Written Answers of 29 March 1990

TRANSPORT

  Ferries (Safety)
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has taken to improve the safety of existing roll on/roll off ferries since the sinking of the Herald of Free Enterprise.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  We have taken a number of steps to improve ferry safety since March 1987. Firstly, new legislation and guidance—including eight sets of regulations—have been introduced. The control of operational procedures which the new regulations have ensured has been fully supplemented by increased numbers of random and unannounced inspections by Department of Transport marine surveyors. Secondly, we have required all United Kingdom flag ferries, irrespective of year of build, to meet the United Kingdom residual stability standards introduced for new vessels in 1980. All but a handful of the older United Kingdom ships, which are at present being phased out, now meet these standards, which exceed current international stability standards. Thirdly, a wide-ranging research programme to examine the capability of roll on/roll off passenger ships to survive after sustaining collision damage has been undertaken. Its findings will be made public shortly.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether all roll on/roll off ferries now comply with the passenger ships regulations in respect of stability in the event of an incident at sea.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  All United Kingdom registered roll on/roll off passenger ships comply with the United Kingdom and international passenger ship regulations which include requirements in respect of stability in the event of an incident at sea.

  London Underground
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call for a report from the chairman of London Underground Ltd. about plans to refit the automatic ticket barriers on the London underground and as to what is proposed, for what reason and at what cost; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  This is an operational matter for London Underground Ltd. I am not aware of any plans to refit the gates, but I understand that a new touch-and-pass system of operating automatic ticket gates will be adopted at certain stations for a trial period of six months.

  I am sure that London Underground would be happy to provide the hon. Member with full information on how the system works and what its benefits are.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call for a report from the chairman of LRT on the 240
  policy of extending one-person operation of trains on deep tube lines of London; what assessment has been made of the risk to passengers of such a policy; whether this policy has been approved by the railway inspectorate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The decision to extend one-person operation on any part of the underground is for London Underground. I understand that it commissioned an independent assessment before introducing one-person operation on the Bakerloo line last year.

  Although the railway inspectorate has no statutory role in approving one-person operation, there is full consultation with London Underground over all safety aspects. The inspectorate observed a recent exercise, which simulated an emergency caused by incapacitation of a one-person-operation train driver. The chief inspecting officer of railways has assured me that he regards the arrangements as acceptable in safety terms.

  "Marchioness"
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations he has received to set-up a full public inquiry into the sinking of the Marchioness; and what has been his response;

  (2) whether he will publish in full his Department's inquiry into the sinking of the Marchioness; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Several requests have been made for a formal investigation into the sinking of the Marchioness. The present preference of my right hon. Friend is to publish in full the report by the chief inspector of accidents as soon as possible.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Bowbelle and other sand dredgers are working on the Thames outside daylight hours; and what changes in their operation since the Marchioness sinking his Department had required of them.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Bowbelle, other sand dredgers and other ships operate on the Thames at all hours provided that they follow the general directions for navigation issued by the Port of London Authority. These directions have been reconsidered and amended since the Marchioness tragedy, in consultation with the Department of Transport, to improve safety on the river.

  Jubilee Line
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) at what stage of the Jubilee line project Olympia and York will pay its contribution to the cost of the extension;

  (2) what was the financial contribution that Olympia and York was going to make to the Jubilee line under the terms of the provisional contract or orginal agreement.

  Mr. Portillo
  Under the agreement reached last November Olympia and York will make a cash contribution of £400 million to the Jubilee line extension. Of that sum, £100 million will be paid within the next three years with the balance to be paid in the years following the opening of the line.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his practice from time to time
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  to travel on the Jubilee line of London Underground between St. John's Wood and Charing Cross stations in order to experience for himself the conditions undergone by regular passengers.

  Mr. Portillo
  No, but I have travelled on many parts of the underground at peak times and I am aware that congestion can be severe. London Underground is investing record sums, with Government support, to bring about improvements. St. John's Wood station will be renovated this spring at a cost of about £1 million.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which developers other than Olympia and York will be contributing to the extension of the Jubilee line.

  Mr. Portillo
  British Gas and Regalian.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there has been any change in the level of the net contribution which Olympia and York will be making for the Jubilee line extension.

  Mr. Portillo
  No.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any options are being considered to reduce the number of intermediate stations in the Southwark stretch of the Jubilee line extension.

  Mr. Portillo
  Powers are being sought in the Bill for stations in the Southwark stretch of the Jubilee line extension at Waterloo, Southwark, London Bridge, Bermondsey and Canada Water (Surrey Quays). The case for providing stations at Southwark and Bermondsey, where patronage is expected to be light, is still being considered.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether a provisional contract or agreement for the funding of the Jubilee line has been signed by his Department or London Regional Transport with Olympia and York.

  Mr. Portillo
  A schedule of terms setting out the agreement reached last November has been initialled by the Department and Olympia and York. The final agreement will be executed by London Regional Transport and Olympia and York.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether Olympia and York will be taking a share of the ticket revenue from passengers after the opening of the Jubilee line extension.

  Mr. Portillo
  No.

  London Assessment Studies
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he received by 28 February relating to each of the four London assessment studies; and what percentage of the total(a) supported and (b) objected to these proposals.

  Mr. Atkins
  The number of responses received from local authorities, national and local organisations, pressure groups and individuals was approximately as follows:242

  Number

  South London

  9,700

  East London

  9,500

  West London

  4,600

  South Circular

  2,600

  An analysis will be published shortly.

  "St Columbia"
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the marine accident investigation branch has investigated the role of the radio officer in maintaining vital radio communications with the emergency services during the fire which left the roll-on roll-off passenger ferry St. Columbia adrift without power in the Irish sea on Wednesday 31 January; and what conclusions have been drawn from the investigation.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The purpose of an investigation carried out by the marine accident investigation branch is to determine the circumstances and causes of an accident. To this end, the inspector who carried out the investigation into the fire on board the St. Columbia on 31 January interviewed several of the ship's officers—including the radio officer. The inspector found that the fire occurred when fuel oil escaped from a pipe and sprayed onto a hot exhaust manifold, causing the oil to ignite. A report will be published to apprise the shipping industry of the lessons to be learnt.

  Sprinter Units
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the safety of sprinter units; and what steps are being taken to ensure that the doors on such units lock securely.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have received a small number of representations. Problems with the door-locking mechanisms of class 155 sprinters developed towards the end of 1988. After modification, the doors have worked satisfactorily. The railway inspectorate is now examining at design stage all proposals for new BR rolling stock.

  St. John's Wood Underground Station
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call for a report on the safety aspects of the closure of both the up and down escalators at St. John's Wood underground station.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to his question on 27 March.

  Clyde Port Authority
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the names of the chairman, chief executive and directors of the Clyde Port Authority; what are their periods of office and their annual remuneration; and from which organisation they were recruited and appointed.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has appointed the following non-executive members of the Clyde Port Authority:
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  Name

  Organisation

  Expiry date of appointment

  Sir Robert Easton CBE (Chairman)

  Chairman and managing director of Kvaerner Govan, Shipbuilders

  31 March 1992

  L. McGarry

  Chairman of Strathclyde regional council's economic and industrial development committee

  31 March 1991

  W. K. Mackay

  Partner in Jamieson & Mackay Partners, consulting civil, structural and transportation engineers

  31 March 1992

  G. S. Milne

  Managing Director of Scottish Metropolitan Property plc

  31 March 1992

  T. O'Connor

  Chairman of the local port workers branch of the TGWU

  31 March 1992

  C. S. Paterson

  Chief Executive of Caledonian McBrayne Limited

  31 March 1992

  J. M. Young

  Former joint general manager and member of the management board of the Bank of Scotland

  31 March 1991

  The executive officers who are members of the board and whose appointments are at the discretion of the authority are:

  J. Mather—managing director

  G. P. Johnston—director and secretary

  Captain D. B. McMurray—director marine and operations

  According to the authority's accounts for 1988, the annual remuneration received by the chairman was £10,000 and by the other non-executive members was £3,500. The highest paid executive on the board received £44,385 and the other two received between £20,000 and £35,000.

  Driving Tests
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conclusions have been reached, as a result of the trial carried out by his Department, about conducting driving tests on Saturdays.

  Mr. Atkins
  The trial was very successful and confirmed that Saturday testing is a practical proposition at many

  1978–79

  1989–90

  Number of dwellings1

  Rent income2

  Number of dwellings1

  Rent income2

  £ million

  £ million

  Ashford

  9,637

  2·962

  7,607

  10·393

  Canterbury

  8,039

  2·578

  6,375

  7·386

  Dartford

  7,882

  2·643

  5,971

  6·979

  Dover

  9,209

  3·172

  6,564

  8·123

  Gillingham

  5,090

  1·490

  3,935

  5·142

  Gravesham

  9,425

  3·163

  7,642

  8·562

  Maidstone

  10,158

  3·854

  8,354

  7·789

  Rochester

  13,850

  5·202

  38,880

  11·274

  Sevenoaks

  7,855

  2·389

  61

  0·075

  Shepway

  4,868

  1·475

  4,149

  5·279

  Swale

  9,989

  3·176

  7,440

  7·995

  Thanet

  8,302

  3·240

  47,162

  46·802

  Tonbridge

  7,697

  2·416

  6,450

  7·099

  Tunbridge Wells

  7,352

  2·269

  5,650

  6·128

  1 Average of start year and end year stock.

  2 Gross of rent rebates.

  3 Stock at beginning of year, authority planned complete stock disposal at year end.

  4 Figures for 1989–90 not available; 1988–89 figures given.

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  centres. In the first year the service was used by some 30,000 candidates, and contributed three to four days to the reduction in waiting times. I have decided to continue the service on a permanent basis, and to extend it to all centres where it is feasible to do so.

ENVIRONMENT

  Housing, Kent
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of council houses, flats and sheltered accommodation owned by each local authority in Kent in 1978 and 1989, together with the amount collected in rent.

  Mr. Chope
  Local authorities provide estimates of their housing revenue accounts on their second advance subsidy claim returns. The latest available information for local authorities in Kent for 1978–79 and 1989–90 is as follows:

  Disabled People (Housing)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to ensure a more even spread and consistent provision of improvement and disabled facilities grants to disabled home owners across the country.

  Mr. Chope
  When the main provisions of part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 are implemented on 1 July, mandatory disabled facilities grants will be available from all local authorities for a much wider range of adaptation works than the current home improvement grant system allows. Authorities will also be able to give discretionary grants for other works, which will vary according to local needs and priorities.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to ensure that local housing authorities address the housing needs of disabled people in their area.

  Mr. Chope
  Local housing authorities are required by Section 3 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 to have regard to the special housing needs of disabled people when considering the housing needs of their district.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department will make a supplementary credit approval available for local housing authorities to adapt their own properties for disabled people.

  Mr. Chope
  Resources for local authority capital expenditure on housing are allocated through the annual round of housing investment programme (HIP) allocations. The distribution of these allocations reflects the entire spectrum of needs for local authority capital expenditure, including the adaptation of council housing stock for disabled tenants. There is no need, therefore, to issue supplementary credit approvals for this purpose.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department will take steps to ensure that landlords taking over local authority property under the Housing Acts 1986 and 1988 address the housing needs both of disabled tenants and of future disabled applicants for housing.

  Mr. Chope
  Purchasers of council housing, whether acquiring under tenants' choice or by a large scale voluntary transfer from a local authority, will be expected to subscribe to the tenants' guarantee, which requires landlords to pay special attention to the specific housing difficulties experienced by particular groups, including disabled people. Purpose-built housing for the disabled which has special facilities, such as a warden, is excluded from transfers under tenants' choice.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department will update the guidelines contained in HDD occasional paper 2/74 "Mobility Housing" and HDD occasional paper 2/75 "Wheelchair Housing".

  Mr. Chope
  I am satisfied that the guidelines contained in these papers are sound and have no plans to update them.
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  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to encourage the provision of wheelchair and mobility housing by general needs housing associations.

  Mr. Chope
  The Housing Corporation requires new build and, where possible, rehabilitation schemes by housing associations to be built to mobility standards, and the cost criteria used by the corporation in assessing schemes and calculating grant make due allowance for this. Where associations wish to provide new housing designed specifically for tenants confined to wheelchairs, grant is available to cover the extra costs involved.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to ensure that local authorities' action on providing housing for homeless people addresses the housing needs of homeless disabled people.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  A revised code of guidance is being prepared which will provide advice to local authorities on meeting their statutory duties to the homeless. This will include the need to recognise special requirements, such as those of the disabled, when securing permanent accommodation for homeless households.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to make supplementary credit approvals available to local housing authorities to provide housing for disabled people leaving residential care.

  Mr. Chope
  We have no proposals to issue supplementary credit approvals to local authorities for this purpose in 1990–91. The Department takes account of the housing needs of disabled people in the distribution of local authorities' housing investment programme (HIP) allocations each year. In addition, the Housing Corporation plans to maintain the output of their special needs programme in 1990–91 at no less than current levels, and disabled people are one of the groups helped by this programme.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department will take steps to ensure that all private developers build to mobility standards with a minimum percentage of dwellings to wheelchair standards.

  Mr. Chope
  My Department fully supports the initiative by the National House-Building Council, in association with other interested bodies, to encourage private developers to design housing convenient for disabled people to live in or visit. We consider that voluntary action and good practice are the best way forward for private dwellings.

  Community Care
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to ensure that local housing authorities work with social services departments on the new community care initiatives being developed as a result of the White Paper, "Caring for People".

  Mr. Chope
  My Department has been in regular contact with the Department of Health in the preparation of the
  247
  White Paper and of the ensuing legislation. Clause 43 of the Bill as now amended will require social services departments to consult local housing authorities and other housing providers in the preparation and revision of communtiy care plans.

  London Docklands
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the financial arrangements will be for the remaining social homes, after taking account of the Winsor Park development, of the London Docklands development corporation programme of 2,000 new rented homes in the docklands area of the London borough of Newham.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The memorandum of agreement between the London Docklands development corporation and the London borough of Newham has the objective of producing 1,500 social housing units. The London Docklands development corporation's grants towards schemes at Winsor Park and North Beckton have secured 434 of these. The London Docklands development corporation is considering the arrangements for further schemes in consultation with the Housing Corporation and Newham.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the Government's estimate of the number of households excused from paying rates in the current financial year because of insufficient income and the number who paid a reduced rate for the same reason; how many in each case were estimated as liable to pay more and how many less under the poll tax in identical circumstances; and how many who were not eligible for a reduction in rates on income grounds, will be eligible for a reduction under the poll tax.

  Mr. Chope
  No such estimates were made when it was decided that the community charge offered the best alternative to domestic rates.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will exclude expenditure on education from relevant expenditure for rate-capping purposes;

  (2) if he will exclude expenditure on maintenance of council housing from relevant expenditure for rate-capping purposes;

  (3) if he will exclude expenditure on public libraries from relevant expenditure for rate-capping purposes;

  (4) if he will make it his policy as part of his charge-capping proposals to indicate the areas of the capped budget in which he proposes each authority should make reductions.

  Mr. Chope
  It would not be right for me to speculate on the detailed operation of community charge capping, were my right hon. Friend to use his capping powers for 1990–91.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's current estimate of the number of households paying the full rate whose occupants would contribute less under the poll tax, and the average amount saved in each case.
  248
  Mr. Chope
  Had local authorities set community charges at the levels contained in the Community Charge Transitional Relief Report (England), I estimate that 55 per cent. of households with no entitlement to rate rebates in 1989–90 would pay a lower proportion of their net income in community charges in 1990–91 than they did in rates in 1989–90. The average amount paid in rates for these households in 1989–90 was £516 compared to £503 in community charge in 1990–91. These estimates are based on simple survey data taken from the family expenditure survey and are consistent with the analysis of the distributional impact of the community charge placed in the Library on 15 February.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the estimate of the numbers who would have (a) gained and (b) lost if the level of poll tax had not exceeded the Government's targets.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government have not set targets for the level of the community charge in each area. An analysis of the effect on household finances of moving to the community charge was placed in the Library on 15 February. This showed 60 per cent. of households gaining.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to exempt from poll tax women residing in refuges who have been the victims of domestic violence and have been forced to leave the marital home.

  Mr. Chope
  A period of residence within a women's refuge does not confer exemption from the community charge unless it is a night shelter or hostel. But, in general, women will not be registered at refuges for the community charge unless, exceptionally, they are solely or mainly resident there. In almost all cases, women stay in refuges for short periods, during which they will be registered for the personal charge at their previous address.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the total figures for 1990–91 local government finance for(a) the distributable amount, (b) the distributable amount per adult, (c) net total standard spending, (d) revenue support grant and (e) population of England.

  Mr. Chope
  The information requested is as follows:

  the distributable amount: £10·4 billion

  the distributable amount per adult: 292·51

  net total standard spending: £29·8 billion

  revenue support grant: £9·5 billion

  sum of the relevant populations of English charging authorities: 35·7 million.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, with reference to paragraph 2.5 of his Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England), what definition is used for(a) relevant populations as used in the explanation of distributable amount per adult and (b) relevant population, as used in the subsequent sub-paragraphs; and if he will list the relevant population for each authority.

  Mr. Chope
  The rules for calculating relevant population are set out in the Population Report (England) approved by this House on 18 January. Figures for each authority were placed in the Library on 11 January, with other details of the 1990–91 settlement.
  249
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, with reference to paragraph 3.7 of his Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England), if he will list the results for each authority of applying formulae to indicators in section(a) and multiplying by the area cost adjustment for education, but not scaling to control.

  Mr. Chope
  I have today placed in the Library a table which shows the standard spending assessment for primary education for each authority, prior to scaling to the control total for this sub-block.

  Rateable Values
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what figures he has for the proportion of people living in properties of above average rateable value who have below average incomes.

  Mr. Chope
  I estimate that 40 per cent. of houses with above average rateable value are lived in by households who have below average incomes.

  Toxic Wood Preservatives
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the regulations for the storage of toxic wood preservatives of the type which have polluted the River Bourne in Woking.

  Mr. Trippier
  I am satisfied that the existing controls over the storage of toxic wood preservatives are extensive and sufficiently comprehensive in most circumstances. In the case of the incident on the River Bourne at Woking, the cause is still under investigation by the local constabulary.

  The storage of wood preservatives is covered by the general provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act, 1974. More specifically, wood preservatives are subject to the Control of Pesticides Regulations (COPR) made under the Food and Environment Protection Act, 1985. Certain timber treatment activities are also subject to the requirements of the Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations, 1984, which aim to prevent and mitigate the consequences of major accidents to people or the environment. These regulations are due to be amended later this year to comply with the second amendment to the "Seveso" directive (82/501/EEC) to include additional premises storing toxic substances such as wood preservatives.

