  252

  151

  754

  259

  4,024

  1986

  Homes

  117

  42

  16

  53

  18

  8

  63

  23

  340

  Places

  2,197

  545

  328

  753

  374

  194

  1,166

  318

  5,875

  Residents

  1,741

  466

  284

  645

  326

  170

  999

  306

  4,937

  1987

  Homes

  135

  46

  19

  64

  22

  11

  72

  25

  394

  Places

  2,371

  621

  352

  892

  421

  232

  1,303

  343

  6,535

  Residents

  1,929

  557

  328

  778

  363

  207

  1,181

  321

  5,664

  1988

  Homes

  147

  50

  25

  75

  30

  12

  78

  28

  445

  Places

  2,453

  721

  501

  1,090

  609

  242

  1,472

  404

  7,492

  Residents

  2,035

  653

  457

  926

  522

  229

  1,309

  366

  6,497

  1989

  Homes

  151

  63

  23

  87

  33

  15

  84

  28

  484

  Places

  2,620

  895

  473

  1,220

  684

  280

  1,559

  422

  8,153

  Residents

  2,102

  814

  431

  1,037

  618

  256

  1,390

  379

  7,027

  (b) Local Authority

  1980

  Homes

  23

  28

  25

  26

  32

  15

  27

  22

  198

  Places

  943

  1,164

  1,049

  853

  1,281

  418

  975

  898

  7,581

  Residents

  916

  1,108

  1,011

  843

  1,238

  394

  936

  860

  7,306

  1981

  Homes

  23

  29

  25

  26

  33

  15

  27

  22

  200

  Places

  946

  1,208

  1,047

  852

  1,305

  417

  976

  909

  7,660

  Residents

  937

  1,149

  1,027

  826

  1,257

  387

  942

  893

  7,418

  1982

  Homes

  24

  29

  25

  26

  33

  15

  27

  22

  201

  Places

  1,011

  1,207

  1,047

  853

  1,311

  418

  976

  909

  7,732

  Residents

  1,001

  1,161

  1,019

  840

  1,271

  385

  933

  891

  7,501

  1983

  Homes

  23

  29

  25

  26

  33

  14

  27

  21

  198

  Places

  1,003

  1,212

  1,043

  854

  1,318

  414

  956

  882

  7,682

  Residents

  976

  1,186

  1,026

  833

  1,266

  400

  907

  861

  7,455

  1984

  Homes

  24

  29

  25

  26

  33

  14

  27

  21

  199

  Places

  1,032

  1,257

  1,038

  853

  1,326

  417

  954

  881

  7,758

  Residents

  966

  1,219

  1,004

  845

  1,263

  410

  889

  855

  7,451

  1985

  Homes

  23

  29

  25

  26

  33

  14

  27

  22

  199

  Places

  958

  1,224

  1,041

  855

  1,329

  434

  949

  910

  7,700

  Residents

  904

  1,211

  996

  834

  1,273

  410

  865

  863

  7,356

  72 73

  Clwyd

  Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Wales

  1986

  Homes

  23

  29

  24

  27

  34

  14

  27

  23

  201

  Places

  962

  1,273

  1,010

  883

  1,373

  434

  949

  960

  7,844

  Residents

  881

  1,188

  982

  842

  1,287

  394

  795

  902

  7,271

  1987

  Homes

  22

  29

  24

  27

  34

  14

  24

  23

  197

  Places

  899

  1,266

  1,029

  866

  1,372

  440

  868

  929

  7,669

  Residents

  830

  1,199

  982

  824

  1,293

  404

  764

  895

  7,191

  1988

  Homes

  21

  29

  24

  27

  34

  14

  24

  23

  196

  Places

  861

  1,258

  1,030

  860

  1,364

  440

  846

  900

  7,559

  Residents

  797

  1,155

  986

  841

  1,271

  410

  756

  851

  7,067

  1989

  Homes

  20

  27

  24

  27

  34

  14

  24

  22

  192

  Places

  794

  1,148

  1,026

  848

  1,349

  440

  838

  907

  7,350

  Residents

  703

  1,123

  953

  810

  1,248

  404

  758

  793

  6,792

  1 Separate figures for the voluntary and private sectors are not available prior to 1989.

  Toxic Algae
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the effect in Wales of toxic algae upon water resources and those who use them.

  Mr. Grist
  The National Rivers Authority has commenced a major programme, concentrating on public supply reservoirs and inland waters regularly used for water contact sports, to monitor for blue-green algae. If algae is identified in any waters, the authority immediately informs the district council health authority and the owner.

  Responsibility for taking any necessary precautions and bringing the matter to the attention of water users and other members of the public lies with the owners.

  To supplement the information provided by the NRA, Dwr Cymru Cyf is also carrying out routine monitoring of all susceptible water resources used for public supply. Dwr Cymru advises me that, to date, blue-green algae has been reported in four such reservoirs but the algal scums have been limited to small areas on the surface of the water and have thus not adversely affected the water used for public supply.

  Clinical Waste
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to improve security arrangements for the collection and disposal of clinical waste in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  All district health authorities in Wales have been made aware of the provisions contained in the Environmental Protection Bill, which will introduce revised standards for the disposal of clinical waste by incineration.

  Discussions with senior managers of Welsh health authorities have already taken place to focus attention on this subject and a seminar on the new standards and requirements has been arranged for health authority staff and local authority environmental health officers on 4 July.
  74
  Each health authority was also given the opportunity to comment on the consultation document reviewing the operation of the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980 and which proposes that clinical waste should be classified as special waste. If implemented this would require a consignment note procedure to be applied to the disposal of clinical waste.

  Provision is incorporated in the Environmental Protection Bill imposing on producers of waste the duty to ensure the adoption of proper methods of control in its handling and this duty would apply to producers of clinical waste.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give an estimate of the current number of homeless in Wales; and, of those, how many suffer from(a) alcoholism or drug dependency, (b) AIDS and (c) mental illness.

  Mr. Grist
  There were 4,2081 households accepted as homeless during the quarter ending 31 March 1990. Of these, 26 households were classed as in priority need because a household member was considered vulnerable as a result of mental disability. Information on the number of persons in households accepted as suffering from alcohol or drug dependency or AIDS is not collected centrally.

  1 This figure includes an estimated 2,000 households made homeless in Colwyn as a result of the major flooding incident in February 1990.

  Home Helps
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what percentage of persons aged 65 years and over received home help service in each local authority in Wales since 1980; and what estimate he has made of the likely change in these figures as a result of changes in community care.

  Mr. Grist
  The information is shown in the following table:
  75

  Persons aged 65 and over receiving home help

  Clwyd

  Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Wales

  (a) Numbers1

  1980

  3,401

  3,640

  6,567

  2,946

  11,044

  1,006

  5,585

  4,773

  38,962

  1981

  4,063

  3,707

  6,775

  3,065

  11,160

  923

  5,343

  5,024

  40,060

  1982

  4,252

  4,001

  6,867

  3,319

  11,898

  794

  5,816

  5,107

  42,054

  1983

  4,437

  3,983

  7,409

  3,438

  12,863

  808

  7,118

  5,794

  45,850

  1984

  4,496

  3,752

  7,769

  3,309

  13,177

  906

  6,373

  6,588

  46,370

  1985

  4,618

  3,891

  6,512

  3,256

  13,661

  860

  7,095

  7,154

  47,047

  1986

  5,031

  4,134

  8,136

  3,557

  14,009

  873

  7,298

  7,742

  50,780

  1987

  5,128

  4,452

  8,559

  3,297

  14,237

  979

  7,559

  8,009

  52,220

  1988

  5,661

  3,869

  9,643

  2,997

  16,431

  952

  5,208

  7,526

  52,287

  1989

  5,878

  4,956

  9,713

  3,273

  16,711

  986

  5,249

  6,837

  53,603

  (b) As a percentage2

  1980

  5.2

  6.7

  10.6

  7.0

  14.7

  5.3

  9.9

  8.4

  9.0

  1981

  6.1

  6.6

  10.7

  7.1

  14.7

  4.8

  9.4

  8.7

  9.1

  1982

  6.3

  7.2

  10.9

  7.6

  15.6

  4.2

  10.1

  8.7

  9.5

  1983

  6.6

  7.0

  11.6

  8.0

  16.9

  4.2

  12.4

  10.0

  10.4

  1984

  6.7

  6.6

  12.4

  7.7

  17.4

  4.7

  11.1

  11.2

  10.6

  1985

  6.9

  6.8

  10.3

  7.6

  18.0

  4.6

  12.3

  12.3

  10.7

  1986

  7.5

  7.0

  12.6

  8.2

  18.2

  4.5

  12.5

  12.9

  11.3

  1987

  7.5

  7.5

  12.9

  7.5

  18.1

  4.9

  12.7

  13.2

  11.4

  1988

  8.2

  6.4

  14.2

  6.8

  20.5

  4.7

  8.5

  12.2

  11.2

  1989

  8.5

  8.0

  14.1

  7.3

  20.7

  4.8

  8.5

  11.0

  11.4

  1 During the year ended 31 March.

  2 Expressed as a percentage of estimated population aged 65 and over at 30 June in preceding year.

  Changes in patterns and volumes of care will take place on the basis of social care plans which are to be produced by social services authorities working with health authorities and other interests and which are to be published by April 1991.

  Elderly People (Day Centres)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many day centres for the elderly there were, and how many places were available in these day centres in each

  As at 31 March

  Clwyd

  Dyfed1

  Gwent1

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys1

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Wales

  Centres

  Places

  Centres

  Places

  Centres

  Places

  Centres

  Places

  Centres

  Places

  Centres

  Places

  Centres

  Places

  Centres

  Places

  Centres

  Places

  1980

  3

  145

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8

  128

  33

  1,386

  —

  —

  12

  990

  —

  —

  56

  2,649

  1981

  3

  145

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8

  128

  33

  1,364

  —

  —

  13

  1,060

  —

  —

  57

  2,697

  1982

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  10

  183

  27

  1,277

  —

  —

  13

  1,060

  —

  —

  50

  2,520

  1983

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  10

  185

  27

  994

  —

  —

  13

  1,060

  —

  —

  50

  2,239

  1984

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12

  250

  26

  871

  —

  —

  13

  1,060

  —

  —

  51

  2,181

  1985

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14

  284

  26

  866

  —

  —

  13

  1,060

  1

  20

  54

  2,230

  1986

  2

  68

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14

  281

  25

  752

  —

  —

  9

  800

  3

  60

  53

  1,961

  1987

  2

  71

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14

  287

  24

  663

  —

  —

  9

  800

  5

  123

  54

  1,944

  1988

  3

  86

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14

  288

  26

  673

  —

  —

  9

  800

  6

  153

  58

  2,000

  1989

  3

  86

  —

  —

  —

  —

  15

  330

  34

  794

  —

  —

  9

  800

  8

  208

  69

  2,218

  1 Dyfed, Gwent and Powys provide day centres but they cater for a variety of client groups although elderly people are the predominant attenders.

  Primary Schools Dyfed
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list of all Her Majesty's inspectorate reports on individual primary schools in Wales published during the last four years, indicating for each the number of pupils attending.

  Mr. Grist
  Her Majesty's inspectorate reports on individual primary schools to 21 June 1990 are listed in the following tables, by local education authority, with the number of pupils on the school roll in January of the year of publication.
  76
  local authority in Wales in each year since 1980; and what estimate he has made of the likely future change in these figures as a result of changes in community care.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is shown in the following table. Changes in patterns and volumes of care will take place on the basis of social care plans which are to be produced by social services authorities working with health authorities and other interests and which are to be published by April 1991.

