Written Answers of 24 October 1990

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Electoral Registration
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for increasing the level of electoral registration; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to his question on 18 October at column 867.

  Liquid Gold
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the content and availability of a chemical sold under the title Liquid Gold with a view to its registration as a controlled substance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  Liquid Gold is the brand name of a type of chemical product sometimes known as a "popper". The active ingredient of these products is amyl nitrite, one of a group of chemicals known as the alkyl nitrites. The misuse of alkyl nitrites was considered by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in 1987. The council found at that time that, although the substances posed a limited health hazard when misused, they were not dependence-producing and did not give rise to any social problems sufficient to justify their control under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. We are monitoring the situation closely to see if any change in this policy is necessary.

  Special Constables
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which five counties have the most special constables proportionate to the population; which five counties have the fewest; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Proportionate to the population, the City of London, Devon and Cornwall, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire police forces have the most special constables; Greater Manchester, Gwent, Merseyside, the Metropolitan police and South Wales have the fewest.

  County Police Forces
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the management and efficiency of county police forces following the Audit Commission report.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Audit Commission is producing a series of reports on police issues. These are being considered as they appear. In the main, the recommendations will be followed up locally by police authorities and 186
  chief constables and in the context of audits carried out by district auditors. They may also be followed up in the course of inspections by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary.

  Deportation
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women are currently held in British prisons awaiting deportation; what is the average time spent in prison; and on what grounds the women are being held.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  None. Three women are, however, held solely under Immigration Act powers in the immigration detention accommodation at Harmondsworth awaiting deportation. The length of their detention on 19 October averaged 69 days. They are detained on the ground that they would otherwise fail to maintain contact with the Department.

  Police Complaints Authority
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any new appointment has been made to the Police Complaints Authority.

  Mr. Waddington
  Mr. Gerald C. Warner, who retired from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in October 1990, has accepted my invitation to serve as a member of the Police Complaints Authority. He will take up his post on 14 November 1990. The appointment is being made to fill a vacancy created by the departure of one of the members from the authority whose term of appointment has expired.

WALES

  Valleys Initiative (Roads)
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many road schemes identified in the valleys initiative have been put out to tender; and whether he will list the successful applicants;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the number of local jobs created by the road schemes identified in the valleys initiative; and which have been completed and which are under construction.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Of the county road schemes shown in "The Valleys": A Programme for the People" the A4067 Glais-Pontardawe improvement, Neath inner urban bypass, A467 Abertillery Brynmawr improvement and A4119 mid-Rhondda access schemes have been completed; the A473 Talbot Green bypass is under construction. Phase I of the A4060 Pentrebach-Dowlais trunk road scheme has also been completed. Tenders have been invited by the Welsh Office for phase II of the A4060 scheme and West Glamorgan county council has invited tenders for the A4067 Pontardawe-Ynysmeudwy scheme. It is too soon to know who the successful applicants might be. No assessment of jobs created has been undertaken.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has received any reports from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on the plans by Rechem International in Gwent to import toxic waste from Italy.
  187
  Mr. Grist
  No. My right hon. Friend receives notification of hazardous waste imports in accordance with the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988.

  Bus Journeys
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what correspondence he has received concerning(a) the journey time and (b) pricing policy for bus journeys between north-west and south Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I have received no such correspondence. These are commercial matters for the bus company.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Mortgages
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has on the number or percentage of mortgages which are adjusted(a) monthly, (b) annually and (c) other categories.

  Mr. Maples
  Only partial information is available. Over 40 per cent. of building society mortgage payments are adjusted annually. No precise information is available on the extent of annual review schemes operated by banks and other mortgage lenders.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish by valuation office and sub-office the comparable figures for objections to domestic rates and to community charge tribunals.

  Mr. Key
  I have been asked to reply.

  In the table figures for objections to domestic rating proposals include those for both domestic and non-domestic properties. No separate figures are available for domestic properties alone.

  Valuation and Community Charge Tribunal Offices

  Community charge appeals to 30 September 1990

  Objections to rating proposals from 1 January 1989 to 31 December 1989

  Avon and Gloucestershire

  94

  4,853

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

  166

  6,647

  Berkshire

  43

  1,779

  Birmingham

  4

  5,532

  Buckinghamshire

  6

  1,929

  Cambridgeshire

  27

  1,457

  Cheshire

  107

  3,997

  Cleveland and Durham

  300

  4,187

  Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire

  29

  3,379

  Cumbria

  73

  1,249

  Derbyshire

  57

  1,856

  Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  168

  4,823

  Dorset and Somerset

  153

  2,833

  Essex

  201

  3,956

  Hampshire North and Wiltshire

  62

  2,757

  Hampshire South and Isle of Wight

  71

  2,367

  Hereford and Worcester

  36

  1,956

  Humberside

  677

  3,183

  Kent

  188

  3,715

  Lancashire

  169

  3,966

  Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire

  81

  4,699

  188

  Valuation and Community Charge Tribunal Offices

  Community charge appeals to 30 September 1990

  Objections to rating proposals from I January 1989 to 31 December 1989

  Lincolnshire

  90

  1,257

  Central London

  11

  18,073

  London North East

  54

  6,707

  London North West

  27

  7,453

  London South East

  30

  5,085

  London South West

  64

  5,460

  Manchester North

  102

  5,379

  Manchester South

  18

  7,227

  Merseyside

  133

  5,776

  Norfolk

  81

  1,203

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  248

  8,802

  North Yorkshire

  195

  2,185

  Oxfordshire

  60

  3,971

  South Yorkshire

  57

  4,041

  Staffordshire and Shropshire

  24

  3,971

  Suffolk

  75

  1,498

  Surrey

  48

  3,711

  East Sussex

  56

  3,312

  West Sussex

  21

  2,096

  West Midlands

  26

  5,318

  West Yorkshire

  98

  4,433

  Total

  4,230

  178,078

TRANSPORT

  Port of London Authority
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning the future organisation and functioning of the Port of London Authority, listing those activities, responsibilities and properties which will remain its public statutory responsibility and those which he envisages will cease to remain in public ownership.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend has decided to build on the benefits which have already appeared from the abolition of the dock labour scheme by bringing forward legislation as soon as he can to enable the Port of London Authority to sell the docks and commercial undertaking of Tilbury into private ownership. The Port of London Authority would retain its existing conservancy responsibilities. It is too early to be more precise about the eventual division of activities, responsibilities and properties.

  Motorway Driving
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will initiate a campaign of "left is right" in relation to motorway driving, along the lines of the German "right is right" campaign.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department continues to emphasise the importance of keeping to the left except when overtaking and this will be reflected in future motorway and trunk road safety campaigns.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents there were, both fatal and non-fatal, in each of the years 1984 to 1989 inclusive; and how many involved drivers aged under 24 years.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department collects only information on accidents involving personal injury.
  189
  A fatal accident is defined as one in which at least one person was fatally injured.

  Accidents and accidents involving drivers aged under 24: 1984–89

  All accidents

  Accidents involving at least one driver or rider aged under 24 years

  Fatal

  Non-fatal

  Total

  Fatal

  Non-fatal

  Total

  1984

  5,138

  248,045

  253,183

  2,094

  100,034

  102,128

  1985

  4,768

  240,877

  245,645

  1,915

  93,929

  95,844

  1986

  4,895

  242,959

  247,854

  1,930

  94,608

  96,538

  1987

  4,694

  234,369

  239,063

  1,816

  89,798

  91,614

  1988

  4,643

  242,351

  246,994

  1,796

  92,572

  94,368

  1989

  4,907

  255,852

  260,759

  1,831

  96,769

  98,600

  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there has been an analysis carried out of the incidents of specific makes of vehicle in road accidents in relation to their general prevalence in the vehicle population as a whole; and if statistics exist for the seriousness of injuries sustained in those specific makes of vehicle.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department of Transport began collecting information about the registration marks of all vehicles involved in injury accidents from 1 January 1989. This will facilitate analyses of the type my hon. Friend seeks. I hope that a report will he published in the form of a statistical bulletin before the end of the year and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  A45-B4029 Junction
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when work will commence on the grade separation at the junction of the A45 and the B4029.

  Mr. Chope
  Provided the scheme continues to show positive economic benefits, we hope to be in a position to publish orders in June 1991.

  M40
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the full length of the M40 will be open to traffic in both directions.

  Mr. Chope
  There is still much to be done to complete the M40, with several major contracts still running. The construction industry, with the encouragement of the Government, has set itself exacting targets for the completion of this vital road and is determined to meet them. The project should, therefore, be completed earlier than expected and fully opened early next year.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what he anticipates will be the reduction of traffic, both north and south bound, on the M1 when the M40 is opened.

  Mr. Chope
  It is currently estimated that there will be a reduction of between 7,500 and 8,500 vehicles per day in each direction on the M1 between London and the M6 junction in the first year after the M40 extension is opened.

  Road Planning
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for the 18 schemes in England and Wales, identified by the National Audit Office as having a190
  negative cost-benefit analysis, in its report of 27 October 1988, "Department of Transport, Scottish Development Department and Welsh Office: Road Planning" (a) location and name of each individual project, (b) length of road, (c) date of decision to build and date of completion, (d) capital cost, both estimated and outturn, (e) number of vehicles per day estimated, each way, (f) number of vehicles per day from recent census data and (g) the details of the negative economic appraisal or net present value.

  Mr. Chope
  The schemes concerned in England were as follows:

  A40 Ross-on-Wye Relief Road

  A483/A5 Oswestry Bypass and A5 Improvement (3 Schemes)

  M65 Whitebirk-Hyndburn

  A61 Chesterfield Relief Road North

  A61 Chesterfield Relief Road South

  A6 Chapel-en-le-Firth Bypass

  A 1079 Beverley Bypass

  A63 South Docks Road (Easterly) Hull

  A564 Blythe Bridge—Uttoxeter Bypass

  A56 Accrington Bypass South

  A66 Bowes Bypass

  The detailed information requested will take some time to collect and I will write to the hon. Gentleman in due course. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is responsible for roads in Wales.

  Bridges
  Mr. Hanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what requirements must be followed by central or local government before a bridge forming part of(a) a trunk road or (b) a local road may be turned into a toll bridge.

  Mr. Chope
  Authority to toll any part of a public highway must be obtained by Act of Parliament or by grant from the Crown.

  Wheel Clamping
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what persons have authority to clamp vehicles allegedly parked illegally, apart from the police or their express agents.

  Mr. Chope
  There are no express powers that enable vehicles to be immobilised by wheelclamps other than those contained in sections 104 and 105 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act, which refers to highways and other roads to which the public has access. In such cases, only the police have power to use clamps or authorise other persons to do so. The position on private land, including car parks, is not expressly provided for at law. Only the courts are in a position to interpret the law and thereby judge the legality of clamping vehicles on private land.