  House Condition Survey
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish from the English house condition survey 1986 information on the means of heating the bathroom tabulated(a) by income and (b) by tenure;

  (2) if he will publish from the English house condition survey 1986 information on the main form of heating in the living room tabulated by (a) income and (b) tenure;

  (3) if he will publish from the English house condition survey 1986 information on the form of heating used in kitchen and hall tabulated by (a) tenure and (b) income;

  (4) if he will publish from the English house condition survey 1986 information on the means of heating for other
  250
  (5) if he will publish from the House condition survey 1986 information on the main form of heating used in the interviewee's bedroom tabulated by (a) income and (b) tenure.

  Mr. Chope
  As I indicated in the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 18 January,Official Report, Column 366, information on these topics will be included in a supplementary report on the English house condition survey which will be published later this year.

  Bathing Waters
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to require the sampling of bathing waters to be undertaken during specified conditions.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The National Rivers Authority is the competent authority for the purposes of the bathing water directive. It is for that authority to sample waters in accordance with the directive's rules.

  Partnership Programme, Newcastle
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the environment what was the capital allocation for the 1989–90 partnership programme for Newcastle city; what has been the actual spend to date; what is the planned real outturn for 1989–90; and what will be the amount spent on projects within the parliamentary constituency of Newcastle upon Tyne, East.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The urban programme capital allocation to the Newcastle-Gateshead inner city partnership for 1989–90 is £12·3 million of which £6·14 million is allocated to Newcastle city. A total of £3·3 million of the Newcastle city allocation had been spent by 31 December 1989. The city council has recently informed my Department that there will be a £500,000 underspend on their capital allocation producing an estimated outturn figure of £5·64 million for Newcastle city for 1989–90. This underspend, however, has been contained within partnership through a transfer of resources to Gateshead MBC. My Department's regional office does not record urban programme expenditure by parliamentary constituency and therefore this information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Brighton Aquarium
  Mr Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make it his policy to institute an inquiry into animal welfare and safety conditions at the Brighton aquarium and to suspend its operating licence pending the outcome of the inquiry;

  (2) what educational purpose is served by the Brighton aquarium; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Brighton aquarium is licensed by the local authority, Brighton borough council, under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981. The Act gives local authorities the powers, inter alia, to carry out special inspections and to withdraw licenses, in certain circumstances. Animal welfare, safety conditions and educational value are among the factors which are taken into account in the issue of a licence.

  Dolphinaria
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what action he expects to take to review the operating licences of dolphinaria which have not replied to requests or reminders for details from United Kingdom dolphinaria of their operating plans for implementing new standards;

  (2) what enforcement action he proposes to take in the case of operators of dolphinaria failing to respond to his Department's requests for the submission of operators' plans or implementing new standards for dolphinara, pursuant to the 1986 Klinowska report;

  (3) when he expects to receive operators' plans for implementing new standards for dolphinaria from all four United Kingdom operators;

  (4) whether he proposes to review the operating licences of United Kingdom dolphinaria.

  Mr. Trippier
  The steering group report makes it clear that display exemption licences will only be renewed by my Department in August 1991 if satisfactory progress has been made towards attainment of the revised standards by August 1993. All four dolphinaria operators are aware of this deadline and three have now responded to our requests for information about their plans.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take regarding the implementation of the steering group's recommendations on the Klinowska report on revised criteria for licensing dolphinaria in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Trippier
  My officials have undertaken consultations with all interested parties on the basis of the draft standards of modern zoo practice annexed to the steering group report. We will issue the additional standards once any outstanding technical questions have been resolved.

  County Hall
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider the use of County Hall for hon. Members' offices or other public use; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make it his policy in considering any planning appeals to ensure that in the event of development of County Hall the war memorial and inscribed marble detailing the offices of previous leading figures of the London county council and Greater London council will remain in situ;

  (2) if he will make it his policy, in considering any planning appeal relevant to County Hall, to ensure that the council chamber is not affected by any development proposals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friend cannot prejudge the outcome of any planning appeal.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of money he estimates will be made available to London boroughs from the disposal of County Hall.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I cannot give an estimate in advance of the completion of a contract.
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  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his decision regarding the future of County Hall; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friend will announce his decisions on the planning appeals which were the subject of a public inquiry last autumn when he has considered his inspector's report.

  Ivory
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution was made by Her Majesty's Government to the CITES secretariat ivory unit in the year 1989–90 to date.

  Mr. Trippier
  In the year 1989–90, the United Kingdom contributed £5,000 towards the running of the CITES monitoring unit for trade in raw ivory.

  Local Authority Properties
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about inefficient use of resources in respect of local authorities completely reroofing properties in their ownership in place of reinstating them with a longer expectation of life at less cost.

  Mr. Chope
  None.

  Heritage Organisations
  Mr. Michael Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what grants will be available in 1990–91 for voluntary heritage organisations.

  Mr. Trippier
  The table gives the voluntary organisations to which grants will be made in 1990–91 in support of the work they do to promote and protect parts of the national heritage.

  Applicant

  Grant

  £

  Architectural Heritage Fund

  23,616

  Cathedral Camps

  21,500

  Centre for Environmental Interpretation

  8,666

  The Insite Trust

  3,900

  The Garden History Society

  10,700

  The National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens

  5,000

  Heritage Education Trust

  16,000

  Pennine Heritage

  18,000

  Theatres Trust

  15,375

  International Council on Monuments and Sites

  12,000

  The Ancient Monuments Society

  16,810

  The Council for British Archaeology

  16,810

  The Georgian Group

  16,810

  The Victorian Society

  17,336

  The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

  24,810

  A separate announcement will be made about the amount of grant to the Civic Trust.

  Consultancies
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1989 on management and computer
  253
  consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases; if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by his Department in 1989, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment; and what is the total amount that his Department has budgeted to spend in the current year.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  [holding answer 28 March 1990]: Central records are collated annually after the end of the financial year. The latest readily available information therefore covers 1988–89.

  The total amount spent was £6·3 million and the contracts awarded to management or computing consultants, excluding consultancies in connection with water privatisation, by the Department of the Environment (excluding PSA) in the financial year 19988–89 were as follows:

  Firm and subject of consultancy
  Admiral Management Services—Review of BRE Computing Needs.
  Aspinwall and Co.—Data Management System for HMIP.
  D. E. Barnard Systems Ltd.—Water Services Office: IS Strategy.
  Bickerdike Allen and Partners—Review of Fire and Building Regulations.
  BIS Applied Systems Ltd.—H. C. Geotechnical Data Computerisation.
  Building Design Partnership—Study of New Arts Building.
  Business Statistics Office—Collection of data on Minerals by Annual Survey.
  Claygate Services Ltd.—Large Colour Foils.
  Coopers and Lybrand—East Thameside Housing Study.
  Coopers and Lybrand—Extension of Merseyside Development Corporation.
  DPM Design Consultants Ltd.—Colour Photography.
  Downing White Project Management—Local Economic Issues—Private Sector Quantity Surveyors.
  Halcrow Fox and Associates—East London Rail Study.
  Halifax Building Society— Estate Action Consultancy.
  Harwell Laboratory—Initial Development of a Universal Waste Classification System.
  Healey and Baker—Advice on disposal of New Town Assets.
  ICI—Radiochemical analysis Specification L.
  Institute for European Environmental Policy—Assessment of Implications for UK Environmental Policy of the Single Market.
  Institute for European Environmental Policy—EC Legislation and Implications for UK Policy.
  ITEC—Waste Management Papers 4 and 27.
  L G Management—Contact with Estate Action.
  MVA Systematica—Migration model.
  National Industrial Fuel Efficiency Service Ltd.—Energy Surveys.
  N.E.R.C.—Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986.
  P A Computers and Telecommunications Ltd.—Press Advice on Communications Links.
  P A Computers and Telecommunications Ltd.—Local Government Finance Payment System.
  Peat Marwick McLintock and Pic Ltd.—Housing Action Trust (Sunderland).
  Pieda Ltd.—Leeds Housing Action Trust.
  Price Waterhouse—Sandwell Housing Action Trust Main Study.
  Price Waterhouse—Study of the Private Rented Housing Market.
  Primagraphics—Preparation of Graphics for the 1986 English House Condition Survey Report.
  Roger Tym and Partners—Study into Financial Aspects of Local Authority Building Control.
  Stoy Haywood Associates—Urban Developmental Grant Appraisal.
  Technical Writing Service Ltd.—Manual of Acidic Emission Technologies.
  Travers Morgan Landscape—Advice on Community related Assets at Warrington.
  Tree Conservation Ltd.—T.P.O. Appeals Site Inspections
  254
  and Reports.
  Willis Wrightson Ltd.—Professional Liability Review.
  Sir Owen Williams and Partners—Assistance with consideration of Derelict Land Reclamation Schemes.
  My Department's estimate of expenditure on computing and management consultancies in the financial year 1989–90 is £10·1 million.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount spent by the Property Services Agency in 1989 on management and computer consultancy contracts; excluding hardware and software purchases; if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awareded by the Property Services Agency in 1989, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment; and what is the total amount that the Property Services Agency has budgeted to spend in the current year.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Forecast expenditure by the Property Services Agency in the financial year 1989–90 will be £13·035 million. The planned expenditure for 1990–91 financial year is £9·5 million. This will be kept under review in the light of changing circumstances. The following consultancies were let in 1989–90:

  Consultancy Firm and Subject of Assignment Management Consultancy
  W.S. Atkins Management Consultants—To review the information systems supporting the business objectives of PSA Fuel Branch.
  P.A. Consulting Services Ltd.—Advice and support to PSA Projects Marketing Unit.
  Micromoney Ltd.—Advice and Support to Financial Controller, PSA Specialist Services.
  W.S. Atkins Management Consultants—Business study at Parliamentary Works Office.
  Leads International—Development and Implementation of Project Services's Business Plan.
  P.A. Consulting Services Ltd.—Advice and guidance to the Agency's Information Strategy and Planning Processes.
  P.A. Consulting Services Ltd.—Assist in co-ordinating Agency's Business Plan.

  Computer Consultancy
  Cadvert Scanning Bureau—Conversion of 6 No Standard M&E Drawings.
  Compsoft—Assistance in reconstituting corrupt data as Faslane.
  Powerhouse Resources Ltd.—Assistance in drawing up a specification for the development of Digital computer interface system.
  Myriad Computer Services Ltd.—Assistance in drawing up a specification for the development of ICL-Digital computer interface system.

  Computer Consultancy
  Amtec Consulting—Assist in development of procedures for configuration management.
  Oracle Corporation (UK) Ltd.—Preliminary work for Professional Information Systems Project.
  KPG Computer Support Systems Ltd.—Development of Oracle Applications progress from detailed specifications.
  Elan Computing Ltd.—Support within IT Directorate for resolution of system management queries.
  MDA Computer Group plc—Support within IT Directorate for resolution of system management queries.
  DHP Consulting Group—Support for revised computer based management and cost accounting system for PSA Specialist Services.
  Mouncey and Partners Ltd.—Assistance in National Implementation of Strategic Infrastructure for Building Management Business.
  Peat Marwick McLintock—Assistance in National Implementation of Strategic Infrastructure for Projects Business.
  Applications Development Group—Advice on transferring data between PCs and Digital computers.
  Computastaff (UK) Ltd.—Programming of various applications from detailed specification.
  Cyril Sweet and Partners—Support for introduction of

  255
  computer facilities to Quantity Surveyors in PSA. Sophitscom Computer Services— Operational support to computer systems handed over from Crown Suppliers.

  Computer Consultancy
  Aptree Ltd.—Support for Computer Services help desk in Ashdown House, Hastings.
  Mouncey and Partners Ltd.—Assist the introduction of Office Automation facilities in PSA.
  P.A. Consulting Services Ltd.— Support to National Implementation of Strategic Infrastructure for Projects Business.
  Vistec Business Systems Ltd.—Advice on use and imple-mentation of Autocad software package into PSA.
  P.E. Computer Services Ltd.—Assist design and installation of Government Car Service IT system.
  Elan Computing Ltd.—Support within IT Directorate for resolution of system management queries.
  Wocad Ltd.—Assist in the development of Autocad software package.
  MDA Computer Group plc.—Managing hardware/software and telecommunications network.
  GECS Ltd.—Training in use of Reinforced concrete CAD software package.
  Loadplan—Conversion of document-based Airfield Pavement specification to computer disc.
  Oracle Corporation (UK) Ltd.— Provision of Oracle Programming Support.

  Civil Defence
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local government unions and professional bodies are being consulted about the provision of nuclear, biological and chemical defence clothing and equipment to local authority staff with a civil defence role.

  Mr. John Patten
  I have been asked to reply.

  No formal consultations are being held with these bodies in regard to protective clothing for civil defence purposes. A current working party, including representation from the Society of County Emergency Planning Officers, is concerned with the possible use of radiation survey equipment in wartime.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Food (Value)
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the proportion of the value of food which has gone to(a) the producer and (b) the processor, wholesaler and retailer in each year since 1973.

  Mr. Curry
  Figures for the period 1973 to 1987 are as follows. However, this series was discontinued due to doubts about the validity and meaningfulness of the calculations and the difficulty of making the necessary estimates given the increasing complexity of the food chain.

  Percentage of the price of food going to the producer or to the processor, wholesaler and retailer

  Producers

  Processors, wholesalers and retailers

  1973

  51·9

  48·1

  1974

  52·6

  47·4

  1975

  49·9

  50·1

  1976

  52·2

  47·8

  1977

  52·5

  47·5

  1978

  49·2

  50·8

  1979

  40·0

  51·0

  1980

  43·9

  56·1

  1981

  44·0

  56·0

  256

  Producers

  Processors, wholesalers and retailers

  1982

  45·8

  54·2

  1983

  44·1

  55·9

  1984

  46·6

  53·4

  1985

  44·1

  55·9

  1986

  42·0

  58·0

  1987

  40·5

  59·5

  Notes:

  1. The producers' share is derived from estimates of agricultural products produced in the United Kingdom for home consumption valued at farmgate prices and imported food valued at shipside prices.

  2. The share of processors, wholesalers and retailers is derived from estimates of household expenditure on food at retail plus the estimates of the wholsale value of food used in the catering sector. The retail price of food is valued less taxes but including subsidies.

  3. More detailed figures are given in CSO's Annual Abstract of Statistics, 1988 edition, Table 9.16.

  Farms
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the proportion of total capital grant expenditure that is given to each category of small, medium and large farms.

  Mr. Curry
  Information on total capital grant expenditure is not available in the form requested. However, the proportion of grant expenditure in England and Wales under the agriculture improvement scheme is identifiable by size of farm holdings as measured in British size units (BSUs). The latest year for which data are available is 1988 and the proportions of total grant expenditure of £25·4 million for that year are as follows:

  1988 Size of Holding (BSU)

  Per cent. of Total Grant Expenditure

  0–8

  14·8

  8–24

  35·7

  24–100

  43·3

  100 plus

  6·2

  Marine Coastal Eutrophication
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why his Department decided not to be represented at the international conference on marine coastal eutrophication from 21 to 24 March.

  Mr. Curry
  The conference was principally concerned with the problems which are experienced in shallow, static, warm seas such as the Mediterranean. These issues are not relevant to the colder, well mixed waters round the United Kingdom.

  Salmonella
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many samples from live poultry of all types have been examined by Ministry laboratories for the presence of salmonella during 1988 and 1989; and how many samples from other animal species were similarly examined.

  Mr. Maclean
  From 1 January to 31 December 1989, a total of 131,472 samples were submitted to the Department's veterinary investigation centres in England
  257
  and Wales for testing for the presence of salmonella in poultry. It is not possible to say how many of these samples came from live birds, carcases of birds or the environment of live birds or how many were examined in 1988 from live birds or other animal species.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times in 1989 his Ministry's laboratories have misidentified or misreported the serotypes of salmonellas they have examined.

  Mr. Maclean
  There have been no occasions in 1989 when a salmonella serotype was misidentified by the Ministry's veterinary laboratories. However on four occasions misreporting occurred, primarily due to clerical-typing errors.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to restrict the spreading of manure from calves and pigs infected with salmonella on to farmland in line with his restrictions on the spreading of manure from infected poultry flocks.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have no plans to do so.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of whether intact grade A eggs, derived from flocks infected with salmonella enteritidis, delivered to egg producing plants and pasteurised immediately after breaking out, would introduce such heavy contamination into the pasteurisation process that it would overwhelm the process and cause it to fail.

  Mr. Maclean
  As I explained to my hon. Friend in my answers to earlier questions, only a moderate heat treatment can be applied to liquid egg during the pasteurisation process otherwise its functional properties are destroyed. It is also important in processing to prevent salmonella contamination of the plant environment which would put the final pasteurised product at risk. For these reasons, processing plants cannot accept raw product from infected flocks which may be contaminated with salmonella enteritidis.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his assessment of the possibility of domestic wild birds infecting farm animals with salmonella typhimurium and enteritidis through their droppings.

  Mr. Maclean
  Salmonella organisms are widespread in the environment and the potential for the infection of farm animals through wild birds exists.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provisions apply to the slaughter of laying flocks found to be infected with salmonella enteriditis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The provisions relating to the compulsory slaughter of poultry laying flocks are contained in the Animal Health Act 1987 as applied in respect of salmonella through the provisions of the Zoonoses Order 1989.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether there is a difference in multiplication rates between salmonellas introduced into eggs and those introduced naturally into intact grade A eggs.
  258
  Mr. Maclean
  Little information is available to indicate whether differences exist in the multiplication rates between salmonellas introduced into eggs and those introduced naturally into intact grade A eggs and research continues to investigate the factors which govern the multiplication rates of salmonella in shell eggs.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will define the terms egg and egg product as used by his Department.

  Mr. Curry
  An egg is a poultry egg in shell and an egg product is whole egg—a mixture of yolk and albumen—or its constituent parts, not in shell.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current financial position of the egg producer industry and his assessment of the likely impact on it of the refusal to issue licences to producers with flocks subject to infected place notices under the Zoonoses Order 1989.

  Mr. Curry
  The market for eggs is firm and packer to produce prices are currently at high levels.

