Written Answers of 23 March 1990

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East of 9 March,Official Report, columns 869–78, when he expects to reduce the in-patients waiting list to below six months.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 20 March 1990]: The Government do not believe it to be helpful to forecast waiting times, as the management of waiting lists is a matter for health and social services boards. Under the changes flowing from the NHS review, boards as purchasers of services will be keen to have those services deemed necessary for their populations delivered speedily and efficiently. Boards can therefore be expected to regard waiting times as an important criterion in placing and reviewing contracts.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East of 9 March,Official Report, columns 869–78, how many of the persons on the waiting list for (a) less than 12 months and (b) more than 12 months who are unfit for work due to their medical condition, but who can be expected to return to work after treatment, have lost their jobs because of the length of the period of waiting for treatment, or as much of such information as is available to him.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 20 March 1990]: This information is not available.

PRIME MINISTER

  East Germany
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will make it her policy not to agree to full membership of the EEC for East Germany in advance of other east European states.

  The Prime Minister
  We support the integration of the territory of the GDR into the EC as soon as practicable after unification. Intensive and detailed negotiations between Germany and the EC will be required on, for example, agriculture and fisheries, trade and regional policy. I look forward to discussing this at the informal meeting of EC Heads of State or Government in Dublin on 28 April.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister whether the Government will make it their policy not to agree to an increase in EEC funding for East Germany until measures have been taken to eliminate the United Kingdom's net contribution to the EEC budget; and if she will publish in 760
  the Official Report a table showing that contribution for each year since 1979, the estimated outturn for 1989 and the forecast for the current year.

  The Prime Minister
  No. The United Kingdom's net contribution to the European Community budget was £947 million in 1979 and £706 million in 1980. Information about the United Kingdom's contribution in later years is given in the successive annual statements on the Community budget. The latest published estimate of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the Community budget in 1989 is in the statement on the 1989 Community budget (Cm. 680). The statement on the 1990 Community budget will be published shortly and will contain a revised estimate of the United Kingdom's net contribution in 1989 and an estimate of the net contribution in 1990.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Residential Special Schools
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether membership of the joint working party for residential special schools will be affected by any new arrangements for determining the pay and conditions of teachers;

  (2) what bodies form the membership of the joint working party for residential special schools;

  (3) how the membership of the joint working party for residential special schools was determined.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The joint working party on the future of ILEA residential special schools outside inner London was established in June 1988 to consider the future of the residential special schools maintained by ILEA but situated outside its geographical boundary. It was chaired by officials from the Department and representation was invited from ILEA, inner and outer London boroughs, the Common Council of the City of London, those county councils in whose area the schools are situated and the London residuary body.

  The joint working party completed its work in January 1989 and submitted a report to my right hon. Friend. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) on 22 February 1989, Official Report, columns 638–39.

  Iraqi Students
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many Iraqi students have been given permission to study in United Kingdom universities, polytechnics and colleges of higher and further education in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Jackson
  The number of full-time and sandwich students on publicly funded further and higher education courses in Great Britain institutions, whose domicile was recorded as Iraq, is as follows:

  Academic year beginning

  Numbers

  1979

  2,484

  1980

  2,218

  1982

  2,239

  1983

  1,845

  761

  Academic year beginning

  Numbers

  1984

  1,559

  1985

  1,378

  1986

  1,420

  1987

  1,255

  1988

  918

  Source:

  Universities statistical register/Further education statistical register-Welsh Office/Scottish education department.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Profit-related Pay
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many firms that have been operating a profit-related pay scheme for more than one year have changed the basis on which the scheme is organised during the course of its operation.

  Mr. Lilley
  I regret that the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Tax Threshold
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated loss in revenue of an increase in the tax threshold to £150 per week for all families and £100 for individuals together with a basic tax rate of 25 per cent. inclusive of national insurance contribution.

  Mr. Lilley
  At 1990–91 levels of income, the cost in a full year of adopting the tax regime suggested by my hon. Friend and abolishing class 1 national insurance contributions for employees and class 2 and 4 contributions for the self-employed is estimated to be over £30 billion.

  This estimate assumes independent taxation and is based on a projection of the 1987–88 survey of personal incomes and is provisional.

  Advertising Expenditure
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total publicity and advertising expenditure including for privatisation, of his Department and public bodies for which his Department has responsibility in(a)1979 and (b)

  Mr. Ryder
  Total expenditure on publicity and advertising by HM Treasury in 1989–90 is estimated at £550,525. That figure does not include any provision for privatisation-related expenditure for which there was no requirement in 1989–90. Actual expenditure will not be known until after the close of the financial year. Comparable figures for the year 1979–80 are not available because of machinery of Government changes, and could be given only at disproportionate cost.

  Inland Revenue Staff
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are employed by the Inland Revenue in(a) administering and (b) collecting income tax.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 20 March 1990]: The staff costs of (a) administering and (b) collecting income tax
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  are around 41,500 and around 6,500 man years respectively. These figures do not include the staff costs of certain central functions which relate to the running of the Inland Revenue as a whole.

  Police Recruitment Examination
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the prison service psychologist's review of the police initial recruitment examination.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have been asked to reply. Yes.

HEALTH

  Maternity Services
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide a more integrated level of hospital-based maternity and community midwifery care; whether he proposes to issue any guidelines to health authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The benefits of integrated hospital and community maternity services were emphasised in the reports of the maternity services advisory committee which was set up in 1981 by my right hon. Friends the then Secretaries of State for Social Services and for Wales to advise on matters relating to the maternity and neonatal services. The three reports were commended to health authorities upon their publication in 1984 and 1985 and remain the basis of policies for NHS maternity services. Their recommendations will inform the negotiation of contracts for maternity services which district health authorities will be undertaking with provider units subject to enactment of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received to make maternity services a core service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have received a number of representations from doctors and midwives as well as voluntary groups working in maternity and child care. They arise from a misunderstanding about the reasons behind the need to designate certain services as "core" services. Designation will not be an indication of the importance of a service relative to other services nor the sole indicator of a service that has to be provided locally. It will be relevant only where a district health authority has only one sensible option on the location of a service and that service is managed by a National Health Service trust.

  Regional and District Health Authorities (Allocations)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he proposes a further response in view of the representations he has recieved about the financial allocations to the North East Thames regional health authority and the Waltham Forest district health authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is for regional health authorities to decide allocations to districts in the light of local needs and priorities.

  Midwives
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) for what reasons the grading of newly qualified midwives with the same responsibilities varies between district health authorities;

  (2) if he will state the numbers of midwives, in districts with low staff turnover, who remain in posts graded D until higher posts become available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Midwifery posts, in common with others in the clinical grading structure, are graded in accordance with the skills and responsibilities they call for. The grading of posts may vary between authorities because of differences in the way services, staff responsibilities, and management structures are organised.

  Information is not collected centrally on how long midwives in particular grades have been qualified, nor on the numbers of staff who wish to apply for higher graded posts.

  Deaf People (Report)
  Mr. Neale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the report entitled, "A Better Life—Telecommunication for People who are Deaf and use Sign Language", carried out by the social research unit at the university of York, will be published; and if he will put a copy of the report in the Library.

  Mr. Freeman
  The report is being completed and will be published shortly. I will arrange for a copy to be put in the Library.

  Hospital Facilities
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that back-up hospital facilities are maintained outside city centres in order to reduce the time and financial costs involved in travelling to concentrated facilities.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is for each individual health authority to decide its pattern of services locally in the light of its assessment of needs and priorities as against available resources.

  Dental Service
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists joined the dentists' register in each of the last five years from individual EC countries, and from non-EC countries.

  Mr. Freeman
  Information provided by the General Dental Council shows that in the last five years the number of new registrations was as follows:

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  EC Countries

  Belgium

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Denmark

  8

  5

  4

  7

  5

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Nurses/Midwives1

  Average gross weekly earnings (£)

  140

  154

  173

  203

  218

  Constant prices2 (£)

  140

  150

  162

  181

  180

  764

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  France

  3

  1

  4

  1

  3

  Germany

  2

  4

  2

  3

  3

  Greece

  2

  5

  5

  9

  11

  Irish Republic

  58

  62

  69

  52

  50

  Italy

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Luxembourg

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Netherlands

  5

  8

  12

  22

  30

  Portugal

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Spain

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  United Kingdom

  857

  852

  904

  853

  783

  Non-EC Countries

  168

  99

  81

  90

  161

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth will receive a reply to his letter of 16 January about Mr. Parkes of Kenilworth, passed to him by the Department of Social Security.

  Mr. Freeman
  A reply was sent yesterday. I regret the delay.

  Health Care Research
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he intends to increase the amount of money in real terms available for research into nursing care; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is the amount of money allocated to specific nursing care research; and what percentage this amount is of the total moneys available to health care research overall.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Research into nursing care falls mainly into the following research priority themes:

  Aids

  Acute Sector Hospital Services

  Community Care

  Primary Health Care

  Information about expenditure on individual projects is published in the Department of Health yearbook of research and development 1989, available in the Library.

  Provision for the health and personal social services research programme in 1990–91 is planned at £21 million, compared with expenditure in 1989–90 estimated at £15 million.

  NHS Earnings
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average level of earnings for(a) hospital doctors, (b) nurses and (c) ancillary staff in each year since 1974 in cash, constant prices and as a proportion of national average earnings.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 1 March 1990]: Estimates are available on a consistent basis only from 1985–86, and these are given in the table.
  765

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  As a proportion of national average non-manual earnings (per cent.)

  76·0

  76·5

  79·5

  84·2

  82·2

  Ancillaries1

  Average gross weekly earnings (£)

  111

  119

  127

  138

  152

  Constant prices2 (£)

  111

  116

  119

  123

  125

  As a proportion of national average manual earnings (per cent.)

  72·4

  72·9

  73·5

  73·9

  74·6

  Doctors/Dentists1 3

  Average gross weekly earnings (£)

  402

  438

  494

  529

  598

  Constant prices2 (£)

  402

  428

  462

  472

  493

  As a proportion of national average non-manual earnings (per cent.)

  217·8

  218·1

  227·1

  219·6

  225·6

  1 The estimates include London Weigthing and, for Nurses and Midwives, include London Supplements and Flexible Pay Supplements.

  2 At constant prices of 1985–86, calculated using the RPI for July of each year.

  3 Hospital and Community Health Service Doctors and Dentists. For years prior to 1989–90, information on earnings is taken from a different source to the estimates of whole-time equivalents, and the average figures shown may be somewhat unreliable in consequence.