  Dyfed

  Report issued

  Number on roll January

  Prendergast Junior

  1986

  241

  Lakefield County Primary

  1986

  218

  Ysgol Gymraeg Rhydaman

  1986

  125

  St. Francis Roman Catholic

  1987

  127

  Plascrug County Primary

  1987

  352

  Tenby Junior

  1987

  189

  Aberporth County Primary

  1988

  166

  Pwll County Primary

  1988

  122

  Ysgol Gynradd Eglwyswrw

  1988

  133

  Llangunner County Primary

  1988

  255

  Grove Junior School

  1988

  235

  Llangeitho County Primary

  1988

  72

  Whitland County Primary

  1988

  156

  Penparcau Junior School

  1988

  95

  77

  Report issued

  Number on roll January

  Ysgol Gymraeg Tielo Sant

  1988

  127

  Llandovery County Primary

  1988

  198

  Barn Street Junior

  1989

  204

  Parc Y Tywyn

  1989

  101

  St. Padarns Roman Catholic Primary School

  1989

  136

  Penygroes County Primary

  1989

  143

  Peniel County Primary

  1989

  118

  St. David's Church in Wales Primary School

  1989

  96

  Gwent

  Report issued

  Number on roll January

  Cwmfelinfach

  1986

  220

  Mathern CP

  1986

  76

  Durham Road Junior

  1986

  325

  Briery Hill CP

  1987

  151

  Pengam CP

  1987

  292

  St. Dials Infants and Welsh unit

  1987

  197

  Llanfair Kilgeddin voluntary controlled

  1987

  29

  Cyltha CP

  1988

  200

  Nantyglo Junior and Infants

  1988

  164

  Henllys Junior and Infants

  1988

  28

  Cwmffrwdoer CP

  1988

  175

  Llangattock Nigh Usk CP

  1988

  25

  Willowtown Junior

  1988

  242

  Ty Sign Junior School

  1988

  293

  St. Woolos PS

  1989

  184

  St. Andrews Infants

  1989

  216

  Libanus PS

  1989

  256

  Alway Junior

  1989

  222

  Dukestown Junior

  1989

  141

  Sofrydd Junior (and Welsh unit)

  1989

  147

  St. Andrews Junior

  1989

  184

  Llwynu Junior

  1990

  183

  Gwynedd

  Report issued

  Number on roll January

  Llandefgan

  1986

  201

  Coed Mawr Infants

  1986

  72

  Glan Adda CP

  1987

  82

  Bodlondeb Voluntary Controlled Infants

  1987

  113

  Dolgellau Voluntary Controlled

  1987

  92

  Ysgol Y Morfa

  1987

  41

  Candnant VC Junior

  1987

  160

  Ysgol Treferthyr

  1988

  148

  Dolgellau Junior

  1988

  99

  Ysgol Morfa Rhianed

  1988

  151

  Beamaris PS

  1988

  165

  Nefyn Infants School

  1988

  171

  Nefyn Junior School

  1988

  Ysgol Fridd Y Llyn

  1988

  24

  Ysgol Gynradd Y Bala

  1988

  90

  Ysgol-Y-Borth

  1988

  24

  Treffos Independent

  1988

  63

  Ysgol Gynradd Y Parc Holyhead

  1989

  230

  Ysgol Cae Top

  1989

  192

  Ysgol Llanfairpwllgyngyll

  1990

  355

  78

  Clwyd

  Report issued

  Number on roll January

  Ysgol Gymraeg Bodhyfryd, Wrexham

  1986

  397

  Glynceiriog CP

  1986

  67

  St. Mary's Voluntary Aided, Ruabon

  1986

  233

  Park Junior CP, Llay

  1986

  236

  Borras Park CP

  1986

  224

  Old Colwyn Junior CP

  1986

  252

  Ysgol Caer Drewyn, Corwen

  1987

  106

  Wat's Dyke Infants, Mynydd ISA

  1987

  233

  Ysgol Mair RC, Rhyl

  1987

  523

  Penley Madras VP

  1987

  117

  Ysgol Bro Cynllaith

  1988

  51

  Ysgol Heol Gaer, Flint

  1988

  234

  Ysgol Emmanuel CP, Rhyl

  1988

  421

  Ysgol Gynradd Bro Cernyw, Abergele

  1988

  97

  Ysgol Derwen, Kinnerton

  1988

  168

  St. Mary's Aided, Overton

  1988

  98

  Bronington VP, Whitchurch

  1988

  110

  Ysgol Dewi Sant, Rhyl

  1989

  319

  Ceiriog Junior CP, Chirk

  1989

  175

  Chirk Infants CP

  1989

  187

  St. Elfod Junior CP, Abergele

  1989

  246

  Penmaenrhos Infants School, Old Colwyn

  1990

  131

  West Glamorgan

  Report issued

  Number on roll January

  Birchgrove Infants

  1986

  290

  Duffryn Afan CP

  1986

  38

  Tirmorfa CP

  1986

  263

  Ynystawe Primary

  1987

  181

  Coedfranc Infant

  1987

  282

  Garnswllt CP

  1987

  25

  Crynallt Junior

  1987

  322

  Llangyfelach

  1987

  133

  Central Junior

  1988

  282

  Glyncorrwg PS

  1988

  174

  Blaengwrach CP

  1988

  149

  Gors Infants School

  1988

  228

  CWM Nedd Welsh PS

  1988

  290

  Bryncoch C in WPS

  1988

  162

  Portmead PS

  1988

  360

  CWM Gors CP

  1989

  96

  Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Bryniago

  1989

  124

  Tywyn PS

  1989

  308

  Baglan PS

  1989

  234

  Pennard CP

  1990

  207

  South Glamorgan

  Report issued

  Number on roll January

  Llanilltud Fawr Primary

  1986

  254

  Ysgol Gymraeg Sant Ffrancis

  1986

  203

  Lakeside County Primary

  1986

  371

  Ysgol Gymraeg Sant Baruc

  1986

  135

  Hywel DDA Junior

  1986

  165

  Pendolylan Church in Wales

  1986

  74

  Llansannor and Llanhari Church in Wales

  1986

  98

  Hawthorn Junior

  1986

  112

  Trowbridge County Infants

  1986

  243

  Gwenfo Church in Wales Controlled

  1987

  130

  Bryn Hafod County Primary

  1987

  357

  Gabalfa Primary

  1987

  307

  Glan yr Afon Infants

  1987

  195

  79

  Report issued

  Number on roll January

  Christ the King Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided

  1987

  234

  Danescourt Junior

  1988

  170

  St. Anne's Church in Wales Infant

  1988

  23

  Murch Junior School

  1988

  254

  Glan yr Afon Junior School

  1988

  210

  Llysfaen County Primary

  1988

  324

  Radnor County Primary

  1988

  297

  Eaglewell Infants

  1989

  190

  Rhws Primary School

  1989

  252

  St. Francis Roman Catholic Junior

  1989

  182

  Holton Junior

  1989

  300

  Ysgol Gymraeg Penarth

  1989

  289

  Ysgol y Wern

  1990

  221

  Powys

  Report issued

  Number on roll January

  Radnor Valley County Primary

  1986

  75

  Irfon Valley County Primary

  1986

  106

  Trefonnen Church in Wales

  1986

  246

  Llandysilio Voluntary Controlled

  1987

  49

  Machynlleth Junior

  1987

  141

  Llangynidr County Primary

  1987

  136

  Gurnos Infants

  1987

  56

  Pentwyn Independent

  1988

  11

  Llanerfyl Church in Wales

  1988

  22

  Crossgates County Primary

  1988

  127

  Ysgol Trefeglwys

  1988

  109

  Penrhos County Primary

  1989

  129

  Ysgol Pennant

  1989

  74

  Buttington/Trewern County Primary

  1989

  68

  Ffynnon Gynydd Church in Wales Primary School

  1989

  35

  Ysgol Maes-Y-Dre

  1989

  235

  Trecastle County Primary

  1989

  41

  Ysgol Gymraeg Ynys Cedwyn, Powys

  1990

  87

  Priory Church in Wales Primary

  1990

  179

  Mid Glamorgan

  Report issued

  Number on roll January

  Bryncethin Junior

  1986

  166

  Llwyncrwn Primary

  1986

  497

  Ysgol Penybont

  1986

  364

  St. Brides Major Church in Wales

  1986

  136

  Ty'n-y-Wern Junior

  1986

  125

  Twyn Junior

  1986

  253

  Hendenny Park County Primary

  1986

  247

  Creigiau County Primary

  1987

  356

  Parc Primary

  1987

  199

  St. Helens' Roman Catholic

  1987

  304

  Cymmer Junior

  1987

  213

  Derwen Deg County Primary

  1987

  301

  Penrhiwceiber Junior

  1987

  196

  West Park

  1987

  186

  Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llantrisant

  1987

  279

  St. Gwladys Junior School

  1988

  154

  Penywaun Junior School

  1988

  184

  Coed-Yr-Esgob Primary School

  1988

  120

  Glantaf Infants

  1988

  148

  Newtown Primary School

  1988

  39

  Ton Pentre Junior

  1989

  150

  Hengoed Infants

  1989

  103

  Trelewis Primary School

  1989

  189

  Ffynnon Taf County Primary

  1989

  160

  Cwm Ifor Infants

  1989

  165

  Cefn Glas Infants

  1989

  299

  Marlas Infants

  1990

  126

  80

  Report issued

  Number on roll January

  Lansbury Park Infants

  1990

  257

  St. Mary's and St. Patrick's Primary School

  1990

  193

  Peny-Y-Graig Junior

  1990

  112

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list of those primary schools which(a) have closed in Wales during the last three years, (b) have been considered by him and their closure approved and (c) have been considered by him and their closure rescinded; and if he will give for each school the number of pupils attending.

  Mr. Grist
  The information is as follows:

  Primary Schools Closed 1987

  Clwyd

  1 Llangwm Church in Wales VC Primary

  1 Llanrhaeadr Yn Cymmerch VC Primary

  1 Shotton County Nusery

  Dyfed

  1 Model VC Primary

  Gwent

  1 St. Mary's RC VC Infants—Amalgamation

  1 St. Mary's RC VC Junior—Amalgamation

  1 Llanfair Discoed County Primary

  1 Trellech VC Primary

  1 Penallt VC Primary

  1 Catbrook County Primary

  1 The North County Primary

  1 Llanishen County Primary

  2 Beaufort Hill County Infants—Amalgamation

  2 Beaufort Hill County Junior—Amalgamation

  Gwynedd

  2 Nefyn County Primary—Amalgamation

  2 Nefyn County Infants—Amalgamation

  2 Ysgol Maenon (County Primary)

  West Glamorgan

  2 Bishopstown County Junior

  Primary schools closed 1988

  Dyfed

  2 Penwaun County Primary

  2 Carmarthen County Nursery

  1 Llandewi Velfrey VC Infants

  1 Priory Street Church in Wales VC Primary

  1 Pentrepoeth County Infants

  1 Pentrepoeth County Junior

  Gwent

  2 Tredegar Wharf County Primary

  2 Alexandria County Primary

  2 Bolt Street County Primary

  2 Belle Vue County Nursery

  1 Caerwent VC Infants

  Gwynedd

  Ysgol Capel Curig

  Mid Glamorgan

  2 Glynogwr County Primary

  Powys

  1 Cray County Primary

  West Glamorgan

  2 Morriston County Junior

  Primary schools closed 1989

  Clwyd

  1 Rhuallt County Primary

  1 Golftyn County Infants

  81

  Dyfed

  1 Adpar County Primary

  1 Newcastle Emlyn VC Primary

  1 Park County Infants

  1 Pembroke Dock County Junior

  2 Penparcau County Infants—Amalgamation

  2 Penparcau County Junior—Amalgamation

  2 Trimsaran County Infants—Amalgamation

  2 Trimsaran County Junior—Amalgamation

  Gwent

  1 Mathern County Primary

  1 St. Arvans VC Primary

  2 George Street County Nursery

  2 George Street County Junior and infants

  Gwynedd

  1 Ysgol Glanypwll (County Primary)

  Mid Glamorgan

  2 Llanilltud Faerdref County Junior—Amalgamation

  2 Llanilltud Faerdref County Infants—Amalgamation

  Powys

  2 Llanfrynach Church in Wales VC Primary

  West Glamorgan

  2 Cadle County Infants

  1 Proposal approved by the Secretary of State.

  2 Proposal determined by the maintaining authority.

  During the period one proposal, by Clwyd LEA, to close Cornist Infants School, was rejected by the Secretary of State in 1989.

