Written Answers of 15 March 1990

TRANSPORT

  Network SouthEast
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of his decision to curtail public subsidy to Network SouthEast services on the quality of service offered to passengers.

  Mr. Portillo
  The latest objectives for British Rail are based on the board's forecasts in the 1989 corporate plan that the need for subsidy for Network SouthEast will be eliminated progressively over the next three years as a result of increased revenue and greater efficiency. The objectives also set tougher quality of service targets, which NSE will be expected to meet route by route. The investment programme of £1·2 billion over the next three years will make a major contribution to the achievement of these objectives, both through savings in energy and maintenance costs and through additional revenue from increases in capacity and improved service quality.

  Roads Programme
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made an assessment of the environmental implications of the proposed £13 billion road building programme.

  Mr. Atkins
  Protecting and enhancing the environment is a major feature of the Government's road building plans.

  By reducing congestion, which wastes fuel, the trunk road programme will lead to lower exhaust emissions than would otherwise be the case if additional road capacity was not provided. The emphasis in the programme on increasing capacity on existing motorways and other strategic routes will help minimise the requirement for additional land and the overall impact on the countryside. Some one third of trunk road schemes are bypasses, which will considerably improve the environment of the communities concerned.

  MOT Tests
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many Ministry of Transport test centres have been suspended and subsequently permitted to continue for each year since 1983; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is the number of garages whose operation of Ministry of Transport testing has been terminated by his Department for each year since 1983; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information is as follows:310

  Year

  Total MOT stations withdrawn

  Permitted to continue after appeal

  Appeals disallowed

  1983

  90

  13

  42

  1984

  107

  35

  43

  1985

  80

  28

  37

  1986

  73

  17

  38

  1987

  127

  21

  39

  1988

  103

  22

  45

  1989

  74

  17

  43

  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average time taken between suspension and the final decision on the resumption or termination of testing for Ministry of Transport test centres; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Sixteen weeks.

  Railway Inspectorate
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the extent of the remit given to the railway inspectorate in respect of reliability of equipment and systems of automatic train control as distinct from the safety of its operations.

  Mr. Portillo
  In his report on the Clapham junction accident investigation, Sir Anthony Hidden, QC, recommended that the railway inspectorate should monitor at six-monthly intervals British Rail's progress in implementing automatic train protection. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 7 November last that he accepted this recommendation. Safety and reliability are closely associated, and the inspectorate will take account of equipment and system reliability in Its continuing oversight.

  Management Consultants
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the total fees paid out by his Department 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. Atkins
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: The latest figures for fees paid by the Department to management consultants are as follows:

  £

  1984–85

  250,000

  1985–86

  272,000

  1986–87

  218,000

  1987–88

  371,000

  1988–89

  604,000

  1989–90

  1270,000

  1990–91

  2437,000

  1 Latest estimate.

  2 Budget.

  This excludes fees on computing consultancies.

  Information for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Hospital Posts
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the permanent third anaesthetist post in the Downe group of hospitals, Downpatrick, will be filled.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Appointment to the post is a matter for the Eastern health and social services board. It is under active consideration by the board.

ENVIRONMENT

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice is given by his Department to local authorities on how to handle redundant fridges and small quantities of solvents being disposed of by members of the public.

  Mr. Trippier
  My Department and the Department of Trade and Industry are currently considering the final draft of a report by Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte entitled "CFC Market Study" which, among other things, considers the methodology and economics of CFC recovery and recycling. We hope to issue advice to local authorities in the light of the final report which is expected shortly.

  Litter
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish for consultation the draft code of practice relating to litter and part IV of the Environmental Protection Bill.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Secretary of State, together with the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Transport, published for public consultation a draft code of practice on litter and refuse on 20 February.

  Water (Quality)
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount will be invested over the next 10 years to improve the quality of Britain's rivers, seas and drinking water.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  In addition to the investment in new water treatment and disposal by industry and agriculture to meet effluent standards, the water industry in England and Wales will be carrying out the biggest programme of sustained investment in its history with total capital expenditure of over £27 billion planned over the next 10 years. This will enable the industry to renew and extend sewers and sewage treatment works, to improve our drinking water and to complete the clean-up of our coastal waters and beaches. The benefits of this investment will be seen in improved water quality, as well as in higher standards of service to the consumer.

  In Scotland, where the water industry remains in the public sector, capital expenditure provision is considered over a three-year period with annual reviews. Provision for the water and sewerage programme has been substantially increased to over £500 million for the period 1990–91 to 1992–93. This will enable authorities to make good progress with improvements.

  North Sea
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of measured or estimated total airborne pollution deposited on the North sea arises from discharges from factories, power stations and farms in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Emissions by source category of the major United Kingdom air pollutants will be published in the digest of environmental protection and water statistics, volume 12, at the end of March 1990, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House. Agricultural sources account for the majority of total reduced nitrogen emissions.

  Modelling studies commissioned by my Department for oxides of nitrogen suggest that around 30 per cent. of United Kingdom emissions are deposited on the North sea.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further action he has taken on waste dumping in the North sea.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 5 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter),Official Report, Vol. 168, column 489, and to my right hon. Friend's answer on 12 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans) on the outcome of the Hague conference on 7 to 8 March, Official Report, Vol. 169, column 106.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding talks at, and the outcome of, the North sea conference of Ministers held earlier this month.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the North sea conference held on 8 March.

  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent initiatives he has taken to reduce pollution in the North sea.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 12 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans) on the outcome of the Hague conference on 7 to 8 March,Official Report, Vol. 169, column 106.

  Water Charges
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how the new infrastructure charges limits on water and sewerage, being introduced by each of the water services companies as from 1 April 1990, were arrived at.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The infrastructure charges limits were determined by my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Wales following an assessment of each company's investment needs to meet the demands of new developments, so that estimated income from the new charges balances the investment required over the period from 1990–91 to 1999–2000.

  Waste Paper Recycling
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce measures to protect the economic viability of recycling of waste paper from the effects of the current market price.

  Mr. Trippier
  No. Direct Government intervention artifically to maintain the price of waste paper through subsidising collection costs or other means would be ineffective or damaging since paper is an internationally traded commodity and users could switch to imported supplies. Central interference in the market overseas has been shown to drive down the price of waste paper and hamper recycling. The priority must be to encourage the market for recycled paper and expand industrial capacity to process waste paper. My Department and the Department of Trade and Industry are specifically examining the waste paper market to assess the economic and environmental benefits of waste paper recycling, the means of collecting waste paper, what new uses for waste paper might be promoted and how demand for recycled paper might be stimulated. Government Departments are also considering their use of paper with a view to increasing the use of recycled products wherever feasible and economic.

  Hazardous Substances
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce regulations to implement the hazardous substance consent provisions contained in part IV of the Housing and Planning Act 1986.

  Mr. Trippier
  Later this year.

  Inland Waters
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any intention of designating inland waters for the purpose of the EC bathing water directive (76/160/EEC).

  Mr. Trippier
  I am not aware of any inland waters which meet the criteria for inclusion within the scope of directive 76/160/EEC.

  Crown Suppliers and Property Services Agency
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the latest position in relation to the privatisation of the Crown Suppliers and the Property Services Agency.

  Mr. Chope
  The Property Services Agency and Crown Suppliers Bill was given its Second Reading in another place on 5 March. The competition for the sale of the Crown Suppliers is proceeding.

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has made an assessment of the role of market mechanisms in protecting the environment.

  Mr. Trippier
  There will be such an assessment in the forthcoming White Paper on the environment.

  Sewage Sludge
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he offers to those industries seeking to dispose of sewage sludge.

  Mr. Trippier
  Discussions are now being arranged with sewerage undertakers to consider the implications of the policy to end dumping of sewage sludge at sea by the end of 1998. We intend that wherever possible sludge should be used beneficially. We shall need to examine carefully with the sewerage undertakers the various options for disposal which vary according to the particular circumstances of each location. The main disposal options are to agricultural land, Iandfill, and incineration.

  Pharmaceutical Wastes
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice his Department offers to those industries seeking to dispose of pharmaceutical wastes.

  Mr. Trippier
  My Department has issued general guidance on the disposal of pharmaceutical waste in waste management paper No. 19—"Wastes from the Manufacture of Pharmaceuticals, Toiletries and Cosmetics." However, advice on the disposal of specific pharmaceutical wastes is best obtained from the appropriate waste disposal authority as the body statutorily responsible for regulating waste disposal in its area.

  Waste Water Treatment
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Gloucester (Mr. French) of 5 March,Official Report, column 452, (1) who will be responsible for showing that coastal discharges which receive only primary treatment will not adversely affect the environment; and how this obligation will work in practice;

  (2) what is his Department's definition of a substantial discharge of sewage;

  (3) what proportion of existing sewage discharge outlets will be affected by the requirement for (i) primary and (iii) secondary treatment;

  (4) how the investment programme of £1·5 billion for treating sewage discharges will be financed;

  (5) what is the timetable for implementation of his policy on waste water treatment.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend's answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Mr. French) on 5 March,Official Report, column 452, noted that the investment programme should be completed as soon as practicable and that discussions would be held with the National Rivers Authority, the Office of Water Services and the sewerage undertakers to work out the detailed arrangements for implementing this. Those discussions are now being held. The starting point for those discussions will be the CES report, copies of which have been placed in the Library. In this context substantial discharges are those from settlements of 10,000 or more to coastal waters. The number of sewage discharge outfalls covered by this definition is shown in tables 3·1 and 3·2 of the CES report. It will be for the water companies to determine how to

  315
  finance their investment programmes, and for the director general to determine what adjustments to water charges will be needed.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has circulated to community charge registration officers on the changes to the rules governing exemptions from the poll tax established by the Local Government and Housing Act; and if he will place copies of all relevant circulars in the Library.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 9 March 1990] : The Department wrote to all community charge registration officers on 16 November 1989, outlining the changes to be made to schedule 1 (personal community charge: exemptions) to the Local Government Finance Act 1988 by the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. I am arranging for a copy of the letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Irish Sea
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of pollution in the Irish sea is caused by sea dumping.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: Licences for dumping are granted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and in the Irish sea apply only to the disposal of dredged spoil and sewage sludge.

  Available data on inputs to the Irish sea are contained in the quality status report by scientists from the United Kingdom and Ireland published by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, a copy of which is in the Library. As with other United Kingdom coastal waters, inputs of contaminants from dumping are generally less significant than those from rivers and estuaries.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations have been received about pollution in the Irish sea.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 12 March 1990] : A number of representations have been received recently from organisations and individuals concerned with protection of the marine environment in the Irish sea. The United Kingdom Government are committed to applying their policy to protect the marine environment generally to all their coastal waters and the Irish sea will benefit from the package of measures which were agreed at the North sea conference in the Hague on 7 to 8 March.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report recalculations of the tables in annex J of Cmnd. 9714 "Paying for Local Government" on the basis of the poll tax levels set by local authorities for 1990–91.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I do not yet have full information on levels of community charge set by local authorities.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he took to inform right hon. And 316
  hon. Members of the availability of the Community Charge Transitional Relief Report (England) laid before the House on 15 February, and of the levels of the assumed community charges to be used in the transitional relief scheme in 1990–91 by the local authorities in their constituencies.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 14 March 1990] : Illustrative figures of the assumed charge for the purposes of transitional relief were announced on 11 January by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in his answer that day to my hon. Friend the Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire), Official Report, Vol. 164, columns 682–83. These were confirmed in the report laid before the House on 15 February to which reference was made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in his answer that day to my hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Central (Mr. Lord).

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he is considering raising levels of the assumed community charges to be used in the transitional relief scheme in 1990–91 above those set out in the Community Charge Transitional Relief Report (England);

  (2) whether he will make the assumed community charge in 1990–91 for each charging authority to be used in the transitional relief scheme the same as the assumed average community charge of £278 per head rather than the assumed community charge set out in the Community Charge Transitional Relief Report (England) where the latter is lower.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 14 March 1990] : I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 8 March, Official Report, Vol. 168, column 798.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  House of Fraser
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will prosecute the Al Fayed brothers under section 5(c) of the Perjury Act 1911 in view of the conclusion of the Department of Trade and Industry inspectors appointed under section 432(2) of the Companies Act 1985 that they repeatedly lied to them; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Brandon-Bravo) on 1 March.

  Property Law
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Attorney-General when the Government intend to bring into force section 1 of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989 and section 130 of the Companies Act 1989.

  The Attorney-General
  Section 1 of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989 will be brought into force on 31 July 1990. Section 130 of the Companies Act 1989 will be brought into force in respect of England, Wales and Scotland on the same date.

THE ARTS

  Arts Exports
  Mr. Cormack
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he is now in a position to announce decisions on the replacement for the indefinite stop and the recommendations of the reviewing committee on the export of works of art on collections.

  Mr. Luce
  I have today written to the chairman of the reviewing committee on the export of works of art conveying to him and his committee members the decisions which I and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry have taken on the indefinite stop. I have also conveyed in that letter my decisions on the committee's recommendations on collections, which it made to me in its annual reports for 1987–88 and 1988–89. I have placed copies of the letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Percentage of total energy R and D budgets committed to renewable energy R and D and to nuclear energy R and D and total Government energy R and D budgets in 1988

  Country

  Renewable R and D

  Nuclear R and D

  Total Government energy R and D

  Budget $US million

  Percentage of total R and D budget

  Budget $US million

  Percentage of total R and D budget

  Budget $US million

  Austria

  4·20

  16·63

  1·80

  7·19

  25·30

  Belgium

  3·10

  4·09

  62·90

  83·98

  74·92

  Canada

  13·90

  4·23

  129·90

  39·56

  328·22

  Germany

  101·40

  17·61

  343·00

  57·86

  575·65

  Greece

  5·00

  61·46

  1·10

  14·06

  8·18

  Italy

  52·50

  6·51

  422·40

  52·35

  806·86

  Japan

  128·50

  5·95

  1,485·70

  68·82

  2,158·83

  Netherlands

  21·70

  13·39

  31·70

  19·53

  162·13

  Norway

  2·90

  6·95

  3·20

  7·61

  41·94

  Portugal

  1·50

  26·07

  1·30

  21·74

  5·75

  Spain

  21·40

  33·71

  18·10

  28·65

  63·35

  Sweden

  18·10

  21·06

  14·90

  17·31

  85·98

  Switzerland

  14·40

  14·19

  45·80

  45·27

  101·16

  United Kingdom

  21·50

  5·40

  273·20

  68·60

  398·26

  United States

  124·30

  6·08

  1,013·00

  49·57

  2,043·40

  Full details may be found in "Energy Policies and Programmes of IEA Countries—1988 Review", International Energy Agency, OECD, 1989.

  Flue Gas Desulphurisation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Williams) of 26 February,Official Report, column 89, when he expects the first two units of the flue gas desulphurisation plant at Drax to become fully operational.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I am advised by the Central Electricity Generating Board that the first two 660 MW units at Drax power station are expected to be operational by the end of 1993.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what contribution he estimates the flue gas desulphurisation programme at the Drax power station will make to

ENERGY

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Gordon in the Official Report, 21 February, column 772, he will indicate which of the countries listed include expenditure on nuclear research and development in their renewable energy budget, giving details of the relative proportions of nuclear research and development and renewable energies research and development in each of these cases, if known.

  Mr. Wakeham
  While some of the countries listed spend substantial sums on their nuclear R and D programmes within their total energy R and D budgets, these sums are not included within the renewables element. The effect of a nuclear energy research and development programme is generally to increase the total size of the energy research and development programme and thus reduce the proportion of the total energy research and development programme spent on renewable energy development. The table sets out the budgets of different IEA Governments in 1988 on renewables R and D, nuclear R and D and expresses these as a percentage of the total energy R and D budgets.

  the reduction in SO2 emissions set out in the consultative document on implementation of the large combustion plants directive by 1993.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I am advised by the Central Electricity Generating Board that, when fully operational, the flue gas desulphurisation installation at Drax is likely to reduce the station's emissions of sulphur dioxide by about 250,000 to 280,000 tonnes.

