Written Answers of 15 May 1990

TRANSPORT

  Speed Limits (Western Avenue)
  Mr. Hanky
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the speed limits on the Western avenue between the White City and the Hoover building were last assessed; and whether he intends any changes in the near future.

  Mr. Atkins
  The current speed limits along this stretch of the A40 have applied for a number of years. There are no immediate plans to make any changes to the existing limits on this stretch of the A40, but the situation will be reviewed as and when circumstances change.

  Weight Restriction Signs
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the weight restriction signs which were removed during the gales earlier this year on the one-way flyover at the Hogarth roundabout, at the junction of the A4 and A316, will be replaced.

  Mr. Atkins
  Yes. The damaged sign gantry will be replaced during night time hours in the week commencing 21 May.

  Bus Passengers
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report the requirements and regulations covering folding crew seats and jump seats used by bus passengers.

  Mr. Atkins
  The requirements for crew seats in buses are contained in the Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment, Use and Certification) Regulations 1981, (SI 1981/257) as amended by SI 1982/1058. The relevant regulations are Nos. 3, 6, 25, 26, 28, 28A and 45A.

  The requirements for seat belts for bus crew seats are contained in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, SI 1986/1078, as amended by SI 1987/1133. The relevant regulations are Nos. 46 and 47.

  The Conditions of Fitness Regulations do not permit the use of crew seats by bus passengers. Neither do they refer to "jump seats". However, any seat used by a passenger must comply with regulation 28.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to increase the amount of funds available for the construction of the channel tunnel rail link.

  Mr. Freeman
  We are currently considering proposals submitted by BR and its private sector partner, Eurorail, for a high-speed link between London and the channel tunnel.
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  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress the health and safety at work working group has made in the establishment of compatible accident reporting systems and procedures for the exchange of information on accidents during work on the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Freeman
  Accidents are reported to the national authorities in the United Kingdom and France under existing regulations and procedures. I understand that information about accidents is exchanged through the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority and its health and safety working group, and a standard reporting form has been developed to ensure the compatibility of information about individual accidents.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what dates the health and safety at work working group of the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority met; and what was discussed;

  (2) if he will give details of the discussions that have taken place within the health and safety at work working group of the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority on particular health and safety problems associated with the construction of the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that the health and safety at work working group of the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority meets on average once a month to discuss various topics to do with health and safety in the channel tunnel. The group has principally been concerned over the last year with issues relating to the safety of workers on both the British and French sides during the construction phase.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions have taken place within the health and safety working group of the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority over the need to harmonise working standards and practices when the tunnels meet; and whether there will be a harmonisation of relevant national legislation.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that a series of discussions has been held in the health and safety working group of the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority on the health and safety arrangements which will need to be put in a place to ensure an optimum safety regime when the tunnels meet. When the safety authority reaches conclusions, the intergovernmental commission will consider how best to make arrangements within the provisions of the treaty.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what date the safety report referred to on page 4 of the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority annual report 1988–89 was received; and what actions stemmed therefrom;

  (2) on what date the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority received an adequate preliminary risk analysis of risks and hazards from Eurotunnel.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that at an early stage in the design of the project Eurotunnel submitted a preliminary risk analysis for the terminals and tunnels. Since then, certain Eurotunnel submissions on individual aspects of the design and operation of the system have been accompanied by safety reports which provide elements of a safety analysis. However, as the chairman of the safety
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  authority said in his letter of November 1989 submitting the annual report, the authority sees a need for a full hazard analysis to be commissioned by the concessionaires and audited by the maitre d'oeuvre. The safety authority will be closely involved in designing and monitoring the study and assessing the significance of the results.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority's annual report 1989–90 will be published.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that the report is under preparation by the safety authority and should be published in the autumn.

  Traffic Lights
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Worthing of 21 February,Official Report, column 818, if, he will intervene to ensure that the traffic lights at the junction of St. George's road and Garden way, London, are not operated in future.

  Mr. Atkins
  The London borough of Southwark is the responsible highway authority for St. George's road and Garden Row. Representations about the future of the traffic lights at the junction of these two roads should be directed to that council. I understand, however, that the early indications are that the pedestrian accident rate has in fact improved since the lights were installed.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timetable was set for the installation of additional traffic signals at the junction of Newham way, A 13 and Tollgate road, Beckton; when he now expects them to be operational; and if he will state the reasons for any delay.

  Mr. Atkins
  I regret the delay in installing the new traffic signals which was originally planned for last summer. This was due to several factors including difficulties over design and contract procedures. Tendering is in hand with a view to work starting in July for completion in October.

  Road Taxes
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what he estimates would be the approximate annual yield of a road tax of £50 per car, and £100 per coach or lorry, with 100 per cent. supplements for foreign-registered vehicles entering an exclusion zone drawn on a radius of eight miles from the Aldwych in London.

  Mr. Atkins
  I do not have annual figures for vehicles entering such an exclusion zone.

  M40
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what year he expects the proposed widening of the M40 between junctions 1 and 3 to be completed; and what traffic flows, by volume, density and mix, he anticipates at Gerrards Cross and Beaconsfield at this time and in the following 10 years.

  Mr. Atkins
  Consultants are to be appointed later this year to investigate options for carrying out the work—the preferred scheme is expected to be announced in 1990.
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  Subsequent progress would depend upon the nature of the scheme selected and the statutory procedures involved. Completion could be achieved by the late 1990s.

  Actual traffic flows and forecasts between M25 (junction IA) and Beaconsfield (junction 2) are shown in the table.

  Year

  Vehicles per day (000s)

  Weekday HGVs

  1990

  80

  9

  2000

  120–140

  12

  2010

  140–175

  12

  Bradford-Leeds Rail Electrification
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, following the meeting he had with the West Yorkshire passenger transport executive and others on 26 April, the authority has been asked to supply further information regarding electrification schemes between Bradford and Leeds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The West Yorkshire passenger transport executive was asked to supply further information on 1 May. We will consider its application for credit approvals for the scheme in the light of that information and the resources available.

  Mudflaps
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he intends to take to ensure that mudflaps and other equipment on heavy goods vehicles are so designed as to reduce the lateral spray which can obscure the vision of other drivers, particularly when overtaking or being overtaken.

  Mr. Atkins
  Regulations requiring heavy goods vehicles and trailers to be fitted with spray reducing devices have been in existence since November 1984. The European Commission has put forward proposals for a directive on spray broadly in line with our regulations. The fitment of spray suppression devices is also a requirement of the heavy goods vehicle test.

  Difficulties can still, however, arise with spray from vehicles in adverse conditions. Research into this problem is now taking place. Any additional requirements resulting from this research would need agreement withinthe European Community.

ENVIRONMENT

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each of the last three years those sites of special scientific interest in Staffordshire which have been damaged by operations which were granted planning permission.

  Mr. Trippier
  I am advised by the Nature Conservancy Council that between 1 April 1987 and 31 March 1990 there was no reported case of damage by activities given planning permission in Staffordshire.
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  Radiation
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many successful prosecutions have been completed under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960; which organisations were found guilty; and on what dates.

  Mr. Trippier
  Since the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 came into force in 1963 there have been some 13 successful prosecutions in England for breaches of the Act. Because of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 it is inappropriate to give details of individual convictions.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Devizes (Sir C. Morrison) of 23 April,Official Report, column 2, if he will give further details of the research being carried out into toxic and problem waste management and chemical, thermal and biological detoxification.

  Mr. Trippier
  The following two broad headings which were used in my previous answer include the listed detailed objectives:Toxic and Problem Waste Management

  To determine a variety of ways in which asbestos waste of various types may be reliably and economically destroyed.

  To determine operational quality control procedures for the assessment of cement-based solidified wastes under field conditions.

  To determine the extent of any potential hazard arising from disposing of mercury containing batteries with household waste.

  Waste Management

  To determine the general operating conditions under which PCBs can be destroyed by high temperature hydrogen reduction.

  To determine whether waste acids or other suitable chemicals may be utilised to degrade persistent pesticide wastes.

  Environmental Protection Bill
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, how many representations he has received from(a) local authorities and (b) members of the public concerning the extra funding necessary to implement provisions in the Environmental Protection Bill; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My Department has received a number of comments from both local authorities and members of the public about the Environmental Protection Bill. The vast majority have been supportive of the new provisions. Some representations have been made about funding to implement relevant parts of the Bill, but I have been able to give the assurance that the new charging systems provided for in parts I and II of the Bill will provide local authorities with an entirely new source of finance from which to fund their new duties. Savings as a result of streamlined procedures for dealing with statutory nuisance under part III will also release resources. We are currently seeking local authorities' views on the cost of implementing the draft code of practice on litter and refuse in part IV of the Bill, and additionally we have commissioned consultants to undertake a survey of 20 local authorities to determine whether extra resources will be required.

  Nature Conservancy
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the latest currently available cost to him of his proposals to split nature conservancy representatives between England, Scotland and Wales.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) on 17 January,Official Report, column 252.

  Building Research Establishment
  Mr. Tim Smith
  (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, what specific financial, efficiency and quality of service targets he has approved for the Building Research Establishment for the current year and for the longer term.

  Mr. Chope
  My right hon. Friend's statement on 28 March,Official Report, column 238 indicated the heads under which performance targets had been set for the Building Research Establishment for 1990–91. I can give the following figures:

  Targets

  net vote cost

  £1,764,000

  untilisation rate for chargeable staff

  1 per cent, improvement on previous financial year

  non-Exchequer income as a percentage of total income

  8·4 per cent.

  Figures for other targets are commercially sensitive for the agency and will be treated in confidence. Performance targets for the longer term are currently being developed as part of the agency's corporate planning process.

  Common Land
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to introduce legislation about the administering of common land and the rights of ordinary people on land designated as common.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms. Walley) on 11 May 1990,Official Report, column 244.

  Radioactive Substances
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend the Environmental Protection Bill to take account of the concerns expressed by Dudley council concerning radioactive substances.

  Mr. Trippier
  No. The regulation of radioactive substances is a Government responsibility. The Radioactive Substances Act 1960 already requires local authorities to be consulted in respect of proposals to dispose of radioactive waste from nuclear licensed sites or where a local authority would be required to take special precautions. The Environmental Protection Bill further provides that local authorities will receive copies of every application for authorisation to dispose of radioactive waste from organisations in their area.