  Hepatitis B
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice his Department has issued to health authorities regarding the risk of contracting the hepatitis B virus from discarded needles;

  (2) what research his Department has conducted into the risks of infection by the hepatitis B virus through discarded needles in refuse.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 16 March 1990]: We are unaware of any specific research in this area, but advice on the risks of hepatitis B contamination from discarded needles and other "sharps" is contained in "The Safe Disposal of Clinical Waste" which was issued to all health authorities in 1982. Further advice is contained in "Guidance for Clinical Health Care Workers: Protection Against Infections with HIV and Hepatitis Viruses" which was issued to health authorities in January this year. Copies of the documents mentioned are available in the Library.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Estate Agency
  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is his estimate of the total cost of establishing and implementing the new controls over estate agency as envisaged in the current report "Estate Agency" issued by the Director General of Fair Trading;

  (2) whether he is able to give a firm date for when he expects the new proposals for estate agency control outlined in the Office of Fair Trading report to be in operation.

  Mr. Forth
  I received the director general's report on the issues that I asked him to consider in relation to my proposals to improve consumer protection in estate agency on 9 March.

  I am giving careful consideration to his conclusions and recommendations, particularly in respect of the proposals for new controls under section 3 of the Estate Agents Act
  766
  1979 and under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968. Examination of the resource implications of these proposals will form part of this work.

  I intend to announce my conclusions shortly.

  Business Lending and Hiring
  Sir Neil Macfarlane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to amend the Consumer Credit Act by removing business lending and hiring from the scope of the Act as proposed in paragraph 6:8:8 of the 1988 White Paper "Releasing Enterprise"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The Government intend to amend the Consumer Credit Act 1974 so as to exclude all credit and hire for business purposes, as soon as parliamentary time permits.

  Penny Post Anniversary
  Mr. Harry Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the 150th anniversary of the penny post to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Forth
  I gave my approval in principle to this application on 6 March.

  New Businesses
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new businesses were established in the Yorkshire and Humberside region in 1979, 1983, 1987 and the most recent year; how many net new businesses were established for the same periods; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  The available information, based on VAT data, is given in the table. Figures are not available before 1980. Although 1988 is the latest year for which these detailed figures are available, early indications from data collected by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise are that there was a net increase in 1989 in the United Kingdom as a whole of 1,500 a week on average, compared with 1,200 a week in 1988.
  767

  VAT registrations and deregistrations in Yorkshire and Humberside

  Thousands

  Registrations

  Deregistrations

  Net change

  1980

  11·9

  11·0

  0·9

  1983

  13·7

  11·0

  2·7

  1987

  14·8

  13·1

  1·7

  1988

  16·9

  12·9

  4·0

  Germany (Privatisation)
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Her Majesty's Government have offered any advice on privatisation to the Governments of West and East Germany.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have been asked to reply.

  We have exchanged views with the West German Government on our respective privatisation programmes. During his talks in East Berlin with the GDR authorities earlier this year, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs emphasised the importance of attracting foreign investment. We have not yet offered substantive help in this area to the GDR, but expect to do so in future.

  Czechoslovakia
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest assessment of the opportunities for joint trading ventures in Czechoslovakia.

  Mr. Redwood
  Czechoslovakia introduced joint venture legislation over a year ago and although it has been refining it since to make the idea more attractive to western investors, so far only one British company has entered into a full joint venture. This is in the textile sector. As for the future, I visited Czechoslovakia recently and found great commitment in the Government and among middle management towards joint ventures. Opportunities are certainly there in such areas as food processing machinery and the automotive sector, and will also grow out of the day-to-day trade relationships which we are doing our best to encourage.

  East Germany
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on United Kingdom trade with East Germany.

  Mr. Redwood
  In 1989 the United Kingdom exported to the GDR goods worth £106 million and imported goods to the value of f 169 million. Some 25 per cent. of our exports were accounted for by cereals; and of the imports, non-ferrous metals and furniture accounted for about 35 per cent. altogether. My Department encourages the expansion of trade with the GDR and my noble Friend the Minister for Trade has just returned from the Leipzig fair where over 100 British firms exhibited and received a record number of inquiries from potential GDR customers.

  Eastern Europe
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on any proposed joint ventures between United Kingdom companies and East Germany.
  768
  Mr. Redwood
  I am not aware of any actual joint ventures between British and German Democratic Republic companies. Such joint ventures are certainly possible although the formal legislation is not in place yet. We are advised that although the East German authorities have specified a maximum foreign shareholding of 49 per cent., in practice it might be possible to exceed this. Several British companies have built up close trading links with East German enterprises, particularly in the food processing machinery and health care sectors, and I know of at least two companies being set up in the German Democratic Republic under British auspices to market British products and expertise in these sectors. Other legislation to facilitate trade and investment is being discussed, for example, a double taxation agreement and an investment promotion and protection agreement.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, during his recent visit to eastern Europe, he discussed the possibility of providing export credit guarantees to support the development of environment-friendly industrial plants.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 20 March 1990]: My right hon. Friend met Ministers and senior officials during his visit last week to the USSR and Poland. He did not discuss environmental issues in particular, but I am sure both Governments recognise the need to improve the environment. The ECGD will consider support for United Kingdom exports and investment to eastern Europe to the extent and on terms the Department considers prudent in particular countries.

ENVIRONMENT

  Boundary Commission
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of(a) the total cost and (b) the costs of the management and opinion surveys of the Boundary Commission's proposed report on county Humberside.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The local government boundary commission has not yet completed its review of the county of Humberside. It is not our practice to reveal costs of individual contracts, but the combined cost of the two consultants' studies so far carried out in connection with Humberside is about £170,000.

  North Sea (Chemical Discharges)
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan of 13 March,Official Report, column 188, if he will list all the chemicals which are (a) persistent, (b) toxic and (c) liable to bioaccumulate which are not included in the United Kingdom red list or covered by the national action plan and which will continue to be discharged into the North sea via pipes and rivers.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Further to my answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan on 13 March at column 188, the following 16 chemicals agreed as priority hazardous substances at the recent North sea conference are not included on the United Kingdom red list: copper, zinc, lead, arsenic, chromium, nickel, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, azinphos-ethyl, fenthion, parathion,

  769
  parathion-methyl, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethane and dioxins. The first eight of these substances are either EEC list I or list II substances and discharges of such substances are strictly controlled under the arrangements set out in Department of the Environment circular 7/89.

  For the remaining substances the Government will be introducing the necessary arrangements to achieve the substantial reductions in the inputs of these substances to water which were agreed at the Hague North sea conference.

  Flowers and Fauna (Exhibition)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the flowers and fauna of Great Britain to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 21 May to Friday 25 May.

  West Midlands Residuary Body
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on appointments to the West Midlands residuary body.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The following appointments and reappointments are being made to the West Midlands residuary body for the period 1 April to 31 March 1991 or until dissolution of the body, whichever is the earlier:

  Chairman: T. McDonald, OBE

  Members: Cllr. J. Adams, OBE1

  G. N. Jackson, CBE1

  P. Meering1

  W. S. Page, CBE1

  K. Williams1

  1 Reappointments.

  The West Midlands residuary body has already distributed £50 million in balances and £33 million in capital receipts and has made substantial progress with a major programme of property disposals.

  My right hon. Friend is especially grateful to the retiring chairman, Dr. Malcolm Skillicorn, for his outstanding contribution to the work of the residuary body since its inception. Dr. Skillicorn will be taking up an appointment as chairman of the North Birmingham district health authority from 1 April. Mr. Tom McDonald will combine the chairmanships of West Midlands and the West Yorkshire residuary bodies during what is expected to be the remaining few months before both are finally dissolved.

  West Yorkshire Residuary Body
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on appointments to the West Yorkshire residuary body.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The following have been reappointed to the West Yorkshire residuary body for the period 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 or until dissolution of the body, whichever is sooner:

  Chairman:

  T. McDonald, OBE
  770
  Members:

  K. J. Bridge

  D. Hanson

  F. A. Mallett, CBE

  Cllr. G. E. Mudie

  R. W. Suddards, CBE

  The West Yorkshire residuary body has already distributed £5 million in balances and £24 million in capital receipts for the benefit of local ratepayers and charge payers. The reappointments reflect my right hon. Friend's confidence in the board's ability to discharge the residuary body's few remaining tasks before early wind-up.

  Surface Water Acidification
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the results of the recently completed surface water acidification programme and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The results of the surface water acidification programme, which has been held under the auspices of the Royal Society and the Norwegian and Swedish academies of science, have cast valuable light on this subject. This programme has complemented the continuing research programmes funded by the Department of the Environment as well as those of the Natural Environmental Research Council, and the Lock Fleet studies funded by the CEGB. My Department is funding research programmes on air pollution which in 1990–91 will total nearly £7 million: a similar sum will be devoted to research on climate change and stratospheric ozone. In addition to the research programmes, the Department operates a system of independent scientific review groups to provide a critical evaluation of the emerging evidence and need for further work.

  Together these programmes show that for some upland, sensitive areas of Wales, Scotland, Cumbria, the midlands, the Pennines and parts of the south-east of south-west England, as in Scandinavia, there is a direct link betwen acid disposition, soil and water acidification and effects on flora and fauna. This direct link means we would expect to observe a decrease in acidification in certain areas following a reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions. The first signs of such a recovery have been found for some lochs in the south-west of Scotland following the decreases in United Kingdom emissions of SO2, that have occurred over the past 20 years, and further improvement is to be expected as a result of the major additional reductions to which we are now committed. As part of its research programme, the DOE is committed to monitoring these long-term trends in air pollution.

  One important outcome of the science has been the development of the critical loads concept which enables ecosystems to be classified in terms of their sensitivity to pollution. This concept is now accepted internationally as a basis for discussing strategies for controlling pollution.

  Transitional Relief Scheme Orders
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to what debate on the transitional relief scheme orders he was referring at column 427 of the Official Report of 18 January.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 19 March 1990]: I understand that there will be a debate next Monday.

  Collective Community Charge
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to monitor the numbers and types of property which are being designated for the collective community charge.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 22 March 1990]: We are planning to collect information about numbers of properties subject to a collective community charge on an annual basis from community charges registration officers.

DEFENCE

  Climate Change
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research is being carried out by the Meteorological Office on global climate change and precipitation.

  Mr. Neubert
  Changes in precipitation patterns are monitored on a global scale in the Meteorological Office using all relevant available data. Precipitation is one of the variables carried in the mathematical models being developed to estimate future climate changes. There is substantial research within the Meteorological Office on the processes involved in precipitation generally and on their representation in models.

  A90 Building, Aldermaston
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action has been taken following the alleged contract irregularities on the A90 building at Aldermaston; and what conclusions have been reached.

  Mr. Neubert
  A detailed and painstaking investigation of these allegations undertaken by the MOD police has now been completed. No evidence has been found of criminal activity.

  Patent Rights
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has paid or is committed to pay for patent rights.

  Mr. Neubert
  In strict terms the Secretary of State does not pay for patent rights. Under the Patents Act 1977, Government Departments already possess the right to use or authorise the use of any patent for the services of the Crown. In the absence of any right of free use, terms for payment must be negotiated with the patentee.

