Written Answers of 28 November 1990

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Public Spending
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the allocation to individual programmes in Northern Ireland of the public expenditure totals announced on 8 November.

  £ million

  Programme

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Northern Ireland Office:

  Law, Order Protective and Miscellaneous Services

  762

  810

  860

  Northern Ireland Departments:

  Northern Ireland Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Services and Support

  116

  120

  120

  Industry Trade and Employment

  466

  430

  420

  Energy

  -72

  0

  0

  Transport

  165

  170

  180

  Housing

  259

  270

  270

  Environmental and Miscellaneous Services

  167

  200

  210

  Law, Order and Protective Services (Fire Service)

  35

  40

  40

  Education

  1,120

  1,180

  1,230

  Health and Personal Social Services

  1,160

  1,220

  1,270

  Social Security Administration

  128

  140

  130

  Other Public Services

  70

  80

  80

  Total Northern Ireland Block

  (excluding Social Security Benefits)

  4,377

  4,650

  4,820

  Social Security Benefits

  1,960

  2,120

  2,270

  Total Northern Ireland Block

  6,337

  6,770

  7,090

  National Agriculture and Fishery Support

  85

  90

  90

  Total Northern Ireland Programme

  6,422

  6,860

  7,170

  Notes to Table:

  (1) Figures are rounded to nearest £1m for 1991–92 and to the nearest £10m for 1992–93 and 1993–94 (thus "£0m" means "less than £5m"). Figures may not sum to totals due to roundings.

  (2) As announced in 8 November, the plans reflect the reclassification of the water and sewerage element of the Regional Rate as negative PE. Allowing for this technical change, the overall level of resources represented by the public expenditure plans overall, and the Environmental and Miscellaneous Services programme in particular, are effectively some £110m a year higher than the figures in the table.

  (3) The figure for the Energy programme for 1991–92 is negative because it is anticipated NIE will be repaying loans to Government in that year. The PE plans for the Energy Programme for 1992–93 and 1993–94 have been adjusted to reflect Government's intention that NIE should be privatised early in 1992. This produces total plans for NI for those years which are some £120m higher than would otherwise be the case.

  (4) Figures for social security administration also include district councils' share of rate rebates.

  (5) The figures are now net of VAT refunds to the Government of Northern Ireland: this is a classification change which does not affect the spending power of departments nor the year on year comparisons.

  (6) The planning figures for 1991–92 form the basis for preparation by Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office of Main Estimates for the coming year. These will be presented to Parliament in due course.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Anti-Jewish Leaflets
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he will institute proceedings in respect of the anti-Jewish leaflet, "The Snides of March."

  The Attorney-General
  I am not yet in possession of all the material that I need to enable me to make a decision concerning the institution of proceedings. I shall make my
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  Mr. Brooke
  In his autumn statement on 8 November, my right hon. Friend the former Chancellor of the Exchequer announced total public expenditure planning figures for the Northern Ireland programme. I have now decided on the allocations to individual programmes shown in the table: copies of a more detailed statement have been placed in the Library. These allocations reflect my assessment of how best to distribute the Northern Ireland public expenditure totals in response to local needs and circumstances.

  decision when I have considered the results of further related police inquiries which have been requested by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

  Commonhold
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he will make a statement about the publication of draft legislation to implement a commonhold scheme.
  403
  The Attorney-General
  The Government are today publishing a document entitled "Commonhold: A Consultation Paper"—Cm. 1345. It includes a draft Bill. Comments are invited on this draft legislation and also on certain important policy issues, in particular whether provision should be made enabling the conversion to commonhold of residential long leasehold flats and other developments against the wishes of the landlord. The consultation paper is also available in a version without the draft Bill attached—Cm. 1346.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Claim Forms (Verification)
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what evidence he has of failure by local authorities to verify details on claim forms for housing benefit and community charge benefit; how many local authorities have failed so to verify; and if he will list them in the Official Report.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  It is the responsibility of local authorities to decide what information it is reasonable to ask for in order to determine an individual's entitlement to housing benefit or community charge benefit. Administrative practices vary from authority to authority and information is not collected centrally on the detail of these practices.

HEALTH

  Residential Care Homes
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that nursing and residential homes are fully licensed to care for patients before the patient is sent there upon release from the hospital.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Department of Health guidance asks health authorities to ensure that appropriate plans are made for the continuing care of patients as necessary on their discharge from hospital. These plans should include ensuring that a nursing or residential care home placement is suitable and acceptable in all respects.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that owners of a residential home who are deemed unfit to run a home will not later open another similar facility.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is for local authorities to satisfy themselves, by making thorough inquiries, of the suitability of applicants for registration of residential care homes. The Department assists by acting as a channel of information between authorities about people who have had their registration cancelled and provides a consultancy service to authorities seeking information about applications for homes with children and young people under age 18.

  Ashworth Hospital, Mayhill
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement concerning staffing levels at Ashworth hospital, Mayhill, on 19 November;
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  (2) if he will institute a public inquiry into the death of Derek Anthony Williams at Ashworth hospital, Mayhill, on 19 November; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will make a statement on the death of Derek Anthony Williams at Ashworth hospital, Mayhill, on 19 November.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I am writing to the hon. and learned Member about this tragic incident and would like to record here how I very much regret the sad death of Mr. Williams and offer my sympathy to his parents.

  The Special Hospitals Service Authority, which is responsible for the management of Ashworth hospital, is urgently setting up an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Williams' death.

  The management of Ashworth hospital have already launched their own internal inquiry. An early finding is that on the morning of 19 November, with the exception of one ward designated to the care of mentally handicapped female patients, all wards in Ashworth hospital, including that in which Mr. Williams died, were fully manned. During the afternoon and night shifts all wards were fully manned.

ENVIRONMENT

  Homelessness
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the number of registered homeless people in each of the 32 London boroughs on 17 November;

  (2) what was the known number of homeless people in the United Kingdom on 16 November.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  Local authorities have a statutory duty to secure accommodation for households who have been found to be homeless or threatened with homelessness, under part III of the Housing Act 1985. The numbers of households accepted and found accommodation are reported quarterly to the Department. Latest estimates for England, and figures reported by the London boroughs, appear in tables 1(a) and 7, respectively, of "Local authorities' action under the homeless provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the second quarter 1990. Supplementary Tables". A copy is in the Library.

  For information about other parts of the United Kingdom, I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales, for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about unpaid community charges in Lancashire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  I am not aware of any such representations.

  The Department's information is that the proportion of residents who had made payments by the end of September varied from 80·4 per cent. in Burnley and 81 per cent. in west Lancashire to 96 per cent. in Hyndburn and 97·2 per cent. in Fylde. This range suggests that some authorities perform more efficiently than others and I look to all authorities to minimise arrears in the four months that remain of this financial year.

  Ministerial Committee
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the first meeting of the new standing ministerial committee on the environment will take place; which Ministers will sit on this committee; what matters will be discussed; and through whom it will be accountable to Parliament.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  It is not the practice to disclose the detailed arrangements for Cabinet committees.

  Pollution Inspectorate
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the report of the National Audit Office into the organisation of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will be published.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  This is a matter for the Comptroller and Auditor General.

  Bathing Beaches
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is available to him if water companies are unable to bring the designated beaches within their area into compliance with the EEC 1976 bathing waters directive by 1995.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  A number of actions are available to the Secretary of State under the Water Act 1989 including, ultimately, termination of the company's appointment as a sewerage undertaker. In addition, if the company were in breach of discharge consent conditions set by the National Rivers Authority it could be liable to prosecution by the authority.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report for each designated bathing beach in England sampled in the summer of 1990 (i) the E. Coli and (ii) the total coliform level of each sample taken, together with the date that the sampling took place.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No. This information is already held in the public registers maintained by the National Rivers Authority.

  Disabled Facilities Grants
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has issued to social services departments regarding the new system of disabled facilities grants.

  Mr. Key
  A departmental circular 10/90 on "House Adaptations for People with Disabilities" was issued jointly with the Department of Health on 18 June 1990. Copies were sent to all local housing and social services authorities.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to monitor the impact of the system of disabled facilities grants and the impact of the means test on disabled people.

  Mr. Key
  The Department is undertaking a sample survey of 40 local authorities in England to monitor activity under the new house renovation grants system. All 406
  aspects of the system are covered by the review including the impact of disabled facilities grants and the test of resources.

  Pollution Inspectorate
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to increase the powers available to Her Majesty's inspectors of pollution.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Environmental Protection Act 1990 strengthens the powers available to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution—HMIP—for controlling all major emissions to air, land and water from the processes with most potential to cause pollution; for policing the storage and disposal of radioactive substances and wastes; and for overseeing local authorities' performance of their waste regulation functions. Our White Paper on the environment, published in the summer, proposes that HMIP's powers could be further strengthened by making it a candidate to become a "next steps" agency. This would give them an enhanced status and a clearly separate identity, which should strengthen their authority in controlling pollution.

  Rivers, Derbyshire
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give figures for the number of rivers classed 1A, 1B and 2 in Derbyshire and those classed 3 and 4.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The latest available information is in the form of maps showing the classification of all rivers included in the 1985 river quality survey of England and Wales. Copies are available in the Library of the House. The National Rivers Authority is conducting another national survey this year.

  Planning Permission
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those occasions since 1971 on which he or his predecessors have used section 276 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 to revoke planning permission; and if he will indicate any compensation that was awarded.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, East (Sir G. Vaughan) on 27 November,Official Report, column 333.

  Environmental Protection Act 1990
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish a timetable for implementation of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have today placed in the Library copies of our target timetable for implementation of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Part A of the timetable sets out for each subject area of the Act target dates for key tasks such as consultation on draft regulations, the laying of regulations and the ultimate target commencement dates. Part B lists the key tasks in chronological order.

  The timetable covers implementation plans for the whole Act with the exception of the regulatory system

  407
  under part II—waste on land. This brings a complete overhaul of our existing waste management systems and we are presently working on the timetable for this. A further announcement will be made on part II as soon as possible.

  The Environmental Protection Act is a landmark in environmental legislation. It brings with it valuable opportunities to enhance our domestic environment and contribute significantly to the development of international environmental policy. We must all be prepared to seize these opportunities so that future generations can benefit from a cleaner, healthier and greener world.

  Sewage Discharges
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of providing treatment for sewage discharges to estuarial and coastal waters.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The cost of providing primary treatment for coastal discharges and secondary treatment for estuarial discharges for populations above 10,000 was estimated at around £1·5 billion by Consultants in Environmental Sciences Ltd. A copy of its report "Study of Coastal Sewage Discharges" is available in the Library. CES Ltd. has recently completed a further study to refine its earlier estimate and to include the cost of providing secondary treatment for discharges to estuaries for populations between 2,000 and 10,000 as required by the draft municipal waste water directive. The revised estimate of costs is now put at some £2.16 billion. Copies of the latest study by CES are being placed in the Library.

