Written Answers of 21 November 1990

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent discussions he has had with trade union representatives regarding teachers' pay; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend would expect to meet the six teacher unions early next year to discuss the recommendations of the Interim Advisory Committee on School Teachers' Pay and Conditions.

  Table 1

  Expenditure per pupil 1 1984–85

  Cash (£)

  Nursery and primary schools

  Secondary schools

  Local authority

  Books and equipment

  (of which books)

  Books and equipment

  (of which books)

  Barking

  24·73

  (6·79)

  52·01

  (11·92)

  Barnet

  28·71

  (10·41)

  51·02

  (17·00)

  Bexley

  19·23

  (6·01)

  40·90

  (13·02)

  Brent

  34·04

  (8·53)

  52·25

  (13·35)

  Bromley

  30·05

  (7·66)

  50·88

  (11·61)

  Croydon

  24·78

  (6·84)

  49·39

  (14·09)

  Ealing

  24·16

  (6·58)

  43·96

  (12·23)

  Enfield

  25·87

  (7·25)

  45·77

  (11·13)

  Haringey

  35·56

  (8·64)

  57·61

  (15·50)

  Harrow

  22·74

  (5·58)

  49·27

  (12·26)

  Havering

  26·06

  (0·00)

  58·36

  (0·00)

  Hillingdon

  23·93

  (20·05)

  45·27

  (36·59)

  Hounslow

  27·28

  (7·17)

  41·66

  (12·17)

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  29·11

  (7·10)

  60·56

  (12·13)

  Merton

  21·57

  (0·00)

  33·37

  (0·00)

  Newham

  22·79

  (7·10)

  41·90

  (15·24)

  Redbridge

  24·38

  (9·68)

  48·57

  (15·93)

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  21·96

  (2·33)

  55·74

  (2·13)

  Sutton

  26·71

  (12·19)

  38·41

  (10·02)

  Waltham Forest

  34·19

  (8·06)

  57·41

  (13·21)

  ILEA

  47·47

  (9·06)

  90·89

  (18·36)

  Birmingham

  13·76

  (3·84)

  27·47

  (6·40)

  Coventry

  25·57

  (2·14)

  53·57

  (2·37)

  Dudley

  21·15

  (0·00)

  35·65

  (0·00)

  Sandwell

  18·63

  (0·00)

  42·15

  (0·00)

  Solihull

  18·47

  (4·72)

  46·20

  (9·54)

  Walsall

  25·28

  (4·79)

  37·27

  (10·00)

  Wolverhampton

  26·48

  (7·41)

  43·35

  (12·44)

  Knowsley

  19·37

  (4·72)

  34·02

  (5·71)

  Liverpool

  25·53

  (7·08)

  47·51

  (11·52)

  St. Helens

  14·93

  (6·24)

  22·52

  (7·48)

  Sefton

  20·26

  (6·14)

  40·11

  (11·35)

  Wirral

  25·18

  (7·23)

  49·64

  (9·89)

  Bolton

  27·19

  (8·60)

  51·66

  (9·42)

  Bury

  20·65

  (20·47)

  52·41

  (52·41)

  Manchester

  23·79

  (6·80)

  56·48

  (12·39)

  Oldham

  27·43

  (3·31)

  40·65

  (0·51)

  Rochdale

  22·10

  (5·84)

  34·82

  (6·46)

  Salford

  27·42

  (6·03)

  46·59

  (9·74)

  Stockport

  23·66

  (7·24)

  47·65

  (10·84)

  Tameside

  25·36

  (10·18)

  40·42

  (12·30)

  Trafford

  22·63

  (5·18)

  32·41

  (1·34)

  Wigan

  22·35

  (6·42)

  45·36

  (12·13)

  Barnsley

  23·00

  (8·19)

  42·67

  (7·65)

  Doncaster

  16·86

  (5·06)

  35·78

  (9·37)

  Rotherham

  15·72

  (5·35)

  26·70

  (6·22)

  Books
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out the level of expenditure on books at 1978–79 prices per child by local education authority in(a) 1978–79, (b) 1984–85 and (c) 1989–90.

  Mr. Fallon
  Information for 1978–79 is not available by individual local education authority, and the latest year for which figures are available is 1988–89. Cash figures for expenditure per pupil by local education authority for 1984–85 and 1988–89 are shown in tables 1 and 2. Table 3 shows the average expenditure per pupil in England at 1978–79 prices for 1978–79, 1984–85 and 1988–89.

  While some local authorities' expenditure returns to Government Departments show separate figures for books, these can be misleading because of differing practices in attributing spending as between books and equipment. The tables therefore show combined spending figures for books and equipment, with figures as returned for books only in brackets. Even on the combined totals, coverage from authority to authority is likely to differ.
  113

  Nursery and primary schools

  Secondary schools

  Local authority

  Books and equipment

  (of which books)

  Books and equipment

  (of which books)

  Sheffield

  36·01

  (14·42)

  36·55

  (6·60)

  Bradford

  18·80

  (0·80)

  35·99

  (1·34)

  Calderdale

  19·38

  (6·30)

  34·07

  (8·05)

  Kirklees

  18·57

  (7·54)

  39·16

  (14·03)

  Leeds

  8·56

  (·16)

  13·17

  (·35)

  Wakefield

  21·72

  (10·21)

  30·10

  (11·79)

  Gateshead

  26·14

  (7·68)

  46·72

  (8·76)

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  19·26

  (4·92)

  38·64

  (10·42)

  North Tyneside

  27·99

  (10·03)

  50·30

  (13·82)

  South Tyneside

  20·87

  (8·07)

  54·13

  (11·75)

  Sunderland

  18·81

  (5·19)

  41·88

  (6·92)

  Isles of Scilly

  27·90

  (5·46)

  41·29

  (10·07)

  Avon

  24·19

  (6·55)

  40·67

  (8·32)

  Bedfordshire

  26·00

  (10·40)

  55·45

  (19·11)

  Berkshire

  23·30

  (10·21)

  43·67

  (16·73)

  Buckinghamshire

  30·99

  (13·60)

  50·99

  (12·19)

  Cambridgeshire

  25·34

  (9·65)

  43·14

  (13·22)

  Cheshire

  22·09

  (5·18)

  44·89

  (6·84)

  Cleveland

  19·99

  (5·22)

  38·09

  (8·02)

  Cornwall

  29·97

  (9·45)

  41·51

  (11·63)

  Cumbria

  21·26

  (5·73)

  32·88

  (4·05)

  Derbyshire

  28·03

  (8·36)

  48·37

  (11·75)

  Devon

  13·57

  (8·47)

  21·57

  (9·40)

  Dorset

  28·63

  (9·84)

  38·97

  (11·79)

  Durham

  17·22

  (7·14)

  28·37

  (9·45)

  East Sussex

  21·83

  (7·40)

  42·78

  (12·45)

  Essex

  21·12

  (7·08)

  38·21

  (8·15)

  Gloucestershire

  20·62

  (9·11)

  35·71

  (9·24)

  Hampshire

  19·54

  (6·83)

  40·92

  (10·36)

  Hereford and Worcester

  22·93

  (9·98)

  43·50

  (12·13)

  Hertfordshire

  23·31

  (9·88)

  42·15

  (11·74)

  Humberside

  24·08

  (6·71)

  40·80

  (9·43)

  Isle of Wight

  26·07

  (11·04)

  52·57

  (12·36)

  Kent

  20·68

  (7·03)

  38·74

  (9·60)

  Lancashire

  22·86

  (8·04)

  37·79

  (8·14)

  Leicestershire

  22·52

  (5·92)

  41·53

  (8·05)

  Lincolnshire

  18·02

  (5·65)

  43·05

  (9·08)

  Norfolk

  22·78

  (6·54)

  40·36

  (10·30)

  North Yorkshire

  24·60

  (11·47)

  39·45

  (11·66)

  Northamptonshire

  22·39

  (6·13)

  44·72

  (11·58)

  Northumberland

  26·00

  (9·59)

  43·31

  (14·31)

  Nottinghamshire

  29·80

  (9·44)

  44·96

  (12·13)

  Oxfordshire

  21·77

  (2·65)

  38·28

  (3·70)

  Salop

  15·80

  (6·65)

  33·80

  (9·33)

  Somerset

  27·22

  (5·59)

  46·49

  (11·93)

  Staffordshire

  19·56

  (4·90)

  36·53

  (8·63)

  Suffolk

  25·17

  (7·04)

  43·29

  (11·00)

  Surrey

  15·11

  (4·75)

  34·37

  (7·60)

  Warwickshire

  19·24

  (7·27)

  47·97

  (11·63)

  West Sussex

  23·26

  (8·24)

  41·89

  (10·57)

  Wiltshire

  23·05

  (10·53)

  37·34

  (11·39)

  Table 2

  Expenditure per pupil 1—1988–89 England2

  Cash (£)

  Local authority

  Nursery and primary schools

  Secondary schools

  Books and equipment

  (of which books)

  Books and equipment

  (of which books)

  Barking

  32·65

  (11·50)

  80·58

  (22·72)

  Barnet

  35·17

  (11·99)

  68·96

  (17·52)

  Bexley

  31·98

  (7·38)

  99·22

  (1·92)

  Brent

  38·42

  (9·46)

  76·43

  (15·27)

  Bromley

  33·80

  (9·02)

  67·33

  (13·07)

  Croydon

  54·89

  (11·10)

  111·98

  (22·49)

  Ealing

  33·86

  (5·73)

  91·61

  (12·63)

  Enfield

  30·76

  (9·16)

  61·09

  (15·95)

  Haringey

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Harrow

  39·77

  (6·98)

  75·72

  (10·85)

  Havering

  30·02

  0·00

  91·34

  0·00

  Hillingdon

  40·45

  (11·99)

  80·08

  (22·30)

  Hounslow

  33·40

  (9·61)

  49·65

  (19·84)

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  55·50

  (12·92)

  106·58

  (18·63)

  Merton

  31·28

  (25·44)

  36·02

  (26·95)

  114

  115

  Local authority

  Nursery and primary schools

  Secondary schools

  Books and equipment

  (of which books)

  Books and equipment

  (of which books)

  Newham

  26·35

  (6·44)

  65·87

  (11·34)

  Redbridge

  38·84

  (11·30)

  81·31

  (23·65)

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  29·95

  (8·25)

  62·88

  (13·76)

  Sutton

  34·64

  (13·39)

  71·17

  (17·01)

  Waltham Forest

  28·21

  (4·91)

  75·37

  (10·55)

  ILEA

  60·56

  (12·08)

  89·89

  (19·28)

  Birmingham

  22·74

  (4·70)

  51·42

  (9·50)

  Coventry

  26·08

  (2·01)

  92·00

  (2·95)

  Dudley

  35·72

  (6·79)

  76·36

  (2·44)

  Sandwell

  31·50

  (3·06)

  73·42

  (1·02)

  Solihull

  34·88

  (4·96)

  122·79

  (11·28)

  Walsall

  35·12

  (9·10)

  46·29

  (14·38)

  Wolverhampton

  24·54

  (7·23)

  56·08

  (13·99)

  Knowsley

  22·47

  (8·88)

  61·05

  (7·01)

  Liverpool

  32·61

  (7·76)

  66·56

  (12·13)

  St. Helens

  14·98

  (6·33)

  30·36

  (10·39)

  Sefton

  21·41

  (7·11)

  60·55

  (11·12)

  Wirral

  42·39

  (11·92)

  130·04

  (23·45)

  Bolton

  33·23

  (9·32)

  71·24

  (11·01)

  Bury

  30·75

  (8·65)

  93·06

  (15·21)

  Manchester

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Oldham

  30·45

  (7·19)

  75·02

  (10·58)

  Rochdale

  35·27

  (9·08)

  59·17

  (10·52)

  Salford

  32·70

  (0·23)

  73·65

  (0·07)

  Stockport

  35·87

  (10·15)

  96·37

  (12·13)

  Tameside

  27·91

  (5·74)

  43·96

  (8·06)

  Trafford

  37·75

  (12·54)

  70·39

  (11·37)

  Wigan

  17·87

  (5·42)

  60·39

  (17·03)

  Barnsley

  22·89

  (4·75)

  43·23

  (2·36)

  Doncaster

  27·08

  (6·67)

  55·45

  (11·14)

  Rotherham

  28·87

  (6·82)

  57·92

  (9·04)

  Sheffield

  12·11

  (5·33)

  23·46

  (7·98)

  Bradford

  28·71

  0·00

  71·73

  0·00

  Calderdale

  28·52

  (8·99)

  63·13

  (13·77)

  Kirklees

  25·17

  (7·90)

  63·89

  (20·93)

  Leeds

  15·30

  (0·43)

  28·26

  (2·45)

  Wakefield

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Gateshead

  29·26

  (4·89)

  75·22

  (11·65)

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  30·36

  (7·00)

  74·85

  (17·41)

  North Tyneside

  25·56

  (8·30)

  48·48

  (12·26)

  South Tyneside

  27·22

  (4·81)

  95·85

  (9·24)

  Sunderland

  23·19

  (6·15)

  76·03

  (9·12)

  Avon

  17·62

  (6·01)

  48·75

  (11·37)

  Bedfordshire

  28·28

  (9·53)

  86·88

  (23·60)

  Berkshire

  33·07

  (13·88)

  75·33

  (23·85)

  Buckinghamshire

  32·59

  (15·51)

  72·90

  (17·13)

  Cambridgeshire

  42·32

  (11·98)

  79·84

  (21·62)

  Cheshire

  25·80

  (8·86)

  56·49

  (18·39)

  Cleveland

  11·84

  (7·27)

  34·10

  (11·16)