  In granting licences for the removal of material from premises subject to an infected place notice under the Zoonoses Order 1989, the Government's priority is to protect public health. The reply given to my hon. Friend on 5 February, Official Report, column 499, explains why eggs from an infected flock cannot be removed for processing. But it was announced on 26 March, Official Report, columns 54–55, that carcases from infected flocks may be sold for processing under carefully controlled conditions and subject to stringent safeguards.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what financial contributions are intended to be made from former eggs authority funds to the British Egg Industry Council and the British egg information service during the financial year 1990–91; and what part of that sum is intended to support the recently announced British lion scheme.

  Mr. Curry
  Subject to the approval of the European Commission it is proposed to make up to £350,000 available to the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) for the 1990–91 promotional campaign. In the financial year 1989–90, a total of £107,000 was made available to the BEIC for programmes previously approved by the European Commission. These sums include the cost of work carried out by the British Egg Information Service on behalf of the BEIC.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his response to the recent report sent to him by the Secretary of the United Kingdom Egg Producers Association.

  Mr. Maclean
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to a letter from the Secretary of the United Kingdom Egg Producers' Association dated 6 February to which officials replied on my behalf on 28 February.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) why it has been decided not to make residual Eggs Authority funds available to organisations representing the majority of egg producers;

  (2) why the Government provide funding to the British Egg Industry Council only; and if he will make a statement.
  259
  Mr. Curry
  The Argriculture Act 1986 requires the Agriculture Ministers to dispose of the net assets of the Authority for the benefit of persons engaged by way of business in the production, marketing and processing of eggs.

  When the egg industry was consulted in 1986 on how the net assests should be used the National Farmers Union of England and Wales, the National Farmers Union of Scotland, the Ulster Farmers Union, the Scottish Egg Producer Retailers Association, the British Egg Association, the British Poultry Breeders and Hatcheries Association, the National Egg Marketing Association and the British Egg Products Association all urged that the Government should disburse these assets through the British Egg Industry Council. UKEP Association Ltd was the only association to dissent from that view.

  The Government considered that it would be appropriate to follow the advice tendered by nearly all the industry associations which between them clearly represented the majority of those engaged in the production, marketing and processing of eggs.

  Poultry Industry
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in light of his proposals to restrict the spreading of manure from infected broiler flocks, whether he intends to introduce compulsory testing of broiler flocks to enable identification of potentially contaminated manure.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have no plans to restrict the spreading of manure from infected broiler flocks or to introduce the compulsory testing of these flocks. Isolations of salmonella by laboratories are required to be reported to MAFF under the Zoonoses Order 1989. Flock owners are advised to stack and disinfect manure removed from houses where salmonella infected broilers have been kept.

  Wild Birds (Infection)
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to restrict the access of wild birds to sewage works and refuse tips.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have no plans to do so.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what information he has concerning the research currently being undertaken in Reading university on the toxicity of pesticide mixes; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what research he is undertaking into the toxicity of approved pesticides when ingested in combination.

  Mr. Maclean
  Research into this subject has been carried out jointly by Reading university and the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, part of the National Environment Research Council. One of the Reading team, Dr. Colin

  Hourly earnings less than:—

  per cent.

  £2.80

  £3.00

  £3.20

  £3.60

  £4.00

  £4.50

  Females

  Great Britain

  14

  19

  25

  36

  46

  57

  South West

  16

  21

  28

  41

  52

  64

  260
  Walker, is a member of the environmental panel of the advisory committee and a proposal for the funding of follow-up studies is currently lodged with the Department of the Environment.

  Dairy Crest (Redundancies)
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many jobs are to be lost in the latest round of Dairy Crest creamery closures; how many redundancies are expected in Derbyshire; what are the levels of redundancy payments arising directly, or indirectly, from European Economic Community funds; what steps he is taking to prevent the closures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Dairy plant closures are a matter for the firms concerned. Dairy Crest Limited has announced a rationalisation programme involving the loss of 450 jobs, of which 153 are at the company's Alfreton creamery which will close at the end of December 1990. There are no Community funds for redundancy payments, but the company's own arrangements provide for payments which exceed the statutory minimum. In addition, the company is setting up job shops at the various sites and is confident that most of those looking for new jobs will be successful.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held this week in Luxembourg.

  Mr. Gummer
  I represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Agriculture Council from 26 to 29 March together with the Parliamentary Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry). Discussion concentrated on the 1990 price fixing. Detailed and intense discussions over several days resulted in two presidential compromises. However, a qualified majority could not be found. Discussion is expected to resume at the next meeting of the Council beginning on 25 April.

EMPLOYMENT

  Earnings
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the proportion of female and male full-time workers in the United Kingdom, the south-west and Avon, respectively, whose hourly earnings, exclusive of overtime, fell below(a) £2·80, (b) £3·00, (c) £3·20, (d) £3·60, (e) £4·00 and (f)£4·50 in April 1989.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The estimated percentages of full-time adult female and male employees earning below specified amounts in the new earnings survey sample in April 1989 are provided in the table. Figures for Great Britain are given as the equivalent information for the United Kingdom as a whole is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  261

  £2.80

  £3.00

  £3.20

  £3.60

  £4.00

  £4.50

  Avon

  10

  14

  21

  33

  46

  59

  Males

  Great Britain

  5

  7

  10

  17

  24

  35

  South West

  5

  8

  12

  20

  28

  39

  Avon

  4

  6

  9

  15

  21

  31

  Hourly earnings excluding overtime, earnings not affected by absence.

  YTS Allowances
  Mr Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will arrange for YTS allowances to be increased to cover community charge payments for young people who have never paid rates and who are on a scheme living away from home.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There are no plans to do so. YTS non-employed trainees who need to live away from the parental home in order to benefit from a training course receive a lodging allowance to cover their lodging costs.

  Wakefield TEC
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the names of the business people who are involved with the Wakefield training and enterprise council; and if he will give information as to their business interests.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Wakefield TEC is currently drawing up its corporate plan which will list the board of directors.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what date the Wakefield training and enterprise council was established; what consultations took place with interested organisations including the trades councils and local authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  An employer-led group was awarded development funding to establish a training and enterprise council in Wakefield on 25 January 1990. It is now preparing its corporate and business plans and I expect it to consult all relevant local interests in drawing up these Plans.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what amount of funds has been allocated to the Wakefield training and enterprise council for the current year.

  Mr. Eggar
  Development funding of £109,000 has been awarded to an employer-led group in Wakefield to set up a training and enterprise council for the area.

  Consultancies
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total amount spent by the Training Commission in 1989 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases; if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by the Training Commission in 1989, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment; and what is the total amount that the Training Commission has budgeted to spend in the current year.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 28 March 1990]; The Training Agency estimate, that expenditure in the financial
  262
  year 1989–90 will be £3.4 million on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases. No management consultancy contracts were awarded during 1989–90. The total budget for 1990–91 has not yet been agreed. The list of computer consultancy contracts awarded during the financial year 1989–90 is as follows:

  Consultants and Subject of Assignment
  Arthur Young—Consultant to review a payment system.
  MFT Computer Systems—Amendments to the file registry System.
  RTI—Consultants to establish the environment within the field system.
  Computer People North—SSADM System Analyst.
  Telfast Computer Service—Analyst for development work.
  Softel—Oracle Project
  PA—Head office configuration technical study.
  Arthur Young—A consultant to assist in developing the accounting structure of training and enterprise councils.
  PA—To examine implications of procuring terminals and keyboards capable of supporting X-Windows.
  AMP Systems Ltd.—Support for small firms.
  D. England—Assistance with the Cimetrics package.
  BIS Applied Systems—Consultancy support for the local area network project.
  RTI—Consultancy to resolve problems when trying to run ingres on NCR computer.
  Yale Data—Technical assurance co-ordinator.
  CCTA—Financial and management accounting post-implementation review.
  Easams Ltd.—Ingres application developers for the field system.
  RTI—Training access point scoping study.
  Yale Data Management Consultants—A consultant to assist the stage manager.
  Relational Technology—Supply of Ingres training.
  Ernst and Whinney—Consultant to advise on the field system and training and enterprise councils.
  Relational Technology—Assisting with the setting up of accounts, directories etc.
  CSL—Review of system methodology.
  Price Waterhouse—Ingres developers/testing.
  Yale Data—Ingres developers/testers.
  SEMA Group—Ingres support.
  Telfast Computing—Ingres application developer with accountancy experience.
  CCTA—Service agreement hardware/software.
  CCTA—Migration study X25 1980 to X25 1984.
  Level 7—Network names and addressing.
  CCTA—Telecommunications section—study to look into staffing needs.
  FM—Provide software support to regional and HQ systems.
  CCTA—CCTA support agreement.
  MFT—Contract programmer (`C') for 4 weeks.
  RTI—Consultant to assist in setting up Ingres database.
  Yale Data—Ingres application developer (4 weeks).
  Scientific Business Systems—Applications developers to work on the record trainee system.
  PA—Assistance with the Mascot operational requirement.
  Hoskyns Group—Project management for privatisation of the Skills Training Agency.
  Meridan Systems Management Ltd.—Online access to a Polis database.
  Yale Data Management—Applications developer to help on trainees volume system.
  Skills Training Agency—Training in Q-office development.
  RTI—Application developers to assist with development work.

  263
  Logica—Consultants to assist in system testing.
  RI—To assist with benchmarking.
  Coopers and Lybrand—Support to project manager in the development of plans and progress measurement tools to monitor the status of the training and enterprise councils implementation project.
  SBS—Ingress application developer.
  The Instruction Set—Development of system standards.
  Ernst and Young—Design review.
  Yale—Assistance with system testing.
  SBS—Applications developers.
  RTI—Application developer.
  Digitus Applications developers.
  LBMS—System Testing.
  Yale Data—Applications developers.
  Yale—System testing.
  Easams—Applications developer.
  Yale Data—Unix and Ingres support for field systems.
  RTI—Ingress development.
  System Reliability—Application software for call logger.
  Ernst and Young—To advise training agency on support to training and enterprise councils after April 90.
  Yale Data Management—Systems analyst record trainee volumes.
  Oscar Communications—Marketing.
  Novatek—Manuals.
  Digital—Linking training and enterprise Councils to the network.
  NCC—Communications consultancy.
  The Instruction Set—Consultant to discuss report on system management.
  Computer Search and Select—Analyst/developer.
  Marketing Perspective—Marketing the field system.
  Ingres—Ingres training.
  Yale Data—Analyst/developer.
  Lorien—Analyst/developer.
  Marketing Perspective—Account manager training.
  P-E International—Analyst/developer.

THE ARTS

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on British Telecom's forthcoming A-Z business and services phone book as it affects reference to access for people with disabilities to arts and leisure venues, and the role played by Arts Access in encouraging this and other provision of facilities for disabled people.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 28 March 1990]: I welcome the initiative to include a reference guide for disabled people in the London business and services phone book. I was pleased to be present at the launch and to be able to congratulate Arts Access and British Telecom for putting this simple but effective idea into practice. It will certainly help to improve access to the arts for disabled people.

  Consultancies
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1989 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases; if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by his Department in 1989, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment; and what is the total amount that his Department has budgeted to spend in the current year.
  264
  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 28 March 1990]: The Office of Arts and Libraries had no management and computer consultancy contracts in 1989–90, and has no present plans for any in 1990–91.

  Works of Art
  Sir Hal Miller
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if there have been any items accepted in lieu of tax or allocated since he last made an announcement on the subject to the House.

  Mr. Luce
  Since my announcement on 14 February Official Report, column 239, I am pleased to announce that three further offers have been accepted in lieu of tax: a woodcut by Edward Munch, "Two People—the Lonely Ones" and two paintings, one by Corot entitled "Richmond pres Londres", and one by Jan van der Heyden, "The Westerkerk". The tax satisfied was £57,539, £361,500 and £2,800,000 respectively. The acceptance of the van der Heyden painting was made possible by a call on the Reserve.

  No decision has yet been taken on the allocation of the Corot painting, but in accordance with the conditions on which they were offered the Munch woodcut will go to the Whitworth art gallery, Manchester and the van der Heyden painting will be allocated to the National gallery. Finally, I would like to inform the House that because of a change in the tax liabilities due on the estate concerned, the cost of the acceptance of the Kirckman harpsichord, announced on 14 February, has been reduced to £25,276·95.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Taxation
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing tax and national insurance contributions, less child benefit, where appropriate, for 1990–91, and comparable figures for 1989–90 and 1978–79, with the multiples of average earnings of half, two thirds, one, five and 10 times for(a) a married couple with part-time working spouse, (b) a married couple plus two children with part-time working spouse and (c) a single person.

  Mr. Lilley
  The information requested for a single person is given in the table. Figures for married couples with part-time working spouse will depend on how much the part-time worker earns.

  Payments of income tax and national insurance contributions by a single person (£ per week at current prices) Multiples of average male earnings1

  ½

  ⅔

  1

  5

  10

  1978–79

  10·93

  17·04

  29·25

  242·17

  625·97

  1989–902

  32·71

  48·60

  80·31

  506·61

  1,066·61

  1990–91

  33·98

  51·23

  85·62

  553·05

  1,160·65

  1 Full time males on adult rates (all occupations), using illustrative assumption of 8½ per cent. growth in earnings between 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  2 Financial year average of pre- and post-October regimes for employees national insurance contributions.

  Ivory
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any ivory is currently being held by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  Mr. Ryder
  Yes. Quantities of ivory are regularly seized by customs and held pending disposal.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to produce records of ivory seizures since 12 April 1989.

  Mr. Ryder
  No. As I said in my reply of 23 October 1989,Official Report, columns 286–87 to an earlier question on this topic, detailed information about such seizures is compiled only periodically. Customs will be doing so in connection with publication of the commissioners' annual report for the year ending 31 March 1990.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the fate of the five consignments of ivory held at Heathrow airport and referred to in his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West on 6 June 1989,Official Report, column 118.

  Mr. Ryder
  All five consignments have now been seized. No further details can be given at this stage because court proceedings in relation to forfeiture of the goods are in prospect.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many consignments of ivory were detained or seized by customs officers in 1989 and 1990 to date.

  Mr. Ryder
  Records of detentions which do not result in seizure are not maintained centrally and information about them could be obtained only at disproportionate expense. Information about seizures is compiled only periodically. Customs will be doing so in connection with publication of the commissioners' annual report for the year ending 31 March 1990.

  Income Tax
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the revenue from income tax in Scotland, broken down by district and islands authorities, in(a) the period between April 1987 and April 1988 and (b) the period between April 1988 and April 1989;

  (2) what was the total revenue from income tax raised in Scotland in (a) the period between April 1987 and April 1988 and (b) the period between April 1988 and April 1989.

  Mr. Lilley
  The latest information is for the 1987–88 tax year and covers the income tax liabilities of residents of Scotland. The estimates in the table are based on samples, which places limitations on their reliability, particularly in the case of smaller districts.

  Income tax liability of residents—1987–88

  Districts

  £ million

  Borders

  90

  Central

  192

  Dumfries and Galloway

  121

  Fife

  231

  Grampian

  351

  Highland

  150

  266

  Districts

  £ million

  Lothian

  559

  Strathclyde

  1,410

  Tayside

  224

  Island Authorities

  59

  Scotland

  3,380

  Banking Services
  Mr. David Davis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to publish the Government's response to the report of the review committee on banking services law and practice.

  Mr. Major
  The Government's full response to the report of the review committee is published today in a White Paper "Banking Services: Law and Practice" Cm1026.

  The review committee was commissioned by the Government, jointly with the Bank of England, in January 1987 to undertake a full review of the legal framework for banking services. The committee was chaired by Professor Robert Jack CBE, and the other members were Mrs. Liliana Archibald and Mr. Geoffrey Taylor. Their report, which was published on 23 February 1989 (Cm622), provided a very clear and comprehensive critique of the existing law. The Government are extremely grateful to the committee for all its work in producing the report.

  The committee found that the legislative framework had stood the test of time remarkably well, despite the very rapid changes seen in banking in recent years; there were no major deficiencies or gaps, but the committee indentified a number of areas where banking practice could be improved and where they felt the law might be usefully clarified or tightened up. The Government made it clear when the committee's report was published that in considering their response to its recommendations, they would wish to take full account of the views of those who would be affected by the proposals, and would, therefore, consider carefully the implications for bankers, their customers and the general public interest. This the Government have done. The names of those who submitted comments on the review committee's report are set out in the White Paper.

  The Committee's central recommendation was, in fact, addressed to the banks and building societies, rather than to the Government. It was that they should prepare and adopt a code of banking practice, aimed at ensuring that customers were made fully aware of the basis on which banks or building societies would conduct their dealings. The code would, for example, specify that customers should be given information in clear and simple language about the terms of their contract with the banker and the rights and obligations that apply on both sides; customers would be told of their rights to privacy under the law and the very limited circumstances in which any information about their personal finances may be passed on; customers would be told how to lodge a complaint if that proved necessary, how such complaints would be dealt with, and how matters might be referred to the relevant ombudsman; they should be told what banking charges might be levied in what circumstances; and they should be given a simple explanaton of the timing of the clearing cycle and when they might normally expect funds from a cleared cheque to be available.
  267
  The Banking Information Service announced on I March 1990 that an independent committe under the chairmanship of Sir George Blunden (former deputy governor of the Bank of England) had been set up to oversee the preparation of such a code by the British Bankers' Assocation, the Building Societies Association and the Association for Payment Clearing Services. The aim would be to get the main sections of the code in place by early 1991. The Government warmly welcome this initiative, and in particular welcomes the fact that the banks and building societies have undertaken to consult the consumer interests fully before the code is introduced. The White Paper comments on a number of issues which the Goverment expect the banks and building societies to wish to consider in the preparation of the code, in line with the recommendation of the review committee. These include notification of bank charges, credit marketing and customer privacy.

  The review committee made a large number of other recommendations, some of them on highly technical points of banking law, and some involving codification of existing case law or consolidation of existing legislation. In drawing up their response, the Government have carefully considered the comments of interested parties and proposed legislation only where some change is justified and where the intended effect cannot be achieved in another way, such as through the proposed code of banking practice. In general, the Government have accepted the spirit, if not the detail, of most of the committee's recommendations.

  The points on which the Government will legislate in due course are set out in annex 9 of the White Paper. They include extending to all payment cards the present £50 limit on customer liability for losses and the ban on unsolicited mailing of cards and PINs which at present applies only to credit cards; tightening up banks' liability for the failure of electronic funds transfer equipment; clarifying the legal status of the various crossings and markings such as "account payee" on cheques; allowing for the "truncation" of cheques (that is, allowing banks to exchange electronic information about cheques and not the actual pieces of paper); amending and updating the Bills of Exchange Act; and dealing with a number of other detailed points raised by the Committee. These proposals will be implemented when other pressures on the legislative timetable permit.