  Marine Environment, North Sea
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government have measured the effects on sensitive marine environments from discharges of nitrates and phosphates into the North sea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 27 November 1990]: A substantial part of the marine research budgets of several Government Departments is devoted to work on nutrients and there is extensive monitoring of nutrient levels around our coasts.

  Monitoring of nutrient levels in coastal and estuarial waters has taken place since 1960 and is now the responsibility of the National Rivers Authority. While nutrient inputs from rivers may have increased, there is no evidence of an increase in nutrients offshore. Monitoring by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland has led to the same conclusion.

  Beach Pollution
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department will produce its observations on the fourth report of the Select Committee on the Environment, on pollution of beaches.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 27 November 1990]: The Government's response will be published next month.

  Building Control Fees
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next intends to review local authority building control fees.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 27 November 1990]: Regulations will be laid before the House shortly which will propose increases in building control fees in respect of the erection of small domestic buildings, garages, carports and small extensions and alterations to domestic buildings by, on average, 7 per cent, to take effect from 1 February 1991.

  My officials are discussing with the relevant local authority associations a restructuring of the fees regulations, with a view to preparing the way for allowing local authorities to set their own levels of fees. I hope to issue a consultation paper early next year.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will show for each authority currently entitled to apply for urban programme funding and in summary for all such authorities, for each year from 1981–82 to the latest year for which figures are available, at constant prices(a) the amount of rate support grant or revenue support grant received and (b) total grants received under the urban programme.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  [holding answer 19 November 1990]: The total amounts of (a) rate support grant or revenue support grant received and (b) urban programme expenditure allocated to the 57 authorities currently entitled to apply for urban programme funding, for each year from 1981–82 to 1990–91, at 1990–91 prices, were as follows:

  Revenue support grant £ billion

  Urban programme £ billion

  1981–82

  4·232

  0·238

  1982–83

  3·642

  0·317

  1983–84

  3·591

  0·318

  1984–85

  3·431

  0·320

  1985–86

  3·339

  0·316

  1986–87

  3·622

  0·297

  1987–88

  3·653

  0·321

  1988–89

  3·667

  0·295

  1989–90

  3·611

  0·268

  1990–91

  4·592

  0·259

  I shall send the hon. Gentleman tables showing details for all the authorities. Copies of these tables will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

TRANSPORT

  Public Transport
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement about the funding of local public transport schemes in England.

  Mr. Freeman
  We are providing resources for the £120 million Manchester metrolink light rail scheme, including more than £50 million of grant. Construction is well advanced, and operations should begin late next year.

  Subject to my receiving assurances from the South Yorkshire passenger transport authority about costs,

  409
  contributions to be made by the parties involved, and transfer in due course to the private sector, the £230 million supertram project proposed for Sheffield will he the next light rail scheme to go ahead. Substantial Government grant suppport will be provided.

  As I announced on 26 November, we are reserving resources for a start on the electrification of the railway infrastructure in the Bradford area.

  Light rail schemes are being actively considered in other areas. Parliament has granted powers for a number of lines, including the proposed midland metro line between Birmingham and Wolverhampton. The appraisal of that scheme is currently in progress, and we hope that it will be completed as soon as possible. If it proves satisfactory, we will be ready to consider paying grant next year towards the cost of developing the scheme in detail. We will consider other proposals on the same basis, subject to the availability of resources.

  We also remain committed to taking full advantage of the important contribution which the bus can make to improving the quality of public transport in urban areas. We are examining urgently the proposals put forward by the Bus and Coach Council, including the possibility of earmarking resources for measures to promote bus use, and hope to respond in the new year.

  Transport Deaths
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in tabular form the number of rail deaths for each year from 1970 to 1989, inclusive, showing(a) total figures and (b) by category of (i) British Rail drivers, (ii) other British Rail staff and (iii) passengers.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The table shows fatalities in accidents on all railway premises. The staff figures include all railway employees; no separate figures are available for British Rail staff fatalities. Similarly, I am unable to provide a breakdown between drivers and other railway employees.

  Passenger fatality rates by mode 1975–89

  Per billion passenger kilometres

  Air1

  Rail

  Water2

  Bus or coach

  Car3

  Two-wheeled motor vehicle3

  Pedal cycle

  Pedestrian

  1975

  0·0

  2·0

  0·5

  1·9

  7·6

  153·3

  62·8

  93·8

  1976

  1·3

  0·9

  2·6

  1·1

  7·4

  144·6

  60·0

  93·4

  1977

  0·0

  0·8

  0·0

  1·1

  7·0

  176·0

  59·3

  92·5

  1978

  0·0

  1·3

  0·5

  1·0

  6·9

  175·1

  61·8

  97·1

  1979

  0·2

  1·4

  1·8

  0·6

  6·5

  168·1

  69·9

  84·7

  1980

  2·0

  0·7

  1·3

  0·6

  5·8

  140·0

  59·2

  77·6

  1981

  0·2

  1·0

  0·4

  0·4

  5·7

  117·7

  56·8

  75·0

  1982

  0·0

  0·6

  0·9

  0·7

  6·0

  109·1

  45·9

  74·8

  1983

  0·3

  0·8

  0·9

  0·8

  4·9

  107·3

  50·5

  76·6

  1984

  0·0

  1·1

  0·0

  0·8

  5·0

  109·7

  53·8

  74·7

  1985

  0·7

  0·9

  3·5

  0·7

  4·7

  100·0

  47·0

  71·6

  1986

  0·5

  0·8

  0·5

  0·6

  4·8

  99·8

  49·5

  74·4

  1987

  0·0

  1·0

  69·8

  0·4

  4·4

  99·8

  48·8

  68·1

  1988

  0·0

  1·7

  0·5

  0·3

  4·1

  114·0

  45·7

  70·1

  1989

  0·0

  0·8

  22·8

  0·5

  4·4

  100·1

  56·8

  68·2

  Notes:

  1 World passenger carrying services of United Kingdom airlines for fixed and rotary wing craft over 2,300 kilograms. Passenger kilometres relate to revenue passengers only.

  2 Domestic and international passenger services of United Kingdom-registered vessels.

  3 Drivers and passengers in Great Britain.
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  Year

  Total

  Railway staff

  Passengers

  Other persons

  1970

  143

  67

  55

  21

  1971

  125

  60

  47

  18

  1972

  99

  48

  30

  21

  1973

  97

  42

  42

  13

  1974

  78

  38

  26

  14

  1975

  127

  46

  69

  12

  1976

  97

  46

  30

  21

  1977

  84

  34

  30

  20

  1978

  114

  45

  47

  22

  1979

  107

  43

  52

  12

  1980

  69

  32

  26

  11

  1981

  76

  27

  39

  10

  1982

  57

  27

  20

  10

  1983

  69

  28

  29

  12

  1984

  76

  25

  39

  12

  1985

  74

  25

  33

  16

  1986

  97

  16

  32

  24

  1987

  104

  16

  68

  20

  1988

  97

  16

  69

  12

  1989

  69

  18

  33

  18

  Notes:

  1.Includes contractors' staff from 1984 onwards.

  2.Excluding trespassers, suicides and attempted suicides.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in tabular form the death rate per thousand miles travelled for each year from 1970 to 1989 (inclusive) for(a) car, (b) rail, (c) air (United Kingdom airlines), (d) air (within United Kingdom airspace), (e) bicycle, (f) motor bike, (g) lorry, (h) bus, (i) ship (United Kingdom-registered vessels) and (j) ship (within United Kingdom waters).

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The readily available information is set out in the table.

  An article concerning fatality rates by mode of transport appears in the Department's publication "Transport Statistics Great Britain 1979–1989", pages 1 to 5, which is available in the Library

  Further information is either unavailable or could he supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  Motor Cycle Driving Licence
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what facilities will be available by 1 December within(a) the borough of Berwick upon Tweed, (b) Alnwick district and (c) Castle Morpeth district for the basic training necessary for obtaining a provisional motor cycle driving licence after 1 December.

  Mr. Chope
  Sites have been approved for basic training at Berwick upon Tweed and Belford in the borough of Berwick upon Tweed and at Alnwick in Alnwick district. No sites have been approved within Castle Morpeth district, but sites have been approved nearby at Ashlington and Cramlington. I expect the operators of all these sites to be offering basic training courses from 1 December. Completion of basic training is not a requirement for the issue of a provisional licence, but a licence issued on or after 1 December will not be valid for riding on the road, unaccompanied by an instructor, until a certificate of completion of basic training has been obtained.

  Rail Links
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to use the rate of return criteria used to sanction investment in the east-west underground rail link through London for proposals for electrification of lines in Scotland.

  Mr. Freeman
  The east-west cross rail link was approved on the basis that reduced road congestion and other benefits to non-users more than justified the cost to the public sector. My right hon. Friend stated in his 1989 objectives for BR that where, exceptionally, investment in Network SouthEast or provincial services is needed to meet growth in demand but cannot meet the required financial return, cost-benefit analysis can he used.

  Carbon Monoxide Emissions
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what technical basis was the proposed standard of 4·5 per cent. carbon monoxide for emission testing in the MOT test determined; what proportion of the current car fleet is technically capable of meeting an emission standard of(a) 4 per cent. carbon monoxide and (b) 3 per cent. carbon monoxide at idle; and what levels of carbon monoxide are typically produced by new models of car at idle.

  Mr. Chope
  The proposed 4·5 per cent. carbon monoxide standard derives from EC directive 78/665, which lays down maximum levels of emissions permitted from new vehicles. There is no detailed information available on the number of vehicles that should be able to meet more rigorous carbon monoxide standards, but most modern cars should be capable of achieving lower levels provided they are tuned in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations.

  M4
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the nature and function of the works unit off the eastbound carriageway of the M4 between junctions 14 and 13; what was the cost of erecting the "works unit only" signs for the works unit; when the road between the works 412
  unit and the motorway was completed; what was the cost of the road between the works unit and the motorway; and from which subheads of which votes this money was taken.

  Mr. Chope
  The works unit referred to is RAF Welford which is made available to the United States air force for conventional munitions storage. The "works unit only" signs which are to the conventional red, white and black design as used for MoD establishments cost £6,634·83 to provide and erect. The entry and exit slip roads, to and from the motorway, were completed on 17 December 1982 and 2 July 1985 respectively. The final cost of the construction of the slip roads was £377,081·84. All the works costs were funded by United States air force, which also contributed towards administration expenses.

  Diesel Smoke
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations control the emission of diesel smoke from railway engines; which agency is responsible for enforcement; and what action has been taken to control such emissions.

  Mr. Freeman
  Emission of dark smoke from railway engines is subject to regulations under section 1 of the Clean Air Act 1956. Enforcement is a matter for local authorities. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, railway engines other than steam locomotives could become subject to statutory nuisance action by local authorities or individuals. Action to control emissions is a matter for operators and the enforcement authorities.

