Written Answers of 22 November 1990

CIVIL SERVICE

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what progress has been made towards achieving equality of opportunity for women in the civil service.

  Region

  Average new mortgage1

  Weekly payment2

  Increase

  June 1988 9·80 per cent. interest rate

  November 1990 14·65 per cent. interest rate

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Northern

  33,600

  49·19

  73·53

  24·34

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  33,000

  48·06

  71·84

  23·78

  East Midlands

  38,100

  57·67

  86·21

  28·54

  East Anglia

  43,000

  66·90

  100·01

  33·11

  Greater London

  59,800

  98·57

  147·35

  48·78

  South East

  54,000

  87·63

  131·00

  43·37

  South West

  45,000

  70·67

  105·65

  34·98

  West Midlands

  37,400

  56·35

  84·24

  27·89

  North West

  34,800

  51·45

  76·91

  25·46

  Wales

  35,100

  52·02

  77·76

  25·74

  Scotland

  32,500

  47·12

  70·43

  23·32

  Northern Ireland

  23,600

  33·36

  49·87

  16·51

  United Kingdom

  42,200

  65·40

  97·76

  32·36

  1 Building Society mortgages, third quarter 1990.

  2 Assuming endowment mortgage.

  Tanzania and Uganda
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated cash flow saving per year to Tanzania and Uganda if all official bilateral creditors were to implement Trinidad terms for their debt.

  Mr. Maples
  Tanzania and Uganda owe bilateral official creditors about $2·7 billion and $0·5 billion respectively. Annual interest payments required in order to prevent these debt stocks from continuing to rise would be about $150 million for Tanzania, and $15 million for Uganda. These estimates take account of the different mix of concessional/non-concessional loans outstanding to the two countries. In order to repay the full stock of debt, average future total payments would have to be even higher. The application of Trinidad terms by all bilateral official creditors would mean no payments would be made for five years, with amounts paid rising steadily thereafter, so that the one third of the stock of debt remaining after the write-off would have been repaid after 25 years.

  Premium Bonds
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will supply figures for the numbers of individuals purchasing premium bonds for each year from 1979 to date.
  168
  Mr. Mellor
  A report giving full details of progress made in 1989 has today been published by HMSO. I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Mortgage Repayments
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average increase in repayments per week on the average mortgage in each region between 1 June 1988 and now.

  Mr. Maples
  Information for an average new mortgage is in the table. Details of average amounts outstanding on all mortgages by region are not available.

  Mr. Maples
  The numbers of individuals purchasing premium bonds is not available. The number of purchases of premium bonds for each calendar year from 1979 to date has been as follows:

  Thousands

  1979

  4,463·1

  1980

  4,103·1

  1981

  3,674·1

  1982

  3,298·3

  1983

  3,499·5

  1984

  3,328·6

  1985

  2,530·0

  1986

  1,949·8

  1987

  1,962·0

  1988

  2,036·7

  1989

  1,418·0

  1990

  1541·8

  1 January to October: provisional.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to reduce the level of the minimum premium bond investment from £100.

  Mr. Maples
  No.

  International Monetary Fund
  Mr. John Townend
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the proposed amendment to the international monetary fund's articles of agreement.

  Mr. Maples
  The third amendment to the articles of agreement of the IMF empowers the fund to suspend the voting and related rights of members who do not fulfil their obligations under the fund's articles. This power is intended, in particular, to enable suspension of members in protracted arrears to the fund. The Government support the amendment. A Command Paper on the amendment is now available from the Vote Office.

TRANSPORT

  Coach Speed Limiters
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to change the present annual testing arangements for public service vehicle coach speed limiters; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  We are planning to incorporate a check of speed limiters into the annual PSV roadworthiness test as a statutory test item from 1 April 1991 and we shall be consulting on detailed proposals shortly. Once this change has been made any vehicle which is found to be in breach of the relevant regulations will fail the test. Until that time we shall be continuing to run the special campaign to check speed limiters during the PSV roadworthiness test. If vehicles which fall within the category to be tested are found not to have a speed limiter fitted, enforcement action will be taken.

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the policy towards the obligation to fit

  Number of Full-time staff employed on 16 November 1990

  Number of Part-time staff employed on 16 November 1990

  Total cost 1989–90

  Total cost 1990–91

  38

  5

  £793,000

  £775,000

  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 on civil defence will depend upon the outcome of that review.

  Wheel Clamping
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider legislation to regulate car-clamping activities, other than those carried out by the police or their express agents.

  Mr. Chope
  I am keeping the matter under review.

  Motor Cyclists (Training)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what facilities will be available by 1 December within(a) Orkney and (b) Shetland for the basic training necessary for obtaining a provisional motor cycle driving licence after 1 December.
  170
  a speed limiter to a public service vehicle coach being dependent on the owner or operator's declaration that the vehicle is capable of achieving 70 mph.

  Mr. Chope
  It is the legal responsibility of the operators of a coach to determine whether or not any particular vehicle needs to have a speed limiter fitted. It would be impracticable for the Department to road test every vehicle to determine its maximum speed capability, but we are well aware which makes of coach are likely to require speed limiters.

  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the level of public service vehicle coach speed limiter fitment as it affects vehicles first registered between 1 April 1984 and 31 March 1989.

  Mr. Chope
  All coaches which have a maximum speed capability in excess of 70 mph, and which were first used since 1 April 1984 must now have speed limiters fitted. Operators with coaches which were first used between 1 April 1974 and 31 March 1984 have until 31 March 1991 to comply. Any operators found in breach of the regulations risk tough punitive action as part of our special enforcement campaign.

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. Freeman
  The information required is as follows:

  Mr. Chope
  Sites for use for basic training have been approved at Kirkwall in Orkney, and at Lerwick in Shetland. I expect the operators of both these sites to be offering basic training courses from 1 December. Under the regulations, all residents of the islands surrounding the mainlands of Orkney and Shetland are exempt from the requirement to undergo an approved basic training course before riding on the road unaccompanied. They are also exempt from the need to produce a certificate of completion of an approved training course in order to take an "L" test with the Driving Standards Agency. This follows the precedent of the exemptions for the existing part I motor cycle test which basic training will supersede.

  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that there is adequate provision for the compulsory basic training of learner motor cyclists living in remote rural areas.

  Mr. Chope
  Since July my officials have been working closely with motor cycle training organisations, retailers, road safety officers and ACPO in a joint action group to ensure that the whole of Great Britain is well covered by
  171
  training sites, and training organisations. I expect almost the whole of Great Britain to be within 30 miles of a site operated by an approved training body. I welcome the fact that in the Highland region, the regional council has let a contract for the supply of training at 11 sites that might not be commercially viable.

  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will consider the introduction of a fixed period exemption for learner motor cyclists through the issue of a provisional licence for the duration of the training period to those living in remote areas not served by public transport.

  Mr. Chope
  Compulsory basic training is designed to improve the safety of all new learner motor cycle and moped riders on our roads. There is no road safety benefit in allowing some riders to avoid the training that others are required to take and after consultation I am satisfied that there will be adequate coverage of facilities except in the smaller islands where a total exemption applies.

  Tactile Surfaces
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research his Department is carrying out into tactile surfaces to warn the blind, and advise as to safe routes and information points; when the results of the research will be published and advice notes circulated to highway authorities; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what action he intends to take to ensure standardisation of tactile paving and similar initiatives across the country as a whole.

  Mr. Freeman
  Advice was issued to all local authorities by my Department in 1986 on the use of a specific tactile surface in conjunction with dropped kerbs at controlled crossings. Similar advice will shortly be issued to local authorities on the use of the same tactile surface at uncontrolled crossings and side streets.

  My Department has also commissioned research into the usefulness of a range of other tactile surfaces to provide guidance and warning for blind and partially sighted pedestrians. Trials with those surfaces are currently under way and we will issue advice early in 1991 to local authorities on the appropriate use of each surface in the pedestrian environment.

  Public Transport
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many licensed public transport vehicles have operated within the United Kingdom on an annual basis from 1979 to 1989.

  Mr. Chope
  The information for the end of December each year is as follows:

  Licensed public transport vehicles with nine or more seats: United Kingdom

  Year

  thousands

  1979

  75

  1980

  73

  1981

  71

  1982

  69

  1983

  69

  1984

  69

  1985

  68

  1986

  70

  1987

  72

  172

  Year

  thousands

  1988

  74

  1989

  75

  Leighton Linslade Bypass
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, during the construction of the Leighton Linslade southern bypass by Bedfordshire county council, he will agree to an access from the Totternhoe Lime and Stone Company to the bypass; whether such an access is permitted within the existing guidelines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Leighton Linslade southern bypass will ultimately form part of the east-west route referred to in the White Paper "Roads for Prosperity". This will be a major strategic route from the M40 to the east coast ports.

  The Secretary of State would not wish to see a direct access from the Totternhoe Lime and Stone Company on to the bypass for reasons of safety and because it would restrict the free flow of traffic.

  Existing guidelines indicate that such accesses should be restricted in the interests of traffic and safety.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total number of staff employed by his Department; and under what headings they are employed.

  Mr. Freeman
  A total of 16,675 staff are currently employed by the Department of Transport, including its executive agencies, under the following main headings:

  Percentage of total staff

  Department of Transport Central

  43

  including—

  Public transport

  Highways safety and traffic Aviation, shipping and international work

  Personnel management and finance

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

  35

  Driving Standards Agency

  13

  Vehicle Inspectorate Executive Agency

  8

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  1

  100

  Cyclists
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what level of consultation his Department has with cycling organisations; and what action is taken to encourage local highway authorities to similarly consult with cyclists over matters concerning access and safety.

  Mr. Chope
  We have regular discussion with cycling organisations on local, regional and national issues affecting cycling. We consult the main organisations representing cycling on our proposed publications and statutory regulations in the traffic and signing field. Individual schemes affecting trunk roads can be discussed at regional office level.

  It is for local highway authorities to decide for themselves how to consult local cycling interests on issues affecting their roads. We are aware that many authorities have established helpful relationships in their areas.

  North Sea Installations (Inspections)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many inspectors have been deployed full time on the inspection of North sea oil and gas installations in each year since 1978; and what was the establishment in each year.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Marine surveyors in my Department undertake the examination of fire-fighting arrangements and life-saving appliances on offshore installations on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy. Work on offshore activities is integrated with other duties of marine surveyors and is estimated to account for about eight man years in 1978 rising to 12 man years in 1987, where it has remained. There is no established complement of surveyors for these duties and surveyors are made available whenever they are required.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many prosecutions have been mounted in each year since 1978 following inspections by his staff of North sea oil and gas installations.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  None. The enforcement of safety legislation for offshore installations is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy.

  Drink-Driving
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total number of road accidents, injuries and fatalities which took place when the driver was found to be over the legal alcohol limit; and if he will show injuries and fatalities separately for children aged under five years, for the years 1988 and 1989.

