Written Answers of 7 March 1990

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the criteria he has adopted to determine the standard spending assessment for local education authorities in England and Wales for the year 1990–91; and, for each element, if he will quantify the relevant sums he deems appropriate for expenditure by the London borough of Newham in that financial year.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The basis on which the education components of the standard spending assessments (SSAs) for 1990–91 for England and Wales are calculated is set out in the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England) and the Welsh Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report. Copies of both reports have been placed in the Library. The sectoral elements of the London borough of Newham's SSA for education are as follows:

  £ million

  Primary Education

  352·81

  Secondary Education

  35·105

  Post-16 Education

  14·772

  Under 5 Education

  7·251

  Other Education

  6·101

  Total Education

  98·510

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has made any estimates of the amount by which Staffordshire county council would be required to reduce its education budget for 1990–91 if it were to spend at the level of its standard spending assessment for education; and whether he has made any assessment of the reductions in teaching staff and of spending on books at such a spending level.

  Mr. MacGregor
  It is for Staffordshire county council to reach its own conclusions on priorities within any particular level of spending.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any estimate of the reduction in teaching and non-teaching staffs and in non-pay items including school books and equipment which would be required if local education authorities in England brought their spending in 1990–91 to the level of their standard spending assessments for education.

  Mr. MacGregor
  It is for individual authorities to determine their own priorities for expenditure.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the additional administrative costs falling upon higher education institutions of(a) the proposed student loans scheme, (b) the proposed access funds and (c) the payment of tuition fees in three instalments rather than one.
  622
  Mr. Jackson
  The Government are considering what role the higher education institutions might play in securing access to the top-up loans for their students. It is not expected that administration of the access funds will add noticeably to the costs of institutions' student advisory services. The additional costs of the termly payment of tuition fees are expected to be negligible.

  Internal Audit
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many internal auditors are employed in his Department and at what cost; how many internal audit reports were produced in 1989; how many of these were drawn to the attention of a Minister in his Department; and what internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms and at what cost.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  There are at present 14 internal auditors in the Department. The total staffing cost of the Department's internal audit division, including travel and subsistence, training and the cost of support staff, is estimated at £405,000 in the present financial year. In addition, £12,000 has been spent in the present year on bought-in support from private firms to achieve economic and effective audit coverage, particularly in computer areas. The audit plan for 1989–90 covers 60 discrete audit areas; reports are issued on each assignment. Two of the reports have been drawn to the attention of Ministers.

  Food Research
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much he has allocated for spending on the closure of the Institute of Food Research at Bristol: and from which year's allocation it will come.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend announced his allocation of the science budget in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Mr. Amos) on 10 January 1990 at columns 623–24. It is for the research councils to determine how much they will spend from their allocations for any particular purpose.

  Drug Abuse
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money has been allocated to Staffordshire county council for teacher training on drug abuse and for anti-drug co-ordinators.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  For the financial year 1990–91, Staffordshire education authority will receive grant aid on education support grant expenditure of £66,500 on preventive health education, and on expenditure of £69,000 under the associated LEA training grants scheme national priority area. Both these programmes cover education about drug abuse.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the total cost of the proposed phased implementation of the recommendations of the interim advisory committee on teachers' pay in 1990–91; what was the corresponding figure in the remit to the committee; and who will he responsible for funding any difference between these two figures.
  623
  Mr. MacGregor
  The additional cost in 1990–91 of implementing the IAC's recommendations in the way I have proposed would be £620 million in England and Wales, compared with the financial constraint set out in the IAC's remit of £600 million. The difference should not be an appreciable burden for local authorities given the scope that exists for savings across their services.

  Disabled Students
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations his Department has received regarding a fourth access fund for disabled students.

  Mr. Jackson
  Representations in favour of such a fund have been made by several hon. Members and organisations representing disabled people.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to make a statement on the revised arrangements for the disabled students' allowance.

  Mr. Jackson
  Shortly.

  Disabled Graduates
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what representations his Department has received regarding the disposable income level of disabled graduates;

  Earnings and Prices Levels

  Year (April)

  Lecturer maximum salary (£)1

  Retail prices index2

  Average United Kingdom earnings (£)3

  Real terms lecturers' salaries6

  Real terms average United Kingdom earnings6

  1970

  3,105

  100

  1,347

  3,105

  1,347

  1979

  8,452

  295·4

  4,633

  2,861

  1,568

  19894

  520,469

  621·9

  12,464

  3,291

  2,004

  Percentage Increases

  Lecturers' salaries (cash)

  Retail prices index

  Average United Kingdom earnings (cash)

  Lecturers' salaries (real terms)

  Average earnings (real terms)

  April 1970–April 1979

  172

  195·4

  244

  -8

  16

  April 1979–April 1989

  5142

  110·5

  169

  15

  28

  April 1970–April 1989

  5559

  521·9

  825

  6

  49

  1 Excludes non salary earnings.

  2 Based on April 1970=100.

  3 Average earnings for all occupations males and females combined, excluding those whose pay has been affected by absence. Figures are on a full-time adult rates basis and are taken from the new earnings survey.

  4 April 1990 salary data not yet available.

  5 Excludes maximum of discretionary range = £22,872 effective from 1 October 1989. Inclusion of this attainable maximum salary indicates 171 per cent, increase during the period April 1979–October 1989, and 637 per cent, increase during the period April 1970–October 1989.

  6 Both at April 1970 prices.

PRIME MINISTER

  Visits
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister if she make an official visit to Newham.

  The Prime Minister
  I have at present no plans to do so.
  624
  (2) whether his Department has carried out any research into the disposable income levels of disabled graduates.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Department has received a number of representations from organisations representing the interests of disabled people. A few have provided evidence in support of their claim that disabled graduates will be at a disadvantage when repaying top-up loans. We have also examined evidence from the OPCS surveys of disability in Great Britain.

  University Lecturers
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the real increase in the earnings of university lecturers over the last decade, over the previous decade and over the two decades combined; and if he will set out in a table(a) the salary of a university lecturer at the top of the lecturers' scale, (b) the retail prices index and (c) average United Kingdom earnings for (i) the 1970s, (ii) the 1980s and (iii) the two periods combined.

  Mr. Jackson
  Data for total earnings of university lecturers are not available. The following table shows lecturers' salaries in actual and real terms in comparison with the retail prices index and average earnings over the periods (i) April 1970 to April 1979 (ii) April 1979 to April 1989 and (iii) April 1970 to April 1989:

  Inner Cities Initiative
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list by project the £4 billion expenditure announced for the inner cities on 28 February; how much was already approved and how much was additional moneys; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that he received today from my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities [column 734.]
  625
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost of(a) her official visit to Bradford and west Yorkshire on 28 February and (b) the inner cities launch and television link-up on that date.

  The Prime Minister
  The costs of visits of this nature are not readily identifiable. The final cost of the inner cities launch and TV link-up on 28 February is not yet known, but is likely to average about £15,000 for each of the seven centres involved.

  Travel Expenditure
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the total expenditure in travel for her and her staff(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) to countries outside the United Kingdom in 1989 and 1990 to the most recent practicable date; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The total cost of my travel and that of my staff in the United Kingdom in 1989–90 to date is £378,663. The total cost to countries outside the United Kingdom is £258,403.

ENERGY

  Property Sale, Nottinghamshire
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will issue a direction to British Coal to prevent the sale to the Union of Democratic Mineworkers below market prices, of the property known as "The Sycamores," Nottinghamshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  I understand from British Coal that the sale has already taken place. In any case, the disposal of assets belonging to British Coal is a matter for the corporation's management.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what expenditure over the next three years is planned by his Department for development of(a) nuclear power, (b) tidal power and (c) wind power.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Figures for the Department's most recent expenditure plans for 1990–91 to 1992–93 are set out in chapter 5 of the public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 1005). These show that in 1990–91 the Department plans to spend £126·4 million on nuclear research and development (including some restructuring costs), and £20·3 million on research and development on renewable sources of energy, including £7 million on wind energy and £1·2 million on tidal energy.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the basis for the statement by the right hon. Member for Worcester (Mr. Walker) that Britain was at the bottom of the league on energy efficiency in June 1984; and what assessment he has made of evidence that Britain was achieving the target of being at the top of the league by the end of that Parliament.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The statement by my right hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Walker) was 626
  designed to encourage efforts to improve the United Kingdom's energy efficiency, not to set operational measures of performance. The United Kingdom's performance over the period 1983 to 1987 matched, and in some cases exceeded, that of most other countries, as the following table shows:

  Total Primary Energy Requirement /GDP ratio (Tonnes of oil equivalent per $1,000 GDP at 1985 prices)

  GDP ratio

  1983

  Japan

  0·28

  Switzerland

  0·29

  Denmark

  0·31

  Italy

  0·34

  France

  0·37

  Austria

  0·41

  West Germany

  0·43

  United Kingdom

  0·45

  Spain

  0·46

  United States of America

  0·48

  Finland

  0·49

  Ireland

  0·49

  Netherlands

  0·49

  Norway

  0·49

  Iceland

  0·51

  Australia

  0·52

  Belgium

  0·52

  Sweden

  0·52

  Greece

  0·54

  New Zealand

  0·55

  Portugal

  0·62

  Canada

  0·68

  Turkey

  0·78

  Luxembourg

  0·93

  1957

  Japan

  0·26

  Switzerland

  0·28

  Italy

  0·33

  Denmark

  0·34

  France

  0·38

  West Germany

  0·42

  United Kingdom

  0·43

  Spain

  0·43

  Austria

  0·44

  United States of America

  0·44

  Norway

  0·46

  Australia

  0·48

  Iceland

  0·49

  Ireland

  0·50

  Netherlands

  0·51

  Sweden

  0·54

  Finland

  0·54

  Belgium

  0·55

  Greece

  0·57

  Portugal

  0·62

  New Zealand

  0·63

  Canada

  0·64

  Turkey

  0·80

  Luxembourg

  0·85

  Source: "Energy Balances of OECD countries 1986–87" OECD 1989.

  Note: These energy ratios are determined by many factors, including climate and industrial structure.

  Internal Audit
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many internal auditors are employed in his Department and at what cost; how many internal audit reports were produced in 1989; how many of these were drawn to the attention of a Minister in his Department; and what internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms and at what cost.
  627
  Mr. Wakeham
  There are 10 internal auditors in the Department of Energy, including the head of internal audit. The total cost of the unit is £185,000 per annum. Fifteen reports were produced in 1989, none of which was brought directly to the attention of a Minister. No internal audit work is contracted to private firms; it is a completely internal professional service.

  Fuel Exports and Imports
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will provide figures for January 1990 of fuel exports and imports equivalent to those given in his answers of 9 November 1989,Official Report, column 767 and 19 December 1989, Official Report, columns 118–19.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The equivalent information for fuel exports and imports for January 1990 as set out in my previous answers on 9 November 1989,Official Report, columns 767–68, and 19 December 1989, Official Report, columns 118–19, is as follows:

  Table 1

  January 1990

  Thousand tonnes

  Exports (f.o.b.)

  Coal

  269

  Oil1

  7,472

  Imports (c.i.f.)

  Coal

  1,194

  Gas2

  1,462

  Oil

  6,523

  Number of auditors

  Cost £

  Audit reports produced

  Sub-contract work—Computer Auditor Consultants

  Cost £

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  27·5

  594,660

  39

  —

  16,000

  Northern Ireland Court Service

  5

  98,700

  25

  None

  —

  Land Registry

  6

  117,569

  19

  None

  —

  No reports have been drawn to the attention of the Lord Chancellor by internal audit. The head of internal audit reports to the accounting officer.

THE ARTS

  Internal Audit
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how many internal auditors are employed in his office and at what cost; how many internal audit reports were produced in 1989; how many of these were drawn to his attention; and what internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms and at what cost.

  Mr. Luce
  No internal auditors are employed by the Office of Arts and Libraries. Internal audit services are, however, provided by the Cabinet Office team at no cost to the Office of Arts and Libraries. Two internal audit reports were produced in 1989 as part of a predetermined cycle of audit reviews, neither of which was drawn to my attention. No internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms.
  628

  Table 2

  January 1990

  £ million at 1985 prices3

  Exports (f.o.b.)

  Coal

  10

  Oil1

  1,274

  Imports (c.i.f.)

  Coal

  64

  Gas

  55

  Oil

  1,052

  Note:

  It should be noted that these figures exclude exports and imports of other solid fuels and electricity.

  1 contains a small amount of natural gas exports.

  2 coal equivalent.

  3 Figures at 1985 constant prices have been derived by applying the unit value for exports in 1985 to the relevant volumes in 1990

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Internal Audit
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Attorney-General how many internal auditors are employed in those departments for which the Lord Chancellor is responsible and at what cost; how many internal audit reports were produced in 1989; how many of these were drawn to the attention of a Minister; and what internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms and at what cost.

  The Attorney-General
  Internal audit coverage for departments for which the Lord Chancellor is responsible is as follows: the Lord Chancellor's Department, including the Public Record Office; the Northern Ireland Court Service and the Land Registry. For the financial year 1988–89 the figures requested are:

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Anti-dumping Duties
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list details of(a) successful anti-cartel actions which have been taken by the European Commission over the last 10 years, indicating whether the products involved were subject to anti-dumping duties and (b) anti-cartel actions which have been taken by the European Commission over the last 10 years which have resulted in an agreement between the Commission and the cartel in order to preclude action, indicating whether the products involved were subject to anti-dumping duties.

  Mr. Redwood
  Details of cases in which the European Commission has taken decisions are listed in the table. In a much larger number of cases the Commission has negotiated satisfactory undertakings which have precluded the need for action, but these are not usually made public.

  In the two cases asterisked, certain imports from third countries of the products involved were, during the period

  629
  of the infringements, subject to anti-dumping duties. This may also have been so in some other cases but, if so, those cases are not readily identifiable.

  Cartels found by the European Commission (since 1980) to have infringed the EC competition rules

  Case

  Date of decision

  Publication1

  Bundesverband Deutscher Stahlhandel eV (rolled steel)

  8 February 1980

  1980 L62

  French and German special steel producers

  27 March 1980

  Bulletin of the EC 3–1980

  IMA-Statuut (plywood)

  18 September 1980

  1980 L318

  Italian cast glass

  17 December 1980

  1980 L383

  Italian flat glass

  29 September 1980

  1981 L326

  VBBB/VBVB (books)

  25 November 1981

  1982 L54

  ANSEAU-NAVEWA (water)

  17 December 1981

  1982 L167

  SSI (tobacco)

  15 July 1982

  1982 L232

  Rolled zinc products and zinc alloys

  14 December 1982

  1982 L362

  AROW/BNIC (cognac)

  14 December 1982

  1982 L362

  Vimpoltu (agricultural and horticultural machinery)

  13 July 1983

  1983 L200

  Cast iron and steel rolls

  17 October 1983

  1983 L317

  IPTC Belgium (washing machines and dishwashers)

  5 December 1983

  1983 L376

  Flat glass sector Benelux

  23 July 1984

  1984 L212

  Zinc Producer Group

  6 August 1984

  1984 L220

  Peroxygen products

  23 November 1984

  1985 L35

  Fire insurance

  5 December 1984

  1985 L35

  Milchforderungsfonds (milk products)

  7 December 1984

  1985 L35

  Woodpulp

  19 December 1984

  1985 L85

  Aluminium

  19 December 1984

  1985 L92

  Siemens/Fanuc (numerical controls etc.)

  18 December 1985

  1985 L376

  Polypropylene

  23 April 1986

  1986 L230

  Roofing felt

  10 July 1986

  1986 L232

  Meldoc (dairies)

  26 November 1986

  1986 L348

  Fatty acids

  2 December 1986

  1987 L3

  Verenigde Blowmenveilingen Aalsmeer (flowers)

  26 July 1988

  1988 L262

  Hudson's Bay/Dansk Pelsdyravlerforening (furs)

  28 October 1988

  1988 L316

  Flat glass—Italy

  7 December 1988

  1989 L33

  Polyvinyl chloride (PVQ)*

  21 December 1988

  1989 L74

  Low-density polyethylene*

  21 December 1988

  1989 L74

  Welded steel mesh

  2 August 1989

  1989 L260

  1 Official Journal of the EC unless otherwise indicated.

  Recycling
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to move from material specification to performance specification in respect of British Standards in order to allow a greater use of recycled material.
  630
  Mr. Ridley
  The Department's Warren Spring laboratory has identified the historical emphasis upon material specification for standards as a significant barrier to the development of markets for recycled materials, and a shift towards performance specification would begin to undermine that barrier. The whole question of standards
  631
  has been identified as a key area for discussion by the recycling advisory group, set up to help to develop a national approach to recycling and to propose means of increasing United Kingdom recycling rates. The group is due to present its recommendations shortly and these will be carefully considered by the Government.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to amend British Standard 5750 to allow a greater use of recycled material.

  Mr. Ridley
  The question of standards has been identified as a key area for discussion by the recycling advisory group, set up to help develop a national approach to recycling and to propose means of increasing United Kingdom recycling rates. The group is due to present its recommendations shortly and these will be carefully considered by the Government.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the recycling advisory group to report on its consideration of recycling of domestic and industrial waste.

  Mr. Ridley
  The group is expected to complete the current phase of its work before the end of May.

  Company Audits
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will bring forward legislation to require all organisations seeking the status of a qualifying body under the Companies Act 1989 to issue recommended reading lists to their students.

  Mr. Redwood
  No.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will legislate to require all auditors of all companies to detect fraud and report it to the appropriate authorities.

  Mr. Redwood
  No, but I hope that all auditors will apply the guidance in the newly issued auditing guideline on the auditor's responsibility in relation to fraud, other irregularities and errors.

  Inspectors' Reports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those of his Department's inspectors' reports completed since January 1979 that have taken four years or longer to be published.

  Mr. Redwood
  There have been no reports completed since 1979 for which the date of publication is four years or more later than the date of the report.

  Departmental Structure
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on his plans for the future structure of his Department, pursuant to his answer of 21 February,Official Report, column 783–4.

  Mr. Ridley
  None, as of 5 March 1990.

  Accounting Standards Task Group
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the sources of funding for the accounting standards task group.
  632
  Mr. Redwood
  The sources of funding for the accounting standards task group are my Department and the Bank of England. In addition, two major accountancy firms are respectively providing the services of a senior manager and a secretary.

  Postal Services
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement about the efficiency of the postal services.

  Mr. Ridley
  The Post Office has set itself a target for this year to deliver 3 per cent. more letters on average by the next day. I welcome this commitment. Its real unit costs fell by 4·6 per cent. over the last target period, the three years to 29 March 1989.

  Internal Audit
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many internal auditors are employed in his Department and at what cost; how many internal audit reports were produced in 1989; how many of these were drawn to the attention of a Minister in his Department; and what internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms and at what cost.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department employs 32 internal auditors at a cost of £786,000 a year. In 1989, 54 final internal audit reports were produced; none of these was referred to a Minister. No internal audit work is contracted out to private firms at the present time.

  Equal Opportunities
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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 child care network report "Caring for Children—Services and Policies for Childcare and Equal Opportunities in the United Kingdom".

  Mr. Ridley
  [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 combine paid work and family responsibilities. The Government, through the Department of Health and the ministerial group on women's issues, have encouraged the development of a range of high quality child care options for both parents and employers.

  Shipbuilding
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what record was kept by an official of his Department of the information given to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North on 6 December 1988 by the chairman of British Shipbuilders concerning the financial support available from the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trades Union for the north-south bridge consortium which was bidding to acquire North East Shipbuilders Limited; and what steps have subsequently been taken to check the accuracy of this information.
  633
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 27 February 1990]: The view taken by British Shipbuilders and its financial advisers was that the proposal received from the north-south bridge consortium did not provide the basis for a viable future for merchant shipbuilding in the Sunderland yards. This was irrespective of whether the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trades Union had been able to confirm an oral indication of £10 million towards the consortium's capital provision. The Department's financial advisers agreed with this assessment. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster took account of all relevant considerations in reaching the decisions announced on 7 December 1988. The Department's records refer to sources of finance available to the consortium. Given the view taken of the proposal as a whole, there was no point in inviting financial advisers to investigate the GMBATU indication.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Drink Driving
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the national organisations responding to his consultation paper on possible changes to the breath testing legislation that were in favour of the police being given powers to conduct random breath testing either within the prescribed context of a roadside checkpoint or in the context of them being given unfettered discretion powers;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the outcome of his consultation on changes to the breath testing legislation;

  (3) if he will place copies of responses from organisations to his consultation exercise on breath testing legislation in the Library.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Following the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Knight) on 1 February 1989 at column 252, the following national organisations wrote to the Home Office to express support for extended police powers to conduct roadside breath tests, either in the form of unfettered discretion or some other form:

  Alcohol Concern

  Association of Industrial Road Safety Officers

  Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland)

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  Association of Scottish Police Superintendents

  Automobile Association

  Baptist Union of Great Britain

  British Medical Association

  British Safety Council

  Campaign Against Drinking and Driving

  Churches Council on Alcohol and Drugs

  County Surveyors' Society

  Cyclists Touring Club

  Guild of Experienced Motorists

  Institute of Incorporated Highway Engineers

  Justices' Clerks' Society

  K-DOOR (Keep Death Off Our Roads)

  Liberty

  Magistrates' Association

  Medical Commission on Accident Prevention

  National Council of Women

  National Federation of Women's Institutes

  Parliamentary Advisory Council on Transport Safety

  Police Federation (England and Wales)

  Police Superintendents' Association (England and Wales)

  Royal College of Community Medicine

  Royal College of Midwives

  Royal College of Nursing

  634

  Royal College of Psychiatrists

  Scotland's Campaign Against Irresponsible Drivers

  Scottish Accident Prevention Council

  Scottish Council on Alcohol

  Scottish Police Federation

  We have considered carefully these and other responses received and we intend shortly to announce our conclusions.

  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve drivers' perception of the actual risk of being detected for excess alcohol.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Regular surveys carried out on behalf of the Department of Transport indicate a marked change in public attitudes towards drinking and driving in recent years. This included an increased awareness of the risk of being caught. This is borne out by the publication on 7 February of statistics of roadside breath tests for the 12 months to September 1989. They show that while the overall level of breath testing continues to rise, there is a continuing downward trend in the proportion of positive tests. A copy of the relevant Home Office statistical bulletin (4/90) is in the Library.

  The Government encourage chief constables to make full use of police powers to require roadside breath tests. The efforts of the police will be further reinforced by the Government's drinking and driving campaigns to be launched again this year during the summer and at Christmas.

  Internal Audit
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many internal auditors are employed in his Department and at what cost; how many internal audit reports were produced in 1989; how many of these were drawn to the attention of a Minister in his Department; and what internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms and at what cost.

  Mr. Waddington
  Twenty-one internal auditors, including three support staff, were employed as at 1 October 1989. The annual cost is estimated at £524,000.

  In the current financial year 31 reports have been issued. One assignment was partly contracted out to a private firm at a cost of £30,000. One internal audit report was specifically drawn to the attention of a Minister. More generally, internal audit findings and recommendations which are relevant to issues that Ministers are considering are reported to them in the context of submissions on those issues, but information on the number of reports thus drawn to the attention of Ministers is not readily available.

  Ministerial Visits (Security)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the police and security operation for the visit to Bradford and west Yorkshire by the Prime Minister on 28 February.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the chief constable of west Yorkshire that the additional police costs for the visit were £7,132.

  Political Asylum (Chinese Citizens)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Chinese diplomats applied for political asylum in the United Kingdom since June 1989; and what action was taken in each case.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Four Chinese diplomats applied for political asylum in the United Kingdom in 1989. All were granted refugee status.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for political asylum have been received within the last 12 months from Chinese citizens residing in the United Kingdom; and how many have been granted.

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

  Applications1 received for refugee status by Chinese nationals subsequent to their entry to the United Kingdom, and decisions1 on such applications, 1989.

  Number

  Applications

  52

  Decisions

  15

  Granted refugee status

  10

  Granted exceptional leave

  5

  Refused refugee status or exceptional leave

  —

  1 Provisional figures which may be underestimates.

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

  Suspects' Rights
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a statement as to the Government's proposals on the right of silence.

  Mr. John Patten
  We are still considering the comments we have received on the report of the departmental working group on the right of silence. I cannot yet say when we shall be ready to announce proposals.

  Laundry Services

  Table of Contracts Awarded In-House and Externally by Region since 1983

  Year ending 31 December

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Total

  Northern

  In

  1

  3

  4

  5

  —

  —

  13

  Out

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Yorkshire

  In

  —

  5

  2

  1

  1

  —

  9

  Out

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  3

  Trent

  In

  1

  3

  6

  —

  1

  —

  11

  Out

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  East Anglia

  In

  1

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  3

  Out

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  North West Thames

  In

  3

  4

  —

  —

  —

  1

  8

  Out

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  1

  3

  North East Thames

  In

  3

  3

  4

  —

  1

  1

  12

  Out

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

HEALTH

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of general practitioners per 1,000 population for(a) England and Wales and (b) the Greater Manchester area.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The number of general practitioners per 1,000 population for England and Wales at 1 October 1988 (the latest data for which figures are available) was 0·54. The figure at 1979 was 0·46.