  Cornwall

  37·15

  (12·32)

  63·84

  (21·77)

  Cumbria

  36·69

  (13·11)

  58·74

  (15·67)

  Derbyshire

  29·35

  (8·50)

  74·40

  (14·87)

  Devon

  37·40

  (12·12)

  65·14

  (20·11)

  Dorset

  38·56

  (11·63)

  80·62

  (13·72)

  Durham

  28·51

  (9·47)

  67·70

  (16·44)

  East Sussex

  32·56

  (11·04)

  77·26

  (17·78)

  Essex

  36·19

  (9·69)

  81·08

  (14·11)

  Gloucestershire

  29·42

  (11·93)

  59·02

  (19·40)

  Hampshire

  35·55

  (2·28)

  78·86

  (4·72)

  Hereford and Worcester

  28·44

  (11·13)

  57·92

  (14·98)

  Hertfordshire

  40·59

  (14·97)

  76·11

  (20·18)

  Humberside

  32·68

  (8·96)

  60·98

  (13·00)

  Isle of Wight

  32·74

  (11·92)

  54·37

  (11·61)

  Kent

  29·02

  (9·00)

  71·61

  (14·15)

  Lancashire

  30·13

  (9·59)

  65·70

  (13·22)

  Leicestershire

  31·59

  (11·26)

  81·42

  (16·36)

  Lincolnshire

  16·22

  (10·94)

  29·03

  (17·69)

  Norfolk

  29·63

  (8·27)

  56·04

  (12·29)

  North Yorkshire

  31·24

  (5·95)

  68·37

  (7·48)

  Northamptonshire

  33·41

  (7·81)

  74·41

  (18·34)

  Northumberland

  33·32

  (11·07)

  72·62

  (16·92)

  Nottinghamshire

  35·60

  (11·74)

  66·56

  (18·25)

  Oxfordshire

  43·28

  (8·01)

  103·89

  (17·59)

  Shropshire

  30·94

  (10·74)

  64·32

  (18·54)

  Somerset

  37·22

  (6·64)

  90·56

  (14·45)

  Staffordshire

  36·68

  (9·92)

  77·80

  (13·44)

  116

  117

  Local authority

  Nursery and primary schools

  Secondary schools

  Books and equipment

  (of which books)

  Books and equipment

  (of which books)

  Suffolk

  29·28

  (8·97)

  54·73

  (14·02)

  Surrey

  21·48

  (5·45)

  94·51

  (11·93)

  Warwickshire

  25·68

  (8·82)

  98·23

  (16·12)

  West Sussex

  34·85

  (10·22)

  73·25

  (16·21)

  Wiltshire

  40·32

  (26·49)

  71·08

  (32·56)

  1 The figures are based on local education authority expenditure and pupil number returns to the relevant Government Departments.

  2 n/a denotes that an expenditure return has not been received from the local education authority, or that a separate figure for books has not been provided.

  Table 3

  E. Land Averages Expenditure per pupil

  Cash

  Nursery and primary schools

  Secondary schools

  Year

  Books and equipment £

  (of which books) £

  Books and equipment £

  (of which books) £

  1978–79

  12·88

  (4·24)

  24·40

  (7·17)

  1984–85

  23·60

  (7·25)

  42·53

  (10·15)

  1988–89

  32·14

  (8·95)

  69·79

  (14·25)

  Real terms at 1978–79 prices

  Nursery and primary schools

  Secondary schools

  Year

  Books and equipment £

  (of which books) £

  Books and equipment £

  (of which books) £

  1978–79

  12·88

  (4·24)

  24·40

  (7·17)

  1984–85

  13·24

  (4·07)

  23·86

  (5·69)

  1988–89

  14·61

  (4·07)

  31·73

  (6·51)

  School Budgets
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any estimate of the financial value of contributions made to school budgets by parents.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend is not aware of any reliable and up-to-date estimate.

  Schools (Charging)
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the progress of the review of the charging regulation under the Education Reform Act 1988.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend is collecting evidence from a range of sources about the operation of the relevant legislation. The results of a sample survey of schools will be available in January 1991 to supplement information from other interested bodies.

TRANSPORT

  Driving Tests
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department proposes to introduce any changes for the disabled(a) in driving test requirements and (b) in qualifications and requirements for driving instructors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I do not at present have any plans to introduce such changes. The Driving Standards Agency is,118
  however, considering possible ways to ensure that there are no unnecessary obstacles to disabled people who wish to become driving instructors.

  Trains (Accidents)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department has, and what representations it has received, about deaths and injuries caused as a result of faulty train doors, in British Rail and underground services.

  Mr. Freeman
  In the five-year period 1985–19891 there is no evidence to show that faulty train doors on British Rail and underground services were the cause of death or major injury. During that time, fatalities and injuries have occurred in accidents associated with train doors for the following reasons:

  (a) passengers slipping as they enter or alight from stationary trains.

  (b) passengers opening slam-type doors as the train enters the station, causing injury to persons on the platform.

  (c) passengers falling out of trains after deliberately or accidentally opening a slam door while the train is in motion.

  (d) incorrect operation of sliding doors.

  A number of hon. Members and members of the public have made representations about accidents in the last category. The railway inspectorate received a letter in October from a member of Liverpool city council concerning recent accidents on the west coast main line involving passengers falling from trains. After each accident on this line, BR examined all doors concerned and found them to be working properly.
  1 1989 details are provisional.

  Jubilee Line
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to safeguard the route of the extension of the Jubilee line to the royal docks in the London borough of Newham.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Bill for the Jubilee line extension provides for an underground step-plate junction south of Canning Town to allow an extension of the Jubilee line through the royal docks to be built at a later stage. As most of the land required for such an extension is owned by either British Rail or the London Docklands development corporation, no further action is necessary to safeguard the route.

  Bus Services
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement regarding monopoly bus operation situations which have arisen as a result of implementation of the Transport Act 1986.
  119
  Mr. Freeman
  The Transport Act 1985 brought the bus industry fully within the scope of competition legislation, which is the responsibility of the Office of Fair Trading and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The Monopolies and Mergers Commission has so far been requested to investigate six cases involving mergers in the bus industry.

  Gyroplanes
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents have occurred involving gyroplanes in the last five years; how many have been investigated by the United Kingdom air accidents investigation branch; what have been the main causes of such accidents; and what arrangements have been made to monitor these aircraft to ensure that reasonable safety standards are observed prior to the marketing of gyroplanes for use by the general public.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The statutory responsibility for the safety regulation of United Kingdom civil aviation rests with the Civil Aviation Authority. I am advised by the authority that there have been 16 accidents in the last five years, six of which involved fatalities in which a total of six people have been killed. The six accidents involving fatalities have been the subject of field investigations by the Department of Transport's air accidents investigation branch. Of these six accidents, two have involved mechanical failure, two have been associated with weather conditions prevailing at the time of the flight, and two are attributable to pilot error.

  Rail Services
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans London Transport has to improve rail access to south and east London.

  Mr. Parkinson
  A Bill to extend the Jubilee line through south London to docklands and Stratford is currently before the House. This will do much to improve access to areas of Southwark, Bermondsey, Greenwich, Tower Hamlets and Newham.

  I recently announced the go-ahead for east-west crossrail, which will provide Stratford and points east with a direct rail link with west London and the west end as well as the City.

  London Transport is extending the docklands light railway to Bank and Beckton.

  I am pleased to report that I have authorised London Transport to deposit a Bill for the proposed extension of the docklands light railway to Lewisham. I have done this on the clear understanding that the project will only proceed if LT is successful in its efforts to arrange an acceptable privately financed scheme, and the powers are being taken in that behalf. This extension would provide a further important river crossing and allow the docklands regeneration benefits to spread south from the Isle of Dogs to areas of Greenwich and Lewisham.

  London Transport is also spending very large sums modernising the Central line as well as continuing to invest heavily in safety and in the general upgrading of the existing underground system. London Transport's investment programme over the next three years will approach £3 billion, an increase of about 90 per cent. in real terms over the previous three years. With such a large programme already in hand and largely funded by
  120
  Government grant, further extensions to south and east London could be afforded now only if they were privately funded or London Transport felt able to reorder its priorities.

  As it is, although a substantial private sector contribution has been offered towards a station on the proposed east London line extensions, the project as a whole would still require substantial public funding. Given the public expenditure constraints within which it must operate, London Transport has concluded that it has other more pressing priorities at present and has therefore decided, with my agreement, not to seek leave to deposit the necessary Private Bill in this Session of Parliament. I hope nonetheless that London Transport will continue to discuss the project with interested parties in case a way can be found of taking the project forward at less cost to it. We are discussing with London Transport the case for safeguarding the route of the extensions through the planning system so as to ensure that they remain an option for the future.

  Learner Drivers
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress with the production of an official syllabus for learner drivers and riders.

  Mr. Chope
  I am pleased to announce that the Driving Standards Agency has produced a book containing the syllabus and guide to car and motor cycle tests. The book, called "Your Driving Test", is published today and can be obtained from HMSO and major bookstores. The agency also plans to produce a companion volume about driving tests for large goods and passenger vehicles.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisons
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons in England and Wales in which restraints have been used on inmates during the last three years; and how many times restraints have been used at each prison during this period.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of applications of restraints under rule 46 of the Prison Rules 1964, rule 49 of the Detention Centre Rules 1983, rule 49 of the Youth Custody Centre Rules 1983 and rule 49 of the Young Offender Institution Rules 1988 are given in the table.

  Restraints1 applied to violent or refractory inmates of prison service establishments in England and Wales: by establishment, 1987–89

  Establishment and type

  Number of applications

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Local prisons/remand centres

  Ashford

  —

  —

  5

  Bedford

  4

  3

  2

  Birmingham

  —

  10

  3

  Bristol

  —

  —

  1

  Brixton

  —

  —

  6

  Camp Hill

  —

  —

  5

  Canterbury

  1

  —

  —

  Cardiff

  5

  1

  2

  Chelmsford

  —

  1

  1

  Durham

  —

  1

  —

  Exeter

  2

  —

  —

  Hull

  7

  4

  9

  Leeds

  1

  1

  —

  121

  Establishment and type

  Number of applications

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Leicester

  5

  17

  4

  Lewes

  —

  1

  4

  Lincoln

  —

  5

  4

  Oxford

  1

  1

  —

  Pentonville

  2

  1

  —

  Reading

  1

  2

  2

  Risley

  —

  —

  2

  Rochester

  —

  —

  2

  Swansea

  1

  —

  —

  Wandsworth

  5

  10

  7

  Wormwood Scrubs

  3

  2

  2

  Training prisons

  Acklington

  —

  —

  2

  Albany

  2

  —

  20

  Blundeston

  4

  —

  —

  Camp Hill

  2

  6

  —

  Chelmsford

  1

  —

  —

  Cookham Wood

  —

  —

  1

  Dartmoor

  1

  —

  —

  Frankland

  6

  7

  3

  Full Sutton

  —

  7

  9

  Garth

  —

  1

  —

  Havering

  —

  —

  1

  Lindholme

  1

  4

  2

  Long Lartin

  4

  3

  —

  Parkhurst

  6

  6

  9

  Preston

  —

  —

  2

  Shepton Mallet

  —

  3

  —

  Stafford

  3

  —

  1

  7Styal

  1

  —

  —

  Wakefield

  2

  —

  —

  Wayland

  —

  —

  1

  Young offender institutions/youth custody centres/detention centres

  Aylesbury

  —

  1

  5

  Buckley Hall

  —

  1

  —

  Dover

  7

  —

  5

  Glen Parva

  1

  1

  —

  Guys Marsh

  1

  —

  3

  Hatfield

  —

  1

  —

  Hollesley Bay

  1

  —

  —

  Onley

  1

  2

  —

  Rochester

  8

  —

  —

  All establishments

  90

  103

  125

  1 Loose canvas jacket, body belt, handcuffs and ankle straps. No leather wrist straps were used.

  Firearms
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Northumbria on the number of incidents involving the use of firearms dealt with by Northumbria police in 1990 and the number of officers trained in the use of firearms in the force at the present time.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the chief constable of Northumbria that between 1 January and 15 November 1990 firearms were issued to his officers in 176 operations against crime. On 15 November, 149 of his officers were trained and authorised to be issued with firearms.

  Fresh Start
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) the average sickness rates and (b) the average long-term sickness rates, namely over one year, for each prison in the United Kingdom for each of the two years before Fresh Start was implemented and the subsequent years.
  122
  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of lost days due to sickness absence in prison establishments in England and Wales for the year ending March 1990 averaged about 13 days per officer. I will write to the hon. Member shortly with the breakdown by establishment. Information on long and short-term sickness rates and sickness rates in earlier years is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Suicides (Police Cells)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many self-inflicted deaths, suicides and attempted suicides took place among prisoners held in police cells in 1988, 1989 and 1990 to date.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of deaths which occurred in police custody, together with brief details of the circumstances surrounding each case, are contained in the annual reports of Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary and the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. The number of cases in which the coroner's inquest has returned a verdict of suicide is as follows:

  Number

  1988

  5

  1989

  5

  1990

  11

  1 A number of inquests have yet to be concluded.

  Other self-inflicted deaths are not categorised separately and no details of attempted suicides are recorded centrally.