  Mr. Chope
  It is estimated that in 1988 there were 14,600 injury accidents in which at least one driver or rider involved was over the legal alcohol limit. It is estimated that 840 people were killed in those accidents, 5,650 were seriously injured and 16,200 were slightly injured. Figures for 1989 are not final, as returns from coroners are not yet complete, but current indications suggest that the final outturn will be very similar to the 1988 levels.

  Children under five years of age make up only a small proportion of casulaties in drink-drive accidents. In 1988 there were four children under five killed, 23 seriously injured and 123 slightly injured in accidents where it was established beyond doubt that at least one driver or rider was over the legal alcohol limit. In 1989 the corresponding figures so far are three killed, 25 seriously injured and 108 slightly injured.

  Community Transport
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities and passenger transport authorities financially support community transport initiatives in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Freeman
  The passenger transport executives and many councils support special needs transport for the elderly or mobility handicapped. We do not however have comprehensive information about local authority support for community transport initiatives.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  PC Surinder Singh
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much it cost the Nottinghamshire police authority to defend the case of racial discrimination brought by PC Surinder Singh; and how much it cost the Commission for Racial Equality to prosecute the case.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand that the total costs in this case for both Nottinghamshire police authority and the Commission for Racial Equality have yet to be determined. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as this information is available.

  Police Cells
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are provided by his Department on the use of wicket gates in police cells.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Home Office guidance on the use of cell door service hatches (known as "wicket gates") specifies that where cell doors are fitted with a drop-down service hatch, the hatch should not be left open when the cell is occupied by a prisoner.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were being held in police cells at the latest date for which information is available.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  On Wednesday 21 November, 998 prisoners were held in police cells.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's guidelines are on the care of suicidal people in police stations; and where that information is contained.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Home Office has issued no guidelines on the care of persons in police custody with suicidal tendencies. The codes of practice issued in accordance with section 66 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 require custody officers to summon a force medical examiner if any detainee appears to require medical attention, which would include a person with known suicidal tendencies. It is for chief police officers to issue any instructions necessary to ensure that the requirements of the codes are met.

  Police Complaints System
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if his Department will begin to collect and monitor data on the ethnic origins of complainants in the statistics they gather from the police forces in the United Kingdom in order to assess the effectiveness of the police complaints system;

  (2) what is his policy in respect of the case for the Police Complaints Authority to gather data on the ethnic origins of complainants in cases that it has dealt with.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No central data are currently collected on complainants since they are not always the aggrieved party and sometimes have no direct involvement in the complaint. Complaints of racially discriminatory behaviour accounted for less than 1 per cent. of all complaints made against the police in 1989, both in the Metropolitan police district and elsewhere in England and Wales.
  175
  The Police Complaints Authority does not seek personal data of any kind from police forces for statistical purposes, nor has it specific powers to do so. I understand, however, that the authority intends to start publishing details of the number of complaints of racially discriminatory behaviour in its annual report for 1990.

  Distress Warrants
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of distress warrants issued by magistrates courts in 1989.

  Mr. John Patten
  Around 590,000 distress warrants in respect of fine and fee accounts and maintenance accounts were issued by magistrates courts in 1989.

  Gaming
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the regulation of the promotion of gaming by radio advertising.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  One reflection of our well-established policy that demand for gambling should not be

  Number of full-lime staff employed on 16 November 1990

  Number of part-time staff employed on 16 November 1990

  Total cost 1989–90 £

  Estimated total cost 1990–91 £

  166

  13

  3,092,756

  3,302,000

  My right hon. and learned Friend announced in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) on 16 October at column 773 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 on civil defence will depend on the outcome of that review.

  Malicious Communications
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish data for 1989 relating to prosecutions under the Malicious Communications Act 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Command Paper "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1989" and its five supplementary volumes were published on 16 November 1990. Copies are available in the Library.

  Information on the Malicious Communications Act 1988 is given in the table.

  Persons prosecuted under the Malicious Communications Act 1988

  England and Wales 1989

  Number

  Prosecutions

  49

  Convicted

  40

  Sentenced:

  40

  Absolute discharge

  1

  Conditional discharge

  7

  Probation Order

  1

  Fine

  30

  Other

  1

  176
  encouraged unduly is that neither gaming nor betting may be advertised by broadcast. Subject to that, we are considering advice from the Gaming Board for Great Britain on proposals by the Bingo Association of Great Britain that the current prohibition on the advertising in any medium of specific licensed bingo clubs as places where gaming takes place, under the Gaming Act 1968, should be revised so as to allow the advertising of bingo clubs as such both in print and by radio.

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. John Patten
  The information requested is as follows:

  Michael Hickey
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response has been given by the governor of Long Lartin to the request that the psychiatrist Dr. McKeith be permitted to examine Michael Hickey.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  A request for a visit by Dr. McKeith was made in a letter from Mr. Hickey's solicitors on 13 November 1990. There are no objections to Dr. McKeith examining Mr. Hickey.

  Birmingham Public Inquiry Office
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he plans to open the proposed Birmingham public inquiry office; and whether he has yet identified premises for its location.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We intend to open the office when the necessary funding can be made available. The location will be the immigration office at Birmingham airport.

  Alcohol Consumption (Public Places)
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the advice on new byelaws prohibiting the drinking of alcohol in public places to be issued to local authorities.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Details of the new model byelaw prohibiting the consumption of intoxicating liquor in designated public places were issued to district and borough councils in England and Wales in Home Office circular No 88/1990 on 29 October. A copy of the circular is available in the Library.

ENERGY

  Piper Alpha
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if any of Lord Cullen's report was not included in the two published volumes;

  (2) why his departmental press office advised the press that the Cullen report was over 800 pages.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Lord Cullen's report, as received by me on 22 October, ran to over 900 pages in typescript. My departmental press office, when approached, advised the press prior to publication that the report was a "substantial" document. The report as printed by HMSO was proof-read by a team under the supervision of Lord Cullen himself. The printed version, as the hon. Member will be aware, is about 500 pages long.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will review the proposed timetable for privatisation of PowerGen following the resignation of its chairman.

  Mr. Wakeham
  No. It remains the Government's firm intention, subject to market conditions, to offer shares in National Power and PowerGen for sale to the public in February 1991.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage fees are to be paid to the companies underwriting the flotation of the electricity distribution companies.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The commission rates to be paid to the underwriters of the sale of the regional electricity companies, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreements, will be

  percentage

  United Kingdom primary underwriting

  0·1700

  United Kingdom sub-underwriting

  1·2500

  Overseas underwriting

  1·2448

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the firms underwriting the flotation of the electricity distribution companies.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The names of the firms underwriting the offers for sale of the regional electricity companies are set out in the prospectus.

  PowerGen
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) when he last met Sir Graham Day or spoke to him on the telephone prior to Friday 16 November;

  (2) when he was informed of the imminent resignation of Robert Malpas as chairman of PowerGen;

  (3) if he will give the dates of his last six meetings with Robert Malpas as chairman of PowerGen.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I have meetings and consultations with the directors of PowerGen, as of other companies in the electricity supply industry, whenever necessary. Such meetings and consultations are confidential.
  178
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether he has discussed with Robert Malpas as the chairman of PowerGen the use of the least-cost approach to electricity industry investment;

  (2) whether he has had discussions with Robert Malpas as the chairman of PowerGen about the need for energy conservation.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The details of my discussions with Mr. Malpas, in his capacity as the chairman of PowerGen, are confidential.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether his predecessor approved the appointment of Robert Malpas as chairman of PowerGen.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Member for City of Chester (Mr. Morrison) gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, West (Mr. Butterfill) on 9 June 1988 at column 632.

  Offshore Safety
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what consultations he has had with the Health and Safety Commission about the appointment of a successor to Mr. Petrie as head of offshore safety;

  (2) why he has decided to proceed with the selection of the successor to Mr. Petrie as head of offshore safety rather than leaving the appointment to the Health and Safety Commission.

  Mr. Wakeham
  There is no intention to replace Mr. Petrie as director of safety. Offshore safety is, however, to become the responsibility of a new head of division to whom Mr. Petrie will report. Mr. Tony Barrell, from the Health and Safety Executive, has been appointed to the new post. The Health and Safety Commission has warmly welcomed the new appointment.

  Home Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what criteria were applied by him and his appointed agency in drawing up the regional allocations under the home energy efficiency scheme;

  (2) if he will give a regional breakdown of the allocations under the home energy efficiency scheme during (a) January to March 1991 and (b) the financial year 1991–92.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The home energy efficiency scheme is a national scheme, and no regional allocations of funding have been made. However, it is important for organisations wishing to apply to become "network installers" in particular localities that they should have some broad indication of the scale of insulation and advice which they might be able to undertake using grants under the home energy efficiency scheme. The energy action grants agency therefore has included with the information it is sending to applicants a preliminary view on this based on numbers in receipt of housing benefit in each locality. The figures provided by the agency are neither an allocation, nor an estimate of the total value of work which might be undertaken by all contractors operating in that locality.

  Clean Coal Technology
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what action is proposed by his Department on clean coal technology.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government attach great importance to developing clean coal technologies and technologies aimed at maximising the economically recoverable coal from indigenous coal reserves.

  We are, therefore, carrying out a major review of our coal research programme and plan to publish a new strategy as an energy paper early next summer. To help us develop this new strategy my Department has established a new advisory body—the coal task force. The task force held its first meeting this morning. Over the next few months it will examine all aspects of coal research, including extraction, coal preparation, utilisation and conversion.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Special Educational Needs
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what was the total number of hours of home tuition provided each week to children with a statement of special educational needs by each local education authority for each of the last five years;

  (2) what was the average number of hours of home tuition received per week by each child with a statement of special educational needs in each local education authority for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children with a statement of special needs have been(a) excluded from attending school and (b) unable to attend school in each local education authority for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  This information is not available centrally.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the statutory requirements on local education authorities to provide home tuition for children with a statement of special needs who(a) have been excluded from school and (b) are unable to attend school; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Section 7(2) of the Education Act 1981 provides that, in any case where a local education authority maintains a statement of special educational needs for a child, it is the duty of the authority to arrange that the special educational provision specified in the statement is made for him or her unless the parent has made suitable arrangements.

  University Salaries
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the average salary of vice-chancellors in United Kingdom universities, together with the average percentage increase in their salaries, for each year since 1980, as recorded for all institutions which supply a return in box 1 of the university statistical record annual return.
  180
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The information requested is not available to the Department. It is for each university to set the salary of its vice-chancellor.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the number of professors in United Kingdom universities with salaries in each £1,000 band from £27,000 upwards.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Information in the form requested is not readily available. However, the table sets out details of professorial salaries in broad salary bands. The data relate to universities in the United Kingdom at December 1989.

  Professorial Salary Bands

  £

  Number

  26,250–27,819

  537

  27,820–28,704

  479

  28,705–29,609

  452

  29,610–30,549

  554

  30,550–31,549

  430

  31,550–32,589

  311

  32,590–33,654

  220

  33,655–34,669

  123

  In addition, 184 university professors receive salaries over £34,670 pa.

