Written Answers of 13 March 1990

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Civil Emergencies
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will identify the costs to his Department in 1989–90 to date allocated for 1990–91 of(a) maintaining the civil emergencies secretariat, (b) the employment of a civil emergency adviser and associated costs, (c) commissioned work by outside bodies relating to civil emergency planning and (d) other expenditure relating to civil emergency planning.

  Mr. John Patten
  The costs are as follows:

  1989–90 £

  1990–91 £

  Civil Emergencies Adviser and Secretariat

  60,000

  107,000

  Travel and subsistence for Adviser and Secretariat

  13,500

  16,500

  Emergency Planning College Civil Emergencies Tutorial Group2

  38,000

  159,000

  1 Estimated outturn.

  2 Includes travel and subsistence.

  No costs have been incurred for work undertaken by outside bodies. Other expenditure relating to civil emergency planning is incurred by the police staff college and the fire service college and other Home Office departments, but figures could not be broken down without disproportionate cost.

  Civil Emergency Adviser (Meetings)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the itinerary of conferences and meetings with outside bodies which his Department's civil emergency adviser has attended, or agreed to attend, in 1990;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to send his Department's civil emergency adviser, Mr. David Brook, to the conference for local authorities on disaster planning for the 1990s to be held on 15 March.

  Mr. John Patten
  The functions of the civil emergencies adviser were set out by my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Lester) on 15 June 1989 at columns 514–15; it is for Mr. Brook as civil emergencies adviser to determine how best to fulfil that remit.

  Housing, Greater Manchester
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many houses are in the ownership of his Department in each district in Greater Manchester; and what percentage of these are empty.

  Mr. Waddington
  The information is as follows:138

  District

  Number of houses

  Percentage empty

  Bolton

  —

  —

  Bury

  —

  —

  Manchester

  49

  18

  Oldham

  —

  —

  Rochdale

  4

  0

  Salford

  —

  —

  Stockport

  —

  —

  Tameside

  —

  —

  Trafford

  —

  —

  Wigan

  27

  89

  Twenty-one surplus empty houses in Wigan and four in Manchester will shortly be placed on the open market for sale.

  Arson
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in regard to the investigations into the arson campaign in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the chief constable of North Wales police that a special squad was set up at Bangor in March 1988 to investigate these offences. Effective liaison has been established between all the forces concerned and police inquiries are continuing as a matter of priority.

  Pop Concerts
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been made to local authorities during each of the past five years for which records are available for licences to hold pop concerts; and how many and what percentage have been refused.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Crowd Safety
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with what agencies he is, or his officials are, in consultation concerning what further guidance should be issued to local authorities about crowd safety at public musical entertainments; when such consultations will be concluded; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Home Office is consulting the Health and Safety Executive, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of District Councils about this issue. The recent announcement from the Health and Safety Commission explained that work has been commissioned to produce new guidance on safety at pop concerts, but it is too early to predict when this will be available, bearing in mind the many factors involved.

  Non-English Speaking Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of his Department on informing inmates in prisons in England and Wales who do not speak or understand English as to the rules existing in prison; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  All prisoners, when they are first received into prisons, are provided with an information booklet
  139
  which they are allowed to keep in their possession during their sentence. There are versions of this booklet in English and 12 other languages.

  If a prisoner cannot for any reason understand this written information, the governor will arrange for an oral explanation using interpreting facilities where necessary.

  Incitement to Murder
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he has any plans to strengthen present legislation on incitement to murder; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many prosecutions have taken place in the last 12 months for incitement to murder; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 15 February 1990]: We have no present plans to change the law on incitement to murder, but we keep it under review.

  In 1988 there were 30 prosecutions under section 4 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977: together, these provisions make it an offence to solicit or propose to another to commit murder or to conspire to do so. Figures are not kept separately for each provision. There were also 1,030 prosecutions under section 16 of the 1861 Act, which makes it an offence to make threats to kill with intention that the recipient of those threats should fear that they will be carried out. Information for 1989 will not be available until autumn 1990.

  Security Service Tribunal
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been received by the Security Service Tribunal since 18 December 1989; and how many have been rejected because they referred to events prior to that date.

  Mr. Waddington
  The Security Service Tribunal operates independently under the provisions of the Security Service Act 1989. I do not propose to make available details of its work. It will be for the Security Service Commissioner to decide in consultation with the tribunal what information might be included about the tribunal in his annual report to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Electricity Tariffs
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about electricity tariffs in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Brooke
  The Government have decided to end the tariff subsidy arrangement whereby electricity tariffs in Northern Ireland are linked to the highest in England and Wales. This decision, which will have effect from 1 April, follows a detailed review of existing tariff policy. The review concluded that, on the basis of oil price projections, the tariff link arrangements are no longer appropriate. The review recommended that NIE should, therefore, return to setting its tariffs on the basis of its own costs rather than by reference to the tariffs of area boards in England and Wales. It is clear, moreover, that the privatisation of the 140
  electricity supply industry in England and Wales and the decision to privatise NIE also have made the link less appropriate.

  For the future, NIE's tariffs will have to be based on the economic price of producing and delivering electricity in Northern Ireland. In the year beginning 1 April 1990, a tariff increase of around 8 per cent. on average would, in the Government's view, be consistent with that objective.

  I expect to receive within the next week or so NIE's detailed proposals for the different categories of consumer. When agreement is reached on these, NIE will make a full announcement.

  Civil Service
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the Government establishments in (a) the Coleraine council area, (b) the Magherafelt council area, (c) the Larne council area, (d) the Carrickfergus council area and (e) the Strabane council area, in which civil servants are employed at present, five years and 10 years ago, together with his projections for the next three years of the number of such employees in each establishment;

  (2) if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show the Government establishments in the (a) Omagh council area, (b) Moyle council area, (c) Ballymoney council area, (d) Fermanagh council area and (e) Craigavon council area, in which civil servants are employed at present, five years and 10 years ago, together with his projections for the next three years of the number of such employees in each establishment;

  (3) if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show the Government establishments in the (a) Dungannon council area, (b) Banbridge council area, (c) Armagh council area, (d) Ballymena council area and (e) Antrim council area, in which civil servants are employed at present, five years and 10 years ago, together with his projections for the next three years of the number of such employees in each establishment;

  (4) if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show the Government establishments in the (a) Belfast council area, (b) Ards council area, (c) Castlereagh council area, (d) Down council area and (e) Lisburn council area, in which civil servants are employed at present, five years and 10 years ago, together with his projections for the next three years of the number of such employees in each establishment;

  (5) if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show the Government establishments in (a) the Londonerry council area, (b) the Newtonabbey council area, (c) the Cookstown district council area, (d) the North Down district council area, (e) the Limavady council area and (f) the Newry and Mourne council area in which civil servants are employed at present, five years and 10 years ago, together with his projections for the next three years of the number of such employees in each establishment at each period.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 27 February 1990]: Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. However, the table lists the total number of Northern Ireland civil servants employed in each district council area in Northern Ireland at present and five years ago. Given

  141
  the extent of change, firm projections of numbers in district council areas cannot be provided for the next three years.

  Northern Ireland civil service

  District council area

  Staff in post

  1985

  1990

  Coleraine

  892

  816

  Magherafelt

  169

  209

  Larne

  185

  189

  Carrickfergus

  153

  245

  Strabane

  194

  175

  Omagh

  1,061

  1,080

  Moyle

  67

  55

  Ballymoney

  145

  164

  Fermanagh

  845

  716

  Craigavon

  987

  1,041

  Dungannon

  271

  265

  Banbridge

  207

  209

  Armagh

  916

  832

  Ballymena

  907

  914

  Antrim

  471

  493

  Belfast

  14,167

  14,763

  Ards

  267

  239

  Castlereagh

  357

  866

  Down

  728

  815

  Lisburn

  863

  805

  Derry

  1,065

  1,117

  Newtownabbey

  328

  279

  Cookstown

  389

  375

  North Down

  969

  1,018

  Limavady

  220

  242

  Newry and Mourne

  647

  520

  Organisation

  Merchant Banks

  N M Rothschild & Sons Ltd

  Goldman, Sachs & Co (US)*

  Wood Gundy Inc (Canada)*

  Swiss Bank Corporation International Ltd (Europe)*

  Nomura International Ltd (Japan)*

  Brokers

  Cazenove & Co

  Underwriters

  N M Rothschild & Sons Ltd

  Kleinwort Benson Ltd

  Barclays de Zoete Wedd Ltd

  Barings Brothers & Co Ltd

  Charterhouse Bank Ltd

  County Ltd

  Robert Fleming & Co Ltd

  Hambros Bank Ltd

  Hill Samuel & Co Ltd

  Lazard Brothers & Co Ltd

  Lloyds Merchant Bank Ltd

  Samuel Montagu & Co Ltd

  Morgan Grenfell & Co Ltd

  J Henry Schroder Wagg & Co Ltd

  S G Warburg & Co Ltd

  Solicitor

  Slaughter and May

  Tax and Accountancy

  Touche Ross & Co

  Multiple Applicant Investigator

  Touche Ross & Co

  Reporting Accountants

  Price Waterhouse

  Public Relations Advisers

  Dewe Rogerson*

  Advertising Agents

  Young and Rubtcam Ltd*

ENERGY

  Severn Barrage
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the Government's position, from energy, environmental and financial aspects, on the Severn tidal barrage.

  Mr. Wakeham
  A Severn tidal barrage is by far the largest single renewable energy project which could be built in the United Kingdom. Its average annual output would be some 17 Twh, which constitutes 7 per cent. of present electrical energy consumption in England and Wales. Before a Severn tidal barrage could go ahead, a full environmental impact assessment would need to be completed.

  Over the next two years some further work on the Severn barrage will be undertaken. This will include some site specific environmental work and a study of the financing issues for a barrage. The Department is presently funding generic tidal R and D in support of site specific work on the Severn, Mersey and other estuaries. The total cost of generic environmental studies completed since 1986 and currently under way amounts to £1 million.

  British Gas
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list all the organisations which advised his Department on any aspect of the privatisation of British Gas giving in each case the dates of their involvement and in each case the aspect on which they advised.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The lead organisations and the role they played during privatisation of British Gas plc are listed in the table. The dates of their involvement are not readily available.
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  Organisation

  Reporting Petroleum Consultants

  ERC Energy Resource Consultants Ltd

  Lead Receiving Bank

  National Westminster Bank plc

  Printers

  Burrup, Mathieson & Co Ltd

  *Also advised British Gas Corporation

WALES

  Flooding
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has anything to add to his announcement on 1 March about Government help for the victims of the recent flooding in the area of Towyn.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Yes. I am pleased to say that the Government have decided to increase the donation to £150,000. As I made clear on 1 March, parliamentary approval for this expenditure will be sought by means of a summer supplementary estimate. Pending this approval, the contribution will be met by a repayable advance from the contingencies fund.

  Cancers
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the information available to him on trends during the past six years in the incidence of leukaemia, lung cancer, colon cancer and stomach cancer(a) in Wales generally and (b) in each district in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  The most recently available information on the incidence rates for these illnesses is presented in the Welsh Office publication "Cancer Registration in Wales, 1974–84"; a copy of which is in the Library.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will respond to the Welsh Affairs Committee report "The Channel Tunnel: Implications for Wales" published on 21 June 1989.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  [pursuant to the reply, 22 February 1990, c. 861.]: I am pleased to announce that the response has been published today.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Bluecoat School, Liverpool
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he now expects to make a decision on the application by Bluecoat school, Liverpool 15, to increase its entry from three forms to four forms.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. Friend still has the matter under active consideration and will come to a decision as quickly as is compatible with a full and careful consideration of all the issues involved.

  Capital Allocation, Buckinghamshire
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to be able to provide Buckinghamshire county council with a detailed 144
  breakdown of the capital allocation for Buckinghamshire for 1989–90 and 1990–91, showing the amounts attributed to each project as agreed at his meeting with the chairman of Buckinghamshire county council on 5 February.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I shall be writing to the chairman of Buckinghamshire county council shortly about allocations made to Buckinghamshire LEA. I shall send a copy to my hon. Friend.

  Fun Eating at School Today
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which local education authorities in the seven counties of south-west England have joined in FEAST—fun eating at school today.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The information requested is as follows:

  Avon

  Gloucestershire

  Cornwall

  Somerset

  Devon

  Wiltshire

  Local Management (Ealing)
  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he plans to respond to the proposals from the London borough of Ealing for local management of schools.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The scheme for local management of schools submitted by the London borough of Ealing was approved by my right hon. Friend, with certain modifications, on 1 March.

  University of Wales
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what, over the last five years for which figures are available, have been the proportions of University Grants Committee-Universities Funding Council grants to universities in the United Kingdom allocated to the university of Wales.

  Mr. Jackson
  [pursuant to his reply, 5 March 1990, c. 396]: Total University Grants Committee-Universities Funding Council grants received by the university of Wales were as follows:

  Academic year

  Wales (£ million)

  All Great Britain (£ million)

  Wales as a percentage of total

  1984–85

  76·45

  1,258·0

  6·08

  1985–86

  76·57

  1,312·0

  5·84

  1986–87

  80·61

  1,367·0

  5·90

  1987–88

  91·99

  1,482·3

  6·21

  1988–89

  93·07

  1,619·6

  5·75

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any proposals to give Gibraltar total independence.

  Mr. Maude
  No.

  UNESCO
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the decision on whether to rejoin UNESCO.

  Mr. Maude
  We are currently looking at the question of United Kingdom membership of UNESCO. As part of the process we have consulted a large number of bodies with an interest in UNESCO activities. We are now assessing their replies. Before reaching a final decision we will also take account of the forthcoming report by the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs.

  Chad
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chadian Government concerning human rights in Chad.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have not yet made any representation to the Chadian Government on human rights abuses. The Amnesty International report of 7 March has just been received and will be given careful consideration.

  Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the implications of the decision of the Soviet Union to move its nuclear warhead-testing site to Novaya Zemlya for Her Majesty's Government's policy on a verifiable nuclear test ban.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  None.

  Law of the Sea Convention
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the United Kingdom to sign the third United Nations conference on the law of the sea treaty; and what reasons the Government have for delaying their signature.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The United Kingdom has not signed the United Nations law of the sea convention because the deep sea bed mining regime for which it provides is unacceptable to us. Nevertheless, we participate in the preparatory commission in the hope that within the long period before mining can start a regime acceptable to all can be achieved. We see many of the other parts of UNLOSC as valuable and as reflecting current state practice.

  Namibia
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about Britain's help with military training for Namibia.
  146
  Mr. Waldegrave
  In response to a request from the president-elect, we sent a fact-finding team to Namibia in January to assess the requirements for establishing and training an army after independence. I am glad to tell the House that, following discussions with the future Government of Namibia, we have agreed to help with military training for the new Namibian defence force under the United Kingdom military training assistance scheme. We shall be assisting in the establishment of a Defence Ministry and the creation of a Namibian defence force able to carry out the tasks placed on it and sustainable in resource terms. The advance party of our military training team arrived in Namibia today, 13 March, and will start work immediately. The main body of the training team is due to arrive shortly after independence. I believe that this assistance and other help, which we as friends of Namibia are providing, are important in helping Namibia to establish itself successfully as an independent country and as the newest member of the Commonwealth.

TRANSPORT

  Railway Inspectorate
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received calling for the railway inspectorate to become the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I am aware of only two representations since the beginning of this year, one in favour and one against such a move.

  As my right hon. Friend said in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 27 February, Official Report, column 143, the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission has agreed to discussions on the possible transfer of the railway inspectorate to the Health and Safety Executive.

  Jubilee Line
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much British Gas is expected to contribute to the cost of constructing the Jubilee line extension;

  (2) how much British Urban Developments plc is expected to contribute to the construction of the Jubilee line extension.

  Mr. Portillo
  Agreement has been reached with British Gas on behalf of its joint development on the Greenwich peninsula. It will contribute towards the cost of the Jubilee line extension cash and benefits in kind that have been evaluated by the Department and its advisers as having a present value of more than £25 million in September 1989 prices.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the construction of the Jubilee line extension is expected to cost if built at current Underground gauge; and how much it would cost if built to BR gauge.

  Mr. Portillo
  The cost of building the Jubilee line extension via Greenwich is estimated at about £1,030
  147
  million at September 1989 prices. This assumes the building and equipment of the extension to current LUL gauge and specifications. No estimate has been made of the additional costs if the extension were built to BR gauge and specifications, but they would certainly be considerably greater.

  Debris on Railway Land
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will discuss with the chairman of British Rail at their next meeting the amount of debris on railway land to the west of the M1/A406 junction.

  Mr. Portillo
  The condition of railway land is a matter for the British Railways Board, so I would recommend my

  British Rail

  Year

  1AR

  1ER

  1LMR

  ScR

  SR

  WR

  LUL

  Other

  Total

  1979

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  43

  1980

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  32

  1981

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  27

  1982

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  27

  1983

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  28

  1984

  —

  5

  10

  4

  1

  1

  3

  1

  25

  1985

  —

  4

  11

  3

  1

  4

  1

  1

  25

  1986

  —

  0

  6

  4

  4

  1

  1

  0

  16

  1987

  —

  6

  3

  1

  5

  1

  0

  0

  16

  1988

  0

  4

  5

  1

  4

  2

  0

  0

  16

  Notes:

  AR Anglia Region

  ER Eastern Region

  LMR London Midland Region

  SCR Scottish Region

  SR Southern Region

  WR Western Region

  LUL London Underground Limited

  1Prior to 1988 the returns for Anglia Region were included with those for Eastern Region.