  Central Electricity Generating Board Property
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what date he proposes to set for the making of the scheme for the division of property which the Central Electricity Generating Board must prepare under section 66 of the Electricity Act 1989.
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  Mr. Wakeham
  The Central Electricity Generating Board submitted on 12 March a scheme for transferring all the board's property, rights and liabilities to successor companies which subject to my approval and any modifications will come into force on 31 March 1990.

  Bankside Power Station
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what estimate has been made of the asset value of the Bankside power station site.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The estimate of the value placed on this site is commercially confidential.

  Greenhouse Gas
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the contribution of coal to the United Kingdom(a) primary and (b) final energy consumption in the years 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985 and 1989; and what is the projected contribution for 2005 and 2020 in the range of scenarios set out in the evaluation of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions and measures to ameliorate them prepared for the intergovernmental panel on climate change.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The percentage contribution of coal to primary and final energy demands is shown in the table. Data for 1989 are provisional. Figures for 2005 and 2020 represent the range across all scenarios considered, on the basis of energy prices provided by the International Energy Agency.

  Year

  Primary Demand

  Final Demand

  1970

  46·7

  30·8

  1975

  36·4

  18·1

  1980

  35·8

  12·9

  1985

  31·8

  13·1

  320

  Year

  Primary Demand

  Final Demand

  1989

  131·4

  112·1

  2005

  23–28

  7–12

  2020

  9–34

  6–12

  1 Provisional.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the contribution of nuclear power to United Kingdom primary and final energy consumption in the years 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985 and 1989; and what is the projected contribution in the range of scenarios outlined in the evaluation of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions and measures to ameliorate them prepared for the intergovernmental panel on climate change.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The percentage contribution of United Kingdom-produced nuclear power to primary demand is shown in the table on a heat-supplied basis. Data for 1989 are provisional. Figures for 2005 and 2020 represent the range across all scenarios considered, on price assumptions provided by the International Energy Agency.

  Percentage contribution of nuclear to Primary Energy Demand (Domestic Production Only).

  Year

  Primary Demand

  1970

  2·6

  1975

  3·1

  1980

  3·8

  1985

  6·3

  1989

  17·1

  2005

  6–8

  2020

  3–4

  1 Provisional.

  After the generation stage, in final energy consumption, it is not possible to separately identify the contribution of electricity from any particular source.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to set up the national curriculum working parties in(a) physical education, (b) music and (c) art.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement shortly.

  Gipsies
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he proposes to ensure rights of traveller children to education in those areas where authorities have not applied for grant under section 210 of the Education Reform Act 1988.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Section 6(1) of the Education Act 1980 places a duty on local education authorities to make arrangements to enable the parents of children in their area, including those of traveller children, to express a preference as to the school they wish their child to attend and to give reasons for their preference.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what criteria have been established to determine allocation of grant under section 210 of the Education Reform Act 1988; and what plans he has to alter the level of funding for traveller education in future years.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The draft circular issued in July 1989 indicated that in the case of satisfactory bids exceeding the total grant available priority would be given, as far as possible, to the maintenance of existing special provision. My right hon. Friend will review the level of funding for future years in the light of experience of the 1990–91 programme.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total amount of grant allocated for traveller education under section 210 of the Education Reform Act 1988 for the financial year 1990–91.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Expenditure of £7·9 million on traveller education is due to be supported through grant in 1990–91. Grant will be paid at the rate of 75 per cent.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether grants for traveller education under section 210 of the Education Reform Act are affected by whether local authorities applying have been granted designation under the Caravan Act 1968.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Grants are not affected by designation.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which local authorities have applied, under section 210 of the Education Reform Act 1988 for grant to(a) finance existing traveller education provision and (b) to finance new provision; how many of (a) and (b) have received grant; and what is the amount of grant allocated to each local education authority.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The following local authorities have applied for grant to:322

  (a)finance existing Traveller education provision:

  Avon

  Lambeth

  Bedfordshire

  Lancashire

  Berkshire

  Leeds

  Bradford

  Leicestershire

  Brent

  Lewisham

  Bromley

  Lincolnshire

  Buckinghamshire

  Liverpool

  Bury

  Manchester

  Cambridgeshire

  Newcastle

  Cheshire

  Newham

  Cleveland

  Norfolk

  Croydon

  North Yorkshire

  Cumbria

  Northamptonshire

  Derbyshire

  Northumbria

  Devon

  Nottinghamshire

  Doncaster

  Oxfordshire

  Dorset

  Richmond

  Durham

  Rochdale

  Ealing

  Rotherham

  East Sussex

  Sefton

  Essex

  Sheffield

  Gateshead

  Solihull

  Gloucestershire

  Somerset

  Greenwich

  Southwark

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Suffolk

  Haringey

  Surrey

  Harrow

  Tower Hamlets

  Havering

  Trafford

  Hertfordshire

  Wakefield

  Hillingdon

  West Sussex

  Hounslow

  Wigan

  Humberside

  Wiltshire

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Wolverhampton

  Kent

  (b) finance new provision:

  Barnsley

  Hampshire

  Bolton

  Salford

  Camden

  Waltham Forest

  Cornwall

  Wandsworth

  Hackney

  In addition a number of authorities with existing provision applied for grant to expand that provision.

  Sixty-one authorities in group (a) have been informed of the level of expenditure which the Secretary of State expects to approve for their authority in 1990–91. This indicative approval is subject to confirmation on the coming into force of the Education (Grants) (Travellers and Displaced Persons) Regulations 1990.

  The details for individual authorities are as follows:

  Indicative approvals for the financial year 1990–91 of expenditure to be supported by grant

  Authority

  £000's

  Avon

  260·2

  Bedfordshire

  207·1

  Berkshire

  212·4

  Bradford

  165·8

  Brent

  26·7

  Bromley

  84·1

  Buckinghamshire

  245·5

  Bury

  9·1

  Cambridgeshire

  249·1

  Cleveland

  62·9

  Cumbria

  13·8

  Derbyshire

  145·2

  Devon

  139·5

  Doncaster

  58·1

  Dorset

  57·0

  Durham

  110·7

  Ealing

  12·0

  East Sussex

  54·7

  Essex

  509·5

  Gateshead

  35·8

  Gloucestershire

  59·8

  Greenwich

  75·4

  Hammersmith/Fulham

  9·6

  Haringey

  78·1

  323

  Authority

  £000's

  Harrow

  40·7

  Havering

  8·8

  Hertfordshire

  600·2

  Hounslow

  96·1

  Humberside

  226·7

  Kensington/Chelsea

  8·0

  Kent

  173·0

  Lambeth

  16·5

  Lancashire

  293·6

  Leeds

  193·9

  Leicestershire

  85·0

  Lewisham

  49·0

  Lincolnshire

  162·8

  Manchester

  286·1

  Newcastle

  16·0

  Newham

  46·8

  Norfolk

  65·3

  North Yorkshire

  105·0

  Northamptonshire

  184·0

  Northumbria

  32·0

  Nottinghamshire

  28·8

  Oxfordshire

  282·0

  Richmond

  14·6

  Sefton

  39·9

  Sheffield

  156·4

  Solihull

  22·1

  Somerset

  58·6

  Southwark

  200·5

  Suffolk

  122·5

  Surrey

  322·9

  Tower Hamlets

  17·8

  Trafford

  19·2

  Wakefield

  86·4

  West Sussex

  114·8

  Wigan

  56·3

  Wiltshire

  76·0

  Wolverhampton (West Midlands consortium)

  739·1

  Education Reform (Devon)
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his best estimate of the cost to Devon county council of(a) circular 22/89, (b) introducing local management of schools and (c) introducing the national curriculum in the financial year 1990–91; and by what method each of the above was calculated.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  On circular 22/89, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave him on 14 March on the same subject. Estimates have not been made on an LEA by LEA basis of the additional costs of introducing LMS and the national curriculum in 1990–91. However, the additional pressures on spending nationally arising from the implementation of these reforms were among the factors taken into account in setting total standard spending for education for that year. Some of this spending is supported by specific grants (education support grants and local education authority training grants). Allocations of these grants to Devon LEA for 1990–91 will support spending of some £3·3 million on activities related to LMS and the national curriculum. These allocations are mainly determined by formulae relating to the number of pupils and schools in each authority

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Blackburn,Official Report, 7 March, columns 626–27,
  324
  what assumption he made in calculating the cost of £620 million in 1990–91 of implementing the recommendations of the interim advisory committee on teachers' pay in the manner he has proposed of (a) the number of teachers who would be awarded pay supplements of £750 in the Inner London weighting area from 1 April, (b) the number of teachers awarded enhanced incremental points and (c) the number of teachers whose maximum was extended to £18,000.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I followed the IAC in assuming that 50 per cent. of eligible teachers would receive the new London pay supplement. The new main scale discretions, which will be introduced from 1 January 1991, are designed to give authorities a wider range of options on pay in the light of local circumstances: they will not necessarily lead to increases in costs overall.

  Modern Languages
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to publish the initial advice of the national curriculum working group for modern foreign languages; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are publishing today the initial advice of the national curriculum working group for modern foreign languages, together with our letter to the group's chairman, Professor Martin Harris. Copies of the initial advice including the letter have been placed in the Library.

  We welcome the progress which the group has made in developing the attainment targets and programmes of study for modern foreign languages in the national curriculum. The proposed structure covers the important aspects of learning a modern foreign language and it should provide a good basis for both developing and raising the linguistic competence of pupils of all abilities during compulsory secondary schooling.

  We also welcome the helpful advice which the group has offered on the issues in its terms of reference. We hope that all those concerned with modern foreign languages will now take the opportunity during the consultation period to comment on the group's proposals in order to guide it in its further work. We look forward to receiving the group's final report by the end of July.

  Capital Allocations
  Mr. Thornton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide estimates showing for each financial year from 1978–79 to 1989–90 the capital spending allocations for(a) local education authorities and (b) voluntary-aided and special schools.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [pursuant to his reply, 21 December 1989, column 351]: In my earlier reply, the figures for capital grants paid to voluntary-aided and special agreement schools were given, from 1982–83 to 1989–90, as gross amounts including the governing bodies' 15 per cent. contribution. The adjusted table shows the level of net DES capital grants to these schools:

  £ million

  1978–79

  16·4

  1979–80

  20·3

  1980–81

  22·1

  325

  £ million

  1981–82

  24·0

  1982–83

  22·3

  1983–84

  19·0

  1984–85

  24·7

  1985–86

  31·0

  1986–87

  28·3

  1987–88

  31·6

  1988–89

  42·8

  1989–90

  55·5

  Notes:

  1. Capital grants are paid at the rate of 85 per cent. of gross expenditure: the balance of 15 per cent. is met by governing bodies.

  2. From 1978–79 to 1981–82 capital grants were subsumed within a single building grant which included repairs and maintenance. The figures for this period in the table are estimates based on an apportionment of the building grant using the average ratio between capital and repairs during 1982–83 and 1985–86.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Abattoirs and Meat Inspection
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many of his staff, full-time equivalent, were involved in the supervision of abattoirs in 1988–89 and 1989–90;

  (2) if he will list the number of man years of his staff involved in poultry meat inspection in 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Maclean
  Local authorities are responsible for the supervision of slaughterhouses and for meat inspection. Officers of my Department visit plants to advise on hygiene and welfare standards. The manpower involved for 1988–89 was approximately 41 man years and we expect that it will be of a similar order for 1989–90. Of this, we estimate that in 1988–89 and 1989–90 seven man years were spent on poultry meat premises.

  Food Safety Bill
  Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what level of new costs he expects to fall upon Devon county council in implementing the provisions of the Food Safety Bill and making preparation therefor, in the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93, respectively.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have already announced that the Food Safety Bill is likely to create additional costs, for all the local authorities in Great Britain taken together, of the order of £30 million a year from 1991–92 onwards. This sum will be taken into account in the revenue support grant settlements, and will be reflected in the standard spending assessment for each authority. It is for individual authorities to plan their expenditure accordingly.

  Butter Substitutes
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to introduce further legal controls on butter substitutes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) on 1 March 1990, at column 335.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to purchase at full value all offspring of cattle affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the risks arising from his decision to allow the export of calves born of mothers affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Southwood working party concluded that the risk to humans from BSE is remote and there is no evidence at present to show that the disease can be transmitted maternally from dam to offspring.

  From 1 March, EC measures have restricted United Kingdom cattle exports to animals less than six months old and which are not the progeny of BSE-affected dams. Exports of cattle to third countries must satisfy the health conditions imposed by those countries.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further measures he proposes to take to prevent the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy among cattle and to reduce further the possibility of transmission to humans.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government have introduced a comprehensive package of measures to tackle BSE in cattle and to eliminate the remote risk to public health.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the relationship between scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  BSE was almost certainly caused by feeding scrapie-infected protein material to cattle. The feeding to ruminants of protein material derived from ruminants was prohibited in July 1988.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has had from the National Farmers Union in respect of the incidence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have received a number of representations from the National Farmers Union about BSE.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Ministry will take to ensure that no threat is posed to humans by the sale of calves of six months or under, whose mothers are affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr. Maclean
  If transmission from dam to offspring can take place (and there is no evidence to indicate that this occurs), research into scrapie suggests that the agent of the disease would not be detectable in such young animals.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies have been undertaken to establish whether bovine spongiform encephalopathy can transfer from cattle to sheep; and if he will make a statement.
  327
  Mr. Maclean
  Studies on the experimental transmission of BSE from cattle to sheep are being undertaken as part of the Ministry's programme of research announced on 9 January at column 572.

  Salmonella
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to eliminate so far as is practicable salmonella in poultry breeding flocks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Under the Poultry Breeding Flocks and Hatcheries (Registration and Testing) Order 1989, registered owners of breeding flocks are required to have their flocks tested for the presence of salmonella and to comply with specific hygiene standards. A programme of compulsory slaughter, with compensation, has been introduced for flocks infected with salmonella enteritidis or salmonella typhimurium.

  Scrapie
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies have been undertaken to establish whether scrapie can transfer from sheep to cattle; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Epidemiological studies have shown that the most likely cause of BSE was feeding cattle with ruminant-based protein which included material from sheep infected with scrapie. Research investigating the experimental transmission of scrapie from sheep to cattle is not considered a priority.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether scrapie has been identified in muscle tissue in sheep; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  No.

  Glacé Cherries
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the use of E127 on glacé cherries is permitted; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The food colour erythrosine BS (E.127) is currently approved for use in both the United Kingdom and the European Community in a number of foodstuffs. The recent review of colouring matter in foodstuffs conducted by the Food Advisory Committee recommended in the light of fresh scientific evidence that the use of E.127 should be restricted to cocktail and glacé to a maximum level of 200 mg/kg. I have accepted that recommendation and will be taking steps to implement it in United Kingdom regulations in conjunction with European Community requirements as soon as possible.

PRIME MINISTER

  Mr. Ian Richter
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will continue to seek to secure the release of Ian Richter from detention in Iraq.

  The Prime Minister
  I assure my hon. Friend that our efforts to secure the release of Ian Richter on humanitarian 328
  grounds are continuing and will continue. Mr. Richter's case remains a cause of deep concern, as we have made clear to the Iraqis on many occasions.

  Marine Archaeological Sites
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions Her Majesty's Government have held with other European Community states concerning the protection of important marine archaeological sites; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Car Imports
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the restraints placed on the import of cars by individual member states; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The future treatment of car imports into the European Community from Japan was discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council on 5 March. The Commission is to open exploratory talks with Japan and the Government will consider any proposals resulting from these talks when they emerge.

  The Government have put the case forcefully that there must be no obstacle to free trade between member states in all cars produced within the Community.