  All figures apply to non-clinical academic professors who are wholly university funded.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list(a) the numbers of men and women who have received awards from the 1 per cent. of academic and related pay set aside for allocation on merit or market criteria since 1 April 1989, (b) the proportions which the above represent of all men and women academic staff and (c) the proportions of the 1 per cent. funds that have been received by men and women since 1 April 1989.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The information is not available in the form requested. Information supplied by the UFC in June 1990 indicates that, at that time, it was intended that about 6,000 academics would receive payments from the 1 per cent. of the pay bill set aside to reward individual merit and to help counter staffing difficulties. This figure excludes returns from two universities for which data were not then available. The actual number to benefit from the scheme will be known later; the UFC has been asked to supply us with full details of the implementation of the schemes by 31 December 1990. The figure of 6,000 represents approximately 20 per cent. of all wholly university-funded full-time and part-time academic staff*.
  *Based on USR statistics, 1988–89.

  Research Councils
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money has been paid out by each of the research councils in respect of 1 per cent. awards and what proportion this represents of each research council's total university funding.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The SERC has so far paid out £47,473 in respect of 1 per cent. pay additions arising from the 1989 university pay settlement. This represents 0·032 per cent. of the SERC's total research grant funding to higher education institutions in 1989–90. Further claims are expected.
  181
  The AFRC has so far paid out £10,000 in respect of 1 per cent. pay additions. The per annum figure rate of payment is currently £7,000, which represents 0·047 per cent. of the AFRC's total research grant funding to higher education institutions in 1989–90.

  The other three research councils do not keep figures centrally, and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Academic Posts
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state(a) the total amount of funding made available under the academic "new blood" scheme and the total amount taken up, (b) the total amount of funding made available under the new academic appointments scheme and the total amount taken up, (c) the numbers of men and women academics appointed under each of the two schemes and (d) the numbers of men and women appointed under each of the two schemes who are still in post.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  (a) The total funding allocated by the University Grants Committee between academic years 1983–84 and 1985–86 under the "new blood" scheme and for new posts in information technology was £40·9 million. All allocated funding was taken up by universities.

  (b) The amount allocated by the Universities Funding Council under the new academic appointments scheme in academic year 1989–90 was £13·4 million. It is estimated that all allocated funding was taken up by universities.

  (c) Information about the total number of men and women academics appointed under the schemes is not readily available.

  (d) Of the total of 792 academics appointed under the "new blood" scheme, 739 were in post in March 1989. A further 46 posts had been replaced through new appointments. Comparable figures are not yet available for the new academic appointments scheme.

  Student Awards
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much financial assistance was offered to students by local authority intermediate awards in the last financial year.

  Mr. Eggar
  The latest data available are for the academic year 1988–89. LEA expenditure on discretionary (section 2) awards granted at less than the mandatory rate was £94·4 million split as follows:

  Percentage of mandatory rate

  Expenditure (£ millions)

  80–99

  27·1

  50–79

  13·9

  below 50

  53·5

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial assistance is available for further education students, with parents on low incomes or in receipt of benefits; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Under section 2 of the Education Act 1962, LEAs have discretionary power to bestow awards on persons who have left school in respect of courses which do 182
  not attract mandatory awards. Since September 1990 the further education access fund has given colleges additional funds to support full-time students aged 19 and over on further education courses.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much financial assistance was awarded to students by local authority education maintenance allowances in the last financial year.

  Mr. Eggar
  The latest available data are for the academic year 1988–89. The financial assistance awarded to students by local authority education maintenance allowances was £11·2 million in that year.

  School Grants
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table listing(a) the amounts of capital allocations for county and voluntary controlled schools for 1991–92 for which each local education authority in England has bid, (b) the amount of capital grant for voluntary aided schools in their area which each local education authority has asked of his Department and (c) (a) and (b) for each local education authority and with totals in respect of (a), (b) and (c) for England, and for each region.

  Mr. Fallon
  The information requested is provided in the table. The figures are taken from the capital plans for 1991–92 submitted by each local education authority to the Department. I will provide a regional breakdown of this information shortly.

  LEA plans for Capital Expenditure in 1991–92

  LEA

  LEA plans County and VC schools £'000s

  Voluntary aided schools £'000s

  Avon

  17,000

  1,342

  Barking

  2,659

  1,955

  Barnet

  4,036

  3,605

  Barnsley

  1,246

  25

  Bedfordshire

  8,795

  1,127

  Berkshire

  9,305

  723

  Bexley

  6,170

  2,341

  Birmingham

  20,957

  3,539

  Bolton

  3,256

  984

  Bradford

  23,997

  1,002

  Brent

  8,273

  193

  Bromley

  8,401

  429

  Buckinghamshire

  12,749

  2,401

  Bury

  2,332

  830

  Calderdale

  2,363

  634

  Cambridge

  28,783

  825

  Camden

  3,725

  1,055

  Cheshire

  9,921

  3,324

  City

  0

  97

  Cleveland

  11,935

  884

  Cornwall

  18,382

  444

  Coventry

  7,745

  1,570

  Croydon

  20,970

  3,051

  Cumbria

  16,363

  1,292

  Derbyshire

  27,250

  1,106

  Devon

  23,942

  2,951

  Doncaster

  1,536

  145

  Dorset

  11,525

  6,734

  Dudley

  8,716

  2,385

  Durham

  17,936

  1,103

  E. Sussex

  28,855

  1,319

  Ealing

  11,199

  315

  Enfield

  15,427

  812

  Essex

  66,785

  1,264

  Gateshead

  8,182

  449

  183

  LEA

  LEA plans County and VC schools £'000s

  Voluntary aided schools £'000s

  Gloucester

  10,816

  1,694

  Greenwich

  1,867

  201

  Hackney

  6,848

  162

  Hammersmith

  5,923

  1,357

  Hampshire

  35,504

  2,994

  Haringey

  7,415

  1,412

  Harrow

  3,505

  172

  Havering

  4,334

  159

  Hereford and Worcester

  13,018

  2,580

  Hertford

  11,937

  2,302

  Hillingdon

  9,908

  905

  Hounslow

  5,029

  236

  Humberside

  21,536

  1,400

  Isles of Scilly

  215

  0

  Isle of Wight

  6,806

  260

  Islington

  5,017

  181

  Kensington

  7,794

  3,580

  Kent

  45,605

  7,737

  Kingston

  3,740

  646

  Kirkless

  5,395

  326

  Knowsley

  5,319

  1,329

  Lambeth

  6,532

  937

  Lancashire

  27,625

  6,534

  Leeds

  41,168

  12,626

  Leicester

  13,179

  967

  Lewisham

  9,263

  329

  Lincoln

  22,655

  1,753

  Liverpool

  13,842

  8,180

  Manchester

  20,909

  1,305

  Merton

  7,950

  228

  North Yorkshire

  6,272

  2,005

  North Tyneside

  4,587

  251

  Newcastle

  9,293

  1,050

  Newham

  15,067

  284

  Norfolk

  8,702

  587

  Northampton

  12,945

  400

  Northumberland

  5,411

  1,175

  Nottinghamshire

  10,803

  1,359

  Oldham

  13,674

  609

  Oxfordshire

  23,119

  4,178

  Redbridge

  4,384

  3,399

  Richmond

  4,319

  902

  Rochdale

  12,623

  756

  Rotherham

  3,386

  385

  South Tyneside

  6,651

  59

  Salford

  7,116

  567

  Sandwell

  6,536

  351

  Sefton

  5,488

  2,233

  Sheffield

  4,073

  885

  Shropshire

  16,740

  318

  Solihull

  4,548

  687

  Somerset

  10,357

  2,135

  Southwark

  6,086

  1,616

  St. Helens

  4,852

  2,299

  Staffordshire

  10,723

  2,084

  Stockport

  2,570

  341

  Suffolk

  17,956

  890

  Sunderland

  7,788

  523

  Total allocations and annual capital guidelines for England in cash and constant terms

  £ million

  Local authority schools and colleges

  Voluntary aided and special agreement schools

  Local authority schools and colleges voluntary aided and special agreement

  Cash

  Constant 81–82 prices

  Index 81–82 prices

  Cash

  Constant 81–82 prices

  Index 81–82 prices

  Cash

  Constant 81–82 prices

  Index 81–82 prices

  1981–82

  355

  355

  100

  24

  24

  100

  379

  379

  100

  1982–83

  338

  316

  89

  22

  21

  87

  360

  337

  89

  1983–84

  295

  263

  74

  19

  17

  71

  314

  280

  74

  1984–85

  300

  255

  72

  25

  21

  87

  325

  276

  73

  1985–86

  315

  254

  71

  31

  25

  104

  346

  279

  74

  1986–87

  297

  231

  65

  28

  22

  92

  325

  253

  67

  184

  LEA

  LEA plans County and VC schools £000s

  Voluntary aided schools £000s

  Surrey

  10,255

  2,956

  Sutton

  10,663

  3,374

  Tameside

  2,311

  136

  Tower Hamlets

  29,116

  597

  Trafford

  5,313

  140

  West Sussex

  13,804

  2,129

  Wakefield

  10,475

  346

  Walsall

  3,364

  400

  Waltham

  10,238

  1,800

  Wandsworth

  13,503

  130

  Warwick

  5,704

  3,112

  Westminster

  7,041

  346

  Wigan

  9,725

  2,126

  Wiltshire

  15,552

  1,677

  Wirral

  5,661

  1,017

  Wolverhampton

  5,788

  614

  England

  1,255,953

  167,975

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table giving the amounts for England of capital allocations for(a) county and voluntary controlled schools, (b) voluntary aided schools and (c) the totals of (a) and (b) for each financial year from and including 1978–79 to 1990–91 expressed in (i) current prices, (ii) constant prices and (iii) an index of (ii) where 1978–79 = 100, together with such estimates for expenditure in 1991–92 on a comparable basis as are already available from the autumn statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  Not all the information is available in the form requested. The table shows figures from 1981–82. Prior to 1981–82, local education authorities did not receive block allocations, but were notified annually, in the context of a rolling programme, of a limit on the value of building starts in the following year.

  From 1981–82 to 1989–90 allocations for spending on capital works were made to local education authorities for schools and colleges of further and higher education, in accordance with the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. It was for each local education authority to decide how to use its allocation, including apportionment between schools and colleges, and the extent to which it wished to supplement it through the use of capital receipts and other sources of revenue.