  Vehicle Insurance
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the number of vehicles being driven without third party insurance cover.

  Mr. Atkins
  In 1988, the most recent year for which figures are available, there were 208,568 findings of guilt by magistrates courts in England and Wales for using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks. I am not aware of any reliable estimate of the number of vehicles actually being used without insurance.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the present number of heavy goods vehicles taxed at the 38-tonne limit; and what was the number of such vehicles registered in the past five years.

  Mr. Atkins
  The number of heavy goods vehicles licensed at the maximum gross vehicle weight was 58,094 as at the end of December 1989. Figures for the previous five years are as follows:

  Number

  1988

  50,453

  1987

  39,928

  1986

  32,967

  1985

  26,309

  1984

  19,071

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  hon. Friend to pursue the matter directly with the chairman, who, I am sure, will wish to investigate the complaint.

  Railway Staff (Fatalities)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by region and by year for the last 10 years the number of railway staff who have been killed during their work.

  Mr. Portillo
  The following details, which cover all railways, are for the period 1979–88; figures for 1989 are not available. I am unable to provide a regional breakdown for the years before 1984.

  Crash Barriers
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to make the crash barriers along Britain's motorways of sufficient height to eliminate the glare from oncoming cars at night.

  Mr. Atkins
  The purpose of central reserve safety fences is to mitigate the risks and consequences of errant cars crossing into the opposite carriageway. Their ability to reduce or eliminate glare on most of the motorway network is incidental.

  A trial involving the provision of an anti-dazzle screen on top of the safety fence has been carried out on 19 km of the M6 between junctions 2 and 4. The evaluation showed that while it further reduced or eliminated glare there was no significant effect on accidents. Nonetheless, where glare has been or is identified as a serious problem because of the alignment of a particular stretch of motorway, the Department erects such a screen if it is justified on safety and financial grounds.

  Railway Tracks (Chemicals)
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he plans to take to limit the use of the chemical Atrazine by British Rail on railway tracks.

  Mr. Portillo
  I understand that the use of herbicides containing Atrazine is an effective way of preventing weed growth on the railway tracks. British Rail regularly review
  149
  the methods used by other railway organisations and conduct trials with other methods, but has not found any other as effective.

  Regional Expenditure
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the regional distribution of spending by his Department over the three most recent financial years.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: Two thirds of the Department of Transport's own expenditure on transport is spent on the national roads system; that expenditure can be broken down between the Department's own administrative regions, as shown in table 1·20 of "Transport Statistics Great Britain". Transport supplementary grant, though paid to local authorities rather than regions, can be broken down according to the geographical location of those authorities in DTp regions. Statistics for the three most recent available financial years are shown in the table.

  The balance of central Government expenditure, as shown in table 7·1 chapter 7 of the "Government's Expenditure Plans 1990–91 to 1992–93" (CM 1007) is neither planned nor controlled on a regional basis, so a comparable breakdown cannot he made.

  Regional expenditure on motorway and trunk roads by DTp region

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Northern

  24·0

  24·5

  53·1

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  47·6

  65·1

  83·1

  North West

  54·1

  83·4

  88·9

  West Midlands

  117·1

  122·5

  116·1

  East Midlands

  73·4

  72·9

  65·2

  Eastern

  197·2

  171·2

  118·6

  South West

  47·0

  64·5

  98·2

  South East

  136·0

  86·3

  183·8

  London

  43·8

  60·3

  82·2

  Notes:

  1. Figures include some estimates

  2. Sum of figures for England, differ from those voted in the Supply Estimates because of differences in sources.

  Transport supplementary grant by DTp region

  1986·87

  1987·88

  1988·89

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Northern

  9·76

  10·70

  12·24

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  14·46

  14·69

  12·91

  North West

  23·31

  24·28

  15·15

  West Midlands

  17·21

  18·72

  21·30

  East Midlands

  12·93

  13·13

  12·03

  Eastern

  5·27

  7·52

  6·15

  South West

  14·31

  15·68

  19·05

  South East

  34·49

  36·45

  40·37

  London

  32·27

  38·78

  41·78

  The sums involved are as follows:

  £000s

  Privatisation

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  11989–90

  11990–91

  Sales of Shares in National Freight Corporation

  151

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sale of Shares in Associated British Ports

  —

  1,809

  260

  1,494

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sale of Shares in British Airways plc

  —

  —

  50

  1,012

  674

  20,804

  11,364

  72

  570

  3

  Sale of Shares in BAA plc

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  564

  41,149

  3,095

  17

  1,500

  Public Relations
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, in the press and public relations office of his Department; and what is the proposed complement for 1990–91.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: The Department has a current complement, within its information division, of 16 posts for press and public relations, with no vacancies. The proposed complement for 1990–91 is 16.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990–91.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: The total expenditure on the Department's press and public relations office since 1984–85 is as follows:

  £

  1984–85

  339,426

  1985–86

  354,393

  1986–87

  363,446

  1987–88

  389,473

  1988–89

  437,950

  11989–90

  451,214

  21990–91

  480,000

  1 estimate

  2 budget

  These figures cover the overall costs of running the press office, calculated using HM Treasury simplified ready reckoner for staff and other costs. Before 1984–85 the information division was a common service of the Departments of Transport and of the Environment and the Property Services Agency.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total sum paid out in fees to outside organisations in the furtherance of privatisation by his Department in 1979–80 and in each subsequent year; and what is his estimate for 1990–91.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: The information is as follows:

  151

  Privatisation

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  11989–90

  11990–91

  Sale of National Bus Company Operations

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  635

  324

  139

  38

  15

  British Rail Privatisation Study (Consultants' Fees)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  94

  542

  270

  1 Estimate.

  No expenditure was incurred before 1981–82.

  Advertising Expenditure
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990–91.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: The spending by my Department on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year is as follows:

  Television

  Radio

  Newspaper

  Other

  £'000s

  £'000s

  £'000s

  £'000s

  1979–80

  4,141

  62

  105

  1,532

  1980–81

  3,502

  336

  129

  1,737

  1981–82

  3,615

  6

  410

  1,457

  1982–83

  2,319

  98

  816

  1,415

  1983–84

  4,655

  22

  334

  1,488

  1984–85

  1,723

  207

  476

  2,873

  1985–86

  70

  858

  834

  4,026

  1986–87

  72

  520

  738

  4,489

  1987–88

  2,310

  50

  140

  3,010

  1988–89

  1,867

  110

  365

  3,367

  1989–90

  1,930

  113

  332

  3,189

  Detailed decisions have not yet been taken on expenditure by media for 1990–91, but the overall figure is expected to be £6·6 million.

  A2
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the likely timetable for implementation of the proposal to dual the A2 road between Lydden and Dover.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: It is too early to forecast the timing of construction of the A2 Lydden (B2060)-Dover improvement scheme which has only just entered the national trunk road programme. Detailed programmes have not yet been prepared. Meanwhile the roads report, "Trunk Roads, England—Into The 1990s", shows "Preferred Route" as the next key preparation stage, with a target date of 1993. This would be followed by detailed design work, leading to publication of formal draft order proposals under the Highways Act.

  The first step will be the appointment of design agents to work up options.

  M1
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 1 March,Official Report, columns 279–80, what are the peak hours on the M1 between junctions 6 and 12.
  152
  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: Peak hours are 0700 to 1000 southbound and 1630 to 1900 hours northbound on most weekdays, Friday afternoons in both directions and Sunday evenings southbound.

  Palmer Report
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the leaflet explaining the role of the traffic commissioners and the traffic area offices promised following the Palmer report will be available; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: The Palmer report recommended that the Bus and Coach Council should be asked to draw up a code of practice on complaints from passengers, covering in particular the provision of suitable notices notifying passengers where complaints should be addressed. The Bus and Coach Council has agreed to undertake this task, in association with my Department, and work is due to begin on it shortly. I will place a copy of the code of practice in the Library when it is ready.

  Kleinwort Benson
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions and for what purpose his Department has commissioned work from Kleinwort Benson since July 1988.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: None

  Badgers
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration is given to resident badger populations when(a) designing and (b) constructing new roads.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: We aim, where possible, to design trunk roads to avoid interfering with badgers. Where setts or runs may be affected, advice is obtained from the Nature Conservancy Council and local wildlife trusts about steps to be taken to move the badgers or maintain their runs. Badger-proof fencing alongside the road and badger tunnels under the carriageway are provided where appropriate. There are examples on the M3, M25 and M40.

  Badgers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the respective Secretary of State.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners (Incomes)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest figures of average mean household income in Britain for retired people; what are
  153
  the latest comparable figures for each European Community state; and whether he will launch a survey to calculate costs facing pensioners as against those in full employment.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Analysis of data in the 1987 family expenditure survey shows that the average pensioners' total net income in 1987 was £99–90 a week1. There are no comparable figures available for other European Community states. We do not see a need for a survey along the lines proposed.

  Footnote: Family Expenditure Survey.

  1This refers to pensioner tax units.

  Pensions
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his estimate of the cost of paying full retirement pension regardless of contribution record to persons who were excepted from liability to pay non-employed contributions to the original national insurance scheme;

  (2) what is his estimate of the number of men and women who are excepted from liability to pay non-employed contributions to the national insurance scheme from 1948, who, as a result of this are now receiving a reduced retirement pension.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I regret that the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Child Benefit
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the rate of child benefit at the present time if it had been uprated with inflation since 1987.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The rate would be £8.

  Unclaimed Benefit
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the amount saved by his Department in respect of unclaimed benefit in the last financial year.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs. Ewing) on 7 December 1989 at column 342. Information is available only for income-related benefits.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the advantages that will accrue to people with disabilities in 1992 on completion of the single market in relation to any benefits, goods or services they receive in respect of their disabilities; if he will list them; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The United Kingdom is currently included in the European Communities' second action programme in favour of disabled people called HELIOS. A major component is the development of "Handynet", a multilingual, multinational computerised database of information for people with disabilities. The first module "Handyaids" is expected to have beneficial effects by 154
  stimulating consumption production and competition. This should give rise to economies of scale, leading to a reduction in the price of products and improving their quality.

  As for social security, the completion of the internal market will not in itself have any effect on the situation of people with disabilities in the United Kingdom.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are in receipt of invalidity benefit; and how many of those are also in receipt of income support.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  At April 1988, the latest date for which information is available, there were 1,047,500 people in receipt of invalidity benefit. Information for income support is not available for precisely the same period, but in May 1988 there were 101,705 people in receipt of both benefits.

  Disability Allowance
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy that, following the introduction of the disability allowance, children under two years with attendance needs will qualify for attendance allowance after a three-month waiting period.

  Mr. Scott
  Yes.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the uptake of family credit in(a) the Liverpool area and (b) other areas in the north-west.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The latest available information about the families receiving family credit who, at the time their award was made, were living in the areas concerned is as follows:

  (a) In the areas covered by the local social security offices in Liverpool—5,600;

  (b) In the areas covered by all the local social security offices in the Department of Social Security's North Western Region—56,000.

  Information about the total number of families eligible for family credit can be obtained only for Great Britain, and only retrospectively, from the family expenditure survey data.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of national insurance contributors are currently benefiting from the existence of the ceiling on contributions.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  It is estimated that approximately 16 per cent. of contributors have earnings in excess of the upper earnings limit for class 1 primary national insurance contributions.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many employers have been tried and found guilty of fraud in respect of national insurance contributions over the last 10 years; and what was the sentence in each case.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 8 March 1990]: In the last five years, the number of employers against

  155
  whom either civil or criminal proceedings have been taken by DSS in respect of non-payment of national insurance contributions is as follows:

  Year

  Number of cases

  1984–85

  2,896

  1985–86

  1,272

  1986–87

  1,523

  1987–88

  1,264

  1988–89

  1,528

  Information for earlier years is not available. It is not possible to identify the number of these cases involving fraud.

PRIME MINISTER

  Conservation
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations she has received relating to Government action to conserve biodiversity.

  The Prime Minister
  I receive many representations on a wide range of subjects concerned with the environment. These include the need to conserve biodiversity, particularly in tropical forests. The further £100 million which we have allocated over the next three years to tropical forestry activities will contribute to the maintenance of biological diversity. In my speech to the United Nations General Assembly last November I indicated my support for a global convention on the environment which would help to conserve biodiversity.

  Demersal Fisheries
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have received regarding proposals to reduce fishing effort in the North sea demersal fisheries from 1 March 1990.

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland have consulted representatives of the fishing industry about the measures necessary to reduce fishing for North sea haddock in 1990 by 30 per cent. and they have taken careful account of the representations that they have received., The decision on the necessary measures was announced on 8 March at column 855.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Prime Minister what progress is being made towards fulfilling the Government's conditions for joining the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  There has been significant progress on capital liberalisation, in competition policy and liberalisation of financial services, but further important decisions have yet to be taken. Further progress is needed to get inflation down.

  London Assessment Studies
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Prime Minister what has been the number of letters sent to her by London residents(a) supporting and (b) opposing the London assessment studies; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received several letters from residents of various parts of London. I have passed them on to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, who will consider them alongside the other comments he has received.

  Polish Borders
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what is her policy on the use of Her Majesty's Government's armed services to guarantee the existing borders of Poland.

  The Prime Minister
  We have no such policy. We are committed to fulfil Britain's collective defence obligations arising from the North Atlantic and modified Brussels treaties within the areas covered by these treaties. We are also committed to the principles set out in the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, including the inviolability of frontiers. The question of Poland's borders needs to be finally settled by a binding treaty instrument. We welcome the Federal German Government's intention to reaffirm the inviolability of Poland's borders.

  South Africa
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister how many representations she has received from British investors in South Africa supporting the lifting of sanctions.

  The Prime Minister
  A number.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister if she has received any communications from President de Klerk following the release of Nelson Mandela.

  The Prime Minister
  We are in frequent contact with the South African Government at all levels on a wide range of issues, both here and through Her Majesty's ambassador.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will seek to persuade the South African Government to allow the free flow of funds from outside South Africa to the United Democratic Front.

  The Prime Minister
  I understand that there are no impediments to the flow of funds from outside South Africa to the United Democratic Front.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister what methods it is her policy to use to facilitate the abolition of apartheid in South Africa; and if she will make a further statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence) on 7 March at column 692.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations the Government has made to South Africa about its activities in Mozambique; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The South African Government have publicly declared that neither they nor the South
  157
  African defence force are providing support for Renamo and that South Africa is committed to a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. The South African Government are in no doubt of our views about the territorial integrity of neighbouring states.

  Engagements
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 March.

  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 March.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 March.

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

SCOTLAND

  Loch Lomond
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to confer on the Loch Lomond area the status of a national park.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There no such plans at present. The designation of the area as a regional park was confirmed by the Secretary of State in April 1988 and it would therefore be appropriate to allow this new arrangement to be developed.

  The Government will however carefully consider any proposals from the Countryside Commission for Scotland following its review of the management of popular mountain areas.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of people in Scotland who have had their property confiscated as a result of not paying the community charge.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information as to the number of poindings and warrant sales undertaken in respect of community charge arrears is not held centrally.

  Student Finance
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students will be grant or loan funded by the Scottish Office in 1990–91 as against 1989–90.

  Mr. Lang
  For session 1990–91, the estimated number of students who will be assisted by the Scottish Education Department is 66,000. The latest available figure for session 1989–90 is 66,024. The number of eligible students who will take advantage of the loans facility in session 1990–91 is estimated at 52,600.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the expenditure by the Scottish Office in 1990–91(a) on student grants and (b) on student loans.
  158
  Mr. Lang
  The information is as follows:

  (a) £163·6 million

  (b) £15·7 million

  Self-governing Schools
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been allocated in the Scottish Office budget for 1990–91 to meet the cost of balloting parents and preparing proposals for self-governing status in schools, and for transitional and special purpose grants to any schools which become self-governing in 1990–91.

  Mr. Lang
  Forecast expenditure of £300,000 has been included in financial plans for 1990–91. Actual provision will be published in the supply estimates for 1990–91 to be laid before the House shortly.

  Assisted Places
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the cost of the assisted places scheme in 1990–91; and what it was in 1989–90.

  Mr. Lang
  The estimated cost of the scheme in the current school year is £6·8 million. Planned expenditure in the 1990–91 school year is £7·8 million.

  Red Deer Commission
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the funding of the Red Deer Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The report of the Agriculture Committee on land use and forestry recommended that the commission should be given the powers and resources necessary to achieve a programmed reduction in the open hill population of red deer. The Government's response to the Committee's report is currently being considered.

  My right hon. and learned Friend has also recently received the Red Deer Commission's annual report for 1988, which comments on the resources available to the commission. The annual budget for the commission's work is determined within the normal public expenditure procedures.

  Heart Disease
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received the report of the management consultants who were appointed to review health education in Scotland; and if he will make a statement on the position of coronary heart disease prevention in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Touche Ross Management Consultants submitted their report on health education in Scotland on 21 December. A copy of their report has been placed in the Library.

