Written Answers of 9 May 1990

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Fair Employment
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much public grant aid Sean Quinn Quarries Ltd., Derrylin has received for each of the years 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989.

  Mr. Needham
  Grant aid received by Sean Quinn Ltd. for each of the financial years from April 1985 is as follows:

  £

  1985–86

  26,795

  1986–87

  905,480

  1987–88

  2,475,004

  1988–89

  1,065,746

  1989–90

  99,756

  Enterprise Ulster
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the accounting procedures of Enterprise Ulster in regard to the supply and use of materials, whether provided by the client or by Enterprise Ulster.

  Mr. Needham
  All accounting procedures of Enterprise Ulster, including those concerning the supply and use of materials, are subject to the approval of the Department of Economic Development and subsequently to internal and external audit.

  I am satisfied that the accounting procedures are adequate and that they are properly audited.

  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many supervisors and area superintendents are employed by Enterprise Ulster; how they were trained in materials usage and stock control; where the training took place; and how long the courses of training lasted.

  Mr. Needham
  Enterprise Ulster currently employs nine area superintendents and 101 supervisory grade personnel.

  Instruction on materials usage and stock control is given to all new supervisory staff as part of their normal induction programme. These subjects are also included on refresher courses which are attended periodically by supervisory staff and on courses of study undertaken by them.

  EC Energy Development Programme
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what level of European Community funds was used to assist the creation of peat extraction businesses by the local enterprise development unit.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 3 May 1990]: The information is as follows:
  122

  Amount

  1987

  Nil

  1988

  Nil

  1989

  £1,375

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Removals Industry
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received recently about the problems of the removals industry.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I am not aware of any recent representations to this Department about the problems of the removals industry. However, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise have received representations about VAT on removal charges after the completion of the single market.

  Departmental Savings
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what value for money savings have been achieved by his Department in the last year; and how much of this was as a result of advice from the central unit on purchasing.

  Mr. Forth
  Figures for last year (FY 1989–90) are not yet available. The saving achieved in FY 1988–89. on a spend of £133·8 million, was £13·92 million, or 10·4 per cent. against the set target of 5 per cent.

  In general, it is not possible to attribute particular value for money savings to advice from the central unit on purchasing. The role of the unit is to provide advice and guidance on best purchasing practice; it provides overall support and guidance and encourages value for money across all Departments.

  Iraq Contract
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest assessment of the possible military uses of the parts of equipment already sent to Iraq by Sheffield Forgemasters and Walter Somers.

  Mr. Ridley
  [holding answer 26 April 1990]: In the light of the criminal charges laid against individuals, and in the light of the continuing investigations by Customs and Excise, it would be inappropriate to give any further information on these matters.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  European Monetary Union
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on recent European Community discussions on Delors stages 2 and 3.

  Mr. Lilley
  The possible development of economic and monetary union beyond stage 1 of EMU and the arrangements for the forthcoming inter-governmental conference were last discussed at the informal meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council on 31 March and the special meeting of the European Council on 28 April which were reported to the House on 3 April at column 523 and on 1 May at column 902.

  Lone-parent Families (Income Support)
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assistance the Inland Revenue gives to the Department of Social Security to help trace absent parents who are not paying maintenance for lone-parent families in receipt of income support.

  Mr. Lilley
  Section 59 of the Social Security Act 1986 permits the Inland Revenue to provide information to the Department of Social Security and the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland, in connection with the operation of the benefit Acts, without breaching their confidentiality obligations. At present the information provided is confined to the details required to account for class 1 national insurance contributions, which the Inland Revenue collects on behalf of the DSS, and details of those known to be self-employed to assist DSS in collecting class 2 national insurance contributions.

  I have now asked the Inland Revenue to extend the disclosures made under its authority to include the addresses of absent parents and, where appropriate, the names and addresses of their employers, in cases where the absent parent is liable under the Social Security Act 1986 to maintain lone-parent families receiving income support.

  ESOP Trusts
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Inland Revenue will establish a clearance procedure under which it will advise whether or not a particular trust is a qualifying ESOP trust.

  Mr. Lilley
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed in his Budget statement a new relief from capital gains tax for those selling shares to qualifying employee share ownership trusts, as defined by schedule 5 to the Finance Act 1989. Since owners of shares may want to know if a trust is a qualifying trust before a sale of shares takes place, I have authorised the introduction of an arrangement under which the Inland Revenue will be willing to examine executed employee share ownership trust deeds and inform the trustees whether in their view the trust meets the qualifying conditions of schedule 5. The trustees will then be able to inform any potential vendors concerned as to the status of the trust itself.

  Taxation
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional weekly, monthly and yearly income tax payments a married man on average earnings with two children would pay if tax rates were at the levels in place on 3 May 1979.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: The information is as follows:

  Increase in tax liability at average earnings1 in 1990–91 if tax rates and thresholds applicable on 3 May 1979 were to he indexed for inflation and re-introduced

  £ per week

  £ per month

  £ per year

  Married man

  20·00

  86·50

  1,037·80

  1 Average earings are for full adult males in all occupations in 1990–91; £303·80 per week; in line with the assumptions in 3.02 of the 1989 Autumn statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has as to the amount of extra 124
  tax a married man with two children earning (a) £25,000 a year and (b) £30,000 a year would pay if income tax rates were increased to 50p in the pound and national insurance to 9 per cent.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: If the higher rate of income tax were raised from 40 per cent. to 50 per cent. and the upper earnings limit for class 1 national insurance contributions were abolished so that 9 per cent. was paid on all earnings above the lower earnings limit, the extra payments by a married man in 1990–91 would be:

  Earnings £ per annum

  Increase in tax and national insurance contribution liability £ per annum

  25,000

  612·00

  30,000

  1,519·50

  The calculations assume the married man has no other forms of income and no reliefs or allowances other than the personal and married couple's allowances.

  Staff Qualifications
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish, in the Official Report, the numbers and percentages of his staff in grades 1 to 7 who have (a) arts, (b) science and (c) technical degrees, (d) who are qualified accountants, (e) have post-graduate qualifications in management and (f) who were educated in (i) local authority and (ii) private schools.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 2 May 1990]: The information which is available at non-disproportionate cost, (a), (b) and (d), is as follows:

  Grade

  Arts1 degrees

  Science12 degrees

  Qualified accountants

  0–1A

  4 (100)3

  —

  —

  2

  9 (82)

  1 (9)

  1 (9)

  3

  23 (82)

  1 (4)

  —

  4

  2 (50)

  —

  —

  5

  48 (64)

  13 (17)

  1 (1)

  6

  8 (21)

  5 (13)

  4 (10)

  7

  94 (35)

  48 (18)

  18 (7)

  1 First degree subjects leading to the award of BA(Arts) or BSc(Science).

  2 Includes some "technical" degrees eg engineering.

  3 Staff numbers precede the percentages which are shown in brackets.

  Cannabis
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what volume of cannabis has been recovered each year since 1979 by the Customs authorities: what was the estimated value of the cannabis at current prices for each year; and what were the pattern of locations where these drugs were secured.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 4 May 1990]: Following is the information:

  January-December

  Total seized in kg

  Street value in £ million

  1979

  11,670

  34·04

  1980

  25,610

  71·20

  1981

  24,188

  67·55

  125

  January-December

  Total seized in kg

  Street value in £ million

  1982

  16,424

  44·58

  1983

  19,335

  54·18

  1984

  26,186

  73·52

  1985

  20,905

  58·99

  1986

  22,381

  65·81

  1987

  16,292

  47·44

  1988

  44,018

  127·34

  11989

  50,715

  166·75

  1 Provisional.

  Values are expressed in current prices based on geographical averages calculated by the national drugs intelligence unit.

  Information on the pattern of locations involved is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Her Majesty's Customs and Excise will now reopen investigations into Aero Technologies in respect of illegal arms exports to middle eastern countries.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 4 May 1990]: If any information comes into the possession of Customs and Excise which might warrant an investigation the Commissioners would give that appropriate consideration.

  RPI
  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the increase in the retail price index due to the increase in local government expenditure not funded from the Exchequer or the business rate.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: The average community charge set by local authorities in Great Britain is around £350, a rise of over 30 per cent. on domestic rates in 1989–90. This is expected to add just under 1½ per cent. to the level of the RPI from April and, correspondingly, about one percentage point to the annual rate of inflation.

  Civil Service Recruitment
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on civil service vacancies and recruitment.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: My right hon. Friend keeps all aspects of the staffing of the civil service under review. Statistical information about the civil service, including recruitment, can be found in successive editions of "Civil Service Statistics"; and information about that recruitment which is carried out by the Civil Service Commission can be found in its annual reports.

  Pools Betting Duty
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on what dates payment of the funds made available to football through the reduction in the football pools betting duty from 42·5 per cent. to 40 per cent. will commence and cease;

  (2) from what date the reduction in the football pools betting duty from 42·5 per cent. to 40 per cent. will apply.
  126
  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: Negotiations involving the Football Trust, the Pools Promoters Association and football authorities have reached an advanced stage. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor hopes to be able to make an announcement to the House shortly.

  Lottery Tickets (Germany)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice he has given to the Amex, Visa and Diners credit card groups and to joint stock banks about their facilities being used for the transmission of funds in response to posted invitations from West German state and institutional lottery groups.

  Mr. Ryder
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: None.

PRIME MINISTER

  Dalai Lama
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Prime Minister what criteria were used in deciding whether she should meet the Dalai Lama.

  The Prime Minister
  The Dalai Lama is a distinguished spiritual leader, who is welcome to visit the United Kingdom at any time. But he is also regarded by many of his followers as the leader of a government in exile, which is not recognised by any Government, and with which successive British Governments have had no dealings. I believe that a meeting with him would therefore be open to misinterpretation.

TRANSPORT

  Noise Pollution
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will establish different criteria in the measurement and analysis of noise created as the result of the opening of new motorways.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am satisfied that the existing criteria for measuring and analysing noise are satisfactory. However, I am aware from many representations that I have received that noise from new or widened motorways can be a problem, and my Department is seeking constantly to ensure that noise from road surfaces is kept to a minimum.

  Rail Electrification
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the use of EEC money for the electrification of the north Wales coast rail line.

  Mr. Freeman
  We have received a number of representations. This matter was discussed in an Adjournment debate on 3 May.

  Sporting Events (Charter Trains)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Rail in respect of the provision of charter trains to national football and sporting events at Wembley in the interest of public safety.
  127
  Mr. Freeman
  None. British Rail has a well-established procedure for providing and policing trains to national football and sporting events at Wembley.

  Driver-only Trains
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations have taken place between officials or members of the British Railways Board and the railway inspectorate respectively concerning the introduction of driver-only passenger trains on Southern Region services.

  Mr. Freeman
  There has been full consultation between British Rail and the railway inspectorate about the introduction of driver-only operation generally. The inspectorate's views have been taken into account in BR's criteria for driver-only operation.

  Departmental Savings
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what value for money savings have been achieved by his Department in the last year; and how much of this was as a result of advice from the central unit on purchasing.

  Mr. Atkins
  The value for money savings made on procurement in 1989–90 are approximately £90 million. The Department takes advice from the central unit on purchasing and it is not possible to apportion savings arising from improved purchasing practices in DTp and those arising from CUP.

  Slow Vehicles
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will encourage, either by legislation or non-legislation means, drivers of vehicles which are either slow by their nature or are slow by virtue of the load they are carrying, periodically to draw to the side of the road to permit other vehicles safely to pass them.

  Mr. Atkins
  Advice to that effect is contained in paragraph 45 of the highway code.

  Pilotage Exemption Certificates
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the report of the public inquiry into pilotage exemption certificates.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has today published the inspector's report on the public inquiry held into charges for the use of pilotage exemption certificates at Portsmouth and has announced his decision. A copy of the decision letter and of the report has today been sent direct to my hon. Friend.

  Proceeds from disposal of NHS land

  Receipts in £ millions to nearest £0·1 million

  Region

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Northern

  0·2

  0·1

  0·8

  0·4

  0·9

  1·4

  1·3

  6·2

  3·9

  4·3

  Yorkshire

  0·8

  0·7

  1·0

  1·8

  0·8

  1·1

  2·0

  4·1

  5·5

  13·2

  Trent

  0·5

  1·6

  1·7

  1·6

  2·3

  3·9

  4·9

  6·3

  7·6

  13·8

  East Anglian

  0·3

  0·2

  0·4

  0·7

  0·9

  8·2

  3·5

  3·9

  3·8

  10·4

  North West Thames

  1·2

  1·3

  4·4

  2·7

  6·1

  6·7

  6·6

  24·5

  50·3

  43·6

  North East Thames

  1·8

  1·4

  1·0

  1·1

  3·8

  2·8

  6·3

  13·2

  28·0

  51·4

  South East Thames

  0·3

  0·8

  1·2

  2·2

  1·6

  2·6

  11·1

  19·8

  25·6

  30·3

  South West Thames

  0·1

  3·5

  2·0

  0·9

  2·4

  10·5

  9·1

  30·2

  24·5

  24·4

  Wessex

  1·3

  0·8

  0·4

  0·5

  1·2

  2·0

  4·7

  10·2

  5·7

  17·6

  Oxford

  0·9

  1·6

  1·2

  2·3

  1·5

  1·8

  7·6

  2·9

  10·6

  16·9

HEALTH

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the level of prescription charges paid by asthmatics.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No. As the result of the present wide-ranging exemption arrangements over 75 per cent. of all items dispensed in the NHS are provided free. Many patients with asthma benefit from these arrangements. Those who are not exempt but who need a lot of medication can save money by buying prescription pre-payment certificates, or season tickets. These certificates can lead to significant savings for anyone needing more than 14 items in a year or five items in a four-month period.