  The information requested is collected from family practitioner committees (FPCs), which are not necessarily coterminous with metropolitan boundaries. The number of GPs per 1,000 population in the areas covered by the FPCs which cover the Greater Manchester metropolitan area was 0·51 at 1 October 1988 and 0·44 at 1 October 1979.

  Hospital Laundering
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table of the numbers of laundry, cleaning, catering and security contracts awarded in-house and externally each year since 1983 in each health authority in England and Wales.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information held centrally is readily available in the form requested only on a regional health authority basis and is shown in the tables. It represents the results of the initial tendering exercises undertaken following the launch in late 1983 of the Government's competitive tendering initiative for domestic, catering and laundry services.

  Similar information is not held centrally for other services.

  The information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
  637

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Total

  South West Thames

  In

  1

  4

  1

  1

  2

  —

  9

  Out

  6

  1

  —

  2

  —

  —

  9

  South East Thames

  In

  —

  2

  2

  3

  2

  —

  9

  Out

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Wessex

  In

  —

  6

  1

  3

  —

  —

  10

  Out

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  Oxford

  In

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  3

  Out

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  South West

  In

  6

  3

  2

  1

  —

  —

  12

  Out

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  3

  West Midlands

  In

  —

  1

  5

  9

  2

  —

  17

  Out

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Mersey

  In

  —

  1

  4

  —

  —

  1

  6

  Out

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  North West

  In

  —

  4

  3

  8

  1

  —

  16

  Out

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  2

  SHAs

  In

  —

  2

  1

  1

  —

  —

  4

  Out

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Totals

  In

  16

  41

  36

  35

  10

  4

  142

  Out

  13

  6

  4

  4

  2

  1

  30

  Domestic Services

  Table of contracts awarded in-house and externally by region since 1983

  Year ending 31 December

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Totals

  Northern

  In

  —

  16

  27

  17

  1

  —

  61

  Out

  1

  1

  1

  2

  —

  —

  5

  Yorkshire

  In

  —

  16

  21

  5

  1

  —

  43

  Out

  1

  5

  5

  2

  1

  —

  14

  Trent

  In

  —

  34

  47

  18

  —

  —

  99

  Out

  —

  5

  2

  —

  —

  —

  7

  East Anglia

  In

  —

  12

  5

  3

  —

  —

  20

  Out

  4

  2

  2

  1

  —

  —

  9

  North West Thames

  In

  —

  6

  16

  4

  —

  3

  29

  Out

  1

  8

  9

  1

  1

  —

  20

  North East Thames

  In

  —

  12

  24

  11

  3

  1

  51

  Out

  2

  7

  9

  1

  —

  —

  19

  South West Thames

  In

  3

  12

  10

  4

  1

  —

  30

  Out

  7

  10

  3

  1

  1

  —

  22

  South East Thames

  In

  —

  12

  19

  14

  4

  1

  50

  Out

  9

  1

  1

  —

  1

  2

  14

  638

  639

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Totals

  Wessex

  In

  —

  12

  36

  11

  —

  —

  59

  Out

  —

  2

  5

  1

  —

  —

  8

  Oxford

  In

  —

  12

  8

  5

  2

  —

  27

  Out

  6

  1

  4

  1

  —

  —

  12

  South West

  In

  1

  12

  17

  9

  —

  —

  39

  Out

  —

  2

  2

  4

  1

  —

  9

  West Midlands

  In

  —

  30

  52

  32

  6

  —

  120

  Out

  —

  12

  1

  2

  —

  —

  15

  Mersey

  In

  —

  13

  5

  5

  —

  —

  23

  Out

  —

  7

  4

  1

  —

  —

  12

  North West

  In

  —

  16

  47

  17

  1

  —

  81

  Out

  —

  1

  8

  5

  —

  1

  15

  SHAs

  In

  —

  2

  —

  1

  —

  1

  4

  Out

  2

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  6

  Totals

  In

  4

  217

  334

  156

  19

  6

  736

  Out

  33

  64

  58

  24

  5

  3

  187

  Catering

  Table of contracts awarded in-house and externally by region since 1983

  Year ending 31 December

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Total

  Northern

  In

  —

  9

  12

  8

  —

  —

  29

  Out

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  Yorkshire

  In

  1

  7

  14

  7

  —

  —

  29

  Out

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  Trent

  In

  —

  10

  28

  13

  1

  3

  55

  Out

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  East Anglia

  In

  —

  1

  3

  1

  —

  —

  5

  Out

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  North West Thames

  In

  —

  7

  4

  —

  —

  —

  11

  Out

  —

  1

  3

  —

  —

  —

  4

  North East Thames

  In

  —

  5

  4

  4

  1

  1

  15

  Out

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  South West Thames

  In

  1

  8

  13

  3

  4

  —

  29

  Out

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  South East Thames

  In

  1

  10

  8

  6

  2

  1

  28

  Out

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Wessex

  In

  —

  6

  20

  9

  —

  —

  35

  Out

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  Oxford

  In

  —

  3

  2

  —

  —

  —

  25

  Out

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  640

  641

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Total

  South West

  In

  —

  10

  9

  5

  —

  —

  24

  Out

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  West Midlands

  In

  —

  19

  29

  21

  3

  —

  72

  Out

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Mersey

  In

  1

  4

  9

  3

  —

  —

  17

  Out

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  North West

  In

  —

  16

  15

  17

  1

  —

  49

  Out

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  SHAs

  In

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  —

  3

  Out

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  3

  Totals

  In

  4

  115

  171

  97

  14

  5

  406

  Out

  2

  3

  4

  2

  1

  2

  14

  Rates
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) in what manner under the current rating system(a) National Health Service property and (b) private hospitals are assessed;

  (2) in what manner, for the purposes of the uniform business rate (a) National Health Service property and (b) independent hospitals, will be assessed.

  Mr. Freeman
  NHS property is occupied by the Crown and is thus exempt from rates. However, contributions in lieu of rates are paid on the same basis as though the property were rateable. The Treasury valuer determines the values of NHS property for rating purposes, applying the principles laid down in rating legislation and agrees these with the representative of the rating authority; the contribution is then calculated by applying the local rate poundage to the value. Similar principles will apply to the determination of contributions in lieu of rates after 1 April 1990; the Treasury valuer has revalued all non-domestic NHS property for this purpose.

  Private and independent hospitals are rateable and are assessed by the valuation office in accordance with the relevant legislation. This will continue after 1 April 1990.

  Cervical Cancer
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state the number of deaths from cervical cancer in 1988; and how many of these deaths were of women aged 65 years and over.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is shown in the table:

  Number of deaths from cervical cancer1 by age-groups in England and Wales, 1988

  Age-group

  Number of deaths

  All ages

  1,942

  65 and over

  967

  1 Assigned to 9th revision International Classification of Disease; (ICD)code 180.

  When invasive cervical cancer develops from initial pre-cancerous change in cells of the cervix this generally takes, on average, over 10 years. Therefore, we would expect some time to elapse before the call
  642
  and recall programme reduces the mortality in the 65 years and over age group. Our guidance to health authorities states that women aged 65 years and over who have not had two consecutive negative smears in the last 10 years should be screened. The new GPs' contract, which places a much greater emphasis on health promotion and ill health prevention, should provide additional opportunities for GPs to offer a cervical smear test to women in this age group when appropriate.

  AIDS
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the prevalence of encephalopathy amongst patients identified as suffering from AIDS.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not recorded as part of the reporting system for AIDS cases. I am advised that there are a number of reports about encephalopathy in people with AIDS in the scientific literature. These show varying prevalence rates which may reflect different patient populations and diagnostic criteria.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will set up a national fund to finance the provision of drugs and treatment for illnesses requiring long-term treatment such as AIDS; what representations he has received on this subject; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The costs of treatment and drugs for HIV disease and for other long-term illnesses will continue to be financed as now, by means of allocations to health authorities or through the family practitioner services, as appropriate. Pressures on services, such as those caused by HIV disease will continue to be taken into account in assessing the overall funding requirements of the NHS. There are no plans to set up a separate national fund for any specific group of illnesses; we have received no representations suggesting this course of action.

  Leukaemia
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each nuclear plant in the United Kingdom, the number of children who have been treated for
  643
  leukaemia; and if he will show in his answer the percentage whose parents were or have been employees at a nuclear plant.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not available. However, following a recommendation from the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment last year, the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) is proposing to link the data on the national register of radiation workers with information on the geographical distribution of childhood cancer held by the childhood cancer research group at Oxford. We are urgently considering this and other related research proposals. A large amount of parallel research has already been commissioned by Government, which has either been completed, or is under way or planned.

  Milk Tokens
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance his Department is giving to people who claim free milk tokens, but where milk distributors in their area refuse to accept them.

  Mr. Freeman
  Any beneficiary whose usual supplier refuses to accept milk tokens can seek information from the local social security office about alternative suppliers in the locality prepared to accept tokens. Where, exceptionally, the local office is satisfied that a token cannot be exchanged for milk a beneficiary can, as previously, be given a payment in lieu.

  General Household Survey
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) further to table 3.20 of the general household survey 1986, whether he will publish in the Official Report, for 1986 and the latest year for which figures are available, the population in each country corresponding to the percentages given for the total of (i) two-adult households together with a subdivision by family size and (ii) three or more adults together with a subdivision showing the

  Table 1: Equivalent of Table 3.20 GHS 1987 Report

  Household members aged 16 and over: household type by sex and country

  Persons aged 16 and over

  Great Britain: 1987 per cent.

  Household type

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  Men

  1 adult aged 16–59

  5

  5

  4

  5

  2 adults aged 16–59

  15

  13

  13

  15

  Youngest person aged 0–4

  34

  32

  35

  34

  Youngest person aged 5–15

  3 or more adults

  25

  24

  31

  26

  2 adults, 1 or both aged 60 or over

  17

  20

  14

  17

  1 adult aged 60 or over

  4

  5

  4

  4

  Base= 100 per cent.

  8,542

  449

  896

  9,887

  Women

  1 adult aged 16–59

  3

  3

  4

  3

  2 adults aged 16–59

  14

  11

  12

  14

  Youngest person aged 0–4

  33

  32

  34

  33

  Youngest person aged 5–15

  3 or more adults

  21

  19

  23

  21

  2 adults, 1 or both aged 60 or over

  17

  19

  14

  17

  1 adult aged 60 or over

  12

  15

  13

  12

  Base = 100 per cent.

  9,310

  549

  1,017

  10,876

  Total

  1 adult aged 16–59

  4

  4

  4

  4

  2 adults aged 16–59

  15

  12

  12

  14

  644
  families by number of adults, distinguishing those where the adults are children aged less than 18 years and the proportion of such children in full-time education;

  (2) whether he will publish in the Official Report, for 1986 and the latest year for which figures are available, the population in each country corresponding to the percentages given for the totals in table 3.20 of the general household survey 1986 together with (i) a subdivision of single-adult households between males and females and (ii) the number of parents with children in each case under (i).

  Mr. Freeman
  Not all the requested information is available, but the following tables give such data as can be provided.

  1. Table 1 gives an analysis by country of the total column of Table 3.20 in the 1986 GHS annual report updated to 1987. These are the latest figures available.

  2. Table 3.20 in the 1986 report shows the proportion of adults (aged 16 or over) living in households of various types. The category "2 adults aged 16–59" consists of two-person households in which both members are in the specified age-group and consequently, by definition, excludes households with children. All households containing children are subsumed in this table under the classes, "Youngest person aged 0–4" and "Youngest person aged 5–15". Such households will contain varying numbers of adults.

  3. Table 2 shows, in column (a), the percentage of all households in Great Britain consisting of one adult and one child, one adult and two children, etc. Households containing two adults are distinguished by whether they are of different sexes or the same sex. Column (b) gives the same information but with the percentages based on all households containing children under 16 rather than on all households of any kind. These figures are not available for the three countries separately.

  4. Table 3(a) shows the proportions of families' in Great Britain headed by married couples (or married mothers whose husbands are temporarily absent), by lone fathers, or by lone mothers, with one, two, and three or more dependent children. Table 3(b) repercentages the data to show the proportions of families with one, two, and three or more dependent children headed by a married couple, a lone father, or a lone mother. These data are not available by country.

  1In the GHS, a "family" is defined as (a) a married or cohabiting couple on their own or (b) a married or cohabiting couple/lone parent and their never-married children, provided that these children have no children of their own.
  645

  Household type

  England

  Wales

  Scotland

  Great Britain

  Youngest person aged 0–4

  33

  32

  34

  33

  Youngest person aged 5–15

  3 or more adults

  23

  22

  27

  23

  2 adults, 1 or both aged 60 or over

  17

  19

  14

  17

  1 adult aged 60 or over

  8

  11

  9

  8

  Base = 100 per cent.

  17,852

  998

  1,913

  20,763

  Table 2

  Households with children by type of household

  Households with children

  Great Britain: 1987

  Household type

  As percentage of total households

  (a) in the sample

  (b) with children

  1 adult + 1 child

  1

  4

  1 adult + 2 children

  1

  3

  1 adult + 3+ children

  1

  2

  2 adults (different sex) + 1 child

  7

  8

  23

  25

  2 adults (same sex) + 1 child

  1

  1

  2 adults (different sex) + 2 children

  10

  10

  33

  34

  2 adults (same sex) + 2 children

  1

  1

  Table 3

  Families by type and number of dependent children

  Families with dependent children

  Great Britain: 1987

  per cent.

  (a) Number of dependent children

  Family type

  Married couple2

  Lone mother

  Lone father

  All families with dependent children

  1

  40

  57

  363

  42

  2

  44

  28

  335

  42

  3 or more

  16

  16

  33

  16

  Base= 100 per cent.

  2,909

  412

  40

  3,361

  (b)

  Base= 100 per cent.

  1

  82

  16

  2

  1,418

  2

  91

  8

  1

  1,399

  3 or more

  88

  12

  4

  544

  Total

  87

  12

  1

  3,361

  1Dependent children are persons under 16 or aged 16–18 and in full-time education, in the family unit, and living in the household.

  2 Including married women whose husbands were not defined as resident in the household.

  3These percentages should be treated with caution because of the small base.

  4 Less than 0·5 per cent.

  Internal Audit
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many internal auditors are employed in those departments for which he is responsible and at what cost; how many internal audit reports were produced in 1989; how many of these were drawn to the attention of a Minister in his Department; and what internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms and at what cost.

  Mr. Freeman
  An average of 22 internal auditors were engaged in the internal audit of the Department of Health and the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in 1989. The estimated cost was £498,000 including superannuation and training. Thirty-five audit reports were produced in 1989. No audit reports were drawn to the attention of Ministers, but the results of internal audit's work are considered by the audit committees of both Departments and the accounting officers receive an annual summary of the principal audit findings and recommendations. No internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms.
  646

  Household type

  As percentage of total households

  (a) in the sample

  (b) with children

  2 adults (different sex) + 3 + children

  4

  4

  12

  12

  2 adults (same sex) + 3 + children

  1

  1

  3 adults, 1 child

  3

  9

  3 adults, 2 children

  1

  4

  3 adults, 3+ children

  1

  1

  4+ adults, at least 1 child

  2

  6

  Base = 100 per cent.

  10,367

  3,161

  1Less than 0·5 per cent.

  Disability
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implementation of section 8(2) of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act.

  Mr. Freeman
  Officials have recently opened consultations with the local authority associations on the cost and other implications of the remaining sections of the Act, including section 8(2). Decisions on implementation will be made in the light of the outcome of these consultations and the availability of the necessary resources.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment services are available to local authorities to assist them in carrying out their duty under the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act to assess the needs of deaf-blind people.

  Mr. Freeman
  Section 4 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986, which was implemented on 1 April 1987, requires local
  647
  authorities to assess the needs of a disabled person for services under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, if asked to do so by a disabled person or their carer. The Government White Paper "Caring for People" contains provision for the publication in late 1990 of a detailed code of guidance for local authorities which will offer advice on the working of the new assessment system. The code of guidance will be developed following discussions with professional and representative bodies.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring has been carried out by his Department into the implementation by local authorities of sections 4, 8, and 9 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department's social services inspectorate has carried out a number of exercises to monitor the implementation of the Act. The results of an inspection of the operation of all sections of the Act in force, including sections 4, 8 and 9, were published on 6 February under the title "Developing Services for Disabled People", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specialist resources are available for the rehabilitation, care and training of deaf-blind people.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is not held centrally. Local authority social services departments allocate resources for the rehabilitation, care and training of deaf-blind people on the basis of their own, local assessment of need. A number of voluntary organisations also provide excellent services for deaf-blind people. Over the last three financial years, the Department has provided funding of £960,000 to voluntary organisations concerned with the needs of deaf-blind people.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to encourage local authorities to respond to the report, "Breaking Through—Developing Services for Deaf-Blind People".

  Mr. Freeman
  In October 1989, the Department and the deaf-blind services liaison group jointly funded and co-hosted with the Association of Directors of Social Services a national seminar to promote the recommendations in the report "Breaking Through". The seminar, which was aimed at senior managers of social services departments, was well attended and a report of the discussions will shortly be published and distributed to local authorities.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether, in the light of the Beverley Lewis case, he has any proposals relating to the training given to professionals on assessing and meeting the needs of deaf-blind people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The death of Beverley Lewis is a very tragic case. We have received reports from the health and social services authorities concerned. When we have received the report from the coroner, we shall consider what, if any, action the Department should take in relation to the needs of deaf-blind people who are also mentally handicapped.

  Community Care
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to the implications of the Beverley Lewis case for community care services, with particular regard to monitoring the quality of care provided and the setting of national guidelines on community care.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We are awaiting the coroner's report on the Beverley Lewis case. Any implications for community care services will be fully considered when it is published.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the names of the National Health Service trust non-executive helpers provided by regional health authority chairmen.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No.

  Abortion
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the figures by year and in total for the number of hospital posts notified to his Department in which the job description included a duty to advise, undertake or participate in abortions from 31 December 1983 to the latest date for which figures are available; and what was the total number of such posts vacant in each year and in total for(a) psychiatry, (b) anaesthetics and (c) obstetrics and gynaecology.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [pursuant to her reply, 20 February 1990, column 719]I regret the answer given was incorrect.

  The number of hospital posts notified to the Department of Health in which the job description included a duty to advise, undertake or participate in abortions from 31 December 1983 to the latest date for which figures are available are given in the table. These figures refer only to consultant posts, as information on other hospital grades is not held centrally. Also, the data requested on vacant posts are not held centrally.

  Year

  Total

  Psychiatry

  Anaesthetics

  Obstetrics and gynaecology

  1984

  11

  0

  2

  9

  1985

  2

  0

  2

  0

  1986

  1

  0

  0

  1

  1987

  2

  0

  1

  1

  1988

  3

  0

  1

  2

  1989

  5

  0

  0

  5

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Banks (Bad Debts)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of revenue to be lost in respect of write-offs for bad debts incurred in 1990–91 by the main banks in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lilley
  The revenue cost of write-offs of bad debts incurred in 1990–91 by the main banks in the United Kingdom has not been estimated.
  649
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to collect information on the total tax write-off for bank lending to the Third world.

  Mr. Lilley
  Banks' published accounts contain information about the commercial provisions they make. Information about the amounts allowable for tax can be obtained only after the banks have submitted their accounts to the Inland Revenue and the tax allowable provisions have been discussed and agreed between the taxpayer and the Revenue. This can be a lengthy process. The Inland Revenue collects information on amounts eventually allowed for tax.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to issue guidance to banks regarding future Government tax subsidies or write-offs to banks which fail to recoup loans to the Third world or other debtor nations.

  Mr. Lilley
  The amount of tax relief available to banks in respect of bad or doubtful debts, including debts owed by sovereign debtors, is determined by the tax laws enacted by Parliament.

  Taxation
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of gross earnings the couple with an earner on average earnings, with two children, paid in tax, treating child benefit as negative income tax, in 1978–79 and in 1989–90.

  Mr. Lilley
  Figures for 1978–79 have been placed in the Library of the House, as noted in Official Report, 13 April 1989, column 624, and estimates for 1989–90 were given in reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 8 January 1990, Official Report, column 559.

  Bank of England
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the Governor of the Bank of England.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer meets the Governor from time to time to discuss a variety of matters.

  Privatisation Revenue
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates privatisation revenue will be in 1989–90.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Preston (Mrs. Wise) on 15 February, column 381–82.

  Consumer Spending
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply of 19 February,Official Report, column 524, concerning consumers' expenditure on rent, rates and water charges, if he will publish an estimate for 1989 and a forecast for 1990 together with (a) a table showing the current price figures for each year deflated by the increase in the retail prices index and (b) a table listing and quantifying the factors accounting for the changes in volume between 1979 and 1988.
  650
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Estimates for 1989 will not be available until the latter part of March following the publication on 16 March of the CSO press notice on gross domestic product for the fourth quarter of 1989. Forecasts for 1990 are not available. With regard to(a), my earlier reply gave figures in constant prices; the use of the retail prices index for deflation is not appropriate here. With regard to (b), a description of the method of compilation of these constant price estimates is given in pages 77–78 of "United Kingdom National Accounts: Sources and Methods", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table, further to table 15.1 of the Annual Abstract of Statistics 1989, showing for the latest available year the number of households in each country corresponding to the 13 listed categories together with the numbers of adults and children in each category in each country; and if he will provide a further breakdown of the other category.

  Mr. Lilley
  Information on the actual number of households for each category in each country is not available: in 1986 there were some 21·5 million households in the United Kingdom. However, an approximate guide to the relative numbers of households can be obtained from the family expenditure survey. This is given in the table for 1986, the latest available year. A further breakdown of the "other" category could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Number of households, adults and children from the 1986 Family Expenditure Survey1, by household type and country England

  Number of:

  Household type

  H2

  A

  C

  1 adult—non-pensioner

  914

  914

  0

  1 adult—pensioner

  532

  532

  0

  2 adults—non-pensioner

  1,683

  3,366

  0

  2 adults—pensioner

  286

  572

  0

  2 adults, 1 child

  462

  924

  462

  2 adults, 2 children

  611

  1,222

  1,222

  2 adults, 3 children

  199

  398

  597

  3 adults

  444

  1,332

  0

  3 adults, 1 child

  167

  501

  167

  4 adults

  174

  696

  0

  1 adult with child(ren)

  228

  228

  392

  Other households

  304

  1,056

  672

  All households in sample

  6,004

  11,741

  3,512

  Wales

  Number of:

  Household type

  H

  A

  C

  1 adult—non-pensioner

  56

  56

  0

  1 adult—pensioner

  38

  38

  0

  2 adults—non-pensioner

  94

  188

  0

  2 adults—pensioner

  22

  44

  0

  2 adults, 1 child

  36

  72

  36

  2 adults, 2 children

  32

  64

  64

  2 adults, 3 children

  21

  42

  63

  3 adults

  31

  93

  0

  3 adults, 1 child

  15

  45

  15

  4 adults

  13

  52

  0

  1 adult with child(ren)

  10

  10

  17

  Other households

  21

  72

  47

  All households in sample

  389

  776

  242

  651

  Scotland

  Number of:

  Household type

  H

  A

  C

  1 adult—non-pensioner

  101

  101

  0

  1 adult—pensioner

  69

  69

  0

  2 adults—non-pensioner

  154

  308

  0

  2 adults—pensioner

  29

  58

  0

  2 adults, 1 child

  47

  94

  47

  2 adults, 2 children

  82

  164

  164

  2 adults, 3 children

  19

  38

  57

  3 adults

  49

  147

  0

  3 adults, 1 child

  19

  57

  19

  4 adults

  23

  92

  0

  1 adult with child(ren)

  26

  26

  40

  Other households

  34

  119

  77

  All households in sample

  652

  1,273

  404

  Northern Ireland

  Number of:

  Household type

  H

  A

  C

  1 adult—non-pensioner

  18

  18

  0

  1 adult—pensioner

  14

  14

  0

  2 adults—non-pensioner

  32

  64

  0

  2 adults—pensioner

  1

  2

  0

  2 adults, 1 child

  10

  20

  10

  2 adults, 2 children

  19

  38

  38

  2 adults, 3 children

  7

  14

  21

  3 adults

  10

  30

  0

  3 adults, 1 child

  1

  3

  1

  4 adults

  2

  8

  0

  1 adult with child(ren)

  4

  4

  5

  Other households

  15

  53

  39

  All households in sample

  133

  268

  114

  United Kingdom

  Year

  Imputed income1 from owner/rent free occupancy

  Weekly 1 3 equivalent of rateable value £/household

  Rents price4 index 1985 = 100

  Index of local5 authorities rents 1985 = 100

  Components of the retail prices index annual averages

  £/week average per household

  Percentage of average household income2

  Rent 1985 = 100

  Rates 1985 = 100

  1975

  2·44

  3·4

  3·19

  32·0

  26·6

  27·3

  26·9

  1976

  3·46

  4·2

  3·20

  37·1

  30·6

  31·4

  31·0

  1977

  3·93

  4·2

  3·32

  41·2

  35·4

  35·9

  34·5

  1978

  4·93

  4·6

  3·54

  46·3

  37·7

  39·7

  38·1

  1979

  5·65

  4·7

  3·62

  53·7

  41·3

  43·6

  44·2

  1980

  6·75

  4·6

  3·68

  62·6

  49·7

  52·0

  55·4

  1981

  7·79

  4·6

  3·70

  74·8

  7·7

  70·5

  70·1

  1982

  8·57

  4·8

  3·64

  84·5

  85·7

  82·7

  80·3

  1983

  9·70

  5·2

  3·71

  90·8

  89·3

  88·0

  87·1

  1984

  10·23

  5·2

  3·74

  94·3

  93·9

  93·2

  92·4

  1985

  11·86

  5·5

  4·30

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  1986

  12·57

  5·4

  4·45

  105·1

  106·1

  106·5

  113·0

  1987

  12·95

  5·1

  4·48

  110·3

  112·4

  112·8

  123·2

  1988

  15·83

  5·6

  4·60

  116·9

  123·4

  121·1

  133·4

  1989

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  136·6

  132·2

  145·8

  1 Estimates based on Family Expenditure Survey.

  2 Household income figures for 1982 and earlier are not comparable with 1983, or with 1984, or with 1985 and following years.