  The consultants have produced a comprehensive study and detailed recommendations which will require careful consideration. In the light of their proposals, the Government intend to take the following steps:
  A national policy statement on health education in Scotland with a positive orientation towards health promotion will be prepared and, following consultation, will be widely disseminated;

  159
  The statement will provide guidance on approaches to health education appropriate to Scottish needs and circumstances; and it will provide guidance on the relationship between a general positive life styles approach and more specifically targeted approaches;
  Powers will be sought in the National Health Service and Community Care Bill, enabling a new national health education organisation to be established. It is envisaged that the new organisation, which will replace the Scottish Health Education Group, will come into operation on 1 April 1991;
  The new health education organisation will operate within the framework of the national policy statement and on the basis of policy guidance from the Scottish Home end Health Department;
  The organisation will take steps to improve the publication and supply of health education material to health boards and other interested groups;
  Health boards will be required to develop a strategy for health education within guidelines set by the national policy statement;
  Liaison between the national organisation and health boards will be improved by the establishment of a formal liaison group;
  The national organisation will commission research to establish the cost-effectiveness of health education/promotion programmes.

  The Scottish Health Education Group will continue its activities in the meantime and provide the main staffing and expertise of the new organisation.

  A study on coronary heart disease in Scotland undertaken by a working group of the Scottish Health Service Planning Council on Prevention and Health Promotion has also been completed and a copy of the group's report has been placed in the Library.

  The group has confirmed the serious incidence of coronary heart diseases in Scotland and advised that the general positive life styles approach, already adopted in Scotland, is the most effective means of preventing coronary heart disease. It recommends, however, that this general approach should be presented more aggressively than at present and should be reinforced by an approach which targets health education at individuals most at risk, principally through the primary care sector.

  The prevention of coronary heart disease will be one of the specific subjects that will be addressed in the Government's national policy statement and in the remit given to the new health education body. The details of the proposed individual approach will be carefully examined and taken into account in the continuing development of our approach to coronary heart disease prevention.

  The Government acknowledge the capable work of Touche Ross Management Consultants and the Scottish Health Service Planning Council Working Group on Prevention and Health Promotion and believe that the strategy outlined in this answer, which is based on their conclusions, will enable health education generally, and coronary heart disease in particular, to be tackled more effectively in Scotland.

  City Technology Academies
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was or is planned to be spent on city technology academies in 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: There was no expenditure on technology academies in 1988–89. In the current financial year, following the appointment of a project director in March 1989, around £100,000 has so far been spent, on salary costs, professional fees for site assessments and so on, and travel and office costs. Planned expenditure for 1990–91 is £3·3 million.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Negligence
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances the Treasury indemnifies private undertakings for their negligence; and if he will list the undertakings so protected.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  As a general rule the Government do not indemnify private undertakings for their negligence.

  However, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales have, with the agreement of the Treasury, issued to certain water undertakers (i) statutory indemnities under section 172 of the Water Act 1989 and (ii) non-statutory indemnities in accordance with minutes laid before Parliament on 23 November 1989. These indemnities cover liabilities incurred by the water undertakers concerned in connection with the addition of fluoride to the water they supply. The indemnities specifically exclude any liabilities, costs, expenses or expenditure incurred in respect of any criminal proceedings.

  European Investment Bank
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what interest rate and for what amount the loan was given by the European Investment Bank in respect of the Channel tunnel; and when it will be fully paid back.

  Mr. Ryder
  The European Investment Bank approved a loan of £1 billion in 1987 in respect of the Channel tunnel. The loan will primarily be at fixed interest rates and for a range of maturities of up to 25 years. The terms will reflect prevailing market conditions. Because the loan will be drawn down through a series of finance contracts phased over seven years, and not all the loan has been drawn yet, it is impossible to say at this stage when the loan will be fully paid back.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government have underwritten or offered guarantees on the European Investment Bank's loans to the Channel tunnel promoters.

  Mr. Ryder
  No.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will name the United Kingdom representative directors on the European Investment Bank board and the number of meetings each has attended in each of the years they have been directors.

  Mr. Ryder
  The United Kingdom has three full-time representative directors on the European Investment Bank board—Mr. H. P. Evans from Her Majesty's Treasury, Miss E. Llewellyn-Smith from the Department of Trade and Industry and Mr. A. J. O. Ritchie from the Union Discount Co. plc. The number of meetings each has attended in each of the years they have been directors is:

  Years

  Attendance

  Mr. H. P. Evans

  1989

  2 meetings

  Appointed in October 1989

  1990

  1 meeting

  Miss E. Llewellyn-Smith

  1987

  4 meetings

  161

  Years

  Attendance

  Appointed in May 1987

  1988

  9 meetings

  1989

  8 meetings

  1990

  2 meetings

  Mr. A. J. Ritchie

  1986

  1 meeting

  Appointed October 1986

  1987

  7 meetings

  1988

  9 meetings

  1989

  7 meetings

  1990

  2 meetings

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what loans or guarantees were given to United Kingdom projects by the European Investment Bank since 1979, with the amount in each case.

  Mr. Ryder
  The total amount of loans given by the European Investment Bank to United Kingdom projects in each year since 1979 is as follows:

  £ million

  1979

  553·3

  1980

  417·3

  1981

  139·5

  1982

  273·8

  1983

  410·7

  1984

  547·0

  1985

  660·1

  1986

  873·8

  1987

  801·3

  1988

  790·2

  1989

  1,084·3

  The European Investment Bank only rarely guarantees loans within the Community. As a general rule the guarantees on the bank's loans are provided by member states' Governments, public authorities or first-class financial institutions.

  Corporation Tax
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will express the current level of corporation tax in the United Kingdom as a percentage of gross domestic product and provide comparable figures for other European Community countries and the United States of America.

  Mr. Lilley
  On the first part of the question I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for

  Stamp duty yield attributable to residential property and average house prices

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Region

  Stamp duty yield

  Average house price

  Stamp duty yield

  Average house price

  Stamp duty yield

  Average house price

  Stamp duty yield

  Average house price

  £ million

  £

  £ million

  £

  £ million

  £

  £ million

  £

  North

  5

  22,754

  10

  25,058

  15

  23,132

  15

  30,667

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  10

  23,756

  15

  25,928

  25

  28,417

  40

  34,805

  East Midlands

  15

  25,863

  20

  29,171

  30

  33,138

  55

  43,272

  East Anglia

  15

  32,549

  15

  26,546

  35

  45,611

  45

  61,310

  South East

  145

  46,392

  205

  57,102

  295

  68,093

  360

  80,249

  Greater London

  105

  42,002

  150

  50,061

  210

  60,339

  250

  76,999

  SouthWest

  40

  34,261

  60

  39,811

  95

  46,713

  125

  61,985

  West Midlands

  20

  26,386

  25

  28,810

  40

  33,873

  60

  45,179

  North West

  15

  25,654

  20

  28,072

  35

  29,989

  50

  35,583

  Wales

  5

  25,333

  10

  27,502

  15

  30,210

  25

  36,007

  Scotland

  20

  27,260

  30

  28,115

  30

  29,428

  40

  32,031

  Northern Ireland

  23,513

  26,749

  28,094

  30,335

  Total

  400

  570

  820

  1,065

  Note: Regional figures may not add to totals due to rounding.
  162
  Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 1 March 1990, Official Report, column 265. The most recent comparable figures for European Community countries and the United States of America are given in table 12 of "Revenue Statistics of OECD Member Countries 1964–1988" which is available in the Library.

  Employee Share Ownership
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies have taken up the employee share ownership plan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 6 March 1990,Official Report, column 593.

  Stamp Duty
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the increase in the yield of stamp duty from house purchase by regions and valuation districts for the last five years; and if he will tabulate this against property value averages and stamp duty thresholds.

  Mr. Lilley
  The table gives the estimated yield from stamp duty on residential property, broken down by regions, for each of the years 1985–86 to 1988–89. The estimates for Scotland and Northern Ireland are very tentative since the available information does not distinguish receipts from residential property in those regions. Estimates of stamp duty on residential property broken down by valuation districts are not available.

  The table also sets out average regional house prices for the same years, at mortgage completion stage. This information is derived from "Housing Finance" published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

  The latest estimate of stamp duty receipts in 1989–90 attributable to residential property was given in the reply to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 7 February 1990, Official Report, column 643. A regional breakdown of this figure and average regional prices for 1989–90 are not yet available.

  The stamp duty threshold of £30,000 was set in 1984.

  Rented Property
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new lettings have been made available as a result of the introduction of the business expansion scheme in(a) inner London, (b) Greater London, (c) other metropolitan areas and (d) the United Kingdom as a whole, expressed both as a figure and as a percentage of (i) all privately rented property and (ii) all rented property.

  Mr. Lilley
  Provisional estimates for new lettings from investments under the business expansion scheme in 1988–89 are as follows. Separate figures for inner and Greater London and other metropolitan areas could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

  New lettings

  Total

  As a percentage of:

  all privately rented property

  all rented property

  South East England

  2,250

  0·4

  0·1

  United Kingdom

  6,500

  0·4

  0·1

  Information for 1989–90 is not yet available.

  Budget Statement
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whom it is his practice to consult in the preparation of his Budget statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor consults a number of people and interest groups in preparation for the Budget statement. He also receives a large number of written representations.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much additional lending has been injected into the economy since 1979 as a result of council house sales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Council house sales increase personal sector borrowing and reduce public sector borrowing. No estimates of the net effect on borrowing are available.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what inflationary impact the sale of council houses has had on the economy.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Council house sales have contributed to the improvement in the supply side of the economy and so should help the Government in their objective of reducing inflation.

  Inflation
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the current rate of inflation if mortgage interest payments were excluded from the calculation of the retail price index.

  Mr. Ryder
  It would be 6·1 per cent. in the year to January.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which European Community countries(a) include and (b) exclude mortgage interest payments in the assessment of consumer inflation.
  164
  Mr. Ryder
  Of EC countries, only the United Kingdom and Ireland include mortgage interest payments in their calculation of the consumer price index. Three other countries, Germany, Netherlands and Spain include some other indicator of owner-occupiers' costs. The remaining seven make no such allowance.

  Mortgages
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in tabular form, and at constant prices the amounts which would be payable each month(a) at 15 per cent. and (b) at 9·8 per cent., on a standard repayment mortgage repayable over 25 years, of each of the regional average mortgages listed in his answer of 19 February, Official Report, column 518, to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen).

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 8 March 1990]: The monthly interest payments, after deduction of basic rate tax relief, for part (a) are given in the table. For part (b), I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 26 February 1990, Official Report, column 12.

  Region

  Average new mortgage1

  Monthly payment2 15 per cent, interest rate

  £

  £

  Northern

  28,400

  266·25

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  29,600

  277·50

  East Midlands

  34,700

  340·00

  East Anglia

  44,600

  463·75

  Greater London

  60,900

  667·50

  South East

  53,200

  571·25

  South West

  43,700

  452·50

  West Midlands

  33,800

  328·75

  North West

  31,300

  297·50

  Wales

  30,200

  283·75

  Scotland

  26,500

  248·44

  Northern Ireland

  24,200

  226·88

  United Kingdom

  38,300

  385·00

  1 Third quarter 1989.

  2 Assuming endowment mortgage.

  Composite Rate Tax
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will update the answer given to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) on 13 February 1989,Official Report, column 80, on composite rate tax on investment income;

  (2) if he will update the answer on interest taxation given to the hon. Member for Dunfermline, East (Mr. Brown) on 10 January 1989, Official Report, column 630;

  (3) if he will update the answer on taxation given to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths) on 13 February 1989, Official Report, column 84.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 8 March 1990]: The latest information is as follows. Estimates for 1986–87 are now final.

  There were some 64 million accounts subject to composite rate and which earned over £1 interest in 1986–87, some of which were held by clubs or other non-individuals. Of these accounts, it is estimated that 49 million were held by investors whose composite rate interest would be wholly liable to tax in the absence of

  165
  composite rate system, and 13 million by investors none of whose composite rate interest would be liable. The balance of about 2 million accounts was held by investors part of whose interest would be liable to tax if there were no composite rate system.

  In 1988–89, the latest year for which information is available, about £450 million of the composite rate tax accounted for by building societies, banks and other deposit takers was due in respect of interest that would not have been liable to tax in the hands of its recipients in the absence of a composite rate scheme, and about £3,050 million was due in respect of interest that would have been liable to tax.

  Business Expansion Scheme
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will give figures to show the tax revenue written off in respect of the business expansion scheme for(a) nursing homes and clinics and (b) hospitals opened for each year since 1983;

  (2) if he will give the total number of schemes involving (a) nursing homes and clinics and (b) hospitals which have taken advantage of the business expansion scheme; and if he will give the total bed numbers involved in each scheme.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 8 March 1990]: I regret that the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Statistical Divisions
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in the Central Office of Information; if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts; and if he will give the staffing complements by grade, and differentiated between statistical and administrative posts, proposed for 1990–91.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: The Central Office of Information does not have statistical divisions or staff in statistical posts; nor are any proposed for in 1990–91.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in his Department; if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts; and if he will give the staffing complements by grade, and differentiated between statistical and administrative posts, proposed for 1990–91.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: The information is as follows:

  Staff in Statistical Divisions1

  Staff in post 1 February 1990

  Budgeted complement 1989–90

  Budgeted complement 1990–91

  Unified Grade 51

  2

  2

  2

  Unified Grade 72

  8

  8

  7

  SEO

  2

  4

  3

  166

  Staff in post 1 February 1990

  Budgeted complement 1989–90

  Budgeted complement 1990–91

  HEO

  4

  5

  6

  Senior assistant statistician/ Assistant statistician

  4

  4

  4

  EO

  11

  11

  11

  AO/AA

  13

  13

  14

  Total

  44

  47

  47

  Notes:

  1 Defined as divisions headed by Grade 5 Chief Statistician and employed mainly on statistical work. There are other statistician posts in Her Majesty's Treasury which are not included in the above figures.

  2 At the senior levels of the service, where management forms a major component of most jobs, there are service-wide common pay and grading arrangements. These unified grades 1 to 7 are known as the Open structure and cover grades from Permanent Secretary level to Grade 7 level. Within the unified grades there are no formal barriers to movement between the former occupational groups, e.g. scientists, administrators, statisticians; each post should be filled by the person best equipped in terms of skills, ability and experience.

  Public Relations
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, in the press and public relations office of the Central Office of Information; and what is the proposed complement for 1990–91.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: The press office of the Central Office of Information is staffed by one information officer. No increase is proposed for 1990–91.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, in the press and public relations office of his Department and what is the proposed complement for 1990–91.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: The number of press and public relations staff employed in Her Majesty's Treasury on 1 February 1990 was 10 and the budgeted provision was 10; the budgeted provision for 1990–91 is 10.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total expenditure by the Central Office of Information on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990–91.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: The cost of the press office of the Central Office of Information for 1979–80 to 1983–84 are not readily available. The costs from 1984–85 are as follows:

  £

  1984–85

  52,528

  1985–86

  35,173

  1986–87

  31,234

  1987–88

  31,185

  1988–89

  43,450

  1989–90

  148,850

  1990–91

  248,700

  1 Estimate.

  2 Budget.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total sum paid in fees to outside organisations in the furtherance of privatisation by the Central Office of Information in 1979–80 and in each subsequent year; and what is his estimate for 1990–91.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: No fees have been paid by the Central Office of Information in the furtherance of privatisation. However, the Central Office of Information has been involved in the following privatisation publicity campaigns:

  Date

  Campaign

  December 1986

  British Gas

  February 1987

  British Airways

  May 1987

  Rolls-Royce

  July 1987

  British Airports Authority

  October 1987

  British Petroleum

  September 1988

  British Steel

  September 1989

  Water Authorities

  The costs of these campaigns have been included in answers provided by the Government Department concerned.

  Advertising Expenditure
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the figures for the spending by the Central Office of Information on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990–91.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: Figures for the Central Office of Information on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 to 1985–86 were given in the answer at columns 240–42 on 25 November 1986. Figures for the years 1986–87 to 1989–90 are listed in the table.

  Television Advertising

  Radio Advertising

  Press Advertising

  Other Promotion al Material

  £000s

  £000s

  £000s

  £000s

  1986–87

  45,517

  3,278

  33,168

  15,600

  1987–88

  45,170

  1,559

  32,665

  18,000

  1988–89

  34,714

  1,576

  41,324

  26,100

  1989–901

  49,096

  2,204

  53,310

  28,000

  1 Estimate

  The figures for 1986–87 and subsequent years are now shown on the basis of invoices issued to client departments in the financial year in question. This is a different basis from that used previously. The figures for TV and radio advertising also now include production costs. Privatisations are included. All figures are VAT exclusive.
  168
  Detailed decisions on estimated expenditure on advertising through the Central Office of Information on behalf of other Government Departments for 1990–91 are for departmental Ministers.

  Management Consultants
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total fees paid out by the Central Office of Information to management consultants in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990–91.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: Fees paid by the Central Office of Information to management consultants are as follows:

  £

  1979–80

  nil

  1980–81

  nil

  1981–82

  67,690

  1982–83

  159,424

  1983–84

  243,868

  1984–85

  35–883

  1985–86

  49,338

  1986–87

  1,050

  1987–88

  nil

  1988–89

  nil

  1989–90

  170,000

  1990–91

  280,000

  1 Estimate.

  2 Budget.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, for the latest available year and on a comparable basis, the value of gross domestic product per capita adjusted for purchasing power parity for the member states of the European Community, Canada, Japan and the United States of America.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: Following is the information requested.