  Mobile Canteens
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made towards regulating mobile canteen trading in trunk road lay bys under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.

  Mr. Chope
  Paragraph 2 of schedule 4 to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 enables district councils to regulate street trading. That schedule confers no powers on the Secretary of State. The application and operation of the schedule in any district is a matter for the relevant district council.

  Continental Rail Travel
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects to receive British Rail's proposals to acquire the trains needed for through passenger services from the north to the Continent; and whether he still expects these trains to be available in time for the services to start from the opening of the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am now considering BR's proposals for trains to operate daytime services to the continent from north of London. There are discussions in progress between BR and its suppliers on the detailed technical specifications, the price and the timetable for deliveries. I still await BR's proposals for night services, which it is discussing with its continental partners.

  Spanish Lorry Drivers
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the blockade by Spanish lorry drivers at the frontier with France; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 19 October 1990]: We received representations from the trade associations and from individual hauliers.

  The strike by Spanish road hauliers who were protesting about Government-controlled haulage rates, fuel prices and working conditions ended on the evening of 19 October.

  The French-Spanish border is now open and lorries are crossing in both directions.

HEALTH

  Electric Hand Dryers
  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking in conjunction with the chief medical officer of health to ascertain the extent of any health dangers associated with the use of warm air electric hand dryers in public conveniences.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department of Health has supported research at Papworth hospital into airborne bacteria from hand drying with hot air electric hand dryers compared with paper towels. The results showed that hot air hand dryers produced no more aerosol and sometimes significantly fewer aerosolised bacteria than paper hand towels. These results have been confirmed by studies in Singapore.

  Video Screens
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been undertaken into the debilitating effect of video screens on eyesight; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I am advised that home television sets, larger commercial sets, amusement arcade game machines and visual display units are not known to have any debilitating effect on eyesight, although their prolonged use may draw attention to a pre-existing refractory problem. There are no known hazards from radiation from these screens in normal use.
  192
  Research into possible health effects from VDU use at work is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

  National Health Service Trusts, Leeds
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many expressions of support he has received for the opt-out proposals of St. James and the Leeds general infirmary in Leeds; and from whom.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Neither St. James hospital nor Leeds general infirmary has put forward proposals to opt out of the National Health Service. However, both have applied to become National Health Service trusts and we have received a number of letters from members of the public supporting their applications. These comments have been passed to Yorkshire regional health authority which is responsible for arranging consultation on these applications. At the end of the consultation period, all comments made will be forwarded to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State to consider alongside the applications before my right hon. and learned Friend decides whether to establish the units as National Health Service trusts.

  Health Authority Accounts
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in the Official Report those district health authorities which are audited by private accountancy practices and the name of each audit practice concerned.

  Mr. Dorrell
  From 1 October 1990, responsibility for the external audit of health authorities moved from the Department of Health to the Audit Commission. The commission has appointed auditors for each authority, who may be their own staff or private firms, and will be happy to supply details if required.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will outline the timetable to be used for units in the second wave of national health service trust applications, giving the date by which(a) units should apply and (b) decisions on suitability will be made at regional level; and if he will outline the consultation procedure which will be used by regions for second wave applicants.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A unit can apply at any time to be an NHS trust. The NHS management executive has produced an indicative timetable for units wishing to become trusts in April 1992. Under this timetable, units would submit applications in late April 1991. Regions may comment on proposals and on applications, but decisions on suitability are for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State. Regions will determine the arrangements for consultation on applications subject to the requirements of the NHS and Community Care Act.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Truancy
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the rates of truancy(a) currently, (b) five years ago and (c) 10 years ago.

  Mr. Fallon
  This information is not collected centrally.

  My right hon. Friend is considering what scope there might be for reviewing the collection and presentation of such statistics at local level.

  Telford CTC
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many people applied for the post of head and deputy head of Telford city technology college; and whether he will give details of their present positions and previous career experience.

  Mr. Eggar
  There were 43 applications for the post of head at the Telford city technology college, and a total of 120 for the three posts of deputy head which were advertised. All of the applicants were suitably qualified being at present in posts at least equivalent to head of department. For the position of head, approximately one third of those applying were at present either deputy heads or heads.

  School Closures
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average time taken between the first submission to his Department of an application by a local education authority relating to a school closure or reorganisation and final decision by Ministers, for the latest available period, and for such of the years from and including 1980 for which information is available.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Data are available only for the average time taken between the publication—as opposed to submission to the Department—of statutory proposals under sections 12, 13 and 15 of the Education Act 1980 and a final decision by the Secretary of State in each of the calendar years from 1986 to 1989, as follows:

  Year

  Average time taken (months)

  1986

  7·30

  1987

  7·35

  1988

  7·97

  1989

  6·64

  These figures exclude proposals which fell to be determined by a local education authority.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will update the table relating to school closures in the answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn,Official Report, 12 July, column 314, to give the latest available information in respect of 1990.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The information is in the following updated table:
  194

  Calendar Year

  Number of proposals decided

  Number of places to be taken out of use by proposals in column 2

  Number of proposals in column 2 approved

  Number of surplus places to be taken out of use as a result of approved proposals

  (1)

  (2)

  (3)

  (4)

  (5)

  1983

  366

  104,174

  330

  85,606

  1984

  292

  85,862

  270

  77,590

  1985

  205

  101,097

  185

  88,218

  1986

  172

  81,663

  147

  62,828

  1987

  159

  55,116

  134

  45,326

  1988

  145

  64,256

  116

  27,170

  1989

  140

  59,527

  114

  41,831

  11990

  107

  28,558

  94

  28,043

  1 1 January to 30 September 1990.

  Assisted Places
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what records of the name, address and other details of pupils in receipt of awards made under the assisted places scheme, or their parents, are held by his Department or are otherwise available to it.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Details of individual pupils in receipt of awards under the assisted places scheme are not held by my Department. Such records as there are, including addresses of parents, and so on, are held by the schools which participate in the scheme.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures he has taken to ensure that records of personal details of award holders and their parents under the assisted places scheme are used only for the purposes for which the information was originally given.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The participating schools are wholly responsible for the records they keep of individual pupils in receipt of awards under the assisted places scheme.

ENERGY

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the overseas visits made by Ministers in his Department during July, and the nature of any agreements concluded.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I visited France on 16 and 17 July this year. My hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) visited Bonn on 6 July and attended the informal Energy Council in Rome on 16 July. No agreements were concluded.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Eastern Europe
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much of the know-how funds for eastern European countries has now been spent or committed.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The know-how fund—KHF—for eastern Europe commenced in July 1989. A total of £2·3
  195
  million was spent on the KHF for Poland in 1989–90. In this financial year £15 million will be disbursed. The allocation of resources for next financial year and beyond has not yet been finalised.

  Malaysian Minister for Energy
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs whether representatives of the Overseas Development Administration met the Malaysian Minister for Energy, Mr. Samy Vellu, during his visit to London earlier in the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No representatives of the Overseas Development Administration met the Malaysian Minister for Energy during his visit to London earlier this year.

  Aid and Trade Provision
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for aid and trade provision funds to support contracts between developing countries and General Electric Company, Plessey, Northern Engineering Industries, BICC and Trafalgar House have been refused since 1979.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Since aid and trade provision funds first became available in 1977, a total of 169 applications have been formally considered from the five companies named. These have led to 133 offers of aid; six applications are still under consideration. Of the 30 remaining cases, our records do not distinguish between those which were refused, and those which fell away for other reasons.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in how many aid and trade provision supported projects since 1979, the minimum test of developmental soundness was not carried out by the Overseas Development Administration.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Since 1979 all aid and trade provision supported projects have been assessed to provide a reasonable assurance of the soundness of the investment.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many internal, confidential, Overseas Development Administration evaluations of aid and trade provision projects contain references to excess profit margins, above departmental profit margin guidelines;

  (2) how many published Overseas Development Administration evaluations of aid and trade provision projects contain references to excess profit margins, above departmental profit margin guidelines;

  (3) in how many internal, confidential, Overseas Development Administration evaluations of aid and trade provision projects profit margins are considered;

  (4) in how many published Overseas Development Administration evaluations of aid and trade provision projects profit margins are considered.

  Mrs. Chalker
  For negotiated contracts, value-for-money checks, which are undertaken before the provision of ATP funds is agreed, include consideration of anticipated profit margins. Two of the ATP projects that have been evaluated involved contracts awarded in 1978 and 1982 prior to the introduction of value-for-money checks; the evaluations considered anticipated profit margins in these cases and concluded that these were not excessive.
  196
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many internal, confidential Overseas Development Administration evaluations of aid and trade provision projects include references to corrupt practices;

  (2) how many published Overseas Development Administration evaluations of aid and trade provision projects include references to corrupt practices.

  Mrs. Chalker
  In one evaluation report of an ATP-financed project there is a reference to allegations of undue influence in relation to the arrangements made for the consideration of competing bids by a tender committee. The contract was awarded to the firm making the lowest-priced bid.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will give details of Overseas Development Administration guidelines on profit margins used in evaluating applications for aid and trade provision funding;

  (2) whether applicants for aid and trade provision grants must state the profit margins expected by British contractors when applying for funds;

  (3) whether consideration is given to the level of profit margins when a contract between a British company and a developing country Government is considered for a grant from the aid and trade provision.

  Mrs. Chalker
  There are no general guidelines on profit margins for assessing applications by companies for ATP assistance made available to developing country Governments to help them finance overseas projects. Companies are not required to state their expected profit margin when applying for ATP assistance. In general, value for money in all aid-funded projects is sought by means of competitive tendering for contracts. In the case of a negotiated contract, in the absence of competition, we undertake a detailed value-for-money check of the proposed contract price, including an assessment of the anticipated profit margin.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether allocations of aid and trade provision funds include contributions towards commission payments.

  Mrs. Chalker
  An ATP grant helps finance a proportion of the total contract price for the purpose of providing only the eligible goods and services specified in the contract. Payments are made in accordance with the terms of the ATP aid agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the recipient Government and of the contract.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether consideration is given to the amount of commission payments when a contract between a British company and a developing country is considered for a grant from the aid and trade provision.

  Mrs. Chalker
  In the case of a negotiated contract between a British firm and a developing-country Government, where competitive bidding has not taken place, the detailed value-for-money check scrutinises all components of the contract price, including any agents' fees.
  197
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the allocation of aid and trade provision funds to contracts between British companies and developing countries, consideration is given to contributions made by British companies to British political parties.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No.
  198
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date aid and trade provision funds were offered for the Pergau hydro-electric project in Malaysia; what is the value of the grant offered; what is the value of the total contract; and when the first instalment of aid is likely to be released.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Lady to the reply I gave her on 22 October, at column 25.

