Written Answers of 15 April 1991

TRANSPORT

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has identified any further candidates within his Department for executive agency status under the "next steps" programme.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have decided that the Transport and Road Research Laboratory should become a candidate for executive agency status under the "next steps" initiative.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 21 March,Official Report, column 219, on the marine pollution control unit in the Gulf, if he will make a statement on the results of the MPCU's actions in co-ordination of commercial offers of counter-pollution personnel and equipment from British companies.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The purpose of the marine pollution control unit's co-ordinating activities has been to alert prospective customers in the Gulf to what counter-pollution equipment and personnel are available from British companies. Thereafter, it is for customers to take up whatever offers, if any. they wish to pursue. To date, three contracts have been let to British companies as the result of the actions—one by the Department of the Environment and two by the International Maritime Organisation. These are:

  a. DOE
  DESMI Engineering Ltd, of Newcastle under Lyme. The supply of six Heavy Duty Oil Skimmers. These were presented to the Government of Bahrain by HMG as described in my answer of 21 March.

  b. IMO
  (1) Alba International Ltd, of Aberdeen. Clean-up feasibility study for Musallamiyah Bay. An area of ecological importance given high priority by the Saudi Arabian Government.
  (2) Alba International Ltd., of Aberdeen. Clean-up of the coastline of Karan Island, off the Saudi Arabian coast. The most important breeding ground in the Gulf for Green Turtles.
  Both IMO contracts are being funded from the IMO Gulf fund to which a number of countries have contributed, including the United Kingdom.

  Cars (Fuel Efficiency)
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his Department's projections of the change in the average fuel efficiency of cars between 1991 and 1996.

  Mr. Chope
  Improvements in the fuel efficiency of vehicles that have occurred in past years are now increasingly reflected in the overall vehicle fleet. The Government do not make projections of fuel economy for 2
  vehicles. Such improvements will depend on motorists' demands for more fuel-efficient vehicles and on the ability of manufacturers to respond.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that an environmental assessment is carried out of the various route options for the channel tunnel high-speed rail link.

  Mr. Freeman
  Environmental considerations form part of the British Rail's assessment of the route options for the channel tunnel rail link.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assumptions about toll rate and its rate of increase underlay the oral statement by the Minister of State on 14 January,Official Report, column 644, that current forecasts indicated that tolling for concessionaires for the second Seven bridge would not be necessary for more than 21 or 22 years; and what were the underlying assumptions about future traffic growth;

  (2) by what date at the rate currently envisaged for 1992 under the current assumptions indicated in the oral statement by the Minister of State, Official Report, 14 January, column 644, payment for the Severn bridge will be completed; and what the annual toll income would be in the final year at constant prices;

  (3) on the basis of current assumptions about traffic growth on the second Severn bridge and toll levels for 1992 indicated in the oral statement by the Minister of State on 14 January, Official Report, column 644, what at constant prices is the forecast annual income from tolls for each year from 1992 until the bridge is paid for.

  Mr. Chope
  The forecast that the concessionaire's actual tolling period for the Severn bridges would be 21 or 22 years, within the 30 year maximum allowed, was based on the toll levels set out in the Severn Bridges Bill, indexed for inflation in accordance with the provisions of the Bill. The forecast was based on the concessionaire's assumptions about future traffic growth, which were approximately as follows:

  Per cent. Per annum

  1992–1995

  2·7

  1996–2000

  2·4

  2001–2005

  2·2

  2006–2010

  2·0

  2011–2013

  1·8

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how the costs of operating the Severn bridge, excluding costs arising from original design faults, have moved relative to the retail prices index since the bridge was opened;

  (2) if he will give a breakdown of the costs, excluding those arising from original design faults, of operating the Severn bridge in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Chope
  The total cost of operating the Severn bridge in 1967–68, the first full year, was 1·032 million or 0·071 million at 1988–89 prices. This compares with a
  3
  total cost of £12·753 million in 1988–89, the last full year for which figures are available. A breakdown of the figures is published in the Severn bridge accounts. The figures include the costs of toll collection, servicing debts, strengthening work to allow for vehicular loadings into the next century, and maintenance to make good general wear and tear normal for a structure of this size and age. The original design complied fully with the requirements of that time.

  Trunk Roads
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the occasions in the last 10 years where one of the routes listed in the public consultation on a trunk road scheme went through or within 100 m of a site of special scientific interest but where the final route chosen did not;

  (2) if he will list the trunk road schemes constructed through or within 100 m of a site of special scientific interest in the last 10 years;

  (3) if he will list the occasions in the last 10 years where the draft line order of a trunk road scheme went through or within 100 m of a site of special scientific interest but where the confirmed line order did not.

  Mr. Chope
  This information could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. Every effort is made to keep trunk roads away from sites of special scientific interest. Where this is not possible we take particular care that the routes chosen do as little damage to the environment as practicable.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state(a) the average duration, in days, of a public inquiry into a trunk road scheme, (b) the average cost per day of holding a public inquiry into a trunk road scheme and (c) how many person days are spent by officers of his Department on public inquiries each year.

  Mr. Chope
  In the financial year 1990–91, the average duration was 16 days. More than half took less than 10 days, and a third less than five days.

  Accurate costs to the Department of these inquiries, including consultants' fees and costs, are not identified separately from total scheme preparation cost. Inspectors' costs, which can be identified, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Similarly, the amount of staff time, where it could separately be identified, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Shipping Accidents
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of the recommendations in the marine directorate's report, "The Human Element in Shipping Casualties" (i) have been implemented, (ii) it is intended to implement and to what timetable and (iii) will not be acted upon; and for what reasons.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  "The Human Element in Shipping Casualties" research project was designed primarily to aid the identification and recording of the human element in future accident investigations and to assess the feasibility of preventive measures. The marine accident investigation branch is generally in sympathy with the tenor of the recommendations covering investigation procedures and is 4
  adapting its methods accordingly. The report has been submitted to the International Maritime Organisation where it will be discussed by the maritime safety committee in May. The Department will consider its further actions in the light of those discussions.

  Highway Cleaning
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he has made for ensuring that the cost provision of cleaning roads and embankments, currently the responsibility of highway authorities, is transferred to those authorities due to take over responsibility for road cleaning on 1 April under the Environmental Protection Act.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The control totals for highway maintenance and all other services provided for 1991–92 in the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England) as amended by the Revenue Support Grant Distribution (Amendment) Report (England) take account of the clarification of responsibility for street-cleaning for non-highway purposes brought about by the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  National Road Traffic Forecasts
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the terms of reference of the commission given to the MVA Consultancy to review the 1989 national road traffic forecasts.

  Mr. Chope
  The MVA Consultancy has not been commissioned to review the 1989 national road traffic forecasts. Those forecasts remain the best available view. The MVA commission is for a technical review of methodology, which in this field, as in others, needs to be reviewed from time to time to see whether further improvements can be made.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Mammals
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce a code of practice to ensure that scientific procedures involving the dissection of mammals are not carried out within sight, sound or smell of other mammals.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Home Office "Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Used in Scientific Procedures"—1989; HC 107—specifies that"major surgery and euthanasia should not be performed in rooms where animals are normally housed or where other conscious animals are undergoing procedures".

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases related to non-payment of the poll tax in Blyth valley have been dealt with by the magistrates court.

  Mr. John Patten
  In the period 1 April to 31 December 1990, Blyth valley magistrates court issued 15,478 summonses in community charge enforcement proceedings and made 12,451 liability orders.

  Charity Commissioners
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the relevant biographical details of each of the charity commissioners which he took into account when making their appointments.

  Mr. John Patten
  In appointing the commissioners, my right hon. Friend took into account the range of their experience and the knowledge and skills which they could bring to the work of the commission.

  Trespassers
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has concluded his review of section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have completed our review of section 39 and we expect to announce our conclusions very soon.

  Jet Skis
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Worthing (Mr. Higgins)Official Report, 22 February, column 277, on powers of local authorities in respect of control of the operation of waterborne jet ski machines, whether he proposes to increase such powers.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have no plans at present to introduce legislation to increase authorities' powers in this area. This is one of a number of safety related issues being considered by a working group on water sports safety which has been appointed by the Minister for Sport. I understand that it will report its conclusions this summer.

  Poll Tax Rally
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the anti-poll tax march and rally in central London on 23 March with particular regard as to how many officers were deployed and at what cost to public funds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The policing of demonstrations in the Metropolitan police area is an operational matter for the Commissioner. I understand from him that 4,950 officers were deployed to police the demonstration on 23 March against the community charge and that the additional cost of policing the event, including catering and transport costs, is estimated at around £205,000.

  Prisons
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the White Paper on the Government's legislative proposals arising out of the Woolf report.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The White Paper to chart the future direction of the prison service in England and Wales is being prepared for publication later this year.

  Armley Prison
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will put in the Library a copy of the report of the governor of Durham prison on his inquiry into prisoners moved from Hull to Armley.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the report of an investigation into allegations made by certain prisoners transferred from Her Majesty's prison Full Sutton to Her Majesty's prison Leeds in 1988. This report was prepared for internal purposes only and we do not plan to make it more widely available.

  Miscarriages of Justice
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, for each of the last four years, he will list the sums of money that have been paid by his Department as compensation for miscarriages of justice involving wrongful imprisonment; and for each sum if he will give the length of the term of imprisonment served.

  Mr. John Patten
  The following information relates to payment of compensation in respect of imprisonment as a result of wrongful conviction, and is based upon the date on which the final payment of compensation was made. A number of interim payments, pending final assessment of compensation, have also been made during the period. The amounts shown are inclusive of any previous interim award.

  Year

  Amount of compensation paid in resolved cases £

  Period of detention in custody

  1987

  23,830

  15½ months

  38,100

  6½ years

  20,850

  2½ years

  34,350

  3 years

  2,449

  1½ months

  10,701

  12 months

  1,342

  1 month

  30,656

  21 months

  1988

  25,357

  2¾ years

  18,604

  16 months

  12,000

  13½ months

  5,805

  2 months

  10,425

  15 months

  30,709

  6 months

  8,230

  3 months

  6,345

  4½ months

  6,344

  3 months

  2,494

  2 weeks

  7,125

  7 months

  1990

  7,650

  3 months

  33,750

  17 months

  17,315

  20 months

  6,156

  3 months

  8,250

  7 months

  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he uses when considering whether to recommend the royal prerogative of mercy to grant a remission of sentence(a) on grounds affecting the original sentence and (b) on other grounds.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. Friend considers recommending the exercise of the royal prerogative of
  7
  mercy in cases where (a) the sentencing court were unaware or misinformed about matters which may have affected the sentence, no avenue of appeal exists and it is not possible or appropriate to refer the matter to the Court of Appeal; and (b) where developments subsequent to the sentence and unconnected with the circumstances of the conviction suggest that special remission should be granted as an act of mercy, for example where a prisoner suffers from a terminal illness or gives valuable assistance to the authorities.

  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used in assessing the quantum of compensation payable for miscarriages of justice(a) under section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and (b) on an ex-gratia basis where there has been misconduct or default by the police or some other agency of the criminal justice system.

  Mr. John Patten
  The amount of compensation to be paid under both the statutory and ex-gratia schemes is decided on the advice of an independent assessor experienced in the assessment of damages. In making his assessment the assessor applies principles analogous to those governing the assessment of damages for civil wrongs. The assessment takes account of both pecuniary and non-pecuniary losses arising from the conviction and/or loss of liberty. The assessor also has regard, where appropriate, to the extent to which the circumstances leading to the wrongful conviction or charge might have been attributable to any action, or failure to act, by the police or other public authority.

  Prison Leave
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete his review of the criteria applying to prison leave; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend hopes that the review will be completed and revised instructions issued to governors in the autumn. I will write to the hon. Member when the instructions are issued.

  Poll Tax Payment
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the occasions where a custodial sentence has been imposed on someone for not paying the poll tax.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information about the number of committal warrants issued in community charge proceedings in the period 1 April to 31 December 1990 is available in the Library; comparable information for the period I January to 31 March 1991 will be placed in the Library within six weeks of the end of the quarter.

  Immigration
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he arranged to ask the post in Islamabad to issue a visa to Mr. Niaz Mohammed, born on 1 January 1962 (Ref: IMM/81672), to enable him to join his wife in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
  8
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A letter authorising the issue of an entry clearance to Mr. Niaz Mohammed was sent to the entry clearance officer at the British high commission in Islamabad on 11 April.

THE ARTS

  Visits (Scotland)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if it is his intention to visit Glasgow during the Mayfest and Edinburgh at the time of the Edinburgh international festival in order to view exhibitions and attend certain concerts and theatrical productions.

  Mr. Renton
  At present I have no plans to visit Glasgow during the Mayfest, but I do hope to visit the Edinburgh international festival. I am also visiting the Shetlands arts festival and the east coast of Scotland in early May.

  North West Arts Board
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he has met the chair of North West regional arts board to discuss the impact of the poll tax on arts and libraries in the region in 1991–92.

  Mr. Renton
  No. The new chair of Arts Board: North-West was appointed at the beginning of this month. I intend to meet him regularly to discuss arts matters, as I have done with his predecessor.

  Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the level of public subsidy granted to the Royal Liverpool philharmonic orchestra.

  Mr. Renton
  I am pleased that it was possible for the Arts Council to increase its grant to the orchestra this year by 17 per cent., including an enhancement fund award of £100,000. I was delighted to attend the launch of the Royal Liverpool philharmonic orchestra's appeal in Liverpool on 18 January this year.

  Yorkshire Arts Council
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what objectives he has set the new chairman of Yorkshire regional arts council.

  Mr. Renton
  I have determined the overall framework for the new arts funding structure. Detailed objectives within this framework are a matter for discussion and agreement between the Arts Council and individual boards.

  Arts Funding (North-West)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he has visited the north-west region to discuss arts funding with local authority leaders.

  Mr. Renton
  I discussed arts funding during my visit to Liverpool in January this year. In addition, I regularly meet local authority representatives from the north-west who are involved in arts policy in the region.

  Reserve Collections
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what is his estimate of the value of reserve collections in public museums and galleries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Information on reserve collections in public museums and galleries is not held centrally. Such collections are usually available to researchers, scholars and any interested party.

  Arts Funding
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will introduce direct regional funding for the arts.

  Mr. Renton
  No, as the Arts Council makes allocations to the regions out of its total budget, taking account of the plans submitted by each region to do so.

