Written Answers of 16 May 1990

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Stevens Inquiry
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total cost of the Stevens inquiry; how many persons have been taken in for questioning as a result of this inquiry and subsequently released without charge; and how many persons are now in custody as a result of this inquiry.

  Mr. Brooke
  Ninety-four persons, have been arrested as a result of the inquiry led by DCC Stevens. Fifty-nine have been charged, and 24 persons are now in custody. The final cost of the inquiry is not yet available. Up to 24 April, however, £307,000 had been spent. It is estimated that final costs for the period ending 31 March 1990 will be around £500,000.

  Fair Employment
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all firms in Mid-Ulster which are registered with the Northern Ireland Fair Employment Commission in Strabane district council, Omagh district council and Cookstown district council areas.

  Mr. Needham
  Information in the form requested is not yet available. The Fair Employment Commission expects, however, to be in a position to provide information in that form later this year.

  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the numbers of employees in each public organisation by the Fair Employment Commission's definition of Protestant and Roman Catholics in Omagh council area for those companies or organisations on the fair employment register.

  Mr. Needham
  The Fair Employment Commission holds monitoring information on the numbers of people employed by public authorities which are specified under the Fair Employment (Specification of Public Authorities) Order (NI) 1989. This is not however disaggregated by district council area.

  Mineral Extraction, Cavanacaw
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what conditions are being imposed upon the mineral operation being carried on at Cavanacaw, Omagh so as to ensure the future welfare and safety of the environment; and whether final approval has been granted for the mineral extraction in this area.

  Mr. Needham
  The conditions of the prospecting licence include provision for restoration of lands affected by prospecting operations. No approval has been given for 406
  a mining lease in the Cavanacaw area near Omagh, but planning permission has been granted for a temporary exploration trench for mineral exploration subject to conditions imposed in the interest of amenity and road safety. In addition, a consent has been granted for the making of a discharge into a waterway under the terms of the Water Act (NI) 1972 subject to conditions to ensure that the waterway will not be polluted. I have sent copies of the planning decision notice and the Water Act consent to the hon. Gentleman and the Library.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the cash limit for Northern Ireland departmental services for 1990–91.

  Mr. Brooke
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the main estimates for Northern Ireland departmental services through the Draft Appropriation (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 1990 which was laid before Parliament today, the following changes will be made to the cash limit for Northern Ireland departmental services (NIDI) for 1990–91 (only the first of these affects the level of public expenditure resources available to Northern Ireland). The changes are:

  (a) an addition of £6·7 million in respect of the 1990 Health Service review body awards. This provides additional public expenditure provision for the health and personal social services boards in Northern Ireland: the addition will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of United Kingdom public expenditure;

  (b) a reduction of £15 million, reflecting an increase in the estimates of the employers' and employees' contribution to the Health Service. As a transfer within central Government this does not affect public expenditure;

  (c) a reduction of £10 million, reflecting higher forecast repayments of borrowings by Northern Ireland Electricity;

  (d) a reduction of £4·6 million, reflecting reduced expenditure on the rundown of the gas industry in Northern Ireland.

  The last two items reflect reallocation of resources within existing plans from cash-limited services to non-cash-limited services.

  The net effect of these changes is a reduction of £22·9 million in the cash limit NIDI, from £2,972·194 million to £2,949·294 million.

  Mr. Brian Nelson
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security role of Brian Nelson in north Belfast.

  Mr. Brooke
  [holding answer 30 April 1990]: Mr. Nelson is currently in custody charged with possession of information likely to be of use to terrorists. His case is therefore sub judice and I can make no comment about it.

  Beef Industry
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial or other arrangements he proposes to make to alleviate the financial problems now affecting the beef industry in Northern Ireland.
  407
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  [holding answer 14 May 1990]: The Northern Ireland beef sector will benefit considerably from the changes agreed at the recent EC price-fixing negotiations. It is estimated that returns to beef producers will increase by about £8 million in a full year as a result of the changes in beef support and agrimonetary arrangements which were secured. The Northern Ireland beef sector should benefit, in particular, from the reduction in monetary compensation amounts on trade in cattle and beef across the land border with the Republic of Ireland and with other regions of the EC.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Third World Economic Development
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the reply on 14 May from the Minister for Overseas Development to the hon. Member for Hendon, South, if he will list in the Official Report details of studies of the development role of a social market economy sponsored by his Department.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The information is as follows:

  ODA sponsored research on the role of markets and economic liberalisation

  Duration

  Cost (to ODA) £

  1. Pricing and trade structure in the Chinese economy1

  Drs. Ahmed/Hussain/Stern, LSE

  1987–90

  172,568

  2. Policy change in the Chinese grain sector

  Dr. Buckwell, Wye

  1987–88

  14,800

  3. Conditional aid programmes:

  Lessons from the World Bank's experience of structural adjustment loans Professor Mosley, Manchester Professor Toye, IDS

  1987–90

  109,187

  4. World Bank report on long term perspectives for sub-Saharan Africa

  Mr. S. Please, World Bank

  1988–90

  50,000

  Total

  346,555

  1 Not yet completed.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Courts (Access)
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Attorney-General if he has any plans to improve access for disabled people to courts and other law buildings.

  The Attorney-General
  New and adapted or reconditioned court buildings provide, to the maximum possible extent, all the facilities required for the disabled, including lifts and ramps as necessary. Other buildings have had improvements incorporated where this has been feasible. New court rooms are designed to high acoustic standards which benefit the hard of hearing. Internal signs are made as clear as possible. Court staff are always available to assist disabled court users.

PRIME MINISTER

  Community Charge
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations she has received from Criccieth town council concerning the community charge; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  A letter has been received from Criccieth town council and a reply has now been sent by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Prime Minister when she expects to reply to the letter dated 17 April from the Reverend Andy Lindop of the Parish of St. John's, Mosley Common, Worsley, regarding the charge capping of Wigan metropolitan borough council.

  The Prime Minister
  There is no record of the letter to which the hon. Member refers having been received. May I suggest that a copy is sent to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, who will arrange for an early reply.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will take steps to ensure that Ministers do not avoid the answering of priority written questions within the established time scale by stating in answer to such a question that a Minister will write to the hon. Member who asked the question; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  It is for individual Ministers to decide how to answer questions.

  Disarmament
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Prime Minister whether it continues to be her policy that nuclear disarmament in Europe has gone far enough.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government support arms control agreements, whether nuclear or conventional, which enhance stability and allow security to be maintained at lower levels of forces.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Agricultural and Food Research
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment has been made of the success or otherwise of the system of three-year contracts at the AFRC institutes, as to whether personnel starting on a three-year contract fulfil that contract.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Agricultural and Food Research Council has recently reviewed all short-term appointments at its institutes. The majority of these appointments are three-year contracts. The results of the review indicate that AFRC's policy of recruiting staff on short-term appointments is successful and that the majority of personnel appointed in this way completed their contract.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment he has made of the
  409
  selective scientific effectiveness of (a) those on three-year contracts attached to A FRC institutes and (b) those on core programmes.

  Mr. Jackson
  Responsibility for such assessments falls essentially to the Agricultural and Food Research Council itself. I understand that the council maintains a rigorous assessment of programmes and their effectiveness at its institutes by means of four-yearly visiting groups and annual reviews. This includes core programmes and three-year contracts, whether funded by the council itself or by industry.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Western Sahara
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support Her Majesty's Government are giving to the Secretary-General of the United Nations following his recent visit to Morocco and Algeria in making progress towards holding the referendum in the western Sahara.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have consistently supported the United Nations Secretary-General in his efforts to find a solution to the dispute over the western Sahara. We have also joined our Community partners in welcoming the acceptance by both parties of the United Nations Secretary-General's referendum proposals.

  Children's Rights
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government expect to ratify the United Nations convention on the rights of the child.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Clydesdale (Mr. Hood) on 9 May 1990, column 176.

  Falkland Islands
  Dr. Woodcock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the depletion of the illex fishery around the Falkland Islands as a direct result of not applying a 200-mile fishery zone.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Recent scientific advice indicates that if the Falkland Islands interim conservation and management zone (FICZ) were extended to 200 miles, escapement for illex squid could be expected to increase by less than 5 per cent. and that effective conservation of the stock requires multilateral efforts to control fishing well beyond 200 miles.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will publish information about their periodic reports to the human rights committee under the international covenant on civil and political rights.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Copies of our reports under the international covenant on civil and political rights are freely available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Copies have also been placed in the Library of the House.

  Palestine
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many reports of breaches of human rights in Palestine Her Majesty's Government have received in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We receive frequent reports of human rights abuses in the occupied territories. We regularly take up individual cases with the Israeli authorities on both a national and Community basis. The Israelis are well aware of our view that they should administer the occupied territories in accordance with their obligations under international law.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  West Midlands Police
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of West Midlands on which years the following officers served in the West Midlands serious crimes squad: DS James Milligan 6269, DI Terence Mills 4512, DS Paul Owen 5056, DC John Perkins 4145, DC Alan Pickering 3273, DC James Price 9307, DC Michael Quin 2274, DS John Rawlings 1353, DC John Rawlings 3540, DS Peter Reynolds 3772, DS Timothy Russell 7099, DC Laurence Shaw 5498, DS Michael Swinneton 8296 and DI Henry Thomas;

  (2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of West Midlands on which years the following officers served in the West Midlands serious crimes squad: DS David Ford 9210, DCI Robert Goodchild 9416, DS William Guilt 4587, DC Alfred Hayward 6764, DI Peter Higgins 3435, Det. Supt. Mick Holder, DC Michael Houkins 2344, DS Colin James 6924, DS Roy Jennings 5062, DC Conrad Joseph, DS Richard Leary 2487, DS Danny Lloyd 7448, DS Leslie Leek 1691, DC Robert Maison 9110, DC Hugh McLelland 6540, DCI Paul Matthews, DS James McManus 2303 and DC Charles 4175;

  (3) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of West Midlands on which years the following officers served in the West Midlands serious crimes squad: DS Martin Thomas 9362, DC David Woodley 2853, DC Clifford Wesley 3455, DCI Banks 1317, Det. Supt. Bob Morris, DCI Roy Taylor `A'61, Det. Supt. Stan Beechey, DC Paul Bucknall 5269, DS Brian Morton, DC Brookes 7099, DI Geoffrey Edwards 6861, DS Michael Doyle 7302, DC Alan Campbell 6444 and DS Bryant 45;

  (4) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of West Midlands on which years the following officers served in the West Midlands serious crimes squad: DC Colin Abbotts 9078, DC Ronald Adams 6220, DS Anthony Ball 6843, DS Peter Bowen 2224, DS Norman Burns 6513, DC David Bowen Evans 5202, DCI John Brown 5436, DI Kenneth Cook 1337, DS Albert Cawley 9085, DS Michael Cooper 9448, Det. Supt. Roger Corbett 9412, DI Eddie Curry 6579, Det. Supt. Brian Davies, DS Joseph Dayle 3457, DS John Davies 7090 and DC Ronald Evans 9292.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to call for a report on such matters.

  Disabled Offenders
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many disabled people are in prisons; and what special arrangements are made for them.

  Mr. Mellor
  No records are kept centrally of the numbers of prisoners with disabilities, but such information as is available suggests that the numbers are relatively small. Prison establishments seek to meet the needs of those inmates on an individual basis—for example by providing books for the visually handicapped or by modifying cellular accommodation for those with mobility problems. Six establishments have toilets in the hospital area which are suitable for people with disabilities, and the standard brief for the design of future prisons provides for these and other facilities for the disabled.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has given concerning the sentencing of offenders who are disabled.

  Mr. John Patten
  Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the courts within their overall powers as laid down by legislation and in accordance with guidance given by the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal has made it clear that, for all offenders, custody should be given only when necessary and that it should be no longer than necessary. The national standards for community service orders, which came into effect on 1 April 1989, asked probation areas to ensure that community service placements are available for disabled offenders.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce the backlog of cases pending before the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

  Mr. John Patten
  In February we approved the recruitment of 60 extra staff for the board. Ten of these are already in post and the rest are expected to be in post by the end of June.

  The reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler) on 8 December at columns 409–17, set out the terms of the revised criminal injuries compensation scheme and described other steps taken to improve the board's performance. The revised scheme, which came into effect on 1 February, allows the board to resolve certain cases more quickly by delegating decisions to staff and expediting appeal procedures. The first phase of the major computer project at the board began in March. We shall monitor the effectiveness of these measures in reducing arrears of work at the board.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases awaited determination by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board as at 31 March; and what is the average time between submission of a claim and its determination.

  Mr. John Patten
  The number of applications awaiting initial determination by a single member of the board at 31 March was 65,100. In a further 2,842 applications interim 412
  awards had been made and the final determination deferred. There were also 9,096 cases awaiting appeal hearings and 10,748 where an award had been offered but not yet accepted by the applicant, making a total of 87,786 applications outstanding. Of these, about 50,000 represent the board's working balance, that is, cases which would be under consideration even if there were no arrears.

  Information about the average time taken to resolve applications is not available in the form requested, but the percentage of cases submitted to a single member of the board within certain periods from registration is shown in paragraph 6.1 of the board's 25th annual report (Cm. 900), a copy of which is in the Library.

  Demonstration (Arrests)
  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people the police have arrested for incidents arising out of the anti-poll tax demonstration in London on 31 March(a) on the day of the demonstration itself and (b) as a result of operation Carnaby; and how many of those arrested have been charged.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that 427 people were arrested on 31 March in connection with the disorder which occurred during and following the demonstration in London against the community charge. Of these, 409 have been charged with criminal offences.

  Fifty-two people have subsequently been arrested as a result of the continuing police investigation into the disorder. Of these, 39 have been charged with criminal offences.

  Bogus Welfare Workers
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to co-ordinate inter-departmental action in regard to recently reported cases of people posing as health visitors or social workers when visiting families with young children; of how many such cases he is aware; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the chief constable of South Yorkshire that the recent inter-force conference about the subject of bogus social workers and health visitors revealed 60 unexplained visits throughout England and Wales. In 24 of these access was gained to the house and in 14 young children were touched.

  Police forces across England and Wales are taking co-ordinated action to bring the offenders to justice, consulting local authority social services departments where necessary. They have warned parents throughout the country to take great care about allowing callers access to their children and to contact the police at once if their suspicions are roused. They have advised all those seeking legitimate access to identify themselves. Their advice has been wholly endorsed by a statement issued on 15 May by the Association of Directors of Social Services and the NSPCC.

  Strangeways Prison
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of the total costs of police involvement in the siege of Strangeways prison he expects to fall on Greater Manchester police authority and how
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  much will be met by his Department; what study he has made of the effect of the costs to be borne by the Greater Manchester police authority on the performance of the police service in the conurbation; if he is prepared now to meet the costs of police involvement in the siege as a whole; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Litherland) on 8 May at column 28. We have not yet received from the police authority a full assessment of the additional costs which it incurred as a result of the disturbances.

  Police Accommodation Allowance
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make an estimate of the cost to public funds of the provided accommodation allowance payable to police officers in provided accommodation for the year commencing 1 April.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  About 18,000 officers live in provided accommodation. Provided accommodation allowance has been set at £300·00 per officer per year and is payable for three years. Estimates accordingly provide for direct public expenditure of £5·4 million per year on this allowance for each year that it is payable.

  Wildlife and Countryside Act
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has in respect of prosecutions, convictions, and penalties levied in connection with deaths of protected species and listed in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 11 May 1990]: It is not possible from the information held centrally to distinguish between offences where species protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 have been intentionally killed and those where they have been intentionally injured or taken. In 1988 there were a total of 133 prosecutions and 114 convictions under the Act.

  In 1988 there were no prosecutions for offences under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 which involved the death of a protected species.

  Juvenile Offenders
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest number of juvenile offenders in youth custody; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  [pursuant to his reply, 19 March 1990, c. 455–56]: The number of juvenile offenders in prison service establishments on 31 December 1989 was 327, not 358 as stated in the earlier reply.