  GDP per capita at purchasing power parities 19891

  Thousands

  US$

  United Kingdom

  14·3

  United States of America

  21·0

  Japan

  15·6

  Canada

  19·8

  Germany

  15·4

  France

  14·7

  Italy

  14·0

  Belgium

  13·8

  Denmark

  14·4

  Greece

  7·3

  Ireland

  8·9

  Luxembourg

  16·7

  Netherlands

  13·9

  Portugal

  7·0

  Spain

  10·2

  1 Population data are for 1988.

  Source: OECD, provisional figures.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  South Africa
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate how many people's employment in the United Kingdom is dependent upon trade with South Africa; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Our estimate is that about 50,000 full-time job equivalents may be involved in the export of goods to South Africa. No information is available on the level of exports of services. This is a broad estimate based on the level of visible trade with that country together with an assumption about the relationship between output and employment.

  Business Development
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the take-up in Lancashire of his various programmes of assistance to encourage business development.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The following information details the take-up in Lancashire of current Department of Trade and Industry programmes of assistance. All figures are from the date in brackets to the end of January 1990:Enterprise Initiative (January 1988): 1,031 business reviews have been carried out. Of these 857 have been referred for consultancy advice, and 333 of these projects have been completed.
  Regional Selective Assistance (November 1984): In the Blackburn, Accrington and Rossendale travel-to-work area and the West Lancashire part of the Liverpool travel-to-work area, 248 offers have been made totalling £27,057,463.
  Small Firms Merit Award for Research and Technology (SMART) (October 1988): Two offers have been made totalling £74,350.

  Company Audits
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce procedures under which his Department will monitor the audit qualification appearing in the accounts of large companies with a view to taking early action to deal with the reasons for such qualifications.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. My Department will, however, continue to respond to specific complaints about non-compliance with statutory requirements relating to company accounts. In addition, the review panel to be established under the new Financial Reporting Council will consider instances of material departures by large companies from accounting standards.

  Insider Dealing
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to increase the resources available for the investigation of insider dealing; and if he proposes any structural changes within his Department to increase its effectiveness in this area.

  Mr. Redwood
  Inspectors appointed under section 177 of the Financial Services Act 1986 to investigate possible insider dealing offences have normally been from outside my Department. However, members of the companies 170
  investigations branches of the Department have been appointed in two recent cases, and my right hon. Friend will continue to make such appointments in appropriate cases. Responsibility within the investigations division of my Department for appointment of and liaison with section 177 inspectors has recently been brought under the inspector of companies. I shall continue to keep the organisation of the work under review with a view to ensuring efficient operation.

  The Companies Act 1989 contains provisions enabling the Secretary of State to consent to the bringing of prosecutions, for example by the stock exchange, for insider dealing offences; and also to enable him to investigate on behalf of overseas regulators. These provisions came into force on 21 February.

  Stamps
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will discuss with the chairman of the Post Office(a) matters relating to the possible forgery and fraudulent use of the 20p commemorative penny black stamp and (b) the question of the illegal reuse of stamps made possible because of unsatisfactory franking ink; what investigation has been undertaken into possible fraud by such means; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The Post Office naturally keeps such issues under constant review. It does not consider stamp forgery to be a major problem or that the penny black anniversary issue is any more vulnerable than other stamps. It believes that the information obtained from a major fraud investigation last year has enabled it to tighten measures to prevent fraud.

  Mailing List Brokers
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce statutory regulation of the activities of mailing list brokers.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have no plans to do so. Those who own and supply mailing lists which are processed electronically will be subject to the relevant provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984.

  The Advertising Association also operates a code of practice on the use of personal data for advertising and direct marketing purposes.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received any representations about the activities of mailing list brokers.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have received no specific representations, although my Department receives some letters from members of the public who dislike receiving unsolicited mail from sources with which they have had no previous dealings.

  Package Travel
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with his European counterparts with regard to the application of the European directive on package travel to business travel packages; whether agreement has been reached on its application to business trips the elements of which are booked separately; and if he will make a statement.
  171
  Mr. Forth
  The common position on the draft package travel directive reached by EC Ministers at the 21 and 22 December Council was formally agreed on 22 February this year. The directive will normally apply to a pre-arranged package for business purposes. However, a statement in the minutes records the agreement of the Council and the Commission that when a business trip involves separate bookings of transport and accommodation which do not constitute elements of a pre-arranged package, this will not constitute a package for the purposes of the directive. This is the position even though they are invoiced simultaneously by the travel agent.

  Credit Cards
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in seeking undertakings from credit card companies on restrictions on merchant acquisition and the no-discrimination rule following the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on credit card services.

  Mr. Redwood
  On 22 August 1989 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State published the MMC report on credit card services. The MMC made two recommendations applicable to both the Visa and Mastercard organisations:the "No Discrimination" rule, under which traders are required to charge the same price for purchases made with credit cards as those paid for by cash or other means, should not apply within the UK;
  certain rules restricting the freedom of issuers of Visa and Mastercard cards to act as merchant acquirers should not apply in the UK.

  He announced last year that he had accepted the recommendations and decided then that the Director General of Fair Trading should seek voluntary undertakings from the companies concerned to implement these recommendations.

  On 27 November 1989 Visa was granted leave to apply for judicial review of certain aspects of the MMC report, and certain of the subsequent actions of both the Secretary of State and the Director General of Fair Trading. Visa has subsequently confirmed that it is unwilling to enter into voluntary undertakings on merchant acquisition until after the outcome of the judicial review is known.

  In view of this and the delays in implementing the recommendations of the MMC which might result, the Secretary of State has decided to ask the Director General of Fair Trading not to proceed with the negotiation of undertakings.

  Instead the Secretary of State will begin the process of statutory consultation preliminary to the making of orders under section 56 of the Fair Trading Act. No decision has yet been taken on when these orders should come into force.

  The Secretary of State announced in December that credit card companies will have to provide the Director General of Fair Trading with information on their charges to retailers and on interchange fees, and to publish certain information. We are now considering representations made to us before initiating the statutory consultation procedure preliminary to the enactment of an order.

  Public Relations
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff,172
  including vacant posts in the press and public relations office of his Department; and what is the proposed complement for 1990–91.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: There are 39 posts in the Department's press office; two are currently vacant. The total includes 15 clerical and support posts. The complement for 1990–91 will be broadly similar.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990–91.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: Separate figures for expenditure on press and public relations before 1987–88 are not readily available. Expenditure in that year and subsequently was:

  £ thousands

  1987–88

  1,155

  1988–89

  1,633

  11989–90

  1,847

  1estimated.

  The figures include regional press officer and other support services. I expect expenditure in 1990–91 to be broadly the same as in the current year.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total sum paid out in fees to outside organisations in the furtherance of privatisation by his Department in 1979–80 and in each subsequent year; and what is his estimate for 1990–91.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: The answer given in reply to a similar question last year on 13 March 1989, Official Report, columns 102–03, gave actual figures for expenditure on expenses associated with privatisations to 1987–88. The following table, based on published information, shows gross expenditure incurred in connection with the sale of shares in British Steel, British Telecom, Rolls-Royce, and Rover Group plc since then, together with an estimate of expenditure in 1990–91. The figures exclude subscriptions for new shares and injections of funds for restructuring, but include commission and some items (such as stamp duty) which were not paid as fees to outside organisations. The Department also incurred expenses in 1988–89 and 1989–90 under individual contracts for advice to the Department in connection with the sales by the Post Office of Girobank plc and by British Shipbuilders of individual businesses and assets: figures for these are excluded on the grounds of commercial confidentiality.

  (£000s)

  Company

  Year

  Amount

  Rolls-Royce

  1988–89

  11,155

  1989–90

  21

  Rover

  1988–89

  11,655

  British Steel

  1988–89

  158,262

  1989–90

  23,000

  British Telecom

  31988–89

  121

  1989–90

  212

  1 Actual.

  2Provisional.

  173
  3 Only an aggregated figure for a variety of expenses was shown in the Appropriation Accounts.

  Estimated costs for residual expenditure associated with the sale of shares in Rolls-Royce, British Steel and British Telecom in 1990–91 are £15,000.

  Advertising Expenditure
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio

  £ 0001

  Television advertising

  Radio advertising

  Press advertising

  Other promotional materials2

  1979–80

  —

  5

  249

  599

  1980–81

  —

  9

  528

  920

  1981–82

  —

  30

  800

  1,366

  1982–83

  730

  71

  1,341

  1,101

  1983–84

  192

  —

  1,198

  1,325

  1984–85

  32

  —

  2,081

  1,445

  1985–86

  —

  —

  1,216

  877

  1986–87

  —

  3

  987

  1,008

  1987–88

  5,664

  57

  3,417

  1,501

  1988–89

  13,500

  75

  4,300

  4,800

  1989–903

  5,400

  500

  3,700

  4,600

  1 Figures include expenditure through the Central Office of Information and, where appropriate, expenditure by the former Departments of Industry and Trade.

  2 Publications, audio-visual materials and posters.

  3 Estimated.

  Media allocations for 1990–91 have not yet been made, but I expect expenditure to be within the present year's total.

  Management Consultants
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the total fees paid out by his Department to management consultants in 1979–s80 and in each following year; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990–91.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the fees paid by the Department of Trade and Industry for general consultancies from 1984–85 to 1988–s89 and the latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990–91 are given in the table. The apparent decrease from 1986–87 indicates a shift of consultancy expenditure from general to programme-related consultancies for which separate consolidated records are not kept. The allocation for 1990–91 will be set shortly in the light of the Department's annual activity and resource management review.

  £000s

  1984–85

  6,104

  1985–86

  6,417

  1986–87

  4,650

  1987–88

  3,050

  1988–89

  2,516

  1989–90

  13,000

  1 Forecast outturn.

HEALTH

  Children (Illegal Employment)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has of the number of illegally employed children in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.
  174
  advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990–91.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: Expenditure from the Department's central publicity budget was as follows:

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the official estimate of the number of children illegally employed in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any estimate available of children employed illegally; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the number of children illegally employed in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave the hon. Members for Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. Dunnachie) and for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) on 9 March at columns 893–94.

  Mental Patients
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will update the information given in the answer to the question from the hon. Member for Dagenham on 21 January 1987,Official Report, columns 614–16.

  Mr. Freeman
  The figures for 1986 are given in the table and exclude deaths. Figures on duration of stay at discharge are not centrally collected at unit level after

  Discharges from hospitals with mental illness beds only of patients having a length of stay of five years or more England 1986

  District Health Authority

  Hospital

  1986

  Northern Regional Health Authority

  South Tees

  St. Lukes

  7

  East Cumbria

  Garlands

  12

  South West Durham

  Holywood Hall

  13

  Winterton

  19

  Northumberland

  St. Georges Morpeth

  4

  175

  District Health Authority

  Hospital

  1986

  Gateshead

  St. Mary's

  5

  Newcastle

  St. Nicholas

  2

  Sunderland

  Cherry Knowle

  13

  Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  East Yorkshire

  Broadgate

  26

  Scunthorpe

  Thorpe Road, Howden

  0

  Clifton

  16

  Naburn

  1

  Bradford

  Lynfield Mount

  2

  Airedale

  Scalebor Park

  6

  Leeds Western

  High Royds

  34

  Wakefield

  Stanley Royd

  28

  Trent Regional Health Authority

  Southern Derbyshire

  The Pastures

  23

  Kingsway

  11

  Leicestershire

  The Towers, Regional Secure Unit

  5

  Carlton Hayes

  11

  North Lincolnshire

  St. John's Lincoln

  10

  South Lincolnshire

  Rauceby

  9

  Nottingham

  Mapperley

  5

  St. Francis

  0

  Saxondale

  60

  Barnsley

  Kendray

  5

  Doncaster

  Loversall

  6

  Sheffield

  Sheffield Mental Illness Unit

  20

  East Anglian Regional Health Authority

  Cambridge

  Fulbourn

  16

  East Suffolk

  St. Audry's

  37

  Norwich

  Hellesdon

  2

  St. Andrew's

  6

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  St. Nicholas

  1

  North West Thames Regional Health Authority

  North West Hertfordshire

  Hill End

  14

  Barnet

  Napsbury

  11

  Ealing

  St. Bernard's Wing, Ealing

  18

  Brent

  Shenley

  23

  Riverside

  Horton

  12

  Banstead

  245

  North East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Southend

  Run well

  32

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood

  Warley

  14

  Hampstead

  Friern

  6

  City and Hackney

  German

  2

  Tower Hamlets

  The London Hospital St. Clement's

  4

  Redbridge

  Goodmayes

  28

  Waltham Forest

  Thorpe Coombe

  0

  Claybury

  25

  South East Thames Regional Health Authority

  Eastbourne

  Hellingly

  22

  Dartford and Gravesham

  Stone House

  3

  Maidstone

  Maidstone

  11

  Tunbridge Wells

  Sundridge

  0

  Bexley

  Bexley

  6

  Bromley

  Cane Hill

  21

  West Lambeth

  Tooting Bee

  12

  South West Thames Regional Health Authority

  North West Surrey

  Ottershaw

  1

  West Surrey and North East Hants

  Brookwood

  23

  Mid Surrey

  West Park

  4

  East Surrey

  Netherne and Fairdene

  29

  Chichester

  Graylingwell

  12

  Mid Downs

  St. Francis, Haywards Heath

  9

  Croydon

  Warlingham Park

  6

  Kingston and Esher

  Long Grove

  12

  176

  District Health Authority

  Hospital

  1986

  Wandsworth

  Springfield

  8

  Wessex Regional Health Authority

  East Dorset

  St. Ann's Poole

  1

  West Dorset

  Herrison

  19

  Portsmouth and South East

  Hampshire

  St. James's Portsmouth

  20

  Basingstoke and North Hampshire

  Basingstoke District Park Prewett

  29

  Salisbury

  The Old Manor

  2

  Bath District

  Roundway

  33

  Oxford Regional Health Authority

  West Berkshire

  Hungerford

  1

  Fair Mile

  15

  Aylesbury Vale

  St. John's Stone

  25

  Northampton

  St. Crispin

  9

  Oxfordshire

  Littlemore

  7

  Warneford

  3

  South Western Regional Health Authority

  Bristol and Weston

  Barrow

  3

  Frenchay

  Glenside

  12

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  Trevillis House

  0

  Exeter

  Exe Vale-Digby and Wonford

  10

  Ex Vale Exminster Branch

  21

  Plymouth

  Moorhaven

  12

  Gloucester

  Horton Road

  18

  Somerset

  Tone Vale

  10

  Mendip

  9

  West Midlands Regional Health Authority

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  Barnsley Hall

  15

  Worcester and District

  Powick

  6

  St. Wulstans

  38

  Shropshire

  Royal Shrewsbury (Shelton)

  7

  Mid Stafford

  St. George's Stafford

  10

  North Staffordshire

  St. Edwards

  41

  Rugby

  Central, Warwick

  10

  North Birmingham

  Highcroft

  7

  West Birmingham

  All Saints

  5

  Solihull

  Hollymoor

  7

  Mersey Regional Health Authority

  Chester

  Countess of Chester (Psych. Wing)

  23

  Warrington

  Winwick

  22

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  Rainhill

  46

  North Western Regional Health Authority

  Preston

  Whittingham

  1

  Bolton

  Fall Birch

  0

  Salford

  Peel Hall

  0

  Prestwich

  24

  Stockport

  Ollersett View

  1

  ENGLAND TOTAL

  1,550

  NHS (Competitive Tendering)
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 22 February to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell),Official Report, column 874, if he will make a statement on his decision not to promote any further central initiatives for additional specific NHS services to be subject to mandatory competitive tendering.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  NHS accounts show that more than 40 per cent. of support services in the NHS, other than those involved in direct provision of patient care, are already routinely subject to competitive tendering or other forms of regular market testing. The White Paper
  177
  "Working for Patients" provides a framework within which health authorities can widen the scope for competition across an even wider range of support services in future to ensure value for money and release of resources for improved patient care. The selection and grouping of services for testing, and the specification of requirements are matters best left to local decision.

  Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many orthopaedic patients from the Crewe and Nantwich constituency are receiving continuing care from the Agnes Hunt orthopaedic hospital;

  (2) how many patients received specialist care from the Agnes Hunt orthopaedic hospital in 1989–90; and how many were from outside the Shropshire area.

  Mr. Freeman
  In the year ending 31 March 1989 there were 5,956 completed patient stays on wards in the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt orthopaedic hospital. Data for 1989–90 are not yet available. Information about the districts of residence of those patients is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of Shropshire health authority, who may be able to provide more detailed information.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what talks he is having with the relevant health authorities in relation to the future of the Agnes Hunt orthopaedic hospital, in order to ensure continuing access to its specialist skills for patients.

  Mr. Freeman
  None.

  Immunisation
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide an up-to-date table of immunisation rates, district by district for each vaccination, completed

  Region

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Northern

  141,399

  266,357

  360,445

  458,943

  617,159

  Yorkshire

  322,560

  526,650

  975,346

  835,753

  695,139

  Trent

  318,972

  480,459

  636,355

  504,911

  841,404

  East Anglia

  222,633

  220,737

  212,037

  367,993

  485,669

  North West Thames

  534,736

  340,419

  401,463

  558,198

  910,754

  North East Thames

  766,875

  474,501

  1,218,109

  1,565,496

  1,651,786

  South East Thames

  469,300

  594,659

  481,922

  378,382

  681,444

  South West Thames

  320,771

  785,099

  551,560

  413,723

  629,904

  Wessex

  181,534

  558,254

  508,791

  346,078

  409,377

  Oxford

  133,937

  204,803

  395,219

  292,236

  752,363

  South Western

  305,779

  208,190

  411,820

  596,217

  661,387

  West Midlands

  371,489

  1,666,715

  1,356,637

  1,855,308

  2,143,084

  Mersey

  266,350

  316,312

  477,401

  625,944

  845,970

  North Western

  545,479

  750,188

  1,190,563

  1,253,774

  1,697,476

  SHA's for the London Postgraduate Hospitals

  156,776

  41,474

  53,376

  88,686

  111,574

  Total

  5,058,590

  7,434,817

  9,231,044

  10,141,642

  13,134,490

  Nurses and Midwives (Training)
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision has been made for the training of nurses and midwives since 1978–79.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell) on 20 February at column 701.
  178
  course by two years; and how many districts still fall below the target set by the European region of the World Health Organisation.