  Recycling, Place of Westminster
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are made for the recycling of waste paper removed from the Palace of Westminster in bins now labelled "For Recycling Only"; how that paper is sorted; and what is the percentage efficiency and the cost over the past year of recycling waste paper from the Palace of Westminster.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 14 May 1990]: Waste paper set aside for recycling is roughly sorted on site before being removed, free of charge, by the contractor.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to lay the relevant parliamentary orders specifying the budget reductions required of those authorities designated for charge capping in 1990–91.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 14 May 1990]: While there are related matters before the courts it would not be appropriate for me to comment.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of deprivation Oxford, Cambridge, Kent, Dorset, Hampshire, Bedfordshire, the Isle of Wight and Rotherham were assumed to suffer under the determination of the standard spending assessment for 1990–91.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 14 May 1990]: Standard spending assessment make no explicit assumptions about levels of deprivation. A number of the individual service elements of standard spending assessments take account of social factors. A full description of the methodology used for calculating standard spending assessments is given in the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England) which was approved by the House of Commons on 18 January.

  Local Government Revenue
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer in the Official Report, 3 May, columns 617–18, to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East, if he will list the local government areas in England for which equivalent figures are available.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 14 May 1990]: Equivalent figures are available for the following areas:

  Avon

  Buckinghamshire

  Derbyshire

  Dorset

  Durham

  Isle of Wight

  Kent

  Lincolnshire

  Northumberland

  Surrey

  Warwickshire

  West Midlands

  West Sussex

  Wiltshire

  Toxic Chemicals
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has received from the National Rivers Authority as to what investigations are 362
  taking place into the leakage of highly toxic chemicals into the River Bourne from a timber and building supplies site; what action the Government are taking to ensure that dangerous chemicals are contained in vandal-proof structures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 14 May 1990]: My officials were kept informed on this incident by the National Rivers Authority when it occurred. Since then the authority has been carrying out a full investigation but its report is not yet complete.

  No decision has yet been made on whether regulations or guidelines on the storage of dangerous substances need to be strengthened.

  Housing Transfer (Rochester and Medway)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give details of the new funding arrangements for the housing transfer in Rochester and Medway; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 11 May 1990]: Details of the funding arrangements are a matter for the financiers and the proposed purchaser of the housing. Any requests for such details should be made to them.

  Pollution Inspectorate (Vacancies)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many professional vacancies remain unfilled at Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution; what he proposes to do to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 11 May 1990]: There are currently 25 professional vacancies in Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, seven of which are reserved for successful candidates to date from the current recruitment competition. We are continuing to recruit actively to fill the remaining posts.

  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has also introduced an additional assistant pollution inspector recruitment grade, for candidates with full professional qualifications and at least two years industry experience, who will qualify as pollution inspectors through further training and experience in the inspectorate. This will widen the recruitment for future pollution inspectors, while fully maintaining the present professional standards. The first recruitment competition for APIs is now in progress.

  Peat Extraction
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make environmental impact assessment mandatory on all planning applications for the extraction of peat.

  Mr. Moynihan
  [holding answer 11 May 1990]: Environmental assessments cannot be made mandatory on all planning applications for peat extraction, as each case has to be considered on its merits. EAs will be required, however, where the proposed development is likely to have a significant environmental impact.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Supply Index
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Attorney General if he will make a statement about the decision of the Lord Chancellor's department not to participate in the Government supply index.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor's Department has made no decision about participation in the Government supply index. It is being considered as a part of the overall strategy for the computerisation of purchasing information systems within the Department.

  Bereavement Damages
  Mr. Cunliffe
  To ask the Attorney-General how many replies he has received to his consultation paper on bereavement damages in favour of (i) increasing the limit to(a) £5,000 and (b) £10,000 or (ii) leaving the limit unchanged.

  The Attorney-General
  A total of 265 replies to the consultation paper on bereavement damages issued by the Lord Chancellor have been received and these are currently being studied and evaluated.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Race Awareness
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the extent to which race awareness training is part of the present syllabus in degree and other law courses in universities and polytechnics.

  Mr. Jackson
  None. The curriculum of universities' and polytechnics' law courses is a matter for them and for the relevant professional bodies.

  Further and Higher Education
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of 16-year-olds stay on in full-time education either at(a) school or (b) further/higher education institutions in (i) Cornwall and (ii) England.

  Mr. Jackson
  A total of 27 per cent. of 16-year-olds participated in full-time education in school in Cornwall in 1987–88 and 24 per cent. of them did so in further or higher education institutions. The corresponding figures for England were 27 and 20 per cent. respectively.Notes: These figures are based on the definitive census counts: the form 7 exercise in schools and the further education statistical record. They differ from the figures used to answer a slightly different question on 8 May which necessitated using a sample survey: the school leavers survey. Age is taken as at 31 August 1987.

  Private Colleges of Higher Education
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what circumstances Her Majesty's inspectors inspect private colleges of higher education.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. Friend has a duty to cause inspections to be made of all further and higher education 364
  institutions within the PCFC funding sector and those which are maintained or assisted by local education authorities. He has no such duty in respect of independent institutions. However, he may at the request of the management of such institutions, cause an inspection to take place. In those circumstances Her Majesty's inspectorate may participate in a supporting assessorial role.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  British Exporters
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new proposals to help British exporters.

  Mr. Redwood
  The volume of United Kingdom exports has continued to grow, reflecting the strong position of United Kingdom industry. Excluding oil and erratic items, the volume of exports in the first quarter of 1990 was 8 per cent. higher than a year earlier. There is a wide range of advice and support available from my Department to assist United Kingdom exporters and of which many firms make use.

  Exports (North-West)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the export performance of firms in the north-west.

  Mr. Redwood
  Export data are collated on a national not regional basis and it is not possible to separately identify the export performance of firms in the north-west from official trade statistics.

  However, north-west chambers of commerce survey local industry and commerce quarterly. Their findings for the first quarter of 1990 indicate that generally, compared with the fourth quarter of 1989, exports continue to grow and that the north-west region is sharing in the growth of exports nationally.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what status is held currently by Indonesia in relation to export credit guarantees; and whether this status is under review.

  Mr. Redwood
  The ECGD is currently open for short, medium and long-term cover on Indonesia. It is reviewing its policy towards those markets on which, in portfolio terms, its exposure is heavily concentrated. Indonesia is one such market. The importance of Indonesia to United Kingdom exporters is well recognised and this will be taken fully into account in the review.

  Iraq
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many trade delegations from Iraq have visited the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Redwood
  We have readily available information only on officially supported inward missions of which there were one in each of the years 1988–89 and 1989–90. There was Iraqi participation in two multi-country inward missions in 1985–86 and 1987–88.
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  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many British trade delegations have visited Iraq in each of the last five years with the support of the Department of Trade and Industry;

  2) how many trade delegations have visited Iraq in each of the last five years with the knowledge of his Department.

  Mr. Redwood
  The number of trade delegations, including trade fair groups, missions and seminar participants, that have visited Iraq with Government support in each of the last five years is as follows:

  Number

  1985–86

  Three

  1986–87

  Four

  1987–88

  Four

  1988–89

  Three

  1989–90

  Six

  Unsupported missions are a matter for the companies concerned.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will supply the names of companies who have been on trade delegations to Iraq in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Redwood
  It would not be appropriate to provide this information which is a matter between my Department and the companies concerned.

  Consultants
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has now set the allocation of his Department's expenditure on consultants for 1990–91.

  Mr. Forth
  An allocation of £3,080,000 has been made for consultants out of Department of Trade and Industry running costs for 1990–91.

  Accounting Requirements
  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to make regulations under section 245(4) of the Companies Act 1985 as amended by section 12 of the Companies Act 1989.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department issued a consultative document yesterday on the issues to be covered by regulations under S245(4).

  A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. Further copies are available from my Department by telephoning 071–215 3093, or writing to DTI, Room G707, 10–18 Victoria street, London SW1H 0NN.

  The deadline for comments is 20 July 1990.

  Financial Services
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning the definition of capital in respect of the requirements for capital adequacy on the part of firms in the financial services sector; what is his definition of capital for this purpose; and if it is his intention to apply this definition to any representations he may be making to the European Commission in respect of the harmonisation of requirements for 1992.
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  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 14 May 1990]: The Government will continue to take account of the views of United Kingdom financial institutions during the negotiations on the proposed EC capital adequacy directive, including views on the definition of capital. We will be pressing for a definition which takes account of the structure of the United Kingdom financial services industry. In our negotiations on the CAD the United Kingdom is pressing for capital to be related to risk, and for levels of initial capital which do not act as barriers to entry.

  Hairdressers
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 5 April,Official Report, columns 805–6, (1) whether a person currently practising in the United Kingdom as either a qualified or unqualified Afro-Caribbean hairdresser will be allowed to practise as such in the other European Community countries after 1 January 1993; and whether he will make a statement;

  (2) whether a person qualified and practising as an Afro-Caribbean hairdresser will be allowed to continue as such after 1 January 1993;

  (3) whether a person not qualified in Afro-Caribbean hairdressing but practising as an Afro-Caribbean hairdresser will be allowed to continue as such after 1 January 1993.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: The profession of hairdresser is not regulated by law in the United Kingdom and the completion of the single European market will not alter this.

  The treaty of Rome already guarantees freedom for every EC citizen to work, to seek work or to set up business in any EC member state. However, member states are not at present obliged to recognise professional qualifications or professional experience gained in other member states, and often do not.

  Two main initiatives have been taken to remedy this. First, Council directive 82/489/EEC on hairdressing already makes it easier in certain circumstances for hairdressers who have practised in one member state to meet vocational training requirements in another.

  My Department is responsible for issuing the certificates specified in that directive. Second, the Commission has put forward a draft directive on a second general system for the recognition of professional education and training (COM(89) 372 of 8 August 1989) which is aimed at ensuring that all professional qualifications gained in one member state are recognised in another. The directive is currently under discussion in a Council working group.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Students (Benefits)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he received the report of the Social Security Advisory Committee on the Government's proposals to end the entitlement of students to housing benefit, unemployment benefit and other social security benefits; and if he will publish the report immediately.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The report of the Social Security Advisory Committee on the draft Social Security Benefits
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  (Student Loan and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1990 was received on 27 April. We are, at present, giving careful consideration to the report which will be published with our formal response in the normal way when the regulations are laid before Parliament.