  The Department does not maintain records of primary school closures by size of school.

  Community Care
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the additional costs will be following the implementation of the proposals of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill in Wales; and how much will be attributable to community care.

  Mr. Grist
  The estimated additional recurrent costs in Wales of the implementation of the proposals for the national health service which were included in the explanatory and financial memorandum to the National Health Service and Community Care Bill are £10.85 million. The estimated costs for community care in Wales are being considered in the current public expenditure survey.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with local authority representatives from Wales of the financial implications of the new community care policy.

  Mr. Grist
  Our officials have had extensive discussions with local authority representatives in Wales under the aegis of the Welsh consultative council on local government finance (WCCLGF) to consider the expenditure implications of the arrangments proposed in the White Paper "Caring for People" (Cm 849). My right hon. Friend will be discussing this matter with the local authority associations at the meeting of the WCCLGF on 4 July.

  Village Schools
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his policy on small village schools.
  82
  Mr. Grist
  Our school reforms are intended to improve the quality of education in all schools irrespective of size or location. It is for local education authorities to determine the pattern of education in their areas.

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the answers of 10 May,Official Report, column 196, and 30 April, Official Report, columns 426–27, about energy consumption, what is the square footage of office space to which these figures relate.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The figure is 717,960 sq ft.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what sums of money have been or are being made available by his Department to support the implementation of the all-Wales strategy for mental illness in each relevant financial year.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 30 April, columns 425–26.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether projects concerned primarily with mental illness will be eligible for grant aid under the urban programme in Wales for the 1991–92 financial year.

  Mr. Grist
  No. As proposed in the White Paper "Caring for People: Community Care in the Next Decade and Beyond" (Cm. 849) and confirmed in Welsh Office circular No. 22/90, a copy of which is in the Library, urban programme resources for community care projects are being transferred to more appropriate Welsh Office funding programmes. This change includes special funding for mental illness services which, from April this year, is allocated solely under the Welsh Office mental illness strategy.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was invested in improving the energy efficiency of his Department in the latest available year.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Energy efficiency is taken into consideration when building works and maintenance schemes are undertaken in my Department's offices, and expenditure relating to energy efficiency is not separately identified.

HEALTH

  Immunisation
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to complete the pilot study of parent-held child immunisation cards.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the results of the pilot study of parent-held child record immunisation cards.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The British Paediatric Association published the report of a joint working party on
  83
  professional and parent-held records used in child health surveillance in May and launched the record itself on 12 June. Copies of the report and a specimen of the child health record, which includes a record of immunisations, have been placed in the Library.

  Drugs
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what compensation other than through civil action is available to families of somebody who had died from the effects of a particular drug when that drug has begun to show unexpected side-effects.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The question of whether compensation is payable depends on the detailed circumstances of the case. The means by which parties pursue issues between them either by discussion, negotiation, or litigation must also be determined by the circumstances. The Medicines Act 1968 makes no provision for compensation, being a measure aimed at providing safety, quality and efficacy of marketed medicines. Decisions made under the Act are based on the best possible scientific judgment on available information and are monitored carefully, but the possibility of unexpected side-effects cannot be totally excluded.

  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he plans to bring forward legislation which will allow a victim of a drug injury to claim compensation without having to prove negligence on the part of the manufacturer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 any person injured by a defective product (including a medicinal one) may seek redress through the courts without having to prove negligence on the part of the manufacturer of that product.

  Health Education
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be the total expenditure on health education in 1990–91 by(a) the Health Education Authority, (b) each regional health authority in England and (c) other agencies; and what proportion of the budget of each regional health authority is devoted to health education.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The planned expenditure on health education in 1990–91 by the Health Education Authority is £26.8 million.

  It is not possible to quantify the proportion of total regional allocations spent on health education by each regional health authority since so much of it is integral to health service activity.

  The Department also provides funding under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, for a large number of voluntary bodies, many of which undertake health education as part of their overall role.

  Joint Finance
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, for each regional health authority in England,(a) the total sum available for joint finance for each year 1984–85 to 1990–91, (b) what this sum represents as a percentage of the total regional health authority
  84
  budget and (c) what proportion of joint finance was allocated to projects relating specifically to the closure of long-stay hospitals.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information on the sums allocated for joint finance (revenue and capital) and the proportion that represents of regional health authorities' total initial allocations (revenue and capital) is shown in the tables. Information on sums allocated to projects relating specifically to the closure of long-stay hospitals is not held centrally.

  1984–85

  Regional health authority

  Joint finance allocation £ million

  Percentage of total initial allocation per cent.

  1· Northern

  6·526

  1·1

  2· Yorkshire

  7·356

  1·1

  3· Trent

  9·097

  1·1

  4· East Anglia

  3·910

  1·1

  5· North West Thames

  7·034

  1·0

  6· North East Thames

  8·293

  0·9

  7· South East Thames

  8·649

  1·1

  8· South West Thames

  6·710

  1·1

  9· Wessex

  5·982

  1·1

  10· Oxford

  4·315

  1·1

  11· South Western

  7·055

  1·1

  12· West Midlands

  9·821

  1·0

  13· Mersey

  5·297

  1·0

  14· North Western

  8·844

  1·0

  1985–86

  Regional health authority

  Joint finance allocation £ million

  Percentage of total initial allocation per cent.

  1· Northern

  6·732

  1·0

  2· Yorkshire

  7·702

  1·0

  3· Trent

  9·707

  1·1

  4· East Anglia

  4·107

  1·1

  5· North West Thames

  7·464

  1·0

  6· North East Thames

  8·692

  0·9

  7· South East Thames

  9·443

  1·1

  8· South West Thames

  7·129

  1·1

  9· Wessex

  6·320

  1·1

  10· Oxford

  5·031

  1·2

  11· South Western

  7·456

  1·1

  12· West Midlands

  10·875

  1·0

  13· Mersey

  5·924

  1·1

  14· North Western

  9·360

  1·0

  1986–87

  Regional health authority

  Joint finance allocation £ million

  Percentage of total initial allocation Per cent.

  1· Northern

  7·132

  1·0

  2· Yorkshire

  8·310

  1·0

  3· Trent

  9·958

  1·0

  4· East Anglia

  4·236

  1·0

  5· North West Thames

  7·989

  1·0

  6· North East Thames

  9·220

  0·9

  7· South East Thames

  10·030

  1·1

  8· South West Thames

  7·327

  1·1

  9· Wessex

  6·536

  1·1

  10· Oxford

  4·869

  1·1

  11· South Western

  7·867

  1·1

  12· West Midlands

  10·845

  1·0

  13· Mersey

  5·465

  1·0

  14· North Western

  9·998

  1·0

  85

  1987–88

  Regional health authority

  Joint finance allocation £ million

  Percentage of total initial allocation Per cent.

  1. Northern

  7·397

  1·0

  2· Yorkshire

  8·305

  1·0

  3· Trent

  9·942

  1·0

  4· East Anglia

  4·506

  1·0

  5· North West Thames

  7·897

  1·0

  6· North East Thames

  9·010

  0·9

  7· South East Thames

  10·354

  1·1

  8· South West Thames

  7·499

  1·0

  9· Wessex

  6·647

  1·1

  10· Oxford

  4·782

  1·0

  11· South Western

  8·099

  1·1

  12· West Midlands

  11·292

  0·9

  13· Mersey

  5·828

  1·0

  14· North Western

  9·357

  0·9

  1988–89

  Regional health authority

  Joint finance allocation £ million

  Percentage of total initial allocation Per cent.

  1· Northern

  7·268

  0·9

  2· Yorkshire

  8·383

  0·9

  3· Trent

  10·564

  0·9

  4· East Anglia

  4·784

  1·0

  5· North West Thames

  7·899

  0·9

  6· North East Thames

  9·362

  0·8

  7· South East Thames

  9·762

  1·0

  8· South West Thames

  7·538

  0·9

  9· Wessex

  7·121

  1·0

  10· Oxford

  4·912

  0·9

  11· South Western

  8·293

  1·0

  12· West Midlands

  11·516

  0·9

  13· Mersey

  5·819

  0·9

  14· North Western

  9·628

  0·9

  1989–90

  Regional health authority

  Joint finance allocation £ million

  Percentage of total initial allocation Per cent.

  1· Northern

  7·623

  0·8

  2· Yorkshire

  8·774

  0·9

  3· Trent

  11·114

  0·9

  4· East Anglia

  5·067

  0·9

  5· North West Thames

  8·279

  0·8

  6· North East Thames

  9·800

  0·8

  7· South East Thames

  10·235

  0·9

  8· South West Thames

  7·894

  0·9

  9· Wessex

  7·506

  1·0

  10· Oxford

  5·218

  0·9

  11· South Western

  8·732

  1·0

  12· West Midlands

  12·104

  0·8

  13· Mersey

  6·094

  0·8

  14· North Western

  10·051

  0·8

  1990–91

  Regional health authority

  Joint finance allocation £ million

  Percentage of total initial allocation Per cent.

  1· Northern

  8·004

  0·8

  2· Yorkshire

  9·213

  0·8

  3· Trent

  11·669

  0·8

  4· East Anglia

  5·321

  0·9

  5· North West Thames

  8·693

  0·8

  86

  Regional health authority

  Joint finance allocation £ million

  Percentage of total initial allocation Per cent·

  6· North East Thames

  10·291

  0·7

  7· South East Thames

  10·747

  0·9

  8· South West Thames

  8·289

  0·8

  9· Wessex

  7·882

  0·9

  10· Oxford

  5·478

  0·8

  11· South Western

  9·169

  0·9

  12· West Midlands

  12·708

  0·8

  13· Mersey

  6·399

  0·8

  14· North Western

  10·533

  0·8

  Child Accident Prevention
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total level of Government spending on child accident prevention via(a) the Health Education Authority, (b) the Royal Society for the Prevention of 1988–89 Accidents and (c) other agencies.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Health Education Authority and the Child Accident Prevention Trust, both of which are funded by the Department, expect to spend £127,000 and £107,000 respectively on child accident prevention in 1990–91. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents receives funding from a number of Government Departments; the largest grant is from the Department of Transport, which has allocated it £389,000 in the current financial year for its road safety activities. These extend beyond child accident prevention.

  Friedreich's Ataxia
  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish a separate unitary fund for research into Friedreich's Ataxia.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We have no plans to do so. The Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives grant in aid frorn the Department of Education and Science, is the main Government agency for the promotion of biomedical and clinical research in the United Kingdom. In 1988–89, the last financial year for which figures are available, the MRC spent £197,000 on research projects which were relevant to Friedreich's Ataxia. The council is always willing to consider soundly based proposals for research funding in competition with other applications. In addition to this, university departments and medical schools, with support from University Funding Council block grants and health authorities, may be undertaking research into Friedreich's Ataxia; information on this is not collected centrally.

  Committee on Safety of Medicines
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health of the current members of the Committee on Safety of Medicines how many have declared that they are given(a) private consultancy fees from pharmaceutical companies and (b) research grants to their medical departments.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Interests are declared in accordance with the code of practice published with the annual report of the Medicines Commission. A copy is in the Library. Under the code, personal interests involve payments to the member personally, for example, consultancies or other fee-paid work. Non-personal
  87
  interests involve payments to a department for which a member is responsible, but does not benefit the member personally, for example, commissioned research. Currently there are 21 members of the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) and the interests they have declared are as follows:

  Members

  (a) A personal and non-personal interests

  11

  (b) Non-personal interests only

  7

  It is vital that committees providing expert scientific advice on medicines have members with practical experience of research and up-to-date scientific knowledge. By following the ethical standards set by the code of practice members are able to avoid conflicts of interest which might otherwise impair the objectivity of the advice they give. We have full confidence in the personal integrity of the members of the CSM.