  M6 (Gravelly Hill Interchange)
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement outlining reasons for the delay in repairs to the Gravelly hill interchange of the M6 motorway following the accident of 26 August.

  Mr. Chope
  The accident resulted in severe structural damage requiring the closure of two slip roads.

  An urgent investigation began into the effects of the fire damage and possible remedial works including the possibility of demolishing and reconstructing the existing structure.

  There are a number of technical matters still to be resolved, but 1 hope that work on a replacement structure will commence before the end of the year.

  Disabled Drivers
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning unlawful wheelclamping of orange badge holders.

  Mr. Chope
  Orange badge holders are exempt from wheelclamping on the street in areas where wheelclamping is authorised. The exemption does not, however, extend to private car parks or other private land.

  Railway Inspectorate
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the railway inspectorate will be transferred to the Health and Safety Executive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Parkinson
  As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Hayward) on 19 July, at column 711,
  413
  I have decided to transfer the railway inspectorate to the Health and Safety Executive. Following consultations with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, and the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission, I have now made an agency agreement with the commission for the discharge of my railway safety functions. Under this agreement, the railway inspectorate will transfer to the Health and Safety Executive on 1 December, where its identity will be maintained. There will be no change in ministerial responsibilities. I will remain answerable on all matters affecting railway passenger safety. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment will remain accountable for railway employee safety matters under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

  Public Service Vehicles
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the number of accidents involving public service vehicles carrying schoolchildren from 1979 to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The presence of schoolchildren on a public service vehicle involved in a personal injury accident is not routinely recorded by the police. It is, however, possible to identify accidents in which children travelling to or from school on a PSV were themselves injured.. The table gives figures for 1979 to 1989:

  Number of road accidents in which children, up to and including age 16, travelling to or from school on public service vehicles suffered injury or death; 1979–1989:

  Number

  1979

  207

  1980

  218

  1981

  209

  1982

  275

  1983

  281

  1984

  289

  1985

  275

  1986

  261

  1987

  219

  1988

  218

  1989

  254

  Casualties resulting from these PSV accidents are:

  Number of casualties in road accidents involving children travelling to or from school by Public Service Vehicle; 1979–89

  Fatal

  Serious

  Slight

  Total

  1979

  2

  44

  348

  394

  1980

  2

  42

  443

  487

  1981

  0

  29

  341

  370

  1982

  3

  35

  362

  400

  1983

  2

  40

  375

  417

  1984

  0

  72

  500

  572

  1985

  0

  43

  487

  530

  1986

  1

  34

  429

  464

  1987

  0

  36

  451

  487

  1988

  0

  24

  429

  453

  1989

  1

  47

  531

  579

  The figures show that these casualties represent less than 0–2 per cent. of all road casualties and less than 0.1 per cent. of deaths and serious injuries.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the applicability of the European Community environmental impact assessment directive 1985 to the proposed east London river crossing.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Cartwright) on 23 November at column 231.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice his Department has sought concerning the applicability of the European Community environmental impact assessment directive 1985 and the Highways (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988 to the proposed east London river crossing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  No environmental assessment under the directive was required in relation to the line and side road orders for this scheme, which were published in 1984. An assessment in the form of an appraisal framework of the environmental effects of the scheme was published in 1985, and taken into account by the Secretaries of State in reaching their decision. The directive has been applied to the proposed design changes for which an environmental statement was published in January 1990.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will conduct an environmental impact assessment study for(a) the east London river crossing and (b) M11 link projects; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  An assessment in the form of an appraisal framework of the environmental effects of the east London river crossing was published in 1985. The likely environmental effects of the scheme were also exhaustively considered at lengthy public inquiries during 1985–86. An environmental statement on the effects of the proposed design changes to the scheme from the Al3 to the A2016 was published in January 1990. Public inquiries are currently being held into the proposed design changes, at which the Department has presented detailed evidence on the effects of the design changes.

  Evidence on the environmental impact of the A 1 2 Hackney-M 11 link road was presented at public inquiries held in 1983 and 1987 and was fully taken into account when the decisions to proceed with the scheme were taken.

  Roads, Birmingham
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the damage to the slip road between the Aston expressway and spaghetti junction in Birmingham to be repaired.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) today. The slip roads should be reopened in the summer.

ENERGY

  British Gas
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has had with the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis regarding the funding of further computer runs to detect multiple share applications for British Gas.
  415
  Mr. Wakeham
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 21 November 1990, at column 148.

  North Sea Installations
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the earliest year for which he can differentiate between prosecutions mounted against operators in the North sea which resulted from(a) inspections and (b) accidents; and what are the figures for that year and each subsequent year.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Information is not kept in a form by which prosecutions resulting from inspections and from accidents can be distinguished without disproportionate cost.

  The six convictions of companies for breaches of health and safety legislation in 1987, 1988 and 1989 all resulted from accidents.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the earliest year for which he can, without incurring disproportionate cost, give the percentage of serious accidents on North sea installations which have been investigated by his inspectors; and what was the percentage in that year and each subsequent year.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Accident data are not kept in a form from which the information requested can be extracted without disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the earliest year for which he can give the total spent on the North sea safety inspectorate of his Department without incurring disproportionate cost; and what is the figure for that year and subsequent years at constant prices.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Running costs for the safety directorate for the period 1989–90 were of the order of £7·2 million. Figures for earlier years cannot be separately identified.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his answer of 21 November to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras,Official Report, column 150, how the 475 technical staff referred to are broken down between the six certifying authorities.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The information requested by the hon. Member is as follows:

  Certifying Authority

  Number of Technical Staff Employed

  Lloyd's Register of Shipping

  275

  Bureau Veritas

  20

  American Bureau of Shipping

  70

  Det Norske Veritas

  90

  Germanischer Lloyd

  8

  Offshore Certification Bureau

  12

  475

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether the serious accidents referred to in his answer of 21 November,Official Report, column 149, to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, represent the numbers seriously injured or the number of incidents involving serious injury.
  416
  Mr. Wakeham
  The numbers of serious accidents referred to in my answer of 21 November represents the numbers of persons injured.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what will be the total fees paid out in respect of United Kingdom primary underwriting, United Kingdom sub-underwriting and overseas underwriting of the regional electricity company flotations.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Subject to the terms of the underwriting agreements the commissions paid out for underwriting the regional electricity company flotations will be:

  £ million

  United Kingdom primary underwriting:

  6·7

  United Kingdom sub-underwriting:

  29·5

  Overseas underwriting:

  12·9

  Piper Alpha
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many(a) clear breaches of regulations, (b) probable breaches and (c) possible breaches were involved in the fire and explosion on Piper Alpha on 24 March 1984.

  Mr. Wakeham
  It is for the courts to determine, in matters brought before them, whether breaches of the law have occurred.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many hours were spent on the inspections of Piper Alpha on 21 February 1984, excluding the helicopter flights and meal breaks; and how many inspectors were involved.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many hours were spent on the inspections of Piper Alpha on 25 and 26 March 1984, excluding the helicopter flights and meal breaks; and how many inspectors were involved.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The visit by one inspector to Piper Alpha on 25 and 26 March 1984 was not an inspection, but an investigation of the explosion in the gas compression module on 24 March. The information requested on hours spent is not available.

  Offshore Installations
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many occasions in each year since 1978 his inspectors have used their powers under the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 to prohibit an activity or use of equipment or to require improvement.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Action to effect improvements is a feature of almost every inspection. Such action takes place against the background of inspectors' powers under the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971. A detailed breakdown of the kind requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many full-time field inspectors engaged in offshore installation inspections were employed by his Department in each year since 1978.
  417
  Mr. Wakeham
  The number of full-time field inspectors engaged in offshore installation inspections since 1986 is set out in the table.

  Date

  Staff in post

  1986

  7

  1987

  5

  1988

  6

  1989

  7

  1990

  6

  All figures relate to 1 November of the year in question. There is no data prior to 1986.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Overseas Aid Review
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost of publishing the 1990 annual review of British overseas aid.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The total cost of publishing the 1990 annual review of British overseas aid was £76,504·90, a unit cost of £5·10.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Horserace Totalisator Board
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) the qualifications and (b) the dates of original appointment of members of the Horserace Totalisator Board.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Board members are appointed by the Home Secretary under section 12(2) of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963; there are no statutory qualifications for appointment to the board, although appointment as an executive member of the board is in practice contingent upon employment by the Horserace Totalisator Board in an executive capacity. Considerations influencing the selection of non-executive members include what commercial or other relevant experience they may bring to the board.

  The current members of the board, the dates of their original appointments, and their occupations, as detailed in the Tote's annual report and accounts, are as follows:

  Lord Wyatt of Weeford—Member 1 November 1975, chairman 1 May 1976, Director of Satellite Information Services Ltd.

  Lord Swaythling—Member 1 October 1981, chairman of Rothmans International plc, a member of the board of Banking Supervision of the Bank of England, and a non-executive director of the Daily Telegraph plc. Racehorse owner.

  Mr. P. Winfield FRICS–Member 1 October 1981, Formerly senior partner of Healey & Baker until 1988 and continues to act as a full-time consultant. Chairman of Letinvest plc. and the London Auction Mart Limited, a non-executive director of Manders (Holdings) plc. and a special trustee of Guy's Hospital. Racehorse owner.

  Mr. J. Sanders on FCA—Member 1 August 1983, clerk of the course at Doncaster and Catterick Bridge and a director of Thirsk, Wetherby and Phoenix Park, Dublin. He also has business interests in televised sport and leisure.

  Mr. B. McDonnell CA—Executive member 1 November 1990, chief executive of the Tote.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list Government expenditure in each of the last five years on funding alternatives to the use of animals in scientific procedures, with the projects supported in each year.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Home Office has been involved in funding research into finding alternatives to the use of living animals since 1984 when financial assistance was provided to two organisations concerned with animals in research. Some £185,000 was given to the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments—FRAME—to help with three projects: a feasibility study of validation of in vitro techniques which might replace animal experiments; work on a possible database of tissue culture techniques; and an examination of the use of human tissue cultures instead of animals in medical research and toxicity testing. Some £30,000 was given to the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare—UFAW—to support an evaluation of the effects of various cage sizes and social groupings on the well-being of laboratory rats.

  With the passing of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, the Home Office established a scheme which is administered by a sub-committee of the Animal Procedures Committee to provide financial assistance for research for the reduction, refinement or replacement of the use of living animals in scientific procedures. The Home Office also funds research concerned with the welfare of laboratory animals. The Home Office has also supported, and part-funded, international work on acute toxicity testing aimed at further reducing the need for formal LD50 tests.