  Social Security Benefits Agency
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress his Department has made in establishing the social security Benefits Agency.

  Mr. Newton
  I announced earlier today the appointment of Michael Bichard as chief executive of the Benefits Agency following selection by open competition. This is a major step in setting up the agency which will come into being next April and which will be the largest executive agency in Government. Mr. Bichard is currently chief executive of Gloucestershire county council. He has wide experience of management and will, I am sure, make a first-rate leader of the new agency. He is being appointed for a five-year period.

  Staff Qualifications
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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 postgraduate qualifications in management and (f) who were educated in (i) local authority and (ii) private schools.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 2 May 1990]: The table relates to staff recorded on the Department's headquarters personnel computer system, including professional staff. Information about the remainder of the Department's staff is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Total number of staff in grades 1 to 7

  3422

  100

  Number with arts degrees

  72

  17

  Number with science degrees1

  198

  47

  Number with law degrees2

  41

  10

  Number with post-graduate qualifications in management

  —

  —

  Number with no degree

  111

  26

  1 One hundred and sixty-four of whom have medical degrees.

  2 There are no members of staff with other "technical" degrees.

  3 Only one of the 422 staff in grades 1 to 7 is a qualified accountant, 0·2 per cent, of the total.

  Note: No details of types of school attended are held and a separate clerical exercise to ascertain the information would involve disproportionate cost.

HEALTH

  NHS Reform
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for restricting the role of community health councils in representing the public in future National Health Service contracts and fund-holding general practices.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The role of community health councils (CHCs) will remain fundamentally unchanged. District health authorities will be expected to take careful 368
  account of the views of their resident population on the overall pattern of service which they plan to secure through their contracts. CHCs will play an important role in this. Fund-holding general practititioners, being in direct touch with the patients they serve, will have less need of an intermediary in this respect.

  Alternative Therapies
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners offer alternative and complementary therapies to National Health Service patients.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally.

  Abortion
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman), 8 May,Official Report, column 84, in how many of the 22 abortions performed after 24 weeks gestation attempts were made to save the life of the child; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally. Matters relating to the care of patients are confidential and are for the clinical judgment of the doctor concerned.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been conducted to establish the incidence of chronic exposure to low levels of pesticides; what training doctors within the National Health Service are given to enable them to recognise this; and if he will make a statement on the health implications for the general public of chronic exposure to low levels of pesticides.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 23 April 1990]: We are not aware of any United Kingdom research into the incidence of chronic exposure to pesticides. Surveys of human milk and human fat carried out as part of the regular monitoring by the working party on pesticides residues in food have indicated very low residues of fat soluble pesticides and related chemicals. Residues of pesticides found in food are generally within recommended maximum residue levels and within the safety limits.

  Pesticides are approved for use by Ministers after receiving the advice of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides which considers all relevant toxicity data including that on consumer exposures. If significant adverse health effects are a possibility, approval is not recommended.

  All doctors receive training in the diagnosis of acute poisoning, including that from exposure to pesticides. In addition, all general practitioners and hospital accident and emergency departments have been issued with a copy of the book "Pesticide Poisoning", a copy of which is in the Library. This gives guidance on the diagnosis and treatment where acute poisoning from pesticides is suspected. Chronic exposure to the levels of pesticides found in the diet are not known to have any health effects, but, if a doctor was unable to attribute symptoms in a patient to other well-recognised causes, it would be open to the doctor to consider chronic exposure to pesticides as

  369
  a possible cause of the illness. Working towards the diagnosis of obscure illness by eliminating more obvious causes is a normal part of medical training.

ENERGY

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he will introduce at the meeting of the European Council of Energy Ministers in Brussels on 21 May.

  Mr. Peter Morrison
  Only the European Commission has the right to initiate formal legislative proposals to the Council. My right hon. Friend will suggest whatever changes he considers necessary during discussions with the other Energy Ministers.

  Nuclear Fuel (Reprocessing)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if details of the origins, sizes and dates of spent fuel imports for reprocessing are notified to his Department for the purposes of international nuclear safeguards.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department receives reports on all spent nuclear fuel imports, for the purposes of international nuclear safeguards.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Tropical Forests
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the claims made in the circular letter sent to all hon. Members by Friends of the Earth on 9 March concerning the tropical forest action plan.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms. Walley) on 5 April, at column 733.

  El Salvador and Nicaragua
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current level of bilateral aid and EC provisions for El Salvador and Nicaragua; what are the plans for the rest of the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have a bilateral technical cooperation programme for El Salvador which will continue —£154,000 in 1988 including disaster relief. I recently announced that we were starting a modest technical cooperation programme for Nicaragua, which should get under way during the year. As regards EC provisions, EC commitments are made in respect of individual projects from within the total allocated annually for the Asia and Latin America programme. Figures for EC commitments in recent years are:

  1987

  1988

  11989

  El Salvador

  19·73 mecu

  2·87 mecu

  3·91 mecu

  Nicaragua

  21·42 mecu

  43·23 mecu

  16·49 mecu

  1 Provisional.

WALES

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

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  No such decision has been taken. The Welsh Office is actively considering participation in the Government supply index.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of(a) the total number of personal poll tax payers in Wales and (b) the number in receipt of community charge benefit.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information is as follows:

  (a) 2,175,000 (including students).

  (b) 550,000.

  Birth Control
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in how many of the district health authorities of Wales there are currently proposals being considered for a cut back in the service of family planning clinics within their area; and if he will identify those authorities considering such cutbacks.

  Mr. David Hunt
  This information is not held centrally.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of hospitals closed in Wales during each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The number of hospitals which have closed, and are still closed, is given in the table. During the same period, seven hospitals, including four district general hospitals, have opened, and the NHS in Wales is treating a record number of patients.

  Number of hospitals closed since I January 1980

  Year

  Number

  1980

  3

  1981

  1

  1982

  –

  1983

  1

  1984

  3

  1985

  6

  1986

  3

  1987

  2

  1988

  1

  1989

  –

  Consultants
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether budgets for 1990–91 for expenditure on management and computer consultancies have yet been finalised.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Yes. Most of the resources are found from within the central administration vote and in 1990–91 £230,000 has been earmarked for this purpose.

  Ophthalmic Clinics
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many new out-patient attendances at ophthalmic clinics were recorded in each quarter of 1989 in each health authority area in Wales;

  (2) how many new out-patient attendances at ophthalmic clinics were recorded in each quarter of 1988 in each health authority area in Wales;

  (3) how many new out-patient attendances at ophthalmic clinics were recorded in each quarter of 1987 in each health authority area in Wales;

  (4) how many new out-patient attendances at ophthalmic clinics were recorded in each quarter of 1986 in each health authority area in Wales;

  Quarter ended

  Clwyd

  East Dyfed

  Pembrokeshire

  Dyfed1

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  1986

  March

  1,049

  919

  286

  1,205

  1,732

  974

  1,035

  150

  1,866

  1,236

  June

  1,168

  1,002

  285

  1,287

  1,912

  1,034

  1,118

  160

  1,963

  1,263

  September

  1,304

  1,036

  266

  1,302

  1,753

  885

  1,204

  143

  1,862

  1,225

  December

  1,255

  1,122

  308

  1,430

  1,818

  937

  1,284

  159

  2,216

  1,284

  1987

  March

  1,178

  1,018

  329

  1,347

  1,747

  854

  1,121

  153

  2,041

  1,175

  June

  1,225

  985

  334

  1,319

  1,543

  894

  1,190

  146

  2,078

  1,430

  September

  1,169

  893

  232

  1,125

  1,481

  968

  1,151

  126

  2,298

  1,213

  December

  1,269

  1,053

  386

  1,439

  1,773

  1,012

  1,388

  177

  2,076

  1,129

  1988

  March

  1,499

  1,045

  431

  1,476

  1,801

  1,163

  1,703

  139

  2,380

  1,384

  June

  1,315

  1,044

  279

  1,323

  1,881

  1,220

  1,352

  143

  1,887

  1,159

  September

  1,335

  1,108

  303

  1,411

  1,688

  1,141

  1,485

  146

  1,759

  1,277

  December

  1,343

  1,227

  386

  1,613

  1,763

  965

  1,276

  190

  2,260

  1,361

  1989

  March

  1,369

  1,245

  320

  1,565

  2,190

  1,040

  1,347

  170

  2,221

  1,694

  June2

  1,310

  1,267

  424

  1,691

  2,178

  1,044

  1,821

  230

  2,182

  1,594

  September2

  1,445

  972

  296

  1,268

  2,023

  986

  1,981

  152

  1,956

  1,459

  December3

  1 The county of Dyfed comprises the health authorities of East Dyfed and Pembrokeshire.

  2 Provisional.

  3 Not yet available.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many new out-patient attendances at ophthalmic clinics were recorded(a) in South Glamorgan and (b) in Wales in the first quarter of 1990.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information is not yet available.

  Glaucoma
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, further to his answers of Tuesday 8 May on glaucoma, whether he will ask each health authority and family practitioner committee in Wales to notify him of the numbers of cases of glaucoma diagnosis that were recorded in(a) 1986, (b) 1987, (c) 1988, (d) 1989 and (e) the first quarter of 1990.

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

  Flooding
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet Bishop Alwyn Rice Jones to discuss the north Wales sea floods.
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  (5) how many new out-patient attendances at ophthalmic clinics were recorded in each quarter of 1989 in each county in Wales;

  (6) how many new out-patient attendances at ophthalmic clinics were recorded in each quarter of 1988 in each county in Wales;

  (7) how many new out-patient attendances at ophthalmic clinics were recorded in each quarter of 1987 in each county in Wales;

  (8) how many new out-patient attendances at ophthalmic clinics were recorded in each quarter of 1986 in each county in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The table shows the number of new ophthalmology out-patients recorded in NHS hospitals in Wales, by county and district health authority:

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have received no request for a meeting from Bishop Rice Jones. If such a request is made it will be considered.

  St. David's Airfield, Pembrokeshire
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if any of the proposed site of the over-the-horizon radar installation on the site of the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire, is designated a site of special scientific interest.