  Figures for 1990–91 and 1991–92 (in the table) are not comparable with previous years. Following the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Department issues an annual capital guideline to each local education authority, which is one element in the calculation of each local authority's basic credit approval announced by the Department of the Environment.
  185

  Local authority schools and colleges

  Voluntary aided and special agreement schools

  Local authority schools and colleges voluntary aided and special agreement

  Cash

  Constant 81–82 prices

  Index 81–82 prices

  Cash

  Constant 81–82 prices

  Index 81–82 prices

  Cash

  Constant 81–82 prices

  Index 81–82 prices

  1987–88

  306

  226

  64

  32

  23

  97

  338

  250

  66

  1988–89

  387

  266

  75

  43

  29

  123

  430

  296

  78

  1989–90

  352

  228

  64

  56

  36

  150

  408

  264

  70

  1990–91

  485

  291

  82

  74

  44

  185

  559

  335

  88

  1991–92

  538

  304

  86

  84

  47

  198

  622

  352

  93

  Notes to the table

  1. All figures are in £ million. All figures are rounded.

  2. Constant prices are calculated at 1981–82 prices using the latest GDP deflators. The index for 1981–82 is set at 100.

  3. The Department provides grant aid at a rate of 85 per cent. on governors' capital expenditure at voluntary aided and special agreement schools.

  4. Capital grant figures for the voluntary aided sector for the year 1981–82 are not separately identifiable from a single building grant figure which includes repairs and maintenance. The capital figures shown for this year are based on an apportionment of the building grant figure using the average ratio between capital and repairs during 1982–83 and 1985–86.

  5. Prior to 1981–82 local authorities did not receive block allocation, but were notified annually in the context of a rolling programme of a limit on the value of the building starts in the following year.

  6. Local authority allocations for 1989–90 and ACGs for 1990–91 and 1991–92 exclude institutions which were transferred to the PCFC sector in 1989–90.

  Students
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many persons between the ages of 18 and 30 years entered full-time further education in the last financial year.

  Mr. Eggar
  In 1989–90, there were 76,000 full-time first-year students aged 18–30 studying on further education courses in England.

  Mature Students (Housing Benefit)
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what study he is making of the impact of the withdrawal of housing benefit on the numbers of mature students following courses in further education.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The annual further education statistical records monitor the number of mature students in further education. Mature students with dependants, those who are disabled and part-time students will, of course, retain entitlement to benefits.

ENVIRONMENT

  Metropolitan Water Board "B" Shares
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information was available to the Government about the liabilities of the Metropolitan Water Board to the holders of "B" stock at the time of flotation of Thames Water.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  At the time of the flotation of Thames Water in 1989 the Government were aware of a possibility of outstanding liabilities in respect of such stocks, and this was reflected in a note on contingent liabilities in the privatisation prospectus.

  Archery
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what implications COM(90) 453 has for the sport of archery.
  186
  Mr. Atkins
  Although COM(90) 453 concerns the control of the acquisition and possession of weapons, I now understand that it will not have any effect on the sport of archery.

  Mineral Workings
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give full details of the research project he has recently commissioned into the environmental effects of mineral workings; who has been awarded the contract in each case; and when he expects the findings to be published.

  Mr. Atkins
  Roy Waller Associates was commissioned last year to review and examine the environmental impacts of surface mineral extraction and how they can be controlled most effectively. This is a broad-based project looking at the major problems of traffic, blasting, noise, dust, visual and landscape effects. The final report will propose a number of steps to ameliorate the environmental impact of mineral working. Areas for further research will also he identified. Publication of the final report is expected in spring 1991.

  The findings of a more detailed research project carried out by W. S. Atkins Engineering Sciences Ltd. on "The Control of Noise at Surface Mineral Workings" have recently been published by HMSO and copies are already lodged in the House of Commons Library.

  Lead Pipes
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what grants are available to assist domestic consumers to replace old lead feeder pipes from the water mains into their homes.

  Mr. Key
  Both mandatory and discretionary renovation grants under part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 are available towards the cost of replacing lead water supply pipes on land owned by the grant applicant, subject to a test of the applicant's financial resources.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish tables showing for each local authority either the planned use of balances to support revenue expenditure in 1990–91 or the amount to be used to replenish balances as appropriate.

  Mr. Portillo
  I have today arranged for the available information to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will obtain a copy of "Local Government Finance, the 1990 reforms", by Michael Ridge and Stephen Smith, published in Fiscal Studies August 1990 (Vol. 11, No. 3), for his Department's library.

  Mr. Key
  The Department's library already has a copy of the journal in which this article appears.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress in collection of the community charge in England and 'Wales.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 21 November 1990]: Information from regular quarterly returns supplied by local authorities confirms that around nine out of 10 charge payers had begun paying their charges by the end of September. In many areas this figure is already approaching 100 per cent. and I look to all authorities to achieve figures close to this during the balance of this financial year. Collection of the community charge in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Keynsham Chew Valley Inquiry
  Mr. Aspinwall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the result of the Keynsham Chew valley local plan inquiry, held in December 1989 and January 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The inspector has now completed his report to the local planning authority, Wansdyke district council, following this complex inquiry. It will be sent to the council shortly: publication is a matter for it.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the rate of take-up of funds allocated by the Housing Corporation to housing associations in the different regions of the country; and if he will make a statement on whether the funds taken up by housing associations in the different regions of England have been expended by them in total.

  Mr. Key
  This is a matter for the Housing Corporation. I have therefore asked the corporation to respond to my hon. Friend direct.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what basis he will continue to contribute to neighbourhood care and repair schemes run by housing associations.

  Mr. Key
  As I announced on 19 October, from 1 April 1991, 50 per cent. of the running costs of approved home improvement agencies, including those run by housing 188
  associations, will be met by Government grant. Local housing authorities are responsible for the co-ordination and submission of such bids by the end of the month.

  Disability
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment under the new provisions for house adaptations for people with disabilities, how many people have been denied grants or been given reduced grants to make adaptations to their homes because they do not meet the means test.

  Mr. Key
  The information requested is not yet available. The impact of the new house renovation grant system is, however, being monitored closely.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government will introduce legislation to amend the Town and Country Planning Act to make it unlawful to erect or adapt buildings without approved access facilities for disabled people, and to provide for all existing buildings to be adapted in the same way with cash grants available from central Government for the owners of such buildings, with such adaptations subject to checks annually by the disablement advisory service.

  Mr. Key
  There is already a requirement in the Building Regulations 1985 that reasonable provision must be made to enable disabled people to gain access to new offices and shops, and to the principal entrance storey of new factories, educational buildings covered by the regulations, and other premises to which the public are admitted. Consultation proposals have been issued recently which would have the effect of extending this requirement to all floors of all new non-domestic buildings and to certain alterations and extensions to existing buildings. Research is being carried out into the technical problems involved in extending such a requirement to other alterations and extensions of non-domestic buildings.

  Under the adaptations to premises and equipment scheme, administered by the Department of Employment through the disablement advisory service, a grant of up to £6,000 may be awarded to an employer, towards the cost of adapting premises and equipment for an existing disabled employee or a disabled new recruit. Employers are expected to contribute and to undertake to recruit a disabled person with similar needs as a replacement in the event of the original employee leaving. Grants are most commonly provided for adaptations to toilets and improved access to a building. An evaluation of the Department of Employment special schemes was published by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment on 2 November 1990 and comments invited by 2 February 1991.

  Peat
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue guidance to planning authorities which would highlight the importance of refusal of planning permission for the extraction of peat from sites of special scientific interest.

  Mr. Atkins
  Local authorities have to reach decisions on individual planning applications on their merits, having due regard to all relevant material considerations. "Material considerations" include relevant national
  189
  policies, such as the protection of designated sites of special scientific interest. The Department of the Environment's existing guidance in circular 27/87 "Nature Conservation" and minerals planning guidance note 2 requires that proposals for the extraction of peat and other minerals from SSSIs should be subject to the most rigorous examination, in which the need for the mineral has to be balanced against environmental considerations. The Government are giving further consideration to the issues raised by peat extraction and nature conservation, and this includes whether there is a need for further advice.

  I also welcome the agreement reached recently between the Nature Conservancy Council and the Peat Producers Association whereby, pending an agreed peatland strategy, members of the association will not make any planning applications to work existing or proposed peatland SSSIs without the prior agreement of the NCC.

  Sewage Sludge
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure other means of disposal of sewage sludge presently dumped in the North sea.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked the water companies concerned to submit to him by the end of November their detailed plans and programmes of work
  phasing out disposal of sludge to sea. The main disposal options are to agricultural land, landfill and incineration.

  Single People (Accommodation)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take to ensure the provision of adequate single persons' accommodation in both the public and private rented sectors at prices which young single persons can afford.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  We have taken a number of measures that will help young single people find accommodation including, in particular, the deregulation of new lettings in the private rented sector. Allocation of subsidised rented housing is mainly a matter for local authorities and housing associations; local authorities' duties under the homelessness legislation cover vulnerable single people; and we have recently announced a special programme, costing £100 million over four years, to help people sleeping rough in London.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies have been carried out by his Department into single persons' accommodation needs.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  The Department has published four reports on single persons' accommodation needs.

  These are:

  Housing Single People 1: how they live at present. Design Bulletin 23, HMSO 1790.

  Housing Single People 2: A design guide with a description of a scheme at Leicester. Design Bulletin 29, HMSO 1974.

  Housing Single People 3: an appraisal of a purpose built scheme. Design bulletin 33, HMSO 1979.

  Housing Initiatives for Single People of Working Age. DoE, 1982.

  The Department will shortly let a research contract on single homeless people including their accommodation needs and preferences.

  Mortgage Arrears
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to require local authorities, building societies and other mortgage lenders to submit regular returns of the number of borrowers in arrears with their payments and the number of properties repossessed.

  Mr. Key
  Local authorities already make returns to the Department of their mortgage arrears and possessions. Building societies make returns on arrears and possessions to the Building Societies Commission. In addition, the Council of Mortgage Lenders has collected data on arrears and possessions from a number of major mortgage lenders. In view of the information already provided by lenders, I do not consider it appropriate for the Department of the Environment to require returns from private sector lenders.

  Housing and Independent Living
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department was represented at the housing and independent living conference organised by Shelter, the King's Fund community development living team, the British Council of Organisations of Disabled People and the living options project on 12 and 13 November; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 16 November 1990]: No.

WALES

  European Court
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what policy considerations led him to send a member of his legal department to observe the preliminary hearing of the Leybucht bay case in the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg on 16 October.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment on 19 November, at columns 41–42. A member of the Welsh Office's legal division attended because of the relevance of the issues to Welsh Office circular 52/87 "Nature Conservation".

  Mr. Rod Richards
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) on what basis the salary to be paid to Mr. Rod Richards, his personal ministerial adviser, has been calculated;

  (2) what salary will be paid to Mr. Rod Richards as his personal ministerial adviser.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him on 19 November by my hon. Friend the Paymaster General and to the reply my right hon. Friend gave on 13 November to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael).

  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 private sector which will be relevant to his work as special adviser.
  191
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the answer he gave the hon. Gentleman on 13 November.

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Department has no full-time or part-time staff engaged exclusively on civil defence, but such work is estimated to account for the equivalent of six full-time posts across the Department as a whole. The total cost was £156,000 in 1989–90 and is estimated to be £161,000 in 1990–91.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary announced on 16 October 1990 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 on civil defence will depend on the outcome of that review.