  In 1988–89, the first year of the operation of the scheme, it was decided to fund the following four projects:

  (i) Dr. P. A. Botham and Dr. G. J. A. Oliver, ICI Central Toxicology Laboratory. "Validation of an enucleated eye model" (£26,700 over two years)

  (ii) Dr. A. F. Bristow and Dr. S. Poole, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control. "Assay of Pyrogens measuring lymphokine production in vitro". (£72,700) over three years)

  (iii) Dr. A. Robinson, Public Health Laboratory Service "Alternative potency tests for cellular pertussis). (£9,800 over three years).

  (iv) Dr. R. M. Stagg, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Scotland. "Fish cell culture for toxicity assessment". (£25,700 over two years)

  In 1989–90 it was decided to fund the following projects:

  (i) Dr. M. E. G. Boursell, AFRC Institute for Animal Health. "Recombinant vaccine against infectious bursa! disease virus". (£67,700 over three years)

  (ii) Dr. M. Fergusson, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control. "The use of in vitro assays for the potency of rabies vaccines". (£10,000 over two years)

  (iii) Mr. A. Knight, Wellcome Research Laboratories. "A replacement for the clostridium chauvoei vaccine potency test". (£67,000) over three years)

  (iv) Professor D. B. Morton, University of Birmingham. "Evaluation of welfare in the husbandry of laboratory rabbits". (£59,900 over three years)

  In 1990–91 one further project has been funded:
  Dr. D. E. S. Stewart-Tull, University of Glasgow. "Establishment of an adjuvants (immunomodulating agents) database" (0,200) over two years)
  419
  In addition, on the advice of the Animal Procedures Committee's research sub-committee, the Home Office commissioned a report of an investigation into antibody production: this report formed the basis for appendix III of the "Report of the Animal Procedures Committee for 1989"—HC581; 24 July 1990.

  In 1991–92, subject to parliamentary approval, the Home Office is making available £215,000 to assist research in this area. The Animal Procedures Committee is now seeking worth while projects for funding in the next financial year.

  Bathing Beaches
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to ban water sports off any bathing beaches in Wales.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Secretary of State has no powers to ban water sports taking place off bathing beaches. Local authorities are able to make byelaws to control public bathing and to regulate the navigation of seaside pleasure boats to prevent danger to bathers, but this does not include power to prohibit particular activities taking place.

  NATO
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any request has been received from(a) Interpol or (b) other sources, seeking the co-operation of Her Majesty's Government in investigations into allegations of undercover military operations by groups linked to NATO.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Government have received no such request.

  Overseas Voters
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions the Government have made to check that overseas voters who have registered for a proxy vote are still eligible to vote on the day of the election.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Registration as an elector depends upon eligibility on the qualifying date, and not on the date of any election. No routine checks are made on whether registered electors remain eligible to vote during the currency of the register on which they are included. However, it is an offence for any person, or a proxy acting on his or her behalf, to vote at any election if that person is not eligible to vote.

  Females remanded initially into custody by courts in Wales into Prison Service establishments: by court and remand establishment, 1987–89

  Estimated number

  Holloway

  Pucklechurch

  Risley

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Crown Court:

  Cardiff

  —

  —

  —

  5

  4

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Merthyr Tydfil

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Mold

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7

  —

  Newport

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Swansea

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Magistrates' courts (county):

  Clwyd

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14

  11

  32

  Dyfed

  —

  —

  —

  1

  9

  12

  —

  —

  —

  Criminal Records
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the terms of reference of the study into the national criminal records.

  Mr. Waddington
  I have decided that an efficiency scrutiny should be carried out with the following terms of reference:

  Terms of Reference

  (i) To review the present arrangements at national and local level for the funding, maintenance and disclosure of the National Collection of Criminal Records, to determine whether they enable an efficient and effective service to be provided;

  (ii) to identify the present and potential scope of the national collection, and any implications for local force records of possible changes in the scope;

  (iii) to examine current practice in providing access to and disclosure from the collection, to make proposals for any changes in the principles governing access and disclosure and to specify their likely effects; and

  (iv) to make recommendations on the future management and resourcing of the national collection, including arrangements for the supply of information to the collection and the disclosure of information from it.

  The scrutiny will begin in early December and I expect to receive the report next April.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking on the draft European Community directive on data protection; and whether he will publish the report of the interdepartmental review committee on the Data Protection Act 1984.

  Mr. Waddington
  My Department is writing to interested organisations inviting comments on the draft directive and related measures which have been issued by the Commission of the European Communities. I am also placing in the Library of the House, and sending to the same organisations, copies of the report of the interdepartmental committee. The need for legislation will be considered when negotiations on the directive have been completed.

  Remand
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women were remanded into custody, by prison service establishment, in Wales, by police division during(a) 1987, (b) 1988 and (c)

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [holding answer 23 November 1990]: The readily available information is given in the table.
  421

  Holloway

  Pucktechurch

  Risley

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Gwent

  —

  —

  —

  20

  18

  9

  —

  —

  —

  Gwynedd

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  9

  7

  4

  Mid Glamorgan

  —

  —

  —

  18

  8

  12

  —

  —

  —

  Powys

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  South Glamorgan

  —

  —

  —

  20

  19

  24

  —

  —

  —

  West Glamorgan

  —

  —

  —

  18

  15

  14

  —

  —

  —

  All courts

  1

  —

  —

  84

  76

  75

  25

  25

  36

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Educational Psychologists
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the actual and recommended numbers of educational psychologists in each local education authority.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The employment of educational psychologists and the management of their educational psychology services are the responsibilities of individual local education authorities. The Department does not issue advice to LEAs on numbers of educational psychologists. The number of educational psychologists employed by each LEA on 19 January 1989 is given in the table:

  Number of educational psychologists employed at 19 January 1989

  Number of educational psychologists (full-time equivalent)

  LEA

  Barking

  7·0

  Barnet

  15·5

  Bexley

  6·0

  Brent

  7·6

  Bromley

  10·1

  Croydon

  10·5

  Ealing

  7·4

  Enfield

  10·4

  Haringey

  6·0

  Harrow

  7·0

  Havering

  8·0

  Hillingdon

  7·2

  Hounslow

  6·3

  Kingston

  3·0

  Merton

  5·0

  Newham

  10·0

  Redbridge

  8·0

  Richmond

  5·0

  Sutton

  5·0

  Waltham Forest

  9·3

  OUTER LONDON

  154·3

  ILEA

  90·3

  GREATER LONDON

  1244·6

  Birmingham

  44·1

  Coventry

  11·0

  Dudley

  8·5

  Sandwell

  12·0

  Solihull

  8·0

  Walsall

  10·5

  Wolverhampton

  9·6

  Knowsley

  7·0

  Liverpool

  17·5

  St. Helens

  6·5

  Sefton

  10·0

  Wirral

  10·0

  422

  Number of educational psychologists (full-time equivalent)

  Bolton

  7·4

  Bury

  4·8

  Manchester

  18·0

  Oldham

  8·6

  Rochdale

  9·0

  Salford

  5·5

  Stockport

  7·8

  Tameside

  8·0

  Trafford

  3·0

  Wigan

  8·0

  Barnsley

  4·0

  Doncaster

  9·0

  Rotherham

  10·2

  Sheffield

  16·6

  Bradford

  20·5

  Calderdale

  6·0

  Kirklees

  13·5

  Leeds

  21·0

  Wakefield

  10·5

  Gateshead

  7·5

  Newcastle

  12·0

  North Tyneside

  8·0

  South Tyneside

  7·0

  Sunderland

  11·5

  MET COUNTIES

  392·1

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  Avon

  28·8

  Bedfordshire

  15·5

  Berkshire

  19·8

  Buckinghamshire

  18·0

  Cambridgeshire

  12·5

  Cheshire

  13·5

  Cleveland

  18·5

  Cornwall

  11·0

  Cumbria

  15·0

  Derbyshire

  32·6

  Devon

  20·2

  Dorset

  17·6

  Durham

  18·0

  East Sussex

  17·3

  Essex

  39·3

  Gloucestershire

  13·0

  Hampshire

  43·7

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  11·5

  Hertfordshire

  28·3

  Humberside

  22·0

  Isle of Wight

  3·0

  Kent

  30·0

  Lancashire

  38·2

  Leicestershire

  28·5

  Lincolnshire

  11·0

  Norfolk

  160

  North Yorkshire

  17·2

  Northants

  16·3

  423

  Number of educational psychologists (full-time equivalent)

  Northumberland

  8·3

  Nottinghamshire

  28·0

  Oxfordshire

  15·0

  Shropshire

  13·5

  Somerset

  11·0

  Staffordshire

  26·4

  Suffolk

  13·0

  Surrey

  30·0

  Warwickshire

  13·2

  West Sussex

  14·2

  Wiltshire

  14·3

  NON MET

  763·4

  Total England

  1,400·1

  School Premises Regulations
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the review of the school premises regulations announced on 2 October is to be completed; how the review is to be undertaken; when consultation with interested bodies is to begin; and when it is envisaged that the review will report to him and the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Fallon
  The review will be conducted by a joint group of this Department's officials and representatives of the Welsh Office, and will draw on up-to-date information on educational needs and practice. Consultations with interested bodies are expected to begin at an early stage in the group's work. It is too early at this stage to say how long the review will take or when it will report to my right hon. Friends.

  Co-ordinating Committee for Marine Science and Technology
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he intends to extend the life of the Co-ordinating Committee for Marine Science and Technology beyond 31 December; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has decided to extend the three-year term of the Co-ordinating Committee for Marine Science and Technology for a further three months until 31 March 1991. This will enable the committee to consider the Government's response to its report on marine science and technology in the United Kingdom.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Coinage
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he made of the requirement for slot machines to be adapted before announcing that the demonetisation of the old 5p piece will take place on 31 December.

  Mr. Maples
  Every effort has been made to consult the vending industry to minimise the problems it will 424
  experience. Companies were given test coins and two and a half years notice so that they could plan sensibly and reprogramme their machines as far as possible on the normal maintenance cycle.

  The demonetisation date for the old 5p coin was first announced by the Chancellor at the Trial of the Pyx on 27 April 1990. This gave the vending industry eight months to prepare for the change. Most vending machines have now been converted to accept the new 5p coin.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  EC Investment Services Directive
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress made in securing an exemption from the European Community investment services directive.

  Mr. Redwood
  Most member states favour the exclusion of solicitors and other members of the professions from the scope of the investment services directive—ISD. None the less, there are difficult issues still to be resolved if we are to secure the maximum possible benefit for members of the professions, as for all investment businesses, under the ISD. We have to take into account both the attitude of the other member states and the level of minimum capital requirements that would be imposed under the capital adequacy directive—CAD—on all those covered by the ISD. These requirements are higher than the United Kingdom would wish. The issue remains open and the Government are in close touch with the professional bodies on the progress of the negotiations.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what view is taken by the Government on the proposed European investment services directive and its requirements for lawyers giving investment advice to carry substantial capital; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Most member states favour the exclusion of solicitors and other members of the professions from the scope of the investment services directive—ISD. None the less, there are difficult issues still to be resolved if we are to secure the maximum possible benefit for members of the professions, as for all investment businesses, under the ISD. We have to take into account both the attitude of the other member states and the level of minimum capital requirements that would be imposed under the capital adequacy directive—CAD—on all those covered by the ISD. These requirements are higher than the United Kingdom would wish. The issue remains open and the Government are in close touch with the professional bodies on the progress of the negotiations. There is a balance to be struck over who is covered by the ISD and what capital they need under it and the CAD.

