Written Answers of 6 March 1990

EMPLOYMENT

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has reached a decision on the future of the wages councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  I have decided not to proceed with the abolition of the councils for the present. However, the consultation exercise showed that our concern about their adverse effects is widely shared by employers, who have confirmed the Government's view that the system should have no permanent place in the labour market. I therefore intend to keep its operation under close review.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give(a) the total number of unemployed and (b) the total number of long-term unemployed for each of the months between July 1986 and December 1989 inclusive for each of the standard regions, Scotland, Wales and Great Britain.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 12 February 1990]: As the information requested is detailed and lengthy, I will write to the hon. Member.

  Business Incentives (Women)
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what incentives his Department promotes for women wishing to start up their own business.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: The Government's policy is to create a beneficial climate for small businesses generally, mainly by encouraging conditions of fair competition and minimising regulation, and by providing a complementary range of fiscal, financial and advisory measures.

  My own Department's services include the development of a wide range of business training, the loan guarantee scheme, the enterprise allowance scheme in which over one third of participants are now women, and the small firms service. All these opportunities are open equally to men and women. My Department is keen to encourage women to set up in business, and part-funded a study into the barriers faced by female entrepreneurs conducted by the Scottish Enterprise Foundation, published in November 1988. Following that, the Training Agency has invited organisations to compete for a contract to develop enterprise training for women within employment training.

  Women are increasingly taking advantage of enterprise opportunities. Between 1979 and 1988 the number of self-employed women in the United Kingdom more than doubled, compared with an increase of just under 50 per cent. for self-employed men.

TRANSPORT

  Coastal Protection
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken by his Department to develop national policies for coastal protection and sea defence work in respect of the threat to ports from erosion of the coastline and the rise in sea levels.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The main policy interest relating to coast protection and sea defence work rests, in England, with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and elsewhere with the territorial Departments. In specific cases where problems arise with respect to ports it is normally for the harbour authorities to assess the need for work and to take such action as may be necessary.

  Network SouthEast
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the current financial targets and limits set by him which apply to Network SouthEast and the assumptions as to the increase in passenger fares made in connection with their plans for future revenue and capital expenditure.

  Mr. Portillo
  For 1989–90 the British Railways Board's external financing limit is now £635 million. The PSO cash limit is, at present, £496 million. The EFL applies to BR as a whole and the PSO limit to supported sectors. They are not broken down by sector.

  In the medium term, the board has set Network SouthEast the objective of reducing its grant requirement to zero in 1992–93. This was endorsed by my right hon. Friend in his letter to Sir Robert Reid of 20 December, which set out BR's objectives for the next three years. Over the same period, planned investment will amount to £1·2 billion—an increase of 30 per cent. in real terms over the previous three-year period. According to BR's own plans, on which the medium-term objectives are based, fares on NSE are likely to rise by less than 10 per cent. in real terms over the next three years.

  Air-conditioned Rolling Stock
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of existing rolling stock on British Rail and the London Underground have air conditioning; and what percentage of the new rolling stock will have it.

  Mr. Portillo
  The figures for BR are given in the table below.

  Percentage of fleet with air conditioning

  1Percentage of planned future rolling stock with air conditioning

  1989–90

  11993–94

  InterCity

  85

  2100

  100

  Network SouthEast

  2

  15

  50

  Provincial

  2

  24

  75

  1Taken from British Rail's 1989 corporate plan. For Network SouthEast the figure includes all rolling stock that will have been ordered by March 1995.

  2 Percentage of carriages in regular, all year round service. A very small number of vehicles used for charter will not be air conditioned.

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  London Underground has no air conditioned rolling stock, and none of the planned new rolling stock will have air conditioning.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that the proper equipment is available and arrangements made to ensure that when a vehicle overturns on the Severn bridge quick remedial action can be taken.

  Mr. Atkins
  The equipment necessary for the recovery and removal of overturned vehicles on the Severn crossing is already available. High winds are almost invariably the cause of vehicles overturning on the crossing and these winds also impede and delay vehicle recovery.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the reason for the closure of the Severn bridge on 26 February; and for how long traffic was disrupted.

  Mr. Atkins
  A high-sided heavy goods vehicle overturned in high winds on the westbound carriageway of the Severn crossing at approximately 3.30 am on 26 February. The vehicle came to rest across the central reservation, spilling diesel fuel on both carriageways. As a result, both carriageways were closed to traffic. The vehicle and spillage was cleared by early afternoon, but with winds gusting to 70 knots, it was not considered safe to reopen the crossing until 4.50 pm. High-sided vehicles were banned until 3.30 am the following day.

  Newbury Bypass
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what decision he has reached about the route for the Newbury bypass.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Secretaries of State for Transport and for the Environment are still considering the inspector's report on the A34 Newbury bypass public inquiry. We would hope to be able to announce their joint decision during the spring.

  Roads, Liverpool
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new road building funded by his Department is planned for the city of Liverpool for the next decade.

  Mr. Atkins
  There are none of our trunk roads within Liverpool. We support local authority spending on some of their more important roads through transport supplementary grant (TSG), currently paid at 50 per cent. of accepted expenditure. In Liverpool we are at present supporting phases of the Park road relief road and the Great Howard street improvement. It is for the city council to settle its forward programme and the schemes to be included in future annual bids for TSG.

  Roads (Congestion)
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the measures he has taken to reduce congestion on the roads.

  Mr. Atkins
  Last year we announced in the White Paper "Roads for Prosperity" a doubling of the trunk road 544
  programme. Our proposals to add some 2,700 miles of new or improved road to the trunk road network will make a significant impact on congestion on major inter-urban routes. Plans for over 150 bypasses will remove through traffic from towns and villages. In city centres better traffic management measures, parking controls and improvements to public transport, including the development of new facilities such as light rail systems will contribute towards reducing congestion.

  Full details of the trunk road programme are contained in the roads report "Trunk Roads, England—Into the 1990s", published on 20 February. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Traffic Information
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to improve access to motorists of up-to-date traffic information by means of radio.

  Mr. Atkins
  We have held discussions with the BBC, AA and others involved in the provision of travel information about ways of improving the availability and reliability of information through better arrangements for its collection, co-ordination and dissemination. The Department is contributing to a trial by the BBC of radio data systems, a newly developed system to allow improved dissemination of travel information by radio.

  A1 (Fatal Accidents)
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatal accidents have occurred between Doncaster and Scotland on the A 1 in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Atkins
  Figures available are for the A1 and A1(M) between the Scottish border and the border of Doncaster metropolitan district, which is approximately five miles south of Doncaster. In 1984, there were 22 fatal accidents. The figures for successive years are 19 fatal accidents in 1985, 38 in 1986, 25 in 1987 and 23 in 1988. The table shows fatal accidents for A1 and A1(M) separately and the resulting fatal casualties.

  Fatal accidents and casualties on the A1 and A1(M) between Doncasler and Scotland, 1984 to 1988

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Fatal accidents

  A1

  21

  14

  31

  20

  22

  A1(M)

  1

  5

  7

  5

  1

  Total

  22

  19

  38

  25

  23

  Fatal casualties

  A1

  24

  16

  45

  22

  28

  A1(M)

  2

  5

  7

  5

  3

  Total

  26

  21

  52

  27

  31

  Environmental Pressure Groups
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the outcome of his meeting with environmental pressure groups on 23 February.

  Mr. Atkins
  My right hon. Friend met representatives of Transport 2000, Friends of the Earth, the Council for
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  the Protection of Rural England, the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Royal Society for Nature Conservation on 23 February. He exchanged views with these organisations on a wide range of transport and environmental issues, and hopes to have further meetings with them.

  Vehicle Emissions
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what policies he has to develop measures to improve driver efficiency as part of Her Majesty's Government's policy to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.

  Mr. Atkins
  Pollution emitted by road vehicles is related to fuel consumption. My Department regularly issues a booklet about the fuel consumption of new cars which also advises motorists on how to save fuel when driving. We are considering what further measures are necessary to encourage driver efficiency.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies are being undertaken into the development of advanced catalytic converter technology for turbo-diesel engines by the transport road research laboratory.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 1 March 1990]: None at present. Industry has its own longstanding development programmes in this field. These will be furthered by the £2·3 million joint venture programme between Government and a consortium of United Kingdom companies, directed towards cleaning up vehicle exhaust emissions, announced by my hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Enterprise on 15 February.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for testing the effectiveness of motor vehicle emission control devices once fitted and in use.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 1 March 1990]: Our proposed amendments to the Construction and Use Regulations include a requirement for the user of a vehicle to keep the engine in tune and any emission control equipment in working order. This can be checked by most garages. We are also considering whether changes are needed in the existing annual testing schemes and roadside spot checks of exhaust condition.

  Ship Registers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce incentives to United Kingdom shipping companies to stop them registering their shipping in other countries.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No.

  Radioactive Materials (Ports)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list by year for the last 10 years(a) the sources and (b) the destinations, of radioactive material (i) imported and (ii) exported, through the ports of Immingham and Hull;

  (2) if he will list by year for the last 10 years how many tonnes of radioactive material were (a) imported and (b) exported through the ports of (i) Barrow, (ii) Dover, (iii)
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  Felixstowe, (iv) Harwich, (v) Liverpool, (vi) Portsmouth, (vii) Southampton and (viii) Workington; and in each case what method of transport was used to convey the material to or from the port.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 22 January,Official Report, column 491.

  Tyres
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he will issue to local authority trading standards departments in relation to current offences alleged to have been committed under sections 10 and 12 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 with respect to the alleged breach of regulation 4 of the Motor Vehicles Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1984 in the light of the acceptance and imminent introduction of BS A Lf144C 1988 retread car and commercial vehicle tyre specifications.

  Mr. Atkins
  We shall consult on proposed amendments to the regulations, which will include the introduction of the BS AU 1440 requirements, later this year. As usual, the trading standards authorities, who are responsible for enforcement, will be included in the consultation.

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to replace the British Standards AU144B 1977 specification for retreaded car and commercial vehicle tyres with British Standard AU 144C 1988 requirement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 2 March 1990]: I shall be consulting on amendments to the Motor Vehicles (Tyre Safety) Regulations 1984 later this year. The amendments will include the change proposed by my hon. Friend.

  Minibuses
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what documentation and tests are to be required after 1992 for a person to be qualified to drive a minibus in the United Kingdom and other European Community countries; and what are the present arrangements.

  Mr. Atkins
  Minibuses with up to 17 seats that are not used for hire or reward may be driven in the United Kingdom by holders of full ordinary licences who are over 21 years of age. Younger drivers are also allowed to drive minibuses in closely defined circumstances. In order to drive these vehicles in other European Community member states, drivers must obtain a certificate of driving experience from the local traffic area office.

  Proposals for a second directive on the driving licence, as published by the European Commission, would require new drivers of minibuses to take a second test and meet tougher health standards. The United Kingdom has been pressing for the retention of the present arrangements. Useful progress has been made in direct discussions with Commission officials. Details of the modifications agreed with the Commission were announced in the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) on 21 July 1989, Official Report, column 336. There is still a good deal of negotiation ahead before the proposals are finalised. Any changes arising from the directive are unlikely to be in place by 1992.

  M3 Extension
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what impact the recently approved extension of the M3 through Twyford Down near Winchester, Hampshire, will have on the natural landscape; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The impact on the landscape of the Department of Transport's proposals for this section of the M3 motorway is set out at length in the letter conveying the decisions of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Transport and for the Environment on the reports of the two independent inspectors who conducted the public inquiries. I am sending the hon. and learned Gentleman a copy of the letter and arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Beach Pollution (Sussex)
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Worthing of 28 February,Official Report, column 237, regarding the MV Fathulkhair, (1) whether he was informed by the French authorities of the loss of the vessel's dangerous cargo and potential risk on British beaches; when he first knew of the problem; whether the other dangerous chemicals found were on the MV Fathulkhair's manifest; and what information he has on whether the initial stowage and subsequent securing in Cherbourg were in conformity with Merchant Shipping Regulations;

  (2) where the MV Fathulkhair is registered; when the master of the vessel notified the authorities in Cherbourg of the loss of dangerous cargo; when the French authorities notified his Department of the danger; and if he is satisfied that the communications arrangements are adequate to warn of such dangers.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  As explained in my answer of 28 February,Official Report, column 237, the MV Fathulkhair is registered in Qatar. I understand that the loss of dangerous goods was not reported by the master to the French authorities although the vessel at one time put back into Cherbourg to re-secure and survey cargo. Had the loss been so reported I am satisfied that the French authorities would have notified my Department's marine pollution control unit (MPCU) of the potential risk to British beaches under a longstanding bilateral agreement for co-operation in dealing with pollution in the Channel—Mancheplan.

  These arrangements have worked well in other recent incidents in the Channel involving the loss of dangerous goods, such as the Perintis and the Murree. Within the framework of Mancheplan there are also twice-yearly meetings between the MPCU and its counterparts in Cherbourg and annual counter-pollution exercises are held to ensure that communications are both speedy and effective.

  On this occasion, the first my Department knew of the danger on British beaches was when a canister of potassium cyanide was reported on the morning of 21 February to Sussex police who immediately informed Her Majesty's Coastguard. The MPCU was subsequently able to determine that this had been shipped on the MV Fathulkhair and was then advised by the shipping agent of other dangerous cargo which had been lost overboard
  548
  from the vessel. This information was passed by the MPCU to the French authorities and to all United Kingdom coastal local authorities which might be affected. Other dangerous chemicals found on beaches on 21 February and on succeeding days are consistent with those reported by the shipping agent as being lost from MV Fathulkhair. Marine surveyors of my Department are investigating to see whether cargo loaded on board the MV Fathulkhair at Sheerness was stowed in conformity with merchant shipping regulations. Any subsequent re-securing of the cargo in Cherbourg is of course a matter for the competent French authorities.

  Lowland Airports
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has concluded his review of Scottish lowland airports policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Parkinson
  I have now concluded my consideration of the views put in the over 1,100 submissions received during the recent consultation. I was much impressed by the scale and quality of the response, and I am glad to have been able to consider the issues against the background of this very full expression of Scottish opinion.

  I believe it is right in principle for Government to intervene in the operation of the aviation market only to the extent and when circumstances make it necessary. My intention in ordering the consultation was to determine whether to maintain a special policy for the lowland airports, or to adopt the less restrictive approach which applies more generally in the United Kingdom. I have concluded, in close consultation with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, that the interests of Scotland generally and of the users and providers of air services in Scotland are best served by allowing each of the lowland airports to handle the traffic they are able to attract, subject of course to the licences held by airlines, to international air service agreements and to the physical capabilities of the airports. I shall not, therefore, be making fresh traffic distribution rules for the lowland airports. I did not find that there was a persuasive argument for construction of another airport in Scotland.

  The benefits to Scotland that can be expected to flow from this, and the rate at which those benefits will be become manifest, are necessarily difficult to state with precision. Much depends on the response of the industry and of users to the additional opportunities that a more liberal policy will open up: already two airlines have announced proposals for new services between Glasgow and the United States of America. It is the firm belief of almost all those well placed to take an informed view that the policy of confining long-haul services to Prestwick has hampered Scotland's economic development and that a less restrictive approach could be expected to enhance business efficiency and help encourage inward investment. I am myself clear that airlines' ability to respond flexibly to the needs of users is very important.

  I recognise and regret that the change in policy is likely to have an adverse impact on local Ayrshire employment. However my right hon. and learned Friend and I are confident that this will be more than offset by wider benefits to Scotland as a whole, and in the meantime I welcome BAA's firm policy of making no forced redundancies at Prestwick.

  I am conscious of the concern on safety grounds at the prospect of additional traffic at Glasgow and Edinburgh.

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  I should stress that there is no question of any unsafe operations being permitted at either airport. A statutory responsibility for the safety of civil aviation rests with the Civil Aviation Authority. Objectivity in assessing safety standards is one of the key elements which take the regulation of aviation safety out of the commercial market place as far as is humanly possible. Thus, while the length of Glasgow's runway might impose a commercial penalty—which would be a matter for the airlines—there is no question of safety standards being compromised. Much higher levels of air traffic than are envisaged at Glasgow are already present at, for example, Heathrow and Manchester, airports also located in urban areas.

  There is concern, too, about additional noise and vibration at Glasgow and Edinburgh that an increase in traffic may bring. Responsibility for noise control measures at these airports rests with BAA as airport operator, and I am satisfied that this arrangement should continue, as indeed it does at all United Kingdom airports outside the London system. A number of noise abatement measures are already in place at Glasgow and Edinburgh, and I am asking the chairman of the BAA to ensure that these are kept under review.