  Illegal Broadcasting
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about the extent of the problem caused to listeners of authorised commercial radio broadcasts by their inability to tune to authorised stations because of interference by illegal 414
  broadcasts; how many complaints he has received from the public; and what discussions he has held with listeners' representative bodies and commercial radio operators.

  Mr. Forth
  I have been asked to reply.

  The radio investigation service (RIS) of my Department's radiocommunications agency receives frequent complaints of radio interference caused by unlicensed broadcasting stations. Officials of the agency regularly correspond with, and on occasions meet, listeners' representative bodies and broadcasting organisations.

HEALTH

  Cot Deaths
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress made to date by the expert working group set up to assess the work of Mr. Barry Richardson's research into cot deaths.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress made to date by the expert working group set up to assess the work of Mr. Barry Richardson's research into cot deaths.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress made to date by the expert working group set up to assess the work of Mr. Barry Richardson's research into cot deaths.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The expert working group set up by the chief medical officer on 9 March was asked to consider and report on the work done by Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Richardson, together with the findings of the laboratory of the Government chemist and any other data; and make any necessary recommendations. He has asked the group to report as soon as possible and will make public its findings.

  The experts are working towards a report with commendable speed. The group first met on 3 April and studied Mr. Richardson's then latest paper and other evidence; it met again on 3 May to hear from individuals and associations, with important information, one of whom was Mr. Barry Richardson. It will next meet on 20 June.

  Postgraduate Allowance Training (Fees)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the disparity of fees charged by regional advisers for authorising postgraduate education allowance training; and if he has any proposals to standardise such fees.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department has had discussions with the committee of regional advisers in general practice in England (CRAGPIE) on a suitable level of fees to be charged for the accreditation of courses for the postgraduate education allowance and we have asked CRAGPIE to agree as a matter of urgency a national scale of fees.

  Miscarriages
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of pregnancies notified to doctors resulted in a miscarriage in each of the last 10 years.
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  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally. Information is available centrally only on miscarriages which occur in NHS hospitals or result in a stay in an NHS hospital. Information for the years 1979 to 1985 is given in the table.

  Estimated number of hospital stays in NHS hospitals in England with a diagnosis of "spontaneous abortion"

  Year

  Estimated numbers

  1979

  24,690

  1980

  26,800

  1981

  26,310

  1982

  27,530

  1983

  28,270

  1984

  29,790

  1985

  31,620

  Source: Hospital inpatient inquiry.

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether deaf children are required to take out insurance on commercial hearing aids supplied free of charge on the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply my hon. Friend the then Under-Secretary of State for Health, gave the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 1 May at column 538.

  Thalassaemia
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths there have been from thalassaemia for each year over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information is shown in the table.

  Number of deaths from thalassaemia1 of persons in England and Wales, 1980–892

  Year

  Number of deaths

  1980

  7

  1981

  11

  1982

  5

  1983

  3

  1984

  11

  1985

  12

  1986

  6

  1987

  10

  1988

  6

  1989

  28

  1 Assigned to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) ninth revision code 282.4.

  2 Provisional.

  Specialist Hospitals
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision he is making in the reorganisation of the National Health Service for the maintenance of specialist hospitals; and whether he will make special funding available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals will retain their current status and their specialist teaching, research 416
  and service roles. They will, of course, be able to apply for NHS trust status if they wish. The Government intend that the funding of these institutions will continue to enable them to carry out their valuable teaching and research activities.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that people with mental handicap and mental illness are enabled to give their views about their community care needs during the assessment procedure.

  Mr. Dorrell
  It is important that proper opportunities are provided for patients to take part in discussions relating to different treatment possibilities; and to agree the programme to be implemented. Our White Paper "Caring for People" stressed that the views of the person requiring care, and those of his or her carers, should be taken into account during the assessment procedure. This includes people with a mental handicap or mental illness. In our guidance to authorities we intend to underline the requirement for assessment procedures to take account of the views of all types of users and their carers.

  Abortion
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions were performed on unborn children under statutory ground 2 at 25, 26, 27 and 28 weeks of gestation, respectively, during 1989.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The provisional figure for 1 January to 30 September 1989 shows no such abortions.

  Wakefield District Health Authority
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) in view of the costs incurred by Wakefield district health authority arising from the court action taken against it by Mr. Ray Corner, the authority's former director of finance, what action has been taken by his Department in conjunction with Yorkshire regional health authority and Wakefield district health authority to ensure that staff of any rank will not be suspended or dismissed in a similar manner;

  (2) what discussions have taken place between his Department, Yorkshire regional health authority and Wakefield district health authority on the suspension and subsequent dismissal by the district general manager of Mr. Ray Corner, the authority's former director of finance;

  (3) if he will take steps to ensure that the £24,000 compensation to be paid by Wakefield district health authority to its former director of finance, Mr. Ray Corner, in respect of his suspension and subsequent dismissal from his post and the costs of all legal expenses arising from his action against the authority, will be met from his Department's budget for the preparation for self-governing trusts.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This is a matter for the local health authority. The NHS management executive has been kept informed of developments.

  Registered Child Minders
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many child minders are registered in(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  At 31 March 1988 there were 74,588 registered child minders in England. Information about Scotland is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. Information about Northern Ireland and Wales are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland and for Wales.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those local authorities which have waiting periods of(a) six to 12 months, (b) 12 to 18 months, (c) 18 to 24 months and (d) over 24 months for registration of child minders.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally. It is for local authorities to decide on the appropriate level of resources necessary for carrying out their registration duty under the Nurses and Childminders Registration Act 1948. Where individual cases are brought to the Department's attention, inquiries are made of the local authority concerned to establish the facts and what action, if any, is being taken to remedy the position. Advice will be given on the registration process including the length of time to handle applications in the new guidance to be issued under the Children Act 1989.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those local authorities which have licensed other bodies to register child minders on their behalf.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Under the provisions of the Nurseries and Childminders Regulation Act 1948, as amended, local social services departments have a statutory duty to register child minders. This duty must not be delegated.

  So far as is known no such delegation has occurred.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered child minders are currently claiming free milk benefit.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The figures are not kept in the form requested. However, some 90,000 registered child minders, playgroups and day nurseries are registered (under the Welfare Food Regulations 1988) to receive the free milk, or dried baby milk, available for children under five years old in day care. The majority of these are child minders.

  Speech Therapists
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of speech therapists per 100,000 population recommended by the Government-commissioned Enderby report; and how many health authorities meet that recommended level.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The article "Communication Disorders, Planning a Service to meet the Needs" published in the December 1989 issue of the British Journal of Disorders of Communication by Dr. Enderby and Dr. Davies, and based on research by Dr. Davies funded by the Department, did not make any recommendations about numbers of speech therapists.

  Paramedic Training
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether any extended paramedic training scheme for ambulance crews in England provides a qualification validated by the National Council for Vocational Qualifications; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether he has any plans to introduce a standard paramedic training syllabus for ambulance crews in England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  There is already an extended (paramedic) training programme provided by the National Health Service training authority which has been endorsed by the NHS for use by the ambulance service.

  The NHSTA is in the process of converting the training syllabus into degrees of competence in accordance with NCVQ requirements in consultation with representatives of the various employment sectors and interested bodies.

  "Stockport Health Authority News"
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of publishing "Stockport Health Authority News, Special Edition."

  Mr. Dorrell
  I am advised that each edition of the Stockport health authority's publication "Stockport Health Authority News" costs about £360 to print and is circulated to health staff within the authority.

  NHS Reform
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what more recent representations he has received regarding hospitals opting out of the existing National Health Service management structure.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 12 February at columns 22–25. Since then a further four units have expressed interest in NHS trust status and two others have amalgamated. This brings the total number of units which have expressed interest in trust status to 193.

  Benzodiazepines
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has received of foetal damage caused by benzodiazepines.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  On available information, t he Committee on Safety of Medicines has received 103 reports of foetal damage which may be associated with benzodiazepines. A report of a suspected adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean a causal relationship. Product data sheets for benzodiazepines state that these should not be used in pregnancy.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of prescriptions issued by community pharmacists for each individual benzodiazepine.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 27 February at column 121. Figures for 1989 are not yet available.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will initiate an inquiry into the reasons for the disparity in the number of prescriptions for benzodiazepines given to men and women.
  419
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have taken all reasonable steps to provide doctors with information about the use of benzodiazepines and make them aware of the need to prescribe these drugs carefully. It is for doctors using their professional clinical judgment to decide how best to prescribe for individual patients. An inquiry of the kind suggested would not add new information to aid doctors in their individual prescribing decisions and we therefore have no plans to initiate one.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the number of people who have attempted suicide after withdrawing from benzodiazepines.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Bogus Welfare Workers
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department has on the number of visits made to families with young children by people posing, in the Manchester area and elsewhere, as health visitors or social workers; if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Maintaining a record of the number of such visits is properly a task for the police. We will keep under review the need for action beyond endorsing advice already given that families should check carefully the credentials of any visitors before allowing them to see young children. No bona fide social worker would personally purport to conduct a medical examination of a child.

  Intensive Care
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent the points system for deciding whether patients are to receive life or death intensive care treatment, known as the Apache II scoring system, is used in(a) Manchester's and (b) other British hospitals in making priority decisions about the use of current resources for such treatment; if his Department has given or will be giving any instructions about use of the system in National Health Service hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The decision on whether a patient requires intensive care is a matter for the clinician responsible for that case. We have no plans to issue instructions on the clinical criteria which should be used.

  Midwives
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the regional health authorities in rank order according to the number of trained midwives per 100,000 women of child-bearing age.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 8 May 1990]: The requested information is shown in the table.

  Health authorities will have regard to a number of different factors in setting staffing levels for their maternity services. The number of women of child-bearing age is not in itself particularly meaningful for this purpose, given that age distributions and fertility rates within that group will vary in different places.
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  Midwives1 employed in the NHS at 30 September 1988 per 100,000 women of child-bearing age2 within each region

  Qualified midwives (WTE) per 100,000 women of child-bearing age

  Per 100,000

  England

  188·4

  North Western

  253·5

  Yorkshire

  207·6

  Northern

  202·0

  West Midlands

  199·2

  North East Thames

  198·5

  Mersey

  197·0

  East Anglian

  190·2

  Wessex

  186·1

  Trent

  180·5

  North West Thames3

  175·6

  South West Thames

  168·9

  Oxford

  167·7

  South Western

  150·4

  South East Thames

  143·1

  Source: DoH (SM 13) Annual census of NHS non-medical manpower and OPCS population census.

  1 Includes hospital and community midwifery staff.

  2 Women of child-bearing age are those between the ages of 15 and 44 years.

  3 Includes staff employed in SHAs.

  Conductive Education
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action has been taken to promote the development in the United Kingdom of conductive education as practised at the Peto institute.

  Mr. Scott
  I have been asked to reply.

  I announced in the House in December 1989 details of our proposal to create a formal link with the Peto institute. We have agreed to provide a total of £5 million from Government funds over four financial years towards the capital costs of the new international institute projected by the Hungarian Government, subject to satisfactory progress with construction and conclusion of an agreement covering access for United Kingdom children and trainee conductors. Discussions to conclude this agreement will take place shortly.

  Access for British trainee conductors will be particularly important for the long-term future of conductive education in this country. The Foundation for Conductive Education in Birmingham was formed to establish conductive education in the United Kingdom and has signed a long-term agreement to bring conductive education to this country, under Hungarian direction. To ensure that trainee conductors receive the maximum support for and benefit from their training, the Government are providing more than £92,000 over three years for the foundation to employ a tutor in Budapest.

  To help parents who are considering taking a disabled child to the Peto institute in Budapest, we are funding the production by the foundation of a guide offering information about conductive education itself and the financial and other implications of visiting Hungary.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Maintenance
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to provide an incentive to absent parents to provide maintenance for their children who are living on benefits.
  421
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Absent parents, like all parents, have a clear legal responsibility to maintain their families wherever they can afford to, but in far too many cases that responsibility has not been fulfilled. No maintenance is paid for over three quarters of lone-parent families receiving income support. Income support for lone-parent families cost £1·9 billion in 1989–90.

  As already announced, the Government are reviewing the maintenance system to see what changes need to be made to the way maintenance is awarded, and collected. A survey is under way to provide full and up-to-date information as a basis for deciding the best way forward. We are also examining systems in use in other countries to see what lessons can be learnt. We aim to bring forward proposals later this year.

  In the shorter term we have taken action to improve the payment of maintenance under the current system. This includes a new clause introduced to the current Social Security Bill, under which DSS will be able to enforce a lone parent's maintenance order for her when payments are not being made in full, if she is claiming income support. This will ensure that prompt action is taken in all cases and will reduce the chance of the absent parent getting into the habit of non-payment.

  Hostels
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he is now in a position to announce help for those hostels which currently do not receive direct payments of income support for service charges.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I am pleased to announce that from 21 May all hostels and nightshelters may receive direct payments of income support for service charges, including meals, from the outset of a claimant's residence.

  This will safeguard the interests of those hostels which have experienced difficulty collecting service charges from residents. This will still allow those hostels which do not wish to take advantage of the direct payment arrangements to encourage their residents to take responsibility for managing their own finances.

TRANSPORT

  Stockport Bypass
  Mr. Tom Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his detailed timetable for the construction of the A6 (M) Stockport north-south bypass.

  Mr. Atkins
  We expect to publish supplementary orders and a compulsory purchase order in autumn next year. Progress after that depends upon how much objection there is to them. A public inquiry will be necessary if there are unresolved objections. I am writing to my hon. Friend.

  Traffic Lights
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new sets of traffic lights have been installed in the Greater London area in the past two years.

  Mr. Atkins
  Traffic lights have been installed at approximately 300 new sites in the past two years, of which about half were new pelican crossings.

  Disabled Drivers
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy concerning the access of disabled people and their cars to pedestrian-only areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department's policy towards the access of orange badge holders' vehicles to pedestrian zones is set out in local transport note 1/87 "Getting the Right Balance".

  Orange badge holders' vehicles should not normally need to be exempted from access restrictions if a sufficient number of convenient parking places can be provided. If this is not possible, there may be a case for allowing some form of access for disabled people's vehicles.

  The guidance stresses the importance of consultation with organisations representing people with disabilities when zones are being planned.

  A copy of local transport note 1/87 has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many disabled orange badge holders there are in Derbyshire.

  Mr. Atkins
  The number is 26,942 at 31 March 1989, the latest date for which figures are available centrally.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those councils which ban vehicles belonging to disabled orange badge holders from pedestrian-only areas.

  Mr. Atkins
  The decision to ban vehicles displaying an orange badge from pedestrian zones is primarily for individual local authorities to take. Information on the number of local authorities which have implemented such a ban is not held centrally.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to amend the orange badge scheme for disabled drivers.

  Mr. Atkins
  Revised regulations governing the scheme were issued for consultation on 9 April. The changes are designed to clarify the eligibility criteria for badges, curb abuse and tailor the parking concessions provided under the scheme more closely to the needs of severely disabled people.

  Major organisations representing disabled people, the local authority associations and the police are being consulted on the detailed changes to the statutory regulations.

  A copy has been placed in the Library.

  British Rail
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what Government financial support has been allocated to British Rail provincial and its predecessors in actual terms and real terms in(a) 1975–76, (b) 1980–81, (c) 1985–86, (d) 1988–89, (e) 1989–90 and (f) 1990–91 projected.

  Mr. Freeman
  Figures for Government support paid to the British Railways Board, including public service obligation grant under EC regulation 1191/69 and section 3 of the Railways Act 1974, and level crossings grant under EC regulation 1192/69, are given in the table. Final claims have not yet been agreed for the years 1988–89 and 1989–90.
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  Cash £ million1

  1990–91 prices £ million1

  19752

  307

  1,052

  19802

  591

  1,072

  1985–86

  838

  1,113

  1988–89

  557

  632

  1989–90

  511

  544

  1990–913

  497

  497

  1 Rounded to the nearest £ million.

  2 Before 1984–85 BR's financial year ran from 1 January to 31 December.

  3 This is a planning figure based on a technical adjustment of the figures in Chapter 7 of The Government's Expenditure Plans 1990–91 to 1992–93 (Cm 1007).