  The review committee made the key point in their report that in considering any proposals in the field of banking services it is important, above all, to preserve flexibility, and to avoid cramping competition and innovation by excessive regulation. The Government wholeheartedly endorse that view. In recent years, it has been competition within a flexible regulatory framework that has benefited the customer most. It is from this source that further improvements are most likely to come; and that is the primary principle underlying the Government's response to the review committee's report.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the savings would be of taxing the child benefit for taxpayers at the 40 per cent. tax rate in 1990–91.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 26 March 1990]: The direct revenue yield for 1990–91 from taxing child benefit—which is paid to the mother—at 40 per cent. for those married
  268
  women and single parents liable to higher rate tax is estimated to be about £20 million. If child benefit were taxed at the higher marginal rate of either spouse the yield, including that from single parents, is estimated at £175 million.

  Consultancies
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the total amount spent by Her Majesty's Treasury in 1989 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases; if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by Her Majesty's Treasury in 1989, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment; and what is the total amount that Her Majesty's Treasury has budgeted to spend in the current year;

  (2) what was the total amount spent by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency in 1989 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases; if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency in 1989, giving in each case the name of the consulting firm and the subject of the assignment; and what is the total amount that the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency has budgeted to spend in the current year.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 28 March 1990]: We estimate that our expenditure in the financial year 1989–90 will be some £5·1 million, including some £4·7 million by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency. Figures given include the cost of development studies, which in turn include the cost of associated hardware and software; the latter items are not separately indentifiable.

  The budget for the financial year 1990–91 is some £6·9 million, including some £6·3 million for the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency.

  Firm and subject of assignment:
  Roger Tym & Partners—Freeports study.
  Transtech Consultancy services—Preparation of seminar on Transport and Distribution; production of technical guidance on car contract hire and model contract and employee agreements.
  KPMG Peat Marwick—Contribution to the development of the Treasury's initiative on policy evaluation.
  Coopers & Lybrand Assoc—Contribution to the development of the Treasury's initiative on policy evaluation.
  Arthur Young—Contribution to the development of the Treasury's initiative on policy evaluation.
  Moody International Developments—Materials handling.
  Brian Farrington Ltd—Preparation of CUP guidance on purchasing procedures.
  Linzey Associates—Advice on strategic and practical aspects of purchasing and supply.
  C. D. Boylan—Advice on issues relating to project sponsorship and "untying" of services from PSA.
  P. N. Parry—Preparation of CUP guidance on the management of works projects.
  R. W. White—Advice on the implementation of the new recruitment and personnel management arrangements for the Purchasing and Supply Function in Government.
  Logica (UK) Ltd—Consultancy Support for Government IT Infrastructure Management Methodology.
  National Computing Centre—Consultancy for GOSIP Support.
  Robert Wilmot—Consultancy for GOSIP Support.
  Security and Standards Consultancy Ltd—Consultancy for GOSIP Support.
  PA Consulting Group—Consultancy Support on IS (Information Systems) Guide.

  269
  Ashpier Ltd—Consultancy Support to Government Telecommunications Network (GTN).
  Eosys—Consultancy Support to Government Telecommunications Network (GTN).
  Butler Cox—Consultancy for GDN-SIGNET.
  Kermon Associaties—Consultancy for GDN-SIGNET.
  Touche Ross & Co—Consultancy for GDN-SIGNET.
  Ernst and Young—Consultancy for GDN-SIGNET.
  Fastcharm Ltd—Provision of Consultancy Support.
  Rollstest Ltd—Provision of Consultancy Support.
  Grafton Dale Associates—Provision of Consultancy Support.
  GSB Computer Projects Ltd—Provision of Consultancy Support.
  Yale Data Management Consultants Ltd—Provision of Consultancy Support.
  Coopers and Lybrand—Provision of Consultancy Support.
  Quality Business Systems—Consultancy assistance with development of IT Infrastructure Library.
  M Davighi—Consultancy assistance with development of IT Infrastructure Library.
  Protocol International—Consultancy assistance with development of IT Infrastructure Library.
  DJH Consultancy Services Ltd—Consultancy Assistance with development of IT Infrastructure Library.
  Civil Service College—Consultancy assistance with development of IT infrastructure Library.
  Crown Suppliers—Consultancy assistance with development of IT Infrastructure Library.
  Babelease Ltd—Development of PROMPT and Configuration Management Method.
  Kermon Associates—Development of CCTA Telecommunications Guide.
  Kermon Associates—Scoping Study on Automation of CCTA Standing Arrangement Procedures.
  Logica (UK) Ltd—Development Study into NSAP Address Allocation Requirements in Government.
  Praxis—Technical Authorship of CT5 Procurement Manual.
  Rede Group—Development of CT3 Quality Management System for use within Government organisations.
  Logica (UK) Ltd—Development of CT3 Quality Management System for use within Government organisations.
  BIS Applied Systems—Development Study for phase 1 of CRAMM software.
  Electronic Facilities Design—Review of Procurement Process.
  Ingham Partnership—Assistance with User Interface Work.
  Husat Consultancy—Production of Reference Model for I.S.E.
  CSM—University of Durham—Survey of Software Maintenance.
  Computer Sciences Co Ltd—Specialist technical support for Computer Supported Co-operative Working Study (CSAW).
  Sunderland Polytechnic—Development of an SSADM and SDM Interface.
  Metier Management Systems Ltd.—Enhancement to ADEPT Version 2.
  J. Chittenden (FORMAT)—Assistance with Desktop Publishing for SSADM Version 4.
  Ipsys Software plc.—Assistance with Process Logic Definition (PLD) Project.
  Calyx—Consultancy for Computer Operations Management Module.
  Logica (UK) Ltd.—Office Document Architecture (CODA) Scoping Study.
  DMW Group Ltd.—Value Added Data Services (VADS) Security Development System.
  Deuce Systems—Amendments to the CRAMM User Guide.
  Admiral Management—Feasibility Study into the use of ISO9000 in connection with a Quality Management System.
  DJH Consultancy Ltd.—Development of IT Infrastructure Management Codes of Practice.
  Systems Assurance—Review of Guidelines for top management on Human Factors.
  Systems Concepts—Review of Guidelines for top management on Human Factors.
  270
  Morrell Media Services—Production of IT Security Library documents.
  DB Services—Production of a document on the fundamentals of magnetic media.
  Chris Makenson Ltd.—Virtual terminal work in GOSIP.
  Oval Computer Consultancy Services—Upgrades and reconfiguration of demonstration suite equipment.
  Pensus Ltd.—Production of IT Infrastructure Library Module on Availability Management.
  Data Systems—Development Stage 3 of Cursive Script Recognition Demonstrator.
  Science Systems—GTN Network Management—performance improvement and management
  Datasystems—reconfiguration of REOS Pad
  Civil Service College—Development Study on Case Study for the Department of Justice
  Services Sound Vision—Production of a "Strategic Planning" video
  Office Workstations Ltd—Hypertext Project—Stage 1
  Logica (UK) Ltd— Development of a detailed method for drawing up Contingency Plans
  Format Desk Top Publishing—Review of desktop publishing techniques for KBS and DBMS book
  Birmingham Polytechnic—Development Study on SSADM Support Tools Conformance
  X-Tel Services Ltd—CSCW Concept Demonstrator development
  Data Systems UK Ltd—Development of CSCW Demonstrator Remote Meeting Support System
  KPMG, Regis McKenna & Co—Development of Government IT Marketing Copy
  Kermon Associates—Development of Standing Arrangements Automation
  Coopers & Lybrand—Development of Object Orientation

  Savings Accounts
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has on the availability of savings accounts which pay a 20 per cent. or higher rate of interest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 28 March 1990]: We do not keep information centrally on the full range of savings accounts that are available.

WALES

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will(a) state the number of people in employment in Wales for each quarter of 1979 and for the latest available date and sub-divided for males and females in employment and (b) provide an estimate of the extent of double-counting in (a).

  Mr. Peter Walker
  The information requested is shown in the table:

  Civilian workforce in employment1

  (thousands)

  Male

  Female

  Total

  1979

  March

  711

  429

  1,140

  June

  716

  441

  1,157

  September

  720

  440

  1,160

  December

  712

  443

  1,155

  1989

  September

  692

  521

  1,213

  1 Defined as employees in employment, the self-employed and, from 1983 onwards, participants on work-related government training schemes.

  Labour force survey estimates of the number of people in employment and with a second job for Wales, which are

  271
  subject to large sampling errors, suggest that in 1979 there were about 17,000 such persons. The corresponding estimate for 1989 was 45,000.

  Agricultural Land
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the loss of agricultural land for urban development for each of the last 10 years in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Walker
  Information on land use changes in Wales from 1985 to 1988 is included in appendices 3 and 4 of the "Environmental Digest for Wales, No. 4, 1988–89", a copy of which is in the Library. It should be noted that since changes are recorded by Ordnance Survey as part of its work on map revision, they are not necessarily recorded in the year they occur. Comparable data for earlier years are not available.

  Myodil
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to take to ensure that patients in Wales who are suffering as a result of the side-effects of myodil are able to receive compensation rapidly.

  Mr. Grist
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Clinical Regrading Review
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many appeals under the clinical regrading review are still outstanding in each health authority; and when the appeals procedure will be completed in each area.

  Mr. Grist
  Latest information on the number of outstanding clinical regrading appeals made at local level to employing authorities is as follows:

  Number

  Mid Glamorgan HA

  760

  South Glamorgan HA

  630

  West Glamorgan

  166

  Gwent HA

  392

  East Dyfed HA

  214

  Pembrokeshire HA

  88

  Powys HA

  298

  Gwyedd HA

  131

  Clwyd HA

  258

  It is not possible to predict when the appeals procedures will be completed at the local level.

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many registered hearing aid dispensers there are in each health authority area.

  Mr. Grist
  The information is not available centrally.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each county education authority the number of teachers employed who are(a) able to undertake Welsh language teaching at the primary and secondary levels, as required by the national
  272
  curriculum and (b) in possession of the appropriate subject qualifications to ensure the national curriculum is properly delivered in all Welsh language secondary schools.

  Mr. Roberts
  The number of teachers who have a qualification in Welsh as either a first or second language, and who will thus be able to contribute to the teaching of Welsh as part of the national curriculum is shown in the table:

  Teachers with a qualification1 in Welsh

  All teachers (full-time and part-time)

  Primary (1987)

  Secondary2 (1989)

  1st language

  2nd language

  1st language

  2nd language

  Clwyd

  400

  90

  110

  50

  Dyfed

  540

  60

  170

  40

  Gwent

  30

  10

  10

  10

  Gwynedd

  580

  40

  240

  40

  Mid Glamorgan

  —

  —

  120

  70

  Powys

  90

  10

  40

  20

  South Glamorgan

  110

  30

  60

  30

  West Glamorgan

  260

  90

  100

  40

  TOTAL

  32,010

  3330

  850

  300

  1 Refers to all teachers with a post A-level qualification in Welsh. All teachers with a qualification in Welsh as a first language will be capable of teaching Welsh as a second language.

  2 Secondary figures are drawn from the 1989 secondary school staffing survey and are provisional estimates. The results of the survey will be published later in the year.

  3 Excludes Mid Glamorgan.

  More detailed analyses including those of subject qualifications of teachers in Welsh secondary schools will be available later this year when the 1989 secondary schools staffing survey results are published.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his reply of 22 February,Official Report, columns 861–62, if he is now in a position to publish for each county education authority the number of teachers needed to deliver all national curriculum subjects in Welsh secondary schools by teachers with the appropriate subject qualifications.

  Mr. Roberts
  A statistical model of the number of teachers needed to deliver the national curriculum in Welsh secondary schools is currently being produced. The model and assumptions which underlie it will be the subject of consultation with local education authorities later this year.

  Nuclear Waste (Transport)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much nuclear waste is transported, by road, through Clwyd via the AS.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department does not collect data of the kind requested.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  CERN
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received in the last 12 months on the funding of CERN.
  273
  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend has received no specific representations about CERN funding in the last year.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the United Kingdom funding for CERN in 1979, 1985 and 1989.

  Mr. Jackson
  The United Kingdom contribution to the CERN budget in these years was as follows:

  United Kingdom contribution

  Calendar year

  Percentage of CERN budget

  Cash £ million

  1979

  15·8

  25·2

  1985

  16·1

  36·9

  1989

  16·1

  50·3

  Complaints
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report for each of the last 10 years (a) the number of complaints made against his Department to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, (b) the number of complaints upheld and (c) the action he took on (b).

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of complaints(a) made and (b) upheld for the last 10 years is as follows:

  (a)complaints made

  (b)complaints upheld

  1989

  1

  1

  1988

  11

  —

  1987

  10

  —

  1986

  12

  1

  1985

  20

  —

  1984

  12

  1

  1983

  12

  2

  1982

  11

  —

  1981

  18

  1

  1980

  31

  1

  1979

  20

  —

  1 Figures not yet available.

  When the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration upholds a complaint it is departmental practice to provide an appropriate remedy.

  Devon County Council
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science pursuant to the oral answer given to the hon. Member for Torridge and Devon, West from the Under-Secretary of State on 27 February,Official Report, column 125, if he will specify how the Devon county council capital expenditure priorities differ from those of the Government.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  In formulating annual capital guidelines for education for local education authorities for 1990–91, priority was given to items in LEAs' plans for committed expenditure flowing from projects covered in earlier capital allocations, new projects to meet population growth, new projects to remove surplus places, and to new major building projects at colleges. Any remaining resources were distributed by formula for improvement work in schools. Annual capital guidelines are, however,274
  only indicative: local authorities are free to spend above the level indicated if they choose to finance such expenditure from receipts or other sources. Most of Devon LEA's plans were in respect of commitments over and above those allowed for in the department's previous allocations, and of improvement work in schools for which available resources fell well short of LEAs' plans.

  Local Management of Schools
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will deposit in the Library copies of the approved schemes for local management of schools for each local education authority.

  Mr. MacGregor
  It is the responsibility of local education authorities to publish their approved schemes by distributing copies to their schools and to the Department, and by making copies available for reference in their local public libraries and education offices. I am asking authorities to consider making copies available to the Library of the House.

  Examinations
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many people sat(a) GCSE and (b) A-level examinations in (i) politics, (ii) British constitution and (iii) political history in 1989.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Figures for 1989 are not yet available; neither is information available specifically for the subjects requested. In 1988, there were 11,000 GCSE attempts in England in politics and British constitution by candidates in schools and colleges. Comparable information is not available in respect of A-levels, but in 1987–88, nearly 2,500 school leavers in England attempted an A-level in British constitution.

  Art Students
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total cost to the Exchequer and local government of educating a student at art college who completes the course.

  Mr. Jackson
  The data requested are not available centrally.

  College of Europe
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether there are any plans to increase the number of bursaries offered to United Kingdom students at the college of Europe.

  Mr. Jackson
  The college of Europe at Bruges offers postgraduate courses in administrative, economic and legal studies, in preparation for employment in European Community institutions and similar fields. The Government wish to enable more United Kingdom students to take advantage of these valuable opportunities. We therefore intend to increase substantially the number of bursaries we offer, from four currently to 21 in the academic year 1990–91. Of these, 17 will be provided by my Department for students from England and Wales. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland will increase their provision to two bursaries each. The additional cost will be met from within
  275
  existing public expenditure plans. We envisage further increasing the United Kingdom total bursaries offered to 30 in 1991–92. Existing arrangements for selecting students will continue.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  South Africa
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on how British companies have complied with the European Community code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa during the 12-month period to 30 June 1989.

  Mr. Redwood
  By 6 March 1990, a total of 111 companies had submitted reports to the DTI under the code of conduct. Copies of the reports and of the Department's analysis and summary have, as in previous years, been placed in the Library of each House. These documents may also be inspected at the Department's export market information centre, at the British embassy in Pretoria, at the British consulate-general in Johannesburg, and at the British consulates in Cape Town and Durban.

  The analysis and summary is the fourth since the adoption of the revised code of conduct by EC Foreign Ministers in November 1985. Reports were received from all British companies whose interests are known or believed to warrant a full report under the code, with only one exception. This particular company has been undergoing reorganisation in South Africa and should be in a position to provide a report for next year's analysis and summary.

  The reporting period under review has seen a further reduction in the number of black employees of British subsidiaries being paid below the code's recommended minimum level, with companies reports indicating that now over 98 per cent. were paid above this level. Companies' reports also indicated that the level of their involvement with trade unions representing black workers increased, with the majority of companies reporting formal involvement with the trade unions. In addition, companies continued to report impressive levels of involvement in projects benefiting not only their employees and their families but also the wider communities from which their workforces were drawn. Companies also continued to encourage the growth of black businesses.

  The Government are once more grateful to companies for their continued co-operation in providing reports, and urges them to maintain this performance and to comply fully with the code.

  Baltic States
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest assessment of trade opportunities with Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

  Mr. Redwood
  No assessment is possible at present. Above all, we need to know whether the Baltic republics will have control of their own production and its distribution. If they become free to trade their own products with the west there could be many opportunities for increased business.

  Stock Exchange
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet the chairman of the stock exchange; and what will be discussed.

  Mr. Redwood
  Ministers meet the chairman of the stock exchange whenever appropriate to discuss topics of mutual interest.

  Company Audits
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times in 1988 company auditors filed a statement in respect of section 390 2(a) and 2(b) of the Companies Act 1985.

  Mr. Redwood
  During 1988 the registrars of companies for England and Wales and for Scotland received copies of 9,167 auditors' notices of resignation under section 390 of the Companies Act 1985. These have been placed on the public files of the companies concerned. No information is readily available about the number of these notices which fall within the scope of section 390(2)(a), indicating that there were circumstances connected with the resignation which the resigning auditor considered should be brought to the notice of the members or creditors of the company.

  Electricity Supplies
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reply he has sent to the letter from the chairman of the Electricity Consultative Council (South Wales) dated 14 March regarding the different treatment between the domestic and commercial markets.

  Mr. Redwood
  My reply was sent to the chairman of the Electricity Consultative Council (South Wales). It is a matter for him to decide whether to make the contents public.

  Electricity Supply (Consumer Protection)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he anticipates being in a position to answer the letter to him of 14 March from Tom Keen, the chairman of the Electricity Consultative Council (South Wales), on consumer protection in the electricity supply industry.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have already replied to the letter.

  Business Inquiries
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many major inquiries were made by business under the market information inquiries scheme for each month from September 1988 to date;

  (2) how many substantive inquiries were made under the market information inquiries scheme for each month from September 1988 to date.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 21 March 1990]: Following is the information.