  Pergau Hydro-electric Project
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) which companies, other than Balfour Beatty, General Electric Company and Trafalgar House have sought contracts for the Pergau hydro-electric project in Malaysia;

  (2) whether the Government have sought bids from companies other than Balfour Beatty, General Electric Company and Trafalgar House for the Pergau hydroelectric project in Malaysia;

  (3) whether Balfour Beatty, General Electric Company and Trafalgar House tendered for the contract for the Pergau hydro-electric project in Malaysia.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The client for the Pergau hydro-electric project is Tengah Nasional Berhad—TNB—the Malaysian power utility; it is for TNB to decide from whom it should invite proposals. It would not therefore be appropriate for Her Majesty's Government to provide such information.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Spirits (Australia)
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to persuade the Australian Government to amend their import duty/excise structure so as to put imported and locally produced spirits on an even footing.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Following representations by United Kingdom industry, the Government have, through the European Community, alerted the Australian Government to their concern at certain practices that discriminate against imported spirits, and have sought to secure their elimination. We are addressing this issue in the Uruguay round of multilateral trade negotiations.

  Name of company

  Dale of publication of report

  Firm of accountants

  Gilgate Holdings Ltd. and others

  8 September 1981

  Thornton Baker and Co. (now Grant Thornton)

  Norwest Hoist Ltd.

  23 June 1982

  Price Waterhouse

  Ramor Investments Ltd.

  23 March 1983

  Price Waterhouse

  Milbury plc

  27 October 1988

  Arthur Young (now Ernst and Young)

  Minet Holdings plc and WMD Underwriting Agencies

  29 August 1989

  Arthur Young (now Ernst and Young)

  Alexander Howden Holdings Ltd.

  29 August 1989

  Arthur Young (now Ernst and Young) and Peat Marwick and Mitchell of Bermuda (now Peat Marwick McLintock)

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any accountancy firms criticised by the joint disciplinary scheme act as auditors to public bodies sponsored by his Department.

  Name of company

  Dale of report

  Firm of accountants

  Gilgate Holdings Ltd and others

  22 December 1982

  Thornton Baker (now Grant Thornton)

  Orbit Holdings Ltd

  28 March 1983

  Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co (Peat Marwick Mclintock)

  Ramor Investments Ltd

  27 January 1986

  Price Waterhouse

  Accountancy Bodies
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what matters he intends to discuss with the presidents of the accountancy bodies during his next meeting.

  Mr. Redwood
  I expect that, as usual when I meet leading representatives of the accountancy profession, we shall discuss matters of current mutual interest.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the current president of any of the bodies listed in section 389 of the Companies Act 1985 is or has been a partner in a firm criticised by his Department's inspectors.

  Mr. Redwood
  Thornton Baker, now part of Grant Thornton, Chartered Accountants, was criticised in the inspectors' report on Gilgate Holdings Ltd. and others, which was published in 1981. Mr. M. Lickiss FCA, currently president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and Professor J. Percy CA, currently president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, are partners in Grant Thornton.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will be meeting the president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in the near future.

  Mr. Redwood
  I met him on 8 October and have no plans for a further meeting in the near future.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any accountancy firms criticised by his Department's inspectors act as auditors to public bodies sponsored by his Department.

  Mr. Redwood
  Six reports, issued since June 1979 by inspectors appointed under the Companies Act have contained criticisms of accountants who act as auditors to public bodies sponsored by my Department. They are as follows:

  Mr. Redwood
  Three reports issued since 1980 by the committee of inquiry appointed under the joint disciplinary scheme, have contained criticisms of firms of accountants who act as auditors to public bodies sponsored by my Department. They are as follows:
  201
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he intends to take any criminal or civil action against auditors criticised by the inspectors in the Minet Holdings report.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. A copy of the Minet report has been passed to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will invite the Office of Fair Trading to investigate the accountancy bodies' control of the accountancy press.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have no plans to do so. The hon. Member is of course free to put his concerns on this subject to the Director General of Fair Trading, who will look into any competition issues which arise.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will seek to legislate to ban the call-off stocks accounting method used by companies.

  Mr. Redwood
  It would be helpful if the hon. Member would explain the nature of the problem he has in mind, as "call-off stocks" is an imprecise phrase.

  Audit Policy
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish the recommendations which his Department has made on the review of the Auditing Practices Committee's review of operations.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Government attach great importance to the role of the Auditing Practices Committee in setting auditing standards and in developing auditing guidance. 1, therefore, welcome the decision of the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies to review the constitution, procedures and resources of the Auditing Practices Committee and look forward to the outcome.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the law firm criticised in the House of Fraser report acts as an adviser to any audit policy-making organisation.

  Mr. Redwood
  If the hon. Member is referring to the firm of solicitors which acted for the Fayed brothers, I understand that a partner in that firm is a non-voting member of the Auditing Practices Committee.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions he has taken any civil or criminal action against any auditing firm criticised in the Department of Trade and Industry inspectors' reports.

  Mr. Redwood
  None. Copies of critical reports are passed to the auditors' professional body for consideration.

  Inspectors (Business Connections)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will provide a list showing the business connections of inspectors appointed by his Department since 1985.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information requested by the hon. Member is as follows:
  202
  1985

  J. R. Sendall of the Department of Trade and Industry

  H. B. H. Carlisle QC

  M. G. Lickiss of Grant Thornton, Chartered Accountants

  Bohm, solicitor, of Norton Rose

  A. Ridler of Pannell Kerr Forster, Chartered Accountants

  1986

  Sir Michael Kerry QC

  K. S. Carmichael of Longcrofts, Chartered Accountants

  D. T. Donaldson QC

  I. G. Watt of KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock, Chartered Accountants

  R. G. A. Youard, solicitor, of Slaughter and May

  D. Anton of Coopers & Lybrand Deloitte, Chartered Accountants

  1987

  M. McIver, solicitor, of Bird Semple Fyfe Ireland WS

  D. J. McLeod of Ernst & Young, Chartered Accountants

  H. Brooke QC

  H. G. C. Aldous of Robson Rhodes, Chartered Accountants

  J. F. Eden, solicitor, of Bevan Ashford

  C. H. C. Chudley of Bromhead & Co., Chartered Accountants

  1988

  L. D. Ziman of Nabarro Nathanson, Solicitors

  W. M. Hoffman of Baker Tilly, Chartered Accountants

  D. A. Evans QC

  B. L. Worth of Clark Whitehill, Chartered Accountants Miss M. H. Arden QC

  G. N. Lane of Chantrey Vallacott, Chartered Accountants

  G. W. Staple of Clifford Chance, Solicitors

  T. G. J. Tress of Hays Allen, Chartered Accountants P. L. Heslop QC

  R. P. G. Lewis of Kidsons Impey, Chartered Accountants

  M. Crystal QC

  D. L. Spence of Grant Thornton, Chartered Accountants

  1989

  E. J. Lawson QC

  D. Anton of Coopers & Lybrand Deloitte, Chartered Accountants

  D. A. Evans QC

  B. L. Worth of Clark Whitehill, Chartered Accountants Miss H. Heilbron QC

  M. D. Boohan of Grant Thornton, Chartered Accountants

  G. S. Moss QC

  J. R. Venning of Robson Rhodes, Chartered Accountants

  R. M. Owen QC

  P. D. Powell of Moore Stephens, Chartered Accountants

  1990

  C. J. Brougham QC

  R. T. Turner of Neville Russell, Chartered Accountants

  E. W. Hamilton QC

  J. A. Scott of BDO Binder Hamlyn, Chartered Accountants

  C. P. F. Rimer QC

  J. White of KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock, Chartered Accountants

  Company Legislation
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will seek to introduce legislation to require companies to show market value of their stocks.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. There is already a similar legislative requirement. Paragraph 27 of schedule 4 to the Companies Act 1985 requires companies to disclose in their annual accounts the amount of any material difference between the amount at which stock is stated in the balance sheet and its replacement cost, or its most recent actual purchase price if more appropriate.

  Vietnam
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the rules regarding trade with Vietnam were last reviewed by the Co-ordinating Committee on Multilateral Exports; and when they will next be reviewed.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Vietnam is one of the proscribed destinations listed in schedule 2 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1989, as amended. Equipment and technology, the export of which is controlled to the proscribed destinations, is subject to a regular rolling review undertaken with our COCOM partners, with one quarter of the items being examined each year. All the industrial dual-use items on the control list are under review at the present time as part of a special exercise being undertaken by COCOM partners to reduce controls to a core list of the most strategically sensitive items.

  British Telecom (Vietnam)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations Her Majesty's Government made to the Co-ordinating Committee on Multilateral Exports prior to the consultative committee decision to refuse an export licence to British Telecom for work in Vietnam.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on individual licensing decisions, or on consultations with our partners in COCOM on such matters.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what basis the Co-ordinating Committee on Multilateral Exports refused an export licence for a British Telecom contract in Vietnam.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 19 October 1990]: It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on individual licensing decisions, or on consultations with our partners in COCOM on such matters.

  Aid and Trade Funds
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many contracts supported by aid and trade provision funds, since 1979, were open to tender; and how many companies were nominated.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Tendering arrangements are the responsibility of the overseas Government concerned. Of the 207 projects listed in the answer the Minister for 204
  Overseas Development gave to the hon. Lady on 11 July 1990, Official Report, columns 224–30, a total of 42 are classified in our records as negotiated contracts and the remainder as competitive contracts.

  Multi-fibre Arrangement
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement indicating the precise policy which is being pursued by those representing the United Kingdom in discussions affecting the future of the multi-fibre arrangement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The policy pursued by the EC and the UK in discussions on the future of the multi-fibre arrangement continues to be one of seeking to phase out the MFA over a transitional period after the present extension expires next year in conjunction with a general strengthening of GATT rules and disciplines.

  Strategic Mineral Stockpile
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he plans any further disposals from the strategic mineral stockpile.

  Mr. Lilley
  Yes. It has been decided to sell the contents of the stockpile over a two to three-year period. Disposals will take place in a manner which seeks to avoid undue disruption of the market.

  British Aerospace
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what export licence requests have been made by British Aerospace in regard to plans to set up any joint ventures with Brazil.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 22 October 1990]: It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on individual licence applications.