  Before 1987–88 BR was not required to state the division of grant between sectors. In its annual report and accounts for 1988–89 BR estimated the PSO grant requirement for provincial to be £408 million (£461 million at 1990–91 prices). The Government's objectives for BR for the three years to 1992–93 endorsed BR's own target of reducing provincial's grant requirement to £367 million (1989–90 prices) by 1992–93, and requested BR to examine ways of reducing this by some £20 million.

  Parking Act 1989
  Mr. Kirkhope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to bring into force the Parking Act 1989.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Parking Act 1989 is being brought into force by commencement order today. It paves the way for a wider range of parking equipment to be approved for use by local authorities in parking places under their control. In particular "cashless" systems—which offer advantages in security, flexibility and convenience—will be able to be approved for off-street use. An explanatory circular (DTp 2/90 WO 21/90) has been issued to local authorities and is available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the present inquiry on the proposed east London river crossing to be concluded.

  Mr. Atkins
  The public inquiries into certain design changes on this scheme do not start until 3 July. They are being held concurrently with an inquiry into planning applications for the further development of London City airport. I cannot speculate how long these concurrent inquiries will last.

  Dock Employment
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the change in employment in docks since the abolition of the dock labour scheme.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  At the time of abolition there were 9,223 registered dock workers. To date, 4,734 redundancies have been notified to this Department under the compensation payments scheme.

  Airport Rail Links
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has undertaken into the feasibility of through trains from Heathrow and Gatwick airports to Manchester and Birmingham airports.
  424
  Mr. Freeman
  None. This is for British Rail and airport operators to initiate.

ENVIRONMENT

  Rural Industry
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial support was given in real terms to industry in rural areas in(a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Most Government schemes for financial assistance to industry provide assistance for urban and rural areas alike. Where there are special rural problems in England, the Rural Development Commission, which is grant-aided by my Department, can provide assistance with both economic and social development. The commission's total gross expenditure at 1989–90 prices was £36·6 million in the financial year 1978–79 and £37·2 million in 1989–90.

  Urban Regeneration
  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when there will be a Government response to the Audit Commission document, "Urban Regeneration and Economic Development."

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

  Property Transfers, London
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all those properties vested in the London residuary body, with a voluntary organisation or organisations in occupation, which have been transferred to the relevant borough council; and if he will give the estimated market value and the consideration paid for transfer in each case.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The London residuary body has disposed of interests in the following properties occupied by voluntary organisations to the relevant borough councils. Sales at less than the estimated market value at the time of disposal are subject to clawback provisions and to covenants as to use.

  Address

  Estimated market value £

  Consideration paid £

  13–15 Stockwell road, SW9

  350,000

  1

  5–5A Westminster Bridge road, SE1

  2,000,000

  1

  286 Camden road, N7

  240,000

  1

  Palingswick House, King street, W6

  2,000,000

  1

  80 York way, N1

  2,000,000

  1

  Rio Cinema, 103 Kingsland Road, E8

  100,000

  1

  65 Bell road, Hounslow

  140,000

  140,000

  177 Abbey street, SE1

  225,000

  224,000

  153 Hammersmith road, W14

  325,000

  325,000

  Waste Recycling
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 25 April,Official Report, column 322, (1) whether the incentive to which he

  425
  referred for waste collection authorities which recycle waste, will apply to a mechanised recycling plant receiving mixed domestic waste;

  (2) what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the introduction of financial credits for waste collection authorities will be used for diverting waste from landfill, rather than as a means for funding source separation and that schemes which subsequently result in a higher percentage of waste diverted from landfill, but that do not require source separation, will not be disadvantaged by the support offered through public expenditure;

  (3) what steps he proposes to take to ensure that recycling initiatives, such as financial credits from one public body to another, designed to promote source separation of waste, will not be allowed to disadvantage market-led and funded schemes for waste reclamation and recycling.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government wish to encourage all environmentally beneficial and cost-effective methods of recycling domestic waste and avoiding disposal to landfill. The proposal for recycling credits, which we hope will be the subject of an amendment to be brought forward to the Environmental Protection Bill, is not intended to favour one recycling method over another. It will simply seek to ensure that the benefits of landfill avoidance feed through as financial incentives to those responsible for diverting domestic waste to recycling, whether in the public sector or not.

  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what encouragement is being given to local authorities that wish to increase the level of recycled waste.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The provisions of the Environmental Protection Bill will require every local authority involved in waste collection or disposal to make plans that will give priority to the recycling of waste wherever practicable. Other provisions of the Bill will allow them to specify environmentally favourable options for waste disposal, such as recycling, even if they are not the cheapest in purely financial terms and will require waste disposal authorities to pass to collection authorities the savings that accrue because refuse has been recycled rather than passed to them for disposal. The Bill will also strengthen the existing powers of local authorities to arrange recycling schemes for their localities.

  The Government are also working with local authorities to develop projects such as recycling city in Sheffield and Cardiff and similar plans in other areas which can, when fully evaluated, be used as models for future schemes. We shall be providing comprehensive advice to local authorities to assist them in the production of recycling plans and the development of recycling projects.

  Chipboard Factories
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what steps he is taking to take account of the views of environmental groups in respect of emissions from chipboard factories; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to set an emission limit of just particles from timber dryers at 25 mg per cubic metre in respect of chipboard factories; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Chipboard factories will come under the new and more rigorous controls provided by 426
  part I of the Environmental Protection Bill. Operators of chipboard factories will be required to use the best available techniques not entailing excessive cost (BATNEEC) to minimise emissions and their potential for harming the environment.

  Guidance will be issued on appropriate air pollution controls for these processes and it is intended that this will contain a limit for emissions of particulate matter which is achievable using BATNEEC. Bodies representing relevant interests, including environmental ones, will be given the opportunity to comment on the draft guidance before it is issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

  Political Activities (Disqualification)
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his estimates of the numbers of individuals disqualified from political activities as a result of the Local Government and Housing Act.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  On the basis of the lists received from 428 out of the 491 authorities concerned, I understand that some 32,000 holders of local authority posts in England have been included in lists under section 2 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 as subject to political restrictions. This figure does not include all posts of chief executive, monitoring officer, chief officer and deputy chief officer, whose posts are subject to the political restrictions but are not necessarily included in the lists under the 1989 Act.

  Local government officers whose posts are in these lists, other than the holders of the specific posts I have mentioned, have the right to exemption if the independent adjudicator considers that their posts do not meet the statutory criteria.

  Wild Geese
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last made a statement regarding wild geese management.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend has made no recent statement on this subject. Various steps have been taken to control wild geese where necessary including scaring and limited shooting.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what level of investment is planned over the next five years to improve standards of drinking water.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Water undertakers in England and Wales will be spending £1·8 billion, at November 1989 prices, up to the end of 1995 to remedy current situations of non-compliance with the EC drinking water directive.

  Sewage Outfalls
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the practicality of sterilising sewage outfalls by the process of infusing hydrogen peroxide.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My Department has received information on the use of hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant from Interox Chemicals Ltd. which markets the "Oxymaster" range of disinfectants based on peracetic acid.

  Dogs
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further measures he intends to take to reduce the problems caused by dogs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  We remain committed to the package of measures outlined in the consultation paper "Action on Dogs" which we issued last year. These include duties on local authorities to deal with strays and to enforce the existing requirement that dogs should wear a collar and identification tag. We are discussing with the RSPCA and others how this package might be strengthened in some respect. We intend to legislate at a convenient opportunity.

  Unleaded Petrol
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many grades of unleaded petrol are now marketed; and what guidance is given to drivers as to which grade will not prove harmful to their cars, where these are converted for unleaded petrol use.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Two grades of unleaded petrol are being marketed—95 octane "Premium" and 97/98 octane "Super" or "Super Plus". The vast majority of new cars can use 95 octane and from 1 October this year all new cars will be required to be able to do so. Super unleaded is being marketed for a relatively small number of cars that cannot be, or are not, tuned for 95 octane. Any car that is tuned for 95 octane can use the super fuel but will show no advantage for the extra expense. The Department has issued guidance on which existing cars can use 95 octane unleaded, and information is also being disseminated by the motor and petrol trades. Any motorist who does not find unequivocal guidance in his car manual or from one of the other sources should consult his dealer or other qualified person.

  Cleveland Structure Plan
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the draft modifications to the Cleveland structure plan; what are the reasons for the delay; and what assessment he has made of the damage to development prospects in the area arising from such delay.

  Mr. Moynihan
  It is hoped to publish the Secretary of State's proposed modifications to the Cleveland structure plan in June. It has not been possible to do so earlier because of the need to resolve some complex issues raised in the report of the panel which conducted the examination in public. I am not aware of any damage to development prospects in Cleveland as a result of this timetable. Local planning authorities have continued to carry out their functions and, where appropriate, have taken the new structure plan into account as a material consideration in reaching their decisions. Similarly, recent appeal decisions issued by the Secretary of State have had regard to the emerging structure plan.

  Endangered Species
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 26 February,Official Report, columns
  428
  21–22, whether he will seek to recover the operating costs of the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976, as he is empowered to do under section 1(5) of that Act.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Section 1(5) of the 1976 Act empowers the Secretary of State to charge for the issue of a licence under the Act. He has no plans to invoke those powers at present.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 26 February,Official Report, columns 21–22, (a) if he will publish the list provided by the Nature Conservancy Council in 1985 of species unlikely to survive in captivity, and therefore eligible for protection under section 3 (dd) of the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 and (b) which of those listed species are still exempt from licensing under that Act or any other legislation and not restricted for import;

  (2) if he has conveniently available figures to show how many birds of species included in the Nature Conservancy Council's list of species unlikely to survive in captivity were recorded in Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's quarantine statistics as imported into the United Kingdom during 1988; and what was the average mortality suffered on arrival or in quarantine.

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

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 26 February,Official Report, columns 21–22, what action his Department takes to ensure that sufficient regard is taken of section 3(dd) of the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976, in consideration of its schedules and in the administration of licences.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  In the light of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food quarantine statistics for 1988 we are considering whether, in view of section 3(dd), any further species should be brought within the control of the 1976 Act. Inclusion in the list provided by the Nature Conservancy Council of species which generally do not survive well in captivity except in specialist hands is a factor which is taken into account in deciding import applications for those species.

  Radiation
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all aspects of governmental involvement with nuclear radiation; and if he will provide a breakdown of the allocation of responsibilities between the different Government Departments for radioactive materials and waste production, control and management.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Secretary of State for the Environment is responsible for radioactive waste management strategy in England, and for the regulation of the use and the authorisation for disposal of radioactive substances under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. Other Government Departments with responsibilities for radioactive materials include the Department of Energy; Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Ministry of Defence; Department of Health; Welsh Office; Scottish Office; Northern Ireland Office; Department of Transport; Department of Employment.

  Leeds Development Corporation
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress Leeds development corporation has made to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Leeds development corporation was established less than two years ago and it has already done much to stimulate the regeneration of its area.

  Since designation there has been nearly £60 million of private sector investment, more than 1·5 million sq ft of industrial and commercial floor space completed and 105 dwellings completed or under construction. Further developments are in the pipeline. This has created over 1,300 construction and 5,200 permanent jobs.

  Three major joint development competitions have been launched in partnership with Leeds city council, British Waterways and British Gas. These will provide housing and community facilities and industrial and commercial developments. The corporation is giving high priority to minimise disruption to existing businesses and finding alternative premises where necessary. It is assisting businesses to improve their premises and thereby safeguard existing jobs.

  The corporation is improving the environment and has planted 150,000 trees and shrubs. It is working jointly with Leeds city council, British Waterways and the Government's Leeds/Bradford city action team to enhance the potential of the River Aire and the Leeds/Liverpool canal.

  I congratulate Leeds development corporation—and those organisations with which it is working—on creating exciting new opportunities for the people of Leeds.

  Woolaway Houses
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many privately owned Woolaway houses, qualifying for assistance with repair, remain unrepaired(a) nationally and (b) in Bristol.

  Mr. Chope
  This information is not available in the form requested. We estimate that there are 1,007 owners of Woolaway houses in England and Wales eligible for assistance under the housing defects legislation. Of these, 291 have received assistance by way of repair, or have repairs under way. The equivalent figures for Bristol are 222 and 86, respectively. A further 53 Woolaway houses in Bristol have been repurchased, and all but 13 of the remaining 83 owners have now received offers of assistance from the council—67 by way of repair, and three by way of repurchase.

  Packaging
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received following his call for an all out attack on excessive packaging at a packaging conference on 25 March; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 11 May 1990]: My right hon. Friend and other Ministers have received many representations in support of his call on 25 March for reductions in excessive packaging, and for an enhanced effort to promote recycling by manufacturers, retailers, local authorities, voluntary groups and Government
  430
  Departments. We have also received representations from the packaging industry emphasising the economic and environmental advantages of well-designed packaging.

  Local Government Finance
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the estimated charge on the basis of current expenditure(a) per household and (b) per capita for each London borough if a system of local income tax were to be introduced.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the estimated charge on the basis of current expenditure(a) per household and (b) per capita for each English district if a system of local income tax were introduced.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have no information on which to estimate the average amount which would be payable in any area under a system of local income tax either per household or per capita. Estimated local income tax rates which could have applied in each local authority area in 1990–91 were placed in the Library on 4 April.

  Sir Alan Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what figure was allowed for in respect of the cost of repairing the roof of Shire hall, Reading, in setting the standard spending assessment for Berkshire county council; and what assessment was made of the likely effect on the level of the community charge in Windsor and Maidenhead.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 18 April 1990]: No specific figure for this item of expenditure was allowed for in calculating the standard spending assessment for Berkshire county council.

  The SSA includes support for the costs of capital expenditure financed from credit approvals. But at the recommendation of the Association of County Councils, credit approvals for this type of expenditure are distributed on the basis of population rather than for particular projects.

  Sir Alan Glyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the effect of the use by the Royal County of Berkshire of capital reserves to fund revenue expenditure on the community charge for Windsor and Maidenhead.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 19 April 1990]: The precept which Berkshire county council has levied on Windsor and Maidenhead reflects the revenue which it has chosen to raise. That in turn reflects its general financial position, including the extent to which capital reserves may generate interest and the extent to which capital expenditure is being financed from revenue income.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 3 May to the hon. Member for Derbyshire North-East,Official Report, columns 617–18, about local government revenue, if he will list the equivalent percentage details for Wandsworth and Westminster councils.

  Mr Chope
  The equivalent calculation cannot be made for individual authorities because some revenues are paid to charging authorities' collection funds on behalf of charging authorities and precepting authorities. The
  431
  relevant amounts paid into Wandsworth's general fund and collection fund are given in the table. Complete information is not yet available for the city of Westminster.

  Amounts to be paid into Wandsworth's General Fund and Collection Fund

  £000

  General Fund

  Specific and Supplementary grants (excluding community charge benefit and transitional relief)

  34,717

  Collection Fund

  Government grants (including community charge benefit and transitional relief)

  158,308

  Business rates

  60,386

  Community charges (net of community charge benefit and transitional relief)

  23,608

  Water Pollution
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer of 4 April,Official Report, column 669, if the source of the solvent affecting groundwater at the Blewbury borehole in south Oxfordshire has been identified.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 15 May 1990]: No definite source of the carbon tetrachloride found in groundwater at the Blewbury borehole has yet been identified. Work is continuing in order to discover the origins of this contamination.

SCOTLAND

  Rents-to-Mortgages Scheme
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to amend the rents-to-mortgages scheme in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Early experience of the rents-to-mortgages trial scheme for Scottish Homes and new town development corporation tenants indicates that it is enabling those who could not previously afford to buy their own homes to do so.

  I shall continue to monitor the trial scheme closely to see whether it fulfils its early promise and will make a further statement in due course.