  Immigration
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the average and the maximum delays suffered by non-EEC passengers at passport check-ins at Heathrow and Gatwick over the past six months; and what are the comparable figures for EEC passengers.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The average and maximum delays at Heathrow and Gatwick during the six-month period 1 April to 30 September 1990 were as follows:

  Non-EEC Minutes

  EC Minutes

  Heathrow

  Average

  18

  1

  Maximum

  175

  10

  Gatwick

  Average

  14

  2

  Maximum

  90

  15

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the figures of crime rates in Dyfed, Wales, for each year since 1970; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The available information is on notifiable offences recorded by the police in the Dyfed-Powys police area and is published annually: for
  123
  1970–73 in "Supplementary Statistics Relating to Crime and Criminal Proceedings"; for 1974–89 in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales"—table 2.4 for 1989 and corresponding tables in issues for earlier years, and for the 12 months to June 1990 in "Home Office Statistical Bulletin" 31/90. Copies of all these publications are available in the Library.

  Prison Population
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's projected prison population for 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The latest projections of the prison population were published in a Home Office statistical bulletin "Updated projections of long term trends in the prison population to 1998"—issue 33/90, dated 24 October 1990—a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the sentenced and remand population in England and Wales for the latest date available; and how many prisoners were being held in police cells on the same date.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The latest available information is that on 30 September 1990, a total of 9,377 remand, 214 non-criminal and 34,888 sentenced prisoners were held in prison service establishments. A further 1,009 were held in police cells of whom the majority were remand prisoners.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each of the years between 1975 and 1990, the proportion of adults imprisoned per 100,000 of the population.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [holding answer 12 November 1990]: The information is given in the table.

  Adult prisoners1 in prison service establishments in England and Wales on 30 June as a proportion per 100,000 of the adult2 population, 1975–1990

  Year

  1975

  83·6

  1976

  87·6

  1977

  88·7

  1978

  87·4

  1979

  87·2

  1980

  89·5

  1981

  89·3

  1982

  88·4

  1983

  89·3

  1984

  89·4

  1985

  95·4

  1986

  95·5

  1987

  103·0

  1988

  103·6

  1989

  103·9

  1990

  395·6

  1 Sentenced remand and non-custodial prisoners aged 21 and over including sentenced young offenders re-classified as adults.

  2 Aged 21 and over.

  3 Using projected mid-year national population.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what direction he has issued to the Governor of Hong Kong under section 1(3) of the British 124
  Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990, specifying the time scale and number of persons to be recommended for registration under section 1(1) of that Act during the first stage of the selection process.

  Mr. Waddington
  I have directed the Governor to make the following recommendations during the period beginning 1 December 1990 and ending 1 January 1994:

  not more than 32,700 in the general occupational class, of which not more than 400 are to be in respect of applicants in approved occupations;

  not more than 6,200 in the disciplined services class; and

  not more than 3,850 in the sensitive service class.

  However, I have made no direction for this period in relation to the entrepreneurs class and, accordingly, the Governor may make recommendations during that period in respect of all 500 places in that class.

  Victim Support Services
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department will review its current restrictions upon the use of its grant funding to victim support in view of the possible closure of local offices and reduction of services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 14 November 1990]: The Home Office grant-in-aid for local victim support schemes in England and Wales—£4·5 million this year—is administered by the funding panel of the national charity Victim Support under criteria which have been agreed with the Home Office and are reviewed annually. The 350 or so local schemes rely largely on voluntary help, but Home Office grant is available to pay for up to two co-ordinators in each scheme or to assist with running costs. There has been no reduction in Home Office grant which will, subject to parliamentary approval, be increased by 20 per cent. to £5·4 million next year. It is open to local schemes faced with loss or reduction of funding from other sources to apply to the funding panel for new or extra grant.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Judges
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Attorney-General what powers the Lord Chancellor has to control public appearances in programmes of political content by judges.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor's formal powers over the conduct of judges in England and Wales are limited to the power to remove circuit judges for incapacity or misbehaviour. It is, however, a long-standing convention that judges do not become involved in matters of political controversy, and the Lord Chancellor, as head of the judiciary, would advise any judge who sought his opinion that it would not be appropriate to appear in a programme with a political content.

  Distress for Rent Notices
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Attorney-General what proposals he has to expand and simplify the prescribed notices given to debtors under the Distress for Rent Rules of 1988.

  The Attorney-General
  The Law Commission is at present undertaking a study of the law of distress, and a final report is expected early in the new year.
  125
  The Lord Chancellor's Department will be carrying out a review of the Distress for Rent Rules 1988 once that report has been received.

  Private Bailiffs
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Attorney-General what proposals he has to establish a register of certificated private bailiffs.

  The Attorney-General
  A register of bailiffs who hold a certificate granted by a county court judge authorising them to levy any distress for rent is maintained by the Lord Chancellor's Department at its London headquarters.

  The register is maintained for administrative purposes and is not open to public inspection, but each county court maintains a list of bailiffs who hold a certificate as at 1 February each year. The list is exhibited in the public area at the court office.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Attorney-General what proposals he has for consulting community charge and advice agencies about charges made by private bailiffs.

  The Attorney-General
  The level of fees, charges and expenses which my be recovered from a tenant by certificated bailiff is set out in appendix 1 to the Distress for Rent Rules 1988 and is reviewed from time to time by the Lord Chancellor's Department, in consultation with other Government Departments and with the Certificated Bailiffs' Association. Charges by private bailiffs for enforcing liability orders—schedule 5 of the Community Charges (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1989—are the same. There are no plans at present to extend this consultation process.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Attorney-General what proposals he has to establish a complaints procedure against private bailiffs.

  The Attorney-General
  Any person who wishes to complain about the conduct or fitness of a bailiff who holds a certificate granted by a county court judge under the Distress for Rent Rules 1988 may make his or her complaint in writing to the county court from which the certificate was issued.

  No such procedure is in place in respect of private bailiffs who do not hold a certificate granted by a judge of a county court. Such bailiffs are not authorised to levy distress for rent, but may operate in other areas such as recovery of community charge, fines or taxes.

  Bereavement Damages
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Attorney-General whether the Government propose to increase the level of bereavement damages under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  Following a review announced last year, the Government have decided that the statutory level of bereavement damages which may be awarded by the courts in England and Wales in fatal accident cases should be raised from the figure of £3,500 fixed in 1982 to £7,500.

  In accordance with the provisions of section 1A of the Fatal Accidents Act 1976, the Lord Chancellor will shortly be making the necessary order, which is subject to the negative resolution procedure, to implement the increase
  126
  to £7,500 which will take effect in relation to deaths occurring on or after 1 April 1991. A separate order will be made at the same time, under article 3A of the Fatal Accidents (Northern Ireland) Order 1977, to effect a similar increase in the level of the award in Northern Ireland.

  The proposed new level of £7,500 will also apply, with effect from 1 April 1991, to cases where a bereavement award is made under the criminal injuries compensation scheme in England and Wales.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland intends to bring forward an order increasing the level of bereavement award to £7,500 under the statutory criminal injuries compensation scheme in the Province.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Norwich Union
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received any representations on the intervention order by LAUTRO to prevent Norwich Union from taking business with the Winchester Group; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  My right hon. Friend has received no such representations. It is up to LAUTRO, and ultimately the Securities and Investments Board, to decide how to enforce the rules.

  Thames Water
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will meet the chairman of the stock exchange to discuss the failure of Thames Water plc to repay to stockholders the outstanding liability on Metropolitan water board 3 per cent. B stock; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. This is a matter for the company, its stockholders and the stock exchange.

  Machine Tool Industry
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the amount exported by the machine tool industry for each year from 1979 to 1989.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information is as follows:

  United Kingdom Exports of Metal Working Machine Tools1 1979–1989

  Year

  £ million

  1979

  291

  1980

  367

  1981

  355

  1982

  353

  1983

  283

  1984

  320

  1985

  372

  1986

  379

  1987

  426

  1988

  524

  1989

  526

  1 Activity Heading 3221 of the Standard Industrial Classification (Revised 1980).

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Cot Deaths
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made by his Departmental inquiry into cot deaths; when he expects to receive it; and if he will publish it.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I have been asked to reply.

  The expert working group is expected to report to the Chief Medical Officer soon. It has always been the intention to publish its findings.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Non-proliferation Regime
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals for the development of an extended regional non-proliferation regime under the auspices of the United Nations Security Council have been circulated recently by the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Soviet Union has circulated various proposals at the UN Security Council. As far as we are aware, no proposal for a regional non-proliferation regime has been made.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to meet his Soviet counterpart or officials of the Soviet Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministries, to discuss the development of new or extended non-proliferation agreements.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No plans at present.

  Nuclear Arms Reductions
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what indications he has received from the Soviet Government that in the next round of the strategic nuclear arms reduction negotiations United Kingdom Polaris and-or Trident ballistic nuclear missile systems will necessarily be included on the agenda.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The conditions for the United Kingdom considering how best to contribute to the arms control process are already well known.

  United Nations Day
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government supported any events or facilitated the distribution of any literature to mark United Nations day on 24 October.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No.

  Nuclear Weapons Tests
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decisions have been taken pursuant to rule 44(4) of the rules of procedure for the amendment conference for states party to the treaty banning nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere in outer space and under water.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are not aware of any decisions taken by specialised agencies and intergovernmental organisations pursuant to rule 44(4) of the partial test ban treaty amendment conference.

WALES

  Housing
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money was authorised for district councils in Wales for the purchase of houses from the private sector for letting by local authorities, in 1989–90 and 1990–91; and what the level of authorisation will be for 1991–92.

  Mr. Grist
  A total of £1 million was made available in both 1989–90 and 1990–91 for district councils to purchase land and houses in areas with a high concentration of second homes. This was in addition to their ability to spend, within available resources, according to their own priorities. Decisions about resources for 1991–92 will be announced very soon.

  National Rivers Authority
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will arrange to discuss with the chairman of the National Rivers Authority questions relating to the right of trade unions in the industry in Wales to refer disputes to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

  Mr. Grist
  No. This is a matter for the National Rivers Authority.

  Cardiff Bay Barrage
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation regarding the cost and length of time required for carrying out the additional work specified by his independent groundwater consultant Mr. Roy Stoner.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  None. Much of the additional work recommended by Mr. Stoner is already being carried out by the corporation's consultants. The remainder will be undertaken as part of the further studies and should not, therefore, result in an extension to the 12-month period as laid down by the Committee which examined the Cardiff Bay Barrage Bill. Any extra costs involved will be met by the corporation.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what reply he expects to make to the report of Mr. Roy Stoner, placed in the Library on 12 November, relating to the Cardiff bay barrage.

  Sir Wyn Roberts:
  My right hon. Friend has thanked Mr. Stoner for his report and informed him that the issues raised in it will be taken up with Cardiff Bay development corporation and its consultants.

  Nature Conservation
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those sites which (i) have been designated or (ii) meet the criteria for designation as(a) special protection areas under the European Community directive on the conservation of wild birds, or (b) Ramsar sites under the convention on wetlands of international importance.

  Sir Wyn Roberts:
  The designation of SPA and Ramsar sites is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. Welsh sites are designated in consultation with me.
  129
  In Wales three SPAs, Skokholm and Skomer—part—Dee estuary and Grassholm, and two Ramsar sites, Dee estuary and Cors Fochno, have been designated.

  I understand that the NCC has so far identified 11 sites, in Wales, which it considers meet the SPA criteria and 10 which meet the Ramsar conditions. These are:

  Llyn Idwal (Gwynedd) Ramsar

  Llyn Tegid (Gwynedd) Ramsar

  Cors Caron (Dyfed) Ramsar

  Corsydd Mon/Lleyn (Dyfed) Ramsar

  Crumlin Bog (Gwent) Ramsar

  Migneint (Gwynedd) Ramsar

  Midland Meres Mires (Clwyd) Ramsar

  Burry Inlet (Dyfed/West Glamorgan) Ramsar and SPA

  Severn Estuary (part) (South Glamorgan/Gwent) Ramsar and SPA

  Carmarthen Bay (Dyfed/West Glamorgan) Ramsar and SPA

  Skokholm and Skomer (part) (Dyfed) SPA

  Glannau Aberdaron/Ynys Enlli (Gwynedd) SPA

  Ynys Feurig, Cemlyn Bay and the Skerries (Gwynedd) SPA

  Glannau Ynys Gybi (Gwynedd) SPA

  Traeth Lafan (Gwynedd) SPA

  Pembrokeshire Cliffs (Dyfed) SPA

  Elenydd Mallaen (Powys) SPA

  Berwyn (Gwynedd) SPA

  Agriculture
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met representatives from the Farmers Union of Wales to discuss opportunities for young people entering the agriculture industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts:
  My right hon. Friend met representatives of the Farmers Union of Wales on 11 September to discuss a range of agricultural issues, which included the opportunities for young people entering the industry.

  Music Teaching
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the implications for peripatetic music teaching of local management of schools.

  Sir Wyn Roberts:
  We are not aware that music provision, including the peripatetic music service, has been adversely affected by the introduction of local management of schools. Parents will want to see music provision maintained in the schools their children attend, and so will governors. We confidently expect that the delegation of control to governors will lead to an enrichment in the education experience provided by schools.

  Mr. Rod Richards
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, further to his reply of 13 November,Official Report, column 106, if he will give specific details of the knowledge and experience of Mr. Rod Richards in respect of the public sector which will be relevant to his work as special adviser.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the answer he gave the hon. Gentleman on 13 November.

HEALTH

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many civil servants are currently employed(a) full time and (b) part time by his Department on civil defence; what the total costs of employing staff on civil defence duties were in 1989–90; what the total costs of employing staff on civil defence duties are expected to be in 1990–91; and whether he has any plans for these staff to be transferred to work on other duties.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number of Staff and cost

  Number of Staff employed full-time on 19 November 1990

  Nil

  Number of staff employed part-time on 19 November 1990

  5

  Total cost 1989–90

  1£58,000

  Estimated total cost 1990–91

  1£57,000

  1 Approximate

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary announced on 16 October that he had initiated a review of the options for the future of civil defence arrangements in the light of east-west relations. Future levels of expenditure in civil defence will depend on the outcome of that review.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Injury and Disablement
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide statistics indicating the nature of injuries for which injury and disablement payments were made for 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989.