  Music Teachers
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many peripatetic music teachers are currently employed by each local education authority in Wales; and what is the average amount of instrument tuition time per week offered by schools in each local education authority.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information on the number of peripatetic music teachers and the amount of tuition time is not collected centrally.

  Imports of Toxic Waste

  Port

  Country of Origin

  Destination

  Type of Waste

  Tonnes

  Holyhead

  Ireland

  Cheshire CC

  Sodium sulphide/sulphate

  36

  Sodium hydroxide

  18

  Greater Manchester

  Cyanoacrylate residue

  47

  Glycerine waste

  21

  Glycolmethacrylate scrap

  24

  Torfaen BC

  Miscellaneous waste

  10

  Total

  156

  Newport

  Austria

  Torfaen BC

  PCB/Transformers Carcass

  53

  Germany

  Torfaen BC

  Miscellaneous chemical waste

  69

  Pesticides

  77

  Ireland

  East Sussex CC

  Nerol (Toluene waste)

  48

  Greater Manchester

  Iron hydroxide/oxides

  177

  Hampshire CC

  Organic waste (mix)

  125

  Torfaen BC

  Chlorinated solvents

  5

  Inorganic waste

  2

  Liners (cont; toxic waste)

  8

  Miscellaneous waste

  8

  Miscellaneous chemical waste

  7

  Organic waste (mix)

  68

  Polychloro Biphenyl (PCB)

  17

  Pharmaceutical waste

  21

  Spain

  Nottinghamshire

  PCB

  22

  Torfaen BC

  PCB contaminated material

  21

  PCB/transformers carcass

  195

  Switzerland

  Greater Manchester

  Aluminium Hydroxide/oxide

  6

  Battery waste

  23

  Junior Doctors
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in negotiations on proposals for a reduction in hours worked by junior doctors in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  The Department is represented on the working group established by my hon. Friend the Minister for Health which is currently engaged on a detailed examination of the issues involved. A considerable amount of ground has already been covered and all parties are aiming to reach broad agreement in principle on specific changes by the end of the year.

  Self-governing Hospitals
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the latest position in respect of hospitals becoming self-governing in Wales.

  Mr. Grist
  Pembrokeshire district health authority has submitted an expression of interest in applying for NHS trust status which is currently under consideration.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state for the last available year(a) the amount of toxic waste imported through Welsh ports in total, and by port and (b) the country of origin and destination of toxic waste imports by port, together with the nature of toxic waste in each case.

  Mr. Grist
  The information for the year to 31 March 1990 is shown in the following table.
  193

  Port

  Country of Origin

  Destination

  Type of Waste

  Tonnes

  Calcium hydroxide

  7

  Carbon/charcoal waste

  1

  Distillation residue

  38

  Inorganic waste

  9

  Organic waste (mix)

  5

  Paint waste

  15

  Sodium Chloride

  91

  Torfaen BC

  Organic acids

  44

  Organic waste (mix)

  1

  PCB

  171

  PVC waste

  12

  1,346

  Swansea

  Greece

  Torfaen BC

  PCB

  5

  Grand Total

  1,507

  Soundproofing, Skewen
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration he has given to representations from householders in Skewen about the proposals for window soundproofing from the current motorway development.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I have given the representations careful consideration and will be writing shortly to the right hon. and learned Gentleman in response to his recent correspondence.

  Waiting Lists, West Glamorgan
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what are the current waiting lists to see national health service consultants in the West Glamorgan area for first appointments;

  (2) what are the present waiting lists for hospital admissions in the West Glamorgan area.

  Mr. Grist
  The information requested, which relates to 31 March 1990, is as follows:

  Number waiting

  First out-patient appointment

  14,462

  Hospital in-patient admission

  6,949

  Residential and Nursing Homes (Agents)
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take measures to stop touting for business on health authority property by agents for residential and nursing homes.

  Mr. Grist
  This is a matter for the district health authority, which deplores the action reported to have taken place in Maelor hospital, Wrexham, by representatives of private nursing homes. I am assured that the district health authority is taking appropriate steps to ensure that incidents of this kind do not occur again.

  Disabled Staff
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the percentages of disabled staff employed in his Department in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Grist
  The information is as follows:194

  Percentage

  1980

  2·3

  1981

  2·3

  1982

  2·3

  1983

  2·1

  1984

  1·8

  1985

  1·4

  1986

  1·5

  1987

  1·4

  1988

  1·3

  1989

  1·1

  1990

  1·4

  Retail Sales
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on retail sales in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The latest provisional information for 1988, previously unpublished, appears in the following table:

  Wales

  Retail outlets (number)2

  Turnover (£ million)1 2

  Food retailer

  6,711

  2,000

  Drink, confectionery and tobacco retailers

  3,379

  529

  Clothing, footwear and leather goods retailers

  2,891

  411

  Household goods retailers

  3,357

  825

  Other non-food businesses

  1,787

  339

  Mixed retail businesses

  452

  567

  Hire and repair businesses

  240

  65

  Source: CSO.

  1 Inclusive of VAT.

  2 The figures in this table include retail outlets and retail turnover of non-retail businesses.

  Teacher Vacancies
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 16 November to the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside on teacher vacancies, what was the definition of teacher vacancy used in each survey.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The advice given to local education authorities on the definition of a teacher vacancy for the January survey was:"Returns are only required in respect of current vacancies (at 18 January 1990) for full-time permanent appointments or full-time appointments for at least one term's duration which

  195
  have been advertised but not filled. Resignations which have occurred too recently for the vacancy to have been advertised should not be included in the return. A post which has been filled by a temporary appointment pending the finding of a more permanent appointee should be regarded as a vacancy for this purpose but a post which is filled by an appointee whom it is desired to replace by somebody more suitably qualified should not be regarded as a vacancy for that reason alone."

  For the September survey LEAs were asked for information on vacancies for full-time permanent appointments or full-time appointments of at least one term's duration which have been externally advertised. LEAs were told that a post which had been filled by a temporary appointment of a term or more should be regarded as filled for this purpose, even if a permanent appointee is still actively being sought. Posts which there was no intention to fill in September 1990 were to be excluded.

  Bathing Waters
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will announce the results of the 1990 survey of bathing water quality in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Grist
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) on 14 November by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and to the press notice, No. 638, issued on the same day. This included a list of Welsh bathing waters and indicated which had complied in 1990 with the coliform parameters set in the EC directive. A copy of the press notice was placed in the Library.

  Roads
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date the Welsh Office publication, "Roads in Wales: Progress and Plans for the 1990s", was first published; and if there were any changes, amendments, additions or deletions to this programme between that date and 31 October.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  "Roads in Wales: Progress and Plans for the 1990s" was published in April 1989. Since then the following schemes have been added to the programme:

  A5 Holyhead improvement

  A5 Cefni Bridge—Llanfair PG

  A5 Stanley Embankment—Cefni Bridge

  A470 Blaenau Ffestiniog—Betws y Coed improvements

  A487 Penygroes—Llanllyfni bypass

  A550 Woodbank—Deeside Park (joint DTp/WO scheme)

  Information on these schemes and updated information on the schemes listed in "Roads in Wales" will be included in a supplement to be published in the new year.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Broadcasting (Direct Feed)
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what representations he has received from commercial companies requesting a direct feed of the House proceedings subscriber service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I know of no such recent representations either to me or to my predecessor. Under 196
  the present arrangements, organisations wishing to take a clean feed from the Chamber must first approach House of Commons Broadcasting Unit Ltd., the company formed by the main broadcasters which has been licensed by the House to produce and distribute the signal. Those wishing to take coverage of Select or Standing Committees apply to Commons Committee Television, the company contracted for that purpose by the broadcasters. In either case the Select Committee on Broadcasting stands ready to arbitrate in any possible dispute over the terms on which access is granted to the signals. So far the Committee's intervention has not been required. If however, my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind, perhaps he would let me know.

HEALTH

  Young Offenders
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on funding arrangements for secure units for young offenders;

  (2) how many secure units for young offenders are funded directly by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There are currently 33 approved secure units run by local authorities and two secure youth treatment centres run direct by the Department of Health. All these facilities are available for children in care who meet the admissions criteria. (Some will be offenders or alleged offenders). The costs of these placements are met by the placing authority. Certain children who have been convicted of grave crimes under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 may also be placed in these facilities on behalf of the Home Office by the Department of Health. The cost of these placements is borne by central Government. In addition, grants may be made by the Department of Health to local authorities towards the capital costs of providing such accommodation.

  Ring-fenced Funding
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he has any plans to issue guidance to local authorities on the distribution of moneys to local authorities which are ring-fenced specifically for drug, alcohol and mental health projects under the National Health Service and Community Care Act;

  (2) if moneys ring-fenced specifically for funding drug, alcohol and mental health projects under the National Health Service and Community Care Act are awarded to local authorities on the basis of existing services;

  (3) if he will take steps to ensure that local authorities pass on to existing drug, alcohol and mental health projects moneys ring-fenced for those purposes under the provisions of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Guidance on the alcohol "and drugs services specific grant was issued last week, and on the mental illness specific grant in September (circulars LAC(90)11 and LAC(90)10 respectively, copies of which are available in the Library).

  Gulf Forces (Injuries)
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which hospitals in the West Midlands regional health authority area have been asked to prepare contingency plans for possible receipt of injured service personnel from the Gulf; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what contingency plans are being studied to utilise the specialist units at the Queen Victoria hospital, East Grinstead, in the event of hostilities in the Gulf; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Dunfermline, West (Mr. Douglas) on 16 November at column 248. In drawing up their contingency plans, regional health authorities are expected to take account of the services that could be made available by both general and specialist units.

  Salmonellosis and Listeriosis
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths occurred from(a) salmonellosis and (b) listeriosis in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 12 November 1990]: The number of deaths registered in England and Wales in 1989 with salmonella1 as the underlying cause of death was 61.

  In the same period 16 deaths were registered with listeria2 as the underlying cause. In addition, a further 14 deaths of those aged under 28 days—for which no underlying cause is assigned—contained a mention on the certificate of listeria including congenital or maternal listeria.
  1 International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9th revision code 003.
  2 ICD 027.0, 771.2 (part), 655.4 (part).

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Aid Target
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when overseas aid will reach the United Nations aid target of 0·7 per cent. of gross national product.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Government have accepted the UN target for official development assistance of 0·7 per cent. of GNP in principle but, like previous Administrations and many other donors, have not set a timetable to achieve it. Progress towards it must depend upon economic circumstances and other calls on Government resources.

  Aid Programme
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the level of the aid programme in real terms in 1979 and in the latest available year.

  Mrs. Chalker
  In 1989 gross public expenditure on aid was £1,788 million compared with £1,940 million in 1979 at 1989 prices.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Anti-Jewish Literature
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the criteria used to assess whether the public interest is served by the prosecution of those alleged to have published or distributed anti-Jewish literature.