  Water Supplies
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of water supplies in Scotland in breach of the 50 micrograms per litre limit of the amount of lead permitted; and if he will list the number of people covered by each water supply.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Water supplies in Scotland do not generally breach the 50 micrograms per litre standard for lead at the point of supply to the consumer. Breaches of the standard at consumers' taps are caused by pick-up of lead from pipes and plumbing systems, mostly within the consumer's property, after the water leaves the mains. Installation of water treatment is in progress in 26 supply areas where it is known that some tap samples fail to meet the standard set in the EC drinking water directive. It is estimated that about 37,000 people in these areas may be involved.
  432
  Water authorities are currently embarking on assessments to establish in which zones the new 50 micrograms per litre standard for any sample, as set in the drinking water quality regulations now in force, may not be met and whether additional treatment schemes will be effective in further reducing lead levels at taps.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases awaited determination by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in Scotland as of 31 March; and what is the average time between submission of the claim and the determination.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Separate details of the number of Scottish cases awaiting determination and of the average time taken by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to resolve Scottish cases are not available. The criminal injuries compensation scheme administered by the board provides compensation for victims of crimes of violence throughout Great Britain. For information on a Great Britain basis such as the hon. Member seeks, I refer him to the answer given today to his question to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will supply figures for the costs and earnings of United Kingdom fishing vessels in Scotland for the period 1983 to 1989 broken down by vessel size(a) under 40 ft, (b) 40 to 79·9 ft, (c) 80 to 109–9 ft, (d) 110 to 139·9 ft and (e) 140 ft and over.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 15 May 1990]: This information is not available in the form requested. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Health Service
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of junior hospital doctors working in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The most recent figures available from Lothian health board show 26 junior doctors with duties in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh.

  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will investigate nurse staffing levels at Falkirk and District royal infirmary; and if he will instruct the Forth Valley health board not to implement any further reductions which would threaten the standards of patient care.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 11 May 1990]: Nurse staffing levels at Falkirk and District royal infirmary are primarily a matter for Forth Valley health board. The nurse staffing numbers for 1989–90 have increased slightly compared to 1988–89. The board has no proposals to reduce the nurse staffing levels at the hospital.

  Central Institutions
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much the principals of each of the central institutions were paid in 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.
  433
  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 15 May 1990]: This information is not held centrally. Until February 1990, the salary levels were determined on the basis of agreements of the Scottish joint negotiating committee for teaching staff in further education which has now been abolished and I am sending to the hon. Gentleman copies of the relevant circulars issued by the joint committee. Salaries are now for determination by the boards of governors of the colleges themselves.

  Coastal Erosion
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he proposes to make any additional funds available to local authorities to enable them to tackle the problems of coastal erosion; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what resources have been made available to local authorities in the present financial year and 1989–90 to tackle the problem of coastal erosion.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 May 1990]: Coast protection is one item covered by the capital expenditure allocations made each year by my right hon. and learned Friend for local authorities' water and sewerage programmes. Within their permitted capital expenditure, authorities are free to set their own priorities for expenditure on such works. Allocations for authorities' water and sewerage programmes in 1989–90 totalled £126 million and in 1990–91, £137·5 million. Provisional allocations for 1991–92 total £159·6 million and for 1992–93, £182 million. Nevertheless expenditure on coast protection remains relatively small and in 1988–89 was less than £1 million.

  Grants are available to regional and islands councils, under the Coast Protection Act 1949, for coast protection schemes providing that certain criteria are met. The percentage grant available varies from 20 per cent. to 80 per cent. depending on authority. No changes are proposed.

  Education (Ethnic Monitoring)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland why he has decided not to obtain ethnically based data on pupils and teachers in Scottish schools.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 15 May 1990]: Information is currently being collected about the ethnic origin, religion and home languages of all secondary pupils and of primary entrants. It is not proposed to obtain corresponding information about school teachers because so few teachers in Scotland come from minority groups.

EMPLOYMENT

  Business Failures, Yorkshire
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many businesses have failed in the Yorkshire region over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The best available guide to trends in numbers of businesses comes from VAT data. In 1988, the latest year for which figures have been published by this Department, an estimated 10,700 businesses came off the VAT register in the counties of North, South and West 434
  Yorkshire. Companies may leave the register for a variety of different reasons. In the same period, there were an estimated 13,800 registrations, giving a net increase of 3,100, or 3·3 per cent.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has regarding(a) the general level of debt and (b) the sums owed by Government Departments and agencies to small businesses.

  Mr. Nicholls
  I regret that the in formation requested is not available.

  Training
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish details for Great Britain and for the west midlands region for each year from April 1986 to the most recent date, of the total number of YTS trainees(a) within each of the four provider types and their sub-categories and (b) with disabilities within each of the four provider types and their sub-categories.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the potential client group is receiving employment training.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is not available.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are undertaking employment training in each London area office; and how many are women requiring child care costs to be paid.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 14 May 1990]: The number of people on employment training in each London area office is given in the table. No information is available about the number of women claiming or receiving child care payments because information about the number of trainees receiving child care payments is not disaggregated by sex.

  Employment training

  In training at 30 March 1990—London region

  Area office

  Numbers

  London North

  4,935

  London West

  1,238

  London East

  2,870

  London South

  2,129

  Inner London North

  7,699

  Inner London South

  3,827

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his assessment of the effectiveness to date of his policy of encouraging women to take up employment training courses by paying child care costs.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 14 May 1990]: Assistance with the cost of child care is available to any lone parent in employment training (ET). Payments for help with child care are being made for some 3 per cent. of trainees. After only 18 months of ET I regard this as encouraging.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the staffing levels for(a) Scotland and (b) Angus for the Health and Safety Executive in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The following information is available (1 April figures):

  (1)

  (2)

  HSE staff based in Scotland

  of which: staff serving HSE's Scotland East Area (including Angus)

  1980

  1214·0

  1137·5

  1981

  1214·0

  1140·5

  1982

  1195·0

  1130·0

  1983

  1182·5

  1122·0

  1984

  1174·5

  1114·5

  1985

  193·0

  118·0

  1986

  177·0

  106·5

  1987

  180·0

  108·5

  1988

  177·0

  109·0

  1989

  171·0

  107·0

  1990

  177·5

  111·0

  1Staff located in Scotland in mines and quarries inspectorate's Scottish and north eastern district have been excluded as, prior to April 1985, central records cannot identify mines and quarries field staff by location.

  Factories
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Health and Safety Executive will undertake or commission research into the proportion of factory premises which are not registered with the factory inspectorate and the proportion of factory employees who work in unregistered premises.

  Mr. Nicholls
  Each year the factory inspectorate spends a percentage of its resources on the identification and inspection of unregistered fixed workplaces as part of its programme of preventative inspections.

  The Health and Safety Executive has no plans to undertake or commission other research into the proportion of unregistered factory premises or the number of employees who work in such premises.

  TVEI
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what funding is available for the technical and vocational education initiative for 1990–91; and how much was available in 1989–90.

  Mr. Eggar
  The funding available for the technical and vocational education initiative (TVEI) in 1990–91 is £134 million. Expenditure in 1989–90 was £129 million.

  Jobcentres
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what assessment has been made of the impact on rural areas of the mergers of jobcentres with unemployment benefit offices;

  (2) if he will list those towns with populations below 10,000 whose mergers of jobcentres and unemployment benefit offices have taken place in the last 12 months;

  (3) if he will list the towns with population below 10,000 whose mergers of jobcentres and unemployment benefit offices will take place during the current financial year;
  436
  (4) what steps are being taken to maintain access to his Department's services for people in rural areas following the reduction in the number of jobcentres and unemployment benefit offices resulting from his policy of merging these two.

  Mr. Eggar
  On 1 December 1989 my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Sir N. Fowler) said that the employment service would be moving progressively to bring jobcentres and benefit offices together under one roof to form a new network of employment service offices.

  As part of this development it remains ES policy to provide its clients in rural areas with reasonable access to the full range of ES services. This will continue to be provided in the new network of employment service offices and supplemented in some locations through the use of outreach facilities to deliver advisory and counselling programmes and other services. By the end of March 1990 113 new offices had been established. Some 500 offices are scheduled to be established by March 1991. The information on size of towns where ES offices are located is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Right hon. and hon. Members are informed when changes are to be made to employment service offices in their constituencies.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will accept anonymous evidence from workers on the channel tunnel for his inquiry into safety.

  Mr. Nicholls
  It is the Health and Safety Executive's policy to consider any representations made to it about particular safety matters and to treat representations in confidence if asked to do so.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the fatal and major injury rate per 100,000 workers for the construction of the channel tunnel on the(a) British side, (b) the French side and (c) for the construction industry as a whole.

  Mr. Nicholls
  [holding answer 15 May 1990]: The fatal and major injury rate per 100,000 workers in the construction industry in Great Britain for the year April 1988 to March 1989, the latest period for which information is available, was 275. Comparable incidence rates for the British side of the channel tunnel cannot be calculated because of the considerable rise in employment during the period. Information to enable a figure to be calculated in the form requested for the French side is not available.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what training opportunities are available through the training and enterprise councils to women with no qualifications.

  Mr. Eggar
  Each training and enterprise council will set out in its corporate and business plans how it intends to meet the training requirements of individuals in its area. Where appropriate this will include the provision of training opportunities for those with few or no qualifications, whether women or men.

  Fishing Industry (Ex-employees)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information his Department has, by region, on the employment destination of ex-employees in the United Kingdom fish-catching sector who have left the industry since 1985.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The information requested is not available.

  Age Discrimination
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of age in employment.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The Government have no plans to introduce such legislation. The Government believe that older workers are a valuable resource. Age discrimination is unfair to individuals and not in an employer's own interest. We continue to put this message across to employers through various media, particularly in the context of publicity about demographic change. In addition, instructions to jobcentre staff have been strengthened to ensure that all upper age limits on vacancies notified by employers are challenged.

  There are encouraging signs that employers are heeding this message. We shall continue our efforts to ensure that this progress continues.

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Mr. Blair
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department has any plans to increase the amount paid under the enterprise allowance scheme.

  Mr. Eggar
  No.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for the reduction in jobs in the manufacturing sector since 1979: and what has been the figure for each of the past five years in(a) the Bolton and Bury travel-to-work areas and (b) the rest of the north-west area.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The number of employees in employment in the United Kingdom in the manufacturing sector fell by 2,013,000 (27·7 per cent.) between June 1979 and December 1989.

  Information about employment in travel-to-work areas is available only from the census of employment. The latest available figures are for September 1987; the earliest on a comparable basis are for September 1981. Between these two dates, the number of employees in employment in the manufacturing industry sector in the Bolton and Bury travel-to-work area fell by 9,600 or 15 per cent.

  Changes in employees in employment for the north-west region in the manufacturing sector in each of the past five years are as follows:

  Employees in employment—north-west region Manufacturing industries (SIC 1980 divisions 2 to 4)

  December

  Number (thousands)1

  Yearly change (thousands)1

  Yearly percentage change

  1985

  670

  5

  0·8

  1986

  659

  -11

  -1·7

  1987

  668

  10

  1·5

  438

  December

  Number (thousands)1

  Yearly change (thousands)1

  Yearly percentage change

  1988

  688

  20

  2·9

  1989

  685

  -2

  -0·4

  1 Unadjusted for seasonal variations.

  Low Pay
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on low pay.

  Mr. Nicholls
  The best way to help the lower paid is through continuing economic and employment growth and greater prosperity for all.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information his Department has as to the number of disabled peole who are able to work for(a) 10 to 15 hours per week, (b) 16 to 19 hours per week and (c) 20 to 24 hours per week.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 15 May 1990]: I regret I hat this information is not currently available. However, a study commissioned by this Department, which will report soon, will provide much new information about people with disabilities including the numbers of hours per week they are able to work.

DEFENCE

  Low Flying
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide information on the perceived noise decibels for the following aircraft in tactical training areas where they fly at an altitude of 100 ft:(a) Hawk, (b) Jaguar, (c) Tornado and (d) F1–11.

  Mr. Neubert
  The most comprehensive information on aircraft noise currently available to the Ministry of Defence relies on a noise database collected in 1983 during exercise Bedlam, the report of which is already available in the House of Commons Library. To supplement this information, further work is planned this year to provide actual measurements of noise generated by aircraft at heights down to 100 ft but the results of this further work are not expected to be available until early next year. It should be noted that neither the Hawk nor the F1–11 aircraft carry out any operational low-flying training in the tactical training areas.

  RAF Chivenor (Helicopters)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to replace the Wessex helicopters at RAF Chivenor with Sea King helicopters.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are no plans to do so.

  Radiation
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to collate centrally the records for radiation does exposure of submarine refit personnel prior
  439
  to 1979; and if he will assess the distribution of total radiation dose exposure for refit workers in the ranges up to 5, greater than 5 to 10, greater than 10 to 15, greater than 15 to 20, greater than 20 to 25, greater than 25 to 30, greater than 30 to 35, greater than 35 to 40, greater than 40 to 45, greater than 45 to 50 and greater than 50 milliSieverts, in terms of percentage of overall work force.

  Mr. Neubert
  Records of radiation dose exposures of submarine refit personnel prior to 1979 are already held centrally. The analysis requested, however, could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what form the records for individual radiation dose exposure of submarine refit personnel were collated and held prior to 1979; if they are available to the House; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  Individual radiation dose records prior to 1979 are held centrally in paper form. Analysis of this information could be supplied to the House only at a disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence without identifying any individual by name or by any other means what is the total occupational, whole body equivalent radiation dose exposure of each individual worker employed in the Royal Navy dockyards in the United Kingdom, in milliSieverts, grouped in the bands up to 5, greater than 5 to 10, greater than 10 to 15, greater than 15 to 20, greater than 20 to 25, greater than 25 to 30, greater than 30 to 35, greater than 35 to 40, greater than 40 to 45, greater than 45 to 50 and greater than 50 for each year since the onset of the naval nuclear propulsion programme and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  The data requested were contained in my reply to the hon. Member on 18 April at column 942. Further sub-division of the data into 5 mSv intervals can be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average radiation dose exposure of refit workers involved with the United States nuclear propulsion programme; what is the average radiation dose exposure of refit workers in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Neubert
  Information concerning the average radiation dose exposure of American refit workers is a matter for the United States authorities. The figures showing the average radiation dose exposure of refit workers in the royal dockyards were given in my reply to the hon. Member on 2 May at column 944.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  European Community Trade
  Mr. James Lamond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the balance of trade with the European Economic Community in(a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Leadbitter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the balance of trade with the European Economic Community in(a) 1979 and (b)
  440
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the balance of trade with the European Economic Community in(a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I refer the hon. Members to the reply that I gave on 18 April 1990,Official Report, columns 855–56.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the reasons for the deficit in manufacturing trade with the European Economic Community; and what is the current export/import ratio.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The deficit with the European Community is, like the deficit with other countries, the result of domestic demand temporarily growing faster than domestic supply. The deficit will fall as demand and capacity pressures ease further. The export/import ratio in 1989 was 73 per cent.

  Manufactured Goods
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current deficit in the balance of trade in manufactured goods.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The latest information is available in table A9 of the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics", available in the Library of the House, or on the Central Statistical Office database, which may be accessed through the Library.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the net number of new firms registered for value added tax purposes for the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ryder
  On the basis of Customs and Excise data on registrations and deregistrations processed, the net increase in the number of businesses registered for value added tax in 1989 was 84,374. This reflected 261,783 new registrations and 177,409 deregistrations. The net increase was more than three-and-a-half times higher than in 1980.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from businesses and business associations concerning interest rate levels.

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

  Economic Growth
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effects he expects the anticipated level of economic growth in 1991 to have on industry.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The latest forecast for the growth of manufacturing industry in the first half of 1991 on a year earlier is¾ per cent. This forecast was published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  Erratic Items (Imports)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the level of imports into the United Kingdom of items classified as erratic items, in 1990.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The value of erratic imports, defined as ships, North sea installations, aircraft (together comprising SITC(REV 3) 792 and 793), precious stones (667) and silver (681·1) on a seasonally adjusted, balance of payments basis is £1,801 million, for the first quarter of 1990.