  The following payments have been made on behalf of the Secretary of State in the exercise of these rights during the past two financial years:

  £

  1987–88

  257,000

  1988–89

  210,000

  Advertising Expenditure
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total publicity and advertising expenditure, including for privatisation, of his Department and public bodies for which his Department has responsibility in(a) 1979 and (b)
  772
  Mr. Neubert
  The earliest year for which the figures requested are available is 1982–83 when expenditure totalled £10·113 million. The estimated expenditure for 1989–90 is £30·891 million.

  Figures for 1979–80 are not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate expense.

  Iraqi Military Cadets (Training)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Iraqi military cadets have studied at Ministry of Defence training schools in each year since 1979; and how much Iraq has been charged in 1990 prices for each cadet's study course.

  Mr. Neubert
  Details of military assistance provided to individual countries are normally confidential between Governments. Attendance of Iraqi students on United Kingdom service courses since 1979 has been entirely on a repayment basis.

WALES

  Trefnant Footpaths
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether public rights of way Trefnant footpaths, seven, eight, nine, 14 and 15 are free from all obstructions; and whether he will discuss those footpaths with Mr. Michael Griffith, chair designate of the Countryside Council for Wales;

  (2) whether public rights of way Trefnant, seven, eight, nine, 14 and 15 have any missing signposts where they leave or cross public roads, or are in need of way marking; and whether he will discuss those footpaths with Mr. Michael Griffith, chair designate of the Countryside Council for Wales.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  This is a matter for the appropriate highway authority.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current level of funding for each of the district health authorities in Wales; and what is their corresponding population.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested is shown as follows:

  District Health Authority

  1 Current level of Funding

  Population per District Health Authority

  £ million

  2000s

  Clwyd

  115·0

  407·0

  East Dyfed

  77·2

  235·8

  Gwent

  138·6

  445·5

  Gwynedd

  68·3

  239·0

  Mid Glamorgan

  161·8

  535·9

  Pembrokeshire

  28·9

  112·7

  Powys

  32·4

  114·9

  South Glamorgan3

  186·9

  403·4

  West Glamorgan

  123·5

  362·9

  Total DHAs

  932·6

  2,857·0

  1 Revenue and capital allocations for 1989–90 as at 19 March 1990.

  2 Unweighted mid 1988 estimates of population: Source: Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  3 Provides medical and dental teaching facilities.

  773
  It should be noted, however, that allocations to district health authorities in Wales are not currently based on resident population. Authorities are, at present, funded on the basis of the services which they provide and in relation to the catchment populations (weighted for age, sex, morbidity, sparsity and seasonal variation) which they serve. However, this will change in 1991–92 when a process of transition will begin towards funding authorities on the basis of weighted resident capitation in accordance with the proposals set out in the White Paper "Working for Patients". Allocation mechanisms are therefore now in the process of being reviewed and authorities will be consulted on both revised and transitional arrangements prior to allocations for 1991–92 being determined later this year.

  Veterinary Laboratories
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit the veterinary laboratories at Bangor, north Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  I have no plans for such a visit.

TRANSPORT

  A6 Windlehurst Road
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give further details of the A6 Windlehurst road scheme which he is putting out to tender.

  Mr. Atkins
  This scheme, scheduled for completion this summer, will improve road safety and ease traffic flow, by widening the A6 on the south side of its junction with Windlehurst road.

  The provision of a ghost island, and wider turning circle at the junction, will assist vehicles turning right into and out of Windlehurst road and reduce traffic delays for through traffic on the trunk road. The existing pelican crossing will also be improved.

  London Underground (Incidents)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what information he has on recent incidents on London Underground involving doors closing while blind persons and guide dogs were entering a train; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what information he has on recent incidents on London Underground involving the trapping of pushchairs and children in train doors out of the driver's view; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The railway inspectorate was notified of an incident involving a London Underground train at Wimbledon Park station on 9 February. A partially sighted man was caught by the doors and carried along the platform for a distance of 15 to 20 yd, sustaining injuries to his left elbow and hip.

  The inspectorate has learnt from London Underground of two incidents involving children. On 23 October 1989 a train was leaving Lambeth North station when someone on the platform shouted a warning that there was a child caught in the doors. The guard stopped the train after it had travelled, I understand, half a carriage length. On 11 January 1990 a pushchair with a child in it was trapped by a wheel support bar as the doors of a train closed at
  774
  Holborn station (Piccadilly line). The driver reported that on hearing shouts he stopped the train within 10 to 12 ft. I am pleased to say that neither of these incidents caused injury. Because of this, neither incident was notifiable to the inspectorate.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will indicate the nature of incidents which London Underground Limited has a legal duty to report to the railway inspectorate; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether there are published guidelines specifying the type of incidents which London Underground Limited has a legal duty to report to the railway inspectorate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  Railways are required to report any accident specified in schedule 1 of the Railways (Notice of Accidents) Order 1986.

  The terms of that schedule are as follows:

  SCHEDULE 1 Article 3(2)

  London Underground (Incidents)

    ACCIDENTS OCCURRING IN THE WORKING OF A RAILWAY WHICH ARE NOTIFIABLE ACCIDENTS
    1. Accidents to persons
    Any accident attended with loss of life or major or minor personal injury to any person whomsoever.
    2. Accidents to passenger trains

    (a) Any collision where one of the trains is a passenger train;

    (b) any passenger train or any part of a passenger train accidentally leaving the rails.

    3. Accidents not involving passenger trains

    (a) Any collision on a running line where any vehicle sustains damage as a result of the collision, and any collision in a siding which results in a running line being obstructed;

    (b) any derailment on a running line, except a derailment which occurs during shunting operations and does not obstruct any other running line;

    (c) any derailment in a siding which results in a running line being obstructed.

    4. Accidents involving any kind of train

    (a) Any case of a train striking a buffer stop, other than in a siding, where damage is caused to the train;

    (b) any case of a train on a running line striking or being struck by any object which causes damage (other than damage consisting solely in the breakage of glass) necessitating immediate temporary or permanent repair or which might have been liable to derail the train;

    (c) any case of a train striking any cattle or horse, whether or not damage is caused to the train, or striking any other animal if, in consequence, damage (other than damage consisting solely in the breakage of glass) is caused to the train necessitating immediate temporary or permanent repair;

    (d) any case of a passenger train, or any other train not fitted with continuous self-applying brakes, becoming divided.

    5. Accidents and incidents at level crossings

    (a) any train striking a road vehicle or a gate at a level crossing;

    (b) any train running onto a level crossing when not authorised to do so;

    (c) a failure of the equipment at a level crossing which could endanger users of the road or path crossing the railway.

    6. Accidents involving a locomotive or other power unit or any rolling stock.
    Any of the following classes of accident is notifiable if it occurs or is discovered whilst the vehicle is on a running line:

    (a) the failure of an axle;

    775

    (b) the failure of a wheel or tyre, including a tyre loose on its wheel;

    (c) the failure of a rope or the fastenings thereof in working an incline;

    (d) any fire, severe electrical arcing or fusing in or on any part of a passenger train;

    (e) in the case of any train other than a passenger train, any severe electrical arcing, fusing, or any fire which was extinguished by a fire-Lighting service;

    (f) any other failure of any part of a train which is likely to cause an accident to that or any other train or to kill or injure any person.

    7. Accidents involving the permanent way and other works on or connected with a railway:

    (a) The failure of a rail in a running line, which results in a complete fracture through its cross-section or in a piece becoming detached from the rail;

    (b) a buckle of a running line which necessitates the immediate imposition of a speed restriction lower than that currently in force;

    (c) any aircraft or vehicle of any kind landing on, running onto or coming to rest foul of the line, or damaging the line, causing damage which obstructs the line or damaging any railway equipment at a level crossing;

    (d) the runaway of an escalator, lift or passenger conveyor;

    (e) any fire or severe arcing or fusing which seriously affects the functioning of electrical signalling equipment;

    (f) any other fire affecting the permanent way or works of the railway which necessitates the suspension of services over any line, or the closure of any part of a station, signalbox or other premises for a period:

    (i) in the case of a fire affecting any part of the railway below ground, of more than 30 minutes, and

    (ii) in any other case, of more than 1 hour.

    8. Accidents involving failure of the works on or connected with the railway.
    The following classes of accident are notifiable if they are likely either to cause an accident to a train or to endanger any person:

    (a) a failure of a tunnel, bridge, viaduct, culvert, station, or other structure or any part thereof including the fixed electrical equipment of an electrified railway;

    (b) a slip of a cutting or of an embankment;

    (c) flooding of the permanent way;

    (d) the striking of a bridge by a road vehicle or its load;

    (e) the failure of any other portion of the permanent way or works not specified above.

  Greenhouse Effect
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Southport of 2 February,Official Report, column 368 and 16 February, Official Report, column 430, he has any plans to increase his Department's road building programme further to combat the greenhouse effect.

  Mr. Atkins
  Combating the greenhouse effect will depend on many factors including reducing congestion on the roads. The road programme itself is kept under constant review in the light of our stated objectives to assist economic growth, improve the environment and enhance safety.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made an assessment of the effect on carbon dioxide emissions of each pound spent on(a) road building programmes and (b) rail investment; and if he will make a statement.
  776
  Mr. Atkins
  No, because so many uncertain factors are involved.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 16 February,Official Report, column 430, what assessment he has made of the size of the road building programme which would give maximum reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from vehicular transport.

  Mr. Atkins
  Many considerations—economic arid environmental—are taken into account when prospective road schemes are assessed. It is not possible to devise a programme which is solely devoted to reducing CO2 emissions.

  Road Building
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications of his Department's road building programme for the number of vehicle miles travelled; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The national road traffic forecasts published last year predict an increase in vehicle miles of between 83 and 142 per cent. between 1988 and 2025. These are demand forecasts, not targets, and the high and low forecasts are equally possible outcomes.

  Increased traffic demand is primarily a function of economic growth rather than road building. Road improvements will not affect measurably the overall level of demand although there may be redistribution effects as traffic switches to better quality roads.

  SS Montgomery
  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure the safety of the SS Montgomery in the Thames estuary.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The wreck of the Liberty ship Richard Montgomery is marked by four lighted buoys and an outer cordon of 12 unlit marker buoys. Periodic surveys are conducted to establish the condition of the wreck. The next survey is planned for later this year.

  Railway Lines (Noise Insulation)
  Mr. Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement about the action he is taking to establish a noise insulation standard for new railway lines.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have now set up a committee whose remit is to recommend to the Secretary of State for Transport a national noise insulation standard (or standards) for the operation of new railway lines which equitably relates to the standard set by regulation for new highways. The aim will be to arrive at a standard Or standards at which the duty to offer noise insulation will be triggered and to set the trigger at a level which will ensure that there is parity of treatment between those who live near new railways and those who live near new roads.

  The committee will be chaired by Dr. C. G. B. Mitchell, head of the vehicles and environment division at the transport and road research laboratory. It will have the following members:

  Mr. G. Llewellyn John, County Engineer and Surveyor.