  The Attorney-General
  An assessment concerning the public interest is relevant only whenever it is considered that there is a realistic prospect of securing a conviction for an offence.

  The general considerations applicable to the public interest aspect of the decision whether to prosecute are set out at paragraphs 7 to 9 of the code for Crown prosecutors. This guidance is necessarily in general terms because individual cases have to be considered on their own merits. Factors likely to be of particular relevance to cases of the nature referred to in the hon. and learned Member's question are the prevalence of the conduct and its seriousness. In this context the Director of Public Prosecutions and I have made plain our view that we regard the publication and distribution of material which offends against the provisions of part III of the Public Order Act 1986 as a serious matter.

  The criteria set out in the code are founded on the observations of the right hon. and noble Lord, Lord Shawcross, a former Attorney-General, which are quoted in the code, who said that regard must be had to
  "the effect which the prosecution, successful or unsuccessful as the case may be, would have upon public morale and order, and with any other considerations affecting public policy".

  "Holocaust Myths"
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Attorney-General what consideration has been given by the Director of Public Prosecutions to initiating proceedings in respect of the publication entitled "Holocaust Myths", distributed by the Association of British Ex-Servicemen.

  The Attorney-General
  A police report has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions concerning a leaflet entitled "Question: how long can the Jews perpetrate the holocaust myth" and other publications allegedly distributed by the Association of British Ex-Servicemen.

  The police have been requested to forward further evidence resulting from their inquiries and on receipt of this a decision will be taken concerning the institution of proceedings.

PRIME MINISTER

  Homelessness
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans she has to meet representatives of the homeless in London.

  The Prime Minister
  I have no such plans. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and his ministerial colleagues have regular meetings with voluntary groups working with the homeless, and with local authorities in London and their associations.

  Forestry
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will set out the responsibility for forestry of each of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Secretary of State for Wales, Secretary of State for Scotland and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and when the respective responsibilities were last changed.

  The Prime Minister
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Secretary of State for Wales and the Secretary of State for Scotland have individual territorial responsibility for forestry matters in England, Wales and Scotland respectively. They act jointly on forestry policy questions affecting Great Britain as a whole, with the Secretary of State for Scotland taking the lead. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has responsibility for all forestry questions in Northern Ireland.

  These arrangements are of long standing and were last changed in 1979 when the Secretary of State for Scotland assumed lead responsibility for policy questions in Great Britain.

  Conservative Leadership Contest
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps were taken to ensure that no member of her press department was involved in briefing the media on the Conservative leadership contest; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  My press office is aware of its responsibilities.

  Mr. Charles Powell
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if she will set out the full duties carried out by Mr. Charles Powell;

  (2) how long Mr. Charles Powell has been employed in her office; and how long she intends him to be employed in his current position.

  The Prime Minister
  Mr. Powell serves as my private secretary for foreign affairs and will serve in my office until it is time for him to leave.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Prime Minister if she will place in the Library a copy of the letter received from the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Baghdad and a copy of her reply; and if she will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 20 November 1990]: No. It is not my normal practice to do so.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  British Hostages (Lebanon)
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent initiatives have been taken by the Government to ensure the release of the British hostages held in the Lebanon.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State's answer to him of 15 October, Vol. 177, c.752.

  Single European Act
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date or dates and on what occasions a representative of the Crown signed the Single European Act treaty; and who was the representative.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Single European Act treaty was signed at plenipotentiary meetings in Luxembourg on 17 February 1986 and in The Hague on 28 February 1986. On both occasions the Government were represented by my right hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker), the then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Baltic States
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support the request by the three Baltic states to be given observer status at the forthcoming CSCE conference in Paris.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We welcomed the decision of the French Government to invite representatives of the Baltic states to attend the CSCE summit as "distinguished guests". We look forward to a time when it will be possible for the Baltic states to participate in the CSCE process as full members. However, membership and observer status are open only to states internationally recognised as such. The Baltic states are not recognised as independent states.

  Soviet Union
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department intends to take steps to provide any urgent economic assistance for the Soviet Union to counteract shortages of food and consumer goods; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are already offering the Soviet Union assistance in introducing economic reform, in particular through our know-how fund. We have not yet received a specific request for humanitarian assistance from the Soviet Union. We shall continue to pay very close attention to the Soviet Union's economic difficulties, and are sure that the EC would consider any justified request for humanitarian aid urgently and sympathetically.

  Romania
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Romania concerning claims that political prisoners, confined to mental institutions by the late President Ceausescu, have not yet been released.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are aware of a recent television report to this effect, but the British embassy in Bucharest has not been able to provide further information. If the hon. Member will share with us any evidence he may have, we shall consider it with a view to taking up the matter with the Romanian authorities.

  Iraq (Hostages)
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards the sending of gifts by friends and relatives to hostages in Iraq.
  201
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are in touch with the British Red Cross Society, which hopes to arrange for Red Cross parcels to be sent by families in the United Kingdom to the detainees in Iraq. Our embassy in Baghdad has been sending local comfort parcels to detainees in Iraq and these are beginning to get through. The United Kingdom has suspended postal services to Iraq in order to implement sanctions imposed by UN Security Council resolution 661.

SCOTLAND

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information on manpower and employment costs is set out in the table:

  Numbers and costs

  Number of full-time staff employed on 16 November 1990

  15

  Number of part-time staff employed on 16 November 1990

  16

  Total cost 1989–90

  £316,974

  Estimated total cost 1990–91

  £302,848

  New dwellings started by local authority 1979 to June 1990

  Area

  Year

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Jan-June

  Borders

  Berwickshire

  27

  2

  —

  —

  15

  26

  24

  15

  33

  —

  —

  —

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Roxburgh

  16

  7

  52

  34

  42

  12

  —

  8

  50

  —

  1

  1

  Tweeddale

  48

  8

  10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12

  44

  4

  4

  8

  Central

  Clackmannan

  64

  —

  —

  —

  1

  23

  30

  —

  18

  17

  —

  —

  Falkirk

  51

  24

  68

  40

  39

  144

  40

  95

  17

  —

  —

  —

  Stirling

  126

  70

  14

  37

  2

  10

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Annandale and Eskdale

  202

  118

  94

  173

  178

  4

  48

  46

  16

  51

  36

  24

  Nithsdale

  61

  63

  28

  28

  —

  68

  74

  76

  58

  88

  20

  26

  Stewartry

  42

  7

  63

  65

  64

  —

  62

  6

  16

  46

  34

  —

  Wigtown

  93

  22

  68

  64

  78

  28

  —

  46

  14

  26

  —

  5

  Fife

  Dunfermline

  101

  18

  83

  101

  14

  24

  190

  56

  133

  36

  —

  —

  Kirkcaldy

  56

  56

  61

  13

  121

  73

  85

  98

  221

  86

  34

  28

  North East Fife

  71

  142

  35

  118

  74

  43

  22

  67

  18

  19

  20

  137

  Grampian

  Aberdeen

  440

  243

  63

  121

  75

  103

  81

  91

  185

  35

  12

  97

  Banff and Buchan

  156

  300

  110

  155

  127

  129

  52

  45

  91

  65

  —

  19

  Gordon

  —

  22

  99

  146

  129

  72

  61

  171

  47

  145

  80

  72

  Kincardine and Deeside

  —

  10

  70

  54

  56

  38

  153

  43

  140

  19

  42

  52

  Moray

  527

  211

  96

  211

  100

  47

  76

  71

  161

  78

  75

  12

  Highland

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  28

  41

  54

  38

  16

  16

  —

  13

  —

  12

  11

  —

  Caithness

  74

  30

  —

  14

  71

  —

  17

  39

  24

  27

  10

  —

  202
  The staff shown as part time undertake civil defence duties as part of their wider emergency planning responsibilities. In addition some staff in the Scottish Office directorate of telecommunications are similarly involved in emergency planning work.

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

  Conservation
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his proposal to create a Scottish Natural Heritage Agency includes a proposal to house the Scottish Nature Conservancy Council and Countryside Commission for Scotland in a single headquarters building.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government stated that there should be one headquarters at section III, paragraph 23 of the consultation paper "Scotland's Natural Heritage: The Way Ahead".

  Housing
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new dwellings were started by each district and islands council in each year since 1979 to the latest available date.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is set out in the table:
  203

  Area

  Year

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Jan-June

  Inverness

  113

  38

  68

  56

  80

  89

  129

  34

  65

  71

  75

  30

  Lochaber

  90

  —

  18

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nairn

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  23

  21

  6

  16

  28

  —

  20

  Ross and Cromarty

  81

  79

  23

  35

  69

  25

  26

  43

  39

  28

  29

  19

  Skye and Lochalsh

  25

  9

  13

  —

  16

  8

  52

  12

  8

  61

  4

  14

  Sutherland

  26

  9

  12

  34

  11

  29

  8

  35

  34

  48

  28

  1

  Lothian

  East Lothian

  31

  —

  17

  137

  21

  95

  39

  40

  57

  68

  —

  25

  Edinburgh

  35

  110

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  115

  107

  154

  —

  —

  Midlothian

  24

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7

  —

  14

  —

  12

  —

  9

  West Lothian

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  91

  —

  —

  —

  Strathclyde

  Argyll and Bute

  67

  47

  58

  —

  94

  —

  —

  73

  41

  —

  26

  10

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  76

  —

  56

  12

  —

  16

  —

  35

  6

  —

  6

  —

  Clydebank

  106

  23

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Clydesdale

  22

  34

  33

  20

  14

  4

  29

  1

  24

  11

  38

  1

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  32

  3

  —

  16

  8

  —

  —

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  77

  4

  8

  —

  12

  2

  —

  6

  4

  —

  —

  —

  Cunninghame

  54

  60

  29

  74

  58

  47

  48

  22

  23

  31

  29

  1

  Dumbarton

  8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  18

  8

  18

  —

  —

  East Kilbride

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Eastwood

  —

  3

  14

  —

  36

  40

  1

  14

  58

  —

  35

  —

  Glasgow

  777

  227

  —

  94

  118

  —

  49

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hamilton

  131

  22

  100

  116

  52

  83

  —

  —

  43

  18

  —

  —

  Inverclyde

  12

  —

  26

  —

  —

  64

  —

  —

  —

  —

  37

  —

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  40

  —

  —

  12

  21

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kyle and Carrick

  127

  17

  96

  20

  64

  34

  59

  11

  36

  13

  30

  —

  Monklands

  21

  32

  —

  48

  30

  —

  —

  —

  51

  5

  —

  1

  Motherwell

  209

  26

  42

  8

  —

  —

  36

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Renfrew

  89

  212

  71

  148

  —

  22

  10

  64

  27

  —

  —

  —

  Strathkelvin

  —

  40

  —

  —

  19

  —

  24

  13

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tayside

  Angus

  13

  —

  6

  40

  46

  29

  83

  48

  65

  53

  50

  12

  Dundee

  83

  82

  84

  49

  8

  56

  3

  4

  1

  —

  5

  1

  Perth and Kinross

  65

  114

  37

  118

  75

  174

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Islands Councils

  Orkney Islands

  17

  28

  —

  43

  8

  14

  4

  11

  37

  14

  38

  15

  Shetland Islands

  136

  66

  30

  49

  23

  30

  4

  36

  4

  36

  124

  1

  Western Isles

  88

  91

  28

  42

  56

  4

  41

  12

  14

  10

  2

  —

  1 Returns are incomplete.

  Dyslexia
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department accepts dyslexia as a condition requiring specialist education; which regional education departments recognise dyslexia as a condition requiring specialist education; which regional education departments provide in-house specialised education for dyslexic children; which regional education departments send children to private schools specialising in education for dyslexic children; and which specialist private schools are registered with his Department as establishments which provide specialist dyslexic education.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The term dyslexia denotes specific learning difficulties which may cause a child to have special educational needs. It is the responsibility of education authorities to provide for such needs, which they may do in mainstream schools, special units or special schools, including independent special schools. The other information requested is not available.