  To extend these arrangements or to reduce the level of the prescription charge for all patients who suffer from asthma or any other medical condition would benefit only those whose resources exceed the qualifying threshold for help on low income grounds and would therefore not make the best use of the resources available to the NHS.

  Triazolam
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received recently about the side-effects of the drug triazolam.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In the last six months, the Committee on Safety of Medicines has received three reports of adverse reactions which may be associated with triazolam. A report of a suspected adverse reaction does not necessarily mean that there is a causal relationship with the drug. In addition, the Department has received correspondence from a physician on published papers relating to the drug.

  Land Sales
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much land has been sold by each district health authority in England in each year since 1979; and if he will give details of(a) the total value in each year and (b) the overall value for England.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is not held centrally and it could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information is held centrally in respect of regional health authorities and the information is shown in the table.
  129

  Region

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  South Western

  1·1

  2·0

  1·6

  0·5

  1·0

  2·7

  5·0

  10·9

  10·1

  16·4

  West Midlands

  0·6

  0·5

  1·1

  1·2

  1·9

  2·3

  3·9

  3·5

  5·3

  9·2

  Mersey

  0·3

  0·6

  0·7

  1·6

  1·5

  1·1

  2·4

  4·1

  6·9

  7·2

  North Western

  0·3

  0·3

  1·4

  0·6

  1·0

  2·0

  2·5

  8·4

  4·1

  8·5

  BGs-SHAs

  0·3

  Nil

  0·7

  0·06

  4·6

  0·05

  14·3

  0·9

  12·2

  5·0

  England

  9·9

  15·2

  19·4

  18·0

  31·5

  49·0

  84·9

  149·0

  204·1

  272·2

  Special Hospitals
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 13 March,Official Report, column 181, whether the hours women spent in seclusion in Rampton, Broadmoor, and Moss Side special hospitals during the 12 months from December 1988 to December 1989 included night hours; what percentage of women spent no time in seclusion; and what were the maximum number of hours women spent in seclusion.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Special Hospitals Services Authority advises me that the information requested is not readily available without extensive examination of individual patient records. This work has been put in hand, and the chairman of the authority will write to the hon. Member.

  Electorates
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the 25 largest parliamentary constituencies by electorate with their electorates; and what is the average constituency electorate on the current register;

  (2) if he will list the shire counties, London boroughs and metropolitan boroughs in England in ranking order according to the degree by which their electorates vary from the nationally averaged electorate appropriate to the numbers of parliamentary constituencies within them.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The 1990 electorate figures have been collected and published by local authority area in OPCS Monitor EL 90/1, copies of which are available in the Library. The data are still being reassembled by parliamentary constituency, and will be published in "Electoral Statistics: 1990" (Series EL No. 17) in July.

  General Practitioners (Fund-holding Status)
  Sir George Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is intended to reimburse the preparatory cash at those general practitioner practices preparing to submit formal applications for fund-holding status from April 1991.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Yes. A preparatory allowance of up to £16,000 per practice will be available to practices which have reached agreement with their relevant regional health authority to undertake preparatory work for fund holding. The allowance will be used to reimburse the costs of additional work which practices will need to complete in order to be in a position to take on fund holding status from 1 April 1991. Parliamentary approval to this new scheme is being sought in the main estimate for hospital and community health services, family practitioner services (part) and other services, England (class XIII, vote 1). Pending that approval and the enactment of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill when formal applications for GP practice fund holding status 130
  can be made, urgent expenditure estimated at £1,500,000 will be met by repayable advances from the contingencies fund.

  Nursery Schools (Cambridgeshire)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of three and four-year-olds attending private and voluntary sector (i) nursery schools and (ii) playgroups in Cambridgeshire together with the percentage of the total number of three and four-year-olds in Cambridgeshire which these represent; and what is the cost of local authority support for each category(a) in total and (b) per place for the latest year in which figures are available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is not available centrally in the form requested.

  In January 1989, in Cambridgeshire, 117 children attended non-maintained schools registered with the Department of Education and Science. Private and voluntary nursery schools are registered with the local authorities under the Nurseries and Childminders Regulation Act 1948. Information held centrally relates to numbers of places in day nurseries, playgroups and with childminders. Places in nursery schools are not identified as a separate category. This information is published in "Children's Day Care Facilities". The most recent relates to the year ending 31 March 1988, a copy of which is in the Library. Statistics relating to the rate per 1,000 population are calculated on the total number of children aged under five. The number of children under five attending non-maintained schools in Cambridgeshire represents 2·64 per 1,000 children aged under five.

  The cost of local authority social services departments support in total was £19,000 for day nurseries and £13,000 for play groups for the year ending 31 March 1988. These figures expressed as an average for each place in voluntary and private provision was some £30 per place for day nurseries and £2 per place in playgroups. Some of the private and voluntary providers may have received no support.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) the number and location of (i) local authority day nurseries and (ii) local authority playgroups in Cambridgeshire together with the number of places available in each location and the percentage of the total number of three and four-year-olds in Cambridgeshire which these places represent (b) the total cost of providing and supporting each category (c) the average cost per child place in each category in Cambridgeshire and (d) the national average cost per child place for each category.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information is not available centrally as to the location of these facilities. The number of premises and the total number of places for each
  131
  authority is published in "Children's Day Care Facilities"; the most recent relates to the year ending 31 March 1988 and a copy is in the Library.

  Children under three may attend local authority day nurseries or playgroups. The number of places is shown as a rate per 1,000 of all children under five.

  The net current expenditure by Cambridgeshire in the year ended 31 March 1988 was £467,000 on day nurseries and £129,000 on playgroups.

  The net current cost expressed as an average cost per child place at 31 March 1988 in each category in Cambridgeshire in the year ended 31 March 1988 was £2.8 thousand per place for day nurseries and £0.2 thousand per place for playgroups.

  The equivalent figure for England per child place for each category was for £3,400 per place for day nurseries and £2,400 per place for playgroups.

  Pathology Departments (Income-generating Schemes)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those National Health Service pathology departments which have established income-generating schemes which share the profits between the National Health Service and the staff; and if he will place in the Library details of all such schemes.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not available as details of all such schemes are not collected by the Department. Nevertheless, I understand that several NHS pathology departments have established income generation schemes, which they run themselves or as a joint venture with a private company. There should, however, be no question of NHS employees sharing in the profits resulting from income generation activity undertaken as part of the normal duties under their NHS contracts.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Ethylene Thiourea
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will publish the results of tests which are being carried out on the levels of the fungicide ethylene thiourea in various food products.

  Mr. Maclean
  On 29 March the food safety directorate of the Department published and placed in the Library of the House the full results of tests on samples of produce previously analysed for ethylene thiourea (ETU) by Parents for Safe Food (PFSF) and Friends of the Earth (FOE). The PFSF/FOE issued their findings in a press release dated 14 February 1989 under the heading "Dangerous Agrochemicals in Supermarket Foods." This gave rise to widespread press coverage with headlines such as "Tomato Ketchup in Cancer Scare."

  The Department's tests showed that PFSF/FOE main results grossly overstated the residues of ETU in their samples. We found no detectable ETU residues in bread, compared with PFSF/FOE findings of levels more than 300 times our limit of detection. For tomato ketchup, the PFSF/FOE results overstated actual levels by up to 150 times. For the other products for which duplicate samples were provided, residues were generally either absent or within predicted levels. Low levels of residues were found in dried potato products but presented no risk to health and would be greatly reduced after dilution and reconstitution.
  132
  One sample of tomato ketchup was found to have an elevated level of ETU. PFSF/FOE subsequently admitted that this was a sample "spiked" with additional ETU to test the validity of the Department's results. All the Department's tests were done using at least three different analytical techniques to confirm their validity, in contrast to the PFSF/FOE results which were not checked to confirm their validity before they were published.

  Departmental Savings
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what value for money savings have been achieved by his Department in the last year; and how much of this was as a result of advice from the central unit on purchasing.

  Mr. Maclean
  Responsibility for expenditure is largely decentralised to line managers who are in the best position to seek value for money, and there is no comprehensive record of savings achieved. However, information on savings in the field of purchasing in 1988–89 (the latest available period) indicate that departmental action has saved about £6·7 million or 6·9 per cent. of the purchasing spend. The central unit on purchasing provides general guidance on best purchasing practice and it is not possible to attribute specific savings to its advice.

  Contaminated Pigfeed
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) where the pigs on farms in Yorkshire and Hampshire discovered to have eaten pigfeed contaminated with Cyanox 425 were slaughtered;

  (2) if he will publish the preliminary results of his tests into the issues of pigs contaminated with Cyanox 425.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Department has been involved in investigations since early this year into a number of cases of Ataxia (hind limb weakness) in breeding pigs. This condition has occurred on over 60 farms, mostly in Yorkshire. Although the condition is not fatal animals suffering from it are often slaughtered for welfare reasons and some 700 animals have been slaughtered in this way, mostly on the farms. Pigs subjected to post-mortem examination exhibited lesions consistent with poisoning by an organophosphorous compound. The common factor between the affected farms was the use of feed from one particular consignment of wheat screenings imported from France. Farmers were warned not to feed suspect material to their animals and the feed supplier withdrew the original material from sale. Samples of the feed were analysed at the central veterinary laboratory. The material was found to be contaminated with Cyanox 425 (widely used in the plastics industry) and Isofenphos, an organophosphorous pesticide which is licensed in France but not in this country. It is believed that the second of these was responsible for the outbreak.

  There was no threat to human health. Residues of both these agents in the meat of slaughtered animals were well within internationally recognised safety limits. We believe that none of the animals concerned entered the food chain; but even if they had, the amounts consumed even by an extreme consumer of sows and boarmeat would have been well within the acceptable daily intake prescribed internationally.

  I am grateful for the co-operation which has been shown by the feed company and by the manufacturers of

  133
  Cyanox 425, and I must pay tribute to the high quality of the work carried out by the veterinary investigation service and the central veterinary laboratory. The Department's officials visited France to investigate the circumstances surrounding this contamination and the Department will be pursuing with the French authorities the question of how it arose.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list by county the number of farms where pigs have been discovered to have eaten pig feed contaminated with Cyanox 425.

  Mr. Maclean
  The total number of pig farms which received the suspect feed is 106 in all: 93 located throughout Yorkshire, seven in Humberside, one in Nottinghamshire and five in Durham.

  Wool (Guaranteed Price)
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will announce the guaranteed price for wool for the 1990 clip; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Together with the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland I have reviewed the state of the wool market and prospects for the 1990 clip.

  1989–90 has been a difficult year for the wool industry. There is now a world surplus of wool, and the domestic market has been affected by a decline in consumer spending. This, and other factors, including the withdrawal of China as a major buyer, have had an adverse effect on average market prices which have fallen back sharply from a high point of 145p/kg to as low as 90p/kg, well below the 1989 clip year guranteed price of 129p/kg. For 1990 the prospects remain uncertain.

  Ministers have also had to take account of the Government's already announced intention of legislation to end the wool guarantee as soon as parliamentary time is available. I know and understand the wish of the British Wool Marketing Board that this should be done as soon as possible.

  It has also been necessary to draw up a new financial agreement to cover the period from 1990. Following discussions with the industry the new financial agreement with the British Wool Marketing Board will last for two years. It will provide a new flexibility to enable the returns to producers to reflect more quickly any substantial recovery in the wool market above the guarantee price.

  In the light of the review and taking account of these factors, it has been decided to set the guarantee at 125p/kg for the 1990 clip year—a reduction of 4p/kg on the 1989 guarantee price. At the same time the deficit in the stabilisation fund is being written off as provided for in the existing financial agreement. This relieves producers of a significant burden equivalent to about 18p/kg over two years.

  I believe that these various elements constitute a significant step towards actual market prices and provide a sound basis for preparing for the ending of the guarantee. At the same time the new financial agreement enables producers to benefit at an early stage if market prices should recover markedly.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Franked Pre-paid Envelopes
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will issue guidance on the use of House of Commons franked pre-paid envelopes within the European Community.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  House of Commons franked or pre-paid envelopes are not valid for use within the European Community. Current arrangements do allow, however, for the cost of official postage to countries within the European Community to be reimbursed by the Fees Office. Discussions are at present taking place to establish a more convenient procedure. Subject to their outcome, relevant guidance will be included in the regulations governing the use of the House emblem, House of Commons stationery and post-paid envelopes, which is issued to Members.

  Television (Live Subtitling and Signing)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what arrangements he has made to demonstrate the application of live subtitling and signing to the televised proceedings of the House.

  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  As part of its continuing review of the experiment, and in response to requests from hon. and right hon. Members as well as from organisations representing the deaf, the Select Committee on Televising of Proceedings of the House has organised separate trials of both the live subtitling and the signing of Prime Ministers's Question Time.

  The live subtitling trial will take place in the weeks beginning 14 and 21 May. The subtitling itself will be carried out "as live" and unrehearsed, but for the convenience of the majority of Members who wish to attend Prime Minister's Question Time in the Chamber, it is proposed that only an unedited recording of the subtitled material will be shown on a special monitor set up in the No Lobby. Four separate Prime Minister's Question Times will be subtitled and the tapes will be available for viewing between 4pm and 5pm on each Tuesday and Thursday of the two weeks trial period. Copies of the tapes will also be supplied to organisations representing the deaf in order to give them an opportunity to submit comments to the Select Committee if they wish.

  The trial with sign language insets will be conducted on the same basis, but will take place in the weeks beginning 4 and 11 June. The tapes will be shown between 5pm and 6pm on each Tuesday and Thursday of the trial period.