  West Glamorgan county council
  777
  Dr. H. G. Leventhall, head of Institute of Environmental Engineering at South Bank polytechnic, deputy chairman of the Noise Council

  Dr. J. B. Ollerhead, head of Noise Research and Analysis, Civil Aviation Authority

  Mr. G. A. Parry, principal noise consultant, Technica Indecon Limited

  Dr. J. G. Walker, Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, Southampton University

  Mr. A. V. L. Williams, British Steel Track Products

  Each has been selected for his expertise in the field and not as a representative of any particular body or interest. I am most grateful to them for agreeing to serve. There will also be three members from the Department of Transport. I have asked the committee to report by the end of September. Its report will be published.

  The committee will be pleased to receive views and evidence from interested parties. Submissions should be sent to the committee's secretary, Dr. P. M. Nelson of the transport and road research laboratory, Crowthorne, Berkshire, RG11 6AU.

  Radioactive Material (Road Accident)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the accident between a vehicle carrying radioactive material and a local bus, in January, on the road between Annan and Dumfries.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 20 March 1990]: I have no knowledge of any such accident.

SCOTLAND

  Spirits (Metric Measures)
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will lengthen the period for the introduction of metrication on the dispensing of spirits in licensed premises to date later than 31 December; and if he will use that period to hold further consultations with affected parties.

  Mr. Forth
  I have been asked to reply.

  I announced on 14 December that, having considered the responses to my Department's consultation paper, I had concluded that the present range of imperial quantities for serving gin, rum, vodka and whisky be phased out by 31 December 1994 in favour of one round metric quantity of 25 ml. I am considering further representations that I have received and will announce a decision as soon as possible.

  Fatal Accident Inquiries
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all offshore deaths that have resulted in fatal accident inquiries, naming employers concerned, in the last 10 years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 21 March 1990]: The information is as per the list.

  Offshore deaths resulting in fatal accident inquiries

  Employer of deceased

  Number

  1981

  Atlantic Drilling Co. Ltd., Aberdeen

  1

  International Drilling Co. Ltd., Aberdeen

  1

  Buggee Supply Ships Ltd., Aberdeen

  1

  778

  Employer of deceased

  Number

  Southeastern Drilling Services Ltd., Aberdeen

  1

  Christian Salvesen (Shipping) Ltd., Edinburgh

  1

  Wimpey Marine Ltd., Great Yarmouth

  1

  1982

  British United Trawlers

  1

  Offshore Marine Ltd., Great Yarmouth

  1

  Viking Supply Ships, Norway

  1

  Odeco UK Inc., Aberdeen

  1

  Herreman Marine Contractors, Switzerland

  1

  1983

  Salamis Ltd., Aberdeen

  1

  Dan Smedvig Ltd., Aberdeen

  1

  Herreman Engineering Services UK Ltd.

  1

  Blandford Shipping Co. Ltd.

  1

  Flopetrol Services Inc.

  1

  Atlantic Drilling Co. Ltd.

  1

  Subsea Surveys Ltd.

  1

  1984

  Bristows Helicopters

  3

  Shell UK

  5

  London Bridge Engineering Ltd.

  1

  Offshore Medical Support

  1

  KCA Drilling Ltd.

  1

  Willem Wilhelmsen Enterprises

  1

  1985

  Aberdeen Service Company North Sea Ltd.

  1

  Component Erectors, East Wemyss, Fife

  1

  Aberdeen Scaffolding Co. Ltd.

  2

  Union Oil of GB Ltd.

  1

  Dietsmann UK Ltd.

  1

  1986

  BP Petroleum Development Ltd.

  1

  1987

  Herreman Offshore Contractors Ltd.

  2

  Lassalle Petroleum SS Ltd., Aberdeen

  18

  Shell UK Exploration and Production, Aberdeen

  8

  Aberdeen Service Co. Ltd.

  12

  W. A. Fairhurst and Partners, Aberdeen

  1

  British International Helicopters, Aberdeen

  2

  Geotech Ltd., Aberdeen

  2

  Salamis (Marine and Industrial) Ltd., Aberdeen

  1

  Kongsberg Albatros Offshore Services Ltd., Aberdeen

  1

  British Underwater Engineering Offshore Vessels Ltd.

  1

  1988

  Press Offshore Ltd., Aberdeen

  1

  1989

  Nil

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide details of local authority revenues for Scottish regions derived from central Government sources, non-domestic rates, rates and or poll tax for the years 1980–81 to 1989–90 and estimates for 1990–91 on a money and percentage basis.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 19 March 1990]: The figures are given in the table. Amounts for rate and revenue support grant are final amounts or those applying to the most recent order. Figures for non-domestic and domestic rates are derived from data published in "Rating Review" for the relevant years up to 1988–89. For 1989–90 and 1990–91 amounts of non-domestic rate income and community charge income are

  779
  taken from the provisional outturn-budget estimate returns made by local authorities to the Scottish Office.

  Rate Support Grant

  Non-Domestic Rate Income

  Domestic Rates

  Total

  £ million

  percentage

  £ million

  percentage

  £ million

  percentage

  £ million

  1980–81

  Borders

  26·226

  71·5

  5·575

  15·2

  4·858

  13·3

  36·659

  Central

  54·436

  58·2

  27·850

  29·8

  11·245

  12·0

  93·531

  Dumfries and Galloway

  33·785

  70·7

  7·679

  16·1

  6·330

  13·2

  47·794

  Fife

  71·657

  63·5

  25·592

  22·7

  15·646

  13·9

  112·895

  Grampian

  102·997

  62·1

  42·247

  25·5

  20·677

  12·5

  165·921

  Highland

  62·019

  72·0

  15·495

  18·0

  8·644

  10·0

  86·158

  Lothian

  157·676

  53·4

  87·527

  29·6

  50·147

  17·0

  295·350

  Strathclyde

  653·091

  68·3

  194·009

  20·3

  109·005

  11·4

  956·105

  Tayside

  88·525

  65·9

  28·983

  21·6

  16·892

  12·6

  134·400

  Orkney

  6·378

  48·4

  6·428

  48·8

  0·366

  2·8

  13·172

  Shetland

  8·030

  26·3

  21·611

  70·9

  0·859

  2·8

  30·500

  Western Isles

  17·065

  84·6

  2·161

  10·7

  0·935

  4·6

  20·161

  1981–82

  Borders

  28·796

  68·8

  7·003

  16·7

  6·067

  14·5

  41·866

  Central

  58·379

  53·8

  35·630

  32·9

  14·448

  13·3

  108·457

  Dumfries and Galloway

  37·088

  68·5

  9·352

  17·3

  7·704

  14·2

  54·144

  Fife

  78·142

  60·2

  31·797

  24·5

  19·932

  15·4

  129·871

  Grampian

  114·556

  61·0

  49·210

  26·2

  24·023

  12·8

  187·789

  Highland

  66·798

  67·0

  21·196

  21·2

  11·780

  11·8

  99·774

  Lothian

  135·272

  39·0

  133·749

  38·6

  77·839

  22·4

  346·860

  Strathclyde

  692·412

  62·3

  264·537

  23·8

  155·034

  13·9

  1,111·983

  Tayside

  96·813

  60·6

  39·145

  24·5

  23·696

  14·8

  159·654

  Orkney

  6·838

  47·5

  7·140

  49·6

  0·423

  2·9

  14·401

  Shetland

  9·011

  27·2

  23·361

  70·5

  0·782

  2·4

  33·154

  Western Isles

  19·229

  81·3

  3·118

  13·2

  1·310

  5·5

  23·657

  1982–83

  Borders

  30·986

  68·3

  7·627

  16·8

  6·785

  14·9

  45·398

  Central

  61·052

  49·5

  43·495

  35·3

  18·687

  15·2

  123·234

  Dumfries and Galloway

  40·508

  63·6

  12·580

  19·8

  10·596

  16·6

  63·684

  Fife

  80·078

  55·7

  38·814

  27·0

  24·826

  17·3

  143·718

  Grampian

  115·948

  56·3

  59·639

  28·9

  30·552

  14·8

  206·139

  Highland

  72·301

  65·4

  24·996

  22·6

  13·270

  12·0

  110·567

  Lothian

  170·027

  47·2

  120·153

  33·4

  69·943

  19·4

  360·123

  Strathclyde

  738·941

  60·6

  298·735

  24·5

  180·925

  14·9

  1,218·601

  Tayside

  100·607

  58·1

  44·804

  25·9

  27·823

  16·1

  173·234

  Orkney

  6·931

  47·1

  7·290

  49·5

  0·493

  3·4

  14·714

  Shetland

  10·039

  27·7

  25·345

  70·0

  0·843

  2·3

  36·227

  Western Isles

  22·144

  81·4

  3·536

  13·0

  1·511

  5·6

  27·191

  1983–84

  Borders

  32·808

  71·7

  6·895

  15·1

  6·071

  13·3

  45·774

  Central

  64·302

  52·1

  41·741

  33·8

  17·426

  14·1

  123·469

  Dumfries and Galloway

  43·182

  66·9

  11·592

  18·0

  9·760

  15·1

  64·534

  Fife

  85·677

  56·3

  40·555

  26·6

  26·000

  17·1

  152·232

  Grampian

  127·054

  56·4

  66·335

  29·5

  31·842

  14·1

  225·231

  Highland

  76·987

  67·0

  24·888

  21·7

  13·012

  11·3

  114·887

  Lothian

  175·503

  51·5

  104·303

  30·6

  60·923

  17·9

  340·729

  Strathclyde

  770·963

  61·5

  301·559

  24·0

  182·041

  14·5

  1,254·563

  Tayside

  206·211

  58·8

  45·709

  25·3

  28·870

  16·0

  180·790

  Orkney

  8·978

  56·9

  6·373

  40·4

  0·439

  2·8

  15·790

  Shetland

  10·018

  26·7

  26·549

  70·9

  0·891

  2·4

  37·458

  Western Isles

  23·021

  81·5

  3·627

  12·8

  1·613

  5·7

  28·261

  1984–85

  Borders

  33·031

  69·2

  7·808

  16·4

  6·865

  14·4

  47·704

  Central

  67·000

  52·2

  41·348

  32·2

  20·107

  15·7

  128·455

  Dumfries and Galloway

  43·262

  65·6

  12·279

  18·6

  10·437

  15·8

  65·978

  Fife

  78·865

  50·9

  46·258

  29·8

  29·930

  19·3

  155·053

  Grampian

  126·681

  55·7

  68·132

  29·9

  32·823

  14·4

  227·636

  Highland

  78·009

  65·2

  26·168

  22·4

  14·428

  12·4

  116·605

  Lothian

  171·223

  48·0

  116·349

  32·7

  68·715

  19·3

  356·287

  Strathclyde

  749·483

  59·9

  312·158

  24·9

  190·558

  15·2

  1,252·199

  Tayside

  104·637

  57·3

  47·842

  26·2

  30·143

  16·5

  182·622

  Orkney

  7·719

  47·3

  8·040

  49·2

  0·577

  3·5

  16·336

  Shetland

  10·277

  26·4

  27·662

  71·1

  0·963

  2·5

  38·902

  Western Isles

  24·346

  81·0

  3·925

  13·1

  1·773

  5·9

  30·044

  1985–86

  Borders

  34·489

  67·0

  9·225

  17·9

  7·746

  15·1

  51·460

  Central

  64·839

  50·7

  42·962

  33·6

  20·056

  15·7

  127·857

  780
  Domestic rates figures are net of domestic rate relief. All figures of domestic rate and community charge income are inclusive of rebates.
  781