  Market information enquiry service (MIE) June 1989— February 1990

  Month

  Number of enquiries billed

  June

  37

  July

  72

  August

  87

  277

  Month

  Number of enquiries billed

  September

  103

  October

  108

  November

  135

  December

  104

  January

  97

  February

  182

  Total

  925

  The market information enquiry service (MIEs) was introduced as a chargeable service on 1 April 1989. The information available is set out above. A breakdown of MIEs which are "major" and those which are "substantive" could be made available only at disproportionate cost. Figures were not collected prior to the introduction of charges.

  Africa (Exports)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to reinstate Export Credits Guarantee Department cover for United Kingdom exports to Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and the Gambia; and if he will list the present value of exports and imports between the United Kingdom and those countries.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 27 March 1990]: ECGD cover for exports on cash or short terms of payment—up to 180 days credit—is already available for these countries.

  Cover for exports on longer terms of payment is in principle available for Ghana subject to ECGD's normal underwriting judgment being satisfied. The possibility of reinstating ECGD cover for longer payment term business with Gambia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone will be considered when this is justified by improvements in the economic situation in these countries and progress has been made in clearing past payment arrears.

  The value of exports and imports between the United Kingdom and those countries, for the year ending December 1989, is as follows:

  United Kingdom imports £ million

  United Kingdom exports £ million

  Nigeria

  129·406

  388·777

  Ghana

  92·208

  121·076

  Sierra Leone

  15·899

  20·402

  Gambia

  2·340

  16·563

  Multi-fibre Arrangement
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has considered any changes in the multi-fibre arrangement in the light of the changes in central and eastern Europe.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 28 March 1990]: The multi-fibre arrangement (MFA) lays down a multilateral framework for trade in textile products. The EC is already committed in the current Uruguay round to negotiating the phase out of the MFA on acceptable terms on its expiry in 1991. This commitment is unaffected by developments in central and eastern Europe. However the EC has a number of bilateral agreements with east
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  European countries within the current MFA framework and changes to the agreements with Poland and Hungary have recently been agreed.

  Cable Television
  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many franchises have been granted for the issuing of licences by his Department for the establishment of television cable stations in the United Kingdom since such licensing started; and if he will list(a) the geographical location of such stations, (b) the name of each company which has been granted a franchise, (c) the name of the principal shareholder or parent company of such franchise holders, specifying whether such principal shareholder or parent is of United States of America, Canadian, United Kingdom or other origin and (d) how many applications are outstanding to the latest convenient date and still awaiting decision by the Cable Authority.

  Mr. Mellor
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Cable Authority is responsible for awarding cable franchises under the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984. A total of 71 cable franchises have been awarded since 1983 (including 11 pilot franchises awarded by the Home Office before the passage of the 1984 Act). Of these 20 have been licensed, of which 17 are operational. A further 63 franchises have been advertised by the Cable Authoritiy. The authority is considering a total of 139 applications, in respect of the 44 franchises for which the closing date has now passed. It intends to make its decisions known during the course of the summer. I have placed in the Library a list of the other information requested, where this is not commercially confidential.

PRIME MINISTER

  Hong Kong
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government are now ready to publish their proposals for legislation concerning the provision of United Kingdom passports for certain citizens of Hong Kong.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government intend to do so shortly.

  Fast Germany
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the implications for United Kingdom foreign policy of the recent elections in East Germany.

  The Prime Minister
  We welcome the holding of democratic elections in the German Democratic Republic. We believe that the establishment of genuine democracy in the German Democratic Republic, as elsewhere in eastern Europe, will strengthen confidence and understanding between east and west.

  Prisons
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to pay an official visit to one of Her Majesty's prisons.

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

  Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during her future visit to Turkey, she will discuss with the Turkish authorities the urgent need for a settlement in Cyprus; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I look forward to discussing Cyprus and other matters of mutual concern with the Turkish Government during my planned visit to Gallipoli next month for the 75th anniversary of ANZAC day.

  German Unification
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the implications for the net contributions of member states of the proposed reunification of Germany; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  We hope that the informal summit to be held in Dublin on 28 April will agree a framework for detailed negotiation, by the Council and the Commission, of all the consequences for the Community of German unification. Germany is likely to remain the largest net contributor to the Community budget.

  Cabinet Responsibility
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps she is taking to strengthen collective Cabinet responsibility.

  The Prime Minister
  None is needed.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Prime Minister what measures she will take to improve the performance of Government Departments in answering letters from hon. Members.

  The Prime Minister
  There are nearly 250,000 replies a year from Ministers to letters from hon. Members and replies are sent at official level to several million letters received direct from members of the public. It is clearly in the interests of Members, the public and Ministers that this correspondence is conducted speedily and efficiently. I have therefore asked the efficiency unit to conduct an interdepartmental scrutiny into the methods and costs of handling this correspondence, and to seek the views of hon. Members and others who receive replies, so as to identify good methods of operation and recommend them for adoption by all departments. Departmental performance will be monitored and a Minister in each Department will be given responsibility for overseeing progress. In appropriate cases, Members of Parliament are encouraged to write in the first instance to civil service agencies, or the local offices directly concerned.

  Engagements
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.
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  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I am speaking at the Anglo-German Konigswinter conference held in Cambridge.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Land Registry
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Attorney-General what is for each of the last three years(a) the minimum length of time and (b) the maximum length of time that Her Majesty's Land Registry has taken to deal with a first registration application.

  The Attorney-General
  No statistical information is available on either the maximum or the minimum processing times. The minimum processing time can be as low as one or two weeks for expedited applications and those where no queries arise. Some complex applications, involving clarification from an applicant's solicitors, take a considerable time to process.

  The average time taken to process a first registration application is currently 27 weeks, compared with 30 weeks in 1989, 34 weeks in 1988 and 32 weeks in 1987.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Attorney-General on what date the Land Registration Act 1988 will come into force.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor hopes to bring the Land Registration Act 1988 into force in December 1990. An announcement of the exact date will be made in due course.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Attorney-General what action he is taking to reduce the delays at Her Majesty's Land Registry in dealing with applications to register title.

  The Attorney-General
  Since 1 March 1987 the Land Registry has increased its work force by over 3,000 staff. In order to move work away from the south-east of England, where the recruitment and retention of staff is difficult, four new district registries have been opened and two more are planned in the near future. Computerisation of the application processing system will have been introduced at a total of eight district registries by the end of this year and by 1993 all district registries will operate the computerised system. Average completion times on all types of application to register title are improving steadily, unit cost targets are being met and productivity is at record levels.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has recieved regarding the delays at Her Majesty's Land Registry in dealing with applications to register title.

  The Attorney-General
  A total of 128 representations about delay were received by the Lord Chancellor between January and December 1989.

  Marconi
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Attorney-General what recent developments have taken place into the inquiry being carried out by the special fraud office into fraud in the Marconi company; and if he will make a statement as to general progress of that inquiry over the last six months.

  The Attorney-General
  A case in which the defendents are Marconi Company Limited, Marconi Space Systems Limited, Marconi Secure Radio Systems Limited and various former employees of those companies is pending before Winchester crown court. It results from inquiries carried out by the Serious Fraud Office. The remaining inquiries concerning Marconi companies are being carried out as expeditiously as possible.

ENERGY

  Oil Companies
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to require all oil companies to deposit a bond with his Department that can be immediately used to finance clean-up operations in the event of an oil spillage around the British coast.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Primary responsibility for clean-up, following an oil spill from an offshore installation, rests with the operator. To ensure that operators have sufficient funds available to discharge any liability attributable to such an incident, the offshore pollution liability agreement (OPOL) was set up by the oil industry in 1975 at the request of the Department of Energy. This agreement ensures that funds are available, up to $60 million per incident, to meet claims for remedial measures and pollution damage from an offshore oil spill incident.

  North Sea Oil and Gas
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the output of North sea oil and gas for each year since 1980.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  North Sea oil and gas production in the period 1980 to 1989 was as follows:

  Crude oil (thousand tonnes)

  Natural gas liquids thousand tonnes)

  Gas (Million cubic metres)

  1980

  78,680

  1,550

  37,290

  1981

  87,714

  1,534

  37,186

  1982

  100,058

  2,908

  37,832

  1983

  110,566

  4,078

  38,690

  1984

  120,961

  4,759

  38,520

  1985

  122,069

  5,150

  42,961

  1986

  120,734

  5,815

  45,289

  1987

  117,030

  5,693

  47,623

  1988

  108,641

  5,004

  45,726

  19891

  86,505

  4,407

  44,705

  Source: Figures for 1980 to 1988. United Kingdom Digest of Energy Statistics 1989. Figures for 1989. February 1990 issue of Energy Trends.

  1 Provisional

  Electricity Consumers
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will amend the part of the draft electricity licence dealing with domestic consumers in default, on the terms submitted to him by the National Consumer Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Electricity disconnections are currently standing at the lowest level since records began in 1976. Careful consideration has been given to the NCC's proposals but we believe that the combination of protections we have provided for, including the role of the director general and the consumers committees, will give the best degree of protection to consumers and ensure that the downward trend continues.

DEFENCE

  Community Charge
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations he has received regarding the community charge and its effect on service personnel.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Ministers have received about 85 such written representations or inquiries.

  Trident
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will be ordering a fourth Trident nuclear submarine.

  Mr. Neubert
  We expect to issue an invitation to tender for the fourth Vanguard class submarine later this year.

  WE177 Free-fall Bomb
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reassess the basis for envisaging a requirement for a replacement for the WE177 free-fall bomb.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We keep our requirements for all weapons systems under review. As the WE177 free fall bomb approaches the end of its service life we are studying options for its replacement.

  "Statement on the Defence Estimates"
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish the 1990 "Statement on the Defence Estimates".

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We expect to publish the "Statement on the Defence Estimates" on Monday 2 April.

  School of Peace Studies
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any serving members of the armed forces are currently studying at the School of Peace Studies in Bradford.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A serving WRNS officer is currently undertaking a one-year defence fellowship at the School of Peace Studies in Bradford. I am not aware of any other serving members of the armed forces who are studying at the school.

  Warsaw Pact
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent contacts members of his Department have had with Warsaw pact countries.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There have recently been regular meetings with representatives of Warsaw pact nations at ministerial and official level. In the past month the Ministry has hosted visits by Colonel General Morocz, Hungarian State Secretary for Defence, Colonel General Stanculescu, Romanian Defence Minister and Colonel General Omelichev, Soviet Deputy Chief of General Staff. These contacts are a valuable means of building mutual confidence and improving understanding.

  Accountancy Firms
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the accountancy firms used by his Department.

  Mr. Neubert
  The two outside accountancy firms currently employed by the Ministry of Defence on accountancy-type tasks are:

  Ernst and Young

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Leicester (IRA Bomb)
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the consequences of statements made after the recent explosion of the Irish Republican Army bomb in the city of Leicester for the fight against terrorism.

  Mr. Waddington
  The statements made by the police following the incident provided the public with information about what happened in order to reassure them that the matter was under control, to learn of any possible further threat and to seek their help in identifying those who had planted the device. The public response once again has been of great assistance to the police in pursuing their investigations.

  Rehabilitation of Offenders
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those organisations which sought inclusion in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

  Mr. John Patten
  The following organisations sought exceptions under the 1975 exceptions order:

  The Association of British Adoption Agencies

  The National Deaf Children's Society

  The National Council for Social Services

  The National Association for Deaf/Blind and Rubella Children

  The National Society for Mentally Handicapped Children

  The Ockenden Venture

  The NSPCC

  The Church of England Children's Society

  The Girl Guides Association

  The National Institute for the Deaf

  The National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations

  The National Association of Boys Clubs

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  The Church Army

  The National Association of Youth Clubs

  The General Synod Board of Education

  Christians Abroad

  The Baden Powell Scout's Association

  The Scout Association

  The Methodist Church Division of Education and Youth

  The Local Authority Associations (and individual local authorities)

  The GLC and ILEA

  The General Medical Council

  The General Dental Council

  The General Nursing Council

  The Central Midwives Board

  The General Optical Council

  The Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

  The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

  The Law Society

  The Senate of the Inns of Court and the Bar

  The Architects Registration Council of the United Kingdom

  The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

  The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

  The Police

  The British Bankers Association

  The Building Societies Association

  The London Diamond Bourse

  The Committee of Magistrates for Inner London

  The Fire Service

  Representatives of the Press

  The Bank of England

  The Retail Distributors Association Incorporated

  Augustus Barnett and Sons Ltd

  The Museums Association

  The London Diamond Club Ltd

  The National Supervisory Council for Intruder Alarms Ltd

  The National Supervisory Council for Intruder Alarms Ltd

  The British Security Industries Association

  The National Freight Corporation

  The Association of British Investigators

  The British Shipping Federation

  The British Casino Association

  The Betting Office Licensees Association

  The British Bingo Association

  The National Association of Licensed Bingo and Social Clubs

  The Continental Oil Company Ltd.

  Johnson, Matthey and Co. Ltd.

  The Accepting Houses Committee

  The British Jewellery and Giftware Federation Ltd.

  The Wellcome Foundation Ltd.

  Members of the London Gold Market

  The British Museum

  The Civil Aviation Authority

  The British Insurance Association and Lloyd's

  The Royal Commission on Historical Monuments

  Accountancy Firms
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby on 8 January,Official Report, column 474, he will provide a list of accountancy firms.

  Mr. Waddington
  The accountancy firms employed by the Home Office were:

  Touche Ross

  Peat Marwick and McLintock

  Deloitte Haskins and Sells

  Coopers and Lybrand.

  RTL Astra Channel
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority, and for what reasons, the Cable Authority ceased taking the RTL Astra channel.

  Mr. Mellor
  The Cable Authority is responsible under the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984 for the regulation of programme content on cable television. Section 10 of the 1984 Act places the authority under a duty to do all that it can to ensure that all licensed services comply with a number of requirements, which are codified in the authority's programme codes and guidelines. I understand the Cable Authority concluded that RTL Plus was in breach of these requirements and that it was therefore no longer acceptable.

  Thorp Arch Prison
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been allocated to Thorp Arch prison and are now awaiting transfer at the latest count.

  Mr. Mellor
  On Friday 23 March, 275 inmates were allocated and awaiting transfer to Thorp Arch prison.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been transferred to Thorp Arch prison in the last three months.

  Mr. Mellor
  On 19 March, 27 of the 134 inmates held at Throp Arch had been received since 19 December 1989. The numbers of inmates who may have been transferred to Thorp Arch in that period, and subsequently moved elsewhere, cannot be readily identified.

  Firearms
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many compensation claims have been received in relation to the Firearms Amendment Act 1998; how many of these claims have been(a) paid, (b) refused and (c) are still pending; and when such outstanding claims will be settled.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A total of 2,906 claims have been received from applicants in England and Wales for payments under the Government buy-in scheme for weapons newly prohibited under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988. Of these claims, 2,727 have had payments authorised and 73 have been refused as ineligible under the scheme. A further 106 claims have yet to be determined. These will be resolved as soon as we are able to determine their eligibility.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearms were handed into police stations under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 bringing-in scheme since its commencement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A total of 2,906 applicants in England and Wales have submitted claims in respect of 3,607 weapons, surrendered to the police or otherwise disposed of, for a payment under the Government buy-in scheme. Separate figures on the number of weapons surrendered to the police and the number otherwise disposed of are not collected centrally.

  Young Persons (Police Charges)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children and young persons, having been charged by the police, were transferred to the care of the local authority or detained by the police in pursuance of section 38(6) Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 in the last two years for which figures are available; and how this total figure is subdivided by police force area and local authority area.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I regret that this information is not available.

  Police (Protective Clothing)
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is considering issuing to police forces nuclear, biological and chemical defence clothing and equipment.

  Mr. John Patten
  The need for specialist clothing and equipment is kept under review.

  Deportation
  Mr. Litherland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many defendants found guilty of a criminal offence, during the last five years, have been recommended for deportation by the court; and how many of these recommendations the Home Secretary has supported;

  (2) in how many cases where there were no court recommendations for deportation after conviction of a criminal offence the Home Office has served notice to deport on grounds conducive to public good over the past five years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The available information for 1985 to 1988 is published in table 24 of the Home Office Command Paper "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 1988" (Cm. 726), and for 1987 to 1989 in table 14 of the Home Office statistical bulletin 8/90 "Control of Immigration: Statistics—Fourth Quarter and Year 1990". Copies of both publications are in the Library.

  The numbers of notices of intention to deport served on grounds conducive to the public good include a small number where there was no criminal conviction.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Refugee Camps, Thailand
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what he is doing to ensure United Kingdom food aid to the Cambodian camps on the Thailand border is not going to the Khmer Rouge.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 19 February, Column 486.

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether human rights matters, including the situation in East Timor and the recent execution of six political prisoners in Jakarta and in
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  Medan, will be included on the agenda of the 1990 meeting of the intergovernmental group on Indonesia, scheduled for June.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Her Majesty's Government have not received the proposed agenda for next June's meeting of the intergovernmental group on Indonesia. The meeting will be chaired by the Dutch Minister for Development Co-operation and no doubt he will be discussing the draft agenda with the Indonesian Government and the World Bank in the coming weeks.

  Czechoslovakia
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government have to assist economic, social and educational development in Czechoslovakia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 21 March, during the visit of President Havel to Britain, that the know-how fund for eastern Europe had been extended to cover Czechoslovakia. The aim will be to provide advice, skills and training to aid Czechoslovakia's transition towards democracy and a market economy. We shall be discussing an overall strategy for the use of the fund with the Czechoslovak authorities.

  Ivory
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring is being undertaken by his Department of elephant conservation schemes funded by Her Majesty's Government, following the decision to allow Hong Kong ivory to be traded.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We regularly monitor all development projects funded by Her Majesty's Government, including those in the wildlife conservation sector.

  Zaire
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice the Overseas Development Administration has given to Grindlay's bank about financing Babcock Electric in its logging projects in Zaire.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No advice has been sought or given.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  UNESCO
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to complete his review of the progress the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation is making in resolving the difficulties which prevent the United Kingdom from rejoining.

  Mr. Maude
  We are currently reviewing comments received from a large number of organisations consulted as part of our review of policy towards UNESCO. We will also be taking into account the views expressed in the report on UNESCO by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House.
  288
  We hope to be able to announce the outcome of the review during the course of the next few weeks.

  Complaints
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report for each of the last 10 years (a) the number of complaints made against his Department to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, (b) the number of complaints upheld and (c) the action he took on (b).