  Vehicle Tax Discs
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria are applied when deciding which general or sub post office facilities will be available for the supply of motor vehicle tax discs.

  Mr. Leigh
  This is essentially an operational matter for the Post Office and the Department of Transport. The location of outlets issuing motor vehicle licences—MVLs—is determined by the Post Office, within the number set
  425
  by the Department of Transport, and is, I understand, based on such factors as the distance to existing MVL issuing offices and the likely level of business. The size of the MVL issuing network is the result of regular review by the Department of Transport, taking into account convenience to the customer and cost to the taxpayer.

  Public Utilities
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what monitoring and action is taken by his Department to stop undue pressure being placed upon the consumers of the services provided by existing or former public utilities for the payment of bills which are held to be outstanding.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Gas Consumers Council, whose members are appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, represents consumers' interests and investigates complaints. In doing so, it works closely with British Gas plc and the Director General of Gas Supply. British Gas plc has a code of practice on disconnections which provides that no pensioner may be cut off during the winter months and customers experiencing payment difficulties are offered gas payment plans and prepayment meters. As a result, disconnections have fallen sharply from a peak of 60,778 per annum in 1987 to 19,379 in 1989.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has set up four advisory committees on telecommunications to represent consumers' interests in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These committees advise the Director General of the Office of Telecommunications on matters affecting consumers of telecommunications services. British Telecom has various ways of dealing with outstanding bills, including in appropriate cases negotiating a payment package for an exceptionally high bill in one quarter due to special circumstances. Moreover, when there are disputes over bills, customers will not be disconnected provided that the undisputed items on the bill are paid.

  Following electricity privatisation, responsibility for electricity consumers has now passed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy

  Clothing Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Trade and Industry if he will give an estimate of the number of people employed in the United Kingdom clothing manufacturing industry in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement concerning Government policy towards that industry.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 26 November 1990]: The Department of Employment estimates that the number of employees in the clothing manufacturing industry in Great Britain in each year since 1979 was as follows:

  Clothing manufacturing industry Great Britain Group 453 and 456 (SIC 80)

  June

  Thousands

  1979

  290·2

  1980

  261·8

  1981

  224·1

  1982

  214·3

  1983

  207·0

  1984

  212·2

  1985

  213·0

  426

  June

  Thousands

  1986

  210·7

  1987

  205·0

  1988

  205·2

  1989

  199·0

  1990

  197·3

  Notes:

  1. Group 453 (SIC80) consists of those industries involved in the manufacture of clothing, hats and gloves. Group 456 (SIC80) consists of those involved in the manufacture of fur goods.

  2. Similar estimates are not available for Northern Ireland or for people other than employees in employment.

  3. Estimates at this level of industrial detail are subject to substantial estimation error.

  Government policy towards the clothing industry, as for industry as a whole, is to set a framework for free and fair competition and the encouragement of enterprise. A range of Government schemes for encouraging enterprise and spreading best practice is available to companies in the industry.

  Machine Tool Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give an estimate of the number of people employed in the United Kingdom machine tool manufacturing industry in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement concerning Government policy towards that industry.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 26 November 1990]: The Department of Employment estimates that the number of employees in the machine tool manufacturing industry in Great Britain in each year since 1979 was as follows:

  Machine Tool Manufacturing Sector

  Great Britain

  Activity heading 3221 (SIC80) June

  Thousands

  1979

  37·6

  1980

  37·0

  1981

  32·4

  1982

  30·3

  1983

  26·4

  1984

  23·3

  1985

  24·1

  1986

  23·9

  1987

  23·1

  1988

  23·8

  1989

  24·0

  1990

  23·5

  Notes:

  1. Similar estimates are not available for Northern Ireland or for people other than employees in employment.

  2. Estimates at this level of industrial detail are subject to substantial estimation error.

  Government policy towards the machine tool manufacturing industry, as for industry as a whole, is to set the framework for free and fair competition and the encouragement of enterprise. A range of Government schemes for encouraging enterprise and spreading best practice is available to companies in the industry.

  Motor Cars
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is seeking any changes in the current EC regime governing the trade in motor cars,
  427
  including those of partly Japanese origin, between the member states in which they are manufactured; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 26 November 1990]: The Government are participating in discussions about the European Commission's proposals for the eventual abolition of restrictions on imports of vehicles from Japan. We are adamant that there must be no link between any continuing ceilings set for imports from Japan and the treatment of cars made in the EC by Japanese-owned companies. Such cars are European and must continue to be allowed unlimited free circulation throughout the EC. I believe that this has now been accepted by other member states and by the Commission. I will inform the House of the outcome of the discussions when agreement has been reached.

SCOTLAND

  River Esk (Licences)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he has made to ensure that the National Rivers Authority does not seek to collect individual rod licence fees from Scottish anglers fishing in tributaries of the Esk in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Border Esk and its tributaries in Scotland have been subject to English fisheries legislation and administration since at least 1865. The implementation and enforcement of those provisions—including rod licence duties—is now a matter for the National Rivers Authority (NRA). I understand that the NRA is keen to allow sufficient time for consultation and agreement on the way forward and that, to this end, no charges will be made for 1991.

  Football Grounds
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which grounds used by clubs in the Scottish football league are, according to information available to him, owned by local authorities.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Four clubs in the Scottish football league play at grounds owned by local authorities.

  The grounds are:

  (1) Meadowbank stadium, home of Meadowbank Thistle, owned by Edinburgh district council.

  (2) Stair park, home of Stranraer, owned by Wigtown district council.

  (3) Annfield park, home of Stirling Albion, owned by Stirling district council.

  (4) Shielfield park, home of Berwick Rangers, owned by Northumberland county council.

  School Meals
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the results of the annual census of school meals in Scotland held in January; and what were the corresponding 1989 results.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is set out in the table. Despite a decrease in the number of pupils present on census day, the number of pupils taking school meals has risen. This reaffirms the Government view that 428
  changes in entitlement to free meals would not affect the overall uptake of meals. Free meals formed 30 per cent. of the total meals provided and the number taking their own food increased by just over 1 per cent. Cafeteria-style meals remain popular and their uptake has risen from 64 per cent. to 69 per cent. of all meals taken: there was a corresponding 5 per cent. drop in the uptake of the traditional two-course fixed meal.

  Education Authority Schools (Including Nursery and Special Schools)

  1990

  1989

  Number

  As a percentage of pupils present

  Number

  As a percentage of pupils present

  Pupils present on census day

  704,357

  —

  713,034

  —

  Pupils taking school meals

  —on payment

  230,410

  32·7

  223,456

  31·3

  —free

  99,303

  14·1

  105,232

  14·8

  —total

  329,713

  46·8

  328,688

  46·1

  Pupils bringing own food on school premises

  110,290

  15·7

  104,266

  14·6

  A detailed statement of the returns from education authorities from which these national figures are derived is being placed in the Library.

  The following table shows, as a percentage of pupils attending their respective sectors, those primary and secondary pupils taking meals or bringing their own food.

  1990 (per cent.)

  1989 (per cent.)

  Primary

  Pupils taking school meals

  52·7

  51·5

  Pupils bringing own food

  23·7

  22·2

  Secondary

  Pupils taking school meals

  42·2

  42·1

  Pupils bringing own food

  5·4

  5·3

  All authorities provide the traditional two-course meals and cafeteria-style meals, with the latter accounting for 69–1 per cent. of all meals served in 1990.

  The figures are as follows:

  Pupils taking fixed meals

  Pupils taking cafeteria meals

  1989

  Paid

  74,345

  149,111

  Free

  44,327

  60,905

  Total

  118,672

  210,016

  Percentage of pupils present

  16·6

  29·5

  1990

  Paid

  71,819

  158,591

  Free

  30,019

  69,284

  Total

  101,838

  227,875

  Percentage of pupils present

  14·5

  32·4

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Romania
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of reform in Romania.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Romania has made some progress on democratric reform since the grave setback in June. We
  429
  are also encouraged by the start of economic reform. However, we urge the Romanian Government to press ahead with further moves to transform Romania into a genuine free-market democracy.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about consular assistance to British couples wishing to adopt Romanian orphans; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have received a number of representations on this subject. We are committed to offering whatever assistance we can to British couples wishing to adopt Romanian children.

  Cambodia
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports Her Majesty's Government have received about the military situation in Cambodia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Information about the military situation in Cambodia is limited. The rainy season usually curtails military operations from September to November. We understand that the resistance coalition is conducting hit-and-run guerrilla operations well inside Cambodia.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many letters, cards, messages and phone calls his Department has received on Cambodia since 8 October.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Since 8 October, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received about 2,500 written communications and a small number of telephone inquiries about Cambodia.

  Iraq
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any contacts of any kind with his opposite number in Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The British ambassador in Baghdad is in contact with the Iraqi Foreign Ministry and our views are regularly made clear to the Iraqi ambassador in London.

  NATO
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his objectives are for the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in December.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his objectives are for the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in December.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The NATO summit in London this summer set in hand a wide-ranging review to adapt the alliance to the new circumstances in Europe. We plan to take stock with our NATO colleagues of the progress made and to underline the essential role that NATO will continue to play in defence of western interests.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on 430
  the investigations being conducted by other NATO Governments into allegations of the existence of an undercover military organisation linked to NATO.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We do not comment on investigations being conducted by other Governments.

  Intergovernmental Conference
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the forthcoming intergovernmental conference.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Two intergovernmental conferences will be launched on 15 December, one on economic and monetary union, the other on "political union". The United Kingdom will play a full and constructive part in both, as my right hon. Friend the then Prime Minister made clear in her statement to the House on 30 October.

  Middle East
  Sir Hal Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what future security and political structure he envisages in the middle east after the restoration of an independent Kuwait.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Once this crisis has been satisfactorily resolved, it must be primarily for the countries of the region to decide what security structures can best ensure their long-term peace and stability. But we stand prepared to play our part in that process.

  India
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet the Prime Minister of India to discuss United Kingdom-Indian relations.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans at present to meet the Prime Minister of India.

  Poland
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to assist United Kingdom citizens who were born in Poland to return to Poland.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  British citizens of Polish extraction are free to return to Poland if they wish. There are no schemes to help with the cost of returning and we have no plans to introduce one.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between the United Kingdom and Poland.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have close and friendly relations with Poland. We were delighted to welcome Prime Minister Mazowiecki to the United Kingdom in February. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs himself visited Poland at the end of April and many other Cabinet Ministers have done so, too. We admire the courage with
  431
  which the Polish Government are tackling their economic problems and will continue to give substantial help to ease the smooth transition to democracy and a market-based economy.