  The purpose of these trials is to establish the acceptability to Members from an editorial and aesthetic point of view of the use of these two techniques for assisting the deaf. In the case of live subtitling, it will also be important to test the ability of the system (which involves the use of innovatory technology) to cope with the speed and specialist vocabulary of Question Time.

  I should, however, stress that there is as yet no commitment on the part of the broadcasters to adopt these techniques as part of their parliamentary coverage and the Select Committee itself has not reached any conclusions on the subject.

DEFENCE

  Exercise Mallet Blow
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost to(a) NATO and (b) to the United Kingdom of Exercise Mallet Blow.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wansbeck (Mr. Thompson) on 30 March 1990 at column 331.

  Faslane Submarine Base
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance has been issued to his Department's personnel at the nuclear submarine base on whether signing the petition organised by Dumbarton Conservative party to oppose planning permission for the Faslane peace camp would infringe the Queen's regulations.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Queen's regulations forbid service personnel from taking an active part in the affairs of any political group. There is, however, no restriction on attendance at public meetings provided that service uniform is not worn, service duties are not impeded and no action is taken which would bring the service into disrepute.

  The signing of local petitions by service personnel as private citizens is not seen as an infringement of Queen's regulations. Advice to this effect was issued to all personnel at the Clyde submarine base by the Commodore Clyde in a memorandum dated 9 March 1990.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on behalf of the schoolchildren at Mintlaw academy, whose exams were disturbed by the aircraft exercises over their school, on 26 April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  Apart from representations made by the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan, the Ministry of Defence is aware of only one representation, made to RAF Buchan, on behalf of the schoolchildren at Mintlaw academy. Should any schools feel that the examination performance of their pupils might have been adversely affected, it is a matter for them to make appropriate representations to the Scottish Examination Board which will, I am sure, give them careful consideration.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, when planning any future low-flying air defence exercises, he will take into account the timing of certificated exams taking place in the areas over which the exercises will be happening; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  I have nothing to add to the letter of 27 April 1990 to the hon. Member from my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  Exercise Elder Forest 90
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of any representations he has received regarding the disruption caused by the recent Exercise Elder Forest 90; what was the nature of these complaints; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  Apart from representations made by the hon. Member, the Ministry of Defence is aware of only three complaints about disturbance caused by low-flying aircraft during Exercise Elder Forest 90. One related to activity in the Scunthorpe area and two to activity to the west of Peterhead.

  Kola Peninsula
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest assessment of the Soviet military presence on the Kola peninsula; and if there have been any noticeable reductions in recent months.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There have been no significant reductions in recent months in either the level of activity or size of the Soviet military presence (including the northern fleet) on the Kola peninsula. The northern fleet continues to evolve as an increasingly modern and professional force; we believe other forces are essentially unchanged.

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy of encouraging the export sale of arms to reduce unit costs to United Kingdom armed services.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Government's policy is to support the sale of British defence equipment overseas whenever this is compatible with the United Kingdom's political, strategic and security interests. Defence exports contribute to a strong, viable defence industry. They also provide longer production runs and enable economies of scale in providing equipment for our own armed services, in addition to the foreign earnings which are reflected in the balance of trade.

  Parachute Training
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the units which provide parachute training; and if he will give for each the numbers trained.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Around 60 units provide parachute training, but I am not able to give further information on security grounds.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the preliminary training given to trainee parachutists for them to acquire the L5 landing certificate.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The syllabus of training for Regular Army personnel attending No. 1 parachute training school (PTS) for basic parachute training allocates approximately two and a half hours to achieve the appropriate level of competence in landing techniques to commence "L5" training. The TA soldier is required to have achieved this level of ability prior to commencement of training at No. 1 PTS and is given instruction, at unit level, by an appropriate detachment parachute jumping instructor.
  137
  The precise length of training will vary according to the abilities of the trainee. No trainee is permitted to parachute unless the instructor is satisfied with his level of ability in all respects.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many accidents and deaths occurred during parachute training at Brize Norton in 1989.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In 1989, 1,704 Regular and TA troops completed static line parachute training at No. 1 parachute training school, Brize Norton and carried out 12,310 descents. There were a total of 97 injuries including one fatality. Over half of these injuries were minor enough to allow trainees to return to parachute training within a week.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what ways medication given to parachute trainees is monitored to check that no medication which might impair reactions is given in the period before a jump; and on what occasions such medication was given to a parachute trainee at Brize Norton in 1989.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A parachute trainee who has reported sick will not recommence training until he has been certified fit to do so by the medical officer, and any medication thought likely to impair reactions will necessitate withdrawal from training for an appropriate period. It is essential for any trainee feeling ill to report the matter before undergoing further parachute training.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedure is adopted if parachute trainees report sick.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Arrangements to see the medical officer will be made for trainees reporting sick. The trainee is briefed to return the appropriate medical form to the course flight sergeant after examination, with the medical officer's written comments.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what medical checks are made on parachute trainees during their training and before their jumps.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Unless a trainee reports sick, indicates to an instructor that he is sick, or displays some infirmity which is recognised by the training staff, no medical checks will be carried out. Each individual arrives with a medical certificate declaring his fitness to undergo training. It must be the responsibility of the individual to declare any lack of fitness to continue which may not be readily noticeable.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many of the parachute trainees at Brize Norton in 1989 who arrived without an L5 landing certificate were(a) given a certificate without the training for it, (b) given training at the base to enable them to acquire the certificates and (c) sent home;

  (2) how many of the parachute trainees going to Brize Norton in 1989 had with them an L5 landing certificate on arrival; and how many of these were the result of training given by Brize Norton staff instructors at other bases.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The vast majority of trainees arriving at Brize Norton will have possessed a L5 certificate. None would have been allowed to commence 138
  parachute training without proof of their competence to do so and none would have been provided with a L5 certificate without undergoing the training required. The further information requested in the hon. Member's questions has not been recorded.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Modern Languages
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the implications for his Department's policies of the national council for modern languages' report on the teaching of oriental and African languages, a copy of which has been sent to him.

  Mr. Jackson
  Consistent with Government policy to increase the scope for higher education institutions to respond to the various demands placed on them, it is for the institutions themselves to determine provision for all subject areas, in consultation as necessary with the Universities Funding Council and the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council.

  Departmental Savings
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what value for money savings have been achieved by his Department in the last year; and how much of this was as a result of advice from the central unit on purchasing.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information requested is not yet available but for the previous year (1988–89) the figure was approximately £2 million.

  In general, it is not possible to attribute particular value for money savings to advice from the central unit on purchasing. The role of the unit is to provide advice and guidance on best purchasing practice; it provides overall support and guidance and encourages value for money across all Departments.

  Supply Index
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about his Department's decision not to participate in the Government supply index.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Department has fully evaluated the system but at present the items currently covered by the GSI do not form a significant part of our expenditure and it is not therefore economically viable to join the system. If the situation changes the matter will be reconsidered.

  Schools (Voluntary Aided Status)
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many current applications for voluntary aided status for schools are lodged with his Department; and when he expects to announce a decision on each of them.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  There are currently 12 proposals published under section 13 of the Education Act 1980 for establishing a voluntary aided school which fall to be decided by my right hon. Friend. In addition there are two
  139
  proposals before him under section 54 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 to change the status of a voluntary controlled school to voluntary aided. He will reach a decision on the proposals as quickly as is compatible with a full and careful consideration of all the issues involved. He has stated that it is his intention to come to a decision on statutory proposals within five months of publication wherever possible. Delays in some cases arise from factors outside the Department's control.

  Youth Training Scheme
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out the latest available figures on the number of 16 to 18-year-olds on YTS who receive part-time education at further education colleges.

  Mr. Jackson
  In November 1988 the number of students studying part-time in maintained colleges of FE in England as part of a YTS was as follows:

  Aged 16

  Aged 17

  Aged 18

  Aged 16–18

  All part-time (including evening)

  62,000

  56,000

  5,000

  123,000

  The ages are those at 31 August 1988.

  Nursery Schools (Cambridgeshire)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give(a) the number and location of (i) nursery schools, (ii) nursery classes and (iii) under-five units in reception classes provided by Cambridgeshire education authority together with the number of places available at each unit and the percentage of the total number of three and four-year-olds in Cambridgeshire which these places represent (b) the total cost of providing and supporting each category, (c) the average cost per child place in each category in Cambridgeshire and (d) the national average cost per child place for each category.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Information on the number of under-five units in reception classes and the number of places available at each unit is not available centrally. Information on the total cost of providing and supporting each category is no longer collected separately by the Department. In January 1989 the number of nursery schools, nursery classes and the number of pupils under five in Cambridgeshire is as follows:

  Number

  Pupils under five

  Percentage of the esti-mated 3 and 4-year-old popula-tion

  Nursery schools

  7

  661

  4

  Primary schools

  Nursery classes

  31

  1,355

  8

  Other classes

  5,073

  30

  Total

  7,089

  42

  Teacher Shortage (Tower Hamlets)
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has received on children of school age in the London borough of Tower Hamlets 140
  unable to find a school place in the current academic year because of shortages of teachers; what discussions he has had about this problem with the Inner London education authority and the London borough of Tower Hamlets; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that all children in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets enjoy the basic right to state education.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The local education authority estimates that, excluding rising fives, there were about 220 children of compulsory school age not in school at the end of the spring term. These figures take no account of the take-up of 180 places at Bigland primary school which opened this term.

  The Department is in regular contact with the local education authority about this and other matters, and will continue to give support to the measures Tower Hamlets is taking to secure an adequate supply of teachers.

  Bangladeshis
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he has taken to implement recommendations 7 to 15 of the Home Affairs Select Committee in its first report in Session 1986–87 on Bangladeshis in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I am able to report the following developments since the Government response to the Home Affairs Select Committee Report "Bangladeshis in Britain" was published in July 1987. The Department issued last July a circular (16/89) to local education authorities and others, instituting from September 1990 a national scheme for the collection of ethnically based statistics on school pupils. Three projects aimed at addressing the particular educational needs of Bangladeshi pupils have been included in the education support grant programme on ethnic diversity.

  Local education authorities are already required to set targets and performance indicators for English language support teaching funded through grants paid under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966. In the proposals for the future administration of the grant recently published by the Home Office, local authorities will be required to review the effectiveness of existing section 11 funded provision and set specific objectives and quantifiable targets for continued funding.

  Pre-school provision of children from linguistic minorities and home-school liaison, particularly with parents who speak little English, are eligible for support under current arrangements for section 11 and continue to be identified as areas for support in the proposed new arrangements.

  As regards recommendations 11 and 14 concerning local authority support for voluntary initiatives, under current section 11 arrangements it is open to local authorities to apply for grant support for posts to work on detached duty with voluntary organisations.

  Under the proposed new arrangements for the grant the Government will expect local authorities to include in their funding bids applications for posts based in the voluntary sector, although as with current applications in respect of the voluntary sector, these will have to meet the relevant criteria for grant. Bengali has been included among those modern foreign languages specified as eligible to be taught as a national curriculum foundation subject. Since last

  141
  autumn, schools have been able to offer Bengali towards the national curriculum requirements, provided that they also offer at least one of the working languages of the European Community.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners held on remand in each year from 1979 to 1989 were found not guilty.

  Mr. Mellor
  The latest information is published in table 2.8 of "Prison statistics England and Wales 1988" (Cmn. 825), a copy of which is in the Library. Final data for 1988 and provisional data for 1989 are not yet available.

  Immigration
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overstayers were granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom in the latest available year having given evidence of stable marriages to British citizens with right of abode in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Prison Officers Association Annual Conference
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what Minister from the Home Office will be attending and speaking at this year's Prison Officers Association annual conference; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Neither I nor my right hon. and learned Friend have been invited to attend or speak at the Prison Officers' Association annual conference.

  Race Relations Board
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidelines he issues to the Race Relations Board over its encouragement and help of complainants in bringing cases before an industrial tribunal;

  (2) whether, when next he meets the chairman of the Race Relations Board, he will discuss with him his policy of encouraging individuals to bring cases of complaint where those individuals have deliberately approached several companies for employment as a test exercise.

  Mr. John Patten
  The criteria on which the Commission for Racial Equality considers applications from complainants for assistance are laid down in section 66 of the Race Relations Act 1976. I am assured by its chairman that the commission would want to avoid supporting any complaint made as the result of a "test exercise" approach to a number of employers, as opposed to assisting genuine job applicants who complain of discrimination.

  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider introducing legislation to compensate those people who are put to expense in defending actions brought before industrial 142
  tribunals with the support of the Race Relations Board where the case is dismissed or the complainant drops his or her allegations at a late stage.

  Mr. John Patten
  I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has no plans to extend the provisions in the Industrial Tribunals (Rules of Procedure) Regulations 1985 to cover the award of costs in all cases where a case is dismissed or dropped at a late stage.

  Pregnant Prisoners
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can give a breakdown of the charges faced by pregnant women currently held on remand.

  Mr. Mellor
  On 1 May 1990 there were eight pregnant females held on remand. Of these one is charged with murder, one with burglary and theft, four with theft or fraud, one with arson, and one with criminal damage.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women prisoners were pregnant at the last count.

  Mr. Mellor
  On 1 May 1990, 35 female prisoners were known to be pregnant.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women who have been known to be pregnant have been sentenced to prison in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is not available.