  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will list the names of those members of the Committee on Safety of Medicines who are specialised in allergenic diseases.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The membership of the Committee on Safety of Medicines and its sub-committees covers a wide range of specialties. Additional experts may be consulted or appointed as temporary members as and when necessary. A table showing the membership of the committee and its sub-committees has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the Committee on Safety of Medicines voted in respect of the drug Corwin.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The deliberations of the Committee on Safety of Medicines are confidential.

  Tampons
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is currently being undertaken by the Government into toxic shock syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  For several years the staphyococcal reference laboratory of the public health laboratory service has gathered information about the occurrence of toxic shock syndrome and has characterised the strains involved from this and other conditions. Work in this field is also being carried out in universities and national health service hospitals and at the centre for applied microbiological research, Porton Down.

  Waiting Lists
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the function of waiting list funds and initiatives.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The waiting list initiative and waiting list fund provides targeted resources to enable health authorities to treat additional patients from the waiting list, and to reduce the number of patients who wait excessively long times. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. King) on 18 January 1990 at columns 403–4.

  GPs (Computer Software)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress on the provision of computer software for general practitioners' budgets.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We are continuing our discussions with the computer companies, many of which have been directly consulted during the development of the technical specifications for the software package. We are unable to give any details about these discussions at this stage as to do so would be a breach of commercial confidentiality.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many relatives of glaucoma sufferers in each district health authority area of England received free eyesight tests 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 Relatives of glaucoma sufferers

  Relatives over 40

  Regional health authority

  Northern

  2,700

  Yorkshire

  3,950

  Trent

  9,260

  East Anglia

  3,900

  North West Thames

  3,500

  North East Thames

  5,190

  South East Thames

  4,150

  South West Thames

  4,800

  Wessex

  5,860

  Oxford

  3,250

  South Western

  4,950

  West Midlands

  5,650

  Mersey

  2,520

  North Western

  5,360

  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.

  Family Practitioner Committees
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects to receive a report from the Bolton family practitioner committee of the inquiry into the financial background and other related matters of its general manager; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he has any plans to change the reference and vetting procedures for recruitment of officials to posts involving responsibility for public resources to require that their past financial and other relevant history is available to the interviewing committee.
  89
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I understand that Bolton family practitioner committee dismissed its general manager on 14 June with immediate effect. This decision was a matter for the committee as employing authority.

  Under the terms of health circular HC(FP)(89)9, which governs FPC general manager appointments, regional health authorities were asked to provide a complete service to family practitioner committees for the recruitment and appointment process. This service was provided to Bolton family practitioner committee by the North Western regional health authority. I understand that the authority is re-examining the procedures applied in this case. If more general lessons emerge, we shall ensure they are brought to the attention of other national health service authorities.

  A copy of health circular HC(FP)(89)9 has been placed in the Library.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what demographic and social changes were taken into account in his Department's calculation of the numbers of elderly persons likely to need local authority support to live in residential homes after 1991.

  Mr. Dorrell
  It will of course be for local authorities to decide how many elderly people should receive residential care with their support in future years. Each year the local authority associations will provide the Department with estimates of the number of people whom they consider are likely to receive such care, taking into account demographic and other factors and those estimates will be taken into account by the Government in determining the level of revenue support grant to local authorities.

  "Face the Facts"
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the transcript of the BBC Radio Four programme, "Face the Facts", broadcast on 13 June.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No. Whilst the Department is aware of its content, the programme was concerned in the main with compensation claims in respect of families who had been in some way connected with the operations of the Sellafield reprocessing plant. Matters relating to nuclear safety are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy.

  Ambulance Dispute
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when regional health authorities were notified of charges arising from the military assistance during the ambulance dispute; and when the costs were notified to each district health authority of the sums they would have to pay towards costs incurred during the ambulance dispute;

  (2) what is the total amount of money that each regional health authority has been asked to pay for costs incurred during the ambulance dispute for military assistance; and what is the amount apportioned to each district health authority budget by regional health authorities.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The total costs that each regional health authority has been asked to pay for military assistance during the ambulance dispute are given 90
  in the table. Regional health authorities were notified of amounts due in respect of the period to 31 December 1989 on 7 March 1990, and in respect of the period January to 31 March 1990, on 14 June 1990. Information is not held centrally about the amount apportioned by regions to district health authorities nor when such amounts 'were notified.

  Region

  Total amount (£ thousands)

  Northern

  474

  Yorkshire

  534

  Trent

  654

  East Anglian

  284

  North West Thames

  520

  North East Thames

  646

  South East Thames

  581

  South West Thames

  480

  Wessex

  399

  Oxford

  319

  South Western

  475

  West Midlands

  764

  Mersey

  379

  North Western

  649

  Total

  7,158

  Children Act 1989
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the expected date or dates for implementation of the provisions of the Children Act 1989.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Some provisions of the Children Act 1989 are already in force. We plan to implement the remaining provisions in October 1991.

  Night Working
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the implications for care homes of the proposed European Community directive on night working.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The European Commission has not yet issued a draft of its proposed directive on working time; however, we understand that the Commission is likely to propose restrictions on night and shift working. Clearly this may have implications for a wide range of workers, including those in care homes, and in other health services, where there is a need to maintain care on a 24–hour basis. We will not be able to assess the full implications until the Commission has published its detailed proposal.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further representations he has received regarding hospitals opting out of the present national health service management structure.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 16 May at column 418. Since then a further six units have expressed interest in national health service trust status. This brings the total number of units which have expressed interest in trust status to 199.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the national medical organisations which have
  91
  made representations to him expressing support for proposals for national health service hospitals to become self-governing.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Since the White Paper was published in 1989 it has attracted a great deal of interest from the medical profession at national and at local level. Much of the discussion with the national organisations has been about the detailed implications and practical details of the implementation of the proposals. At local level there is substantial interest and support from the medical profession on the proposals for establishing NHS trusts.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how far his decision on whether a hospital will become self-governing will depend on the number of individuals and organisations in the area who have been involved in the consultation process concerned being in favour of such a step being taken.

  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, including any views expressed in the local consultation exercise.

  Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, Porton
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) of 19 April,Official Report, column 990, if he will make a statement on the state of negotiations with Porton International on the future of the centre for applied microbiology and research, Porton.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have nothing to add to the reply my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) on 19 April at column 990.

  NHS Pay Bargaining
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his reply of 12 June,Official Report, columns 150–51, whether he intends to issue guidance in respect of pay to protect specific groups of workers and to prevent shortages in specialisms across the country.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There are no plans to issue guidance on pay in national health service trusts. Guidance will be issued on non-medical education and training to ensure an adequate supply of suitably trained staff throughout the national health service.

  Sheppey General Hospital
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in the assessment made regarding the proposals to cut acute geriatric and acute medical provision at Sheppey general hospital, what regard was made to questions of(a) population influx to Sheppey in the summer months, (b) future housing development in Sheppey, (c) the nature of access to the island and (d) the availability of an ambulance service on the island.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Medway health authority is currently consulting locally on its proposals for Sheppey general hospital.
  92
  The hon. Member should contact the chairman of Medway health authority for information about the factors taken into account in the authority's assessment of the future use of Sheppey general hospital.

  Clinical Waste
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to improve security arrangements for the collection and disposal of clinical waste in England.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Collection and disposal of clinical waste is governed by the Control of Pollution Act 1974 and the related Collection and Disposal of Waste Regulations 1988 (Si 1988, No. 819).

  It is the responsibility of health authorities to ensure adequate arrangements are made for the safe storage, collection and disposal of clinical waste from their premises. The responsibility for collection and disposal of clinical waste from private dwellings rests with the local authority.

  Obstetric Accidents
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, in the light of recent evidence published in the British Medical Journal of 26 May on the causes of certain obstetric accidents, he will undertake a review of the training of junior doctors in relation to foetal heart monitoring and the use of obstetric forceps.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The training of junior hospital doctors in the use of techniques such as foetal monitoring and the application of forceps is a matter for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the individual consultants under whose supervision such junior doctors work. However, issues like those identified in the recent article in the British Medical Journal will, as a matter of course, be raised during the regular meetings held between the Department and the college.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was invested in improving the energy efficiency of his Department in the latest available year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  For the whole of the period for which information is available, the Department of Health was part of the Department of Health and Social Security. I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security gave him today.

SCOTLAND

  Flooding, River Tay
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the expert hydrologists who will carry out the independent survey of the causes of the flooding in the River Tay valley on Sunday 5 and Monday 6 February will have powers to investigate the operation of the hydro board water control measures on these dates.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The independent study will be overseen by a working group of interested parties
  93
  and the consultants will be free to investigate any matters within the agreed terms of reference. Scottish Hydro-Electric plc is represented on the working group and we would expect any relevant information to be made available.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the powers(a) under which the independent survey of the flooding in February in the River Tay valley will be carried out and (b) under which his Department is funding the survey.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The independent consultant is to be appointed by Tayside regional council which has powers under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to investigate, and collect information relating to, any matter concerning its area.

  The Government's contribution towards the cost of the survey will he made under the authority of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act 1911 and the Appropriation Act.

  Fishing Industries
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the likelihood of haddock quotas being exhausted before the end of 1990; and whether he has any plans to ensure that excess landings in any producer organisation's area do not lead to closures in other areas where quotas are not in danger of being exceeded.

  Mr. Lang
  The objective of the fisheries departments is to ensure maximum uptake in the United Kingdom's haddock fisheries without exceeding national quotas. Fisheries departments, therefore, closely monitor uptake as well as operating established penalty and compensation arrangements for overfishing. Departments are implementing in full special arrangements introduced in March in the North sea haddock fishery with the aim of spreading uptake more evenly throughout the year, thus minimising the risk of premature closure. At that time departments wrote to producer organisations setting a limit of the amount of fish they could take by 30 June. A further limit was set on the amount that could be taken by 30 September. To enforce this measure fisheries departments will, as a minimum, suspend the North sea haddock licence of any producer organisation which looks as though it will breach its 30 June limit (or 60 per cent. of the more recently circulated interim allocations, whichever is the greater) and are considering whether more stringent action is required if the 30 September limit is breached. Such suspensions will apply to individual producer organisations and can be effective for differing periods of time. To date none of the Scottish, and only one of the English producer organisations is likely to have problems remaining within its 30 June limit.

  I believe that the measures that departments have already taken considerably reduce the risk of United Kingdom catches getting out of hand, but it would be wrong of me to guarantee under any circumstances a full 12–month fishery since this will depend on self-discipline being exercised by fishermen and their organisations.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if all cattle arriving at Scottish abattoirs are subject to examination for BSE.
  94
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Since 1961 all cattle slaughtered in Scottish abattoirs have been subjected to statutory ante-mortem inspection by suitably qualified meat inspectors or veterinary surgeons in order to determine whether they are showing symptoms of any disease, including BSE, or signs of injury, disease or stress. This applies equally to export approved abattoirs and those producing meat for domestic consumption only.

  GP Budgets
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the general practitioner practices in(a) Inverclyde and (b) Strathclyde which have indicated that they wish to become fund holders.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available centrally.

  Ambulance Services
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which ambulance services have expressed an interest in becoming self-governing trusts.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Chief ambulance officers, in common with a number of others working in the national health service, have asked for, and been given, background briefing on self-governing status.

  Schools (Access)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what specific funding has been made available to local education authorities to enable access to school and college buildings for pupils and teachers with disabilities in each of the last 10 years; and if he has any plans to make specific grants available to local education authorities to carry out necessary capital works to facilitate physical access for people with disabilities;

  (2) what advice he gives to local education authorities on the standards of access for people with disabilities for new designs for and adaptations to school and college buildings; and whether he will consult interested parties concerning statutory provisions for standards of access for new school and college buildings;

  (3) how many primary and secondary schools in (a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland are fully accessible to pupils and teachers with disabilities; what are these figures as percentages of the total number of schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Authorities are responsible for funding educational building work and other capital programmes within the broad limits set each year on the total capital expenditure which each authority may incur. Authorities have wide discretion in the use of capital resources and the limits set are not hypothecated to particular projects or limited to use for individual programmes.