  Mr. Scott
  The table gives statistics distinguishing between industrial accidents and prescribed occupational diseases.

  Disablement Pensions in Payment—1986–1989

  Date

  Industrial Accidents

  Prescribed Diseases

  30 September 1986

  147,000

  37,000

  4 April 1987

  148,000

  37,000

  2 April 1988

  151,000

  37,000

  1 April 1989

  150,000

  35,000

  Notes:

  (i) Injury benefit was abolished in 1983.

  (ii) The DSS industrial accident statistics cover all possible physical injuries for which disablement benefit is paid in considerable detail.

  (iii) There are some 59 prescribed occupational diseases.

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many civil servants are currently employed(a) full time and (b) part time by his Department on civil defence; what the total costs of employing staff on civil defence duties were in 1989–90; what the total costs of employing staff on civil defence duties are expected to be in 1990–91; and whether he has any plans for these staff to be transferred to work on other duties.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  None of the staff in the Department is employed full time on civil defence work.
  131
  There are 10 members of staff in the Department's headquarters and regional offices whose duties include civil defence matters but, since these represent only a very small part of the duties of the staff involved, it is not possible to identify separately the costs involved.

  Workplace Accidents
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the reported accidents involving lifting of patients taken from B176 forms received by his Department for each year from 1983 to 1989 showing distribution by age/sex, occupation, incidence rates based on population of England and place of accident.

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

  Retirement Pension
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people put in claims for retirement pension during the six months to March 1989; how many were awarded the full basic rate retirement pension; and what are the reasons for the proportion not receiving full basic rate pension.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  In the six months to March 1989 317,011 claims were made to state retirement pension and 244,940 awards of basic pension made. The difference between these figures is made up by those claims from individuals choosing to defer their pensions, those which led to the payment of graduated and additional pension only and cases where there was no entitlement to retirement pension.

  Of the awards made, 194,600 were at the full rate of basic retirement pension. These pensions are based upon a person's, or their spouse's, contribution record; the main reason for an award being made at less than the full rate is an insufficient record, but it can also reflect a reduction due to receipt of another benefit.

  Benefits
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are in receipt of attendance allowance, mobility allowance and invalid care allowance in(a) the Kirklees district and (b) England and Wales.

  Mr. Scott
  The numbers of people receiving each benefit in Kirklees district could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The latest available information about people receiving these benefits in England and Wales is in the table:

  Number

  Attendance Allowance (as at 31 March 1989)

  1695,000

  Mobility Allowance as at 15 November 1990)

  539,000

  Invalid Care Allowance (Scotland, England and Wales)2 (as at 31 October 1990)

  132,000

  1 Statistical estimate.

  2 Separate figures for England and Wales are not available.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide details for the Kirklees 132
  metropolitan district of the number of people currently, most recent figures, in receipt of each of the following benefits: (a) attendance allowance, (b) mobility allowance and (c) invalid care allowance, and an estimate of what level of take-up the above figures represent in terms of entitlement to benefit for the Kirklees district.

  Mr. Scott
  This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all forms of benefit that can be obtained through his Department; when each form of benefit was first introduced; and whether each form of benefit was introduced as an entirely new benefit or whether it superseded earlier benefit payments.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 15 November 1990]: The information requested is in the table. The dates given are those of introduction of the benefit in its original form and it should be noted that many have since been modified.

  Benefit

  Introduced

  Superseded

  Attendance Allowance

  December 71

  New

  Child Benefit

  April 77

  Family Allowance

  Christmas Bonus

  December 72

  New

  Community Charge Benefit1

  April 90

  Rate Rebate (England and Wales) Community Charge Rebate (Scotland)

  Constant Attendance Allowance

  July 48

  New

  Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance

  July 48

  New

  Family Credit

  April 88

  Family Income Supplement

  Guardians Allowance

  July 48

  Orphan's Pension

  Housing Benefit—1 Rent Rebates

  November 82— April 83

  Local Authorities local schemes and supplementary benefit provision

  Rent Allowance

  as above

  as above

  Income Support

  April 88

  Supplementary Benefit

  Industrial Death Benefit2

  July 48

  New

  Industrial Disablement Benefit

  July 48

  New

  Invalid Care Allowance

  July 76

  New

  Invalidity Benefit

  September 71

  New

  Maternity Allowance3

  July 48

  New

  Mobility Allowance

  January 76

  New

  One Parent Benefit4

  April 77

  Child Interim Benefit

  Pneumoconiosis, byssinosis and miscellaneous diseases benefit5

  March 52

  New

  Reduced Earnings Allowance

  October 86

  Special Hardship Allowance

  Remission of certain NHS charges and payment of travelling expenses to hospital for NHS treatment on income grounds6

  April 88

  Replaced a similar scheme but with changes in the basis of assessment and with centralized administration

  Retirement Allowance

  April 88

  Reduced Earnings Allowance for those of pension age who retired

  Retirement Pension—

  Category A and B

  July 48

  New

  Category C

  July 70

  New

  Category D

  July 71

  New

  Age addition

  July 71

  New

  Graduated retirement benefit7

  July 61

  New

  133

  Benefit

  Introduced

  Superseded

  Additional pension (SERPS), payable also with widow's benefits (except Widow's Payment)

  April 79

  New

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  November 84

  Non Contributory Invalidity Pension (NCIP)

  Sickness Benefit3

  July 48

  New

  Social Fund—

  Funeral Payments

  April 87

  Supplementary Benefit Single Payment

  Maternity Payments

  April 87

  as above

  Community Care Grants

  April 88

  New

  Budgeting Loans

  April 88

  Supplementary Benefit Single Payments

  Crisis Loans

  April 88

  Supplementary Benefit Urgent payments

  Cold Weather Payments

  November 88

  Exceptionally Severe Weather Payments

  Travel Grants, Settlement or Resettlement Loans

  September 90

  New

  Statutory Maternity Pay 8

  April 87

  Maternity allowance for most employed women.

  Statutory Sick Pay 8

  April 83

  Sickness benefit for most employed people

  Unemployment Benefit 9

  1911

  New

  Vaccine damage payments 10

  March 79

  New

  War Disablement Pension

  February 17

  New

  War Widow's Pension

  February 17

  New

  Widow's Pension

  July 48

  New

  Widow's Payment

  April 88

  Widow's allowance

  Widowed Mother's Allowance

  July 48

  New

  Workmen's Compensation Supplement

  July 51

  New

  Notes:

  1 Paid and administered by local authorities on behalf of the Department of Social Security (DSS).

  2 Not payable in respect of deaths on or after 11 April 1988.

  3 Superseded benefits payable under the various National Health Insurance Acts.

  4 Named Child Benefit Increase prior to 1 April 1981.

  5 Miscellaneous diseases first included in November 1954.

  6 Administered by DSS on behalf of the Department of Health.

  7 Payable only to people with accrued rights derived from payments to the graduated pension scheme from 1961 to 1975.

  8 Statutory Sick Pay and Statutory Maternity Allowance are administered and paid by employers. Sickness benefit and Maternity Allowance are still available for those who do not qualify.

  9 Paid and administered by the Department of Employment.

  10 Paid via the Department of Health until 1982 when responsibility passed to DSS.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice has been given to the Government of the Irish Republic about their handling of the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the Republic.
  134
  Mr. Maclean
  We have kept the Government of the Irish Republic fully informed about the measures we have taken to deal with bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the United Kingdom and of the reasons for taking them.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the Government to respond to the Agriculture Committee's report on bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr. Maclean
  I and my right hon. Friends have today presented to Parliament the Government's response to the House of Commons Agriculture Committee's report on bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Copies of the response have been deposited in the Library of the House and are available from the Vote Office.

  Seaside Rock
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what investigations have been made into the side-effects of the red-pink colouring E127, known as erythrosine, used in seaside rock; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  E127, erythrosine, has been investigated by the Food Advisory Committee and the committee on toxicity as part of a review of the use of all colours currently permitted in food. The review showed that the normal consumption of seaside rock coloured with erythrosine does not present a toxicological hazard. However, I have accepted the Food Advisory Committee's advice that there is a need to reduce the level of colours generally in the diet and will be proposing new regulations that will include restrictions on the use of erythrosine as advised by the committee.

  EC Special Committee on Agriculture
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the agenda of each meeting of the special committee on agriculture of the European Community.

  Mr. Gummer
  It has been the practice of successive Governments not to publish details of the work of official committees reporting to the Council of Ministers.

  Fisheries Council
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 20 November.

  Mr. Curry
  I represented the United Kingdom at the Council of Fisheries Ministers in Brussels on 20 November with my noble Friend Lord Strathclyde, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland.

  We secured the maintenance of the dual system for herring and price adjustments which should assist the continued orderly marketing of the Scottish herring catch. We kept other price changes within reasonable bounds.

  Despite long discussion, the Council was unable to agree on new technical conservation measures. We emphasised the need for early decisions, but the Council concluded that further work was required. We shall continue to press hard for progress on this.

  The Council also considered amendments to the fisheries structure regulation discussing the balance of the various measures proposed and remitted the proposal for further consideration at official level.
  135
  The Council also agreed that the Commission should press ahead with work to harmonise member states' laws in the Mediterranean and to develop improved research arrangements, as a first step in developing a common fisheries policy in the Mediterranean.

  Tecnazene
  Mr. Quin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the 1989 United Kingdom potato crop was treated with tecnazene.

  Mr. Maclean
  No survey was conducted in 1989. The latest figures for use of tecnazene are: in England and Wales 35 per cent. of the 1988 crop; in Scotland 24 per cent. of the 1986 crop.

  Birds
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any scientific evidence that the bird species subject to the proposed alteration to the Wildlife and Countryside Act cause damage to growing crops, game birds or livestock feedingstuffs.

  Mr. Maclean
  This Department's central science laboratories have researched damage to agricultural crops caused by starlings, wood pigeons and Brent geese. This damage is significant: starlings can take 12 per cent. of barley for cattle and 20 per cent. of the cherry crop, wood pigeons eat oil seed rape worth £2 million, and Brent geese reduce yield of winter wheat locally by up to 10 per cent.

DEFENCE

  United States Nuclear Laboratories
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any officials of his Department have visited the United States nuclear laboratories at(a) Los Alamos, (b) Lawrence Livermore or (c) Sandia in the current year.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In the current year Ministry of Defence officials have visited all three of these laboratories under the terms of the 1958 United States-United Kingdom agreement for co-operation on the uses of atomic energy for mutual defence purposes.

  Repair Grants

  Number and value (in brackets) £ million

  Grants office

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Belfast

  4,649 (£10·0)

  4,301 (£8·7)

  2,120 (£7·3)

  2,768 (£4·8)

  1,881 (£4·2)

  Ballyclare

  1,495 (£2·4)

  1,023 (£1·7)

  380 (£0·9)

  595 (£1·1)

  456 (£1·0)

  Ballymena

  598 (£1·3)

  389 (£1·0)

  182 (£0·6)

  270 (£0·6)

  131 (£0·4)

  Coleraine

  562 (£1·1)

  444 (£0·9)

  197 (£0·5)

  259 (£0·5)

  176 (£0·4)

  Craigavon

  1,063 (£1·9)

  660 (£1·1)

  338 (£0·7)

  369 (£0·5)

  265 (£0·5)

  Fermanagh

  340 (£0·7)

  272 (£0·6)

  148 (£0·4)

  201 (£0·4)

  200 (£0·4)

  Lisburn

  861 (£2·8)

  733 (£1·4)

  329 (£1·1)

  438 (£0·9)

  267 (£0·6)

  Londonderry

  598 (£1·2)

  444 (£0·9)

  208 (£0·6)

  248 (£0·5)

  211 (£0·6)

  Newry

  448 (£1·2)

  326 (£0·8)

  214 (£0·7)

  215 (£0·5)

  137 (£1·7)

  Newtownards

  2,072 (£2·2)

  1,743 (£3·3)

  708 (£2·0)

  661 (£1·8)

  493 (£1·6)

  Omagh

  388 (£1·1)

  287 (£0·6)

  177 (£0·5)

  243 (£0·6)

  222 (£0·6)

  Military Nuclear Facilities
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to seek agreements with the Soviet Union to conclude a bilateral arrangement on environmental restoration and nuclear waste management at military nuclear facilities along the lines of the co-operation agreement between the Soviet Union and the United States of America signed on 18 September.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have no such plans.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Rural Development
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the interdepartmental committee on rural development will complete its deliberations and report to him on its findings; and if he will make such findings and recommendations available for public debate and implementation.

  Mr. Brooke
  The interdepartmental committee on rural development is preparing to report to me before the end of the year. I do not intend to publish the report, although decisions flowing from it will be announced as appropriate.