  Mr. Freeman
  The two-year uptake for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and measles in England, for the financial year 1988–89, is given in the table.

  Vaccination and Immunisation 2 year uptakes 1988–89

  Number

  Diphtheria

  87

  Tetanus

  87

  Pertussis

  75

  Polio

  87

  Measles

  80

  A summary of district uptake levels has been placed in the Library. The World Health Organisation's European region target is 90 per cent. by 1990, and our aim is to reach that target in the year 1990–91. In 1988–89 no district had yet reached the target for pertussis, but 20 had done so for measles and 85 for diphtheria.

  Medical Errors
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by regional health authority and by year for the last five years, the amounts of money that have been paid in damages for medical errors.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  The information held centrally is given in the table which shows compensation payments made by health authorities as recorded in their annual accounts. However, this information does not distinguish between compensation payments in respect of medical accidents and other compensation payments, for example, those in respect of damage to property or for unfair dismissal.

  NHS and Community Care Bill
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent so far in Greater Manchester by (i) his Department, (ii) district health authorities and (iii) family practitioner committees to prepare for the implementation of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill.
  179
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 19 February at column 543.

  Cervical Cancer
  Mr. Leadbitter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the arrangements in the Hartlepool health authority area for the detection, monitoring, and follow-up procedures in respect of cervical cancer.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The main strategy for dealing with cervical cancer is through a programme of early detection based on population screening programmes. In Hartlepool, a computerised call and recall system was implemented on schedule to meet the Department's target date of 31 March 1988. I understand that the district is meeting the Department's target for reporting results of cervical smears to the smear-taker within one month. The district recalls women on a three-yearly basis and has implemented a failsafe system to ensure that women with abnormalities are followed up. In addition, the necessary surgical and pathological facilities are in place to facilitate the further investigation and treatment of such women. The Northern region is making good progress on quality assurance in the laboratories.

  Health Standards
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the recommendations he has received but not implemented from(a) the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy and (b) the National Advisory Committee on Nutritional Education concerning the improvement of health standards by dietary influence.

  Mr. Freeman
  Since 1987 the chief medical officer's Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA) has published five reports, four of which contained recommendations:

  "The Use of Very Low Calorie Diets in Obesity"—1987

  "Present Day Practice in Infant Feeding-Third Report"—1988

  "Third Report of the Sub-committee on Nutritional Surveillance"—1988

  "The Diets Of British Schoolchildren"—1989 (no recommendations)

  "Dietary Sugars and Human Disease"—1989

  All the recommendations to this Department have either been implemented or are in the process of being implemented.

  The National Advisory Committee on Nutrition Education (NACNE) has an ad hoc working group which, before its dissolution in 1983 produced a discussion document which did not contain specific recommendations for Government.

  Inner City Health Practices
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the impact of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill on inner city health practices.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No representations solely concerning the effects of our proposals on inner city health practices have been identified.

  District Health Authorities
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many district health authorities expect to be in deficit at the end of the current financial year.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. and learned Friend gave the hon. Members for Wigan (Mr. Stott), for Normanton (Mr. O'Brien), for Sunderland, North (Mr. Clay) and for Wolverhampton, South-East (Mr. Turner) on 23 January at columns 670–71.

  Abortifacient Drugs
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those abortifacient drugs which are currently licensed for use in the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is as follows:

  1. Cervagem Pessary 1 mg.

  2. Prostin E2 Sterile Solution 1 mg/ml.

  3. Prostin E2 Sterile Solution 10 mg/ml.

  4. Prostin F2 Alpha Sterile Solution 5 mg/ml extra Amniotic for TH abortion.

  5. Prostin F2 Alpha Sterile Solution 5 mg/ml for Therapeutic Abortion I/V.

  6. Prostin F2 Alpha Sterile Solution 5 mg/ml (Intra Amniotic Pack).

  7. Sterile Solution Prostin/15 m (0·25 mg/ml).

  8. Syntocinon Ampoules 2 I.V. per 2 ml (Parenteral Solution).

  9. Syntocinon Ampoules 5 I.V. per 1 ml.

  10. Syntocinon Ampoules 10 I.V. per 1 ml (Parenteral Solution).

  11. Syntocinon Ampoules 50 I.V. per 5 ml (Parenteral Solution).

  12. Syntometrine Ampoules.

  13. Prostin E2 Sterile Solution.

  Consultants
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the establishment of new consultants' posts.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The number of consultants in hospital medicine in England increased by an average of 2·4 per cent. per annum over the five years 1983 to 1988.

  Regional health authorities continue to plan for expansion of the consultant grade of 2 per cent. per annum. In addition to this, between 1988 and 1990 the Government funded the appointment of 100 new consultants under a pump-priming exercise. A further 100 consultants are to be appointed over the three years 1989–90 to 1991–92 under a scheme announced in the White Paper "Working for Patients". I announced the allocation of the last 65 of these posts on 27 February at columns 125–26.

  Complementary Medicine
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he proposes to discuss with EEC representatives the different legal arrangements for United Kingdom practitioners of complementary medicine and those of Community countries which have legislated for treatment under Napoleonic laws; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. Practitioners of complementary medicine are able to practice in the United Kingdom
  181
  subject only to those provisions of statute and civil law which apply. Legislation enacted by other Community countries will not affect the right to practise complementary therapy in this country.

  GPs (Training)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications were made for places on training courses for general practitioners in each year from 1984 to 1989.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many places have gone unfilled on general practitioner training courses during 1989–90; and in which areas of the United Kingdom courses were undersubscribed this year.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally for England. Information relating to other parts of the United Kingdom is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Northern Ireland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Special Hospitals
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the recorded number of hours spent by women in seclusion at Rampton, Broadmoor and Moss Side special hospitals during the 12 months from December 1988 to December 1989.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Special Hospitals Service Authority has provided the information requested as follows:

  Number

  Rarapton Hospital

  28,744

  Broadmoor Hospital

  27,846

  Moss Side Hospital

  10,031

  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the recorded number of instances of self-mutilation or self harm by women in Rampton, Broadmoor and Moss Side special hospitals during the 12 months from December 1988 to December 1989.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Special Hospitals Service Authority reports that, during the period in question, 618 such instances were recorded at Moss Side hospital. There is no readily available central record at Rampton and Broadmoor hospitals.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he now intends to fulfil the commitment to consult voluntary organisations concerning the regulations to be made under section 1 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  This will depend on the outcome of the consultations taking place with the local authority associations on the cost and other implications of implementing section 1 and other remaining sections of the Act.

  Health Service Contracts
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will designate a number to the paper "Contracts for Health Services: Operating Services" within the series of papers on implementing the White Paper, "Working for Patients".

  Mr. Freeman
  The series of numbered working papers, which were published shortly after the White Paper "Working for Patients", were largely concerned with taking forward detailed analysis of the policy proposals in the White Paper. Later guidance, such as "Contracts for Health Services: Operating Contracts", has not been numbered within this series as it is intended to be guidance to NHS managers in the practical implementation of those proposals. It has been distributed within the NHS under cover of an executive letter from the chief executive of the NHS Management Executive (in a numbered series), its reference being EL(90)MB/24.

  However, the wider interest in this and other such guidance has been recognised by arranging for Her Majesty's Stationery Office to publish it, and by placing copies in the Library. We have made copies available through the Vote Office.

  Malaria
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of malaria were reported in Britain for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is shown in the table.

  Total notifications1 of malaria Great Britain: 1985–89

  Year

  Notifications

  1985

  1,767

  1986

  1,747

  1987

  1,264

  19882

  1,333

  19892

  1,535

  1 Notified in England and Wales to the Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys (OPCS), and in Scotland to the Scottish Health Service by the individual Health Boards.

  2 Provisional.

  National Assistance Act 1948
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions in each of the last 10 years inquiries have been conducted under section 36 of the National Assistance Act 1948; what was the average length of time taken by an inquiry; on how many occasions the default powers under the section were used; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No inquiries have been set up under section 36 of the National Assistance Act 1948 in the last 10 years. Nor has any order been made declaring an authority to be in default.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letters sent to his Department on 15 December by the Chesterfield and District branch of the National Schizophrenia Fellowship under the heading "Mental Illness Services in North Derbyshire".
  183
  Mr. Freeman
  The Department has no record of having received the letters to which the hon. Member refers. If he would care to let me have copies of them, I will ensure that they are dealt with promptly.

  Advertising Expenditure
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990–91.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]The Department of Health's budget for communications and publicity includes provision for nurse recruitment, blood donor recruitment and drug misuse campaigns.

  Information for the years 1979–80 to 1987–88 is not available in the form requested.

  £ million

  Expenditure for 1988–89 is as follows:

  Television

  1·662

  Radio

  0·205

  Newspaper

  1·196

  Other Material

  7·736

  Estimated expenditure for 1989–90 is as follows:

  Television

  2·682

  Radio

  0·127

  Newspaper

  3·122

  Other Material

  9·945

  The budget for communications and publicity has not yet been agreed for 1990–91.

ENVIRONMENT

  English House Condition Survey
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give from the English house condition survey 1986, the number of homes(a) affected by excessive draughts, (b) with penetrating damp, (c) with rising damp, (d) affected by slight mould growth and (e) affected by serious mould growth, together with their incidence in each room surveyed, by tenure.

  Mr. Chope
  The numbers, estimated from information provided by the English house condition survey 1986, have today been placed in the Library.

  County Structure Plans
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to limit the number of county structure plans which may be prepared by any authority.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My right hon. Friend issued a draft planning policy guidance note on structure plans and regional guidance in November 1989 which encouraged county planning authorities with more than one structure plan to make an early start on preparing a single replacement plan. Our proposals for legislation, set out in the White Paper "The Future of Development Plans" (Cm. 569), envisaged a single statement of planning policies for each county and for each national park.

  Water Authority Land (Access)
  Dr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is considering any changes to the access arrangements to water authority land which were made at the time of privatisation.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Water Act 1989 imposes general environmental and recreational duties, enforceable by the Secretary of State, on the new water companies. In particular they are required to have regard to the desirability of preserving freedom of access to areas of natural beauty and to sites of architectural or historic interest, and to ensure that their water and land is made available for recreational purposes in the best manner.

  A code of practice approved by Ministers gives practical guidance to and promotes desirable practices by the companies and other relevant bodies on the performance of these duties. A copy of the code is available in the Library of the House.

  There are no plans to amend these statutory duties or the code of practice. However, a Standing Committee is to be set up shortly comprising representatives of the water industry and of the main conservation and recreation interests, to monitor the relevance and effectiveness of the code.

  Housing Associations
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the percentage increase in housing associations' rent for 1989–90 attributable to the new financial arrangements imposed for market rents on housing associations.

  Mr. Chope
  This information is not available. But under the tenants' guarantee, housing associations are expected to set and maintain rents at levels which are within the reach of those in low-paid employment.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to reverse the downward trend in rehabilitation of older property by housing associations since passage of the Housing Act 1988.

  Mr. Chope
  Housing assocations can provide accommodation for low-income households in a variety of ways, including building new homes, acquiring satisfactory dwellings, and rehabilitation and conversion of older property. The new funding arrangements under the Housing Act 1988 are designed to sharpen the incentives to associations to give value for money, but not otherwise to affect their choice of scheme type. I shall shortly be considering with the Housing Corporation whether any adjustments are needed to the current pattern of grant rates for different types of scheme to ensure this.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much Bournemouth borough council and Dorset county council will receive from the unified business rate for 1990–91; how much they received from the commercial rate in 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The expected income from business rates for the Bournemouth area (taking account of the demands
  185
  of both the district and county councils) for 1989–90 was £27·389 million. The amount the area will receive in distributed business rate in 1990–91 is £34·652 million.

  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will transfer the cost of fire and police from local authorities to central Government; and if he will estimate the average savings per full community charge payer.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government have no plans to make such a transfer.

  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the cost of calculating transitional relief per individual as against the current practice.

  Mr. Chope
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 8 March to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East, if he will reimburse any charging authority the expenditure it is involved in when sending out revised community charge bills following any decision he may make to cap precepting authorities.

  Mr. Chope
  No. In such circumstances it would be for the charging authority to recover its administrative costs from the precepting authority under section 36 of the Local Government Act 1988.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list any local authorities known to him which have announced their intention to levy a standard community charge at less than twice the personal community charge.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 8 March 1990]: No information is available at present to the Department about standard community charge multipliers set by charging authorities for properties in their areas. Charging authorities have until 31 March to determine multipliers for the coming year.

  Hedgerows
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the depletion of hedgerows in England and Wales in the last decade.

  Mr. Trippier
  Various estimates have been made for past periods. However, none covers the whole of the last decade.

  A survey of landscape change in England and Wales carried out for my Department and the Countryside Commission by Hunting Surveys and Consultants Ltd. showed annual losses of some 2,900 miles of hedgerow between 1969 and 1980 and 4,000 miles between 1980 and 1985. A survey of environmental topics on farms carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, however, showed annual losses of 500 miles between 1980 and 1985. The two surveys used different methodologies and neither can be regarded as definitive.

  Work is continuing to improve information both on the rate of removal and on the extent of new planting.

  Water Privatisation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the organisations which advised his Department on any aspect of the privatization 186
  of the water industry giving, in each case, the dates of their involvement and in each case the aspect on which they advised.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information is listed in the table:

  Organisation

  Date

  J. Henry Schroder Wagg

  Merchant Bank

  1986–89

  Clifford Chance

  Legal aspects

  1986–89

  Touche Ross

  Financial accounting and taxation aspects; management consultancy

  1986–89

  Price Waterhouse

  Reporting accountants, fraud audit, management consultancy

  1988–89

  Deloitte Haskins and Sells

  Financial aspects; reporting accountants

  1988–89

  Coopers and Lybrand

  Reporting Accountants

  1988–89

  Hoare Govett

  Stock Broking aspects

  1986–87

  Rowe and Pitman

  Stock Broking aspects

  1988–89

  Samuel Montagu

  United Kingdom Lead Underwriters

  1989

  National Westminster Bank

  Lead Receiving Bank

  1988–89

  Lloyds Bank

  Receiving Bank aspects

  1989

  Dewe Rogerson

  Marketing aspects

  1988–89

  Market and Opinion Research International

  Market Research

  1988–89

  Collett Dickenson Pearce and Partners

  Advertising

  1989

  Imagination

  Roadshows

  1989

  Binnie and Partners

  Engineering consultancy

  1988–89

  Water Research Centre

  Debenham Tewson and Chinnocks

  Property Assessment

  1989

  Jones Lang Wootton

  Property Assessment

  1989

  Sanderson Townend and Gilbert

  Property Assessment

  1989

  Grimley J. R. Eve

  Property Assessment

  1989

  Bernard Thorpe and Partners

  Property Assessment

  1989

  Hillier Parker

  Property Assessment

  1989

  Chesterton

  Property Assessment

  1989

  Healey and Baker

  Property Assessment

  1989

  St. Quintin

  Property Assessment

  1989

  JP Sturge and Sons

  Property Assessment

  1989

  Savills

  Property Assessment

  1989

  Burrups Ltd.

  Specialist Printing

  1988–89

  Mail marketing (Bristol) Ltd

  Share Information Office arrangements

  1988–89

  British Telecom

  1988–89

  Royal Mail

  Mass mailing

  1989

  Daiwa Securities

  Japanese Offer

  1989

  Hamada and Matsumoto (lawyers)

  Credit Suisse First Boston

  European Offer

  1989

  Wood Gundy;

  Canadian Offer

  1989

  Osler Renault (lawyers)

  Salomon Brothers;

  United States Offer

  1989

  Shearson Lehman Hutton;

  Shearman and Sterling (lawyers)

  Sewage Dumping
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on licences allowing dumping of sewage on the Fylde coast.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The applications made by the North West water authority for the Secretary of State's consent to discharge sewage to the Fylde coast have not yet been determined. It would therefore not be proper for me to comment upon them.
  187
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers he has to control the dumping of sewage at sea, where such dumping falls under his Department's responsibility.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The regulation of the dumping of sewage at sea is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, using his powers under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985.

  The Secretary of State's powers under the Water Act 1989 relate principally to discharges from land-based sources.

  Atmospheric Pollution
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information his Department has about atmospheric carbon monoxide and lead levels in cities during peak traffic flow; and if his Department has commissioned studies as to how these levels are anticipated to change in the next decade;

  (2) what information his Department has about atmospheric carbon monoxide and lead levels in city centres during rush hour traffic; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Urban concentrations of both pollutants are monitored on behalf of my Department by Warren Spring laboratory.

  Between November 1989 and March 1990, and depending upon the prevailing weather conditions, weekly average levels of carbon monoxide in central London varied between 0·9 and 8·1 parts per million at 0800 hours, and between 1·1 and 5·6 parts per million at 1800 hours.