  It is suggested that the withdrawal of Prestwick's sole gateway status would lead to the airport's closure. BAA has said that it will move to a common tariff at Glasgow and Prestwick for long-haul traffic, allowing Prestwick to compete fairly. Although it believes that passenger services will nevertheless in due course transfer from Prestwick, the BAA has made clear its firm intention of keeping the airport open and of intensifying its marketing of its other facilities, notably for all-cargo operations. I welcome those intentions, because I know there is concern among some Scottish business interests for the future of air freight facilities in Scotland. I very much hope that BAA will be successful in realising Prestwick's advantages for all-cargo services. It starts from a strong position, such services having accounted for 38 per cent. of all air transport movements at Prestwick in 1988, and for 80 per cent. of cargo moved through the airport in 1988–89. With the continuation of cargo operations at Prestwick and the hellyhold capacity offered by any additional long-haul services at Glasgow and Edinburgh, I believe Scotland will continue to enjoy good air freight coverage.

  Lowland Scotland is fortunate in having three fine airports. By extending freedom of choice, allowing the market to respond freely to the wishes of users, I am confident that each of the airports will be encouraged to realise its proper potential, to the benefit of Scotland as a whole.

  Oil Tankers
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the United Kingdom's preparedness to deal with an oil spill at sea has been reviewed in the light of recent tanker accidents.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Contingency arrangements to deal with pollution at sea in United Kingdom waters are kept under constant review by the Department's marine pollution control unit (MPCU) which was set up in 1979 with specific responsibility to do so and to take charge of operations.

  A thorough examination covering United Kingdom counterpollution responsibilities, communications and resources has been carried out. As a result of this the
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  capability of the MPCU to deal with major oil spills is being increased by doubling its contracted aerial dispersant spraying capacity by the use of larger aircraft. The unit's ability to detect oil slicks at sea is also being doubled by increasing to two its complement of remote sensing aircraft, which are used to control and direct counterpollution operations. Additionally this enhanced remote sensing capability will be used to increase by more than 60 per cent. regular aerial surveillance patrols of United Kingdom waters to deter and detect ships making illegal operational discharges of oil. Overall spending in 1990–91 will depend on the number of incidents in the year but is expected to be of the order of £4 million.

  Trunk Roads and Motorways
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the role of local authority agents in relation to the sections of the Department of Transport chapter of the Public Expenditure White Paper for 1990–91 to 1992–93 dealing with trunk roads and motorways, Cm.1007.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 2 March 1990]: Under current agency arrangements it will fall in general to local highway authorities to manage maintenance of trunk roads on behalf of the Department. Authorities will also be responsible in general for designing and supervising the less expensive new construction schemes, normally those costing less than £1 million.

  It is the Department's policy to use private firms of consultants, selected by competition, for design and supervision of major schemes. We are however prepared to employ an agent authority on such a scheme where this is justified for reasons such as invested knowledge, linkages with local road schemes, or traffic management considerations.

  Traffic Calming
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish the proposed new regulations on road humps and other traffic calming measures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 2 March 1990]: My aim is for these regulations to come into force before Easter.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those authorities which have set a poll tax(a) below and (b) above the Government's assessed level.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 21 February,Official Report, column 741.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in descending order of magnitude for each non-metropolitan county in England the percentage amount by which its 1990–91 standard spending assessment represented an increase or decrease from the comparable adjusted figure for the 1989–90 grant-related expenditure assessment.
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  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: I will write to my right hon. Friend.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, further to his replies of 27 February,Official Report, column 178, to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby, concerning the average amount of Government contribution to local expenditure, he will now publish the information in the Official Report.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of 23 February at column 929.

  Nature Conservancy Council
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans) of 23 November 1989,Official Report, columns 16–17, whether he intends the proposed country agencies of the Nature Conservancy Council to have responsibility for making nature reserve agreements under section 16 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.

  Mr. Trippier
  Yes. Amendments to the 1949 Act contained in paragraph 1(2) and (3) of schedule 6 to the Environmental Protection Bill which is currently before Parliament are intended to achieve this.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 1 February,Official Report, column 245, what is the maximum number of new members appointed to the Nature Conservancy Council or its predecessor bodies with effect from the same date; and on what date and on how many occasions there have been more than 18 members on the council.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: The maximum number of new members appointed to the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) with effect from the same date is 11 from 1 November 1973. From 1 April 1989 until 28 September 1989, there were 19 members on the council. On no other occasion have there been more than 18 members. Information on the NCC's predecessor bodies is not readily available.

  Crown Suppliers
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many D and F grades were employed at TCS on 16 February; and how many had applied for early retirement or severance at that date.

  Mr. Chope
  On 16 February 1990, a total of 318 permanent of D and F grades were employed in TCS. At that date, 152 had applied for early retirement or severance.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how often he met members of the privatisation unit of the Crown Suppliers in 1989.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend meets his officials as necessary.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how often the Parliamentary Under-Secretary met members of the management buy-out team for the product supply services division and the buying agency of TCS in 1989.
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  Mr. Chope
  I had one formal meeting with the management buy-out team for PSSD and the buying agency, to discuss its proposals.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he encourages managers from the buying agency of TCS to bid for their business separately; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government welcome staff interest in bidding for the business of the Crown Suppliers. Managers of the buying agency of the Crown Suppliers are among those buy-out teams and outside organisations which have been invited to bid for the contract furnishing business, which consists of the product supply and services and the buying agency divisions of the Crown Suppliers.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether in 1989 TCS received any advice about EEC directives on procurement.

  Mr. Chope
  Like other Government Departments, the Crown Suppliers receive advice from the Treasury on EC directives from time to time. In 1989, some 20 such papers were received.

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of consultants employed by the Property Services Agency at DWO Teddington; and what was the total cost in 1989.

  Mr. Chope
  Five consultants were employed at the district works office at Teddington during the financial year 1989–90 at a cost of £177,000.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of consultants employed in place of in-house staff at DWO Westminster in 1989.

  Mr. Chope
  There were no consultants employed in place of in-house staff at DWO Westminster during 1989.

  Hostel Rents
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has given to local rent officers to ensure that nominal rent levels for hostels for single people do not vary widely from one area to another.

  Mr. Chope
  The Rent Officers (Additional Functions) Order 1989 lays down the basis on which rent officers assess the rents paid by, and accommodation occupied by, private tenants claiming housing benefit. The order broadly requires the rent officer to assess the claimant's rent by reference to the level of rents being paid for similar accommodation within the locality by tenants who are not in receipt of housing benefit. Advice on how rent officers might approach this task—particularly in circumstances where no direct market evidence is available—was included in a study of the private rented housing market commissioned by the Department from the consultants Price Waterhouse. Copies of that report were circulated to rent officers and placed in the Library in February 1989. We have not issued any specific guidance as to the assessment of hostel charges.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what mechanisms exist to(a) review the

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  level of nominal rent set by rent officers for single person hostels and (b) replace rent officers whose assessments are grossly out of line with reasonable rents.

  Mr. Chope
  Where a local authority is dissatisfied with the rent officer's determinations under the Rent Officers (Additional Functions) Order 1989, it can apply for the case to be redetermined by another rent officer, drawn from a different rent registration area. The redetermination will be made by reference to the same criteria as applied to the initial determination. The redetermining officer is normally required to seek the views of two other rent officers, neither of whom will have previously dealt with the case. Responsibility for the day-to-day management of the rent officer service in each registration area lies with the chief rent officer, but overall responsibility lies with the proper officer of the local authority concerned.

  Westminster Cemeteries (Sale)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action his Department is taking in respect of the report by the district auditor on the sale by Westminster city council of three cemeteries.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Action on the report is for the city council and the auditor to take. The auditor's findings are provisional and the council has until 30 March to make representations to him. The auditor will then decide whether to apply to the High Court for a declaration that the items in the accounts relating to the transactions are "contrary to law".

  Environmental Initiatives
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to introduce initiatives on(a) prevention of sea disposal of wastes, reductions in atmospheric pollution from transport, long-term monitored storage for radioactive waste, and (d) measures to combat the greenhouse effect at the next Council of European Environment Ministers in Brussels on 22 March.

  Mr. Trippier
  It is the sole prerogative of the Commission to put forward proposed measures for action by the European Community. Responsibility for setting

  Net current expenditure

  Year-on-year Percentage Change

  Cash Terms £ million

  Real terms 1989–90 Prices 1£ million

  Cash terms

  Real Terms

  1981–82

  101·787

  157–831

  —

  —

  1982–83

  112·024

  162·009

  10·1

  2·6

  1983–84

  116·162

  160·501

  3·7

  –0·9

  1984–85

  122·959

  161·851

  5·9

  0·8

  1985–86

  132·523

  165·548

  7·8

  2·3

  1986–872

  164·623

  198·947

  24·2

  20·2

  1987–88

  178·736

  205·117

  8·6

  3·1

  1988–89

  196·764

  210·537

  10·1

  2·6

  1989·90

  212·809

  212·809

  8·2

  1·1

  1981–82 to 1989–90

  109·1

  34·8

  1981–82

  270

  419

  —

  —

  1982–83

  297

  430

  10·0

  2·6

  1983–84

  308

  425

  3·7

  -1·2

  1984–85

  326

  429

  5·8

  0·9

  1985–86

  352

  439

  8·0

  2·3

  554
  the agenda for meetings of the Council of Ministers rests with the member state holding the Presidency of the Council, currently Ireland. Nevertheless I have asked the Presidency to consider a number of possible initiatives for consideration by the Environment Council on 22 March, including the Community's role in global action to tackle the greenhouse effect.

  Kirklees Metropolitan Council
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out a table showing for each year since 1979(a) the full-time, (b) the part-time and (c) the total staffing levels of Kirklees metropolitan council.

  Mr. Chope
  The information is as follows:

  Kirklees metropolitan district council: Staffing levels at June

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  1979

  10,678

  7,734

  18,412

  1980

  10,505

  7,679

  18,184

  1981

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1982

  10,206

  8,231

  18,437

  1983

  10,381

  8,496

  18,877

  1984

  10,587

  8,107

  18,694

  1985

  10,748

  8,084

  18,832

  1986

  11,440

  8,507

  19,947

  1987

  11,707

  9,292

  20,999

  1988

  11,808

  9,954

  21,762

  1989

  10,908

  8,983

  19,891

  1 Data not available.

  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the expenditure of Kirklees metropolitan council for each year since 1979 per head of population in(a) cash terms and (b) constant 1989–90 price terms; what was the percentage increase in each year; and what was the percentage increase between 1979 and 1990;

  (2) what was the expenditure of Kirklees metropolitan council for each year since 1979 in (a) cash terms and (b) constant 1989–90 price terms; what was the percentage increase in each year; and what was the percentage increase between 1979 and 1990.

  Mr. Chope
  The available information is as follows:
  555

  Year-on-year Percentage Change

  Cash Terms £ million

  Real terms 1989–90 Prices 1 £ million

  Cash terms

  Real Terms

  1986–872

  437

  528

  24·1

  20·3

  1987–88

  476

  546

  8·9

  3·4

  1988–89

  524

  561

  10·1

  2·7

  1989·90

  567

  567

  8·2

  1·1

  1981–82 to 1989–90

  110·0

  35·3

  1 Using the GDP deflator to convert from cash values to constant prices.

  2 Metropolitan county councils were abolished on 31 March 1986 and their functions transferred to metropolitan districts.

  3 Population figures used to derive per capita values are latest available Office of Population Censuses and Surveys mid·year estimates of total population.

  Major Developments (Design)
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about his policy in relation to the design of major development proposals.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The Government have advised local planning authorities, in circular 22/80, confirmed by circular 31/85, and in planning policy guidance note No. 1, that they should not seek to impose their tastes on developers simply because they believe them to be superior. Judgments about external design are essentially subjective, and I have seen no evidence that a more interventionist approach by local authorities would result in improved standards overall. Indeed, there is a risk that attempts to compromise between differing aesthetic judgments may produce bland buildings which satisfy no one.

  Accordingly, where they consider it essential to refuse planning permission or to impose conditions related to design, local planning authorities should ensure that the grounds for refusal or for conditions relate to relevant planning issues such as the density and bulk of the development and its compatibility with its surroundings. This may include, in sensitive areas, the use of materials appropriate to the locality. Such control of external appearance may be particularly important where development proposals affect national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, conservation areas, or the setting of important historic landmarks. Authorities should in general confine their concern to those aspects of design which are significant for the aesthetic quality of the area. Only exceptionally should they control design details, if the sensitive character of the area or the particular building justifies it. Alterations to buildings of special architectural or historic interest are controlled through listed building consent procedures, for similar reasons.

  Although I have no plans to impose further measures of aesthetic control, I am deeply concerned to promote good design. My concern relates particularly to the standard of planning applications made for major developments. I hope that developers will bring forward schemes which will make a major contribution to the architectural fabric of the country in the long term.

  Year

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  (i) Appeals allowed

  12

  15

  10

  14

  13

  Dismissed

  16

  26

  23

  28

  32

  (ii) Appeals allowed

  7

  7

  4

  6

  4

  Dismissed

  8

  7

  6

  10

  4

  556
  Pursuit of the highest architectural standards should not be deflected by debate about style. I acknowledge that style is important, but dressing a building in different stylistic devices, whether classical, gothic, high tech or of the modern movement, is essentially a subordinate activity. I attach great importance to the more fundamental architectural values of good proportion and scale, and skill in the use of space and light, which distinguish good buildings of any period.

  I do not believe that these qualities can be achieved by regulation, control or Government edict. I cannot and would not want to try to impose my own views on design through individual planning appeals. So I must look to developers and designers to have greater regard for the impact of their buildings on the environment, now and in the future, and to aim always to achieve the highest possible standard.

  County Structure Plan, Leicestershire
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the costs to local planning authorities in Leicestershire of advancing the present expiry date of the county structure plan of 1996: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: My Department has no information on costs relating specifically to the review of the Leicestershire structure plan. All such plans have to be reviewed well in advance of their end date if they are to continue to perform their planning function.

  Planning Appeals (Staffordshire)
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of planning appeals(a) upheld and (b) rejected by him in each year since 1980 in respect of planning refusals by (i) Lichfield district council, (ii) Cannock Chase district council and (iii) Stafford district council.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 1 March 1990]: This information is available only in respect of appeals decided since 1 April 1984 and is as follows.
  557

  Year

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  (iii) Appeals allowed

  10

  20

  16

  25

  19

  Dismissed

  21

  30

  31

  43

  29

  Litter
  Mr. Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the definition of litter as adopted by his Department in regard to legislation covering waste and pollution.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 2 March 1990]: We have not sought to define litter in the Environmental Protection Bill. Clause 71 of the Bill defines the offence of littering in terms of throwing down, dropping or otherwise depositing, and leaving
  "any thing whatsoever in such circumstances as to cause, or contribute to, or tend to lead to, the defacement by litter of any place."

  It is for the courts to decide, in all cases brought before them, whether the item complained of constitutes litter.

  Commons
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to announce his legislative proposals in respect of the Common Land Forum's recommendation on commons.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 2 March 1990]: I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside, on 12 February 1990, Official Report, column 64.

  Thatched Roofs
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will issue an urgent planning circular to planning authorities recommending that they relax planning requirements that storm damaged thatched roofs must be repaired or replaced with thatch, where shortage of available thatchers renders such a course impractable for the householders concerned.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 6 March 1990]: In those cases where planning or other permissions are required, each proposal must be considered on its merits, having regard to the development plan and any other material considerations. Wherever possible, local planning authorities should adopt a flexible approach, but they will need to take account of the long-term consequences for the special character of thatched buildings and their surroundings.

  Lindane
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the container of lindane lost in the Channel in 1989 has been found.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have been asked to reply.

  The container was lost in an area of the Channel in which under a longstanding bilateral agreement the French authorities are responsible for co-ordinating counterpollution action. Despite an intensive and very comprehensive search mounted by the French Navy and continuing vigilance, it has not been found. My
  558
  Department's marine pollution control unit maintains close contacts with the French authorities and is satisfied that every effort has been made to try and locate the missing container. Sampling and analysis of seawater and fish both in the area where the container was thought to be lost and in the English Channel as a whole has been undertaken by the French authorities and by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) respectively. No increased levels of lindane have been detected. Further sampling and analysis will be undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food later this year.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Gallows (Wandsworth)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the gallows kept at Wandsworth prison are next to be tested; and who will do this.

  Mr. Mellor
  The gallows will next be tested in June. This will be done by a member of the prison's works department.

  Deportation Orders
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) of 15 February,Official Report, column 371, how many of the 31 Iranian citizens served with the notice of the intention to make deportation orders against them on the grounds that this would be conducive to the public good for reasons of national security were involved in full-time or part-time education.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Fifteen.

  Foreign Office Employees (Special Branch Detentions)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by name since 1979 the number of employees of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that have been detained by special branch officers; on what charge they were detained; and what was the result of their inquiries.

  Mr. Waddington
  The information requested is not available.

  Immigration (West Indies)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of(a) Jamaica, (b) Trinidad and Tobago, (c) Guyana, (d) Barbados and (e) St. Lucia have made applications for entry clearance certificates at the respective British High Commissions in the West Indies; how many such applications have been refused during the 12 months of 1989; and what are the figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information on entry clearance applications refused initially in 1987–88 was published on
  559
  5 April 1989, Official Report, columns 221–24, in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Darling). Information on applications in 1989 is given in the table. The other information requested is not available centrally.