  German Reunification
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the implications for the European Economic Community of the reunification of Germany; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The EC implications of German unification will be considered at an informal meeting of Community Heads of State and Government in Dublin on 28 April.

  Marine Pollution
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations she has received concerning action to reduce marine pollution.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have recently had representations from a wide range of interested organisations and individuals including industry, environmental groups and members of the public in the run-up to the third North sea conference which took place in The Hague last week on 7 and 8 March.

  The United Kingdom played a full and constructive part at the conference which, among other measures, agreed to
  reduce discharges to rivers and atmosphere for substances causing a major threat to the marine environment, such as cadmium, mercury, dioxins and lead by 70 per cent. or more by 1995;
  reduce emissions to the atmosphere for 17 dangerous substances by 50 per cent. or more by 1995, and at the latest by 1999;
  phase out all remaining identifiable uses of PCB by 1999 and to destroy them as far as possible in the country of origin and using storage only as an interim option;
  reduce nutrient inputs to the North sea by improving sewage discharge treatment standards and adopting secondary treatment as a general rule with exceptions in less sensitive areas;

  329
  end sewage sludge dumping at sea at the latest by 1998 and to develop a programme to achieve this as soon as possible;
  end incineration in the North sea by the end of 1991 (the United Kingdom will end it by the end of this year);
  protect dolphin and small cetacean species in the North sea and to co-operate on a programme to identify and protect a network of marine wildlife conservation sites around the North sea.

  South Africa
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister how many representations and from whom, she has received regarding opposition to her current policy in South Africa; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I receive many representations from a wide range of people expressing both opposition and support for our policy towards South Africa.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister what public expenditure will be incurred on publicising the lifting of limited sanctions with South Africa in order to encourage wider investment in that country; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in a written answer to a parliamentary question on 23 February 1990,Official Report, columns 934–35, announced the withdrawal of the advice on new investment in South Africa which was issued in 1986. This was a deserved response to the constructive steps taken by President de Klerk. However, it will, as before, be for companies and firms to make their own judgment about whether to invest in South Africa. The Government will neither encourage nor discourage them.

  The statement made by the Secretary of State announcing the lifting of the ban was released as a press notice. Copies of this notice were also sent to relevant associated bodies and United Kingdom companies with existing interests in South Africa.

  The Department of Trade and Industry incurred minor administrative costs in doing this.

  Engagements
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 March.

  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 March.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 15 March.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall be having further meetings later today.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Kashmir
  Mr. Denis Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received a petition on behalf of the Jammu and Kashmir Plebiscite Front about the rights of the people of Kashmir to obtain self-determination; and what response he proposes to make.
  330
  Mr. Maude
  Yes. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is writing to the right hon. Member. Both the Indian and Pakistan Governments are aware of our concern about the situation in Kashmir, and also of our long-standing view that their dispute over its status can be settled only by agreement between them.

  North Korea
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Leith (Mr. Brown),Official Report, column 702, 7 March, what action is taken to protect the well-being of British citizens who visit North Korea.

  Mr. Maude
  Since we do not recognise North Korea as a state, and accordingly have no relations with any authorities in North Korea, we can offer no consular protection there. British travellers to North Korea who seek advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are warned of this difficulty.

  Archbishop Romero
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been made to the Salvadorean authorities about the murder of Archbishop Romero on 24 March 1980 and efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.

  Mr. Maude
  None.

DEFENCE

  Conventional Forces in Europe
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current United Kingdom and NATO holdings of equipment covered by the Vienna negotiations on conventional forces in Europe.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Definitions of the treaty-limited items of equipment covered by CFE are not yet fixed. It is not therefore possible to be precise about the relevant holdings. But in general terms, on proposed western definitions the United Kingdom has some 1,250 battle tanks; 650 artillery pieces; 3,500 armoured combat vehicles; 1,000 combat aircraft; and 500 attack helicopters. Equivalent NATO figures are some 24,000 battle tanks; 18,000 artillery pieces; 30,000 armoured combat vehicles; 6,000 combat aircraft and 2,400 attack helicopters. The figures reflect the fact that for treaty purposes the definitions extend to equipment in storage and held in other non-operational forms, for example, in R and D and training establishments, rather than the more usual categorisation which reflects only equipment in active units.

  Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, at the next meeting of NATO Defence Ministers, he will raise the implications of the Soviet decision to move its nuclear warhead-testing site to the Novaya Zemlya Islands.
  331
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend will discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest with other NATO Defence Ministers when they next meet at the nuclear planning group meeting early in May.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Norway concerning the plan by the Soviet Union to move its nuclear warhead-testing site to the Novaya Zemlya Islands.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None.

  Ministry of Defence Land
  Dr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review water access arrangements to Ministry of Defence land with a view to facilitating greater access when this would not pose security or safety problems.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is Ministry of Defence policy to allow access to our land and facilities for recreational, social or commercial purposes wherever this is consistent with operational, safety and security requirements and does not conflict with the interests of tenants or have a detrimental effect on local amenities and the environment.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints about low flying were received in each month since November 1988 from addresses in (1) Scotland, (2) England, (3) Wales and (4) Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Neubert
  The number of total monthly inquiries and complaints received over the period 1 November 1988 to 28 February 1990 relating to military low-flying training in England, Scotland and Wales is as follows:

  Month

  England

  Scotland

  Wales

  1988

  November

  254

  81

  50

  December

  137

  63

  26

  1989

  January

  428

  78

  106

  February

  297

  90

  82

  March

  278

  75

  36

  April

  301

  55

  86

  May

  478

  132

  100

  June

  662

  167

  118

  July

  822

  186

  196

  August

  802

  143

  154

  September

  584

  179

  70

  October

  437

  165

  91

  November

  250

  160

  32

  December

  117

  61

  39

  1990

  January

  267

  93

  18

  February

  256

  71

  62

  No fixed-wing low-flying training is carried out in Northern Ireland. However, helicopters undertake low-flying operations in Northern Ireland and although no central records are available of complaints received, headquarters Northern Ireland received 38 complaints in 1988 and 50 in 1989.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-flying sorties were carried out over the United Kingdom in each month from November 1988 to the latest available date.
  332
  Mr. Neubert
  The number of low-flying sorties flown in the United Kingdom in each month over the period of 1 November 1988 to 31 December 1989 is as follows:

  Month

  Sorties

  1988

  November

  13,105

  December

  9,408

  1989

  January

  13,168

  February

  11,702

  March

  11,816

  April

  12,398

  May

  14,299

  June

  15,641

  July

  14,282

  August

  11,279

  September

  9,376

  October

  12,682

  November

  11,462

  December

  6,218

  Exercise Northaxe
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters are scheduled to take part in Exercise Northaxe 2/90; and what overland flying activity is planned during the exercise;

  (2) what use is being made of (a) Stornoway airport, (b) Benbecula airport and (c) the Cape Wrath ranges as part of Exercise Northaxe 2/90.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Some 74 aircraft took part in Northaxe 2/90. Overland flying during the exercise was limited to transiting to and from Stornoway airport (to collect mail, stores and passengers for ships at sea), navigation training over north-west Scotland and the use of the Cape Wrath range. Benbecula airport was used as a diversion airfield.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many surface vessels and submarines are scheduled to take part in Exercise Northaxe 2/90; and what warnings have been issued to mariners about activities connected with this exercise.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Eleven vessels were involved in the exercise. Warnings of activity in the area round the Cape Wrath range between 6 and 9 March were issued to fishermen. It is not our normal practice to issue notices to mariners for exercises of this sort.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions have been given to military aircrew concerning interceptions of civilian air traffic during Exercise Northaxe.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Military aircraft engaged on operational exercises have no instructions to intercept civilian aircraft and, in accordance with normal practice, aircrew have been instructed to avoid civilian aircraft during Exercise Northaxe.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose of Exercise Northaxe 2/90; which nations are participating in the exercise; whether it is part of a regular series of exercises; and what plans exist to hold future Northaxe exercises in the region of the Minch.
  333
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Northaxe 2/90 is a primarily naval exercise which enables participant forces, all British, to practise their various anti-submarine and air defence roles. Northaxe exercises generally take place annually and one is provisionally planned for 1991.

  Radiation
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals have received, in the last two decades, consecutive or separate annual radiation doses of more than 15 milliSieverts; and what is the total radiation dose, including doses of less than 15 milliSieverts, sustained by those workers.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 March 1990] : Records for radiation workers at the atomic weapons establishments are held separately from those for other Ministry of Defence radiation workers.

  During the 17 years that AWE has been under the control of the Ministry of Defence, 91 individuals sustained attributable exposures to penetrating radiation determined to have been 15 mSv or more in each of one or more calendar years. The total attributable radiation exposure for all these individuals was approximately 15 person-sieverts.

  Figures for other MOD radiation workers are readily available only for the period 1 January 1979 to 31 December 1989, when 1,484 individuals sustained attributable exposures to penetrating radiation determined to have been 15 mSv or more in each of one or more calendar years. The total attributable radiation exposure for all these individuals, based on a sample of 100, was approximately 143 person-sieverts.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many nuclear submariners have received radiation doses of more than 15 milliSieverts in two or more consecutive years, for the last two decades to the latest available date; if he will specify in ranges of 5 milliSieverts the doses into which those nuclear submarine personnel fall; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: In the period for which figures are readily available—1 January 1979 to 31 December 1989–60 naval personnel received radiation doses in excess of 15 milliSieverts per annum in two or more consecutive years. No naval personnel have received such consecutive doses for more than four years.

  The 5 mSv ranges of lifetime radiation dose into which these individuals fall are shown in the table:

  Ranges

  Dose

  30–35

  1

  35–40

  1

  40–45

  1

  45–50

  0

  50–55

  2

  55–60

  3

  60–65

  5

  65–70

  5

  70–75

  3

  75–80

  5

  80–85

  2

  85–90

  5

  90–95

  1

  95–100

  1

  100–105

  2

  105–110

  4

  334

  Ranges

  Dose

  110–115

  2

  115–120

  1

  120–125

  2

  125–130

  6

  130–135

  1

  135–140

  0

  140–145

  0

  145–150

  0

  150–155

  1

  155–160

  1

  160–165

  1

  165–170

  0

  170–175

  1

  175–180

  0

  180–185

  0

  185–190

  1

  190–195

  1

  195–200

  0

  200–205

  1

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals at CSB Faslane have been subjected to a total exposure to radiation of 10 milliSieverts over a period of six months in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Radiation dose data are not held in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  National Insurance
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received seeking reform of the system of national insurance contributions.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Representations have been received from the Confederation of British Industry about employers' national insurance, from the Institute of Directors about the upper earnings limit and from the Construction Industry Joint Taxation Committee about the closer integration of pay-as-you-earn tax and national insurance.

  Child Benefit
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the total estimated saving to the Exchequer as a result of the freezing of child benefit in the financial years 1988–89 and 1989–90; and if he will make a. statement.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the total estimated saving to the Exchequer as a result of the freezing of child benefit in the financial years 1988–89 and 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The sums involved are about £140 million and £210 million respectively.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report the maximum net weekly incomes that would qualify for community charge rebates for (a) a single person aged 18

  335
  to 24 years, (b) a married couple with two children under 11 years, (c) a pensioner couple aged 60 to 79 years and (d) any person with capital in excess of £8,000, assuming community charge per adult levels of (i) £250, (ii) £300, (iii) £350, (iv) £400, (v) £438 and (vi) £328.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information requested is shown in the table. Where a claimant or his partner has assessed capital in excess of £8,000 community charge benefit is not payable.

  Annual community charge

  Single under 25

  Couple two children under 11

  Pensioner couple aged 60–74

  Pensioner couple aged 75–79

  £250

  56·03

  147·45

  123·35

  127·00

  £300

  61·15

  157·68

  133·58

  137·23

  £328

  64·01

  163·41

  139·31

  142·96

  £350

  66·26

  167·91

  143·81

  147·46

  £400

  71·37

  178·14

  154·04

  157·69

  £438

  75·26

  185·91

  161·81

  165·46

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many other appeals have been received following that of Mrs. Morris and Whitbread concerning the effect of occupational pensions on unemployment benefit; what timetable he has established for dealing with these appeals; what consideration he has given to his general policy on this matter; and when he expects the social security commissioners to review the remainder of cases;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the position of claimants aged 55 years or over in receipt of an occupational pension of £35 per week or over, whose unemployment benefit was reduced or removed on 1 January.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  From 1 January 1989 the age at which unemployment benefit is abated by the value of any occupational pension in excess of £35 per week was reduced from 60 to 55 years. The change affected people in receipt of unemployment benefit at the time and all subsequent claimants over age 55.

  The appeal against the decision by the social security appeals tribunal in Mrs. Morris' case was heard by a tribunal of social security commissioners on 8 March and this decision is awaited. Pending the outcome of this case, employment service local offices are maintaining a record of people in similar circumstances who may wish to have their cases reviewed in the light of the commissioners' decision. These records, and the number of other appeals which might have been lodged, are not held centrally and the overall numbers could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Administration Costs
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the total administration costs as a percentage of benefit expenditure for each year from 1978–79 to 1989–90.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]:Administration costs as a percentage of benefit expenditure for each year from 1978–79 to 1989–90 are in the table:
  336

  Per cent.

  1978–79

  5·0

  1979–80

  4·9

  1980–81

  5·0

  1981–82

  4·9

  1982–83

  4·8

  1983–84

  4·7

  1984–85

  4·4

  1985–86

  4·4

  1986–87

  4·6

  1987–88

  5·0

  1988–89

  5·3

  1989–90

  15·6

  1 Estimated.

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment, Training
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for each of the Training Agency areas within Greater London, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, the Birmingham and Solihull Manpower Services Commission area and for Great Britain as a whole, what are the most recent monthly statistics for employment training showing(a) entrants in the latest available period, and the number of cumulative entrants since the scheme started, (b) a breakdown of entrants which shows how many were male and female, the length of time they had been out of work, their ethnic background and whether or not they had any disabilities, (c) the number of trainees in the latest available period who entered work placements and the cumulative total of how many are in work places at the latest available date, (d) trainees who left the scheme in the latest available period, and the number of cumulative leavers since the scheme started, (e) for all those trainees who have left the scheme how many found work; failed to attend; went on to another course of training or education; completed the course; left for sickness; or went back into unemployment and (f) the total number of currently filled places.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information on entrants is given in table 1. The breakdown of entrants is given in table 2. Information about those entering or on work placements is not available. The estimated number of leavers in the most recent period is given in table 3. Information about the cumulative number of leavers since September 1988 is not available. Information about the destinations of leavers is not yet available. The number of filled places is given in table 4.