  Direct monitoring data for lead are not collected for the short time intervals required by the question. However, estimates from other data suggest that peak lead concentrations in central London would be of the order of 4 microgrammes per cubic metre (µgm-3), with an annual average of 0·6 µgm. For comparison these figures are well below the EC lead in air limit value of 2·0 µgm.

  My Department has a substantial programme of research into the modelling and assessment of air pollution which takes into account the effects of pollution abatement measures on ambient concentrations. The increased sales of unleaded petrol and the strict exhaust emission standards set by the EC vehicles directive are expected to reduce urban concentrations of these pollutants markedly well before the year 2000.

  North Sea
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the five countries that contribute the highest amounts of phosphorous and nitrogen via direct inputs to the North sea.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The 1990 interim quality status report on the North sea combines information on river and direct inputs to the North sea from all North sea states. These figures are not directly comparable but show the highest inputs from the Netherlands, followed by the Federal Republic of Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway and Belgium.

  Definitive information on direct inputs will not be available until the 1990 Paris commission survey using standardised measuring techniques.
  188
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take urgent steps to reduce by at least 50 per cent. discharges via pipes and rivers into the North sea of all chemicals that are(a) persistent, (b) toxic and (c) liable to bioaccumulate.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The commitment to reduce dangerous substances (defined as persistent, toxic and liable to bioaccumulate) inputs substantially, by the order of 50 per cent., by 1995, was made by the second North sea conference in London in November 1987. Progress in achieving this was among the topics considered by the third conference in the Hague on 7 and 8 March. The United Kingdom has reported the progress it has already achieved and envisages in the national action plan on reducing discharges to rivers, estuaries and coastal waters published on 5 March. At the third conference it was agreed that action should be taken on a list of 36 dangerous substances, most of which are already on the United Kingdom's red list or covered by the national action plan.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the third North sea conference and measures agreed to halt pollution.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12 March 1990 by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans) on the outcome of the third North sea conference.

  Secure Car Service
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a breakdown of the £34,404 cost of providing a secure car service for the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in the past 12 months according to(a) running costs and (b) wages and overtime.

  Mr. Chope
  The breakdown requested is:

  (a) running costs £13,101.

  (b) wages and overtime £21,303.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost of providing a secure car service for the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in each of the financial years(a) 1987–88, (b) 1988–89 and (c) 1989–90 to date.

  Mr. Chope
  The costs of providing a secure car service to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster were:

  £

  (a) 1987–88

  31,460

  (b) 1988–89

  32,472

  (c) 1989–90 (to 9 March 1990)

  32,634

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if any contribution has been made by or requested for any non-governmental body in respect of official car usage by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Mr. Chope
  No contribution has been made by or requested from any non-governmental body in respect of official car usage by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Competition (Local Government)
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made in relation to the enforcement of the competition provisions of the Local Government Act 1988.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend has today issued a direction under section 14 of the Local Government Act 1988 prohibiting the London borough of Hillingdon from carrying out its vehicle maintenance through its own staff as from 1 September 1990. He has taken this action because he was not satisfied with its response to the notice issued under section 13. That notice set out his belief that it had acted contrary to the requirement of section 7(7) of the Act which is that, in awarding a contract it must not"act in a manner having the effect or intended or likely to have the effect of restricting, distorting or preventing competition"
  in that it awarded its vehicle maintenance work to its own direct services organisation when it had received a bid which was over £109,000 lower over a four-year period after taking redundancy costs into account.

  This makes it absolutely clear that we shall not hesitate to take action when we believe that authorities are distorting the competition process. We have strong powers of enforcement under the Act, and we shall use them where necessary to ensure that charge payers get the full benefits that competition, fairly administered, can bring.

  Empty Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of properties owned by his Department and suitable for residential accommodation has been empty for(a) up to a year and (b) over a year; and where these properties are located, by region or local authority area.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 27 February 1990]: As at 6 March 1990, six (1·5 per cent.) of the 408 residential properties owned by the Department of the Environment had been empty for less than a year and 10 (2·4 per cent.) for more than a year. Of these, 10 (63 per cent.) are in the process of disposal on the open market. These properties are located in the following regions of the United Kingdom and local authority areas:

  Scotland

  Argyll, City of Glasgow

  North East

  Hambleton, Iangbaurgh

  Eastern

  Suffolk Coastal

  London

  Westminster

  Southern

  Milton Keynes

  South West

  Cotswold, Sedgemoor

  South East

  Medway, South Wight

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek a value for money report from the National Audit Office on the guarantees given by the Property Services Agency to the Crown Suppliers of continued work following privatisation.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: Where Departments are considering entering into commercial
  190
  agreements with the Crown Suppliers, or any other supplier, whether or not they contain undertakings about future business levels for a period, it is for Departments to satisfy themselves that they provide value for money, and for the National Audit Office to decide whether to investigate.

  Waste Recycling
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the individuals in each local authority, by name and authority, to whom he has written with a questionnaire concerning best practice in recycling household waste.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: The questionnaire is being sent to the chief executives of all district and county councils in England.

  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has made an assessment or study of the volume of domestic refuse, in terms of percentage, that can be recycled into refuse-derived products, and what percentage remains for landfill; and what is his Department's policy towards the expansion of this capability.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: The Government consider that there is considerable potential for the recycling of waste into refuse-derived products, including fuel, and for reducing the proportion of waste that is committed to landfill. This issue is currently being studied by expert working groups under the aegis of the recycling forum, chaired by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will encourage local authorities to explore joint venture agreements with private sector companies in the field of recycling; and if his Department has made any assessment of the number of private sector companies that would be able to take part in such schemes.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: Yes; it is important for the private sector to be involved in recycling ventures by local authorities at every stage of recycling—this can include the collection and sorting of waste and its disposal to contractors or direct to manufacturers. Together with the Department of Trade and Industry, we intend to explore the potential for further joint ventures in this field.

  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on joint ventures currently in existence between local authorities and the private sector to recycle domestic refuse; and if he will list those authorities and companies currently operating such arrangements in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: Comprehensive information about such joint ventures is not currently available, but is being sought through a detailed questionnaire on recycling which is being sent to local authorities.

  Public Relations
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990–91;

  (2) what were the figures for the spending by his Department on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990–91.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: Information relating to the financial years between 1979–80 and 1984–85 inclusive is not readily available and cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost. Final decisions have not yet been made about cost to be incurred in 1990–91.

  Following is the information relating to the remaining financial years in respect of paid publicity and associated staff costs for my Department including PSA:

  £ million

  1985–86

  3·5

  1986–87

  4·2

  1987–88

  4·8

  1988–89

  6·9

  11989–90

  15·0

  1 Forecast outturn.

  Expenditure is not broken down between different publicity media.

  The increase in expenditure in 1989–90 is mainly due to specific information campaigns on new legislation on local government finance and housing and to encourage the use of lead-free petrol. Publicity expenditure arising in the course of the flotation of the 10 water plcs is not included and will be notified to Parliament in the usual way.

  Parliamentary Creche
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made in identifying suitable premises for the provision of a creche for hon. Members' and employees' families; and whether he has any plans to make provisions for children accompanying parents on visits and lobbies.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: I have not been requested by the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services), to convert accommodation for any of the facilities mentioned by the hon. Lady.

  Inner City Programmes
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which are the inner city programmes his Department is carrying out; what non-Government organisations are taking part in such programmes; where each of these programmes is operating; and on what date each one was started.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: Details of the Department of the Environment programmes which are directed towards inner city regeneration are set out in the annual report for 1988–89 "Renewing the
  192
  Cities" which was published on 28 February. The Department took over responsibility for city action teams in December 1989. Information on CATs is set out in the report "People in Cities" also published on 28 February. Copies of both reports have been placed in the Library. They describe the important part which organisations in the business and voluntary sectors are playing, together with central Government, local authorities and the urban development corporations, in bringing about the revival of inner city areas. They also show where the programmes are operating. The dates when programmes, or organisations, were first established were as follows:

  Urban Development Corporations

  March 1981

  City Grant

  May 1988

  The Urban Programme

  1968–69

  Derelict Land Grant

  1950

  Enterprise Zones

  June 1981

  Estate Action

  1985–86

  City Action Teams

  April 1985

  Inner city revival is also promoted by DOE main programmes, such as the local authority housing investment programme and grants to housing associations through the Housing Corporation, and through other initiatives, such as simplified planning zones and land registers.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Milk Quota
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for allocating the additional 1 per cent. of milk quota now available.

  Mr. Gummer
  We have been advised that the European Community Commission has formally approved our proposals for allocating the additional 1 per cent. of milk quota now available. These provide for quota to be allocated to the following categories of producer.

  The first comprises those with tribunal awards which have not yet been granted in full. Small developers will have their allocations made up to the full amount awarded initially subject only to abatement for the cuts totalling approximately 4 per cent. imposed on all producers since the tribunal awards were made. This will benefit producers in Scotland and Northern Ireland; small developers in England and Wales have already been granted their full award. Unfulfilled exceptional hardship awards, which now remain only in Northern Ireland, will be dealt with on the same basis as small developers. Other development awards throughout the United Kingdom will be made up to a common level of around 77 per cent. of the initial allocation (after applying the abatement for across-the-board cuts) except in the minority of cases where a higher percentage of the award has already been granted. In the case of both development and exceptional hardship awards, quota will be allocated only to producers who have actually delivered milk during the period 1 April 1989 to 28 February 1990. This condition will help to ensure that quota goes to those milk producers who are most in need of it.

  The second category of producers comprises those who occupy a family-type holding and for whom milk production constitutes a significant activity. My intention here is to give extra help to the family farms that are significantly smaller than average. The best practicable way of targeting this group is by allocating quota to all

  193
  producers holding under 200,000 litres of wholesale and direct sales quota. As with the developers and exceptional hardship cases, we shall exclude those who did not deliver milk in the first 11 months of this quota year. Also, since we are aiming at producers for whom milk production is a significant activity, those with under 20,000 litres of quota will be excluded. Within these limits producers will be given an addition of just over 3 per cent. to their current wholesale allocation, including temporarily suspended quota subject to an overall ceiling of 200,000 litres.

  Allocations to family-type farms and to producers with outstanding tribunal awards will account for about 120 million of the 148·87 million litres available for distribution. In addition we intend to allocate a small share of the total to producers in the remoter parts of the less-favoured areas, that is, Arran, Bute, Coll, Gigha, Great Cumbrae, Islay, the Isles of Scilly, Kintyre south of Tarbert, Little Cumbrae, Orkney and Shetland. They will each receive an increase representing about 5 per cent. of their current wholesale quota.

  Finally, I have earmarked 22·5 million litres for new entrants. The intention would be to allocate quota on loan. Eventually quota used in this way would be recycled to assist further new entrants. The Commission has, however, raised legal objections to the idea of loaning quota and the matter has not yet been resolved. This will not delay the laying of a statutory instrument before Parliament within the next few days to enable the majority of the quota to be allocated before the end of the present quota year.

  Salmonella
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Government will respond to the progress report of the Agriculture Committee on salmonella in eggs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government have today presented to Parliament their response to the House of Commons

  RMGs as at 12 March 1990

  Country

  Beef and veal

  Milk and milk products

  Sheep

  Pigmeat

  Eggs and poultry

  Cereals

  Sugar

  Wine

  Olive oil

  United Kingdom

  -12·485

  -16·178

  -17·411

  -9·029

  -16·178

  -17·068

  -17·068

  -17·068

  -17·068

  Greece

  -24·281

  -24·281

  -3·764

  -2·929

  -19·803

  -7·363

  -7·363

  -7·363

  -7·363

  Spain

  +3·669

  +3·699

  +2·147

  -·699

  +3·699

  +2·717

  +2·717

  +1·879

  +1·879

  Portugal

  n.a.

  n.a.

  -2·556

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  -2·556

  n.a.

  -2·556

  Bel/Lux

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Denmark

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  France

  0

  -2

  -2

  0

  -2

  -2

  -2

  -2

  -2

  Germany

  +·4

  +·4

  +·4

  +·4

  +·4

  +1·368

  +·846

  +·846

  +·846

  Ireland

  0

  -2

  -2

  -2

  -2

  -2

  -2

  -2

  -2

  Italy

  -2·497

  -2·497

  -2·497

  -1·487

  -2·497

  -3·039

  -2·497

  -2·858

  -2·497

  Netherlands

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  +·866

  0

  0

  0

  n.a.—not applicable.

  Wheat and Sheepmeat
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the green pound discrepancy in(a) percentage, (b) cash per unit at the beginning of each marketing year since 1980 for (i) wheat and (ii) sheepmeat;
  194
  Agriculture Committee's progress report on salmonella in eggs. The response welcomes the Agriculture Committee's review of the measures adopted to combat the salmonella problem and notes that the Committee has not recommended any change to the steps taken to protect public health other than in relation to imported eggs.

  Copies of the Government's response have been placed in the House Libraries.

  Compound Feedstuffs
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps have to be taken prior to animal feed manufacturers being permitted to sell proprietary compounds for feeding to farm animals like sheep and poultry.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: Manufacturers of medicated animal feedingstuffs are required to register with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and abide by a code of practice. The medicinal additives they incorporate must be licensed under medicines legislation.

  Additionally all feedingstuffs manufacturers must take steps to ensure that compound feeds sold to farmers comply with the requirements of the Feedingstuffs Regulations 1988.

  Green Currency
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the green currency discrepancy for each EC member nation at the most recent available date.

  Mr. Curry
  The table shows the real monetary gap (RMG) for the main commodities in each member state a s at 12 March 1990. This represents the percentage difference between the green and market rate of exchange used for agriculture.

  (2) what it the United Kingdom intervention price for wheat and the guide price for sheepmeat for each marketing year since 1980 in (a) cash terms and (b) at 1990 prices.

  Mr. Curry
  The information requested is supplied in the table:
  195

  Common Wheat Intervention Price

  Real monetary gap2

  Value of monetary discrepancy3

  Sheepmeat Guide1 price

  Real Monetary Gap1

  Value of monetary discrepancy3

  Beginning of Marketing Year

  £/tonne

  £/tonne4 1990 prices

  per cent.

  £/tonne

  £/100kg

  £/100kg 1990prices4

  per cent.

  £/100kg

  1980–81

  96

  157

  +2·7

  +2·6

  181

  295

  +6·6

  +11·9

  1981–82

  102

  154

  +10·4

  +10·6

  195

  294

  +13·9

  +27·1

  1982–83

  111

  159

  +9·6

  +10·7

  216

  309

  +7·9

  +17·0

  1983–84

  114

  156

  +8·1

  +9·3

  227

  311

  +4·5

  +10·2

  1984–85

  113

  147

  +1·2

  +1·4

  225

  292

  +4·7

  +10·6

  1985–86

  111

  139

  +5·1

  +5·7

  227

  285

  -4·9

  -11·1

  1986–87

  113

  134

  -10·4

  -11·7

  240

  287

  -22·8

  -54·7

  1987–88

  118

  132

  -21·4

  -25·2

  235

  264

  -19·6

  -46·1

  1988–89

  118

  124

  -14·2

  -16·7

  229

  241

  -8·2

  -18·8

  1989–90

  122

  122

  -8·7

  -10·6

  229

  229

  -18·5

  -42·3

  1 Unseasonalised guide price (85% of basic price).

  2 Percentage difference between the green and market rate used for agriculture.

  3 Real monetary gap applied to the intervention price for common wheat and the guide price for sheepmeat. A positive sign indicates prices above, and a negative sign indicates prices below, the level obtained by using market instead of green rates of exchange.

  4 Using implied GDP deflator at market prices. 1989–90 estimates based on 1989 Autumn Statement.

  Horticulture
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made to the European Commission on gas aid to horticultural growers in EC member countries.

  Mr. Curry
  The European Commission has recently decided to initiate legal proceedings against the Netherlands in respect of subsidised gas prices for Dutch glasshouse growers. We are giving the Commission full support in its efforts to ensure fair competition in the Community.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about gas aid to horticultural growers in EC member states.

  Mr. Curry
  Some representations have been received at official level. I am continuing to keep this area under careful review.

  Organic Production
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made to achieve common standards with other EEC countries for organic production systems; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  In December last year the European Commission issued a proposal for a Council regulation on organic production. Discussions in the relevant Council working group commenced in January. In the view of Her Majesty's Government, the original draft was unsatisfactory in that it would not have provided adequate protection for consumers and contained features which were operationally impractical. There has, however, been some progress in the discussions and my Department is seeking to ensure that the regulation is compatible with the more fully developed standards set by the United Kingdom register of organic food standards (UKROFS).

  Agrochemicals
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements exist to ensure adequate training for those handling agrochemicals in 196
  agricultural production; if such training assumes a minimum level of literacy and scientific knowledge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Formal training in the handling and use of pesticides is available both from the agricultural training board and from the county agricultural and horticultural colleges. For safety reasons, trainees are expected to be able to read and interpret the product label, but no specific scientific knowledge is required.

  Organic Fanning
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what financial and other support he is making available for organic farming; what estimate he has made of the increased employment resulting from organic farming methods; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Taylor) on 16 January 1990,Official Report, columns 215–16, in which I set out the wide range of support for organic farming currently available or being planned. It is too early to estimate the increased level of employment likely to result from these initiatives and from the increase in market demand. However, we are anxious that the agricultural industry should respond to the market and ensure that a growing share of that market is met by United Kingdom production.