  Applications for entry clearance1 to the United Kingdom in 1989

  Number of persons

  Applications

  Country2

  Newly received3

  Granted4 5

  Refused initially5

  Jamaica

  3,140

  2,950

  470

  Trinidad and Tobago

  1,920

  1,780

  240

  Guyana

  1,840

  1,560

  160

  Barbados6

  1,580

  1,460

  110

  Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Barbados admitted to, and refused leave to enter and removed from, the United Kingdom

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Guyana

  Barbados

  Year/Month

  Total admitted

  Total refused leave to enter and removed

  Total admitted

  Total refused leave to enter and removed

  Total admitted

  Total refused leave to enter and removed

  1979

  18,000

  20

  7,600

  26

  8,900

  9

  1980

  18,000

  17

  7,200

  23

  9,000

  10

  1981

  17,000

  17

  6,700

  10

  8,800

  7

  1982

  19,000

  13

  5,500

  19

  8,100

  7

  1983

  20,000

  10

  5,750

  17

  8,120

  5

  1984

  22,200

  10

  5,920

  29

  8,280

  4

  1985

  24,600

  6

  6,490

  16

  9,230

  2

  1986

  18,400

  20

  6,120

  16

  9,260

  7

  1987

  18,500

  31

  5,680

  27

  9,100

  9

  1988

  17,300

  42

  5,640

  27

  9,520

  20

  1989

  17,500

  76

  6,230

  44

  9,510

  31

  January 1989

  1,200

  5

  400

  3

  700

  —

  February 1989

  900

  7

  300

  1

  300

  2

  March 1989

  1,100

  6

  400

  7

  500

  4

  April 1989

  1,300

  5

  500

  4

  500

  3

  May 1989

  1,200

  7

  400

  2

  600

  4

  June 1989

  1,700

  4

  600

  3

  1,200

  —

  July 1989

  2,400

  6

  800

  5

  1,600

  3

  August 1989

  2,100

  9

  800

  3

  1,400

  5

  September 1989

  1,800

  9

  700

  2

  1,000

  4

  October 1989

  1,600

  6

  600

  5

  700

  3

  November 1989

  1,000

  6

  400

  5

  500

  2

  December 1989

  1,100

  6

  400

  4

  500

  1

  Immigration
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are being held in detention for immigration reasons; where they are being held; how many are asylum-seekers; and how many in the latter category are women.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No central record is maintained of the number of people held in detention for immigration reasons. On 28 February there were 187 people detained solely under Immigration Act powers in the following establishments:

  Number

  Harmondsworth detention centre

  70

  Queens Building, Heathrow

  13

  Gatwick Airport

  6

  Newhaven

  11

  HMP Haslar

  87

  560
  1 Including applications for a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode in the United Kingdom.

  2 Country in which the application was received, irrespective of the nationality of the applicant.

  3 Including applications subsequently withdrawn.

  4 Granted initially or on appeal.

  5 These applications may have been received in an earlier period.

  6 Including applications by persons in St. Lucia.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of(a) Trinidad and Tobago, (b) Guyana, (c) Barbados and (d) St. Lucia have (i) been admitted and (ii) been refused admittance and removed during the 12 months of 1989; and what are the figures for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The available information is given in the table. St. Lucia is not separately identified in the statistics of admissions and removals.

  It is estimated that some 30 people were detained at other prisons and in police cells in the south-east of England on the same day. There is no central record of how many of those detained had sought asylum.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women have been detained in Holloway for immigration reasons over the last 12 months; and how many of these are asylum-seekers.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The most recent figures available are for the calendar year 1989. In this period, 16 women were detained in Holloway under the powers conferred by the Immigration Act 1971. There is no central record of how many of these had sought asylum.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Richmond and Barnes dated 28 November (reference 27880/89).
  561
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I wrote to my hon. Friend on 28 February. I am sorry for the delay in his receiving a reply.

  Tobacco Sales to Children
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to increase penalties for people who sell cigarettes to children; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Our proposals for strengthening the law to prevent illegal sales of tobacco to children will be put before Parliament when there is a suitable opportunity.

  Police Shifts
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the use of the Ottawa system of police shift patterns.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We are aware of the experiment that is being conducted with the Ottawa shift system but no representations have been made to my right hon. and learned Friend about it.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has conducted any studies in the last five years into alternative shift systems for the police service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No such studies have been conducted by the Home Office. However, a report prepared by the Home Office police requirements support unit, which was sent to all chief officers of police in England and Wales on 30 January, collates all the research into shift patterns which has been done in forces during the past three years and proposes further research into alternative shift systems.

  Police Rent Allowances
  Mr Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the cost of implementing in full the agreement reached by the Police Negotiating Board; and what will be the cost resulting from his decision to set aside the agreement on rent allowances and related matters.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. and learned Friend has decided that serving officers who are receiving rent allowance on 31 March should receive no less after that date and that officers living in accommodation provided by the police authority on the same date should receive a transitional allowance of £300 a year for up to three years. These decisions mean that the level of expenditure on rent allowance is unlikely to be significantly reduced in the next financial year. There are too many hypothetical factors for a meaningful comparison to be made between this situation and what would have happened had my right hon. and learned Friend accepted the agreement of the Police Negotiating Board in full.

  Asylum
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a decision has been reached regarding the request for asylum by the Chinese diplomat Ning Hong Shan.
  562
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Mr. Ning Hong Shan was granted refugee status on 3 August 1989.

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the outcome of the study into regional co-ordination of home defence planning undertaken in the north-west; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waddington
  I have received a report on the study, and I have today placed in the Library a summary of its main findings. The study has identified a number of deficiencies in the co-ordination of home defence planning at regional level, and proposals are made for improvements. In the light of this study, and with the continuing support of other Departments, it has been decided that a small centrally led team should be established whose aim will be to improve co-ordination of planning in each region, drawing on and extending the work of the original study. Under these arrangements, responsibility for writing plans would remain with individual authorities, departments and public utilities at the local level, but the team will provide additional guidance, working through existing emergency planning fora.

  I have asked officials to put the arrangements into effect as soon as possible and to consult interested parties at national and local level.

  Cyclists (Convictions)
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pedal cyclists have been convicted in each of the last five years for offences involving(a) going through traffic lights, (b) riding on the pavement and (c) going the wrong way along a one-way street.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 21 February 1990]: Information available centrally cannot separately identify the number of pedal cyclists who commit offences of going through traffic lights and going the wrong way along a one-way street. Information on the number of pedal cyclists convicted of riding on the pavement for 1984 to 1988 is given in the table.

  Pedal cyclists convicted o riding on a footpath1 England and Wales

  Year

  Convictions

  1984

  1,990

  1985

  1,198

  1986

  936

  1987

  502

  1988

  549

  1 Offence under Highway Act, 1835 (section 72), Metropolitan Police Act, 1839(section 54 (7)) and Byelaws.

  Data for 1989 will not be available until autumn 1990.

PRIME MINISTER

  Mortgage Interest Rates
  Mr. Harry Ewing
  To ask the Prime Minister how many letters she has received regarding the increases in mortgage interest rates.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received approximately 360 representations this year on the subject of interest rates.

  North Downs
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit the North Downs area of outstanding national beauty in mid-Kent.

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

  Homelessness (London)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received concerning homelessness in London.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received a number of representations and reports on homelessness in London. I and my colleagues look at them very carefully in the light of the action we are taking as follow-up to our review of the homeless legislation.

  South Africa
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the procedures operated by the Commission to ensure that EEC legislation is adhered to by member states, with particular reference to the South African sanctions measures; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Commission is in no doubt of our commitment to implementing Community legislation, nor about our concern that it should be adhered to similarly by other member states.

  Young People (Inner Cities)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if she has any proposals to introduce a consultation programme as part of the review into the effects of policies of a number of Government Departments towards young people who leave home and come to live in the inner cities;

  (2) which Government Departments are involved in reviewing the effects of those Departments' policies towards young people who leave home and go and live in the inner cities; and which Department is taking the lead.

  The Prime Minister
  The main Departments involved in these discussions are the Department of the Environment, which has a co-ordinating role, the Department of Health, the Department of Employment, the Department of Social Security, the Home Office and the Department of Education and Science. When we have fully considered the issues, appropriate consultation arrangements will be made.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what arrangements she has made for the representation of Scotland in the review of the effects of a number of Departments' policies on young people who leave home and go to live in the inner cities;

  (2) whether consideration of young people who leave home and live on the peripheral estates and in rural areas will be included in Departments' reviews of the effects of policies on young people who leave home and go and live in the inner cities.

  The Prime Minister
  Scottish Ministers are kept in touch with all discussions on this matter. The Scottish Development Department itself considers all situations which may contribute to homelessness.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Prime Minister if it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to extend the poll tax to Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The local government arrangements in Northern Ireland are significantly different from those in the rest of the United Kingdom and we have no present plans to replace them.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 March.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an Audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

ENERGY

  Nuclear Electric
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the Government's plans to provide assurance in respect of the financial position of Nuclear Electric.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I have today laid before the House a minute informing the House of an assurance I propose to give to Nuclear Electric in respect of its financial position. Copies of the minute have been placed in the Library of the House.

WALES

  Pre-school Playgroups
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to set up a fund from which money can be handed over to pre-school playgroups so that they can pay the proposed fees for inspection of playgroups alluded to in the new Children Act; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  There are no plans to set up a fund from which the costs of registration and annual inspection of pre-school playgroups may be met.

  We have received a number of representations on this issue. The Government do not propose to use the powers contained in the Children Act, to charge playgroups high registration or inspection fees. It is proposed that the charge will either be a nominal one or it may be possible for playgroups to be exempt from the fees regulations. This is to be considered in more detail during the process of consultation on new guidance and regulations which will lead to the introduction of the Act.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the health implications for people eating substantial amounts of fish from Lake Trawsfynydd; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Annual assessments are made of the maximum dose of radioactivity received by people eating
  565
  fish from Lake Trawsfynydd. The latest information shows that only 7 per cent. of the internationally recommended dose limit of 1 milliSievert was received in 1988 by the most exposed groups.

  Legionnaire's Disease
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of Legionnaire's disease have occurred in the Mid Glamorgan health district in the past two years.

  Mr. Grist
  As cases of Legionnaire's disease are not notifiable, the information is not available centrally.

  Park and Ride
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has had any recent discussions with the chairman of British Rail concerning park and ride facilities in south Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  No. This is a matter for British Rail in consultation with the local authorities.

  Skomer, Dyfed
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will announce his decision regarding the designation of Skomer, Dyfed, as a marine nature reserve.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend expects to publish the requisite notice and draft order this month, with a statutory period of not less than 28 days within which representations on the draft order may be made. If at the end of that period there are no objections the order designating the area as a marine nature reserve may be made with or without modifications. If there are objections there is a statutory requirement either to hold a local inquiry or appoint a person to hear the objections before the order, with or without modifications, can be made.

  Roads (Tolls)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the building of roads and the imposition of tolls by private companies.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The Government wish to encourage greater private sector involvment in the provision of roads. The Green Paper "New Roads by New Means—Bringing in Private Finance" published in May 1989 set out our ideas. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport will be publishing our response to the consultation shortly. Tolling is envisaged as the principal source of revenue for privately financed roads but in general road users will continue to have a choice between tolled privately financed roads and other roads. Where there is a monopoly, such as an estuarial crossing, the Goverment will impose some form of control on the level of the toll to be charged.

  Cancer Screening
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to detect cervical cancer at an early stage; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  All district health authorities in Wales operate cervical screening services for women aged 20 to 566
  64 based on computerised call and recall, which are designed to detect both pre-cancerous changes and the early stages of cervical cancer. Their efforts have been supported by a total of £1·3 million of recurring Welsh Office funds and, in addition, a further £390,000 has recently been allocated for the purchase of additional equipment. Welsh Office officials are continuing to work with health authority managers and clinicians to ensure maximum effectiveness of the programme.

  Integrated Development Operation
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement as to the allocation of funds originally intended for the integrated development operation for Powys, Gwynedd and Dyfed.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  In 1988 the European Commission allocated £108 million of European regional development fund grant to Dyfed, Gwynedd, Powys, and £30·5 million has already been committed to projects in the area. The Commission has not yet taken a decision on the allocation of additional funds from the European social and agricultural guidance funds which will convert the original programme into an integrated development operation.

  Businesses
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many(a) small businesses, (b) medium-sized businesses and (c) large businesses are registered as employers in Wales;

  (2) what is the definition in terms of members employed of (a) a small business, (b) a medium-sized business and (c) a large business registered in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  There is no single, accepted definition of small, medium or large businesses in terms of their employment. However, a breakdown of census of employment data units in Wales over a wide range of employment size bands is as follows:

  Numbers of Census of Employment Data Units with employees in Wales: September 1987

  Size of units (Number of employees)

  Number of units1 (thousands)

  1 to 10

  36·2

  11 to 24

  7·7

  25 to 49

  2·9

  50 to 99

  1·4

  100 to 199

  0·8

  200 to 499

  0·4

  500 to 999

  0·2

  1,000 or more

  0·1

  All sizes

  49·7

  1 The figures relate only to data units with employees. Sole proprietors and Her Majesty's Forces are excluded. Also excluded are agriculture and horticulture holdings. Some worksites may comprise several data units because of the way the information is collected eg because of different pay arrangements for weekly and monthly paid staff.

  Source: 1987 Census of Employment.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many small businesses in Wales have taken advantage of the services offered by the business improvement scheme and the enterprise initiative with respect to preparations for the single market in 1992.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  A total of 2,362 Welsh companies have applied for assistance under the enterprise initiative
  567
  consultancy schemes, of which 2,208 have benefited from the initial business review. Since June 1989, the business review has automatically included specific questions and guidance on the implications of the single European market.

  The enterprise initiative consultancy schemes are only one part of the Government's efforts to ensure that small businesses are aware of the importance of the single market. My Department's exports branch staff regularly raises such issues in its contacts with business while the single market unit provides guidance on all aspects of the single market. Since January 1989, the Welsh Office has provided speakers at seminars or conferences on 89 occasions, including a series of 14 Welsh Office seminars currently under way.

  In total, some 3,425 grants, totalling £10 million, were offered under the business improvement services scheme, which operated from December 1984 to March 1989. It is not possible to provide information on how many of these were relevant to single market issues.

  Eye Tests
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the total number of eye tests carried out in Wales annually from 1985 to 1989 inclusive.

  Mr. Grist
  The number of eye tests carried out in Wales which were paid for by the family practitioner committees for each financial year were as follows:

  Number

  1985–86

  600,714

  1986–87

  626,644

  1987–88

  697,280

  1988–89

  733,469

  Most of the sight tests since April 1989 will have been private transactions and statistical information on these is not available centrally. The Government have commissioned a survey of sight tests to cover the period from Christmas 1989 to 31 March 1990. The report on the survey results will be placed in the Library of the House of Commons, some time in early summer.

  Langland Bay

  Limeslade Bay

  Date of Sample 1989

  Total Coliforms per 100 ml

  E. Coli per 100 ml

  Total Coliforms per 100 ml

  E. Coli per 100 ml

  3 May

  1,300

  760

  2,400

  1,000

  9 May

  2,800

  640

  2,500

  2,000

  16 May

  1,100

  400

  700

  200

  22 May

  1,800

  540

  2,300

  800

  31 May

  7,200

  2,200

  15,000

  2,000

  5 June

  200

  110

  2,100

  200

  13 June

  840

  190

  800

  500

  20 June

  5,000

  470

  6,000

  3,000

  27 June

  300

  100

  100

  100

  4 July

  1,400

  580

  2,900

  2,000

  10 July

  200

  100

  10,000

  6,000

  18 July

  700

  680

  1,600

  300

  25 July

  100

  100

  700

  300

  31 July

  600

  100

  500

  100

  8 August

  100

  100

  400

  400

  14 August

  600

  50

  500

  400

  22 August

  400

  100

  1,400

  900

  31 August

  4,000

  2S0

  200

  100

  5 September

  110

  70

  7,000

  540

  11 September

  800

  340

  3,200

  450

  Dental Treatment
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the total numbers of individual appointments kept at dentists' surgeries in the Principality annually from 1985 to 1989 inclusive.

  Mr. Grist
  This information is not available.

  Colliery Waste
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take measures to bring together the relevant authorities to prepare for the immediate removal of the Albion colliery waste tip above the village of Cilfynydd in Mid Glamorgan.

  Mr. Grist
  The relevant authorities, the Mid Glamorgan county council, as owners of the land, and the Welsh Development Agency. which would provide funding, are already discussing the best course of action for dealing with the remains of the Albion tip.

  Flooding
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take measures to bring together the relevant authorities in Mid Glamorgan to undertake the remedial work needed to ensure that there will be no repeat of the flooding suffered by householders and owners of commercial premises in Pontypridd and Telapod in 1990.