  Table 6—Planning total analysed by territorial area and function 1989–90

  £ million

  Identifiable expenditure

  England

  Scotland (total)

  Programme 151

  Scotland other

  Wales (total)

  Programme 161

  Wales other

  Northern Ireland (total)

  Programme 171

  Northern Ireland other2

  Total

  Non-identified

  United Kingdom

  Defence

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20,680·7

  20,680·7

  Overseas services

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,537·5

  2,537·5

  Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry

  658·8

  215·6

  198·1

  17·5

  93·1

  83·4

  9·7

  181·6

  178·1

  3·5

  1,149·1

  913·8

  2,062·9

  Trade, industry, energy and employment

  3,783·6

  640·3

  254·8

  385·5

  360·9

  163·9

  197·0

  749·0

  3749·0

  —

  5,533·7

  1,259·2

  6,792·9

  Roads and Transport

  2,357·0

  201·2

  200·2

  1·1

  170·4

  170·3

  0·1

  367·9

  367·9

  —

  3,096·4

  1,181·5

  4,277·9

  Housing

  2,892·0

  316·6

  316·6

  —

  109·8

  109·8

  —

  30·8

  30·8

  —

  3,349·3

  17·3

  3,366·6

  Other environmental services

  605·1

  75·8

  70·0

  5·8

  75·6

  70·6

  5·0

  218·0

  218·0

  —

  974·5

  512·4

  1,486·8

  Local government

  19,673·9

  4,373·0

  4,373·0

  —

  1,775·0

  1,775·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  25,821·9

  25,821·9

  Law, order and protective services

  3,495·8

  476·1

  443·1

  33·0

  176·0

  —

  176·0

  697·6

  666·2

  31·4

  4,845·5

  1,631·3

  6,476·8

  Education and science4

  4,402·2

  592·1

  314·2

  277·9

  188·4

  30·6

  157·8

  899·0

  899·0

  —

  6,081·7

  902·3

  6,984·0

  Arts and libraries4

  258·2

  25·4

  25·4

  —

  20·5

  20·5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  304·1

  188·5

  492·6

  Health and personal social services

  19,992·2

  2,753·0

  2,753·0

  —

  1,331·2

  1,331·2

  —

  961·6

  961·6

  —

  25,038·1

  40·2

  25,078·3

  Social security

  43,414·5

  5,177·2

  —

  5,177·2

  2,935·9

  —

  2,935·9

  1,708·0

  1,695·4

  12·6

  53,235·6

  637·9

  53,873·5

  Miscellaneous5

  -1·7

  126·3

  126·3

  —

  49·7

  48·0

  1·7

  59·0

  59·0

  —

  233·3

  6,909·7

  7,143·0

  Privatisation proceeds

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -4,202·0

  -4,202·0

  Total expenditure

  101,531·8

  14,972·5

  9,074·6

  5,897·9

  7,286·3

  3,803·2

  3,483·1

  5,872·5

  5,825·0

  47·5

  129,663·2

  33,210·3

  162,873·5

  1 Programmes 15, 16 and 17 relate to expenditure programmes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland covered by the Departmental Reports for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (Cm 1515–1517).

  2 Responsibility for most expenditure in Northern Ireland rests with the Northern Ireland Office and Departments; this column includes certain expenditure in support of the agriculture and fishing industries, the costs of the NI Court Service and War Pension payments.

  3 Includes £305 million for costs associated with the privatisation of Short Brothers plc.

  4 Expenditure on arts and libraries in Northern Ireland is included with education and science.

  5 Includes contributions to European Communities and expenditure associated with general maintenance of government, such as tax collection and population registration.

  Building Societies
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when it was determined that changing the timing of building societies' payments of income tax was intended to raise extra revenue;

  (2) on how many occasions Ministers have stated that the building societies income tax changes announced in the 1985 Budget and in subsequent amendments were (a) not to yield extra income and (b) to yield extra income.

  Mr. Maude
  Ministers have always made it clear that the changes in the way building societies account for tax on interest and dividends paid would not involve the payment of extra tax.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the disputed tax awarded to the Woolwich Equitable building society was(a) extra tax or (b) the original expected tax.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table, consistent with table 6 of his answer to the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Summerson) of 13 December,Official Report, columns 457–58, providing an otherwise identical analysis of the planning total.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is given in the table. The figures reflect the estimates of the planning total available when the data reported in the Official Report on 13 December were prepared.

  Mr. Maude
  The tax involved was that applicable to investors' interest and dividends paid in the period between 1 October 1985 and 5 April 1986. The House of Lords decided that the Inland Revenue had power to make regulations bringing these payments of interest and dividends into account but not to charge tax at rates in force for 1985–86.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on how many occasions the courts have ruled against the Government to the effect that the Woolwich Equitable building society should not have to pay extra tax following the 1985 Budget speech;

  (2) if he will arrange for the judgments in the various Woolwich Equitable building society tax cases to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Maude
  There have been two judgments in favour of the Woolwich Equitable building society in litigation over the application of the transitional provisions in the 1986 Building Societies Regulations.
  11
  In July 1987 the High Court held that the Inland Revenue did not have power to make regulations that sought to bring into account payments made by societies in transitional periods before 6 April 1986. That decision was reversed by the Court of Appeal in April 1989. In October 1990 the House of Lords concluded that the Revenue had power to bring the payments in the transitional periods into account but not to charge tax at the rates in force for 1985–86.

  Copies of the judgments are available in the Library.

  Mortgage Interest Relief
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing, for the current financial year, his estimate of the number of cases in which relief will be given on mortgage interest payments tax relief, the average value of that relief per mortgagor, and the cost of that relief, for each of the following total income ranges (a) up to £4,000, (b) £4,001 to £5,000, (c) £5,001 to £6,000, (d) £6,001 to £7,000, (e) £7,001 to £8,000, (f) £8,001 to £9,000, (g) £9,001 to £10,000, (h) £10,001 to £12,000, (i) £12,001 to £15,000, (j) £15,001 to £20,000, (k) £20,001 to £25,000, (l) £25,001 to £30,000 and (m) over £30,000.

  Mr. Maude
  Available information is given in my reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 13 March,Official Report, at column 552.

  Invisible Trade
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) by what methods monthly invisible trade figures are calculated by other Community member states; and whether monthly invisible trade data produced by other Community Governments are directly comparable with Central Statistical Office statistics produced for the United Kingdom;

  (2) what sampling method is used by the Central Statistical Office to calculate the monthly trade figures for invisibles; what changes in Central Statistical Office methods of calculating invisible trade figures have been made in each of the last 12 months; and what proposals he has to change the statistical method of calculating invisible trade figures.

  Mr. Maples
  Other Community countries, except the Irish Republic, require their residents to report individual payments to or receipts from overseas, usually above a threshold, and these data are used by the central banks to compile estimates of invisible trade. Only Germany, Greece and Spain choose to publish monthly invisibles estimates. The United Kingdom does not compile monthly figures of invisibles; the monthly figures shown in the monthly balance of payments press notice are either simply one third of the relevant reported quarterly figure or, for the most recent months, a projection. The projection for the most recent months is mainly an extrapolation from earlier quarterly estimates but it takes account of recent trends and of movements in exchange and interest rates. It is subject to considerable uncertainty.

  All Community countries seek to compile invisibles estimates according to the guidelines on concepts and definitions issued by the International Monetary Fund. Therefore, the United Kingdom's quarterly estimates, which underlie the monthly calculations, are comparable with those for other Community countries.
  12
  The Central Statistical Office does not use sampling methods to calculate the monthly estimates of invisibles and it has not made any change to its methods for calculating these estimates in the past 12 months. The Central Statistical Office has no plans at present to change the way that it calculates monthly figures of invisibles, however this will be re-examined in the light of the recommendations of the review of balance of payments statistics. This is currently being carried out as part of the Chancellor's initiative on economic statistics which, among other things, is seeking to improve the quarterly estimates of invisibles. Details can be found in Economic Trends for March 1991, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate at constant 1990 prices of the invisible balance in each year since 1979; and what is his estimate of the value of United Kingdom produced crude oil for these years.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Information relating to the volume of invisible trade is only calculated at 1985 prices and only for services. Estimates for exports and imports of services at 1985 prices for the years 1979 to 1989 can be found in table 4.1 of the Pink Book "United Kingdom Balance of Payments" which is available in the Library of the House, or on the Central Statistical Office database which can be accessed through the Library. An estimate for 1990 will be included in the 1991 Pink Book, to be published in the summer.

  The estimates of the value of United Kingdom produced crude oil, including natural gas liquids, for the years 1979 to 1990 are as follows:

  £ billion (current prices)

  1979

  5·7

  1980

  8·9

  1981

  12·3

  1982

  14·4

  1983

  17·0

  1984

  20·6

  1985

  19·9

  1986

  9·3

  1987

  9·9

  1988

  7·2

  1989

  7·3

  1990

  18·6

  1 Provisional.

  Earnings
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth of real take-home pay for a married man with two children who is on half male average earnings since 1978–79 each year to the latest date available.

  Mr. Maude
  The figures are given in the table.

  Growth in real take home pay for married man with two children on half male average earnings:

  1978–79 to:

  Per cent.

  1979–80

  2·8

  1980–81

  2·5

  1981–82

  -0·6

  1982–83

  0·6

  1983–84

  5·6

  1984–85

  9·8

  13

  1978–79 to:

  Per cent.

  1985–86

  11·2

  1986–87

  15·2

  1987–88

  19·8

  1988–89

  23·1

  1989–90

  24·4

  1990–91

  24·5

  1991–92

  29·3

  Notes to table:

  (1) Real take home pay is taken to include child benefit to allow comparability with 1978–79 when support for families with children was given partly through child tax allowances.

  (2) Income tax payments are calculated on the assumption that no tax reliefs are received other than the standard allowances and that earnings are the only source of income. NI contributions are calculated at the class I contracted-in rate.

  (3) Where determinants of take home pay such as NICs or child benefit have varied during the course of a year, the average value for the financial year has been used.

  (4) Average male earnings are the average gross weekly earnings of all full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. These are assumed to be £307·90 a week in 1990–91 and £334·10 a week in 1991–92 using the Government Actuary Department's assumptions of 10 per cent. growth for 1990–91 over 1989–90 and 8½ per cent. for 1991–92 over 1990–91 as published in the 1990 autumn statement.

  (5) Real changes are calculated using the average level of the Retail Prices Index in each financial year.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the answer given to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East, of 6 March,Official Report columns 165–66, taking account of the changes announced in the 1991 Budget and giving estimates up to 1991–92.

  Mr. Maude
  Latest estimates of the annual change in income tax liability resulting from the changes in tax rates, allowances, thresholds, and the restriction of mortgage interest relief to the basic rate are in the table. The 1978–79

  Income Tax, NICS and indirect tax payments at multiples of average earnings, 1990–91

  0·5

  0·75

  1

  1·5

  2

  3

  4

  5

  7

  10

  20

  Married, both working

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  1·81

  22·69

  43·57

  85·34

  127·10

  218·00

  333·91

  467·55

  734·83

  1,135·75

  2,472·15

  NICS

  7·75

  15·27

  22·79

  37·82

  51·88

  62·92

  62·92

  62·92

  62·92

  62·92

  62·92

  VAT

  —

  14·23

  19·66

  30·51

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  24·01

  28·13

  36·37

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  9·56

  76·20

  114·15

  190·04

  178·98

  280·92

  396·83

  530·47

  797·75

  1,198·67

  2,535·07

  Amounts, 1990–91 prices

  Income Tax

  1·73

  21·71

  41·70

  81·67

  121·63

  208·63

  319·55

  447·45

  703·23

  1,086·91

  2,365·85

  NICS

  7·42

  14·61

  21·81

  36·19

  49·65

  60·21

  60·21

  60·21

  60·21

  60·21

  60·21

  VAT

  —

  13·62

  18·81

  29·20

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  22·98

  26·92

  34·81

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  9·15

  72·92

  109·24

  181·87

  171·28

  268·84

  379·77

  507·66

  763·45

  1,147·13

  2,426·06

  Percentage of Earnings

  Income Tax

  1·1

  9·1

  13·0

  17·0

  19·0

  21·7

  25·0

  28·0

  31·4

  34·0

  37·0

  NICS

  4·6

  6·1

  6·8

  7·5

  7·8

  6·3

  4·7

  3·8

  2·7

  1·9

  0·9

  VAT

  —

  5·7

  5·9

  6·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  9·6

  8·4

  7·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  5·7

  30·4

  34·2

  37·9

  26·8

  28·0

  29·7

  31·8

  34·1

  35·9

  37·9

  Married 2 children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income tax

  1·52

  22·40

  43·28

  85·05

  144·21

  177·85

  411·49

  545·13

  812·41

  1,213·33

  2,549·73

  NICS

  11·39

  18·91

  26·43

  31·46

  31·46

  31·46

  31·46

  31·46

  31·46

  31·46

  31·46

  VAT

  —

  12·27

  17·93

  30·29

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14
  income tax regime has been indexed to 1991–92 levels by reference to the statutory formula, and allowing for independent taxation.

  For the purposes of these calculations the indexed regime of 1978–79 is applied directly to the income base of 1991–92. In practice, retention of the regime, indexed as appropriate, for the intervening years would have led to changes in the income base.

  Average reduction in income tax per individual1 in 1991–92 compared with 1978–79 indexed regime

  Range of individual's income in 1991–92 (£)

  Average reduction at 1991–92 income levels £

  Under 5,000

  130

  5,000 to 10,000

  350

  10,000 to 15,000

  640

  15,000 to 20,000

  910

  20,000 to 25,000

  1,240

  25,000 to 30,000

  1,600

  30,000 to 40,000

  2,190

  40,000 to 50,000

  3,470

  50,000 to 60,000

  5,740

  60,000 to 70,000

  9,050

  Over 70,000

  34,640

  Total

  970

  1 Individuals paying income tax under the 1978–79 indexed regime.

  Taxes and Benefits
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the answer given to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) of 17 January,Official Report, columns 559–62, taking account of the changes announced in the 1991 Budget and giving estimates up to 1991–92.

  Mr. Maude
  Updated figures for 1990–91 and estimates for 1991–92 are given in the table.
  15

  0·5

  0·75

  1

  1·5

  2

  3

  4

  5

  7

  10

  20

  Other indirect

  —

  20·32

  24·00

  32·04

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  12·91

  73·90

  111·64

  178·84

  175·67

  309·31

  442·95

  576·59

  843·87

  1,244·79

  2,581·19

  Amounts, 1990–91 prices

  Income Tax

  1·45

  21·44

  41·42

  81·39

  138·01

  265·90

  393·80

  521·69

  777·48

  1,161·16

  2,440·09

  NICS

  10·90

  18·10

  25·29

  30·11

  30·11

  30·11

  30·11

  30·11

  30·11

  30·11

  30·11

  VAT

  —

  11·74

  17·16

  28·99

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  19·45

  22·97

  30·66

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  12·35

  70·72

  106·84

  171·15

  168·12

  296·01

  423·90

  551·80

  807·58

  1,191·26

  2,470·20

  Percentage of Earnings

  Income Tax

  0·9

  8·9

  13·0

  17·0

  21·6

  27·7

  30·8

  32·6

  34·7

  36·3

  38·2

  NICS

  68

  7·5

  7·9

  6·3

  4·7

  3·1

  2·4

  1·9

  1·3

  0·9

  0·5

  VAT

  —

  4·9

  5·4

  6·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8·1

  7·2

  6·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  77·7

  29·5

  33·4

  35·7

  26·3

  30·9

  33·1

  34·5

  36·1

  37·3

  38·6

  Income Tax, NICS and indirect tax payments at multiples of average earnings, 1991–92