  The annual reports of the work of the prison department do however record the number of pregnant females temporarily removed to outside hospitals for delivery and returning to establishments afterwards. The figures are:

  Number

  1988–89

  63

  1987–88

  75

  1986–87

  71

  1985–86

  71

  11984–85

  70

  1983

  270

  1982

  251

  1981

  74

  1980

  75

  1979

  274

  1 Covers 15 month period.

  2 Additionally, in each of the years 1979, 1982 and 1983 there was one delivery in an establishment.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a breakdown of the sentences subsequently received by pregnant women held on remand in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is not available.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can give a breakdown of the offences for which pregnant women who have been sentenced to jail have been convicted.

  Mr. Mellor
  On 1 May 1990 there were 27 pregnant females serving sentences of imprisonment. Of these:
  143

  10 had been convicted of offences of theft or fraud.

  7 had been convicted of offences of violence against the person.

  6 had been convicted of drugs offences.

  2 had been convicted of burglary offences.

  1 had been convicted of a sexual offence.

  1 had been convicted of aiding and abetting blackmail.

  Where a woman had been received on sentence for several offences, only the principal criminal offence has been stated.

  Murderers (Film Payments)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider the introduction of legislation of forbid the payment of money to people convicted of murder by those making films based on their crimes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 30 April 1990]: It is deplorable that criminals—especially those convicted of the most heinous offences—should be able to profit indirectly from their crimes by payments for publication of them, in films or any other medium. We are already considering what steps could be taken, although we recognise that there are practical difficulties because benefits can be received indirectly, or covertly, or outside our jurisdiction.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Ethiopia
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received in recent weeks regarding food convoy movements in Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The latest information available on the southern line operation for transporting food across the conflict lines is that in the period 20 March (when the operation started) to 2 May, 61 convoys have carried 8,803 tonnes of food into northern Wello and Tigray. Of this total, 4,214 tonnes have been delivered to Makelle in Tigray. In the six days up to 2 May a total of 2,067 tonnes was delivered.

  In addition, substantial amounts of food have been delivered into Eritrea and Tigray by convoys operated by the Eritrean Relief Association (ERA) and the Relief Society of Tigray (REST). We do not have details of movements of convoys along these routes.

  Eastern Europe
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the development assistance committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to ensure that aid to eastern Europe is counted separately from aid to developing countries in development assistance committee calculations of official development assistance.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Government supported the proposed conclusion, reached by the development assistance committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, that assistance to eastern Europe should not be included in the calculation of official development assistance as a proportion of GNP used in DAC statistical presentations.

  Non-governmental Organisations
  Mr. John Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the non-governmental organisations in receipt of grants from his Department in 1989–90; and what is the size of each grant.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The figures for 1989–90 are not yet available. The figures for 1988–89, including support both for long-term development projects and for emergency and refugee relief, are as follows:

  Overseas Development Administration

  Non Governmental Organisation

  Amount (£)

  ACAFESS (Afro Caribbean Community Organisation)

  130,130

  Acord

  1,157,918

  Action Aid

  1,308,095

  Action Around Bethlehem

  27,550

  Action on Disability and Development

  97,163

  Action Water

  10,000

  Afghanaid

  1,313,580

  Africa Now

  10,300

  Aga Khan Foundation

  1,560,040

  Appropriate Health Resources and Technologies Action Group (AHRTAG)

  468,754

  Aid for India

  20,826

  African Medical Research Foundation (AMREF)

  182,541

  Avon Industrial Award Scheme

  5,000

  Band Aid

  169,953

  Boston-Jalchatra Project

  12,000

  Boys Brigade

  15,349

  British Airways Trust

  48,500

  British Executive Services Overseas

  300,006

  British Red Cross Society

  1,714,379

  British Refugee Council

  6,000

  CAB International (Commonwealth Mycological Institute)

  57,437

  Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (CAFOD)

  3,814,990

  Care Britain

  4,139,404

  Centre for Economic Policy Research

  49,827

  Centre for World Development Education

  135,000

  Christian Aid

  5,433,561

  Christian Outreach

  189,103

  Christians Abroad

  17,000

  CIIR

  994,673

  Commonwealth Human Ecology Council

  50,013

  Concern

  1,137,451

  Council for Education in World Citizenship

  6,500

  Council Of Europe North South Campaign

  30,000

  Co-operation For Development

  544,584

  Commonwealth TUC

  51,020

  Cusichaca Project

  32,155

  Disasters Emergency Committee

  2,106,700

  Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme

  5,000

  Equipment for Community Hospitals Overseas

  6,307

  Food and Agriculture Research Mission

  12,514

  Friends of Urambo and Mwanhala

  13,672

  Hand in Hand

  17,636

  Health Unlimited

  48,175

  Help the Aged

  199,903

  Homeless Trust

  169,237

  International Council for Bird Preservation

  37,570

  International Institute for Environment and Development

  55,000

  Institute of Development Studies

  1,262,000

  Intercare

  9,732

  International Bee Research Association

  29,600

  International Boys Town Trust

  21,621

  International Extension College

  198,200

  International Medical Relief

  14,500

  Int Committee of the Red Cross

  610,000

  Intermediate Technologies Development Group

  1,902,562

  International Voluntary Service

  774,886

  King Mahedra Trust

  14,750

  Leonard Cheshire Foundation

  57,691

  145

  Non Governmental Organisation

  Amount (£)

  Leprosy Mission

  25,030

  Lifeline

  9,842

  Ludhiana British Fellowship

  4,763

  Marie Slopes International

  194,699

  Namibia Refugee Project

  10,000

  National Children's Home

  11,000

  National Council of YMCA

  62,500

  Ockenden Venture

  260,736

  Operation Raleigh

  3,530

  Order of St John

  140,000

  Overseas Development Institute

  715,203

  OXFAM

  7,722,798

  Panos Institute

  79,551

  Parkes Foundation

  3,000

  PLAN (Foster Parents Plan/World Family)

  126,250

  Plunkett Foundation

  9,000

  Population Concern

  190,739

  Quaker Peace and Service

  125,382

  Ranfurly Library Service

  77,880

  Regional Conference on International Voluntary Service

  4,300

  Richmond Fellowship

  13,000

  Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind

  203,336

  Royal Society

  112,000

  Rural Development Consultancy for Christian Churches in Africa (RURCON)

  25,750

  Ryder Cheshire Mission

  23,000

  Salvation Army

  7,000

  Sandy Gall Afghan Appeal

  100,000

  Save the Children Fund

  6,215,874

  Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund

  107,252

  Scottish Education and Action for Development

  6,000

  The Scout Association

  21,092

  Send a Cow

  34,500

  SOS Sahel International

  49,557

  Special Projects in Christian Missionary Areas

  83,439

  St John Ambulance

  8,721

  Tear Fund

  91,213

  Tree Trust

  11,130

  Uganda Society for Disabled Children

  212,386

  UK Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific

  24,860

  UN Association International Service

  490,000

  UNICEF

  550,000

  UNIPAL

  12,500

  Urban Aid

  20,000

  Voluntary Service Overseas

  8,694,564

  War on Want

  149,643

  Water Aid

  447,172

  Women's Corona Society

  34,000

  Women's Environmental Network

  10,000

  Work Start Overseas

  36,156

  World Press Centre

  45,000

  World University Service

  490,462

  World Vision

  1,369,091

  Worldwide Fund for Nature

  420,890

  Y-Care International

  212,040

  You and Me

  27,550

  YWCA

  52,785

  Zimbabwe Trust

  28,075

  Total

  63,024,299

  Note: These figures exclude the United Kingdom share of grants to British NGOS through the EC.

  Diplomatic wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Non Governmental Organisation

  Amount £

  Afghan Support Committee

  25,000

  Anglo Irish Encounter

  27,000

  Atlantic Treaty Association

  3,500

  British Atlantic Committee

  61,215

  British Youth Council

  44,000

  British Yugoslav Society

  12,000

  College of Europe, Brussels

  2,500

  European Movement

  5,000

  146

  Non Governmental Organisation

  Amount £

  Exchange of British and Soviet Weeks

  10,138

  Franco-British Council

  60,000

  Fund for International Student Co-operation

  76,000

  NGOs Engaged in Explanation of Arms Control and Defence Issues

  10,000

  Great Britain/China Centre

  123,000

  Great Britain/East Europe Centre

  130,000

  Great Britain/USSR Association

  186,000

  Hague Academy of International Law

  5,000

  International Commission of Jurists

  10,000

  International Committee of the Red Cross

  250,000

  Peace Through NATO

  113,000

  Trilateral Commission

  2,250

  United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service

  10,000

  United Nations Association

  24,000

  West India Committee

  15,000

  TOTAL

  1,204,603

  Charitable Institutions
  Mr. John Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what investigations are made by his Department into the political activities of those charitable institutions in receipt of grants from his Department;

  (2) what guidelines are set for charitable organisations in receipt of Government grants from his Department regarding any policy that might be influenced by political considerations of the officers of that charity;

  (3) whether he will consider withdrawing all grants from his Department to any charitable organisation that is under investigation by the Charity Commissioners.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My Department does not make general grants to voluntary agencies. Our support is confined to specifically identified and agreed projects, both for long-term development and for emergency and refugee relief. Our prime concern is the quality and relevance to local communities in developing countries of the proposed projects. We also take account of the probity and administrative and professional competence of the agencies to operate and maintain the projects; and they are required to account to us for the use of our funds.

  We do not fund voluntary agencies' campaigning or political activities. They are independent organisations and as such are free to express their own views. The way in which they do that and the content of their campaigning is essentially a matter for the agencies, their supporters and the Charity Commissioners. I certainly do not see eye to eye with some agencies' views, and when appropriate I do not hesitate to take issue with them. But it is for the Charity Commissioners to judge whether an agency over-steps the guidelines on what constitutes acceptable activities for a charity and it would not be proper for me to seek to intervene in the commissioners' deliberations.

  I look forward to continuing to support the excellent work of the NGOs in developing countries. Our support will continue to be confined to agreed projects and will be available only to those agencies which are properly maintaining charitable status.

  Know-how Fund (Czechoslovakia)
  Sir Bernard Braine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the know-how fund for Czechoslovakia is now in operation; and if he will give details of the specific help on offer.
  148
  Mrs. Chalker
  The extension of the know-how fund to Czechoslovakia was announced during the visit of President Havel to Britain in March. Detailed projects and programmes have not yet been worked out, but assistance will initially be concentrated on the financial, employment, energy and environment sectors, and on the provision of management training.

WALES

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the national curriculum in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Roberts
  We have received many representations concerning the national curriculum in Wales, most of which have been in response to the numerous consultations we have conducted.

  Schools (Repair and Decoration)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he has taken to facilitate the repair and decoration of schools in Wales for this financial year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Roberts
  In framing the local authority finance settlements for 1990–91 we have allowed for current spending of £1,001 million on education—some 10·1 per cent. above last year's expenditure provision—and gross capital spending of £53·7 million—confirming the enhanced position of recent years and bringing the total capital increase since 1985–86 to 60 per cent. These levels should permit local education authorities to meet their responsibilities for the repair and maintenance of schools, particularly if additional resources are released by measures such as removal of surplus places.

  In the context of the efficiency initiative, local authorities have established a property management group and this is addressing the condition of the local authority estate, including educational establishments. A report on property management has been prepared which recommends the setting up of appropriate records in regard to the age and condition of buildings, including schools.

  Floods
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make cash payments of £70,000 each to the north Wales sea flood inundation funds of Clwyd county council, Colwyn borough council, Rhuddlan borough council and Delyn borough council: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The existing sea-wall at Towyn has now been repaired and strengthened to ensure that a breach should not occur again, even in extreme conditions. In addition, work has already started on the options for improving the defences still further and this will be taken forward urgently. My Department will be ready to provide resources towards any agreed scheme. This is in addition to the £12 million of work already planned in north Wales over the next few years.

  The most important form of aid that the Government are able to give is, of course, aid under the Bellwin scheme and this is available to all the relevant local authorities in north Wales. The grant will be paid at the rate of 85 per cent. instead of the more customary 75 per cent. In addition the period over which it can be paid has been extended by a further three months to 31 July and we will review the position towards the end of July and, if necessary, extend the scheme still further.

  The amount of money which will be paid under the scheme will be very substantial. Colwyn borough council
  150
  has made a preliminary estimate of £1·25 million expenditure eligible for Bellwin assistance and if' this proves to be accurate it will result in a payment by the Government of more than £1 million. Further claims may well come in from Colwyn borough council and, of course, from the other councils in north Wales which have been affected.

  There is a strange misunderstanding that the £150,000 donation which the Welsh Office gave to the appeal funds of the mayors of Colwyn, Delyn and Rhuddlan was the total amount of Government aid. It is, of course, only a minute proportion of the total expenditure in which the Government will be involved and the donation was made in the hope that it would encourage many others to make a similar donation. Never previously have the Government made a donation to such funds unless loss of life has been involved.

  Achievements (Cost of Reply)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total cost of(a) printing and circulating information to the press about his reply to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett) on 1 May seeking a list of achievements during his period of office as Secretary of State for Wales and (b) its publication in the Official Report.

  Mr. David Hunt
  This answer was circulated in the normal way to the House of Commons and the press Lobby with seven other answers at an estimated cost of £15. Printing in Hansard is estimated to have cost £44.

  Parking Restrictions
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to review the designation of parking restrictions and prohibitions by local authorities in Wales and the effectiveness of such systems in residential and commercial areas.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  The need for, and the effectiveness of, parking restrictions on local roads is entirely a matter for consideration by local highway authorities who have a statutory duty under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to exercise their powers to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of vehicular and other traffic.