  Mr. Grist
  This is a matter for the relevant authorities to resolve, but I understand that they have met to discuss how a solution may be best achieved.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report for (a) Langland bay and (b) Limeslade bay (i) the dates in 1989 when total coliforms and E. Coli samples were taken, (ii) the corresponding total coliforms and E. Coli results for each date and (iii) the EEC Bathing Waters Directive (76/160/EEC) conforming level for both total coliforms and E. Coli.

  Mr. Grist
  The information is as follows:
  569

  Langland Bay

  Limeslade Bay

  Date of Sample 1989

  Total Coliforms per 100 ml

  E. Coli per 100 ml

  Total Coliforms per 100 ml

  E. Coli per 100 ml

  19 September

  13,000

  10,000

  2,200

  2.000

  26 September

  2,000

  100

  3,000

  650

  A bathing water conforms with the bacteriological standards of the EC bathing water directive if 95 per cent. of samples taken do not exceed 10,000 total coliforms per 100 ml and 2,000 E.Coli per 100 ml.

  Steel
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list with dates meetings at ministerial or senior official level between the Welsh Office and British Steel since privatisation;

  (2) if he will list with dates the meetings he has had with the chairman of British Steel since privatisation;

  (3) if he, any of his Ministers, or senior officials had discussions with British Steel about its current capital investment programme before that programme was finalised.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  There have been no formal discussions between myself, my ministerial colleagues or senior officials at the Welsh Office and the chairman or other senior officials of British Steel since privatisation, although public life in Wales provides frequent opportunities for informal meetings and discussions on a range of issues. British Steel's capital investment programme is a matter for the commercial judgment of the company.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will examine the effectiveness of current legislation relating to dumping, tipping, and land infilling; and if he will consider bringing forward fresh proposals about (i) the unsightly desecration of the countryside, (ii) destruction of wildlife habitats and (iii) the problems of recycling.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The existing legislation in Northern Ireland on waste management is at present under review. I intend to consult district councils later this year with proposals for improved powers to control waste disposal.

  The powers will include measures to minimise any detrimental effects of landfill on the amenity of the countryside and to ensure site restoration after disposal operations cease. Proposals will be put forward for more recycling of waste.

  Fisheries Research
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish(a) the draught and tonnage of the fisheries research vessel Lough Foyle, (b) the type of fish covered by research carried out by the vessel since it came into the possession of the Northern Ireland authorities, (c) the number of full-time crew employed on the vessel, (d) the number of scientists employed on the vessel, (e) the number of other staff
  570
  employed on the vessel, (f) the number of staff employed at the shore establishment and which directly support the vessel, (g) the port at which the vessel is based, (h) the sea area which is covered by research cruises on behalf of the Northern Ireland authorities, (i) the number of days spent at sea in each year since the vessel came into the possession of the Northern Ireland authorities and (j) the costs attributed to the vessel in each such year, or as much of such information as is available to him.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 27 February 1990]: The information is as follows:

  (a) RV Lough Foyle:

  —draught: 4·09 m

  —gross tonnage: 547 tonnes

  (b) Cod, whiting, herring, haddock, plaice, hake, scallops, nephrops.

  (c) 13.

  (d) None employed full-time on the vessel. Two permanent scientific staff and four permanent technical staff have taken part in research cruises. Additional scientific and technical staff are currently being recruited.

  (e) Three administrative officers have participated in research vessel duties. Additional staff are currently being recruited.

  (f) Staff at (d) and (e) above plus part of the time of management at the Fisheries Research Laboratory.

  (g) Belfast.

  (h) North coastal waters, the Irish sea and the Celtic sea.

  (i) Since the maiden cruise of the RV Lough Foyle on 31 October 1988 until 23 February 1990 the vessel has spent 37 and 140 days at sea in 1988–89 and 1989–90 respectively.

  (j) The operational costs of the vessel were £290.000 in 1988–89. The estimated cost in 1989–90 is £504,600.

  Arts
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total expenditure by the Government on the arts in Northern Ireland; and in what specific areas the sums are expended.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 27 February 1990]: Total expenditure for the 1988–89 financial year was £4,660,310.

  Within this total expenditure, the specific areas in which sums were expended are as follows:

  1. Arts Council Expenditure

  £

  Visual arts and film

  342,798

  Drama and dance

  567,137

  Grand Opera House

  515,000

  Music and opera

  275,603

  Ulster Orchestra

  788,000

  Literature

  100,404

  Traditional arts

  58,428

  Education

  101,695

  Community arts

  129,709

  Regional projects

  70,878

  Belfast Festival at Queen's

  80,500

  Further information is published in the Arts Council's 1989 annual report.
  571
  Capital Programme for the Arts

  Under this programme the Department of Education paid the following grants:

  £

  Down Arts Centre

  236,865

  Derry Civic Theatre

  412

  Coleraine, Flowerfield

  18,129

  Newry Arts Centre

  560

  Grand Opera House

  117,918

  Lyric Theatre

  160,000

  Arts Theatre

  53,000

  Old Museum Building

  61,226

  Crescent Arts Centre

  50,000

  Business sponsorship incentive scheme for the Arts Under this scheme the Department of Education made the following awards:

  £

  Bardic Theatre Group

  7,834

  Garvagh Historical Society

  1,000

  NI Association of Youth Clubs

  3,000

  Newtownabbey Drama Festival

  5,000

  Royal Ulster Academy

  500

  Orion String Quartet

  500

  Newry and Mourne Arts Centre

  650

  Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

  8,334

  Opera NI

  9,334

  Tinderbox

  1,000

  Broken Nails Production Co

  2,500

  Belfast Festival at Queen's

  13,700

  Riverside Theatre

  500

  Ulster Museum

  11,386

  ACNI Youth Drama Group

  834

  Ulster Orchestra Society Ltd.

  20,000

  Orchard Gallery/Art Insight

  2,817

  St. George's Singers

  500

  QUB Choir and Orchestra

  667

  Portavogie Harbour
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why access to Portavogie harbour was blocked in the evenings of Friday 16 and Saturday 17 February; how many fishing boats had to anchor outside the harbour entrance and how many were within the harbour; whether Portavogie harbour was occupied to its full capacity that weekend; and how many fishing boats were damaged that weekend.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 1 March 1990]: One fishing vessel is known to have suffered damage during that weekend when she broke her moorings in the early hours of Monday morning. The mooring basins were occupied substantially in excess of their design capacity. Two vessels had to berth at the eastern breakwater in the outer harbour and approximately 80 vessels were berthed within the mooring basins or alongside the north pier. No fishing vessels had to anchor outside the harbour. During the evenings of Friday 16 and Saturday 17 February, the entrance to Portavogie harbour was not blocked although access to the mooring basins was not possible as the area was fully utilised.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many councillors there are in Northern Ireland; and how many of these are women.
  572
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: Of the 564 councillors currently in office, 64 are women. Two council seats are vacant.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Biological Warfare
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of biological warfare proliferation amongst developing countries.

  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of biological warfare proliferation amongst developing countries.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are concerned about the possible development of biological weapons in several developing countries. We believe this is taking place, despite the 1972 biological weapons convention, which bans the production and possession of biological and toxin weapons, and to which over 100 states are party. It is not, however, our practice to comment on the detailed information available to the Government on such matters.

  Somalia
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether talks have been instigated between Her Majesty's Government and the new Somali Government with a view to encouraging the conditions under which Britain might be able to restore aid to Somalia.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had a useful discussion with the new Somali Foreign Minister, Mr. Ahmed Jama Abdulle, on 23 February during which he encouraged the new Somali Government to persevere in pursuing the goals that they have set themselves of improved human rights observance, achievement of national reconciliation, liberalisation of the constitution, and economic reform.

  Ethiopia
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much famine relief has now been sent to Ethiopia by Her Majesty's Government; and what percentage has arrived in Ethiopia so far.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Since mid-1989 we have made bilateral commitments via British NGOs of food aid totalling 44,250 tonnes, at a cost of some £10 million, together with other bilateral emergency aid commitments totalling £4 million. A total of 15,850 tonnes of food have already arrived, a further 14,700 tonnes are due for delivery before the end of April and the balance thereafter. Of non-food commitments our expectation was that about half would be delivered by the end of April but this is subject to the port of Massawa returning to normal functioning.

  Arms Reduction
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to attend the next six-monthly meeting arranged by his
  573
  Department with non-governmental organisations to discuss arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation matters.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs sees no reason to change the customary practice whereby these meetings are chaired by the responsible Minister of State.

  Hungary
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during his meeting with Hungarian Ministers in Budapest on 27 February to I March, he raised(a) the forthcoming nuclear non-proliferation treaty fourth review conference, (b) energy and environmental protection technological assistance for Hungary and (c) joint ventures between Hungary and the United Kingdom on the environmental clean-up in Hungary.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during his visit to Spain on 26 February, he raised the matter of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty with the Spanish Government.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during his recent visit to the United Nations in New York, he raised the issue of the forthcoming fourth review conference of the 1968 nuclear non-proliferation treaty with(a) the Secretary-General, (b) officials of the United Nations, (c) the United Kingdom permanent representative or (d) any of his counterparts.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  This issue was not raised during my right hon. Friend's visit.

  United Nations Disarmament Handbook
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy in regard to the distribution in the United Kingdom and dependent territories of the United Nations annual disarmament handbook and periodical disarmament review.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have no arrangements for public distribution of these publications.

  Diplomats
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list by year since 1979 the names of officials in his Department employed on diplomatic duties who have been(a) suspended from duty or (b) dismissed from the service; what offence they committed; and of those listed, if he will show in his answer, those who were fully reinstated to diplomatic duties.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  As a general principle, Government Departments do not disclose to third parties personal information relating to their employees, without the consent of the employee concerned.

  Mr. Andrew Balfour
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley on 24 January,Official Report, column 686, if he is yet in a position to make a statement on Mr. Andrew Balfour's future in the diplomatic service.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Mr. Balfour has been informed as recently as 23 February that his future is still under consideration and that we will be in touch with him shortly regarding the outcome.

  Daphne Parish
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what negotiations his Department has had with the Iraqi authorities over the forthcoming trial of British citizen Daphne Parish charged with spying; and what assistance will be given by his Department for her defence.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have made almost 50 representations to the Iraqi authorities on Mrs. Parish's behalf since the arrest last September, and have been in close contact with her family throughout.

  In response the Iraqi authorities have assured us that Mrs. Parish's lawyer will be given proper access to her and her case file before the trial takes place, and that a representative from the embassy will be able to attend the trial. We look to the Iraqi Government to ensure that the trial is a fair one and that Mrs. Parish has the opportunity to present a full defence.

  Czechoslovakia
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary-of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during his recent visit to Czechoslovakia, the Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave), discussed verification of demilitarisation with the Czech authorities.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I did not.

  Miss Toi Kwanran
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when the Bankok entry clearance officer's statement of refusal of entry concerning Miss Toi Kwanran, FCO Ref. GV100/6949 was forwarded(a) to his Department in London and (b) to the immigration appeals office;

  (2) when the entry clearance officer's explanatory statement of refusal of entry was prepared in Bankok concerning Miss Toi Kwanran, who wishes to join her husband Mr. Neil Houghton of 32 Skelwith drive, Barrow.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  In accordance with the guidelines on the handling of representations by Members of Parliament in immigration cases, issued to Members of 14 December 1988, I have referred the questions to the correspondence' unit of the migration and visa department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. My hon. Friend will receive a reply from the unit as soon as possible.

  Angola
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the question of the withdrawal of Russian military advisers from Angola with Russian Government representatives in London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have discussed the presence of the Soviet military advisers in Angola with the Soviet Government on a number of occasions, most recently on 13 February in Moscow. Withdrawal of the advisers would promote the cause of peace in Angola.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Deaf-blind Children
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what additional provision is being planned for the training of teachers of deaf-blind children.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The cost of training teachers of deaf-blind children is already provided for within the national priority areas within the LEA training grants scheme and consequently attracts financial support at the higher rate.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what consideration he has given to providing financial assistance to voluntary organisations to provide educational services, including pre-school services, for deaf-blind children;

  (2) what financial support is being offered to local education authorities which wish to set up family centres as recommended in the policy statement, "Educational Provision for Deaf-Blind Children";

  (3) what plans his Department has to offer financial support to local education authorities to enable them to carry out the recommendations made in the policy statement "Educational Provision for Deaf-Blind Children";

  (4) what responses he has received from local education authorities to his Department's policy statement "Educational Provision for Deaf-Blind Children";

  (5) what steps are being taken by his Department to follow up his Department's policy statement "Educational Provision for Deaf-Blind Children" published in March 1989.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Responsibility for educational provision for deaf-blind children rests with local education authorities. The Department's policy statement on the educational needs of these children is intended to provide a framework within which local education authorities and bodies responsible for non-maintained schools will be able to plan services and provision for deaf-blind children. The Department will be following up this document later in the year, to see what progress has been made by authorities towards providing for the needs of deaf-blind children. It is for individual authorities, in the light of local circumstances, to decide upon the allocation of resources for the provision for deaf-blind children from the total funds available.

  Manchester Local Education Authority
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to meet representatives of Manchester local education authority.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. Friend recently visited Manchester LEA. I have myself agreed to meet a delegation from the authority.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the arrangements for assessing pupils' achievements under the national curriculum.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Secretary of State for Wales and I have today broadly endorsed the recommendations of the School Examinations and Assessment Council (SEAC) about arrangements for administering assessments in the core subjects of the national curriculum at key stage 1.

  We have in particular accepted the council's advice that it should have responsibility for the national administration of the assessment arrangements; and that the local responsibility should rest generally with local education authorities (LEAs). We believe that this should apply to key stage 2 as well as key stage 1. We do not propose to prescribe in detail how the assessment arrangements should be implemented. In our view, effectiveness will best be secured by arrangements which, whilst conforming to the overall criteria of national policy, take account of LEAs' local circumstances and their existing patterns of organisation for monitoring and evaluating the performance of their schools.

  LEAs and schools will need to make appropriate provision within the resources available to them for the establishment of these assessment arrangements as an integral part of the national curriculum. We have provided specific grant support to help redirect resources to these new priorities in 1990–91. We propose to extend this support in later years, and will be announcing details as soon as possible after Easter, following consultation with the local authorities. As a means of securing effective planning within the framework of national policy, we intend to make it a condition of grant that LEAs underpin their bids with coherent national curriculum assessment implementation plans.

  A draft order under section 4(2)(c) of the Education Reform Act, setting out the proposed statutory requirements, will be published around Easter, and submitted to the House in final form by November 1990 in readiness for the first statutory assessments in summer 1991.

  These arrangements are an important element in ensuring that the national curriculum does raise standards of teaching and learning in our schools.

  I am arranging for copies of SEAC's advice and of my reply to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

HEALTH

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide a breakdown of National Health Service spending per capita in relation to both capital and revenue spending by district health authorities.
  577
  Mr. Freeman
  Tables showing district based figures of average total revenue and capital expenditure per head of resident population for 1988–89, the latest year available, have been placed in the Library.

  Hospital Laundering
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all appropriate cost headings taken into account by health authorities in determining the true cost of in-house laundering and dry-cleaning facilities.

  Mr. Freeman
  We expect health authorities to take account of all relevant expenditure in determining the cost of their in-house laundering and dry cleaning facilities.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what capital expenditure has been incurred by health authorities on the purchase of new laundering and dry-cleaning equipment over the past two years;

  (2) what proportion of the capital expenditure incurred on the purchase of new laundry and dry-cleaning machinery and on the construction of new and renovation of existing laundry facilities over the last two years was for the creation of additional laundry capacity.

  Mr. Freeman
  Capital expenditure incurred by health authorities on the purchasing of laundry and dry cleaning equipment over the last two years is as follows:

  £

  1987–88

  2,350,000

  1988–89

  2,069,000

  It is for health authorities to determine the laundry facilities required to meet their needs.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what capital expenditure has been incurred on the building of new National Health Service laundries and the renovation of existing laundry facilities over the last two years.

  Mr. Freeman
  No new National Health Service laundries have been built in the last two years. Renovation of existing laundries is a matter for local health authorities.

  Business Rates
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the amount of uniform business rate to be paid for each district health authority and special health authority.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information is not held centrally about the contribution in lieu of the uniform business rate to be paid in respect of individual district health authorities. The estimated contributions for London postgraduate special health authorities to be paid in 1990–91 are as follows:

  SHA

  1990–91 Contribution in lieu of the Uniform Business Rate

  (£000s)

  Hospital for Sick Children

  588

  National Hospital for Nervous Diseases

  283

  Moorfields Eye Hospital

  118

  578

  SHA

  1990–91 Contribution in lieu of the Uniform Business Rate

  Bethlem Royal and Maudsley

  267

  National Heart and Chest

  232

  Royal Marsden

  241

  Hammersmith and Queen Charlottes

  654

  Eastman Dental

  62

  Nuclear Weapons Testing
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has received any communication over the past three months from his counterpart in the Soviet Union on the subject of the health effects of nuclear weapons testing.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Yes. In December last, I received a letter from Mr. E. Chazov, Minister of Public Health of the USSR, about nuclear weapons testing. I sent a reply on 19 January.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he requested that any official papers concerning public health effects of atmospheric atomic weapons tests be withheld from publication on 1 January under sections 3(4) and 5(1) of the Public Records Act 1958.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  No.