  The Gulf
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the United States Secretary of State to discuss the situation in the Gulf.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs last met Mr. Baker in Paris on 18 November. Our views on the handling of all aspects of the Gulf crisis remain identical.

  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest estimate he has as to the number of British citizens still being held captive in Iraq and Kuwait.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our latest estimates of British nationals detained at strategic sites are 341 for Iraq. There are no British nationals detained at strategic sites in Kuwait, though two are detained at an hotel in Kuwait. The estimates for the total numbers of Britons in those countries are 741 and 477 respectively.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much aid is now being provided to Sri Lanka; and what was the comparable figure for 1987.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Gross bilateral United Kingdom aid to Sri Lanka in 1989 totalled £23·5 million. The comparable figure for 1987 was £18·7 million. The amounts break down as follows:

  £ million

  1987

  1989

  CDC Investment

  7·1

  3·1

  Debt Relief

  1·6

  1·6

  Aid and Trade Provision

  5·3

  4·2

  Technical Co·operation

  4·7

  8·2

  Capital Aid

  —

  6·4

  Gross bilateral aid in 1990 is expected to be of the order of £13 million excluding CDC investment.

  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the involvement of Sri Lankan security forces in extra-judicial killings in that country.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have received many representations, both from hon. Members and from members of the public, expressing deep concern. We have frequently made it clear to the Sri Lankan Government that their security forces must maintain the highest respect for human rights.

  European Commission (British Employees)
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commcnwealth Affairs what further progress he has made towards increasing the number of British citizens employed in the European Commission.
  432
  Mr. Garel-Jones
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State, Privy Council Office to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Field) on 29 October. The response to the European fast-stream scheme is encouraging but such measures inevitably require some time to take full effect.

  Single European Act
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his written answer to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East on 22 November,Official Report, column 200, under which legally binding authorities the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office signed the Single European Act treaty at the meetings he refers to.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  My right hon. Friend the then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Member for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker), signed the Single European Act at the plenipotentiary meetings in Luxembourg on 17 February 1986 and The Hague on 28 February 1986 under general full powers authorised by Her Majesty the Queen.

  EC Political Union
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with other EEC Foreign Ministers on moves towards political union.

  Mr. Hurd
  I and other EC Foreign Ministers attended the European Council in Rome on 27–28 October, which discussed the preparations for the intergovernmental conference on political union. My right hon. Friend the then Prime Minister reported on those discussions to this House on 30 October.

  Vietnamese Boat People
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the number of Vietnamese boat people currently being held in detention in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  On 24 November there were 52,716 Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong of whom 8,447 have refugee status and are accommodated in open centres. The remaining 44,269 are held in detention.

WALES

  School Nurses
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many secondary schools there are in each local education authority area in Wales; and how many are served by officially appointed school nurses.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information as at September 1989 is shown in the table:
  433

  Number of secondary schools

  Number of schools served by a nurse

  Clwyd

  33

  29

  Dyfed

  31

  16

  Gwent

  34

  16

  Gwynedd

  23

  5

  Mid Glamorgan

  42

  12

  Powys

  13

  1

  South Glamorgan

  28

  27

  West Glamorgan

  27

  26

  Rents
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the effect the policy of linking rent levels in Wales as a whole to property valuations had on council rents in each district and borough council area, on a weekly basis.

  Mr. Grist
  Implied capital values are used in the distribution of the real part of the increase in guideline rents for subsidy purposes. It is for each authority to set its own rents having regard to its legal obligations.

  For each district, guideline rent increases for the current year, including an allowance for inflation, are shown in the table:

  District

  Guideline rent increase 1990–91 £s per week

  Alyn and Deeside

  1·87

  Colwyn

  1·08

  Delyn

  1·10

  Glyndwr

  1·37

  Rhuddlan

  1·87

  Wrexham Maelor

  1·85

  Carmarthen

  1·40

  Ceredigion

  2·10

  Dinefwr

  1·58

  Colleges of higher education

  Intake1

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  NEWI

  147

  159

  113

  95

  11

  50

  83

  104

  160

  Trinity

  66

  147

  208

  189

  184

  204

  205

  255

  277

  Gwent

  204

  172

  198

  146

  152

  149

  154

  151

  187

  Bangor

  140

  182

  200

  163

  120

  151

  155

  169

  222

  Music and Drama

  6

  17

  17

  19

  13

  8

  21

  10

  13

  Cardiff Institute

  156

  208

  197

  197

  205

  213

  252

  258

  259

  West Glamorgan Institute

  138

  86

  110

  104

  99

  65

  80

  105

  136

  Total

  857

  971

  1,043

  913

  850

  840

  950

  1,052

  1,254

  1 Includes the intake to B Ed. courses, postgraduate teacher training courses and from 1981–82 to 1987–88 Dip HE courses, most of whom progressed to a B Ed. course. A small number of students on Dip HE who progress to a BA qualification are included for all years.

  Successful Students1

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  NEWI

  41

  62

  57

  46

  Trinity

  75

  121

  124

  125

  Gwent

  80

  105

  85

  131

  Bangor

  77

  105

  83

  93

  Music and Drama2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cardiff Institute

  206

  216

  237

  215

  West Glamorgan Institute

  58

  69

  81

  67

  Total

  537

  678

  667

  677

  1 Care must be taken in interpreting the relationship between the numbers of successful students and the size of the intake. Owing to

  434

  District

  Guideline rent increase 1990–91 £s per week

  Llanelli

  1·06

  Preseli/Pembrokeshire

  2·37

  South Pembrokeshire

  2·23

  Blaenau Gwent

  1·25

  Islwyn

  1·37

  Monmouth

  2·85

  Newport

  1·81

  Torfaen

  1·40

  Aberconwy

  1·10

  Arfon

  1·12

  Dwyfor

  1·54

  Meirionnydd

  1·06

  Ynys Mon

  1·10

  Cynon Valley

  1·15

  Merthyr Tydfil

  1·06

  Ogwr

  1·29

  Rhondda

  1·33

  Rhymney Valley

  1·25

  Taff Ely

  1·13

  Brecknock

  1·96

  Montgomeryshire

  1·75

  Radnorshire

  1·94

  Cardiff

  1·54

  Vale of Glamorgan

  3·17

  Lliw Valley

  1·17

  Neath

  1·08

  Port Talbot

  1·12

  Swansea

  1·60

  Teacher Training
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the intake at each teacher training establishment in Wales for each year since 1975, together with the numbers who qualified as teachers from each establishment during the same period.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information is not available for all years requested. The information held is as follows:

  the varying lengths of teacher training courses, students who start a course in a given year will not all complete their course at the same time.

  2 Students attend Cardiff Institute for the final year (teacher training component) of their course.

  University Departments of Education (All establishments)

  PGCE intake

  Successful students

  1978–79

  635

  576

  1979–80

  650

  624

  1980–81

  718

  688

  1981–82

  754

  718

  435

  PGCE intake

  Successful students

  1982–83

  618

  573

  1983–84

  670

  600

  1984–85

  633

  573

  1985–86

  568

  511

  1986–87

  572

  493

  1987–88

  604

  525

  1988–89

  636

  501

  University data supplied by the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers.

  National Rivers Authority
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy that his Department will reimburse fully, no later than the following financial year, all levies paid by county councils in Wales to the National Rivers Authority for flood defence work; and if he will publish a definition of the pass-through arrangement which is applicable in such circumstances.

  Mr. Grist
  In Wales, levies from the National Rivers Authority are taken into account in calculating standard spending assessments for Welsh county councils. These assessments are based upon the use of formulae agreed with the Welsh local authority associations. Central Government support for local authority revenue expenditure (which includes meeting National Rivers Authority levies) is distributed on the basis of those assessments and is unhypothecated. Arrangements in England are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the amount and percentage of community charge not paid in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I am confident that the approach to collection adopted by Welsh charging authorities is both professional and effective and I am sure that the overwhelming majority of people will pay their community charges. I shall be seeking data about collection from authorities at the end of this financial year when the full picture for the year will be available.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many manufacturing jobs have been lost in Wales since May 1979 up to the latest availabe date, giving the reply for each year.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Comprehensive information regarding jobs lost is not available.

  Upland Farmers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what urgent action he proposes to help upland farmers in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Measures already introduced for general application, such as improved intervention support for beef and early advance payments of sheep annual premium, will help all farmers. LFA producers will 436
  additionally benefit from the enhanced suckler cow premium—which has been increased for 1991 to £51.69, the maximum permitted under EC rules—and from a supplement of 4 ecu (currently worth £3·12) to the sheep annual premium from the 1991 marketing year.

  Teachers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to improve teacher morale in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I am conscious of the pressures teachers face in this period of change. Managing change is never easy, but we have taken positive steps to minimise the burden and to allow teachers more time to adjust to the pace of change. I believe that our reforms will support teachers in their work.

  For example, the national curriculum will give teachers clear objectives, and local management will give schools greater flexibility as to how these objectives are achieved. As the independent interim advisory committee noted, in the medium and longer term there should be substantial gains in the self-confidence of teachers as the new arrangements are successfully introduced, and increases in their job satisfaction as the educational benefits of the changes start to be realised in practice.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which teacher unions he has met; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I met representatives of the NAS/UWT (Wales) on 7 September. Both my right hon. Friend and I are always willing to consider requests from the teacher unions for a meeting.

  Parent Teacher Association
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the Parent Teacher Association.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I last met the Parent Teacher Association of Wales in November 1987 when I addressed the annual general meeting of the association.

  Schools (Ministerial Visits)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the schools in Wales which he has visited.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend visited Pen-y-Dre high school, Mid Glamorgan on 19 October 1990. Since March 1990 I have visited six county primary schools, one special school and four county secondary schools in Wales. These are listed in the table:

  Date

  Cwmffrwdoer County Primary School

  Gwent

  2 March 1990

  Oakdale Secondary School

  Gwent

  2 March 1990

  Catwg County Primary School

  West Glamorgan

  3 April 1990

  Ysgol Pendalar (Special School)

  Gwynedd

  27 April 1990

  Ysgol Brynrefail (Secondary)

  Gwynedd

  27 April 1990

  Irfon Valley County Primary School

  Powys

  18 May 1990

  437

  Date

  Newtown Secondary School

  Powys

  18 May 1990

  Taliesin Junior School

  Clwyd

  11 June 1990

  St. David's High School

  Clwyd

  11 June 1990

  St. Giles Junior School

  Clwyd

  11 September 1990

  Prendergast Junior School

  Dyfed

  2 October 1990

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by what date he aims to accept or reject the proposals that Pembrokeshire health authority be constituted as a national health service trust.