  Glaucoma
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many cases of glaucoma were recorded as diagnosed in each month of 1989(a) in each health authority area in Wales and (b) in Wales as a whole;

  (2) how many cases of glaucoma were recorded as diagnosed in each month of 1989 in South Glamorgan;

  (3) how many referrals to ophthalmic surgeons were made in each month in 1989 in (a) South Glamorgan and (b) Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave him on Tuesday 8 May at column 58.

  Pathology Departments (Income)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those National Health Service pathology departments which have established income
  151
  generating schemes which share the profits between the National Health Service and the staff; and if he will place in the Library details of all such schemes.

  Mr. Grist
  The Welsh Office monitors National Health Service income generation activity as part of its annual review of health authorities. The 1989 review did not reveal the existence of any such schemes in Wales.

  Caernarfon Cottage Hospital
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the difference between the Welsh language version and the English language version of the letter sent by P. R. Gregory of his Department to C. H. Thomas of Gwynedd health authority on the conditions to be met prior to the closure of Caernarfon cottage hospital.

  Mr. Grist
  The difference between the Welsh and English versions of the fifth paragraph of the letter arose during the process of drafting in English and translation into Welsh. As the hon. Gentleman is aware, a further letter has been sent to the general manager clarifying that only the English version currently sets out the conditions of closure.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make it his policy to inspect(a) the steps taken to reprovide general anaesthetic dental clinic facilities at ysbyty Gwynedd and (b) the proposed motorised mobile dental clinic facilities prior to allowing Gwynedd health authority to close the cottage hospital, Caernarfon;

  (2) what is the proportion of the staff at (a) the cottage hospital, Caernarfon and (b) ysbyty Gwynedd who are Welsh-speaking;

  (3) if he will publish in the Official Report the updated estimated cost of running the cottage hospital, Caernarfon on the basis of which he agreed to confirm the closure; and what were the assumptions relating to (a) bed occupancy rates and (b) the number of persons using the casualty facilities at that hospital on which these cost estimates were based;

  (4) what proportion of the patients currently treated at the cottage hospital, Caernarfon will be treated in (a) Eryri hospital, Caernarfon and (b) Bryn Seiont hospital, Caernarfon after the proposed closure of the cottage hospital;

  (5) what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the Gwynedd health authority complies with the recommendations of Welsh Office circular WHC(89)28 on the future development of community dental services with regard to setting up an effective monitoring system to evaluate the efficiency of the arrangements for transfer of appropriate patients from the community dental services to the general dental service; by what date he expects this to be achieved; and if he will make a statement;

  (6) whether he has received from Gwynedd district health authority any application for the partial closure of the cottage hospital, Caernarfon; and if he will make a statement;

  (7) if he will make a statement on the letter of 20 April by P. R. Gregory of the Welsh Office to C. H. Thomas, the district manager of Gwynedd district health authority, paragraph 32 of annex 'A', with regard to alternative cost saving options considered by the health authority instead
  152
  of closing the cottage hospital, Caernarfon; and if he will list in the Official Report the alternatives which were considered;

  (8) what consultations his Department had with general practitioners in the town of Caernarfon before approving proposals to close the cottage hospital, Caernarfon.

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

  Gwynedd Health Authority
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has received representations from the chairman of Gwynedd health authority during the past six months on the current expenditure budget provision made for that authority for the financial year 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  Neither my right hon. Friend, nor his predecessor, the right hon. Member for Worcester (Mr. Walker) have received any representation in the past six months from the chairman of the Gwynedd health authority concerning the authority's budgetary requirements for the current financial year. However, in a letter dated 7 February to the director of the NHS in Wales, the general manager of the authority outlined the authority's financial situation for 1989–90 and provided a projection of an overspend of some £4 million in 1990–91 if further action was not taken to restore financial balance.

  Following discussions between the NHS director and the general manager, the authority has re-engaged the management consultants, Deloittes, Haskins and Sells to assist its officials in preparing proposals on how this might be achieved. My right hon. Friend is willing to give sympathetic consideration to any request from the authority for temporary financial assistance, so long as any such request is underpinned by a well-thought-out strategy for restoring financial balance in the medium term.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hospital closures have been approved by his Department between 1 June 1987 and 30 April 1990; and if he will list these hospitals.

  Mr. Grist
  A list of those hospitals the closure of which has been approved by this Department between 1 June 1987 and 30 April 1990 is given in the following table:

  Approved

  Closure of Madog memorial hospital Porthmadog

  3 March 1989

  Closure of Druid hospital, Llangefni

  3 March 1989

  Closure of Groesynyd hospital, Conwy

  3 March 1989

  Closure of St. David's hospital, Bangor

  3 March 1989

  Closure of Pentwyn and Tyntyla hospitals, Mid Glamorgan

  4 July 1989

  Closure of Cottage hospital, Caernarfon

  20 March 1990

SCOTLAND

  Health Board Expenditure
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the (i) capital, (ii) revenue and (iii) total expenditure of each of the Scottish health boards in each of the last five years and in the last financial year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 8 May at columns 70–72.

  Rent-to-Mortgage Scheme
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent to date by his Department in promoting his rent-to-mortgage scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Responsibility for the promotion of the rent-to-mortgage scheme rests with Scottish Homes, and the Scottish Development Department has not incurred any promotional expenditure specific to that scheme.

  Right to Buy
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount in 1990 prices was spent to promote the right to buy in Scotland in each full year of operation.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested, which is set out in the table, relates to publicity campaigns undertaken by the Scottish Office promoting right to buy.

  Year

  1£

  1980

  112,000

  1981

  127,000

  1982

  96,000

  1983

  —

  1984

  137,000

  1985

  196,000

  1986

  —

  1987

  144,000

  1988

  —

  1989

  —

  1990

  162,000

  1 Prices current in 1989–90.

  Foreign Language Teachers
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many foreign language teachers there were in Scotland for each year since 1975.

  Name of site

  Area approved for treatment (ha)

  Area actually treated (ha)

  Insecticide used

  Aerial Spraying in 1986

  Truderscaig

  784

  200

  Diflubenzuron

  247

  Fenitrothion

  North Dalchork

  2,080

  328

  Fenitrothion

  13

  PfNPV and Virox

  Inveroykel

  570

  570

  Fenitrothion

  Strathrannoch (Ross and Cromarty)

  189

  155

  PfNPV

  34

  Fenitrothion

  Garbat (Ross and Cromarty)

  707

  None

  Achentoul Estate

  252

  196

  Fenitrothion

  Ben Armine

  98

  98

  Fenitrothion

  Suisgill

  320

  320

  PfNPV

  Creag Dubh

  27

  27

  Diflubenzuron

  Badenloch I

  39

  39

  Diflubenzuron

  154
  Mr. Lang
  The numbers of modern language teachers teaching in education authority secondary schools in Scotland at each September since 1975 for which information is available, are set out in the table:

  Numbers (full-time equivalents) of modern language teachers

  Number

  1988

  1,750

  1987

  11,820

  1984

  12,100

  1983

  2,180

  1982

  2,100

  1981

  2,235

  1980

  2,280

  1979

  2,300

  1978

  2,300

  1976

  2,290

  1975

  2,190

  1 Number of full-time and part-time teachers.

  At present the supply of language teachers matches demand, measured at the national level.

  Forestry
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the names, locations and areas of sites which have been subject to aerial spraying with products other than fenitrothion to combat forest pests in the years 1986 to 1989; and if he will list the products used in each case;

  (2) if he will list names of sites, their locations and areas within Scotland, England and Wales, for which (a) Forestry Commission and (b) private forestry concerns have sought approval for the use of fenitrothion for the purpose of aerial spraying during each of the years 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989; and whether he will list which areas were sprayed.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: The information is set out in the following tables. All the applications for approval for aerial spraying with insecticides, in respect of both Forestry Commission and privately owned forests, were sought by the commission. All the areas treated were in the highland region of Scotland and, except where indicated in the table, were in the Sutherland district of that region. No aerial spraying was required in 1989.
  155

  Name of site

  Area approved for treatment (ha)

  Area actually treated (ha)

  Insecticide used

  Fiag

  45

  45

  PfNPV

  South Dalchork

  269

  269

  Diflubenzuron

  Strathcuileannach

  145

  93

  PfNPV

  Mid Penny

  21

  None

  Braemore

  50

  50

  Diflubenzuron

  Camster (Caithness)

  101

  None

  Borgie

  103

  103

  Virox

  Craggie

  207

  207

  Virox

  Aerial Spraying in 1987

  Achentoul

  155

  None

  Braemore

  180

  180

  Fenitrothion

  Camster

  101

  None

  Caplich

  122

  122

  Fenitrothion

  Craig Dubh

  40

  None

  Dalnessie

  27

  27

  Fenitrothion

  Inveroykel/Birchfield

  573

  573

  Diflubenzuron

  Mid Penny

  21

  None

  North Dalchork

  230

  130

  PfNPV

  Rimsdale

  484

  448

  Fenitrothion

  South Dalchork

  246

  111

  PfNPV

  65

  Fenitrothion

  Suisgill

  56

  None

  Syre

  136

  136

  Diflubenzuron

  Truderscaig

  72

  None

  Garbat (Ross and Cromarty)

  59

  None

  Poulary and Kingie (Lochaber)

  474

  473

  Fenitrothion

  Borrobol

  136

  None

  Aerial Spraying in 1988

  Copaig

  574

  330

  Fenitrothion

  244

  Virox

  Cnoc a' moid

  184

  184

  Fenitrothion

  Truderscaig

  229

  103

  Fenitrothion

  126

  PfNPV and Virox

  Achairn (Caithness)

  500

  500

  Virox

  Braehour (Caithness)

  465

  465

  Virox

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total quantity of fenitrothion used in forestry operations in Scotland in each of the last five years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 23 April 1990.]: The information is as follows:

  Year

  kg active ingredient

  1985

  1,450

  1986

  440

  1987

  400

  1988

  190

  1989

  None

  Child Psychotherapists
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to encourage the appointment of child psychotherapists in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 4 May 1990]: Decisions on the level of Health Service staffing including the appointment of child psychotherapists are matters for individual health boards.

  Foreign Language Training
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish(a) business community, (b) higher education authorities and (c) unions regarding the need for training in foreign languages in Scotland especially from 1 January 1993.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: The views of these and other bodies have been given in meetings and through correspondence on a variety of occasions.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what objective factors he has taken into consideration in order to decide the number of adequate teachers of foreign languages in Scotland; and how often the situation is reviewed.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: The factors taken into account in determining intake targets for teacher training courses are described in the SED statistical bulletin "Teachers—Key Statistics on Demand and Supply" No. 12/B7/1989 published in November last year, a copy of which is in the Library. These factors are reviewed annually. Colleges of education consult education authorities to decide the subject specialist mix of each annual intake to secondary training.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Income Tax
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update the figures relating to payments under a local income tax given in his answers of 13 June 1989,Official Report, columns 360–61, and 24 May 1989, Official Report, column 594.

  Mr. Chope
  Updated figures were placed in the Library on 4 April. These show the rate of local income tax which could apply in each area were such a system introduced. The bill payable by any resident is calculated by multiplying the local income tax rate by that resident's taxable income. The figures placed in the Library show as an illustration the bill payable in each area with a taxable income of £12,800. This is equivalent to average male earnings less the single person's tax allowance.

  On that basis, the figures sought by my hon. Friend are as follows—a man on average male earnings in England would pay £949 and a man on average male earnings in Kirklees would pay £1,093.

  Unleaded Petrol
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what official efforts are being made to educate drivers about the various grades of unleaded petrol and their application to different types of car engines.

  Mr. Portillo
  From 1 October, all new cars will be required to be able to use 95 octane unleaded petrol. The vast majority can already do so. The Government have issued a free booklet "Adjust to Unleaded" which gives guidance on the use of this fuel in existing cars. The booklet also deals in general terms with the higher octane grades which will enable certain additional existing models to run on unleaded petrol. It would, however, be excessively complicated to include detailed information on individual models, and motorists who are in doubt should consult their vehicle manual or seek advice from a qualified source.

  Housing
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many private and public authority homes were built in each of the past five years in the constituency of Richmond and Barnes.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department collects housebuilding statistics for local authority areas. Figures for the London borough of Richmond upon Thames, which includes this constituency, appear in "Housebuilding in England by Local Authority Areas 1980 to 1988" and for the first nine months of 1989 in "Local Housing Statistics, No. 92". Copies of both are in the Library.

  Integrated Pollution Control
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take to ensure that processes requiring approval under integrated pollution control will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

  Mr. Trippier
  As I said on 26 April at column 343 in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr.
  158
  Porter), I have placed in the Library of the House a timetable for the implementation of integrated pollution control (IPC). It is our intention to introduce the initial phase of integrated pollution control on 2 January 1990 and thereafter to bring all processes prescribed for control into the new system by 1995. Once an application is made, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will have four months to determine the grant of an authorisation. If the inspectorate has not reached a decision at the end of that time the applicant will have a right of appeal for a determination to the Secretary of State.

  Climate Change
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to be published.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report is due to be published in September.

  Human Sewage Sludge
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to recommend the spreading of human sewage sludge on land for fertilising purposes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The use of sewage sludge as a fertiliser in England and Wales is controlled by the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 (SI 1263) and more detailed advice is contained in the code of practice for agricultural use of sewage sludge, published by the Department in 1989.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to in which of the European Community countries it is permissible to spread human sewage sludge on land for fertilising purposes.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Sewage sludge is used as a fertiliser on agricultural land in all European Community countries.

  Toxic Wastes
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions have been made for the storage and disposal of toxic wastes arising from British Nuclear Fuels' activities at Springfields, Capenhurst, Chapelcross, Calder Hall works and Sellafield.