  0·5

  0·75

  1

  1·5

  2

  3

  4

  5

  7

  10

  20

  Single

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  25·92

  46·80

  67·68

  109·45

  173·57

  307·21

  440·85

  574·49

  841·77

  1,242·69

  2,579·09

  NICS

  11·39

  18·91

  26·43

  31·46

  31·46

  31·46

  31·46

  31·46

  31·46

  31·46

  31·46

  VAT

  —

  13·56

  18·16

  28·18

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  18·79

  23·39

  33·43

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  37·31

  98·06

  135·66

  202·52

  205·03

  338·67

  472·31

  605·95

  873·23

  1,274·15

  2,610·55

  Amounts, 1990–91 prices

  Income Tax

  24·81

  44·79

  64·77

  104·74

  166·11

  294·00

  421·89

  549·79

  805·57

  1,189·25

  2,468·19

  NICS

  10·90

  18·10

  25·29

  30·11

  30·11

  30·11

  30·11

  30·11

  30·11

  30·11

  30·11

  VAT

  —

  12·98

  17·38

  26·97

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  17·98

  22·38

  31·99

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  35·71

  93·84

  129·83

  193·81

  196·21

  324·11

  452·00

  579·89

  835·68

  1,219·36

  2,498·30

  Percentage of Earnings

  Income Tax

  15·5

  18·7

  20·3

  21·8

  26·0

  30·7

  33·0

  34·4

  36·0

  37·2

  38·6

  NICS

  6·8

  7·5

  7·9

  6·3

  4·7

  3·1

  2·4

  1·9

  1·3

  0·9

  0·5

  VAT

  —

  5·4

  5·4

  5·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  7·5

  7·0

  6·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  22·3

  39·1

  40·6

  40·4

  30·7

  33·8

  35·3

  36·3

  37·3

  38·1

  39·1

  Married, no children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  17·65

  38·53

  59·41

  101·18

  160·34

  293·98

  427·62

  561·26

  828·54

  1,229·46

  2,565·86

  NICS

  11·39

  18·91

  26·43

  31·46

  31·46

  31·46

  31·46

  31·46

  31·46

  31·46

  31·46

  VAT

  —

  12·47

  17·47

  28·38

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  20·78

  25·41

  35·50

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  29·04

  90·69

  128·72

  196·52

  191·80

  325·44

  459·08

  592·72

  860·00

  1,260·92

  2,597·32

  Amounts, 1990–91 prices

  Income Tax

  16·89

  36·87

  56·86

  96·83

  153·45

  281·34

  409·23

  537·13

  792·91

  1,176·59

  2,455·53

  NICS

  10·90

  18·10

  25·29

  30·11

  30·11

  30·11

  30·11

  30·11

  30·11

  30·11

  30·11

  VAT

  —

  11·93

  16·72

  27·16

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  19·89

  24·32

  33·97

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  27·79

  86·79

  123·19

  188·07

  183·55

  311·45

  439·34

  567·23

  823·02

  1,206·70

  2,485·64

  Percentage of Earnings

  Income Tax

  10·6

  15·4

  17·8

  20·2

  24·0

  29·3

  32·0

  33·6

  35·4

  36·8

  38·4

  NICS

  6·8

  7·5

  7·9

  6·3

  4·7

  3·1

  2·4

  1·9

  1·3

  0·9

  0·5

  VAT

  —

  5·0

  5·2

  5·7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8·3

  7·6

  7·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  17·4

  36·2

  38·5

  39·2

  28·7

  32·5

  34·4

  35·5

  36·8

  37·7

  38·9

  16

  17

  Income tax, NICS and indirect tax payments at multiples of average earnings, 1990–91

  Multiples of average earnings

  0·5

  0·75

  1

  1·5

  2

  3

  4

  5

  7

  10

  20

  Single

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income tax

  24·04

  43·28

  62·53

  101·91

  163·49

  286·65

  409·81

  532·97

  779·29

  1,148·77

  2,380·37

  NICS

  10·64

  17·56

  24·49

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  VAT

  —

  11·23

  15·05

  23·38

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  17·08

  21·27

  30·42

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  34·68

  89·15

  123·34

  183·99

  191·77

  314·93

  438·09

  561·25

  807·57

  1,177·05

  2,408·65

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  15·6

  18·7

  20·3

  22·1

  26·5

  31·0

  33·3

  34·6

  36·2

  37·3

  38·7

  NICS

  6·9

  7·6

  8·0

  6·1

  4·6

  3·1

  2·3

  1·8

  1·3

  0·9

  0·5

  VAT

  —

  4·9

  4·9

  5·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  7·4

  6·9

  6·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  22·5

  38·6

  40·1

  39·8

  31·1

  34·1

  35·6

  36·5

  37·5

  38·2

  39·1

  Married, no children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income tax

  15·77

  35·01

  54·26

  92·75

  150·26

  273·42

  396·58

  519·74

  766·06

  1,135·54

  2,367·14

  NICS

  10·64

  17·56

  24·49

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  VAT

  —

  10·32

  14·48

  23·62

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  18·98

  23·19

  32·45

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  26·41

  81·87

  116·42

  177·10

  178·54

  301·70

  424·86

  548·02

  794·34

  1,163·82

  2,395·42

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  10·2

  15·2

  17·6

  20·1

  24·4

  29·6

  32·2

  33·8

  35·5

  36·9

  38·4

  NICS

  6·9

  7·6

  8·0

  6·1

  4·6

  3·1

  2·3

  1·8

  1·3

  0·9

  0·5

  VAT

  —

  4·5

  4·7

  5·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8·2

  7·5

  7·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  17·2

  35·5

  37·8

  38·3

  29·0

  32·7

  34·5

  35·6

  36·9

  37·8

  38·9

  Married, both working

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income tax

  1·32

  20·57

  39·81

  78·30

  116·79

  203·55

  313·75

  436·91

  683·23

  1,052·71

  2,284·31

  NICS

  7·42

  14·34

  21·27

  35·13

  47·23

  56·56

  56·56

  56·56

  56·56

  56·56

  56·56

  VAT

  —

  11·74

  16·25

  25·27

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  21·90

  25·65

  33·15

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  8·74

  68·55

  102·98

  171·85

  164·02

  260·11

  370·31

  493·47

  739·79

  1,109·27

  2,340·87

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  0·9

  8·9

  12·9

  17·0

  19·0

  22·0

  25·5

  28·4

  31·7

  34·2

  37·1

  NICS

  4·8

  6·2

  6·9

  7·6

  7·7

  6·1

  4·6

  3·7

  2·6

  1·8

  0·9

  VAT

  —

  5·1

  5·3

  5·5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  9·5

  8·3

  7·2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  5·7

  29·7

  33·4

  37·2

  26·6

  28·2

  30·1

  32·1

  34·3

  36·0

  38·0

  Married, 2 children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income tax

  1·27

  20·51

  39·76

  78·25

  135·76

  258·92

  382·08

  505·24

  751·56

  1,121·04

  2,352·64

  NICS

  10·64

  17·56

  24·49

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  VAT

  —

  10·06

  14·77

  25·12

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  18·45

  21·79

  29·14

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  11·91

  66·58

  100·81

  160·79

  164·04

  287·20

  410·36

  533·52

  779·84

  1,149·32

  2,380·92

  Percentage of earnings

  Income tax

  0·8

  8·9

  12·9

  16·9

  22·0

  28·0

  31·0

  32·8

  34·9

  36·4

  38·2

  NICS

  6·9

  7·6

  8·0

  6·1

  4·6

  3·1

  2·3

  1·8

  1·3

  0·9

  0·5

  VAT

  —

  4·4

  4·8

  5·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8·0

  7·1

  6·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  7·7

  28·8

  32·7

  34·8

  26·6

  31·1

  33·3

  34·7

  36·2

  37·3

  38·7

  Notes to Tables

  (1) Income tax payments are calculated on the assumption that the households receive no tax reliefs other than the standard allowances and only have income from employment. All earners, including wives, are assumed to pay Class 1 national insurance contributions at the contracted-in rate.

  (2) Since 1990–91, husbands and wives have been taxed independently. Previously the tax liability of couples depended on their joint income. To permit comparisons with earlier years, the table therefore shows income tax and national insurance contributions paid by a married couple as a proportion of their joint income, assuming, as in the earlier years, that where both partners are earners, the husband and wife share the relevant multiple of earnings in the ratio 60:40.

  18 19
  (3) In order to provide comparability with 1978–79, when support for children was given partly through child tax allowances, child benefit is treated as a negative income tax for the married couple with two children. (For 1991–92, the child benefit figure is a financial year average.)

  (4) Average earnings are taken to be the average gross weekly earnings of all full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. These are estimated to be £307·90 per week in 1990–91 and £334·10 per week in 1991–92, using the Government Actuary Department's assumptions of 10 per cent. growth over 1989–90 and 8·5 per cent. growth over 1990–91, as published in the 1990 autumn statement.

  (5) The estimates of indirect taxes are based on equations derived from the 1985 family expenditure survey, uprated to later years using forecasts of aggregate tax receipts. They are based on the illustrative assumption that 10 per cent. of disposable income is saved. There are wide variations in spending patterns between households with the same composition and similar incomes and estimated payments of VAT and other indirect taxes are therefore approximate, even within the income range for which figures are shown. Outside this range, the margin of error is even higher and reliable estimates cannot be made. Because of sampling variation, there can be substantial differences between estimates obtained from family expenditure surveys for different years.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report, an analysis for the years 1984–85 to 1993–94, following the format of table 12.1 of Cm. 1515, of central Government support to local authorities outside the Secretary of State's responsibility.

  Central Government support for local authority expenditure in Scotland provided by departments other than the Scottish Office

  £ million

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  11992–93

  11993–94

  Voted in Estimates

  Current grants within AEF2 Industry, energy, trade and employment

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  3

  —

  —

  Social security

  9

  9

  10

  10

  12

  11

  12

  10

  10

  Total

  9

  9

  10

  10

  12

  14

  15

  20

  20

  Current grants outside AEF2 Agriculture, fisheries and food

  3

  4

  4

  3

  3

  8

  1

  —

  —

  Industry, energy, trade and employment

  3

  4

  4

  5

  12

  13

  —

  —

  —

  Social security

  450

  498

  579

  550

  617

  683

  747

  810

  860

  Total

  456

  506

  586

  558

  632

  704

  749

  810

  860

  Total current grants

  465

  515

  596

  568

  644

  718

  764

  820

  880

  Non-voted

  Net capital allocations Industry, energy, trade and employment

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Roads and transport

  2

  2

  2

  1

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Total

  2

  2

  2

  1

  1

  2

  2

  —

  —

  Total

  467

  517

  599

  570

  645

  719

  766

  820

  880

  1 Figures for these years are rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  2 Aggregate External Finance.

  Output Statistics
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of(a) the overall output and (b) the output per person engaged in each of the following industries, for the years 1979, 1980, 1985 and

  Output

  Output per head

  1979

  1980

  1985

  1990

  1979

  1980

  1985

  1990

  Agriculture, forestry and fishing

  74·8

  83·0

  100·0

  104·6

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Metals

  118·5

  90·0

  100·0

  121·2

  68·1

  57·9

  100·0

  135·3

  Coal and coke

  136·6

  139·9

  100·0

  97·2

  96·8

  99·7

  100·0

  225·2

  Motor vehicles and parts

  131·1

  113·3

  100·0

  120·9

  78·8

  73·2

  100·0

  132·3

  Electrical and instrument engineering

  79·5

  77·8

  100·0

  125·6

  65·1

  65·4

  100·0

  132·8

  Medical, health and veterinary services

  n/a

  n/a

  100·0

  102·0

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  20
  Mr. David Mellor
  The information requested, consistent with that given in the "Statistical Supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement"—Cm. 1520—is given in the table.

  1990, (i) agriculture, (ii) the steel industry, (iii) coal mining, (iv) the car industry, (v) the electrical goods industry, (vi) local government and (vii)the national health service.

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

  Performance-related Pay
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the impact of performance-related pay.
  21
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Performance-related pay in the form of additional increments depending on assessment in annual reports now covers the vast majority of civil servants. Managers in departments have generally welcomed the introduction of performance-related pay as a means to attract and retain quality people and to motivate them to produce high sustained performance.

  There are other ways in which pay is related to performance in the civil service. There is a special bonus scheme which departments can use to reward individuals or groups for particular achievements. In addition a number of agencies have introduced group bonus schemes which pay bonuses if staff beat targets for efficiency savings. Also the majority of industrial civil servants are covered by bonus schemes. All these schemes are designed to encourage efficiency and motivate staff.

  Civil Servants (London)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants were employed in Greater London in 1980, 1985 and 1990; what is the projected number for 1995; and what is each figure as a percentage of the civil service as a whole.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Available information for the Greater London area covers civil servants employed in the London pay area, an area within an 18 mile radius of Charing Cross. The information for the years 1980, 1985 and 1990, is shown in the table.

  Number of staff employed in the London Pay Area1

  Number in London

  Total Civil Service

  Percentage of Civil Service as a whole

  1980

  152,000

  707,800

  21·5

  1985

  126,600

  619,600

  20·4

  1990

  116,600

  562,400

  20·7

  Source: "Civil Service Statistics".

  1 Non-industrial and industrial civil servants, full time equivalent (part-time staff count as half units).

  No central forecasts have been produced for civil service staff numbers in 1995, to obtain the relevant data would involve a servicewide exercise at disproportionate cost.

  Bloodstock (VAT)
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of value added tax is charged upon bloodstock in the Republic of Ireland, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The VAT rates for bloodstock in Ireland, France, Germany and the United Kingdom are respectively 2·3, 5·5, 7 and 17·5 per cent.

  Theatre Tickets (VAT)
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now remove theatre tickets from liability to value added tax.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I have no plans to alter the arrangements for taxation of theatre tickets.

  Public Sector Pensions
  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his policy in respect of the appropriateness of a contributory element in public sector index-linked pension schemes;

  (2) what would have been the effect on the Exchequer, in the last financial year where figures are available, of a contribution by civil servants to their pensions at rates of 5 per cent. 7 and 9 per cent. of their salary;

  (3) what representations he has received regarding the benefits in respect of expenditure and on other counts of introducing a contributory pension scheme for civil servants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Government are satisfied that the contribution arrangements in the public service pension schemes which they control are appropriate. The value of pension benefits, including index-linking, continues to be a relevant factor in public service pay determination. Our policy is to provide a remuneration package, including pay, pension and other conditions of service, which is sufficient to recruit, retain and motivate staff of adequate quality. Public servants therefore bear their share of pension costs in two ways: by contributions from pay, and through pay set at levels which take proper account of the value of pension benefits.

  Civil servants make an overt contribution towards the cost of family benefits but in the main meet their share of pension costs through pay being set at levels lower than would otherwise be appropriate. If civil servants were to meet the whole of their share of the pension costs by overt contributions, the consequence for the Exchequer would be broadly neutral. This is because pay would need to be adjusted in order to offer a similar remuneration package to employees.

  Representations are made from time to time about the civil service pension scheme. The Government have no plans to alter the way in which civil servants bear their share of pension costs in the foreseeable future.

  Supply Estimates
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a list indicating the distribution of the 1991–92 supply estimates votes by size from the number under £1 million to the number over £5 billion, by £100 million steps.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested can be derived from table A.1 of the Summary and Guide to the 1991–92 Supply Estimates—Cm. 1454.

  OECD
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contribution has been made by Her Majesty's Government to the development assistance committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development since December 1990.

  Mr. Maples
  The costs of the development assistance committee and its working groups are met from the contributions of member states to the overall OECD budget. The United Kingdom share of the costs of the DAC in 1990–91 was approximately £160,000.

  Mortgage Annuity Schemes
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals in the Finance Bill to increase the tax relief limit on mortgage annuity schemes for older people.

  Mr. Maude
  No.

  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many older people are currently benefiting from tax relief on mortgage annuity schemes.

  Mr. Maude
  Information on the number of outstanding home annuity loans qualifying for tax relief is not available and a reliable estimate could be provided only at disproportionate cost. About 2,000 new home annuity loans qualifying for tax relief were taken out in 1990–91.

  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning the £30,000 limit on mortgage interest tax relief for loans used by older people to purchase annuity schemes.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has received a number of representations.

  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to encourage older people to raise money against their homes.

  Mr. Maude
  There are various schemes on the market for those wishing to release equity in their homes. They include interest-only mortgages, home income plans, home reversion schemes, investment bond schemes and roll-up loans.

  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has estimated the cost of raising the tax relief limit for mortgage annuity schemes for older people, from £30,000 to £60,000.

  Mr. Maude
  A reliable estimate is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Foundation for Sport and the Arts
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make it his policy to place advertisements for the posts of trustee for the Foundation for Sport and the Arts in the appropriate national journals or newspapers; what method and timescale he proposes to adopt for making appointments to the foundation; and if he will place in the Library a list of trustees to the foundation, together with the date on which they were appointed;

  (2) what measures are included in the draft articles of association for the Foundation for Sport and the Arts; if he will place a copy of the draft articles of association in the Library, and a copy of the final articles of association once these have been agreed; if he will list in full the bodies he proposes to consult before agreeing the articles of association; and if he will make it his policy to include in the articles of association details of the ratio of allocation of the foundation's resources between sport and the arts.