  Since 1985, the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations have required that the design of most new or altered or extended buildings, including schools, take proper account of the needs of disabled people. The Scottish Education Department published guidance to education authorities on access to educational buildings for disabled people in educational building note 19 in 1984. Copies of the regulations and the building note are in the Library.
  95
  Information about local authority buildings which are accessible to the disabled is not held centrally.

  Nursing Homes
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received any representations from(a) COSLA and (b) other interested parties on the provision of nursing home care; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In responding to the White Paper "Caring for People" the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities suggested that the lead responsibility for the registration of nursing homes should lie with local authorities, rather than with health boards as at present. The Government remain of the view that, since nursing homes accommodate people who have a need for health care, health boards are best placed to ensure that standards in nursing homes are maintained.

  I also receive from time to time representations from Members of Parliament and members of the public about various aspects of nursing home care, including the provision of care in individual homes.

  Housing (Elderly People)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he proposes to have on the housing needs of the elderly.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Development Department has recently carried out a research project into the housing needs of elderly people in Scotland. This involved interviews with elderly people themselves and consultation with various interest groups. A circular will be published later this year, based on this research and further informal consultation, giving new guidance on meeting the housing needs of the elderly and other groups who require care in the community.

  Civil Servants (Outside Appointments)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all beneficial appointments and nongovernmental paid positions for which officials and former officials of his Department sought, and were granted, permission to accept since June 1979.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Since June 1979, 55 officials and former officials have sought and received such permission. It is not my Department's practice to release details of individual cases.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the figures in constant value of the output in manufacturing industries in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole (i) in 1979 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lang
  Output figures in constant value terms are calculated for Scotland as a whole only in index form. Output figures for Strathclyde are not available. The table shows manufacturing output of Scotland at constant prices, indexed with 1985=100.
  96

  Manufacturing output index (1985=100)

  Year

  Index

  1979

  103·3

  1980

  96·4

  1981

  93·8

  1982

  94·5

  1983

  93·5

  1984

  97·8

  1985

  100·0

  1986

  97·9

  1987

  100·8

  1988

  108·8

  1989

  112·9

  Source: Index of Industrial Production for Scotland.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table, using 1979 at a value of 100, of investment in real terms in manufacturing in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Lang
  Figures are not available in the form requested because there are no separate price deflators for Scotland and the use of United Kingdom deflators for Scotland does not give sufficiently reliable constant price estimates.

  The following table gives estimates of gross domestic fixed capital formation by manufacturing industry in Scotland at current prices for each year from 1979 to 1987, the latest year for which estimates are available.

  Separate figures for Strathclyde region are not available.

  Gross domestic fixed capital formation Manufacturing industry: Scotland

  Year

  £ millions

  1979

  561

  1980

  645

  1981

  586

  1982

  541

  1983

  470

  1984

  597

  1985

  861

  1986

  788

  1987

  738

  Source: Central Statistical Office.

  Labour Statistics
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing by district council ward the numbers unemployed in the constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow in 1979, 1983, 1987 and for the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Lang
  The table gives the number of unemployed claimants by district council wards for Greenock and Port Glasgow constituency for May 1990, the latest figures available, May 1987 and June 1983, the earliest figures available. Figures on the number unemployed by ward are not available before June 1983.

  Ward

  1990

  1987

  1983

  Port Glasgow East

  397

  759

  695

  Port Glasgow South

  337

  671

  487

  Clune Brae

  305

  642

  433

  Port Glasgow West

  274

  357

  277

  Gibshill

  407

  838

  723

  Blairmore

  262

  420

  489

  Bellville

  310

  493

  368

  97

  Ward

  1990

  1987

  1983

  Greenock East Central

  525

  663

  561

  Broomhill

  192

  330

  235

  Gateside

  208

  322

  213

  Bow

  342

  572

  462

  Larkfield

  286

  567

  414

  Upper Larkfield

  323

  643

  641

  Greenock South

  251

  493

  403

  Greenock West Central

  160

  356

  239

  Greenock West End

  123

  205

  120

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the percentage change in employment in(a) the service sector, (b) self-employment and (c) manufacturing industry between 1979 and 1990.

  Mr. Lang
  Between December 1979 and December 1989, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of employees in employment in the service sector increased by 10.5 per cent., and the number of employees in employment in the manufacturing sector decreased by 29.0 per cent. Over the same period the number of people who are self-employed is estimated to have increased by 54.1 per cent.

  Dyslexic Children
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what new measures he intends to undertake to assist dyslexic children in schools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Responsibility for dyslexic children within schools lies with education authorities, which employ learning support teachers to provide for their special educational needs. Additionally the Scottish Education Department has commissioned a research study of policy, practices and provision for children with specific learning difficulties, including dyslexia, which will identify any gaps in provision and offer guidance to teachers of such children. The research will be completed by spring 1992.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many dyslexic children are educated in each of the education authorities; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many specialist teachers of dyslexics there are in post in each of the education authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The information requested is not available.

  Disabled Teachers
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of students with disabilities who have entered initial teacher training for each of the last 10 years; and what percentage of the total number of student teachers this represents.

  Mr. Lang
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Local Government Finance
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of COSLA to discuss possible changes to the poll tax; and if he will make a statement.
  98
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I met representatives of COSLA on 6 April when several aspects of the community charge, including possible changes to the system, were discussed.

  Homelessness
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) families and (b) single people are accepted as homeless within (i) Inverclyde district, (ii) Strathclyde and (iii) Scotland as a whole.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The number of applicants under the homeless persons legislation assessed by local authorities as homeless, as recorded in the returns submitted to the Scottish Development Department in he year ended 31 March 1989, are as follows:

  Number

  Inverclyde district

  111

  Strathclyde region

  4,494

  Scotland

  9,561

  These returns do not record information on the composition of applicants' households. It is not therefore possible to say how many were from families and single people respectively.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an estimate of the current number of homeless in Scotland, and, of those, how many suffer from(a) alcoholism or drug dependency, (b) Al DS and (c) mental illness.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information on which to base such an estimate is not held centrally.

  EC (Civil Servants)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of people seconded from the Scottish Office to the United Kingdom's permanent representation to the European Community in Brussels, in each of the years since the United Kingdom entered the European Community; and if he will break these down by Scottish Office department.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Scottish Office staff on secondment to the United Kingdom's permanent representation to the European Community in Brussels in each year since 1973 are listed in the table, by department.

  Department

  Year

  Number

  Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland

  1973

  1

  Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland

  1974

  1

  Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland

  1975

  1

  Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland

  1976

  1

  Industry Department for Scotland

  1977

  1

  One Industry Department for Scotland, One Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland

  1978

  2

  One Industry Department for Scotland, One Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland

  1979

  2

  One Industry Department for Scotland, One Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland

  1980

  2

  99

  Department

  Year

  Number

  One Industry Department for Scotland, One Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland

  1981

  2

  Two Industry Department for Scotland, One Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland

  1982

  3

  Industry Department for Scotland

  1983

  1

  One Industry Department for Scotland, One Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland

  1984

  2

  One Industry Department for Scotland, One Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland

  1985

  2

  One Industry Department for Scotland, One Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland

  1986

  2

  One Industry Department for Scotland, Two Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland

  1987

  3

  Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland

  1988

  1

  Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland

  1989

  1

  Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland

  1990

  1

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the numbers, ranks and departments within the Scottish Office of those civil servants who work exclusively on European Community affairs; which are monitoring European Community activities; and which are administering and advising on grants.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Information in the form requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Legal Services
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Scottish Consumers Council about the possible decline of legal services in rural areas.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The council has expressed concern about the possible effect of the Bill on rural legal services, and has welcomed our initiative in monitoring the position. The council welcomes the proposals in the Bill to widen consumer choice as something for which there is demand in Scotland.

  Energy Costs
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the answers of 30 April,Official Report, column 453, and 10 May, Official Report, column 214, about energy consumption, what is the square footage of office space to which these figures relate.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The figure is 1,241,664.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was invested in improving the energy efficiency of his Department in the latest available year.

  Mr. Rifkind
  About £62,000 in 1988–89.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions he has issued to regional councils, environmental health departments and other relevant authorities in Scotland regarding the dangers posed by freshwater algae.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 22 June 1990]: Regional councils are responsible for providing wholesome drinking water and they, together with environmental health and other relevant authorities in Scotland, are aware of the potential problems arising from certain types of freshwater algae. No specific advice has been issued as there is no evidence of a significant problem in Scotland, but the matter is under consideration.

EMPLOYMENT

  Eastern Europe
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he is undertaking to assist the new democratic regimes in eastern Europe.

  Mr. Howard
  The reforming countries of eastern Europe urgently need practical help to develop their labour markets, to fight unemployment, to increase training and retraining, and to generate a spirit of enterprise. My Department is giving a high priority to providing such help, working with and through the Government's know-how fund.

  In recent weeks I have visited Czechoslovakia and Hungary, and have signed agreements of co-operation in the labour market area with both Governments. This week I shall be in Poland, where I shall sign a similar agreement with the Polish Government. These individual agreements set out specific, practical measures, based on each country's particular needs, in a number of areas where my Department can help, including training and retraining, support for the development of small firms and enterprise, and the management of unemployment.

  Departmental Public Relations Adviser
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends making an appointment to his Department of a public relations adviser.

  Mr. Howard
  I have no plans to appoint a public relations adviser.

  Wages Inspectorate
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the annual publicity-promotional budget allocated to his Department's wages inspectorate for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The cost of publicity and promotional activities undertaken by the wages inspectorate is not distinguishable from general running costs.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of people employed by his Department's wages inspectorate in the north-west region for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is given in the table:
  101

  Year

  Number of staff employed in the north-west in September of each year

  1979

  38

  1980

  36

  1981

  28

  1982

  27

  1983

  29

  1984

  29

  1985

  30

  1986

  28

  1987

  121.5

  1988

  119.5

  1989

  120.5

  1 Since 1987, staff employed in the north-west have also had responsibility for advisory and enforcement work in north Wales.

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment where he distributes literature about wage council protection.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Notices giving details of minimum rates are distributed to all establishments where workers covered by wages councils are thought to be employed. These notices and supplementary literature are also issued to other organisations and individuals, in particular those offering advisory services.

  Technical and Vocational Education Initiative
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those local education authorities participating for the first time in TVEI extensions in 1990–91; when each such authority was informed by the Training Agency of their budget for 1990–91; and when they were informed of their budget for 1991–92.

  Mr. Eggar
  Education authorities starting TVEI extension in 1990–91 are as follows:

  Avon

  Barnet

  Central

  Doncaster

  Dorset

  Harrow

  Highland

  Hillingdon

  Humberside

  Knowsley

  Lancashire

  Lincolnshire

  Merton

  Newham

  Nottinghamshire

  Redbridge

  Rotherham

  St. Helens

  Strathclyde—districts of Ayr

  Dumbarton

  Lanark

  Tayside

  These authorities were given approval on 25 May 1990 to start extension. They were informed of their budgets shortly afterwards.

  Authorities have not yet been given their budgets for 1991–92.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide the TVEI extensions budget 102
  for 1990–91 for each local education authority in (a) the north-west, (b) Yorkshire and Humberside, (c) Northern Ireland, (d) Wales and (e) Scotland.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on Wednesday 20 June. TVEI does not operate in Northern Ireland.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of employment training places are not filled.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are estimated to have been on employment training courses since the inception of the scheme; what has been the cost; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  About 700,000 people have entered employment training at a cost of about £1.6 billion. This is indicative both of the programme's success in attracting large numbers of unemployed people and the Government's significant investment in adult training.