  Iraq
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has received any information from Her Majesty's customs authorities in Liverpool in regard to the investigation into the sale to Iraq in 1988 of monitoring equipment by Microwave Modules of Aintree Ltd; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 22 October 1990]: It would be inappropriate to comment on export control matters under investigation by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  Al Yamamah Agreement
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, pursuant to the reply given to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central on 19 July,Official Report, column 677, he will give dates of any meetings about the Al Yamamah contract which officials of his Department or the Export Credits Guarantee Department were involved in during June and July 1988.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 23 October 1990]: I have nothing to add to the reply given on 19 July by my hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood).

  Retail Sector
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many company liquidations there were in each of the years 1979 to 1989, and in 1990 to date; how many of these were in the retail sector of business; and if he will make a statement.

  Insolvencies—England and Wales

  Companies

  Compulsory liquidations

  Creditors' voluntary liquidations

  Total

  Retailing

  1979

  2,064

  2,473

  4,537

  501

  1980

  2,935

  3,955

  6,890

  675

  1981

  2,771

  5,825

  8,596

  928

  1982

  3,745

  8,322

  12,067

  1,385

  1983

  4,807

  8,599

  13,406

  2,214

  1984

  5,260

  8,461

  13,721

  2,096

  1985

  5,761

  9,137

  14,898

  2,159

  1986

  5,204

  9,201

  14,405

  1,970

  1987

  4,116

  7,323

  11,439

  1,436

  1988

  3,667

  5,760

  9,427

  1,086

  1989

  4,020

  6,436

  10,456

  1,039

  1990 1st half

  2,553

  4,130

  6,683

  n/a

  Insolvencies—Scotland Companies

  Compulsory Liquidations

  Creditors' Voluntary Liquidations

  Total

  Retailing

  1979

  56

  182

  238

  40

  1980

  135

  244

  379

  54

  1981

  158

  280

  438

  50

  1982

  177

  326

  503

  51

  1983

  263

  258

  521

  97

  1984

  272

  251

  523

  87

  1985

  306

  231

  537

  99

  1986

  299

  212

  511

  96

  1987

  253

  203

  456

  92

  1988

  228

  168

  396

  78

  1989

  229

  199

  428

  82

  1990 1st half

  116

  101

  217

  26

  206
  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 22 October 1990]: The available figures are in the tables. The industry analysis of insolvencies in England and Wales for the first half of 1990 is expected to be available early in November.

  Insolvencies—Northern Ireland companies

  Compulsory liquidations

  Creditors' voluntary liquidations

  Total

  Retailing

  1979

  7

  27

  34

  n/a

  1980

  8

  66

  74

  n/a

  1981

  16

  83

  99

  n/a

  1982

  10

  111

  121

  n/a

  1983

  15

  96

  111

  n/a

  1984

  19

  64

  83

  n/a

  1985

  36

  75

  111

  n/a

  1986

  56

  108

  164

  n/a

  1987

  59

  91

  150

  n/a

  1988

  60

  63

  123

  n/a

  1989

  69

  55

  124

  n/a

  11990

  13

  32

  45

  n/a

  1 January to May.

  207
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many individuals were declared bankrupt in each of the years 1979 to 1989, and in 1990 to date; how many of these were engaged in the retail sector of business; and if he will make a statement.

  Insolvencies—England and Wales

  Individuals

  Bankruptcy orders

  Individual voluntary arrangements

  Deeds of arrangement

  Total

  Retailing

  1979

  3,456

  —

  44

  3,500

  472

  1980

  3,986

  —

  52

  4,038

  578

  1981

  5,075

  —

  76

  5,151

  790

  1982

  5,654

  —

  46

  5,700

  874

  1983

  6,981

  —

  51

  7,032

  1,058

  1984

  8,178

  —

  51

  8,229

  1,512

  1985

  6,730

  —

  48

  6,778

  1,288

  1986

  7,093

  —

  62

  7,155

  1,348

  1987

  6,994

  404

  29

  7,427

  1,226

  1988

  7,717

  779

  11

  8,507

  1,069

  1989

  8,138

  1,224

  3

  9,365

  1,023

  1990 (1st half)

  5,318

  850

  2

  6,170

  n/a

  Insolvencies—Scotland

  Individuals

  Sequestration

  1979

  106

  1980

  150

  1981

  181

  1982

  213

  1983

  282

  1984

  292

  1985

  298

  1986

  437

  1987

  808

  1988

  1,401

  1989

  2,301

  1990 1st half

  1860

  Insolvencies—Northern Ireland

  Individuals

  Orders made

  1979

  37

  1980

  41

  1981

  70

  1982

  78

  1983

  103

  1984

  114

  1985

  150

  1986

  193

  1987

  134

  1988

  164

  1989

  237

  1990 1st half

  122

  Pelagic Exports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure pelagic exports are maintained following the ending of exports credit guarantees for trade with Soviet Klondykers.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 19 October 1990]: ECGD cover has not been withdrawn for pelagic exports to the Soviet Union.
  208
  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 22 October 1990]: The available figures are in the tables. The industry analysis of bankruptcies in England and Wales for the first half of 1990 is expected to be available early in November.

  European Single Market
  Mr. Eadie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet the President of the European Commission to discuss the consequences of the single market for the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to meet the President of the European Commission.

  Malaysian Minister for Energy
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether representatives of his Department met the Malaysian Minister for Energy, Mr. Samy Vellu, during his visit to London earlier in the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Senior officials from my Department met the Malaysian Minister of Energy in London during his visit in April and May this year to discuss progress on a number of power projects in peninsular Malaysia.

  Single Market
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps remain to complete the single market.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My Department keeps a checklist of progress on the Commission's White Paper, which is updated every two months. A copy is deposited in the Library of the House. The latest copy reveals that 95 of the 282 single market measures have not yet been agreed.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Animals and Birds (Export)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps the Government have taken to review the policy of exporting live animals and birds; and whether it remains Government policy to allow continued export under the existing regulations unchanged.
  209
  Mr. Maclean
  The exercise of our statutory duties is constantly under review in the light of prevailing circumstances. It is not known to what extent existing controls will be affected by forthcoming negotiations on Commission proposals for a Community regulation on the protection of animals during transport.

  Milk Powder
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations he has made to Jordan about the sales of milk powder of United Kingdom origin; whether Jordan has accepted that there is no risk to human health from United Kingdom milk products; what are the prospects for sales of milk powder in Jordan; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what representations he has made to Turkey about sales of milk powder of United Kingdom origin; whether Turkey has accepted that there is no risk to human health from United Kingdom milk products; what are the prospects for sales of milk powder in Turkey; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what representations he has made to Egypt about sales of milk powder of United Kingdom origin; whether Egypt has accepted that there is no risk to human health from United Kingdom milk products; what are the prospects for sales of milk powder in Egypt; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what representations he has made to Tunisia about sales of milk powder of United Kingdom origin; whether Tunisia has accepted that there is no risk to human health from United Kingdom milk products; what are the prospects for sales of milk powder in Tunisia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  We have been in frequent contact with all those countries that have imposed restrictions on our exports of cattle and cattle products including milk. We have also been working closely with the Commission of the European Communities and the Organisation International des Epizooties—OIE—to reassure countries that there is no public or animal health risk in importing cattle products including milk powder from the United Kingdom.

  At the moment Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia and Turkey are maintaining restrictions on our milk products despite the clear statements from the Commission and the OIE that milk products present no risk from BSE. We shall continue to make every effort to have these unwarranted restrictions lifted in order that United Kingdom exporters may resume their trade in the middle eastern countries.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether the United Kingdom Government intend to support in the European Council the transfer of an additional £200 million European currency units to the tobacco sector of the EAGGF;

  (2) whether the United Kingdom Government supported the 1989 Council decision to transfer an additional £165 million European currency units to the tobacco sector of the EAGGF.

  Mr. Curry
  In 1989 the costs of the tobacco regime were higher than originally estimated partly because of agrimonetary movements but mainly because production levels and intervention stocks were greater than forecast 210
  when the budget was fixed in 1988. As the expenditure was legitimately incurred within the rules for that sector, the budgetary authority—the Council and the European Parliament—agreed to regularise the situation in this and other sectors by transferring funds from sectors which had underspent. Overall, the 1989 FEOGA budget was underspent, after these adjustments, by some 2·4 billion ecu. Similar transfers from underspending sectors within the 1990 FEOGA budget to cover legitimate expenditure in other sectors, including tobacco, have recently been agreed.

  The United Kingdom has long been critical of the EC tobacco regime and the expenditure which it incurs and has consistently pressed for improvements. The Commission is currently conducting a review of the regime and we shall be arguing for substantive change.

DEFENCE

  Polish Resettlement Act 1947
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his replies of 11 May,Official Report, column 212, and 9 July, column 38, when he now expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Isle of Wight of 3 April, on the Polish Resettlement Act 1947.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces has today written to my hon. Friend.

  British Forces (Gulf)
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under whose ultimate control are the British forces in the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  British forces in the Gulf will remain at all times under ultimate United Kingdom command.

SCOTLAND

  Greater Glasgow Health Board (Contracts)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the list of private contractors approved by Greater Glasgow health board for the purpose of competitive tendering.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The board has no formal list of approved contractors. Each contract involves an open invitation to companies to indicate expressions of interest. A technical and financial evaluation is carried out on those companies which respond to determine whether they shall be invited to tender.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that the director of the Scottish Information Office replies without further delay to the letters of 18 December 1989 and 8 June 1990 from the hon. Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I am sorry that the hon. Member has not had a reply. My private secretary has written to him today.

  Local Government Finance
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people have been exempted from paying the poll tax by way of each category of exemption in(a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole.

  Mr. Lang
  Information held by community charge registration officers on people who are exempt from the

  Known Exemptions from Community Charge

  Inverclyde

  Strathclyde

  Scotland

  Persons aged 18 or over in receipt of Child Benefit

  248

  4,750

  7,776

  Prisoners

  276

  5,306

  6,425

  Foreign armed forces

  39

  1,737

  3,138

  Dependants of foreign armed forces

  5

  247

  247

  Persons aged 18 or over who are severely mentally handicapped

  330

  7,609

  14,794

  Other

  898

  15,458

  21,139

  Total

  1,796

  35,107

  53,519

  Note: "Other' includes patients in residential homes, nursing homes or hospitals, members of religious communities, residents in Crown property, persons of no fixed abode etc.

  Prisoners
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current cost per inmate per week in each of Her Majesty's prisons.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The latest available figures, which are for 1989–90, are set out in the table.

  Establishment

  Approximate gross weekly cost per inmate

  £

  Aberdeen

  350

  Barlinnie

  264

  Castle Huntly

  281

  Cornton Vale

  611

  Dumfries

  398

  Dungavel

  314

  Edinburgh

  310

  Friarton

  376

  Glenochil

  392

  Greenock

  405

  Inverness

  430

  Longriggend

  292

  Low Moss

  184

  Noranside

  305

  Penninghame

  278

  Perth

  336

  Peterhead

  1,008

  Polmont

  289

  Shotts

  318

  The figures include the transfer value of supplies drawn by establishments from central stores and prison industries as well as the direct revenue costs of each establishment.