  Mr. Wyn Roberts
  I understand that the proposed sites will be located entirely within the boundaries of the Ministry of Defence land at St. David's airfield and that no part of that land has been designated a site of special scientific interest.

  District Health Authorities (Loans)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing for each of the district health authorities in Wales, the financial sums borrowed by them on an interest-free basis from other authorities in Wales for each year from 1984–85

  373
  to 1989–90, and where appropriate, if he will indicate whether these loans were used for revenue or capital purposes.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is shown in the table:

  Brokerage between district health authorities

  Revenue £ million

  Capital £ million

  1984–85

  Gwent

  —

  -0·287

  Mid Glamorgan

  +1·287

  —

  South Glamorgan

  -0·500

  —

  West Glamorgan

  -0·500

  —

  1985–86

  Clwyd

  —

  +0·500

  West Glamorgan

  -0·500

  —

  1986–87

  Nil

  —

  —

  1987–88

  Mid Glamorgan

  +0·750

  —

  West Glamorgan

  -0·750

  —

  1988–89

  Gwent

  +1·000

  —

  Gwynedd

  +0·780

  —

  Powys

  —

  -0·500

  South Glamorgan

  -0·780

  —

  West Glamorgan

  -0·500

  —

  1989–90

  Clwyd

  —

  -1·000

  Gwent

  +1·000

  —

  Gwynedd

  +0·500

  —

  South Glamorgan

  -0·500

  —

  Notes: (+) denotes 'borrowing'

  (-) denotes 'loans'.

  Source: Records of Revenue and Capital Allocations to District Health Authorities.

  Health Care, Gwynedd
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his reply of 9 May to questions concerning health care in Gwynedd, if he will publish a copy of his letter in answer in the Official Report.

  Mr. David Hunt
  No, a copy of the letters will be made available in the Library.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Central Office of Information
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what specific financial, efficiency and quality of service targets he has approved for the Central Office of Information for the current year and for the longer term.

  Mr. Ryder
  The targets that have been approved for the Central Office of Information are set out in annex A of its framework document as follows:

  Financial

  1. To break even in current cost terms after covering all costs, including interest on borrowings.

  2. To achieve a 1 per cent. reduction in unit cost of output in real terms, which maintaining suitable levels of quality. Appropriate internal targets will be set for every budget holder to ensure achievement of the departmental target.

  Financial

  3. To achieve savings for clients on a base year of 1984–85, for incorporation in their annual returns to the CUP.

  4. To deliver all work in accordance with client specification.

  374

  5. To deliver all work on time.

  These targets have been agreed for the long term with the exception of target 2 which is subject to annual review in the light of market forces. Copies of the framework document are in the House of Commons Library.

THE ARTS

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister for the Arts, pursuant to his answer of 1 May,Official Report, column 475, why details of energy consumption are not available for the buildings occupied by the offices for which he is responsible.

  Mr. Luce
  [holding answer 10 May 1990]: My office is located in two buildings, both shared with other Government Departments. They are not sub-metered to measure individual Departments' actual energy consumption. Charges are therefore made on the basis of the respective areas of floor space. I shall write to the hon. Member with further details.

PRIME MINISTER

  Mr. Charles Powell
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list those aspects of the supplementary question of 26 April from the hon. Member for Linlithgow concerning contacts between Mr. Charles Powell and Mr. Conrad Black which she does not accept as having a basis in fact; and if she will make a statement on the aspects of the hon. Member's interpretation which she does not accept.

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing further to add to my reply of 26 April.

  Engagements
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 May.

  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 May.

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

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 May.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 May.

  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 May.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I shall attend a memorial service for the late Lord Rothschild.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister whether she will list in the Official Report the subjects on which, as a result of the transfer of functions to executive agencies, Ministers will no longer answer questions.
  375
  The Prime Minister
  Ministers remain fully accountable to Parliament for all the work of their Departments, including executive agencies. However, hon. Members may often wish in the first instance to deal directly with agency chief executives on those matters for which they have delegated authority under the agency's framework document and I would encourage them to do so. In such cases the chief executive will be best placed to give them a response promptly and effectively.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Sex Offenders
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he is giving to the recommendations contained in the report published by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust entitled "Working with the Sex Offender: Issues for Policy and Training, Prevention and Treatment" a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  I welcome the initiatives taken by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust in focusing attention on the treatment and sentencing of sex offenders. We are considering the report's recommendations and its points for action and we shall take them into account in developing our own strategy for the treatment of sex offenders.

  Ex-offenders (Training)
  Mr. Hattersley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on recent reductions in training facilities available for ex-offenders following the renegotiation of contract for voluntary sector providers.

  Mr. Waddington
  Funding for employment training is a matter for the Department of Employment. I understand that recent reductions in funding are related to falling unemployment and a significant reduction in the numbers of young people entering the labour market. The Training Agency and the new training and enterprise councils seek to ensure that suitable training is provided for people with special needs, including ex-offenders. Officials of the Home Office and Training Agency are jointly examining the implications of the Government's recently published White Paper on dealing with offenders in the community in relation to training and enterprise programmes.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to determine whether a prisoner should be held on rule 43; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Prison rule 43 provides that, where it appears desirable, for the maintenance of good order or discipline or in his own interests, that a prisoner should not associate with other prisoners, either generally or for particular purposes, the governor may arrange for the prisoner's removal from association accordingly. Segregation for more than three days requires authorisation by the board of visitors. Where a prisoner's segregation is requested or recommended for his own protection, the governor must satisfy himself that the 376
  prisoner is seriously at risk of assault by other prisoners and that his safety cannot be assured by other means. Where segregation for maintenance of good order or discipline is considered, the governor must be satisfied, in the light of information available, that the prisoner's continued association with other prisoners poses a threat to the efficient running and control of the prison. The governor may arrange at his discretion for a prisoner to resume association with other prisoners, and must do so if in any case the medical officer so advises on medical grounds.

  Women Prisoners
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of births to women prisoners have been stillborn in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Mellor
  There were eight deliveries within prison service establishments between 1 January 1979 and 31 March 1989 none of which were still births. Figures for still births in outside hospitals are not collected centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of pregnancies of women prisoners have resulted in a miscarriage in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Mellor
  This information is not collected centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Somali Refugees
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what Her Majesty's Government's policy is towards Somali refugees.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  As with other nationalities, our policy is to grant asylum to Somali refugees for whom the United Kingdom is the most appropriate country of refuge.

  Foreigners (Language Schools)
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of foreign nationals who came to the United Kingdom to study English through language schools in(a) 1979, (b) 1984 and (c)

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, the international passenger survey results for 1984 showed that there were an estimated 477,000 visits to the United Kingdom by foreign residents who attended an English language course. It is not known what proportion of these studied at language schools. Respondents holding passports from the main English-speaking countries were not asked about their attendance on English language courses.

  Data Protection Act
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prosecutions made under the Data Protection Act; and if he will give the outcome of the prosecutions.

  Mr. Mellor
  We understand that 27 prosecutions by the Data Protection Registrar have been completed. Twenty-six of these resulted in fines, averaging £466·67; and one in
  377
  a conditional discharge. Details are obtainable from the registrar. Some prosecutions have also been initiated by the Director of Public Prosecutions, but they are not separately listed.

SCOTLAND

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what percentage of children aged three and four years were in receipt of nursery education in each

  Number of 3 and 4 year olds in education authority nursery schools

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Borders

  299

  313

  301

  363

  387

  394

  359

  390

  438

  447

  Central

  1,399

  1,512

  1,681

  1,858

  1,960

  2,166

  2,210

  2,492

  2,568

  2,744

  Dumfries and Galloway

  253

  257

  266

  247

  271

  287

  316

  428

  550

  625

  Fife

  3,192

  3,235

  3,280

  3,142

  3,439

  3,805

  3,993

  4,193

  4,402

  4,329

  Grampian

  2,233

  2,196

  2,222

  2,244

  2,235

  2,425

  2,433

  2,678

  2,985

  3,171

  Highland

  331

  455

  484

  519

  567

  580

  618

  617

  645

  622

  Lothian

  6,718

  6,529

  6,795

  6,799

  7,045

  7,477

  7,966

  7,965

  8,064

  7,969

  Strathclyde

  14,501

  14,768

  14,841

  15,406

  16,071

  16,793

  17,376

  17,551

  17,828

  18,683

  Tayside

  1,841

  1,933

  2,007

  2,014

  2,097

  2,112

  2,136

  2,344

  2,516

  2,975

  Orkney

  78

  96

  93

  74

  85

  89

  92

  83

  97

  101

  Shetland

  32

  86

  99

  91

  85

  82

  102

  110

  111

  119

  Western Isles

  160

  151

  162

  156

  169

  146

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Scotland total

  31,037

  31,531

  32,231

  32,913

  34,411

  36,356

  37,601

  38,851

  40,204

  41,785

  Percentage of 3 and 4 year old children in population in receipt of nursery education

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Borders

  12·2

  12·8

  13·7

  17·1

  17·5

  16·6

  15·2

  16·6

  18·7

  19·1

  Central

  19·3

  21·4

  25·2

  28·8

  29·3

  31·2

  31·2

  37·8

  39·2

  41·9

  Dumfries and Galloway

  7·0

  7·4

  8·4

  8·0

  8·1

  7·9

  8·7

  12·7

  15·8

  17·9

  Fife

  35·4

  36·3

  38·3

  39·3

  40·8

  42·2

  42·8

  48·5

  50·4

  49·6

  Grampian

  18·2

  18·0

  18·7

  19·4

  18·3

  18·6

  18·6

  21·2

  24·0

  25·5

  Highland

  6·3

  8·5

  9·1

  10·2

  10·7

  10·3

  10·5

  11·6

  12·3

  11·9

  Lothian

  36·0

  36·6

  40·4

  43·0

  43·3

  43·8

  45·3

  47·8

  47·9

  47·3

  Strathclyde

  22·2

  23·2

  24·7

  27·7

  27·8

  27·7

  27·6

  29·6

  30·1

  31·6

  Tayside

  18·5

  20·4

  22·1

  23·2

  23·5

  23·0

  22·6

  25·1

  26·5

  31·3

  Orkney

  16·8

  19·4

  19·3

  14·9

  16·5

  17·9

  18·3

  18·3

  20·7

  21·5

  Shetland

  4·5

  11·7

  13·2

  12·1

  12·1

  11·1

  13·6

  17·7

  18·1

  19·4

  Western Isles

  19·2

  16·8

  18·4

  19·3

  19·7

  16·2

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  Scotland total

  22·9

  23·8

  25·6

  27·8

  27·9

  28·0

  28·2

  30·8

  31·9

  33·1

  Note: Figures for private nursery schools within each local education authority area are not available.