  Waste Incineration
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tonnes of waste will be incinerated at sea in 1990; whether the Government intend to curtail such incineration for all materials; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Porter) on 5 March,Official Report, column 489.

  The amount of waste to be incinerated in 1990 is expected to be less than 6,000 tonnes.

  North Sea Dumping
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made regarding the proposed dumping of 50,000 tonnes of acid and other wastes into the sea off the north-east coast from other countries and United Kingdom organisations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The Department has received a number of representations from some of the other contracting parties to the Oslo commission and from United Kingdom organisations about proposals to issue licences for the dumping of industrial wastes into the North sea.

  In accordance with the requirements of the internationally agreed procedures in respect of the dumping of such wastes after 1989, we have submitted detailed information to the Oslo commission about the nature of the wastes concerned, the methods of dumping proposed, the tests carried out to confirm that such dumping would not pose any risk of harm to the marine environment and the work undertaken into alternative disposal methods. An Oslo commission working group on 14 February 1989 expressed its appreciation of the United Kingdom's efforts to phase out this dumping. As a result of these efforts to establish environmentally acceptable land-based methods for dealing with these wastes I was able on 2 February to announce my intention to terminate the licences for their disposal at sea by the end of 1992. Two licences would be extended into 1993 only if absolutely necessary and for the shortest possible part of that year.

  Turkeys
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to answer the letter from the hon. Member for Caerphilly of 15 January concerning the welfare of turkeys at slaughter.

  Mr. Curry
  An answer to the hon. Member's letter of 15 January was dispatched on 12 March 1990.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has carried out to see whether calves' brains can be contaminated by bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr. Curry
  In studies carried out in relation to natural scrapie in sheep and goats, infectivity could not be detected anywhere, including the brain, in animals under 10 months of age. The probable cause of bovine spongiform encephalopathy was the feeding of ruminant-based protein, which included material from sheep with scrapie. Calves would not have been fed this material, since the practice was banned in July 1988. In addition, there is no evidence at present of cattle-to-cattle transmission, although we are conducting experiments to see whether this could occur. Field and experimental studies on BSE are in hand and include the assessment of the infectivity of different tissues.

  Farmers and Farm Workers
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the reasons for the decline in the number of farmers and farm workers in Britain in 1989; and if he will make a statement.
  198
  Mr. Curry
  [holding answer 9 March 1990]: The decline in the numbers of farmers and farm workers in 1989 reflects a continuation of a long-standing trend resulting from a range of factors—for example, continuing increases in labour productivity and technological development, the increased success of the European Community in tackling the problems of the CAP and, more recently, the need for tight financial disciplines throughout the economy as a whole. We shall, however, have to await the results of the June 1990 census before it will be possible to assess fully the extent of the decline in 1989.

DEFENCE

  SSBN 005
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the progress of the Intercept sonar for SSBN 005.

  Mr. Neubert
  Development of the Intercept sonar sub-system is largely complete, and it is expected that integration with the sonar suite will be accomplished on schedule.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when production units of the inboard sonar suite for SSBN 005 were delivered.

  Mr. Neubert
  Delivery of the SSBN 005 onboard sonar suite is not yet required under the shipbuilding programme. The equipment is available and the programme date will be met.

  Heat Injury
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) boards of inquiry, (b) disciplinary inquiries and (c) courts martial have taken place following the occurrence of heat-induced injuries or fatalities; and in how many cases disciplinary action was taken.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As regards boards of inquiry and disciplinary inquiries, the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and effort. As regards courts martial, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Mr. Neubert) on 15 January 1990,Official Report, column 121. Since then one court martial has taken place following a case of heat induced injury.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will detail the action taken by him in the past two years to reduce the number of casualties from heat injury in the forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Two defence council instructions have been issued: the first in December 1988, as a reminder of the risks of heat stress, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and similar conditions; and the second last month, to provide detailed guidance on the prediction, prevention and treatment of such conditions. These have been disseminated throughout the three services and are an important means of maintaining and improving awareness of the risks of heat injury. In addition, as far as training is concerned, the content of courses is kept under review and" where appropriate, revised. Thus, for example, changes to
  199
  the Army's combat fitness test instructions to enable commanding officers to exercise discretion over dress requirements in certain climatic conditions, as well as the planned increase in the time allowed for completion of the test, should reduce the risk of heat stress and other injuries.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the figures relating to episodes of injury or death attributable to excessive heat or insulation within the services for 1989.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is not yet available for 1989. It will be included in the services annual health tables which are published each summer.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will initiate an independent review of the heat-related injuries and deaths that occurred between 1978 and 1988 with a view to preventing such injuries in the future.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. All deaths from other than natural causes are investigated as a matter of course to consider whether such incidents could have been avoided.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the changes made in naval training following the heat-related injury to Lieutenant Simon Rowland.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Following the injury to Lieutenant Simon Rowland, a number of new safety measures for the RN aircrew survival course have been introduced. Cellphones and radios have been purchased for use by staff on the course, and casualty evacuation procedures have been reviewed. First aid training is now being given to all instructors and the medical fitness category for the course has been reviewed. The format of the "forced march" or "battle run" element of the aircrew survival course has also been reviewed and the length of this element has been shortened.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to order an automatic court martial or disciplinary inquiry with a published report into every case of heat-related injury or death.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. In any such case it is the responsibility of the relevant service authority to determine what action would be appropriate, which will depend on the particular circumstances of the case.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will place in the Library(a) the defence council instruction issued on 23 December 1988 regarding the prevention of heat stroke and exhaustion and (b) the single service instructions that are referred to in the defence council instruction;

  (2) if he will place in the Library the existing regulations referred to in the letter of 6 November 1989 from the Under-Secretary of State to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South regarding the prediction, prevention and treatment of heat injury; whether these regulations are given to all training instructors; and whether they were given to Lieutenant Gordon Smith late of the RN survival equipment school;

  (3) if he will place in the Library the separate instructions issued to commanding officers requiring them to take appropriate preventive measures that are referred to in the letter of 29 June 1988 about heat injuries from the Under-Secretary of State to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South.
  200
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Although defence council instructions are internal management documents not normally intended for publication outside the Ministry of Defence and the services, I am arranging, exceptionally, for the instruction referred to by the right hon. Member to be placed in the Library. However, I do not consider the public interest would be served by the more general publication of internal instructions and regulations.

  The practice regarding giving copies of regulations to individual instructors varies, the main consideration being that they should be readily available in a suitable form and that they should be read and understood by all concerned. All instructors in the Royal Navy have been given copies of the defence council instructions issued in December 1988, including Lieutenant Gordon Smith while he was an instructor at the RN survival equipment school.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report details of the clothing worn by Lieutenant Simon Rowland and his fellow trainees during the training exercise in the New Forest; and what was the temperature during each day of the exercise.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  For the practical phase of the survival course Lt Rowland and his fellow trainees were wearing flying overalls, underpants, socks and boots. No headgear was worn.

  The temperature each day in the area during the practical phase of the course carried out in the New Forest is shown in the chart:

  Ambient air temperatures for period 22–25 July 1989—local limes

  Date

  0900

  1200

  1500

  1800

  22 July

  25C

  30C

  32C

  27C

  23 July

  22C

  28C

  31C

  29C

  24 July

  23C

  29C

  30C

  28C

  25 July

  21C

  25C

  27C

  26C

  Source: Met Office, Southampton Airport.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set up a study of the distribution of the 663 heat injuries between 1978 and 1988 to see if there are any instances of commanding officers having a number of injuries to men training under their command significantly greater than that likely to have occurred by chance.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. The information necessary to conduct such a study is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what independent medical advice he has received on the avoidability of heat injury or death.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None. I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him on 15 January 1990,Official Report, column 121.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when it was decided to prepare the more detailed defence council instruction, referred to in the letter of 6 November 1989 from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South; what external independent advice has been sought on the content; when it will be finalised; to whom it will be circulated; if he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will make a statement.
  201
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It was decided in May 1989 to issue a defence council instruction (DCI) which was to bring together the guidance already available in various instructions and publications. The new DCI covers all aspects of the prediction, prevention and treatment of heat injury. External advice was not sought as there was sufficient informed opinion within the services.

  The DCI was issued on 23 February 1990 and will be seen by all service personnel and appropriate civilian organisations within the MOD.

  Although DCIs are internal management documents I am arranging, exceptionally, for this instruction to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether a training instructor in the armed forces has ever been charged for failing in his duty to observe a defence council instruction relating to the prediction, prevention and treatment of heat injury;

  (2) whether a training instructor in the armed forces has ever been charged for failing in his duty to observe the training regulations relating to the prediction, prevention and treatment of heat injury.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Not over the last 10 years for which records are available.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the other branches of the forces intend to modify their training programmes to match the changes made by the Royal Navy following the heat-related injury to Lieutenant Simon Rowland.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Relevant training practices in the other services are being examined to establish whether any of the changes being introduced by the Royal Navy are applicable.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether training instructors have a duty to observe the training regulations relating to the prediction, prevention and treatment of heat injury; and if it is an offence to disregard them.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  If a training regulation imposes a duty on a training instructor which he fails to carry out or carries out negligently, he can be charged with an offence under the relevant service discipline Act.

  Training Injuries
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many men died or were seriously injured while taking part in SAS, SBS or Royal Marine training courses during 1989.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not the practice to comment on matters relating to special forces. During 1989 three men died and one serious injury was sustained as a result of participation in Royal Marine training courses or exercises.

  Training Instructors
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to require training instructors to dress in the same clothes and carry the same equipment as those they are training.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. This would not always be practicable, especially in cases where such a requirement 202
  would undermine the effectiveness of the supervision provided by instructors, which is important for safety and other reasons.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether training instructors have a duty to observe defence council instructions; and if it is an offence to disregard them.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Defence council instructions are not usually expressed as direct orders and non-compliance with any given instruction is therefore not automatically an offence. However, if a defence council instruction imposes a duty on a training instructor which he fails to carry out or carries out negligently, he can be charged with an offence under the relevant service discipline Act.

  Hazardous Training
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if there are any obligatory medical checks on members of the forces before they take part in potentially hazardous training.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The PULHHEEMS system is the standard assessment of each individual's medical fitness for all aspects of service with Her Majesty's forces. Additional medical examinations are provided in specialised occupations such as pilots and divers.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if there is any limitation on the discretion of commanding officers regarding the hazardous nature of training courses for which they have responsibility.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Commanding officers are responsible for the health and safety of those in their charge and, in conducting training, they are required to have full regard to this responsibility and to the framework of relevant instructions, guidance and advice (including medical advice), while ensuring that training is of military value.

  Chemical and Biological Defence
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel are currently employed in research and development into pyrotechnic equipment for chemical and biological defence; and if he has any plans to increase the complement of staff or consultants working in this field.

  Mr. Neubert
  [holding answer 1 March 1990]: The Ministry of Defence has no personnel currently employed in research and development into pyrotechnic equipment for chemical and biological defence, nor is there any intention to engage such personnel. The Department is, however, considering purchase of equipment developed in this field.

  Forest Moor Base
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what new building work has been commissioned at the Forest Moor base over the last five years; and at what cost.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: Contracts for the following works at Forest Moor have been let in the past five years:

  203

  UK HF Ship-to-Shore Aerials

  Patching Jack Field

  COMMCEN Security Improvements Conversions to Repair Laboratory

  Crypto Workshop and Store Improvements Galley/Drainage System Improvements Provision for Refuse Compactor Anti-Pollution Measures

  CCTV System

  COMMCEN Access Control Improvements Road Drainage Improvements

  Sports Field Drainage Improvements

  Provision of Security Fences and Water Tower

  COMMCEN Structural Alterations

  Sewage Ejector Station Up-Grade

  Demolition of Masts and Towers

  Other Security Measures

  The total value of these contracts was £421,096,000.

EMPLOYMENT

  Wages Councils
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he takes to monitor the effectiveness of the wages councils.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The councils are empowered to set minimum rates of pay in certain industries. The extent of compliance with these rates is regularly assessed.

  Labour Statistics
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how much long-term unemployment among 18 to 24-year-olds has fallen in the past year.

  Mr. Howard
  In the year to January, long-term unemployment among 18 to 24-year-olds fell by almost 46,000 or 33 per cent.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of 18 to 24-year-olds who were long-term unemployed in(a) the quarter to January 1986 and (b) the quarter to January 1990.

  Mr. Howard
  Between January 1986 and January 1990 the number of 18 to 24-year-olds who have been unemployed for 12 months or more fell by 243,000 or 73 per cent.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how much the work force in employment in the United Kingdom has increased since March 1983.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Since 1983 the United Kingdom work force in employment has been on a rising trend. In September 1989, the latest date for which information is available, the work force in employment was 26,487,000. This represents an increase of 2,923,000 or 12.4 per cent. since March 1983 when the figure was 23,563,000.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage reduction in the total number of long-term unemployed people in the last two years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Between January 1988 and January 1990 the number of unemployed claimants in the United 204
  Kingdom who had been unemployed for one year or more fell by about 48 per cent. The comparison is slightly affected by the changes in coverage of the count over the period specified.

  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage change in unemployment in the Bury, North constituency during the period September 1986 to December 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Between September 1986 and December 1989 the number of unemployed claimants in Bury, North parliamentary constituency fell by about 60 per cent. Direct comparisons are affected by the change in benefit regulations for under 18-year-olds in September 1988, and by seasonal influences.

  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time jobs have been created in the city of Sheffield in 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  This information is not available. The Department's statistics for local areas monitor only net changes in employment between census of employment dates and the most recent figures are for September 1987.

  Mr. Anthony Beaumont-Dark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the total numbers in employment in the west midlands(a) currently and (b) one year ago.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In September 1989, the latest date for which figures are available, the civilian work force in employment in the west midlands region was 2,398,000. This represents an increase of 59,000 or 2·5 per cent. since September 1988 when the figure was 2,339,000.

  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current level of unemployment.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In January 1990, seasonally adjusted unemployment in the United Kingdom was 1,611,400, the lowest for more than nine years on a consistent basis.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the unemployment rate among those aged under 25 years for(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the European Community.

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many European Community countries have a higher rate of unemployment among those aged under 25 years than the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In December 1989, the latest available date, the unemployment rate in the United Kingdom among under 25-year-olds was 8·2 per cent., under half that of the EC average of 16·5 per cent. The rate for eight of our EC partners is higher than this. The rate for Greece is unavailable.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of employed in each of the standard regions in(a) June 1989 and (b) June 1979.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is as follows:
  205

  Civilian workforce in employment (unadjusted for seasonal variation)

  (Thousands)

  Regions

  June 1979

  June 1989

  Change

  Number

  Per cent.

  South East Including London

  8,124

  9,019

  896

  11·0

  East Anglia

  781

  933

  152

  19·4

  South West

  1,744

  2,064

  319

  18·3

  West Midlands

  2,382

  2,367

  -15

  -0·6

  East Midlands

  1,671

  1,818

  147

  8·8

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,145

  2,129

  -15

  -0·7

  North West

  2,890

  2,824

  -66

  -2·3

  North

  1,325

  1,257

  -67

  -5·1

  Wales

  1,157

  1,200

  43

  3·7

  Scotland

  2,262

  2,255

  -8

  -0·3

  Great Britain

  24,480

  25,868

  1,388

  5·7

  Northern Ireland

  598

  584

  -14

  -2·3

  United Kingdom

  25,079

  26,452

  1,374

  5·5

  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for how many months the unemployment total has been falling.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The unemployment total in the United Kingdom has now been falling continuously for 42 months on a consistent basis.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of new jobs created in the last three years are of part-time character; and what proportion of the total number of employees are part-time.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There are no figures for new jobs created but only for net increases in employment. In the three years to September 1989, the latest date for which estimates are available, 27 per cent. of the net increase in employees in employment was in part-time jobs. Part-time employees in employment now represent 24 per cent. of the total number of the employees.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the change in the percentage of the work force working outside the public sector over the last 10 years; and what is the overall trend allowing for the effect of privatisation.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Mid-year estimates of employment in the public sector are prepared by the Central Statistical Office. Estimates of the total work force are prepared by the Department of Employment. On this basis, the proportion working outside the public sector rose from 69·4 per cent. in 1979 to 74·4 per cent. in 1989. This increase includes the effects of privatisation. The data that would enable reliable estimates of the change in the proportion working outside the public sector allowing for the effects of privatisation are not available.

  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the fall in the numbers of unemployed people aged 50 years and over over the last year.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Between January 1989 and January 1990 the number of unemployed claimants aged 50 years and over in the United Kingdom fell by about 113,000 or 26 per cent. This comparison is affected by the changes in the operation of the redundant mineworkers payments scheme in July 1989. These changes will particularly have affected older age groups.

  Training
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any proposals to improve the level of training for new skills.

  Mr. Howard
  The Government are investing almost £3 billion this year in training, and in the introduction of training and enterprise councils across the country. Training and enterprise councils represent the most exciting training initiative this country has ever seen, arid I am delighted by the progress they are making and the support they are receiving.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he plans to meet his European Economic Community counterparts to discuss training and retraining schemes and the exchange of ideas between different systems in European countries.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. and learned Friend has already visited Bonn to discuss training issues with his counterparts there and also held bilateral discussions in Dublin before attending the informal meeting of Labour and Social Affairs Ministers on 1 to 2 March, which included a review of EC training initiatives. It is hoped that a number of bilaterals with colleagues in other member states will be arranged within the next six months.