  Mr. Trippier
  This is a matter for the waste disposal authorities in whose area the premises are situated.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions have been made for the storage and disposal of toxic wastes arising from United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and AEA Technology activities at AERE Harwell, Winfrith, the Windscale research laboratories, Dounreay nuclear power development establishment and Risley.

  Mr. Trippier
  In England, responsibility for controlling the storage of non-radioactive toxic waste covered by part I of the Control of Pollution Act 1974, and for the licensing of sites used for waste disposal, falls to the
  159
  relevant waste disposal authority in whose area the premises or disposal site are situated. The storage and disposal of radioactive waste is authorised under the provisions of the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. Corresponding controls in respect of Dounreay are the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Rate Capping
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much in total was spent by local councils on unsuccessful legal challenges to rate-capping legislation.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 3 May 1990]: The Department does not have this information.

  Building Control
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many private companies or individuals are involved with building control; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 4 May 1990]: The National House-building Council Control Services Limited is the only private company authorised under the Building Act 1984 to undertake building control functions as approved inspectors.

  Some local authorities use private consultants to assist them in their building control work. No statistics are kept on the number of private companies or individuals involved in such work.

  Loft Insulation
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total expenditure by his Department on grants towards the cost of loft insulation under the homes insulation scheme for(a) 1988–89 and (b) 1989–90.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 4 May 1990]: My Department's expenditure on the homes insulation scheme in 1988–89 was £11·4 million and in 1989–90 it was £5·8 million. These amounts include the administrative expenses of local authorities.

  Audit Commission
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to develop or expand the role of the Audit Commission.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: None, beyond the proposals contained in the National Health Service and Community Care Bill to expand the Audit Commission's functions to cover the National Health Service.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department assisted the Data Protection Registrar with his investigation into possible unauthorised disclosure of poll tax data by the London borough of Wandsworth; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I am not aware that the Data Protection Registrar has asked for any such assistance.
  160
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much the total amount to be raised by local government through the community charge in the current financial year exceeds the amount which would have been raised had the last year's income from domestic rates been increased in line with inflation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: English local authorities have budgeted to raise £12·7 billion from the community charge in 1990–91. This is 30 per cent. higher than the amount they raised from domestic rates in 1989–90 and £2·2 billion more than if they had increased income by the March 1990 RPI.

  The local authorities have budgeted to raise £35·8 billion from community charge, grant and business rates. This is £2·5 billion more than the equivalent figure for 1989–90 adjusted for changes in function and increased by the March 1990 RPI.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his estimates of the costs to local authorities in 1991–92 of implementing legislation on(a) community care and (b) environmental protection.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: Estimates of the costs to local authorities and others of implementing the National Health Service and Community Care Bill and the Environmental Protection Bill are contained in the explanatory and financial memoranda to those Bills.

  Mr. Benn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the statutory provisions permitting the preparation and publication of standard spending assessments for the community charge.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: Standard spending assessments are calculated according to the revenue support grant distribution report (England) made under section 80 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and approved by the House on 18 January 1990. The Community Charges and Non-domestic Rating (Demand Notices) (England) Regulations 1990 (1990, No. 156) require standard spending assessments to appear on community charge demand notices.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what factors influenced his decision not to charge-cap the City of London.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: My right hon. Friend did not designate the City of London for charge capping because its budget was not in his opinion excessive.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance is given to local authorities on the exercise of discretion on the levying of the community charge.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: It has been the long-established and sensible practice of local authorities to exercise discretion not to seek to collect very small amounts where the cost of collection would exceed the amounts concerned. The introduction of the community charge does not alter this, a fact mentioned in community charge practice note No. 24 which is about to be issued.
  161
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his written answer of 3 May to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East, if he will list which grants fall(a) inside and (b) outside aggregate Exchequer finance.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: The grants falling within AEF for 1990–91 are listed. National non-domestic rate payments are also with AEF. All other grants to local authorities are outside AEF.

  Grants within AEF

  Revenue support grant

  Low rateable value areas grant

  Inner London education grant

  Police grant1

  Magistrates' courts grant1

  Probation services grant

  Commonwealth immigrants grant

  Urban programme1

  Civil defence

  Sheltered employment

  In-service teacher training

  Education support

  Housing benefit administration

  Social services training

  AIDS and HIV

  Careers service strengthening grant

  National parks supplementary grant

  Education of travellers' children

  1Excluding the loan charges element.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his written answer of 3 May to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East1, if he will provide similar calculations which exclude from the Government grant total (a) community charge rebate figures, (b) grants outside of AEF and (c) the figures in (a) and (b) combined2; if he will give reasons for including grants outside AEF and community charge rebates within his calculations.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: The figures requested are (a) Government grants 35 per cent., (b) business rates 29 per cent., (c) community charges 35 per cent. The figure for community charges is gross of community charge rebates and transitional relief grant. Figures do not add to 100 per cent. due to rounding.

  The figures given in my answer to the hon. Member on 3 May 1990 at columns 617–18 included as central Government grants grants outside AEF and community charge rebates because these are part of direct and indirect support from central Government to community charge payers and help them to meet local authority spending.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his written answer of 3 May to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East, if he will list the equivalent percentage details for each district council area in Derbyshire.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: This information is not available.

EMPLOYMENT

  Youth Training
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish details for Great Britain and for the west midlands region for each year from April 162
  1986 to the most recent date, of the total number of YTS trainees (a) in training and (b) with disabilities in training.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The figures for the number of YTS trainees in training and with disabilities in training for Great Britain and the west midlands for each year from April 1986 to the most recent date are as follows:

  Great Britain

  West Midlands

  Total in training

  Disabled in training

  Total in training

  Disabled in training

  March 1987

  305,676

  9,331

  39,751

  1,146

  March 1988

  375,564

  11,269

  44,647

  1,264

  March 1989

  376,622

  12,046

  42,227

  1,256

  March 19901

  359,460

  9,586

  39,394

  962

  1 Subject to revision.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce an age-related increase in the YT allowance for those aged 18 years and over.

  Mr. Nicholls
  There will be no change to the value of the higher rate of the youth training allowance. The present level of this allowance represents a clear lead over the corresponding level of the income support for 18-year-olds which came into effect in April.

  Departmental Savings
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what value for money savings have been achieved by his Department in the last year; and how much of this was as a result of advice from the central unit on purchasing.

  Mr. Eggar
  The figures for 1989–90 are being processed and are not yet available. However, the statistics in the table show for all parts of the ED group the improvements in 1988–89 as published in the 1989 progress report to the Prime Minister. It is not possible to attribute particular savings to advice from central unit on purchasing. The role of the central unit on purchasing is to give advice and guidance on best purchasing practice; it provides overall support and guidance and encourages value for money across all Government Departments.

  Value for money improvements

  (£ million)

  1988–89

  Departments

  Spend

  VFM

  Per cent. achieved

  Per cent. targeted s

  Department of Employment

  94·2

  14·91

  15·8

  10·6

  Training Agency

  91·4

  7·11

  7·8

  5·0

  Health and Safety Executive

  27·0

  1·55

  5·7

  5·0

  Special Needs Training
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what criteria he will use in assessing whether the training requirements of special needs groups are being met by TECs.

  Mr. Eggar
  Each TEC will set out in its corporate and business plans how it intends to meet the training requirements of groups with special needs. These plans will be subject to my approval and performance against them
  163
  will be regularly monitored. In addition, the training standards advisory service will be appraising the quality of training provision offered by TECs to people with special training needs.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action has been taken or guidance has been given to TECs to develop special needs training.

  Mr. Eggar
  TECs have received detailed guidance on the issues that should be addressed in their corporate and business plans, including the provision of training for people with special needs. My Department is also preparing material for TECs to promote good practice and high quality special needs training.

  Training (Funding)
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has had any recent meetings with the business community to discuss the public/private sector mix of the funding of training schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have frequent meetings with the business community at which a number of issues are discussed, including the need for greater investment by employers in training. Training and enterprise councils will have substantial public funds for training and will be well placed to encourage the private sector to contribute.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are his criteria for allocating training budgets(a) between different regions in England and Wales, (b) between different areas within each region and (c) between different training providers within each area.

  Mr. Eggar
  Training budgets for programmes operated through the Training Agency are allocated between different regions in England and Wales on the basis of historical spending levels and expected requirements in the year for which the allocation is being made. Particular criteria will be different for each individual programme depending upon its aims and objectives.

  Allocations of budgets to areas within regions are normally on the same basis as allocations to regions. Budgets for different training providers are established through negotiation and will depend mainly upon the nature, type and scale of provision being delivered.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many civil servants are involved in managing the TEC programme.

  Mr. Eggar
  Civil servants from my Department are engaged in facilitating the setting up of training and enterprise councils and managing the contractual relationship with them. They will also work in training and enterprise councils on a secondment basis. Training and enterprise councils are being established progressively throughout the year and it is not possible to state how many civil servants are involved at any one time.

  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from training and enterprise councils against the cuts in funding for training.
  164
  Mr. Eggar
  I have received a number of representations from training and enterprise councils (TECs) about reductions in funding for training. I have explained that these reductions need to be set against sharp falls in unemployment and the drop in numbers of young people.

  Coal Mining (Major Injuries)
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for employment what was the number of major injuries in(a) British Coal deep coal mines, (b) licensed private deep coal mines, (c) British Coal opencast mines and (d) licensed private opencast mines in 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is as follows for 1988–89:

  Site

  Major injuries

  British Coal deep coal mines

  685

  Licensed private deep coal mines

  25

  British Coal opencast mines

  40

  Licensed private opencast mines

  5

  Figures for 1989–90 are not available.

  Industrial Accidents
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions have been undertaken for failing to report industrial accidents in each year up to and including 1990.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is available only for the years 1981 to 1988–89 and is given in the following table:

  Prosecution action taken by HSE's factory and agricultural inspectorates and local authorities under NADOR and RIDDOR 1981 to 1988–891

  Date of hearing

  Number of informations laid

  1981

  25

  1982

  230

  1983

  55

  1984

  43

  1985

  102

  1986–87

  102

  1987–88

  191

  1988–89

  179

  1 Provisional.

  2 Action taken by HSE's factory and agricultural inspectorates only.

  NADOR—The Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1980.

  RIDDOR—The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1985.

  Skill Centres
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list each of the advisers who evaluated the offers made for the Government skill centres; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Deloitte Corporate Finance, as the Government's main sale adviser, evaluated all offers to purchase skill centres and other parts of the Skills Training Agency.

  The Government Actuary's Department advised on bidders' proposals for pension arrangements to cover staff

  165
  who would move out of the civil service as a result of the sale. The Government also received advice from Deloitte Haskins and Sells management consultancy division and King and Company on property issues, and from Field Fisher Waterhouse on legal matters connected with the sale.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the sites of which he is currently negotiating to sell the freehold to Astra Training Services Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Astra Training Services Ltd. has acquired the freehold at part or all of the following sites:

  Billingham

  Dundee

  Durham

  Hillingdon

  Tyneside

  Bradford

  Cheshire

  Hull

  Manchester

  Preston

  Rochdale

  Wigan

  Birmingham

  Gwent

  North Staffs

  West Glamorgan

  Wrexham

  Bristol

  Gloucester

  Redruth

  West Sussex

  Basildon

  Enfield

  Medway

  Milton Keynes

  Peterborough

  Irvine

  There are no further negotiations in progress on the sale of freehold sites in Astra.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects the task of recontracting with training agents, training managers and managing agents to be completed.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Recontracting with employment training (ET) training agents, training managers and with YTS managing agents should be substantially complete by 28 May 1990.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the need to reduce average unit prices within employment training to a level consistent with resources available in 1990–91 and the volume requirements associated with those resources.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 3 May 1990]: My right hon. and learned Friend's assessment is that overall unit costs, including allowances, will be increased by 1 per cent. in 1990–91.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give from the employment training budget in 1990–91 the total expenditure allocated to(a) training week delivery and (b) trainee leaving employment training for a positive outcome.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In 1990–91 £571 million is available for employment training (ET) programme costs. Of this about £306 million is expected to be paid to training and enterprise councils, about £31 million on the basis of positive outcomes achieved and £275 million on the basis of trainee weeks delivered.

  Energy Grants
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total expenditure by his Department on energy grants towards the cost of draught-proofing materials in(a) 1988–89 and (b) 1989–90.
  166
  Mr. Nicholls
  The total expenditure by the Employment Department Training Agency on community insulation project energy grants towards the cost of draught-proofing materials in 1988–89 and 1989–90 was £6,237,037 and £6,234,372 respectively.

  Low Pay (Prosecutions)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist), 2 April, columns 460–62, how many firms were prosecuted in Wales in each of the years from 1979 for paying below wages councils minima.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: Two employers have been prosecuted in Wales since 1979 for paying below wages council minima—one in 1987 and one in 1988.

ENERGY

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what provisions have been made for the disposal or long-term management of(a) low-level radioactive waste, (b) intermediate-level waste and (c) high-level waste arising from contracts signed for the reprocessing of foreign spent nuclear fuel prior to 1976; and what volumes of waste will arise in each category from these contracts on the completion of reprocessing.

  Mr. Baldry
  Overseas reprocessing contracts signed by BNFL before 1976 did not contain options for the return of wastes arising. The latest estimates of total volumes of waste which are likely to arise from these contracts are:

  Cubic metres

  High-level waste

  100

  Intermediate-level waste

  4,000

  Low-level waste

  50,000

  These wastes will represent only a small proportion of total wastes arising in the United Kingdom. They will be disposed of along with other United Kingdom waste but will not require extra disposal facilities to be provided here.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what provisions have been made for the disposal or long-term monitored storage of low and intermediate-level radioactive waste arising from the contracts recently signed by British Nuclear Fuels plc with electricity utilities in the Federal Republic of Germany.