  Royal Ordnance Factory, Bishopton
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what will be the future role of the Strathclyde police in the protection of Royal Ordnance, Bishopton;

  (2) what would be the responsibility of the Strathclyde police for any serious incident taking place at Royal Ordnance, Bishopton.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The police are responsible for the containment and investigation of any serious incident wherever it may take place. The chief constable of Strathclyde has discussed the future security arrangements at ROF Bishopton with the Ministry of Defence; and the role he proposes for Strathclyde police is an operational matter for him.
  378
  local education authority area for Scotland in each of the years 1978–79 to the latest date for which information is available.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The figures for local education authority nursery schools and departments at each September for which information is available are set out in the tables. Information for 1985 and 1986 is not available.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Visa Processing
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning delays in the processing of visas at United Kingdom embassies and high commissions abroad.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We receive a number of representations, both from hon. Members and from the public, about entry clearance procedures and delays at our embassies and high commissions.

  European Community
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the evidence on which he based the statements on the second page of his Department's pamphlet entitled, "Britain in the Community: Europe in the 1990s"(a) that goods and

  379
  services will become more freely available and (b) it will become easier to move bank accounts from the United Kingdom to other European countries.

  Mr. Maude
  The single market programme includes a large number of measures to improve the availability of goods and services in the EC: for example, the removal of internal customs barriers; liberalisation of transport; and setting of common standards. The capital liberalisation directive agreed in 1988 requires most member states to lift restrictions on capital movements by 1 July 1990, thus facilitating capital flows in the EC.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the(a) legislative and (b) other measures which have secured the policy objectives set out on the ninth page of his Department's pamphlet entitled, "Britain in the Community: Europe in the 1990s".

  Mr. Maude
  Twelve White Paper measures have so far been agreed to open up the banking, insurance and stock market sectors; nine more are being discussed; and one is still to be brought forward. Closer co-ordination of member states' economic policies was agreed by the Council decision of 12 March 1990. And state subsidies to industry have been reduced by stringent application of articles 92 and 93 on state aids.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was(a) the total actual expenditure of the EEC and (b) the net United Kingdom contribution in 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989; what is the estimate for 1990; and how these figures relate to the statements made in the first, second and third paragraphs on the eighth page of his Department's pamphlet entitled, "Britain in the Community: Europe in the 1990s".

  Mr. Maude
  The table provides the relevant figures. Budgets since the 1988 Brussels European Council have stayed well within the GNP own resources ceiling established then. Community GNP has grown significantly.

  Total EC expenditure

  United Kingdom net contribution

  £ million

  £ million

  1986

  22,953

  572

  1987

  24,894

  1,721

  1988

  27,426

  1,362

  1989

  30,123

  2,315

  11990

  33,355

  2,175

  1 Estimate.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the figures on which he bases the statement on the eighth page of his Department's pamphlet entitled, "Britain in the Community: Europe in the 1990s", that beef stocks are down by 80 per cent. and cereals by 55 per cent.; and if he will list the specific measures of budgetary control which have brought about these reductions.

  Mr. Maude
  In February 1990, beef stocks were 125,000 tonnes (a reduction of 82·4 per cent. from their highest level, in September 1985, of 711,000 tonnes); and cereals stocks 8,121,000 tonnes (a reduction of 55·4 per cent. from their highest level, in October 1985, of 18,193,000 tonnes).
  380
  Specific budgetary control measures include: reducing the number of months when intervention is available; cutting intervention prices; imposing ceilings on production for which support is available; producer taxes ("co-responsibility levies").

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the evidence on which he based the statement on the fourth page of his Department's pamphlet, "Britain in the Community: Europe in the 1990s", that minimisation of immigration checks is a major objective of the Community; and if he will list the checks which it is proposed to remove.

  Mr. Maude
  The statement in the pamphlet "Britain in the Community" about ease of travel in the Community directly reflects articles 3(c) and 8(a) of the treaty of Rome, which specifically call for the abolition of obstacles to freedom of movement for persons, and provide that the internal market shall include such free movement of persons in accordance with the provisions of the treaty. My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for the Home Department explained our position in full during the debate on intra-Community frontiers on 4 May 1989.

  Falkland Islands
  Dr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in introducing direct flights from the mainland of South America to the Falkland Islands.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Several charter flights have recently been made between the Falkland Islands and Punta Arenas in Chile; more are planned, by a variety of commercial operators.

  Dr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will introduce a fishery conservation area around South Georgia.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have no present plans to do so; fishing in the waters around South Georgia is already controlled by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), of which the United Kingdom is an active member. We fully support the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources' efforts, and are working to make them more effective.

  Dr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the voluntary restraint agreements which have been negotiated by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with respect to waters surrounding the Falkland Islands and South Georgia outside of the Falklands Islands conservation zone.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No formal agreements have been negotiated by the FCO. After direct negotiations with the Falkland Islands Government, fishing associations from Korea, Japan and Taiwan undertook to limit their fishing activity this year in the south Atlantic as a whole. In return their members were allocated licences to fish within the Falkland Islands interim conservation and management zone. These arrangements are intended to promote the effective conservation of migratory fish stocks.
  381
  Dr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to equate the Argentinian and British military notification zones.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The notification zones specified in the interim reciprocal information and consultation system (IRICS) agreed with Argentina in Madrid in February are part of a comprehensive and balanced package of reciprocal measures.

  As I said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold) on 16 February, this series of measures is intended to increase confidence in the region.

  Dr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will extend the Falkland Islands fisheries conservation zone;

  (2) if he will extend the Falklands Islands territorial fishery zone to 200 miles on the same basis as that applied to the coastal waters of Argentina.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  We have no present plans to extend the Falkland Islands interim conservation and management zone (FICZ).

  Dr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with representatives of the residents of the Falkland Islands their view on the possibility of incorporating the Falkland Islands into the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The elected councillors have not expressed any wish that incorporation of the islands into the United Kingdom be considered.

  Dr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the measures being undertaken to preserve fish stocks in the waters surrounding South Georgia.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Fishing in the waters surrounding South Georgia is controlled by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), of which the United Kingdom is a member. The current conservation measures imposed by CCAMLR are:

  (a) Chaenocephalus aceratus—no direct fishing allowed Pseudochaenichthys georgianus—no direct fishing allowed

  Notothenia squamifrons—no direct fishing allowed

  (b) Notothenia gibberifrons—no direct fishing allowed, total allowed by-catch 300 tonnes

  (c) Dissostichus eleginoides—no specific measures, but agreement that there will be no increase in fishing in 1990 over 1989.

  (d) Champsocephalus gunnari—Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 8,000 tonnes

  (e) Patagonotothen brevicauda guntheri—TAC of 12,000 tonnes

  In addition, commercial fishing is not allowed within the 12-mile territorial sea.

  Israel
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial help the Government is giving to Israel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  We do not give any aid to the Government of Israel.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations the Government have made to the Israeli Government concerning its involvement in Palestine.

  Mr. Maude
  We frequently remind the Israeli Government of our view that there is an urgent need for negotiation with the Palestinians towards a peace settlement and that, pending this, it is the responsibility of the Israelis to administer the occupied territories in accordance with their obligations and with international law.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit Israel to discuss its involvement in Palestine; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has at present no plans to visit Israel.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has received from hon. and right hon. Members and members of the public concerning Israeli involvement in Palestine.

  Mr. Maude
  We receive numerous representations about the Palestinian question and Israel's administration of the occupied territories.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Stanbrook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the current position of present and retired expatriate members of Her Majesty's overseas civil service in Hong Kong and their eligibility for pensions based on the pound sterling equivalent at the time of retirement, in view of the recent fluctuations in the pound sterling equivalent of the Hong Kong dollar.

  Mr. Maude
  All pensionable civil servants employed by the Hong Kong Government receive their pensions in Hong Kong dollars. There are no plans to change this arrangement. The Hong Kong dollar is linked to the United States dollar.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Hostages
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British hostages are presently believed to be held in the Lebanon; what are their names; on what dates each of them was taken hostage; and what information he has about the organisations involved in these kidnappings.

  Mr. Maude
  There are currently three British hostages held in Lebanon. They are Mr. John McCarthy (abducted on 17 April 1986), Mr. Jack Mann (abducted on 12 May 1989) and Mr. Terry Waite (abducted on 20 January 1987). There have been no substantiated claims for them. However, the American hostage, Mr. Frank Reed, who was released on 30 April by a previously unheard-of group, the Organisation of the Islamic Dawn, has confirmed that he was held together with Mr. McCarthy.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the efforts made by his Department to obtain the release of the hostages held captive in the middle east.

  Mr. Maude
  I refer to the answer of 18 April given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the hon. Member for St. Helens, North (Mr. Evans) and to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary on 9 May to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes).

  Antarctica
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Federal Republic of Germany with regard to the forthcoming meeting of Antarctic treaty parties in November to discuss the protection of the Antarctic environment.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  None. Bilateral consultations have taken place at official level.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration has been given to the proposals for the protection of the Antarctic environment put forward by the Australian and French Governments.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Franco-Australian proposals were presented to us on 3 May. We are giving them careful consideration and look forward to discussing them with our Antarctic treaty partners at the special Antarctic treaty consultative meeting in November in Santiago.

  Anthony Blunt
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he granted permission to Professor Peyton Lyons to reproduce extracts from the transcript of Anthony Blunt's interrogation in his report to the Canadian Department of External Affairs entitled "The Loyalty of E. Herbert Norman"; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 5 April 1990]: The Lyons report was a Canadian Government matter. No consultation took place with the United Kingdom authorities before it was published.

DEFENCE

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department will give consideration to contributing to the decommissioning cost of Calder Hall and Chapelcross.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department will give consideration to contributing to the decommissioning cost of Calder Hall and Chapelcross.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department will give consideration to contributing to the decommissioning cost of Calder Hall and Chapelcross.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Ministry of Defence intends to meet its share of the future costs of decommissioning the reactors at Calder Hall and Chapelcross.