  Table 1

  Employment training entrants February 1990

  Area

  February

  Cumulative since September 1988

  London North

  840

  11,300

  London West

  250

  3,970

  London East

  470

  6,980

  London South

  520

  5,630

  Inner London North

  1,360

  18,100

  Inner London South

  640

  9,620

  Merseyside

  1,810

  29,230

  Manchester East

  600

  9,900

  Manchester Central

  890

  14,500

  Manchester North

  690

  10,800

  337

  Area

  February

  Cumulative since September 1988

  Birmingham and Solihull

  1,370

  21,900

  Great Britain

  39,600

  621,900

  Table 2

  Employment training characteristics of entrants (April 1989 to January 1990) (all figures are percentages, figures may not total 100 because of rounding)

  Area

  Men

  Women

  Unemployment duration (months)

  Ethnic origin1

  PWD2

  0 to 6

  6 to 12

  13 to 23

  24 +

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  Yes

  No

  London North

  54

  46

  24

  30

  14

  32

  45

  25

  15

  8

  7

  9

  91

  London West

  56

  44

  25

  32

  12

  31

  61

  12

  18

  6

  3

  8

  92

  London East

  60

  40

  18

  37

  12

  33

  56

  20

  18

  4

  2

  12

  88

  London South

  56

  44

  21

  32

  13

  34

  64

  19

  8

  4

  5

  10

  89

  Inner London North

  58

  42

  22

  31

  15

  32

  48

  27

  9

  8

  8

  6

  94

  Inner London South

  58

  40

  11

  34

  16

  40

  46

  36

  4

  7

  7

  10

  90

  Merseyside

  65

  35

  26

  24

  13

  37

  95

  2

  1

  1

  2

  6

  94

  Manchester East

  69

  31

  29

  29

  11

  30

  91

  2

  5

  1

  1

  10

  90

  Manchester Central

  69

  31

  28

  27

  13

  31

  82

  8

  5

  2

  3

  8

  92

  Manchester North

  67

  33

  27

  29

  12

  32

  91

  1

  6

  1

  1

  9

  91

  Birmingham and Solihull

  64

  36

  22

  27

  11

  40

  63

  17

  14

  3

  3

  8

  92

  Great Britain

  67

  33

  26

  30

  12

  32

  87

  5

  4

  2

  2

  11

  39

  1 Ethnic origin: 1. White

  2. Black/African/Caribbean

  3. Indian/Pakistan/Bangladeshi/Sri Lankan

  4. None of these

  5. I prefer not to say

  2 PWD—People with disabilities. Those trainees answering whether they had a long-term health problem or disability which affected the type of work they could do. Figures to end December 1989.

  .. = Less than 0·5 per cent.

  Table 3

  Employment training Leavers during February 1990 (estimated)

  Area

  Numbers

  London North

  690

  London West

  270

  London East

  430

  London South

  490

  Inner London North

  1,080

  Inner London South

  600

  Merseyside

  1,860

  Manchester East

  530

  Manchester Central

  880

  Manchester North

  590

  Birmingham and Solihull

  1,370

  Great Britain

  38,000

  Table 4

  Employment training Filled places at 23 February 1990

  Area

  Numbers

  London North

  4,775

  London West

  1,309

  London East

  2,750

  London South

  2,106

  Inner London North

  7,525

  Inner London South

  3,855

  Merseyside

  10,521

  Manchester East

  2,539

  Manchester Central

  4,165

  Manchester North

  2,977

  338

  Area

  Numbers

  Birmingham and Solihull

  7,365

  Great Britain

  209,000

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for each standard region of Great Britain what are the monthly statistics since December 1988 for employment training showing(a) entrants in each monthly period, and the number of cumulative entrants since the scheme started, (b) a breakdown of entrants which shows how many were male and female, the length of time they had been out of work, their ethnic backgrounds and whether or not they had any disabilities, (c) the number of trainees in each monthly period who entered work placements and the cumulative total of how many are in project places at the latest available date, (d) trainees who left the scheme in each monthly period, and the number of cumulative leavers since the scheme started, (e) for all those trainees who have left the scheme how many found work; failed to attend; went on to another course of training or education; completed the course; left for sickness; or went back into unemployment and (f) the total number of currently filled places.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Information on entrants is given in table 1. The breakdown of entrants is given in table 2. Information about those entering work placements is not available. Information on trainees on project placements is given in table 3. Leavers information is not available before April 1989; figures since April are given in table 4.
  339
  Information about the destinations of leavers is not available for the period requested. The number of filled places is given in table 5.

  Table 1

  Starts at employment training managers: January 1989 to February 1990

  Training agency region

  1989

  January

  February

  March

  South East

  2,300

  2,500

  2,100

  London

  3,800

  3,400

  3,800

  South West

  2,100

  2,500

  2,300

  West Midlands

  4,300

  5,000

  4,900

  East Midlands and Eastern

  2,900

  3,600

  3,200

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  5,500

  6,100

  5,400

  North West

  5,500

  7,100

  6,500

  Northern

  3,600

  4,800

  4,700

  Wales

  2,900

  3,600

  3,200

  Scotland

  3,700

  5,400

  6,000

  Training agency region

  1989

  April

  May

  June

  South East

  2,300

  1,600

  2,400

  London

  3,100

  2,600

  3,100

  South West

  2,000

  1,700

  1,900

  West Midlands

  4,100

  3,300

  3,800

  East Midlands and Eastern

  3,100

  2,400

  2,800

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4,900

  4,100

  4,500

  North West

  5,800

  4,800

  6,300

  Northern

  3,800

  3,200

  4,100

  Wales

  2,900

  2,300

  2,600

  Scotland

  4,400

  4,400

  4,800

  Training agency region

  1989

  July

  August

  September

  South East

  4,500

  1,900

  3,400

  London

  3,100

  2,700

  4,800

  South West

  1,500

  1,200

  2,300

  Table 2

  Employment training characteristics of entrants (January 1989-January 1990)

  Region

  Men

  Women

  Unemployment Duration (Months)

  Ethnic Origin1

  PWD2

  0–5

  6–12

  13–23

  24 +

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  Yes

  No

  South East

  59

  41

  36

  25

  10

  29

  91

  2

  3

  2

  2

  14

  86

  London

  58

  42

  19

  32

  15

  34

  51

  25

  11

  1

  6

  9

  91

  South West

  66

  34

  29

  32

  12

  28

  93

  2

  1

  1

  2

  14

  86

  West Midlands

  66

  34

  25

  26

  11

  38

  79

  9

  9

  2

  2

  12

  88

  East Midlands and Eastern

  69

  31

  18

  34

  13

  35

  87

  4

  5

  1

  2

  14

  86

  Yorks and Humber

  71

  29

  28

  30

  12

  31

  89

  2

  5

  1

  2

  10

  90

  North West

  69

  31

  25

  29

  13

  33

  92

  2

  3

  1

  2

  9

  91

  Northern

  73

  27

  24

  34

  13

  30

  97

  3..

  1

  1

  1

  8

  92

  Wales

  69

  31

  25

  33

  13

  29

  95

  1

  1

  1

  2

  11

  89

  Scotland

  71

  29

  18

  32

  15

  35

  97

  3..

  3..

  1

  2

  9

  91

  All figures are percentages, figures may not total 100 because of rounding.

  1 Ethnic origin 1—White, 2—Black/African/Caribbean, 3—Indian/Pakistan/Bangladeshi/Sri Lankan, 4—None of these, 5—prefer not to say.

  2 PWD—People with disabilities. Starts to end December. Those trainees answering whether they had a long-term health problem or disability which affected the type of work they could do.

  3..= less than 0·5 percent.

  340

  Training agency region

  1989

  July

  August

  September

  West Midlands

  3,300

  3,200

  4,500

  East Midlands and Eastern

  3,000

  2,500

  3,500

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  3,800

  3,500

  5,500

  North West

  5,300

  4,500

  6,200

  Northern

  3,600

  3,000

  4,900

  Wales

  2,700

  2,300

  3,700

  Scotland

  3,400

  4,500

  5,600

  Training agency region

  1989

  October

  November

  December

  South East

  2,500

  2,300

  1,500

  London

  3,300

  3,600

  2,600

  South West

  1,900

  1,700

  1,400

  West Midlands

  3,800

  3,800

  2,900

  East Midlands and Eastern

  2,800

  2,800

  2,100

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4,600

  4,800

  3,700

  North West

  5,200

  5,600

  3,700

  Northern

  3,700

  3,700

  2,900

  Wales

  2,900

  2,400

  1,900

  Scotland

  4,800

  4,900

  3,500

  Training agency region

  1990

  January

  February

  Cumulative since September 1988

  South East

  2,800

  2,600

  41,900

  London

  3,900

  4,100

  58,800

  South West

  2,000

  1,800

  33,000

  West Midlands

  3,600

  4,500

  68,400

  East Midlands and Eastern

  2,500

  3,100

  49,700

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4,400

  5,100

  83,100

  North West

  5,400

  5,900

  95,400

  Northern

  3,300

  4,100

  65,000

  Wales

  2,500

  3,100

  47,300

  Scotland

  3,900

  5,300

  77,500

  341

  Table 3

  Employment Training Trainees on practical training placements on projects on census day 29 December 1989 (estimated)

  Region

  December

  per cent.

  South East

  29

  London

  42

  South West

  37

  West Midlands

  59

  East Midlands and Eastern

  n/a

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  50

  North West

  49

  Northern

  51

  Wales

  39

  Scotland

  64

  n/a = Not available because of low numbers of returns.

  Table 4

  Employment training leavers: April 1989 to February 1990

  Training agency region

  1989

  April

  May

  June

  South East

  2,100

  1,000

  1,700

  London

  2,200

  2,200

  2,500

  South West

  600

  1,500

  1,600

  West Midlands

  2,600

  3,000

  3,400

  East Midlands and Eastern

  2,100

  2,100

  2,500

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4,100

  3,800

  4,200

  North West

  4,700

  4,300

  5,200

  Northern

  2,800

  2,600

  2,900

  Wales

  2,100

  2,000

  2,300

  Scotland

  3,300

  3,600

  3,900

  Training agency region

  1989

  July

  August

  September

  South East

  1,500

  2,200

  2,700

  London

  2,400

  2,600

  3,500

  South West

  1,500

  1,500

  1,800

  West Midlands

  2,900

  2,800

  4,700

  East Midlands and Eastern

  2,100

  2,100

  3,300

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  3,800

  3,600

  5,500

  North West

  3,900

  4,800

  5,800

  Northern

  2,200

  2,700

  4,700

  Wales

  1,700

  2,100

  3,700

  Scotland

  2,900

  3,800

  4,900

  Training agency region

  1989

  October

  November

  December

  South East

  2,500

  2,400

  2,100

  London

  2,900

  3,200

  2,700

  South West

  1,600

  1,800

  1,600

  West Midlands

  3,800

  3,900

  3,500

  East Midlands and Eastern

  2,900

  2,700

  2,300

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4,600

  4,900

  3,800

  North West

  5,500

  4,600

  4,600

  Northern

  4,400

  3,600

  3,100

  Wales

  2,800

  2,600

  2,300

  Scotland

  4,100

  4,200

  3,800

  Training agency region

  1990

  January

  February

  South East

  2,400

  2,300

  London

  3,100

  3,500

  South West

  1,800

  2,200

  West Midlands

  4,200

  3,900

  East Midlands and Eastern

  2,700

  3,000

  342

  Training agency region

  1990

  January

  February

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4,800

  4,800

  North West

  5,300

  5,800

  Northern

  3,800

  4,500

  Wales

  2,800

  2,900

  Scotland

  4,000

  4,900

  Table 5

  Employment training Filled places at 23 February 1990

  Region

  Numbers

  South East

  14,900

  London

  22,300

  South West

  11,800

  West Midlands

  22,400

  East Midlands and Eastern

  16,400

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  25,000

  North West

  29,000

  Northern

  23,300

  Wales

  16,100

  Scotland

  26,300

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the work force at Easington district council are registered disabled.

  Mr. Nicholls
  As at 1 June 1989, 3·1 per cent of the work force of Easington district council were registered disabled, as published in the Employment Gazette in February 1990.

  YTS
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people aged over 18 years are on YTS with special training needs endorsements.

  Mr. Nicholls
  A total of 15,900 young people aged over 18 were on YTS with special training needs endorsements on 31 December 1989.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Government intend to introduce an increase in the YT allowance, age related for 18-year-olds and over, in line with the principle set in April 1988 for income support claimants when rate liability was introduced.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There will be no change to the value of the higher rate of the youth training allowance. The present level of this allowance represents a clear lead over the corresponding level of the income support for 18-yearolds, and will continue to do so when the income support rates are increased in April.

  Roustabout Training
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have gone through the roustabout training programme at the drilling instruction training centre; and what percentage of such people have subsequently been offered full-time employment by offshore contractors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  A total of 217 people have gone through the roustabout training programme operated by the
  343
  offshore petroleum industry training board. Of these 191 or 88 per cent. have successfully completed their agreed training and have obtained full-time jobs with offshore drilling contractors. I welcome this extremely successful employment training initiative with the private sector and recognise the important contribution it makes in helping unemployed people find work and in meeting the labour needs of the oil industry.

  Earnings
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what figures he has on the latest available evidence for average earnings for(a) 18 to 20-year-olds and (b) 20 to 40-year-olds by (i) gender and (ii) region.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The latest available information, for April 1989, is provided in the table:

  Average gross weekly earnings of full-time employees whose pay was not affected by absence, April 1989

  Males

  Females

  Region

  18–20

  21–39

  18–20

  21–39

  £

  £

  £

  £

  South East

  160·5

  302·7

  143·6

  220·0

  East Anglia

  144·2

  249·0

  120·2

  174·7

  South West

  139·6

  243·8

  116·6

  171·8

  West Midlands

  133·3

  232·9

  108·5

  167·9

  East Midlands

  138·2

  232·5

  110·6

  162·4

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  131·2

  232·0

  109·3

  165·5

  North West

  130·5

  235·5

  111·7

  172·0

  North

  130·7

  226·7

  109·2

  163·1

  Wales

  131·3

  223·3

  110·6

  171·2

  Scotland

  129·3

  239·5

  107·5

  171·7

  Great Britain

  142·4

  258·3

  122·3

  188·4

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total cost of fraud investigations conducted in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Eggar
  The total cost of employment service fraud investigation in 1989 was £20·23 million.

  Labour Relations
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has reconsidered the Government's reply to the Trades Union Congress's comments on the application of article 1 of International Labour Organisation convention 151, "Labour Relations—Public Service", to parliamentary staff, contained in the report of the committee of experts to the 71st conference of the International Labour Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government have submitted further reports to the ILO since the committee of experts' report to the 71st conference in 1985 and have stated, following legal advice, that in the respects in question parliamentary staff enjoy the full range of normal employees' rights. The Government thus consider that the arrangements for parliamentary staff are fully in accordance with ILO convention 151 and that the application of article 1 of this convention to parliamentary staff is no longer at issue.

  Toxic Substances
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many copies of each issue of the "Toxic Substances Bulletin" are provided and to whom they are distributed.

  Mr. Nicholls
  "Toxic Substances Bulletin" is issued twice a year and is available on subscription from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). There are currently 2,400 subscribers, mainly from industry and professional institutions concerned with the control of exposure to hazardous substances at the workplace, accounting for 2,900 copies of the publication. A total of 1,500 copies are distributed within HSE and a small stock is held for new subscribers and complimentary issues.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of industrial establishments subject to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations have registered a COSHH audit to 1 January 1990.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There is no requirement under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 for registration of COSHH audits.

  Genetically Engineered Organisms
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment at how many locations experiments connected with the release or potential releases of genetically engineered organisms are taking place; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Eleven centres have notified the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of proposals to release genetically manipulated organisms to the environment. At eight of these centres, releases have taken place and the HSE is presently reviewing applications from the remaining three.

WALES

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average level of the poll tax so far declared by Welsh local authorities.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Information available to me at present indicates that declared community charges range from £169 to £284 with a weighted average of £222.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing for each of the past 10 years, for each county in Wales, the total expenditure by that county authority, and the contribution towards their spending that came from(a) Exchequer grants, (b) rate contributions, (c) capital receipts and (d) other sources.