  3 In 1985 rateable values for Scotland were reassessed.

  4 Consumers Expenditure rent deflator.

  5 Estimates for local authorities Great Britain only based on returns by local authorities to the Department of the Environment, Scottish Development Department and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).

  Manufacturing Investment
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures showing, for each region, total investment by companies in research and development.
  652

  United Kingdom

  Number of:

  Household type

  H

  A

  C

  1 adult—non-pensioner

  1,089

  1,089

  0

  1 adult—pensioner

  653

  653

  0

  2 adults—non-pensioner

  1,963

  3,926

  0

  2 adults—pensioner

  338

  676

  0

  2 adults, 1 child

  555

  1,110

  555

  2 adults, 2 children

  744

  1,488

  1,488

  2 adults, 3 children

  246

  492

  738

  3 adults

  534

  1,602

  0

  3 adults, 1 child

  202

  606

  202

  4 adults

  212

  848

  0

  1 adult with child(ren)

  268

  268

  454

  Other households

  374

  1,300

  835

  All households in sample

  7,178

  14,058

  4,272

  1 The response to the survey differs as between regions and households and the results cannot be accurately grossed to give national figures.

  2 H = Households, A = Adults, C = Children.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table further to table 15.3 of the Annual Abstract of Statistics 1989, showing for each year and a forecast for 1987, 1988 and 1989 the amount and percentage share of imputed income from owner rent-free occupancy together with (i) the weekly equivalent of the rateable value, (ii) the percentage uplift for the general increase in rents, (iii) the corresponding increase in council rents and (iv) the rate and rent factors included in the retail prices index.

  Mr. Lilley
  The information requested is given in the table. Figures for 1989 are not available for all items.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I regret that the information is not available.

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the expenditure of central Government for each year since 1979 in(a) cash terms and (b) constant price terms for the latest year for which figures are available; what was the percentage increase in each year; and what was the percentage increase between 1979 and the latest available year;

  Central Government's own expenditure, 1978–79 to 1988–89

  1978–79 outturn

  1979–80 outturn

  1980–81 outturn

  1981–82 outturn

  1982–83 outturn

  1983–84 outturn

  1984–85 outturn

  1985–86 outturn

  1986–87 outturn

  1987–88 outturn

  1988–89 outturn

  Cash terms:

  Total expenditure £ billion

  44·9

  52·7

  64·1

  73·8

  82·4

  86·2

  93·2

  99·6

  106·1

  111·2

  116·3

  Percentage increase on previous year

  —

  17·4

  21·7

  15·1

  11·7

  4·5

  8·2

  6·8

  6·6

  4·8

  4·6

  Total expenditure per head1 £

  799

  937

  1,139

  1,310

  1,464

  1,529

  1,651

  1,759

  1,869

  1,953

  2,038

  Percentage increase on previous year

  —

  17·3

  21·5

  15·0

  11·8

  4·4

  8·0

  6·5

  6·3

  4·5

  4·4

  Real terms (adjusted to 1988–89 prices for effect of general inflation by the GDP deflator):

  Total expenditure £ billion

  98·7

  99·2

  102·0

  106·9

  111·4

  111·2

  114·6

  116·2

  119·8

  119·2

  116·3

  Percentage increase on previous year

  —

  0·5

  2·9

  4·8

  4·2

  -0·1

  3·1

  1·4

  3·1

  -0·5

  -2·5

  Total expenditure per head1 £

  1,757

  1,764

  1,812

  1,898

  1,979

  1,974

  2,031

  2,053

  2,111

  2,094

  2.038

  Percentage increase on previous year

  —

  0·4

  2·7

  4·8

  4·3

  -0·2

  2·8

  1·1

  2·8

  -0·8

  -2·7

  1 Per head figures are based on mid-year population estimates.

  Between 1978–79 and 1988–89, central Government's expenditure increased by 159 per cent. in cash terms and by 18 per cent. in real terms. The increase per head of population over the same period is 155 per cent. in cash terms and 16 per cent. in real terms.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Milk Quota
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has for the distribution in Northern Ireland of the 1 per cent. of additional milk quota which has been allocated to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced on 15 February that he had submitted to the European Commission for approval the Government's proposals for the allocation of the extra I per cent. quota in the United Kingdom.

  The proposals include allocation

  to new entrants

  to producers whose quota is less than 200,000 litres

  to producers in certain remote areas

  to producers whose Tribunal awards had not been granted in full because insufficient quota was available

  Producers in Northern Ireland will benefit under each of the categories with the exception of the remote areas provision which applies only to the Scilly Isles and Scottish islands.

  Eastern Health and Social Services Board
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many administrative staff employed by the Eastern health and social services board are on a
  654
  (2) what was the expenditure of central Government for each year since 1979 per head of population in (a) cash terms and (b) constant price terms, based on the latest year for which figures are available; what was the percentage increase in each year; and what was the percentage increase between 1979 and the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 6 March 1990]: The information requested on central Government's expenditure is given in the table:

  salary scale which at the minimum point is in excess of £30,000 per annum; and what is the designated name of each such grade.

  Mr. Needham
  There are 12 administrative staff employed by the Eastern health and social services board who are on a salary scale which at the minimum point is in excess of £30,000 per annum. The designated name of each grade is as follows:

  Board General Manager

  Director of Finance

  Director of Operations

  Director of Personnel and Management Services

  Director of Planning

  Unit General Manager 1 (4 posts)

  Unit General Manager 2 (3 posts)

  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will set out in the Official Report the qualifications and experience required from applicants for posts of manager of units of management in the Eastern health and social services board.

  Mr. Needham
  There are nine unit general manager posts in the Eastern health and social services board and applicants for all these posts were required to have:

  (1.) A good academic or professional qualification to degree level and have had recent senior management experience in the public or private sector; or recent senior management experience of at least five years in the public or private sector.

  (2.) A proven record of managerial achievement in their current and previous posts and be able to demonstrate leadership skills in a multi-professional environment.

  (3.) The ability to set and work to agreed objectives.

  (4.) The ability to communicate effectively through all levels of the organisation and with the external environment.

  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the annual
  655
  expenditure incurred by the Eastern health and social services board is accounted for by the salaries of staff being paid in excess of £20,000 per annum who are in administrative grades.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is not readily available in the form requested. However, the total salaries and wages element of the Eastern board's gross revenue expenditure in 1988–89 was approximately 75 per cent. and the administrative and clerical staffs salaries and wages accounted for about 7 per cent. The proportion relating to those paid in excess of £20,000 would therefore be very small.

  Litter
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prosecutions there have been under the anti-litter legislation in each district council area since the legislation came into operation; what is the number that have been successful; and what was the range of fines imposed by the courts.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Under article 28 of the Pollution Control and Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 it is an offence with a maximum penalty of a £400 fine for anyone, without lawful authority, to throw, dump or deposit litter in any place in the open air.

  The information requested is not held centrally and is being sought from individual councils. I will write as soon as possible and will place copies of my letter in the Library.

  Emigration
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will publish in the Official Report the latest estimate of figures for emigration from Northern Ireland to (a) other parts of the United Kingdom, (b) the Republic of Eire and (c) elsewhere.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is as follows:

  (a) 16,100

  (b) 1,600

  (c) 3,100

  Figures are derived from the 1989 mid-year estimates of population and cover the period 1 July 1988 to 30 June 1989.

  Family Benefits
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many families in Northern Ireland were in receipt of child benefit in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested, as at 31 January, is as follows:

  31 January 1988

  215,476

  31 January 1989

  215,858

  31 January 1990

  215,750

  Radiation
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, following the publication of the Gardner report on radiation risks, he will review current radiation exposure limits at facilities licensed to handle radioactive materials in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  The legislation which specifies the maximum permissible occupational dose of ionizing 656
  radiation is currently under review in Great Britain. Should this review result in changes in the statutory limits applicable in Great Britain, similar changes will be made in the corresponding Northern Ireland legislation to ensure that identical legislative control exists throughout the United Kingdom.

  Coleraine Hospital
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, further to his answers to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East of 19 February,Official Report, column 569, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Northern health and social services board is aware of the standards required by the Government for the option appraisal; and if he will outline the options being considered in the option appraisal.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 27 February 1990]: The standards required by the Government for option appraisal are set out in the HM Treasury publication "Investment Appraisal in the Public Sector" and the Department of Health publication "Investment Appraisal—A Guide for the National Health Service". Both documents have been issued to health and social services boards. The identification of options is part of the appraisal process and these should include all feasible ways of providing the required level and quality of services to patients.

  Fair Employment
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East of 21 February, whether a code of practice, acceptable to the Fair Employment Commission, exists for disclosure of information as to the religious composition of the work force in each different premises of a private firm similar to that agreed for the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 27 February 1990]: I am informed by the Fair Employment Commission that it is not aware of any private sector firm which has drawn up guidelines on the disclosure of monitoring information. However, this issue is dealt with in "Fair Employment in Northern Ireland Code of Practice", published by the Department of Economic Development and circulated to all employers in Northern Ireland in December 1989.

  Western Health and Social Services Board
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many employees the Western health and social services board has; and how many were educated at a primary school in(a) Northern Ireland, (b) the Irish Republic and (c) Great Britain.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 27 February 1990]: On 3 January 1990, the Western health and social services board employed 6,809 staff (excluding homehelps), of whom 5,174 were educated at primary schools in Northern Ireland and 885 were educated at primary schools outside Northern Ireland. No record of primary school attended is held in respect of the remaining 750 staff.

  The latest available figure for homehelps relates to 18 October 1989. Of the 1,866 employed on that date, 989 were educated at primary schools in Northern Ireland and

  657
  110 were educated at primary schools outside Northern Ireland. No record of primary school attended is held in respect of the remaining 767 homehelps.

  Of those educated outside Northern Ireland it is not possible to disaggregate those who attended school in Great Britain and those who attended school in the Republic of Ireland.

  Fisheries Research
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) on how many(a) occasions and (b) total days, at what cost and leasing income per day, and to whom the vessel Lough Foyle has been leased since it came into the possession of the Northern Ireland authorities;

  (2) whether the leasing of the vessel Lough Foyle has shown a profit or loss.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 27 February 1990]: The objective of leasing the Lough Foyle is to offset the costs associated with ownership and crewing during periods when it is not required for research by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland.

  The MV Lough Foyle has been chartered on nine occasions involving 93 days since the vessel came into the possession of the Northern Ireland authorities. Lessees have been the Scottish Marine Biological Association, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland and the Department of the Marine, Republic of Ireland.

  The average daily full economic cost of operating the vessel while at sea to the Department is currently £1,500.

  The total leasing income to date has been £93,826·15.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what consultations were made with local social security offices in determining the 1990–91 social fund

  Social Fund Loans: Details of Amounts Repaid1

  Social Security Office

  Period up to 31 March 1989

  Period up to 30 June 1989

  Period up to 30 September 1989

  Period up to 31 December 1989

  Andersonstown

  310,217·18

  459,780·84

  619,360·43

  777,718·03

  Antrim

  138,151·64

  208,698·21

  283,135·11

  367,895·85

  Armagh

  90,170·00

  142,147·66

  199,858·96

  260,749·62

  Ballymena

  130,697·32

  190,399·54

  253,730·61

  316,671·94

  Ballymoney

  83,855·55

  126,920·25

  174,031·91

  222,689·66

  Ballynahinch

  12,142·99

  19,688·78

  28,732·49

  37,305·14

  Banbridge

  48,621·24

  75,22008

  103,324·33

  133,504·76

  Bangor

  62,632·25

  97,309·14

  133,466·91

  169,468·41

  Carrickfergus

  66,741·15

  100,130·57

  133,313·75

  167,055·30

  Coleraine

  138,359·05

  203,330·74

  271,468·91

  342,255·78

  Cookstown

  87,151·99

  133,957·42

  181,453·82

  231,206·61

  Corporation Street

  293,354·23

  473,023·91

  666,515·15

  871,057·57

  Downpatrick

  64,412·81

  91,743·89

  119,061·09

  151,830·46

  Dungannon

  128,599·41

  200,102·84

  274,385·24

  351,787·76

  Enniskillen

  98,319·58

  155,491·13

  214,853·62

  278,642·47

  Falls

  284,793·85

  417,867·39

  559,122·30

  712,196·60

  Holywood Road

  167,158·84

  250,541·13

  343,994·49

  448,407·92

  Kilkeel

  15,155·75

  24,528·68

  34,421·69

  44,719·40

  Knockbreda

  103,472·26

  150,266·12

  196,938·62

  247,286·23

  Larne

  68,863·40

  99,895·56

  134,230·39

  168,584·00

  Limavady

  64,474·52

  93,506·13

  122,835·69

  154,127·58

  Lisburn

  210,938·49

  299,729·25

  398,619·68

  498,756·31

  Londonderry

  357,795·15

  589,318·67

  836,453·59

  1,091,846·02

  Lurgan

  160,122·26

  247,788·58

  339,370·42

  434,782·91

  Magherafelt

  81,438·76

  128,549·05

  182,222·52

  241,751·18

  Newcastle

  26,139·12

  40,671·16

  53,595·63

  69,301·79

  Newry

  147,094·52

  244,663·95

  352,667·25

  470,703·56

  Newtownabbey

  113,804·24

  167,412·06

  224,037·36

  284,787·86

  Newtownards

  66,456·06

  95,867·33

  125,789·55

  157,905·27

  Omagh

  136,444·36

  202,436·16

  273,853·07

  354,034·82

  Portadown

  81,972·64

  120,370·70

  161,601·65

  206,677·56

  658
  allocation; and what weight was given to factors such as their premium case loads and the operation of their existing budgets;

  (2) what information is available to indicate the allocation of the social fund budget to each social security office for 1990–91, indicating the balance between loans and grants, the total income support case load of each and the figures for their respective premium case loads;

  (3) what reference was made to relevant health and social services agencies regarding their projections for community care in determining social fund allocations for 1990–91.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 2 March 1990]: The allocations to social security offices for 1990–91 have not yet been determined. They will be announced in due course and a paper containing details of the basis of the allocations will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available to indicate for each social security office the totals allocated for loans in the 1988–89 social fund budget, the total amount paid out, the number of loans given, the numbers refused, and the total amount repaid and the number of recipients who had totally repaid their loans by(a) March 31 1989, (b) June 30 1989, (c) September 30 1989 and (d) December 31 1989.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 2 March 1990]: The number of recipients who have totally repaid their loans is not available, but the total amounts repaid are shown in the table. The remaining information is held in the Library.
  659

  Social Security Office

  Period up to 31 March 1989

  Period up to 30 June 1989

  Period up to 30 September 1989

  Period up to 31 December 1989

  Shaftesbury Square

  166,087·30

  252,539·26

  348,355·22

  451,992·73

  Shankill

  140,989·13

  199,196·13

  259,145·53

  320,247·44

  Strabane

  148,694·34

  224,681·56

  301,303·20

  374,734·59

  Total

  4,295,321·38

  6,527,763·87

  8,905,150·18

  11,412,683·13

  1 The amounts for each period are cumulative.

  One-Parent Benefit
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) women and (b) men are in receipt of one-parent benefit.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: The figures are 21,620 women and 2,096 men.

TRANSPORT

  Railway Investment
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will tabulate in the Official Report investment in British Rail for each of the financial years 1983 to date showing what sums for capital investment have been derived from Exchequer and BR sources, respectively, together with indications of the parts of such capital liable and not liable to interest charge, respectively, in any one year.

  Mr. Portillo
  Table 7.33 in chapter 7 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1990/91 to 1992/93" (Cm 1007) sets out British Rail's capital requirements and the internal and external resources from which these requirements are met. "External finance" comprises revenue subsidy paid by the Government and borrowing, principally from the national loans fund. We do not apportion particular forms of finance between investment and other expenditure. BR "rail" investment since 1983 is as follows, in £m and at constant 1989–90 prices:

  Year

  Rail investment

  1983

  348

  1984

  1369

  1985–86

  498

  1986–87

  482

  1987–88

  604

  1988–89

  610

  1989–90

  2670

  Note:

  (1) 1984–85 was a 15-month financial period. The figure shown for 1984 is the 12-month equivalent.

  (2) Estimate.

  Railways Safety Inspectorate
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement on the transfer of the railways safety inspectorate to the Health and Safety Commission.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 27 February,Hansard col. 143.

  Feasibility Studies (East Sussex)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those feasibility studies or other paperwork exercises carried out for his Department by East Sussex county council since 1985, giving the year, the nature of the study and details of any moneys paid in respect of these studies.

  Mr. Atkins
  Since 1985 East Sussex county council, as agent authority, has advised and assisted the Department on a wide range of issues relating to the maintenance and improvement of and development control affecting the trunk roads in the county. The number of items dealt with over this range is large. A detailed breakdown is not readily available and would be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The only major feasibility study carried out in this period is that for improving the A27 between the eastern end of the Lewes bypass and Polegate.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) in respect of the recent feasibility study into the A27 Lewes-Polegate road, conducted by East Sussex county council for his Department, on what date(a) the Department communicated to the county council its intention to commission a feasibility study, (b) the county council confirmed it wished to conduct the study, (c) the study was commissioned by his Department and (d) the completed study was received from the county council by his Department;

  (2) in respect of the recent feasibility study into the A27 Lewes-Polegate road conducted by East Sussex county council for his Department (a) what sum was paid to the county council for the work carried out and (b) if any other moneys were paid out for this study.

  Mr. Atkins
  The need for an A27 Lewes to Polegate scheme identification study was first announced in the 1987 roads White Paper published in April 1987. East Sussex county council offered to assist in February 1988, was commissioned to carry out the study in August 1988, forwarded its confidential report to the Department in October 1988 and was paid £17,567 (exclusive of VAT).

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he or his officials last met representatives from East Sussex county council; what matters were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Officials met representatives of East Sussex county council on 1 March when the Department's consultants, appointed to investigate options for improving the A27 between Lewes and Polegate, were introduced to county officers and lines of communication established for on-going liaison during the scheme's preparation.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will convene a national conference of all interested parties to discuss the future of the Channel tunnel and rail link throughout the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Portillo
  No. British Rail undertook an extensive programme of consultation in all regions before publishing in December last year its plan for international passenger and freight services when the Channel tunnel opens. In accordance with section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987 the board will be keeping this plan under review. Interested groups should therefore make their points to British Rail.

  Midland Line (Electrification)
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had from elected bodies in the east midlands regarding the need to provide funding for the electrification of the midland line; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have received a number of representations from local authorities about the electrification of the midland main line, including one from the midland main line consortium of local authorities. It remains for British Rail to come forward with any proposals it considers worth while.

  "The Road User and the Law"
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to bring forward legislation to implement the proposals in "The Road User and the Law".

  Mr. Atkins
  As soon as time is available.

  Docklands Light Railway
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet the chairman of London Regional Transport to discuss the managerial competence of the docklands light railway; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The management of the docklands light railway is a matter for the chairman and board of London Regional Transport. The performance of the railway's operations is a regular topic of discussion between the chairman of London Regional Transport, the chairman of the dock lands light railway and me.

  Internal Audit
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many internal auditors are employed in his Department and at what cost; how many internal audit reports were produced in 1989; how many of these were drawn to the attention of a Minister in his Department; and what internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms and at what cost.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department employs 26 internal auditors at an annual cost of around £580,000. In 1989, 73 internal audit reports were produced, none of which needed to be drawn to Ministers' attention. No internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms.

  Radioactive Waste
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what information he has on the number of competing designs for a transportation flask for vitrified high-level radioactive waste; and if he will list the companies involved;

  (2) what method of review and assessment he anticipates for the design safety report accompanying British Nuclear Fuels plc's formal licence submission for a transportation flask for the return of vitrified high-level radioactive waste to its country of origin;

  (3) when he expects to receive a formal licence submission from British Nuclear Fuels plc's for a transportation flask for the return of vitrified high-level radioactive waste to its country of origin;

  (4) whether he will place in the Library a copy of British Nuclear Fuels plc's design safety report of a transportation flask for vitrified high-level radioactive waste.

  Mr. Atkins
  No application has been received from BNFL plc or any other company for certification of a flask for the transport of vitrified high-level radioactive waste.

  Details of the designs involved, were such an application to be received, would be the property of the applicant and subject to commercial confidentiality.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on transportation flasks for vitrified high-level radioactive waste(a) under development and (b) in service anywhere in the world; and if he will list the countries.

  Atkins
  None.

  Roundabouts
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many roundabouts have been reduced in diameter each year for the last 10 years; and why.

  Mr. Atkins
  Numerical information of the kind requested is not collected. Reductions in the diameter of roundabouts are mainly made to improve efficiency and-or capacity.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was, for the five most recent years available, the number of road accidents which occurred at roundabouts; and whether the figures represent a growing or diminishing percentage of total road vehicle accidents.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department collects information only on road accidents involving personal injury. The information requested for personal injury road accidents is as follows:

  Personal injury road accidents at roundabouts: 1984 to 1988

  Accidents at roundabouts

  All accidents

  Per cent, of accidents at roundabouts

  1984

  Fatal

  70

  5,138

  1·36

  Serious

  1,884

  62,048

  3·04

  All severities

  11,592

  253,183

  4·58

  1985

  Fatal

  64

  4,768

  1·34

  Serious

  1,884

  60,286

  3·13

  663

  Accidents at roundabouts

  All accidents

  Per cent, of accidents at roundabouts

  All severities

  11,723

  245,645

  4·77

  1986

  Fatal

  82

  4,895

  1·68

  Serious

  1,862

  58,187

  3·20

  All severities

  12,028

  247,854

  4·85

  1987

  Fatal

  66

  4,694

  1·41

  Serious

  1,719

  54,352

  3·16

  All severities

  11,831

  239,063

  4·95

  1988

  Fatal

  68

  4,643

  1·46

  Serious

  1,775

  53,850

  3·30

  All severities

  13,037

  246,994

  5·28

  The figures show that there has been a slight increase in the percentage of road accidents occurring at roundabouts over the five-year period. The number of these accidents in which there were fatal or serious casualties has declined over the same period.

  London Road Assessment Studies
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the total number of written comments received in response to(a) "Traffic in London", (b) the east London assessment study, (c) the south London assessment study, (d) the south circular assessment study and (e) the west London assessment study; and if he will respond to them;

  (2) what is the total number of signatories on petitions received directly by him concerning "Traffic in London" and the four assessment studies in London;

  (3) when he expects to make an announcement on the result of consultation on "Traffic in London" and the London assessment studies.

  Mr. Atkins
  The thousands of responses on the London assessment studies and "Traffic in London" are currently being collated and analysed. To make interim counts would involve a disproportionate cost and would delay the decision process, thus prolonging the uncertainty for residents.

  Motorway Service Stations
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motorway service stations he plans to open in the next five years.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government's strategic programme for motorway service areas in England is designed to fill gaps in the existing network and provide facilities on new motorways. The programme comprises 19 sites, of which 13 are likely to open within five years, subject to completion of planning procedures and land acquisition.

  Rolling Stock
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport over what time scale he has been asked to approve investment in the new Networker rolling stock to be introduced by British Rail on the north Kent line.

  Mr. Portillo
  Last August my right hon. Friend authorised the purchase of the first 400 class 465 664
  Networkers at a cost of £257 million (at 1989 prices) and gave approval in principle for a further 276 vehicles. These will replace the existing rolling stock on routes to south-east London and north Kent. I expect to receive proposals for further orders of class 465s to cater for the continuing growth in demand on these routes.

  Eastern District Distributor Road
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will extend the construction of the eastern district distributor road and the proposed A46-A47 link road to at least dual carriageway throughout;

  (2) if, in the study that he is now making of traffic management around Leicester, he will proceed at the earliest date to make the eastern district distributor road dual carriageway standard throughout to relieve traffic congestion on the A6 at Oadby.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Leicester eastern district distributor road, the Leicester southern district distributor road and the A46–A47 link road are the responsibility of Leicestershire county council as highway authority, and it is for that authority to determine its standards and programming.

  The proposed Leicester eastern bypass is a trunk road scheme. It is hoped to announce a preferred route in 1994. The carriageway standard has yet to be determined.

  Beach Pollution (Sussex)
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 28 February, regarding the MV Fathulkhair,Official Report, column 237, what steps he is able to take to secure compensation from the vessel's owners for the cost incurred in dealing with the dangerous cargo from the vessel on British beaches; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 6 March 1990]: I am looking into the question of whether the Government have a claim against the owners which would be enforceable as a matter of law, and if I am satisfied that there is a sustainable claim I shall initiate whatever proceedings are necessary.