  Ugilec
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to initiate a study of the potential adverse health effects on(a) the general public and (b) the production work force on the development of the chemical ugilec.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Commission of the European Communities has recently made a proposal to the Council of Ministers for a directive to prohibit the marketing and use of ugilec 141 and ugilec 121 in the Community. I understand that neither of these substances has been used to a significant extent in this country nor has either been manufactured here. However, the Government will be pressing for a full assessment, at the Community level, of the risks posed by these substances compared with the risks of PCBs which they are intended to replace.

  GP Drug Budgets
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish in the Official Report details of cash limits on general practitioners' drug budgets that he plans to introduce in the next 12 months.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There are no plans to introduce cash limits on GP drug budgets.

  AIDS
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to change the current methods of funding AIDS education and research.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No.

  NHS Reform
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that all working papers, implementation documents, consultative documents, departmental circulars and other publications in regard to the implementation of(a) the National Health Service aspects and (b) the care in the community aspects of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill and the associated White Papers shall be numbered sequentially and shall be available in the Vote Office and the Library, together with a comprehensive list of all such publications which is brought up to date from time to time.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  All relevant documents are already placed in the Vote Office or Library as appropriate.

  Goodmayes Hospital, Essex
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what conclusions his Department has drawn from investigations into the causes of the recent outbreak of food poisoning at the Goodmayes hospital, Essex; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Roger Freeman
  This is a matter for North East Thames regional health authority; in implementing its food hygiene policy, the region has taken note of the recommendations in the report into the outbreak of food poisoning at Goodmayes hospital.

  Vasectomies
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what conclusions his Department has drawn from the retrospective study into the possible connection between vasectomy operations and the development of testicular cancer, undertaken at Bangour central hospital; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I am advised that this study provides no conclusive evidence of a causal association between vasectomy and testicular cancer.

  Condoms
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will introduce mandatory kite-marking of condoms on sale in Britain, to conform to the British Standard Institution's requirements; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  We have no plans to make the new standard mandatory, although the matter is under review while an international standard is being considered.

  The standard for condoms set by the British Standards Institute (BS 3704.1989) was issued on 30 March 1989. It has been approved under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 which makes it easier for action to be taken, for example, by trading standards officers, against suppliers of condoms which do not meet the standard.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he will define the necessary level of senior professional staff involvement in the management of the hospitals in assessing applications for National Health Service trust status.
  580
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Each application will be judged on its own merits taking into account local circumstances.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the types of organisations he will expect regional health authorities to consult on National Health Service trust applications;

  (2) what procedures regional health authorities will be required to follow in local consultations on National Health Service trust applications.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It will be for regional health authorities to determine locally the detailed arrangements to be made for consultation on NHS trust applications. We would, however, expect them to seek the views of district health authorities, the staff of the unit concerned, general practitioners, community health councils, and the local community.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he will be issuing on the format of National Health Service trust applications.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  An outline application document was circulated on 16 August 1989, under EL(89)(MB)148, and has been placed in the Library.

  Abortions
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions have been performed by the procedure of killing the unborn baby by an injection of intra-cardiac potassium chloride administered through the wall of the womb.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 26 February 1990]: There were 15 abortions recorded in England and Wales during 1988 where an injection of intra-cardiac potassium chloride was administered through the wall of the womb.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pregnancy terminations were made after 24 weeks in the last year.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: The latest complete year for which data are available is 1988. In that year, the number of terminations performed after 24 weeks gestation in England and Wales was 22. The provisional figure for the first nine months of 1989 is 17.

  NHS Reform
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the names of any firms of outside consultants and the terms of their contracts employed by his Department in connection with the National Health Service reforms.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [pursuant to her reply, 27 February 1990, c. 127–28]: I regret that the following details of consultants used for the launch of "Working for Patients" in 1989 were inadvertently omitted.

  NML Presentations Limited—To assist with the launch of the White Paper.

  NML Presentations Limited—To assist with the launch of the Self Governing Hospitals initiative.

  Kingsley Lord—To assist with the development of an NHS Communications Programme.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Income Support
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are receiving income support in the areas covered by the(a) Poplar, (b) Stepney and (c) Shoreditch Department of Social Security offices; and how many in Tower Hamlets as a whole.

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

  Local office

  Income support live load1

  (a) Poplar

  13,680

  (b) Stepney

  8,901

  (c) Shoreditch

  9,917

  Tower Hamlets is served by four social security offices—the three listed in the table and Hackney local office. The total income support live load1 for these four offices is 47,870.

  1 Source: 100 per cent. of the cases in action on 30 November 1989. These figures include a number of cases where benefit has ceased but other action on the case is continuing.

  Accountancy Firms
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby of 18 December 1989,Official Report, column 68, he will list the six accountancy firms and provide details of the payments made to them during 1988 and 1989.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Information about the five accountancy firms employed by the Department is set out in the table. The firms have been employed on accountancy-orientated tasks which includes work on management information systems.

  1988–89 £

  1989–90 to date £

  Touche Ross

  73,647

  53,112

  Price Waterhouse

  380,000

  236,000

  BDO Binder Hamlyn

  34,063

  Peat Marwick McLintock

  19,603

  Ernst Young

  25,404

  85,863

  I regret that the sixth firm referred to in the answer of 18 December at column 68 was a management consultancy firm included in error, which has not been employed on accountancy related work.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to meet pensioners' representatives to discuss pensions, standing charges, concessionary fares and other matters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We regularly meet representatives from pensioners' organisations. Most recently my right hon. Friend the Minister of State accompanied the Prime Minister at a meeting with a delegation from the National Pensioners' Convention and discussed a range of issues of concern to them.

  Local Offices
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, pursuant to his answer on 14 February,Official Report, column 298, he will now provide the information on single payments and social fund expenditure by local offices in machine-readable form to the Library.

  Mr. Scott
  Information in the form requested is not currently available. However, we hope to make available details of social fund expenditure in a machine-readable form early in the new financial year.

  Disability
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many deaf people are in receipt of(a) disability premium and (b) severe disability premium.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I regret that the information requested is not available. However, in May 1988, the latest date for which information is available, 248,000 income support claimants were receiving the disability premium; and 35,000 the severe disability premium.

  Source: Annual Statistical Inquiry.

  Taxable Incomes
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the total number of families with children whose taxable incomes are below the income tax thresholds; how many are in paid work; how many are receiving income support; and how many are receiving invalidity benefits.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 17 January 1990]: The number of families with children in 1987, the latest year for which information is available, whose taxable income was below the income tax threshold was about 1.5 million. Of these, 300,000 were in paid work, 100,000 received invalidity benefits and all but about 30,000 received supplementary benefit.

  Notes:

  (1) Paid work is defined as where either the head or the spouse earns more than £4.00 per week.

  (2) Invalidity benefits included are:

  Invalidity pension/allowance

  Non-contributory Invalidity pension

  Statutory sick pay

  Sickness/industrial injuries benefit

  Source: 1987 Family Expenditure Survey.

THE ARTS

  British Library
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what financial assistance he is providing to the British library(a) to help it relocate 300 staff from London to Yorkshire and (b) to purchase new buildings at Boston Spa.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 1 March 1990]: Relocation of staff from London to Yorkshire is part of the library's requirement for its future operations and is based on best value for money. The costs would normally be found from the library's grant-in-aid. Exceptionally, because the move will bring significant savings in long-term running costs, the Government are prepared in principle to allow the British library to retain up to half the receipts from the sale

  583
  of the building which it currently occupies at Store street in London as a contribution to the costs of constructing a new building at Boston Spa in Yorkshire and the relocation of staff.

  This is subject to a satisfactory proposal for major expenditure commitments being presented by the board for my approval in the normal way.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what he estimates will be the costs of rehousing 300 British library staff from London to Boston Spa in(a) capital, for purchasing or existing buildings and (b) personnel costs in relocation allowances.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 1 March 1990]: Building costs at Boston Spa are estimated by the British library to be in the range of £2·5 million to £5 million. Final figures will depend on the construction strategy chosen by the library after further investigation. Personnel costs in relocation allowances are estimated to be £1 million.

  Export of Goods
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will publish in the Official Report the text of the letter from Mr. Neil Chalmers, director of the natural history museum to him, dated 2 February, concerning the Export of Goods (Control Order) 1987.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 2 March 1990]: I have today laid in the Library of the House a copy of the letter of 2 February to me from Mr. Neil Chalmers, director of the natural history museum.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what action he will take to make it possible for "Lizzie", a 340 million-year-old fossil, to remain in Britain; and if he will urgently bring forward an amendment order to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1987 to bring natural objects such as fossils within its ambit.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 2 March 1990]: Statutory responsibility for export licensing rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Any amendment to Export of Goods (Control) Orders, the latest of which is SI 1989/2376, is therefore a matter for the Secretary of State. However, I have asked the reviewing committee on the export of works of art, which advises me on such matters, to submit recommendations about the export control of natural heritage items, so that I can advise my right hon. Friend on this matter.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what action he has taken, and what action he intends taking, to implement the recommendations within his area of responsibility of the European Commission's childcare network report "Caring for Children—Services and Policies for Childcare and Equal Opportunities in the United Kingdom".

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: The report was prepared for the European Commission which has not yet developed any proposals. The Government believe that policy on child care is a matter for member states. The United Kingdom's policy is that it is for families themselves to determine how their children are to be brought up and how parents, who wish to do so, can best
  584
  combine paid work and family responsibilities. The Government, through the Department of Health and the ministerial group on women's issues, has encouraged the development of a range of high-quality child care options for both parents and employers.

  Sexual Harassment
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what is his Department's policy on sexual harassment at work; whether guidance on reporting complaints has been issued to all staff; how many complaints have been reported in the past five years; and what disciplinary action has been taken.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: My Department has issued a policy statement about sexual harassment to its staff. The statement explains that all sexual harassment is unacceptable and outlines the complaints procedure. One complaint has been reported in the past five years. The individual initially received an oral warning. Her behaviour however continued, and following a written warning she resigned from the Civil Service as further disciplinary proceedings were instigated.

RADE AND INDUSTRY

  Money Management Group
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has about the Money Management group of companies; their shareholders and directors and any current investigations being undertaken into their activities.

  Mr. Redwood
  I understand that the hon. Member is referring to those companies controlled by Mr. Adrian Ward. Information on Money Management Financial Services Ltd. and Money Management Associates Ltd. is on the companies public files at Companies House. The chief executive advises me that Mrs. Linzi Ward is shown as director of both companies. In each case, the two subscribers to the memoranda of association, Instant Companies Ltd. and Swift Incorporations Ltd., are shown as the only shareholders. I understand that Adrian Ward, trading under the name Money Management Financial Services, holds a licence issued by the Director General of Fair Trading under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. My Department does not hold records of other companies operated by Mr. Ward. MMFS had an interim authorisation which was withdrawn on 26 February. This is a matter for FIMBRA and the SIB.

  As regards the question of investigations, my Department does not comment on the affairs of various companies.

  Company Audits
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will seek to amend the Companies Act 1989 so as to require the supervisory bodies to ascertain whether or not an auditor has received more than 15 per cent. of his income from one client.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. Under the Act the Secretary of State may recognise a supervisory body only if, among other things, it appears to him that it has adequate arrangements and resources for the effective monitoring and enforcement of compliance with its rules. Such arrangements
  585
  would need to cover any rules that required company auditors to observe the body's guidance on the proportion of income which they may receive from any one client.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will bring forward legislation to prevent individuals criticised by his Department's inspectors from acting as auditors for companies.

  Mr. Redwood
  No, but under part II of the Companies Act 1989, the Secretary of State may not recognise a supervisory body unless it appears to him that it has adequate rules and practices designed to ensure that company auditors are fit and proper persons for appointment.

  EC Structural Funds
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of "The Structural Funds of the European Communities", compiled by Graeme de la Mer for the London chamber of commerce.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. The publication in question is available for companies to inspect in the world aid section of my Department. The world aid section is a central source of information on commercial opportunities arising from projects financed by the European structural funds in the other member states of the Community.

  Funerals
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received about the 1989 Office of Fair Trading report entitled "Funerals", and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  A number of right hon. and hon. Members have written to the Secretary of State and me recently about the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) 1989 report on funerals. Most of them had seen a report prepared by the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) detailing its criticisms of the OFT report.

  The OFT report was the result of a monitoring survey of the effectiveness of the NAFD's code of practice. The Director General of Fair Trading has a duty under the Fair Trading Act 1973 to encourage industry associations to adopt codes of practice which promote and safeguard the interests of consumers. In carrying out this duty he acts independently and the report on funerals is therefore a matter for him. I know that he is concerned about the comments made in the NAFD report and he has prepared a comprehensive response. I shall ask him to write to the right hon. Member.

  Electronics
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has had from the electronics industry on the subject of skills shortages.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There have been no direct representations from the electronics industry on skills shortages during the past two months, but there have, in the past, been approaches with regard to IT skills shortages. In recognising this my Department announced support of up to £440,000 over three years for the recently launched Women into Information Technology (WIT)586
  campaign, where this support is appropriately matched by industry. My Department supports a programme aimed at stimulating the production of distance learning video courses on subjects directly relating to skills in microelectronics, information technology, and their applications. Support is also being given to an industry-further education collaborative programme aimed at producing interactive video courses relating, in the main, to IT skills.

  My Department also has an information technology advisory board (ITAB) with representatives from industry, commerce and academia. One of ITAB's support committees advises specifically on education and training and comments on IT skills issues.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the European Community's plans in respect of animal testing for cosmetics.

  Mr. Forth
  The proposed amendments to the cosmetics directive are designed to improve the level of public safety. The United Kingdom has succeeded in limiting the animal testing required to the essential minimum.

  European Commission
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met his counterparts in the European Commission; and what topics were discussed.

  Mr. Redwood
  I meet European Community Ministers and Commissioners on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues.

  Manufacturing Productivity
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has carried out any studies into the effects of Government regulations on productivity improvements in manufacturing industry and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My Department co-ordinates the Government's deregulation initiative, under which individual Departments review existing regulatory require-ments and scrutinise new proposals in order to minimise any unnecessary constraints these may impose on business performance. In assessing the costs to business of complying with new regulations, Departments have particular regard to the impact on the management resources of small firms.

  Japanese Companies
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of Britain's manufactured exports are made by Japanese-owned companies.

  Mr. Redwood
  I regret that the information is not available.

  Steel
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many meetings since privatisation there have been between(a) Ministers, and (b) senior officials, and the chief executive or other board members of British Steel.
  587
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Since the flotation of British Steel my noble Friend the Minister for Trade has met a member of the company's board in connection with an overseas trade mission.

  There have been meetings between officials in various parts of the Department and members of the British Steel board since the flotation on a variety of subjects, but the precise number could be established only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list with dates meetings between himself and the chairman of British Steel since privatisation.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Neither I nor my predecessor has formally met the chairman of British Steel since the flotation of the company.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has formulated a policy view about a single plate mill strategy in the steel industry.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No.

  Internal Market Council
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Internal Market Council held on 22 February.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Council reached a satisfactory agreement on the main agenda item: a directive on public procurement in the water, transport, telecommunications and energy sectors. This represents an important step towards the liberalisation of public procurement in the Community. The Council also received a progress report from the Commission on further work in this area.

  The Council also agreed a timetable for future work towards liberalisation of the insurance market in the Community, and discussed amendments to the fourth and seventh company law directives.

  This was a satisfactory first Council under the Irish Presidency, which maintains the momentum on the single market built up during the French Presidency.

  EC-USSR Trade Agreement
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the EC-USSR trade and economic co-operation agreement.

  Mr. Ridley
  Following discussions in the Community, this agreement was signed after the Foreign Affairs Council on 18 December. While welcoming the conclusion of this significant agreement the Government very much regret that they had not allowed enough time for the parliamentary scrutiny process to be completed before they felt bound to give their consent to the signature of this agreement. Unfortunately, since both the Soviets and our EC partners attached so much importance to the early signature of this agreement any attempt to delay it would not have been understood and could have put at risk any commercial benefit that the United Kingdom may stand to gain from the momentum and climate of good will which the agreement has generated.

  I hope that the House will understand, therefore, why the Government agreed, exceptionally, to the signature of the agreement before the scrutiny process had been completed.