  Mr. Grist
  [holding answer 22 February 1990]: Information relating to the total expenditure for block grant purposes, rate income, rate support grant and the use of balances and other sources for each Welsh county for each of the past 10 years is shown in the following tables:

  345

  £000 at outturn prices

  Local authority

  Total expenditure1

  Rate support grant

  Rate income

  Balances and other sources

  1979–80

  Clwyd

  92,000

  28,223

  63,621

  155

  Dyfed

  80,844

  28,018

  48,520

  4,306

  Gwent

  108,002

  34,738

  74,642

  -1,378

  Gwynedd

  56,813

  20,476

  37,252

  -915

  Mid Glamorgan

  140,028

  44,176

  88,919

  6,933

  Powys

  32,358

  16,027

  14,821

  1,511

  South Glamorgan

  92,442

  33,354

  59,637

  -550

  West Glamorgan

  96,249

  26,197

  68,653

  1,398

  Total Wales

  698,736

  231,209

  456,064

  11,461

  1980–81

  Clwyd

  114,650

  33,831

  80,437

  383

  Dyfed

  96,606

  33,930

  63,393

  -718

  Gwent

  135,406

  43,226

  89,282

  2,897

  Gwynedd

  69,394

  23,450

  43,592

  2,351

  Mid Glamorgan

  167,694

  53,411

  112,542

  1,741

  Powys

  38,508

  18,859

  19,803

  -154

  South Glamorgan

  111,950

  42,100

  69,794

  56

  West Glamorgan

  113,871

  31,345

  85,028

  -2,502

  Total Wales

  848,079

  280,152

  563,871

  4,054

  1981–82

  Clwyd

  130,431

  76,068

  57,202

  -2,838

  Dyfed

  106,940

  68,449

  38,252

  239

  Gwent

  148,438

  87,664

  58,050

  2,724

  Gwynedd

  78,605

  47,000

  28,906

  2,699

  Mid Glamorgan

  183,230

  132,608

  54,966

  -4,344

  Powys

  41,776

  30,543

  11,746

  -513

  South Glamorgan

  121,491

  62,798

  59,723

  -1,030

  West Glamorgan

  126,554

  69,184

  58,459

  -1,089

  Total Wales

  937,465

  574,315

  367,304

  -4,153

  1982–83

  Clwyd

  139,097

  86,455

  57,345

  -4,702

  Dyfed

  113,391

  75,846

  38,356

  -811

  Gwent

  153,730

  99,380

  60,404

  -6,054

  Gwynedd

  81,993

  54,000

  28,214

  -221

  Mid Glamorgan

  194,759

  142,350

  55,332

  -2,923

  Powys

  46,954

  36,401

  12,267

  -1,714

  South Glamorgan

  129,407

  71,386

  67,816

  -9,794

  West Glamorgan

  137,196

  81,000

  59,780

  -3,584

  Total Wales

  996,527

  646,818

  379,514

  -29,803

  1983–84

  Clwyd

  146,678

  84,849

  58,709

  3,120

  Dyfed

  120,506

  79,048

  40,778

  680

  Gwent

  160,316

  101,037

  61,717

  -2,438

  Gwynedd

  86,314

  55,400

  32,415

  -1,501

  Mid Glamorgan

  207,517

  143,000

  58,915

  5,602

  Powys

  49,273

  36,605

  12,244

  424

  South Glamorgan

  138,750

  70,302

  63,341

  5,107

  West Glamorgan

  141,924

  79,327

  60,179

  2,418

  Total Wales

  1,051,278

  649,568

  388,298

  13,412

  1984–85

  Clwyd

  150,403

  85,667

  64,126

  610

  Dyfed

  126,488

  79,365

  44,701

  2,422

  Gwent

  166,119

  101,902

  62,521

  1,696

  Gwynedd

  91,214

  55,070

  35,536

  607

  Mid Glamorgan

  217,985

  144,165

  69,102

  4,718

  Powys

  51,026

  36,009

  12,965

  2,052

  South Glamorgan

  141,274

  68,549

  66,749

  5,976

  West Glamorgan

  144,826

  80,551

  63,734

  541

  Total Wales

  1,089,335

  651,278

  419,434

  18,622

  1985–86

  Clwyd

  156,895

  89,579

  68,120

  -804

  Dyfed

  130,335

  81,690

  53,812

  -5,167

  Gwent

  173,327

  102,352

  64,558

  6,417

  346 347

  Local authority

  Total expenditure1

  Rate support grant

  Rate income

  Balances and other sources

  Gwynedd

  94,465

  55,170

  37,926

  1,369

  Mid Glamorgan

  218,722

  152,434

  72,321

  -6,033

  Powys

  52,911

  36,839

  15,165

  906

  South Glamorgan

  147,715

  69,107

  75,874

  2,734

  West Glamorgan

  150,228

  85,167

  68,232

  -3,171

  Total Wales

  1,124,598

  672,338

  456,008

  -3,749

  1986–87

  Clwyd

  169,753

  93,495

  76,348

  -90

  Dyfed

  147,245

  88,797

  60,570

  -2,123

  Gwent

  184,342

  112,389

  75,860

  -3,908

  Gwynedd

  101,560

  59,000

  43,222

  -662

  Mid Glamorgan

  239,148

  157,652

  79,549

  1,947

  Powys

  56,186

  38,387

  17,767

  32

  South Glamorgan

  162,111

  72,672

  95,469

  -6,030

  West Glamorgan

  164,292

  89,101

  72,504

  2,687

  Total Wales

  1,224,637

  711,493

  521,289

  -8,147

  1987–88

  Clwyd

  180,390

  102,049

  81,362

  -3,021

  Dyfed

  159,590

  96,919

  64,965

  -2,293

  Gwent

  201,358

  116,000

  86,801

  -1,444

  Gwynedd

  110,734

  62,000

  47,749

  986

  Mid Glamorgan

  256,154

  173,596

  84,438

  -1,880

  Powys

  59,282

  41,384

  19,434

  -1,536

  South Glamorgan

  173,371

  79,001

  102,101

  -7,732

  West Glamorgan

  174,930

  92,844

  81,568

  518

  Total Wales

  1,315,809

  763,793

  568,418

  -16,402

  1988–89

  Clwyd

  197,043

  105,970

  88,176

  -2,897

  Dyfed

  174,299

  107,153

  68,051

  -905

  Gwent

  219,117

  124,686

  95,501

  -1,070

  Gwynedd

  119,888

  70,696

  53,226

  -4,034

  Mid Glamorgan

  280,049

  189,767

  88,562

  1,720

  Powys

  64,860

  43,767

  21,047

  46

  South Glamorgan

  196,980

  81,281

  111,073

  4,626

  West Glamorgan

  191,377

  100,045

  94,209

  -2,877

  Total Wales

  1,443,613

  823,365

  619,845

  -5,391

  1 As defined for Block Grant purposes. Net of specific and supplementary grants.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what targets were set by his Department and what are the actual sums set by each district, borough and city council for(a) each borough community charge and (b) each average sum for community council purposes within each council.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Information about the actual level of community charge set by councils will be published when available. I have set no targets for 1990–91; it is for councils to determine their own budgets.

  Milk
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dairy farmers in the Carmarthen area are likely to produce more milk than their quota allows for this financial year and whose payments are now being reduced by the Milk Marketing Board.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The position of individual producers under the quota arrangements is a matter for the Milk Marketing Board.

  Health Authorities (Performance-related Pay)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing for each district health authority in Wales the total payments made by way of performance-related pay during 1988–89; and what was the number of employees in each authority who received such performance-related pay.

  Mr. Grist
  The numbers of general and other senior managers authorised to receive performance-related pay additions to salary in 1988–89 are as shown in the following table:

  Health authority

  Number of senior staff authorised to receive PRP

  Clwyd

  10

  Gwynedd

  2

  Powys

  2

  Gwent

  6

  Mid Glamorgan

  9

  South Glamorgan

  8

  West Glamorgan

  8

  East Dyfed

  1

  Pembrokeshire

  3

  349
  Employing authorities have discretion to determine the level of payments within prescribed percentage limits. Particulars of actual payments made are confidential and information thereon is not held centrally.

  EC Funds
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has made to the European Commission to ensure that adequate funds are available to meet the integrated development operation programme of Gwynedd, Dyfed and Powys; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The major element of the integrated development operation (IDO) programme, £108 million of European regional development fund grant, was allocated in 1988 following my visit to Brussels in February of that year. The United Kingdom Government are currently in discussion with the Commission about the availability of sufficient funding to complete the IDO.

  Roads
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was his original planned timetable for the construction of the Penydip tunnel on the A55 near Penmaenmawr together with the original estimated cost of this tunnel; and what is the latest timetable and estimated project cost.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The decision to proceed with a tunnel on the present alignment was taken in 1985. "Roads in Wales 1985" indicated that the estimated gross cost at November 1984 prices was £31·32 million and work was programmed to start between January 1988 and December 1990. Work on the four-year contract started in November 1989, at which time the estimated gross cost of the scheme was £79·4 million at October 1989 prices.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will list those boroughs and district councils in Wales which in 1990–91 are estimated to pay more to central Government in respect of the uniform business rate than they will receive in return.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Non-domestic rates are collected by the 37 Welsh charging authorities and (subject to netting-off arrangements) paid to the Welsh Office. The product is then redistributed by the Welsh Office to the 45 county and district councils in Wales as a flat-rate amount per head of population. Because both counties and districts receive shares of the amount collected, but only the districts collect, it follows that the amounts distributed to the boroughs and districts are in all cases less than the amounts they collect and pay to the Welsh Office.

  Cancer
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to ensure early publication of figures on the incidence in Wales of leukaemia, lung cancer, colon cancer and stomach cancer in each district in Wales in respect of the years 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989.

  Mr. Grist
  As the actual numbers of certain cancer cases registered in a given year may be relatively small and 350
  subject to chance fluctuations, the publication of annual incidence rates in isolation may lead to misinterpretation. The practice has therefore been to produce several years' registrations with explanatory text. As previously advised, the most recently available information on cancer incidence rates in Wales is presented in "Cancer Registration in Wales, 1974–84", published in 1988.

  It is intended that full data in respect of the period 1984 to 1986 together with a commentary will be published during 1990.

  The Department is currently reviewing its procedures for collating information on patients who have developed cancer. In particular, the computer system for cancer registrations is being re-examined with a view to improving the speed and accuracy of recording. Subject to the outcome of this review it may be possible to complete the scrutiny of the records for 1987 and 1988 before the end of the year.

  Flooding
  Sir Anthony Meyer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to make any changes to class XVII, vote 5, of his Department's cash limits in the current year.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  As foreshadowed in my statements on I and 13 March, at columns 403 and 143 respectively, about the flood disaster in north Wales, the Government will be making contributions totalling £150,000 to the disaster funds.

  This contribution will be met from savings on class XVII, vote 5, and the cash limit for the vote has been reduced accordingly from £268,972,000 to £268,822,000. As a result, the contribution will not add to the planned total of public expenditure.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial support his Department is giving this year towards the teaching of Welsh to adults in Wales, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  [pursuant to his reply, 20 February 1990, c. 630] : Unfortunately, due to an error an incorrect figure was given. The figure of £305,000 should read £356,000.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the annual expenditure on schemes to teach Welsh as a second language to adults in Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  [pursuant to his reply, 27 February 1990, c. 101] : Unfortunately, due to an error an incorrect figure was given. The figure of £305,000 should read £356,000.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many tutors are employed in a full-time capacity in Wales to teach the Welsh language to adults; and whether his Department has any plans to increase the number of full-time tutors of Welsh for adults.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  [pursuant to his reply, 1 March 1990, c. 284]: Unfortunately, due to an error an incorrect figure was given. The figure of £305,000 should read £356,000.

SCOTLAND

  Scottish Agricultural College
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the membership of the board of the new Scottish agricultural college is representative of the different geographical areas within Scotland, including the highlands and islands.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the press release issued on behalf of my noble Friend the Minister of State on 8 March which indicates the membership of the board of directors of the Scottish agricultural college, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. In deciding who should be invited to serve as directors, the Secretary of State took careful account of the desirability of representing the different geographical areas within Scotland, including the highlands and islands. He is confident that the new board adequately reflects the balance of backgrounds necessary to take forward the work of the Scottish agricultural college.

  Tourism
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what reviews he is carrying out for Scotland under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969.

  Mr. Lang
  The means by which Government support is delivered to the Scottish tourist industry, including the Scottish tourist board's section 4 assistance scheme, are kept under constant review. I remain satisfied that this support is both relevant and effective.

  Under-age Drinking
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the relationship between alcohol sales in supermarkets and under-age drinking in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Both the 1986 survey on adolescent drinking conducted by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and the 1987 report of the working group on alcohol and young people chaired by Baroness Masham identified under-age drinking as a major problem, and off-sale premises—including supermarkets—as a significant source of supply for under-age drinkers.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he issues any guidance on the enforcement of the law against sale of alcohol to under-age drinkers in Scotland; what action he intends to take to improve enforcement; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Enforcement of the law against sale of alcohol to under-age persons is an operational matter for the police. The Government are, however, concerned about under-age drinking and the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Bill includes measures to restrict unsupervised off-sales by persons under the age of 18. These measures, if enacted, should significantly reduce the chance of illegal sales through ignorance, deliberate flouting of the law, or collusion between an under-age purchaser and a young sales assistant.

  Deaf-blind Children
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many deaf-blind children have been identified in Scotland in the age range(a) nought to two, (b) two to five, (c) six to 11, (d) 12 to 15 and (e) 16 to 19 years;

  (2) how many deaf-blind children in Scotland attend specialist deaf-blind units;

  (3) what plans he has to issue a policy statement on the education of deaf-blind children in Scotland;

  (4) what provision is made to ensure the training of teachers of deaf-blind children in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  Carnbooth school in Glasgow operates as a centre for deaf-blind children from all parts of Scotland. It has nine pupils in all: six aged between six and 11, two between 12 and 15 and one between 16 and 19. Provision for other deaf-blind children is made by the education authorities in whose areas they reside. Details of the age distribution of such children are not held centrally.

  I have no plans at present to issue a policy statement on the education of deaf-blind children. However, my Department is presently funding Moray House college of education and Carnbooth school to produce a training programme for teachers and carers of deaf-blind children.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what support is provided to the families of pre-school deaf-blind children in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  Local authorities have statutory responsibilities for the care and support of young children who are sensorily handicapped and their families. Health boards have similar responsibilities in relation to Health Service provision and there are well-established arrangements for co-operation between health and social work services. Decisions on the nature and extent of assistance to be provided are for the authorities themselves, having regard to the resources available to them.

  The Scottish Office supports two voluntary organisations which, to varying degrees, support such children and their families. The Carers' National Association has recently been awarded a grant of up to £31,750 during 1990–91 under section 10(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 towards the cost of setting up and running an office in Scotland. The association offers information, advice, training and support to carers who look after all types of people, not only those who are sensorily handicapped. SENSE in Scotland is a specialised voluntary organisation which provides a wide range of service and support specifically for deaf-blind young people and their families. It is currently receiving a grant of around £60,000, comprising £45,000 revenue and £15,000 capital support, also under section 10(1) of the 1968 Act.

  With regard to financial support from the DSS, the full range of social security benefits is available to families with disabled children. In particular for families on income support, the disabled child premium will be more than doubled from £6·50 to £15·40 from April; lower rate attendance allowance (£25·05 from April) is available for all severely affected deaf-blind children; and invalid care allowance (£28·20 from April) may be available to the parent or other carer who spends at least 38 hours each week caring for a disabled child for whom attendance allowance is paid.

  Food Hygiene
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his response to the representations of the Scottish Association of Master Bakery in relation to temperature control of bakery-crafted produce and food hygiene.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The representations made by the association will be taken fully into account in the revision of the food hygiene regulations.

  Seal Culling
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the level of illegal seal culling in fish farming areas.

  Mr. Lang
  Any evidence of a suspected offence under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 in Scotland should be reported to the police or procurator fiscal. The outcome of any subsequent proceedings is a matter for the courts.

  The Scottish Salmon Growers Association has developed, in collaboration with various wildlife conservation interests, including the Nature Conservancy Council, a code of practice on salmon farming and predatory wildlife. This was published in February this year and lays down the general policy, which my right hon. and learned Friend welcomes, that shooting or other methods of destructive control must be considered only as a last resort. In relation to seals, the code of practice emphasises that the killing of a particular animal may be considered only after reasonable measures have been taken to exclude seals from salmon farms.