  Property Law
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he anticipates receiving the report of the Scottish Law Commission following its review of property law in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The preparation of the Scottish Law Commission's report on land tenure reform will be preceded during the course of 1991 by a discussion paper and subsequent public consultation.

  Student Unions
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) on what grounds the press release on student unions issued by his Department on Friday 16 November was withdrawn;

  (2) who instructed the withdrawal of the press release on student unions issued by his Department on Friday 16 November;

  (3) what were the differences between the press releases on student unions issued on Friday 16 November and Sunday 18 November.

  Mr. Rifkind
  A news release about consultation on student unions, the text of which was still under
  205
  consideration, was issued prematurely on Friday 16 November. It was withdrawn under established procedure as soon as the error became apparent, and the final version was issued on Sunday 18 November.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to introduce legislation following the consultation on student unions.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to do so.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make available the responses to his first series of consultations about student unions in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A copy of the publication "Student Union Survey: Analysis" was placed in the House Library last year.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the consultation proposed on student unions includes discussion on freedom of speech.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The scope of the proposed consultation has yet to be decided.

  Public Sector Tenants (Property Purchases)
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which housing authorities and housing associations operate a Government-assisted financial incentive scheme to encourage tenants to buy homes in the private sector in order to release rented accommodation for other people; and if he will give details of any such schemes and the legislation under which they operate.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Section 66 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 makes provision for local authorities to draw up schemes, for the approval of my right hon. and learned Friend, to offer payments to assist tenants to obtain accommodation in the private sector. This releases council housing for letting to homeless or others in housing need. There is no requirement on local authorities to draw up such schemes.

  Bearsden and Milngavie district council is the first local authority in Scotland to receive approval to operate a cash incentive scheme. The council has allocated £100,000 towards the scheme which commenced on 1 September 1990 and will offer qualifying tenants up to £10,000 towards the purchase of alternative property. A further three authorities have submitted proposals to operate such schemes and these are currently under consideration.

  The tenants' incentive scheme available to housing associations is operated by Scottish Homes under section 2(2) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988. I have asked the chairman of Scottish Homes to write direct to the hon. Member giving details of the scheme.

DEFENCE

  NATO
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's involvement in NATO's guerrilla resistance organisation; and whether he has any plans to launch an investigation into its operations along the lines of those set up by the Belgian and Italian Governments.
  206
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not the Government's practice to comment on such questions.

  The Gulf
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has had, from hon. Members and others, about delays in despatching mail to Her Majesty's forces in the Gulf; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No formal representations have been received from hon. Members or others about delays in despatching mail to Her Majesty's forces in the Gulf. Under the forces postal concessionary scheme letters and packets are automatically sent by air, currently arriving within about five days. Under the same scheme, parcels are transported by air on a fill-up basis, currently arriving within about 10 days.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities will be provided for allied troops in Saudi Arabia to celebrate Christmas; and if he is satisfied that religious practices can be observed by the troops stationed in that country.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Arrangements are being made to ensure that our forces will be able to celebrate Christmas and the new year properly, subject to the need to maintain military preparedness. Arrangements are always made for the pastoral and spiritual support of United Kingdom forces.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the further deployment of British forces to the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend today.

  Tornado
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the present situation of and progress towards the weapons enhancement project for the Tornado F3.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  A feasibility study into a possible weapons system upgrade for the Tornado F3 has been undertaken. This study is now under consideration.

  Ulster Defence Regiment
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals are in hand to close some Ulster Defence Regiment company bases; and what consideration he has given to the social implications of such proposals.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The requirement for all military bases in Northern Ireland is kept under review to ensure that resources are used to the best effect in dealing with the terrorist threat. Before any decision is reached in respect of a particular base all relevant factors are taken into account.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals have been made regarding the amalgamation of the Territorial Army district covering all
  207
  Wales with the north-west of England, and who he will consult before further consideration is given to this proposal.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have no plans to reorganise the Territorial Army regions. Regarding the review of the United Kingdom land forces district structure, I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Livsey) on 20 November at column 80.

  Aldershot Military Hospital
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total cost of relocating the staff and facilities from the Aldershot military hospital to the field hospital at Jubayl in Saudi Arabia; and how many(a) surgeons and (b) anaesthetists have been relocated.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Information on the costs of deploying staff and facilities from the Cambridge military hospital Aldershot to the field hospital at Jubayl in Saudi Arabia is not currently available. Five surgeons and five anaesthetists from the Cambridge military hospital Aldershot have been deployed to Jubayl.

  Air-to-Surface Missile
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to decide between the various options for the tactical air-to-surface missile.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Our consideration of the various options is continuing. The House will be informed as soon as a decision is taken.

  Service Discipline
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will place in the Library copies of the most recently published leaflets which each of the three services makes available to those charged under the Service Discipline Acts.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Copies of the most recently published leaflets which each of the three services makes available to those charged under the Service Discipline Acts have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Training
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information is made available to service personnel who are due to leave the services regarding training opportunities available from non-Ministry of Defence organisations.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Information about pre-release training in the form of external courses sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and attachments to outside organisations is available for resettlement officers; the service resettlement bulletins published about six times a year; a Defence Council instruction issued each year, giving details of the programme of briefings and courses for the following 12 months; and other internal newsletters and publications. Additionally a range of post-release training options is available to former service personnel, including Government-sponsored courses. Information about these is included in the Training Agency booklet 208
  "Employment Training for Ex-Regulars", copies of which are held by resettlement officers, who are responsible for making personnel aware of its contents. Finally, all personnel attending their final resettlement interview receive copies of the booklet "Employment in Civilian Life" and officers also receive a booklet entitled "Leaving the Services". These booklets, which are both published by the Employment Service, include chapters on occupational training.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken in the last year to include a more positive image of ethnic minorities in recruitment advertising to the services.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have included more photographs of ethnic minority personnel in a wider diversity of circumstances in our recruitment advertising and given greater prominence to the fact that the armed forces are equal opportunity employers under the terms of the Race Relations Act.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional training has been given in the last year to recruitment officers to increase the number of applicants from ethnic minorities into the services.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As part of the wide range of measures now being taken to attract more recruits from the ethnic minorities, the Army and RAF have in the course of this year introduced race relations and cultural awareness into the training syllabus for their recruiting staff. The Navy will introduce similar training in the new year.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Single European Market
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what initiatives his Department is following to ensure that Northern Ireland industry is able to respond to the completion of the single European market in 1992.

  Mr. Needham
  The Department has a whole series of initiatives to assist Northern Ireland businesses compete in the single market.

  Security
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further steps he proposes to improve the security situation in north Belfast.

  Mr. Cope
  The Secretary of State and I have regular and frequent meetings with our security advisers to discuss security not only in north Belfast but in Northern Ireland as a whole. New security measures are constantly being explored and where they are considered practical they are implemented.

  Flags
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have received damages arising from the distress caused by(a) the flying

  209
  of the Union flag at their place of work and (b) the flying of the Southern Irish tricolour at their place of work in each of the past three years.

  Mr. Cope
  I am not aware of any individual having received damages or claiming damages from distress as a result of flag flying at his workplace.

  Planning
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to restore planning decisions to democratically elected representatives on district councils.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Government have no plans at present to restore responsibility for planning decisions to district councils. However, we remain ready to consider any proposals for transferring political power, authority and responsibility to locally elected representatives in Northern Ireland on a basis which would be likely to prove widely acceptable.

  Political Development
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of his consultations on political development.

  Mr. Brooke
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley (Mr. Cran).

  Colin Wallace
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make it his policy to provide all information required by the Select Committee on Defence in the carrying out of its inquiries into the affairs of Colin Wallace.

  Mr. Cope
  We would naturally give all appropriate assistance to the Committee in response to any inquiries which it may make in connection with Colin Wallace.

  Students
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Northern Ireland students were successful in obtaining places in(a) Queen's university and (b) the university of Ulster for the academic courses commencing 1990; and how many unsuccessful applicants have been accepted into courses in universities, polytechnics and so on, in Great Britain commencing in the current year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Provisional figures for the 1990–91 academic year show that the number of Northern Ireland students who obtained places in Northern Ireland universities was as follows:

  number

  Queen's University

  3,600

  University of Ulster

  4,944

  Information is not available on the destinations of applicants who were unsuccessful in gaining a place in Northern Ireland universities.

  Armagh UDR
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has received any representations in respect of the four Armagh Ulster Defence Regiment men.

  Mr. Cope
  Yes.

EMPLOYMENT

  Youth Training Scheme
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide details of the scheme-by-scheme ethnic monitoring statistics for the youth training scheme for each year since 1984 until the most recent date in the following areas: Manchester Central, Manchester East and Manchester North.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Offshore Oil Installations
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with the director-general of the Health and Safety Executive about organisational changes necessary to accommodate the transfer of responsibility for offshore oil installations; what conclusions were reached; and what extra financial resources will now be made available for each financial year for which plans have been made.

  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy made to the House on 12 November, regarding the transfer of responsibilities for offshore oil installations to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The commission has already confirmed its acceptance of the transfer, and preparatory work is now proceeding in my Department, the Departments of Energy and Transport and in the HSE to ensure that the transfer is completed as efficiently and speedily as possible. No detailed decisions have yet been made on the question of appropriate resources. But, as my right hon. Friend assured the House in his statement, offshore safety will not be sacrificed through lack of resources.

  Foreign Domestic Servants
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about the treatment of foreign domestic servants employed in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Ministers in both this Department and the Home Office have received representations and recognise the concern that reports of abuse cause in this country. The Home Office carried out a review earlier this year of the exceptional arrangements outside the immigration rules and the work permit scheme under which a domestic servant who has worked abroad for an employer who comes to the United Kingdom can be admitted to work for him. The outcome of this review was announced in another place by my noble Friend Lord Ferrers in reply to a question from Lord Hylton on 24 July at columns 1449–50. It is hoped that the new arrangements can be implemented soon.