  Japanese Investment
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of Japanese investment in the United Kingdom in(a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of Japanese investment in the United Kingdom in(a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The available information on the book value of direct investment in the United Kingdom by Japanese companies is given in table 12 of "Business Monitor M04 (Census of Overseas Assets)" published by the Central Statistical Office. Information on portfolio investment in the United Kingdom, by country, is not available.

  Manufacturing Investment
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was regional investment in real constant value terms in manufacturing industries for the latest year for which figures are available and in 1979.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, current price information for capital expenditure (investment) in regional manufacturing industry is published annually in "Business Monitor PA 1002, Report on the Census of Production", summary volume. Copies of this volume up to 1987, the latest available year, are available from the House of Commons Library. Constant price estimates are not made because there are no regional price indices.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide the information given in his reply of 8 March,Official Report, column 749, on manufacturing investment, with the privatised companies in a separate column.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 9 May 1990]: I regret that the information cannot be provided. To do so would involve disclosing figures for individual undertakings in breach of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947.

  Manufacturing Trade
  Mr. Buchan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report tables showing the balance of payments and the balance in manufacturing trade between the United Kingdom and the other member states of the European Economic Community.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Information on the balance of payments with the EC is available only on an annual basis 442
  in the CSO pink book. The latest available data are in section 10 (pages 62–66) of the 1989 edition which is available in the Library. Information on the balance of payments between the United Kingdom and individual member states is not available.

  The table shows the balance of trade in manufactures between the United Kingdom and the European Community. The 1988 figure is consistent with the data in the 1989 pink book and the 1989 figure is the latest available.

  Balance of trade in manufactures with the European Community1

  Balance of payments basis

  £ million

  1988

  -12,538

  1989

  -13,583

  1 SITC5–8.

  Crude Oil Exports
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the causes of the overseas trade statistics under-recording direct exports of crude oil; who records the tonnages under-recorded; and what is the percentage of the total exports in each year since 1979 represented by the under-recorded direct exports.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 9 May 1990]: The under-recording concerns exports of crude oil loaded offshore directly on to tankers. The powers of the Customs and Excise Management Act do not cover this trade. Until the end of 1987 information was assembled by the Department of Energy from an administrative source known as the prior notice waiver system. This system was ended in December 1987. Although an alternative system was set up, some oil companies failed to report complete data for this trade to Customs. However, the Department of Energy routinely collects information on oil production and disposals, and the comparison of this data with that sent to Customs and Excise enables an adjustment for under-recording to be estimated.

  Figures published by the Central Statistical Office for the current account of the balance of payments and for visible trade on a balance of payments basis include an adjustment for the under-recording of oil exports. On this basis therefore oil exports are not under-recorded, although for the most recent months' figures, issued in the monthly trade figures press notice, the adjustments made to oil exports are partly estimated; figures are revised as further details become available.

  Figures published for "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom" for 1988 did not include any adjustment for under-recorded oil exports. The adjustment advised to Customs by the Department of Energy for 1989 and subsequently, will appear in the cumulative figures.

  There was unlikely to have been under-recording under the prior notice waiver system which was discontinued at the end of 1987. About 10 per cent. of total exports of crude oil in each of 1988 and 1989 was not reported by oil companies to Customs and Excise.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Non-alcoholic Drinks
  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he proposes to take to tackle any possible overcharging for non-alcoholic drinks.

  Mr. Redwood
  Action is already in hand to ensure effective competition in wholesale supplies to retailers. Tenants of the major brewers have been free since 1 May to buy non-alcoholic drinks from the most competitive supplier. The supply of carbonated soft drinks was also referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on 25 April.

  The retail margin is however determined by the individual retailer. Consumers who feel they are charged too much have the ultimate sanction of taking their custom elsewhere.

  Manufacturing Deficit
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the EEC countries with which the United Kingdom has a manufacturing trade deficit.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the European Economic Community countries with which the United Kingdom has a manufacturing trade deficit.

  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the European Economic Community countries with which the United Kingdom has a manufacturing trade deficit.

  Mr. Redwood
  In the first quarter of 1990 the United Kingdom had a manufacturing trade deficit with the Federal Republic of Germany, Netherlands, Italy, France, Belgium-Luxembourg, Denmark and Portugal.

  Plessey
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received on the subject of the GEC/Siemens takeover of Plessey.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received on the subject of the GEC/Siemens takeover of Plessey.

  Mr. Ridley
  I have received two recent representations about the GEC/Siemens takeover of Plessey.

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

  Mr. Allen McKay
  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 444
  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.

  Regional Policy
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on regional policy.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on regional policy.

  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the regions.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Government remain committed to an effective regional policy and will continue to make the necessary resources available.

  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met a regional body of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss regional policy.

  Mr. Buckley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met a regional body of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss regional policy.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met a regional body of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss regional policy.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My Department maintains regular contact with the CBI at all levels on a wide range of matters relating to industry.

  LAUTRO
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the work of the Life Assurance and Unit Trust Regulatory Organisation.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Life Assurance and Unit Trust Regulatory Organisation.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Life Assurance and Unit Trust Regulatory Organisation is one of five self-regulating organisations recognised by the Securities and Investments Board under the Financial Services Act 1986. It is responsible for regulating the investment business of insurance companies and friendly societies engaged in retail marketing of life insurance products, and operators of regulated collective investment schemes engaged in retail marketing of units in such schemes.

  Estate Agents
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to bring forward his recently announced proposals to strengthen the law governing the regulation of estate agents.

  Mr. Forth
  I intend that in the next few weeks a draft order and regulations under the Estate Agents Act 1979
  445
  will be sent to interested parties. My proposals for amending the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 by extending it to cover misdescription of real property have already been circulated.

  Industrial Investment
  Mr. Bidwell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet the director general of the National Economic Development Council to discuss the impact of Government policies on British industrial investment intentions.

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet the director general of the National Economic Development Council to discuss the impact of Government policies on British industrial investment intentions.

  Mr. Radice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet the director general of the National Economic Development Council to discuss the impact of Government policies on British industrial investment intentions.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My Department has frequent contacts with NEDO officials on a wide range of business matters and I last chaired the council on 4 April. I have no immediate plans to meet the director general.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has for further industrial investment in the north-west of England.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My Department will continue to support investment as appropriate in the north-west, including through regional selective assistance and the consultancy and export initiatives.

  Financial Services
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the efficacy of the system of financial services regulation set up since 1979.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Financial Services Act 1986, which came into force in April 1988, established a comprehensive structure for the protection of investors and regulation of investment business in the United Kingdom. Under the Act, the Securities and Investments Board has prime responsibility for ensuring that the appropriate standard of protection for investors is provided in respect of persons carrying on investment business.

  Steel Industry
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of the steel industry in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I am confident that the United Kingdom steel industry will continue to perform well now that all of it is in the private sector and free from Government interference.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of the steel industry in the United Kingdom.
  446
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Coventry, North-East (Mr. Hughes) earlier today.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many tonnes of steel per man year were produced in the United Kingdom in(a) 1981 and (b)

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many tonnes of steel per man year were produced in the United Kingdom in(a) 1981 and (b)

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Crude steel production per man year rose from 159 tonnes in 1981 to 344 tonnes in 1989.

  Iraq
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many British firms currently trade with Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Iraq is an important market offering worthwhile opportunities to a wide range of United Kingdom exporters, but we do not keep records of the number of companies involved.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library information given to potential British exporters to Iraq by his Department and by the British consulate in Iraq.

  Mr. Redwood
  A selection, and complete list, of the numerous handouts available to potential exporters to Iraq both here and at our embassy in Baghdad have been placed in the Library.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to review the working of the export licensing system for arms exports.

  Mr. Redwood
  The administration by my Department of export licensing including arms exports, was thoroughly reviewed in 1988. The need for changes to ensure that the controls remain effective and are efficiently administered is kept under continual review.

  Company Prosecutions
  Mr. Orme
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many prosecutions arising from company investigations commenced after 1 June 1979; and how many of the prosecutions were successful.

  Mr. Redwood
  I am aware of 132 successful prosecutions completed since 1 January 1979 arising from investigations under the Companies Acts; some of those prosecutions may have commenced before that date.

  The figure given includes prosecutions carried out not only by my Department but by other prosecution authorities, for example the DPP, Serious Fraud Office and the police.

  Further information is given in the annual report prepared under section 729 of the Companies Act 1985 and published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. This report is available in the Library.

  Defence Industry
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement about the United Kingdom defence industry and attempts to find alternative products.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have nothing to add to the replies I have given to the hon. Member's earlier questions on this subject.

  Monopolies and Mergers
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will initiate a review of monopolies and mergers legislation.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will initiate a review of monopolies and mergers legislation.

  Mr. Redwood
  We have recently implemented the conclusions of our review of mergers policy, which were published in 1988. As we said in our White Paper, "Opening Markets: New Policy on Restrictive Trade Practices", Cm. 727, we are currently reviewing the provisions in the Fair Trading Act 1973 and Competition Act 1980 dealing with the position of the individual, anti-competitive firm.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the directors of the Office of Fair Trading to discuss monopolies and mergers.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the directors of the Office of Fair Trading to discuss monopolies and mergers.

  Mr. Redwood
  My right hon. Friend and I met the Director General of Fair Trading on 2 April. There are no further meetings currently planned with Ministers in this Department.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will visit the state of Massachusetts to study its regulatory system for mergers and takeovers.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 14 May 1990]: Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have current plans to visit the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

  European Community Trade
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet his counterparts in the European Commission to discuss United Kingdom trade with the European Community.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet his counterparts in the European Commission to discuss United Kingdom trade with the European Community.

  Mr. Redwood
  Ministers meet European Commissioners on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues of common interest.

  Pharmaceuticals
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the subject of parallel imports of pharmaceuticals.
  448
  Mr. Redwood
  Representatives of the pharmaceutical industry have contributed to consultations initiated by my Department on the question of parallel imports in overseas markets.

  Eastern Europe
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to improve the provision of export credit guarantees for Warsaw pact countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The provision by ECGD of export credit guarantees—including those for countries in the Warsaw pact—is kept under regular review. Any improvement in the provision of such guarantees is made as and when justified. A review of ECGD's investment insurance cover for eastern European countries was recently undertaken and as a result some wide-ranging extensions to the scheme for those markets were announced.

  Postal Service
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the future of the postal service monopoly.

  Mr. Forth
  The letter monopoly is a privilege, not a right. While we keep the options under review, there are no plans to end the letter monopoly at present, although in the event of serious disruption we would consider suspending it. The Government and the Post Office remain fully committed to the existence of a national letter service available to everyone, including those in rural areas, at a reasonable and uniform tariff.

  Mr. Allen Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet the chairman of the Post Office to discuss the future of the postal service.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expects to meet the chairman of the Post Office, Sir Bryan Nicholson, on 21 May. They will discuss matters of mutual interest.

  Product Safety
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with trading standards officers on product safety.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with trading standards officers on product safety.

  Mr. Forth
  I have met trading standards officers and members of their representative organisations on several occasions at which product safety was one of the issues discussed. Also officials of my Department keep in regular contact with trading standards officers.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Consumers Association on product safety.

  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Consumers Association on product safety.
  449
  Mr. Forth
  I have had no recent meeting with the Consumers Association but it meets officials in my Department on a regular basis.

  Dangerous Goods
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consider introducing legislation to extend the time limit for prosecuting sellers of dangerous goods.

  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consider introducing legislation to extend the time limit for prosecuting sellers of dangerous goods.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consider introducing legislation to extend the time limit for prosecuting sellers of dangerous goods.

  Mr. Forth
  When the Consumer Protection Act 1987 passed through the House there was no concern expressed about the time limit of six months in respect of prosecutions for a breach of general safety requirement. If there is substantial evidence that this time limit is now leading to proceedings being frustrated I am prepared to consider what might be done to help the enforcement authorities.

  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further steps he is taking to strengthen legislation against sellers of dangerous goods.

  Mr. Forth
  The introduction of the general safety requirement in part II of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 means that it is now a criminal offence to sell any consumer product that is not reasonably safe. This is supported by specific regulations and by a range of enforcement powers that enable action to be taken effectively and swiftly against unsafe consumer goods. I see no justification for further legislation in this area.

  Insolvencies—England and Wales

  Individuals

  Companies

  Total

  Bankruptcy orders

  Individual voluntary arrangements

  Deeds of arrangement

  Total

  Compulsory liquidations

  Creditors' voluntary liquidations

  1989

  1st quarter

  2,224

  1,972

  251

  1

  2,567

  854

  1,713

  2nd quarter

  2,418

  2,103

  315

  0

  2,814

  1,103

  1,711

  3rd quarter

  2,159

  1,837

  321

  1

  2,027

  548

  1,479

  4th quarter

  2,565

  2,226

  337

  2

  3,047

  1,515

  1,532

  1990

  1st quarter

  2,942

  2,514

  427

  1

  3,339

  1,267

  2,072

  Insolvencies—Scotland

  Individuals Sequestrations

  Total

  Companies Compulsory liquidations

  Creditors' voluntary liquidations

  1989

  1st quarter

  445

  121

  67

  54

  2nd quarter

  659

  99

  60

  39

  3rd quarter

  563

  143

  87

  56

  4th quarter

  634

  95

  45

  50

  Textiles Industry
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met representatives of the textiles industry; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Minister for Trade met members of the North East Lancashire Textile Manufacturers Association on 4 May. The main topic of discussion was the multi-fibre arrangement.

  Insider Dealing
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the present regulations to deal with insider dealing.

  Mr. Buchan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the present regulations to deal with insider dealing.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Government will continue to pursue all insider dealing cases where prosecution is justified under the code for Crown prosecutors. Convictions have been obtained in 11 out of 20 cases brought under the legislation. Two prosecutions are in progress and 13 inspections into possible breaches of the legislation are being carried out.

  The Government published a consultative document on proposals for changes to the law on insider dealing late last year. I am grateful to all who responded, and careful consideration is being given to their comments.

  Bankruptcies
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the latest figures on the trend in business bankruptcies in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) England and (c) Cornwall.

  Mr. Redwood
  Because of the differences in the relevant legislation for the different parts of the United Kingdom, it is inappropriate to provide figures for the United Kingdom as a whole. Separate figures are not available for England or Cornwall. The available information is given in the following table:
  451

  Individuals Sequestrations

  Total

  Companies Compulsory liquidations

  Creditors' voluntary liquidations

  1990

  1st quarter

  665

  113

  60

  53

  Insolvencies—Northern Ireland

  Individuals

  Companies

  Total

  Bankruptcy adjudication orders

  Other1

  Total

  Compulsory liquidations

  Creditors' voluntary liquidations

  1989

  1st quarter

  59

  54

  5

  28

  15

  13

  2nd quarter

  59

  52

  7

  30

  16

  14

  3rd quarter

  53

  50

  3

  28

  14

  14

  4th quarter

  66

  64

  2

  38

  24

  14

  1990

  1st quarter

  58

  50

  8

  27

  6

  21

  1 Arrangement protection orders and orders for the administration of estates of deceased insolvents.

  Procurement and Information Technology
  Mr. Cunliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been made to him about public procurement policy and information technology in the European Economic Community.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been made to him about public procurement policy and information technology in the European Economic Community.

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been made to him about public procurement policy and information technology in the European Economic Community.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has not received any representations about public procurement policy and information technology in the European Economic Community.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the Department's latest estimate of the balance of trade in information technology with Japan and the United States of America.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his Department's latest estimate of the balance of trade in information technology with Japan and the United States of America.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his Department's latest estimate of the balance of trade in information technology with Japan and the United States of America.

  Mr. Redwood
  In the year to March 1990 the estimated crude deficit on trade in electronics and information technology products (defined as divisions 75 and 76 of the standard international trade classification) was £2 billion with Japan, and £1·6 billion with the United States of America.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet the president of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the performance of British manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Eadie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet the president of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the performance of British manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet the president of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the performance of British manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet the president of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the performance of British manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have no immediate plans to discuss the performance of British manufacturing industry with the president of the CBI, although I expect to see him at the CBI's annual dinner on 17 May.