  Mr. Mellor
  The proposal from one of the pools promoters was for a foundation set up as a trust by all three member companies of the Pools Promoters Association. In the first instance, it will be for the association to consider the detailed terms of the trust deed 24
  although, as the Chancellor made clear in his Budget statement on 19 March, Official Report, column 175, we will wish to establish that these are satisfactory before we could agree to a cut in pool betting duty. The procedures for appointing trustees will similarly be for the members of the association, acting within the terms of the trust deed. I will discuss with the pools promoters how best to ensure that hon. Members can be informed of the details of the trust and of the names of the trustees.

  Heliports (London)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the reasons why Her Majesty's Customs and Excise now require a heliport on Sea Container house.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise neither require nor are seeking a heliport.

  Seafarers (Tax Incentives)
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to extend to seafarers who work in the offshore supply and standby industries and serve equal periods at sea the concession announced in the Budget on tax incentives to citizens overseas in the merchant navy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend's Budget proposal to extend the existing special tax relief for seafarers applies to United Kingdom resident seafarers working on ships overseas. The Government have no plans to extend the relief to seafarers on ships operating on the United Kingdom continental shelf, which is regarded as part of the United Kingdom.

  Northern Ireland Customs Service
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the progress that has been made to date on proposals to decentralise work within the Northern Ireland Customs service.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise have decided to relocate certain administrative VAT work to a new unit, which will employ around 100 staff, at Newry in Northern Ireland. Operations are expected to commence in late 1992.

  Economic Growth (Statistics)
  Mr. Lawson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table, for each year from 1979 to the present time, showing(a) the official Treasury forecast for economic growth in that year made at the time of the Budget, together with (b) the contemporaneous consensus of outside forecasts and (c) the eventual recorded outcome.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 22 March 1991]:

  Annual growth in real GDP (per cent.)

  Treasury Budget forecasts

  Consensus of outside forecasts1

  Outturn

  1979

  0·3

  n/a

  2·8

  1980

  -2·5

  n/a

  -2·0

  1981

  -2·0

  n/a

  -1·2

  25

  Treasury Budget forecasts

  Consensus of outside forecasts1

  Outturn

  1982

  1·4

  0·4

  1·7

  1983

  2·0

  21·7

  3·8

  1984

  3·1

  2·5

  1·8

  1985

  3·3

  2·9

  3·8

  1986

  3·1

  2·4

  3·6

  1987

  3·0

  2·8

  4·4

  1988

  3·2

  2·7

  4·2

  1989

  2·3

  2·8

  1·7

  1990

  1·0

  1·4

  0·5

  1 Average of outside forecasts prior to Budget forecast. Coverage and number of forecasts has changed from year to year.

  2 In January 1983.

  Local Income Tax
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of local income tax would be needed to yield the same sum as that required from the community charge in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 28 March 1991]: The rate of local income tax needed would vary between local authorities depending on the budgeted yield of the community charge in particular areas, local income levels and the precise way in which the system operated.

  Accounting Practices
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of applying the proposal to extend the period for which a company can carry back a trading loss from one year to three years to losses in accounting periods ending(a) on or after 1 April 1990 and (b) on or after 1 October 1990; and what are the reasons why the necessary legislation will be introduced only at the Committee stage of the Finance Bill.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 28 March 1991]: The cost of applying the proposal to extend the period for which a company can carry back a trading loss from one year to three years is estimated at (a) £250 million in 1991–92 for accounting periods ending on or after 1st April 1990, and (b) £200 million in 1991–92 for accounting periods ending on or after 1st October 1990. The proposed legislation will be introduced at the Committee stage because it will not be possible to complete it in time for inclusion in the Finance Bill as published.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income to the Treasury it is anticipated that the increase of 2·5 per cent. in value added tax for 1991–92 will raise.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information is published in table 1.1 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1991–92.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was raised in 1989–90 from value added tax.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  A total of £29,483 million. Further information is available in the 1989–90 report of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the balance of the cost of holiday accommodation for which deposits have been received by hotels and guest houses as part of an advanced booking contract, will be subject to the increased VAT rate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The increased rate of VAT will apply to any balance outstanding from the date of the rate change—1 April—on holidays booked in advance. This is because the normal tax point for the supply of a holiday is when the services are performed by the hotel or guest house. While an earlier tax point is created by the receipt of a deposit—advance payment—it applies only in respect of the amount of money paid over. Guidance in VAT publications make this clear, as well as covering the position when there is a VAT rate change.

  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the tourism industry on the effect of the increase in VAT on advance holiday bookings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I have received a number of representations. These have primarily concerned the need for a concession to be introduced whereby the old VAT rate of 15 per cent. would apply to any outstanding balances on holidays pre-booked before the date of the rate change, because otherwise the industry might have to absorb the increase. I am unable to accede to this request because of the existing tax point rules—which reflect EC law. The normal tax point for the supply of a holiday is when the services are performed by the hotel or guest house. While an earlier tax point is created by the receipt of a deposit—advance payment—this applies only to the amount of money paid over that time.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Association of British Travel Agents
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department has recently had with the Association of British Travel Agents about financial protection for British holidaymakers booking holidays through the Association of British Travel Agents agents.

  Mr. Leigh
  ABTA has requested financial assistance from Government to help meet its liabilities arising from the collapse of Sun Living Ltd. I have made it clear that I do not consider it would be appropriate for public funds to be used for this purpose.

  Taurus
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition by the international stock exchange relating to Taurus to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department has received such an application and I am pleased to say that approval has been given for an exhibition relating to Taurus from 1 to 5 July.

  Coats Viyella plc
  Sir Charles Morrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he will make it his policy to take into account the level of gearing by Coats Viyella plc in mounting its bid for Tootal Group plc before reaching a decision on whether to allow this bid to proceed;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the relative level of gearing of a merged company consisting of Coats Viyella plc and Tootal Group plc if the current bid for Tootal Group is successful as against that which would have obtained if the two companies had merged by agreement in 1989; and what weight he will give to this in deciding whether to allow the bid to proceed.

  Mr. Carr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the prospective gearing of the combined company if the acquisition of Tootal Group plc by Coats Viyella plc is successful and on how Coats Viyella plc intends to fund the consequential rationalisation costs of such a merger.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration he is giving to the respective EC market shares for named brand textile products for Coats Viyella plc and Tootal Group plc in his consideration of the proposed takeover; if he will make it his policy to take into consideration the extent of which Coats Viyella plc has acted in accordance with the required accounting procedures in declaring its annual results for the last financial year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  In reaching his decision on whether to refer the proposed acquisition by Coats Viyella of Tootal Group to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will take into account all relevant aspects of the proposal, in the light of the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading.
  28
  Mr. Carr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the figures supplied to his Department for the loss of profit made by(a) Coats Viyella and (b) Tootal Group plc from their respective United Kingdom manufacturing operations.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. In reaching his decision on whether or not to refer the proposed acquisition by Coats Viyella of Tootal Group to the MMC, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be taking into account the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading. The director general's advice on merger references may contain commercially sensitive information, including financial information on the companies concerned, and is not made public.

  Immingham Coal Port
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer the involvement of national Power and PowerGen in the financing and operation of the coal port development at Immingham to the Office of Fair Trading for consideration of the competition issues arising.

  Mr. Redwood
  Any agreement between the organisations concerned, if it is a registrable agreement under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976, is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading. Any concerns in this respect should be put to the director general.

  Parent Companies
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Government policy is on safeguarding the trading positions of companies whose parent company has collapsed.

  Mr. Redwood
  Subsidiary companies are separate legal entities and do not necessarily encounter the same difficulties as their parent company. However, there are provisions within insolvency law that enable companies in difficulty to formulate plans for a return to solvency. These provisions are available to all types of companies, including subisidiaries.

  East Timor
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he is prepared to publish in respect of the refusal of applications to export defence equipment to East Timor on grounds of their potential use against the civilian population in terms of numbers of such refusals, the proportion of applications or other illustrative figures.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  In the past 12 months, my Department has received no applications for export licences for goods consigned for East Timor.

  Consumer Debt
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what figures he has regarding trends in defaults on credit cards and other consumer debt.

  Mr. Leigh
  There are no national periodic statistics of defaults on credit cards. The Central Statistical Office collects statistics on amounts written off by finance houses
  29
  and other specialist credit grantors under agreements with consumers. The amounts written off in each of the last five years were:

  £ million

  1986

  243

  1987

  259

  1988

  276

  1989

  328

  1990

  460

  Consumer Councils
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the current members of the National Consumer Council, the Welsh Consumer Council and the Scottish Consumer Council, giving the relevant experience of each member; how many of the Councils are females; and what percentage of the total membership they comprise.

  Mr. Leigh
  The current members of the National Consumer Council (NCC), the Scottish Consumer Council (SCC), and the Welsh Consumer Council (WCC) are:

  NCC:

  Lady Wilcox (Chairman)

  Ann Scully (Vice Chairman)

  Rhiannon Bevan

  Professor Kumar Bhattacharyya

  Shiela Black, OBE

  Anthony Burton, OBE

  Professor Paul Fairest

  John Hughes

  Deirdre Hutton

  Mary McAnally

  Lady Anne McCollum

  John Mitchell

  Jill Moore, OBE

  John Nelson-Jones

  Josephine Turnbull

  Alan White

  Martin Wolf

  SCC:

  Deirdre Hutton (Chairman)

  Winifred Sherry, JP (Vice Chairman)

  Joan Aitken

  Patricia Bolton

  Patricia Cooper

  Kim Donald

  Peter Edmondson, OBE

  Cowan Ervine

  Bernard Forteath

  Kenneth Gilbert

  Christopher Harley

  Mary Kidd

  Gordon Smith

  Mark Steiner

  WCC:

  Rhiannon Bevan (Chairman)

  Nerys Biddulph (Vice Chairman)

  Ian Edge

  Dr. Arwel Edwards

  Jane Lloyd Hughes

  Irene John

  Gareth Morgan

  Ruth Parry

  Lydia Stephens

  Kenneth Thomas

  Ian Thompson

  Roderick Thurman

  Charlotte Watkins

  Information concerning the relevant experience of each member can be found in the annual reports of the councils.
  30
  Copies of the latest reports for the NCC and WCC are held in the Library of the House and I have arranged for that of the SCC to be placed there. Details of new members will be available from the Library in the annual reports due to be published in July.

  As at 15 April 1991, the figures for the number of females in each council, and the percentage of the total membership they comprise, were:

  Council

  Number of women

  Percentage of women on council

  NCC

  9

  53

  SCC

  7

  50

  WCC

  7

  54

  Debt Defaults
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the percentage of consumer debt defaults directly attributable to financial difficulties caused by redundancy, long-term sickness and unemployment.

  Mr. Leigh
  This information is not available.

  Iraq
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the United States Treasury's announcement on 1 April concerning companies and individuals in the United Kingdom and elsewhere said to be connected with Iraq.

  Mr. Lilley
  On 1 April 1991 the United States Department of the Treasury published a list of 52 companies and 37 individuals worldwide whom the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control had determined to be owned or controlled by or to be acting or purporting to act directly or indirectly on behalf of the Government of Iraq. Sanctions under United States domestic law were applied the same day to these companies and people. The effect was to make all those listed "specially designated nationals", to freeze their assets in the United States or in the hands of United States nationals or corporations outside the United States, and to make any unlicensed transaction with them a criminal offence under United States law. Thirty-three of the companies and 13 of the individuals were said to be based in the United Kingdom.

  The Government had become aware early in February that the United States Treasury was preparing for eventual publication a list of companies controlled by Iraqis, including companies based in the United Kingdom. Although my Department obtained a copy of a draft list, through our embassy in Washington, the United States Treasury published the list on its own authority. I am aware that some companies have already said that their inclusion was a mistake. If any company or individual based in the United Kingdom believes that it or he has been wrongly included, my Department should be informed. It has already taken up certain cases and any company which wishes to discuss its inclusion on the list with my Department should contact my officials without delay.

  The Government fully share the determination of the United States administration to enforce United Nations

  31
  sanctions against Iraq, and in particular to prevent the export of arms to Iraq. We have taken the following key measures.

  First, we are continuing to prevent the supply of goods to persons in Iraq, including companies controlled by Iraqi residents or Iraqi incorporated companies, or imports from Iraq in compliance with Security Council resolution 661. The legislation giving effect to the resolution applies to all persons and companies in the United Kingdom and to United Kingdom nationals and companies abroad. Compliance is carefully monitored. Very few breaches of this embargo have come to light, and these few cases are being pursued vigorously. The United States authorities have not alleged that the firms on this list have broken sanctions.

  Secondly, we are continuing to maintain controls which have the effect of freezing the assets in the United Kingdom of persons and companies normally resident in Iraq on or after 4 August 1990, also in compliance with Security Council resolution 661. This embargo, too, is rigorously enforced.

  Thirdly, for many years before Iraq's invasion of Kuwait exports of lethal military equipment to Iraq were prohibited by the Export of Goods (Control) Order. These controls, which apply to all persons and companies in the United Kingdom, remain in place, though they are in practice overtaken for the time being by the wider trade embargo introduced last August.

  Export Representative Services
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the rate of usage by businesses of the export representative service in the case of(a) the United States of America, (b) Canada and (c) West Germany for each month from March 1990 to date.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 28 March 1991]: The information is given in the table.

  Usage by businesses of the export representative service has been:

  United States of America

  Canada

  West Germany1

  March 1990

  7

  2

  7

  April 1990

  4

  1

  11

  May 1990

  5

  2

  12

  June 1990

  9

  3

  13

  July 1990

  4

  1

  14

  August 1990

  5

  0

  8

  September 1990

  6

  2

  5

  October 1990

  6

  1

  7

  November 1990

  5

  4

  11

  December 1990

  3

  0

  5

  January 1991

  3

  1

  12

  February 1991

  4

  1

  7

  March 1991

  3

  2

  10

  1 Unified Germany from October 1990.

  Film Industry
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to make available the findings of the working party on the structure of the film industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  The film industry working party has not yet completed its work. We shall consider when to make the working party's findings available after the report has been received.

  Pharmaceutical Patents
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to publish his response to the European Commission's proposals for supplementary certificates for pharmaceutical patents.

  Mr. Leigh
  I am pleased to be able to make a statement indicating the Government's attitude to the Commission proposals for a regulation concerning the creation of a supplementary protection certificate for medicinal products.

  The Commission proposes that medicinal products—pharmaceuticals—which have taken over four years to bring to the market following patent application should be eligible for a period of supplementary protection, equal to the amount of patent life lost minus four years, subject to a maximum extension of 10 years. The broad result is that most medicinal products would be assured of 16 years effective protection.

  We fully recognise the importance of patent protection for pharmaceuticals. Medicines are costly to develop and often easy to copy. An innovative industry must have a proper opportunity to secure a fair return. The United States and Japan already provide for the extension of patent term for pharmaceutical products and we wish to see broadly similar arrangements in the Community to avoid any distortion of competition which might occur.

  The Commission's proposal needs to be considered in the context of the pharmaceutical industry as a whole. The market exclusivity which would go with supplementary period of protection would delay the entry of competitors into the market. This could result in the cost of pharmaceuticals being higher than it otherwise would be. We need to strike the right balance between a proper reward for the innovator and the encouragement of a competitive market. We must also take into account the considerable cost of pharmaceuticals for the national health service.

  In judging the right period of supplementary protection we need to look at the historical evidence. The average period of protection for new chemical entities in the 1960s was around 13 years. More recent evidence on the products that matter in terms of company profits shows a similar overall position, and the level of research and development remains high. We do accept however that there is evidence of further decline in effective protection for all products in the last decade.

  Taking all factors into account, we have concluded that in the United Kingdom, at least, restoration of protection would be achieved by a supplementary certificate of the sort proposed by the Commission but having the effect that industry would be able to count on 13 years protected life subject to a maximum extension of five years. These figures would be more in line with United States and Japanese provisions and would prevent further erosion of the present effective patent term.