  Rate Support Grant

  Non-Domestic Rate Income

  Domestic Rates

  Total

  £ million

  percentage

  £ million

  percentage

  £ million

  percentage

  £ million

  Dumfries and Galloway

  43·910

  63·0

  14·723

  21·1

  11·080

  15·9

  69·713

  Fife

  83·524

  47·8

  58·456

  33·4

  32·850

  18·8

  174·830

  Grampian

  130·974

  55·2

  73·619

  31·0

  32·577

  13·7

  237·170

  Highland

  79·044

  64·2

  29·081

  23·6

  15·053

  12·2

  123·178

  Lothian

  176·312

  47·6

  118·577

  32·0

  75·353

  20·4

  370·242

  Strathclyde

  782·705

  60·0

  313·275

  24·0

  208·878

  16·0

  1,304·858

  Tayside

  112·401

  57·8

  49·636

  25·5

  32·394

  16·7

  194·431

  Orkney

  7·654

  43·5

  9·028

  51·3

  0·916

  5·2

  17·598

  Shetland

  10·203

  22·8

  33·180

  74·1

  1·379

  3·1

  44·762

  Western Isles

  24·774

  81·2

  3·920

  12·8

  1·817

  6·0

  30·511

  1986–87

  Borders

  37·018

  66·5

  9·938

  17·8

  8·755

  15·7

  55·711

  Central

  68·350

  50·3

  45·320

  33·3

  22·273

  16·4

  135·943

  Dumfries and Galloway

  48·317

  62·3

  16·291

  21·0

  12·945

  16·7

  77·553

  Fife

  84·383

  44·9

  68·248

  36·3

  35·338

  18·8

  187·969

  Grampian

  134·867

  52·2

  83·982

  32·5

  39·338

  15·2

  258·187

  Highland

  82·866

  62·3

  33·108

  24·9

  16·948

  12·8

  132·922

  Lothian

  161·944

  44·4

  123·351

  33·8

  79·815

  21·9

  365·110

  Strathclyde

  730·560

  55·2

  348·978

  26·4

  242·912

  18·4

  1,322·450

  Tayside

  114·824

  57·6

  50·441

  25·3

  34·172

  17·1

  199·437

  Orkney

  7·766

  43·2

  9·353

  52·0

  0·873

  4·9

  17·992

  Shetland

  10·247

  22·8

  33·343

  74·1

  1·429

  3·2

  45·019

  Western Isles

  27·602

  82·3

  4·011

  12·0

  1·919

  5·7

  33·532

  1987–88

  Borders

  41·191

  65·8

  11·154

  17·8

  10·232

  16·4

  62·577

  Central

  78·582

  49·5

  52·999

  33·4

  27·191

  17·1

  158·772

  Dumfries and Galloway

  54·583

  63·0

  17·710

  20·4

  14·412

  16·6

  86·705

  Fife

  80·036

  41·0

  75·568

  38·7

  39·699

  20·3

  195·303

  Grampian

  145·489

  51·6

  92·156

  32·7

  44·265

  15·7

  281·910

  Highland

  92·591

  60·7

  38·724

  25·4

  21·158

  13·9

  152·473

  Lothian

  177·449

  41·1

  152·292

  35·3

  102·198

  23·7

  431·939

  Strathclyde

  794·598

  52·7

  416·697

  27·6

  296·548

  19·7

  1,507·843

  Tayside

  123·318

  54·6

  59·501

  26·4

  42·896

  19·0

  225·715

  Orkney

  9·418

  51·9

  7·998

  44·0

  0·744

  4·1

  18·160

  Shetland

  11·056

  24·3

  32·912

  72·5

  1·454

  3·2

  45·422

  Western Isles

  29·998

  82·4

  4·284

  11·8

  2·120

  5·8

  36·402

  1988–89

  Borders

  44·008

  66·0

  11·648

  17·5

  11·057

  16·6

  66·713

  Central

  78·551

  47·7

  56·240

  34·2

  29·885

  18·2

  164·676

  Dumfries and Galloway

  57·227

  61·5

  19·490

  20·9

  16·399

  17·6

  93·116

  Fife

  105·635

  45·8

  81·804

  35·5

  43·035

  18·7

  230·474

  Grampian

  158·614

  50·3

  104·691

  33·2

  52·188

  16·5

  315·493

  Highland

  100·978

  62·7

  38·768

  24·1

  21·220

  13·2

  160·966

  Lothian

  187·897

  37·5

  183·967

  36·7

  129·751

  25·9

  501·615

  Strathclyde

  898·472

  54·8

  428·452

  26·2

  311·584

  19·0

  1,638·508

  Tayside

  139·187

  54·9

  65·019

  25·7

  49·224

  19·4

  253·430

  Orkney

  10·353

  53·3

  7·814

  40·2

  1·262

  6·5

  19·429

  Shetland

  11·945

  19·2

  48·079

  77·2

  2·291

  3·7

  62·315

  Western Isles

  31·439

  82·5

  4·431

  11·6

  2·225

  5·8

  38·095

  Revenue support grant

  Non-domestic rate income

  Community charge

  Total

  £ million

  Percentage

  £ million

  Percentage

  £ million

  Percentage

  £ million

  1989–90

  Borders

  50·287

  68·3

  10·187

  13·8

  13·156

  17·9

  73·630

  Central

  93·300

  50·8

  52·831

  28·8

  37·519

  20·4

  183·650

  Dumfries and Galloway

  64·907

  63·6

  17·726

  17·4

  19·457

  19·1

  102·090

  Fife

  117·337

  48·3

  73·686

  30·3

  51·860

  21·4

  242·883

  Grampian

  181·645

  53·4

  90·700

  26·7

  67·880

  20·0

  340·225

  Highland

  109·413

  63·8

  34·500

  20·1

  27·597

  16·1

  171·510

  Lothian

  217·527

  40·5

  161·755

  30·1

  157·334

  29·3

  536·616

  Strathclyde

  995·253

  57·6

  403·000

  23·3

  331·035

  19·1

  1,729·288

  Tayside

  155·456

  56·2

  61·700

  22·3

  59·708

  21·6

  276·864

  Orkney

  11·724

  56·8

  7·141

  34·6

  1·796

  8·7

  20·661

  Shetland

  20·114

  45·4

  22·377

  50·5

  1·795

  4·1

  44·286

  Western Isles

  35·290

  82·0

  5·000

  11·6

  2·750

  6·4

  43·040

  1990–91

  Borders

  57·380

  70·4

  10·681

  13·1

  13·452

  16·5

  81·513

  Central

  104·139

  53·3

  48·192

  24·7

  43·014

  22·0

  195·345

  Dumfries and Galloway

  75·390

  65·4

  19·250

  16·7

  20·601

  17·9

  115·241

  Fife

  128·971

  46·8

  83·838

  30·4

  63·001

  22·8

  275·810

  Grampian

  219·148

  60·4

  81·833

  22·6

  61·950

  17·1

  362·931

  782 783

  Revenue support grant

  Non-domestic rate income

  Community charge

  Total

  £ million

  Percentage

  £ million

  Percentage

  £ million

  Percentage

  £ million

  Highland

  123·822

  65·5

  36·405

  19·3

  28·901

  15·3

  189·128

  Lothian

  234·110

  41·7

  154·184

  27·5

  173·256

  30·9

  561·550

  Strathclyde

  1,041·618

  57·4

  403·976

  22·3

  368·065

  20·3

  1,813·659

  Tayside

  174·987

  58·8

  59·393

  20·0

  63·218

  21·2

  297·598

  Orkney

  14·813

  63·2

  6·735

  28·7

  1·905

  8·1

  23·453

  Shetland

  30·670

  60·5

  18·548

  36·6

  1·458

  2·9

  50·676

  Western Isles

  39·187

  82·7

  4·891

  10·3

  3·308

  7·0

  47·386

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Schemes
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the various schemes operated by his Department designed to assist unemployed people back into the labour market; and if he will give the spending in 1989–90 on each scheme.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Employment Department Group operates the following programmes primarily designed to assist unemployed people back into employment:

  Programmes

  Spending 1989–90 (Estimated Outturn)

  £ million

  Employment Training

  1,112·00

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme

  184·00

  Claimant Advisers (Staff costs only)

  17·90

  New Client Advisers (Staff costs only)

  16·80

  Restart

  Restart Counselling

  43·00

  Restart Courses

  7·00

  Jobclubs

  19·00

  Jobshare

  0·15

  Jobstart

  4·60

  Travel to Interview Scheme

  1·05

  Employment Services for People with Disabilities (including Disablement Resettlement Officers and Disablement Advisory Service)

  19·00

  Employment Rehabilitation Service (Programme costs only)

  9·00

  Special Schemes for Disabled People

  8·40

  Sheltered Employment Schemes

  107·00

  In addition, small sums are being spent piloting new approaches to helping the unemployed.

  Genetically Engineered Organisms
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Gordon of 15 March,Official Report, column 342, if he will list the locations of (a) the three centres at which he is reviewing applications for the release of genetically manipulated organisms to the environment and (b) the eight centres where releases have already taken place.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The eight centres which have notified the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of proposals to release genetically manipulated organisms to the environment and whose proposals have been reviewed by HSE are:

  Natural Environment Research Council, Institute of Virology, Oxford.

  Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden.

  Institute for Plant Science Research, Cambridge.

  Scottish Crops Research Institute, Invergowrie and Pentlandfield
  784
  Shell Research Ltd, Sittingbourne.

  ICI, Jealott's Hill, Berkshire.

  British Fermentation Products Ltd./Gist Brocades, Felixtowe.

  Nickerson International Seeds Co. Ltd. Cambridge.

  For the three centres whose notifications are currently under review, it would be inappropriate to provide this information.

  Youth Training Allowance
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to introduce an increase in youth training allowance to help 18-year-olds who will be liable to pay the community charge.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 15 March,Official Report, column 340.

ENERGY

  Chemical Spillages (North Sea)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what checks are carried out to test what chemicals may be disposed of or spilled from offshore oil and gas installations.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  The United Kingdom Government operate a notification scheme for the use of chemicals offshore. The object of the scheme is to prevent damage to the marine environment. Chemical manufacturers and suppliers provide data on all chemicals used offshore to the Department of Energy. Based on these data maximum permitted levels that can be discharged at any one installation in a year are given for each chemical.

  Discussions are under way within the Paris commission for a mandatory scheme for the use and discharge of chemicals offshore as agreed at the recent North sea conference.