  Equal Opportunities
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what steps he is taking to clarify employment rights and employment-related benefits to women who work between the ages of 60 and 65 years in view of the recent settlement by Barclays bank; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the implications for women in work between the ages of 60 and 65 years and their employers in view of the recent settlement by Barclays bank: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Barclays bank case related to dismissal.

  The Sex Discrimination Act 1975, as amended by the Sex Discrimination Act 1986, makes it unlawful for employers to set different compulsory retirement ages for men and women in comparable positions. It is for the courts to interpret the law as it applies to the facts of a particular case and we do not consider that any action is called for.

  Subject to the law, terms and conditions of employment, including retirement age, are matters for agreement between employers and employees.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the percentages of disabled staff employed in(a) his Department and (b) other Government Departments in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Jackson
  The percentages of registered disabled staff in the civil service are set out in the table for the years for which records are available. In 1990 the Department of Employment group employed 3·2 per cent. registered disabled. The Office of the Minister for the Civil Service publishes these figures annually in "Independent" magazine, which is in the Library. Registration is voluntary and Departments employ people with disabilities who are not registered.

  Table: Registered Disabled People in the Civil Service1

  Percentage

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  MAFF

  1·2

  1·3

  1·3

  1·4

  Cabinet Office

  1·1

  1·0

  0·8

  1·0

  Customs and Excise

  1·4

  1·3

  1·2

  1·6

  MOD

  1·0

  1·0

  0·9

  1·0

  DES

  2·2

  2·0

  2·1

  2·6

  Employment Group

  2·1

  2·1

  2·2

  2·7

  Energy

  0·6

  1·2

  1·1

  1·2

  Environment2

  —

  —

  —

  1·0

  ECGD

  1·5

  1·4

  1·3

  1·3

  FCO

  0·8

  0·7

  0·4

  0·5

  Health2

  —

  —

  —

  0·7

  Home Office

  0·5

  0·4

  0·4

  0·3

  DTI

  1·5

  1·2

  1·2

  1·2

  Inland Revenue

  1·5

  1·5

  1·5

  1·5

  Land Registry

  2·4

  2·4

  2·8

  2·7

  LCD

  1·4

  1·4

  1·1

  1·3

  DNS

  3·1

  2·9

  2·7

  3·0

  OPCS

  2·1

  2·2

  2·3

  2·3

  Ordnance Survey

  1·1

  1·0

  0·9

  0·9

  ODA

  1·1

  1·2

  1·3

  1·2

  PSA2

  —

  —

  —

  1·2

  Public Record Office

  3·8

  3·3

  2·7

  1·9

  Royal Mint

  3·1

  3·7

  3·5

  2·9

  Scottish Office

  1·7

  1·7

  1·4

  1·4

  Social Security2

  —

  —

  —

  1·5

  Transport2

  —

  —

  —

  1·2

  212

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  HMSO

  1·3

  1·7

  1·8

  1·9

  HM Treasury

  1·3

  1·3

  1·4

  1·1

  Welsh Office

  1·6

  1·4

  1·3

  1·2

  Total3

  1·3

  1·3

  1·3

  1·3

  1 Part-time staff counted as half units.

  2 The Department of Health and Social Security and Environment Group has recently been divided into separate departments. Information for the new departments is only available for 1989.

  3 Total includes a number of smaller departments and agencies not listed in the table.

  Self-employment
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the total of people self-employed in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Forth
  The information is given in the table.

  Self-employed persons in the United Kingdom

  June

  Number

  1980

  2,013,000

  1981

  2,119,000

  1982

  2,170,000

  1983

  2,221,000

  1984

  2,496,000

  1985

  2,610,000

  1986

  2,627,000

  1987

  2,860,000

  1988

  2,986,000

  1989

  3,240,000

  1990

  3,380,000

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Income Support
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the cost would be if the proposals on the maintenance of children were implemented but parents solely dependent on benefit were allowed to keep(a) £5, (b) £10 or (c) £15 before income support was deducted.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The estimated costs of a maintenance disregard in income support are in the table.

  Amount of disregard (£)

  Total cost (£ million)

  5

  70

  10

  130

  15

  180

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes he intends to introduce to improve the levels of income support payable to 16 and 17-year-olds.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Benefit rates will be uprated from next April in the normal way. We are continuing to monitor the effects of the social security reforms and to make improvements where appropriate; for example, since July 1989 16 and 17-year-olds who have no option but to live independently have been entitled to the higher level of benefit normally paid to 18 to 24-year-olds.

  Research into the operation of the income support rules for 16 and 17-year-olds has been commissioned. The results are expected around Easter 1991.

  Pensions
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he is taking to change the calculation for payment of the basic state pension from relating it to prices to that of earnings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  We have no plans to do so.

  Redundancies
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many redundancies are expected to be created by computerisation and the consolidation of local offices into local management units.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  No compulsory redundancies will be needed as a result of the Department's computerisation programme (the operational strategy) provided staff co-operate in implementing the necessary personnel measures to achieve staff savings. Much of the reduction in staffing will be gained by natural wastage and, where this is not the case, the needs of staff will be taken into account as far as possible.

  The management of the local office network is being restructured because changes in procedures as a result of the operational strategy and the setting up of the Contributions Agency meant that the existing offices no longer formed viable management units. There are no plans to reduce the number of outlets. This restructuring will result in a modest saving at managerial level. A voluntary redundancy scheme is in place for the staff.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated cost of sending out questionnaires to recipients of child benefit as a result of the benefit changes recently announced; and to what categories of recipients the questionnaires were sent.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  To enable the increased amount of child benefit to be taken into account correctly in their assessment from uprating, letters will be sent, between 26 November and 1 March 1991, to all income support recipients, who are paid by the income support computer system, who receive child benefit. The cost of sending these out is about £150,000.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of people who have been paying the self-employed national insurance contribution during each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Scott
  The United Kingdom figures of the number of individuals who paid class 2 (self-employed) national insurance contributions between April 1978 and April 1988 are set out in the table.

  Number1 (thousands)

  Number2 (thousands)

  1978–79

  1,314

  214

  1979–80

  1,376

  232

  1980–81

  1,450

  211

  1981–82

  1,479

  218

  1982–83

  1,526

  240

  1983–84

  1,594

  251

  214

  Number1 (thousands)

  Number2 (thousands)

  1984–85

  1,663

  251

  1985–86

  1,732

  261

  1986–87

  1,850

  295

  1987–88

  1,959

  336

  1 Who paid only Class 2 contributions during this year.

  2 Who paid a mixture of Class 2 and Class 1 contributions during the year.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the effects of the planned changes in the future employment of the disabled that will result from the passage of the Statutory Sick Pay Bill.

  Mr. Scott
  The provisions of the Statutory Sick Pay Bill relating to employers' reimbursement arrangements for SSP will have no direct effect on employees. We do not believe that they will lead to any change in the pattern of employment of people with disabilities. Other factors are of far greater importance in determining job opportunity for disabled people, which a wide variety of policies are designed to promote.

  Disabled Staff
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the percentage of disabled staff employed in his Department in each of the past 10 years.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The figures for the Department of Social Security at June 1989 and June 1990 are as follows:

  Year

  Percentage of registered disabled staff per cent.

  1989

  1·53

  1990

  1·70

  Separate figures are not held for this Department prior to June 1989. This does not include staff with disabilities who are not registered as disabled.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he intends making any changes to the social fund cold weather payments scheme for the forthcoming winter.

  Mr. Scott
  I am pleased to tell my hon. Friend that yesterday, Wednesday 21 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State laid before the House the Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (General) Amendment Regulations.

  The effect of these changes will he to better ensure that conditions in different local areas are properly reflected in the scheme. Copies of the regulations are available in the Vote Office.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Farmed Salmon
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the presence of dichlorvos in farmed salmon.

  Mr. Maclean
  Following a recent newspaper report that a sample of farmed salmon had been found to contain dichlorvos, the Department's food safety directorate has carried out a further survey of salmon steaks. Forty-three samples were purchased between 12 and 15 November from a variety of retail outlets in East Anglia and London. No dichlorvos was detected in any of the samples.

  An earlier survey of 92 salmon samples for dichlorvos was carried out between 1987 and 1989. Again, no residues were detected.

  Civil Defence
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many civil servants are currently employed(a) full time and (b) part time by his Ministry 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. Curry
  The number of man years allocated to civil defence work in the Department, including maintenance of the strategic food stockpile, was 55 in 1989–90 and cost £1–5 million. In 1990–91 the number of man years is expected to be 47 and the cost £1–3 million.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department announced on 16 October that he had initiated a review of the options for the future of civil defence arrangements and future levels of expenditure will depend on the outcome of that review.

  Farm Incomes
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give such figures as he has available for farm income by(a) farm type and (b) farm size for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Curry
  The most recent information on farm incomes for 1988–89 by type and size of farm is published 216
  in section 8 of "Agriculture in the United Kingdom: 1989" and in more detail in "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom 1990 Edition". Similar information for previous years is contained in previous editions of these publications and in the annual review of agriculture White Papers. These publications are available in the Library of the House.

  Drift Net Fishing
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those countries which have banned drift net fishing in the Atlantic.

  Mr. Curry
  We are not aware of any country that has banned drift netting outright in the Atlantic. However, from information readily available several countries are known to have taken measures which restrict or prohibit drift netting in this area to some degree. These include Norway, Spain, South Africa, Japan, Taiwan, the USA and the UK. The international community is now addressing the issue of large-scale, oceanic drift netting in the light of a resolution adopted by the United Nations last year.

  Salmon
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the review of the Salmon Act 1986, due in January, has not yet taken place.

  Mr. Curry
  While there is no requirement to review the Salmon Act 1986 as such, section 39 of that Act calls on Ministers to undertake a review of the salmon net fisheries off the north-east coast of England and eastern Scotland and to present a report to Parliament as soon as practicable after 6 November 1989. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I hope to be ready to do this soon.

  Salmonella
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is now his policy on the payment of compensation to owners of laying flocks slaughtered under the salmonella control regulations.

  Mr. Gummer
  This matter is currently under review and an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

  EASTERN EUROPE AND THE BALKANS: CONSULATES
  EASTERN EUROPE AND THE BALKANS: CONSULATES
  TURKEY: DEATH SENTENCES
  TURKEY: DEATH SENTENCES
  CHILDREN ACT 1989: DESIGNATED FAMILY JUDGES
  CHILDREN ACT 1989: DESIGNATED FAMILY JUDGES
  OIL EXPORTS TO EASTERN EUROPE
  OIL EXPORTS TO EASTERN EUROPE
  DICHLORVOS IN FARMED SALMON
  DICHLORVOS IN FARMED SALMON
  NHS DENTISTRY: FUNDING
  NHS DENTISTRY: FUNDING
  SMOKING: NHS COSTS
  SMOKING: NHS COSTS
  BELFAST: SPECIAL HOUSING PROVISION
  BELFAST: SPECIAL HOUSING PROVISION