  Brawdy Radar Station
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will undertake further studies into(a) the health effects and (b) the environmental implications of the Brawdy radar.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will undertake further studies into(a) the health effects and (b) the environmental implications of the Brawdy radar.

  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will undertake further studies into(a) the health effects and (b) the environmenal implications of the Brawdy radar.

  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will undertake further studies into(a) the health effects and (b) the environmental implications of the Brawdy radar.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The health and environmental implications of the over-the-horizon radar transmitter which we propose to locate at St. Davids airfield will be fully addressed in the environmental impact assessment which will be undertaken over the next few months.

  NATO Eastern Boundary
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has made any reassessment of the location of the eastern boundary in Europe which NATO is committed to defending.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We support the wish of both German Governments that a unified Germany should be a member of the North Atlantic alliance, as this would contribute to stability and security in Europe. The implications for NATO are under consideration.

  Conventional Forces in Europe
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what United Kingdom forces have been offered for inclusion in the proposed CFE agreement; and if he will make a statement on the defence implications.
  385
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what United Kingdom forces have been offered for inclusion in the proposed CFE agreement; and if he will make a statement on the defence implications.

  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what United Kingdom forces have been offered for inclusion in the proposed CFE agreement; and if he will make a statement on the defence implications.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what United Kingdom forces have been offered for inclusion in the proposed CFE agreement; and if he will make a statement on the defence implications.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In accordance with the agreed mandate for the CFE negotiations, all the United Kingdom's conventional armaments and equipment of the types currently under discussion in Vienna that are within the area from the Atlantic to the Urals are included in the proposed CFE agreement.

  Radiation
  . Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement upon the exposure to radiation of(a) submariners and (b) dockyard workers.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement upon the exposure to radiation of(a) submariners and (b) dockyard workers.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement upon the exposure to radiation of(a) submariners and (b) dockyard workers.

  Mr. Neubert
  Exposure of Service personnel or MOD civilians to ionising radiation is authorised only on the basis that it is justified, complies with MOD and statutory limits and is as low as reasonably practicable. The same principles are followed by the civilian contractors at the royal dockyards.

  Training (Canada)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last visited Canada to review training facilities for British service men.

  Mr. Neubert
  My right hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Mr. Younger) visited the British Army training unit at Suffield, Alberta, in July last year.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department monitors the end use of United Kingdom-produced weapons exported to less developed countries.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department monitors the end use of United Kingdom-produced weapons exported to less developed countries.

  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department monitors the end use of United Kingdom-produced weapons exported to less-developed countries.
  386
  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department monitors the end use of United Kingdom-produced weapons exported to less-developed countries.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It is not usually necessary to monitor the stated end use of defence exports. Where, however, there is reason to do so, we do so.

  Atomic Weapons Establishment
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has received any tenders for the initial management contract at the atomic weapons establishment.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has received any tenders for the initial management contract at the atomic weapons establishment.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has received any tenders for the initial management contract at the atomic weapons establishment.

  Mr. Neubert
  An invitation to tender for the initial management contract at the atomic weapons establishment was issued on 6 April. Tenders should be received in June.

  Nuclear Submarine Bases
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what liaison his Department has with local authorities on special safety plans for areas adjoining Z-berths.

  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what liaison his Department has with local authorities on special safety plans for areas adjoining Z-berths.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what liaison his Department has with local authorities on special safety plans for areas adjoining Z-berths.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is MOD policy to undertake maximum consultation with all the relevant county, city and local councils and local emergency services in drawing up all Royal Navy public safety schemes.

  Training Instructors
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are taken to monitor the health and fitness of training instructors before and during exercises.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Training instructors are subject to the same medical examinations as the service personnel whom they are expected to train, which is the PULHHEEMS system of medical classification.

  Pipeline (Iraq)
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department took when it was first made aware of the pipeline equipment built in the United Kingdom for Iraq having possible military implications.
  387
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department took when it was first made aware of the pipeline equipment built in the United Kingdom for Iraq having possible military implications.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department took when it was first made aware of the pipeline equipment built in the United Kingdom for Iraq having possible military implications.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department took when it was first made aware of the pipeline equipment built in the United Kingdom for Iraq having possible military implications.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  In the light of the charges raised against certain individuals recently and in the light of continuing investigations by Customs and Excise, it would be inappropriate to give any further information.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has yet had an opportunity to consider the National Audit Office report on military low flying; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member on 6 March 1990 at column 616.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received concerning the disturbance caused by low flying; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  Between 1 March 1990 and 30 April 1990 the Ministry of Defence received 955 inquiries or complaints about military low-flying training in the United Kingdom.

  Army Manpower
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the overall manpower needs of the British Army in 1980, 1985 and 1990.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The requirement of the British Army for trained, regular, United Kingdom personnel in 1980, 1985 and 1990 was 146,890, 143,888 and 142,742 respectively.

  Forces (Europe)
  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the defence implications of current force levels in Europe.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the defence implications of current force levels in Europe.

  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the defence implications of current force levels in Europe.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the defence implications of current force levels in Europe.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We are examining options for change in the structure and deployment of our armed 388
  forces which will enable us to support and preserve the key elements of our defence provision in the light of changing international circumstances.

  NATO Nuclear Planning Group
  Mr. James Lamond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what decisions were made at the recent NATO nuclear planning group meeting in Alberta, Canada.

  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what decisions were made at the recent NATO nuclear planning group meeting in Alberta, Canada.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of the NATO nuclear planning group meeting held at Kananaskis village, Alberta, Canada.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of the NATO nuclear planning group meeting held at Kananaskis village, Alberta, Canada.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what decisions were made at the recent NATO nuclear planning group meeting in Alberta, Canada.

  Mr. Buchan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of the NATO nuclear planning group meeting held at Kananaskis village, Alberta, Canada.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of the NATO nuclear planning group meeting held at Kananaskis village, Alberta, Canada.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery).

  Lance Missile
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Her Majesty's Government will abandon their support for a replacement to the Lance short-range nuclear missile.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Her Majesty's Government will abandon their support for a replacement to the Lance short-range nuclear missile.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Her Majesty's Government will abandon their support for a replacement to the Lance short-range nuclear missile.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Barnsley, East (Mr. Patchett).

  Defence Procurement
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the five largest British defence companies providing defence equipment to the United Kingdom armed forces.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the five largest British defence companies providing defence equipment to the United Kingdom armed forces.
  389
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the five largest British defence companies providing defence equipment to the United Kingdom armed forces.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths).

  Merchant Ships
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to use only British merchant ships for Ministry of Defence charters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Clay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to use only British merchant ships for Ministry of Defence charters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to use only British merchant ships for Ministry of Defence charters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  I refer the hon. Members to the answer that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Hemsworth (Mr. Buckley).

  Over-the-Horizon Radar
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on his proposal for the siting of proposed over-the-horizon radar transmitters on the former St. David's airfield in Pembrokeshire; and what progress has been made in his plans to inform and consult public opinion on the proposal.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I recently visited St. David's, at the invitation of my hon. Friend the Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett), to inspect the site of the proposed installation, explain the background to our proposals to my hon. Friend's constituents, and hear their initial representations at first hand.

  The next step will be for the Ministry of Defence to commission a full environmental impact assessment in respect of this proposed installation. This will support a formal notice of proposed development which we plan to submit to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority later this year. Once we have submitted the notice of proposed development, we intend to give full public presentations of our proposals. I also understand that the national park authority will undertake wide consultation and invite representations on the notice of proposed development from all interested parties.

  Type 23 Frigates
  Mr. Jack Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the present status of the command system for the type 23 frigate.

  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the present status of the command system for the type 23 frigate.

  Mr. Allen McKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the present status of the command system for the type 23 frigate.
  390
  Mr. Neubert
  I have nothing to add to the statement that I made on 18 April at column 938.

  Trident
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what amount of money could be saved by a decision to cancel the fourth Trident submarine in the near future.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what amount of money could be saved by a decision to cancel the fourth Trident submarine in the near future.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what amount of money could be saved by a decision to cancel the fourth Trident submarine in the near future.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what amount of money could be saved by a decision to cancel the fourth Trident submarine in the near future.

  Mr. Neubert
  No contract has yet been placed. It is our estimate that savings in the order of £500 million would result if it were decided in the near future not to proceed with the planned order for the fourth Vanguard class submarines.

  European Fighter Aircraft
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the European fighter aircraft nose radar development contract has been allocated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 8 May at columns 33–34.

  Armed Forces (South Dorset)
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to increase the stationing of armed forces personnel in south Dorset.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The exact number of service personnel stationed in south Dorset will fluctuate with the normal redeployment of units. There are, however, no current plans that would alter this number to any significant degree.

  Unreliable Equipment
  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the annual cost of maintaining unreliable defence equipment.

  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the annual cost of maintaining unreliable defence equipment.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the annual cost of maintaining unreliable defence equipment.

  Mr. Neubert
  At a very broad estimate, unreliability adds £1 billion a year to the cost of maintaining the services' equipment.

  START Agreement
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what United Kingdom forces have been offered for inclusion in the proposed START agreement; and if he will make a statement on the defence implications.

  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what United Kingdom forces have been offered for inclusion in the proposed START agreement; and if he will make a statement on the defence implications.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what United Kingdom forces have been offered for inclusion in the proposed START agreement; and if he will make a statement on the defence implications.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms. Primarolo).

  Queen's Birthday Parade
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many horses and riders were on the Queen's birthday parade in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  The number of military riders taking part in the Queen's birthday parade in 1987 and 1988 was 251; the number of military horses taking part in each of these years was 276. In 1989, the corresponding numbers were 247 personnel and 272 horses. This includes those riders and horses forming part of the royal procession which numbered 24 in 1987 and 1988 and 20 in 1989.

  Horseshoe Barracks
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in determining the future use of the Horseshoe barracks in Shoeburyness.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Discussions with the local planning authority and others on our plans to dispose of Horseshoe barracks, Shoeburyness, are continuing.

  Consultancies
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Ministry of Defence expects to spend in the financial year 1990–91 on management and computer consultancy contracts.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Ministry of Defence expects to spend £22 million in the financial year 1990–91 on management and computer consultancy contracts.