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in annual expenditure by his Department on training since 1979 in(a) real terms and (b) cash terms.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Records are kept on the basis of the standard financial year for Government expenditure, which runs from 1 April to 31 March.

  The increase in annual expenditure on training programmes from 1979–80 to 1989–90 in cash terms is £2,512 million. When expenditure is inflated to constant 1989–90 prices the increase is £1,966·4 million.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the provision of training by employers.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The latest available figures show that 1986–87 £18 billion was spent by employers on training. This represents a very considerable investment in the skills of the British work force.
  207
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the proportion of gross domestic product represented by the overall cost of all training undertaken in Britain.

  Mr. Nicholls
  It has been estimated that in 1986–87 the total costs of training, including the implicit cost to trainees of earnings forgone while on training, was about 8 per cent. of gross domestic product.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the overall cost of all training undertaken in Britain in 1986–87.

  Mr. Nicholls
  It has been estimated that the total costs of training, including the implicit cost to trainees of earnings forgone while on training, was about £33 billion in 1986–87.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what percentage of employment training places employers make additional contributions to the cost of training; and what is the average contribution.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any proposals to increase jobs in the manufacturing sector through training programmes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The overall aim of Government training programmes is to promote better arrangements for people to acquire and improve their skills and competence for work. Improved training arrangements will in turn lead to a more highly skilled and competent work force and a more competitive economy, thus promoting employment in manufacturing as elsewhere.

  Low Pay
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to eradicate low pay.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The best way to help the lowest paid is through the development of a prosperous and growing economy which the Government's policies are helping to achieve.

  Euro Information Centres
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future funding of Euro information centres.

  Mr. Eggar
  The first four centres in the United Kingdom were established in 1987; a further 16 for the United Kingdom were approved in October 1989 and will be operational by April this year.

  The Commission provides pump-priming funds on a reducing basis in the first three years of operation.

  Self-Employment
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in the numbers of self-employed people since 1979.

  Mr. Eggar
  In September 1989, the latest date for which information is available, there were 3,276,000 self-employed people in the United Kingdom. This represents 208
  an increase of 1,370,000, or 72 per cent., since June 1979. Self-employed people now represent 12·2 per cent. of the work force in employment.

  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the work force in employment is now self-employed.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In September 1989, the latest date for which information is available, self-employed people represented 12·2 per cent. of the work force in employment.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many training and enterprise councils have been approved for pilot funding; how many applications are being processed; and how many areas of the country are still to make applications.

  Mr. Howard
  Sixty-four employer-led groups have been given development funding to establish training and enterprise councils (TECs). A further six applications are under consideration, and 12 more are expected later. This will give a complete network of TECs across England and Wales.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the training and enterprise council network.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been very encouraged by the excellent response from employers throughout the country since we issued the invitation to form training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met the chairman of the Tynemouth training and enterprise council; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. and learned Friend met the chairman of the prospective training and enterprise council for Tyneside on 23 January. The development of a TEC for the area and the progress being made with their plans was discussed.

  Job Clubs
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of job clubs.

  Mr. Eggar
  In recent months job clubs have been particularly successful in attracting entrants—20 per cent. more during the last quarter of 1989 than during the corresponding period in 1988.

  The employment service is currently considering its plans for 1990–91. Provision will be made for a large and vigorous job club programme to continue.

  I believe that job club is an excellent programme offering practical help with jobsearch to long-term unemployed people and others at a disadvantage in the labour market.

  YTS
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of YTS leavers go into a job, further education or training.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Eighty-one per cent. of all young people who leave YTS courses go into either employment, further education or training.

  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of those who complete a YTS course achieve a qualification.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Sixty-seven per cent. of those young people who complete a YTS course achieve a qualification.

  Overseas Teachers
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the number of work permits that have been given to overseas teachers to work in England and Wales during the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Figures are not available for England and Wales alone. The total number of work permits recorded as having been issued to employers wishing to employ overseas teachers in Great Britain between March 1989 and February 1990 was 323.

  Hosiery Industry
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement regarding employment levels within the hosiery industry in Leicestershire.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The latest available employment estimates for the county are from the September 1987 census of employment. There were then 29,000 employees employed in the manufacture of hosiery and other weft knitted goods and fabrics (activity heading 4363 of the standard industrial classification 1980) in Leicestershire.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the total number of employment training referrals from the employment scheme to training agents in each of the months of November and December 1989 and the number of ET starts in each of those months.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is given in the following table.

  Employment training Great Britain

  Month

  Employment service referrals to employment training

  Starts with training managers

  November

  75,700

  36,200

  December

  59,100

  26,300

  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to introduce a compulsory element to employment training.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no current plans to change the basis on which employment 210
  training operates. Employment training is a highly successful programme with 209,000 voluntary participants in training.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on employment training in Greater Manchester.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Employment training in Greater Manchester, as nationally, continues to make excellent progress. It is currently helping nearly 9,700 unemployed people to get the skills and experience they need to obtain jobs.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people on the Government employment training scheme have left the training course before the completion of their programme in the Yorkshire region in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to modify employment training.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stevenage (Mr. Wood) on 5 March 1990,Official Report, column 507.

  Vocational Training
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will obtain for his Department's library the recently published reports into vocational training published by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Library has purchased copies of the institute's recently published compilation of its reports on vocational training entitled "Productivity, Education and Training:—Britain and other Countries Compared."

  Disabled People
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what additional measures he plans to introduce to enable disabled persons to participate fully in the work force.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he intends to take to encourage the disabled to participate fully in the workplace.

  Mr. Eggar
  The adequacy of current measures to enable people with disabilities to participate fully in the work force is being considered in the review of services for people with disabilities which my Department has been undertaking. A consultative document covering the conclusions reached in the review will be published as soon as possible.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guidelines are issued to his Department's staff regarding the distribution of quota exemption permits to employers.

  Mr. Eggar
  Instructions to disablement resettlement officers require them to consider the availability of suitable
  211
  registered disabled people and the degree of commitment shown by employers towards meeting their obligations under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.

  Construction Industry Training Board
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he next plans to meet the chairman of the construction industry training board; and what he proposes to discuss.

  Mr. Nicholls
  My right hon. and learned Friend expects to meet the chairman to discuss plans for taking forward training within the industry soon after the board is reconstituted.

  Tourism
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps his Department has taken to promote tourism in Merseyside.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Through the English tourist board, my Department supports the work of the North-West tourist board in promoting tourism throughout the north-west. Specific Merseyside activities include the Liverpool strategic development initiative. My Department is also involved in the work of the Liverpool city action team, several of whose initiatives benefit tourism in the area.

  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in the total of self-employment within the tourism industry since 1983.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The latest available estimate from the labour force survey indicates that there were 204,000 self-employed workers in tourism-related industries in spring 1988–44,000 more than in spring 1983.

  Mr. Bevan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the value of spending in Britain by overseas visitors in 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  It is provisionally estimated that overseas residents spent £6,850 million in the United Kingdom during 1989–11 per cent. more than in 1988.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans there are for increasing the number of construction inspectors within the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive has achieved its objective of having 100 inspectors regularly engaged on the inspection of construction activities nationally by 1990. This number will be maintained. The HSE has no plans to increase the number in 1990, but the position will be kept under review.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to extend health and safety protection at work.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government have increased financial provision for the Health and Safety 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.
  212
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State 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.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to introduce legislation allowing for heavier fines for cases brought by the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The introduction of legislation allowing for heavier fines, including those for cases brought by the Health and Safety Executive, is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps the Health and Safety Executive is taking to comply with European Community directives on the workplace, the use of workplace equipment and the use of personal protective equipment.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Health and Safety Executive is assessing what changes to existing legislation need to be made in the light of the directives, and will make recommendations to the Health and Safety Commission in due course. The commission hopes to publish proposals in the form of a consultative document by about the end of this year.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have withdrawn their claims to benefit as a result of employment service fraud investigations since 1987.

  Mr. Eggar
  The latest available figures show that since June 1987 204,500 people have withdrawn their claims to benefit following fraud investigations.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the total savings to the taxpayer achieved by employment service fraud investigations in 1989.

  Mr. Eggar
  The total saving to the taxpayer in 1989 was £53·16 million.

  TVEI
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the technical and vocational education initiative.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The technical and vocational education initiative (TVEI) is making excellent progress. Over half a million students are currently involved. Significant achievements are being recorded in the 81 education authorities currently extending TVEI to all their schools and colleges:

  (i) The proportion of students taking balanced science courses has virtually doubled from 36 per cent. to 64 per cent.

  (ii) Students taking design and technology courses has virtually doubled from 30 per cent. to 55 per cent.

  (iii) 71 per cent. of teachers report TVEI has increased students ability to solve problems.

  (iv) 70 per cent. of employers feel that what TVEI teaches is relevant to their needs.

  213
  As the initiative expands, all students will be getting a period of work experience, an individual action plan and a record of achievement. I am confident that TVEI is making a significant contribution to improving the quality of the nation's work force.

  Stonehenge
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has met the chairman of English Heritage to discuss the tourism potential of Stonehenge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  Since my appointment as Secretary of State for Employment, I have not yet had the opportunity of meeting the chairman of English Heritage.

  Job Creation
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now meet representatives of the local authority associations to discuss the role of local government in job creation.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have no plans for such a meeting. Local authorities are aware that they can help to create jobs by attracting industrial and commercial investment. The Government have assisted the authorities which can benefit most from investment by, among other things, the creation of enterprise zones such as Wakefield.

  Restart
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many restart interviews were conducted between April 1988 and December 1989.

  Mr. Eggar
  The number of restart interviews conducted between April 1988 and December 1989 was 3,758,000.

  Employment Rights
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to extend employment rights to all those in work.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Tyne Bridge (Mr. Clelland) on 7 December 1989,Official Report, column 205.

  Age Discrimination
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further steps his Department is taking to discourage the practice of age discrimination among employers.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government believe that older workers are a valuable resource. Age discrimination is unfair to individuals and not in an employer's own interest. We continue to put this message across to employers through various media, particularly in the context of publicity about demographic change. In addition, instructions to jobcentre staff have been strengthened to ensure all upper age limits on vacancies notified by employers are challenged. There are encouraging signs that employers are heeding this message. We will continue our efforts to ensure this progress continues.

  EC Employment Ministers
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met his opposite numbers in(a) France, (b) Germany and (c) Italy; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Howard
  I met my European Community counterparts at an informal meeting of Labour and Social Affairs Ministers in Dublin on 1 and 2 March when we discussed help for the long-term unemployed and training assistance for eastern European countries.

  I was also able to secure agreement that the Commission would in future present regular reports to the Council of Ministers on member states' records in implementing European legislation. This will show that the United Kingdom has an extremely good record on implementation and will help to ensure that Community legislation is effectively and fairly implemented throughout the Community.

  It will also make member states think more carefully about implementation before agreeing to new directives.

  Industrial Action
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the annual average of working days lost due to industrial action in each of the last two decades.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The annual average of working days lost due to industrial disputes in the 1970s was 12·9 million. The provisional estimate for the 1980s is 7·2 million.

  Women Workers
  Mr. Orme
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to encourage women back into the workplace after having children.

  Mr. Nicholls
  It is not Government policy specifically to encourage women with dependent children back to work. It must be a matter of personal choice for the woman concerned. For details of the steps being taken by the Government to help those women who wish to do so to return to the labour market, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, South (Mrs. Currie) on 16 January,Official Report, columns 234–35.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the average weekly increase in the number of small businesses created over the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Eggar
  In 1988, the latest year for which figures have been published by my Department, the net increase in the number of VAT-registered businesses averaged just over 1,200 per week. This compares with 800 a week in 1987 and 500 a week in 1986. Early indications from data collected by HM Customs and Excise are that there was a net increase in 1989 of 1,500 a week on average.

  Work Trial Placements
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest figures for the number of work trial placements completed under the job interview guarantee scheme for each of the sites of the pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The number of work trial placements completed is as follows:

  Pilot area

  Number of work trials

  Number/found employment

  Lower Don Valley

  1

  1

  Leeds

  2

  2

  Sunderland

  1

  1

  Cardiff

  1

  —

  The job interview guarantee involves an employer guaranteeing to interview long-term unemployed people from inner cities who are submitted from one or more of the following: matching-screening service, a job preparation course, a job club adopted by an employer, a work trial and a customised training course. It was formally launched in 20 pilot areas in November 1989. The latest available information is that 1,556 individuals, which includes those still participating, and 403 employers have participated in the initiative. The progress of the pilots has been encouraging. So far, 587 people have been placed in jobs including 60 per cent. of participants in the job preparation courses.

  Training Agency
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the funding paid to each area covered by the Training Agency for 1989–90 and the estimated funding for each of the following three years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is not available in the precise form requested. Expenditure for field-delivered training programmes for April to December 1989 by Training Agency regions is set out in the table. The Government's plans for overall expenditure by the Training Agency over the next three years are set out in chapter 6 of the public expenditure White Paper (CM 1006).

  Training Agency expenditure April to December 1989

  Region

  £

  South East

  100·91

  London

  79·16

  South West

  73·21

  West Midlands

  111·84

  East Midlands and Eastern

  108·01

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  110·75

  North West

  147·55

  Northern

  96·41

  Wales

  69·54

  Scotland

  126·70

  TNPU1

  212·83

  Great Britain

  1,236·90

  1 The TECS and National Provider's Unit is based centrally and holds contracts for major companies who provide training throughout Great Britain.

  Note: Expenditure excludes training allowances and other costs administered centrally.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his proposals for reducing asbestos-related hazards.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government have already introduced a comprehensive range of legislation to reduce the risks from exposure to asbestos in both the work place and the environment and I have no plans at present for further legislation.

  Departmental Staff
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the numbers of people employed in his Department in 1979 and 1989.

  Mr. Eggar
  The number employed by this Department in 1979 was 53,657 and in 1989 it was 56,376.

  Skills Training Agency
  Mr. Amos
  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,Offical Report, column 141, about the sale of the Skills Training Agency (STA), I can announce that terms of sale have now been agreed with the Training Business for the business located at Lambeth skill centre.

  The offer from the Training Business 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 £0·8 million from the Government to the Training Business: this reflects the need for restructuring and reforming the business at the skill centre. There will be no loss to the Government from the transaction compared with the alternative of closing the skill centre.

  This brings the total number of skill centres businesses which will be sold up to 52. There will be no more sales of training businesses.

  Statistical Divisions
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what are the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in the Training Agency; if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administrative posts; and if he will give the staffing complements by grade, and differentiated between statistical and administrative posts, proposed for 1990–91;

  (2) what are the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, by grade, in the statistical divisions in his Department; if he will differentiate between staff in statistical posts and staff in administration posts; and if he will give the staffing complements by grade, and differentiated between statistical and administrative posts, proposed for 1990–91.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: The numbers of staff, by grade, employed as at 31 January 1990

  217
  in statistical divisions in the Department of Employment headquarters, the Training Agency, the employment service and the Health and Safety Executive are as in the table. The permanent staff included within these numbers are close to the current complement and to that proposed for 1990–91. More casual administrative staff than are included in these numbers will be employed as necessary to process the 1989 census of employment and the 1990 earnings surveys. The table excludes the 35 staff previously in the Department and transferred to the new Central Statistical Office on 31 July 1989.

  Staff1 in post in ED group statistical divisions As at 31 January 1990

  Grade

  Number

  Statistical grades

  Grade 3 (Director of Statisticis)

  1

  Grade 5 (Chief Statistican)

  5

  Grade 7 (Statistician)

  23·7

  Assistant/Senior Assistant Statistician

  20

  Total statistical grades

  49·7

  Administrative grades

  Grade 6

  1

  Grade 7

  3

  Senior Executive Officer

  8

  Higher Executive Officer

  24·5

  Executive Officer

  53·5

  Administrative Officer

  95·6

  Administrative Assistant

  33

  Senior/Personal Secretary

  7

  Total administrative grades

  225·6

  Other staff

  Grade 7 (Economic Adviser)

  2

  Senior/Economic Assistant

  2

  Senior/Research Officer

  2

  Assistant Librarian

  1

  Total other grades

  7

  218

  Grade

  Number

  Total all grades

  282·3

  1 Part-time staff shown as proportion of full-time.

  Public Relations
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what are the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, in the press and public relations office of the Training Agency; and what is the proposed complement for 1990–91;

  (2) what are the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, in the press and public relations office of his Department; and what is the proposed complement for 1990–91.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: The Department's information division, which includes the press and public relations offices, presently employs 120 people with six posts vacant. The division merged with the Training Agency's information services branch in November 1989. The proposed complement for 1990–91 is 126.

  HSE (Information Leaks)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the practice followed by the Health and Safety Executive in inquiring into the source of leaks of information; and how many such inquiries have taken place in this calendar year and in 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive would carry out inquiries into the sources of leaks of information in the same manner as all other Civil Service departments. The procedures are centrally determined. There were no such inquiries during 1989.

  STUDENT SUPPORT: COMPARATIVE FIGURES
  STUDENT SUPPORT: COMPARATIVE FIGURES
  SALMONELLA IN EGGS: PROGRESS REPORT
  SALMONELLA IN EGGS: PROGRESS REPORT
  MILK QUOTA INCREASE: ALLOCATION
  MILK QUOTA INCREASE: ALLOCATION
  DEER: SLAUGHTER IN ABATTOIRS
  DEER: SLAUGHTER IN ABATTOIRS