  Mr. Baldry
  In line with all other contracts for the reprocessing of overseas spent fuel signed since 1976, the new contracts between British Nuclear Fuels plc and electricity utilities in the Federal Republic of Germany contain options for the return of wastes arising. For the Government's policy on the return of wastes, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 2 May 1986 at columns 502–03.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy on what basis James Capel advised journalists that the electricity supply industry would be sold at a value of £10 billion; and what consultations it had with him prior to these briefings.

  Mr. Wakeham
  James Capel did not advise journalists of the value at which the electricity industry would be sold. It is too early to estimate the likely proceeds from the sale of the companies.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) who advised him on the post-privatisation salary of the chair of the NEEB;

  (2) who advised him on the post-privatisation salary of the chair of NORWEB.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Government have decided that board members of the new electricity companies will not receive major increases in salaries before flotation.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he intends to retain in Government hands after flotation any of the shares in the electricity distribution and generating companies.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Government will not decide for some time on the proportion of the shares to be sold in the electricity companies in England and Wales.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what advice he received from Coopers and Lybrand on post-privatisation salaries of electricity industry chairmen and board members.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Board members of the new electricity companies have not and will not receive major increases in salaries before flotation.

  The Government will not be responsible for salaries after flotation.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what undertakings were given about post-privatisation salaries to any persons appointed by him as chairs or board members of any electricity company on their appointment or reappointment over the last year.

  Mr. Wakeham
  None.

  Station

  Capacity

  Type

  Consent given

  Ashford

  150 MW

  GT

  5 September 1975

  Bull's Bridge

  280 MW

  GT

  12 October 1972

  Carmarthen Bay

  300 KW

  WT

  23 July 1981

  350 KW

  WT

  20 June 1985

  330 KW

  WT

  23 July 1987

  500 KW

  WT

  20 February 1989

  330 KW

  WT

  20 February 1989

  Cwm Dyli

  10 MW

  HE

  22 September 1987

  Hams Hall

  27 MW

  GT

  8 December 1977

  Ince B

  1,000 MW

  Oil

  22 November 1971

  Inswork Point

  1,300 MW

  Oil

  23 August 1973

  Killingholme

  4,000 MW

  Oil

  16 June 1972

  Killingholme A

  1,000 MW

  CCGT

  18 April 1990

  Killingholme PowerGen

  750–1,000 MW

  CCGT

  31 January 1990

  Leicester

  120 MW

  GT

  2 May 1972

  Letchworth

  150 MW

  GT

  21 July 1971

  Littlebrook D

  2,000 MW

  Oil

  19 July 1972

  Nechells

  300 MW

  GT

  29 June 1973

  Newton Abbot

  300 MW

  GT

  28 March 1974

  Ocker Hill

  300 MW

  GT

  11 October 1971

  168
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy for what reasons Treasury guarantees totalling £50 million were given to NORWEB.

  Mr. Wakeham
  To enable it to finance its operations in the most cost-effective manner possible.

  Coal Equivalents
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the factors by which his Department multiplies oil and gas tonnages to achieve coal equivalents; and when these were last changed or modified.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The factors generally used to convert data on tonnages of oil and gas (including petroleum gases) to coal equivalent are 1·7 and 2, respectively. These factors, which have been widely adopted for a number of years by both national and international organisations, are based on standard thermal contents of 250 therms per tonne of coal, 425 therms per tonne of oil and 500 therms per tonne of gas. I am not aware of any reason why these factors should be changed or modified.

  Power Stations
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will list power station developments completed since January 1970, giving for each(a) the location of the power station, (b) the generating capacity, (c) the type of generation, (d) the date of completion, (e) the main equipment suppliers and (f) the nationality of the main equipment suppliers;

  (2) if he will list power station authorisations given by the Secretary of State since January 1970, giving for each (a) the location of the proposed power station, (b) the generating capacity, (c) the type of generation, (d) the date of authorisation, (e) the main equipment suppliers and (f) the nationality of the main equipment suppliers.

  Mr. Wakeham
  [holding answer 1 May 1990]: The stations for which consents have been given for construction under section 2 of the Electric Lighting Act 1909 or section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 since January 1970 are as listed. The completion dates of the stations which were constructed, the main equipment suppliers and the nationality of the equipment suppliers are matters for the relevant companies.
  169

  Station

  Capacity

  Type

  Consent given

  Padiham

  224 MW

  Oil

  31 August 1973

  Portskewett

  1,300 MW

  AGR

  14 December 1972

  Richborough

  1 MW

  WT

  2 February 1987

  Roosecote

  150 MW

  GT

  9 November 1972

  Sizewell B

  1,200 MW

  AGR/HTR/SGHWR

  5 February 1975

  1,200 MW

  PWR

  12 March 1987

  Taylors Lane

  150 MW

  GT

  12 December 1972

  Watford

  150 MW

  GT

  21 July 1971

  West Burton B

  1,800 MW

  Coal

  23 March 1990

  Wimbledon

  300 MW

  GT

  28 March 1974

  Notes:

  AGR = Advanced Gas Cooled Reactor.

  CCGT = Combined Cycle Gas Turbine.

  HE = Hydro Electric.

  GT = Gas Turbine.

  HTR = High Temperature Reactor.

  PWR = Pressurised Water Ractor.

  SGHWR = Steam Generating Heavy Water Reactor.

  WT =Wind Turbine.

  The table does not include consents given for changes in fuel or extensions such as the retrofitting of flue gas desulphurisation equipment at Drax.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Iraq
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Anglo-Iraqi relations in the light of recent developments.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Despite our recent difficulties with Iraq, which have not been of our making, we continue to attach importance to our bilateral relationship. There are many issues of concern about which we need to talk to the Iraqis, not least the continued detention in Iraq of Mrs. Daphne Parish and Mr. Ian Richter. We want a frank and forthright relationship with an honest exchange of views. We do not expect to agree with Iraq on every issue, but an open dialogue is needed if we are to make progress on those issues which divide us.

  Kashmir
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of India concerning the situation in Kashmir.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of India concerning the situation in Kashmir.

  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Indian Government concerning the situation in Kashmir.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of India concerning the situation in Kashmir.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We are in regular contact with both the Indian and Pakistani Governments who are aware of our views on the current situation in Kashmir.

  Soviet Jews
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Soviet and Israeli officials concerning the likely place of permanent settlement of Jews emigrating from the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Both the Soviet and Israeli authorities are aware of our view that Soviet Jews should have the right to emigrate freely but that Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, including east Jerusalem, are illegal. We and our European partners have urged the Israeli Government not to jeopardise prospects for peace by allowing or encouraging Jewish immigrants to settle in the occupied territories.

  South Africa
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to pay an official visit to South Africa to discuss United Kingdom-South Africa relations.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans for a further visit to South Africa.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to meet Mr. Nelson Mandela to discuss the Government's policy in relation to South Africa.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs expects to meet Mr. Mandela on 3–4 July to discuss how the process of peaceful change in South Africa can best be taken forward.

  Mr. John Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters will be discussed during the forthcoming visit to London by President de Klerk of South Africa.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We expect to discuss with President de Klerk how the process of negotiated change in South Africa can best be taken forward, and other matters of mutual interest.
  171
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the President of the Republic of South Africa.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We make regular representations to the South African Government on a wide range of issues.

  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the South African Government about progress to end apartheid.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 4 April at column 1198.

  Bulgaria
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made towards free and democratic elections in Bulgaria.

  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made towards free and democratic elections in Bulgaria.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Elections will be held on 10 and 17 June under a democratic electoral system agreed in round table talks between the Government and the Opposition groups. We are concerned at recent reports of possible malpractice and urge all concerned to see that the electoral campaign and the actual poll are conducted with scrupulous fairness. We shall be sending a team of local government officials to observe the elections.

  Antarctica
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to support the Australian and French Governments' proposals for a conservation convention for Antarctica.

  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will be supporting the Australian Government and French Government proposals for a conservation convention for Antarctica.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The French and Australian proposals will be a useful contribution to the discussions at the special Antarctic treaty consultative meeting to be held in November in Santiago. We are preparing our own proposals for that meeting about which we intend to consult our Antarctic treaty partners.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many countries have now ratified the convention on the regulation of Antarctic mineral resource activities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No countries have yet ratified this convention.
  172
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received in connection with the forthcoming meeting of Antarctic treaty parties to discuss protection of Antarctica; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  On 3 May the French ambassador and the Australian high commissioner left with us a joint Franco/Australian paper setting out their views about a possible agreement on the protection of the Antarctic environment.

  Mr. Eadie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of other European Community Governments concerning the forthcoming meeting of Antarctic treaty parties to discuss protection of Antarctica.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Consultations at official level with representatives of EC Governments signatories to the Antarctic treaty took place in the course of the XVth Antarctic treaty consultative meeting in Paris last October. Since then there have been further bilateral consultations at official level with France and the Federal Republic of Germany. The French authorities have also informed us of their joint proposal, with the Australian Government, for a new agreement on the conservation of the Antarctic.

  Lithuania
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations he has made to the Soviet Union about Lithuania.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations he has made to the Soviet Union about Lithuania.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart regarding the United States response to recent developments in Lithuania.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what correspondence there has been between his Department and his counterparts in the United States regarding the imposition of sanctions against the Soviet Union as a result of recent developments in Lithuania.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are keeping in close touch with our allies and partners, including the United States, over developments in Lithuania. This was one of the subjects discussed at the meeting held on 3 May between Foreign Ministers of the Twelve and Secretary Baker.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the discussions between his Department and his counterparts in the European Council of Ministers regarding sanctions against the Soviet Union following recent developments in Lithuania.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are keeping in close touch with our partners in the Twelve over developments in Lithuania. This was among the subjects discussed at the EC Foreign Ministers' meeting held on 21 April.

  Equal Opportunities
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he proposes to make any changes to his departmental policy in pursuance of equal opportunities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No. The FCO is fully and actively committed to being an equal opportunities employer.

  Cambodia
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now establish an ambassador in Cambodia.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No. Consideration of restoring diplomatic relations with Cambodia must await a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict there.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what talks he has held or plans to hold with the United States Secretary of State on Cambodia.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discusses Cambodia regularly with the United States Secretary of State.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he proposes to send a British delegation to Cambodia.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Two British officials visited Cambodia in December 1989. We have no plans at the moment to send a further British delegation to Cambodia.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent talks he has had with the various factions involved in the war in Cambodia; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has had no recent talks with members of any of the Cambodian factions.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will reconsider his decision not to grant a visa for a representative from Phnom Penh to visit London for a parliamentary briefing.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 21 March 1990]: There has been no such decision.

  Anti-semitism
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on what can be done by the Government to minimise anti-semitism in eastern and central Europe.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We shall continue to condemn instances of anti-semitism in central and eastern Europe. We shall also continue to press for universal respect for the rights of minorities as enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act.

  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is 174
  taking to assist Governments of central and eastern Europe in their efforts to guarantee the rights of Jewish and other minority communities.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We would be ready to look at any requests for assistance and advice from the Governments of central and eastern Europe in addressing these questions. We shall also continue to urge all participants in the CSCE process to uphold the commitments they have made on minority rights.

  Know-how Fund
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the know-how fund is being spent on direct projects for economic development; and what percentage is being spent on funding(a) advertising and (b) consultancies.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The objective of the know-how funds is to help the countries of central and eastern Europe make the transition to political pluralism and, in particular, market economies. Thus the know-how funds in their entirety will contribute to social and economic development. Up to 15 per cent. of total expenditure has been on consultancy studies: negligible amounts have been spent on advertising.

  Short-range Weapons
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to meet the Secretary-General of NATO to discuss short-range weapons.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to meet the Secretary-General of NATO to discuss short-range weapons.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met the Secretary-General at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brussels on 3 May, at which they discussed the proposals put forward by President Bush on 4 May. He expects to have further discussions with the Secretary-General and NATO colleagues at the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Turnberry on 6 to 8 June.

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

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are continuing to encourage a dialogue between Israel and representative Palestinians as a first step towards a comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israel dispute. We look to the next Israeli Government, as we do to the PLO, to play a positive and constructive part in developing such a dialogue.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for peace in the middle east of advice given by Yasser Arafat at a meeting of leaders of the Intifada held in Baghdad, to the effect that the Palestine Liberation Organisation's supporters should open fire on new Jewish immigrants.
  175
  Mr. Waldegrave
  The reports of Mr. Arafat's remarks appear to derive from one newspaper article of doubtful authenticity which has been denied by the PLO. The PLO is well aware that we deplore violence from whatever quarter.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning the continued occupation of the west bank and the Gaza strip; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Israeli Government are well aware of our view that Israel should withdraw from territories occupied since 1967 as part of a comprehensive peace settlement.

  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to meet representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organisation to discuss recent statements by Mr. Yasser Arafat.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  No. They are already well aware of our view that only peaceful dialogue, not violence, can achieve peace in the middle east.

  European Community General Affairs Council
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what issues will be raised at the next meeting of the European Community General Affairs Council.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what issues he expects to be discussed at the next meeting of the European Community General Affairs Council.

  Mr. Maude
  The Foreign Affairs Council on 18 and 19 June is likely to discuss, among other matters, political union, preparations for the European Council meeting on 25 and 26 June, European Community/EFTA relations, European Community-Eastern Europe and European Community policy towards the Mediterranean.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the last meeting of the European Community General Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The European Community Foreign Affairs Council met in Brussels on 7 May. I represented the United Kingdom at it, and at a meeting of the European Community-Cyprus Association Council which took place subsequently.