  Earnings Statistics
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish separate statistics for average earnings for the Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway and the Highlands and Islands;

  (2) if he will publish in the Official Report statistics for average earnings in the Scottish Borders, using samples taken in the Borders.
  212
  personal community charge is not comprehensive. The figures, which relate to 1 July 1990 and are available only for local authority areas, are as follows:

  Mr. Rifkind
  The only information on average earnings for these areas comes from the new earnings survey, which is a sample survey based on 1 per cent. of all employees in PAYE schemes in Great Britain.

  The latest available information, from the 1989 new earnings survey, is given in the following table. It is not possible to provide average earnings estimates for the Borders region, nor for women in Dumfries and Galloway and the Highlands and Islands, because the new earnings survey sample in these areas does not give sufficiently reliable estimates.

  Average gross weekly earnings in April 1989

  Males

  Females

  Males and females

  £

  £

  £

  Borders

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Dumfries and Galloway

  232·0

  n/a

  207·6

  Highlands and Islands

  246·4

  n/a

  219·7

  Notes:

  n/a—Not available.

  Earnings of full time employees on adult rates, not affected by absence.

  A7
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be able to announce road improvement schemes to be carried out on the A7 trunk road south of Hawick; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Development Department together with Borders and Dumfries and Galloway regional councils are preparing a route action plan to identify and bring forward a series of improvement schemes on the A7 in Hawick and on the Scottish section of the A7 trunk road to the south.

  The final report on a route strategy by the regional councils is due to be submitted in December 1992. Interim reports have been requested during 1991 on an initial series of road safety and overtaking opportunity schemes. Once these reports are available and have been studied by the Department, I will then be in a position to decide which schemes are to be constructed.

  Storm Damage Payments
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities will benefit from the Bellwin scheme invoked after the severe storms in February of the current year; and by how much.

  Mr. Lang
  Claims for special financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme have now been assessed and I can announce that £62,000 in grant will be made available to three authorities which suffered an undue financial burden in responding to the storms and floods of February under the terms of the scheme which I announced on 8 February.

  The details of grant are:

  £

  Highland Regional Council

  30,761

  Inverness District Council

  13,542

  Perth and Kinross District Council

  18,132

  62,435

  Payments will be issued to these authorities as soon as possible.

  Giant Hogweed
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what money has been allocated in the past five years by his Department to research into the spread, control and eradication of heracleum mantegazzianum;

  (2) what money has been allocated in the past five years by his Department into educating the public of the dangers of contact with heracleum mantegazzianum.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 22 October 1990]: I understand that the basic facts about the plant and methods for controlling it are well understood without further research. In February 1989 Scottish agricultural colleges published a leaflet "Giant Hogweed: The Problem and its Control" which gives clear advice on the biology of the plant, its dangers and methods of control. If particular local authorities consider that the scale of the problem in their area justifies action they have statutory powers available to them to undertake this.

  The plant is listed in part II of schedule 9 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as a plant that must not be deliberately established in the wild. Under section 25 of the Act local authorities are required to publicise that fact.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Romania
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit Romania to discuss economic co-operation.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs plan to visit Romania at present. However, I hope that Ministers will be able to discuss economic matters with the Romanian Deputy Prime Minister in the United Kingdom next month. My right hon. Friend discussed Romania's troubled progress towards democracy with his Romanian counterpart in New York on 2 October.

  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Foreign 214
  Affairs Council is next due to meet to review the postponement of trade and economic and commercial co-operation agreements with Romania; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards such agreements being dependent upon progress towards democratic reforms.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The EC's trade and co-operation agreement with Romania was signed in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council on 22 October. The Council had earlier agreed that Romania's progress towards political and economic reform justified this positive step. We strongly support the Community's policy of treating individual countries according to their progress and commitment towards political and economic reform. The EC has, therefore, yet to decide to extend economic aid to Romania.

  EC-USA Relations
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met with the United States Secretary of State to discuss relations between the European Community countries and the United States of America.

  Mr. Hurd
  I have no firm plans for my next visit to the United States. I am in frequent touch with Mr. Baker and last met him in New York on 2 October during the meeting of CSCE Ministers.

  Cambodia
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to visit Cambodia to discuss progress towards peace in that country.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans to visit Cambodia, but we regularly discuss developments there with our European colleagues and others among our friends and partners.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had in respect of Her Majesty's Government's policy towards Cambodia; and if any change in that policy is projected.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our policy on Cambodia is kept under constant review. We remain committed to helping to create conditions in which the Cambodian people can elect a Government of their choice, free from the fear of Khmer Rouge atrocities, civil war and foreign invasion.

  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of other permanent member countries on the United Nations Security Council, regarding the future of Cambodia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discusses Cambodia regularly with his colleagues among the permanent members of the UN Security Council and did so most recently during his visit to the UN General Assembly from 24 to 28 September.

  Germany
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to meet the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany to discuss the Federal Republic's membership of NATO.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit the Federal Republic of Germany to discuss Germany's membership of NATO.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend expects to meet Herr Genscher in the next few days. It has been a key objective of our policy this year that a united Germany should remain a full member of NATO. We achieved this in the agreement signed in Moscow last month. The outcome is a tribute to Chancellor Kohl and his colleagues in the German Government.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had recently with representatives of the German Governments about political reunification; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress made during discussions in the most recent two-plus-four meetings on German unification.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  On 12 September in Moscow, together with his German, French, American and Russian colleagues, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs signed the treaty on the final settlement with respect to Germany. On 1 October in New York, they signed a declaration suspending four-power rights and responsibilities with effect from German unification on 3 October.

  We welcome the unification of Germany in peace and freedom. We will be working with the united Germany as a friend, ally and partner for the peace and prosperity of Europe and the wider world.

  China
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to visit China to discuss Anglo-Chinese relations.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to visit China at present. He had a useful discussion with the Chinese Foreign Minister at the United Nations General Assembly.

  Kenya
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the protection of civil rights in Kenya.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Kenya's record in this respect has been generally good since independence. The Kenyan Government are aware of the importance we attach to their maintaining this record.

  Albania
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with his European Community counterparts about the situation in Albania.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The situation in Albania is discussed regularly under European political co-operation.

  Political Co-operation
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet his counterparts in European Economic Community countries to discuss political co-operation.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to attend a meeting of the European Community Council of Ministers to discuss closer political co-operation.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The United Kingdom strongly supports the developments of closer political co-operation among our Community partners. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will be meeting his EC colleagues in Brussels on 12 November when he will discuss various political co-operation issues. There is likely to be a discussion of political co-operation at the special European Council in Rome on 27 October, which will be attended by my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

  Baltic Republics
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the Baltic republics; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have received a number of representations about the Baltic republics from individuals and interested groups in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Our views on this question are clearly on record.

  India
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding Britain's relations with India.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our relations with India are excellent. We continue to look for ways of developing them still further.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet representatives at Amnesty International to discuss human rights violations in India.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans to discuss this particular subject with Amnesty International, but we are in regular contact with it to discuss human rights in general.

  Mauritius
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Mauritius on the future of Ilois persons displaced from the British Indian Ocean territory resident in Mauritius.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  None. Those concerned were given considerable financial assistance to resettle and their future now lies in Mauritius.

  Korea
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to expedite the peaceful reunification of Korea.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We shall continue our consistent support for efforts to achieve the peaceful reunification of Korea. We welcome the recent high-level meetings between North and South Korea as a contribution to this process.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to attend a meeting of the European Community Council of Ministers to discuss economic and monetary union.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will accompany my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister when she attends the special meeting of the European Council in Rome on 27 and 28 October, at which, among other topics, economic and monetary union is likely to be discussed.

  EC Intergovernmental Conference
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet the President of the European Commission to discuss the agenda of the next intergovernmental conference.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs expects to meet Mr. Delors, President of the European Commission, at the special European Council in Rome on 27 and 28 October which will discuss the preparations for the intergovernmental conference on political union.

  Iraq
  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to meet the Foreign Minister of Iraq to discuss the report of Amnesty International on human rights in that country.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans to meet the Iraqi Foreign Minister. Amnesty International's report further documents the terrible crimes against human rights perpetrated by the Iraqis in Kuwait as well as in their own country.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest position on international co-operation on the future of Cyprus.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The United Nations Secretary-General's mission of good offices continues. The Secretary-General's special representative is currently pursuing a round of separate talks with representatives of the two communities with a view to the resumption of direct talks. We continue to give our active support to the Secretary-General's initiative.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Community have taken place since 1 August; and if he will make a statement concerning their contents and conclusions.

  Mr. Hurd
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell) on 15 October about the Foreign Affairs Council on 17 September.

  The Foreign Affairs Council also met in Luxembourg on 22 October. I represented the United Kingdom. Ministers discussed a report prepared by their special representatives on preparations for the intergovernmental conference on institutional reform. They also discussed a report by the chairman of the ECOFIN Council on preparations for the IGC on economic and monetary union. They agreed that both reports should be submitted to the informal European Council in Rome on 27 and 28 October.

  Ministers had a preliminary discussion of the economic problems facing the countries of eastern and central Europe and the Soviet Union. The Council agreed draft declarations on relations between the European Community and the United States, and the European Community and Canada. The presidency will finalise the texts with the Americans and Canadians, in preparation for endorsement by the informal European Council on 27 and 28 October and signature at the CSCE summit in November.

  Ministers agreed in principle the Commission's proposals for the integration of the former GDR into the Community. The House debated this in full on 19 October. The Council's formal position will be adopted after examination of the European Parliament's opinion on the Commission's proposals.

  The Council had a further discussion of the Community's relations with Turkey. It also considered a Commission report on the opening round of negotiations for a free trade agreement with the Gulf Co-operation Council. The issues were referred to the Council of Permanent Representatives for further study. The Council discussed progress in the negotiations between the Community and the EFTA countries for the creation of a European economic area. I underlined the importance we attached to early progress in all areas of the negotiation.

  The Council approved an amendment to the Commission's regulation imposing surveillance licensing on imports of footwear from Korea and Taiwan.

  Ministers discussed the Community's offer on agriculture in the GATT Uruguay round. The issue will

  219
  now go to a further meeting of the Agriculture Council, with Trade Ministers attending, on 26 October. I stressed the importance of early agreement between the Community member states if the EC wished to be taken seriously during the final stages of the Uruguay round negotiations.