  Tyres
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to encourage the use as a fuel of redundant tyres; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  We propose to create a special place for renewable sources of energy in the non-fossil fuel obligation after privatisation. Within this scheme, the opportunity will exist for redundant tyres to qualify as a non-fossil fuel source. I would like to see them used as a renewable source where such use would be economically viable and environmentally acceptable and, to this end the energy technology support unit at Harwell is planning to hold a small workshop, to be attended by representatives from the appropriate sectors of the industry, later this summer.

  Action for Cities
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what was the cost of the action for cities anniversary event held at Wynward hall, Cleveland, on 28 February;

  (2) what was the total cost of the action for cities anniversary events held nationwide.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer) on 7 March, column 629.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the proportion of(a) all pensioners, (b) male single pensioners, (c) female single pensioners, (d) pensioner couples, (e) newly retired single men, (f) newly retired single women, (g) newly retired couples who are in receipt of a state additional pension on the basis of the 1987 family expenditure survey; and for each group what is the mean and median amount received.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Information is not available in the form requested. The family expenditure survey does not identify the additional pension separately.

  Fishermen (Unemployment Benefits)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on new regulations introduced by the Department of Social Security on 10 December 1989 relating to unemployment benefit payments; and if any research has been carried out into the impact of the benefits changes on fishermen now restricted in the number of days they can go to sea.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The new earnings levels for unemployment benefit apply equally to all claimants. We are aware of the concerns of the fishing industry and the Department is in contact with fishermen's representatives. We are monitoring the effects of the changes.

  Nursing Care (Upkeep Costs)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the maximum savings limit allowed before a resident of(a) a residential home, (b) a residential nursing home and (c) a long-stay hospital is liable for a contribution towards his upkeep.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Whether a resident is liable to make any contribution towards his upkeep depends not only on his savings but on his income and on any fee charged. However, the first £3,000 of any savings of a resident are completely disregarded for benefit purposes.

  Benefits (Capital Limits)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much will be deducted each week from income support, family credit, housing benefit and community charge benefit claimants with capital of £3,000 and at each £250 band up to the capital limit for the benefit as a result of his Department's assumptions as to the income derived from each level of capital.
  786
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  We do not make particular assumptions on the level of income from capital but a notional income—that is, a tariff income—is calculated on capital above a certain level. However, no tariff income is calculated on the first £3,000. Any actual income earned by savings is fully disregarded.

  The table shows the tariff income on capital over £3,000 up to the upper limit of £6,000 in income support and family credit (increasing to £8,000 from 9 April 1990) and to £8,000 in housing benefit and community charge benefit (increasing to £16,000 from 1 April 1990).

  In income support the amount of tariff income is wholly deductible from a person's entitlement. However, it is not possible to state how much of any tariff income will be deducted from family credit, housing benefit or community charge benefit since this depends on the amount of other income available, the circumstances of each individual case including, where appropriate, the amount of eligible rent or community charge and the effect of the tapers. These tapers are applied to any income above the appropriate applicable amount and the resulting figure is offset against the maximum benefit payable. In family credit the taper is 70 per cent., in housing benefit it is 65 per cent. and in community charge benefit it is 15 per cent.

  Claimant/partner

  Tariff income (weekly)

  (£)

  (£)

  3,000·01 – 3,250·00

  1

  3,250·01 – 3,500·00

  2

  3,500·01 – 3,750·00

  3

  3,750·01 – 4,000·00

  4

  4,000·01 – 4,250·00

  5

  4,250·01 – 4,500·00

  6

  4,500·01 – 4,750·00

  7

  4,750·01 – 5,000·00

  8

  5,000·01 – 5,250·00

  9

  5,250·01 – 5,500·00

  10

  5,500·01 – 5,750·00

  11

  5,750·01 – 6,000·00

  12

  6,000·01 – 6,250·00

  13

  6,250·01 – 6,500·00

  14

  6,500·01 – 6,750·00

  15

  6,750·00 – 7,000·00

  16

  7,000·01 – 7,250·00

  17

  7,250·01 – 7,500·00

  18

  7,500·01 – 7,750·00

  19

  7,750·01 – 8,000·00

  20

  8,000·01 – 8,250·00

  21

  8,250·01 – 8,500·00

  22

  8,500·01 – 8,750·00

  23

  8,750·01 – 9,000·00

  24

  9,000·01 – 9,250·00

  25

  9,250·01 – 9,500·00

  26

  9,500·01 – 9,750·00

  27

  9,750·01 – 10,000·00

  28

  10,000·01 – 10,250·00

  29

  10,250·01 – 10,500·00

  30

  10,500·01 – 10,750·00

  31

  10,750·01 – 11,000·00

  32

  11,000·01– 11,250·00

  33

  11,250·01 – 11,500·00

  34

  11,500·01 – 11,750·00

  35

  11,750·01 – 12,000·00

  36

  12,000·01 – 12,250·00

  37

  12,250·01 – 12,500·00

  38

  12,500·01 – 12,750·00

  39

  12,750·01 – 13,000·00

  40

  13,000·01 – 13,250·00

  41

  13,250·01 – 13,500·00

  42

  13,500·01 – 13,750·00

  43

  13,750·01 – 14,000·00

  44

  787

  Claimant/partner

  Tariff income (weekly)

  (£)

  (£)

  14,000·01 – 14,250·00

  45

  14,250·01 – 14,500·00

  46

  14,500·01 – 14,750·00

  47

  14,750·01 – 15,000·00

  48

  15,000·01 – 15,250·00

  49

  15,250·01 – 15,500·00

  50

  15,500·01 – 15,750·00

  51

  15,750·01 – 16,000·00

  52

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give for each of(a) income support, (b) family credit, (c) housing benefit and (d) community charge benefit (i) the additional number of people who will come into entitlement and (ii) the number of existing claimants who will receive additional benefit as a result of the increased capital limits; and if he will give the net cost for each benefit.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  No existing recipients of income support or family credit will receive additional benefit although a negligible number of existing housing benefit or community charge benefit recipients may gain.

  The estimated figures for new beneficiaries are set out in the table:

  Individuals (thousands)

  Benefit units (thousands)

  Cost (£ million)

  Income support

  30

  25

  30

  Housing benefit

  75

  50

  55

  Community charge benefit

  195

  130

  35

  The number of family credit gainers is small

  Note:

  The above figures include some people gaining more than one benefit. Taking account of the number of couples, the total number of individual gainers is estimated at around a quarter of a million.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, with regard to the announcement on 20 March about the increase in the capital limit for housing benefit and community charge benefit to £16,000 as of April 1990, he will state(a) what safeguards will be provided for claimants whose benefit does not immediately reflect the new capital limits, (b) what is his estimate of the increased cost to local authorities, (c) what additional resources are to be given to local authorities to help them (i) administer the change swiftly and (ii) cover the additional administrative costs, and (d) by what date he expects everyone to have received their full benefit, reflecting the new capital levels.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information is as follows:

  (a) Claims that are made before 27 May will be able to be backdated to 1 April. Benefit is awarded from the date the claim is made. Any delay in assessment does not therefore lead to loss of benefit;

  (b) and (c) The Department is discussing with the local authority associations the administrative implications of these changes, and a decision on the amount of additional subsidy support to be provided to local authorities to meet their administrative costs will be made as soon as possible;
  788
  (d) Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that benefit, once claimed, is awarded within a reasonable time.

  Community Charge Rebates
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will ensure that those community charge payers who discover they are entitled to rebates after they have paid their bills would be entitled to a refund.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Benefit is normally backdated only if the claimant can show good cause for failure to claim earlier. For community charge benefit purposes there are two exceptions. In England and Wales a claim for community charge benefit will be treated as though it had been made on 1 April as long as it is made not more than 56 days after 1 April 1990, or not more than 56 days after the date of issue of the first community charge demand notice if the notice is received after 1 April. This provision does not apply where the delay in issuing the demand notice arises because of a failure by the claimant to notify the community charge registration officer that he is liable for that charge.

  In Great Britain, charge payers who become entitled as a result of the change in the capital limit announced in the Budget will be treated as having made their claim on 1 April 1990, if their claim is received by 27 May 1990.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Maxton) on 15 March,Official Report, column 333, if he will publish in the Official Report the maximum net weekly incomes at which 50 per cent. of the maximum entitlement to community charge benefit will be paid for (a) a single person under 25, (b) a married couple with two children under 11, (c) a pensioner couple aged 60 to 74 and (d) a pensioner couple aged 75 to 79, assuming community charge levels per adult of (i) £250, (ii) £300, (iii) £328, (iv) £350, (v) £400 and (vi) £438.

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

  Annual community charge

  Single under 25

  Couple two children under 11

  Pensioner couple aged 60–74

  Pensioner couple aged 75–79

  250·00

  45·19

  125·22

  101·12

  104·77

  300·00

  47·74

  130·33

  106·23

  109·88

  328·00

  49·17

  133·20

  109·10

  112·75

  350·00

  50·30

  135·45

  111·35

  115·00

  400·00

  52·86

  140·56

  116·46

  120·11

  438·00

  54·80

  144·45

  120·35

  124·00

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Maxton) on 15 March,Official Report, column 333, if he will publish in the Official Report the maximum net weekly incomes at which the maximum entitlement to community charge benefit will be paid for (a) a single person under 25, (b) a married couple with two children under 11, (c) a pensioner couple aged 60 to 74 and (d) a pensioner couple aged 75 to 79, assuming community charge levels per adult of (i) £250, (ii) £300, (iii) £328, (iv) £350, (v) £400 and (vi) £438.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The maximum net weekly income at which maximum entitlement to community
  789
  charge benefit is awarded does not vary for different community charge levels. The information requested is shown in the table.

  £

  Single person under 25

  32·40

  Couple with two children under 11

  99·65

  Pensioner couple aged 60–74

  75·55

  Pensioner couple aged 75–79

  79·20

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) mothers and (b) families in receipt of child benefit pay income tax at the higher rate; and how many children they have who qualify for child benefit.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 9 February 1990]: The latest available estimates for the United Kingdom suggest that about 0·6 million families, with about 1·1 million children, receive child benefit and pay income tax at the higher rate in 1989–90. Among these is an estimated 0·2 million mothers, with about 0·3 million children. These include wives who, under the present system for taxing married couples, are liable to a 40 per cent. marginal tax rate only when the husband's earnings are taken into account.

  These estimates are based on information from the 1987–88 survey of personal incomes projected to 1989–90 and are provisional.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) mothers, (b) families and (c) children in families are in receipt of child benefit with annual incomes in the ranges: (i) up to £5,000, (ii) £5,001 to £7,500, (iii) £7,501 to £10,000, (iv) £10,001 to £15,500, (v) £15,001 to £20,000, (vi) £20,001 to £25,000, (vii) £25,001 to £30,000, (viii), £30,001 to £50,000 and (ix) over £50,000.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 9 February 1990]: In the great majority of families child benefit is paid to the mother. The small number of other recipients cannot be reliably estimated and it is not possible therefore to break the figures down below family units and numbers of children. Information about the incomes of families receiving child benefit is not routinely collected. The following estimates of the distribution of gross incomes of recipient families in 1989–90 are therefore made on the basis of sample survey data which are subject to normal sampling and response variation.