  Mr. Maude
  The number of complaints(a) made and (b) upheld for the last 10 years is as follows:

  (a) complaints made

  (b) complaints upheld

  1989–90

  1

  1

  1988–89

  5

  1

  1987–88

  7

  —

  1986–87

  5

  —

  1985–86

  7

  —

  1984–85

  10

  —

  1983–84

  6

  —

  1982–83

  13

  —

  1981–82

  14

  —

  1980–81

  6

  —

  1 Figures not yet available.

  When the PCA upholds a complaint it is departmental practice to provide an appropriate remedy.

  Guatemala
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make representations to the Government in Guatemala on the abduction on 27 February of Benjamin Diaz Arévalo, a student at the universidad de San Carlos in Guatemala;

  (2) if he will make representations to the Guatemalan Government concerning the safety of Carlos Luna, a student of the San Carlos university, Guatemala city.

  Mr. Maude
  We are making inquiries about these cases. We will continue to monitor the human rights situation and make representations when appropriate, either acting alone or in concert with our European partners. The Guatemalan authorities are in no doubt about the concern felt in this country about human rights violations in Guatemala.

  Refugee Camps, Thailand
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to support European Commissioner Abei Mauters, to establish neutral refugee camps on the Thailand border.

  Mr. Maude
  We support all efforts to improve the lot of displaced persons in camps along the Thai-Cambodian border. Since 1979, the United Kingdom has contributed over £13·7 million in humanitarian assistance via international agencies. If and when neutral camps under direct United Nations administration need to be created as part of a comprehensive political settlement in Cambodia, we would be ready to play our full part in their establishment.

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the human rights situation in East Timor, following the United States ambassador's visit to Dili in January.

  Mr. Maude
  We believe that generally the situation has improved following the changes in military command structure last December. We continue to monitor the situation.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the instructions given by the Indonesian Minister for Defence in February to the armed forces about how to handle demonstrators in favour of independence from Indonesia.

  Mr. Maude
  We are not party to instructions issued by the Indonesian Minister of Defence. We understand that the authorities' intention is that peaceful demonstrations should be allowed to pass off without intervention.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the British Government have made to the Indonesian authorities about the use of violence against peaceful demonstrators for independence in East Timor.

  Mr. Maude
  The Indonesian authorities are well aware of our views on the need to respect human rights. Two recent demonstrations that we know of passed off peacefully without incident.

  Eastern Europe
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government are taking to promote educational exchanges between the United Kingdom and the emerging democracies of eastern Europe and, in particular, to assist students from these countries to study at United Kingdom universities.

  Mr. Maude
  We have been progressively extending our educational exchange programmes in response to changes in eastern Europe and introducing new schemes to bring eastern European students to our universities and polytechnics, funded jointly with the private sector, with academic institutions and with bodies such as the Soros Foundation.

  Kenya
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact his Department has had in recent weeks with Dr. Richard Leakey, director of the Kenyan wildlife department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The British High Commission in Nairobi is in regular contact with Dr. Leakey and senior officials of the Kenya Wildlife Service. The high commissioner in Nairobi last met Dr. Leakey on 15 March.

  Kenya
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has regarding the level of elephant poaching in Kenya following the decision to enter a reservation on behalf of Hong Kong ivory.

  Mr. Maude
  The Kenya Wildlife Service does not produce official figures of monthly poaching. The service knows of only three killings in March in Tsavo and, although not all poached elephants are discovered, it anticipates that the total killed for this month in Kenya will be in single figures. During the previous two months we know that 50 elephants were illegally killed in the Tsavo area.

  Ivory
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on world price movements of ivory following the decision to enter a reservation on behalf of Hong Kong; and what monitoring is maintained of price movements.

  Mr. Maude
  None. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not monitor price movements in the ivory market.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Environmental Investigation Agency concerning poached ivory being laundered into Hong Kong using spare CITES permits.

  Mr. Maude
  None.

SCOTLAND

  Health Spending
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those years in the period 1974 to 1989 when financial cuts in real terms were made in the National Health Service in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs. Ewing) on 15 November 1989,Official Report, columns 362–63. In the period 1974–1989, the only year in which gross National Health Service spending in Scotland fell in real terms was 1977–78.

  Speech Therapy
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number of vacancies for speech therapists within each health board area and the agreed establishment for speech therapists.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the average case load covered by a speech therapist;

  (2) if he will provide a percentage breakdown of the communication-handicapped population who receive speech therapy in (a) the hospital site, (b) National Health Service premises, (c) local authority premises, (d) patients' homes and (e) other locations;
  291
  (3) if he will provide statistics on the levels of speech therapy service currently available in each area health authority in Scotland; if work is currently in progress to analyse the levels of services required for areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 27 March 1990]: Information available centrally about speech therapy

  Table 1—Speech therapy statistics: year ending 31 March 1989

  Scotland

  Argyll and Clyde

  Ayrshire and Arran

  Borders

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Fife

  Forth Valley

  Grampian

  Patients attending1

  All ages

  Number

  51,083

  3,928

  4,263

  1,480

  1,788

  3,658

  3,308

  5,644

  Rate2

  10·0

  8·9

  11·4

  14·4

  12·1

  10·6

  12·2

  11·3

  Aged under 5

  30·7

  41·5

  33·6

  24·7

  33·8

  32·0

  23·3

  34·9

  5–18

  41·8

  35·2

  51·2

  42·0

  49·0

  35·1

  47·2

  41·1

  19–64

  14·1

  13·8

  8·5

  19·9

  8·3

  12·3

  18·5

  12·0

  65 and over

  13·3

  9·6

  6·7

  13·4

  8·8

  20·6

  10·9

  12·1

  New patients

  All ages

  Number

  22,447

  1,834

  1,381

  719

  526

  1,593

  1,157

  2,203

  Rate2

  4·4

  4·1

  3·7

  7·0

  3·6

  4·6

  4·3

  4·4

  Aged under 5

  38·6

  46·0

  56·0

  27·0

  47·5

  38·3

  35·8

  40·8

  5–18

  23·3

  21·5

  20·2

  41·2

  29·1

  17·0

  17·7

  23·3

  19–64

  17·0

  16·9

  11·4

  17·8

  9·5

  11·7

  24·0

  14·7

  65 and over

  21·1

  15·6

  12·3

  14·0

  13·9

  33·0

  22·5

  21·2

  Attendances

  All attendances

  465,226

  36,101

  34,545

  21,906

  23,552

  37,456

  26,806

  39,422

  Hospital

  Inpatient

  14·8

  13·8

  6·2

  9·6

  3·4

  10·5

  28·3

  17·8

  Outpatient

  13·0

  11·7

  6·5

  4·6

  3·1

  7·7

  12·8

  9·3

  Health Centre/Clinic

  22·4

  31·6

  42·0

  6·0

  0·8

  24·9

  9·3

  25·5

  School

  38·3

  36·1

  41·5

  49·3

  67·1

  39·0

  35·7

  38·5

  Domiciliary

  4·7

  2·2

  2·7

  10·1

  16·8

  6·3

  4·4

  3·3

  Other

  6·8

  4·7

  1·1

  20·4

  8·8

  11·6

  9·6

  5·7

  Speech therapists3

  Number

  446

  38

  26

  14

  18

  30

  23

  56

  Whole-time equivalents

  363·4

  30·2

  22·4

  10·7

  16·1

  26·4

  17·8

  43·7

  Table 1—continued

  Greater Glasgow

  Highland

  Lanarkshire

  Lothian

  Orkney

  Shetland

  Tayside

  Western Isles

  Patients Attending1

  All Ages

  Number

  8,274

  2,998

  3,570

  7,329

  478

  356

  3,706

  303

  Rate2

  8·8

  14·9

  6·4

  9·9

  24·6

  15·9

  9·4

  9·8

  Aged under 5

  24·0

  27·0

  36·7

  29·6

  16·5

  16·3

  34·7

  21·1

  5–18

  38·6

  55·5

  39·9

  35·4

  78·2

  73·6

  39·7

  49·5

  19–64

  20·8

  9·2

  12·7

  15·8

  1·7

  4·5

  11·6

  20·1

  65 and over

  16·6

  8·3

  10·7

  19·2

  3·6

  5·6

  14·0

  9·2

  New Patients

  All Ages

  Number

  4,301

  1,069

  1,738

  3,827

  157

  186

  1,622

  134

  Rate2

  4·6

  5·3

  3·1

  5·2

  8·1

  8·3

  4·1

  4·3

  Aged under 5

  30·7

  37·7

  49·5

  34·4

  29·9

  21·0

  39·3

  35·8

  5–18

  25·5

  37·4

  20·9

  16·9

  64·3

  68·8

  19·7

  45·5

  19–64

  21·2

  11·6

  15·1

  21·2

  1·9

  5·9

  15·4

  13·4

  65 and over

  22·6

  13·3

  14·4

  27·5

  3·8

  4·3

  25·6

  5·2

  Attendances

  All Attendances

  66,689

  17,764

  30,913

  79,510

  2,422

  3,645

  42,343

  2,152

  Hospital Inpatient

  18·9

  14·1

  9·6

  20·6

  3·3

  1·6

  13·6

  4·6

  292
  staffing, patients, workload and location of treatment in health boards is collated annually by the information and statistics division of Common Services Agency. The latest tables are as follows, and copies are in the Library. Assessment of the need for speech therapy services is a matter for health boards.
  293

  Greater Glasgow

  Highland

  Lanarkshire

  Lothian

  Orkney

  Shetland

  Tayside

  Western Isles

  Outpatient

  24·3

  5·6

  15·5

  13·5

  0·2

  14·7

  21·7

  0·9

  Health Centre/Clinic

  28·1

  10·3

  50·2

  15·8

  3·9

  1·5

  13·2

  21·1

  School

  18·2

  55·8

  20·2

  41·1

  79·0

  79·5

  42·9

  42·9

  Domiciliary

  2·8

  10·3

  2·2

  3·4

  9·3

  2·6

  2·4

  28·0

  Other

  7·8

  3·9

  2·3

  5·6

  4·2

  —

  6·3

  2·4

  Speech Therapists3

  Number

  80

  16

  33

  64

  2

  1

  41

  4

  Whole-time-equivalent

  65·7

  13·4

  26·8

  53·1

  2·0

  0·7

  31·3

  3·1

  1Old and new patients.

  2 Per 1,000 population.

  3 As at 31st March 1989 (provisional figures): excludes speech therapy helpers.

  Source: Form ISD(S)31 and ISD (National Manpower Statistics).

  Table 2

  Speech therapists: by grade and health board: at 31 March 1989 (Provisional)

  Grade E

  Number

  WTE

  Scotland

  5

  5·0

  Argyll and Clyde

  —

  —

  Ayrshire and Arran

  1

  1·0

  Borders

  —

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway

  —

  —

  Fife

  1

  1·0

  Forth Valley

  1

  1·0

  Grampian

  —

  —

  Greater Glasgow

  —

  —

  Highland

  —

  —

  Lanarkshire

  —

  —

  Lothian

  1

  1·0

  Orkney

  —

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  Tayside

  1

  1·0

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  Grade D

  Number

  WTE

  Scotland

  27

  27·0

  Argyll and Clyde

  3

  3·0

  Ayrshire and Arran

  1

  1·0

  Borders

  1

  1·0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2

  2·0

  Fife

  —

  —

  Forth Valley

  2

  2·0

  Grampian

  2

  2·0

  Greater Glasgow

  3

  3·0

  Highland

  1

  1·0

  Lanarkshire

  1

  1·0

  Lothian

  6

  6·0

  Orkney

  —

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  Tayside

  4

  4·0

  Western Isles

  1

  1·0

  Grade C (Senior)

  Number

  WTE

  Scotland

  141

  129·0

  Argyll and Clyde

  10

  8·5

  Ayrshire and Arran

  8

  7·5

  Borders

  4

  4·0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1

  1·0

  Fife

  8

  8·0

  294

  Number

  WTE

  Forth Valley

  4

  3·4

  Grampian

  11

  11·0

  Greater Glasgow

  43

  38·4

  Highland

  3

  3·0

  Lanarkshire

  11

  10·5

  Lothian

  25

  22·1

  Orkney

  1

  1·0

  Shetland

  —

  —

  Tayside

  11

  9·6

  Western Isles

  1

  1·0

  Grade B (Basic)

  Number

  WTE

  Scotland

  240

  171·8

  Argyll and Clyde

  22

  16·1

  Ayrshire and Arran

  15

  11·9

  Borders

  9

  5·7

  Dumfries and Galloway

  14

  12·1

  Fife

  19

  15·4

  Forth Valley

  13

  8·4

  Grampian

  36

  23·7

  Greater Glasgow

  27

  18–1

  Highland

  12

  9·4

  Lanarkshire

  20

  14·3

  Lothian

  30

  22·3

  Orkney

  —

  —

  Shetland

  1

  0·7

  Tayside

  20

  12·6

  Western Isles

  2

  1·1

  Grade A

  Number

  WTE

  Scotland

  33

  30·6

  Argyll and Clyde

  3

  2·6

  Ayrshire and Arran

  1

  1·0

  Borders

  —

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1

  1·0

  Fife

  2

  2·0

  Forth Valley

  3

  3·0

  Grampian

  7

  7·0

  Greater Glasgow

  7

  6·2

  Highland

  —

  —

  Lanarkshire

  1

  1·0

  Lothian

  2

  1·7

  Orkney

  1

  1·0

  Shetland

  —

  —

  Tayside

  5

  4·1

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  295

  ST Helper

  Number

  WTE

  Scotland

  3

  1·3

  Argyll and Clyde

  —

  —

  Ayrshire and Arran

  —

  —

  Borders

  —

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1

  0·5

  Fife

  —

  —

  Forth Valley

  1

  0·3

  Grampian

  —

  —

  Greater Glasgow

  1

  0·5

  Highland

  —

  —

  Lanarkshire

  —

  —

  Lothian

  —

  —

  Orkney

  —

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  Tayside

  —

  —

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  Source: ISD (National Manpower Statistics).

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give a breakdown of the percentages of speech therapy referrals which come from doctors and consultants, and from clinical medical officers, health

  Speech therapists in post: Whole-time equivalent at 30 September

  Health board

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  11989

  Scotland

  323·7

  339·4

  343·1

  372·3

  377·6

  Argyll and Clyde

  27·5

  29·0

  28·1

  32·8

  33·0

  Ayrshire and Arran

  17·9

  19·3

  20·6

  20·5

  21·5

  Borders

  10·2

  10·3

  11·2

  10·7

  11·7

  Dumfries and Galloway

  15·6

  16·5

  15·9

  15·8

  16·1

  Fife

  23·7

  25·3

  28·0

  27·5

  28·1

  Forth Valley

  13·8

  13·4

  16·3

  18·4

  18·2

  Grampian

  28·6

  35·6

  33·5

  40·2

  45·5

  Greater Glasgow

  60·4

  62·6

  63·0

  70·8

  63·7

  Highland

  12·8

  14·8

  14·9

  16·1

  15·5

  Lanarkshire

  22·8

  24·1

  23·2

  27·5

  31·8

  Lothian

  53·4

  50·2

  52·5

  53·6

  56·4

  Orkney

  2·0

  1·2

  2·0

  1·6

  1·0

  Shetland

  0·8

  0·8

  0·8

  0·7

  0·7

  Tayside

  31·9

  33·0

  29·8

  33·5

  31·3

  Western Isles

  2·3

  3·3

  3·3

  2·6

  3·1

  1 Provisional.

  Greater Glasgow Health Board
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the name and address of the company which is transferring the Greater Glasgow health board's medical records onto computer.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No such transfer is being undertaken at this time.

  Examinations
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people sat public educational examinations in(a) politics (b) constitutional studies and (c) political history in 1989.

  Mr. Lang
  The Scottish Examination Board does not offer examinations in any of these subjects. Figures for presentations in these subjects in the further and higher education sectors are not collected centrally.
  296
  visitors, community nursing, educational services, social services, speech therapists in other districts, from self-referrals and other sources;

  (2) if he will provide statistics relating to the percentages of people receiving speech therapy services who have associated mobility problems or a level of social-economic difficulty.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 27 March 1990]: This information is not available centrally.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) on 20 December,Official Report, column 296, if he will provide details of the numbers of speech therapists employed by each regional education authority in Scotland during the past five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 27 March 1990]: Speech therapists are employed almost exclusively by health boards which provide the service for education authorities. The table shows the whole-time equivalent numbers of speech therapists employed by health boards at the latest available date and at the corresponding date in each of the years 1985–88.

  A9
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report those stretches of the A9 lying within Caithness and Sutherland in respect of which since 1970 improvement plans have been announced; and if he will indicate, for each stretch of road, whether (a) work has been completed, (b) work is in progress and (c) an economic assessment is still in train.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The position with respect to major schemes for which plans have been announced since 1970 is as follows:

  A9 Schemes within Caithness and Sutherland

  Year completed

  Length kms

  Completed

  Helmsdale Bridge Diversion

  1973

  0·9

  Bonar Bridge Replacement

  1973

  0·4

  Knockinnon-Latheronwheel

  1976

  2·4

  Mound Bridges

  1988

  0·6

  Dornoch Firth Northern Approach Road

  1988

  4·0

  297

  Year completed

  Length kms

  Dunbeath Bridge Diversion

  1990

  1·6

  In progress

  Expected completion

  Dornoch Firth Bridge

  1991

  0·8

  Economic assessment not yet available

  Windyhouse-Borgue Bridge

  —

  2·8

  Portgower-Greenpark

  —

  1·6

  Berriedale

  —

  5·0

  Crackaig-Culgower

  —

  1·8

  Helmsdale-County Boundary

  —

  5·2

  Brora Bypass

  —

  2·5

  Clothing and Textiles
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department intends to take in order to protect the clothing and textiles industry in Strathclyde after the eventual phasing-out of the multi-fibre arrangement.

  Mr. Lang
  This is primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The Government have made it clear that progress in phasing out the multi-fibre arrangement must be on the basis of a strengthening of GATT rules and disciplines, particularly those relating to safeguards, unfair trade, intellectual property and the reduction of trade barriers. It is by progress in those areas that the industry will be assisted in coming to terms with the liberalisation of trade in the clothing and textile sector.

  Portland Street, Kilmarnock
  Mr. William McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will report on the progress of the planning application submitted by Balfour Beatty to redevelop Portland street, Kilmarnock.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office inquiry reporter carried out his accompanied site inspection of Portland street on 16 January. His report in relation to the listed building consent applications associated with the proposed Balfour Beatty development is at present under consideration. I expect to reach a conclusion on these applications very soon.