  Education Budget
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the change in cash and percentage terms to his education budget in 1990–91 as against 1989–90(a) including student support and (b) excluding student support.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 13 March 1990]: Education expenditure will increase by £49 million or 13·1 per cent. between 1989–90 and 1990–91. Excluding student support, the increase is £5 million, or 2·1 per cent. No valid comparisons can be made between these separately calculated increases because of the effect on higher educational institutions of the switch to higher student fees.

  Inverclyde Enterprise Zone
  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many jobs have been created in the Inverclyde enterprise zone.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 14 March 1990]: Two hundred and fifteen jobs have been created and a further

  Population1 of specified Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on 30 September 1989: by establishment and ethnic origin.

  Number

  Establishment

  Ethnic origin

  Total number of persons in establishments

  White

  West Indian, Guyanese, African

  Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi

  Chinese, Arab, Mixed origin

  Other not recorded (including refusals)

  Long Lartin

  319

  56

  26

  12

  10

  423

  Parkhurst

  179

  43

  5

  6

  5

  238

  Wakefield

  639

  31

  31

  12

  5

  718

  Holloway

  248

  149

  6

  17

  75

  495

  354
  347 jobs forecast by firms which have established or announced their intention to establish in the Inverclyde enterprise zone.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Electoral Registration
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply of 8 March to the hon. Member for Copeland,Official Report, column 818, if he will provide (a) a breakdown by country of the £760,000 for overseas electoral registration expenditure for 1990–91 and (b) a breakdown of the £486,000 expenditure in Great Britain.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member.

  Race Relations (Prisons)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account of race relations issues is taken by the prison department in the drafting of new contracts with individual prison governors.

  Mr. Mellor
  Regional directors have been asked to ensure that every governor's contract for 1990–91 includes objectives relating to the race relations liaison officer, the race relations management team and ethnic monitoring.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to allow prisoner representation on race relations and other internal committees in England and Wales.

  Mr. Mellor
  We are considering what guidance we might offer to governors about prisoner representation on race relations committees. As regards committees generally, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox) on 16 January 1990 at column 176.

  Ethnic Minorities (Prisons)
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total and ethnic minority numbers for the latest date available in(a) HMP Long Lartin, (b) HMP Parkhurst, (c) HMP Wakefield, (d) HMP Holloway, (e) HMP Frankland, (f) HMP Albany, (g) HMP Full Sutton, (h) HMP Gartree, (i) HMP Maidstone, (j) HMP Nottingham, (k) HMP Lewes and (l) HMP Wormwood Scrubs.

  Mr. Mellor
  The latest readily available information is given in the table:
  355

  Establishment

  Ethnic origin

  Total number of persons in establishments

  White

  West Indian, Guyanese, African

  Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi

  Chinese, Arab, Mixed origin

  Other not recorded (including refusals)

  Frankland

  328

  17

  11

  14

  5

  375

  Albany

  294

  63

  16

  9

  5

  387

  Full Sutton

  359

  20

  13

  5

  2

  399

  Gartree

  236

  49

  16

  4

  2

  307

  Maidstone

  404

  89

  37

  10

  12

  552

  Nottingham

  253

  49

  10

  5

  —

  317

  Lewes

  405

  43

  9

  9

  61

  527

  Wormwood Scrubs

  677

  268

  36

  26

  21

  1,028

  1 The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate.

  Mr. Colin Wallace
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reassessment he has now made of his parliamentary answers and Adjournment debate replies in the case of Colin Wallace.

  Mr. Waddington
  I have nothing to add to the answer given to the question from the hon. Member on 14 February 1990 at column 238.

  Breathalyser Technology
  Sir Ian Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now issue a general circular to chief constables confirming the position stated by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport on 14 March 1988,Official Report, column 974, that the police have no powers to prevent clubs or pubs from installing breath alchohol testing machines.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. I see no need to do so.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at the latest available date, how many male and female prisoners in England and Wales are currently remanded in custody awaiting medical reports.

  Mr. Mellor
  The data on remands in custody awaiting a medical report are collected annually and are not available centrally in a form which would enable a figure to be given for the number held on remand for this purpose on a particular date. This could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in each year since 1979, how many male and female prisoners in England and Wales were remanded in custody for medical reports.

  Mr. Mellor
  The number of male and female prisoners in England and Wales remanded into custody for medical reports since 1980 is as follows:

  Males

  Females

  1980

  7,587

  1,058

  1981

  7,225

  1,006

  1982

  7,506

  832

  1983

  7,507

  840

  January 1984—March 1985

  8,289

  1,032

  1985–86

  7,578

  782

  1986–87

  5,860

  676

  1987–88

  5,493

  481

  1988–89

  5,043

  652

  356
  Figures are not available for 1979 and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

  Acid House Parties
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about acid house parties held in Lancashire.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have received a number of representations, both from hon. Members and members of the public, about acid house or pay parties. Some of these representations referred to Lancashire in particular but it is not possible to determine which particular events caused concern to our correspondents.

  Police (Pay)
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the real increase in a police constable's pay over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Between March 1980 and March 1990, the basic pay of a police constable increased by 100 per cent., from £5,334 to £10,671 a year. Over the same period, the retail prices index increased by 86·9 per cent. and the tax and prices index by 77·3 per cent.

  Firearms Certificates
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on fees for firearms and shotgun certificates.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It has been the policy of successive Governments that there should be full recovery from fees of the cost of operating the firearms licensing system. As a step towards this end my right hon. and learned Friend laid before Parliament on 27 February the Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 1990, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Voluntary Organisations
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details, listing the sums provided and the names of the organisations, of all voluntary organisations working in penal affairs to which his Department gives grants and other financial assistance.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 13 February 1990] : I list in the table the voluntary organisations to which the Home Office gives grants for their work with offenders and ex-offenders and the amounts of those grants in 1989–90:
  357

  Voluntary after-care accommodation grants scheme

  £

  Abbot Housing Society—2 projects

  13,951

  Adullam Homes Housing Association—3 projects

  111,071

  Alone in London

  17,953

  Alpha House

  2,153

  Base 3 Move-on Accommodation

  612

  Brighton YMCA

  3,085

  Bristol Cyrenians

  3,219

  Caldmore Area Housing Association

  6,000

  Cardiff Single Women's Housing Group

  1,286

  Carr-Gomm Society—4 projects

  32,766

  Central Methodist Church

  4,511

  Centre Point

  15,076

  Church Housing Association Ltd.—2 projects

  33,507

  Churches Housing Association of Dudley and District

  14,597

  Coventry Cyrenians Ltd.

  11,286

  Croydon Association for Young Single Homeless

  7,372

  Croydon Housing For the Young Unemployed

  1,613

  Cwm Rhymni Housing Association

  2,000

  Didcot Young Persons Housing

  1,810

  Doncaster Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders

  12,700

  Durham Action on Single Housing

  1,050

  East Bristol Youth Housing Association

  3,701

  Effra Trust

  16,652

  Ekaya Housing Association

  1,555

  Elizabeth Housing Association

  4,949

  Exeter Shilhay Community

  2,500

  Grace Tebbutt Housing Trust

  15,401

  Handsworth Single Homeless Action Group

  14,320

  Hargrave House

  15,340

  Harlow Council for Voluntary Services

  17,117

  Harringey Umbrella Housing Association

  8,670

  Havant Housing Association

  3,502

  Haven Project—2 projects

  21,504

  Homeless Action and Accommodation

  15,325

  Intake

  9,778

  Inward House

  7,580

  Kaleidoscope Youth and Community Project

  3,062

  Kare Housing Association

  17,777

  Kenward Trust—3 projects

  19,016

  Langley House Trust—12 projects

  561,229

  Leahurst Hostel

  2,048

  Leeds Housing Concern—4 projects

  26,802

  Leeds Young Persons Housing Trust—2 projects

  19,302

  Life for the World Trust

  17,462

  Macedon Trust

  7,072

  Margery Fry Memorial Trust—9 projects

  131,122

  Meta House

  23,894

  NACRO Community Enterprises—13 projects

  139,520

  Norcare Ltd.—6 projects

  106,477

  Norman House—Leicester

  16,185

  Norman House—Sheffield

  3,620

  North Devon Housing Society

  10,708

  North East London Shared Housing

  9,374

  North West London Housing Association—7 projects

  144,370

  Nottingham Help the Homeless Association

  1,828

  Outlet Ltd.

  1,650

  Oxford Cyrenian Community

  11,010

  Patchwork Community Ltd.

  18,204

  Penrose Charity—3 projects

  15,560

  Phoenix House—5 projects

  153,814

  Potteries Housing Association—2 projects

  32,871

  358

  £

  Richmond Fellowship

  154,440

  Riverpoint Single Homeless Ltd.

  9,213

  Rossendale (Devon) Ltd.

  7,576

  Rotherham District Council for Voluntary Services

  17,630

  Rugby Mayday Trust

  17,378

  St. Anne's Management Committee

  2,675

  St. Basil's Centre—4 projects

  9,927

  St. George's Community Trust

  69,127

  St. George's Crypt

  2,437

  St. Helen's Accommodation Project

  1,215

  St. James Management Committee

  8,057

  St. Martin of Tours Housing Association Ltd.

  115,915

  St. Mary's Tyndalls Park Trust

  1,355

  St. Mungo Community Housing Association—7 projects

  59,941

  Salford Aid to the Single Homeless

  1,725

  Saltash Housing Society Ltd.

  7,422

  Selcare Trust—7 projects

  152,180

  Self Help Organisation for Ex-Prisoners

  1,796

  Sheffield Hostels

  15,835

  Sheffield and Rotherham Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders

  49,346

  Sheffield Youth Development Trust Ltd.—2 projects

  17,677

  Shepherd House Project

  9,331

  Short Stay Young Homeless Project—2 projects

  9,774

  Single Homeless on Tyneside—2 projects

  8,704

  Single Homeless Project

  17,149

  Society for the Care of Irish Youth

  480

  Society of St. Dismas

  1,912

  Society of St. Vincent de Paul

  11,644

  South Wales Federated Housing Association

  3,572

  Spectrum Housing SocietyLtd.

  6,138

  Stonham Housing Association Ltd.—110 projects

  1,782,113

  Surrey Community Development Trust

  44,941

  Tameside Community Involvement Council—4 projects

  30,434

  The Portland Project

  3,140

  The Coke Hole Trust—3 projects

  42,353

  The Cranstoun Projects—5 projects

  113,070

  The Kipper Project

  2,978

  The Rainer Foundation—2 projects

  22,105

  Third House Trust

  14,917

  Timball Housing Project

  4,151

  Turning Point—2 projects

  33,010

  Ty John Rowley Trust

  1,268

  UK Housing Trust

  19,872

  Warrenhurst Flats Management Committee

  2,664

  West London Mission

  19,562

  West London Cyrenians

  14,546

  Women's Royal Voluntary Service

  10,138

  York Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders

  15,349

  YWCA

  1,027

  59 Greek Street

  36,217

  Total

  4,954,911

  Non-hostel grants

  Apex Trust

  75,680

  Burnbake Trust

  19,053

  Circle Clubs (London)

  45,920

  City Roads Projects

  28,800

  Hampshire Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders

  6,430

  Lancashire Constellation

  4,320

  Leicester Anchor Association

  11,220

  Lifeline Project (Manchester)

  30,785

  359

  £

  National Association of Voluntary Hostels

  43,200

  New Bridge

  27,270

  North East London St. Leonards Soiety

  1,925

  Prisoners Wives and Families Society

  5,140

  Prisoners Wives Service

  6,820

  Society of Voluntary Associates

  60,840

  Specialist Information Training Resources Agency

  6,560

  Southwark Day Centre

  5,640

  York Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders

  17,482

  Total

  397,085

  Pilot Projects

  Barge Project Ethel

  1,568

  CAST (London)

  6,503

  Chi Centre

  5,450

  Feltham Open Door

  1,836

  Henry Asplen Day Centre (Doncaster)

  6,760

  Moss Side Initiative

  6,448

  Nottingham Black Initiative

  2,766

  Peoples Place

  4,680

  Unit 51

  4,160

  Total

  40,171

  Projects linked with Part II of the Green Paper "Punishment, Custody and the Community"

  Total grants to date; other grants likely to be made before 1 April 1990

  CSV

  40,000

  Durham Training Enterprise

  25,000

  Norcare

  42,000

  The Rainer Foundation

  15,500

  The Rainer Foundation and CARP

  25,350

  Unit 51

  20,500

  Total

  168,350

  Prison Service Grants

  National Association of Prison Visitors

  8,000

  Community Service Volunteers

  152,000

  Assisted Visits to inmates etc.

  1,564,000

  Prison Visitors Centres

  49,000

  Total

  1,773,000

  Other Criminal Department Grants

  Pilot Projects on Young Adult Offenders

  150,000

  Prisoners Abroad

  27,000

  Total

  177,000

  Grants to NACRO (excluding accommodation projects)

  Grant-in-aid (core-funding)

  824,000

  Prisons Link Unit

  134,000

  Management Development Officer

  31,000

  Education Advisory Service

  31,000

  Black Initiatives Unit

  70,000

  Training (of residential staffs)

  148,684

  Total

  1,238,684

  Privatisation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. Waddington
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: For information up to 1988–89, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg) on 6 April 1989 at column 240. In 1989–90 payments in respect of preliminary expenses on the privatisation of the Independent Broadcasting Authority's transmission system are expected to total £237,000. Parliamentary authority for such payments amounting to £752,000 in 1990–91 will be sought in the supply estimates.

  Management Consultants
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total fees paid out by his Department 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. Waddington
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: For information prior to 1987–88 I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given my hon. Friend the Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg) on 6 April 1989 at column 240. The equivalent estimate of payments made for the financial year 1988–89 is £1,257,000; the latest estimated expenditure for 1989–90 is £1,547,525 and the budget for 1990–91 is £2,159,300.

  John Harker
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his inquiries into the case of Mr. John Harker are now complete; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  No. The case is still under consideration. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as we have been able to complete our inquiries.

  Asylum
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if in the light of the decision of the High Court to override the immigration authority's decision not to permit Lebanese asylum seekers staying over in Britain en route for a third country to remain here, he will either appeal against the decision or introduce legislation to plug this loophole.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The High Court found that in the particular circumstances of these applications directions could not be issued requiring removal to Brazil. My right hon. and learned Friend has decided that the Government will not appeal against this judgment and the claims for asylum will now be considered in this country.

  We shall keep the position under review in case any changes in procedures, or legislation become necessary.

  Special Constables
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out by reference to police forces the number of special constables in post in 1985 and in 1989.
  361
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of special constables in post as at 31 December in each police force in England and Wales was as follows:

  1985

  1989

  Avon and Somerset

  480

  503

  Bedfordshire

  215

  137

  Cambridgeshire

  216

  169

  Cheshire

  252

  219

  Cleveland

  131

  139

  Cumbria

  182

  210

  Derbyshire

  275

  251

  Devon and Cornwall

  791

  852

  Dorset

  297

  218

  Durham

  172

  149

  Dyfed Powys

  143

  189

  Essex

  367

  445

  Gloucestershire

  185

  209

  Greater Manchester

  392

  473

  Gwent

  112

  95

  Hampshire

  480

  362

  Hertfordshire

  249

  203

  Humberside

  277

  249

  Kent

  510

  500

  Lancashire

  408

  432

  Leicestershire

  220

  327

  Lincolnshire

  345

  365

  Merseyside

  373

  296

  Norfolk

  178

  269

  Northamptonshire

  203

  240

  Northumbria

  606

  538

  North Wales

  215

  175

  North Yorkshire

  311

  334

  Nottinghamshire

  516

  485

  South Wales

  289

  253

  South Yorkshire

  261

  316

  Staffordshire

  513

  566

  Suffolk

  323

  329

  Surrey

  252

  174

  Sussex

  653

  530

  Thames Valley

  715

  568

  Warwickshire

  344

  347

  West Mercia

  633

  542

  West Midlands

  724

  673

  West Yorkshire

  486

  568

  Wiltshire

  232

  268

  City of London

  75

  60

  Metropolitan

  1,560

  1,362

  Total

  16,161

  15,589

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to review the training programmes for special constables.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The training of special constables is to be reviewed by the central planning and training unit, commencing this spring.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total annual cost of special constables.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The total annual cost of special constables as recorded by police authorities for 1988–89 was £2,456,561.