  Ministers also discussed EC relations with third countries, including Syria, China, Iran, Vietnam and South Africa. The trade and co-operation agreement between the EC and Romania was signed by the Romanian Prime Minister, the Commission and by the presidency, on behalf of the Twelve.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in discussions with the Chinese Government on the adoption of a number of confidence-building measures in respect to the future of Hong Kong.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There is a continuing dialogue with the Chinese Government on the future of Hong Kong. The Sino-British joint liaison group met in London on 25 to 28 September. The Chinese Government have reiterated their commitment to the joint declaration and its implementation.

  Middle East
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives of the Government of Israel to discuss the middle east peace process.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to meet the Foreign Minister of Israel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met the Israeli Foreign Minister on 16 October. They had a thorough discussion of middle east issues. He has no firm plans to meet Mr. Levy again. But they agreed to stay in closer contact in future.

  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent action he has taken towards assisting progress in the middle east peace process.

  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the peace process in the middle east.

  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's contribution to finding a diplomatic and peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict acceptable to the international community.

  Sir Dennis Walters
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards peace in the middle east.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The need for a solution to the Palestinian problem is more pressing than ever. Once the Gulf crisis is over, when conditions may be more 220
  conducive, we shall return to the peace process with renewed vigour. We are in close touch with the Americans and our friends in the region about possible ways ahead. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs' recent visit to the middle east gave him a chance to talk to senior Egyptians and Israelis directly. We regret that a Palestinian boycott prevented his talking to leaders in the occupied territories also.

  South Africa
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what help Her Majesty's Government are currently giving to political organisations in South Africa.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn) on 13 June 1990, at column 255. In this financial year we have committed over £40,000 under this scheme.

  Mr. John Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the furtherance of diplomatic relations with South Africa.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have consistently maintained regular contact with the South African authorities on a wide range of issues, both here and via Her Majesty's ambassador. We have opposed the diplomatic isolation of South Africa and welcome the increasing number of countries which share our view.

  NATO
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last had meetings with his NATO partners to discuss further developments of the organisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We last discussed NATO's future at the London summit in July. We agreed that NATO should change, and set in hand a review of strategy and structure. We also agreed that NATO should develop closer contacts with the Soviet Union and east European countries, in keeping with the new security situation in Europe.

  Soviet Union
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the European Community and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development studies of the needs of the Soviet Union for economic and development aid.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  These studies are continuing. The European Commission should present an interim report to the Rome European Council on 27 and 28 October. The results of the IMF study, in which the OECD is participating, are expected to be available in December.

  Poland
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to pay an official visit to Poland.
  221
  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had a useful visit to Poland from 29 April to 2 May 1990. He has no plans to visit Poland again at present. The Polish Foreign Minister plans to pay an official visit to Britain on 9 and 10 January 1991.

  EC Policies
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further proposals he intends to place before his European Community partners for the development of Community policies.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given by my hon. Friend the then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on 9 May, 13 June and 11 July. We shall continue to play a constructive role in Community discussions.

  Adib Afnan
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has raised with the Jordanian authorities the case of the untried political detainee Adib Afnan.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Jordanian authorities have informed our embassy that Adib Afnan is no longer in detention.

  Treaty of Rome
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with Chancellor Kohl and other leaders of European Community states regarding revisions of the treaty of Rome leading to a transfer of power from the national legislatures to the institutions of the European Community.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The last discussion between Community Heads of Government on institutional reform was at the Dublin European Council on 25 and 26 June. They agreed to call an intergovernmental conference beginning in December, to examine the possibility of treaty changes. Any revision of the treaty will have to be ratified by this House before it can enter into force.

  Israel
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on Anglo-Israeli relations.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Anglo-Israeli relations are correct and friendly; profound differences remain between us on policy towards the occupied territories.

  Commonwealth
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Commonwealth Heads of Government will next meet to review the Commonwealth.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Firm dates for the first meeting of the high-level appraisal group of 10 Heads of Government have not yet been agreed, but it is envisaged that it will take place early next year.

  West Berlin
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the West German Government concerning the future of land and facilities currently under British control in west Berlin.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The future of facilities currently used by the three western allies in Berlin was covered in an exchange of notes concluded with the Federal Republic of Germany on 25 September. Some facilities will continue to be required. Others will be returned to the Federal Republic of Germany.

  Bulgaria
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to include Bulgaria in the know-how fund for emerging eastern European democracies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  We have made it clear that Bulgaria will become eligible for support from the know-how fund for eastern Europe once the Bulgarian authorities have shown that they are firmly committed to political and economic reform. We are, therefore, observing with close attention the policies of the new Bulgarian Government.

  United Nations
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters he plans to raise at the next meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs addressed the United Nations General Assembly on 26 September 1990, and urged the organisation to redouble its efforts to uphold the rule of law in international relations, with special reference to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Copies of his speech are available in the Library of the House.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Social Fund
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what percentage of income support claimants aged under 60 years are repaying social fund loans by deductions from their benefit payments in the London borough of Newham.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 19 October 1990]: The table shows the number of social fund loans being recovered from income support recipients aged under 60 at the end of August 1990 and the percentage of recipients in that age group that the figure represents.

  Number of recoveries

  Percentage of IS recipients under 60

  Plaistow

  674

  7·5

  Woodgrange Park

  1,315

  9·9

  Canning Town

  660

  18·2

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will now review his powers on determining the levels of social fund payments; and if he will make a statement.
  223
  Mr. Scott
  We have no plans to do so.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many social fund loan applications were refused in(a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole in the financial year 1989–90 and in the present year due to perceived inability to pay; how many of those suffering such a refusal were offered a community care grant instead; and what financial advice was offered to those denied, in the first instance, a loan and a grant;

  (2) what percentage of applications for community care grants were refused in 1988–89, 1989–90 and in the first six months of 1990 in (a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole: and, of those so refused, what proportion were offered the alternative of a loan.

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

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what percentage of households claiming income support are repaying social fund loans by deductions from their benefit payments.

  Mr. Scott
  At the end of September 1990 a total of 426,218 social fund loans were being recovered from income support recipients, representing 14·8 per cent. of the total number of income support recipients.

  Disability Employment Credit
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what will be the maximum weekly payment of disability employment credit;

  (2) what will be the percentage taper for withdrawal of disability employment credit;

  (3) what is his estimate of the number of disabled people who will qualify for disability employment credit if (a) there is no means test of capital and (b) there is a means test with a 16,000 capital cut-off;

  (4) at what income level the payment of disability employment credit will be withdrawn.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) when he expects to publish his Department's consultation document on the disability employment credit; and what will be the length of time for consultation;

  (2) what will be the minimum number of hours workable for the disability employment credit;

  (3) if he will make it his policy not to means-test a claimant's capital when assessing eligibility for the disability employment credit;

  (4) whether (a) the capital and (b) the income of a claimant's partner will be taken into account when assessing eligibility for the disability employment credit;

  (5) if he will make it his policy to disregard compensation and similar payments for injury when assessing capital for disability employment credit.

  Mr. Scott
  We are still working up the details of the disability employment credit scheme, and hope to be in a position to issue our more detailed proposals shortly.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received regarding no means-testing of capital when assessing eligibility for disability employment credit.
  224
  Mr. Scott
  A number of the responses we have received to "The Way Ahead" have raised this issue.

  Disability Benefit
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will now publish the age rules he proposes for the new disability benefit.

  Mr. Scott
  These will be published in due course.

  Claimants of No Fixed Abode
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the total number of claimants of no fixed abode for England, and for each English region, and for the following Department of Social Security areas: Bath, Bristol (Central), Bristol (South), Bristol (East), Bristol (Morfield) and Bristol (West), for the years(a) 1986, (b) 1987, (c) 1988 and (d)

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information is unavailable and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Income Support
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what percentage of income support claimants under 60 years of age are repaying arrears of their poll tax by way of deductions from their benefit payments in(a) Greenock and Port Glasgow. (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Information on the number of income support claimants under age 60 with a deduction to clear their community charge arrears is not available. The total number of deductions in Greenock and Port Glasgow, Strathclyde and Scotland as a whole at 31 August 1990 is as follows:

  Number

  Greenock

  121

  Port Glasgow

  32

  Strathclyde1

  6,342

  Scotland

  9,081

  1The figure for Strathclyde includes Port Glasgow and Greenock.

  Attendance and Severe Disablement Allowances
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish his best estimates of the number of people classified as mentally ill who were in receipt of(a) attendance allowance and (b) severe disablement allowance in 1989–90.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is not available in the form requested. We shall write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what efforts are made by his Department to monitor and review the medical assessments used for the purposes of establishing eligibility for attendance allowance and severe disablement allowance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The work of examining medical practitioners—EMPS—who examine the claimants for attendance allowance—AA—is monitored continuously throughout the regions by regional office medical officers—ROMOs
  225
  —who can initiate further training of an EMP if required. The work of delegated medical practitioners—DMPs—who decide the entitlement to AA based on the medical evidence, is monitored within the Department by senior medical officers and also, on a regular basis, by the independent Attendance Allowance Board.

  Severe disability allowance—SDA—assessments are made by independent adjudicating medical authorities—AMAs. These assessments are subject to random monitoring by ROMOs. They do not have the power to alter the assessments of the AMAs. They can, however, recommend reference of a case to the medical appeal tribunal if it is considered that the assessment is not in line with the medical evidence.

  AA reviews are handled by the medical officers and lay staff of the AA reviews unit, and, in certain cases, directly by the Attendance Allowance Board. SDA assessments may be reviewed only on the grounds of fresh evidence which, if it had been available to the AMA, might reasonably have altered the assessment made. The review would be carried out by an AMA, and the AMA's decision could be referred to a medical appeal tribunal in the normal way.

  We recently published a consultative document on the assessment and adjudication procedures for the disability allowance which will succeed mobility allowance and largely replace attendance allowance in 1992 and would welcome comments on this.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Lee
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will make available the findings of the study of costs in residential care and nursing homes in Great Britain carried out by Price Waterhouse for his Department.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to make available the Price Waterhouse report on the cost of care in private residential and nursing homes; and if he will publish the report in full.

  Running costs by type of care

  Sample size

  Running costs £

  Running costs and capital costs

  Running costs and capital costs and profit

  Staff costs1

  Elderly—residential

  median

  462

  120

  154

  168

  68

  mean

  —

  (134)

  (172)

  (188)

  (81)

  Other—residential

  median

  —

  211

  270

  295

  144

  mean

  101

  (240)

  (307)

  (336)

  (158)

  Elderly—nursing

  median

  —

  188

  241

  263

  132

  mean

  143

  (250)

  (320)

  (350)

  (157)

  Other—nursing

  median

  —

  169

  216

  237

  122

  mean

  25

  (209)

  (267)

  (292)

  (167)

  1 Included in "running costs" column 2.

  226
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Copies of the full Price Waterhouse report have today been placed in the Library. The survey has provided important information which has assisted my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in making decisions on the April 1991 uprating of the income support limits, announced today.