  Fatal Accidents
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest figures for fatal accidents at work per million employees and the comparable figure for 1979.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The figure for 1979 was 27 per million employees. The latest available figure, for 1988–89, was 24 per million employees—provisional—which includes the fatalities from the Piper Alpha disaster.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the number of women(a) in full-time work, (b) in part-time work and (c) self-employed for the current year and for 1979.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is as follows:

  Female employment—Great Britain Thousands seasonally adjusted

  Workforce in employment

  Self-employed

  Period

  Full-time

  Part-time

  June 1979

  5,960

  3,837

  348

  December 1989 (latest available)

  6,709

  4,997

  775

  Skill Centres
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total expenditure involved in the payment to METEL for the acquisition of the Liverpool skill centre.

  Mr. Eggar
  No payment was made to METEL for its acquisition of Liverpool skill centre. METEL paid the Government £65,000 for the centre.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total payment to the Training Business Group Ltd. for the acquisition of the Lambeth skill centre.
  103
  Mr. Eggar
  The sale of the training businesses at Lambeth skill centre to the Training Business involved a payment of some £800,000 from the Government to the consortium.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the members of the Lakin consortium who successfully bid for skill centres.

  Mr. Eggar
  The members of the consortium, headed by Mr. Christopher Lakin, who successfully bid for the training businesses at Cumbria, East Lancashire, Ipswich and St. Helens skill centres, are:

  Mr. Christopher Lakin

  Mr. Howard Lien and

  Mr. Clive Ibbison-Steele

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which skill centres have achieved approved training organisation status for employment training.

  Mr. Eggar
  Employment training providers have two years to achieve approved training organisation status. The assessment process for organisations which joined employment training at its outset on 5 September 1988 is still under way. No skill centres have as yet been fully assessed.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total payment to Mr. Lakin for acquisition of skill centres.

  Mr. Eggar
  The sale of the training businesses at Cumbria, East Lancashire, Ipswich and St. Helens skill centres to the consortium headed by Mr. Christopher Lakin involved a payment of some £2.1 million from the Government to the consortium.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the dismissed staff at Liverpool skill centre have been offered re-engagement by the METEL group; and under what terms and conditions of employment.

  Mr. Eggar
  Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd.—METEL—purchased Liverpool skill centre on 14 May 1990. From the completion of the sale contract, responsibility for the continuing employment of former STA staff, and the terms and conditions of their employment passed to it. It is understood that four former STA staff were offered re-engagement, but I am not aware of the terms and conditions which are a matter for METEL.

  Employment Service Offices
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the total number of full-time employment exchanges; and if he will list the full-time employment exchanges which his Department is currently considering closing for Scotland, Wales, the standard regions of England and Great Britain;

  (2) what is the total number of local employment exchanges; and if he will list any part-time local employment exchange which his Department is currently considering closing for Scotland, Wales, the standard regions of England and Great Britain;

  (3) what is the total number of part-time unemployment benefit offices; and if he will list the part-time
  104
  unemployment benefit offices which his Department is currently considering closing, for Scotland, Wales, the standard regions of England and Great Britain;

  (4) what is the total number of full-time unemployment benefit offices; and if he will list the full-time unemployment benefit offices which his Department is currently considering closing, for Scotland, Wales, the standard English regions and Great Britain.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Employment Service became an executive agency on 2 April 1990. Mr. Mike Fogden, the Employment Service agency's chief executive, will be replying in writing to the hon. Gentleman.

  Skills Training Agency
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total amount paid to Mr. Bishell, Mr. Kent and Mr. Wells for consultancy fees on the sale of the Skills Training Agency; if he will list the consultants involved; whether the advance has been repaid; and for what period consultancy advice was given.

  Mr. Eggar
  As I informed the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer) on 3 April 1990,Official Report, column 585, Mr. Bishell, Mr. Wells and Mr. Kent appointed Coopers and Lybrand to advise on their bid for the Skills Training Agency and Irwin Mitchell to provide legal advice.

  Following the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Sir N. Fowler) on 13 March 1989 that he intended to make financial assistance available to members of STA staff contemplating a buy-out, Messrs Bishell, Wells and Kent applied for help. This was offered on 31 March 1989. A total of £82,500, excluding VAT, was made available to them as a contribution to their costs, and this has now been repaid in accordance with the terms on which it was offered.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total estimated expenditure involved in the payment of fees to Deloitt Haskins and Sells for work done on the privatisation of the Skills Training Agency, for the most recent dates for which figures are available.

  Mr. Eggar
  Similar questions were recently posed by the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer). I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to him on 27 March,Official Report column 158 which was reiterated on 3 April, Official Report column 585. Total expenses in connection with the sale of the Skills Training Agency in 1989–90, including professional fees and expenses paid to Deloittes and other advisers will be available in the appropriation accounts—class VI, vote 5—to be published in the summer.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed by the Health and Safety Executive at the latest available date.

  Mr. Nicholls
  At 1 April 1990 the Health and Safety Executive employed 3,698 staff.

  Employment Schemes
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which of the Government schemes to increase employment he has assessed as producing the best results.

  Mr. Eggar
  Indicators of the cost-effectiveness of Government measures to assist unemployed people into work are published in chapter 6 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1990–91 to 1992–93" (Cm. 1006). Since the nature of the measures and the characteristics of their respective client groups differ, it is not possible to single out any one as producing results which are better than the others.

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the answer of 30 April,Official Report, column 448, what is the square footage of office space to which these figures relate.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The square footage is 16,913,143.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 30 April,Official Report, column 448, if he will break down the figure of £0.578 million into spending on solid fuels, liquid fuels and any other categories.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 22 June 1990]: Cost details were not collected in the form requested and this information is not readily available.

ENERGY

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the effect of the top limit of 90 per cent. of the grant available under the home energy efficiency scheme, especially to households in the lowest income brackets.

  Mr. Baldry
  A number of representations have been received about the 90 per cent. limit as part of the consultation process. These are currently being considered.

  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to promote energy efficiency in business and industry.

  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to promote energy efficiency in business and industry.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Energy Efficiency Office encourages the adoption of energy efficiency measures in the home and the workplace, through a comprehensive marketing strategy at national and regional levels. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State is currently hosting a series of seminars for key energy users throughout the country.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many homes he expects to be provided with energy conservation improvements via the home energy efficiency scheme in(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole in the next financial year.
  106
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the number of homes he expects to be provided with energy efficiency improvements via the home energy efficiency scheme in the next financial year.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The home energy efficiency scheme will increase the take-up of basic insulation measures in low-income households. Final targets for the number of homes to be treated will be set following finalisation of the details of the scheme in the light of the consultation process.

  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what calculations his Department has made of the potential reduction in greenhouse gases which would result from the improved thermal efficiency achievable by industrial, commercial and city combined heat and power; and if he has any plans to provide stronger market signals.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  "An Evaluation of Energy Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions", published as energy paper No. 58 estimated that growth in CHP could, based on plausible assumptions, lead to reductions of 5 to 10 per cent. of United Kingdom carbon dioxide emissions.

  Interest in CHP is already increasing rapidly in response to direct market signals. These are supplemented by my Department's encouragement of the use of combined heat and power through its best practice programme and by the industry's own marketing initiative, under the auspices of the Combined Heat and Power Association.

  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he has taken to ensure Government Departments practise greater energy efficiency.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Since the details of a campaign to promote energy efficiency within Government Departments were announced on 20 July 1989, Ministers with special responsibility for departmental energy use have met three times to discuss progress towards the Government's aim of achieving savings rising to £45 million per annum—15 per cent. of the current bill—over five years. The first report on the campaign will be published shortly.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much was invested in improving the energy efficiency of his Department in the latest available year.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Investment in items expected to make a significant contribution to the energy efficiency of the new headquarters building into which my Department moved in September 1989 is estimated by the Property Services Agency to have cost around £1 million. It includes an up-to-date electronic building energy management system, and additional air conditioning and secondary glazing beyond that specified by the developer.

  Offshore Energy Production
  Mr. Quentin Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the total stock of fixed capital investment in offshore oil and gas fields has been invested since 1979.

  Mr. Baldry
  Of the £65,000 million capital investment in offshore oil and gas fields, over 60 per cent. has been invested since 1979.
  107
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the current output of oil and gas from the United Kingdom sector of the continental shelf.

  Mr. Baldry
  Oil and gas production in the first quarter of this year were, respectively, 24.2 million tonnes and 5,700 million therms.

  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what level he expects exploration and appraisal drilling on the United Kingdom continental shelf to reach in the current year.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what level he expects exploration and appraisal drilling on the United Kingdom continental shelf to reach in the current year.

  Mr. Baldry
  A survey of company intentions by my Department showed that a record number of more than 200 exploration and appraisal wells could be drilled in the United Kingdom continental shelf this year.

  Department of Energy research, development and demonstration expenditure on renewable energy (£ millions)

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Wind

  0·6

  0·8

  0·9

  2·5

  2·5

  4·8

  5·4

  3·7

  4·0

  3·9

  4·8

  Wave

  3·0

  3·3

  4·4

  3·1

  1·0

  0·4

  0·4

  0·1

  0·2

  0·1

  0·1

  Geothermal Aquifers

  1·3

  1·7

  2·6

  1·5

  1·8

  1·1

  0·3

  0·1

  0·0

  0·1

  0·2

  Geothermal hot dry rocks

  0·0

  0·6

  5·6

  3·0

  2·9

  4·6

  3·5

  3·5

  3·6

  3·5

  3·3

  Solar

  1·2

  0·9

  0·7

  1·4

  0·9

  0·5

  0·7

  0·9

  1·1

  1·4

  1·9

  Biomass1

  0·1

  0·4

  0·4

  1·2

  0·7

  1·1

  0·8

  1·3

  2·2

  1·5

  1·4

  Tide

  0·6

  1·4

  0·4

  0·0

  0·0

  0·3

  0·1

  0·1

  1·4

  1·2

  1·1

  Hydro/General studies

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·8

  0·8

  0·8

  Technology transfer and promotion

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·7

  1·0

  1·6

  ETSU services

  1·4

  2·2

  2·3

  2·0

  1·9

  2·1

  2·0

  2·3

  2·3

  2·5

  2·7

  8·2

  11·3

  17·3

  14·7

  11·7

  14·9

  13·2

  12·0

  16·3

  16·0

  17·9

  1 Includes expenditure on "waste as a fuel" under the Energy Efficiency Demonstration Scheme.

  Note:

  Up to 1986–87 total for R & D also includes expenditure on low head hydro and general studies. These are separately identified for 1987–88 and include work carried out by the Chief Scientist's Group, ETSU.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to reassess the potential for wave power; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  As I announced to the House on 13 November 1989, an updating study to review cost, technical and commercial viability and prospects for wave energy in the United Kingdom is currently under way. The views of all interested parties are welcome and I will ensure that they are all taken into account. Further consultation will take place as work progresses and the final report will be published.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the development potential of Salter's Duck.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  While my Department has no current plans for additional funding of this project, an updating study to review wave energy in the United Kingdom is currently under way. Interested parties will be consulted fully as this study progresses; indeed, only last week I met Professor Salter to ensure that I was personally aware of his views.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he uses on the comparative costs of renewable sources of energy, fossil fuel and nuclear power to guide his conduct of energy policy.

  Mr. Baldry
  In the pursuit of energy policy I make use of information from the energy industries and a variety of other sources.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy by how much investment by the Government in the development of renewable sources of energy has risen since 1979.

  Mr. Baldry
  Annual expenditure since 1979 by the Department of Energy on its renewables programme has more than doubled from £8–2 million to £17–9 million.

  I will arrange for a table of annual expenditure to be published in the Official Report.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to encourage the generation of wind power.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The Government will continue to support a major research and development programme on wind power aimed at developing its commercial viability and environmental acceptability for electricity generation. In addition, wind-generated electricity should benefit from the non-fossil fuel obligation and, at the present time, the public electricity suppliers are examining a number of possible schemes which have been submitted for inclusion under the renewables order to be made in the late summer.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much his Department allocated in 1989 to research and development for(a) nuclear fission and (b) renewable energy sources; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Provision for research and development into nuclear fission in 1989–90 was £135–4 million. This includes research and development into nuclear materials and radioactive waste management. Provision for renewable energy research and development in the same year was £17–9 million. Of the total expenditure of £153.3 million, some 35 per cent. was spent in Scotland.
  109
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has made an assessment of the appropriateness for the development of renewable energy of placing the energy technology support unit at the Atomic Energy Authority's research site at Harwell.