  Avon and Somerset Constabulary
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask for a report from the chief constable of Avon and Somerset constabulary on the events outside Bristol council house on 6 March.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the chief constable of Avon and Somerset that in the early afternoon of 6362
  March demonstrators began to gather outside the council house in Bristol where the city council was meeting to consider the level of community charge. By 3.30 pm the crowd had grown to around 600 people. The crowd included some supporters of Militant and the Anti-Poll Tax Federation. At 3.45 pm a number of demonstrators attempted to force their way into the council house. They were prevented from doing so by the police.

  Further sporadic outbreaks of disorder occurred throughout the afternoon and early evening as elements of the crowd tried unsuccessfully to break the police lines. Missiles were thrown from the crowd and officers were kicked and punched. The demonstrators began to disperse at around 7.30 pm when the council meeting was concluded. A section of the crowd then proceeded to march into the city centre causing serious traffic congestion. A number of cars were damaged and three shops had their windows broken. A number of demonstrators returned to the council house and held a short meeting outside. These demonstrators had dispersed by 9.15 pm. Twenty-one people were arrested, mainly for public order offences. Five police officers were injured, three requiring hospital treatment.

  Penal Establishments
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the penal establishments in England and Wales, by security category, giving the number of inmates in each, at a convenient date in(a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Mellor
  Prison service establishments are classified by main function; subdivision into security category is practised only for male training prisons. A list of all establishments in England and Wales with their inmate populations on 31 December each year has been deposited in the Library. For a variety of reasons, training prisons may hold a number of inmates whose individual security classification is lower than that of the establishment itself.

  Police Rent Allowance
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning the outcome of representations he has received on his decision to set aside certain elements of the police negotiating board's recommendations on rent allowance.

  Mr. Waddington
  [pursuant to his reply, 25 January 1990, columns 884–85]: Amending regulations were laid before both Houses of Parliament on 9 March. I have received representations from several quarters about the effect of these on officers in police forces whose maximum limits of rent allowance were last reviewed in 1988, on the grounds that they are at a disadvantage as compared with officers whose forces had a review date in 1989. I have therefore decided that officers whose allowances were last reviewed in 1988 and who are due to have their rent allowances protected at their existing amounts on 31 March should have those amounts increased as from 1 April by the movement in the retail prices index since their force maximum limit was last reviewed. Further amending regulations to give effect to my decision will be made as soon as possible.
  363
  This is in addition to the arrangements already provided for in the amending regulations whereby no officer in receipt of rent allowance on 31 March will receive less after that date than he was getting then.

  I have also decided that officers in accommodation provided by their police authorities should receive a transitional allowance of £300 a year for three years. This is provided for in the amending regulations already laid. This decision is in recognition of the fact that up till now such officers have occupied their accommodation free of rates.

HEALTH

  Population Statistics
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what are the current estimates and projections of the population aged 16 years and over, men and women, by standard region including Greater London for June each year from 1975 to the current year;

  (2) what are the current estimates and projections of the population of working age, men and women, by standard region including Greater London for June each year from 1975 to the current year.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have placed the information in the Library.

  Community Care
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision is being made to provide community facilities for the mentally ill and handicapped.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is for health authorities and social services authorities to collaborate to provide, within reasonable resources, community facilities for mentally ill

  Average daily available beds, wards open overnight, NHS hospitals, 1979 to 1988–89

  Health Authority

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Hull

  2,145

  2,128

  2,024

  1,955

  1,948

  1,935

  1,934

  1,862

  1,827

  1,791

  East Yorkshire

  2,184

  2,113

  2,004

  1,934

  1,951

  1,904

  1,871

  1,676

  1,455

  1,384

  Grimsby

  797

  800

  806

  800

  807

  800

  957

  970

  914

  854

  Scunthorpe

  993

  983

  962

  936

  931

  913

  933

  921

  859

  834

  Northallerton

  437

  448

  448

  444

  413

  406

  404

  405

  408

  390

  York

  2,985

  2,959

  2,933

  2,847

  2,548

  2,473

  2,377

  2,278

  2,066

  1,858

  Scarborough

  689

  701

  674

  688

  694

  682

  676

  650

  621

  606

  Harrogate

  995

  927

  954

  959

  1,142

  1,068

  1,027

  955

  910

  860

  Bradford

  2,721

  2,719

  2,724

  2,711

  2,680

  2,621

  2,510

  2,480

  2,330

  2,197

  Airedale

  1,528

  1,533

  1,501

  1,464

  1,402

  1,376

  1,353

  1,312

  1,250

  1,223

  Calderdale

  1,370

  1,385

  1,344

  1,357

  1,302

  1,258

  1,228

  1,214

  1,144

  1,106

  Huddersfield

  2,625

  2,389

  2,391

  2,391

  2,321

  2,235

  2,059

  1,903

  1,693

  1,540

  Dewsbury

  777

  778

  785

  756

  761

  752

  736

  733

  708

  632

  Leeds Western

  —1

  —1

  —1

  3,327

  3,218

  3,172

  3,156

  2,969

  2,809

  2,723

  Leeds Eastern

  —1

  —1

  —1

  2,734

  2,726

  2,698

  2,561

  2,495

  2,404

  2,256

  Wakefield

  2,607

  2,505

  2,473

  2,321

  2,309

  2,273

  2,128

  1,974

  1,810

  1,723

  Pontefract

  854

  848

  873

  865

  883

  904

  885

  881

  827

  788

  Barnsley

  962

  1,013

  1,014

  971

  1,032

  1,073

  1,134

  1,127

  1,110

  1,110

  Doncaster

  —1

  —1

  —1

  1,946

  1,954

  1,929

  1,879

  1,847

  1,681

  1,747

  Rotherham

  —1

  —1

  —1

  1,244

  1,250

  1,246

  1,251

  1,271

  1,258

  1,262

  Sheffield

  —1

  —1

  —1

  4,922

  4,800

  4,799

  4,771

  4,677

  4,679

  4,071

  1 Comparable figures not available due to National Health Service restructuring in 1982.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place a final copy of the report made under section 11 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 in the Library.
  364
  and mentally handicapped people. Subject to the enactment of current legislation, resources will be augmented by a transfer from social security to local authorities and by the introduction of a specific grant to help increase the social care available for people with a mental illness.

  Psychotherapy
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what National Health Service in-patient facilities exist, other than the Cassel hospital, Richmond, Surrey, to provide psychotherapeutic treatment for severely disturbed patients and families.

  Mr. Freeman
  This information is not held centrally.

  Cassel Hospital, Richmond
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the proposal by the Riverside health authority to close the Cassel hospital, Richmond.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have received letters from a number of hon. Members and others and responded for the Government in an Adjournment debate moved by my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) on 9 February at columns 1201–08.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for each Yorkshire and Humberside health authority the total available patient beds for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Mr. Freeman
  Copies are available in the Library.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, in the light of the findings of the SSI report, "Developing Services for Disabled People", he plans to
  365
  ring-fence the money allocated for the remaining sections of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

  Mr. Freeman
  No money has been allocated for the remaining sections of the Act. In general, we believe that Government support for local authority expenditure is best provided through the revenue support grant, to ensure maximum local accountability.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, in the light of the findings of the SSI report, "Developing Services for Disabled People", he plans to ring-fence the money for community care services for disabled people under his new arrangements for community care; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. We believe that Government support for community care expenditure, as with other important local authority functions, is best provided through the revenue support grant. This will ensure maximum local accountability and encourage value for money by enabling local authorities to make decisions about community care based on local factors.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date he expects to lay a final draft of the report to Parliament under section 11 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 before Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The report was laid before Parliament on 21 December 1989.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date the first meeting with local authority associations was held to discuss implementation of sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

  Mr. Freeman
  The implementation of these sections of the Act was discussed in the course of a meeting with the local authority associations on 4 July 1988, when it was agreed that work on other sections should take priority. Officials have now written to the associations to seek their views on the cost and other implications of these sections, and intend to arrange a further meeting with them to discuss these issues in due course.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the findings of the SSI monitoring of sections 5 and 6 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and what steps he will be taking to publicise its findings.

  Mr. Freeman
  The social services inspectorate's report "Developing Services for Disabled People", published on 6 February, gave the results of an inspection of all sections of the Act in force, including sections 5 and 6. The findings of a more specific study of the progress of six authorities towards implementation of sections 5 and 6 are due to be published shortly, and copies will be placed in the Library.

  Overseas Treatment
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the average cost incurred by United Kingdom passport holders who, when falling ill abroad, required treatment.
  366
  Mr. Freeman
  No information on this subject is collected or held centrally.

  Wakefield DHA
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Wakefield of 8 March,Official Report, column 827, if he will make it his policy to make privately available to the hon. Member for Wakefield a copy of the director of audit's report relating to Wakefield district health authority's cook-chill catering system, when it is completed.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. If a report is issued it will be sent for consideration by Wakefield district health authority, Yorkshire regional health authority and the Secretary of State.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what allowance will be made for general practitioner remuneration in the light of his Department's non-issue of the child health surveillance fee claim;

  (2) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that general practitioners receive sufficient supplies of child health surveillance fee claim forms by 30 March.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Stocks of the new child health surveillance fee claim form were issued to all family practitioner committees by 5 March 1990 for distribution to general practitioners.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many electoral wards would qualify for general practitioner deprivation payments if a score of 16 rather than 30 had been chosen as the trigger point for payment; and what would be the extra cost.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: The number of wards (1981 boundaries) which have a Jarman score of 16 or more in England is 1,249. If deprivation payments were to be made at this level (16 or more) the cost would have to be met by reducing other fees and allowances within the remuneration system, to ensure that the average net income incurred by GPs did not exceed the level recommended by the doctors and dentists' review body and accepted by the Government. If the payment rate proposed for the band 30–39 was extended down to 16, some £30 million at April 1990 rates would have to be found by reducing other fees and allowances.

  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the electoral wards where general practitioners will qualify in England for deprivation payments; and if he will indicate what their Jarman index score is.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 5 March 1990]: I have placed information in the Library showing the wards (1981 boundaries) in England which have a score of 30 or more and the appropriate local authority district. The table shows that there are 269 wards with a score between 30 and 39 which will attract deprivation payment from April 1990 of £4·90 per patient per annum, 112 wards with a score between 40 and 49 (deprivation payment of £6·40 per annum) and 73 wards with a score of 50 or more (deprivation payment of £8·50 per annum) giving a grand total of 454 wards.

  Medicines Control Agency
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision there is to abate or reduce the fees of the Medicines Control Agency for orphan drugs.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A reduced fee (currently £13,600 instead of £68,000) is payable for a major product licence application covered by paragraph 5 of chapter III of part 3 of the annex to EC directive 75/318.

  The term "orphan drug" is of United States origin and has no direct counterpart in United Kingdom or EC legislation. It is considered that the above directive provision (which deals with situations where comprehensive data on therapeutic safety and efficacy cannot be provided) covers the concept of "orphan drugs".

  Prescribed Medicines
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to publish the recent research for his Department on the attitude of pharmacists to the prescribed medicines taken by the elderly.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the study "Elderly people, their medicines and their doctors" by Ann Cartwright and Christopher Smith which was published by Routledge in 1988. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.

  One element of the research was an assessment by a clinical pharmacologist and two pharmacists of the appropriateness of the prescribed medicines taken by the elderly people in the study. They found that 31 per cent. of the prescribed medicines were assessed as pharmacologically open to question, for example because of potentially harmful interactions or inappropriate dosages.

  Ambulance Workers, Dewsbury
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on how many ambulance workers in Dewsbury are trained paramedics; and how many paramedic ambulance workers have been trained by Dewsbury health authority.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may like to contact the chairman of Yorkshire regional health authority, Sir Bryan Askew, for further information.

  E111
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take urgent steps to ensure that all post offices and sub-post offices in the Wakefield constituency have an adequate supply of his Department's form E111.

  Mr. Freeman
  A further supply of forms E111 was received in the post office stores in Swindon on 12 March. Post offices and sub-post offices should apply for stocks through their usual channels.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the exemption from the community charge, to be given to mentally ill people, will be dependent on the definitions laid down in the Mental Health Act 1983; and if he will make a statement.
  368
  Mr. Freeman
  Exemption from the community charge will not be dependent on the definition laid down in the Mental Health Act 1983.

  Provided that a person is in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits listed in schedule 1 (paragraph 4) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (as amended by the Personal Community Charge (Exemptions) Order 1989, SI 1989/442, and the Personal Community Charge (Exemptions for the Severely Mentally Impaired) Order 1990, SI 1990/462) and is in receipt of a certificate from a registered medical practitioner stating that he is severely mentally impaired he will be exempt from the community charge.

  Food Poisoning
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what factors he ascribes the continued increase in reported food poisoning incidents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael) on 8 February at columns 773–74.

  Children (Employment)
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prohibition orders under section 2(3)(a) and requirement orders under section 2(3)(b) of the Employment of Children Act 1973 have been served by(a) local education authorities in England and Wales and (b) education authorities in Scotland since the Act became law.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 14 March 1990]: The Employment of Children Act 1973 has not been implemented. In England and Wales, equivalent provisions to sections 2(3)(a) and (b) of the Act are available in section 59 of the Education Act 1944. This enables local education authorities to serve a notice on an employer to prohibit or to impose restrictions on the employment of any child. In addition, section 18 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 provides for local authorities to make byelaws which regulate the employment of children and which prohibit children from being employed in any specified occupation. All local authorities (except Isles of Scilly) have such byelaws.

  Figures notified to the Home Office for prosecutions and convictions under sections 18, 19 and 20 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 are as follows:

  Prosecutions

  Convictions

  1979

  23

  18

  1980

  26

  25

  1981

  24

  22

  1982

  17

  16

  1983

  12

  12

  1984

  12

  9

  1985

  11

  9

  1986

  2

  2

  1987

  8

  8

  1988

  28

  22

  Matters relating to the employment of children in Scotland are for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Personal Data
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the report by Kathleen Murray entitled "Personal Data in Social Services Records, Access and Disclosure Policy in Practice" commissioned by his Department was completed; and when he expects to publish it.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 14 March 1990]: Kathleen Murray's report on access to personal social services records was completed last year. The report is a substantial piece of work and is being given careful consideration with a view to publication.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Mortgage Arrears
  Mr. Litherland
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of people with mortgage payments six to 12 months in arrears in 1988 and 1989.

  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many mortgages are in arrears in(a) the building society and (b) the banking sectors.

  Mr. Major
  Around 37,000 in 1988 and around 58,000 in 1989—less than ½ per cent. of all home owners.

  Independent Taxation
  Cunliffe
  8. Mr. To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect independent taxation will have on low-income households.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Almost 400,000 married couples with combined incomes below £10,000 a year will pay less tax as a result of the change to independent taxation.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from business and industry about British membership of the European exchange rate mechanism.

  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from business and industry about British membership of the European exchange rate mechanism.

  Mr. Major
  I have received a number of representations.

  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has had recent discussions with his German counterpart regarding the timing of the United Kingdom's entry into the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system.

  Mr. Ryder
  The German Government are well aware of the United Kingdom's position on sterling's participation in the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system.

  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average inflation rate of countries in the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system.
  370
  Mr. Ryder
  It is 4·2 per cent. in December if owner-occupiers' housing costs are excluded.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with other European Finance Ministers about British participation in the exchange rate mechanism.

  Mr. Lilley
  Our conditions for entry are well known.