  Mr. Grist
  The outcome will depend on whether the authority is invited to prepare a formal application for NHS trust status following consideration of its expression of interest.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Rented Land
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take to improve the availability of agricultural land to rent.

  Mr. Gummer
  I believe the tenanted sector is an important element in a healthy agricultural industry, but it is clear that the current legislation is hindering the supply of land to rent. In our discussions with the main interested organisations all have recognised the need for change. I therefore intend to issue a consultative paper in the new year with a view to securing a lasting and effective change without prejudice to the position of existing tenants.

  Market Regulation
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of expenditure in 1989–90 and 1990–91 by the intervention board executive agency and the Agriculture Departments on market regulation under the common agricultural policy.

  Mr. Curry
  Details are given in the table of the outturn for 1989–90 and the latest forecast of outturn for 1990–91.

  £ million

  1989–90 (Actual Outturn)

  1990–91 (Forecast Outturn)

  (i)EXPENDITURE BY THE INTERVENTION BOARD—EXECUTIVE AGENCY

  Cereals

  120·6

  274·4

  Oilseeds

  187·0

  211·0

  Sugar

  104·0

  109·0

  Beef and Veal

  63·8

  364·7

  Sheepmeat

  78·6

  56·0

  Pigmeat

  2·6

  6·3

  Milk Products

  92·9

  200·0

  Processed Goods

  38·5

  45·3

  Others

  46·7

  49·9

  Total

  734·7

  1,316·6

  (ii) EXPENDITURE BY THE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENTS

  438

  £ million

  1989–90 (Actual Outturn)

  1990–91 (Forecast Outturn)

  Repayment of cereals levies

  24·2

  22·8

  Suckler Cow Premium Scheme

  61·8

  70·8

  Annual Premium on Ewes

  114·9

  189·3

  Payments to producers giving up some milk production

  65·2

  59·7

  Beef Special Premium Scheme (Northern Ireland)

  11·6

  5·8

  Total

  277·7

  348·4

  Grand Total

  1,012·4

  1,665·0

  Some of the expenditure shown above benefits consumers and trade interests rather than United Kingdom producers.

  The figures for the Intervention Board-Executive Agency are net of various receipts treated as negative expenditure. Receipts from levies on the production and storage of sugar and isoglucose and on third country exports, which are regarded as Community Own Resources, are excluded.

  Of the estimated outturn for 1990–91, £1,501 million is expected to be financed from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF); in 1989–90, £1,137 million was thus financed. However, because the United Kingdom is a net contributor to the European Community budget, the whole of this expenditure is attributable to the Exchequer. Receipts from the European Community do not always relate to expenditure in the period.

  Grants and Subsidies
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of expenditure in 1989–90 and 1990–91 by the Agriculture Departments on agricultural grants and subsidies excluding market regulation under the common agricultural policy.

  Mr. Curry
  Details are given in the following table of the outturn for 1989–90 and the latest forecast of outturn for 1990–91.

  £ million

  1989–90 (Actual outturn)

  1990–91 (Forecast outturn)

  Price guarantees

  Potatoes

  —

  —

  Wool

  2·9

  22·0

  Assistance to the egg industry

  0·1

  —

  TOTAL

  3·0

  22·0

  Support for capital and other improvements

  Farm and conservation grant scheme (EC)

  0·4

  4·8

  Agriculture improvement scheme (EC)

  24·0

  18·7

  Agriculture and horticulture development scheme

  15·1

  12·3

  Farm structures

  0·3

  0·2

  Agriculture and horticulture grant scheme

  0·1

  —

  Agriculture improvement scheme (National)

  7·2

  1·3

  Northern Ireland agricultural development programme

  2·6

  4·3

  Farm woodland scheme

  0·3

  1·3

  Farm and conservation grant scheme (National)

  11·5

  31·6

  Guidance premiums

  0·3

  0·1

  Farm accounts

  0·2

  0·2

  Environmentally sensitive areas

  8·6

  10·6

  TOTAL

  70·4

  85·4

  439

  £ million

  1989·90 (Actual outturn)

  1990·91 (Forecast outturn)

  Support for agriculture in special areas

  Hill livestock compensatory allowances

  122·4

  127·6

  Additional benefit under AHDS, NIADP, AHGS, AIS(EC), AIS (National), FCGS (EC) and FCGS (National)

  20·1

  19·6

  Others

  8·1

  7·0

  TOTAL

  150·6

  154·2

  Other payments

  Set-aside scheme

  9·8

  21·6

  Milk outgoers scheme

  4·7

  0·7

  Crofting building grants and loans (net)

  2·7

  3·2

  Sheep compensation scheme 1986

  0·4

  0·3

  Storm damage recovery scheme 1987

  0·1

  —

  Cooperation grants

  1·2

  1·7

  Farm diversification:

  Capital grants

  2·3

  4·2

  Marketing and feasibility grants

  —

  0·4

  Pilot nitrate sensitive areas scheme

  —

  0·3

  Other

  0·2

  0·4

  TOTAL

  21·4

  32·8

  GRAND TOTAL

  245·4

  294·4

  Some of this expenditure attracts contributions from the European Community. These are mainly received in the following year. In 1990–91, £60 million is expected to be received from the fund compared with £53 million in 1989–90.

  The individual figures may not add up to the totals shown due to roundings.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 27 November.

  Mr. Curry
  I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting of the Council.

  Agreement was reached on a number of useful measures including one fixing maximum levels for pesticide residues in certain fruit and vegetables, one dealing with the health implications of the marketing of farmed game, one amending the Community regime for olive oil to take account of the gradual application of the full Community regime to Spain and Portugal and one specifying details for the second stage of the accession of Portugal to the full CAP regime.

  Agreement was also reached on a Council directive laying down veterinary rules for the processing of animal waste. This provides specifically for the continuation of the traditional United Kingdom knacker industry until at least 1995 and keeps open the possibility of the trade continuing, under conditions to be determined, beyond that date.

  Food Labelling
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to implement the European directive on nutrition labelling; and what new nutritional information will be available to British consumers.

  Mr. Maclean
  The provisions of the directive are broadly similar to the United Kingdom nutritional labelling guidelines issued in 1987 and the directive's main impact will, therefore, be to give further impetus to the provision of nutrition information on food labels which will be of great benefit to consumers.

  I am encouraging manufacturers and retailers to adopt the main provisions of the new directive at once and in particular to give full nutritional information, at least energy, protein, carbohydrate, sugars, fat, saturates, fibre and sodium. Some changes to the Food Labeling Regulations will be needed to achieve full implementation and draft amending regulations will be published for comment as soon as possible.

  Salmonella
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to investigate and identify the cause of infection in each case of salmonella enteritidis which leads to the compulsory slaughter of poultry.

  Mr. Maclean
  Because of the nature of the salmonella organism and the many routes through which infection of a flock can occur it would not be possible in most cases to identify the origin of the infection. Detailed investigation of individual cases is therefore unlikely to be an effective use of resources.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any evidence that environmental factors such as low lime status influence the incidence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and whether he is sponsoring any appropriate research.

  Mr. Maclean
  The most likely cause of bovine spongiform encephalopathy was the feeding of meat and bonemeal which included material derived from scrapieinfected sheep and subsequently from bovine spongiform encephalopathy-infected cattle. The feeding of ruminant-derived animal protein to ruminants has been banned since July 1988. A wide range of other possible factors has been considered in the continuing epidemiological study of the disease, but there is no evidence that any environmental factors have influenced its incidence.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on measures adopted in the Republic of Ireland to ensure potentially bovine spongiform encephalopathy-infected material from cattle does not enter the human food chain in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Republic of Ireland operates a compulsory slaughter policy in which all cattle suspected of having bovine spongiform encephalopathy are slaughtered and destroyed. As the incidence of clinical
  441
  bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the Republic is negligible, the view of the scientific veterinary committee of the European Community is that further measures are not necessary.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulations apply to the import into the United Kingdom of bovine offal which would be subject to the Bovine Offal Prohibition Regulations (1989) if originating in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Imported Food Regulations and the Importation of Animal Products and Poultry Products Order 1980, as amended.

  Fertilisers
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he has any plans to modify the fertiliser regulations to cover any products sold to growers which make feeding claims;

  (2) if he has any plans to introduce standards and labelling of products sold as soil improvers.

  Mr. Maclean
  Soil improvers and products which make feeding claims are covered by general legislation on the sale and trading of goods, which is the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry.

  Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the result of the laboratory test for spongiform encephalopathy carried out on the antelope calf which died at London zoo on 12 November.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what investigations he is carrying out, and what consultations he has had with London zoo, to determine the type of transmission of spongiform encephalopathy in the kudu antelope which died there recently; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The state veterinary service is in close touch with London zoo about the kudu which died on 13 November. The animal's brain has been removed for laboratory examination at the central veterinary laboratory to determine whether it had a spongiform encephalopathy. The results will be made available when the examination is completed.

  Bananas
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken for the protection after 1992 of the small-scale banana farmers of the Caribbean.

  Mr. Curry
  Until the European Commission puts forward a proposal for the banana market post-1992, specific steps to protect small-scale Caribbean banana farmers cannot be decided upon. Her Majesty's Government continue to work for effective preferential arrangements for bananas from the United Kingdom's traditional suppliers in the context of the single European market.

DEFENCE

  Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all nuclear weapons tests carried out by his Department since 1979.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The following nuclear weapons tests have been carried out jointly with the United States since 1979:

  Test

  Date

  Nessel

  29 August 1979

  Colwick

  26 August 1980

  Dutchess

  24 October 1980

  Serpa

  17 December 1980

  Rousanne

  12 November 1981

  Gibne

  25 April 1982

  Armada

  22 April 1983

  Mundo

  1 May 1984

  Egmont

  9 December 1984

  Kinibilo

  5 December 1985

  Darwin

  25 June 1986

  Midland

  16 July 1987

  Barnwell

  8 December 1989

  Houston

  14 November 1990

  RAF Bases, Germany
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) where No. 60 Squadron will be moved to after the closure of RAF Wildenrath;

  (2) what is the proposed date for closure of (a) RAF Gutersloh and (b) RAF Wildenrath;

  (3) where (a) 3 Squadron, (b) 4 Squadron, (c) 18 Squadron and (d) 230 Squadron, will be moved after the closure of RAF Gutersloh.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add at this stage to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Mr. Alexander) on 13 November 1990,Official Report, column 122.

  Operation Granby
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether full accident investigations will be carried out on aircraft that are lost or damaged in accidents while operating in support of Operation Granby.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Yes, where practicable.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all accidents involving British military aircraft operating in support of Operation Granby.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There have been two such accidents:

  18 October 1990: RAF Tornado at Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

  13 November 1990: RAF Jaguar in the desert in Saudi Arabia.

  Military Exercise (Soviet Inspection)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the inspection of a military exercise by Soviet officials in the United Kingdom in September this year; what was the name of this exercise; and how many military personnel were involved.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Soviet Union conducted an inspection under the terms of the document of the
  443
  Stockholm conference on confidence and security building measures in Europe in the United Kingdom from 26 to 28 September 1990. Under the terms of this document any of the 35 participating states has the right to conduct inspections on the territory of any participating state within the whole of Europe. The purpose of such inspections is to clarify doubts about compliance with the agreed measures.