  Finally we think there may be a case for reducing the period of supplementary protection if the proprietor has not been diligent in obtaining marketing approval. United States law contains such a provision.

  Food Advisory Committee
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list the current members of the Food Advisory Committee and give the relevant
  33
  experience of each member; how many of the Committee are females; and what percentage of the total membership they comprise.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply.

  The members of the Food Advisory Committee are:

  Dr. Ewan S. Page (Chairman) MA PhD BSc CBIM FBCS C eng FASA
  Vice Chancellor Reading University.

  Dr. Margret Ashwell Bsc (Hons) PhD FIFST FRSH
  Science Director British Nutrition Foundation.

  Mr. Dennis Cumming
  Director of Quality Assurance, Safeway PLC.

  Professor Douglas Georgala CBE PhD FIFST
  Director of Food Research, AFRC and Director of the Institute of Food Research.

  Dr. Tom Gorsuch OBE BSc PhD FIFST
  Former Director of Research and Quality Control, Colmans of Norwich (Retired).

  Professor Marian Hicks BSC PhD DSc FRCPath
  Science Director United Biscuits (UK) Ltd. Group Research and Development Centre.

  Mr. Roger Manley FITSA
  Director of Trading Standards, Cheshire County Council.

  Miss Patricia Mann FCAM, FIPA CBIM FRSA
  Head of External Affairs, J. Walter Thompson Group.

  Miss Jill Moore OBE
  Member of National Consumer Council and Vice President of National Federation of Consumer Groups.

  Dr. Bryan Nichols MSc PhD FIFST
  Legislation and Health Policy Manager, Van den Berghs and Jurgens Ltd.

  Mr. Ronald Nicolson M Chem A FIFST FIWEM C'Chem FRSC
  Regional Chemist, Public Analyst and Agricultural Analyst for the Regional Council of Strathclyde, and Public Analyst and Agricultural Analyst for the Western Isles Island Council.

  Mrs. Barbara Saunders BA (Hons)
  Freelance Consultant on Consumer Policy, Member of the European Commission's Consumer Consultative Committee.

  Mr. Tony Skrimshire CChem FRSC FIFST
  Director, Purchasing and Quality Assurance, H. J. Heinz Company Ltd.

  Professor Paul Turner MD BSc FRCP Hon FIBiol FFPM
  Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital.

  Dr. Roger G. Whitehead BSc MA PhD FIBiol C Biol Hon MRCP
  Director of the Medical Research Council's Dunn Nutrition Unit, Cambridge, UK and the Gambia, West Africa.

  Five members are women, one third of the membership.

  This information is published approximately every six weeks with the agenda for the forthcoming meeting of the committee.

  Community Charge Payments in Newport East and West: 1991–92

  District

  Community

  (1) Charge exc. Community Council Charge £

  (2) General Community Charge Reduction £

  (1)–(2) £

  Community Charge Reduction Scheme for Communities £

  Net Community Charge exc. Comm. Council Charge (a) £

  Average Community Council Charge (a) £

  Average Community Charge £

  Newport

  Average

  275

  140

  135

  11

  124

  1

  125

  Newport

  Allt-yr-yn

  275

  140

  135

  0

  135

  —

  —

  Newport

  Alway

  275

  140

  135

  0

  135

  —

  —

  Newport

  Beechwood

  275

  140

  135

  0

  135

  —

  —

  Newport

  Bettws

  275

  140

  135

  7

  128

  —

  —

  Newport

  Bishton

  275

  140

  135

  27

  108

  —

  —

  Newport

  Caerleon

  275

  140

  135

  0

  135

  —

  —

  Newport

  Coedkernew

  275

  140

  135

  15

  120

  —

  —

  Newport

  Gaer

  275

  140

  135

  0

  135

  —

  —

  Newport

  Goldcliffe

  275

  140

  135

  28

  107

  —

  —

  Newport

  Graig

  275

  140

  135

  0

  135

  —

  —

  Newport

  Langstone

  275

  140

  135

  0

  135

  —

  —

  Newport

  Liswerry

  275

  140

  135

  27

  108

  —

  —

  Newport

  Llanvaches

  275

  140

  135

  0

  135

  —

  —

WALES

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the cost of implementation of sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  It is estimated that the cost of implementation would be less than £2 million. It has been decided, as in the rest of Great Britain, not to implement these sections, but the situation will be reviewed carefully when the impact can be assessed of the wider reforms set out in the White Paper "Caring for People: Community Care in the Next Decade and Beyond"—Cm. 849.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what will be the impact in Wales of the £140 reduction in community charge on the eligibility to claim housing benefit.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Community charge payers throughout Wales will benefit directly from the £62 million we have made available under the community charge reduction scheme and from the additional £300 million we have secured for the general reduction scheme which was announced on 19 March. The overall effect of these schemes, taken together with the realistic local government finance settlement we have made for 1991–92, is that the average charge payable in Wales will be no more than £95 before taking into account eligibility for community charge benefit. Eligibility to claim housing benefit is not affected by these arrangements.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the community charge payments that will be demanded in every ward in Newport, West and East, incorporating recent changes including transitional relief and community council rates.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is given in the table:
  35

  District

  Community

  (1) Charge exc. Community Council Charge £

  (2) General Community Charge Reduction £

  (1)–(2) £

  Community Charge Reduction Scheme for Communities £

  Net Community Charge exc. Comm. Council Charge (a) £

  Average Community Council Charge (a) £

  Average Community Charge £

  Newport

  Llanwern

  275

  140

  135

  0

  135

  —

  —

  Newport

  Malpas

  275

  140

  135

  15

  120

  —

  —

  Newport

  Marshfield

  275

  140

  135

  0

  135

  —

  —

  Newport

  Michaelstone-y-Fedw

  275

  140

  135

  0

  135

  —

  —

  Newport

  Nash

  275

  140

  135

  49

  86

  —

  —

  Newport

  Penhow

  275

  140

  135

  0

  135

  —

  —

  Newport

  Pillgwenlly

  275

  140

  135

  34

  101

  —

  —

  Newport

  Redwick

  275

  140

  135

  38

  97

  —

  —

  Newport

  Ringland

  275

  140

  135

  3

  132

  —

  —

  Newport

  Rogerstone

  275

  140

  135

  0

  135

  —

  —

  Newport

  St. Julians

  275

  140

  135

  15

  120

  —

  —

  Newport

  Shaftesbury

  275

  140

  135

  0

  135

  —

  —

  Newport

  Stowe Hill

  275

  140

  135

  35

  100

  —

  —

  Newport

  Tredegar Park

  275

  140

  135

  0

  135

  —

  —

  Newport

  Victoria

  275

  140

  135

  53

  82

  —

  —

  Newport

  Wentlooge

  275

  140

  135

  46

  K9

  —

  —

  Monmouth

  Average

  244

  140

  104

  1

  103

  5

  108

  Monmouth

  Caldicot

  244

  140

  104

  0

  104

  —

  —

  Monmouth

  Magor with Undy

  244

  140

  104

  0

  104

  —

  —

  Monmouth

  Rogiet

  244

  140

  104

  19

  85

  —

  —

  Note (a): Information on individual Community Council charges is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the total relief provided by the provisions of the Community Charges (General Reduction) Bill to those charge payers paying the standard charge in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Out of the total relief of about £300 million, standard charge payers will receive around £9 million.

  Cancelled Operations
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the answer of 7 March,Official Report, column 236, on cancelled operations, when he will write to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I sent dated 12 April, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Press Releases
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many press releases have been issued by his Department each year for the past five years ended December 1990.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My Department issued press releases for the Welsh Office and on behalf of other Government Departments as follows:

  Welsh Office

  Other departments

  1986

  814

  470

  1987

  779

  564

  1988

  960

  558

  1989

  815

  511

  1990

  881

  397

  Local Authority Child Care
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children in Wales were received into local authority care where the specific cause was family homelessness, in every year since 1979 until the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The number of children received into care in Wales for the years ending 31 March 1979 to 31 March 1990, where the specific cause was that their family was homeless, is given in the following table:

  During year ending 31 March

  Due to Homelessness

  1979

  50

  1980

  47

  1981

  34

  1982

  35

  1983

  16

  1984

  15

  1985

  25

  1986

  10

  1987

  20

  1988

  14

  1989

  5

  1990

  18

  Research and Development
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was his Department's expenditure to encourage research and development for each year from 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 27 March 1991]: Expenditure on research and development by the Welsh Office since 1981–82, the earliest years for which figures are available, are given in the table.

  37

  Year

  £ million

  1981–82

  1·6

  1982–83

  1·5

  1983–84

  1·3

  1984–85

  1·6

  1985–86

  2·6

  1986–87

  3·5

  1987–88

  1·9

  1988–89

  1·9

  1989–90

  2·4

  1990–91

  12·7

  1 Estimated outturn.

  I shall continue to attach importance to the encouragement of research and development in Wales.

  Community Councils
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy in respect of the minimum number of years for which a community council in Wales should have been established before he is prepared to grant permission for its dissolution.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  [holding answer 28 March 1991]:
  I shall consider any request for permission for the making of a community application for the dissolution of a community council in the light of all relevant circumstances.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the names of community councils in Wales of which he has been notified regarding their dissolution.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  [holding answer 28 March 1991]:I have received copies of orders dissolving Vaynor and Rhoose community councils.

CIVIL SERVICE

  "Next Steps" Agencies
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the progress so far achieved by "next steps" agencies.

  Mr. Renton
  This month the number of "next steps" agencies reaches 50 with over 200,000 staff working on "next steps" lines. The following table sets out the agencies and announced candidates. Demanding financial and quality of service targets are being set and delivered. They show that the initiative is succeeding.

  Next steps—Executive agencies established as of 15 April 1991

  Number

  Building Research Establishment

  690

  Cadw (Welsh Historic Monuments)

  220

  Central Office of Information1

  730

  Central Veterinary Laboratory

  580

  Chemical Biological Defence Establishment2

  580

  Civil Service College

  210

  Companies House

  1,150

  Defence Research Agency

  11,700

  Directorate General of Defence Accounts2

  2,100

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

  5,450

  Driving Standards Agency

  2,050

  Employment Service

  35,600

  Forensic Science Service

  580

  Historic Royal Palaces

  300

  Historic Scotland

  580

  HMSO1

  3,300

  38

  Number

  Hydrographic Office2

  880

  Information Technology Services Agency

  3,350

  Insolvency Service

  1,450

  Intervention Board

  910

  Laboratory of the Government Chemist

  320

  Land Registry

  10,400

  Meteorological Office

  2,250

  Military Survey2

  850

  National Engineering Laboratory

  430

  National Physical Laboratory

  820

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory

  50

  Natural Resources Institute

  390

  NHS Estates

  120

  Occupational Health Service

  100

  Ordnance Survey

  2,500

  Patent Office

  1,150

  Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

  70

  Radiocommunications Agency

  500

  RAF Maintenance2

  5,700

  Rate Collection Agency (Northern Ireland)

  280

  Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency

  320

  Registers of Scotland

  1,100

  Resettlement Agency

  510

  Royal Mint1

  1,050

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  230

  Service Children's Schools (North West Europe)2

  2,300

  Social Security Benefits Agency

  68,000

  Social Security Contributions Agency

  6,600

  Training & Employment Agency (Northern Ireland)

  1,700

  United Kingdom Passport Agency

  1,200

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  70

  Vehicle Inspectorate1

  1,650

  Veterinary Medicines Directorate

  70

  Warren Spring Laboratory

  320

  50 in number

  183,460

  Customs & Excise3 (30 Executive Units)

  26,800

  210,260

  1 Trading Funds.

  2 Defence Support Agency. Figure does not include service personnel.

  3 Moving towards full operation on Next Steps lines following publication of Framework Documents.

  Next steps—activities announced by Departments as under consideration as of 15 April 1991

  Number

  ADAS Agency

  2,500

  Central Science Laboratory

  340

  Central Statistical Office

  1,050

  Chessington Computer Centre

  440

  Child Support Agency1

  not yet known

  Fuel Suppliers Branch

  30

  Planning Inspectorate

  570

  Pollution Inspectorate

  230

  Property Holdings

  1,650

  Public Record Office

  430

  RAF Training2

  2,500

  Royal Parks

  600

  Teachers' Pensions Branch

  300

  The Buying Agency3

  120

  Valuation Office

  5,250

  Youth Treatment Service

  210

  Ordnance Survey (Northern Ireland)

  200

  Social Security Operations (Northern Ireland)

  5,000

  18 in number

  21,420

  Inland Revenue4 (excluding Valuation Office)

  59,800

  Total

  81,220

  1 From April 1993 the Agency is estimated to require 4,500 staff, 1,500 of which will come from the Social Security Benefits Agency.

  39
  2 Defence Support Agency. Figure does not include service personnel.

  3 Trading Fund.

  4 Moving towards full operation on "next steps" lines in accordance with the action plan of February 1991: 33 Executive Offices by April 1992, each with a framework document, sharper accountabilities and wider managerial freedom.

  Staffing figures are based on staff in post 1 October 1990. Many other areas are under consideration.

  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list in the Official Report, when each of the "next steps" agencies so far established will produce a report showing its results compared with the performance criteria laid down in its framework document.

  Mr. Renton
  Agencies will publish their annual reports and accounts as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. Those reports will include information on achievement of key performance targets.

  Pay and Conditions
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service when he last met civil service trade union representatives about pay and conditions of service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  I meet civil service trade union representatives from time to time to discuss a variety of issues.

  Agencies
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what consideration he has given to putting out agencies to private management.

  Mr. Renton
  Ministers continue to keep under review the basis on which Government services are provided. The feasibility of immediate privatisation has been considered and rejected in the case of all agencies created so far. It cannot be ruled out, however, that after a period of years agencies, like other Government activities, may be suitable for privatisation.

  EC Nationals
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he plans to make changes to the legislation which governs the employment in the civil service of nationals of other member states of the European Community.

  Mr. Renton
  [pursuant to his reply, 20 December 1990, c. 295]: I have today laid before Parliament, a draft Order in Council which, subject to approval by a resolution of each House of Parliament, will allow nationals of other member states of the European Community and certain members of their families to be employed in the civil service, in posts other than those posts which are part of the public service within the meaning of article 48(4) of the EEC treaty. The Order in Council makes similar provision in relation to the Northern Ireland civil service, thus ensuring that the same position is achieved in the whole of the United Kingdom.

PRIME MINISTER

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations Her Majesty's Government have received from international doctors about disease in Iraq.
  40
  The Prime Minister
  We have received a number of reports about conditions in Iraq, notably that of United Nations Under Secretary-General Ahtisaari. We have announced a pledge of £20 million to be spent partly bilaterally and multilaterally to alleviate the human tragedy provoked by Saddam Hussein. We are also funding daily airlifts to the refugees at a cost of £1 million per week. These contributions are in addition to earlier substantial pledges to the International Committee of the Red Cross and United Nation agencies' appeals.

  Chile
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Prime Minister if, during the official visit of the President of Chile, the Government will offer improved terms of trade for Chilean exports, and increased transfer of technology and financial support for his programmes.

  The Prime Minister
  Chile will benefit from any market access concessions negotiated with the European Community during the GATT round. We increased our bilateral technical co-operation funds for Chile following the accession of President Aylwin's Government and are presently discussing a number of projects.

  President Aylwin's visit will lead to closer links between Britain and Chile. I was able to pay tribute to the President's achievement in restoring and consolidating democracy.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he is prepared to use nuclear weapons first in response to a conventional attack.

  The Prime Minister
  The 1990 NATO London declaration made clear that, while NATO will never in any circumstances be the first to use force, nuclear weapons will continue to fulfil an essential role in the overall strategy of the alliance to prevent war by ensuring that there are no circumstances in which nuclear retaliation in response to military action might be discounted.