  Housing Executive
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of applications for(a) improvement grants and (b) repair grants refused by each grants office of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in each year since 1985.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The matter the hon. Gentleman raised is for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the chairman that information on the refusal of individual grant types is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number and value of(a) improvement grants and (b) repair grants issued by each grants office of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in each year since 1985.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, whose chairman has advised me that the available information is as follows:
  137

  Improvement Grants

  Number and value (in brackets) £ million

  Grants office

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Belfast

  1,166 (£7·8)

  1,027 (£8·0)

  778 (£7·9)

  893 (£6·1)

  690 (£5·7)

  Ballyclare

  210 (£1·4)

  237 (£1·6)

  202 (£1·3)

  174 (£1·2)

  141 (£1·0)

  Ballymena

  559 (£3·3)

  486 (£3·1)

  332 (£2·1)

  263 (£1·9)

  280 (£1·7)

  Coleraine

  387 (£2·6)

  404 (£2·6)

  293 (£2·0)

  282 (£1·6)

  234 (£1·7)

  Craigavon

  472 (£2·7)

  338 (£2·7)

  393 (£3·1)

  201 (£2·4)

  197 (£1·5)

  Fermanagh

  287 (£2·1)

  296 (£2·0)

  267 (£1·8)

  201 (£1·4)

  197 (£1·3)

  Lisburn

  342 (£2·3)

  293 (£2·0)

  295 (£1·2)

  267 (£1·4)

  188 (£1·5)

  Londonderry

  339 (£1·4)

  410 (£3·0)

  313 (£2·1)

  242 (£1·6)

  238 (£1·5)

  Newry

  369 (£3·0)

  403 (£3·2)

  420 (£2·4)

  267 (£1·8)

  225 (£2·2)

  Newtownards

  338 (£1·7)

  366 (£2·2)

  246 (£2·4)

  266 (£1·6)

  186 (£1·7)

  Omagh

  486 (£4·2)

  558 (£4·2)

  434 (£3·0)

  411 (£2·6)

  331 (£2·6)

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average length of time for the execution of repairs under each repair category identified by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, whose chairman has advised me that the information requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of families or individuals currently registered as homeless with each district office of the maintenance section of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, whose chairman has advised me that the executive does not maintain a register of homeless persons. However, at 19 November 1990, the number of households living in temporary accommodation, secured for them under the homelessness provisions of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988, by each district office and the housing advice centre of the Housing Executive, is as follows:

  Number of households

  Housing Advice Centre

  14

  DISTRICT

  Belfast 1

  30

  Belfast 2

  8

  Belfast 3

  34

  Belfast 4

  9

  Belfast 5

  6

  Belfast 6

  14

  Belfast 7

  21

  Bangor

  10

  Newtownards 1

  3

  Newtownards 2

  3

  Castlereagh 1

  3

  Castlereagh 2

  1

  Lisburn 1

  26

  Lisburn 2

  0

  Lisburn 3

  7

  Downpatrick

  26

  Banbridge

  2

  Newry 1

  2

  Newry 2

  2

  Kilkeel

  0

  Armagh

  0

  Craigavon

  2

  Lurgan

  0

  Portadown

  0

  Ballymena

  5

  Antrim

  0

  Newtownabbey 1

  1

  Newtownabbey 2

  3

  138

  Number of households

  Carrickfergus

  1

  Larne

  4

  Ballycastle

  0

  Ballymoney

  1

  Londonderry 1

  16

  Londonderry 2

  3

  Londonderry 3

  5

  Limavady

  7

  Coleraine

  1

  Magherafelt

  3

  Strabane

  0

  Omagh

  3

  Cookstown

  0

  Dungannon

  1

  Enniskillen

  2

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of new-build houses programmed for the current financial year by each district office of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, whose chairman has advised me that programme information is not available in the form requested. It is however available by district council area and the position for the 1990–91 financial year is as follows:

  District council

  Number of houses

  Antrim

  25

  Armagh

  34

  Belfast

  408

  Castlereagh

  10

  Coleraine

  3

  Craigavon

  52

  Derry

  90

  Down

  24

  Fermanagh

  12

  Lisburn

  222

  Magherafelt

  9

  Newry and Mourne

  4

  Newtownards

  98

  Omagh

  11

  Total

  1,002

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of families or individual's currently listed in the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's waiting lists in each district office in each category A1, A2, A3, A4, B1, B2 and B3.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, whose chairman has advised me that the latest available information is as follows:
  139

  Northern Ireland housing executive

  Total number on waiting list as at 31 October 1990

  District

  A1

  A2

  A3

  A4

  B1

  B2

  B3

  Belfast 1

  101

  27

  23

  —

  509

  38

  —

  Belfast 2

  26

  88

  55

  —

  548

  307

  6

  Belfast 3

  90

  32

  240

  —

  416

  37

  4

  Belfast 4

  35

  40

  160

  —

  427

  102

  1

  Belfast 5

  39

  54

  121

  —

  329

  113

  —

  Belfast 6

  42

  39

  25

  —

  372

  96

  —

  Belfast 7

  90

  58

  71

  6

  597

  315

  7

  Bangor

  23

  67

  9

  1

  527

  407

  3

  Newtownards 1

  44

  32

  22

  1

  353

  143

  3

  Newtownards 2

  16

  12

  7

  1

  169

  83

  —

  Dundonald

  20

  17

  2

  2

  211

  67

  1

  Newtownbreda

  16

  33

  4

  1

  264

  196

  3

  Lisburn 1

  86

  41

  10

  1

  366

  126

  7

  Lisburn 2

  30

  11

  6

  2

  151

  77

  1

  Lisburn 3

  42

  6

  4

  —

  358

  16

  —

  Downpatrick

  46

  27

  36

  —

  441

  114

  1

  Banbridge

  32

  17

  15

  2

  227

  47

  —

  Newry 1

  18

  16

  7

  —

  326

  67

  —

  Newry 2

  18

  18

  15

  1

  224

  42

  —

  Kilkeel

  7

  7

  —

  2

  87

  14

  —

  Armagh

  14

  10

  22

  3

  336

  79

  —

  Craigavon

  9

  1

  1

  1

  192

  9

  —

  Lurgan

  13

  20

  12

  1

  293

  69

  1

  Portadown

  14

  10

  9

  —

  230

  80

  —

  Ballymena

  24

  55

  26

  3

  458

  69

  —

  Antrim

  20

  19

  12

  10

  492

  41

  —

  Newtownabbey 1

  20

  18

  3

  1

  240

  61

  —

  Newtownabbey 2

  32

  23

  14

  1

  381

  121

  1

  Carrickfergus

  20

  24

  4

  1

  348

  113

  —

  Larne

  19

  29

  26

  2

  324

  61

  —

  Ballycastle

  11

  7

  1

  2

  143

  15

  —

  Ballymoney

  11

  9

  9

  —

  199

  26

  —

  Londonderry 1

  107

  61

  20

  3

  389

  43

  1

  Londonderry 2

  27

  54

  10

  1

  230

  47

  —

  Londonderry 3

  56

  16

  —

  1

  284

  12

  —

  Limavady

  15

  19

  4

  3

  242

  22

  —

  Coleraine

  14

  36

  13

  7

  561

  98

  2

  Magherafelt

  14

  23

  18

  2

  255

  52

  —

  Strabane

  19

  33

  18

  1

  265

  40

  —

  Omagh

  35

  13

  12

  6

  342

  80

  —

  Cookstown

  11

  5

  4

  3

  134

  37

  —

  Dungannon

  18

  9

  6

  3

  257

  73

  1

  Fermanagh

  30

  6

  42

  2

  310

  102

  —

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of dwellings owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in each year since 1985.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, whose chairman has advised me that the information at 31 March in each year is as follows:

  Number

  1985

  183,439

  1986

  181,717

  1987

  179,910

  1988

  176,832

  1989

  174,018

  1990

  169,971

  Housing Executive properties sold since 1985–86

  South Region

  District

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Total

  Armagh

  125

  104

  85

  82

  163

  559

  Banbridge

  56

  51

  56

  60

  113

  336

  Craigavon

  56

  28

  20

  51

  42

  197

  Kilkeel

  55

  47

  29

  31

  34

  196

  Lurgan

  129

  87

  50

  55

  117

  438

  Newry 1

  138

  102

  135

  156

  203

  734

  Newry 2

  149

  131

  108

  107

  169

  664

  140
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many tenants bought their dwellings from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in each district in each year since 1985.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, whose chairman has advised me that the information is not available in the precise form requested. However, figures are available for the total number of dwellings sold by the executive in each district since 1985. These comprise mainly sales to tenants, but also include a number of vacant properties sold to non-tenants in areas where housing need has been met, sales under the executive's homesteading scheme and sales to housing associations. The figures are as follows:
  141

  District

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Total

  Portadown

  88

  50

  29

  50

  86

  303

  REGION TOTAL

  796

  600

  512

  592

  927

  3,427

  Belfast Region

  District

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Total

  Belfast 1

  281

  100

  113

  134

  186

  751

  Belfast 2

  73

  68

  67

  53

  89

  350

  Belfast 3

  47

  44

  60

  70

  57

  278

  Belfast 4

  32

  57

  75

  45

  40

  249

  Belfast 5

  105

  60

  51

  21

  56

  293

  Belfast 6

  48

  51

  32

  21

  37

  189

  Belfast 7

  43

  77

  65

  62

  73

  320

  REGION TOTAL

  566

  457

  463

  406

  538

  2,430

  North East Region

  District

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Total

  Antrim

  195

  188

  116

  136

  188

  823

  Ballymena

  178

  113

  54

  142

  165

  652

  Carrickfergus

  132

  161

  104

  102

  200

  699

  Larne

  87

  91

  81

  133

  103

  495

  Newtownabbey 1

  125

  97

  82

  98

  112

  514

  Newtownabbey 2

  152

  121

  87

  105

  114

  579

  Ballymoney

  77

  60

  39

  70

  63

  309

  Ballycastle

  29

  34

  28

  34

  45

  170

  REGION TOTAL

  975

  865

  591

  820

  990

  4,241

  North- West Region

  District

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Total

  Londonderry 1

  64

  32

  37

  32

  83

  248

  Londonderry 2

  47

  35

  44

  70

  73

  269

  Londonderry 3

  46

  27

  29

  30

  53

  185

  Limavady

  104

  52

  60

  59

  71

  346

  Strabane

  69

  60

  78

  99

  126

  432

  Coleraine

  93

  43

  40

  79

  110

  365

  Magherafelt

  93

  52

  49

  74

  137

  405

  REGION TOTAL

  516

  301

  337

  443

  653

  2,250

  West Region

  District

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Total

  Omagh

  82

  53

  52

  91

  100

  378

  Dungannon

  116

  75

  96

  143

  176

  606

  Enniskillen

  94

  81

  78

  144

  192

  589

  Cookstown

  62

  44

  46

  61

  82

  295

  REGION TOTAL

  354

  253

  272

  439

  550

  1,868

  South-East Region

  District

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Total

  Lisburn 3

  19

  16

  18

  18

  27

  98

  Lisburn 1

  155

  81

  70

  80

  120

  506

  Lisburn 2

  97

  52

  48

  79

  110

  386

  Bangor

  108

  83

  92

  83

  150

  516

  Castlereagh 1

  94

  73

  56

  46

  84

  353

  Castlereagh 2

  105

  94

  63

  98

  109

  469

  Downpatrick

  136

  117

  110

  124

  149

  636

  Newtownards 1

  131

  119

  104

  71

  147

  572

  Newtownards 2

  80

  73

  71

  69

  84

  377

  REGION TOTAL

  925

  708

  632

  668

  980

  3,913

  142

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the financial support given to housing associations in Northern Ireland for the provision of new dwellings.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information on capital funding to housing associations in Northern Ireland is not available on a basis which distinguishes between new build and rehabilitation. However, it is estimated that in 1989–90 expenditure by housing associations on new build for rent was some £19 million out of a total of over £29 million.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many civil servants from the Republic of Ireland are currently working in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Cope
  Civil servants from the Republic of Ireland are employed on the Irish side of the Anglo-Irish secretariat. The number of civil servants so employed is a matter for the Irish Government.

ENVIRONMENT

  Community Charge (Hostages)
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has given to local authorities in relation to the community charge where a member of the family is a hostage in Iraq or Kuwait.

  Mr. Portillo
  The circumstances of British citizens held in the Gulf against their will can affect their liability to one of the community charges in a number of ways. To help local authorities reach consistent treatment my Department's advice is:Those who are normally resident in Kuwait or Iraq and are not registered for a personal community charge will obviously, continue without liability.
  Those who are normally resident in Britain but now detained in the Gulf should he removed from the register and have no liability for personal charge from the date of their detention if that detention lasts for more than six months.
  Those whose sole or main residence in Britain becomes unoccupied for more than six months due to their detention should not become liable to a standard community charge.

  Some of this advice was included in a circular issued by my Department to all charging authorities on 5 November. The circular also gave guidance on the treatment of armed forces serving abroad. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Anti-competitive Behaviour
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 12 November,Official Report, columns 42–43, whether his Department investigates all complaints of alleged anti-competitive behaviour which it receives; and if he will indicate the stages of investigation his officials pursue when responding to allegations of anti-competitive behaviour.

  Mr. Portillo
  My Department investigates all complaints which appear to reveal breaches of the requirements of part I of the Local Government Act 1988.144
  In all cases where a case is being investigated, my Department writes to the authority concerned and considers its reply. Subsequent handling of the investigation depends on the circumstances of each case.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what channels direct services organisations and direct labour organisations have open to them to allege anti-competitive behaviour on the part of local authorities; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what channels private citizens have open to them to allege anti-competitive behaviour on the part of local authorities; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) pursuant to his answer of 12 November, Official Report, column 43, if he will publish his Department's guidelines or procedures for complaining of alleged anti-competitive behaviour on the part of local authorities under the Local Government Act 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  A direct services organisation or direct labour organisation would not have an identity separate from its parent authority. It is, however, open to any organisation or individual to write to my Department if they believe that a local authority has failed to comply with the requirements of part I of the Local Government Act 1988. Those include the requirement, contained in section 7(7) of the Act, that an authority, in reaching the decision that they should carry out work subject to the requirements of the Act and in doing anything else in connection with such work before reaching such a decision, should not act in a manner having the effect or intended or likely to have the effect of restricting, distorting or preventing competition.