  Shipbuilding
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received in support of the proposal by the Anglo-Greek Consortium to acquire the NESL Southwick shipyard for the purpose of vessel construction after 9 December 1993.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 27 February 1990]: I have received representations of support for this proposal from the hon. Member, British Shipbuilders, Sunderland metropolitan borough council and A and P Appledore International Limited. The Tyne and Wear development corporation expressed a preference for the use of Southwick rather than North Sands if the Anglo-Greek consortium's proposal were to go ahead.

  Equal Opportunities
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of his Department's management training courses include sessions on equal opportunities for women; and what proportion of managers at grade six level and above working outside headquarters has received training on equal opportunities for women.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: All my Department's management training courses, including those courses specific to women, deal with equal opportunities issues.

  Staff are also able to attend a separate training course on equal opportunities, and are guided by my Department's policy statement and programme of action on equality of opportunity for women.

  We do not have the figures available on the proportion of managers at grade six level and above who have received formal training on equal opportunities issues, but all have received guidance.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what child care provision his Department provides for pre-school age children of employees; what child care provision for school holidays or after-school care is provided for employees' children aged five years or over; what plans there are for increasing provision in the next five years; and how these are to be funded.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: The DTI is considering arrangements for workplace child care for pre-school age children. We are, for example, giving strong financial support to an OMCS-led child care study considering the feasibility of interdepartmental nurseries in both central and outer London.

  In conjunction with other Government Departments we organise holiday play schemes for five to 12-year-old children in London and Cardiff. Future provision will depend on the outcome of the OMCS-led study, and on other discussions.

  Child care schemes are funded by the users. However, my Department expects to contribute to the start-up costs, and to provide ongoing financial support to running costs where this offers value for money and can be contained within departmental running costs.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grade is his Department's equal opportunities officer.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: My Department's equal opportunities officer is a grade seven.
  589
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he has implemented to ensure that recruitment and promotion policy in his Department does not directly or indirectly discriminate against applicants who were mature students or women returning to work following a career break due to child care.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: Our recruitment and promotion policy and procedures are monitored regularly to ensure that they operate equitably for all groups of staff. My Department's equal opportunities officer is involved in that monitoring.

  With women returners in mind, my Department is about to embark on a trial recruitment exercise for clerical staff in the Westminster area. Women will also benefit from a career break scheme including a definite right of return which my Department will be introducing shortly.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of civil servants in his Department are women at each of the grades(a) seven, (b) six, (c) five, (d) four, (e) three, (f) two and (g) one.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 5 March 1990] The proportions as at 26 February 1990 were:

  Per cent

  G1

  0

  G2

  11

  G3

  4

  G4

  11

  G5

  12

  G6

  8

  G7

  12

  Sexual Harassment
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his Department's policy on sexual harassment at work; whether guidance on reporting complaints has been issued to all staff; how many complaints have been reported in the past five years; and what disciplinary action has been taken.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: The policy of my Department is to regard any form of sexual harassment as totally unacceptable. Guidance on reporting complaints has been issued to all staff. Five complaints have been reported in the past five years. Of these, one was withdrawn by the complainant before it was investigated, and two were found to have insufficient evidence to support further action. In the other two disciplinary charges were brought and penalties imposed.

  Pin-ups
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will issue instructions for the removal of all offensive pin-ups in all his departmental premises.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: The Department's existing guidance to staff on sexual harassment requires managers to take action where posters or photographs are displayed which seem likely to give offence.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Profit-related Pay
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average percentage of pay in profit-related pay schemes in each year; and what is their distribution.

  Mr. Lilley
  I regret that information on actual payments of profit-related pay is not yet available.

  Employer Stock Ownership
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the distribution by(a) size and (b) sector of firms with employer stock ownership plans;

  (2) what is the number of employer stock ownership plans and employee share ownership trusts that have been set up in each of the last five years; how many employees are involved; and how much less corporation tax has been paid as a result.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Inland Revenue will not learn of the establishment of employee share ownership trusts of the kind defined in the Finance Act 1989 until claims for the tax relief provided by that legislation are received. Such claims may be made up to two years after the end of the period of account in which the relevant company contributions are made. None has yet been cleared.

  I regret that information is not available on the extent and character of other arrangements which are also commonly, though imprecisely, known as employee share ownership plans.

  As regards the operation of the 1,603 all-employee share schemes approved by the Inland Revenue up to 5 April 1989, however, some 2 million employees had been given shares or options over shares with an initial market value of some £5 billion by that date. Other information on these schemes is published in "Inland Revenue Statistics 1989".

  European Investment Bank
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contribution the European Investment Bank made to underwriting the Channel tunnel project.

  Mr. Ryder
  The European Investment Bank approved a loan of £1 billion to the Channel tunnel project in 1987. The European Investment Bank has made no contribution

  Average amounts of investment income and earned income

  (£ per annum)

  Group of income tax payers

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Investment income

  Earned income

  Investment income

  Earned income

  Top 1 per cent.

  21,230

  69,340

  27,100

  75,700

  Top 5 per cent.

  8,570

  40,680

  10,830

  44,540

  Top 10 per cent.

  5,600

  32,300

  7,280

  35,250

  Top 20 per cent.

  3,720

  25,330

  4,860

  27,660

  Top 25 per cent.

  3,240

  23,390

  4,240

  25,540

  Bottom 70 per cent.

  660

  8,030

  840

  8,800

  Bottom 50 per cent.

  580

  6,580

  740

  7,200

  All taxpayers

  1,320

  12,190

  1,720

  13,310

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further plans he has for abolishing discriminatory provisions for purposes of taxation.
  592
  to underwriting the loan. Security for the loan will be provided by the syndicate of banks co-ordinating the financing of Eurotunnel in the form of:

  (a) Letters of credit from up to 20 first class commercial banks;

  (b) A pro-rata share with the syndicate banks in the charges on the project revenues and assets.

  Premium Bonds
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are taken to prevent the misappropriation of the premium bond prize winners fund.

  Mr. Ryder
  There is no scope for misappropriating money from the premium bond prize fund. Prize draws are carried out under the strictest security and are subject to scrutiny by the National Audit Office and the Department for National Savings' own internal auditors. Winning numbers are selected wholly at random by ERNIE and this machine has been so designed that it cannot be programmed to generate any particular number. Tests to verify the randomness of the numbers selected are conducted by the Government Actuary after every prize draw. Prize draws and the verification of prizes against valid bonds are subject to strict testing, checking and security procedures. The bonds and stock office carries out checks to ensure that prizes are paid out only to the registered holders of winning bonds. Prizes are paid from the National Loans Fund, for which audited accounts are presented annually to Parliament. Numbers of all winning prizes are published in a monthly supplement to the London Gazette and copies are available for inspection at main post offices.

  Taxation
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) of 20 February,Official Report, columns 681–82, on investment income and earned income, if he will give the average sum per taxpayer reflected in the aggregate amounts for each taxpayer group.

  Mr. Lilley
  Estimates are given in the table. They are based on a projection of the 1987–88 survey of personal incomes and are provisional. All estimates are subject to a large degree of uncertainty since some investment income on which tax is deducted at source is not reflected in the survey.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.
  593
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of gross domestic product total taxation was in June 1979 and today.

  Mr. Ryder
  Information is not available on a monthly basis. Information for the years 1979 and 1988 (the latest available) was given in the reply to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) on 8 January 1990,Official Report, column 558.

  Gross National Product
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the gross national product per head of population in(a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I regret that this information is not available. There are no estimates of gross national product which by definition includes income from assets held abroad. There are, however, estimates of gross domestic product which exclude such income. They are produced annually by the Central Statistical Office and the latest figures for these countries were published in Economic Trends of November 1989.

  Income Tax (Wales)
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of income tax collected in Wales in each of the five years up to 1988–89.

  Region

  Average new mortgage1

  Weekly payment2

  Increase

  9·8 per cent·interest rate

  14·5 per cent. interest rate

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Northern

  28,400

  40·14

  59·39

  19·25

  Yorks and Humberside

  29,600

  41·84

  61·90

  20·06

  East Midlands

  34,700

  51·26

  75·85

  24·59

  East Anglia

  44,600

  69·92

  103·45

  33·53

  Greater London

  60,900

  100·64

  148·90

  48·26

  South East

  53,200

  86·13

  127·43

  41·30

  South West

  43,700

  68·22

  100·94

  32·72

  West Midlands

  33,800

  49·56

  73·34

  23·78

  North West

  31,300

  44·85

  66·36

  21·51

  Wales

  30,200

  42·78

  63·30

  20·52

  Scotland

  26,500

  37·46

  55·42

  17·96

  Northern Ireland

  24,200

  34·21

  50·61

  16·40

  United Kingdom

  38,300

  58·05

  85·89

  27·84

  1 Third quarter 1989.

  2 Assuming endowment mortgage.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make provision for writing down against tax liabilities the increase in mortgage debts of individuals where incurred because of the rise in interest rates.

  Mr. Lilley
  I cannot comment on tax matters in advance of my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

  Local Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of local expenditure is raised(a) locally and (b) nationally.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I refer the hon. Member to table 21.4.13 of the public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 1021).
  594
  Mr. Lilley
  Information for the period requested is available from 1984–85 to 1987–88 and covers residents of Wales. The estimates are in terms of liabilities rather than tax collected and are shown in the table.

  Year

  £ billion

  1984–85

  1·38

  1985–86

  1·39

  1986–87

  1·49

  1987–88

  1·51

  VAT (Wales)
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of value added tax collected in Wales in each of the five years up to 1988–89.

  Mr. Ryder
  Information on value added tax paid by businesses registered in Wales could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. It would not reflect tax collected by businesses in Wales registered elsewhere in the United Kingdom and would include tax accounted for by businesses registered in Wales which carried on business elsewhere.

  Mortgages
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his answer of 26 February,Official Report, column 12, what was the average increase in repayments per week on the average mortgage in each region between 1 June 1988 and today.

  Mr. Lilley
  The information is as follows.

  Japanese Banks
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Japanese banks have been granted a licence by the Bank of England to open a branch in London; and what reciprocal facilities have been granted to United Kingdom banks.

  Mr. Ryder
  The following Japanese banks have been authorised by the Bank of England to open branches in the United Kingdom:

  Bank of Tokyo Ltd

  Bank of Yokohama Ltd

  Chuo Trust and Banking Company Ltd

  Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank Ltd

  Daiwa Bank Ltd

  595

  Fuji Bank Ltd

  Hokkaido Takushoku Bank Ltd

  Industrial Bank of Japan Ltd

  Kyowa Bank Ltd

  Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan Ltd

  Mitsubishi Bank Ltd

  Mitsubishi Trust and Banking Corporation

  Mitsui Bank Ltd

  Mitsui Trust and Banking Company Ltd

  Nippon Credet Bank Ltd

  Saitama Bank Ltd

  Sanwa Bank Ltd

  Sumitomo Bank Ltd

  Sumitomo Trust and Banking Company Ltd

  Taiyo Kobe Bank Ltd

  Tokai Bank Ltd

  Toyo Trust and Banking Company Ltd

  Yasuda Trust and Banking Company Ltd

  In addition the Bank of England has authorised United Kingdom incorporated subsidiaries of a further eight Japanese banks.

  Five United Kingdom banks have branches in Japan. The Government are not aware of any United Kingdom bank currently seeking authorisation for banking activities in Japan.

  Civil Service (Working Patterns)
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many reports have been produced since July 1987 on the possibility of changing working patterns in the Civil Service.

  Mr. Ryder
  A report on the potential for developing more flexible working patterns in the Civil Service was produced by the Cabinet Office in September 1987. A copy was placed in the House of Commons Library at the time.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the status of the working patterns reports of September 1987; if he will list the recommendations of that report that were accepted by the Government; and if he will provide a progress report on their implementation.

  Mr. Ryder
  The report on working patterns was an internal research report which looked at the potential for developing more flexible working patterns in the Civil Service. It was not prescriptive. Departments have been encouraged to make use of the ideas and suggestions contained in the report, where these will help to meet the needs of the work and their staff more efficiently and effectively. A number are now taking forward initiatives in these areas.

  National Loans Fund
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which bodies have borrowed from the National Loans Fund over the last year.

  Mr. Lilley
  In the year to February 1990, the National Loans Fund has made most advances to the Public Works Loan Board. Loans have also been made to the following bodies:

  New Town Development Corporations

  Housing Corporations and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive

  Regional Water Authorities (pre-privatisation)

  British Rail

  Civil Aviation Authority

  Crown Suppliers

  Her Majesty's Stationery Office

  596

  Land Authority for Wales

  North of Scotland Hydro-Electric

  Board Royal Mint

  Scottish Development Agency

  South of Scotland Electricity Board

  Welsh Development Agency

  Hotels and Guest Houses (Valuation)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he is giving to allowing valuation officers to assess hoteliers and guest house owners on supported profit figures.

  Mr. Lilley
  Valuation officers are required to determine the rateable value of hotels and guest houses having regard to the provisions of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. An estimate has to be made of the rent at which the property might reasonably be expected to be let from year to year, and profitability is one aspect that can be taken into account in appropriate cases.

  Household Incomes
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average household gross income in(a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland in 1989–90.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average household net income in(a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) England in 1989–90.

  Mr. Lilley
  Estimates for 1989–90 are not yet available.

  Banking Services
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the Government's response to the Jack committee report on banking services, law and practice.

  Mr. Ryder
  It was announced last week that a committee has been set up under the chairmanship of Sir George Blunden to oversee the preparation of a code of banking practice by the British Bankers Association (BBA), the Building Societies Association (BSA), and the Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS). This was the central recommendation of the review committee's report. I warmly welcome this initiative by the banks and building societies and am particularly pleased by their confirmation that the consumer interests will be fully consulted. The Government's response to the remainder of the recommendations in the review committee's report will be published shortly.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing information available to him on the national insurance contributions or equivalents paid by people in(a) Germany, (b) Italy, (c) France, (d) the United States of America, (e) Holland and (f) the United Kingdom, together with the income bands where appropriate.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I have been asked to reply.

  Details concerning national insurance contributions or their equivalents for member states of the European Community are contained in the Department of Social Security's publication, "Tables of Social Benefit Systems in

  597
  the European Communities," the 1989 issue of which is available in the Library. For the USA the 1990 contribution rate for employers is 7·65 per cent. each and the rate for the self-employed is 15·3 per cent. The maximum annual contribution for both employers and employees is $3,924,45 for 1990. For the self-employed it is $7,848·90.

SCOTLAND

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the sales of council houses in Scotland by quarter up to and including the last quarter of 1989 since 1985.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information on sales to sitting tenants of public sector agencies in Scotland for the periods requested, other than 4th quarter 1989 for which figures are not yet available, is set out in the following table:

  Sales of dwellings to silting tenants of public authorities Scotland, January 1985 to September 1989

  Period

  Local authority

  New towns

  Scottish homes1

  1985

  1st quarter

  3,260

  397

  697

  2nd quarter

  2,785

  385

  398

  3rd quarter

  2,497

  346

  673

  4th quarter

  2,425

  379

  695

  1986

  1st quarter

  2,764

  271

  455

  2nd quarter

  2,090

  263

  478

  3rd quarter

  2,402

  467

  444

  4th quarter

  3,050

  614

  696

  1987

  1st quarter

  3,411

  375

  325

  2nd quarter

  2,421

  563

  600

  3rd quarter

  3,476

  506

  803

  4th quarter

  4,505

  697

  1,287

  1988

  1st quarter

  6,367

  485

  1,050

  2nd quarter

  4,305

  524

  1,300

  3rd quarter

  4,958

  680

  1,508

  4th quarter

  6,998

  883

  2,597

  1989

  1st quarter

  9,046

  456

  1,765

  2nd quarter

  6,389

  1,210

  476

  3rd quarter

  5,717

  1,375

  2,068

  1 Scottish Special Housing Association prior to 2nd quarter 1989.

  Leukaemia
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish the figures for the number of recorded cases of(a) leukaemia and (b) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Dunoon and the surrounding area for each of the last 20 years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The registered number of cases in the postcode area (which includes Dunoon for the period from 1968 to 1987 (latest available year) are as follows:598

  Year

  Leukaemia

  Non-Hodgkin 's lymphoma

  1968

  3

  1

  1969

  1

  0

  1970

  0

  3

  1971

  0

  3

  1972

  3

  2

  1973

  0

  3

  1974

  0

  3

  1975

  1

  2

  1976

  3

  1

  1977

  3

  0

  1978

  1

  1

  1979

  0

  1

  1980

  2

  3

  1981

  1

  1

  1982

  2

  3

  1983

  1

  1

  1984

  0

  4

  1985

  2

  1

  1986

  0

  1

  1987

  1

  3

  Training Schemes
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the level of grant given towards the employment training scheme to each Scottish district council in 1988–89, 1989–90 and the projected figures for 1990–91.