  Environment Policy
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new proposals to encourage British industry to be environmentally friendly.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new proposals to encourage British industry to be environmentally friendly.

  Mr. Forth
  I shall continue to encourage British industry to respond positively to the challenges and opportunities presented by environmental issues.

  European Commission
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the Vice President of the European Commission, Sir Leon Brittan, to discuss competition policy.
  453
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the Vice President of the European Commission, Sir Leon Brittan, to discuss that part of his remit which affects the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the Vice President of the European Commission, Sir Leon Brittan, to discuss industry policy.

  Mr. Ridley
  I meet Sir Leon Brittan as and when necessary for discussion of a wide range of topics.

  Engineering Products
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current balance of trade in engineering products.

  Mr. Sean Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current balance of trade in engineering products.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The crude deficit on the balance of trade for engineering products (defined as divisions 71 to 79 of the standard international trade classification) was £8·2 billion in the year to March 1990.

  Scotch Whisky
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met representatives of the Scotch whisky industry; and what subjects were discussed.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I met representatives of the Scotch whisky industry on 5 April to discuss my proposal to introduce legislation permitting gin, rum, vodka and whisky sold on licensed premises to be served in a single round metric quantity of 25 ml from the middle of this year and to prohibit the use of the existing imperial quantities after 31 December 1994. Having considered the industry's representations, I announced on 3 May my intention to consult interested parties about the possibility of also permitting one further metric quantity of 35 ml and of extending to other spirits the requirement for prescribed measures.

  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the United States section 301 initiative against Taiwan in regard to distilled spirits, he is taking steps to ensure that any resultant liberalisation applies equally to Scotch whisky.

  Mr. Redwood
  The authorities in Taiwan are well aware of United Kingdom concerns. Her Majesty's Government have no dealngs with the Taiwanese authorities, but United Kingdom concerns on this and other matters are put across very clearly in Taipei and London by the Anglo-Taiwan Trade Committee, a private organisation set up to promote British exports to Taiwan.

  The Scotch Whisky Association recently went on a mission to Taiwan during which further representations were made to the appropriate Taiwanese authorities.

  Departmental Reorganisation
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has yet reached a decision on the reorganisation of his Department.
  454
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has yet reached a decision on the reorganisation of his Department.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has yet reached a decision on the reorganisation of his Department.

  Mr. Forth
  I have nothing to add to the statement on the structure of my Department which my right hon. Friend made on 21 February in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, East (Mr. Knowles),Official Report, columns 783–84.

  Capital Adequacy
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made by his Department of the implications for British financial institutions of any change in arrangements for capital adequacy.

  Mr. Redwood
  The European Commission has consulted member states and other interested parties in preparing its proposals for a directive on the capital adequacy of Community investment firms, which should be published shortly. The Government will continue to take account of the views of British financial institutions during the negotiation of the directive. I am particularly concerned that the levels of initial capital proposed may he against the interests of smaller and new financial intermediaries.

  British-built Cars
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list the levels of sales in the United Kingdom of British-built cars in(a) 1974, (b) 1979 and (c)

  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list the levels of sales in the United Kingdom of British-built cars in(a) 1974, (b) 1979 and (c)

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The available figures, showing United Kingdom registrations of British-built cars, are as follows:

  (a) 915 thousand;

  (b) 750 thousand;

  (c) 991 thousand.

  Car Production
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list the numbers of cars produced in the United Kingdom over the last five years.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer my hon. Friend to my replies earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) and for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire).

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cars were produced in the United Kingdom in(a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The figures are as follows:

  (a) 1·070 million.

  (b) 1·299 million.

  Hosiery and Knitwear
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement regarding the hosiery and knitwear industry in Leicester.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. and learned Member to my answer to his question given in the Official Report for 9 January at column 599.

  West Germany
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the level of United Kingdom trade with West Germany.

  Mr. Lambie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the level of United Kingdom trade with West Germany.

  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the level of United Kingdom trade with West Germany.

  Mr. Redwood
  In the first quarter of 1990 United Kingdom visible exports to West Germany were £3 billion, an increase of 20 per cent. over the first quarter of 1989. On the same comparison, visible imports from West Germany rose by 11 per cent., to £5 billion.

  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met his West German counterpart to discuss the trade deficit of the United Kingdom with West Germany.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met his West German counterpart to discuss the trade deficit of the United Kingdom with West Germany.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met his West German counterpart to discuss the trade deficit of the United Kingdom with Germany.

  Mr. Redwood
  DTI Ministers maintain close contacts with their West German opposite numbers on a range of issues. The Secretary of State last met the Federal Economics Minister, Dr. Haussmann, in London at the Anglo-German summit on 30 March.

  Car Industry
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet the major car manufacturers to discuss matters relating to the car industry.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet the major car manufacturers to discuss matters relating to the car industry.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Government have regular contacts with the major car manufacturers on a range of issues of interest to the industry.

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value of British motor industry exports for the year 1989.
  456
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The figure is £8,193 million.

  EC Industry Council
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what matters he expects to discuss at the next meeting of the European Economic Community Industry Council.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The next meeting of the Industry Council, at which I will be representing the United Kingdom, will be held on 28 May. The provisional agenda proposes discussion on steel, shipbuilding, semiconductors, small and medium-sized enterprises, and audio-visual matters.

  Small Investors
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with institutions in the City of London on ways to encourage the growth in the number of small investors.

  Mr. Redwood
  I regularly discuss ways of promoting wider share ownership with institutions and individuals, both in the City and elsewhere. In a recent speech to the Institute of Economic Affairs I outlined a number of areas in which further action is needed to encourage the small investor. I also welcome other innovative ways of making the City more accessible to small shareholders which are being developed.

  Iron and Steel Exports
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the level of exports of United Kingdom-produced iron and steel in(a) 1979 and (b)

  Mr. Redwood
  United Kingdom exports of iron and steel products on an ECSC basis were(a) 3·72 million tonnes, with a value of £767 million, in 1979; and (b) 5·60 million tonnes, with a value of £1,886 million in 1989.

  Industrial Performance
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has to improve the performance of British industry.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Government continue to pursue policies intended to improve the climate for business activity, and to reduce the burdens on business. In addition, my Department continues to operate a range of specific schemes to improve business performance under the enterprise initiative.

  Single Market
  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the directives necessary to complete the single European market have yet to be implemented; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Commission's fifth progress report on the single market shows that the United Kingdom, as recorded by the European Community, has the best record in the Community for the implementation into national legislation of single market measures with nine measures
  457
  not implemented as at 1 March 1990. Unfortunately only 21 of the directives have been implemented in all European Community member states.

  My Department's publication "Progress on Commission White Paper" also shows that as at 1 March there were 60 individual directives which had been adopted and which were not yet required to have entered into force. Also, 139 measures had not been adopted, five of which had not yet been presented to the Council. Copies of this publication have been deposited in both Libraries.

  Textile Trade
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which issues he will raise in relation to the international trade in textiles when he next meets his European Economic Community counterparts.

  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which issues he will raise in relation to the international trade in textiles when he next meets his European Economic Community counterparts.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which issues he will raise in relation to the international trade in textiles when he next meets his European Economic Community counterparts.

  Mr. Redwood
  When he sees his EC colleagues at the informal Trade Ministers' meeting in Dublin this week, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will be discussing developments in the Uruguay round negotiations on international trade in textiles and the way forward, both in relation to the EC's preferred method of phasing out the multi-fibre arrangement over a transitional period and the parallel strengthening of GATT rules and disciplines.

  Director General of Fair Trading
  Mr. McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions during the past 12 months he has rejected the formal advice of the Director General of Fair Trading.

  Mr. Forth
  In the last 12 months formal recommendations from the Director General of Fair Trading have not been accepted on two occasions.

  Pirate Radio
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what additional action he intends to take to deal with pirate radio broadcasting in Greater London.

  Mr. Forth
  Pirate radio is a nuisance that can endanger lives and disrupt business. The radio investigation service of my Department's radiocommunications agency has powers to raid pirate stations and prosecute offenders where this proves necessary. It will be considerably helped in its efforts by new powers in the Broadcasting Bill that is currently before the House.

  Passenger Car Prices
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will initiate an independent inquiry into passenger car prices in the United Kingdom.
  458
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Director General of Fair Trading announced on 9 May that he had made a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the supply of new motor cars in the United Kingdom.

  Business Receiverships
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will obtain a copy for his departmental library of the recently published KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock survey on the number of businesses forced into receivership.

  Mr. Redwood
  Yes.

  East Midlands
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the level of investment in the east midlands now provided by foreign-owned companies; and how that number may change by 1995.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  According to the latest figures available to the Department's Invest in Britain Bureau, from 1979 to 1989, 142 inward investment decisions were made to locate in the east midlands. These include the establishment of a new business, expansion or acquisition of an existing business and involvement in joint venture. The projects were expected to create 11,640 new jobs and, since 1983 when the relevant records were started, to have safeguarded a further 8,900. The figures are based on information provided by the companies themselves at the time of the investment decision and do not take account of subsequent developments.

  Although growth in inward investment in the United Kingdom is expected to continue into the 1990s, it is not possible to predict the likely amount of such investment nor its location.

  Consumer Guarantees Bill
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further representations he has had on the Consumer Guarantees Bill.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further representations he has had on the Consumer Guarantees Bill.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further representations he has had on the Consumer Guarantees Bill.

  Mr. Forth
  At the Committee stage of the Bill I undertook to inform members of the Committee of the representations I had received about various aspects of the Bill, where I had the agreement of the parties concerned to do so. This I have done. Further representations received since Committee were made in confidence and it would he inappropriate to give details of them.

  Telecommunications
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have to allow more suppliers into the telecommunications market.

  Mr. Forth
  The major liberalisation which the Government have already introduced in United Kingdom
  459
  telecommunications, including the recent announcement of licences for three personal communications networks, has allowed many new suppliers to flourish. I have no further significant plans at present, pending the Government's review, starting in November this year, of the BT/Mercury duopoly in the provision of fixed link services.

  Wessex Trust
  Mr. Ashdown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on action taken by his Department since the collapse of Wessex Trust in 1984.

  Mr. Redwood
  Between February and July 1986 my Department contributed to the investigation into Wessex Trust co-ordinated by the fraud investigation group of the Crown prosecution service by carrying out inquiries into companies concerned in the affairs of the trust.

  Investors' Compensation
  Sir William Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to amend the Financial Services Act 1986 to empower the Securities and Investments Board to require recognised professional bodies to contribute to the central investors compensation scheme.

  Mr. Redwood
  None. Paragraph 3 of schedule 3 to the Financial Services Act requires the recognised professional bodies to have adequate arrangements for compensating investors.

  Exports (Manufactures)
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department plans to take to increase exports of British manufactured goods.

  Mr. Redwood
  In 1989, the United Kingdom exported £75 billion worth of manufactured goods, a 16 per cent. increase on 1988. The Government will continue to follow the macro-economic policies which have created a climate in which United Kingdom firms can prosper and increase their exports. The Government will also continue to provide direct support to United Kingdom firms seeking business overseas by providing a wide range of advice, information and assistance through the British Overseas Trade Board.

  Illegal Broadcasting
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many raids have been carried out in 1990 by radio investigation service enforcement teams in the Greater London area; with what result; and how many prosecutions have been successful.

  Mr. Forth
  The radio investigation service of my Department's radiocommunications agency has so far this year carried out a total of 169 raids on unlicensed broadcasting stations operating in the Greater London area. On each occasion equipment used in the commission of the offence was seized and on 14 occasions persons believed to be connected with the unlicensed station were interviewed with a view to prosecution.

  Between I January and 30 April 1990, 33 persons were successfully prosecuted for their involvement with such
  460
  stations in the Greater London area. The average fine imposed was £287 and average costs of £209 were ordered to be paid. However, one person was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment. Invariably the courts ordered that the equipment used in the offence be forfeited.

  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many officials are employed in radio investigation service enforcement teams in the Greater London area; what is the extent of their workload; and what proposals he has to increase the numbers of such personnel.

  Mr. Forth
  The radio investigation service of my Department's radiocommunications agency currently employs 25 officers on enforcement work in the Greater London area. Their remit involves regulating all categories of radio use and responding to complaints of interference from authorised users. The performance of the radio investigation service is kept under review to ensure that the service is correctly resourced.

  Technology Transfer
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the transfer of technology was discussed at the recent Bonn CSCE conference on economic co-operation in Europe; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Among the issues discussed at the conference was the encouragement of exchanges of know-how in a number of fields including the environment, agro-industry and food processing. Participating states also agreed to co-operate in fields such as energy conservation; raw material saving techniques; hydrocarbon technologies; and the safety of nuclear energy installations.

  Internal Market Council
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Internal Market Council held in Brussels on 14 May.

  Mr. Redwood
  I attended the Internal Market Council in Brussels on 14 May. The Council held preliminary discussions on the legal protection of computer programmes, and on a proposal for extending the patent life for pharmaceuticals. Further discussions were also held on the European company statute.

  The Commission made a presentation on barriers to takeover. The United Kingdom gave a strong welcome to the proposals to amend three directives in company law, which were the Commission's response to a United Kingdom request for action. The proposals represent a step towards a fair and transparent market, in which shareholders' interests are properly respected.

  There was also substantive discussion of the motor insurance services directive. The Irish Presidency had worked hard to produce a compromise, which the United Kingdom was prepared to accept, although it did not go as far in liberalising motor insurance as we would have liked. It was disappointing that some member states could not accept even this compromise, and seemed intent on blocking moves towards a common market in motor insurance. The proposal will be discussed again in June following further work in the Committee of Permanent Representatives.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to refuse export licences for the export of military equipment, including Tornado aircraft and naval vessels, to Indonesia.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 14 May 1990]: Export licence applications for military equipment, including aircraft and naval vessels, are considered on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with stringent criteria. It is not our practice to grant a licence for the export of military equipment which would not be in the national interest or which is likely to be used for internal repression.

  Bristol Evening Post
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to be able to announce his decision over the report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the attempt by Mr. David Sullivan to take a controlling interest in the Bristol Evening Post plc.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 14 May 1990]: The report will be published and the Secretary of State's decision announced as soon as is practicable.

  Industrial Output
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of(a) the overall output and (b) the output per person engaged, in each of the following industries, for the years 1979 and 1989: (i) agriculture, (ii) the steel industry, (iii) coal mining, (iv) car industry, (v) electrical goods industry, (vi) local government and (vii) the National Health Service.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I have been asked to reply.

  Estimates are not compiled on precisely the basis requested, but index numbers of output and of output per head are available for the following industry groups, on a 1985 = 100 basis, as shown in the table:

  Output

  Output per head

  1979

  1989

  1979

  1989

  (i) Agriculture, forestry and fishing

  76·8

  98·5

  1

  1

  (ii) Metals

  118·2

  124·7

  68·1

  168·2

  (iii) Coal and coke

  136·6

  105·7

  96·8

  221·1

  (iv) Motor vehicles and parts

  132·6

  126·1

  78·7

  127·1

  (v) Electrical and instrument engineering

  79·2

  129·1

  65·0

  133·0

  (vi) Medical, health and veterinary services

  1

  105·0

  1

  1

  1 Not available.

  Figures for local government are not available.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Afforestation
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the release of agricultural land for afforestation.

  Mr. Gummer
  On 16 March 1988 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment made a statement to the House which set out the Government's462
  objectives for forestry policy in England. In this we foresaw that the main potential for afforestation in England lay on arable land and improved grassland which may no longer be needed for food production.

  In addition, there would be some scope for broadleaved and mixed woodlands on unimproved land but the Forestry Commission was instructed not to approve new planting of predominantly conifers in the uplands of England. The only exception would be small areas where it was clear that such planting would be environmentally acceptable.

  I believe that this approach is still valid.

  Fishing Industry, Dorset
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans the Government have for the fishing industry in Dorset.