EMPLOYMENT

  Workplace Health and Safety
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to improve health protection and safety conditions in the workplace.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government have increased financial provision for the commission and executive over previously agreed levels again for 1990–91. The additional provision is £7 million excluding money transferred from the Department of Energy for nuclear safety research.

  My right hon. and learned Friend expects shortly to receive for his approval details of the commission's plans for 1990–91 and beyond. The commission hopes to publish its plan of work in May.

  Careers Service
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to publish the reports of inspections of the careers service begun after September 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Five inspections of careers services have been set up following the announcement of my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Sir N. Fowler) last year that reports on inspections carried out after September 1989 would be published. These inspections are all currently taking place and I would expect to publish the reports of these inspections in September or October of this year.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the Health and Safety Executive's latest annual report.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The report of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive was published on 26 February. Latest provisional statistics for 1988–89 published in the report show an apparent levelling off of major injuries, which we very much welcome. But the number of fatalities, which include those from the Piper Alpha disaster, and high or increasing injury rates in particular industries demonstrate that there is not room for any relaxation of effort by industry to improve standards.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Thornton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide statistics showing for each year between 1980 and 1989 the number of people working on Government-sponsored training programmes in the construction industry.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I regret the information is not available.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list by tourist board area what information he has on the mean percentage increases that(a) hotel and (b) guest house owners are charging, following the introductions of the uniform business rate.

  Great Britain

  South West Division

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Number of establishments checked by all methods

  35,777

  31,524

  32,474

  2,319

  4,073

  3,586

  Number of establishments found underpaying

  8,205

  4,443

  5,597

  832

  961

  1,156

  Number of prosecutions for all wages council offences

  3

  8

  11

  —

  —

  2

  Bramley Employment Office
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement regarding the planned closure of the Bramley employment office in Leeds, West.

  Mr. Eggar
  The employment service is working progressively to bring jobcentres and benefit offices together under one roof. This will provide a new and improved one-stop service.

  I will ensure that the hon. Member is informed as soon as a decision about the future of the office at Bramley has been taken.
  666
  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is not available.

  Public Sector Wage Bargaining (EC)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the system of public sector wage bargaining in each European Community country.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My Department does not: hold comprehensive information on public sector wage bargaining systems in other EEC countries.

  Social Charter
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what calculations his Department has made on job losses in the United Kingdom consequent upon the introduction of minimum wage legislation under the European social charter.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Officials in the Department have estimated that the imposition of a minimum wage set at 50 per cent. of the national average wage would result in the loss of about three quarters of a million jobs in this country.

  Wages Inspectorate
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the number of investigations carried out by the wages inspectorate for the United Kingdom, the south-west region, Avon and the Bristol, South constituency for the latest three years and the numbers of establishments found to be in breach of wages council rates and the numbers of prosecutions for each area and year, respectively.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Wages inspectorate statistics are not kept for areas smaller than the inspectorate's nine divisions. The table gives the information requested for the south-west division and for Great Britain as a whole. Statistics for 1989 are not yet available.

  Northern Ireland has a separate wages council system, which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Internal Audit
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many internal auditors are employed in his Department and at what cost; how many internal audit reports were produced in 1989; how many of these were drawn to the attention of a Minister in his Department; and what internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms and at what cost.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information is as follows:

  (a) Number of auditors employed in the Department—124.

  (b) Total cost of the auditors—£2,723,881.

  667

  (c) Number of audit reports produced in 1989–302.

  (d) Number of audit reports drawn to attention of a Minister—3.

  (e) The following internal audit work was subcontracted to private firms—Nil.

  (f) The total cost of subcontracting works to private firms—Nil.

  Paisley Job Club
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many investigations have been made by his officials into the activities of the Paisley job club; and what were the results.

  Mr. Eggar
  Employment service officials visit Paisley job club at six-monthly intervals as part of the standard monitoring procedure. The last such visit took place on 9 January 1990. In addition, a further meeting took place on 22 February 1990 between employment service officials and the company which is contracted to run the job club on its behalf. This meeting followed allegations made by a journalist working for the Glasgow Evening Times.

  The employment service believes that the Paisley job club is, in general, being run in accordance with its requirements. It is accepted that some irregularities in record-keeping have occurred, but these have had no effect on unemployment statistics and have not resulted in any additional payments being made to the contractor. The job club records are being amended to correct the errors which have been found. I believe that the Paisley job club, like the programmes generally, provides valuable help to long-term unemployed people, and others at a disadvantage in the labour market, in their search for work.

  MTC Limited
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has regarding forged JC 18 forms processed by his Department and MTC Limited of Ingram street, Glasgow; and if he will make a statement on what further steps he intends to take to investigate the allegations and admissions of forged documents.

  Mr. Eggar
  Form JC18 is a record of membership of, and outcomes from, job clubs. Allegations that 12 forms had been forged at Paisley job club were made by a Glasgow journalist. Investigations are continuing, but it has been established that incorrect information had been entered on job club records by a member who was acting without the authority of MTC Limited or the employment service and who has now left the job club.

  Further checks are being made to ensure there are no other errors. The need for further action to ensure accurate record-keeping at the job club will be considered when the results of these checks are known.

  The allegations are confined to the Paisley job club.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the contractual relationship between MTC Limited and the Training Agency.

  Mr. Eggar
  MTC Limited has 19 contracts with the Department of Employment in respect of programmes managed by the employment service. Thirteen of these are to operate job clubs and six are for the provision of restart courses.
  668
  There are further contracts between MTC Limited and the Department of Employment in respect of programmes managed by the Training Agency. These relate to employment training and YTS.

  Restart
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the outcomes of restart interviews conducted three months prior to and three months after the introduction of the Social Security Act 1989, or the nearest other appropriate dates.

  Mr. Eggar
  Monthly figures are not available. The only figures available are for the quarters ending September 1989 and December 1989.

  In the quarter ending September 1989, 505,600 restart interviews were conducted. Of these 85 per cent. resulted in an offer of help being made and 71 per cent. of interviews resulted in the offer being accepted.

  In the quarter ending December 1989, 464,100 restart interviews were conducted. Of these, 82 per cent. resulted in an offer of help being made and 71 per cent. of interviews resulted in the offer being accepted.

  Cumbria TEC
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he next intends to meet representatives of the Cumbria training and enterprise council.

  Mr. Eggar
  I last met Mr. Rick Emslie, the chairman of Cumbria training and enterprise council on Tuesday 27 February.

  Wages (Regional Variations)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what monitoring his Department undertakes on regional variations in pay level for jobs on offer at jobcentres in England.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Department of Employment does not monitor regional pay variations for jobs on offer at jobcentres.

  Skills Training Agency
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement about the sale of the Skills Training Agency.

  Mr. Eggar
  Further to the statement that my right hon. and learned Friend made to the House on 13 February 1990 (Official Report, 13 February 1990, column 141) about the sale of the Skills Training Agency (STA), I can announce that terms of sale have now been agreed with a consortium headed by Mr. Christopher Lakin for the training businesses located at Cumbria (Maryport), East Lanes (Accrington), Ipswich and St. Helens skillcentres.

  The offer from Mr. Lakin's consortium was considered against the Government's objectives for the sale, which were placed in the Vote Office on 13 February, and will involve a payment of some £2 million from the Government to the consortium: this reflects the need for restructuring and reforming the training businesses. There will be no loss to the Government from the transaction compared with the alternative of closing these skillcentres. The total number of skillcentres which will be sold is now 51.

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Training
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total expenditure on benefit paid to employment training trainees in December 1989 for Great Britain.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 12 February 1990]: Trainees on employment training do not receive benefit but a training allowance based on previous benefit entitlement plus an additional amount of £10 a week.

  Year

  Doctors

  Nurses

  Others1

  Total

  1979

  78·5

  87·5

  87·5

  253·5

  1980

  69

  73

  80·5

  222·5

  1981

  71·5

  66·5

  73·5

  211·5

  1982

  64

  57·5

  66

  187·5

  1983

  65

  58·5

  61

  184·5

  1984

  63

  50·5

  60

  173·5

  1985

  61·5

  42·5

  61·5

  165·5

  1986

  57·5

  43

  59·5

  160

  1987

  56·5

  45

  50

  151·5

  1988

  45

  47

  41

  133

  1989

  43·5

  46·5

  39·5

  129·5

  1 eg administrative and support.

  An analysis of staff employed at I February 1990 by broad occupational group and area is given in the table:

  EMAS staff at 1 February 1990 by occupational group and location

  Areas

  Doctors

  Nurses

  Others1

  Total

  South West

  4·0

  4·0

  3·0

  11·0

  South

  2·0

  2·0

  1·5

  5·5

  South East

  1·0

  2·0

  1·5

  4·5

  London North

  1·0

  2·0

  2·5

  5·5

  London South

  2·0

  1·0

  1·5

  4·5

  East Anglia

  1·5

  1·5

  2·0

  5·0

  Northern Home Counties

  2·0

  1·0

  2·0

  5·0

  East Midlands

  2·5

  2·0

  1·5

  6·0

  West Midlands

  3·0

  3·0

  2·0

  8·0

  Wales

  3·0

  4·0

  2·0

  9·0

  Marches

  2·0

  2·0

  2·0

  6·0

  North Midlands

  1·5

  2·0

  1·0

  4·5

  South Yorkshire and Humberside

  1·0

  3·0

  1·5

  5·5

  West and North Yorkshire

  2·5

  1·0

  2·0

  5·5

  Greater Manchester

  1·5

  2·0

  2·5

  6·0

  Merseyside

  1·5

  2·0

  1·5

  5·0

  North West

  2·0

  2·0

  3·0

  7·0

  North East

  4·0

  5·0

  4·0

  13·0

  Scotland East

  3·5

  4·0

  3·0

  10·5

  Scotland West

  2·5

  4·0

  1·5

  8·0

  Totals

  44·0

  49·5

  41·5

  135·0

  1 eg administrative and support staff.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if, pursuant to his answer of 15 February,Official Report, column 384, to the hon. Member for Stretford he will itemise the provisional total of 327 accidents between March 1987 and December 1989, during work on the Channel tunnel, according to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations; and give the nature of the injury.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 6 March 1990]: The information as requested is not readily available and could he obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  HSE Medical Advisory Service
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the number of staff employed by the Health and Safety Executive employment medical advisory service for the latest date for which figures are available and for every year since 1979; and if he will provide a breakdown by occupation and location.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 6 March 1990]: The total numbers from 1979 to 1989 (at 1 June) by occupational group were:

  The table gives a breakdown of the nature of accidents which occurred at the tunnelling sites and were reported to the Health and Safety Executive between March 1987 and December 1989 in accordance with the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations:

  Nature of Accident

  Total Number of Accidents Reported1

  Contact with moving machinery

  15

  Struck by object

  91

  Struck by vehicle

  17

  Struck against something

  11

  Handling/Lifting/Carrying

  60

  Slip/trip/fall on same level

  73

  671

  Nature of Accident

  Total Number of Accidents Reported1

  Fall from height

  40

  Collapse or overturning

  5

  Exposure to harmful substance

  9

  Contact with electricity or electrical discharge

  4

  Other

  2

  1 Provisional

  Tourism (South Africa)
  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the United Kingdom ban on the promotion of tourism to South Africa.

  Mr. Eggar
  [pursuant to his reply, 23 February 1990, c. 956]: My earlier answer to this question contained an error, in that it implied that the Foreign Ministers of the European Community were a party to the ban on the promotion of tourism. Paragraph two of the reply should have read:
  "In 1986 European Community Foreign Ministers and, separately, Heads of Government participating at the Commonwealth review meeting agreed to impose a number of measures against South Africa. In the case of the Commonwealth Heads, these included a ban on the promotion of tourism to South Africa. The then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment announced the implementation in the United Kingdom of this ban in a written answer to a parliamentary question on 30 October 1986 (Official Report, column 213). In our case the measure was voluntary."

WALES

  Gwent Health Authority
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made on the investigation into alleged misappropriation of funds regarding the Look After Yourself project sponsored by Gwent health authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  I will write to the hon. and learned Gentleman.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary Wales whether, from 1 January 1988 to date, water of any Welsh constituency has failed standards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The EC standards on drinking water quality have been incorporated into national legislation by the Water Act 1989 and the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989.

  Under this legislation water undertakers may approach the Secretary of State who appointed them for a relaxation of the standards where this is because of the nature and structure of the ground from which the supply emanates, exceptional meteorological conditions, or in order to maintain a public supply in an emergency. The Secretary of State may also accept undertakings given by water undertakers to carry out remedial work within a specified time scale to bring their supplies up to standard. As a result of these procedures, which have been endorsed by
  672
  the EC, the Secretary of State has been made aware of supplies including a number in Wales which do not currently meet EC standards.

  The undertakers are now required to maintain public registers which include particulars of relaxations, undertakings and the results of sample analysis. In accordance with the regulations, the information is prepared on a water supply zone basis, rather than by constituency.

  Local authorities have a duty to monitor the quality of water supplies for domestic purposes in their areas. Water undertakers must provide local authorities with information on the extent to which the undertaker has complied with its obligations to supply wholesome water and, where appropriate, the remedial action taken. Should a local authority believe that the public supply is, or is likely to become, unwholesome and is not satisfied that appropriate remedial action has been taken, the authority is under a duty to notify my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, who if the water is supplied by an undertaker appointed by him, must in most circumstances take enforcement action against the undertaker.

  The local authority's duty to monitor water supplied for domestic purposes extends to private supplies and if these supplies are unwholesome, authorities may serve a notice requiring the improvement of the supply or connection to a public supply. These notices may be served without notifying the Secretary of State unless representations or objections are received.

  M4, Earlswood-Lôn Las
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a detailed analysis of the criteria used to judge tenders for the contract to construct the first stage of the M4 missing link between Earlswood and Lôn Las.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  Tenders were assessed against the criteria specified in the documents issued to tendering firms and the award of contract was made on the basis of the lowest acceptable offer.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the unsuccessful tenderers for the construction of the first stage of the M4 missing link between Earlswood and Lon Las.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  It is not the practice to publish this of State for information.

  EC Structural Funds
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the recent publication "The Structural Funds of the European Communities", produced by the London chamber of commerce.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  No. Publications already held in my Department's library, including the Official Journal of the European Communities, provide sufficient material on the European structural funds for reference purposes.

  Internal Audit
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many internal auditors are employed in his Department and at what cost, how many internal audit
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  reports were produced in 1989; how many of these were drawn to the attention of a Minister in his Department; and what internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms and at what cost.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  During 1989, 17 staff were employed at a cost of £299,000, and 43 reports were issued. All reports are submitted to senior management who may draw Ministers' attention to specific matters as appropriate.

  Subcontracted work includes internal audit services for NDPBs and advice and support on the development of computer audit. The total value of these contracts is £194,000.

  Number of farmers and workers employed in agriculture June 1989 County by standard statistical region

  Clwyd

  Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Wales

  Whole-time principal farmers

  2,512

  7,309

  1,338

  2,965

  561

  3,894

  316

  497

  19,392

  Whole-time other partners

  620

  1,553

  278

  574

  130

  1,046

  91

  110

  4,402

  Whole-time total

  3,132

  8,862

  1,616

  3,539

  691

  4,940

  407

  607

  23,794

  Part-time principal farmers

  999

  2,509

  597

  1,184

  291

  991

  120

  282

  6,901

  Part-time other partners

  417

  946

  245

  401

  106

  570

  60

  102

  2,847

  Part-time total

  1,416

  3,455

  842

  1,505

  397

  1,561

  188

  384

  9,828

  Total Farmers and Directors

  4,548

  12,317

  2,458

  5,124

  1,088

  6,501

  595

  991

  33,622

  All workers (excluding salaried managers) male

  2,255

  4,805

  1,122

  2,003

  520

  2,996

  424

  463

  14,588

  All workers (excluding salaried managers) female

  452

  1,385

  317

  308

  96

  476

  119

  129

  3,282

  All workers (excluding salaried managers) total

  2,707

  6,190

  1,439

  2,311

  616

  3,472

  543

  592

  17,870

  Salaried managers

  56

  63

  33

  40

  11

  42

  16

  9

  278

  Source: June census 1989

  Note: Figures exclude minor holdings not included in June census.

  Hospital Construction
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the approximate average lead-in time, from formal submission of planning application to commissioning, of district general hospitals constructed in Wales since 1975.

  Mr. Grist
  This information is not readily available for all district general hospitals completed in Wales since 1975 but the average lead-in time from submission of a planning application to commissioning has been seven years 10 months for the three most recently built hospitals for which the information is available.

  Employment
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the latest available figures of employment in the following sectors in Wales:(a) coal mining, deep-mined and opencast, (b) banking, (c) steel manufacture, (d) dock work, (e) railways and (f) construction.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Employment estimates for sectors(b), (e) and (f) are available from the Department of Employment's quarterly series and are given in the table. Information for sectors (a), (c) and (d) is not available from this source.

  Employees in employment at September 1989

  Thousands

  (b) Banking (and bill discounting)

  111·9

  (e) Railways

  5·8

  (f) Construction

  44·0

  Farming
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many farmers, partners, directors and farm workers were employed in each county in Wales in(a) June and (b) December 1989.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Figures from the agricultural census for June 1989 are shown in the following table. County figures cannot be produced from the December agricultural sample surveys.

  1 Total employment in the financial services sector amounted to 68,000.

  Figures for dock work are included in the supporting services for sea transport category for which there were estimated to be 3,300 employees in employment in September 1989.

  British Coal produces the most recent figures available for the deep-mined coal mining sector. There were, on average, 4,100 employees on colliery books in the year up to 31 October 1989. The latest available information on opencast coal mining is from the census of employment, September 1987 when there were 1,400 employees in employment.

  Statistics compiled by the British Steel Corporation and the United Kingdom Statistics Bureau show that there were 19,400 employees in the steel industry in December 1988.

  Road Improvement
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has proposals to improve the roads between Welshpool and the English border; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The A458 Buttington Cross-Wollaston Cross improvement is planned to start in the period April 1991-March 1994, as indicated in table 6 of "Roads in Wales—Progress and Plans for the 1990s".

  Countryside Council for Wales
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he intends to issue a statement of policy to guide the proposed Countryside Council for Wales in the exercise of its powers from 1 April 1991.
  675
  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  I have placed copies of the draft statement of policy in the Libraries of both Houses and copies have also been placed in the Vote Office.

  It is customary for such statements to be determined following discussions between the sponsor Department and the board of the organisation concerned, taking due account of any comments that may be received from other interested organisations. The draft statement will accordingly form the basis of discussions with the new Countryside Council for Wales when the relevant appointments are made.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensions
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to introduce legislation to provide for the index-linking of all pensions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to index-link pensions to earnings.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We have no plans to do so.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many single-pensioner households in Scotland are in receipt or have been in receipt of housing benefit for each of the past five years, expressed as a percentage of all single-pensioner households and as a numerical total.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I regret that information is not available in the form requested. In 1988 in Scotland, an estimated 250,000 single people aged 60 or over were receiving housing benefit. This represents 11·3 per cent. of the total single-person population aged 60 or over in Scotland.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the most recent figures for the total number of(a) single parents in Scotland, (b) single-parent households in Scotland and (c) single-parent households in Scotland in receipt of housing benefit.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 22 February 1990]: We do not hold precise information about the single-parent population in Scotland. It is broadly estimated that in 1986 there were 100,000 single parents in Scotland, including single households which cannot be identified separately. I regret that comparative information for housing benefit is not available before May 1988 when an estimated 80,000 single parents in Scotland were receiving benefit.

  Taxation
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for(a) 1960, (b) 1970, (c) 1980 and (d) the latest year, the number of married couples (i) with children and (b) without children when (i) both or (ii) only one partner works and pays tax; and if he will estimate the numbers below the tax threshold.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The available information is shown in the table:676

  1989–90 (millions)

  2 Above tax threshold

  3 Below tax threshold

  Married couples with children

  Both partners working

  3·1

  0·1

  Only one1 partner working

  2·0

  0·2

  Married couples without children

  Both partners working

  3·0

  0·1

  Only one1 partner working

  1·3

  0·3

  Note:

  Figures for the earlier years are not available.

  Source:

  Figures form 1987 FES uprated to 1989–90.

  1Either husband or wife.

  2Tax unit pays tax.

  3Tax unit does not pay tax.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he last met representatives of pensioners' organisations; and what matters were discussed.

  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 it.

  Community Charge
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any additional information on the income levels up to which community charge benefits will be payable for the personal circumstances contained in the reply to the hon. Member for Taunton of 1 November 1989, Official Report, columns 233–34, on a community charge in 1990–91 of £350.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  My reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton on 1 November 1989 showed the relevant income levels using the benefit rates applicable from 1 April 1990 on an assumed community charge of £350. I have nothing further to add.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many Scots are eligible for poll tax rebates at less than the maximum rate in 1989–90;

  (2) how many Scots are receiving the maximum 80 per cent. poll tax rebate in 1989–90;

  (3) how many single householders in Scotland are (a) eligible for the maximum 80 per cent. poll tax rebate and (b) eligible for poll tax rebate at less than the maximum rate, in 1989–90.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 22 February 1990]: Information is available only on numbers estimated to be receiving community charge rebates, not numbers eligible. In 1989–90, some 320,000 claimants in Scotland are receiving rebates at less than the maximum rate and 560,000 at the maximum rate. About 280,000 single householders are receiving maximum rebate and 120,000 less than the maximum. Claims from couples are counted as one.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Preston (Mrs. Wise) of 26 February,Official Report,

  677
  columns 56–58, if he will give for each of the social security offices listed (a) their single payment expenditure in 1987–88, (b) their social fund expenditure on loans and grants for 1988–89, (c) their social fund expenditure on loans and grants for the first nine months of 1989–90, (d) their current refusal rate for social fund applications and (e) the extra allocation of social fund money they have received.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is either in the Library or can be derived from that information.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the expenditure during the current financial year to date, and in the previous financial year, by way of(a) social fund loans and (b) grants for each social security area office in Wales.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is in the Library.

  Disability
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to ensure deaf students will continue to be eligible for(a) income support, (b) housing benefit and (c) unemployment benefit following the introduction of top-up loans for students.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We propose that those deaf students who meet the criteria for the disability premium will continue to be eligible for income support and housing benefit. This will include any deaf student in receipt of attendance allowance, mobility allowance, invalidity pension or severe disablement allowance, and those who are also registered blind. Students whose sole disability is deafness are among the least likely to have additional weekly living expenses because of their disability of the kind that income support and housing benefit are intended to meet. Deaf students who face additional costs in connection with their course of study will continue to be eligible for the disabled students allowance under the mandatory award arrangements. We also propose that all full-time students will be excluded from unemployment benefit since students have removed themselves from the labour market and are not unemployed.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to ensure that all disabled students will continue to be eligible for(a) income support, (b) housing benefit and (c) unemployment benefit following the introduction of top-up loans for students.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We propose that students who meet the criteria for the disability premium will continue to be eligible for income support and housing benefit. This will include any student in receipt of attendance allowance, mobility allowance, invalidity pension or severe disablement allowance and students who are registered blind. We also propose that all full-time students will be excluded from unemployment benefit since students have removed themselves from the labour market and are not unemployed.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the European Community's programme to assist handicapped people has been apportioned between the individual states; and how the United Kingdom's allocation is to be used.
  678
  Mr. Scott
  The amount allocated to the programme, called HELIOS, was not divided between member states but assigned to the various aspects of the programme, the majority going towards the development of HANDYNET, the multilingual computerised database of information on disability questions.

  Internal Audit
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many internal auditors are employed in his Department and at what cost; how many internal audit reports were produced in 1989; how many of these were drawn to the attention of a Minister in his Department; and what internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms and at what cost.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Department of Social Security currently employs 159 internal auditors at an annual cost of £3·08 million. A total of 94 internal audit reports were produced in 1989. None was drawn to the attention of Ministers.

  No social security internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms.

  Children in Hospital (Parental Visits)
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a breakdown of the travel expenses as detailed in his most recent annual report of the number of requests his Department's offices received from parents to visit children in hospital, a profile of the amounts granted and refused and a breakdown by region, county or district.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 29 January 1990 at column 34.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people currently receive invalid care allowance; and how many of them are on income support.

  Mr. Scott
  The estimated average number receiving invalid care allowance in 1989–90 is 110,000. The latest information is that at May 1988 there were some 8,000 income support recipients where invalid care allowance was also in payment to themselves or their partner.

  Social Security (Adjudication) Regulations
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consideration he gave to the constitutional implications before he laid regulation 72, Social Security (Adjudication) Regulations, S.I., 1986 No. 2218; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Prior to the introduction of regulation 72 of the Social Security (Adjudication) Regulations 1986, arrears of social security benefits payable as a result of the review of a decision were generally restricted to 12 months, even though the decision was erroneous because of official error, including an error of law by the adjudication officer.

  Regulation 72, which came into force on 6 April 1987. was designed to enable the statutory payment of arrears of benefit in full where there had been an underpayment of

  679
  benefit that was solely attributable to a mistake on the part of an official, including an adjudication officer. However, legal advice revealed that regulation 72 had an unintended side effect in that where a social security commissioner, or higher judicial authority, overturned the prevailing interpretation of the law, adjudication officers' decisions given prior to that new interpretation fell to be described as errors of law, even though they were made in good faith and in accordance with the interpretation of the law at the time.