  Staff in post: Whole-time equivalents at 30 September 1989 (provisional)

  Health Board

  Physiotherapist

  Occupational therapist

  Clinical Psychologist

  Pharmacist1

  Scotland

  1,253·3

  592·3

  184·5

  489·8

  Argyll and Clyde

  79·1

  32·1

  17·6

  29·0

  Ayrshire and Arran

  88·5

  29·0

  8·0

  27·9

  Borders

  24·8

  9·7

  3·0

  6·6

  Dumfries and Galloway

  21·0

  17·3

  10·0

  7·4

  Fife

  71·7

  33·7

  15·0

  18·0

  Forth Valley

  56·0

  34·4

  11·8

  19·2

  Grampian

  114·8

  65·3

  21·7

  41·5

  Greater Glasgow

  315·0

  136·0

  29·5

  155·6

  Highland

  45·8

  14·9

  4·0

  17·5

  Lanarkshire

  105·5

  28·1

  12·4

  36·6

  Lothian

  225·8

  135·9

  35·6

  82·5

  National Health Service (Competitive Tendering)
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on competitive tendering for the non-emergency patient transport services in the Forth Valley and Lanarkshire health board areas.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Common Services Agency, having considered the tenders received, has decided to award the contract to the Scottish ambulance service in-house team for a five-year period from 1 July 1990.

  The tendering exercise has been proved successful and will result in substantial savings of £500,000. These savings will be reinvested into the accident and emergency service to further improve the level of care provided with no detriment to the non-emergency patient transport service.

  In the light of this experience, I have asked the agency to begin the preparatory work which will allow the tendering exercise to be extended to other areas in Scotland.

  GPs (Fees and Allowances)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the amendment to the statement of fees and allowances to be administered by the Scottish Rural Practice and Fund Committee for the benefit of general practitioners who practise in less densely populated country areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 26 March 1990]: The Scottish rural practice fund committee has not yet formulated detailed proposals concerning the new scheme. It has recommended that in the first instance the transitional payments scheme at present set out in paragraph 83 of the statement of fees and allowances (SFA) should apply to all GPs who meet the criteria, including those who receive payments from the Scottish rural practice fund. An amendment to the SFA will be made shortly to give effect to this recommendation. This will allow the longer-term scheme covering doctors who work in the less populated areas of Scotland to be worked out carefully and in detail. The details of that long-term scheme will also be set out in an amendment to the SFA in due course.

  Health Service Staff
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many physiotherapists, occupational therapists, clinical pyschologists and pharmacists are employed in each area health authority in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 27 March 1990]: The information is as follows:
  299

  Health Board

  Physiotherapist

  Occupational therapist

  Clinical psychologist

  Pharmacist1

  Orkney

  5·0

  0·6

  0·0

  0·0

  Shetland

  5·0

  1·0

  0·0

  0·0

  Tayside

  84·7

  53·3

  14·9

  45·0

  Western Isles

  10·6

  1·0

  0·0

  2·0

  CSA

  0·0

  0·0

  1·0

  1·0

  1 hospital based.

  Infertility Services
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he anticipates receiving the report of the working party set up by the National Medical Consultative Committee to examine the provision of infertility services in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 28 March 1990]: The report of the working group on infertility is currently being drafted. Following consideration by the national medical advisory committee, it is hoped that the final report will reach the Scottish Health Service Advisory Council in June, and be submitted to my right hon. and learned Friend thereafter.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Income Support
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the annual cost of administering income support benefits for free school meals, free milk, wigs, fabric support, prescriptions, false teeth and glasses; and what is the annual value of these benefit payments.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The administration costs arising in the Department of Social Security in respect of the free welfare milk scheme are estimated to be £9·3 million in the year 1989–90. The administration costs in respect of the free school meals scheme and the exemption from NHS charges of income support recipients are not separately identifiable.

  Administration costs in other Departments and elsewhere, and the benefits costs, of providing these schemes for income support recipients are the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friends the Secretaries of State for Health and for Scotland and my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Wales.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give his latest information on the number of claimants living in the Greenock and Port Glasgow parliamentary constituency aged below 25 years, over 25 years and married couples, receiving income support and the number of dependants covered by each of these three groups of payments.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information is unavailable and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest available information on the number of claimants of income support, together with the number of dependants, in each of the parliamentary constituencies in the Strathclyde region; and if he will give the comparable information for 1979 and 1987.
  300
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Data on the number of dependants are unavailable and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Data on the number of claimants of income support are unavailable by parliamentary constituency. Data for the Department's offices covering Strathclyde region as a whole are in the table.

  Number of supplementary benefit/income support claimants

  Year

  Numbers

  1990

  289,589

  1987

  253,955

  1979

  173,068

  Source: 100 per cent. count of cases in action which include a number where payment has ceased but other action is continuing. Data for 1990 is provisional and subject to amendment.

  Benefits (Take-up)
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the rate of take-up of (i) housing benefit and (ii) income support by(a) all claimants and (b) pensioner households.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The latest available information on take-up of income-related benefits is contained in the technical notes on take-up of benefits, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the current level of child benefit if it had been raised in line with inflation.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Child benefit was fully introduced from April 1979 at a rate of £4 a week. Increasing that by the movement in the index of retail prices to April 1989 would give a current amount of £8·42.

  Community Care Grants
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether community care grants are available to persons moving from long-stay psychiatric hospitals to housing association houses where care staff are provided.

  Mr. Scott
  Directions and guidance for the award of social fund community care grants appear in the social fund manual, a copy of which is in the Library. The guidance makes it clear that community care grants are intended to promote independent living in the community. In any particular case it will be for the social fund officer to decide whether a move from long-stay hospital care to a home with some provision for care can be regarded as a return to the community. One of the factors taken into account will be the level of care provided.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report the final expenditure for each local social fund office for the year 1988–89, separately for loans and grants expressed as a proportion of the total annual allocation made to each office.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested can be derived from data in the Library.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report the names of offices given extra allocations for social fund loans or grants from 1 January to the present and the value of those allocations.

  Mr. Scott
  We shall place a full list of the additional allocations in the Library after the end of the current financial year.
  Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what proportion of successful applicants to the social fund had support for their application from(a) hon. Members, (b) social workers, (c) welfare rights workers and (d) voluntary groups both (i) initially and (ii) after request for review for (1) community care grants, (2) budgeting loans and (3) crisis loans;

  (2) what proportion of unsuccessful applicants to the social fund had support for their application from (a) hon. Members, (b) social workers, (c) welfare rights workers and (d) voluntary groups both (i) initially and (ii) after request for review for (1) community care grants, (2) budgeting loans and (3) crisis loans.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is not collected.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of people in(a) Scotland, (b) Dunfermline, (c) Cowdenbeath, (d) Leven and (e) Kirkcaldy receiving income support in November 1989; and what is his estimate of the number of dependents of each of these at the same date.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 26 March 1990]: Data on the number of dependants are unavailable and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Data on the number of claimants of income support are in the table.

  Number of income support claimants

  Area

  Number

  Scotland

  506,853

  Dunfermline

  5,718

  Cowdenbeath

  4,407

  Leven

  5,114

  Kirkcaldy

  11,052

  Source: 100 per cent. count of cases in action which include a number where payment has ceased but other action is continuing. Data are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye of 21 March,Official Report, column 642, if he will ensure that payment of the claim for family credit dated November 1989 made by the Reverend and Mrs. John MacLeod of Ross-shire, about whom the
  302
  hon. Member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye wrote to the Minister on 13 February and 13 March, respectively, will not be delayed by the appeal of the Department of Social Security to the Social Security Commissioners against the award made under the claim for family credit dated November 1988 made by the Reverend and Mrs. John MacLeod; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The latest claim was decided on 22 March. An award of family credit was made and has been put into payment.

  Community Charge
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the figures showing the amounts of community charge benefit payable during 1990–91 to pensioner couples with joint community charge bills(a) £500, (b) £750, (c) £1,000 and (d) £1,250, assuming in each case that they have £15,000 invested in the building society and occupational pensions of (i) nil, (ii) £500, (iii) £1,000 and (iv) £1,500.

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

  Community charge benefit (weekly). Pensioner couple, capital £15,000, aged 60–74, on state retirement pension for a couple of £75·10 per week.

  Annual joint community charge

  Occupational Pension (per annum)

  Nil £

  £500 £

  £1,000 £

  £1,500 £

  £500

  0·54

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  £750

  4·38

  2·92

  1·48

  Nil

  £1,000

  8·20

  6·76

  5·32

  3·88

  £1,250

  12·04

  10·60

  9·16

  7·72

  Whooping Cough Vaccine
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether there has been any change in(a) departmental policy and (b) the adjudicating doctor's attitude towards payments for damage from the whooping cough vaccine following the Loveday case.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Departmental policy towards vaccine damage payments has not changed since the Loveday case. It remains our intention to make payments under the vaccine damage payments scheme for people who show that they are severely disabled as a result of the effects of vaccination against certain diseases, including whooping cough. The Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 requires that the question whether the severe disablement results from vaccination is to be decided on the balance of probability. Adjudicating doctors have to look at all the relevant evidence available to them when making this decision in individual cases. The Loveday judgment forms part of this evidence.

  Benefits
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the level of benefits.
  303
  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement on uprating social security benefits made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 25 October 1989 at col.841–69.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Economy
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the performance of the Northern Ireland economy over the last 12 months.

  Mr. Cope
  The latest information shows that, in the last quarter of 1989, manufacturing output was 7 per cent. above the same quarter of the previous year, the number unemployed in February 1990 was 10,900 down on a year earlier and growth in Northern Ireland's gross domestic product since 1981 has been similar to the United Kingdom's.

  Dublin (Official Visit)
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he hopes next to pay an official visit to Dublin; whom he proposes to meet; and what he hopes to discuss.

  Mr. Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next plans to meet his co-chairman of the Anglo-Irish intergovernmental council; and what he hopes to discuss.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next hopes to meet the Foreign Secretary of the Republic of Ireland; and what he plans to discuss.

  Mr. Brooke
  I plan to meet Mr. Collins in Dublin shortly to discuss political development within Northern Ireland. Other current issues affecting Northern Ireland are likely to be raised.

  Local Government
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with representatives from political parties in Northern Ireland regarding the transfer of various powers to local authorities.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any plans to increase the scope and accountability of local government in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In their talks with us, most Northern Ireland politicians have looked towards the establishment of a devolved form of government for Northern Ireland as a whole, with an appropriate role for representatives of the minority community. The Government would give serious consideration to any proposals for more local involvement in the government of Northern Ireland which were workable and seemed likely to command widespread acceptance.

  Stevens Inquiry
  Mr. Molyneaux
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he proposes to publish the report of the Stevens inquiry.
  304
  Mr. Cope
  I understand that Mr. Stevens has not yet delivered his report to the Chief Constable, who commissioned it. At this stage, it is too early to say when or in what form its conclusions may be made public.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Stevens inquiry.

  Mr. Cope
  So far, 58 people have been charged with offences as a result of the inquiries of Mr. Stevens and his team. The inquiry continues. I understand that Mr. Stevens is now expected to report the findings of his inquiry to the Chief Constable of the RUC during the month of April.

  Anglo-Irish Agreement
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with representatives of Eire regarding the Anglo-Irish Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  I last met Ministers from the Republic of Ireland at the Anglo-lrish Intergovernmental Conference meeting on 2 March. The two Governments remain committed to the Agreement and the principles it embodies.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the status of Northern Ireland as embodied in the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

  Mr. Brooke
  Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. The Governments of the United Kingdom and of the Republic of Ireland affirm in article 1 of the Anglo-Irish Agreement that any change in the status of Northern Ireland would only come about with the consent of a majority of the people in Northern Ireland and recognise that the present wish of a majority is for no change in that status.

  School Assemblies
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to introduce legislative proposals relating to the conduct of school assemblies; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No.

  Community Relations
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on community relations in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Steps have been and are being taken to improve relations between the two sides of the community in Northern Ireland. These include measures directed at:increasing contact and co-operation across the community;
  increasing greater mutual respect and understanding; and ensuring the existence of equality of opportunity and equity of treatment.

  Terrorists (Extradition)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications by the Royal Ulster Constabulary for the extradition of persons sought
  305
  for terrorist-type crimes have been made during the last 10 years to the Irish Republic; and how many persons have subsequently been handed over.

  Mr. Cope
  During the past 10 years the Royal Ulster Constabulary has requested the return of 51 persons for terrorist offences from the Irish Republic. Six persons have subsequently been returned, three of them in the past 20 months.

  Security
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current security situation in Northern Ireland.

  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the present security situation in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current security situation in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Brooke
  Since I answered a similar question on 1 March 1990 there have been six deaths arising from the security situation in Northern Ireland. A part-time member of the UDR, a member of the RUC Reserve and a civilian were murdered by republican terrorists. Following the latter murder, I have proscribed the Irish People's Liberation Organisation. Two civilians were murdered by loyalist terrorists, and a further civilian died in the course of an attempted robbery. I know the House will join me in condemning the vicious and cowardly murder of the RUC Reserve Constable George Starrett, who was cruelly shot last night at his home in Armagh. This sickening attack on a man who was convalescing at home is yet one more example of the depravity of these evil men.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the levels of planned expenditure on the National Health Service in 1990–91 broken down by region.

  Mr. Needham
  A total of £1,035 million will be provided for the health and personal social services in Northern Ireland. Of this sum, £742,847 million will be allocated directly to the four health and social services boards. Excluding sums set aside for priority developments the balance will be allocated as follows: the Eastern board, £392,372 million, the Northern board, £123,891 million, the Southern board, £113,982 million and the Western board, £113,525 million.

  Voluntary Organisations
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to increase grants to voluntary bodies in 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Cope
  Grants to voluntary bodies are reviewed each financial year and adjusted as necessary. However, there are no plans to increase grants to voluntary bodies in the remaining part of the 1989–90 financial year.

  Cross-border Co-operation
  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what subjects of cross-border co-operation were discussed at the last meeting of the Anglo-Irish ministerial council.

  Mr. Brooke
  Discussions at the last meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 2 March included cross-border co-operation on security and social and economic matters.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what issues of non-security related cross-border co-operation will be discussed at the next meeting of the Anglo-Irish ministerial conference.

  Mr. Brooke
  Among the items for discussion at the next Conference will be cross-border economic and social co-operation and the implications of 1992.

  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on cross-border security co-operation between the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic.

  Mr. Brooke
  Enhancing cross-border co-operation on security matters remains a fundamental objective of the Government in their discussions with the Irish Government. Progress has been made since the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, but there remains considerable scope for further improvement. We shall continue to explore, through the Conference, ways in which this can be achieved.

  Prison Visits
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what requests he has received from the Irish Government for visits to prisons in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Cope
  None.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients were treated in hospitals in Northern Ireland in 1987 and 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Needham
  The total numbers of in-patients treated in 1987 and 1989 were as follows:

  1987

  1988–89

  Ordinary admissions

  266,622

  266,530

  Day cases

  27,707

  42,423

  TOTAL

  294,329

  308,953

  Industrial Development Board
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the annual amount of Industrial Development Board assistance to aid employment.

  Mr. Needham
  The Industrial Development Board's expenditure to aid employment was £94 million in 1988–89. Forecast expenditure for the current year is £85 million.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement on inward investment.

  Mr. Needham
  Recent successes and current levels of interest by potential investors in the far east, United States and Europe suggest that an increasing number of companies are prepared to give serious consideration to investment in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is being done to promote overseas investment in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  Our efforts are concentrated on major markets for mobile investment, with increasing emphasis on the far east and the USA, and sectorally in areas where Northern Ireland has particular strengths.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the benefits of advance factory provision and availability of sites with development planning approval in attracting inward investment to Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  The IDB's advance factories provide high quality and immediately available industrial accommodation for inward investors who may wish to purchase or rent premises. Twelve such factories are currently available throughout the Province. Serviced industrially zoned land provides investors with the opportunity to acquire sites quickly and at market price for early project implementation. Some 500 acres of fully serviced land are available in the major centres of population.

  Northern Ireland Railways
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the chairman of Northern Ireland Railways; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  I met the chairman on 2 March 1990 at the scene of the level crossing accident at Slaght, near Ballymena, Co. Antrim. We viewed the damage to the rolling stock and track and discussed steps necessary to set up an inquiry into the accident and the arrangements to visit the local hospital to see those who had been injured.

  Area Health Boards
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whan he last met representatives of the area health boards; and what issues were discussed.

  Mr. Needham
  My noble Friend Lord Skelmersdale has met representatives of the boards on a number of occasions. His discussions with them have covered a wide range of issues concerning the policy and administration of the health and personal social services in Northern Ireland including the progress of the boards in taking forward the reforms set out in "Working for Patients".

  Constitutional Reform
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what practical alternatives to devolution have emerged from his exploratory meetings with the main constitutional political parties.
  308
  Mr. Brooke
  All the main constitutional political parties in Northern Ireland have expressed a willingness to work towards the devolution of powers to local elected representatives. The Government support this aim, because it seems the approach most likely to command widespread acceptance and serve the interests of all. My discussions with the leaders of the parties have concentrated on this approach.

  Community Care
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has for the reorganisation of community care.

  Mr. Needham
  My noble Friend Lord Skelmersdale is today publishing a policy paper, entitled "People First", which sets out the Government's proposals for the development of community care in Northern Ireland. A copy is being placed in the Library.

  Cross-community Projects
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many schools are involved in cross-community projects; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In October 1987 I introduced the cross-community contact scheme to stimulate the development of cross-community projects between schools, and youth and community groups.

  Since its introduction, some 400 schools—about one third of all schools in Northern Ireland—have applied for assistance under the scheme which has an actual budget in 1989–90 of £450,000. Grant is available for joint, continuing projects most of which are curriculum based.

  Private House Building
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate private sector house building in 1979 and 1989.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  Private house building starts rose 64 per cent. from 4,127 in 1979 to 6,763 in 1989.

  Planning Legislation
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes he proposes to make to Northern Ireland planning legislation.

  Mr. Needham
  I intend to lay a draft Planning (Northern Ireland) Order before the House in April.

  Northern Ireland Members have already been consulted on the proposed draft order, the main points of which will be the introduction of simplified planning zones; discontinuance notices; planning agreements and measures for controlling the storage and use of hazardous substances. This will bring the planning law in Northern Ireland substantially into line with that in Great Britain. Also, the draft order will introduce a new measure—a submission notice procedure whereby the Department of Environment (NI) could require the submission of a planning application from anyone carrying out development without planning permission.