  The overall objective of the survey carried out by Price Waterhouse was to identify the range of revenue arid capital costs of caring for people with different types and levels of dependency in homes of varying size and staff-resident ratios in different parts of Great Britain. The field work was carried out between July and August 1990 and the data collected related mainly to financial years commencing between October 1989 and May 1990. Although the number of homes initially approached was much larger, information was finally obtained from a total sample of 732 residential care and nursing homes. Not all these could provide information on capital costs in addition to that on running costs.

  The results of the survey show the difficulty of obtaining reliable and consistent data on costs for residential care and nursing homes. The figures obtained cover the period up to May 1990; assume a 90 per cent. occupancy rate in homes, which may be slightly lower than the actual occupancy level in homes. Unit costs reduce with higher occupancy levels; and are more reliable in some respects than others. Cost figures for voluntary sector homes in particular are based on a small sample size; and show that there is significant variation in the capital costs (including and excluding profits) that homes face, both within and across regions, indicating differences both in capital structure and accounting treatment.

  The key findings on costs are as follows:

  Running costs—

  The average bedweek costs obtained from the survey are shown in the table.

ENVIRONMENT

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any reports from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on plans by Lanstar Wimpey Waste in Cadishead to import toxic waste from Italy.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Secretary of State has received no such reports from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. However, he has received copies of notifications under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988 of imports of hazardous waste from Italy by Lanstar Wimpey Waste in Cadishead.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to establish whether plans by United Kingdom toxic waste management and disposal companies to import toxic waste from Italy are in compliance with the European Community directive on the transfrontier transport of waste and the Basel convention guidelines.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 18 October 1990]: The Secretary of State has taken no such steps. The enforcement of the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988, which implement Council directives 84/631/EEC and 86/279/EEC is the responsibility of the disposal authorities for the areas in which consignees operate their facilities, not the Secretary of State. The question of compliance with the Basel convention does not arise because the convention is not yet in force. However, the Secretary of State is pressing for the European Community and member states to move rapidly towards ratification.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any notification from ReChem International in regard to its plans to process 150 tonnes of toxic waste from the Karin B waste carrier ship.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 18 October 1990]: The Secretary of State has received copies of notifications under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations of a number of shipments of hazardous waste from Italy to ReChem International's plant at Fawley, Southampton. It is not possible to tell from the documents whether any of the waste was ever on board the Karin B. The purpose of notification is to establish whether the disposal facility can deal with the waste in question, not to give its history. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales receives copies of notifications of shipments of hazardous waste from Italy to ReChem International's plant at Pontypool.

  Development Corporations
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his replies of 15 October,Official Report, column 622, if he will publish an edited version of the Garlick report with a view to providing public reassurance on matters dealt with by the full report, including those not covered by his statement of 29 August, while protecting the confidence of those who gave evidence.
  228
  Mr. Portillo
  My answer of 15 October included a detailed statement which summarised Sir John Garlick's findings and the steps which the corporation and my Department are taking to address the shortcomings which he identified.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his replies of 15 October,Official Report, column 622, what steps he intends to take to ensure the implementation of the recommendations in the Garlick report; what steps have already been taken; and which matters have yet to be dealt with.

  Mr. Portillo
  My answer of 15 October set out the steps being taken as a result of the findings of Sir John Garlick's inquiry.

  Rent Arrears
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table setting out the top 20 local authorities whose rent arrears are the greatest.

  Mr. Key
  An ordered table showing rent arrears at March 1989 as a percentage of the rent roll for each English local authority was placed in the Library on 3 April 1990. Figures for March 1990 are not yet available.

  Electoral Registration
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the impact of the poll tax on the level of electoral registration; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  There is no direct relation between the electoral register and the community charge register and there is no reason why the community charge should have any implication for electoral registration.

  Water Leakage
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much water was lost through leakages in each water authority area during(a) 1989 and (b)

  Mr. Trippier
  This information is not held centrally. Information for the former water authorities on water losses, which includes water lost by leakage, was published in the prospectus "The Water Share Offers", a copy of which is available in the Library. The Office of Water Services is developing guidelines for water companies so that the data they produce will allow effective consideration and comparison of water leakages.

  Brookwood Hospital (Redevelopment)
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the proposals for off-site highway works connected with the redevelopment of surplus land at Brookwood hospital, Knaphill, which has been formulated by Surrey county council and Woking borough council, fulfil the criteria recommended by his inspector in his report on the public inquiry into the development.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  My right hon. Friend is awaiting an undertaking about off-site highway works prior to
  229
  reaching his final decision on the appeals concerning the redevelopment of land at Brookwood hospital. He will be replying very soon to my right hon. Friend's letter of 6 October on this matter.

  Agricultural Dwellings
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he will take to prevent the fragmentation of farmland into non-viable units following the granting of planning permission for an agricultural dwelling.

  Mr. Atkins
  I am considering currently the whole subject of planning permission for agricultural dwellings in the light of the responses to the draft planning policy guidance note "The Countryside and the Rural Economy" which we issued for consultation last winter.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish new guidelines on the planning control of agricultural dwellings.

  Mr. Atkins
  On 5 October we issued a consultation paper on possible changes to planning controls over agricultural buildings other than dwellings. We shall want to consider the responses to that consultation before issuing a revised version of the planning policy guidance note "The Countryside and the Rural Economy"—PPG7—early next year. That note will also contain guidance on agricultural dwellings.

  Passive Solar Design
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies have been sponsored by the Building Research Establishment to research and demonstrate the benefits of passive solar design in buildings; and what steps he is taking to increase the awareness of the benefits of such design among developers, designers and clients, as indicated in paragraph 40, page 289 of the White Paper on the environment (Cm. 1200).

  Mr. Trippier
  The Building Research Establishment is undertaking for my Department and for the Department of Energy's technology support unit a range of specific projects on passive solar design. These currently include studies on modelling methods, the use of daylight for passive solar energy and work on international and European research. Department of Energy research spending currently amounts to some £2 million a year.

  To increase awareness of the benefits of passive solar design an integrated marketing programme is in preparation as part of the best practice programme of the Energy Efficiency Office.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department's property holding organisation will publish the environmental action guide on energy efficiency, as foreshadowed by paragraph C25, page 286, annex C of the White Paper on the environment (Cm. 1200); how many copies of this guide will be printed; at what estimated cost; and to which Departments of Government and associated organisations it will be distributed.

  Mr. Trippier
  Her Majesty's Stationery Office hopes to publish the environmental action guide in December. It 230
  will provide an environmental framework for all aspects of property management and purchasing. The guide will be adopted across Government and will be on public sale for use by other organisations. The number of copies printed and their cost are commercial matters for HMSO.

  Greenpeace
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received from Greenpeace; and how he intends to respond.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend received a letter from Lord Melchett, director of Greenpeace (UK) on 27 September. He replied by letter on 17 October 1990.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will finance research to assess the number sleeping rough in the United Kingdom, the causes and the demographic profile.

  Mr. Key
  The 1991 population census, to be carried out in England and Wales by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and in Scotland by the General Register Office for Scotland, will include a count of persons sleeping rough. The Northern Ireland Census Office will not be including a count of persons sleeping rough, as consultations with the charities dealing with the homeless suggest that the numbers involved are very small. My Department is in the process of commissioning a study of single homeless people which will include those who sleep rough in England.

  Pollution Inspectorate (Annual Reports)
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the 1988 annual reports of the 12 Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution district inspectors; and whether the new Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution regions will publish separate regional annual reports.

  Mr. Trippier
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution district reports for 1988–89 have been published. Copies are available in the House of Commons Library. Regional chapters will be incorporated within HMIP's 1989–90 annual report.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people have been exempted from paying community charge(a) by each category of exemption, (b) in Leeds, West, and (c) in England and Wales.

  Mr. Key
  The categories for which information is available are given in the table. No information is available for Leeds, West. Figures for Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Estimated numbers exempt from community charges in England at 1 June 1990

  Numbers

  Members of visiting forces, international headquarters and defence organisations and their dependants. Including diplomats

  40,000

  Severely mentally impaired

  97,000

  231

  Numbers

  Aged 18 who attract child benefit because they are still at school, of aged 18 or 19 and on full-time courses of further, but not higher education

  179,000

  Full time students whose term time address is in Scotland or Northern Ireland

  2,500

  Members of religious communities

  11,000

  Patients whose main residence is in an NHS hospital

  42,000

  People whose sole or main residence is in a residential care home, a nursing home, a mental nursing home, a private hospital, or a hostel providing a substantial level of care, and who are also being treated or cared for in such an institution

  321,000

  Residential care workers employed at a very low salary

  1,500

  In detention

  45,000

  Total of categories listed

  739,000

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each local authority district area the latest figures on the number of premises liable for the standard community charge.

  Mr. Portillo
  I am arranging for the available information to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Properties subject to a standard charge with a multiplier of zero are not included.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring is being undertaken by his Department on the operation of the rules relating to exemption from the poll tax for those suffering from severe mental impairment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  My Department is in constant touch with local authorities on all aspects of the community charge. We also maintain close contact with officials in the Department of Health on issues relating to the exemption for persons with a severe mental impairment. Supplementary advice on the exemption was sent on 2 July 1990 to community charge registration officers and general medical practitioners from both Departments.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish the latest figures on the number of people who have been exempted from the poll tax due to(a) severe mental impairment, (b) residence in a hospital or home, (c) aged under 20 years at school or in further education, (d) membership of visiting forces, (e) persons in detention, (f) membership of a religious order, (g) homelessness and (h) others;

  (2) if he will publish his best estimates of the number of people classified as suffering from mental illness who have been granted poll tax exemption under the severe mental impairment provisions;

  (3) if he will publish his best estimates of the number of people classified as suffering from severe dementia who have been granted poll tax exemption under the severe mental impairment provisions.

  Mr. Portillo
  The estimated numbers exempt from community charges in England at 1 June 1990 are as follows:
  232

  Number

  Severely mentally impaired

  97,000

  Patients whose main residence is in an NHS hospital or people whose sole or main residence is in a residential care home, a nursing home, a mental nursing home, a private hospital, or a hostel providing a substantial level of care, and who are also being treated or cared for in such an institution

  363,000

  Aged 18 who attract child benefit because they are still at school, or aged 18 or 19 and on full-time courses of further, but not higher, education

  179,000

  In detention

  45,000

  Members of visiting forces, international headquarters and defence organisations and their dependants. Including diplomats

  40,000

  Members of religious communities

  11,000

  Persons without fixed abode or living in short stay hostels

  n.a.