  Mr. Curry
  The characteristics of fisheries around our shores vary considerably but our overall aim is to work for effective conservation of fish and shellfish stocks as renewable resources. Further, representatives of the channel coast fishing industry who are members of the area VII whitefish industry advisory committee provide guidance on the management of quotas for the English channel.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what forward estimates he has made of the number of cattle likely to become infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr. Maclean
  It is not possible to predict with accuracy the number of cattle likely to be affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy. However, the incidence is not expected to decline significantly until at least 1993.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now undertake the random sampling for bovine spongiform encephalopathy of all cattle slaughtered for human consumption in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he proposes any initiative to sample for bovine spongiform encephalopathy-type disease among(a) all food animals, (b) companion animals, (c) other animals.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have no plans to do so. However, research into the transmissibility of bovine spongiform encephalopathy to other animals will continue. Research is also being conducted into the possibility of finding a test in the live animal. None is available at the moment.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has issued to cattle breeders concerning the possible vertical transmissibility of bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Revised guidelines about all aspects of bovine spongiform encephalopathy are being prepared for issue to farmers.
  463
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the occurrence of spongiform encephalopathy in a cat.

  Mr. Maclean
  Pathologists at the Bristol veterinary school and the central veterinary laboratory at Weybridge have diagnosed a sub-acute spongiform encephalopathy in a five-year-old Siamese cat originating from the Bristol area. Inquiries are being made into the case. At present there is no evidence that the condition is transmissible, nor is there any known connection with any spongiform encephalopathies in other animal species.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he has issued any guidance to the veterinary investigation service concerning the possible incidence of spongiform encephalopathy in domestic animals;

  (2) what instruction or guidelines he has given to the veterinary investigation service to monitor for bovine spongiform encephalopathy-type diseases in animals other than cattle; when such guidelines were issued; and if he will place copies in the Library.

  Mr. Maclean
  The veterinary investigation service is well aware of the need to monitor for the possibility of spongiform encephalopathies in other species and will consider them as differential diagnoses in appropriate cases.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimate of the number of cattle born to cows subsequently confirmed as bovine spongiform encephalopathy sufferers, since the disease was declared notifiable, which have been(a) slaughtered
  464
  for human consumption, (b) exported, (c) retained as suckler cows, (d) destroyed as suffering a notifiable disease, (e) retained as dairy cows or (f) otherwise disposed of; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not available.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether any cases of possible or confirmed bovine spongiform encephalopathy-related conditions in domesticated animals have been reported to officials of his Department; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether any cases of possible or confirmed bovine spongiform encephalopathy-related conditions in domestic cats have been reported to officials of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies can be confirmed only by post mortem histopathology of brain tissue and, apart from bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle, are not notifiable. In addition to cattle, these diseases are known to occur naturally in man and in sheep, goats, mule deer, elk and farmed mink.

  Some of these diseases have been successfully transmitted under laboratory conditions to a number of species. The experimental animals used have included certain primates, mice, hamsters, sheep, goats, cattle, cats, mink and voles.

  In addition, a spongiform encephalopathy has been identified in a zoo antelope and a domestic cat in Great Britain. It is not known whether these diseases are transmissible, or what relationship they have to BSE.

  Animal Diseases
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking in conjunction with his European Community partners to ensure that the risks of the spread of animal diseases are not increased as a result of the introduction of the Europan single market.

  Mr. Maclean
  In discussions in Brussels I have sought to persuade my European Community partners that changes associated with the realisation of the single market should not be achieved at the cost of an increased risk of spread of animal disease. The directive on veterinary checks on trade in certain animal products, agreed last December after lengthy negotiation, reflects that key contention and leaves me optimistic that in completing the single market we will achieve the right balance between the removal of trade barriers and continued progress towards reducing and eliminating disease threats.

  Animal Feed
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list, for each of the last five years, how many imports of animal feed have been contaminated; and, in each case, if he will list the port concerned, the type of feed, the contaminant involved and whether the feed was(a) allowed into the United Kingdom for normal distribution, (b) returned to the country concerned or (c) dispersed in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Gummer
  Since enforcement of the relevant provisions is a local authority responsibility, the information sought is not available centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  The extent of the import trade is considerable-more than 4 million tonnes a year. The commercial companies involved therefore have a strong interest in maintaining their own monitoring of supplies quite apart from that of the enforcement agencies.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will require the manufacturers of all animal feeding stuffs to label their products indicating the nature and origin of their contents.

  Mr. Maclean
  Manufacturers will be obliged by a recently agreed European Community directive to declare the origin and the contents of animal feeds. The contents must be declared either by listing specific ingredients or categories of similar ingredients.

  This directive will come into force in all member states on 22 January 1992.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now ban the use of sheep and cattle-derived protein from all animal feeding stuffs.

  Mr. Maclean
  This material is already banned from use in feedstuffs for ruminant animals. There is no evidence of a scrapie-like disease occurring naturally or under laboratory conditions in pigs and poultry and therefore no reason to ban the use of ruminant protein in their feedstuffs.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now ban the use of those offals specified in the Bovine Offals Order for consumption by domestic animals.
  466
  Mr. Maclean
  No. Although inquiries will continue, there is no evidence that the spongiform encephalopathy recently found in a cat is either transmissible or connected with other spongiform encephalopathies.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the results of the analysis of the Spanish cargo of animal feed which was investigated at Goole, giving details of which organisation carried out the tests, where the contaminants came from and how the cargo came to be contaminated.

  Mr. Gummer
  Enforcement of the Feedingstuffs Regulations 1988, as amended, and the Agriculture Act 1970 is the responsibility of local authorities. My officials alerted local authorities and port health authorities on Friday 5 May of the possibility of a contaminated cargo of animal feed disembarking at Goole. In this particular case, the port health authorities took appropriate action and cleared the suspect cargo on Tuesday 8 May.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the advisory committee on pesticides last met; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Maclean
  The advisory committee on pesticides last met on 26 April.

  The main items discussed were a request for approval of a new pesticide and reviews of four existing approvals. In addition, the committee considered tributylin esters in industrial wood preservatives and anti-fouling paints; home-made pesticides; mineral hydrocarbons in food; liaison with the Food Safety Directorate consumer panel and control of the Blandford fly.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the National Farmers Union on the outcome of the last Council of Ministers meeting.

  Mr. Maclean
  The price-fixing settlement reached last month has been warmly welcomed by the farming community, including the National Farmers Union.

  Consumer Panel
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his consumer panel first met; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Gummer
  The first meeting of the consumer panel took place on 12 March 1990. It discussed a wide range of issues including BSE, food irradiation, water quality and blood enzyme gels in meat products. The minutes of this meeting are publicly available.

  Consumers Association
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the Consumers Association to discuss consumer affairs.

  Mr. Maclean
  Representatives of the Consumers Association attended a meeting with consumer organisations which the Minister hosted on 3 April 1990.
  467
  Discussions focused particularly on the European Community price-fixing proposals, GATT and food labelling.

  Small Farms
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to increase assistance to small farms.

  Mr. Gummer
  All farms will benefit from the recent agreement on farm prices for 1990–91, which we estimate will boost farmers' returns by at least £500 million in a full year. We have no plans to provide additional assistance to small farms.

  Green Currency
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much green currency disparities have recently been reduced.

  Mr. Gummer
  At the farm price settlement, agreement was reached on green pound devaluations which will have the effect of significantly reducing the monetary gaps between green and market exchange rates in the United Kingdom. On the basis of exchange rates at the time of the settlement the monetary gaps for crops will be reduced by 55 per cent., for milk by 38 per cent., beef by 55 per cent., pigmeat by 86 per cent. and sheep by 56 per cent. This compares with reductions of one third originally proposed by the Commission.

  Green rate changes agreed for other member states will have the effect of reducing or removing monetary gaps for all sectors except cereals in Germany and the Netherlands and cereals, rice, oilseeds, fruit and vegetables, cotton and beef in Spain where it was agreed that no changes would take place.

  Salmon
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food approximately how many salmon are now fished from the River Severn and its tributaries.

  Mr. Curry
  Statistics provided by the former Severn Trent water authority and the National Rivers Authority are published annually by my Department. Catches of salmon in the River Severn catchment for the last five years for which figures are available are given in the table.

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Method of capture

  Rod and line

  545

  1,256

  1,254

  929

  1,362

  Commercial instruments

  3,376

  1,651

  3,300

  2,963

  3,511

  TOTAL

  3,921

  2,907

  4,553

  3,892

  4,873

  Insect Damage
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what response he has given to the submission on changed risk of insect damage in a changed climate from AFRC Rothamsted; and what funds are available for this work;

  (2) if he will list the projects contributing to the study of changes in the (a) abundance of, and (b) development of potential pest problem insects, as a result of climatological change or global warming.
  468
  Mr. Maclean
  The Department has advised the AFRC's Rothamsted experimental station that funds amounting to some £100,000 are to be set aside over three years for research there on any change in the risk of insect damage in a changed climate. Work on this project, which was submitted in response to a request by my chief scientists group as an initial step in the Department's programme of research in this area, is due to start in 1991–92.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates his Department has made of the need for aphid identifiers over the next decade; and what steps he is taking to make financial provision for such training.

  Mr. Maclean
  No staff of this description are employed by the Ministry. Entomologists are employed in a number of capacities and their deployment and training are kept under review.

  Conservation (Training Courses)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of regional training courses on wildlife and landscape conservation that have been held for Agricultural Development Advisory Service officers in each year from 1979 to 1990 and the region in which the courses occurred.

  Mr. Gummer
  Information on regional training on wildlife and landscape conservation for Agricultural Development Advisory Service officers over the period specified is not available. However, records since 1987 show that more than 30 conservation courses have been held in regions. A breakdown of this total is as follows:

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990 (planned)

  Northern

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Midlands and Western

  2

  4

  3

  3

  Eastern

  3

  2

  4

  —

  South-Eastern

  1

  2

  2

  1

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many regional and national training courses on wildlife and landscape conservation are planned for Agricultural Development Advisory Service officers for 1990.

  Mr. Gummer
  A comprehensive programme of six national and 11 regional training courses on aspects of wildlife and landscape conservation is proposed for 1990.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of national training courses on wildlife and landscape conservation that have been held for Agricultural Development Advisory Service officers in each year from 1979 to 1988.

  Mr. Gummer
  Records of national training on wildlife and landscape conservation for Agricultural Development Advisory Service officers are available from 1980 onwards. The number of courses held each year is as follows:

  Number

  1980

  2

  1981

  4

  1982

  4

  469

  Number

  1983

  4

  1984

  5

  1985

  7

  1986

  8

  1987

  2

  1988

  1

  Meat Exports
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take to overturn the current West German ban on bone-in beef from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  Following the European Community's scientific veterinary committee opinion earlier this year that British beef does not pose a problem for public health, our export trade with West Germany is getting back to normal levels under existing Community rules.

  Cattle Exports
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take in respect of the European Economic Community ban on live cattle exports from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  We will keep the position under review in the light of new developments on bovine spongiform encephalopathy generally.

  Product Labelling
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he proposes to introduce regulations to prohibit or require the labelling of products from transgenic animals.

  Mr. Maclean
  Subject to parliamentary approval, we intend to use powers under the Food Safety Bill to introduce regulations providing for a positive approval system for any food produced by genetic manipulation techniques, including any products from transgenic animals for food use. We have also specifically asked the Food Advisory Committee to consider, on a case-by-case basis and within the context of the Food Labelling Regulations, the need for special labelling of these products following their approval.

  Scrapie
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce measures requiring the processors of ruminant remains to ensure the treatment of such remains and temperatures adequate to destroy scrapie and scrapie-infective agents.

  Mr. Maclean
  The treatments needed to destroy scrapie-like agents during the rendering process are not known. Research will be undertaken into the inactivation of the agent.

  River Mersey
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what programmes the Government have implemented or plan to implement to encourage the. application and development of clean technology in the River Mersey area.
  470
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I have been asked to reply.

  Part I of the Environmental Protection Bill will apply integrated pollution control to industrial and other processes which have a significant potential to pollute. Under integrated pollution control, discharges to the water environment will be subject for the first time to requirements to apply clean technology to minimise polluting wastes and render them harmless. Many such processes are located in the Mersey basin.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress the River Mersey campaign has made towards the agreements in the North sea conference for(a) 50 per cent. reduction in red list substances and (b) 70 per cent. reduction in heavy metals.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I have been asked to reply.

  It was agreed at the second North sea conference to reduce quantities of substances that are persistent toxic and liable to bioaccumulate, reaching the North sea by values in the order of 50 per cent. The Government took the view that other seas around the United Kingdom would be given the same degree of environmental safeguarding. Progress in implementation of this was published in the United Kingdom North sea action plan which was presented to the third North sea conference in March 1990. The Mersey catchment basin has made a satisfactory contribution to this progress.

  It was agreed at the third North sea conference. for substances that cause a major threat to the marine environment, and at least for dioxines, mercury, cadmium and lead, to achieve reductions between 1985 and 1995 of total inputs of the order of 70 per cent. or more, provided that the use of the best available technology or other low waste technology measures enables such reductions. The Department is preparing guidance on how this should be implemented.

  Sewage Sludge Disposal
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is Government policy with regard to the dumping of industrial effluent into sewerage systems.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I have been asked to reply.

  Treatment in a sewage works may be an appropriate solution for certain industrial effluents. The discharge of any such effluents to a public sewer requires the consent of the water service company under section 2 of the Public Health (Drainage of Trade Premises) Act 1937, and it may impose conditions. Discharges from sewage works or sewers to rivers or coastal waters require the consent of the National Rivers Authority.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Government plan to build more incinerators to dispose of sewage sludge as sea dumping is phased out.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I have been asked to reply.

  It is the responsibility of the water service companies to make provision for the disposal of sewage sludge. It is likely that a greater proportion of sewage sludge will be incinerated as dumping of sludge at sea is terminated.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if heavy metal and other contaminants are released into the environment at the same level in sewage sludge as in sea dumping.
  471
  Mr. Maclean
  In excess of 95 per cent. of sewage sludge is water. The solid element is largely organic matter which will decompose in the environment whether on land or in the sea. Contaminants associated with this organic matter are likely to be released into the environment. In many cases, however, contaminants such as heavy metals are rapidly reabsorbed on to other solid materials such as clay particles.

WALES

  Moorings
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will arrange to discuss with his Wales tourist board, the Crown Estate and yachting and boating interests, the policy being followed by the Crown Estate with regard to charges for moorings in Welsh resorts; and if he will make a statement.