  Mr. Lang
  In employment training a basic training grant at a rate of £18 per trainee week is paid to organisations which have a contract as a training manager for employment training. In addition supplementary grants are payable to training managers to cover additional costs associated with the provision of project or higher cost training and are related to individual needs. The amounts paid to individual training managers either as basic training grants or supplementary grants depend on the number of trainees they can attract and the needs of the individual trainees. Fifteen district councils:

  Angus

  Argyll and Bute

  Caithness Clydesdale

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  Dunfermline

  East Kilbride

  Hamilton

  Kirkcaldy

  Lochabar

  Midlothian

  Moray

  North East Fife

  Ross and Cromarty

  Wigtown

  are at present training managers, but it is not possible to estimate the amount of grant payments to each of these for the years in question.

  Radon Gas
  Mr. Buchanan-Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the causes of high radon gas levels in Kincardine and Deeside district; if he will identify the areas particularly affected; and if he will summarise the assistance and advice available to householders.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Studies by the National Radiological Protection Board have indicated that the accumulation of
  599
  higher than normal concentrations of radon in buildings is influenced by the uranium content and permeability of the underlying rocks and soils, and also by some characteristics of the buildings. Some of these factors combine in the Dee valley to cause higher levels of this naturally occurring gas in a small percentage of houses: such levels have been discovered in the areas of Aboyne, Ballater, Banchory, Braemar and Torphins.

  The Scottish Office has arranged for the National Radiological Protection Board to provide information and a free radon measurement to any concerned householder in the Kincardine and Deeside district. In addition, grants continue to be available, through the present improvement grants system, for any remedial action which may be necessary.

  Steel
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the dates when, with steel as the principal topic, he has met delegations from steelworkers and other organisations in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  During the last six months, my right hon. and learned Friend met a delegation of Ravenscraig shop stewards on 30 November 1989, a delegation of Scottish Labour Members of Parliament on 7 December 1989, and representatives of Strathclyde regional council and the Scottish Trades Union Congress on 8 January 1990.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list with dates the meetings he has had, or any of his Ministers or senior officials have had, with the chief executive or other board members of British Steel since privatisation.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend met the chairman of British Steel on 26 October 1988. He met the chairman again, with his chief executive, on 26 October 1989.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he, any of his Ministers, or senior officials had discussions with British Steel about its current capital investment programme before that programme was finalised.

  Mr. Lang
  The capital investment programme of British Steel is a matter for the company.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department has formulated an official policy on the issue of a single plate mill strategy in the steel industry.

  Mr. Lang
  The issue of a single plate mill strategy is a matter for British Steel. My right hon. and learned Friend has made clear his view that the company should give full and careful consideration to the case for investment in Scotland.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Eastwood (Mr. Stewart) of 28 February,Official Report, column 272, whether on 26 October 1989, or in the continuing contacts mentioned by him in Official Report, column 271, he raised with the chairman of British Steel its investment programme and future intentions towards Ravenscraig;

  (2) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan of 28 February, Official Report, column
  600
  271, whether in his discussions with the chairman of British Steel on 26 October 1989 he raised the future of Dalziel works;

  (3) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan of 28 February, Official Report, column 271, whether on 26 October 1989 the chairman of British Steel informed him that a plate mill was stored at Lackenby;

  (4) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan of 28 February, Official Report, column 271, whether on 26 October 1989 he discussed with British Steel's chairman the issue of a single plate mill strategy;

  (5) where his meeting was held with the chairman of British Steel on 26 October 1989; and how long the meeting lasted.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend's meeting with the chairman of British Steel was held in his office in Whitehall; it lasted about an hour. The detailed matters discussed are commercially confidential.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan of 28 February,Official Report, column 271, whether the continuing contact with British Steel since last October has been at ministerial or official level.

  Mr. Lang
  Both:

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan of 28 February,Official Report, column 271, what specific issues his Department has raised with British Steel in its continuing contact with that organisation.

  Mr. Lang
  The detailed matters raised by my right hon. and learned Friend's Department with British Steel are commercially confidential.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what correspondence he has received from British Steel since his meeting with the chairman of British Steel on 26 October.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received two letters from the chairman of British Steel, the contents of which are commercially confidential.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he received information from British Steel about(a) its intention to impose a production pause on Ravenscraig over the Christmas and new year holiday period, and (b) the latest production pause to be imposed on Ravenscraig.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend's officials received information from British Steel on 22 November 1989 about the first production pause and on 20 February 1990 about the latest production pause.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many single pensioners are now eligible for payment of the poll tax who had(a) no liability for rates in 1987–88, (b) no liability for rates in 1988–89 and (c) liability for 20 per cent. rates in 1989–90.

  Mr. Rifkind
  [holding answer 22 February 1990]: Information on the number of single pensioners in

  601
  Scotland who are now liable for the community charge but who had no liability for rates in 1987–88 or 1988–89 is not available. 'This is because a number of pensioners had no liability to pay domestic rates, not as a result of the housing benefit they received, but, for
  example, because they lived in another person's house and made no payment towards the rates of that property. These pensioners were not entitled to housing benefit and therefore they would not have been identified by the housing benefit management information system. Our latest estimate for 1989–90 is that about 150,000 single pensioners in Scotland are receiving the maximum community charge rebate of 80 per cent.

  Bed-and-Breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate(a) the number of bed and breakfast establishments in Scotland, (b) the number which operate commercially for less than 100 nights per annum, (c) the number which have six or fewer beds for commercial let and (d) the number which meet both the criteria set out in categories (b) and (c) above.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: In order to be eligible for the rating exemption announced by my right hon. and learned Friend last week, bed and breakfast establishments must operate for fewer than 100 nights per annum or have six or fewer beds for commercial let.

  The information requested is as follows and is taken from the register of the Scottish Tourist Board compiled for the purposes of taking an entry in the board's "Where to Stay" guides:

  Number

  (a) Number of establishments

  3,846

  (b) Number which operate commercially for less than three months1 per year

  68

  (c) Number which have six or fewer beds

  2,943

  (d) Number which meet criteria at both (b) and (c)

  45

  1 For the purposes of the board guides, establishments are described as open for a given number of months in the year. No information is available on the number of days of opening.

  Local Income Tax
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of preparing the answer of 27 February to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Maxton),Official Report, columns 117–19.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: About £110.

  Police Accommodation
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what response he is making to the Scottish Police Federation following representations made to him concerning(a) the position of officers in provided accommodation and the introduction of a provided accommodation allowance and (b) updating of the force rent allowance; and when he expects to lay regulations governing the level of allowances.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: My right hon. and learned Friend and I met the chairman and general secretary of the Scottish Police
  602
  Federation on 8 February to hear their representations about the proposed arrangements to replace rent allowance with a new housing allowance.

  In response to the representations of the Scottish Police Federation my right hon. and learned Friend has decided to make provision in the forthcoming regulations for an allowance of £300 a year to officers who were living on 31 March 1989 in accommodation provided by the police authority; this allowance will continue for three years or until the officer leaves provided accommodation, whichever is sooner.

  The regulations will have the effect of permitting rent allowance reviews due in 1989 to proceed, but my right hon. and learned Friend is not persuaded that rent allowances should be updated in forces not due reviews in 1989.

  The regulations are expected to be laid this week.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Milk Quotas
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has submitted to the European Community Commission any detailed proposals for allocating an additional 1 per cent. of milk quota in 1990.

  Mr. Gummer
  My proposals were that quota should be allocated to producers who received awards from the Dairy Produce Quotas Tribunal which were scaled back and have not yet been fully implemented; to smaller producers; to producers in remote areas, principally the islands of Scotland and the Scilly Isles; and to new entrants. The Commission raised a number of points in connection with these proposals. With one exception, which concerns my proposal to lend quota to new entrants rather than grant it outright, all points of difficulty have now been satisfactorily resolved and I am awaiting formal Commission agreement. Regulations will then be laid before Parliament and the majority of the quota issued before the end of the current quota year.

  Fishing Boat Grants
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he received the applications for fishing boats grants Nos. (1) UK/0/114/89, (2) UK/0/122/ 89, (3) UK/0/117/89 and (4) UK/0/113/89; when he expects to submit them to the European Commission; and if he will make a statement about the delay in release of these grant payments.

  Mr. Curry
  The information is as follows:

  Project number

  Date application received

  Date of Commission announcement of successful grant awards

  Date claim received

  UK/0/114/89

  5 July 1988

  31 March 1989

  26 June 1989

  UK/0/122/89

  5 July 1988

  31 March 1989

  26 June 1989

  UK/0/117/89

  31 August 1988

  31 March 1989

  26 June 1989

  UK/0/113/89

  30 September 1988

  31 March 1989

  6 June 1989

  The submission of individual claims for payment of grants is not permitted by the European Commission. The member state must be in receipt of a certain number of

  603
  claims (usually 20 per cent. of the aid awarded in any one round) before they can be submitted to the Commission. We are now satisfied that an appropriate number of claims has been received to meet the Commission's requirements and payment can be expected shortly.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will initiate a programme of active surveillance of Britain's cattle stock involving veterinary surgeons making visits to farms, markets and slaughterhouses to identify cattle suffering from bovine spongiform encephalopathy or the early symptoms of the disease.

  Mr. Maclean
  There is already a programme of active surveillance carried out by veterinarians in the Ministry's state veterinary service, official veterinarians employed by local authorities and those in private practice.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has as to the transmissibility of(a) bovine spongiform encephalopathy and (b) scrapie through the consumption of bone or bone meal from affected animals.

  Mr. Maclean
  Epidemiological evidence shows that the most likely cause of BSE was the feeding to cattle of compound rations containing meat and bone meal which included material derived from sheep infected with scrapie.

  Bovine animals

  Sheep

  Goats

  Swine

  Poultry

  Horses, asses, mules and hinnies

  1980

  Number ('000)

  370

  393

  1

  298

  10,928

  11

  Value (£'000)

  52,437

  11,700

  18

  16,713

  9,989

  48,996

  1981

  Number ('000)

  321

  172

  1

  606

  15,385

  9

  Value (£'000)

  55,884

  6,035

  58

  34,147

  13,312

  66,091

  1982

  Number ('000)

  287

  146

  1

  619

  13,296

  9

  Value (£'000)

  48,810

  5,276

  113

  41,164

  12,002

  71,563

  1983

  Number ('000)

  240

  93

  1

  571

  11,274

  Value (£'000)

  30,599

  3,374

  51

  35,777

  11,105

  106,368

  1984

  Number ('000)

  234

  101

  1

  346

  9,110

  9

  Value (£'000)

  29,158

  3,163

  46

  22,377

  10,225

  125,891

  1985

  Number ('000)

  173

  84

  1

  234

  9,617

  9

  Value (£'000)

  24,171

  2,427

  115

  17,430

  12,358

  205,330

  1986

  Number ('000)

  213

  195

  1

  134

  9,040

  9

  Value (£'000)

  29,591

  6,832

  52

  12,554

  11,789

  238,976

  1987

  Number ('000)

  387

  373

  1

  61

  10,235

  10

  Value (£'000)

  57,826

  13,890

  241

  8,618

  14,046

  231,041

  1988

  Number ('000)

  267

  509

  1

  59

  12,788

  7

  Value (£'000)

  44,438

  24,741

  66

  8,949

  15,301

  154,146

  604
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide details of incidents where bulls at artificial insemination centres have been found to have contracted bovine spongiform encephalopathy, including the age of the bull, the breed and the artificial insemination centre.

  Mr. Maclean
  BSE has been confirmed in five Friesian bulls at AI centres. Their ages in months were 48, 55, 64, 67 and 71. It is not the practice to identify the premises where cases occur.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many progeny per year are normally expected from bulls at artificial insemination centres.

  Mr. Maclean
  A bull approved for use in artificial insemination might be expected to sire an average of 200 progeny, but it may be considerably more for an exceptional animal.

  Live Animal Stock (Exports)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list by year for the last 10 years, and by live animal stock(a) the number and (b) the value of stock exported by the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Curry
  The number and value of live animal stock exported by the United Kingdom over the last 10 years are listed in the table.
  605

  Bovine animals

  Sheep

  Goats

  Swine

  Poultry

  Horses, asses, mules and hinnies

  1989

  Number ('000)

  330

  589

  1

  115

  13,599

  7

  Value (£'000)

  54,218

  28,033

  41

  16,212

  19,276

  140,431

  1 Less than half units shown.

  Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  Equine Meat Trade
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to restrict or ban the trade in horse, pony and donkey meat between the United Kingdom and other countries; and if he will make a statement on his assessment of the impact of the European single market on the trade in horse meat after 1992.

  Mr. Curry
  We have no proposals to restrict or ban the trade in horse, pony and donkey meat between the United Kingdom and other countries. Any such action would be contrary to article 34 of the treaty of Rome and thus illegal. The Commission's proposals in respect of the single European market contain no items specifically relating to trade in horse meat but envisage that the trade will continue after 1992.

  The United Kingdom intends to press strongly in the EC negotiations on the welfare of live animals in transit for provisions which discourage the export of live horses and ponies from the United Kingdom for slaughter.

DEFENCE

  NATO (Out of Area)
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the role of the United Kingdom's armed forces in NATO's out-of-area capabilities.

  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the role of the United Kingdom's armed forces in NATO's out-of-area capability.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  NATO has no out-of-area role. The United Kingdom's armed forces do, however, maintain an out-of-area capability, as described in successive Statements on the Defence Estimates.

  Community Charge
  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from serving members of Her Majesty's forces about arrangements for paying the poll tax.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from serving members of Her Majesty's forces about arrangements for paying the poll tax.

  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from serving members of Her Majesty's forces about arrangements for paying the poll tax.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend and I have received a number of representations about arrangements for the community charge.

  Service Women
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to allow women into the Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Life Guards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Under the present deployment guidelines for women in the Army, women may be employed in peace and war in all posts except those where the primary role is direct combat. There are, therefore, no current plans for members of the WRAC to be employed in combat posts in the Household Cavalry, but other posts in these units may be open to them.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department is taking to encourage the wider employment of service women.

  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department is taking to encourage the wider employment of service women.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department is taking to encourage the wider employment of service women.

  Mr. Tom King
  We have over the last year announced plans to allow women to serve in surface ships of the Royal Navy; to increase the number of women in the Regular Army by up to 6,000 and to enable them to fill all posts other than those that would deploy to forward areas in war; to recruit women as pilots and navigators in the RAF; and to increase the number of women in ground trades in the RAF by 2,000. We are continuing to look for other areas of employment which may be opened up to women.

  Land Holdings
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the extent of his Department's current land holding; and what plans he has to acquire further land.

  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the extent of his Department's current land holding; and what plans he has to acquire further land.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the extent of his Department's current land holding; and what plans he has to acquire further land.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Haynes).

  Northern Ireland
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the operations of those security forces in Northern Ireland responsible to him.

  Mr. Tom King
  The armed forces deployed in Northern Ireland in support of the RUC continue to make a substantial and essential contribution to the defeat of terrorism in the Province.

  Trident
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the cost of the Trident programme is still to be expended; and what is his estimate of the annual running cost of one Trident submarine.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the cost of the Trident programme is still to be expended; and what is his estimate of the annual running cost of one Trident submarine.

  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the cost of the Trident programme is still to be expended; and what is his estimate of the annual running cost of one Trident submarine.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the cost of the Trident programme is still to be expended; and what is his estimate of the annual running cost of one Trident submarine.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Of the total currently estimated cost, about £6,000 million has yet to be spent, although some £2,000 million of that is already contractually committed. It is too early to say with any precision the likely running costs of the Trident force. They are not, however, expected to be significantly different from those of Polaris.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made on the construction of the first two Vanguard-class Trident submarines.

  Mr. Neubert
  Construction of the first two Vanguard-class submarines at Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. is well advanced.

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

  Mr. Alan Clark
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence told the House when announcing the revised Trident cost estimate on 31 January, the Trident programme continues to progress to time and budget towards its in-service date of the mid–1990s.

  United States Defence Secretary
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his United States counterpart; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his United States counterpart; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his United States counterpart; and what was discussed.
  608
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his United States counterpart; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Tom King
  I last met Mr. Cheney during my visit to Washington at the end of January. We discussed a range of current defence issues.

  Ambulance Dispute
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost to date of using the armed forces on civilian ambulance duties.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Up to 31 January 1990 the Ministry of Defence has identified extra costs in the region of £3·5 million for recovery from the Department of Health, the Scottish Home and Health Department and the Welsh Office.

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about compensation for nuclear test veterans.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about compensation for nuclear test veterans.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about compensation for nuclear test veterans.

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

  NATO Ministers
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his NATO counterparts; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Defence Ministers; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend last met his colleagues from the eastern members of NATO (except Iceland) at the independent European programme group meeting at Gleneagles on 21 February. The last meeting of NATO Defence Ministers was the defence planning committee on 28–29 November 1989. Copies of the communiqués issued after both meetings have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to meet his NATO colleagues; and what he expects to discuss.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend will next meet his NATO colleagues at the defence nuclear planning group in early May when a range of defence issues will be discussed.