  Residential care workers employed at a very low salary, and full time students whose term time address is in Scotland or Northern Ireland

  4,000

  Note: Separate information is not available on the number of exemptions of people classified as suffering from severe dementia or mental illness.

  n.a. Not available.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will(a) place copies in the Library of all material produced by his Department designed to promote awareness of the right to poll tax exemption for certain groups of people and (b) state the level of expenditure being incurred on such material; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  Copies of all departmental published material on exemptions from the personal community charge, including circular letters sent out to all community charges registration officers have been placed in the Library.

  The cost of producing this material has been approximately £1·2 million so far.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to introduce legislation to prevent district councils from recovering poll tax debts from individual housing benefit allocations.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I have been asked to reply.

  Legislation does not provide for local authorities to recover arrears of community charge from housing benefit.

  Pollution Exhibition
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition by the Institution of Civil Engineers relating to pollution and its containment to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 3 to 7 December.

  Environmental Protection Bill
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the regulations under part I of the Environmental Protection Bill will be issued for consultation.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have issued today draft regulations governing the application procedure for making authorisations under integrated pollution control and local authority air pollution control under part I of the Bill; the procedure for varying those authorisations; the appeals procedure; and details of the public registers of information. A copy of the regulations, and an accompanying guidance note, has been placed in the Library. Responses are required by 14 December.

  The common theme throughout our proposals is the involvement of the public. Subject to the Bill being approved by Parliament and the results of the consultation, the regulations provide that applications for authorisations and substantial variations of those authorisations must be advertised so that the public has an opportunity to comment on the proposals. Those comments will then be considered in determining the application. The regulations also require appeals made under clause 15 of the Bill to be advertised so that the public has the opportunity to make representations which will be taken into account in determining the appeal. The information about applications for authorisations and variations, and appeals will be held on the comprehensive public registers of information which are also established under these regulations.

  We intend to issue next month a further set of regulations, prescribing the substances and processes for control under part I of the Bill.

  Barkby Thorpe Landfill Site
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the number of times Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has visited the landfill site at Barkby Thorpe, Leicester; and what are the dates of the visits;

  (2) if he will publish the report of Her Majesty's inspector of pollution following his visit to the landfill site at Barkby Thorpe, Leicester.

  Oldham

  North West

  England

  Total

  Percentage of stock

  Total

  Percentage of stock

  Total

  Percentage of stock

  Unfit dwellings

  7,765

  8·9

  126,100

  4·6

  571,600

  3·0

  Dwellings fit but lacking basic amenities

  2,837

  3·2

  57,300

  2·1

  382,300

  2·0

  Non-standard dwellings in need of renovation1

  23,180

  26·4

  537,000

  19·4

  3,202,000

  16·6

  1 Dwellings requiring repairs estimated at more than £3,000.

  Corresponding information for April 1990 is not yet available.

  Disabled People (Housing)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of(a) wheelchair housing starts and (b) wheelchair housing starts and completions for 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990 and the number of planned wheelchair starts for 1991.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 22 October 1990]: The available figures for 1986 to 1989 for England appear
  234
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  An inspector of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution made one visit to the Barkby Thorpe site, Leicester in July 1989. The visit was made in conjunction with discussions held with local authority officials. No site visit report was prepared.

  Beach Huts
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the application of the community charge to beach huts without a postal address, road access or connecting services.

  Mr. Key
  The standard community charge is payable by the freehold owner or lessee of a domestic property which is no person's sole or main residence. The Local Government Finance Act 1988 defines a building as domestic property if it is used wholly for the purposes of living accommodation. Whether or not a beach hut constitutes living accommodation will be a matter for the community charges registration officer to establish in the light of the facts of the case. It would be open to an individual to appeal against a registration officer's determination to a valuation and community charge tribunal.

  Housing Conditions
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of (i)) unfit dwellings, (ii) dwellings fit but lacking basic amenities arid (iii) non-standard dwellings in need of renovations in(a) Oldham, (b) the north-west and (c) England and the percentage of stock that these numbers represent in each case.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 18 October 1990]: Local authorities are asked for these figures in their annual housing investment programme returns; the figures are not necessarily comparable as authorities' criteria differ arid they are not consistent with national and regional estimates from the 1986 English house condition survey.

  The figures based on local authority returns for April 1989 are as follows:

  in table 6.7 of the annual "Housing and Construction Statistics 1979–1989: Great Britain" and for the first half of 1990 in table 1.5 of part 1 of the June quarter 1990 edition of "Housing and Construction Statistics: Great Britain". Copies of both are in the Library.

  The statistics cover wheelchair dwellings provided by local authorities, new towns and housing associations. There are no reliable estimates of the number of such dwellings built privately nor does the Department make forecasts for future periods.

  Bradford (Development)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of considering the application by 3D Developments Ltd., for a city grant towards the west end development scheme in Bradford.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 22 October 1990]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, East (Mr. Moynihan) on 12 July at column 459.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the position reached in the negotiations between 3D Developments Ltd., and his Department on the application for £40 million city grant towards the west end development in Bradford; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 22 October 1990]: 3D Ltd's proposals for the west end development scheme are being carefully considered by my officials.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will obtain for his Department's library the book "Waste Management" by O. P. Kharbanda and E. A. Stallworthy published by Gowar Publishing Company in January.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 22 October 1990]: The Department's library has this book.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he, or any officials of his Department, were invited to attend or present a paper at the "Waste Management in Europe 1992" conference in Amsterdam held between 10–14 September, organised by the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 22 October 1990]: Yes. An invitation for an official to give a paper was received but it was not taken up.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider setting up an interdepartmental agency to assess the extent of homelessness and possible solutions to homelessness in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Michael Spicer
  [holding answer 22 October 1990]: No. The Government's review of the homelessness legislation published last November concluded that local authorities were the appropriate agencies for helping homeless people and assessing their needs, as provided for in the Housing Act 1985.

  Combustion Plants (Emissions)
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government have submitted a detailed proposal to the EC Commission on how they will achieve their emission reduction targets in accordance with the large combustion plant directive (609/EEC); and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 23 October 1990]: The Government issued a second consultation document on
  236
  the implementation of the large combustion plants directive on 18 September. The paper included the United Kingdom's draft plan for national emission reductions of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen. British officials met informally officials from the European Commission to present and discuss the proposals in the draft plan on 11 October. The Government are currently considering all the responses to the consultation and will submit the final plan to the Commission before the directive's deadline of the end of this year.

  English Heritage
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish a table showing the amount of funding given by English Heritage and the Department of the Environment to projects in the last 10 years;

  (2) if he will list section 3A payments given by English Heritage since February 1990;

  (3) if he will give the current staffing complement of English Heritage;

  (4) if he has met the chair of English Heritage to discuss relocation; and if he will make a statement;

  (5) if he will list the amount of money given to English Heritage in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Trippier
  The detailed breakdown of expenditure on building repair grants and information on staff complement are matters for English Heritage. I have asked the chairman, Lord Montagu, to write to the hon. Member. Government funding to English Heritage since it was established in 1984 is as follows:

  £ million (cash)

  1984–85

  49·9

  1985–86

  52·2

  1986–87

  60·1

  1987–88

  65·3

  1988–89

  66·2

  1989–90

  72·9

  1990–91

  78·5

  Comparable information in respect of the period from 1979 until English Heritage was established, when the Department of the Environment had responsibility for funding historic buildings, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Secretary of State and myself have met the chairman of English Heritage on a number of occasions and have discussed many issues, including relocation. In line with Government policy, English Heritage has been considering options for relocating its London headquarters staff to the regions. On 17 October, English Heritage commissioners agreed to move the majority of their London-based posts (about 650 administrators and specialists) to Nottingham in 1992–94. This is subject to the acquisition of a suitable building and detailed approval from the Government, particularly on the resources involved.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Lee
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the percentage unemployment changes in all Lancashire travel-to-work areas as between mid-1987 and the latest available date.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is available in the Library. Percentage changes in unemployment between June 1987 and September 1990 for all the travel-to-work areas covering the county of Lancashire were:

  Travel to work area

  Percentage change1

  Blackpool

  -56·6

  Settle

  -56·0

  Pendle

  -51·1

  Lancaster and Morecambe

  -47·3

  Wigan and St. Helens

  -44·8

  Clitheroe

  -44·5

  Bolton and Bury

  -44·2

  Burnley

  -43·1

  Preston

  -42·4

  Accrington and Rossendale

  -42·0

  Blackburn

  -39·4

  Rochdale

  -38·2

  Liverpool

  -34·6

  1 Unadjusted unemployment.

  The comparison is affected by seasonal influences as well as by the changes in the coverage of the count that have occurred over the period.

  Enterprise Ealing
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs are estimated to have resulted from the efforts of Enterprise Ealing; at what cost to public funds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Enterprise Ealing estimates that it has created approximately 1,200 new jobs since commencing 238
  operation in September 1986. Since that date Enterprise Ealing has received a total of £54,000 from my Department under the local enterprise agency grant scheme which has levered a larger amount of private sector sponsorship. I understand that Home Office funds have recently been secured to support the post of an ethnic minority business counsellor to work in Southall and Acton.

  Enterprise agencies like Enterprise Ealing can provide a valuable local resource in the changing enterprise support world, especially in co-operation with the training and enterprise councils.

  Textiles and Clothing
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs have been lost in the textile and clothing industries in each of the last 12 months.

  Mr. Jackson
  Changes in the number of employees in the textile and clothing industries are supplied in the table.

  Employees in Textile and Clothing industries Textiles and Clothing excluding footwear

  (Great Britain)

  Net monthly change (thousands)

  1989

  August

  5·8

  September

  0·2

  October

  -1·1

  November

  1·1

  December

  3·2

  1990

  January

  -0·6

  February

  5·9

  March

  -0·5

  April

  -0·8

  May

  -0·3

  June

  -0·7

  July

  1·4

  August

  -0·8

  CAMBODIA
  CAMBODIA
  STRATEGIC MINERAL STOCKPILE: DISPOSALS
  STRATEGIC MINERAL STOCKPILE: DISPOSALS
  ASYLUM SEEKERS: DETENTION
  ASYLUM SEEKERS: DETENTION
  Mr. HUSEYIN MAYBARSKAN
  Mr. HUSEYIN MAYBARSKAN
  SUPERCOMPUTING RESEARCH EXPENDITURE
  SUPERCOMPUTING RESEARCH EXPENDITURE
  REGISTERED UNEMPLOYED: FIGURES
  REGISTERED UNEMPLOYED: FIGURES