  Clwyd

  District

  1987

  1988

  1989

  AP

  AL

  AP

  AL

  AP

  AL

  Alyn and Deeside

  37

  9

  24

  7

  30

  5

  Colwyn

  28

  6

  25

  5

  32

  10

  Delyn

  24

  5

  25

  10

  42

  12

  Glyndwr

  21

  5

  27

  6

  36

  4

  Rhuddlan

  23

  9

  22

  10

  32

  11

  Wrexham Maelor

  31

  10

  47

  14

  37

  8

  Total

  164

  44

  170

  52

  109

  50

  Dyfed

  District

  1987

  1988

  1989

  AP

  AL

  AP

  AL

  AP

  AL

  Carmarthen

  16

  4

  28

  9

  56

  7

  Ceredigion

  31

  7

  57

  8

  81

  11

  Dinefwr

  15

  2

  16

  3

  42

  5

  Llanelli

  30

  9

  22

  9

  33

  9

  Preseli

  19

  2

  15

  5

  26

  1

  South Pembrokeshire

  14

  3

  21

  2

  49

  6

  Total

  125

  27

  159

  36

  287

  39

  Mid Glamorgan

  District

  1987

  1988

  1989

  AP

  AL

  AP

  AL

  AP

  AL

  Cynon Valley

  14

  3

  18

  3

  27

  7

  Merthyr Tydfil

  12

  4

  19

  4

  9

  4

  Ogwr

  41

  6

  62

  8

  58

  14

  Rhondda

  10

  0

  14

  5

  29

  7

  Rhymney Valley

  16

  4

  16

  7

  24

  5

  Taff Ely

  38

  6

  38

  10

  56

  10

  Total

  131

  23

  167

  37

  203

  47

  South Glamorgan

  District

  1987

  1988

  1989

  AP

  AL

  AP

  AL

  AP

  AL

  Cardiff

  67

  21

  73

  21

  103

  36

  Vale of Glamorgan

  74

  21

  55

  21

  101

  32

  Total

  141

  42

  128

  42

  204

  68

  472
  Mr. Roberts
  I have no plans to do so.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the number of planning appeals made to the Welsh Office against decisions made by each Welsh local authority in 1987, 1988 and 1989 together with the number of appeals upheld in each year against each authority.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information is not available in the form requested. Records of planning appeals are held for each district in which they occur but not for the planning authority to whose decisions they relate. Since 1989 records have also been kept of appeals within national parks. The information available is:
  473

  West Glamorgan

  District

  1987

  1988

  1989

  AP

  AL

  AP

  AL

  AP

  AL

  Port Talbot (formerly Afan)

  9

  1

  4

  1

  4

  1

  Lliw Valley

  32

  6

  26

  5

  31

  4

  Neath

  11

  5

  10

  3

  22

  5

  Swansea

  58

  10

  69

  22

  78

  30

  Total

  110

  22

  109

  31

  135

  40

  Gwent

  District

  1987

  1988

  1989

  AP

  AL

  AP

  AL

  AP

  AL

  Blaenau Gwent

  14

  1

  7

  3

  15

  6

  Islwyn

  19

  6

  13

  5

  29

  6

  Monmouth

  76

  12

  70

  12

  105

  18

  Newport

  37

  8

  49

  6

  73

  10

  Torfaen

  19

  6

  26

  7

  33

  6

  Total

  165

  33

  165

  33

  255

  46

  Gwynedd

  1987

  1988

  1l989

  District

  AP

  AL

  AP

  AL

  AP

  AL

  Aberconwy

  51

  6

  51

  14

  61

  12

  Arfon

  34

  7

  29

  3

  37

  2

  Dwyfor

  48

  9

  41

  9

  57

  13

  Meirionnydd

  13

  1

  25

  4

  0

  0

  Ynys Mon

  59

  23

  56

  17

  71

  18

  Total

  205

  46

  202

  47

  226

  45

  Powys

  1987

  1988

  l1989

  District

  AP

  AL

  AP

  AL

  AP

  AL

  Brecknock

  26

  6

  28

  6

  23

  3

  Montgomery

  7

  2

  22

  5

  30

  5

  Radnor

  5

  1

  13

  4

  12

  0

  Total

  38

  9

  63

  15

  65

  8

  1989

  National Parks

  AP

  AL

  Snowdonia

  32

  9

  Brecon Beacons

  21

  4

  Pembrokeshire Coast

  24

  6

  Total

  77

  19

  1 Excludes appeals within national parks.

  AP: Appeals made.

  AL: Appeals allowed.

  New Housing
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of the new-built housing provided in each local authority area in 1987, 1988 and 1989 provided by(a) the private sector, (b) local authorities and (c) housing associations.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Information on housebuilding completions for 1989 is given in the following table. The total number of housebulding completions was 11,388 in 1989, compared with 11,037 in 1988 and 9,254 in 1987.
  474
  Data by local authority area for 1987 and 1988 were published in "Welsh Housing Statistics No. 9 1989", a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

  New dwellings completed 1989

  Private sector

  Local authorities

  Housing associations

  Alyn and Deeside

  148

  29

  0

  Colwyn

  358

  0

  34

  Delyn

  229

  0

  12

  Glyndwr

  249

  42

  7

  Rhuddlan

  67

  24

  16

  Wrexham Maelor

  371

  12

  24

  Carmarthen

  205

  4

  2

  Ceredigion

  262

  3

  65

  Dinefwr

  222

  0

  22

  Llanelli

  63

  81

  0

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  229

  20

  29

  South Pembrokeshire

  162

  0

  0

  Blaenau Gwent

  167

  39

  64

  Islwyn

  87

  28

  0

  Monmouth

  327

  16

  121

  Newport

  453

  105

  0

  Torfaen1

  245

  0

  0

  Aberconwy

  151

  0

  24

  Arfon

  101

  31

  40

  Dwyfor

  78

  0

  8

  Meirionnydd

  51

  12

  0

  475

  Private sector

  Local authorities

  Housing associations

  Ynys Mon

  182

  0

  21

  Cynon Valley

  148

  0

  67

  Merthyr Tydfil

  165

  20

  26

  Ogwr

  399

  0

  0

  Rhondda

  81

  0

  73

  Rhymney Valley

  182

  24

  80

  Taff Ely

  437

  24

  16

  Brecknock

  150

  12

  65

  Montgomeryshire2

  317

  73

  79

  Radnor

  216

  0

  4

  Cardiff

  1,070

  0

  462

  Vale of Glamorgan

  958

  6

  0

  Port Talbot

  87

  0

  40

  Lliw Valley

  233

  6

  14

  Neath

  141

  4

  0

  Swansea

  302

  9

  50

  Wales

  9,293

  624

  1,465

  1 Including data for Cwmbran which was previously identified separately as a new town.

  2 Including data for Newtown which is designated as a new town.

  Health Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing to the most recent available date, the cost of administrative and clerical staff as a proportion of net revenue expenditure for each health authority in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested for 1988–89 (the latest year for which information is available) is as follows:

  Per cent.

  Clwyd

  6·5

  East Dyfed

  6·7

  Gwent

  6·5

  Gwynedd

  6·7

  Mid Glamorgan

  6·3

  Pembrokeshire

  6·7

  Powys

  5·6

  South Glamorgan

  7·6

  West Glamorgan

  6·4

  All district health authorities

  6·7

  WHCSA

  47·2

  HPAW

  26·5

  All Welsh health authorities

  7·2

  Source Health authorities' annual accounts.

  It is to be expected that Powys health authority, which does not have a large acute sector, has a lower than average proportion of its revenue expenditure accounted for by administrative and clerical costs and that South Glamorgan health authority with its teaching and regional services responsibilities has a higher than average figure. WHCSA and HPAW are not really comparable since the nature of their functions and consequently their staff mixes are different from each other and from those of district health authorities.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing for the decade 1979 to 1989 what was the average cost of administrative and clerical staff as a proportion of net revenue expenditure of(a) all health authorities in Wales, excluding South Glamorgan and (b) Gwynedd health authority.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is as follows:476

  Gwynedd health authority Per cent.

  District health authorities1 Per cent.

  Welsh health authorities2 Per cent.

  1979–80

  6·6

  6·1

  6·6

  1980–81

  12·3

  13·3

  13·8

  1981–82

  11·8

  15·6

  16·1

  1982–83

  11·3

  12·1

  12·6

  1983–84

  11·2

  11·8

  12·4

  1984–85

  8·1

  7·2

  7·8

  1985–86

  7·6

  6·8

  7·4

  1986–87

  7·3

  6·6

  7·2

  1987–88

  7·0

  6·6

  7·1

  1988–89

  6·7

  6·4

  7·1

  1 Excludes South Glamorgan health authority.

  2 District health authorities plus WHCSA (formerly WHTSO) and HPAW but again excluding South Glamorgan heath authority.

  Source: Health authorities' annual accounts.

  Geriatric Services
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of discharges and deaths of elderly people in Gwynedd from National Health Service hospitals in the county for each year from 1980 to 1989, together with the number of beds, including acute, rehabilitation and support, which were available for elderly people in these hospitals in each of these years.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The latest available data, relating to the number of discharges and deaths of people aged 65 and over from NHS hospitals in Gwynedd, are as follows:

  Numbers

  1980

  8,676

  1981

  9,765

  1982

  8,951

  1983

  11,151

  1984

  11,250

  1985

  12,559

  1986

  14,626

  1987

  15,592

  1988

  16,553

  Information on the number of beds specifically available for the elderly is not available centrally. While information on the number of beds in specialties designated as geriatrics, psychogeriatrics and elderly mentally ill is available, beds in other specialties (eg general medicine, general surgery) can be used for people of all ages.

  In-patient Treatment
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average length of stay for in-patients for all surgical conditions in each of the district health authorities in Wales, respectively, analysed(a) by district general hospitals and (b) by district general hospital and community hospitals combined.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The available information is given in the following table:

  Health authority

  Average length of stay (days) for surgical specialties 1 1988–89

  District general hospitals

  All hospitals

  Clwyd

  5·8

  5·7

  East Dyfed

  5·7

  5·9

  Gwent

  5·5

  5·7

  477

  Health authority

  Average length of stay (days) for surgical specialties 1 1988–89

  District general hospitals

  All hospitals

  Gwynedd

  5·8

  5·1

  Mid Glamorgan

  5·7

  6·0

  Pembrokeshire

  5·8

  5·8

  Powys

  —

  —

  South Glamorgan

  5·8

  6·4

  West Glamorgan

  6·4

  6·6

  1 General surgery, ENT, traumatic and orthopaedic surgery, ophthalmology, radiotherapy, urology, plastic surgery, thoracic surgery, dental surgery, orthodontics, neurosurgery and gynaecology.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will recruit into his Department additional staff to facilitate expeditious replies to parliamentary questions.

  Mr. David Hunt
  No. Providing for timely answers to parliamentary questions is given high priority by my staff.

  Health Authority Posts
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) medical and (b) administrative posts are currently officially frozen in each of the nine district health authorities in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  This information is not available centrally.

  X-Ray Waiting Times
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will undertake a study into the time delay in processing and analysing X-ray studies by Gwynedd health authorities; and if he will publish a table showing over the past five years the average waiting time from when a request is made by a doctor for an X-ray for a patient, to the taking of that X-ray and the average time from taking the X-ray to the results being available to the relevant doctor.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is not available centrally. The hon. Gentleman has written to me separately about the processing of X-ray investigations and I shall reply to him when I have seen the comments of Gwynedd health authority.

  Cardiff Development Corporation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the terms and conditions of employment, including the length of contract and severance terms, of the chief executive of Cardiff development corporation.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The chief executive of Cardiff Bay development corporation is an employee of the corporation. The terms and conditions of employment are, therefore, matters for the chief executive and the board of the corporation. An indication of the chief executive's salary is given in the corporation's annual report.

  Private Nursing Homes
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, giving the full postal address and the number of authorised beds in each instance and the date of opening all private registered nursing homes in Wales.
  478
  Mr. David Hunt
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as details have been obtained from district health authorities and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report every hospital closure which has been approved by his Department between 3 May 1979 and 1 June 1987; and the date on which approval to close that hospital was given.

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

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his reply of 9 May,Official Report, column 152–53, what factors account for the delay in sending formal notification to the authority of, and making a public announcement about, the closure of Caernarfon cottage hospital after the decision to close the hospital had been taken; when the chairman and general manager of Gwynedd health authority were told of his decision: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Unfortunately, a typing error resulted in the date of approval of closure of the cottage hospital Caernarfon, being recorded as 20 March 1990 in my hon. Friend's answer when the correct date was 20 April 1990.I apologise for this mistake.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the original estimate in 1987 for the additional annual running costs at Bronygarth hospital, Penrhyndeudraeth, in order to accommodate the transfer to that hospital of services currently provided at Ysbyty Madog, Porthmadog; and what is his latest estimate of this additional annual running cost;

  (2) what was the original estimated net capital cost, excluding sales value, of his closure of the Madog memorial hospital, Porthmadog and the transfer of facilities to Bronygarth hospital; and what is his latest estimate of this cost.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my hon. Friend's reply of 14 May 1990 at column 296.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much capital expenditure on buildings and equipment has been incurred at the cottage hospital, Caernarfon, since the beginning of the financial year 1984–85; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the most recent available estimate of the net annual savings which will be achieved by Gwynedd health authority from the closure, respectively, of(a) Ysbyty Coffa Madog, Porthmadog, (b) Druid hospital, Llangefni, (c) Groesynyd hospital, Conwy, (d) Ysbyty Dewi Sant, Bangor, and (e) the cottage hospital, Caernarfon; and what will be the net annual savings achieved from each of these closures, respectively, in 1990–91, and 1991–92.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Following the issue of the Welsh Office's letters of 3 and 22 March 1989 which conveyed
  479
  approval of Gwynedd health authority's proposals to close Madog memorial hospital, Druid hospital, Groesynyd hospital and St. David's hospital, Bangor, detailed issues relating to the closures are a matter for the health authority, subject to compliance with the relevant conditions set out in the letter of 3 March. The hon. Gentleman should therefore contact the health authority for further information.

  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman about the cottage hospital, Caernarfon.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will review the decision of Gwynedd health authority to make a temporary closure of the gynaecology annexe ward at St. David's hospital, Bangor, and take steps to ensure that women awaiting childbirth do not have to share facilities with women awaiting termination of pregnancy.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Gwynedd health authority is to consider the temporary closure of the gynaecology annexe at its meeting on 21 May in the light of consultation with interested local bodies. Any concerns that the hon. Gentleman may have about the proposals should therefore be made known to Gwynedd health authority.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether Gwynedd health authority, in considering its hospital closure programme, followed the requirements of planning paper 5 on procedures for consultation on the closure and change of use of health buildings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  This issue was addressed in the letters of 3 March 1989 and 20 April 1990 from the Welsh Office to the general manager of the health authority, which were copied to the hon. Gentleman.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the provisions of service planning paper 5 are mandatory on health authorities in Wales considering the closure or change of use of hospitals; and what action he takes if health authorities do not follow such provisions.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Service planning paper 5 sets out the guidance on the consultative procedures to be followed by health authorities when proposing to close or change the use of health buildings. My action in cases where authorities do not follow its provisions depends on the individual circumstances.

  Gwynedd Health Authority
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions during the past five years his Department has granted temporary financial assistance to Gwynedd health authority; on what dates such assistance was granted; what sums were involved; and what requirements were placed on the health authority, prior to such assistance being agreed, with respect to its strategy for restoring financial balance in the medium term.

  Mr. David Hunt
  A loan of £1·3 million was provided to Gwynedd health authority by cash limit adjustment on 8 February 1988. The loan was made on the understanding that the authority had determined and was consulting on a plan for restoring its financial balance by the end of 1991–92; £0·5 million of this sum was provided for revenue purposes and £0·8 million for capital purposes in recognition of the authority's immediate cash flow problems. The whole of the loan was repaid by the authority the following year.
  480
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether, prior to 7 February, Gwynedd health authority had given any indication to the director of the National Health Service in Wales as to its likely overspend in either 1989–90 or 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The financial plan submitted by the Gwynedd health authority in April 1989 indicated that the authority would cover its projected expenditure in 1989–90 only through the achievement of significant savings from the service rationalisation measures set out in the action plan which it drew up in 1987–88 and the use of a small loan from another health authority. The financial plan also projected the need for substantial loans in 1990–91 to facilitate the capital expenditure necessary to achieve further service rationalisation measures and hence achieve its aim of restoring financial balance in the medium term.

  At its annual review meeting with the executive committee of the health policy board in September 1989, the authority indicated that there had been a deterioration in its financial position since the submission of its financial plan, and that additional remedial action would be necessary if the authority were to contain its expenditure within its notified resources and that this action was to be discussed by the health authority at its meeting in November.

  The income and expenditure monitoring form submitted by the health authority for the period ended 31 December, confirmed the slippage in the authority's planned programme of savings and indicated that this shortfall would be compensated by the transfer of funds from the authority's capital allocation to its revenue allocation.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken following the information being given by Gwynedd health authority in February to his Department that it anticipated facing a £4 million shortfall in 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies that I gave him on Thursday 10 May and Monday 14 May.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales who appointed the consultants currently investigating the financial difficulties of Gwynedd health authority.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him on 14 May at columns 288–89.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has received any application from Gwynedd health authority to sell the Coed Mawr office site in Bangor; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The health authority has delegated authority to sell the Coed Mawr office site.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many abortions have taken place in Gwynedd since Gwynedd health authority decided to curtail its family planning services; and what was the number for the comparable period preceding that decision.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I understand that Gwynedd health authority proposes to consider the outcome of the local consultation exercise on measures to reduce overspending, including a temporary reduction in family planning services, at its meeting on 21 May.

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