  Band of Gross Income

  Families Receiving Child Benefit

  Number of Children

  (000s)

  (000s)

  Under £5,000

  430

  490

  £5,001 to £7,500

  1,010

  1,940

  £7,501 to £10,000

  730

  1,390

  £10,001 to £15,000

  1,520

  2,620

  £15,001 to £20,000

  1,380

  2,520

  £20,001 to £25,000

  740

  1,340

  £25,001 to £30,000

  410

  710

  £30,001 to £50,000

  450

  790

  over £50,000

  100

  190

  TOTAL

  6,760

  12,000

  790
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) mothers, (b) families and (c) children in families would lose entitlement to child benefit as a result of having an income below the tax threshold if child benefit were abolished and replaced by a tax allowance.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 9 February 1990]: It is estimated that 1·6 million families with 2·9 million children in the United Kingdom in 1989–90 are non-taxpayers, and of these around 1·3 million with 2·3 million children receive income-related benefits with a further 0·2 million entitled but not claiming. There are estimated to be about a further 0·8 million families with 1·4 million children who would not be fully compensated through the tax system and around half of these are, or would be, entitled to income-related benefits.

  These figures are based on information from the 1987–88 survey of personal incomes, projected to 1989–90, combined with the 1987 family expenditure survey. There is no reliable basis for any further division of the figures, but nearly all child benefit recipients are mothers.

  Social Security Commissioners
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the reasons for the delay in the social security commissioners working on cases submitted in July 1989.

  The Attorney-General
  I have been asked to reply.

  The last-minute surge of appeals under the pre-April 1988 benefits legislation took some time to work its way through the appeal system and caused a bottleneck at the Office of the Social Security Commissioners (OSSC) in 1989. This and the general increase in work load in 1989, combined with staff recruitment and retention difficulties, resulted in continuing delays at OSSC. In addition, an increasing proportion of appeals to the commissioners have become more complex and take longer to determine individually.

  In view of the continuing delays, the Lord Chancellor's Department's manpower auditors are currently looking at the organisation and staffing levels of OSSC to see whether further steps can be taken to improve efficiency and reduce the delays.

  The commissioners have powers to expedite hearings in exceptional circumstances. Appellants may seek expedition by applying to OSSC.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  No-fault Compensation
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on no-fault compensation.

  The Attorney-General
  As previously announced. an inter-departmental working party is examining the feasibility of a no-fault compensation scheme, restricted to less serious road accidents and financed by private insurance. I understand that the working party is making good progress and it now expects to report to the Lord Chancellor by early next year.

  Regional Functions
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Attorney-General what functions the Lord Chancellor's Department carries out at the regional level; where the regional offices are located in each of the regions; what staff are employed and at what grades; what proportion of the Department's budget is spent in each of the regions; and what geographical boundaries determine the Department's regions.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor is responsible for providing the administration of the Supreme Court, which consists of the Court of Appeal, the High Court and the Crown court, and of the county courts. The Crown court sits at nearly 100 locations and there are some 275 county courts. Administrative control is exercised through circuit-based administrative staff headed by a circuit administrator and a number of courts administrators in each of six circuits in England and Wales. These circuits are the Midland and Oxford (with its headquarters in Birmingham), the North Eastern (Leeds), the Northern (Manchester), the South Eastern (London), the Wales and Chester (Cardiff) and the Western (Bristol). There are also 11 district probate registries and 18 probate sub-registries, which together with the principal registry in London are administered by the administrator of the Royal Courts of Justice.

  The majority of the Department's staff work in the courts on the circuits. The distribution as at 1 January 1990 is as follows (the figure in brackets represents the number of staff in the circuit and courts administrators offices):

  Number

  (Number)

  Midland and Oxford

  890·5

  (60·5)

  North Eastern

  1,130·5

  (42·0)

  Northern

  11,34·0

  (47·5)

  South Eastern

  2,700·5

  (101·5)

  Wales and Chester

  611·5

  (31·0)

  Western

  890·5

  (44·5)

  Other court service staff1

  1,419·0

  —

  1 Including RCJ/PRFD

  These staff are employed in a full range of grades which include support grades and administrative and executive grades up to circuit administators at grades 3 and 4 level.

  Of the 1989–90 provision for running costs, the six circuits are directly responsible for half the Department's expenditure:

  Per cent.

  Midland and Oxford

  8·5

  North Eastern

  6·0

  Northern

  6·3

  South Eastern

  17·6

  Wales and Chester

  3·5

  Western

  5·1

  Other court service

  9·6

  In addition, the majority of expenditure on accommodation (27·8 per cent. of the total) and a proportion of the budget for headquarters and associated offices (15·2 per cent.) is controlled centrally on behalf of the court service.

  The court circuit boundaries date from 1972 when the Courts Act 1971 established a unified court service. The circuits cover the counties of England and Wales as follows:
  792
  Midland and Oxford circuit
  Cambridgeshire (the part formerly Huntingdon and Peterborough), part of Derbyshire, Hereford and Worcester, Humberside (the part formerly in Lincolnshire), Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands.

  North Eastern circuit
  Cleveland, Durham, Humberside (excluding the part formerly in Lincolnshire), part of North Yorkshire, Northumberland, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, West Yorkshire.

  Northern circuit
  Cumbria, part of Derbyshire, Lancashire, part of North Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside.

  South Eastern circuit
  Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire (except that part formerly Huntingdon and Peterborough), East Sussex, Essex Greater London, Hertfordshire, Kent, Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey, West Sussex.

  Wales and Chester circuit
  Cheshire, Clwyd, Dyfed, Gwent, Gwynedd, Mid-Glamorgan, Powys, South Glamorgan, West Glamorgan.

  Western circuit
  Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Somerset, Isle of Wight, Wiltshire.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Privatisation (Eastern Europe)
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has offered any assistance to the Czechoslovakian Government in producing their privatisation programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 21 March that the know-how fund will be extended to Czechoslovakia. Among the first activities will be a visit to explore particular Czechoslovak needs in the promotion of free markets and privatisation.

  Cambodia
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support efforts to ensure the Cambodians in the Thailand border camps come under the supervision of the United Nations.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Camps for displaced persons along the Thai-Cambodian border are administered by the Cambodian resistance factions themselves. But the United Nations has contributed to humanitarian assistance in the camps for a number of years. The creation of neutral sites under direct United Nations administration may be: necessary as part of a comprehensive political settlement leading to free and fair elections in Cambodia.

  Eastern Europe
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on(a) policy towards the recent events in eastern Europe and (b) his latest assessment of the consequences of a unified Germany.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We warmly welcome the rapid progress towards democracy in eastern Europe, which will
  793
  lead to greater prosperity and freedom for all. The elections in the GDR last weekend showed clearly the desire of the people for unity with the FRG and fundamental political and economic change. We look forward to the elections in Hungary this weekend, and to others in the coming months.

  We shall be working hard for a successful outcome to the discussions on external aspects of German unification and are confident that a united Germany will be a welcome and influential force for strengthening democracy and prosperity in Europe.

  Daphne Parish
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the location of the prison in Iraq where Daphne Parish is being held; and whether she has been allowed to see any member of the British consular staff since her conviction and sentence were announced.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Mrs. Parish was visited by the British consul general in Baghdad on 15 March. She was well, but was naturally distressed to hear of Mr. Bazoft's execution. At that time Mrs. Parish was being held at Abu Ghraib prison. She has now been moved to a women's prison on the outskirts of Baghdad.

  Iraq
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has regarding Iraq's nuclear capability.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Iraq is a party to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and, as such, is obliged to declare all nuclear facilities to the International Atomic Energy Agency. One facility, a research centre at Tuwaitha, has been so declared.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Religious Broadcasting
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representation he has received from the shadow Radio Authority about the interpretation of the restrictions on broadcasting religious matters in the Broadcasting Bill known as the "no undue prominence" and "no editorialising" provisions, as they will apply to the ownership of licences by religious groups; and if he proposes to issue any guidance about how the Radio Authority intends to interpret these provisions.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Broadcasting Bill contains no prohibitions on ownership of radio stations by religious bodies. We are currently discussing with the regulatory bodies the programme content provisons in the Bill which are relevant to religious broadcasting. Application of such provisions will be a matter for them; but our discussions include the question of whether it would be helpful to issue guidance on the effect of these provisions.

  Protection of Animals
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he plans to take to provide disincentives to those who torture or abuse wild animals not covered by the terms of the Protection of Animals Act 1911.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his question on 19 March at column 458.

  Police Inspectorate
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish reports by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary on its inspections of police forces.

  Mr. Waddington
  Yes. I shall from today publish the reports by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary on police forces inspected annually under the Police Act 1964, that is the 42 provincial forces including the City of London police; and also those which the inspectorate makes on the Metropolitan police at the invitation of the Commissioner. The first three reports, published today, are of the 1989 inspections of police forces in Norfolk, South Wales and Staffordshire. Copies of these reports, and of a booklet about Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary, have been placed in the Library.

  I have decided to publish these reports so as to increase public awareness of the significance of the inspectorate's role and functions; to draw police achievements and good practice to wider attention; to identify more publicly the scope for improvements and help accelerate the process of improving value for money in the police service; and to respond to public and parliamentary interest in the police.

  Inunigration
  Mr. Raffan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to make changes in the immigration rules.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. and learned Friend has today laid before Parliament a statement of changes in the immigration rules. The main changes are the introduction of a visa requirement for nationals of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia; changes in the arrangements for Commonwealth citizens with grandparents born in the United Kingdom so that they will qualify for settlement after four years' residence rather than on arrival; and an increase in the minimum sum or income which persons must invest or have at their disposal to qualify as a business man or person of independent means. These changes are consolidated in a new statement of the immigration rules. The new visa requirements will come into effect on 1 April 1990, the other changes on 1 May 1990. A statement listing and explaining all the changes is available in the Vote Office.

  Vulnerable Prisoner Units
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to increase the number of vulnerable prisoner units.

  Mr. Mellor
  An additional unit planned at Wayland prison will hold 96 prisoners and is expected to be in
  795
  operation in June. The unit at Channings Wood prison is being extended to double its capacity to 112. The extension is due to be completed by the end of this year.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will(a) list the national and regional vulnerable prisoner units and (b) state their current capacity and occupancy levels.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information is as follows:

  Prison

  Capacity

  Occupancy at 16 March 1990

  National VPUs

  Channings Wood

  56

  56

  Maidstone

  102

  102

  Wakefield

  19

  17

  Regional VPUs

  Albany

  149

  147

  Bristol

  62

  61

  Dartmoor

  151

  149

  Gartree

  15

  15

  Rochester

  67

  67

  Stafford

  46

  46

  In addition, a wing of Littlehey prison, not referred to as a vulnerable prisoner unit, houses prisoners formerly segregated under rule 43. Capacity is 112 and occupancy at 16 March 1990 was 112.