  Migrant Workers
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards ratification of the new international convention on the protection of the rights of all migrant workers and their families.

  The Prime Minister
  The United Kingdom does not intend to ratify the convention on the protection of migrant workers and their families.

  Vehicle Theft
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will set up a joint working party of the Home Office and Department of Transport to investigate the possibility of designing cars to be more resistant to theft.

  The Prime Minister
  The Home Office and Department of Transport have investigated ways in which the security of cars could be improved and discussions are in progress between these Departments, and with the motor manufacturers, on how best their findings and recommendations may be implemented. Home Office crime prevention publicity, particularly during crime prevention
  41
  week this week, aims to increase awareness of the need for effective car security measures. My right Friend the Home Secretary published today a car theft index which allows owners to see which models are particularly subject to theft.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Imported Vegetables
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list those vegetables of temperate country origin whose importers represent more

  Imports

  Output

  Imports (tonnage) as a percentage of

  '000 tonnes

  Value

  '000 tonnes

  Value

  Home consumption

  Output

  Vegetable

  (£ million)

  (£ million)

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Asparagus

  1·9

  4·3

  1·1

  3·1

  62

  162

  Beans

  135·5

  68·1

  61·9

  21·5

  74

  219

  Celery

  30·2

  10·5

  74·6

  32·4

  29

  41

  Cucumbers

  62·5

  41·0

  87·4

  37·8

  42

  71

  Peas

  28·1

  12·6

  222·5

  50·4

  27

  13

  Lettuce

  77·8

  46·3

  193·8

  67·8

  29

  40

  Salad Onions

  12·4

  2·9

  27·4

  23·8

  33

  45

  Sweet Peppers

  41·5

  39·2

  2·5

  2·3

  95

  1,633

  Tomatoes

  272·5

  154·6

  141·0

  68·7

  67

  193

  Notes:

  i. Separate data are not available for radishes.

  ii. The Channel Islands are treated as part of the United Kingdom for the purposes of overseas trade statistics but are not covered within the output figures.

  iii. Estimates of output (production less on-farm waste) have been quoted as being the more comparable with imports.

  iv. Peas and beans include dried peas and beans for human consumption.

  Farm and Conservation Grants
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers he expects to benefit from his plan to drop the requirement that farmers applying for grants under the farm and conservation grants scheme must receive acknowledgment of their prior notification form before incurring costs on farm waste and traditional buildings projects.

  Mr. Curry
  All applicants for these grants would benefit from the simplified application procedures. A number of farmers who had previously been turned down for grant would also be in a position to re-apply when the rules are changed, but exact figures could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy that his working group reviewing the environmental impact of hill livestock compensatory allowances should meet in public; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  We are still considering whether existing environmental benefits afforded by HLCAs should be made more specific. We propose to consult all interested parties in due course.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will write to all local authorities requesting them to increase monitoring for BSE in slaughterhouses and livestock markets.
  42
  than 25 per cent. of United Kingdom consumption, together with values and percentages of importers as a proportion of domestic production;

  (2) if he will list the value of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, spring onions and radishes (a) imported into and (b) produced in the United Kingdom in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what is (a) as a percentage of (b).

  Mr. Curry
  The requested information is as follows:

  Mr. Gummer
  No. The Government already have a fully effective system in place.

  Milk
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest estimate of milk output in the EC and the level of consumption of milk and dairy products within the EC.

  Mr. Curry
  Dairy cows' milk production in the EC in 1990 was 109,102,800 tonnes—provisional figure. Consumption of milk and the major dairy products was as follows:

  '000 tonnes

  1989

  1990

  11991

  Liquid milk and fresh products

  —

  31,051·0

  31,237·5

  Butter

  —

  1,468·5

  1,420·5

  Cheese

  —

  4,621·9

  4,719·9

  Skimmed milk powder and buttermilk powder (including for animal feed)

  1,130

  —

  —

  1 Forecast

  Source: EC Quarterly Questionnaire and MMB (Dairy Facts and Figures)

  Sugar
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest estimate of sugar consumption and sugar production within the EC.

  Mr. Curry
  The EC Commission's latest preliminary forecast for the year ending 30 September 1991 put production from sugar grown within the Community at 15·9 million tonnes. Additionally, the Community is
  43
  forecast to import some 1·5 million tonnes from African, Caribbean and Pacific and other countries, most of which is raw sugar for refining. EC consumption of sugar from all sources is estimated at 11·8 million tonnes.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Education Service (Statistics)
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will supply for each local education authority information on(a) the total revenue expenditure of the relevant council on all services, (b) the total revenue expenditure on all education services, (c) the total revenue expenditure on further education and sixth form colleges, (d) the percentage of item (a) represented by items (b) and (c), (e) the total capital expenditure of the relevant council on all services, (f) the total capital expenditure on all education services, (g) the total capital expenditure on further education and sixth form colleges, (h) the percentage of item (e) represented by items (f) and (g), (i) the total number of, whole-time equivalent, employees of the relevant councils, (j) the total number of whole-time employees engaged in providing the education services and (k) the total number of equivalent employees working in further education and sixth form colleges, and (l) the percentage of item (i) represented by items (j) and (k).

  Mr. Fallon
  The readily available information is shown in the tables. The financial information is taken from authorities' spending returns and is for 1988–89, the latest year for which data are available. The information on numbers of employees is as collected by the joint staffing watch, and is for March 1990.

  Information on further education and sixth form colleges is not collected on a comparable basis. Authorities' spending returns do not separate expenditure on sixth form colleges from that on other secondary schools. Information returned on further education colleges does not separately identify those institutions which subsequently transferred to the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council.

  Table 1 Revenue expenditure, 1988–89

  LEA

  Net current expenditure on all services £ million

  Net current expenditure on education £ million

  Education as percentage of all services Percentage

  Barking

  83·2

  45·7

  54·9

  Barnet

  143·7

  79·1

  55·0

  Bexley

  99·8

  62·7

  62·8

  Brent

  185·9

  104·2

  56·1

  Bromley

  130·4

  73·3

  56·2

  Croydon

  162·9

  97·0

  59·5

  Ealing

  189·8

  99·8

  52·6

  Enfield

  132·8

  79·4

  59·8

  Haringey

  147·8

  79·6

  53·8

  Harrow

  103·5

  63·6

  61·4

  Havering

  116·1

  70·6

  60·8

  Hillingdon

  128·2

  69·2

  54·0

  Hounslow

  123·5

  69·6

  56·3

  Kingston·upon·Thames

  68·8

  36·5

  53·1

  Merton

  86·6

  45·4

  52·4

  Newham

  163·6

  85·1

  52·0

  Redbridge

  113·2

  62·8

  55·5

  Richmond·upon·Thames

  75·4

  37·7

  50·0

  Sutton

  81·5

  45·8

  56·2

  44

  LEA

  Net current expenditure on all services £ million

  Net current expenditure on education £ million

  Education as percentage of all services Percentage

  Waltham Forest

  142·2

  76·9

  54·0

  ILEA

  1,001·7

  950·5

  94·9

  Birmingham

  547·5

  312·1

  570

  Coventry

  158·5

  100·7

  63·6

  Dudley

  136·2

  88·0

  64·6

  Sandwell

  163·5

  102·9

  62·9

  Solihull

  90·4

  59·1

  65·4

  Walsall

  133·4

  93·1

  69·8

  Wolverhampton

  141·3

  88·6

  62·7

  Knowsley

  96·3

  61·8

  64·2

  Liverpool

  290·4

  171·1

  58·9

  St. Helens

  96·6

  61·7

  63·9

  Sefton

  136·4

  84·1

  61·7

  Wirral

  173·6

  108·5

  62·5

  Bolton

  130·5

  80·4

  61·6

  Bury

  85·1

  56·0

  65·8

  Manchester

  281·9

  164·3

  58·3

  Oldham

  116·6

  71·7

  61·5

  Rochdale

  119·9

  72·0

  60·1

  Salford

  126·2

  73·5

  58·3

  Stockport

  132·3

  83·7

  63·2

  Tameside

  114·8

  66·7

  58·1

  Trafford

  101·4

  62·8

  61·9

  Wigan

  150·7

  101·5

  67·4

  Barnsley

  104·9

  64·1

  61·1

  Doncaster

  147·6

  95·6

  64·8

  Rotherham

  127·7

  81·2

  63·6

  Sheffield

  261·9

  160·4

  61·2

  Bradford

  277·0

  170·9

  61·7

  Calderdale

  105·7

  62·6

  59·2

  Kirklees

  196·8

  125·3

  63·7

  Leeds

  331·0

  212·0

  64·0

  Wakefield

  156·3

  94·2

  60·3

  Gateshead

  104·1

  60·3

  57·9

  Newcastle·upon·Tyne

  157·7

  87·4

  55·4

  North Tyneside

  108·0

  64·1

  59·3

  South Tyneside

  86·8

  52·6

  60·6

  Sunderland

  151·5

  87·8

  57·9

  Isles of Scilly

  1·4

  0·9

  63·4

  Avon

  449·7

  258·9

  57·6

  Bedfordshire

  257·1

  163·9

  63·8

  Berkshire

  321·9

  195·9

  60·9

  Buckinghamshire

  298·5

  189·1

  63·4

  Cambridgeshire

  288·9

  183·0

  63·3

  Cheshire

  461·5

  286·1

  62·0

  Cleveland

  329·6

  196·2

  59·5

  Cornwall

  202·5

  120·8

  59·6

  Cumbria

  253·0

  149·0

  58·9

  Derbyshire

  486·2

  297·6

  61·2

  Devon

  435·9

  249·6

  57·3

  Dorset

  263·4

  151·0

  57·3

  Durham

  295·5

  178·2

  60·3

  East Sussex

  282·2

  153·1

  54·3

  Essex

  698·9

  431·9

  61·8

  Gloucestershire

  240·1

  146·3

  60·9

  Hampshire

  671·9

  412·5

  61·4

  Hereford and Worcester

  284·8

  174·0

  61·1

  Hertfordshire

  476·1

  297·1

  62·4

  Humberside

  461·3

  277·2

  60·1

  Isle of Wight

  56·1

  34·1

  60·7

  Kent

  661·8

  385·2

  58·2

  Lancashire

  697·9

  421·6

  60·4

  Leicestershire

  438·6

  273·7

  62·4

  Lincolnshire

  260·0

  154·9

  59·6

  Norfolk

  312·4

  185·7

  59·5

  North Yorkshire

  311·8

  193·8

  62·1

  Northamptonshire

  276·4

  171·5

  62·0

  Northumberland

  136·1

  92·5

  68·0

  Nottinghamshire

  513·9

  308·4

  60·0

  Oxfordshire

  236·1

  144·6

  61·3

  Shropshire

  190·5

  123·0

  64·6

  Somerset

  208·2

  128·7

  61·8

  Staffordshire

  464·3

  296·9

  63·9

  45

  LEA

  Net current expenditure on all services £ million

  Net current expenditure on education £ million

  Education as percentage of all services Percentage

  Suffolk

  266·4

  163·5

  61·4

  Surrey

  418·7

  253·4

  60·5

  Warwickshire

  230·3

  142·4

  61·8

  West Sussex

  276·8

  157·7

  57·0

  Wiltshire

  249·5

  152·4

  61·1

  Table 2 Capital Expenditure, 1988–89

  LEA

  Total Capital Expenditure on all services £ million

  Total Capital Expenditure on Education £ million

  Education as percentage of all services

  Barking

  25·2

  2·3

  9·1

  Barnet

  39·7

  5·1

  12·8

  Bexley

  20·4

  3·5

  17·2

  Brent

  52·8

  6·3

  11·9

  Bromley

  46·7

  6·9

  14·8

  Croydon

  58·7

  6·8

  11·6

  Ealing

  N/A

  N/A

  N/A

  Enfield

  56·1

  5·3

  9·4

  Haringey

  N/A

  N/A

  N/A

  Harrow

  26·5

  5·4

  20·4

  Havering

  28·8

  3·8

  13·2

  Hillingdon

  43·4

  8·5

  19·5

  Hounslow

  38·6

  6·0

  15·5

  Kingston·upon·Thames

  28·0

  9·0

  232·1

  Merton

  28·5

  3·3

  11·6

  Newham

  58·6

  7·3

  12·5

  Redbridge

  N/A

  N/A

  N/A

  Richmond·upon·Thames

  N/A

  N/A

  N/A

  Sutton

  31·4

  3·4

  10·8

  Waltham Forest

  N/A

  N/A

  N/A

  Birmingham

  179·0

  5·5

  3·1

  ILEA

  30·5

  30·3

  99·3

  Coventry

  56·7

  12·9

  22·8

  Dudley

  32·3

  4·2

  13·0

  Sandwell

  65·2

  2·2

  3·4

  Solihull

  201

  2·7

  13·4

  Walsall

  41·6

  3·2

  7·7

  Wolverhampton

  37·2

  3·9

  10·5

  Knowsley

  31·0

  1·6

  5·2

  Liverpool

  84·0

  10·8

  12·9

  St. Helens

  15·5

  2·4

  15·5

  Sefton

  18·0

  1·9

  10·6

  Wirral

  40·1

  5·3

  13·2

  Bolton

  35·0

  3·4

  9·7

  Bury

  12·3

  1·1

  8·9

  Manchester

  N/A

  N/A

  N/A

  Oldham

  31·6

  2·6

  8·2

  Rochdale

  35·3

  2·8

  7·9

  Salford

  53·0

  4·4

  8·3

  Stockport

  24·3

  3·3

  13·6

  Tameside

  18·8

  2·7

  14·4

  Table 3

  Employee numbers—March 1990

  All services

  Education

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Barking

  4,716

  2,940

  2,096

  1,992

  Barnet

  6,858

  4,524

  3,317

  3,576

  Bexley

  4,735

  4,026

  2,334

  2,708

  Brent

  7,777

  2,565

  3,380

  1,730

  Bromley

  5,546

  3,485

  2,803

  2,371

  Croydon

  7,898

  5,204

  3,623

  4,382

  Ealing

  8,150

  4,267

  3,456

  3,160

  Enfield

  6,199

  4,121

  3,004

  3,185

  Haringey

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a

  Harrow

  4,792

  4,009

  2,351

  3,002

  Havering

  5,649

  4,614

  2,734

  3,212

  Hillingdon

  6,050

  4,573

  2,514

  2,744

  46

  LEA

  Total Capital Expenditure on all services £ million

  Total Capital Expenditure on Education £ million

  Education as percentage of all services

  Trafford

  18·0

  1·6

  8·9

  Wigan

  30·3

  4·0

  13·2

  Barnsley

  35·2

  1·9

  5·4

  Doncaster

  40·8

  1·3

  3·2

  Rotherham

  24·4

  3·1

  12·7

  Sheffield

  123·4

  21·8

  17·7

  Bradford

  54·4

  12·1

  22·2

  Calderdale

  17·3

  3·3

  191

  Kirklees

  35·3

  5·9

  16·7

  Leeds

  94·5

  19·5

  20·6

  Wakefield

  38·9

  5·9

  15·2

  Gateshead

  39·8

  4·2

  10·6

  Newcastle

  54·5

  8·1

  14·9

  North Tyneside

  34·0

  3·2

  9·4

  South Tyneside

  32·5

  3·8

  11·7

  Sunderland

  39·4

  7·6

  19·3

  Isles of Scilly

  ·2

  ·1

  50·0

  Avon

  28·6

  9·7

  33·9

  Bedfordshire

  23·6

  5·5

  23·3

  Berkshire

  56·5

  261

  46·2

  Buckinghamshire

  19·5

  8·6

  44·1

  Cambridgeshire

  48·4

  17·1

  35·3

  Cheshire

  70·9

  28·5

  40·2

  Cleveland

  25·3

  6·9

  27·3

  Cornwall

  21·3

  7·4

  34·7

  Cumbria

  20·2

  5·9

  29·2

  Derbyshire

  39·1

  15·3

  39·1

  Devon

  43·8

  13·3

  30·4

  Dorset

  30·4

  6·5

  21·4

  Durham

  17·4

  4·8

  27·6

  East Sussex

  31·8

  14·0

  44·0

  Essex

  70·7

  24·0

  33·9

  Gloucestershire

  27·9

  9·2

  33·0

  Hampshire

  78·1

  34·2

  43·8

  Hereford and Worcester

  17·5

  7·3

  41·7

  Hertfordshire

  41·3

  21·1

  511

  Humberside

  43·8

  12·4

  28·3

  Isle of Wight

  9·0

  2·4

  26·7

  Kent

  68·9

  16·1

  23·4

  Lancashire

  55·4

  17·4

  31·4

  Leicester

  41·6

  14·9

  35·8

  Lincolnshire

  22·5

  7·9

  35·1

  Norfolk

  24·9

  8·2

  32·9

  North Yorkshire

  38·7

  9·6

  24·8

  Northamptonshire

  23·9

  5·2

  21·8

  Northumberland

  12·1

  2·4

  19·8

  Nottinghamshire

  37·4

  7·4

  19·8

  Oxfordshire

  28·9

  11·0

  38·1

  Shropshire

  16·5

  5·3

  32·1

  Somerset

  27·4

  5·1

  18·6

  Staffordshire

  38·3

  9·5

  24·8

  Suffolk

  35·2

  11·7

  33·2

  Surrey

  64·5

  25·0

  38·8

  Warwickshire

  22·0

  3·9

  17·7

  West Sussex

  27·8

  9·8

  35·3

  Wiltshire

  12·8

  4·8

  37·5

  47

  All services

  Education

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Hounslow

  6,446

  3,739

  2,860

  2,614

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  3,580

  2,572

  1,740

  1,873

  Merton

  3,300

  1,525

  1,641

  849

  Newham

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a.