  It would also be open to an organisation or an individual to take civil action if they believed that a local authority had contravened the provisions of the legislation.

  The way in which organisations or individuals may raise matters with my Department is not the subject of any special guidelines or procedures.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many complaints his Department has received alleging anti-competitive behaviour on the part of local authorities under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department is currently investigating complaints of alleged anti-competitive behaviour under part I of the Local Government Act 1988 in the case of 48 local authorities. The number of complaints is greater, since some individual authorities are the subject of several complaints. The Department has notified all 48 local authorities of its investigations.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many members of staff in his Department process and monitor complaints of alleged anti-competitive behaviour on the part of local authorities under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  My Department's concern with the implementation of part I of the Local Government Act 1988 goes wider than processing and maintaining complaints of alleged anti-competitive behaviour, and includes a range of other important aspects, such as
  145
  responding to queries from local authorities and considering the annual reports which local authorities are required to submit under section 11 of the 1988 Act. Six departmental officials are employed full time on all aspects of the implementation of the 1988 Act. In addition, five other departmental officials are employed on this work for a significant proportion of their time.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many complaints of alleged anti-competitive behaviour, under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988, his Department is currently investigating; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  This question could be answered only at disproportionate expense, since it would require information to be compiled covering a period of at least two years.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department keeps a record of complaints received alleging anti-competitive behaviour on the part of local authorities, under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department maintains full documentation of those complaints alleging anti-competitive behaviour under part I of the Local Government Act 1988 which it investigates.

  Bathing Waters
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his answer of 14 November,Official Report, column 164, on the quality of bathing water, if he will list all the improvement schemes for which additional treatment will be provided.

  Mr. Trippier
  The improvement schemes referred to in my right hon. Friend's answer of 14 November which will include additional treatment are:

  REGION AND SCHEME

  Northumbrian

  Newbiggin

  Seaton Carew

  Anglian

  West Runton

  Cleethorpes

  Dovercourt

  Southern

  Dover

  Folkestone/Sandgate

  Pennington

  Pevensey Bay

  Sandwich/Deal

  Worthing/Portslade

  Wessex

  Swanage

  South West

  Lyme Regis

  Exmouth

  Teignmouth

  Salcombe

  Plymouth

  Seaton and Downderry

  Penzance

  Trevaunance Cove

  Trevone

  Bude

  146

  Taw/Torridge

  Ilfracombe

  Combe Martin

  Lynmouth

  Torbay (Hopes Nose)

  Torbay (Sharkham Point)

  Dartmouth

  Portwrinkle

  Readymoney Cove

  Mevagissey

  Gorran Haven

  Falmouth

  Perranporth

  Seaton (Devon)

  Wales

  Jacksons Bay/Whitmore Bay/Cold Knap

  Aberafan

  Swansea

  Aberystwyth

  Tywyn

  Kinmel Bay/Rhyl

  North West

  Fylde Coast

  Seascale

  Allonby

  Silloth/Skinburness

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the beaches that failed the mandatory coliform bacteria standards of the EC bathing water directive during the 1990 bathing season.

  Mr. Trippier
  The list was included in DoE news release No. 638 of 14 November 1990.

  Sewage Sludge
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with the study of the best practical environmental option for the disposal of sewage sludge, which the Government, in their response to the third report of the Environment Committee, published in June 1988, asked Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to commission.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have today published the report "Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) for the Disposal of Sewage Sludge" produced by the Water Research Centre for Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. Copies have also been placed in the Library of the House.

  The report is in two parts. The first describes the methodology for identifying the BPEO for sewage sludge treatment and disposal. The second part consists of an extensive review of actual sludge treatment and disposal techniques.

  I would hope that this report will be of interest not only to the water industry in relation to sewage sludge disposal but also in a wider context to all those faced with the task of examining BPEOs.

  Archaeology and Planning
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the guidance on archaeology and planning, issued for consultation in February, will be published.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has today issued a planning policy guidance note on archaeology and planning. We have been most impressed
  147
  by, and grateful for, the thought that has gone into the comments we have received in response to the consultation document issued in February. There have been more than 200 responses, coming from a wide range of representative organisations including developers, local authorities, archaeologists, conservation and amenity bodies and museums, as well as individuals.

  We have taken the many comments into account in preparing the final guidance and we believe that we now have a well balance document which clearly sets out the importance of archaeology and how it should be handled in the planning process. It should go a long way to ensuring that the desirability of preserving archaeological remains is fully considered before planning decisions are made.

ENERGY

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy which copyright lawyers were consulted before authorising payment of a licence fee to MCA Merchandising for the use of the Herman Munster copyright to cover the Frank N. Stein advertising campaign.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government consulted Slaughter and May, their legal advisers. Other legal advice sought by WCRS is a matter for that company.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what supplementary fees have been, or are to be paid to WCRS, the advertising agency responsible for the Frank N. Stein advertising campaign for the flotation of the electricity distribution companies, as compensation for its costs in settling the claim for breach of the Herman Munster copyright by the MCA Merchandising subsidiary of Universal Studios, Hollywood, USA.

  Mr. Baldry
  No supplementary fees have been paid, or are to be paid to WCRS in respect of any aspect of the claim for alleged breach of copyright by MCA Merchandising. A total of £6,000 was paid by the Government as a contribution to the licence fee, which is normal in such circumstances.

  Energy Efficiency
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many people are employed in the energy efficiency office to give advice on energy efficiency for domestic hereditaments.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Energy Efficiency Office provides advice and information to householders through its domestic literature, which is also available through its regional offices. In addition, the EEO's new home energy efficiency scheme will provide grants for insulation and for advice on energy to eligible householders.

  South Wales Small Mines Association
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (i) when he anticipates receiving the decision of the competition directorate of the European Commission, regarding the complaint about discriminatory coal purchase pricing brought by the South Wales Small Mines Association;
  148
  (2) what is the deadline of the competition directorate of the European Commission to determine the complaint from the South Wales Small Mines Association regarding National Power's alleged discriminatory coal purchase pricing under article 85 of the treaty of Rome.

  Mr. Baldry
  It is for the competition directorate of the European Commission to reach a decision, and make an announcement, about the complaint made by the South Wales Small Mines Association.

  Multiple Share Applications
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what recent representations he has received regarding the funding of further computer runs relating to fuzzy matching techniques for the discovery of multiple share applications for British Gas shares in 1986.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Investigations into multiple share applications for British Gas shares are continuing.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what will be the cost of the detection of multiple share allocations for the flotation of the electricity distribution companies by(a) fuzzy matching and (b) other computerised techniques; and how it will be funded.

  Mr. Baldry
  The precise programme of work in this area has not been decided at this stage. The cost will depend on the scope of the work and also on the number of people applying for shares.

  Piper Alpha
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether his Department carried out its own research into the fire and explosion on Piper Alpha on 24 March 1984.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Department carried out its own investigation into this dangerous occurrence, making use of all available information.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy why his Department did not seek to institute legal proceedings following the explosion and fire in the gas conservation module on Piper Alpha on 24 March 1984.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Successful prosecutions require a significant commitment of resources, on the part of the relevant legal authorities as well as the Department. Prosecution is therefore a sanction to be applied with discretion, with regard to the likelihood of successful action and with regard to the value of the prosecution. The Department's approach to these issues was developed in collaboration with the procurator fiscal, who would alone be responsible for any decision to initiate proceedings. The dangerous occurrence on Piper Alpha on 24 March 1984 was ascribed to a design fault, probably attributable to the work of non-United Kingdom resident bodies. Also, prompt corrective action had voluntarily been taken by the operator, Occidental. In all the circumstances, the view was taken that a prosecution would have been uncertain, expensive and of little benefit.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what aspects of safety on Piper Alpha were covered in his Department's inspection of(a) February and (b) March 1984.
  149
  Mr. Wakeham
  The inspection of the installation on 21 February 1984 was a standard inspection of the installation, covering the normal range of operational activities. The visit by inspectors on 25 and 26 March 1984 was an investigation of the explosion in the gas compression module on 24 March.

  North Sea Installations
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what were the numbers of fatal accidents on oil platforms and other installations in the North sea in each year since 1978;

  (2) how many workers on North sea oil and gas installations were killed and seriously injured, respectively, in each year since 1978;

  (3) how many serious accidents, excluding fatal accidents, occurred on North sea oil and gas installations in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The number of fatalities and serious accidents—injuries to persons—on or near to offshore installations on the United Kingdom continental shelf reported to my Department from 1978 to 1989 are as follows:

  Fatalities

  Serious Accidents

  1978

  4

  40

  1979

  10

  43

  1980

  4

  45

  1981

  6

  59

  1982

  14

  39

  1983

  10

  47

  1984

  13

  59

  1985

  8

  103

  1986

  3

  101

  1987

  6

  59

  1988

  1173

  285

  1989

  3

  85

  1 167 relate to Piper Alpha.

  2 Includes 11 of the 61 Piper Alpha survivors.

  Source: "Development of the Oil and Gas Resources of the United Kingdom". This is published annually and copies are held in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what was the complement of full-time inspectors for North sea safety duties in his Department in each year since 1978; and what was the level of vacancies;

  (2) how many professional inspectors are employed by his Department on North sea oil and gas installation inspections; and what was the equivalent figure in each year since 1978;

  (3) how many full-time field inspectors are now engaged in offshore installations; and what was the equivalent figure in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The number of full-time professional inspectors employed in my Department's safety directorate, together with the complement and the number of vacancies is set out in the table.

  Date

  Complement

  Staff in Post

  Vacancies

  1980 (June)

  28

  25

  3

  1981 (July)

  33

  31

  2

  1982 (March)

  35

  32

  3

  1985 (October)

  33

  27

  6

  1987 (March)

  44

  36

  8

  1988 (November)

  46

  39

  7

  150

  Date

  Complement

  Staff in Post

  Vacancies

  1989 (October)

  46

  42

  4

  1990 (October)

  61

  43

  18

  Prior to 1988, figures are available only for the dates shown. No part-time inspectors are employed.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many installations there are in the British section of the North sea; and what was the equivalent figure for each year since 1978.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Information on the number of fixed platforms on the United Kingdom continental shelf and on mobile drilling activity—rig years—is shown in the table:

  Fixed platforms1

  Mobile drilling activity (rig years)

  1978

  55

  18·1

  1979

  58

  16·1

  1980

  60

  20·6

  1981

  64

  24·6

  1982

  67

  30·1

  1983

  74

  34·2

  1984

  84

  49·1

  1985

  92

  51·7

  1986

  110

  35·3

  1987

  123

  35·2

  1988

  131

  50·7

  1989

  141

  49·5

  1 The number of oil and gas platforms which are on location either drilling, producing or under construction.

  Source: "Development of the Oil and Gas Resources of the United Kingdom". This is published annually and copies are held in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total spent on the North sea safety inspectorate of his Department in each year since 1978 at constant prices.

  Mr. Wakeham
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many inspectors are currently directly employed by each of the certifying authorities licensed by him to inspect North sea oil and gas installations.

  Mr. Wakeham
  There are six certifying authorities appointed to carry out surveys and assessments of offshore installations in order to certify that they are fit for their intended purpose. They currently employ some 475 technical staff on this work.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many of the prosecutions mounted against operations of North sea oil and gas installations arose from accidents and how many arose from regular inspections;

  (2) if he will list the operators of North sea oil and gas installations who have been prosecuted in each year since 1978;

  (3) how many prosecutions of operators of North sea oil and gas installations have been made in each year since 1978; and how many were successful.
  151
  Mr. Wakeham
  Decisions on prosecutions are taken by the appropriate legal authorities, taking into account reports submitted by my Department.

  Details of companies convicted for breaches of health and safety legislation are as follows:

  Year and companies convicted

  Number of convictons

  1978

  Union Oil Co. of Great Britain

  1

  Shell UK Exploration and Production

  1

  Total

  2

  1979

  Seagull Offshore Enterprises

  1

  1980

  Stothert and Pitt Limited

  1

  1981

  Chevron Petroleum (UK) Limited

  1

  1982

  Southeastern Drilling Services

  1

  Bawden Drilling (UK) Limited

  1

  Dixilyn Field Drilling Venture

  1

  Halliburton Manufacturing and Services Limited

  1

  Shell UK Exploration and Production

  2

  BNOC (Development) Limited

  2

  Total

  8

  1983

  Jack Tighe (Offshore) Limited

  1

  Western Oceanic Inc.