  As a result, with effect from 1 September 1987, the 12-month limitation on arrears was reimposed where adjudication officers reviewed decisions in consequence of a reinterpretation of the law by a commissioner or higher appellate body.

  Relocation
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the criteria used in deciding(a) to relocate offices of his Department and (b) where to relocate offices.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 21 February 1990]: The decision to relocate some processing work from 21 inner London local social security offices to three social security centres in Glasgow, Makerfield and Belfast was announced to the House by the former Secretary of State on 16 January 1989 at columns 46–47. None of the 21 local offices is to be closed and the whole project is driven by our desire to improve the quality of our service to our customers.

  The local offices were selected using the systematic application of the following criteria:

  where the service to the public was most likely to be improved

  where staff recruitment or retention problems were particularly severe

  where working conditions for staff were poor

  which combination of offices would produce a sensible pattern of service on the ground.

  The selection of the locations for the three social security centres was the result of the systematic analysis of the 335 travel-to-work areas in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, against the following criteria:

  a work force big enough to sustain 500 clerical jobs;

  good educational standards;

  assisted area status;

  recent Department of Social Security experience that recruitment and retention was good;

  availability of suitable buildings or sites suitable for a fast build;

  where we could make the best contribution to offering alternative posts to our staff who would otherwise be surplus to requirements when our computerisation programme is complete.

SCOTLAND

  Home Security
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what portion of local authorities' housing budgets are devoted to improving security of homes.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not held centrally. It is for individual authorities to determine their own policies and priorities within the resources available.

  Housing (Glasgow)
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when was the last discussion between a Minister and Glasgow district council on the matter of housing capital programmes; and what decisions have been taken by him since then which affect the capital programme.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I paid a housing visit to Glasgow district council on 2 February. Since then I have announced a supplementary capital allocation of £3·5 million to Glasgow district council to support work in the public and private sectors in the current financial year.

  Internal Audit
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many internal auditors are employed in his Department and those for which the Lord Advocate is responsible and at what cost; how many internal audit reports were produced in 1989; how many of these were drawn to the attention of a Minister in his Department; and what internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms and at what cost.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  At 2 March 1990 28 staff and five staff were employed on internal audit duties in the Scottish Office and in my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate's Departments, at a total cost of about £800,000 and £85,000 respectively. A total of 69 reports were produced in the Scottish Office in 1989, none of which required to be referred to my right hon. and learned Friend or other ministerial colleagues. A total of 22 reports were produced in my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate's Departments, one of which was drawn to the attention of the Minister. No internal audit work is undertaken by private sector firms.

  Farming
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farmers, partners, directors and farm workers were employed in each county in Scotland in(a) June and (b) December 1989.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Scottish counties ceased to be used for agricultural statistics purposes after 1975 following local government reform. The number of farmers and farm workers in June 1989, by local authority region, is shown in the table; partners and directors are not separately enumerated in the June agricultural census but are included either as farmers or farm workers:

  Region

  Number of farmers

  Number of farmworkers

  Islands

  2,166

  901

  Highland

  2,817

  1,901

  Grampian

  4,689

  5,095

  Tayside

  2,073

  3,736

  Fife

  744

  1,613

  Lothian

  758

  1,764

  Borders

  1,281

  2,507

  Central

  786

  1,027

  Strathclyde

  4,288

  5,458

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2,352

  3,938

  Scotland

  21,954

  27,940

  The December survey is based on returns from only a sample of farmers and is not designed to produce statistics of the agricultural labour force at regional level.

  Job Clubs
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest job entry rates for people in job clubs in Scotland, broken down by regional area.

  Mr. Lang
  The information sought is not available in the form requested as it is possible to provide a breakdown only by employment service areas. On 26 January 1990 for these areas of Scotland the cumulative job entry rates for people in job clubs were as set out in the table:

  Area

  Jobclub job entry rate per cent.

  Lothian and Borders

  58

  Glasgow North and Dumbarton

  50

  Ayrshire, Dumfries, Galloway, Inverclyde and Argyll

  59

  Lanarkshire and Central

  57

  Highlands, Islands and Grampian

  59

  Tayside and Fife

  62

  Glasgow South and Renfrew

  55

  Scotland

  57

  Training Schemes
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many providers of employment training and youth training schemes in Scotland have attained approved training organisation status broken down by regional area.

  Mr. Lang
  To date, no employment training agent or training manager in Scotland has attained full approved training organisation status.

  Information about the number of youth training scheme managing agents in Scotland who have attained approved training organisation status is available only by Training Agency area as set out in the table:

  Number of approved training organisations

  Area

  Number

  Grampian and Tayside

  46

  Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway

  39

  Central and Fife

  59

  Glasgow City

  56

  Highlands and Islands

  33

  Lanarkshire

  36

  Lothian and Borders

  61

  Renfrew, Dumbarton and Argyll

  57

  Total

  387

  Bellsdyke Hospital
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the Scottish hospital advisory service on Bellsdyke hospital.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Yes. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library today.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take urgent action to deal with the inadequate standards of staffing, accommodation and other resources, referred to in the report of the Scottish hospital advisory service on Bellsdyke hospital.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Scottish hospital advisory service (SHAS) is a Government-funded "watchdog" service 682
  with an independent remit. Its report on Bellsdyke hospital contains both criticism and praise and has been sent I o Forth Valley health board to consider the findings and recommendations in the normal way. The board will advise the Scottish Home and Health Department of its proposals for follow-up action shortly. The board's strategic plans already address problems at the hospital and the recent SHAS report helps focus the attention of both the Department and the board upon the most pressing areas for action.

  Further Education
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been paid out in non-recurrent grants under the Further Education (Approved Associations) (Scotland) Grant Regulations 1989; and to which bodies.

  Mr. Lang
  The information for 1989–90 for each education authority area is set out in the table. The figures include estimates, where appropriate, of grant still to be claimed before 31 March 1990.

  Non recurrent grants under the Further Education (Approved Associations) (Scotland) Grant Regulations 1989 Year 1989–90

  Amount of grant £

  Borders Region

  Blainslie Village Hall Committee

  1,964

  Southdean Village Hall Committee

  1,250

  Denholm Village Hall Committee

  1,500

  Morebattle Institute

  573

  Lothian Park Youth Group

  20,000

  25,287

  Central Region

  Gartmore Association

  16,810

  Menzies Hall Management Committee

  20,000

  Trossachs Welfare Association

  12,578

  Gargunnock Community Association

  5,000

  Buchanan Hall Users Committee

  5,300

  Braehead Community Project

  5,000

  64,688

  Dumfries and Galloway Region

  Irongray Hall Committee

  5,987

  Murray Hall Committee

  4,332

  Locharbriggs Village Hall Committee

  4,615

  Collin Hall Management Committee

  7,477

  Middlebie Community Centre Committee

  642

  New Abbey Hall Committee

  19,250

  42,303

  Fife Region

  15th West Fife (Freuchie) Scout Group

  6,500

  Newton of Falkland Hall Committee

  2,400

  Cairneyhill Community Youth Foundation

  12,500

  Auchtermuchty Community Centre Association

  19,550

  40,950

  Grampian Region

  Buckie Girl Guides Association

  3,402

  Milltimber Community Association

  10,837

  Portsoy Institute Hall Association

  194

  Woodside Facilities Trust

  3,301

  Fettercairn Public Property Committee

  2,669

  Richmond Memorial Hall Committee

  54,333

  Echt Hall Association

  4,740

  Finzean Community Association

  569

  Rothienorman Hall Committee

  952

  Fordoun Memorial Hall Committee

  1,043

  Ritchie Hall Committee, Strichen

  882

  683

  Amount of grant £

  Kemnay Public Hall Committee

  79

  Newtonhill Community Association

  1,573

  Duffus Village Hall Committee

  5,603

  Gourdon Public Hall Committee

  19,353

  Culter and District Community Association

  500

  Margach Hall Committee

  4,913

  Craigievar Hall Committee

  5,000

  Premnay Village Hall Committee

  3,500

  Roseisle Village Hall Committee

  990

  Logie Coldstone Hall Committee

  2,555

  Peterhead Sea Cadet Unit

  4,000

  Burghead Village Hall Committee

  2,473

  Melvin Hall Committee

  10,000

  Hatton of Fintray Hall Committee

  12,332

  Chapel of Garioch Hall Committee

  10,000

  1st Dyce Scout Group

  10,000

  175,793

  Highland region

  31st Aviemore Scouts

  6,342

  Dunvegan Community Hall Association

  53,668

  Kyleakin Village Hall Committee

  7,130

  Stratherrick Public Hall Committee

  510

  Edderton Hall Committee

  6,500

  Kinlochewe Village Hall Committee

  2,397

  Kyle of Lochalsh Public Hall Committee

  16,048

  Kinlochbervie Village Hall Committee

  3,383

  Balnain Village Hall Committee

  77

  Melness Community Centre Association

  1,428

  Carrbridge Village Hall Committee

  1,406

  Embo Community Centre Association

  6,759

  Pentland Hall Committee

  1,309

  Lairg Community Centre Association

  6,417

  Dornoch and District Community Association

  2,697

  Invershin Village Hall Committee

  25,000

  North Kessock Amenities Association

  4,523

  Invergarry Hall Committee

  201

  Brittania Hall Committee, Dunnet

  2,779

  Lochinver Public Hall Committee

  14,000

  162,574

  Lothian region

  Pathhead and District Community Association

  3,707

  1st Lothian (Gorebridge) Scout Group

  26,500

  6th West Lothian Scout Group

  3,025

  2nd West Midlothian Scout Group

  3,807

  37,039

  Strathclyde region

  Girl Guides County of Dumbarton

  22,292

  19th Ayrshire Scout Group

  7,500

  37th Ayrshire Scout Group

  19,162

  6th Ayrshire Sea Scout Group

  445

  Renfrewshire Girl Guides Association

  20,000

  42nd Renfrewshire (Kilmacolm) Scout Group

  9,000

  65th Ayrshire Scout Group

  4,600

  4th East Kilbride Scout Group

  3,222

  48th Ayrshire Scout Group

  1,191

  St. Columba's Boys Club

  2,366

  Dervaig Village Hall Committee

  2,116

  Bunessan Community Association

  56,903

  Brookfield Village Council

  24,566

  Jura Hall Committee

  29,000

  Rhinns Hall Committee

  12,275

  North Connel Village Hall Committee

  1,093

  Darnley Street Family Project Association

  10,538

  226,269

  Tayside region

  Broughty Ferry Scout Council

  967

  684

  Amount of grant £

  Forfar Old Age Pensioners Association

  7,188

  9th Angus (Brechin) Scout Group

  5,002

  Carnbo Village Hall Committee

  3,605

  Kirriemuir Scout Group

  12,250

  Bridge of Earn Institute

  5,844

  Monikie War Memorial Hall Committee

  2,503

  Orkney Islands

  37,359

  Orkney Girl Guides Association

  5,040

  Rendall Community Association

  32,387

  Stenness Community Association

  1,727

  Wyre Community Association

  1,331

  Shetland Islands

  40,485

  North Unst Public Hall Committee

  28,957

  South Nesting Public Hall Committee

  21,352

  Walls Public Hall Committee

  28,874

  Symbister Public Hall Committee

  31,655

  Western Isles

  110,838

  Stoneybridge Community Centre Association

  4,922

  Southend Community Hall Committee

  40,000

  44,922

  Total for Scotland

  1,008,507

  Takare plc
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to announce when Greater Glasgow health board expects to complete the contract with Takare plc.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 20 February 1990]: I have today given Greater Glasgow health board approval to finalise contractual arrangements with Takare plc for the provision of 120 beds for the elderly and elderly with dementia in Rutherglen. This is to be welcomed as an innovative collaboration between Greater Glasgow health board and Takare. It will provide a modern appropriate environment with the highest standards of care for the elderly. This will be achieved more rapidly than the board could otherwise guarantee. The costs will be lower than the board's present costs with savings being reinvested in further improvements in health care for patients in the Greater Glasgow health board area. I am sure the hon. Gentleman will welcome these improvements in the care of the elderly in his constituency.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. Rifkind
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: My Department as a matter of course provides guidance for members of recruitment and promotion boards which includes reference to the need to avoid discrimination of

  685
  this kind. The practice of my Department, subject to certain conditions, is to reinstate all applicants who originally resigned for domestic reasons. Previous service is taken into account for pay and seniority purposes and, in certain circumstances, previous performance assessments count towards eligibility for promotion boards. In addition, plans are in hand to introduce short answer tests as an alternative to formal education qualifications for recruitment at administrative assistant and administrative officer level and to extend special leave arrangements to allow staff breaks in employment of up to five years with automatic right of re-engagement.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to visit Hong Kong.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans to make a further visit to Hong Kong in the immediate future. I hope to visit in the next few months.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will pay an official visit to Green Island.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans at present to do so.

  Estonia
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has received a copy of the declaration of the General Assembly in Estonia on independent statehood of 2 February; and whether he sent any message to the Estonian Parliament to coincide with the Estonian national day on 24 February.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has received a copy of the declaration. He did not send a message in connection with the Estonian national day.

  British Hovercraft Expedition
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to give publicity and assistance to the British hovercraft expedition to China from Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The organisers of this expedition have been in close touch with the ODA, as well as the British embassy and British Council in Peking, and the British trade commission in Hong Kong, which have given advice on commercial sponsorship and publicity. The British ambassador in Peking has also donated £1,000 toward the purchase of solar refrigerators for the expedition. The, objectives of this expedition are admirable, and I wish it well.

  Palestine Liberation Organisation
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has held with the Palestine Liberation Organisation representatives about the abandonment of terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens and others.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We take every opportunity to stress to the PLO the importance of its maintaining its commitment to refrain from terrorism. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs did so most recently when he saw Bassam Abu Sharif on 1 March.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have made any representations to the Palestine Liberation Organisation with respect to terrorist attacks undertaken by Fatah against Israeli civilian targets within Israel's 1967 borders, since December 1988.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have made clear to both the PLO and Israel that we deplore violence from whatever quarter and look to them to resolve their differences through face-to-face negotiations.

  Albania
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made recently on Albanian human rights.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  On 21 February, at the current session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, we and our EC partners expressed our concern at the reports of recurring violations of human rights and particularly religious persecution in Albania.

  German Unification
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on his policy on the issue of German unification.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have long supported the principle of German unification, to be brought about as the result of the freely expressed choice of the peoples of the two Germanys. Alongside self-determination goes the need for joint determination of external issues. This need will be fulfilled through the framework agreed in Ottawa and through other consultations.

  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Federal Republic of Germany counterpart concerning German reunification and the position of existing international boundaries.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has had regular meetings with Mr. Genscher, most recently when he called on the Prime Minister on 15 February. My right hon. Friend shall be seeing him in Bonn on 12 March to discuss a number of subjects of mutual interest, including the external aspects of German unification.
  687
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United Kingdom's European Economic Community partners about the reunification of Germany.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs last discussed German unification with his EC colleagues at the Foreign Affairs Council on 5 March. We are looking forward to further discussion at the informal EC summit proposed by the Presidency for 28 April.

  EC-United States Relationship
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to strengthen the relationship between the European Community and the United States.

  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to strengthen the relationship between the European Community and the United States.

  Mr. Maude
  We have set out a framework for a strengthened EC-US relationship. We have proposed more frequent ministerial meetings, closer consultation between officials on political co-operation subjects and more regular high-level dialogue on Community issues. We want to create with these elements a new transatlantic consultative partnership. A package on the lines we have proposed has gained wide support within the Community and in the United States.

  South Africa
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the conditions and prerequisites which he considers that the United Kingdom and its European Community partners should adopt for the abandonment of sanctions against South Africa.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Community's ultimate objective is the achievement of a democratic multiracial system in South Africa through peaceful means. As South Africa progresses towards that goal we believe it would be right for the Community to make a measured response by lifting some of its restrictive measures.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards South Africa.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We will maintain our policy of encouragement and pressure on the South African Government to bring about an end to apartheid, giving a measured response to progress.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with whom he hopes to have consultations on his coming visit to southern Africa.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  During any visit to South Africa, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs would hope to have consultations with a wide range of opinion across the political spectrum.
  688
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he now proposes to make a visit to the Republic of South Africa.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs hopes to visit South Africa soon, perhaps at the time of Namibian independence.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of South Africa regarding Walvis bay.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  None. It is for the Government of an independent Namibia to decide how they wish to approach negotiations with South Africa on Walvis bay. We remain committed to the principle of UNSCR 432 that Walvis bay should be reintegrated into Namibia. We and our contact group partners have made clear our willingness to offer diplomatic support, if required, to achieve a successful negotiation.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the subject of the Government's policy on sanctions against South Africa since the release of Nelson Mandela.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have received representations from members of the public, hon. Members of this House and from certain organisations.

  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the Government's policy on sanctions against South Africa.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures Her Majesty's Government now propose to take to encourage the end of apartheid within South Africa.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We will maintain our policy of encouragement and pressure on the South African Government to bring about an end to apartheid, giving a measured response to progress.

  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received with regard to the recent march by Mrs. Winnie Mandela and 50,000 people to present an ultimatum and its implications for Government policy on South Africa.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has received no representations on this subject.

  Kashmir
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to visit India to discuss disputed territory in Kashmir.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs hopes to be able to make an early visit to India, but has no current plans.

  Iraq
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response Her Majesty's Government have received to their protests, made last year, to the Iraqi authorities over their use of chemical weapons against Iraq's minority Kurdish population.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Iraqi Foreign Minister gave a public undertaking in September 1988 that Iraq would not resort to the use of chemical weapons. He reaffirmed his Government's commitment to this policy at the Paris conference on chemical weapons in January 1989. We take these undertakings seriously and expect the Iraqi Government to honour them.

  Nicaragua
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to receive the report from David Browning on the conduct of the elections in Nicaragua; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to receive the report from David Browning on the conduct of the elections in Nicaragua; and if he will make statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have already received a preliminary report from Dr. Browning. We expect to receive his definitive report on his return to the United Kingdom. I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House at the earliest opportunity.

  In this preliminary report, Dr. Browning said that, despite a campaign in which the FSLN made maximum use of the inbuilt bias towards it in the prevailing political system and of its control of the state apparatus, the evidence of the polls was that the people of Nicaragua were able to make their choice in a secret and properly administered vote.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to meet with the newly elected Government of Nicaragua.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no present plans to meet members of the newly elected Government.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the outcome of the Nicaraguan elections.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The election, which all observers judged to be free and fair, gave the people of Nicaragua an opportunity to exercise their right to choose their own Government. We warmly welcome this development, which marks a further strengthening of democracy in the region.

  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom-Nicaraguan relations following the election in Nicaragua.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to review his policy concerning Nicaragua.
  690
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider changing United Kingdom policy towards Nicaragua.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It remains our policy to support the Esquipulas II peace agreement and, in particular, its provisions for the establishment of pluralistic democracies throughout central America. The election of 25 February marked a further welcome development in this process, and we look forward to working with the Government of Mrs. Chamorro.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the United States on the conduct and outcome of the recent elections in Nicaragua.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have regular discussions with the United States Administration on a wide range of subjects, including Nicaragua.

  Central America
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed prospects for peace in central America with the Government of the United States; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed prospects for peace in central America with the Government of the United States; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have regular discussions with the United States Administration on a wide range of subjects, including central America.

  United States Secretary of State
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet the United States Secretary of State; and what he expects to discuss.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no firm plans for his next meeting with the United States Secretary of State.

  China
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit the Republic of China; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans to do so.

  Jordan
  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received any reports on military co-operation between Jordan and Iraq; and whether he will make a statement on the future of British military assistance to Jordan.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  There is a long history of military co-operation between Jordan and its Arab friends,
  691
  including Iraq, although recent reports about the extent of the latter appear exaggerated. Military assistance will remain an important element in our close and friendly relations with Jordan.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what issues he expects to discuss at the next General Affairs Council of Ministers meeting.

  Mr. Maude
  We expect a range of EC issues to be discussed.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Hurd
  The Foreign Affairs Council met on 5 March. The Uruguay round of multilateral trade negotiations is due to end in December 1990. The European Commission, which negotiates on behalf of member states, will report to the Council on the current status of the negotiations. Ministers are expected to discuss proposals from the Commission on European Community policy on Japanese car imports after 1992. Ministers will adopt the draft negotiating mandate for an EC-Czechoslovakia trade and co-operation agreement and the Commission may seek member states' views on the timing of the conclusion of an EC-GDR trade and co-operation agreement. Ministers are also expected to discuss preparations for the forthcoming intergovernmental conference and to consider proposals for the site of the European Environment Agency. The Commission will report on how it intends to respond to the Council's declaration at Strasbourg that there should be a substantial increase in EC aid to the occupied territories. The Council will endorse the Community's position for the EC-GCC joint council to be held in Muscat on 17 March.

  The Agricultural Council met on 5, 6 and possibly 7 March to discuss the annual price fixing and possibly non-food uses of agricultural products, bovine semen, the amendment of regulation 857/84 (milk) and the position on the adoption of agricultural structures regulations. It will also meet on 26 and 27 March to discuss the annual price fixing and possibly non-food uses of agricultural products, medicated feedingstuffs and pesticide residues.

  The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 12 March to discuss the Commission's progress in the fight against fraud as set out in its first annual report, the Court of Auditors' report on the 1988 budget to inform an opinion from the Council to the European Parliament on granting the Commission a discharge in respect of the implementation of the 1988 budget, a revision of the financial perspective with an aim for agreement on Commission proposals for a substantive revision of the financial perspective for 1991 and 1992, the proposed revised Council decisions on economic convergence and co-operation between central banks, economic surveillance procedures during stage I of economic and monetary union, and a proposal to increase the borrowing limit for loans made by EURATOM. Ministers are also expected to discuss the need for early production of the Commission's revised VAT technical proposals and the need for rapid decisions thereafter.

  At the Industry Council on 13 March, the Commission
  692
  is expected to introduce a proposal for a Council directive on the creation of a restoration certificate. The certificate would in effect extend the term of patent protection of a pharmaceutical product from the present 20 years in most EC states, to a maximum of 30 years. The Commission will argue that such a measure is necessary to compensate for the increasing time taken for new drugs to obtain the safety approval without which they cannot be placed on the market. The Council will consider Commission reports on the future of the EC textiles and clothing industry, the trade barriers operated by other countries against EC textiles and clothing exports, and the possibility of establishing a central body ("observatory") to provide statistics in this sector. The Council will also consider a Commission report on the Community footwear industry. The report outlines measures the Commission believes the industry needs to adopt to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the completion of the single market. It lays much stress on increased EC collaboration in R and D, the development of profession training, and improvements in production process by means of technical innovation and modernisation. A discussion will take place on the need for a regulatory framework for biotechnology in the Community.

  At the Environment Council on 22 March Ministers may discuss further the proposed Environment Agency. It is hoped that the proposal to establish a committee to facilitate amendment of directives on drinking water, bathing water and surface water will be adopted. The Council is hoping for agreement on a resolution on the proposal for a Community strategy on waste management, and there is likely to be detailed discussion and the possible adoption of the proposal to guarantee the public freedom of access to data on the environment. A detailed discussion is expected leading to the possible adoption of the proposal to protect waters from pollution by nitrates. An early exchange of views is expected on the proposal to consolidate European anti-pollution standards for all categories of vehicles; EC member states are required to introduce tighter gaseous emission standards for cars over 1400 cc by 31 December 1992. There is likely to be a discussion on a Community position on the adoption of severe measures to protect the ozone layer in the light of the forthcoming renegotiation of the Montreal protocol.

  The Transport Council will meet on 29 March. Further discussion will take place on the detail of proposals for a second stage of air transport liberalisation, for increasing the Community road haulage quotas by 40 per cent. for 1990, 1991 and 1992 and for fixing maximum authorised dimensions for road trains. There will also be some discussion of the Commission's railway policy proposals, centering on combined transport and possibly leading to discussion of transport infrastructure and the problems of transit through third countries. There may be some discussion of EUROS and of the liberalisation of shipping, of passenger transport by coach and bus and an exchange of views on fiscal harmonisation in the road haulage sector.

  Drugs
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what international measures are in hand to combat the drugs trade.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Some 90 states, including the United Kingdom, have now signed the 1988 United Nations
  693
  convention against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs recently addressed a United Nations special session on drugs in New York, which adopted a political declaration and a global programme of action. We will host a world ministerial summit in London in April to look at ways of reducing the demand for drugs and combating the cocaine threat. Within Europe, anti-drugs co-operation takes place in a number of fora, notably with our European Community partners and within the Pompidou group, which the United Kingdom chairs. The United Kingdom has played an active part in the work of the financial action task force set up by the Paris economic summit to consider measures to combat money laundering.

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what part Britain is playing in international efforts to defeat the drugs trade.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The British Government will host a world ministerial summit in London in April to look at ways of reducing the demand for drugs and combating the cocaine threat. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs addressed a United Nations special session on drugs in New York. The United Kingdom is one of some 90 states to have signed the United Nations convention against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. We have signed bilateral agreements or arrangements to trace, freeze and confiscate the proceeds of drug trafficking with 13 countries. We co-operate closely with our European neighbours in a number of fora, and have played an active part in the work of the financial action task force set up by the Paris economic summit to consider measures to combat money laundering.