  Eastern Europe
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been instituted to assess the military implications of political changes in eastern Europe; and if he will make a statement.
  609
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We keep the implications of political changes in eastern Europe under constant review. These changes are welcome and we look to the CFE process for reductions in military capabilities to provide enhanced security at the lower levels of forces which NATO has long sought.

  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the recent developments in eastern Europe have caused his Department to reconsider its military commitments to NATO.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the impact of recent events in eastern Europe on British defence commitments.

  Mr. Tom King
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Maples).

  European Defence Ministers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the EUCLID meeting of European Defence Ministers on 20 and 21 February.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the EUCLID meeting of European Defence Ministers on 20 and 21 February.

  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the EUCLID meeting of European Defence Ministers on 20 and 21 February.

  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the EUCLID meeting of European Defence Ministers on 20 and 21 February.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Defence Ministers of the independent European programme group (IEPG) nations met at Gleneagles on 21 February. Among other matters, they discussed the EUCLID European research and technology programme and expressed satisfaction at the progress made on the outlined plan for the programme and endorsed some of the principles which will govern how the work will he undertaken. They also endorsed the aim of having a memorandum of understanding ready for signature this year, and looked to nations to implement the programme as soon as possible thereafter. They welcomed the valuable relationship developing between the EUCLID governmental organisations and the European defence industries group (EDIG), and stressed its importance for the success of EUCLID.

  A copy of the communiqué issued after the meeting has been placed in the Library of the House.

  NATO Policy
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has commissioned any studies into the effects of a change of policy in NATO from flexible response to minimum deterrence.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  NATO has always sought to ensure deterrence while maintaining only the essential 610
  minimum levels of nuclear and conventional forces. NATO's flexible response strategy is consistent with that aim and remains the best means of deterring any potential aggression, and thus guaranteeing peace and security.

  Civil Community (Assistance)
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department has given to the civil community in the United Kingdom over the past year.

  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department has given to the civil community in the United Kingdom over the past year.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department has given to the civil community in the United Kingdom over the past year.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The services are constantly engaged in providing assistance to the civil community in one form or another. This ranges from comparatively routine projects, such as the attachment of volunteers to social service organisations, through frequent explosive ordnance disposal operations to assistance in cases of accident or natural disaster. Over the last year notable examples of assistance have been the provision of temporary accommodation to house victims of the floods in north Wales and the loan of generators and chain-saws to help provide temporary power and restore lines of communication following the storms last January.

  Equipment Expenditure
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of United Kingdom defence equipment expenditure is spent in the United Kingdom; and how many jobs are supported both directly and indirectly in British industry as a result of that expenditure.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer my hon. Friend to the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989, volume I, paragraph 401, and volume 2, table 6.8.

  Air-to-Surface Missile
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are his latest plans to deploy a new tactical air-to-surface missile.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are his latest plans to deploy a new tactical air-to-surface missile.

  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are his latest plans to deploy a new tactical air-to-surface missile.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn).

  Soviet Union
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence his Department has on the present military doctrine adopted in the Soviet general staff.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Recent statements by senior Soviet officials claim that since 1987, the Soviet Union's
  611
  military doctrine has been strictly defensive. It has been emphasised by the Soviet Chief of the General Staff that the main direction of his department's work is to make the armed forces unequivocally defensive. However, the internal debate in the USSR over the precise formulation of a new doctrine following the current and prospective force reductions in Europe continues.

  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence his Department has on the policy of the Soviet general staff towards the doctrine of defence sufficiency.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence his Department has on the policy of the Soviet general staff towards the doctrine of military sufficiency.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) on 2 March,Official Report, column 382.

  Conventional Force Reductions
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has received any representations from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament on the CFE talks.

  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has received any representations from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament on the CFE talks.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has received any representations from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament on the CFE talks.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend and I have received a number of letters, some of which have been inspired by CND, on many aspects of defence policy and arms control negotiations. However, I note that no recent representations have been received from CND on the most encouraging progress at the CFE talks towards a negotiated and verifiable agreement on conventional forces in Europe.

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution his Department will make to the implementation of any CFE agreement.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution his Department will make to the implementation of any CFE agreement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My Department will be participating fully in the implementation, including verification, of a CFE agreement.

  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the CFE talks in Vienna.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Very substantial progress has been made in the CFE talks. NATO and the Warsaw pact have reached agreement on ceilings for tanks, helicopters and United States and Soviet stationed manpower in the central region. In the course of the latest round of 612
  negotiations in Vienna, which finished on 22 February, progress was made towards resolving the remaining differences, and NATO tabled detailed proposals on verification.

  BAOR
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what review he has undertaken of the future role of the British Army of the Rhine.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what review he has undertaken of the future role of the British Army of the Rhine.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what review he has undertaken of the future role of the British Army of the Rhine.

  Mr Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what review he has undertaken of the future role of the British Army of the Rhine.

  Mr. Tom King
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer that I gave today to the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Cartwright).

  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department intends changing the present balance between conventional and nuclear weapons in the British Army of the Rhine and RAF Germany.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The balance between conventional and nuclear weapons in British forces Germany is kept under continuous review.

  Nuclear Submarines
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the programme of inspection of submarine nuclear reactors.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the programme of inspection of submarine nuclear reactors.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The programme of inspections to which the hon. Members refer is continuing.

  RAF Bentwaters
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role he envisages for RAF Bentwaters.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role he envisages for RAF Bentwaters.

  Mr. Heifer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role he envisages for RAF Bentwaters.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role he envisages for RAF Bentwaters.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  RAF Bentwaters is a base for A–10 ground attack aircraft of the USAF. The F-16 aircraft of the USAF 527th "Aggressor" squadron were withdrawn fom the base recently. No decisions have been taken on any further changes to the role of the station.

  RAF Greenham Common
  Mr. Harry Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about the future of RAF Greenham Common.
  613
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about the future of RAF Greenham Common.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about the future of RAF Greenham Common.

  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about the future of RAF Greenham Common.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A number of letters from right hon. and hon. Members and members of the public have been received.

  Duty Tours
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum and average length of tour of duty for personnel serving on(a) surface and (b) submarine duty.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The normal maximum length of continuous sea service for a rating is 30 months (plus or minus three months), with a current average for both the surface and submarine flotillas of 21 months. For officers, the current policy is that sea appointments should not exceed two years or, when in command, 21 months. The current average is about 19 months.

  Tilshead Flooding
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the flooding of land above and below the village of Tilshead in Wiltshire following the construction by the Army of causeways for military vehicles.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  During the recent exceptional rainfall, a large quantity of water accumulated behind a causeway which crosses a valley north-east of Tilshead village. The defence land agent Durrington took immediate steps first to prevent and then to control the overflow of water down the valley by inserting culverts in the causeway. Subsequently the defence land agent and Army engineers took the precautionary step of strengthening the causeway in a complex overnight operation involving many individuals and organisations. Water has not been known to accumulate behind the causeway in the past and on this occasion its existence may well have prevented even worse flooding in Tilshead village.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the National Audit Office report into low flying; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  Following the publication of the National Audit Office report, the accounting officer gave evidence on 21 February to the Public Accounts Committee. The Government now await the findings of the Committee.

  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what increase or decrease there has been in the frequency of low flying military training aircraft in the Tamar valley; and if he will make a statement.
  614
  Mr. Neubert
  Records are not held of low flying military training activity over specific locations such as the Tamar valley. However, the total amount of low flying in the United Kingdom has been fairly constant in recent years.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline his Department's waste disposal policy.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  When possible waste material is disposed of by sale. However, if the product requires specialised handling a contract is let to reputable companies for disposal at a licensed site.

  Defence Industries
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any proposals to assist in the conversion of defence industries to civil production.

  Mr. James Lamond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any proposals to assist in the conversion of defence industries to civil production.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle).

  Mr. Colin Wallace
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement into the progress of his Department's inquiry into its handling of papers relating to Mr. Colin Wallace.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement into the progress of his Department's inquiry into its handling of papers relating to Mr. Colin Wallace.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The internal departmental inquiry is under way. The outcome of the inquiry will be reported to the House.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last discussed deployment of short-range nuclear weapons in Europe with his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation counterparts.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last discussed deployment of short-range nuclear weapons in Europe with his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation counterparts.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last discussed deployment of short-range nuclear weapons in Europe with his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation counterparts.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East on 2 March,Official Report, column 382.

  Tornado
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to re-evaluate the role playable by the Tornado.
  615
  Mr. Alan Clark
  The roles of all combat aircraft are kept under constant review.

  Radiation Exposure
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the implications of recent findings on leukaemia risks arising from radiation exposure with regard to the protection of workers in defence establishments.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Ynys Mon (Mr. Jones) on 28 February 1990,Official Report, column 246.

  Volunteer Reserves
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made following the launch of his Department's campaign to recruit and retain members of the volunteer reserves.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The current volunteer reserve forces campaign has as its prime aim improving retention in the reserve forces, although we would expect to see some measure of spin-off on recruitment. In addition to a widened public understanding of the importance of the volunteer reserves, there are encouraging signs that the campaign has made employers more aware of how the training offered in the volunteer reserves has relevance to civil employment and the benefits which they may gain thereby as a result of employee membership of the reserve forces. To date, more than 820 major employers, representing over half the United Kingdom work force, have pledged their support and we are confident that there has been a genuine reduction in the pressures which have acted against volunteer employees in the past.

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to increase the role of the volunteer reserves.

  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to increase the role of the volunteer reserves.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The role of the volunteer reserves is kept under continuous review.

  Holy Loch (Cruise Missiles)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent information he has received from the United States Administration about their intentions concerning the possible location of sea-launched cruise missiles at Holy Loch.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No decision has yet been taken on the long-term use of the Holy Loch base. Any such decisions are a matter for discussion between the United Kingdom and United States Governments.

  German Unification
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the defence implications of the unification of Germany.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the defence implications of the unification of Germany.
  616
  Mr. Tom King
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer that I gave today to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullins).

  Departmental Savings
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings through competition and value for money his Department has achieved over the past year.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings through competition and value for money his Department has achieved over the past year.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Department's commercial approach to defence procurement, including the greater emphasis on competition as part of the overall strategy of seeking value for money, has achieved substantial savings. It is, however, difficult to quantify those savings in the absence of information on the price that would have been achieved in other circumstances.

  West German Defence Minister
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met the West German Defence Minister; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met the West German Defence Minister; and what was discussed.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met the West German Defence Minister; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend last met Dr. Stoltenberg at the meeting of the independent European programme group at Gleneagles on 21 February. They discussed a range of current defence issues.

  Overseas Military Assistance
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military assistance to overseas Governments his Department has provided over the past year.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  During 1988–89 some 550 service personnel were on loan or seconded to 33 countries and more than 5,000 overseas students attended military training courses in the United Kingdom. This was supplemented by short-term training or advisory visits to over 40 countries to meet specific requirements.

  Disarmament Conference
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what part his Department is playing in the Geneva conference on disarmament.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Brandon-Bravo) on 1 March,Official Report, column 322.

  Chemical Defence Establishment
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual budget of the Chemical Defence Establishment.
  617
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual budget of the Chemical Defence Establishment.

  Mr. Neubert
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Hemsworth (Mr. Buckley).

  Civil Service Relocation
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider further measures to reduce and transfer the number of civil servants employed in the various buildings of his Department in London.

  Mr. Neubert
  The overall number of MOD civilian employees in London has fallen by more than 11,000 since 1979. We are examining a number of proposals to transfer further work from London and announcements about these will be made in due course.

  Royal Navy (New Ships)
  Mr. Barry Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to order further ships for the Royal Navy.

  Mr. Neubert
  The Government will maintain the properly balanced maritime forces the Royal Navy needs to carry out its tasks. We have plans for sufficient orders to meet that commitment. For further information I refer my hon. Friend to the position that I described to the House in the Navy debate on 5 February,Official Report, columns 654–58.

  Property Holdings
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many houses are owned by his Department; and how many are empty.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 30 November 1989, the number of married quarters in the United Kingdom was 76,068, of which 12,423 were vacant. As at 31 December 1989 1,790 civilian houses were owned, of which 223 were vacant.

  RAF Molesworth
  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future role of RAF Molesworth.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future role of RAF Molesworth.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future role of RAF Molesworth.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, South-West (Sir A. Grant) on 11 January at columns 691–92.

  YTS
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many YTS members are currently serving in each of the three services.
  618
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 31 December 1989 a total of 262 trainees were serving in the armed services YTS, two with the Royal Navy and 260 with the Royal Air Force.

  NATO Secretary General
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met the Secretary General of NATO; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend last met Dr. Woerner at the NATO defence planning committee ministerial meeting held on 28–29 November 1989. The communique issued after the meeting has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next plans to meet the Secretary General of NATO; and what matters he intends to raise.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend regularly meets the Secretary General of NATO. Their next scheduled meeting is at the NATO nuclear planning group in early May when a range of defence issues will be discussed.

  Disabled Ex-Service Men
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has had about the level of payments for which his Department is responsible to ex-service men disabled during the course of their duties.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A small number of letters have been received which refer to the level of pensions received by ex-service men who have disabilities attributable to their service.

  Challenger Tank
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the progress to date made by Vickers plc on the Challenger 2 prototype tank.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) on 28 November,Official Report, column 575, Vickers Defence Systems has satisfactorily passed the first milestone in the Challenger 2 Mk 2 demonstration phase.

  Armed Forces (Redundancies)
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces he expects to be offered early redundancy in 1991.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are no plans to make members of the armed forces redundant.

  >United States Forces
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effects on local communities he anticipates will result from the United States proposals regarding United States forces in Britain.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The effect on local communities of changes in the deployment of United States forces in t he United Kingdom is difficult to predict with any confidence, and will certainly vary widely from place to place.

  NATO Maritime Defence
  Mr. lan Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the Royal Navy plays in NATO's maritime defence.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the Royal Navy plays in NATO's maritime defence.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friends to paragraph 302 of volume I of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989.

  Troops (Berlin)
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to reduce the number of British troops stationed in Berlin; what discussions he has had recently with representatives of the other countries(a) France, (b) the United States of America and (c) the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, about possible troop reductions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  British forces will continue to fulfil our responsibilities for the protection of Berlin in conjunction with those of other Allies and we have no plans at present to change the size of the Berlin garrison, which will remain in place for as long as it is needed. The future requirement for allied forces in Berlin is likely to be discussed in the talks which will begin shortly between the four powers and the two German states on external and security aspects of German unification.

  Horseshoe Barracks, Shoeburyness
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his proposals for the future of the Horseshoe barracks in Shoeburyness.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We are currently considering the options for disposing of Horseshoe barracks and reproviding facilities for which there is a continuing operational requirement, against the background of further advice from our planning consultants. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to my hon. Friend when this process is complete.

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether agreement has been reached with the other participating Governments on the development of the European fighter aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tom King
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley (Mr. Cran).

  Lance Missiles
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with Defence Ministers of the NATO countries about the stockpiling of follow-on to Lance missiles in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards the stockpiling of follow-on to Lance missiles in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Government fully support the Alliance's comprehensive concept of May 1989, in which it was agreed that a decision on the deployment of a replacement for the Lance missile system would not be taken until 1992.

  Arms Reduction Verification
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure a sufficient supply of personnel trained in arms reduction verification.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The joint arms control implementation group (JACIG) has recently been established, and will begin forming in July. It will be the United Kingdom's arms control verification organisation. The primary role of the JACIG will be to conduct CFE (conventional forces in Europe) and Stockholm document outgoing inspections. It will additionally provide escorts and interpreters for the incoming Stockholm document, INF (intermediate nuclear forces) and CFE inspections into the United Kingdom.

  Those personnel conducting the verification task will receive equipment recognition training, instruction in the treaty and its several protocols and, where appropriate, formal language training. Practice inspections will also be conducted to ensure that the JACIG staff reach and maintain the necessary national and allied inspection standards.

  Defence Savings
  Mr. Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has given any recent consideration to possible defence savings.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has given any recent consideration to possible defence savings.

  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has given any recent consideration to possible defence savings.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the right hon. Member and his hon. Friends to the answer given at column 596 on 6 February 1990 to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan).

  SCOTTISH LOWLAND AIRPORTS
  SCOTTISH LOWLAND AIRPORTS
  FRAIL ELDERLY PATIENTS CARE PROJECT: REPORT
  FRAIL ELDERLY PATIENTS CARE PROJECT: REPORT
  CROWN ESTATES PAVING COMMISSION: REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
  CROWN ESTATES PAVING COMMISSION: REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
  HOME DEFENCE PLANNING CO-ORDINATION
  HOME DEFENCE PLANNING CO-ORDINATION
  POVERTY: LANCASTER UNIVERSITY REPORT
  POVERTY: LANCASTER UNIVERSITY REPORT
  PRISONERS' PAY
  PRISONERS' PAY
  DESIGN: CONTROL BY PLANNING AUTHORITIES
  DESIGN: CONTROL BY PLANNING AUTHORITIES