  1

  Heerema Offshore Contractors

  1

  Occidental Petroleum (Caledonia) Limited

  1

  Total

  4

  1984

  Strathclyde Process Engineering Limited

  1

  Shell UK Exploration and Production

  2

  Western Oceanic (UK) Limited

  2

  Total

  5

  1985

  BP Oil Development Limited

  1

  Rigblast Offshore Limited

  1

  Bawden International Limited

  2

  Global Marine Drilling Company

  1

  Wilh Wilhelmsen Enterprises Limited

  1

  Shell UK Exploration and Production

  1

  Jack Tighe (Offshore) Limited

  1

  Total

  8

  1986

  OTIS Pressure Control Limited

  1

  1987

  Sonat Offshore Limited

  1

  1988

  Shell UK Exploration and Production

  1

  Occidental Petroleum (Caledonia) Limited

  1

  Santa Fe UK Limited

  1

  Total

  3

  1989

  Mobil North Sea Limited

  1

  Shell UK Exploration and Production

  1

  Total

  2

  152
  Information on the number of prosecutions resulting from accidents and from inspections is available only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many prohibitions or improvement notices under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act have been issued since 1978 to operators of North sea oil and gas installations.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Thirteen prohibition and improvement notices under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act have been served on offshore operators since 1978. My inspectors have additional powers under the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 to prohibit an activity or the use of equipment or to require improvements to be made. These powers have been designed specifically for offshore operations and are used extensively.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when his Department first considered the installation of sub-sea emergency shut-off valves on oil and gas pipelines in the North sea.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Following development of sub-sea valve technology in the early 1980s, amendments were introduced in 1986 to the Institute of Petroleum pipeline safety code on the advice of a committee on which my pipelines inspectorate was represented. These amendments recommended that risk assessment should be undertaken for new large inventory trunk and interfield pipelines to assess the need for sub-sea valves. In August 1988 my director of safety wrote to all pipeline operators asking them to re-evaluate immediately the need for sub-sea isolation systems on all existing pipelines.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of serious and fatal accidents on North sea oil and gas installations were investigated by his Department in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Wakeham
  It is the policy of my safety directorate to investigate all fatal accidents on offshore installations. The percentage of serious accidents investigated since 1978 can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Achievements
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the achievements of his Department since June 1987.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Legislation has been passed providing for the reorganisation and privatisation of the electricity supply industry in England and Wales. Flotation of the 12 regional electricity companies is going ahead according to plan and preparations are well advanced for the flotation of the two generating companies in February 1991.

  Government policies on taxation and licensing have ensured continued successful exploitation of the United Kingdom continental shelf. My Department has fully accepted the conclusions and recommendations of Lord Cullen's inquiry into the Piper Alpha accident. The Offshore Supplies Office has continued to support the United Kingdom offshore supplies industry on the United Kingdom continental shelf and in international markets.

  The Energy Efficiency Office has continued to promote energy efficiency. Its programmes have secured recurrent annual savings now worth over £500 million per year. It

  153
  has introduced the best practice programme to advance and spread good practice in energy efficiency, and developed the home energy efficiency scheme to provide grants for insulation measures and advice for low-income households.

  My Department has facilitated British Coal's continued restructuring of their business in response to changing market circumstances. In particular the Coal Industry Act 1990 introduced deficiency grant, eliminating British Coal's accumulated group deficit of £6 billion at 31 March 1990 and enabling outstanding borrowings to be reduced by over £4 billion.

  In the nuclear field, following the decision to retain nuclear power in public ownership, a new company, Nuclear Electric plc, has been set up to own those reactors previously owned by the CEGB. The restructuring of the Atomic Energy Authority has continued in light of current and future business prospects.

  On renewable sources of energy, my Department has published a 10-year forward development strategy as Energy Paper 55, doubled Government expenditure on Research and Development and introduced the first renewables order under the non-fossil fuel obligation of the Electricity Act 1989.

  As part of the United Kingdom's contribution to the international discussions on climate change my Department prepared a report which evaluated energy-related greenhouse gas emissions and measures to ameliorate them—Energy Paper 58.

EMPLOYMENT

  Earnings
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish a table showing the percentage increase in rank order since April 1979 in average weekly earnings in real terms for full-time adult male manual workers, including overtime and excluding absence, in mechanical engineering, motor-vehicle and parts industries, clothing, textiles, footwear, domestic electrical applicances, banking and finance, estate agency and property dealing, building societies, insurance business services, water, gas, telecommunications, petroleum tanker-drivers, underground coal-miners, national health service ancillary staff, national health service maintenance staff, hospital porters, ambulance men, hospital ward orderlies and primary teachers.

  Mr. Jackson
  Information on the average gross weekly earnings of full-time adult male manual employees is published by agreement, by industry and by occupation in part A of the annual new earnings survey reports for the years in question. Information is not available for manual workers in all the categories specified, nor do all the job descriptions specified precisely match the recognised standard classifications used in the survey. Information on the retail prices index (all items), to convert the figures to 1990 prices, is published for April 1990 in table 6·4 of the latest Employment Gazette, and in table 26 of the annual supplement to Economic Trends for April of earlier years. Copies of these publications are available in the Library.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish a table showing the percentage increase in average weekly earnings in real terms for full-time adult male manual workers in the 154
  public sector including overtime and excluding absence in the years 1970 to 1974, 1974 to 1979, 1979 to 1990 and 1985 to 1990 together with the corresponding figures for non-manuals in respectively, manufacturing, the public sector and the rest of the economy; and whether he will provide corresponding data for females.

  Mr. Jackson
  Information on the average gross weekly earnings of full-time adult, manual and non-manual employees in the public sector is published in table 1 of part A of the annual new earnings survey (NES) reports from 1979 onwards, and in a special article in the December 1977 Employment Gazette for earlier years. The categories "manufacturing", "public sector" and "rest of the economy" are not mutually exclusive groupings and data for them are thus not directly comparable. However, information for manual and non-manual employees in manufacturing and non-manufacturing, respectively, is published in table 4 of part A of the NES reports for the years in question, with the exception of data for non-manufacturing in 1990 which are as follows:

  Males £

  Females £

  Manuals

  227·1

  143·4

  Non-Manuals

  352·1

  217·3

  Information on the retail prices index (all items), to convert the figures to 1990 prices, is published for April 1990 in table 6.4 of the Employment Gazette, and in table 26 of the annual supplement to Economic Trends for April of earlier years. Copies of the publications are available in the Library.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish a table showing the industries on a three-digit basis in which the increase in real average weekly earnings since 1979 has been(a) less than half and (b) more than half the increase for the whole economy with his best estimate of the increase in output per head in each case over that period.

  Mr. Jackson
  The available information on average gross weekly earnings at 3 digit standard industrial classification (SIC) level is published in part C of the new earnings survey reports for the years in question. Information on the retail prices index (all items) to convert the figures to 1990 prices is published for April 1990 in table 6.4 of the latest Employment Gazette and in table 26 of the annual supplement Economic Trends for April of earlier years. Comparable figures are not available for output per head at three digit SIC level. Copies of the publications are available in the Library.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish a table showing the percentage increase in average weekly earnings in real terms for full-time adult and male manual workers in manufacturing including overtime and excluding absence in the years April 1970 to 1974, 1974 to 1979, 1979 to 1990 and 1985 to 1990 together with the corresponding figures for non-manuals generally; and whether he will provide corresponding data for females.

  Mr. Jackson
  Information on the average gross weekly earnings of full-time adult, manual and non-manual employees in manufacturing is published in tables 4–7 of Part A of the annual new earnings survey reports for the
  155
  years in question. Information on the retail prices index (all items) to convert the figures to 1990 prices is published for April 1990 in table 6.4 of the latest Employment Gazette, and in table 26 of the annual supplement Economic Trends for April of earlier years. Copies of the publications are available in the Library.

  George Kenyon
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received any representations regarding the death of George Kenyon at David Holt Plastics, Haslingden, Rossendale, on 24 May 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  I have received several letters from hon. Members about this case. Some enclosed copies of letters from the public urging me to reopen the manslaughter case against Mr. David Holt. However, that is a question for my right hon. Friend the Attorney-General, who is well aware of the circumstances of the case.

  Following an investigation by HSE inspectors, legal proceedings under the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974 and the Factories Act 1961 were instituted against the two directors of David Holt Plastics Ltd. The company and the two directors received fines totalling £47,000.

  In addition, the Crown Prosecution Service also brought charges of manslaughter against the directors. Norman Holt pleaded guilty and received a year's prison sentence suspended for two years. David Holt's plea of not guilty to manslaughter was accepted by the prosecution, although the judge ordered the case to remain on file.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received any reports from the Health and Safety Executive regarding the death of George Kenyon at David Holt Plastics, Haslingden, Rossendale, on 24 May 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The HSE has kept me informed of the details of the case, but has not produced a formal report. Following an investigation by HSE inspectors, legal proceedings under the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974 and the Factories Act 1961 were instituted against the two directors of David Holt Plastics Ltd. The company and the two directors received fines totalling £47,000. In addition, the Crown Prosecution Service also brought charges of manslaughter against the directors. Norman Holt pleaded guilty and received a year's prison sentence suspended for two years. David Holt's plea of not guilty to manslaughter was accepted by the prosecution, although the judge ordered the case to remain on file.

  Disability
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration is being given to enacting anti-discrimination legislation to make unlawful discrimination against disabled people in employment and other areas modelled on the recent American Disabilities Act; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The consultative document "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities", which was published on 29 June, sets out various options for encouraging the employment of people with disabilities. What action to take will be considered in the light of the comments we receive.
  156
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is being done to ensure that the 3 per cent. quota for the employment of disabled people is being met.

  Mr. Jackson
  A number of specific steps are taken by the Employment Service which include:—an annual postal inquiry, into the extent to which employers within the scope of the scheme (those with 20 or more workers) are employing registered disabled people;
  —employers revealed by the inquiry to be employing less than the 3 per cent. quota are informed of their duties and obligations under the scheme, including the need to obtain permits before engaging other than registered disabled people;
  —authorised officers conduct a continuing programme of inspections of the record which employers who are within scope of the scheme arc obliged to keep;
  —wide distribution of the booklet "Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts 1944 and 1958. Employers obligations: Notes for Guidance", and of the Employment Service's code of good practice on the employment of disabled people.

  However, the main thrust of the Department's efforts in this area is through disablement resettlement officers in actively helping the resettlement of people with disabilities; and by disablement advisory service teams in promoting constructive employment policies towards people with disabilities.

  Health and Safety at Work, ect. Act
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act applies to Crown premises; and if it is enforceable against such premises.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 is enforceable against persons not premises. The Act does apply to the Crown, but it cannot be enforced against the Crown in the courts or by the use of enforcement notices. In practice, the Health and Safety Executive has agreed with the Crown to seek compliance with health and safety standards through a system of Crown notices. These notices either require the Crown to make improvements within a specified time limit (Crown improvement notice) or to stop work immediately (Crown prohibition notice).

  Youth Training
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has made any assessment of the financial contribution made by employers to the cost of youth training.

  Mr. Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 2 July 1990 at column 472.

  New Businesses
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the net number of new businesses being created each week so far in 1990.

  Mr. Forth
  During 1989, the latest period for which figures have been published by my Department, the number of businesses registered for VAT increased by nearly 1,700 a week on average. Early indications from data collected by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise is that there continues to be a substantial surplus of registrations over deregistrations.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he has taken to ensure that every training and enterprise council makes provision within its area for those with special needs.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 20 November 1990]: Each training and enterprise council (TEC) is required to set out in its corporate and business plans how it intends to meet the requirements of people with special needs. In approving plans my Department will ensure that appropriate proposals showing how the TEC will address this issue are set out. TECs are bound by their contract with my Department to implement the provision of their plans.

SCOTLAND

  Owner-occupation
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the level of owner-occupation in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Over 50 per cent. of the total housing stock in Scotland is now owner occupied, compared to 35 per cent. in 1979.

  Uplands Afforestation
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Forestry Commission to discuss the environmental consequences of afforestation in the uplands.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend met the Director General of the Forestry Commission in September when they discussed a wide range of forestry matters.

  Constitutional Reform
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on Scottish opinion concerning constitutional reform in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  The 1979 referendum demonstrated that, when faced with the full implications of constitutional reform, the Scottish electorate had no enthusiasm for it. Opinion polls have repeatedly indicated that the voters do not regard constitutional change as a priority issue.

  Steel Plant Closures
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman of British Steel to discuss plant closures.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend last met the Chairman of British Steel on 7 November.

  Redundancies
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with firms in Renfrew district about impending redundancies; and what practical assistance his Department has been able to offer.

  Mr. Lang
  My Department is in close touch with companies in Renfrew district that have announced 158
  redundancies and has ensured that they are aware of the assistance available, through regional selective assistance, towards capital expenditure designed to create or safeguard jobs. Decisions on such investment are matters for the companies themselves.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met trade union representatives from the steel industry to discuss future steel production in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend last met representatives of the steel trade unions on 14 November, when he met representatives of the Clydesdale unions. The discussion covered prospects for that plant.

  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to meet the chairman of British Steel to discuss the scottish steel industry.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend met the Chairman of British Steel on 7 November. No further meetings are planned at present.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many reports of potential Japanese or German purchasers of British Steel plants in Lanarkshire his Department has received and investigated.

  Mr. Lang
  Two reports of Japanese interest have been investigated. I am not aware of any reports of potential German purchasers of British Steel plants in Scotland.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report statements made about the Scottish steel industry by the Scottish Industry Minister over the period 8 to 12 November.

  Mr. Lang
  Over the period in question my only statements about the Scottish steel industry were made in response to the press and to the Young Conservative conference. Official records are not available for either of these occasions.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has given to Locate in Scotland and British embassies about British Steel's willingness as sellers of its plants in Lanarkshire.

  Mr. Lang
  No specific information has been passed regarding British Steel's willingness to sell its plants.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the dates over the past 12 months when he has met the chairman or other senior executives of British Steel; and when he next expects to meet them.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend met the chairman of British Steel and his chief executive on 15 May, 16 October and 7 November this year. He would expect to meet the chairman of British Steel again whenever appropriate.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had or intends to have with British Steel about its future policy with regard to retaining or abandoning Glasgow as its price basing point.

  Mr. Lang
  Policy on price-basing points has not arisen during discussions between my right hon. and learned Friend and the chairman of British Steel.
  159
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions he has given to Locate in Scotland and British embassies about advertising the possible availability for sale of British Steel assets in Scotland; and when these instructions were first sent.

  Mr. Lang
  The assets belong to the company, not to the Government; therefore it is not for the Government to advertise the assets for sale.