  Brazil
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the results of the visit of Senor Collor de Mello, President-elect of Brazil.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met Senor Collor de Mello on 7 February. On 8 February he had meetings with HRH the Prince of Wales, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, and several Cabinet colleagues. During conversations which covered trade, the environment, debt and many other bilateral and international matters, Senor Collor impressed us with his grasp of a wide range of issues and his determination to tackle Brazil's economic and social problems. We wish him well and look forward to working with him and his Administration when he is inaugurated President on 15 March. My right hon. and learned Friend the Lord President will represent Her Majesty the Queen at the inauguration. I shall also attend.

  Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement regarding the United Kingdom's relations with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
  694
  Mr. Waldegrave
  Anglo-Soviet relations are better than ever. We are moving cautiously but steadily from an era of confrontation to one of co-operation in an increasingly wide range of areas.

  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met a representative of the Soviet Government; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met Mr. Shevardnadze in Ottawa on 13 February. Their discussions focused on developments in Europe.

  Eastern Europe
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit eastern Europe.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any further plans to visit eastern Europe.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs visited Hungary from 27 February to 1 March and the GDR from 22 to 24 January. He hopes to visit Poland soon. He has no further plans to visit other eastern European countries at present. I visited Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia from 25 to 28 February, Romania from 15 to 17 January and Poland and Hungary last year.

  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds have been committed by Her Majesty's Government for environmental aid to eastern European countries.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Gateshead, East (Ms. Quin) on 2 February 1990, Vol. 166, column 403.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange for a regular bulletin relating to visa requirements to be posted in British consulates in eastern Europe for the benefit of intending travellers to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Information about United Kingdom visa requirements is available to intending travellers at all British embassies in eastern Europe. This information is regularly updated to take account of changes in the immigration rules or other administrative requirements.

  Developing Nations (Debt)
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures Her Majesty's Government propose to take in the forthcoming year as regards the debt burden of developing nations.

  Mr. Maude
  For those indebted countries pursuing economic reforms, we will continue to provide financial assistance through the IMF and World Bank, the rescheduling of official debts in the Paris club and, where appropriate, bilateral aid. We will also continue to implement the special measures for the poorest debtors agreed at the 1988 Toronto economic summit. For
  695
  middle-income debtors, specific support for commercial bank debt reduction operations will continue to be available through the IMF and World Bank.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has recently made to the Government of Sri Lanka concerning that country's human rights record; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have made clear to the Sri Lankan Government our concerns about human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. Our High Commissioner discussed the matter with President Premadasa on 28 February. We welcome the positive measures which the President has taken recently.

  Namibia
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government will make available to Namibia following independence.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are actively discussing with the future Government of Namibia how we can best help them after independence, in particular through the aid programme.

  Middle East
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the peace process in the middle east.

  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's contribution to finding a diplomatic and peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict acceptable to the international community.

  Sir Dennis Walters
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards a middle east peace settlement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We support the current efforts to promote a dialogue between Israel and representative Palestinians as an important step towards a settlement.

  United Nations Peacekeeping Forces
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what troops, equipment and services the Government are ready, in principle, to contribute to United Nations peacekeeping forces in 1990.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We already provide contingents for the United Nations forces in Cyprus and Namibia, and logistic support for those in Lebanon and the Golan. We shall look sympathetically on any new request.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government about the recent murder of United Nations personnel by Israeli forces; and if he will make a statement.
  696
  Mr. Waldegrave
  We share the regret expressed by the United Nations Secretary-General at the death on 19 February of two Nepalese soldiers serving with UNIFIL.

  European Commission
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the President of the European Commission.

  Mr. Hurd
  The Foreign Affairs Council met in Brussels on 5 March. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council discussed progress and prospects for the GATT Uruguay round, reffirmed its commitment to a successful outcome and agreed on the need for EC initiatives, particularly on the settlement of disputes. The United Kingdom stressed the importance of making progress on agriculture.

  The Council accepted that the Commission on its own responsibility should begin discussion with the Japanese on the future regime for imports of Japanese cars. The United Kingdom pressed for a liberal approach, arguing that there should be no restrictions on cars produced by Japanese-owned firms in the United Kingdom.

  In a brief discussion of eastern Europe, the Council approved the Commission's negotiating mandate for a trade and commercial and economic co-operation agreement with Czechoslovakia. The Commission also reported on the recent fact-finding mission to Belgrade. The United Kingdom suggested that for purposes of future EC aid Yugoslavia should be treated primarily as an east European rather than a Mediterranean country. Herr Genscher briefed his colleagues on the latest developments over German unification and its external consequences, which Ministers then discussed.

  The Council approved a Commission report on future EC assistance to the occupied territories following the commitment at the Strasbourg European Council to double the volume of EC aid to the territories.

  Ministers discussed preparations for the intergovernmental conference on economic and monetary union, initiated the formal procedure for consulting the European Parliament and agreed to consider arrangements for informal dialogue with the Parliament.

  There was also discussion of the siting of the European Environment Agency, the European bank for reconstruction and development (EBRD) and other Community institutions. The United Kingdom pressed the merits of Cambridge and London to host the Environment Agency and EBRD respectively.

  Lebanon (Hostages)
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps have been taken by his Department to seek to secure the release of British hostages held in the Lebanon.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister of 30 January to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Leith (Mr. Brown), Vol. 166, column 125.

  Czechoslovakia
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government are currently giving to Czechoslovakia.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The existing know-how funds for Poland and Hungary are to be expanded to cover other eastern European countries once they are fully committed to reform. We hope to extend the fund to Czechoslovakia and will discuss with the Czechoslovak Government what form this assistance should take.

  NATO
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet the Secretary-General of NATO and what will be discussed.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had a very useful meeting with Dr. Woerner in Brussels on 5 March. They discussed developments in Europe as they affect NATO, and agreed on the importance of consultations within the Alliance on the security aspects of German unification. They identified the need for an early discussion of all these issues at ministerial level.

  Kiyoaki Tanaka
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Thai Government regarding the granting of an amnesty for war crimes to Kiyoaki Tanaka; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  None.

  Israel
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will increase the complement of the consulate in Jerusalem in order to monitor more effectively Israeli human rights practices in the occupied territories.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The consulate-general in Jerusalem is doing an excellent job with its existing complement. We see no grounds at present for increasing this although, as with all Her Majesty's missions overseas, the situation is kept under regular review.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to support the European Economic Community decision to review scientific agreements with Israel because of its treatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories.

  Mr. Maude
  There has been no such decision by the Community.

  North Korea
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding relations with North Korea.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We do not recognise North Korea as a state, and accordingly have no relations with any authorities in North Korea.

  Myamar
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current position on relations with Myamar (formerly Burma).

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe) on 27 February at column 111.

  Romania
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to provide further aid for handicapped children in Romania.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  In the light of recent reports about the inadequacy of all forms of health care in Romania, we have sent emergency medical and food relief both directly and through the European Community. The total value of all aid sent so far by both routes, or now in the pipeline. is over £6 million. We are now considering what more can be done.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of people killed(a) before or (b) since the coup d'etat in Romania.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Romanian authorities have told us that no reliable figures can yet be provided of the number of people injured during the revolution. But we are sceptical of reports that it ran into thousands.

  Vietnam
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he now has for a programme of aid to Vietnam.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We are considering the possibility of supporting British NGO activities in Vietnam, in particular to help the communities in areas from which the boat people came.

  Palestinian Political Leaders
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the United Nations to press the United States Government to permit access to its proceedings in New York for Palestinian political leaders.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The question of access to proceedings in New York is for the United Nations to resolve in consultation with the United States Government in accordance with the headquarters agreement. There is an observer mission of Palestine at the United Nations and the head of the PLO political department visits the United Nations regularly.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the United States Secretary of State to remove restrictions on Palestinian political leaders entering the United States of America to address meetings and engage in political dialogue.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  It must be for the United States Government to decide who should or should not be
  699
  allowed to enter the United States. A number of leading Palestinians have visited the United States and addressed meetings there. We welcome this and the official US-PLO dialogue in Tunis.

  EC Directives
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in respect of how many directives under the 1992 programme the United Kingdom is in default of implementing in due time.

  Mr. Maude
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 9 January by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Corporate Affairs to my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Mr. Powell), which gave these details and confirmed our excellent record.

  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in respect of how many European Community directives the United Kingdom is the subject of complaint by the Commission for failure to implement correctly.

  Mr. Maude
  The Commission issued 22 preliminary requests for information from the United Kingdom in 1989 about possible failures to implement EC directives. Twelve have already been clarified satisfactorily. On a further eight, we have provided the Commission with details of implementation; and shall do likewise for the remaining two.

  The United Kingdom's implementation record is among the best in the Community.

  Internal Audit
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many internal auditors are employed in his Department and at what cost; how many internal audit reports were produced in 1989; how many of these were drawn to the attention of a Minister in his Department; and what internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms and at what cost.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The joint internal audit unit of the FCO, which serves both wings, employs 21 internal auditors at an estimated total cost of approximately £845,000 (excluding superannuation) for 1989–90. In 1989 the joint internal audit unit issued 64 audit reports; one of these was brought to the attention of a Minister in the FCO.

  None of the work of the joint internal audit unit is subcontracted out, although the FCO has used private consultants on internal audit work on four occasions in the last five years, and once in the last year sought unsuccessfully to negotiate a consultancy.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Ynys Môn,Official Report, 28 February, column 210, on the communications with the European proliferation information centre (i) what recent letter he has received from the centre, (ii) what reply has been sent and (iii) what are the reasons for the proposed meeting between his Department and the centre, to which he made earlier reference, not taking place.
  700
  Mr. Waldegrave
  The most recent correspondence received from the European proliferation information centre (EPIC) is a letter from Dr. David Lowry dated 23 February, our reply to which will be sent shortly. The offer to hold a meeting between this Department and EPIC was made in reply to EPIC's letter of 31 October, and we hope it will soon be possible to arrange a meeting.

  UNICEF
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the United Kingdom's contribution to UNICEF in real and nominal terms for each year since 1974.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information is as follows:

  United Kingdom contributions to UNICEF 1974–88

  £ thousand

  In current prices

  In constant 1988 prices

  Year

  General contributions

  Special appeals

  General contributions

  Special appeals

  1974

  1,300

  —

  5,329

  —

  1975

  2,000

  1,545

  6,445

  4,979

  1976

  2,300

  —

  6,442

  —

  1977

  3,300

  20

  8,113

  49

  1978

  4,500

  2,032

  9,936

  4,486

  1979

  5,800

  1,582

  11,191

  3,053

  1980

  4,400

  591

  7,102

  954

  1981

  5,900

  1,456

  8,551

  2,110

  1982

  5,900

  83

  7,945

  112

  1983

  6,000

  69

  7,673

  88

  1984

  6,000

  25

  7,333

  31

  1985

  6,300

  2,100

  7,289

  2,430

  1986

  6,500

  1,808

  7,264

  2,020

  1987

  7,000

  5,000

  7,463

  5,331

  11988

  3,750

  8,473

  3,750

  8,473

  2 3 1989

  11,750

  1,362

  10,981

  1,273

  1 The 1988 general contributions should have totalled £7,500,000, but a payment of £3,750,000 was delayed.

  2 The 1989 general contributions include the delayed payment of £3,750,000 made in respect of 1988.

  3 Provisional figures.

  European Parliament Resolution
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received a copy of the European Parliament's resolution about amending the treaties, Community legislation and institutional reform of 23 November 1989 which the President was instructed to forward to all national Governments; and whether he will state Her Majesty's Government's policy towards it.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has received a copy of the European Parliament's resolution to which my hon. Friend refers. We do not believe that treaty changes are necessary at this stage. The Foreign Affairs Council on 5 March discussed preparations for the intergovernmental conference on economic and monetary union, initiated the formal procedure for consulting the European Parliament and agreed to consider arrangements for informal dialogue with the Parliament.

  Chile
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to visit Chile after 11 March.
  701
  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans at present to visit Chile; but my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord President will represent Her Majesty the Queen at the inauguration of President Aylwin.

  Mr. Vorng Ky
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the reasons for the delay in reaching a decision on the visa application of Mr. Vorng Ky of Cambodia; when a decision is to be expected; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I understand that the Home Office wrote to the hon. Member on 5 March 1990, in response to her letter of 20 February 1990, requesting further details of Mr. Ky in order to trace his visa application. On receipt of this information I will also make appropriate inquiries of the overseas post concerned.

  Helsinki Final Act
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the implementation by the Soviet Union and eastern European countries of the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act during the period 1 July to 31 December 1989.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have recently prepared a report on the implementation by the Soviet Union and eastern European countries of their CSCE commitments for this period. Copies will be deposited in the Library of the House.

DEFENCE

  RAF Bentwaters
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) at what stage in the decision-making proposals are to station F-15E aircraft of the United States Air Force at RAF Bentwaters in Suffolk;

  (2) how many F-15E aircraft would be supported by (a) the proposed field training facility and (b) the proposed conventional munitions shop at RAF Bentwaters.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry) on 6 February 1990, column 604. No decisions have been taken to station F-15E aircraft at RAF Bentwaters.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the deactivation of the 527 aggressor squadron at RAF Bentwaters.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United States Government recently announced their intention to withdraw the squadron of F-16 aircraft—the "aggressor squadron"—from RAF Bentwaters as part of a series of proposed changes in United States force levels in Europe. I understand that the aircraft are being placed in reserve at bases in Germany. The withdrawal of the aircraft themselves is now complete.

  RAF Molesworth
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much will be the contribution by(a) the United States in fiscal year 1991 and (b) the United Kingdom in fiscal year 1990–91 towards construction of facilities announced by the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Official Report, 11 January, columns 691–92, at Royal Air Force Molesworth.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All costs for the development of the joint analysis centre at RAF Molesworth will be borne by the United States Government. I understand that the request for funding authorisation in United States' fiscal year 1991 amounts to some $17·25 million.

  United States Military Construction Projects
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military construction projects in the United Kingdom for support of United States forces funded from the NATO infrastructure fund currently under construction, giving for each project its location, the nature of the facilities to be constructed, the date that construction started and the scheduled date of completion.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not the practice to publish information of this kind.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the United States military construction projects in the United Kingdom for which funding approval was given in fiscal year 1990, giving for each project its location, the nature of the facilities to be constructed and the scheduled dates for the start and completion of the construction.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I understand that the US authorities have received US congressional funding approval for fiscal year 1990 for the following military construction projects in the United Kingdom. The detailed start and completion dates for these projects are a matter for the US authorities, although it should be noted that Her Majesty's Government have not yet given approval for all these projects to be carried out.

  RAF Alconbury

  Conventional Munitions Shop

  RAF Barford St. John

  Physical Security

  RAF Bentwaters

  Add/Alter Fire Station

  Alter Munitions Storage

  Add/Alter Flight Simulator Facility

  RAF Christmas Common

  Site Security

  RAF Edzell

  Operations Building Annex

  RAF Fairford

  Digital European Backbone Facility

  RAF Macrihanish

  Operations Facility

  RAF Mildenhall

  Upgrade Sewage Treatment Plant

  RAF Upper Heyford

  Alter Munitions Storage

  Bovingdon

  Site security

  Department of Defense Dependants Schools

  Bicester Elementary School

  Upwood Elementary School

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the United States military construction
  703
  projects in the United Kingdom for which funding approval is being sought for the United States fiscal years 1991 and 1992, giving for each project its location, the nature of the facilities to be constructed and the scheduled dates for the start and completion of the construction;

  (2) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew), Official Report, 6 February, columns 603–4, whether he has now been informed by his United States counterpart of any United States military construction projects additional to those listed in that answer for which funding is being sought for the fiscal year 1991.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My answer to the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew) on 6 February (columns 603–4) listed projects in the United Kingdom for which the United States Air Force had sought funding in fiscal year 1991. In addition, funding approval is being sought for a Department of Defense dependants' school at Harrogate, and by the United States Navy for a dental clinic at RAF Edzell and for a fleet hospital facility at RAF Lanark. I understand that the United States authorities have not yet sought funding approval for military construction projects for their fiscal year 1992.

  RAF Greenham Common
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future use of RAF Greenham Common by United States forces including details of what functions will be continued on the base, how many personnel will remain on base, and whether there will be any regular flying activity from the base.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 6 February, columns 591–92. I understand that current United States plans are for around 400 personnel to be retained at the station.

  RAF Wethersfield
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future use of RAF Wethersfield by his Department.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No decisions have yet been taken concerning the future of RAF Wethersfield after it is handed back to the Ministry of Defence in June 1991.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any of the United States forces units or equipment currently based at RAF Wethersfield will be moved to other locations within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I understand from the United States authorities that about a quarter of the 400 personnel of the 819 civil engineering squadron will remain in the United Kingdom, dispersed among the United States' main operating bases. The squadron's equipment will remain in the United Kingdom in storage.

  Radiation
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the upper quartile range of maximum radiation doses rates sustained by workers at (a) the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston, (b) Plymouth, Devonport and (c) Rosyth for each of the last five years for which figures are available.
  704
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The figures requested are given in tables 1 and 2, based on the interpretation of upper quartile as the range of doses to which the most highly exposed 25 per cent. of the workers are subjected. The lowest dose of the upper quartile range cannot be readily identified for the royal dockyards (table 1) due to the way the figures are compiled. Both for AWE and the royal dockyards, however, the vast majority of exposures are much less than 15mSv.

  Table 1

  Uppermost Quartite Data for Exposures to External Irradiation for the Royal Dockyards, including data for workers of the Contractors (Devonport Management Ltd. and Babcock Thorn) after 1987

  Year

  Dose Range (mSv)

  1985

  <15–50

  1986

  <15–40

  1987

  <15–55

  1988

  <15–30

  1989

  <15–50

  Table 2

  AWE Uppermost Quartile Data for Exposures to External Irradiation

  Year

  Dose Range (mSv)

  1984

  0·7–15

  1985

  0·8–20

  1986

  0·8–15

  1987

  0·7–15

  1988

  0·8–10

  Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of notified accidents at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston for each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Neubert
  The numbers of abnormal occurrences notified by Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston to regulatory and environmental authorities, under the criteria in force at the time, for each of the past five years are:

  Number

  1985

  3

  1986

  26

  1987

  46

  1988

  47

  1989

  46

  The apparent increase between 1985 and 1987 was a result of changed reporting arrangements and criteria.

  Almost all these occurrences were industrial injuries or other events unconnected with radioactive substances. None involved exposure to radiation above one thousandth of a milliSeivert.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the Royal Air Force will not introduce a computerised logging system for military low-flying aircraft sorties before 1992 at the earliest.

  Mr. Neubert
  The intention to introduce a computerised notification and warning system in the United
  705
  Kingdom low-flying system was announced by my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman) on 20 October 1988, at column 1101. It is planned to bring the system into use in 1992. This is a complex system and it will take this period to develop the appropriate software and install terminals in all low-flying units.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will establish an exclusion zone of a radius of 20 miles around the sites of major open air festivals in low-flying training areas.

  Mr. Neubert
  No.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are taken by his Department to brief other NATO aircrew of the need to avoid disturbance to major open air festivals in low-flying areas.

  Mr. Neubert
  Relevant notices to airmen (NOTAMs) are brought to the attention of all military aircrews planning low-flying sorties in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the aerodrome at Netherthorpe lies within a military low-flying transit area.

  Mr. Neubert
  Yes.

  Nerve Gas
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many tonnes of nerve gas are stockpiled on United Kingdom soil by NATO forces; and if he will show in his answer the amount for each member country.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by location, the sites of NATO nerve gas stockpiles in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There is none.

  Royal Navy (Vessel Location)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to publish regular updates of the global location of(a) Royal Navy surface ships, (b) Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships, (c) Royal Navy diesel-powered submarines and (d) Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Military Personnel (Radiation)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether he will review the relevance to his Department of the research conducted by Professor Martin Gardner for the Medical Research Council into the correlation between childhood leukaemia and fathers working at Sellafield; and whether he will commission a report into radiation and submariners by Professor Gardner;

  (2) if he will commission research into the health of submariners with (a) abnormalities in the offspring of submariners working on nuclear submarines and (b) abnormalities in the offspring of groups regularly working in closest proximity to the nuclear reactors of submarines;

  (3) what research studies have been undertaken into the health of the offspring of and individuals (a) working with nuclear materials in the armed forces and (b) working in the nuclear defence industry;
  706
  (4) whether he will commission studies into abnormalities in the offspring of those working around (a) military nuclear power stations, (b) sites involved in the manufacture of nuclear reactors, (c) sites involved in the manufacture of nuclear arms, (d) sites where military nuclear waste is stored, (e) nuclear weapons storage facilities and (f) naval dockyards working with nuclear material.

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

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Defence if he will make it his policy to re-evaluate the current programme of seeking Z-berths for reserve use by nuclear submarines in the light of the Gardner report on radiation risks.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Search and Rescue Helicopters
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make it his policy to charge facility fees when journalists or radio or television crews are carried in search and rescue helicopters engaged in flying operations;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to recover landing charges incurred by search and rescue helicopters when these are caused by the picking up and setting down of journalists or radio or television crews.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is already the policy to charge for the costs of providing facilities for journalists and radio or television crews, except where the provision of the facilities is judged to be in the interests of the Department, when no charge is made. Each case will continue to be judged on its merits.

  Anti-tank Helicopters
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards United Kingdom participation in the Franco-German PAH-2 anti-tank helicopter programme.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The PAH-2 Tiger is one of several options being studied to replace the Army's anti-armour helicopters.

  Internal Audit
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many internal auditors are employed in his Department and at what cost; how many internal audit reports were produced in 1989; how many of these were drawn to the attention of a Minister in his Department; and what internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms and at what cost.

  Mr. Neubert
  There are 113 internal auditors employed in MOD at an annual cost of £2·07 million. In 1989 736 internal audit reports were produced. None was drawn to the attention of a Minister in the Department. No internal audit work in MOD is subcontracted to private firms.

  Ballistic Missiles (Iraq)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will initiate an investigation into the role of the British-registered firm Matrix Churchill in supplying consultancy services to Iraq for the development of ballistic missile technology.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It has been the policy of successive Administrations not to comment on specific defence export cases.

  Harrier GR5
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what modifications were carried out to the Harrier GR5 ejector seat after October 1987.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Following the crash of Harrier GR5 ZD325 a total of 21 modifications were identified as being necessary to the ejection seat. Five of these were declared mandatory before flying could recommence: two to the seat itself, two to the emergency oxygen selector valve and the fifth to remove a cockpit wander lamp thought to be a potential loose object hazard. All have been carried out. Three further modifications to the oxygen system mounted on the seat were declared mandatory before aircraft could fly at heights above 10,000 ft and are in the process of being embodied. Aircraft not yet modified are required to fly below 10,000 ft. The remaining modifications are not safety critical and are being made on an opportunity basis.

  Mr. Colin Wallace
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) of 26 February,Official Report, column 73, he will place a transcript of the conversation between his officials and General Sir Peter Leng of 17 February, in the Library.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Coastal Protection
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken by his Ministry to ensure co-ordination in coastal protection work between Departments, along the lines of the steps being taken by the standing conference on the problems associated with the coastline to co-ordinate coastal protection works between neighbouring local authorities on the south coast.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Departments involved in policy matters relating to coastal defence work are my Department in England and the respective territorial Departments.

  It is recognised that there are other associated issues such as those relating to nature conservation, tourism, aggregate extraction and so on. Many of these matters will be addressed in submissions of proposed coast protection work or through the existing system of consultation. In addition, any such issues which might have more general implications for the defence of the coastline are kept under regular review.
  708
  It is encouraging that groups of authorities concerned with both coast protection and sea defence are discussing these matters together. Such groups, and the standing conference is a good example, have the advantage of a wider perspective of the coastal environment than is possible for the individual authorities. My regional engineers also have a co-ordinating role when discussing potential coast protection and sea defence schemes with the authorities and my Department is grant-aiding research studies of coastal processes with a view to identifying appropriate solutions for defence of stretches of the coastline.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the sources of grant aid available from his Ministry for work on coastal protection and sea defences including details of the amounts to be paid during 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Department makes available grant aid for the construction of capital works of coast protection and sea defence. In 1989–90 the total grant available for coastal protection and sea defence work is £28 million. In 1990–91 the total available is expected to be over £33 million.

  Further increases in grant are planned for 1991–92 and 1992–93. The needs of authorities undertaking coast protection and sea defence works are kept regularly under review.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to streamline the procedures in respect of the statutory consultations required under the Coast Protection Act 1949 for grant-aiding coast protection work and sea defences.

  Mr. Maclean
  Under the Coast Protection (Notices) Regulations 1950, a coast protection authority must publish notice of proposed coast protection schemes and serve like notice on interested parties such as the county council, fisheries organisations and neighbouring coast protection authorities. In addition, my Department consults a small number of other bodies, such as the Nature Conservancy Council. Such representations or objections as may be made are already handled as quickly as possible, but our procedures are nevertheless under continuous review.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Caerphilly, 26 February,Official Report, column 71, if he will identify the slaughterhouses and markets at which bovine spongiform encephalopathy-suspect cattle were identified; and if he will list them in the Official Report.