  n.a

  Redbridge

  5,042

  3,571

  2,235

  2,399

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  3,745

  2,255

  1,527

  1,602

  Sutton

  3,587

  2,469

  1,784

  1,886

  Waltham Forest

  6,765

  5,021

  3,116

  2,844

  ILEA

  37,899

  38,283

  37,899

  38,283

  Birmingham

  29,826

  20,890

  12,944

  14,300

  Coventry

  9,902

  7,881

  4,626

  5,174

  Dudley

  7,982

  6,117

  4,092

  3,945

  Sandwell

  11,302

  7,456

  4,948

  5,130

  Solihull

  4,352

  4,268

  2,543

  3,070

  Walsall

  8,940

  6,088

  4,858

  4,481

  Wolverhampton

  9,084

  5,831

  4,118

  3,846

  Knowsley

  5,488

  3,211

  2,481

  2,264

  Liverpool

  19,066

  10,094

  7,439

  7,019

  St. Helens

  5,791

  3,356

  2,880

  2,187

  Sefton

  7,554

  4,848

  3,816

  3,485

  Wirral

  8,982

  7,791

  4,395

  5,326

  Bolton

  7,565

  5,475

  3,727

  3,448

  Bury

  4,431

  3,281

  2,421

  2,026

  Manchester

  23,159

  11,869

  8,330

  8,459

  Oldham

  86,971

  4,014

  3,653

  2,792

  Rochdale

  6,907

  4,136

  3,390

  2,348

  Salford

  7,937

  5,248

  3,731

  3,332

  Stockport

  6,901

  5,867

  3,532

  3,824

  Tameside

  6,849

  2,992

  4,649

  1,894

  Trafford

  4,780

  3,985

  2,422

  2,189

  Wigan

  8,373

  5,605

  4,613

  3,622

  Barnsley

  6,724

  5,360

  2,817

  3,033

  Doncaster

  8,492

  6,999

  4,221

  4,634

  Rotherham

  7,643

  6,064

  3,714

  3,580

  Sheffield

  18,871

  10,948

  6,380

  7,270

  Bradford

  14,516

  13,626

  7,947

  9,765

  Calderdale

  5,248

  4,769

  2,649

  3,057

  Kirklees

  10,760

  9,375

  5,393

  6,269

  Leeds

  19,533

  15,676

  9,878

  9,413

  Wakefield

  9,906

  6,936

  4,136

  4,197

  Gateshead

  7,576

  4,131

  2,895

  1,991

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  11,122

  7,582

  4,385

  4,935

  North Tyneside

  6,521

  4,848

  2,745

  3,100

  South Tyneside

  6,071

  3,016

  2,615

  1,941

  Sunderland

  10,778

  6,282

  4,470

  3,838

  Avon

  17,248

  17,969

  11,435

  13,234

  Bedfordshire

  9,173

  11,181

  6,252

  8,527

  Berkshire

  12,026

  11,804

  8,045

  9,302

  Buckinghamshire

  10,086

  12,265

  6,871

  9,590

  Cambridgeshire

  11,527

  11,450

  7,908

  8,867

  Cheshire

  18,010

  18,679

  12,105

  13,774

  Cleveland

  13,542

  12,963

  9,229

  9,647

  Cornwall

  8,231

  7,566

  5,109

  5,494

  Cumbria

  10,203

  9,071

  6,080

  7,015

  Derbyshire

  19,800

  23,551

  13,180

  16,748

  Devon

  16,672

  17,315

  10,148

  12,835

  Dorset

  9,916

  9,997

  6,394

  7,167

  Durham

  14,155

  10,616

  8,788

  7,959

  East Sussex

  10,659

  11,934

  6,396

  8,392

  Essex

  23,789

  29,242

  16,137

  22,444

  Gloucestershire

  9,865

  8,618

  6,580

  6,512

  Hampshire

  23,090

  28,370

  16,603

  22,423

  Hereford and Worcester

  11,146

  9,174

  7,304

  6,910

  Hertfordshire

  16,589

  20,749

  12,160

  16,149

  Humberside

  17,756

  18,770

  11,671

  13,152

  Isle of Wight

  2,397

  1,746

  1,443

  1,215

  Kent

  24,012

  20,022

  16,495

  14,659

  Lancashire

  27,846

  25,388

  17,652

  18,380

  Leicestershire

  16,764

  17,691

  11,170

  13,439

  Lincolnshire

  9,391

  8,138

  6,202

  5,442

  Norfolk

  11,651

  12,864

  8,103

  9,377

  North Yorkshire

  11,860

  12,971

  7,780

  9,559

  Northamptonshire

  9,686

  12,076

  6,865

  9,139

  Northumberland

  6,732

  5,304

  4,149

  3,749

  Nottinghamshire

  20,357

  19,053

  13,462

  14,336

  Oxfordshire

  8,338

  9,096

  5,454

  6,813

  Shropshire

  7,427

  7,909

  5,101

  6,245

  48

  49

  All services

  Education

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Somerset

  8,510

  9,819

  5,443

  7,386

  Staffordshire

  19,001

  22,272

  12,913

  17,453

  Suffolk

  9,740

  12,434

  6,853

  9,344

  Surrey

  13,657

  12,763

  9,377

  10,106

  Warwickshire

  8,217

  10,596

  5,795

  8,227

  West Sussex

  9,675

  12,507

  6,284

  9,510

  Wiltshire

  9,401

  12,075

  6,214

  9,452

  Note:

  No full-time equivalents of the part-time numbers are available, and the total part-time staff figures provide a general indication only of the actual amount of part-time employment. Since the full-time equivalents of part-time employees cannot be calculated, neither can meaningful percentages of totals accounted for by the education sector.

  Erasmus Programme
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many United Kingdom students have received awards under the Erasmus programme; and if he will list in rank order the number of students from each United Kingdom institution of higher education whose period of study in another EC country has been funded under the Erasmus programme.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  We expect, by the end of the 1990–91 academic year, some 10,500 United Kingdom students to have received student mobility support under the Erasmus programme. The listing of individual institutions has been placed in the Library.

  Expenditure (South Yorkshire)
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average cost of educating(a) a primary school pupil and (b) a secondary school pupil in the local education authorities within South Yorkshire.

  Mr. Fallon
  In 1988–89, the latest year for which information is available, the school-based expenditure per nursery and primary pupil and per secondary pupil derived from information returned by the authorities was as shown in the table. Figures for nursery schools and for primary schools are not collected separately.

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  £ million (1990–91 prices)

  Academic-academic related staff

  1,170·3

  1,218·9

  1,255·0

  1,262·1

  Other staff

  530·3

  532·0

  522·6

  521·6

  Total as a percentage of United Kingdom universities' total recurrent expenditure from general funds

  66·8

  67·9

  67·3

  66·2

  Note:

  1990–91 prices are derived using GDP deflator assumptions based on the university academic year.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will fund a survey to compare the pay of university technicians with people in similar jobs in the private and public sectors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  No. This is a matter for the employers to consider and fund if it is deemed necessary.50

  Nursery and Primary schools £

  Secondary schools £

  Barnsley

  1,065

  1,645

  Doncaster

  1,175

  1,655

  Rotherham

  1,125

  1,635

  Sheffield

  1,230

  1,810

  University Salaries
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met representatives of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals; and whether he is willing to agree to their request for additional funds for university pay.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. and learned Friend last met representatives of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals on 4 February 1991. It is for the employers and the Association of University Teachers to draw up a pay settlement within the resources available.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out the total pay bill in 1990 prices for university(a) support staff and (b) teachers in each year from 1985 to 1990, and express the overall pay bill as a percentage of the total universities' general recurrent expenditure in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The information requested is available only to 1988–89 and is given in the table.

  Geography
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the differences between the programmes of study for geography in the documents referred to in his answer of 25 March,Official Report, column 277, and the recommendations of the National Curriculum Council's consultative report; what priority he gives to work on issue-based topics and inquiry-based learning in geography; and if he will make a statement.
  51
  Mr. Eggar
  The differences are clear from a comparison of the documents. There is no prescription as to the teaching methods to be used in geography, so that issues-based approaches may, if teachers so decide, be used to deliver the statutory requirements. An inquiry approach is required to form an important part of children's work in geography.

  European Space Agency
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom contribution to the European Space Agency's Hipparcos project.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The United Kingdom contributes to the ESA Hipparcos project through its subscription to the mandatory science programme of the European Space Agency. As a member of an international consortium, the United Kingdom also supports the analysis of data received from the satellite.

  Truancy
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he proposes to take to reduce truancy rates in schools.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales have today issued for consultation a draft circular on school attendance together with draft regulations about pupil registration and the publication of information about rates of attendance.

  Truancy needs to be tackled vigorously to ensure that the national curriculum and other educational reforms benefit all pupils. Governors, parents and prospective parents need to have the facts on school attendance. My right hon. Friends therefore propose that schools should be required to publish annually the rates of unauthorised absence for each year group, for each term of the preceding school year.

  We expect schools to give the highest priority to maximising rates of attendance, and to work with parents, local education authorities and others to achieve that objective.

  Local education authorities and other appropriate educational bodies have been invited to comment on the proposals with a view to regulations being made in the summer.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  South Africa
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government have taken to secure the release of South African political prisoners since August 1990.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have repeatedly called on the South African Government to free all political prisoners. We welcome the fact that over 300 political prisoners have been released since February 1990.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the action taken by Her Majesty's Government to secure 52
  the implementation of the United Nations declaration on South Africa adopted at the 16th special session of the General Assembly.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We continue to encourage all sides in South Africa to maintain progress towards the broad aims set out in the United Nations declaration.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the South African Government concerning the immunity from prosecution of political exiles returning to South Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have urged the South African Government to reach agreement with the parties concerned on sensible arrangements for the return of political exiles to South Africa.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations the Government have made to the South African Government concerning the implementation of section B, clause 8c, of the United Nations declaration on South Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We maintain regular contacts with all sides in South Africa. We have expressed to them the hope that full constitutional negotiations towards a non-racial, democratic society may begin as soon as possible. It is for the parties to those negotiations to decide how the new constitution should be drawn up and adopted.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the South African Government on the Internal Security Act.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have often stressed to the South African Government the need to repeal those legislative provisions, such as detention without trial, which are contrary to international norms of human rights. The South African Government are currently conducting a review of all such legislation, including the Internal Security Act.

  International Fund for Agricultural Development
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the level of funds available to the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Some $567 million has been pledged by OECD, OPEC and developing countries to the third replenishment of the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Negotiations on the replenishment were completed in mid-1989, but it became effective only last December. Together with estimated income from loan repayments, investments and other sources. IFAD should have resources totalling in excess of $1,200 million for commitment over the next three years.

  IFAD's special programme for Africa, which attained the $300 million target set in 1986 with voluntary contributions from OECD countries, will be fully committed early this year. IFAD's governing council in May will be invited to consider proposals for extending the programme for a further, and final, phase.

  Sudan
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on Britain's humanitarian assistance to Sudan.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We continue to provide substantial humanitarian assistance to Sudan. On 2 April I approved a new package of food and other emergency assistance worth £5·5 million. I am today announcing provision of a further 5,000 tonnes of food aid at an estimated cost of £1·7 million. This brings the total of our response to the present emergency to £17·4 million, which includes 55,550 tonnes of food aid, and to nearly £39 million since the beginning of 1989. I expect to provide more aid as the year goes on.

ENERGY

  Immingham Port
  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will request the Director General of OFFER to undertake a review of the involvement of National Power and PowerGen in the financing and operation of the port development at Immingham, with respect to the policy of securing economic supply of electricity by means of competition between generators.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No. These are commercial matters for the companies concerned.

  British Gas
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to British Gas and the environment to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Moynihan
  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 22 to 26 July.

ENVIRONMENT

  Community Charge
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates will be the yield of the community charge in England in 1991–92 allowing for the effect of the community charge reduction schemes.

  Mr. Portillo
  The community charge is expected to yield about £7·4 billion in England in 1991–92. About £1 billion of this will be met by community charge benefit.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to ensure that the £140 reduction of community charge announced on 19 March does not lead to any reduction in the benefits previously provided for those people entitled to rebates.

  Mr. Key
  All headline community charges for 1991–92 will be reduced by £140 as a result of the Community Charges (General Reduction) Bill. The amount of community charge benefit received by charge payers will be lower as a result, but all charge payers, including those on benefit, should have reduced bills.
  54
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would have been the community charge in the London boroughs of(a) Wandsworth and (b) Westminster had they received in 1990–91 Government grants per head of relevant population of £448.

  Mr. Key
  Since 1 April 1990, in contrast to previous arrangements, revenue support grant has been paid to the receiving authority for each area in support jointly of its own expenditure and that of the precepting authorities in the area. For this reason it is inappropriate to attempt to estimate the community charge that Wandsworth and Westminster would have set had they received in 1990–91 Government grants per head of relevant population of £448.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the proposed spending of £4·3 billion on the poll tax is additional to transitional relief grant and rebate subsidy.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 28 March 1991]: The figure of £4·3 billion represents broadly the switch from local to central taxation. It is estimated that the gross cost of community charge grant will be some £5·6 billion in Great Britain. Because many people are already getting extensive help with paying their charges at the levels set by authorities the general reduction will result in savings of some £1·3 billion on reduction scheme grant and benefit subsidy.

  Jet Skis
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the powers the exercise of which is monitored by his Department which are currently available to local authorities and others to control nuisances caused by operators of waterborne jet ski machines.

  Mr. Baldry
  Local authorities can make byelaws under section 76 of the Public Health Act 1961 requiring engines of all seaside pleasure boats, including water ski vessels and ski-mobiles, to be fitted with silencers. Local authorities can also serve an abatement notice on a person responsible for a statutory nuisance, including noise, under section 80 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. An individual aggrieved by noise can apply direct to a magistrates court to make an abatement order where a statutory nuisance occurs or is likely to recur, under section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Department keeps no statistics about the control of nuisance caused by operators of waterborne jet ski machines.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those Acts passed by Parliament since 1979 concerning(a) local government finance and (b) local authority duties, powers and responsibilities for authorities in England.