  The Council adopted decisions on the European Training Foundation and the trans-European mobility scheme for university studies (TEMPUS) to extend the amount of help given by the Community to Poland and Hungary. It invited the Commission to start negotiations with Romania on a possible trade, commercial and economic co-operation agreement. Similar agreements with Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and the German Democratic Republic were signed. The Council also had a first discussion of possible G24 aid to Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Bulgaria, Romania and Yugoslavia.

  Ministers noted that all member states would lift their visa requirement for the German Democratic Republic,
  176
  and agreed to keep their visa requirements for other eastern European countries, particularly Hungary and Czechoslovakia, under review.

  The Council discussed preparations for the negotiations intended to extend the single market to EFTA countries.

  Ministers discussed procedures for handling the remit from the Informal European Council on 28 April for an analysis of possible changes to the Community's institutions—"political union"—and the handling of the meeting on 17 May with the European Parliament to consider the inter-governmental conference on economic and monetary union, institutional aspects of which they also touched on briefly.

  Children's Rights
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has established a timetable for ratification of the United Nations convention on the rights of the child; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has established a timetable for ratification of the United Nations convention on the rights of the child; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has established a timetable for ratification of the United Nations convention on the rights of the child; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The United Kingdom signed the United Nations convention on the rights of the child on 19 April 1990. We intend to ratify the convention as soon as possible.

  European Commission
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the President of the European Commission; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs last met M. Delors on 3 May on the occasion of the European Community Foreign Ministers meeting with United States Secretary Baker. Relations between the United States and the Community and a range of other international issues were discussed.

  Baltic States
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to visit Lithuania and Estonia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no such plans.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the Government's policy towards the Baltic states.
  177
  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have repeatedly stressed the need for progress through dialogue between the Soviet authorities and the Lithuanians, so that a settlement acceptable to both sides can be reached, enabling the Lithuanian people to decide their own future. This was the theme of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's message to Mrs. Prunskiene when the latter called on her at 10 Downing street this morning.

  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the right to self-determination of the Baltic states.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 4 April at column 701.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what correspondence his Department has received on the treatment of conscripts in the Baltic states who join the Soviet Red Army.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have received a number of letters from members of the public about conscription from the Baltic states, but none about the treatment of conscripts.

  Syria
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of British-Syrian relations.

  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any proposals to re-establish diplomatic relations with Syria; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We recognise that Syria is a major regional power with an important role to play in middle east issues. The continuing absence of diplomatic relations with Damascus stems from Syrian involvement in terrorist activities. A more constructive Syrian attitude to this problem and help in the release of United Kingdom hostages in Lebanon would undoubtedly have a positive effect.

  United Nations Forces (Equipment)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will now support the United Nations Secretary-General's call for the United Nations peace-keeping forces to have a stockpile of equipment.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The United Nations committee responsible reported last year that the financial case for a stockpile had not been made. We await a further report by the United Nations Secretary-General.

  Overseas Students
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to extend his Department's scholarships and awards scheme for overseas students to include more students from the countries of eastern Europe.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Yes. In 1989–80 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office spent £530,000 on awards for 178
  students from eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. In 1990–91 we expect to spend almost three times that amount.

  Namibia
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to meet the new president of Namibia; and what subjects he intends to raise.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met President Nujoma in Windhoek in March when attending the Namibian independence celebrations. He has no present plans for a further meeting.

  Hostages
  Mr. Kilfedder
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the British hostages in the Lebanon.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We are delighted that the former American hostage, Mr. Frank Reed, has confirmed that John McCarthy is alive and in reasonable condition. Mr. Reed's release indicates that Iran and Syria can. if they wish, secure the release of hostages in Lebanon. We shall persevere in our efforts to persuade them that continued holding of hostages is in nobody's interest. We believe that this is true both in Lebanon and elsewhere.

  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British nationals are currently held hostage in the middle east; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Three British nationals are currently held hostage in the middle east. They are Mr. John McCarthy, Mr. Jack Mann and Mr. Terry Waite. We have consistently called for the release of all hostages wherever and by whomever they are being held. We will continue our vigorous efforts to this end.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new measures Her Majesty's Government have taken and propose to take with regard to the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have regularly made our concerns known to the Sri Lankan Government, most recently in conjunction with our European partners on 4 April.

  Anglo-French Summit
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Anglo-French summit on 4 May.

  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Anglo-French summit on 4 May.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and the Defence Secretary had valuable discussions with President Mitterrand, M.
  179
  Dumas and M. Chevenement, covering a wide range of issues. Both sides agreed on the importance of strengthening co-operation on defence and security matters.

  Economic Refugees
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what international action is being considered to deal with migration from Third-world countries of those fleeing from abject poverty.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The United Kingdom will continue to support international action to stem migratory pressures at source, by working for peace and respect for human rights, and for sustainable economic development achieved through liberal trade and investment policies and targeted development aid.

  Israel
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent talks he has had with the Government of Israel.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Israeli Foreign Minister postponed his visit to London in April. I saw the Israeli Minister without Portfolio, Mr. Olmert, on 15 March. We look forward to close working relations with members of the new Israeli Government when it is formed.

  Security and Co-operation in Europe
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a conference on security and co-operation in Europe meeting will take place in the current year.

  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a conference on security and co-operation in Europe meeting will take place in the current year.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) on 28 March at column 188.

  Vietnam
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed Vietnam with the President of the United States.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has had no recent discussions on Vietnam with the President of the United States.

  We have regular contact with the United States Administration on a wide range of subjects, including Vietnamese boat people.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received from the non-governmental organisations which are involved in Vietnam about a United Kingdom aid package to that country.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn) on 4 April at column 704, and to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 12 March at column 17.

  Czechoslovakia
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made towards free and democratic elections in Czechoslovakia.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign arid Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made towards free and democratic elections in Czechoslovakia.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made towards free and democratic elections in Czechoslovakia.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Free and democratic elections are to be held on 8–9 June. We are confident that these will be conducted properly and on a genuinely pluralist basis.

  German Unification
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on what progress was made at the first ministerial session of the two-plus-four talks on the future of Germany.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The first ministerial two-plus-four meeting on 5 May was marked by a serious and constructive approach on all sides to the task of carrying forward the external aspects of German unification. It was agreed that the agenda for subsequent two-plus-four meetings should consist of borders, politico/military issues, bearing in mind approaches for suitable security structures in Europe, Berlin, and final settlement under international law and termination of the Four Power rights and responsibilities

  Cyprus
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent political developments in Cyprus.

  Mr. Maude
  Following elections in northern Cyprus on 22 April and 6 May, we understand that United Nations officials will shortly hold consultations with the leaders of the two communities. Their aim, which we fully support, will be to promote a resumption of the intercommunal talks on the basis of Security Council resolution 649.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about United Kingdom relations with Ethiopia.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Our contacts with the Ethiopian Government enable us to raise human rights issues, to take action to relieve famine and to urge a negotiated settlement of the long-standing civil wars in that country. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I met the Ethiopian Foreign Minister in London on 4 April.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to meet the governor of Hong Kong to discuss the provisions contained in the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Bill.

  Mr. Maude
  We are, of course, in close contact with the governor of Hong Kong about the provisions contained in the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Bill. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no immediate plans to meet the governor. But I discussed this issue in detail with the governor during my visit to Hong Kong last month.

  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek powers to grant internal self-government to the colony of Hong Kong within the next two years.

  Mr. Maude
  In practice, Hong Kong already enjoys a considerable degree of autonomy in virtually all internal matters, as well as in certain aspects of external relations. The joint declaration guarantees that Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree of autonomy when it becomes a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China in 1997.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government intend to table any proposals to the forthcoming conference on the treaty on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The main purpose of the review conference of the non-proliferation treaty is to review the operation of the treaty over the past five years. As a depository power of the treaty, the United Kingdom will make a full contribution to the discussions.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on decisions taken at the recent third preparatory committee meeting of the fourth quinquennial review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The third preparatory committee successfully concluded arrangements for the fourth review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, which will start on 20 August.

  European Union
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold meetings with his French and German counterparts in the European Community Council of Ministers to discuss progress towards economic and monetary union as agreed at the Stuttgart declaration of 1983 and subsequent meetings of the European Council.

  Mr. Maude
  Yes.

  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration has been given to the future constitution of the European Parliament in the context of European political union.
  182
  Mr. Maude
  As agreed at the informal European Council in Dublin on 28 April, EC Foreign Ministers will undertake a detailed examination and analysis of the need for possible treaty changes. We expect the powers of the European Parliament to be discussed in that context.

  Eastern Europe (Investment)
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what help he is giving to British companies interested in investing in eastern Europe.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Investment promotion and protection agreements are in force with Poland, Hungary and Romania. Double taxation agreements have been signed or initialled with all eastern European countries. Overseas investment insurance scheme is open for applications for British firms seeking to invest in eastern Europe. Our know-how fund can meet half the cost of pre-investment studies, and the training costs of potential joint ventures in qualifying countries. British embassies and the Department of Trade and Industry offer information and advice on joint ventures and legislation.

  Romania
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made towards free and fair elections in Romania.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  There has been some progress. The interim authorities have passed an electoral law and welcomed outside observers. But we remain concerned at the continuing allegations by some opposition parties that they are being unfairly treated during the election campaign.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Romanian Government on future progress towards full democracy.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs most recently made clear our hope to see progress towards democracy and economic freedom in Romania to the Romanian Foreign Minister, Mr. Celac, in Windhoek on 20 March.

  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made towards free and fair elections in Romania.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  There has been some progress. The interim authorities have passed an electoral law and welcomed outside observers. But we remain concerned at the continuing allegations by some opposition parties that they are being unfairly treated during the election campaign.

  EC Policies
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further proposals he intends to place before his European Community partners for the development of Community policies.

  Mr. Maude
  We will put forward a number of positive and constructive proposals in the Community over the coming months.

  Parker Report
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications for his Department of the Parker report, "Speaking for the Future: A Review of the Requirements of Diplomacy and Commerce for Asian and African Languages and Area Studies".

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We welcomed the extra provision for Asian and African studies resulting from the Parker report. It has been helpful for our work in so far as we draw on institutions of higher education for expertise in language teaching and studies relevant to foreign policy issues.

  British High Commission, Delhi (Sikhs)
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Sikhs are employed by the British high commission in Delhi; how many are employed as interpreters; and what other positions they occupy.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The British high commission in New Delhi does not ask for, or record, details of the religious affiliations of its locally engaged staff.

  EEC Institutions (Powers)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent proposals he has had from the EEC about a further extension in the powers of Community institutions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement on 1 May by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister reporting the discussions at the informal European Council in Dublin on 28 April.

  Israel
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel about their funding of the intrusion into the traditional Christian sector of Jerusalem; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have made clear to the Israeli Government our concern at this provocative action, and reminded them of our view that all Jewish settlements in the occupied territories, including east Jerusalem, are illegal under international law.

  Vietnamese Boat People
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation as regards the Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong and the trend in arrivals.

  Mr. Maude
  On 27 April 1990 there were 54,587 Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong. Out of that total, 10,910 are refugees, 8,111 have been definitively screened out as non-refugees and the remainder are awaiting or undergoing screening. The total number of arrivals in 184
  Hong Kong so far this year is 1,250, 64 per cent. less than in the corresponding period last year. Two thirds come from the south of Vietnam, a reverse of the trend in 1989 when the great majority came from the north. Sixty-five per cent. are ethnic Chinese.

  Antarctic Bases
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present population of each of the five British bases in Antarctica.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [holding answer 3 May 1990]: I have been asked to reply.

  The present (overwintering) population of the British Antarctic bases are:

  Halley IV—20; Halley V—10; Rothera—15; Faraday—10; Signy—15.

  In addition, there are three people on the sub-Antarctic Bird island, South Georgia.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy in respect of waste disposal from the five operating British bases in Antarctica; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [holding answer 3 May 1990]: I have been asked to reply.

  The British Antarctic survey (BAS) has always maintained stringent controls on safeguarding the Antarctic environment in the vicinity of its bases and elsewhere. These controls are currently being updated as part of BAS's current environmental management strategy and in line with recommendation XV-3 from the XVth meeting of the Antarctic treaty consultative parties, held in Paris in October 1989.

  From the 1989–90 season, all new waste materials, with the exception of human waste, are being brought out of the Antarctic and as much material from earlier activities is being removed as carrying capacity allows. The British Antarctic survey has appointed an environmental officer to co-ordinate the introduction of new procedures of waste management and improve environmental management further. He will take up his appointment in June 1990.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the programme to remove the United Kingdom abandoned Antarctic bases is expected to be completed, pursuant to recommendation XV-2 as agreed at the meeting of the Antarctic treaty parties in Paris in October.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [holding answer 3 May 1990]: I have been asked to reply.

  Following the 1989 autumn public expenditure statement, funding was made available to assist the British Antarctic survey to remove surplus material and stored waste from these sites. This will be achieved as fast as the limitations of the Antarctic climate and ship time and capacity allow.

  As part of its current environment management policy, the British Antarctic survey is commencing a detailed review of all unused British sites to consider whether they should be maintained as emergency refuges, removed or, in a limited number of cases, maintained as historic monuments.

  PRISONS: DISTURBANCES
  PRISONS: DISTURBANCES
  TRAINING AND ENTERPRISE COUNCILS: MP AND MEP INVOLVEMENT
  TRAINING AND ENTERPRISE COUNCILS: MP AND MEP INVOLVEMENT