  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has made an assessment of the appropriateness in respect of the development of renewable energy sources of locating the energy technology support unit at the Atomic Energy Authority's research site at Harwell; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Responsibility for the research and development programme on renewable sources of energy remains with my Department. The energy technology support unit is responsible for the day-to day-management of the programme. On that basis, the Advisory Council on Research and Development, set up independently to advise the Secretary of State for Energy on matters of research and development for fuel and power, has reviewed and endorsed my Department's programme on renewables.

  Electricity Generation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the most up-to-date estimate of the share of electricity generation in England and Wales fuelled by(a) coal, (b) nuclear, (c) gas and (d) oil in the year 2000.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Future fuel shares are uncertain and will depend largely on decisions taken by the market. Two possible scenarios for 2005 were published in energy paper No. 58—table 4.10—a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his best estimate of the level of gas burn in electricity generating power stations in 1995, 2000 and 2005.

  Mr. Baldry
  The future levels of gas burn in electricity generating power stations are highly uncertain and will depend on future electricity demand, relative fuel prices, and the investment decisions in the privatised electricity supply industry. Two scenarios of the future gas burn levels in the United Kingdom were published in energy paper No. 58—table 4.11—a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Flue Gas Desulphurisation
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairmen of National Power and PowerGen regarding flue gas desulphurisation.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I meet the chairman of PowerGen and chief executive of National Power frequently and discuss a wide range of issues, including flue gas desulphurisation.

  EC Ministers
  Mr. Buckley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet his European Community counterparts to discuss energy and environment issues.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I expect energy and environment issues to feature regularly at future meetings of the Energy Council. Community Energy Ministers will be meeting informally in Rome next month.
  110
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to attend a meeting of the European Community Council of Energy Ministers.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The next meeting of the European Communities Council of Energy Ministers is due to take place on 29 October 1990. The United Kingdom representation at this Council will be decided on nearer the time. In addition, Energy Ministers of member states will meet informally in Rome on 16 July.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has recently met, or is planning a meeting with, the chairman of Nuclear Electric to discuss privatisation.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I meet the chairman of Nuclear Electric plc regularly to discuss various matters.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next proposes to meet the chairmen of electricity distribution companies to discuss privatisation.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairmen of the area electricity distribution companies to discuss privatisation.

  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the chairmen of electricity distribution companies to discuss privatisation.

  Mr. Cunliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairmen of the area electricity distribution companies to discuss privatisation.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I meet regional electricity company chairmen regularly to discuss a range of matters.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairmen of the area electricity distribution companies to discuss privatisation.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin).

  Coal Production
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the level of national average production in the coal industry in the year ending 1989–90.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State far Energy what was the level of national average production in the coal industry in the year ended 1989–90.

  Mr. Baldry
  During 1989–90 the estimated production of the coal industry, including both deep-mined arid opencast coal, was 95.2 million tonnes.

  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the increase in labour productivity in the coal mining industry since 1983–84.

  Mr. Baldry
  The output of coal per man-shift in the British Coal Corporation has increased by over 75 per cent. since 1983–84.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of Britain's energy output is produced at Sellafield.
  111
  Mr. Baldry
  A total of 0.2 per cent. of Great Britain's energy output in 1989 was produced by the Calder Hall power station at Sellafield.

  Atomic Energy Authority
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals his Department has to assist the Atomic Energy Authority to maintain its atomic energy research capabilities and to develop new non-nuclear business.

  Mr. Baldry
  AEA Technology has launched a major drive to become more commercial, more efficient and to reduce costs. This initiative offers the AEA the opportunity of exploiting its research capabilities and of developing new business.

  Offshore Installations
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the number of accidents involving injury to personnel on offshore installations for the first three months of 1990.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  One fatal accident, 16 serious accidents and 129 accidents causing disablement from work for three days or more were reported to this Department between 1 January 1990 and 31 March 1990.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the director of the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association to discuss safety on offshore installations.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  I meet the director of the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association regularly to discuss a range of issues concerning safety on offshore installations. In addition, my safety directorate is in regular contact with the association about measures to improve offshore safety.

  Lead-free Petrol
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy by how much the sales of lead-free petrol have increased since 1979.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy by how much the sales of lead-free petrol have increased since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Sales of unleaded petrol have increased substantially over the last two years. In 1979 there were no sales of unleaded petrol, whereas currently about one third of petrol sold is unleaded.

  Sizewell B
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many representations he has received in favour of the construction of Sizewell B; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department has received several representations in favour of constructing Sizewell B.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last reviewed the cost of construction and the resulting cost of electricity from the Sizewell B nuclear power station.
  112
  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member for Barnsley, Central (Mr. Illsley) earlier today.

  British Coal
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of British Coal to discuss the future of the coal industry.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I meet the chairman of British Coal regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of British Coal to discuss investment funding for new pits in the east midlands.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I meet the chairman of British Coal on a regular basis to discuss all aspects of the coal industry. I have recently announced a capital allocation for the corporation for 1990–91 of £445 million. Within this allocation investment in particular projects is a commercial matter for the management of British Coal, but I would of course expect to be consulted about any major new investment project.

  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to see the chairman of British Coal to discuss productivity.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I meet the chairman of British Coal on a regular basis to discuss all aspects of the coal industry, including productivity in which the corporation has achieved excellent improvements since 1985.

  Pollution
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the impact on consumer prices of the measures taken to reduce pollution of the environment from power stations.

  Mr. Baldry
  Measures to reduce pollution from existing power stations are likely to increase costs. The extent to which measures to reduce pollution will increase consumer prices will depend on a number of factors, including the cost and availability of alternative, cleaner sources of supply.

  Methane Discharges
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on methane discharges from gas terminals.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Methane cannot be released unignited into the atmosphere from gas terminals unless a consent under section 12 of the Energy Act has been given by the Secretary of State for Energy. Consents are issued only when it has been demonstrated that it is necessary for the safe operation of a particular plant.

  Industrial Gas Prices
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy by how much industrial gas prices have risen since 21 November 1986; and by how much they rose between 1974 and 1979.
  113
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy by how much industrial gas prices have risen since 21 November 1986; and by how much they rose between 1974 and 1979.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy by how much industrial gas prices have risen since 21 November 1986; and by how much they rose between 1974 and 1979.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Data on average prices are available only quarterly. Between the fourth quarter of 1986 and the fourth quarter of 1989 the latest period for which figures have been published there was a fall of 21 per cent. in real terms in industrial gas prices. From 1974 to 1979 there was an increase of 83 per cent. in real terms.

  Electricity Prices
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has made a recent assessment of the respective costings of electricity generated from(a) nuclear power and (b) renewable energy sources.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department's latest estimates for the generating costs of renewable technologies are published in energy paper No. 55, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Nuclear costs are a matter for the industry.

  Radioactive Material (Transport)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will outline his Department's responsibilities in respect of the transportation of radioactive material.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department's responsibilities are concerned with the security measures necessary to ensure the safe transportation of radioactive materials in the United Kingdom.

  Nuclear Electric
  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to receive the auditor's report on the accounts of Nuclear Electric plc.

  Mr. Baldry
  Nuclear Electric plc's review of its accounting policies is continuing. The company's opening report and accounts will be published during the summer.

  Pipelines
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy which pipeline systems in the United Kingdom continental shelf are to be shut down for maintenance in the current year; and for how long.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Three pipelines on the United Kingdom continental shelf are due to be shut down for maintenance work during 1990. These are:

  (i) Ivanhoe/Rob Roy, Gas Pipeline (Amerada Hess).

  (ii) Cleeton to Dimlington, Gas Pipeline (BP).

  (iii) Hewitt 48/29 FTP to Bacton, Gas Pipeline (Phillips).

  In addition, emergency shutdown valves are to be installed or repositioned in 110 pipelines to comply with SI 1989/1029, and sub-sea isolation systems installed in 10 pipelines during 1990. The pipelines will be shut down for varying periods, from a minimum of four days to a maximum of several months while this work is carried out.

  Offshore Industry (Exports)
  Mr. Bright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the value of export orders won by the British offshore industry in 1989.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The British offshore supplies industry is estimated to have won export orders worth around £2 billion in 1989. I have every hope that the value of these exports will continue to grow over the next few years now that the United Kingdom is established as a major centre of technological excellence.

  Gas Privatisation
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many gas bill vouchers issued at the time of the privatisation of British Gas have still to be used.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many gas bill vouchers issued at the time of the privatisation of British Gas have still to be used.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  On 31 May 1990, a total of 50,790 gas bill vouchers worth £1,297,440 had yet to be used. All gas bill vouchers are valid until 30 September 1990.

  Geothermal Energy
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his most recent estimate of the potential for geothermal energy production in Cornwall.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The most recent estimate of the potential for geothermal energy production in the United Kingdom was published in energy paper No. 55, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. A review of progress of the geothermal programme and future possibilities is currently in hand. I hope to visit the project myself next month.

  Coal Privatisation
  Mr Gow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will bring forward proposals to give to the mineworkers the opportunity to own their industry.

  Mr. Baldry
  No decisions have yet been taken on the future structure of the privatised coal industry, but all options, including employee participation, will be considered.

  Gas Leaks
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has made a recent assessment of leakage levels from the gas distribution system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 23 April 1990 at column 96.

  Nuclear Safety (France)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he has taken to improve co-ordination between the nuclear installations inspectorate and the French civil nuclear safety authorities.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate has frequent contact on topics of
  115
  mutal interest with its French counterpart, the Service Central de Surete des Installations Nucleaires, under a formal exchange of information arrangement. This co-operation is currently being enhanced by the formation of two new working groups to discuss safety standards, and advanced computer protection systems.

  Energy Conservation
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his Department's efforts to improve energy conservation in the home.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Energy efficiency in the domestic sector is promoted by my Energy Efficiency Office through a number of programmes and initiatives. These include the provision of authoritative and targeted information via the best practice programme; marketing and publicity initiatives targeted on low-income householders and those moving house or undertaking improvements; proposals for a new scheme of grants for insulation measures and advice in low-income households; and support for home energy labelling schemes.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the further energy savings which could result from the wider adoption of contract energy management systems.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The Government see contract energy management as a very important option available to help industry, commerce, and the public sector to improve their energy efficiency. It allows consumers access to expertise and capital. Its uses range from heavy industry through hospitals and offices to groups of dwellings. My Department, together with Property Holdings, is currently looking at the potential for contract energy management in its headquarters building.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many homes have been insulated by community insulation projects since 1982.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  More than 750,000 homes have been treated by the projects since their work began in 1982.

  Sulphur Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if the United Kingdom will comply with the European Community's directive on sulphur dioxide emissions from large combustion plants.

  Mr. Baldry
  Yes.

  Greenhouse Effect
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what recent evidence he has received casting doubt upon the importance of the greenhouse effect.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The report of the science working group of the intergovernmental panel on climate change is clear that, without some change in the rate of man-made greenhouse gas emissions, there will inevitably be some consequent warming of the earth's atmosphere. Considerable uncertainty remains as to the scale and timing of such a warming, but, potentially, it could be of the highest importance for our future. I have seen no 116
  authoritative evidence to the contrary. However my right hon. Friend has received a number of letters expressing an alternative view. All but one of these have been from my hon. Friend.

  Coal Imports
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the level of imported coal for the latest month for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Coal imports to the United Kingdom in April 1990 amounted to 1.12 million tonnes.