  The area designated for inspection by the Soviets was bounded by Holmer point, Hove, St. Catherines point, Portland Bill and Chepstow (some 12,000 sq m). Almost exactly the same area was designated by the Soviets in 1988 for the purposes of the only other inspection that has been conducted in the United Kingdom to date.

  There was no significant exercise activity taking place within the designated area. The maximum number of troops on exercise within the area on any day was around 4,000.

  The inspection successfully demonstrated to the Soviets the United Kingdom's continued compliance with the terms of the document.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Soviet inspectors participated in the inspection of a British military exercise in September; what sites were visited; and what was the cost of this inspection to Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Four Soviet inspectors participated in the inspection. They were accommodated at Bulford and they visited the following sites:

  Salisbury Plain Training Area

  Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst

  Ash Ranges, Surrey

  Longmoor Training Area, Hampshire

  Browndown Training Area, Hampshire

  School of Signals, Blandford

  HQ United Kingdom Land Forces, Wilton

  RAF Middle Wallop

  Bovington Training Area, Dorset

  Long Valley Training Area, Hampshire

  Army Apprentices College, Chepstow.

  The cost of the inspection is not available. Inspections are not centrally funded and costs, for the most part, lie where they fall. Costs encompass such areas as accommodation, transport, provisions and staff costs of the accompanying interpreters and escorts.

  Greenham Common
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the future use of RAF Greenham Common;

  (2) when he expects the 501 Tactical Missile Wing at RAF Greenham Common to be deactivated.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 6 February 1990, columns 591–92.

  RAF Leuchars
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities exist at RAF Leuchars for support of F15 aircraft of the United States air force based at NAS Keflavik, Iceland.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No facilities have been constructed at RAF Leuchars for the particular use of USAF F15 aircraft.

  WE177
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what year the WE177 achieved operational status with (i) the Royal Air Force and (ii) the Royal Navy.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The WE177 free-fall nuclear bomb first entered service with the RAF in 1966 and with the Royal Navy in 1971.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the development cost of the WE177.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It has been the policy of successive Governments not to reveal details of this nature.

  INF Treaty
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the inspections carried out by inspectors from the Soviet Union at RAF Greenham Common and RAF Molesworth under the intermediate nuclear forces treaty.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The INF treaty includes a stringent, mandatory and effective verification regime, involving data exchanges, on-site inspection and unimpeded surveillance by national intelligence measures. The four elements of the verification regime that affect the United Kingdom are as follows:

  (a) initial "baseline" inspections, which took place in the first three months of the operation of the treaty, to verify the date exchanges;

  (b) short-notice inspections of declared missile operating bases and support facilities, with an annual quota of 20 such inspections for each side in the first three years;

  (c)"close-out" inspections of the operating bases and support facilities which have been decommissioned;

  (d) short-notice inspections of formerly declared sites for a period of 10 years after the elimination of the missiles.

  To date, the Soviets have conducted eight INF inspections during five visits to the United Kingdom. The details are as follows:

  19–22 August 1988

  "Baseline" inspections at RAF Greenham Common and RAF Molesworth.

  30 October —2 November 1988

  Short notice inspection at Molesworth.

  18–20 January 1989

  "Close-out" inspection at Molesworth, short notice inspection at Greenham Common.

  16–18 August 1989

  Short notice inspection at Greenham Common.

  23–25 May 1990

  Short notice inspections at both Greenham Common and Molesworth.

  RAF St. Mawgan
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the role and function of the proposed joint maritime communications centre at RAF St. Mawgan.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Neale) on 25 July 1990, column 301.

  Phantom Aircraft Squadrons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any decision has been made on what to do with the Phantom aircraft of Nos. 19 and 92 squadrons, following the disbanding of those squadrons.
  445
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No decision has yet been taken.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's latest assessment of the size of the Soviet Union's stockpile of chemical weapons, in terms of quantity of chemical agents.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We continue to assess that the Soviet stockpile of chemical warfare agents is several times greater than the figure of 50,000 tonnes declared by the Soviets themselves in 1987.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which beryllium compounds are used in the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons programme.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Beryllium in metallic form is used at the atomic weapons establishment sites at Aldermaston, Cardiff and Burghfield.

  RAF Molesworth
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future use of RAF Molesworth.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, South-West (Sir A. Grant) on 11 January 1990, at column 691.

  NATO
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of undercover organisations by NATO.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not the Government's practice to comment on such questions.

  Armoured Vehicles
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any additional orders have been placed with Vickers plc for the supply of spare parts for Challenger tanks as a result of the deployment of forces to the Gulf.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Yes.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any additional orders have been placed with GKN plc for the supply of spare parts for Warrior armoured vehicles as a result of the deployment of forces to the Gulf.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Orders already in the pipeline with GKN for the support of Warrior armoured vehicles have been brought forward as a result of the deployment of forces to the Gulf.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the operational availability of armoured vehicles deployed with the 7 Armoured Brigade has been increased or reduced since their deployment to the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The armoured vehicles deployed with the 7 Armoured Brigade underwent a programme of 446
  modification to improve their performance in harsh desert conditions. We are satisfied with the resultant operational availability.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to improve the operational availability of armoured vehicles deployed with the 4 Armoured Brigade once they have been moved to the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The armoured vehicles that will deploy with 4 Brigade will be modified on arrival in the Gulf to ensure that operational availability is maintained in the harsh desert environment.

  British Army of the Rhine
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the operational availability of those forces deployed with the British Army of the Rhine which will not be deployed to the Gulf has declined or increased since 16 September.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The decision to increase our ground forces in the Gulf to divisional strength will have some adverse effect upon the availability of the remaining forces in Germany. Our NATO allies are aware of the planned deployments.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present number of(a) infantry battalions, (b) armoured regiments and (c) artillery regiments deployed with the British Army of the Rhine.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number

  (a) Infantry Battalions

  10

  (b) Armoured Regiments

  11

  (c) Artillery Regiments

  9

  These figures exclude units that have already deployed to the Gulf or are earmarked to do so.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the supply of spare parts for Challenger tanks and Warrior vehicles currently deployed with the British Army of the Rhine has altered as a result of the deployment of the 7 Armoured Brigade to the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The units deployed to the Gulf from BAOR took their vehicles and a full scale of spares with them. Additional spares have also been supplied as necessary, with some consequential effects on the spares position in BAOR.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what approximate number of reservists will be required for the deployment of further troops in the Gulf announced on 22 November.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The number of reservists required as a consequence of deployments to the Gulf will depend on the results of detailed planning, which has yet to be completed.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the nature of the skills that will be required from reservists as a result of the deployment of further troops in the Gulf announced on 22 November.
  447
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made clear when making his announcement on 22 November, we will particularly need members of the reserve with medical experience or training.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he anticipates sending further forces to the Gulf in addition to the deployment announced on 22 November.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The military situation in the Gulf is kept under constant review. The deployment of further British forces in due course is not ruled out.

  Attack Helicopter
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has yet reached a decision on the choice of new attack helicopter for the Army.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  As previously announced, we have participated along with three other European nations in joint studies of the feasibility of developing a light attack helicopter (LAH) based on the Agusta A129 design.

  Although these studies have demonstrated the feasibility of such a development, unfortunately, and despite the best efforts of all parties involved, it appears that development of a solution that would meet the requirements of all four nations would not be economic. Additionally, as a result of international developments since the studies were initiated, including the CFE agreement, the number of aircraft required by some nations has reduced below the level at which a collaborative A129-LAH would be economically viable, and the Governments concerned have decided not to proceed with a LAH development.

  We are continuing to evaluate other options for meeting the British Army's requirement for a new attack helicopter, but it is likely to be some time before I am able to announce our conclusions.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  Ibbs Report
  Sir Geoffrey Howe
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the response of the Commission to the report by Sir Robin Ibbs on House of Commons services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Beith
  On 21 May Sir Robin Ibbs was invited by the House of Commons Commission to undertake a review of the management and decision-taking structures of the House. The report of the team led by Sir Robin was presented to the Commission on 29 October and was further considered by the Commission last week. It was published today in full as House of Commons paper 38.

  The Commission is grateful to Sir Robin and his colleagues for reporting so promptly on the complex issues referred to them and for their constructive recommendations. The Commission welcomes the proposals in the report as providing a coherent framework for the evolution of the management, financial control and
  448
  decision-making structures of the House and the establishment of a single budget for House of Commons services under the Commission's control.

  Many detailed issues remain to be resolved. The Commission expects, however, to take steps during the next few months towards implementing the proposals in the report, in co-operation with and subject to agreement with the other bodies involved.

  Meanwhile, the Commission will welcome comments from Members, the staff of the House and others. These should be addressed in the first instance to the secretary of the Commission.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  "House of Cards"
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what facilities in the Palace of Westminster were made available to the makers of the drama series "House of Cards".

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 23 November 1990]: I understand representatives from the drama series "House of Cards" were admitted to the Palace in order to gain an impression of the interior with a view to constructing appropriate sets or obtaining locations elsewhere.

EMPLOYMENT

  Action for Jobs
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much of the expenditure on(a) press advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) outdoor advertising, (d) regional campaigns, (e) exhibition material, (f) research and (g) presentations for action for jobs in 1986–87 was spent through the Central Office of Information.

  Mr. Jackson
  All the expenditure on press advertising, radio advertising, outdoor advertising and research for action for jobs in 1986–87 was spent through the Central Office of Information. Expenditure on action for jobs presentations and exhibition material in 1986–87 was not placed through the Central Office of Information. There was no expenditure on regional campaigns for action for jobs in 1986–87.

  Careers Service
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to transfer the whole or any part of the careers service to local enterprise companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 27 November 1990]: The arrangements for careers guidance are currently the subject of an internal review. The review team will be presenting its recommendations shortly. As for the situation for local enterprise companies, this is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
  449
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to privatise the whole or parts of the careers service now provided by local education authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 27 November 1990]: As the hon. Member is aware, on 25 July this year, a
  450
  feasibility study was announced to consider options for the future of the careers and occupational information centre (COIC), including options for transferring it to the private sector. The results of this study as well as that of the careers guidance review are due out soon.

  COMMONHOLD: CONSULTATION PAPER
  COMMONHOLD: CONSULTATION PAPER
  FINES: INCOME
  FINES: INCOME
  AFTER-CARE HOSTELS FOR OFFENDERS: COSTS
  AFTER-CARE HOSTELS FOR OFFENDERS: COSTS
  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT 1990: IMPLEMENTATION
  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT 1990: IMPLEMENTATION