  Royal Ordnance Factories
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from members of the public about the withdrawal of Ministry of Defence police from royal ordnance, Bishopton.

  Mr. Neubert
  Forty three letters have been received registering protest at the plan to withdraw MDP from Bishopton.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what decision has been taken about the future deployment 392
  of the Ministry of Defence police at the royal ordnance factories at Glascoed, Bridgewater, Chorley, Nottingham and Radway Green; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  Discussions with Royal Ordnance plc continue. No final decision has been taken.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many royal ordnance company guards will replace Ministry of Defence police on 1 June at royal ordnance, Bishopton; and what powers of arrest and detention employees of the company guard force will have.

  Mr. Neubert
  Fifty-one Royal Ordnance Company guards will replace Ministry of Defence police. The guards will have only citizen's powers of arrest and detention. The Strathclyde police, with whom our arrangements have been agreed, will provide a police response quickly when required.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide details of the compensation arrangements made on previous occasions where the circumstances are similar to those which would pertain near the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation on the site of the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  On no previous occasion have the circumstances been similar to those which would pertain near to the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation at St. David's airfield, Dyfed. I refer the hon. Gentleman to my earlier answer on 23 April at column 74 on the subject of compensation.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the compensation arrangements which he will make if the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation on the site of the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire, is approved.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Where the provisions of the Land Compensation Act 1973 apply, my Department will pay compensation if the district valuer is satisfied that there is evidence of a reduction in the value of a residential property (or certain small businesses) as a consequence of bringing into use new works. The Act makes no provision for compensation where the consequence is solely the visual impact of the completed works, so there can be no assurance that its terms will apply in all or any cases that may arise under this proposal. Nonetheless, where the provisions of the Act do not apply, my Department is always prepared to consider reasonable claims for compensation if it can be demonstrated that actual loss has been sustained as a result of military activity.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who is to carry out the independent environmental impact assessment study on the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation on the site of the former St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I will announce details of the firm which is to carry out the independent environmental impact assessment on the proposed over-the-horizon radar installation at St. David's airfield, Pembrokeshire, once the contract is let.

  Devonport Dockyard
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of future redundancies at Devonport dockyard.

  Mr. Neubert
  The size of the workforce at Devonport dockyard is a matter for Devonport Management Limited.

  HMS Illustrious
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Illustrious will start its refitting programme; and where it will be refitted.

  Mr. Neubert
  HMS Illustrious's next refit is scheduled to start as part of the core programme at Devonport dockyard in 1991 and to finish in 1993. The plans for refitting Royal Naval vessels are, however, subject to continuous review.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to add to his previous statement on bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the light of recent events.

  Mr. Gummer
  The wide-ranging measures adopted by the Government have been based on the best scientific expertise available. These experts concluded that the risk to humans is remote but action has been taken:

  1. To slaughter and destroy all affected cattle so that no part can enter the human food chain;

  2. Specified offals, including the brain and spinal chord, must be removed from healthy cattle slaughtered for human consumption.

  3. Banning of the use of these offals as food or in food products.

  The removal and banning for food of these offals is a precautionary measure which goes beyond the scientific advice. These actions fully protect the public from what is a remote and theoretical risk.

  The situation is, however, being kept under constant review and hence the committee under Dr. Tyrrell has been constituted as a permanent committee to examine new information and concerns and to ensure that the advice on which the Government act is kept fully up to date.

  A major research programme has been in progress since the disease was first identified in 1986. More than £2 million has already been spent. A further £12 million has been allocated to projects, devised on the basis of advice from the Tyrrell committee, for the next three years. All the results of this research will be made publicly available.

  The source of the disease has been cut off with the ban, from July 1988, on the feeding of ruminant material to ruminants. Because of the long incubation period, cases will continue to occur for some years. We intend to eradicate this disease in cows but this will obviously take time. In the meantime the action taken demonstrates the Government's absolute commitment to protecting and reassuring the public.

  Local education authorities can therefore continue to provide beef in school meals with complete confidence. As the Minister responsible for food safety for the whole nation, I reiterate that British beef is perfectly safe to eat. This is the view not only of our top scientists but also of European Community experts.
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  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is committed to making public all the information that we have about these matters. That is why we gave out the information about the one cat (out of Britain's 7 million) diagnosed as having an encephalopathy. There is nothing to link that encephalopathy with BSE or scrapie, or to suggest that it is transmissible. However, we were determined that all this should be in the public domain and we shall continue our investigations, the results of which will also be announced.

  Sausages
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department is taking to preserve the British sausage; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Commission's proposals would require minced meat and sausages to be prepared from fresh, chilled meat within six days of slaughter. This would prevent the use of meat from carcases which have been matured to enhance flavour and tenderness. The use of some fit meat, including shin and skirt, would be prohibited. Chilled minced meat and sausages could not be made from frozen meat and would be required to be chilled to 2°C within an hour of preparation, leading to freeze damage. Only butchers producing minced meat and sausages on their premises for direct sale to customers would be exempt from these requirements.

  There are no sound hygiene reasons for these restrictions, which would increase costs and reduce consumer choice.

  We are negotiating hard in Brussels to secure the removal of these restrictions from the Commission's proposals. The industry are also making representation on their own behalf. Further, in co-operation with the industry, we shall be arranging to publicise the proposals in the hope that this will stimulate United Kingdom consumers to write to Members of the European Parliament, and to the Commission, protesting about the restrictions which would be put on their freedom of choice.

  Contaminated Feed
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields on 9 May.Official Report, column 132, whether the contamination of pig feed still affects the county of Hampshire.

  Mr. Gummer
  The contamination of pig feed no longer affects any farms in Hampshire.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any farms on Tyneside have received contaminated pig feed.

  Mr. Gummer
  No farms on Tyneside are reported to have received contaminated pig feed.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether animals other than pigs have been fed contaminated feed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The contaminated feed ingredient was also included in feed for sheep and dairy and beef cattle, but at lower levels from those included in pig feed. There have been no reported incidence of ill effects in animals
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  other than pigs. Pigmeat and cows' milk samples from farms which have received contaminated feed have been tested and no evidence of any conceivable hazard to human health ensuing out of this incident has been found.

  Central Veterinary Laboratory
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what specific financial, efficiency and quality of service targets he has approved for the central veterinary laboratory for the current year and for the longer term.

  Mr. Maclean
  I announced the laboratory's financial and efficiency targets for 1990–91 in my written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill) on 30 March 1990 at column 364. It is, of course, for the laboratory's customers to specify appropriate quality standards for individual contracts, but I attach great importance to all contracts being completed on time and to a high standard. The laboratory's current peer review arrangements will also continue.

  I am still considering the question of appropriate longer-term targets as I am determined that improvements in efficiency should not be made at the expense of quality or of the laboratory's ability to respond effectively in an emergency.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to review the dates for finalising training agent contracts with the Training Agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Recontracting with employment training (ET) training agents, and with training managers and with YTS managing agents, should be substantially complete by 28 May 1990. I have no plans to review this date.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many monitoring visits have been undertaken in(a) Scotland and (b) Angus in each of the last 10 years by the Health and Safety Executive;

  (2) how many inspections have been undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive in (a) Scotland and (b) Angus in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on current staffing levels in the Health and Safety Executive in Scotland.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 1 April 1990, 177·5 staff were employed in Scotland by the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current amount of fees outstanding to the medical division (EMAS) of the Health and Safety Executive for medical examinations.

  Mr. Nicholls
  On 10 May 1990 £8,175 had been outstanding for more than three months in respect of fees for medical examinations carried out by the employment medical advisory service.
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  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many former employees of the Health and Safety Executive have been re-employed as consultants by the Health and Safety Executive; what the total costs of such consultants was in fiscal year 1989–90; what is the projection for 1990–91; and what is the average hourly rate of these consultants;

  (2) what consultancy fees were paid to non-ex-Health and Safety Executive staff in 1989–90 by the Health and Safety Executive; and what is the projection for 1990–91.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Total consultancy fees paid to individuals in 1989–90 by the Health and Safety Executive were £19,787; of which £6,202 (an hourly rate of £22·55p) was to a former HSE employee. Under HSE's devolved budgeting system, recruitment of consultants is decided by divisions according to need, within the limits of their running cost budgets.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the profit margin on the recently published Health and Safety Executive annual report; and how many shop floor sales are anticipated at the cover price.

  Mr. Nicholls
  In line with Her Majesty's Treasury rules HSE operates a policy which sets prices for its publications which will recover the full cost of production. A total of 1,300 copies of the 1988–89 report have been sold since its publication in February. It is too early to assess the eventual sales revenue and no information is available about the background of customers, both past and potential, of the publication.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the administrative staff of the Health and Safety Executive have any formal qualifications in management.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The great majority of officials in these grades are not employed in a managerial capacity. The percentage of administrative staff who are recorded as having formal academic qualifications relevant to management is 3·3.

  Training Credits
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the training credits initiative.

  Mr. Eggar
  Thirty-three training and enterprise councils (TECs) have submitted proposals to operate pilot credit schemes in their area. This is clear evidence of the widespread interest in and enthusiasm for training credits for young people.

  I expect to make an announcement in early June about those TECSs which will be invited to develop a more detailed proposal.

  Training Vouchers
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the progress in introducing his training voucher scheme.

  Mr. Eggar
  Thirty-three training and enterprise councils (TECs) have submitted proposals to operate pilot credit schemes in their area.
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  I expect to make an announcement in early June about those TECs which will be invited to develop a more detailed proposal.

  Skill Centres
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to conclude negotiations to sell skill centres to Astra Training Services Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Pursuant to my reply of 2 May 1990,Official Report, column 544, I expect to complete the sales of the training business at Barking, Southampton and Wolverhampton skill centres (including Telford Outreach) shortly.

  The sale of the training business at Chesterfield skill centre will not take place because of the Labour council's refusal to make the premises available to Astra.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the skill centre sites sold other than to Astra Training Services Ltd., giving each purchaser and the sites acquired.

  Mr. Eggar
  The following list includes details of training businesses sold to purchasers other than Astra.

  To METEL (Merseyside Education Training Enterprise Ltd.): Liverpool skill centre. The purchaser acquired the freehold of the site.

  To the consortium headed by Mr. C. Lakin: Cumbria, East Lancs, St. Helens and Ipswich. The consortium purchased the freehold of Cumbria skill centre, and was granted leases on the other sites.