  Prison Service
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the prison service in the light of the decision of the Dublin Supreme Court.

  Mr. Cope
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said in the House on 14 March the suggestion that persons returned to custody in Northern Ireland would be subject to ill treatment was"an unacceptable slur on the professionalism of the men and women of the Northern Ireland prison service."—[Official Report, 14 March 1990; Vol. 169, c. 481.]
  whose members work with courage and commitment often in difficult circumstances. Conditions in the Maze prison and throughout the Northern Ireland prison system compare most favourably with those found elsewhere in Europe and prisoners are able to enjoy the benefits of an imaginative and constructive prison regime.

  Strangford Lough
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the representations about the declaration of the Strangford Lough (ASSI) Part 3 were taken into consideration during the consultative period by(a) his Department and (b) the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland considered all representations and objections to the declaration of the Strangford Lough (part 3) area of special scientific interest before confirmation took place on 16 November 1989. At a meeting on 3 November 1989 the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside was given information regarding the representations and objections and took this into consideration before advising the Department of its support for the confirmation of the area of special scientific interest.

  Primary Schools, County Fermanagh
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on progress towards resolution of controlled post-primary provision in County Fermanagh for the future.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The future of controlled post-primary school provision in County Fermanagh is a matter for the Western education and library board. No development proposals relating to controlled post-primary schools in this area have been published. However, at the request of the board of governors of Portora royal school—a voluntary grammar school for boys—the board has published a proposal to the effect that girls should be admitted as day pupils to the school with effect from 1 September 1990. No decision on this proposal can be taken until after the expiry of the statutory two-month objection period which ends on 25 April 1990.

  Purchasing Costs
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if his Department achieved the target of 5 per cent. saving in purchasing costs in 1988–89, set by the Paymaster General, through use of the central unit on purchasing.

  Mr. Cope
  Through the co-ordinating efforts of the central unit on purchasing for Northern Ireland, we 310
  achieved savings of 6·3 per cent. worth £17·7 million in 1988–89—significantly above the target which had been set.

  Child Poverty Action Group
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to meet representatives of the Child Poverty Action Group.

  Mr. Needham
  My noble Friend the Minister responsible for health and social services has agreed to meet representatives of the group but not date has yet been arranged.

  Energy
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what extent Northern Ireland is self-supporting in terms of fuel for energy production.

  Mr. Needham
  At present Northern Ireland is entirely dependent on imported fuels for all its energy needs.

  Debt Payments
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the working party on the Payment of Debt (Northern Ireland) Act 1971.

  Mr. Cope
  The Payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 does not make provision for a working party; but the public debt policy committee, comprising officials from all Government Departments in Northern Ireland with a major interest in public debt, keeps the problem of public debt under review.

  Integrated Schools
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in establishing integrated schools since the making of the Education Reform (NI) Order in 1989.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 only came into force on 20 February. Since then, however, a number of schools have approached the Department of Education (NI) for advice about integrated status. Statutory proposals have already been submitted to education and library boards on behalf of five proposed new grant-maintained integrated schools and acquisition procedures for integrated status have also begun at a number of existing grant-aided schools. These latter procedures will include the holding of secret, postal ballots of parents, and it has been arranged that these will be conducted on behalf of school governors by the Electoral Reform Society in London.

  Violence
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he intends to take any further measures in the light of recent violent incidents in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Brooke
  I have signed an order to proscribe the Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO) under the
  311
  Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978. The order has been laid before Parliament and since midnight the IPLO has been a proscribed organisation. We shall be asking both Houses to affirm the order in the next few weeks. Organisations such as the IPLO have no place in a democratic society such as ours.

  Fair Employment
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East of 20 March he will state whether the Fair Employment Commission has indicated that it will be bound by the agreement reached with the Fair Employment Agency.

  Mr. Cope
  [holding answer 23 March 1990]: The code of practice was agreed with the former Fair Employment Agency. The question of the agency or the new commission being bound by the code of practice does not arise.

  The code of practice and the questionnaire used to collect the "religious affiliation" of Northern Ireland civil service staff gave an assurance to staff that such information would be treated confidentially. The code of practice states that the information will be used solely for the purposes of monitoring the policy on equal opportunities and on no account will statistical summaries be produced for any other purpose.

  Exceptionally, the code of practice does provide for the release of information to the Fair Employment Commission in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities. Section 19 of the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1989 places regulations on the commission regarding the confidentiality of such information.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland further to his answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East of 8 February,Official Report, column 745, how many (a) Protestants and (b) Roman Catholics in each grade and section listed in that answer, the Fair Employment Commission must employ to comply with present requirements; and what percentage balance it is seeking to reach those targets.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 20 March 1990]: The Fair Employment Acts 1976 and 1989 make preferential treatment of individuals of one religious belief or political opinion unlawful but affirmative action measures to encourage members of an under-represented group, including goals and timetables, are lawful. The commission has a target for its workforce and at a press conference in February 1989, the chairman of the then Fair Employment Agency said that the agency advertisements

  Salmon-grilse catches in the River Bush

  Number caught (angling in restricted stretches

  Number passing upstream

  Estimate number spawning

  Number of smolts

  Marine survival smolt to adult percentage

  1980

  246

  973

  783

  20,503

  12·0

  1981

  219

  925

  798

  14,537

  6·3

  1982

  224

  850

  741

  10,779

  10·4

  1983

  138

  520

  480

  26,968

  8·6

  1984

  87

  1

  1

  30,009

  1

  1985

  433

  1,765

  1,501

  30,514

  7·9

  1986

  519

  2,584

  2,271

  19,066

  9·8

  1987

  406

  2,209

  1,952

  22,156

  11·7

  312
  would specify that it is particularly interested in receiving applications from Protestants. He also said that for its support staff, the agency should have a target of 25 to 30 per cent. Catholic and 70 to 75 per cent. Protestant and that this was already being achieved. For operations staff the target was to achieve a Protestant share of applicants for each vacancy advertised of 50 to 55 per cent. and a target for the group as a whole of 50 to 55 per cent. Protestant and 45 to 50 per cent. Roman Catholic. The commission intends to publish information on the composition of its staff and the applicant flow when it has reached it full staffing complement later this year.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information the Fair Employment Commission has on religious affiliations of its present staff.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 20 March 1990]: The commission is monitoring the community background of its applicants and staff in accordance with the provisions of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989. The commission intends to publish information on the composition of its staff and the applicant flow when it has reached its full staffing complement.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the Fair Employment Commission to reach its final staffing complement; and which posts at present remain unfilled.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 20 March 1990]: The commission hopes to reach its full staffing complement by autumn 1990. At present, posts are unfilled in the following Northern Ireland civil service equivalent grades: one grade 6, two deputy principals (one of which is a research post), one staff officer (complaints), one administrative assistant and the chairman's personal secretary.

  Salmon
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many salmon and grilse were caught in River Bush in each of the last 10 years; how many were recorded passing upstream at Bushmills each year; how many each year are believed to have spawned naturally and successfully; what is the estimated number of(a) parr and (b) smolts produced each year; what has been the estimated survival rate of smolts to adults; how far the information acquired corresponds with information gained from other studies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 26 March 1990]: Following is the information:
  313

  Number caught (angling in restricted stretches

  Number passing upstream

  Estimate number spawning

  Number of smolts

  Marine survival smolt to adult percentage

  1988

  474

  2,783

  2,442

  22,994

  12·5

  1989

  140

  733

  579

  17,812

  4·3

  1 No data due to breakdown of electric barrier.

  The River Bush experiment is highly regarded internationally and the data produced are regularly integrated with those from other studies, through the ICES salmon working group on which DANI scientists are represented. This is a continuing process and current comparisons are not yet available.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has as to the total catch of salmon at sea which are bound for(a) the Foyle river system including the Roe and the Faughan, (b) the River Bann system, (c) the River Bush and (d) other salmon rivers in Northern Ireland; and what percentage of the total run this represented in each of the last five years, or as much of such information as is available to him.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 26 March 1990]: Following is the information:

  (a) None.

  (b) None.

  (c) For River Bush wild salmon stock information is only available for the last three years as follows:

  Year

  Estimated sea catch of salmon bound for the River Bush

  Relevant percentage of total run

  1987

  4,804

  68·5

  1988

  5,237

  65·3

  1989

  5,931

  89·0

  (d) None.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has on the age at which salmon smolts in the River Bush migrate to the sea; how long they normally spend there; what percentage of an annual cohort returns are(a) one sea winter, (b) two sea winter, (c) three sea winter and (d) four sea winter fish; and what percentage of the annual salmon run over the last five years has returned in each month of the year.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 26 March 1990]: In the last 10 years 25·1 per cent. of River Bush smolts have migrated to sea at one-plus years of age, 73·8 per cent. at two-plus years of age and 1·1 per cent. at three-plus years of age.

  Year

  Grade of staff leaving1

  Replacement action

  1986–87

  Principal scientific officer

  Post filled by permanent appointment

  Laboratory attendant

  None, the post was dropped fom complement

  1987–88

  None

  1988–89

  None

  1989–90

  Higher scientific officer

  Post to be advertised for permanent appointment

  314
  The percentage of annual returns of various sea ages is as follows (average of last 10 years):

  (a) 1 sea winter : 87·8 per cent.

  (b) 2 sea winter : 12·2 per cent.

  (c) 3 sea winter : 0

  (d) 4 sea winter : 0

  Mean Percentage Monthly Returns 1985–89

  Month

  Percentage of Run

  January

  0·007

  February

  0·020

  March

  0·280

  April

  0·587

  May

  1·283

  June

  3·944

  July

  26·215

  August

  25·655

  September

  14·656

  October

  15·079

  November

  2·402

  December

  1·276

  The three places of decimals indicate activity throughout the year rather than precision.

  Fisheries Research
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many permanent staff, and of what grades, have left employment at the fisheries research laboratory at Coleraine in each of the last three financial years and the current year; which of these posts have been filled with(a) permanent appointments and (b) temporary staff; how many of the temporary staff (i) were and are presently employed for periods of less than one year and (ii) were and are as well qualified as the permanent staff they replaced; and what training programme is employed for such temporary staff.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 26 March 1990]: The information requested is as follows:
  315

  Year

  Grade of staff leaving1

  Replacement action

  Assistant scientific officer

  Post initially filled by temporary staff pending the transfer of a permenent assistant scientific officer from within DANI on 5 March 1990

  Laboratory attendant

  Post filled to date by temporary staff

  1 Includes resignation, retirement, promotion, transfer and career breaks.

  In each case the temporary staff were appointed for periods of less than one year. The temporary assistant scientific officers appointed in 1989–90 were at least as well qualified as the previous permanent postholder. There are no formal qualifications required for laboratory attendant appointments. Appropriate on-the-job training was provided for temporary staff to allow them to carry out the duties required.

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

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 12 March 1990]: At present, 54 staff are employed in the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments. The full complement, including vacant posts is 59. The proposed complement for 1990–91 is 61.

HEALTH

  Infertility
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the prevalence of infertility in England.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally. The White Paper "Human Fertilisation and Embryology: A Framework for Legislation" (Cm. 259) published in November 1987 indicated that about one in 10 couples are thought to be infertile and a greater number are estimated to seek specialist help at some stage.

  AIM Programme
  Dr. Bray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he is supporting the extension of the European Commission AIM programme for health care.

  Mr. Freeman
  We strongly support the continuation of the advanced informatics in medicine (AIM) programme. The Department has been pressing for an adequate budget through the relevant official committees, and I have written in support to Vice-President Pandolfi, the Commissioner responsible. United Kingdom organisations have made the largest contribution of any EC member state to the present stage of the programme, and we wish to see this continue.

  Care Funds
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to issue guidelines on the assessment of individual needs by social services departments under the care funds system.
  316
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We expect to issue guidance in the autumn after wide consultations in the summer.

  Medical Research Ethics
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he intends to introduce a legally binding code of medical research ethics as proposed by a committee of Ministers in the Council of Europe.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. The recommendation accepted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 6 February 1990 was that member states should either adopt legislation or take any other measures to ensure the implementation of a series of principles concerning medical research on human beings. The Department of Health will shortly be issuing updated and expanded guidance on the supervision of research on human beings. This guidance may be further revised in the light of experience.

  Drug Trials
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will require all authorities running drug trials to offer no-fault compensation to all participating healthy volunteers.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Guidance to health authorities, which will be issued shortly, emphasises that those volunteering to participate in research studies should be made aware of what the arrangements are for obtaining compensation in the event of an injury arising from the research. It is then a matter for the individual concerned to decide whether or not the arrangements are acceptable.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will place a statutory limit on the number of drug trial studies a healthy volunteer can participate in per year;

  (2) if there is any monitoring of the number of drug trials each volunteer student participates in over time;

  (3) what safeguards there are to prevent students from taking part in more than one drug trial simultaneously;

  (4) if there is any evidence of volunteers taking part in more than one drug trial simultaneously.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No information is held centrally about individuals who choose to volunteer to participate in medical research projects. There are no plans to introduce limits on the number of times a person can volunteer.

  The Department recommends that a declaration about the state of health and any current medication should be obtained from healthy volunteers. They should also be asked to give their permission for notice to be sent, when necessary, to their general practitioner. Refusal to permit such communication should lead to rejection as a participant.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines have been issued to regional health authorities in assessing the business plans of National Health Service opt-out trusts and in particular on whether such trusts will be expected to shoulder their share of health authorities' deficits in the form of loans or other short-term finance from regional health authorities.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Subject to the passage of the necessary legislation. It will be for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State to assess applications including business plans submitted by applicants for NHS trust status—on an individual basis in the light of local circumstances.

  Private Homes (Fees)
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that where a person moves from a National Health Service hospital to a private nursing home or private elderly persons home, it will be made clear to her or him, in writing, before the transfer, whether the district health authority will pay the fees under a contractual arrangement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Circular HC(89)5 which was issued to health authorities in February 1989, together with a booklet "Discharge of Patients from Hospital"—copies are available in the Library—emphasised that proper arrangements should be made for any necessary continuing care before patients are discharged from hospital. Arrangements, including care in a private residential or nursing home, should be made in good time and be acceptable to the patient and, where appropriate, the patient's relatives or carers. Where a person moves from hospital to a private nursing home, it should be made quite clear to him or her in writing before the transfer whether or not the health authority will pay the fees, under a contractual arrangement.

  Charges
  Ms. Jo Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing prescription, dental and optical charges in April 1979 and April 1990 in current and constant prices showing both the cash and real increase for each charge.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The table sets out the latest available information in relation to prescription and dental charges. No comparable figures for optical charges are available because the supply of NHS spectacles ceased in July 1986. Information relates to financial years.

  £

  Prescription charges

  1979–80

  0·20

  11990–91

  3·05

  21990–91

  1·43

  Average dental charge

  1979–80

  6·83

  11988–89

  19·84

  21988–89

  10·54

  1 Current prices.

  2 1979–80 prices.

  318
  In 1979 a total of 185 million NHS prescription items were dispensed without charge. In 1988, the latest year for which figures are available, 269 million items were dispensed free.

  Wakefield DHA
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will call for a report from the chairman of Wakefield district health authority on the full cost of(a) the out-of-court settlement to be paid to Mr. Ray Corner, the authority's former district finance officer, (b) the legal fees incurred by Mr. Corner which are to be met by the authority, and (c) the authority's own legal fees in its defence against the action; and under which budget heading the payments will be made;

  (2) if he will direct Yorkshire health authority to conduct an inquiry into the circumstances leading up to the dismissal of Mr. Ray Corner as district finance officer of Wakefield district health authority and to publish the report of the inquiry.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This is a local management issue; the hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of Wakefield district health authority, Mr. Brian Hayward for further information.

  Guy's Hospital (Psychiatric Team)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to reach a decision on the request that his Department's funding of the psychiatric team for single homeless people, attached to Guy's hospital, London, be extended for a further year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The funding of the team is secure until the end of May. We are considering the possibility of extending support thereafter and expect to be in a position to reach a decision soon.

  Beverley Lewis
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action he intends to take as a result of the reports he has received from the Gloucester health authority and Gloucestershire social services department into the death of Beverley Lewis;

  (2) when he expects to receive the coroner's report on Beverley Lewis's death.

  Mr. Freeman
  We have now received reports from the health and social services authorities concerned and the conclusions and verdict of the coroner, and are considering them before deciding whether any further action is warranted.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration is being given into the need for additional legislation following the death of Beverley Lewis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government have recently received the coroner's report as well as reports from both the health and local authorities and are examining what, if any, changes are needed to existing legislation or policy.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the need for a public inquiry into the death of Beverley Lewis.
  319
  Mr. Freeman
  We have received a number of letters from Members and members of the public.

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many manufacturers of hearing aids have approval to market their hearing aids in the United Kingdom; and what criteria governs their approval.

  Mr. Freeman
  No formal approval is necessary in the United Kingdom for manufacturers to market their hearing aids to their dispensers.

  The retailing of hearing aids to the private user is governed by the Hearing Aid Council Act which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  The Department runs an NHS product approval scheme for hearing aids purchased on central contract by Mersey regional health authority to meet large-scale demand throughout the NHS. Currently eight models are approved under that scheme and have to meet the requirements of specifications drawn up by the Department in consultation with professional NHS staff. The detailed requirements run to several pages but the main factors are the levels of maximum gain and maximum output, and the frequency response.

  A further 300 to 500 other models of hearing aid are also being marketed in this country at present.

  Agency Nurses, Clerical and Administrative Staff
  Mr. Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the amount spent on(a) agency nurses and (b) agency clerical and administrative staff for the latest available year for each district health authority, special health authority and regional health authority and England as a whole.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information derived from annual accounts submitted to the Department for 1988–89 (the latest available) is shown in the table which has been placed in the Library.

  As a result of various initiatives achieved or pending such as nurse clinical grading and local pay flexibility for administrative and clerical and other staff groups the total expenditure incurred on agency staff should reduce in the future.

  As shown in the table the expenditure is incurred predominately in the Thames regions which together with the special health authorities for the London postgraduate treaching hospitals accounted for some 85 per cent. and 77 per cent. of the England totals for nursing and administrative and clerical staff respectively.

  Mental Incapacity
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the Law Commission's review of mental incapacity to be complete.

  The Attorney-General
  I have been asked to reply. The Law Commission hopes to be able to publish a discussion paper on mentally incapacitated adults later this year.

  HOMELESSNESS
  HOMELESSNESS
  HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS: GRANTS
  HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS: GRANTS