  Lay Visitors, Southwark
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take with respect to concerns expressed in the Southwark lay visitors panel's annual report.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  As with all annual reports from lay visitors' panels, the issues which have been raised by the Southwark panel's annual report have been carefully considered in consultation with the community involvement branch and local officers from the Metropolitan police. Detailed responses have been sent direct to the panel about the reports and points which have been raised.

  Drugs
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost in the latest year for which figures are available of police work directed at drug enforcement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There are more than 1,500 police officers throughout the country with a major commitment to drugs work. In addition, many other officers contribute to the prevention and investigation of drug-related offences in the course of their duties. Reliable estimates of the cost of this work are not therefore available.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost in the latest year for which figures are available of the probation service's work with offenders with problems of drug abuse.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information available to the Home Office about the cost of probation service activities does not make it possible to identify separately the cost of the probation service's work with offenders who have problems of drug abuse, but this is a duty which is regarded as a priority.
  796
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost in the latest year for which figures are available of treatment facilities provided in prisons for offenders with problems of drug abuse.

  Mr. Mellor
  Monitoring of the expenditure, including medical expenditure, of the prison service is insufficiently detailed to enable costs on specific activities such as helping drug misusers to be separately identified.

  Police Consultative Groups
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will provide the funds for police consultative groups in London to meet on a London-wide basis to discuss policing matters.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. The emphasis within the formal consultation process provided under section 106 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 is on flexible local arrangements which cater for the varying needs of each individual local community. It would not be appropriate for the Home Office to fund a body which is not an essential part of these arrangements.

  Racism and Xenophobia
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has received to his Department's memorandum COM (88) 318 Final submitted to the European Community; whether consideration of it has been concluded; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The draft European Community resolution on the fight against racism and xenophobia has yet to be considered by the Council of Ministers. The Government's position is unchanged from that set out in the explanatory memorandum to Parliament and has been reflected in negotiations at official level on this subject.

  Prison Population
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is prepared exceptionally to release all sentenced prison inmates serving sentences of six months or less with a view to bringing the total population in prison service establishments in England and Wales within their total certified normal accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  No. The power of executive release is one we have always kept in reserve, for use only in the last resort.

  We have already taken a number of initiatives to reduce the prison population, both diverting people from custody and greatly expanding the prison building programme. These measures are now taking effect.

  Payphones in Prisons
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on extending payphones in prisons in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  We believe that the use of cardphones by inmates is an important way of sustaining relationships with family and friends during the time in custody and can help inmates to prepare for release.
  797
  Following the successful introduction of cardphones in open establishments and the current programme of installation at category C and equivalent female and young offender establishments, a pilot scheme to give unconvicted inmates access to cardphones, subject to certain safeguards, will start shortly at Her Majesty's prison Manchester. We hope that, if the trial is successful, cardphones can be extended for the use of unconvicted inmates in all other local prisons and remand centres. There are no plans at present to instal cardphones for the use of category B or category A inmates.

  Rule 43
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what review his Department is conducting of the existing policy on rule 43 inmates in prisons in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Sentenced population1 of Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on 30 September 1989: by length of sentence, ethnic origin and sex

  Number of prisoners2

  Ethnic origin

  Length of sentence

  White

  West Indian, Guyanese, African

  Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi

  Chinese, Arab, Mixed origin

  Other, not recorded (including refusals)

  Total number of persons in establishments

  Up to 3 years

  18,900

  1,803

  396

  385

  489

  21,973

  Over 3 up to 4 years

  3,031

  494

  101

  73

  63

  3,762

  Over 4 up to 5 years

  2,109

  442

  95

  51

  47

  2,744

  Over 5 up to 10 years

  4,060

  868

  310

  120

  142

  5,500

  Over 10 years less than life

  811

  138

  86

  25

  35

  1,095

  Life

  2,437

  172

  97

  45

  26

  2,777

  All lengths

  31,348

  3,917

  1,085

  699

  802

  37,851

  Males

  30,414

  3,629

  1,059

  667

  727

  36,496

  Females

  934

  288

  26

  32

  75

  1,355

  1Including fine defaulters.

  2The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate.

  Electronic Monitoring
  Sir Charles Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many defendants have been subjected to electronic monitoring at each of the three magistrates courts where experiments have taken place; how many have offended while on bail; how many have otherwise breached the conditions of bail; and how many have subsequently been remanded in custody.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 13 March 1990]: The information requested is given in the table. Electronic

  Defendants monitored during trials as at March 1990.

  Breaches1

  Trial area and Court

  Total monitored

  Currently monitored

  Violations

  Further Offences

  Nottingham Magistrates' Crown

  11

  —

  2

  6

  6

  —

  1

  —

  North Tyneside Magistrates' Crown

  14

  2

  8

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Tower Bridge Magistrates'

  17

  8

  5

  3

  Crown

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Total Magistrates'

  42

  10

  15

  10

  Crown

  8

  1

  1

  —

  1 Of the 26 defendants who have breached their conditions 23 have been remanded in custody except two in North Tyneside and one in Tower Bridge who have absconded and are still violating.

  798
  Mr. Mellor
  A review was completed last year. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis) on 31 October 1989 at column 116.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for the latest date available, how many prisoners in England and Wales serving(a) less than three years, (b) three to four years, (c) four to five years, (d) five to 10 years and (e) more than 10 years but less than life were (i) white or (ii) from an ethnic minority;

  (2) for the latest date available, what was the male and female sentenced prisoner population in England and Wales; and how many emanated from an ethnic minority.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 8 March 1990]: The latest available information is given in the table.

  monitoring is a very precise and accurate method of detecting automatically even minor breaches of the relevant bail conditions, compared to conventional methods. Some defendants commit offences or otherwise breach bail conditions whatever conditions may be imposed on them by the courts. For example 40 per cent. of male defendants refused bail and remanded in custody in January 1989 had previously committed offences on bail or otherwise breached bail conditions.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Advertising Expenditure
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total publicity and advertising expenditure, including for privatisation, of his Department and public bodies for which his Department has responsibility in(a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Curry
  The information requested is supplied by financial years. The total estimated publicity budget for my Department for 1989–90 is £2·5 million. Comparable figures for the year 1979–80 are not available on an identical basis due to changes in the way the figures are recorded. The spend for 1979–80 was £256,000. This figure, however, includes recruitment and other types of advertising as well as promotional publicity. It would be possible to distinguish between the two only at disproportionate cost.

  No privatisations took place in the Department in the years 1979 and 1989.

  Sulphadimidine
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the review of medicines containing the active ingredient sulphadimidine has yet taken place; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The review of existing veterinary medicinal products containing sulphadimidine as an active ingredient is under way and those products that meet modern standards of safety, quality and efficacy qualify for reviewed product licences.

  GATT
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the final position paper on agriculture prepared by the European Economic Community for the Uruguay round of general agreement on tariffs and trade negotiations in Geneva;

  (2) what offers have been made by the European Economic Community to the Uruguay round negotiation of the general agreement on tariffs and trade for substantial and progressive reductions in agricultural support; how those offers would affect the scope and level of agricultural trade between the United Kingdom and Canada, Australia and New Zealand; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  I am arranging for a copy of the Community's comprehensive position paper on agriculture, submitted for the GATT negotiations in December 1989, to be placed in the Library of the House.

  The Government are working actively with our Community partners to develop this position and to carry the negotiations forward on this basis.

  A successful outcome to the negotiations will bring benefits to agricultural trade worldwide.

  Dressed Poultry
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will seek a derogation under the new European Economic Community poultry health regulations to allow the continued processing and marketing of New York dressed poultry;
  800
  (2) what information he has about derogations under European Economic Community poultry health regulations for the continued use of the effilé, roped, method of dressing poultry in Italy and France.

  Mr. Gummer
  The EC Commission's proposals to the Council for a new regulation on poultrymeat hygiene make provision for member states to continue to authorise the marketing of partially eviscerated (effilé) poultry. At our insistence, the Commission has suggested, although only tentatively, that this authority should extend to the marketing of uneviscerated (New York dressed) birds.

  There are no grounds for discriminating between the two forms of production and we shall resist firmly any attempt to prevent us authorising the marketing of uneviscerated birds under conditions consistent with public safety.

  Food Products (Labelling)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to introduce quantitative labelling of characterising ingredients in food products for human consumption.

  Mr. Gummer
  The European Commission is committed to making proposals requiring quantitative declaration of the major characterising ingredients of foodstuffs as part of its single market programme. The United Kingdom has been pressing the Commission to bring forward proposals and they are expected to be tabled formally within the next few months.

  Genetically Engineered Yeast
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the method of announcement chosen by his Department to inform the public about the introduction of genetically engineered yeast.

  Mr. Maclean
  The announcement of the clearance given to this product was made by means of a news release circulated to the national, regional and specialist media and the simultaneous issue of the independent scientific advice on which the decision was based to some 240 organisations which might have a special interest in the subject.

  Pet Food
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what controls exist over the safety and contents of pet food; what steps he takes to ensure dogmeat is not included in dog food; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The safety of pet foods is required by sections 73 and 73A of the Agriculture Act 1970. Controls on the contents are contained in the Feedingstuffs Regulations 1988 (as amended). These controls require the ingredients used to be declared either individually or according to specific categories. Enforcement of the regulations has produced no reason to believe that dogmeat has been used as an ingredient. Indeed, my information is that pet food manufacturers maintain strict quality controls and that the meat they use is from food animals passed as fit for human consumption.

  Shellfish
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish figures showing the quantity of nephrops used to produce scampi landed or imported into the United Kingdom over the last five years; and whether he is able to estimate what landings can be anticipated for the rest of the year.

  Mr. Curry
  [holding answer 19 March 1990]: We do not collect the figures requested.

  However a proportion of landings and imports of nephrops into the United Kingdom is used to produce scampi. In particular, nephrops landed as tails, as opposed to landed whole, are mostly used to produce scampi. It is too early in the year to estimate landings and imports for 1990 but figures for the last five years are as follows:
  802

  tonnes

  Landings (whole weight equivalent)

  Total

  Of which tails (estimate)

  1Imports

  1985

  24,858

  n.a.

  90

  1986

  25,607

  (16,110)

  47

  1987

  24,424

  (12,765)

  217

  1988

  27,513

  (16,314)

  351

  21989

  27,031

  (15,417)

  415

  Sources:

  Fisheries Departments Statistics Units.

  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Overseas Trade Statistics.

  1Imported weight; whole nephrops and tails are not separately recorded in import data.

  2Provisional.

  "COT DEATHS" INQUIRY: COSTS ESTIMATE
  "COT DEATHS" INQUIRY: COSTS ESTIMATE
  TRAUMA FACILITIES PILOT STUDY: APPLICATIONS
  TRAUMA FACILITIES PILOT STUDY: APPLICATIONS