  To the Training Business: Lambeth skill centre. The purchaser acquired the leasehold interest of the site.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether any technical instructor grades have been offered alternative employment in the civil service before or following the sale of skill centres to private organisations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Fifty-one staff in instructional grades in the Skills Training Agency (STA) have transferred to alternative posts in the civil service since the Secretary of State for Employment announced his intention to transfer STA to the private sector.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total value of the freehold land sold to various companies involved in the purchase of skill centres; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government appointed King and Company, surveyors, to value the Skills Training Agency (STA) estate, prior to the sale of STA to the private sector. The sale of the Government's residual property interests is not yet complete. The valuations are therefore confidential.

  Inspection Visits
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the current chief inspector of factories last conducted a basic inspection visit alone.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The chief inspector of factories does not, as a matter of policy, undertake preventive inspections alone. This is the primary work of regional staff.
  398
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many basic inspection visits are paid in a year by area directors of the Health and Safety Executive; and if he has any plans to increase the figure.

  Mr. Nicholls
  As a matter of policy area directors do not normally carry out preventive inspections alone but may, on occasions, accompany other inspectors on inspection visits.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many basic inspection visits per average working week are made by area office-based deputy superintending inspectors of factories alone; and what steps he intends to take to increase their inspection rate in 1990–91 over past years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Deputy superintending inspectors of factories are in general employed not in an inspection role but in connection with standards formation and headquarters and management work. In total last year inspectors of this grade carried out 162 unaccompanied visits generally in connection with their other duties. There are no plans to increase this aspect of their work.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the director-general of the Health and Safety Executive last visited a factory.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Mr. Rimington's latest official visits to various categories of industrial installation regulated under the Health and Safety at Work, &c. Act are as follows:

  Installation

  Date

  a factory

  October 1987

  an oil rig

  August 1982

  an approved laboratory

  January 1990

  a nuclear power station

  June 1986

  a nuclear chemical installation

  August 1985

  a construction site

  November 1988

  a coal mine

  June 1986

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many basic inspection visits per average working week are made by area office-based principal inspectors of factories alone; and what steps he intends to take to increase their inspection rate in 1990–91 over past years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  A high proportion of inspection visits concerned with the more complex issues and demanding situations is made by principal inspectors acting either alone or in some cases accompanied. These visits are not differentiated in the records and to obtain the information requested would involve disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory visits in an average working week made in 1989–90 by the doctors and nurses employed in the field force of the employment medical advisory service (medical division) of the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information is not available in the form requested. Between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1989 medical staff in the employment medical advisory service based in the Health and Safety Executive's area offices made a total of 7,002 visits.

  Action Credit
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give(a) the full cost of the research being carried out into the viability of extending action credit to the five employment service areas, including employment service staff hours, (b) the full amount that has, and is to be paid for administering and monitoring the existing three action credit pilots including the three month extension, and (c) on what grounds he took the decision to fund new research before the initial research into the pilots was finished.

  Mr. Eggar
  The cost of the research carried out into the viability of extending action credit to employment service areas was £35,466. The involvement of employment service staff was minimal.

  The contracted cost of administering and monitoring the existing three action credit pilots, including the three month extension is £100,025. Currently there are no plans which would increase the total cost of the three pilots.

  The existing pilots are targeted only at those leaving employment training. The new research was therefore commissioned to give an insight into the reactions of all long-term unemployed people to the concept of action credit.

  Training Agency (Contracts)
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the total budget of the Training Agency for 1990–91 for management and computer consultancy contracts has now been agreed.

  Mr. Eggar
  The total budget of the Training Agency for 1990–91 for management and computer consultancy contracts has now been agreed as follows:

  £

  Management

  11,000

  Computer

  4,881,000

  Total

  4,892,000

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Health and Safety Executive have any plans to compile comparative figures for accident and serious injury rate figures for both sides of the channel tunnel construction project.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive does not have any plans to compile comparative figures for accident and serious injury rates for both sides of the channel tunnel construction project. Information about accidents is already exchanged in the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority health and safety working group for accident prevention purposes. It is difficult to compare directly figures from the French and United Kingdom sides due to the different national procedures and criteria for accident reporting.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment the Health and Safety Executive has made of the adequacy of medical facilities on the construction site of the channel tunnel and within the tunnel itself; and what were its conclusions.
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  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive monitors the medical facilities at the channel tunnel site and is keen to ensure that the current level of service is maintained.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the numbers of people employed on the channel tunnel construction project on(a) the British side and (b) the French side at the end of 1987, 1988, 1989 and the latest date for which information is available.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Available information about the total numbers of people employed on the channel tunnel construction project is as follows:

  Total employed on the project

  Year

  Number

  February 1988

  2,218

  January 1989

  5,014

  December 1989

  6,950

  Figures for the French side are not available.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what comparative research exists within the Health and Safety Executive into accident or incident rates on(a) civil engineering and (b) construction projects within Europe.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive has not carried out any comparative research into these matters.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what dates meetings took place between representatives of the Health and Safety Executive and their counterparts in France to discuss health and safety issues arising out of the construction of the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Officials of the Health and Safety Executive regularly meet representatives of the French Government through the bi-national Channel Tunnel Safety Authority and its working groups, including the health and safety working group which considers safety matters arising out of the construction of the channel tunnel. The health and safety working group meets on average once a month. This year the group met on 25 January, 22 February, 13 March, 26 March and 26 April.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions have been held over the need to harmonise working standards and practices when the Channel tunnels meet; and whether there will be a harmonisation of relevant national legislation.

  Mr. Nicholls
  A series of discussions have been held. in the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority's bi-national health and safety working group on the health and safety arrangements which will need to be put in place when the tunnels meet. No final decisions have yet been taken about these arrangements.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will undertake an inquiry into the safety of working practices to report as a matter of urgency on construction of the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Nicholls
  No. The prime responsibility for health and safety rests with employers. Transmanche Link has
  401
  told my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State that it is to re-examine all working practices and procedures in the light of recent incidents. It has agreed to share with the Health and Safety Executive the results of an internal audit of safety arrangements and work practices. The accident prevention advisory unit of the Health and Safety Executive is already undertaking an audit of safety practice in relation to the maintenance of the tunnel boring machines.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the death of Mr. William Cartman on Monday 7 May during work on the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The accident which led to the death of Mr. William Cartman on Monday 7 May is currently under investigation by the Health and Safety Executive. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State met senior management of the channel tunnel contractors, Transmanche Link, on 10 May to discuss the safety arrangements on site. Transmanche Link has undertaken to re-examine all working practices and procedures in the light of recent incidents.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information and statistics exist about(a) accident rates, (b) death rates and (c) serious injury on the French and British sides of construction of the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive holds information and statistics on accidents on the channel tunnel construction site reported to it under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR). The collection of information and statistics for the French side of the project is a matter for the French authorities. Information about accidents is exchanged in the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority's health and safety working group for accident prevention purposes.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the relationship between the Health and Safety Executive and the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for enforcing the Health and Safety at Work, &c. Act and the relevant statutory provisions which apply to the United Kingdom channel tunnel construction sites. The Channel Tunnel Safety Authority is a bi-national body established under the treaty of Canterbury and its duties are set out in that treaty. An HSE official is a member of the safety authority.

  European Social Fund
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what date he submitted the United Kingdom operational programme to fulfil objectives 3 and 4 of ESF to the European Commission for the 1990 programme.

  Mr. Eggar
  The initial Great Britain operational programme applications for ESF support concerning objectives 3 and 4 were submitted to the European Commission on 31 August 1989. The Northern Ireland operational programme applications were submitted on 29 402
  August 1989. The European Commission has subsequently adopted the community support framework for these objectives, which determines the amounts and priorities for ESF support and now requires us to revise the programmes in accordance with these.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from voluntary organisations about the delays in the processing of applications for the European Community social fund.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have received written representations from five voluntary organisations about the delays in processing applications for the European social fund.

  Race Discrimination
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many alleged cases since 1976, of race discrimination under the 1976 Act, have been lodged with the central office of industrial tribunals for England and Wales where the respondent was either a regional health authority, district health authority or formally an area health authority; and if he will give a breakdown by year naming each health authority, and the number of cases lodged; how many of these alleged cases came before a tribunal, giving a breakdown by year, naming each health authority and the number of cases heard; and how many of the cases heard by the industrial tribunal were successful, giving a breakdown by year, naming each health authority and the number of successful cases.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Schools-Industry Compacts
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much his Department plans to spend over the next four years to support schools-industry compacts.

  Mr. Eggar
  Over the next four years my Department plans to spend in the region of £27 million to support schools-industry Compacts in inner city areas.

  In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced on 24 April 1990 that the Government intend to support local business education partnerships across the country. My Department will lead this initiative from April 1991. Details of the financial provision for this initiative are yet to be finalised.

  Health and Safety Regulations
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make representations to the Health and Safety Executive about the case for putting prosecutions of those breaching health and safety regulations through the Crown court and not initially through the magistrates court.

  Mr. Nicholls
  All cases must by law go initially to the magistrates court. Under section 19 of the Magistrates Court Act (1980), responsibility for referral of cases to Crown court rests with the justices.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the outcome of his meeting with Transmanche Link following the death of William Cartman on 7 May; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 14 May 1990]: My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State met Mr. Jack Lemley, chief executive of Transmanche Link (TML), who assured him that the highest priority would be given to safeguarding the health and safety of workers employed on the construction of the channel tunnel.

  My right hon. and learned Friend reminded TML that although the Health and Safety Commission and Executive have extensive powers which they have used and will continue to use to enforce United Kingdom safety legislation, the prime responsibility for safety at the site rested with the management, as with any contract.
  404
  HSE inspectors will continue to monitor safety standards at the site and will not hesitate to enforce action that they consider necessary.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to encourage people on employment training courses to train in skill shortage areas.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 14 May 1990]: It is my right hon. and learned Friend's policy to encourage eligible unemployed people to join employment training with the aim of securing employment on completing training, including training in skill shortage occupations where appropriate, within the resources available.

  COMPANIES ACT 1985: SECTION 245(4) REGULATIONS
  COMPANIES ACT 1985: SECTION 245(4) REGULATIONS