  Mr. Maclean
  It has been the Ministry's long-established practice not to disclose details of premises from which notifiable diseases have been reported.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the welfare of animals during transit.
  709
  Mr Maclean
  It is most important that people involved in transporting animals plan journeys properly and conduct them with full consideration for the living creatures in their care.

  There is comprehensive legislation covering the welfare of animals in transit to, from and within this country. Responsibility for enforcement lies with county and metropolitan local authorities. The Ministry is also prepared to prosecute offenders and this was done successfully over the tragic deaths of beagles being exported to Sweden. Specific statutory controls ensure that all food animals leave these shores rested, fed and watered and inspected for fitness to travel at approved export lairages. Compliance with existing EC directives outside our jurisdiction is of course a matter for other member states. We are currently seeking the best possible welfare safeguards during negotiations on proposals for new Community rules on the protection of animals during transport.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Brussels Agriculture Council held on 5–6 March.

  Mr. Gummer
  I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting accompanied by my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry) Parliamentary Secretary in my Department.

  The Council completed its first consideration of the 1990 farm price proposals. Discussion will resume at the next meeting beginning on 26 March, when the Presidency is expected to put forward a compromise proposal.

  Number of farmers and workers employed in agriculture June 1989

  County by standard statistical region

  Farmers, partners and directors

  All workers (excluding salried managers)

  Whole-time

  Part-time

  Total farmers.partners and directors

  Salaried managers

  Principal farmers and partners

  Other partners and directors

  Total

  Principal farmers and partners

  Other partners and directors

  Total

  partners and directors

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Cleveland

  301

  108

  409

  82

  60

  142

  551

  418

  105

  523

  25

  Cumbria

  4,428

  1,575

  6,003

  1,015

  688

  1,703

  7,706

  4,012

  654

  4,666

  79

  Durham

  1,505

  499

  2,004

  394

  271

  665

  2,669

  1,535

  448

  1,983

  23

  Tyne and Wear

  1,635

  612

  2,247

  384

  335

  719

  2,966

  2,554

  475

  3,029

  78

  Northumberland

  185

  54

  239

  43

  33

  76

  315

  301

  114

  415

  10

  Northern Region

  8,054

  2,848

  10,902

  1,918

  1,387

  3,305

  14,207

  8,820

  1,796

  10,616

  215

  Humberside

  2,358

  1,101

  3,459

  671

  480

  1,151

  4,610

  4,839

  1,616

  6,455

  236

  North Yorkshire

  5,914

  2,149

  8,063

  1,519

  1,115

  2,634

  10,697

  7,684

  2,987

  10,671

  282

  South Yorkshire

  904

  329

  1,233

  343

  212

  555

  1,788

  1,199

  417

  1,616

  30

  West Yorkshire

  1,639

  511

  2,150

  1,048

  413

  1,461

  3,611

  2,137

  704

  2,841

  74

  Yorks and Humber Region

  10,815

  4,090

  14,905

  3,581

  2,220

  5,801

  20,706

  15,859

  5,724

  21,583

  622

  Derbyshire

  2,344

  744

  3,088

  799

  501

  1,300

  4,388

  2,381

  728

  3,109

  50

  Leicestershire

  1,712

  626

  2,338

  565

  351

  916

  3,254

  2,479

  859

  3,338

  100

  Lincolnshire

  3,856

  1,513

  5,369

  1,192

  968

  2,160

  7,529

  8,877

  4,265

  13,142

  431

  Northampton

  1,177

  426

  1,603

  455

  331

  786

  2,389

  1,945

  476

  2,421

  108

  Nottingham

  1,266

  507

  1,773

  354

  295

  649

  2,422

  2,365

  925

  3,290

  113

  East Midlands Region

  10,355

  3,816

  14,171

  3,365

  2,446

  5,811

  19,982

  18,047

  7,253

  25,300

  802

  Cambridgeshire

  2,343

  870

  3,213

  717

  525

  1,242

  4,455

  4,543

  2,665

  7,208

  237

  Norfolk

  3,039

  1,036

  4,075

  1,181

  698

  1,879

  5,954

  8,070

  4,760

  12,830

  393

  Liquid Egg
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to whether salmonella enteritidis PT4 can multiply in bulk liquid egg in a frozen state.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information is not available on whether salmonella enteritidis PT4 specifically is able to multiply in bulk liquid egg in the frozen state. It is expected to behave like most bacteria, which are unable to multiply at temperatures below 0 deg C.

  Internal Audit
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many internal auditors are employed in his Ministry and at what cost; how many internal audit reports were produced in 1989; how many of these were drawn to the attention of a Minister in his Department; and what internal audit work is subcontracted to private firms and at what cost.

  Mr. Curry
  Currently 36½ staff are employed at a direct cost in 1989–90 of £889,000. One hundred and twenty-four reports were issued in 1989. All audit reports are summarised in a bimonthly report I receive. During 1989 the audit of staff restaurants was contracted out at a cost of £8,000.

  Farm Employees
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers, partners, directors and farm workers were employed in each county in England in(a) June and (b) December 1989.

  Mr. Maclean
  County results from the June 1989 agricultural census have recently become available and are shown in the table. County figures are not available from the December agricultural sample surveys.
  711

  County by standard statistical region

  Farmers, partners and directors

  All workers (excluding salaried managers)

  Whole-time

  Part-time

  Salaried managers

  Principal farmers and partners

  Other partners and directors

  Total

  Principal farmers and partners

  Other partners and directors

  Total

  Total farmers, partners and directors

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Suffolk

  2,129

  762

  2,891

  811

  557

  1,368

  4,259

  5,100

  2,396

  7,496

  306

  East Anglia Region

  7,511

  2,668

  10,179

  2,709

  1,780

  4,489

  14,668

  17,713

  9,821

  27,534

  936

  Bedfordshire

  778

  303

  1,081

  261

  162

  423

  1,504

  1,425

  636

  2,061

  79

  Berkshire

  423

  124

  547

  247

  114

  361

  908

  1,160

  373

  1,533

  112

  Buckinghamshire

  1,035

  316

  1,351

  546

  255

  801

  2,152

  1,836

  635

  2,471

  133

  East Sussex

  1,137

  307

  1,444

  715

  327

  1,042

  2,486

  2,092

  1,254

  3,346

  123

  Essex

  2,088

  821

  2,909

  780

  660

  1,440

  4,349

  4,493

  2,516

  7,009

  276

  Greater London

  248

  102

  350

  109

  56

  165

  515

  673

  489

  1,162

  37

  Hampshire

  1,584

  520

  2,104

  876

  418

  1,294

  3,398

  4,320

  2,398

  6,718

  362

  Hertfordshire

  711

  268

  979

  290

  185

  475

  1,454

  1,548

  503

  2,051

  107

  Isle of Wight

  312

  80

  392

  123

  82

  205

  597

  582

  290

  872

  26

  Kent

  2,220

  665

  2,885

  1,268

  732

  2,000

  4,885

  6,984

  7,807

  14,791

  373

  Oxfordshire

  1,205

  391

  1,596

  513

  300

  813

  2,409

  2,593

  751

  3,344

  186

  Surrey

  800

  183

  983

  582

  235

  817

  1,800

  2,177

  1,501

  3,678

  189

  West Sussex

  1,117

  341

  1,458

  624

  320

  944

  2,402

  3,602

  2,721

  6,323

  292

  South Eastern Region

  13,658

  4,421

  18,079

  6,934

  3,846

  10,780

  28,859

  33,485

  21,874

  55,359

  2,295

  Avon

  1,228

  332

  1,560

  456

  229

  685

  2,245

  1,773

  1,348

  3,121

  102

  Cornwall and Scilly

  4,326

  1,116

  5,442

  1,740

  784

  2,524

  7,966

  4,120

  1,346

  5,466

  62

  Devon

  7,088

  1,761

  8,849

  2,180

  1,148

  3,328

  12,177

  7,139

  1,726

  8,865

  174

  Dorset

  1,747

  523

  2,270

  760

  424

  1,184

  3,454

  3,154

  815

  3,969

  157

  Gloucester

  1,836

  497

  2,333

  861

  448

  1,309

  3,642

  2,972

  1,263

  4,235

  161

  Somerset

  3,537

  991

  4,528

  1,343

  696

  2,039

  6,567

  4,868

  1,563

  6,431

  148

  Wiltshire

  1,744

  554

  2,298

  664

  402

  1,066

  3,364

  3,688

  864

  4,552

  254

  South Western Region

  21,506

  5,774

  27,280

  8,004

  4,131

  12,135

  39,415

  27,714

  8,925

  36,639

  1,058

  Hereford and Worcester

  4,034

  1,206

  5,240

  1,665

  936

  2,601

  7,841

  6,199

  3,901

  10,100

  257

  Salop

  3,221

  984

  4,205

  966

  611

  1,577

  5,782

  4,340

  1,395

  5,735

  130

  Staffordshire

  2,777

  857

  3,634

  1,006

  529

  1,535

  5,169

  3,676

  1,001

  4,677

  82

  Warwickshire

  1,424

  488

  1,912

  564

  315

  879

  2,791

  2,195

  919

  3,114

  122

  West Midlands

  276

  80

  356

  111

  80

  191

  547

  443

  366

  809

  17

  West Midlands Region

  11,732

  3,615

  15,347

  4,312

  2,471

  6,783

  22,130

  16,853

  7,582

  24,435

  608

  Cheshire

  2,769

  878

  3,647

  867

  466

  1,353

  5,000

  3,964

  932

  4,896

  163

  Greater Manchester

  884

  281

  1,165

  377

  223

  600

  1,765

  1,026

  469

  1,495

  24

  Lancashire

  3,659

  1,327

  4,986

  1,113

  686

  1,799

  6,785

  4,664

  2,013

  6,677

  160

  Merseyside

  332

  105

  437

  94

  74

  168

  605

  571

  256

  827

  15

  North West Region

  7,644

  2,591

  10,235

  2,451

  1,469

  3,920

  14,155

  10,225

  3,670

  13,895

  362

  England

  91,275

  29,823

  121,098

  33,274

  19,750

  53,024

  174,122

  148,716

  66,645

  215,361

  6,898

  Source:June Census 1989

  Note:Figures exclude minor holdings not included in June Census.

  ADAS
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people have been employed in the ADAS research and development service for each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The research and development service of ADAS was established in 1987. The number of staff, including industrials and adminstrative support, employed in the research and development service for each year since then at the dates indicated was as follows:

  Number

  1 March 1987

  987·0

  1 March 1988

  995·0

  1 March 1989

  926·5

  1 March 1990

  798·0

  712
  Each individual employed for fewer than conditioned hours (37 hours per week outside London) has been counted as 0·5 of a post in the figures.

  Laboratories
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the locations of his food science laboratories, and give the number of people employed in each laboratory in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Maclean
  During the past 10 years the food science laboratory has occupied premises at Romney street, London, and two locations in Norwich (Colney lane and Queen street); these have been operated as a single scientific laboratory and information about staff numbers on each site is not available in the form requested.

  The total number of staff employed in each year is given in the table and excludes administration support staff:

  713

  Year

  Numbers Employed at1 Food Science Laboratory

  1980–81

  45

  1981–82

  48

  1982–83

  46

  1983–84

  52

  1984–85

  49

  1985–86

  49

  1986–87

  48

  1987–88

  50

  1988–89

  55

  1989–90

  59

  1excludes administrative staff.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of(a) veterinary laboratories, (b) ADAS farm, countryside science laboratories, excluding facilities for milk testing etc., (c) ADAS research and development science laboratories, (d) fisheries laboratories and (e) food science laboratories, which are currently operating; what are his estimates for the number operating in 1990 and 1991 in each case; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  On present assumptions, the number of laboratory sites will be as follows at the end of the current financial year and of 1990–91 and 1991–92 respectively:

  Financial year ending 31 March

  1990

  1991

  1992

  (a) Veterinary Laboratories (including the Central Veterinary Laboratory, outstations and Veterinary Investigation Centres)

  22

  21

  21

  On 1 August 1990 the cattle-breeding centre at Shinfield will be closed as already announced. From 1 April 1990 the central veterinary laboratory, including its outstation at Lasswade, will become an executive agency. A review of the structure of the veterinary investigation service to look for ways of improving the quality, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the services was announced on 19 October 1989. I have yet to consider the report.

  SVS BSE

  CVL BSE

  SVS Zoonoses

  CVL Zoonoses

  1 April 1988 to 30 September 1988

  6,746

  3,747

  15,318

  8,229

  1 October 1988 to 31 March 1989

  18,292

  6,405

  28,207

  9,254

  1 April 1989 to 30 September 1989

  34,575

  9,893

  37,186

  9,266

  1 October 1989 to 1 February 1990 (4 months)

  28,287

  7,877

  32,479

  8,998

  Notes:

  1. The zoones figures do not include sampling of imported proteins.

  2. The figures do not include work carried out in VI centres on a chargeable basis for bacteriological monitoring of salmonella in poultry, or a diagnosis of diasease caused by these other organisms on material submitted by veterinary surgeons.

  3. Separate figures for salmonella, listeria and campylobacter are not available.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the numbers employed in the central veterinary laboratory, giving a separate figure for the number of scientists, for each year since 1979, and including the current figure.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is as follows:

  Permanent Staff in Post in the CVL

  Scientific Staff

  1990

  503

  272

  1989

  536

  285

  1988

  534

  287

  714

  1990

  1991

  1992

  (b) ADAS—Farm and Countryside Service (excluding minor facilities for milk testing, testing etc)

  9

  7

  7

  As announced on 21 March 1989 regional laboratories are being rationalised in order to improve cost-effectiveness.

  (c) ADAS—Research and Development Services

  6

  6

  6

  The six individual laboratory sites are managed as a single central science laboratory pending collocation expected in 1993.

  (d) Fisheries Laboratories

  6

  6

  6

  Of the above, five sites form the directorate of fisheries research, while the sixth is Torry research station, Aberdeen.

  (e) Food Science Laboratories

  1

  1

  1

  The food science laboratory, formerly on three sites, was collocated at one site in Norwich from 5 February 1990.

  I am satisfied that the restructuring and collocation of the Ministry's laboratories already carried out or in prospect has maintained and will maintain the necessary facilities for R and D and analytical work in support of policy objectives.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of man hours of people employed in(a) the central veterinary laboratory and (b) the state veterinary service on (i) bovine spongiform encephalopathy, (ii) salmonella, (iii) listeria and (iv) campylobacter on 1 October 1988, 1 April 1989, 1 October 1989 and 1 March 1990.

  Mr. Maclean
  The number of hours of the people employed by the SVS (including the VIS) and the CVL, (scientific staff) on BSE and zoonoses for the periods stated are as follows:

  Permanent Staff in Post in the CVL

  Scientific Staff

  1987

  535

  291

  1986

  568

  307

  1985

  585

  313

  1984

  584

  306

  1983

  592

  306

  1982

  620

  311

  1981

  647

  327

  1980

  667

  327

  1979

  659

  321

  715
  Notes:

  Taken from January figures for each year in respect of the central veterinary laboratory at Weybridge; the separate laboratories of the Reading cattle breeding centre and Lasswade (Scotland) are excluded.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the roles of and the current relationship between the state veterinary service and the central veterinary laboratory; and how he expects this to change in the future.

  Mr. Maclean
  The objectives of the state veterinary service are published in "Animal Health 1988, The Report of the Chief Veterinary Officer" (page 2). The central veterinary laboratory is currently part of the state veterinary service and contributes to meeting these objectives by providing specialised diagnostic, research, advisory services and products.

  On 2 April the central veterinary laboratory will become an executive agency within MAFF. It will continue to deliver those services required by the state veterinary service in pursuit of its objectives on a more formalised contractual basis.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE STATE VETERINARY SERVICE
  The prevention control of animal diseases
  To prevent the importation of animal diseases, particularly exotic diseases, through national and EC measures. To control and/or eradicate all notifiable diseases. To assist the industry in the control of non-notifiable diseases.
  Farm animal welfare
  To encourage high standards of animal welfare on farms, during transport, at markets, in abattoirs and, as far as possible, on export. To explain government policies on farm animal welfare. To provide support for the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) and act as appropriate on its recommendations.
  Livestock protection
  To improve the health status and genetic quality of farm livestock by the establishment of voluntary disease control schemes and regulatory control over artificial insemination and embryo transplant. To support the export trade by the establishment of herds and flocks of known health status.
  Veterinary medicines
  To ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of all veterinary medicines produced, imported, sold and supplied in the United Kingdom. To encourage the proper use of medicines.

  Veterinary public health and export promotion
  To provide safeguards for public health in the production and import of meat. To facilitate exports of live animals, meat and other animal products by doing everything possible to ensure that the animal health and public health requirements of importing countries are met.
  To meet these objectives the veterinary service consists of a regulatory force (the Veterinary Field Service), a surveillance network (the Veterinary Investigation Service), and a research and development facility (the Central Veterinary Laboratories).
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to co-locate his three food science laboratories; where the new food science laboratory will be located; and how many scientists he will employ there.

  Mr. Maclean
  New accommodation for the food science laboratory has recently been completed in Colney lane, Norwich and staff from the three existing sites were transferred to the new building on 5 February 1990. A total of 83 laboratory posts are approved for 1990–91 and of these 63 will be for qualified scientists.

  Irradiated Food
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries in which the irradiation of poultry meat is legal.

  Mr. Maclean
  According to information provided by the international consultative group on food irradiation, the following countries have approved the process for the treatment of poultry meat:

  Bangladesh

  Brazil

  Chile

  France

  Hungary

  Israel

  Netherlands

  South Africa

  Sierrean Arab Republic

  Thailand

  Taiwan.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries in which irradiation is used as a method of preservation of poultry meat.

  Mr. Maclean
  Of the countries submitting returns for the information of the international consultative group on food irradiation, irradiation of poultry meat has been reported from France and the Netherlands.

ENVIRONMENT

  Populations
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest available population figures for each of the district council areas in Essex, Surrey, Kent, Hampshire, Cheshire, Lancashire and Durham.

  Mr. Chope
  The latest available information on resident population for the areas requested is given in the table. It is that estimated by the registrar-general as at 30 June 1988. Information on adult population calculated in accordance with the population report (England) was placed in the Library on 11 January.

  Estimated resident population at 30 June 1988

  Thousands

  Essex

  Basildon

  157·5

  Braintree

  117·2

  Brentwood

  70·0

  Castle Point

  85·5

  Chelmsford

  151·7

  Colchester

  150·2

  Epping Forest

  111·8

  Harlow

  72·0

  Maldon

  53·6

  Rochford

  74·4

  Southend-on-Sea

  165·4

  Tendring

  129·6

  Thurrock

  124·4

  Uttlesford

  66·1

  Surrey

  Elmbridge

  107·1

  Epsom and Ewell

  67·5

  Guildford

  123·2

  Mole Valley

  76·2

  Reigate and Banstead

  113·6

  717

  Thousands

  Runnymede

  71·3

  Spelthorne

  85·8

  Surrey Heath

  83·6

  Tandridge

  75·6

  Waverley

  109·7

  Woking

  86·1

  Kent

  Ashford

  95·1

  Canterbury

  131·9

  Dartford

  78·4

  Dover

  106·3

  Gillingham

  95·3

  Gravesham

  90·2

  Maidstone

  136·0

  Rochester-upon-Medway

  146·6

  Sevenoaks

  107·3

  Shepway

  87·6

  Swale

  115·3

  Thanet

  129·7

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  101·2

  Tunbridge Wells

  99·3

  Hampshire

  Basingstoke and Deane

  139·7

  East Hampshire

  103·5

  Eastleigh

  101·0

  Fareham

  100·3

  Gosport

  76·9

  Hart

  85·9

  Havant

  117·5

  New Forest

  163·3

  Portsmouth

  183·8

  Rushmoor

  77·0

  Southampton

  196·7

  Test Valley

  102·3

  Winchester

  96·0

  Cheshire

  Chester

  117·1

  Congleton

  86·6

  Crewe and Nantwich

  96·8

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  79·7

  Halton

  124·0

  Macclesfield

  152·3

  Vale Royal

  113·3

  Warrington

  186·0

  Lancashire

  Blackburn

  134·4

  Blackpool

  143·8

  Burnley

  85·4

  Chorley

  96·7

  Fylde

  73·2

  Hyndburn

  78·9

  Lancaster

  131·1

  Pendle

  84·4

  Preston

  128·1

  Ribble Valley

  52·8

  Rossendale

  64·6

  South Ribble

  100·2

  West Lancashire

  105·4

  Wyre

  103·0

  Durham

  Chester-le-Street

  53·1

  Darlington

  99·7

  Derwentside

  85·9

  Durham

  85·8

  Easington

  95·0

  Sedgefield

  88·4

  Teesdale

  24·9

  Wear Valley

  64·1

  Source:OPCS Monitor PP1 89/1 issused 10 August 1989.

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many P and T staff the Property Services Agency plans to have in(a) projects, (b) special services and (c) international and building management on 1 April.

  Mr. Chope
  Property Services Agency plans to have the following distribution of P and T non-industrial staff in its businesses on 1 April:

  Number

  Projects

  1,305

  Building management

  5,200

  Specialist services

  352

  Property Services Agency International

  425

  TOTAL

  7,282

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff from grade 5 to executive officer and support staff the Property Services Agency plans to have in(a) projects, (b) special services and (c) international and building management on 1 April.

  Mr. Chope
  Property Services Agency plans to have the following distribution of staff in its businesses on 1 April:

  Grade 5 to executive officer

  Support staff

  Projects

  141

  314

  Building management

  13,500

  —

  Specialist services

  26

  85

  Property Services Agency International

  77

  36

  1Includes "Support" staff.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities in East Sussex, on the information currently available to him, are planning budgets which will lead to community charge levels above those indicated in his Department's projections.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department has received returns from East Sussex county council and Wealden borough council. Both authorities are planning budgets above the levels assumed in the settlement.

  Councillors
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the regulation he is to bring forward consequent on part V of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 will include provision to ensure that councillors who are employees of companies that will be deemed to be controlled by the local authority in which they are a member may see out their term of office.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The disqualification of employees of companies under the control of a single local authority arises directly from paragraph 21 of schedule 11 to the Local Government and Housing Act 1989: an order under part V of the Act could not modify this provision.

  Tenants' Choice
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the tenants' choice promotion campaign starts.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 March 1990 to my hon. Friend the Member for Ryedale (Mr. Greenway)Official Report, Volume 168, column 388.

  Carers
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to take steps to ensure that volunteer care workers providing care for a disabled person who are not employed by a charitable body but by an individual disabled person are not liable to pay the community charge.

  Mr. Chope
  The current exemption does not require the care worker to be employed by a charitable body. An individual may be exempt if he or she is employed by the person receiving care, provided that he or she has been introduced to that person by a body established for charitable purposes, receives a wage or salary of less than ·25 a week, is required to work for at least 24 hours a week and is ordinarily resident in premises provided by or on behalf of the employer for the better performance of his or her duties.

  Red list Substances
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many substances appear on the red list as drawn up by each country within the European Community; if he has any plans to increase the number of chemicals on the red list; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The red list is a United Kingdom initiative: a list of chemicals which are particularly dangerous to the aquatic environment. Not all other Community countries have such lists and I do not have details of those which do exist.

  The Commission of the European Communities has recently proposed to the Council that most of the substances on the red list which have not already been dealt with as list I substances should receive priority treatment for the setting of limit values and quality objectives. A list of agreed hazardous substances, which includes many of the red list substances, is likely to be agreed at the North sea conference this week.

  The Department is starting to assess new candidates for the red list, but it is unlikely that any will be given red list status before the end of next year.

  Carbon Canister Technology
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Government will support the proposals contained in the European Community draft directive COM (89) 662 to reduce evaporative emissions from cars by the fitting of carbon canister technology; whether the Government will support the further "stage 1" controls; and what the likely costs of such measures will be.
  720
  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 1 March 1990]: I have been asked to reply.

  I am preparing an explanatory memorandum on the COM (89) 662 proposals (Council document No. 4704/90). It will be submitted to the House shortly. The Commission has yet to make proposals concerning stage 1 controls on evaporative emissions in the petrol distribution network from refinery to retail forecourt.

  Street lighting
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to issue local authorities with guidelines regarding street lighting standards.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: I have been asked to reply.

  No. Local authorities already have such guidelines produced by the British Standards Institution with the participation of the Department and local authorities. A copy of the current edition, BS 5489, is in the Library.

  Waste Control Policy
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the implication for waste control policy of European Community draft directive 88/C295/03.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Department of the Environment submitted an explanatory memorandum to Parliament on 25 October 1988 setting out the Government's view on the implications of the Commission's proposal for revision of the 1975 directive on waste (88/C295/03) and submitted a further explanatory memorandum on 10 January 1990 on the Commission's amended proposal. The Government also expressed their view in the debate held in the First Standing Committee on European Committee Documents on 20 July 1989 (Official Report, First Standing Committee on European Community Document, 20 July 1989).

  Halon Emissions
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to eliminate atmospheric emissions of(a) halon 1211, (b) halon 1301 and (c) halon 2402; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  In the negotiations to revise the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer we are seeking international agreement to phase out these chemicals by 2005.

  House Conditions
  Mr. Thornton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the number of houses identified in 1971, 1976, 1981 and 1986 by the English house conditions survey as(a) being unfit for human habitation, (b) lacking basic amenities and (c) being in a state of serious disrepair.