  Gas and Electricity Prices
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the effect of proposed price increases in the gas and electricity industries on the retail prices index.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  British Gas has announced average price rises of 7½ per cent. from 1 March. Given the weight of gas of 2·2 per cent., this should have an impact of between 0·15 and 0·2 per cent. on the retail prices index, once the new tariffs have been fully implemented. The electricity boards are in the course of announcing their prices for 1990–91.

  Mortgages
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the effect on the average mortgage of an increase in mortgage rates from 9·5 per cent. to 15·5 per cent.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to have been the effect on the average mortgage of the increase in mortgage rates from 9·5 per cent. to 15·5 per cent.

  Mr. Lilley
  In July 1988, when the mortgage interest rate was 9·8 per cent., the monthly interest payment on the average mortgage, net of basic rate tax relief, was £128·63. At an interest rate of 15·5 per cent., the payment would be £203·44, if the level of outstanding capital was unchanged.

  Non-oil GDP
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of non-oil gross domestic product non-oil taxes and national insurance contributions represented in(a) 1978–79 and (b) 1989–90.

  Mr. Ryder
  Non-oil taxes and national insurance contributions amounted to 34·1 per cent. of non-oil GDP in 1978–79, and 37·1 per cent. in 1988–89, the latest available year.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of gross earnings value added tax took up for a family on average male earnings with two children in 1978–79 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Ryder
  Approximately 2·7 per cent. and 5·0 per cent. respectively. Over the same period his real take-home pay has risen by 32 per cent.

  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new businesses have registered for value added tax in the latest year for which figures are available.
  371
  Mr. Ryder
  The number of new VAT registrations processed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in the calendar year was 261,783. This represents a 50 per cent. increase over 1980.

  Mr. Harry Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of gross earnings value added tax took up for a family on average male earnings with two children in 1978–79 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Ryder
  A family consisting of a married man on average male earnings, his wife and two children would have paid approximately 2·7 per cent. of gross earnings in VAT in 1978–79 and will pay about 5·0 per cent. in 1989–90. Over the same period his real take-home pay has risen by 32 per cent.

  Economic Growth
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on United Kingdom economic and productivity growth since 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Both gross domestic product and whole economy productivity have grown by over 20 per cent. since 1979.

  Earnings
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the growth in real take-home pay of a married man with two children on male average earnings during the 1980s.

  Mr. Lilley
  A married man with two children on average male earnings enjoyed an increase in real take-home pay of over 26 per cent. between 1979–80 and 1989–90.

  Inflation
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current rate of inflation.

  Mr. Ryder
  The all-items RPI annual inflation rate in January was 7·7 per cent. The underlying inflation rate, as measured by the RPI excluding mortgage interest payments, was 6·1 per cent.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many European countries have a higher inflation rate than the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ryder
  Four EC countries have higher inflation rates than the United Kingdom when estimates of home owners' costs are excluded so as to bring the published figures on to a more comparable basis.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department has undertaken any study into the effect of the change in arrangements for local taxation on the rate of inflation.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The change in the arrangements for local taxation is one among many factors which will affect the rate of inflation. A forecast for RPI inflation will be published in the forthcoming "Financial Statement and Budget Report".

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the overall inflation rate, based on the retail prices index, in each month from January 1986 to the latest available date.
  372
  Mr. Ryder
  The information may be obtained from the latest issue of Employment Gazette and the latest annual supplement to Economic Trends (1989 edition).

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to have zero inflation.

  Mr. Ryder
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for City of Durham (Mr. Steinberg).

  Charities
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money was raised through value added tax on charities in 1989; and what was the comparable figure in real terms 10 years ago.

  Mr. Ryder
  For the value added tax paid by charities in 1989, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to him on 15 February [Official Report, column 338]. It is estimated that 10 years ago charities paid at today's values between £100 million and £150 million in value added tax.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has received any representations about the impact of interest rates from(a) Scottish businesses, (b) local authorities, (c) fishermen's organisations, (d) council tenants and (e) home owners.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on this subject from a wide variety of sources.

  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the current level of interest rates.

  Mr. Ryder
  Bank base rates are 15 per cent.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received regarding the present level of interest rates.

  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of such representations.

  Mr. Beaumont-Dark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were long-term interest rates in(a) the United Kingdom (b) West Germany and (c) Japan (i) 12 months ago and (ii) currently.

  Mr. Ryder
  The information requested is as follows:

  Long term interest rates1

  March 1989

  6 March 1990

  United Kingdom

  9·9

  12·2

  West Germany

  6·9

  9·0

  Japan

  5·1

  7·0

  1 Yields on ten year government bonds.

  Source: Bank of England.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the growth in gross domestic product during the 1980s(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in other European Community countries.
  373
  Mr. Ryder
  Between 1980 and 1988 growth averaged 2·7 per cent. a year in the United Kingdom and 2·1 per cent. in other European Community countries.

  Caravan Sites
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from caravan site owners in respect of value added tax.

  Mr. Ryder
  A delegation from the two national trade associations representing caravan park owners saw the then Economic Secretary shortly after the changes in the taxation of holiday caravan pitch rentals were introduced from 1 April last year. My hon. Friend confirmed the Government's decision to tax these pitch rentals but was able to give some reassurances about the impact on charges made by caravan park owners for electricity, water, gas and rates.

  Business Investment
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on his latest forecast for the share of gross domestic product taken by business investment.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The success of this Government in encouraging business investment is widely recognised. Business investment as a proportion of gross domestic product is expected to have been the highest ever recorded in 1989.

  Manufacturing Investment
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to meet the director-general of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss investment in manufacturing industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  My right hon. Friend will be addressing the Confederation of British Industry's annual dinner on 17 May.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of manufacturing investment was in the fourth quarter of 1989; and what percentage change this was on the third quarter.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of manufacturing investment was in the fourth quarter of 1989; and what percentage change this was on the third quarter.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Provisional estimates of manufacturing investment in the fourth quarter of 1989 and estimates for earlier quarters are contained in the press notice CSO (90) 25 0, "Capital Expenditure by Manufacturing Industries", issued on 15 February 1990. Copies of this notice are available from the Library of the House. Revised estimates will be included in the GDP press notice for release on 16 March.

  Bank of England
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the Governor of the Bank of England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the Governor of the Bank of England; and what matters were discussed.
  374
  Mr. Ryder
  My right hon. Friend meets the Governor of the Bank of England from time to time to discuss a variety of matters.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer if inheritance tax liabilities in respect of shares in closely held unquoted trading companies were rolled over until the shares were realised for cash or the company was converted into a public company.

  Mr. Lilley
  I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe) on 15 January 1990,Official Report, column 96.

  Exchange Controls
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the removal of exchange controls on confidence in the currency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  The removal of United Kingdom exchange controls in 1979 has had a wholly beneficial effect on the economy.

  Self-employment
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on his plans to encourage self-employment.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Self-employment has increased by 72 per cent. since 1979 as a result of the Government's policies to encourage enterprise. My right hon. Friend has recently received a large number of representations on these policies.

  Personal Savings
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on measures required to boost personal savings.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations concerning the subject of saving.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on Ins latest forecast for the percentage of gross domestic product to be taken by general Government expenditure for 1989–90.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Several representations have been received.

  Tax Revenue
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of total revenues emanates from(a) taxes on consumption and (b) taxes related to employment and wealth creation.

  Mr. Lilley
  In 1988, taxes on consumers' expenditure (net of subsidies) accounted for 30 per cent. of total taxes and national insurance contributions. There is no unambiguous definition of taxes related to employment and wealth creation.

  Investment and Consumption
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the growth in total investment and in total consumption during the 1980s.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Total fixed investment grew by 42 per cent. in volume terms between 1980 and 1988, the latest full year for which estimates are available. Over the same period, the volume of total domestic final consumption grew by 26 per cent.

  Exports and Imports (Non-oil)
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the underlying trend for the growth in non-oil export volume; and what it is for import volume.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  In the three months to January, export volumes (less oil and erratics) were 4 per cent. higher than in the previous three months, while import volumes (less oil and erratics) fell by 1 per cent. Export volumes were 11 per cent. higher than in the same period a year earlier, but import volumes were only 2 per cent. higher.

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the corporation tax rate in the United Kingdom and other European Community countries.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, West (Mr. Butterfill) on 18 January 1990,Official Report, columns 400–02.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was corporation tax as a percentage of gross domestic product in 1978–79 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Lilley
  The information is as follows:

  Per cent.

  1978–79

  2·3

  1988–89

  4·0

  Manufacturing Productivity
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the growth during the 1980s of manufacturing productivity in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) other major industrial countries.

  Mr. Ryder
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bosworth (Mr. Tredinnick).

  Privatisation
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations against his privatisation programme have been received from employees of companies already privatised.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have no way of knowing by whom those who write to the Treasury are employed. But the popularity of the privatisation programme with the employees of privatised industries is amply demonstrated 376
  by the large numbers of those employees who apply for shares in their companies on privatisation. Most recently, some 37,500 employees (over 85 per cent. of those eligible) applied for shares in the water offers.

  Workplace Nurseries
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received recently about the taxation treatment of workplace nurseries.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on this subject.

  European Monetary System
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate the appropriate conditions for full United Kingdom membership of the European monetary system.

  Mr. Ryder
  I refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes) on 28 November 1989,Official Report, column 195.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on developments towards economic and monetary union within the Community.

  Mr. Ryder
  Measures to improve the co-ordination of member states' economic and monetary policies were discussed at the Council of Economic and Finance Ministers on 12 March, about which I reported to the House on 14 March.

  Preparation for the intergovernmental conference on economic and monetary union, which will begin at the end of the year, is taking place in the Council and its committees.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions took place at the most recent meeting of ECOFIN about the implementation of stage 1 of the Delors report on economic and monetary union.

  Mr. Ryder
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton (Dr. Twinn) on 14 March.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants were in his Department in 1975, 1979 and at the latest date for which statistics are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  There were 1,065 civil servants employed in the Treasury at 1 January 1975 and 1,052 at 1 January 1979. In November 1981 a number of additional functions were transferred to the Treasury from the Civil Service Department, increasing Treasury numbers to 4,177 at 1 January 1982. The number employed at I February 1990 was 3,155.

  Mortgage Tax Relief
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his written reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby of 8 January,Official Report, columns 553–56, on mortgage interest relief by range of income, whether he will provide a breakdown for each region.

  Mr. Lilley
  The information requested is not available for each region. The regional distribution of mortgagors and mortgage interest relief can be estimated from the family expenditure survey (FES), but the sample size for the FES is not large enough to provide more detailed estimates for each region. The table provides the available estimates:

  Regional share of mortgagors and mortgage interest relief based on FES data for 1986 and 1987

  Mortgagors (per cent.)

  Mortgage interest relief (per cent.)

  Northern

  5·1

  4·3

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  8·6

  7·5

  North West

  12·0

  10·5

  East Midlands

  7·8

  6·8

  West Midlands

  8·3

  7·4

  East Anglia

  3·6

  3·7

  Greater London

  10·9

  13·3

  Other South East

  22·6

  26·0

  South West

  8·1

  8·2

  Wales

  5·2

  4·6

  Scotland

  6·3

  6·4

  Northern Ireland

  1·5

  1·3

  United Kingdom

  100·0

  100·0

  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many individuals in Scotland are currently receiving mortgate interest tax relief; and what were the comparable figures for 1973–74, 1978–79, 1983–84, 1988–89 and 1989–90;

  (2) what is the current cost to the Exchequer of paying mortgage interest tax relief in Scotland; and what was the cost in 1973–74, 1978–79, 1983–84, 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Lilley
  Precise estimates of mortgagors and mortgage relief in Scotland are not available. The 1986 and 1987 family expenditure surveys indicate that 6·3 per cent. of all mortgagors are in Scotland and they claim 6·4 per cent. of all mortgage interest relief. This would imply about 600,000 mortgagors receiving £450 million mortgage interest relief in 1989–90. The equivalent figures for 1988–89 are 570,000 and £350 million. Information for the earlier years is not available.

  Company Taxes
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of company income went in taxes in 1978–79 and 1988–89.

  Mr. Lilley
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Per cent.

  1978–79

  38·9

  1988–89

  38·7

  Taxes comprise corporation tax, petroleum revenue tax, employers' national insurance contributions, national insurance surcharge and business rates.
  378
  Company income, including public corporations, in the calendar year is as defined in the national accounts, net of interest payments.

  Trade Deficits
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which OECD countries had trade deficits that were bigger as a percentage of gross domestic product than the United Kingdom's in 1989.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which OECD countries have, by latest estimates, trade deficits that are bigger as a percentage of gross domestic products than the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ryder
  I would refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) earlier today.

  TUC
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives from the Trades Union Congress.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor last met representatives from the TUC at the National Economic Development Council on 10 January.

  Mortgage Interest
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of mortgage interest paid by owner-occupiers for 1988; and what is the comparable amount in 1989.

  Mr. Lilley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Preston (Mrs. Wise) earlier today.

  Visible Trade Balance
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate for the United Kingdom visible balance.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The information may be found in table 1 of the monthly press notice on the current account of the balance of payments, published on 28 February, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Balance of Trade
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the balance of trade and measures to reduce the manufacturing deficit.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  In the three months to January there was a deficit in manufactures of £3·1 billion compared with a deficit of £4·3 billion in the previous three months; this is clear evidence that the trade balance is now responding to the tightening of policy.

  Productivity
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the growth of productivity in the economy as a whole since 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Whole economy productivity has grown by over 20 per cent. since 1979.

  Personal Equity Plans
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total value of funds in personal equity plans on 5 April 1989.

  Mr. Lilley
  The total value of funds in plans at 31 December 1988 is estimated at £670 million. Information is not available for 5 April 1989.

  Banks (Tax Allowances)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply of 7 March,Official Report, column 652, what is the latest year for which the Inland Revenue has collected information on the amounts allowable against tax by the banks; and what was the amount for that year.

  Mr. Lilley
  Discussions between the banks and the Inland Revenue about provisions against Third-world debts allowable for tax for 1987–88 and later years are still going on. Amounts allowed against tax for earlier years were not significant. Estimates of the reduction in mainstream corporation tax receipts for provisions on doubtful sovereign debts are negligible for the years to 1984–85 inclusive, under £50 million, for each of 1985–86 and 1986–87, about £¼ billion for 1987–88, over £½ billion for 1988–89 and about ¼ billion for 1989–90.

  Debt Write-offs
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of revenue lost in respect of write-offs for bad debts incurred in the last year for which figures are available by the main banks in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lilley
  Information about write-offs and provisions for bad debts other than sovereign debt where recovery is doubtful is not collected centrally and cannot be provided except at disproportionate expense.

  European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to conclude discussions on establishing the European Community's bank for reconstruction and development.

  Mr. Ryder
  Discussions on establishing the European bank for reconstruction and development are making good progress. I hope that articles of agreement will be finalised very soon.

  Personal Debt
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has of the effect of a 1 per cent. increase in interest rates on the total level of United Kingdom personal debt and the average level of debt for each family.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  An increase in interest rates encourages saving and discourages borrowing and therefore, over time, leads to a reduction in the rate of growth of personal debt.

  VOLUNTARY SECTOR: GOVERNMENT FUNDING SCRUTINY
  VOLUNTARY SECTOR: GOVERNMENT FUNDING SCRUTINY
  SUMMER TIME PERIOD
  SUMMER TIME PERIOD
  BRISTOL UNIVERSITY: STATISTICAL RECORDS
  BRISTOL UNIVERSITY: STATISTICAL RECORDS
  PHYSICAL EDUCATION WORKING PARTY: MEMBERSHIP
  PHYSICAL EDUCATION WORKING PARTY: MEMBERSHIP
  PROPERTY AND COMPANIES LEGISLATION: ENACTMENT
  PROPERTY AND COMPANIES LEGISLATION: ENACTMENT