  Nuclear Power Stations (Decommissioning)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the third-stage decommissioning costs of nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government do not make estimates of the cost of decommissioning nuclear power stations. The work of decommissioning nuclear power stations and estimates of the cost of that work are matters for the operators of nuclear power stations.

  National Grid Company
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to increase Government control of the National Grid Company.

  Mr. Wakeham
  No. In the new structure NGC is owned, through a holding company, by the 12 regional electricity companies.

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to the answers of 10 May,Official Report, column 201 and 30 April, Official Report, columns 414–15 about energy consumption, what is the square footage of office space to which these figures relate.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The total area of office space occupied by the Department in 1989–90 to which the energy consumption figures relate was 259,683 sq ft.

DEFENCE

  Security Clearance
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the main factors which are considered to present a security risk among those working for sub-contractors to his Department;

  (2) in how many cases in the last 12 months sub-contractors' employees working at Faslane have failed to gain security clearance; and what was the average length of time such employees had been working at the base before they were informed of this.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I am unable to give the information requested, owing to national security considerations.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what rights of appeal exist for sub-contractors' employees working at Faslane who fail to gain security clearance;
  117
  (2) what procedures his Department adopts when sub-contractors' employees fail to gain the necessary clearance to work at Faslane;

  (3) what steps his Department takes to vet sub-contractors' employees working at Faslane.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not the policy of this or any previous Administration to release details of security clearance procedures.

  Aircraft Accidents
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the total cost of the repairs to the Hawk aircraft, tail number XX227, following its accident on 21 April 1983; and where the repairs were carried out;

  (2) what was the total cost of the repairs to the Tornado aircraft, tail number ZA597, following its accident at RAF Honington in November 1983;

  (3) what was the total cost of repairs to the Tornado aircraft, tail number ZA412, following its accident at RAF Wildenrath on 14 April 1987.

  Mr. Neubert
  Exact repair costs for these aircraft are not available, but estimated figures are as follows:

  Aircraft

  Date of Accident

  Estimated cost of repair £K

  Hawk XX227

  21 April 1983

  35

  Tornado ZA597

  14 November 1983

  91

  Tornado ZA412

  14 April 1987

  23

  Hawk XX227 was repaired at RAF Scampton and repainted at RAF St. Athan.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the rate of major accidents per 10,000 flying hours for Royal Air Force fast jet aircraft in(a) 1988 and (b)

  Mr. Neubert
  The rates of major accidents per 10,000 flying hours for Royal Air Force fast jet aircraft, defined as Buccaneer, Harrier, Jaguar, Lightning, Phantom and Tornado aircraft, were 0.79 for 1988 and 0.59 for 1989.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all accidents to Royal Air Force fast jet aircraft since 1979 in which an aircraft was assessed to have category 4 damage, providing for each such accident(a) the date, (b) the type of aircraft and (c) the tail number of the aircraft.

  Mr. Neubert
  There have been eight accidents to RAF fast jet aircraft since 1979 where the damage has been assessed as category 4. Details are as follows:

  Date

  Aircraft type

  Tail number

  6 June 1979

  Harrier

  XW767

  19 August 1980

  Hawk

  XX243

  12 May 1982

  Tornado

  ZA330

  8 June 1982

  Harrier

  XZ989

  14 November 1983

  Tornado

  ZA597

  19 November 1985

  Harrier

  XW922

  10 December 1986

  Tornado

  ZA611

  24 June 1988

  Hawk

  XX304

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the total number of Hawk aircraft procured for the Royal Air Force has been lost in accidents over the aircraft's service life so far.
  118
  Mr. Neubert
  Of the total number of Hawk aircraft procured for the RAF, 14.2 per cent. have been lost in accidents.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the rate of major accidents per 10,000 flying hours for the Tornado GR1 aircraft since its entry into RAF service, as at the latest available date; and how many RAF Tornado aircraft have been destroyed in flying accidents.

  Mr. Neubert
  Twenty-four Tornado aircraft have been lost in accidents since the aircraft's entry into service (23 Tornado GRI, and one Tornado F3).

  On major accident rates, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Houghton and Washington (Mr. Boyes) on 26 June 1989, column 361.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the total number of Harrier aircraft procured for the Royal Air Force has been lost in accidents over the aircraft's service life so far.

  Mr. Neubert
  Of the total number of Harrier aircraft procured for the Royal Air Force, 27.4 per cent. have been lost in accidents.

  Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration is being given to contractorising the mooring services functions of the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The mooring and salvage work undertaken by the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service is currently the subject of studies to determine future requirements. Whether this work should be offered to competitive tender will depend upon the outcome of those studies.

  Air-to-Surface Missiles
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a statement on the deployment of a tactical air-to-surface missile on British soil.

  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.

  Soviet Union (Official Visit)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what matters were discussed by him or his officials with their Soviet counterparts during his recent visit to the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend had extensive discussions with Soviet leaders on a wide range of defence and security issues including future European security, German unification, arms control, confidence and security-building measures and bilateral defence relations.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has made any proposals recently to his counterpart in the Soviet Union concerning the international nonproliferation regime.
  119
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No, but we continue to keep non-proliferation issues under close review.

  Atomic Weapons Research
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will ensure that any legislation on the contractorisation of the atomic weapons research establishment, Aldermaston, and other atomic weapons research establishment sites will contain a clear statement of legal accountability and public responsibility between Government and contractor in the event of a serious accident;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to ensure that legislation on the contractorisation of the atomic weapons research establishment, Aldermaston contains a firm commitment to the safety of those working on the site.

  Mr. Neubert
  The Government's proposals for the future management of AWE recognise the primary importance of safety at AWE's sites. Appropriate arrangements will be made to ensure that safety standards are maintained and that the responsibilities of both the MOD and the contractor in this area are carefully defined. It would, however, be inappropriate to anticipate the detailed content of proposed legislation at this stage.

  Civil Servants (Workplaces)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessments under The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations have been undertaken at all workplaces used by civil servants and members of Her Majesty's armed services in his Department.

  Mr. Neubert
  Assessments of workplaces under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 were initiated on 1 October 1989. The assessments are carried out in accordance with the guidance given by the Health and Safety Executive.

  Combat Aircraft (Warsaw Pact)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish figures showing the trends in rates of production of tactical combat aircraft by Warsaw pact countries since 1983.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Tactical combat aircraft are produced by the USSR, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Poland. The aircraft manufactured by the east European countries are mainly combat capable trainers. The Soviet aircraft industry is dominant, both in terms of the volume of output and the capability of the aircraft being produced.

  Estimated annual production of tactical combat aircraft by Warsaw pact countries, 1983–1989 (including combat capable trainers)

  Number of aircraft

  1983

  1,000

  1984

  1,000

  1985

  950

  1986

  1,000

  1987

  1,000

  1988

  925

  1989

  875

  Wardlaw Hill, Ayrshire
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of the Royal Air Force facility on Wardlaw hill, Ayrshire; what construction has taken place there in the past five years; and what new facilities are planned there.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Royal Air Force facility on Wardlaw hill, Ayrshire, provides a communications link between the mainland and the Scottish islands. It was constructed during the last five years and consists of two aerial masts, a building housing the associated communications equipment, and power supplies.

  We have plans to erect a further radio mast and an unmanned digital telephone exchange by the end of 1992.

  Construction Projects
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date it became his Department's policy to produce environmental impact statements for new defence construction projects; and if he will list all such environmental impact statements produced to date.

  Mr. Neubert
  My Department first undertook an environmental impact assessment in 1984. Since then it has been the practice to consider their preparation wherever the submission of a notice of proposed development to a local planning authority might give rise to local concern. In so doing, we now adhere to the guidelines issued in 1988 by the Department of the Environment, the Scottish Office, and the Welsh Office.

  To date we have produced environmental impact statements in relation to the following proposed developments:

  Clyde Submarine Base—Overall development proposals;

  Clyde Submarine Base—Glen Fruin Road;

  Clyde Submarine Base—Northern Access Road and Garelochhead Bypass;

  Clyde Submarine Base—Rhu Narrows;

  Clyde Submarine Base—Magnetic Treatment Facility;

  NATO Pipeline—Colne to Purton to Fairford;

  Otterhurn Training Area—New Military road.

  Soviet Nuclear Submarines
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what trends have been observed in the rate of production of nuclear-powered submarines by the Soviet Union since 1985.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Following a low in the mid-1980s as newer types were introduced, Soviet output of nuclear-powered submarines recovered in 1987 and since then it has remained at about five a year.

  ROF, Bishopton
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts his Department has with the royal ordnance factory at Bishopton; and what is their financial value.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  There are currently a total of 24 headquarters contracts placed with the royal ordnance site at Bishopton and these have a total value of £17 million. It is not our practice to disclose details of individual contracts for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

  Options for Change
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any academics have been asked to work on the study of options for change.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether any staff are at present working full-time on the study of options for change;

  (2) pursuant to his reply of 14 June, Official Report, column 329, what is the number of staff from (a) the office of management and budget and (b) the defence staff, who are engaged in work on the study of options for change.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Several dozen staff within the Ministry of Defence have been involved at various times in certain aspects of the options for change work in addition to their normal duties.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any staff from the Procurement Executive have been involved in the study of options for change.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Several dozen staff within the Ministry of Defence have been involved at various times in certain aspects of the options for change work as part of their normal duties, and this will include staff from the Procurement Executive.

  Military Threats
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current assessment of the nature of the military threat from(a) Iraq, (b) Libya and (c) Iran; and what assessment of the potential military threats from each of these countries has taken place as a result of the study of options for change.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All potential threats are kept under constant assessment, but it is not our practice to give details of such assessments. The implications of changing international circumstances are being considered in our examination of options for change.

  Tornado
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what communications have taken place between his Department and British Aerospace plc(a) prior to 18
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  June and (b) since 18 June this year regarding the economic and industrial consequences of the decision not to authorise work on the order for the eighth batch of Tornado aircraft.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  We are in constant communication with British Aerospace on a range of topics. The industrial consequences of procurement decisions—18 June 1990, column 771—are a matter for the companies concerned.

  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the costs to his Department, on cancellation charges, of the reduction in the orders for Tornado aircraft announced on 18 June.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  There are no cancellation charges as such. Rundown costs will be negotiated with the contractors.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was invested in improving the energy efficiency of his Department in the latest available year.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In 1988–89 the Ministry of Defence invested some £9 million in energy-saving measures throughout the defence estate and a smaller but unquantifiable sum of money on the civil estate.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 5 June,Official Report, column 429, whether he has any plans to increase the number of energy managers.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are no current plans to increase the number of energy managers, but we keep the matter under review.

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answers of 30 April,Official Report, column 429 and 10 May, Official Report, columns 213–14 about energy consumption, what is the square footage of office space to which these figures relate.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Information regarding the floor area of buildings comprising the defence estate is not held centrally. However, the floor area of buildings on the civil estate is estimated to be 6.5 million sq ft.

  EMS: MUTUAL SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS
  EMS: MUTUAL SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS
  ERM: POUND STERLING ENTRY RATE
  ERM: POUND STERLING ENTRY RATE
  INTERVENTION PAYMENTS FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
  INTERVENTION PAYMENTS FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
  DEER SLAUGHTER: EC DRAFT REGULATION
  DEER SLAUGHTER: EC DRAFT REGULATION
  DEER: EEC GAME MEAT DIRECTIVE
  DEER: EEC GAME MEAT DIRECTIVE
  V & A AND NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS: COSTS
  V & A AND NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS: COSTS
  INDUSTRIAL WASTES: NORTH SEA DUMPING
  INDUSTRIAL WASTES: NORTH SEA DUMPING
  IMMIGRATION ACT: DETENTIONS
  IMMIGRATION ACT: DETENTIONS
  BOURNEMOUTH MAGISTRATES' COURT: FINES, 4th MAY
  BOURNEMOUTH MAGISTRATES' COURT: FINES, 4th MAY
  GATT AGRICULTURE NEGOTIATIONS: EC POSITION
  GATT AGRICULTURE NEGOTIATIONS: EC POSITION