  Mr. Chope
  The numbers are as follows:
  721

  1971

  1976

  1981

  1986

  Unfit dwellings

  1,216,000

  1,162,000

  1,116,000

  1,053,000

  Dwellings lacking basic amenities

  2,815,000

  1,531,000

  863,000

  543,000

  Dwellings in serious disrepair

  1,104,000

  1,097,000

  1,178,000

  1,113,000

  Rateable Values
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list by location, and by year for the last 10 years, the rateable values of property that have been reduced, because the letting value has been affected due to the risk of nuclear contamination;

  (2) if he will list by location, and by year for the last 10 years, the rateable value appeals of property that have been heard, due to the claim that the letting value has been affected due to the risk of nuclear contamination.

  Mr. Chope
  No information is held centrally from which to establish whether there have been any such reductions or appeals.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the community charge increase over rates for the village of Eriswell; what contribution the United States air force personnel will be required to contribute; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I cannot say what the difference between the community charge and the rates paid by the residents of the village of Eriswell will be. It depends on the level of the community charge, which Forest Heath district council has yet to set, and on the present rateable value of each home. My Department does not have information on individual rateable values. United States air force personnel are exempt from the community charge and will make no contribution. Local authorities are compensated for the loss of income arising from these and any other exemptions by the operation of the revenue support grant system. They receive enough grant to enable them to spend at the level of the standard spending assessment and set a charge of ·278, before transitional arrangements, on the assumption that it is collected only from those who are subject to the charge.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) why an owner of an hotel is eligible for phased transitional relief on the original building but not on any extensions carried out;

  (2) what arrangements his Department is making to make phased transitional relief on commercial rating for the hotel and guesthouse trade available to new owners after 1 April.

  Mr. Chope
  Transitional relief is intended to phase in the new business rate to protect existing ratepayers from large overnight increases in their rate bills. A person who extends his property, or takes on a different property, on or after 1 April 1990, will know what his liability will be before doing so. Transitional relief could be made available in these circumstances only by reducing the limits on rate reductions at the expense of many businesses in northern England, including those in south Yorkshire, where average rate bills would fall by 26·7 per cent. in 1990–91 without transition.
  722
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reason the scaling factor for children's personal social services in table C of the calculations for Humberside's standard spending assessment is specified to 14 decimal places; what the figure represents; and what the effect of this scaling factor is on the standard spending assessment for Grimsby.

  Mr. Chope
  The scaling factor for children's personal social services ensures that the sum of the SSA elements for individual authorities is equal to the total of SSA available for children's social services for England of ·1,275·1 million in 1990–91.

  It is specified to 14 decimal places to ensure that this exact total is achieved. It has no effect on the standard spending assessment for Grimsby since Grimsby, as a non-metropolitan district, is not responsible for social services.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how, with reference to paragraph 3.29 of his Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England), poll tax payers and council officials may check the validity of the figure of ·1·37.

  Mr. Chope
  The figure referred to in paragraph 3.29 of the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report was arrived at after full consultation with local authority representatives, and was approved by the House on 18 January. Local authorities are able to check that this figure has been correctly applied to the circumstances of their particular local authority.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how, with reference to paragraph 3.32 of his Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England), poll tax payers and council officials may check the validity of the figure of(a) ·1,928·93 and (b) ·13·05.

  Mr. Chope
  The figures referred to in paragraph 3.32 of the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England) were arrived at after full consultation with local authority representatives, and were approved by this House on 18 January. Local authority officials are able to check that the figures have been properly applied to the circumstances of their particular local authority.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what allowance was made in the standard spending assessment of each English local authority for the use of reserves; and what information he has on the actual figure announced by each authority.

  Mr. Chope
  The standard spending assessment for an authority is intended to represent the amount of revenue expenditure which it would be appropriate for the authority to incur to provide a standard level of service consistent with the view of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment of the amount of revenue expenditure which it would be appropriate for all local authorities to incur. We considered that it was not
  723
  appropriate to make any allowance in SSAs for reserves. I have no firm information on the use of reserves announced by each authority.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate was made of the number of second homes in each local authority area in fixing the standard spending assessment for that area; and what is the ratio of each estimate to the total population or the poll tax register.

  Mr. Chope
  The number of second homes is not an indicator used in calculating standard spending assessments. I do not have any estimate of the number of second homes in each local authority area.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment with reference to paragraph 3.29 of his Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England), what effect the choice of the figure of(a) ·7·11 and (b) ·1·37 has on the standard spending assessment arrived at for Humberside.

  Mr. Chope
  The figure of ·7·11 in paragraph 3.29 of the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England) when applied to the resident population of Humberside contributes ·9 per relevant adult to Humberside's SSA. The figure of ·1·37 when applied to the ward-weighted density for Humberside accounts for ·5 per relevant adult of the SSA for Humberside.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment with reference to paragraph 3.32 of his Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England), what effect the choice of the figure of(a) ·1,928·93 and (b) ·13·05 has on the standard spending assessment arrived at for Humberside.

  Mr. Chope
  The figures referred to in paragraph 3.32 of the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England) contribute ·28 and ·2 per relevant adult, respectively, to the SSA for Humberside.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his reply of 19 February,Official Report, column 474, concerning the amount of rates and poll tax in inner and outer London, whether he will publish in the Official Report the information placed in the Library on 11 January.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of 23 February,Official Report, Vol. 167, column 929.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his written reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby of 14 February,Official Report, column 222, concerning the amount of poll tax payable in 1990–91 per adult for each region etc., whether in each case the proposed reduction or increase in the local tax and ratepayer's contribution to local expenditure assumes an increase or decrease in the per adult contribution made by central Government; and whether he will publish in the Official Report the per adult figures for the central Government contribution in each case together with figures showing that contribution as a percentage of the local tax and ratepayer's contribution.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government have not proposed specific increases in local contributions to expenditure in 724
  1990–91. The Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England) sets out the basis of distribution of revenue support grant for 1990–91. The Revenue Support Grant Transition Report (England) sets out the adjustments to that basis of distribution and the Special Grant Report specifies two special grants for 1990–91. The distribution of business rates will be in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1988. I have today placed in the Library a table which shows the aggregate of these amounts (known as "external support") for each area, as amounts per adult and as percentages of the average assumed personal community charge or 1989–90 rate bill per adult.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest estimated public expenditure cost to central Government in 1990–91 of the community charge transitional relief scheme for individuals.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 2 March 1990]: My latest estimate is that about ·350 million of transitional relief will be distributed in 1990–91 and that this will benefit about 7·5 million charge payers. This estimate is consistent with the figures on the distributional effect of the community charge placed in the Library on 15 February.

  The figures for later years are ·260 million in 1991–92 and ·200 million in 1992–93. The total amount of relief over the three years is therefore about ·810 million.

  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, pursuant to the Prime Minister's answer on 28 February,Official Report, column 208, that he is responsible for monitoring all extra costs imposed on local authorities by (a) Act of Parliament, (b) statutory instruments and (c) departmental circulars, he will list by Department the notifications under each of these headings, by quantum, for each of the next three years, of the new costs to be borne by local authorities since the rate support grant quantum was agreed with the Treasury in July 1989.

  Mr. David Hunt
  It is not yet possible to provide a comprehensive list of all the extra costs that will fall to local authorities in the next three years as many of the new pressures and new savings on local authority expenditure for 1991–92 and future years have not yet been quantified.

  We will shortly be entering into discussions with the local authority associations before deciding what would be appropriate for local authorities to spend in 1991–92. These discussions will provide the opportunity to identify new burdens on local authorities across the whole range of local authority functions.

  Countryside Premium
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will ask the Countryside Commission to consider extending the countryside premium designed to secure environmental benefits from set-aside land from the counties of eastern England to Hampshire.

  Mr. Trippier
  The countryside premium scheme was launched last June and initially covers only seven counties in eastern England. Arrangements are in hand for monitoring the effectiveness of the scheme in these
  725
  counties. It is too early yet to consider extending the scheme to other areas. The scope of the scheme will be reviewed in the light of the results of monitoring.

  Beaches
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the beaches which are designated under the EC directive of 1975 which were not monitored for salmonella and enteriditis in 1989.

  Mr. Trippier
  On 25 January I announced that a detailed summary of the results of the 1989 survey of United Kingdom bathing waters identified under the European Economic Community bathing water directive would be placed in the Library,Official Report, 25 January 1990, column 785. This includes numbers of samples taken for the salmonella and enterovirus parameters and the number of these which failed to meet the directive's mandatory standards, at each bathing water.

  England per cent.

  Wales per cent.

  Scotland per cent.

  (a) 1986

  Owner occupied, owned outright

  25

  36

  14

  Owner occupied, with mortgage

  39

  31

  28

  Rented with job or business

  2

  3

  3

  Rented from local authority or New Town

  24

  21

  49

  Rented from housing association or co-operative

  2

  1

  2

  Rented privately, unfurnished

  5

  6

  3

  Rented privately, furnished

  2

  2

  1

  Number

  Number

  Number

  Base (number of households) = 100 per cent.

  8,720

  492

  973

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  (b) 1987

  Owner occupied, owned outright

  24

  34

  14

  Owner occupied, with mortgage

  41

  29

  28

  Rented with job or business

  2

  3

  3

  Rented from local authority or New Town

  23

  25

  50

  Rented from housing association or co-operative

  3

  2

  1

  Rented privately, unfurnished

  4

  6

  3

  Rented privately, furnished

  2

  1

  1

  Number

  Number

  Number

  Base (number of households) = 100 per cent.

  8,842

  518

  939

  Sample sizes for Wales and Scotland are small and, in those two countries, changes in the percentages between the two years are not statistically significant.

  Results are not yet available from more recent surveys and the Department does not make such forecasts.

  Mortgages
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report his estimate of the figures in table 5.11 of "Regional

  Average dwelling prices for Building Society borrowers

  1988

  1989

  Index of dwelling prices 1985 = 100 1988

  All

  All excl. Local Authority Sitting Tenants

  Local Authority Sitting Tenants

  First Time Buyers

  Index dwelling prices 1985 = 100 1989

  All

  All excl. Local Authority Sitting Tenants

  Local Authority Sitting Tenants

  First Time Buyers

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  United Kingdom

  167

  49,400

  52,200

  18,000

  35,800

  202

  54,800

  59,700

  19,800

  39,700

  Northern

  132

  30,200

  31,800

  12,300

  21,700

  170

  37,400

  40,900

  11,700

  24,400

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  139

  32,700

  34,000

  13,000

  23,800

  194

  41,800

  45,300

  14,600

  29,500

  Downing Street (Gates)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what alternative opening and closing arrangements are under consideration for the newly erected gates at the entrance of Downing street.

  Mr. Chope
  None.

  Home Ownership
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to table 6.2 of the general household survey for 1986, whether he will publish in the Official Report the figures for each country in 1986 with the relevant base together with an estimate for the years 1987, 1988 and 1989 together with a forecast for 1990.

  Mr. Chope
  The information from the 1986 and 1987 general household surveys is as follows:

  Trends 1989" for 1988 and a forecast for 1989, together with figures showing the average dwelling price for mortgages taken out by sitting tenants of local authorities in each year.

  Mr. Chope
  The information requested is listed in the table:
  727

  1988

  1989

  Index of dwelling prices 1985 = 100 1988

  All

  All excl. Local Authority Sitting Tenants

  Local Authority Sitting Tenants

  First Time Buyers

  Index dwelling prices 1985 = 100 1989

  All

  All excl. Local Authority Sitting Tenants

  Local Authority Silting Tenants

  First Time Buyers

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  East Midlands

  159

  40,500

  42,600

  14,800

  28,700

  207

  49,400

  53,200

  18,900

  36,600

  East Anglia

  189

  57,300

  60,700

  20,800

  40,700

  221

  64,600

  68,700

  26,600

  48,500

  South East

  1

  74,000

  77,900

  28,100

  56,200

  1

  81,900

  87,900

  33,400

  61,700

  Greater London

  187

  77,700

  83,000

  28,400

  63,100

  203

  82,400

  90,500

  33,600

  66,800

  Rest of South East

  187

  72,600

  75,900

  28,000

  52,200

  216

  81,600

  86,700

  33,300

  58,800

  South West

  181

  58,500

  61,700

  20,800

  41,400

  219

  67,000

  71,200

  25,300

  48,300

  West Midlands

  167

  41,700

  44,800

  13,800

  28,100

  219

  49,800

  55,500

  16,900

  34,300

  North West

  137

  34,100

  35,200

  12,100

  24,200

  184

  42,100

  44,600

  13,600

  29,000

  England

  172

  52,000

  54,600

  19,700

  38,000

  207

  58,500

  62,800

  22,100

  43,000

  Wales

  142

  34,200

  36,300

  13,100

  25,700

  193

  43,000

  48,000

  16,200

  31,800

  Scotland

  122

  31,500

  36,200

  12,400

  21,700

  144

  35,400

  42,300

  12,800

  22,600

  Northern Ireland

  118

  29,900

  31,000

  9,400

  24,800

  124

  30,300

  32,800

  9,800

  24,300

  Source:—5 per cent. Sample Survey of Building SocietyMortgages at completion stage.

  1 Not Available

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report his estimate of the figures in table 5.13 of "Regional Trends 1989" for 1988 and a forecast for 1989, together with the ratio of mortgages to the private dwelling stock in each year and in 1983.

  All Building Society Borrowers

  First Time Borrowers

  Numbers of loans1 (000's)

  Average recorded income £

  Average percentage of price advanced

  Percentage of advances over £30,000

  Percentage of all loans

  Average deposit £

  (a) 1988

  United Kingdom

  1,232

  15,700

  68

  45

  47

  5,400

  Northern

  75

  12,700

  75

  18

  47

  2,600

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  135

  12,500

  72

  21

  47

  3,300

  East Midlands

  91

  13,500

  68

  33

  46

  4,400

  East Anglia

  40

  15,500

  62

  58

  42

  6,800

  South East

  362

  20,700

  66

  78

  47

  8,600

  Greater London

  105

  23,500

  71

  83

  60

  9,300

  Rest of South East

  257

  19,500

  63

  76

  42

  8,200

  South West

  116

  15,600

  62

  60

  40

  8,000

  West Midlands

  104

  13,900

  68

  35

  48

  4,200

  North West

  144

  13,300

  73

  23

  48

  3,200

  England

  1,067

  16,000

  67

  49

  46

  5,800

  Wales

  54

  12,500

  73

  25

  51

  3,600

  Scotland

  89

  13,900

  76

  25

  53

  2,800

  Northern Ireland

  23

  13,000

  79

  18

  63

  3,600

  (b) 1989

  United Kingdom

  866

  17,200

  67

  52

  52

  6,800

  Northern

  55

  14,100

  69

  29

  47

  3,400

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  95

  14,500

  69

  38

  49

  4,600

  East Midlands

  54

  15,700

  68

  52

  51

  5,500

  East Anglia

  25

  18,600

  66

  70

  53

  8,200

  South East

  224

  22,800

  66

  78

  54

  11,400

  Greater London

  69

  25,300

  72

  79

  64

  12,300

  Rest of South East

  155

  21,700

  63

  78

  49

  10,900

  South West

  65

  17,600

  63

  71

  49

  9,400

  West Midlands

  76

  15,700

  66

  50

  53

  5,600

  North West

  122

  14,900

  69

  38

  50

  3,900

  England

  721

  17,700

  67

  56

  51

  7,300

  Wales

  41

  14,700

  68

  40

  57

  5,800

  Scotland

  84

  15,000

  73

  31

  56

  3,700

  Northern Ireland

  20

  13,900

  77

  18

  64

  4,400

  Source: Five per cent. Sample Survey of Building Society Mortgages at completion stage.

  1 Monthly Survey of Building Society Mortgage approvals and completions.
  728
  Mr. Chope
  The information is listed in the table. In Great Britain the proportions of owner-occupier households with mortgages in 1983 and 1988 were 58 per cent. and 63 per cent., respectively. Estimates for 1989 are not yet available.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many potential sites of special scientific interest are awaiting notification or renotification;

  (2) if he will list the total number of sites of special scientific interest notified under section 23 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949;

  (3) if he will list the total number of sites of special scientific interest notified under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

  Mr. Trippier
  I am advised by the Nature Conservancy Council that 4,043 SSSIs were notified to local planning authorities under the 1949 Act. By December 1989 the NCC had renotified 3,251 of these and in addition had identified a further 3,091 new sites, of which 1,853 had been notified under the 1981 Act.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites of special scientific interest have been damaged in each of the last five years as a result of operations which were granted planning permission.

  Mr. Trippier
  Full information on the numbers of SSSIs damaged since April 1984 is set out in the NCC's annual reports, copies of which are in the Library.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list all sites of special scientific interest currently the subject of(a) planning applications, (b) appeals and (c) inquiries;

  (2) if he will list those sites of special scientific interest in respect of which planning applications were made but were not objected to by the Nature Conservancy Council;

  (3) if he will list those sites of special scientific interest where the Nature Conservancy Council objected to a planning application in 1988–89;

  (4) if he will list those sites of special scientific interest which have been notified with existing planning permissions in place.

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

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial resources are available to local authorities for compensation payments in respect of revocation or discontinuance orders made under the Town and Country Planning Act 1971.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Decisions on revocation and discontinuance orders are no different from other local authority decisions which may result in expenditure being incurred. In making any such decision an authority will need to have regard to its available resources and its priorities for expenditure.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to reduce the 40-year period of planning permission granted for mineral and peat extraction which relates to a site of special scientific interest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Mineral planning authorities have the power to impose conditions on a planning consent which specify the limit of duration of planning permission for mineral sites. Where they do not specify a time limit, the 730
  development must cease not later than 60 years from the date of the permission. Where planning permission was already in existence at the time this provision came into effect, development must cease by the year 2042. Mineral planning authorities which wish to limit existing developments can make orders revoking or modifying the planning permission or requiring the use of land to be discontinued or continued subject to conditions. We have no proposals to alter these provisions.

  Peat
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions since 1981 revocations or discontinuance orders have been made in respect of planning permissions granted for the extraction of peat.

  Mr. Trippier
  None.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will reply to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth's letters dated 26 June 1989 and 2 January 1990, acknowledged by card on 29 June 1989 and by letter on 18 December 1989, referring to Mr. A. S. Johnson of Rugby.

  Mr. Chope
  I wrote to my hon. Friend on 5 March.

  North Sea Dumping
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that the ministerial declaration made at the second international North sea conference concerning the reduction of inputs of dangerous substances to rivers and estuaries is achieved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I have today placed in the Library copies of the United Kingdom North sea action plan which is being presented at the third North sea conference today in The Hague. This document reports considerable progress being made by the Government, the regulatory authorities and industry in ensuring that significant reductions are achieved for those substances which pose the most serious threat to the aquatic environment.

  "Action for Cities"
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what level of spending is planned under the "Action for Cities" initiative for 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Spending under the "Action for Cities" initiative is planned to be about ·4 billion in 1990–91, compared with just over ·3 billion in 1988–89 and just under ·3·5 billion in 1989–90. The Government are determined to build on the real progress being made in reviving our inner cities and this increase will help speed the pace of renewal still further. A breakdown of the planned spending on "Action for Cities" in 1990–91 is given in the table:
  731

  Action for cities expenditure

  Estimated expenditure in the inner cities—1990–91

  £ million

  England

  Estate Action: involving tenants in management of their homes, and improving them. Housing capital expenditure by local authorities

  190·0

  Funding for Housing Associations through Housing Corporations and through Local Authorities

  620·0

  Housing Investment Programme: special allocation for inner cities

  100·0

  Training, programmes to encourage enterprise (including support for small firms) and to help people back into work (Employment Department)

  1,040·0

  Support for inner city business, including Regional Selective Assistance, investment and innovation grants for small firms, and English Estates

  192·0

  Derelict Land Reclamation

  21·0

  Urban Programme

  261·0

  City Grant

  49·0

  Section 11 grants to LAs for staff expenditure to meet special needs of commonwealth citizens

  73·0

  Homelessness: special capital allocations to local Authorities and Housing Associations

  147·0

  Urban Development Corporations

  542·0

  Net current expenditure by service in constant (1989–90) price terms1

  £ million

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–902

  Norfolk county council

  Education

  170·610

  180·516

  190·271

  195·016

  3189·276

  School meals and milk

  4·867

  5·554

  4·195

  3·705

  3·435

  Libraries, museums and art galleries

  5·214

  5·412

  5·765

  5·854

  5·958

  Personal social services

  32·591

  34·154

  34·393

  36·430

  36·697

  Police

  34·813

  37·935

  39·349

  40·623

  42·123

  Fire

  8·686

  9·343

  9·740

  9·696

  9·914

  Other Home Office services

  4·401

  4·668

  5·272

  5·894

  6·177

  Local transport

  22·134

  21·003

  24·479

  26·419

  29·348

  Local and environmental services

  5·633

  4·890

  5·848

  6·165

  8·033

  Other services

  4·184

  3·524

  3·952

  4·417

  4·474

  All services

  293·132

  307·000

  323·262

  334·220

  335·435

  Norwich county council

  Refuse collection and disposal

  0·966

  1·015

  1·107

  1·351

  1·326

  Recreation, parks, swimming pools

  3·040

  3·274

  3·565

  3·634

  3·908

  Town and country planning

  0·917

  0·986

  1·049

  0·715

  0·774

  Local and environmental services

  1·886

  0·652

  2·515

  3·101

  3·416

  Other services

  0·788

  0·418

  0·331

  0·869

  1·434

  All services

  7·599

  6·345

  8·567

  9·670

  10·858

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

  2 Budget estimates.

  3 Polytechnics were transferred from the local authority sector in April 1989.

  Seaton Carew (Bathing Waters)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give for Seaton Carew centre(a) the dates in 1989 when total coliforms and E.coli samples were taken, (b) the corresponding total coliforms and E.coli results for each date and (c) the EEC bathing waters directive [76/160/EEC] conforming level for both total coliforms and E.coli.
  732

  £million

  Task Forces

  23·0

  City Action Teams

  8·0

  Safer cities

  6·5

  Roads (DTp programmes and TSG supported local authority roads)

  300·0

  Housing Action Trusts

  42·0

  City Technology Colleges

  45·0

  Scotland and Wales

  400·0

  Total

  4,060·0

  Expenditure(Norfolk)
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish a table showing a breakdown of the expenditure of Norwich city council since 1985–86 on its major areas of responsibility, set out in constant price terms;

  (2) if he will publish a table showing a breakdown of the expenditure of Norfolk county council since 1985–86 on its major areas of responsibility, set out in constant price terms.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 6 March 1990]: The information is as follows:

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 6 March 1990]: The results obtained over the course of the 1989 bathing season are as follows:

  Date

  Total coliforms Number per 100 ml

  Faecal Coliforms Number per 100 ml

  5 May 1989

  31,000

  5,200

  19 May 1989

  780,000

  66,000

  26 May 1989

  2,800

  1,800

  733

  Date

  Total coliforms Number per 100 ml

  Faecal Coliforms Number per 100 ml

  2 June 1989

  1,700

  430

  9 June 1989

  51,000

  51,000

  16 June 1989

  5,800

  1,600

  23 June 1989

  14,000

  4,300

  30 June 1989

  350

  130

  7 July 1989

  13,500

  9,400

  21 July 1989

  300,000

  300,000

  28 July 1989

  12,000

  5,600

  11 August 1989

  40,000

  20,000

  18 August 1989

  2,700,000

  1,220,000

  24 August 1989

  4,600

  2,500

  1 September 1989

  132,000

  14,000

  7 September 1989

  24,900

  1,500

  8 September 1989

  25,000

  5,400

  14 September 1989

  38,000

  5,700

  15 September 1989

  95,000

  21,000

  21 September 1989

  260

  120

  22 September 1989

  1,200,000

  4,100,000

  28 September 1989

  74,000

  37,000

  29 September 1989

  9,700

  2,100

  The mandatory standards set in directive 76/160/EEC are 10,000 per 100 mls for total coliforms and 2,000 per 100 mls for faecal coliforms. Northumbrian Water plc has plans to improve the bathing waters at Seaton Carew to ensure that they consistently meet the coliform standards.

  Bed-and-Breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether his Department has received any representations on the effects of the community charge on the provision of bed-and-breakfast accommodation; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether his Department will consider modifying the application of the community charge towards bed-and-breakfast accommodation.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 6 March 1990]: My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on this matter. He has no plans to modify the proposals for the treatment of bed-and-breakfast accommodation for the purposes of the community charge and the new business rate which were given effect by the Standard Community Charge and Non-Domestic Rating (Definition of Domestic Property) Order 1990 [SI No. 162], which came into force on 2 March.

  Coastal Protection
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will increase the provision made in his Department's expenditure plans for grant aid to local authorities for work in coastal protection and sea defence.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today.

  TRAUMA CENTRE EVALUATION
  TRAUMA CENTRE EVALUATION
  BRITISH CITIZENS RESIDENT ABROAD: RECIPROCAL BENEFITS
  BRITISH CITIZENS RESIDENT ABROAD: RECIPROCAL BENEFITS
  NORTH SEA CONFERENCE: UK ACTION PLAN
  NORTH SEA CONFERENCE: UK ACTION PLAN