  Law Centres
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision is being made in introducing additional law centres into Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are no plans to introduce additional law centres in Scotland from centrally provided funds.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of local government income in Scotland comes from(a) the charge payer, (b) the business rate payer and (c) revenue support grant.

  Mr. Lang
  On the basis of local authorities' budget estimates for 1990–91: 22 per cent. of local authority income will come from their community chargepayers; 23·4 per cent. from their business ratepayers; and 54·6 per cent. from revenue support grant and specific grants.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the unpaid community charge in Tayside; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received a number of representations about unpaid community charges from people living in Tayside region, including those who are concerned about the effect this may have on community charge levels next year. Local authorities have a number of powers available to them to enable them to collect arrears of community charge and they have a duty to make rigorous use of these to collect the charges due to them. It would be grossly unfair for any authority to increase next year's bills to cover non-payment and, instead, authorities should take account of any shortfall in income by adjusting their expenditure plans.

  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on representations which have been made to him for the reform or abolition of the poll tax.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received a number of representations about different aspects of the community charge arrangements. We are always prepared to consider any suggestions for making the present arrangements more effective, and to take action where appropriate.

  Scottish Homes
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to meet the chairman of Scottish Homes concerning the provision of more housing.
  160
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I regularly meet Sir James Mellon, the chairman of Scottish Homes. Our last meeting took place on 23 October, when discussion covered a range of strategic issues, including the provision of housing. No date has yet been set for our next meeting.

  Strathclyde Schools
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of Strathclyde regional council's education committee, to discuss the quality of education in schools in Strathclyde; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has not recently had any such meeting. He met the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on 6 July to discuss financial support for local authority services including education, and will do so again on 26 November.

  Pittenweem Harbour
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is his intention to meet representatives of the fishing industry in north-east Fife to discuss the development of Pittenweem harbour.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Such a meeting was held in the hon. and learned Gentleman's constituency last week.

  Integrated Transport System
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to ensure that Scotland has an integrated transport system by the year 2000; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As my right hon. and learned Friend told the House on 17 October 1990, the Government believe in a balanced transport policy, providing users with as much choice as possible between competing forms of transport.

  Manufacturing Employment
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many jobs in manufacturing have been lost since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  The net job losses in manufacturing in Scotland between 1979 and 1989 totalled 210,700. This figure should be regarded as provisional, as it may change when more data become available.

  The table shows a components of change analysis of jobs in the manufacturing industry in Scotland between 1979 and 1989. The net loss of 210,700 includes 187,000 due to plant closures; 124,800 due to plant contraction; 58,400 new jobs due to plant openings; and 42,700 due to plant expansions.

  Scotch Whisky Association
  Mr. Lambie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will next meet representatives of the Scotch Whisky Association.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to meet representatives of the Scotch Whisky Association.

  Renfrewshire Economy
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans his Department has to improve the condition of the economy and manufacturing industry in Renfrewshire.

  Mr. Lang
  The Scottish Office continues to support economic development in Renfrewshire through the provision of financial assistance towards capital investment which creates or maintains employment, through the attraction of inward investment to the area, through its involvement in the Ferguslie Park partnership and through its support, through the SDA, for the Inverclyde initiative and a number of other local initiatives. In addition, Inverclyde benefits from enterprise zone status. For the future, the Renfrewshire local enterprise company will pursue economic development and training proposals within the framework of Scottish Enterprise.

  GATT Talks
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to defend Scotland's agricultural interests and rural areas; and what representations he has made regarding the general agreement on tariffs and trade talks which are taking place.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The arable and dairy sectors in Scotland have generally experienced a favourable year in 1990.

  In the livestock sector, however, farm incomes are expected to fall again this year. The Government have already acted, by intervention in the beef sector, by raising the suckler cow premium in the less-favoured areas to the maximum sum payable, and by bringing forward the two advance payments of the sheep annual premium. The circumstances of livestock farmers in the hills and uplands in Scotland are currently being considered in the annual hill farming review.

  My right hon. and learned Friend contributes fully to the Government's policy towards the general agreement on tariffs and trade.

  Steel Mills
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met shop stewards from the Ravenscraig strip mill and Dalzell plate mill to discuss the future of the mills.

  Mr. Lang
  My right hon. and learned Friend met representatives of the Ravenscraig unions, covering the strip mill, on 10 October. I met representatives of the Dalzell trade unions on 15 October.

  Earnings
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to improve the gathering of average earnings statistics for the regions of Scotland.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The Employment Department has no plans to change the new earnings survey sampling arrangements at present.

  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the level of average earnings is in the Borders region.
  162
  Mr. Rifkind
  The new earnings survey is the only source of information on average earnings for areas within Scotland. It is not possible to provide an estimate of average earnings for the Borders region because the new earnings survey sample does not give sufficiently reliable estimates for this region.

  Roads
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the rate of progress of upgrading Scottish roads.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The upgrading of the Scottish road network is progressing well. Particularly rapid progress continues to be made on our 1987 manifesto commitment to upgrade the A74 to motorway standard. Three sections of the route are now under construction and further sections will follow as resources and completion of statutory procedures allow.

  Another of our priorities is the early completion of the central Scotland motorway network. Further extensions to the existing M74, M8 and M80 are planned over the next few years. Indeed, advance works are soon to commence on the northward extension of the existing M74 towards Glasgow with main works following on next year.

  As well as these important additions to Scotland's motorway network, improvements will continue to be made on strategic trunk routes as well as other localised but worthwhile projects.

  The significant increase in motorway and trunk road funding in recent years is evidence of the Government's commitment to the provision of the best possible trunk road network to serve Scotland in the latter half of the nineties and into the next century.

  Nature Conservation
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what replies he has sent to the Scottish Sports Council letter of 28 September about the organisation of nature conservation and countryside matters.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Sports Council letter of 28 September was in fact a response to the consultation paper on Scotland's Natural Heritage and the views expressed in it were taken into account along with all other such expressions of views as part of the consultation process. A specific reply would not therefore normally be issued but an acknowledgement was sent on 9 October. As the council published its response and it was also raised with me by the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell), I have responded to the Chairman on 20 November and released my reply to the media. A copy has also been sent to the hon. Member for Linlithgow. It makes clear the Government's view that the access and recreation functions of the Countryside Commission for Scotland are most appropriately transferred to the new body, Scottish Natural Heritage, which will be best placed to offer advice on all issues affecting the natural heritage.

  Private Detectives
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what authority the Central Legal Office used private detectives to monitor the behaviour of Carol Campbell.
  163
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Central Legal Office was acting on the instructions of Dumfries and Galloway health board which took the decision to use private detectives in this case in the light of legal advice from senior counsel and the Central Legal Office.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his Department's policy on the use of private detectives by the Central Legal Office.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This is a matter for individual health boards in the light of legal advice.

  Conservation
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all those sites which have been(a) designated and (b) proposed for designation as (i) special protection areas under the European Community directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds or (ii) Ramsar sites under the convention on Wetlands of International Importance.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information for designated sites is set out in the table. Sites are designated by my right hon. and learned Friend on the recommendation of the Nature Conservancy Council. Those sites for which NCC has already made, or intends to make, a recommendation for designation are listed at table 3.1 of the Council's publication "Protecting Internationally Important Birds Sites", which is lodged in the Library.

  (a) Designated sites

  (i) Special protection areas

  Site

  Island/District council

  Loch Druidibeg

  Western Isles

  Handa

  Sutherland

  Rhum

  Lochaber

  Priest Island

  Ross and Cromarty

  Loch Eye

  Ross and Cromarty

  Loch of Skene

  Gordon

  Abernethy Forest

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  Islay: Glac Na Criche

  Argyll and Bute

  Islay: Feur Lochain

  Argyll and Bute

  Islay: Loch Gruinart

  Argyll and Bute

  Islay: Bridgend Flats

  Argyll and Bute

  Islay: Laggan

  Argyll and Bute

  Islay: Eilean Na Muice Dubhe (Duich Moss)

  Argyll and Bute

  Ailsa Craig

  Kyle and Carrick

  Forth Islands

  East Lothian, Kirkcaldy and North East Fife

  Gladhouse Reservoir

  Midlothian

  Fala Flow

  Midlothian

  Hoselaw Loch

  Roxburgh

  (ii) Ramsar sites

  Site

  Island/District council

  Loch an Duin

  Western Isles

  Loch Druidibeg

  Western Isles

  Claish Moss

  Lochaber

  Loch Eye

  Ross and Cromarty

  Loch of Skene

  Gordon

  Cairngorm Lochs

  Kincardine and Deeside, Badenoch and Strathspey

  Islay: Glac Na Criche

  Argyll and Bute

  Islay: Feur Lochain

  Argyll and Bute

  Islay: Loch Gruinart

  Argyll and Bute

  Islay: Bridgend Flats

  Argyll and Bute

  Islay: Eilean Na Muice Duibhe (Duich Moss)

  Argyll and Bute

  164

  Site

  Island/District council

  Loch Lomond

  Dumbarton and Stirling

  Silver Flowe

  Wigtown

  Loch of Lintrathen

  Angus

  Loch Leven

  Perth and Kinross

  Rannoch Moor

  Perth and Kinross, Lochaber, Argyll and Bute

  Gladhouse Reservoir

  Midlothian

  Fala Flow

  Midlothian

  Hoselaw Loch

  Roxburgh

  Cancer Screening
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects a computerised call and recall system will be set up in order to allow all Scottish women to have regular cervical screening in whichever health board area they live.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Fully computerised call and recall systems are in operation in all health board areas except Highland and Lothian which have partially computerised systems. These boards expect to have full systems soon, Highland this financial year, and Lothian next financial year. In addition around 600 general practitioners now use GPASS—general practice administration system for Scotland—which also provides a computerised call and recall for cervical cytology.

  Pelagic Fishermen
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association on the withdrawal of the Export Credits Guarantee Department cover on trade with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My noble Friend the Minister for Fisheries in Scotland has discussed the matter with the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association, and is aware of the concerns of others in the pelagic industry in Scotland, regarding changes in the ECGD's arrangements covering trade with the USSR. My noble Friend is looking into the matter on their behalf and will write to the hon. Member when he has completed his inquiries.

  Wild Foxes
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total annual expenditure incurred by the Forestry Commission in controlling the numbers of the wild fox population.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) on 1 November at column 723.

  Forests
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans the Government have with regard to continued public access to forests being disposed of by the Forestry Commission.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The Forestry Commission welcomes the public on foot to all its woodlands, provided that this does not conflict with forestry operations and that there is no legal or other constraint on public access.

  In answer to a question from my hon. Friend on 16 June 1989, Official Report, columns 544–45, I made a

  165
  statement on the Forestry Commission's disposals programme. In this I expressed the Government's concern that the general public should continue to enjoy access to those forests to be disposed of by the Commission in a way which is compatible with management for forestry and other purposes.

  My right hon. Friends and I have given careful consideration to ways of achieving this objective. In doing so, we have had regard to the nature of access enjoyed by the public at present and the need to ensure that any measures which we adopt are effective, avoid needless bureaucracy and achieve a proper balance between public enjoyment and the ability of the new owner to manage his woodland.

  We have concluded that it would not be appropriate to proceed by way of new legislation, since this could not be framed in a sufficiently flexible way to cover the widely differing circumstances affecting woodlands throughout Great Britain. The option of imposing access conditions on sale has also had to be ruled out on the basis of legal advice that these would be of doubtful effect against subsequent owners.

  Instead, we have decided that the best way forward will be for the Government to ask the Forestry Commission to give advance notice to local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales of intended disposals of woodlands under its management, and to offer to enter into legal agreements with them which will provide for continued public access to the woodlands after sale. Such agreements will be compatible with the management of the woodlands for forestry and other purposes and will be binding on subsequent owners. These arrangements will apply to those woodlands where there are no existing legal or other constraints on public access to the land, and it will, of course, be up to individual local authorities to decide whether they wish to enter into an agreement with the Forestry Commission for any particular woodland prior to sale.
  166
  We see a number of advantages in these procedures. They can be introduced quickly. They will be tailored to suit local circumstances. Most importantly, the elected representatives of local people will be fully involved in the process, so reflecting the value that we attach to continued public use of the woodlands concerned.

  The Forestry Commission, with the co-operation of the Countryside Commission and the Countryside Commission for Scotland, will publish Guidelines setting out the details of these arrangements, after consulting with appropriate public and private bodies concerned with public access to the countryside, forestry and land management.

  We intend that the new arrangements will be introduced as soon as possible. In the meantime, the Forestry Commission will defer the sale of woodlands which are particularly sensitive in relation to public access.

  By taking this initiative, we are demonstrating the Government's firm commitment to maintaining and improving public access to the countryside.

  Greater Glasgow Health Board
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many members of staff the Greater Glasgow health board has in its public relations departments; what is the annual budget and running cost of this department; and what is the value of the contract awarded by the board to an outside public relations consultancy to advise the board as to how it might improve its communications with the public and staff.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 19 November 1990]: The public relations department of Greater Glasgow health board employs three officers and a secretary; expenditure for 1989–90 was £100,000 per annum. The value of any contracts placed with outside consultants is a matter of commercial confidence.

  CAYMAN ISLANDS: CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW
  CAYMAN ISLANDS: CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW
  BEREAVEMENT DAMAGES
  BEREAVEMENT DAMAGES
  POLICE FORCES' INCOME: AUDIT COMMISSION REPORT
  POLICE FORCES' INCOME: AUDIT COMMISSION REPORT
  MILLBANK AUTISTIC UNIT
  MILLBANK AUTISTIC UNIT
  PERTH/INVERNESS ROAD: TRAFFIC GROWTH
  PERTH/INVERNESS ROAD: TRAFFIC GROWTH