  Mr. Key
  My right hon. Friend the then Minister for Local Government and the Inner Cities gave a list on 4 May 1990 of 124 public general Acts of Parliament, passed between June 1970 and November 1989, which affected
  55
  local authorities in England, distinguishing those which concern, at least in part, local government finance, Official Report, Vol. 171, column 676. Since November 1989, public general Acts which affect local government in England include:

  Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990

  Broadcasting Act 1990

  Education (Student Loans) Act 1990

  Entertainments (Increased Penalties) Act 1990

  Environmental Protection Act 1990

  Food Safety Act 1990

  National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990

  Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1990

  Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 19901

  Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 19901

  Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 19901

  Representation of the People Act 1990

  Rights of Way Act 1990

  Town and Country Planning Act 19901

  Caravans (Standard Community Charge and Rating) Act 19912

  Community Charges (General Reduction) Act 19912

  Community Charges (Substitute Setting) Act 19912

  1 Consolidation Act.

  2 Concerns local government finance.

  Not all these Acts resulted from Government Bills.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will allow local authorities to spend all their capital receipts.

  Mr. Key
  Local authorities are able to spend the usable part of their capital receipts on new capital expenditure or on the repayment of their debt. They also retain use of the reserved part of their receipts to repay debt or to finance capital expenditure covered by a credit approval; meanwhile, the funds may be invested in approved investments.

  Reductions for couples under 1991–92 Community Charge Reduction Scheme

  Set Charge (taking account of £140 reduction)

  Reductions from the set charges payable by a couple

  (a)

  (b)

  £

  £

  £

  Charnwood Borough

  257

  85

  210

  Melton Borough

  250

  95

  212

  Rutland District

  254

  52

  187

  Vacant Land
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he has established the level of vacant land areas within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Department has commissioned a national sample survey of the stock of vacant land in urban areas in England. Final estimates from the survey are not yet available. The broad figure of up to 150,000 acres of vacant land given in the consultation paper, "Encouraging the use of vacant public sector land", relates to urban areas in England alone and was based on preliminary work carried out in preparation for the national survey.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the impact the disposal of vacant land areas will have on the green belt.
  56
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the level of Government grant per head of the population for 1990–91 and 1991–92 in the London boroughs of(a) Haringey, (b) Barnet and (c) Enfield.

  Mr. Key
  The available information is as follows:

  Government grants in 1990–91, consisting of revenue support grant, special grants, specific grants in aggregate external finance, community charge benefit grant and transitional relief grant, per head of relevant population are £762 in Haringey, £366 in Barnet and £475 in Enfield.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, following the fixing of the community charge in all Leicestershire district councils, he will now update the two answers given by the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton on 4 March,Official Report, columns 47–48.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 26 March 1991]: Following the statement on 19 March 1991 by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Official Report, vol. 188, column 180–81, £140 will be cut from the current headline community charges for 1991–92. The calculation of community charge reductions and benefits will be made after this general reduction. In addition, my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities announced on 25 March that under the community charge reduction scheme the threshold amount which charge payers are expected to meet from their own resources will be lowered from £104 to £52. The revised figures in the table show the reductions payable to couples in Charnwood, Melton and Rutland who, on 31 March 1991, are living in properties of (a) three quarters average rateable value and (b) half average rateable value for the area.

  Mr. Yeo
  There is a general presumption against inappropriate development in the green belts. The Government's policy for them is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 2. Development of suitable vacant land within urban areas can help to reduce the pressure for development of green field sites.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what steps he intends to take to ensure full public consultation takes place when land areas, currently of recreational value to local people, are indentified as unused or underused and available for disposal;

  (2) what is his policy on retaining open spaces in urban areas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Land used as public open space or for recreation is not at present entered on registers and is therefore not subject to my right hon. Friend's power to
  57
  direct disposal. My Department's consultation paper, "Encouraging the use of vacant public sector land", noted that we envisage further public consultation on the criteria for entry on registers under any new statutory arrangement covering all public sector owners.

  The issue of retaining open spaces in urban areas has been addressed in my Department's draft planning policy guidance note on sport and recreation which was issued for public consultation in October last year. In the light of the many responses received, my right hon. Friend will be considering carefully what advice should be included in the final guidance.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to enter into a partnership with local government in order to develop vacant land areas in both the public and private sector, for the benefit of and in full consultation with local people.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Government have already taken various steps to encourage the bringing into use of vacant land, for example, through grant arrangements which apply to land in public or private ownership and through land registers which record public sector land. I am considering what further action is necessary.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what safeguards he is considering in order to avoid vacant land areas being disposed of at a time when land prices are very low.

  Mr. Yeo
  The timing of disposal is normally a matter for the owner. A public sector owner should get a proper price for his land and my right hon. Friend would for that reason be hesitant about directing disposal when the general level of the market was depressed in the short term.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how a system of incentives for franchisees of vacant land areas will be financed; and what level of incentives budget is envisaged in the first year of operation;

  (2) how defined areas of vacant public land will be established; and how large such areas are expected to be;

  (3) what progress has been made with the selection of two experimental areas for the proposals outlined in the consultation paper "Encouraging the use of vacant public sector land"; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) how he intends to define the terms "underused" and "unused" when identifying vacant land areas;

  (5) how vacant land areas, which ought to be on new underused/unused land registers, will be identified.

  Sites which have been the subject of directions under section 98 of the Local Government Planning & Land Act 1980

  Site address

  Owner at time of direction

  1984

  Barmpton Lane West, Darlington

  Darlington BC

  Barton Lane, Clifton, Nottingham

  Nottingham City Council

  Doxford Park Way, Sunderland

  Sunderland MBC

  Oozewood Road, Royton

  Oldham MBC

  1985

  Alfred Street/Oak Bank, Harpurhey

  Manchester City Council

  Boothroyden "A" site, Blackley

  Manchester City Council

  Maple Road West, Brooklands

  Manchester City Council

  Old Market Street/Grant Street, Blackley

  Manchester City Council

  Old Market Street/Lion Street/Lawson Street/Dommett Street, Blackley

  Manchester City Council

  South Street/Parkhouse Street, Openshaw

  Manchester City Council

  Colton Common, Colton, Leeds

  Leeds City Council

  Denison Street/Silver Lane, Yeadon

  Leeds City Council

  58
  Mr. Yeo
  We are considering in the light of responses to the consultation paper what further action might be taken to encourage the bringing into use of vacant sector land. Our conclusions will be announced in due course. Meanwhile no decisions have been taken on whether to proceed with the proposals for experimental franchises or for giving all public sector owners a statutory obligation to maintain and publicise registers. The consultation paper noted that the criteria for entry on such registers and for eligibility for directions to dispose would be the subject of further consultation.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to introduce proposals to identify and dispose of vacant land areas in the ownership of central Government Departments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Hams (Mr. Steen) on 19 February,Official Report, columns 114–15. Individual Departments have been asked to maintain and publicise registers of their vacant land holdings and proposals to make this a statutory obligation were included in the Department's consultation paper.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to introduce proposals to identify and dispose of vacant land areas in private sector ownership; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  In the light of responses made to the Department's consultation paper our review will include the question of whether any measures are appropriate to encourage the bringing into use of vacant land in private sector ownership or whether, as implied in the consultation paper, its subjection to the normal incentives and disciplines of the market is sufficient.

  Public Sector Land
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the occasions when existing powers have been exercised to direct disposal of public sector land.

  Mr. Yeo
  The following list shows the sites in respect of which directions under section 98 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 have been issued together with the owners concerned:
  59

  Site address

  Owner at time of direction

  Freely Lane, Bramham

  Leeds City Council

  Keswick Lane, Bardsey

  Leeds City Council

  Kirkfield Lane, Thorner

  Leeds City Council

  Lyndon Road, Bramham

  Leeds City Council

  Old Farm Close, Leeds

  Leeds City Council

  Primrose Lane, Boston Spa

  Leeds City Council

  Richmond Road/Dawsons Corner, Pudsey

  Leeds City Council

  Whiteley Croft, Otley

  Leeds City Council

  Willow Avenue, Clifford

  Leeds City Council

  261–281 Regents Park Road, N3

  Barnet LBC

  Roewood Lane, Macclesfield

  Macclesfield BC

  Stocks Park Drive, Horwich

  Bolton MBC

  The Grange, Southgate Circus

  Enfield LBC

  1986

  Eltham Road, Greenwich

  Greenwich LBC

  Hornpark Close/Eltham Road, Greenwich

  Greenwich LBC

  Ling Close, Coltishall

  Broadland BC

  London Road, SE1

  Southwark LBC

  South Park Drive, Blackpool

  Blackpool BC

  Hall Farm Road, Doxford Park, Sunderland

  Sunderland MBC

  The Hollins, off Plodder Lane

  Bolton MBC

  Bamfield/Briery Leaze Road, Cheltenham

  Bristol City Council

  Fiddlers Green Lane, Cheltenham

  Cheltenham BC

  Russells Hall, Dudley (H7)

  Dudley MBC

  Russells Hall, Dudley (H8)

  Dudley MBC

  Duddon Close, Ireleth

  Barrow-in-Furness BC

  Hardy Avenue, Brierfield

  Pendle BC

  Houghton Lane, Houghton (South Ribble BC)

  Lancashire CC

  1987

  Surbiton Lagoon, Surbiton

  Kingston-upon-Thames LBC

  Netherleigh, off Biggar Bank Road, Walney Island

  Barrow-in-Furness BC

  Beck Lane/Lanark Walk, Upton Priory, Macclesfield, (Macclesfield BC)

  Cheshire CC

  Congleton Road, Macclesfield

  Macclesfield BC

  Land at County Road North, Hull (Ref. 23)

  Kingston-upon-Hull CC

  Land at County Road North, Hull (Ref. 24)

  Kingston-upon-Hull CC

  Land at County Road North, Hull (Ref. 25)

  Kingston-upon-Hull CC

  Land at Spring Street, Hull

  Kingston-upon-Hull CC

  Longcroft/Benomley Road, Huddersfield

  Kirklees MBC

  Royd House, Reinwood Road, Huddersfield

  Kirklees MBC

  Goodison Boulevard, Cantley (Ref. 15)

  Doncaster MBC

  Broadway, Dunscroft, Doncaster

  Doncaster MBC

  Crescent East/Flanderwell Lane, Sunnyside, Rotherham

  Rotherham MBC

  Thompson Hill, High Green, Sheffield

  Sheffield MBC

  Land at Pigeon Cote Farm, Ryedale

  York City Council

  Land at the rear of Bur Dike Avenue, York

  York City Council

  Land fronting Cheam Road and Robin Hood Lane, Sutton

  Sutton LBC

  Land fronting Camden Road and Robin Hood Lane, Sutton

  Sutton LBC

  Galleywall Road/Anchor Street/Lynton Road, SE16

  Southwark LBC

  Thames Road North Allotment Site, Barking

  Barking and Dagenham LBC

  Land between Nos. 2 and 4 Meadow Way, Offley

  North Hertfordshire DC

  Pleckgate Road Blackburn

  Blackburn BC

  Land adjacent to Loughborough Technical College, Loughborough (Charnwood BC)

  Leicestershire CC

  Land to the south of Hillingdon Road, Lanehead, Burnley

  Burnley BC

  Land east of Portland Street, Mansfield Woodhouse

  Mansfield DC

  1988

  Staveley Road School, Chiswick

  Hounslow LBC

  Vauxhall Walk/Randall Road, London SE11

  Lambeth LBC

  Land fronting Longshaw Street, Opposite Longport Flats, Longport, Stoke-on-Trent

  Stoke-on-Trent DC

  Dere Park, Brandon

  Durham City Council

  Castle Road, Unsworth, Bury

  Manchester City Council

  Land North of Wythenshawe Road, Manchester

  Manchester City Council

  Douglas Street, Atherton

  Wigan MBC

  Land east of Leeds Road, Methley

  Leeds City Council

  Land bounded by Dewberry Street/St Leonard's Road & Brunswick Road, E14

  Tower Hamlets LBC

  Land between 102 and 108 Gordon Avenue, Stanmore, Middlesex

  Harrow LBC

  Site 2, Marton Grove South, Middlesbrough

  Middlesbrough BC

  Land to the rear of Burleigh College, Loughborough (Charnwood BC)

  Leicestershire CC

  Greenhill Lane, Riddings (Amber Valley BC)

  Derbyshire CC

  1989

  South Street/Nantwich Road, Crewe

  Crewe & Nantwich BC

  Land at Water Lane, Droylesden, Manchester

  Tameside MBC

  Alexandra Avenue, Meol Brace, Shrewsbury

  Shropshire CC

  Helston Drive, Strelley Estate, Nottingham

  Nottinghamshire CC

  60

  61

  Site address

  Owner at time of direction

  1990

  Quarry Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight

  Medina Borough Council

  Longden Road, Shrewsbury

  Shropshire CC

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has available concerning the impact of proposals for the disposal of public sector land on land areas identified by local authorities for future housing purposes.

  Mr. Yeo
  The use of any land which my right hon. Friend decided to make the subject of a direction to dispose would be decided through the planning system in the normal way. Where a direction to dispose is proposed the landowner has the right to make representations about its actual or intended use. My right hon. Friend takes these into account when deciding whether to make the direction.

  Environmental Assessments
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to make the 1985 European Community directive on environmental assess-ment applicable to development proposals for which consent is sought by means of private parliamentary Bills.

  Mr. Yeo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mrs.

  Project rejections in 1991–92 Urban Programmes for selected local authorities

  Local authority

  Number of projects rejected

  Cash value of projects rejected (£k)

  Ethnic minority projects rejected

  Per cent, of all projects rejected

  Disability projects rejected

  Per cent. of all projects rejected

  Economic projects rejected

  Per cent, of all projects rejected

  Environ-mental projects rejected

  Per cent. of all projects rejected

  Barnsley

  8

  381

  0

  0

  1

  13

  2

  25

  1

  13

  Blackburn

  4

  18

  0

  0

  1

  25

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bolton

  9

  639

  0

  0

  1

  11

  2

  22

  1

  11

  Bradford

  30

  2,808

  3

  10

  2

  7

  6

  20

  3

  10

  Bristol

  8

  193

  1

  13

  1

  13

  3

  38

  0

  0

  Information for the Brent 1991–92 urban programme is not currently available.

  London City Airport
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make his decision on the future of the City of London airport in the light of his inspector's report; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  When I have received and considered the inspector's report.

  Housing, Liverpool
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes have been improved in Liverpool with the aid of Government grants, over each of the past 11 years; how many new homes have been built by the local authority and by housing associations in each of the past 11 years; and how many homes in the public and private sector are currently vacant in Liverpool.

  Mr. Yeo
  The numbers of grants paid to private owners and tenants and the numbers of housing association and local authority dwellings improved with the aid of grant or subsidy reported quarterly by Liverpool city council are published in "Local Housing Statistics".

  The numbers of new homes built, based on monthly returns, appear in the publication "Housebuilding in
  62
  Gorman) on 26 February, column 422. As the consultation paper issued by my Department and the Welsh Office on that date stated, it is proposed that the amendments to procedures to require environmental assessment, where appropriate, for private Bills for the construction of works should apply to Bills deposited in and after the 1991–92 Session. A proposed amendment to Standing Orders was tabled on 6 March.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will break down the number of projects not approved for the 1991–92 financial year(a) numerically and (b) by cash value for the urban programme in (i) Barnsley, (ii) Blackburn, (iii) Bolton, (iv) Bradford, (v) Brent and (vi) Bristol; and if he will indicate the percentage of projects not approved for the financial year 1991–92 relating to (1) ethnic minority projects, (2) projects relating to disability, (3) economic developments and (4) the environment.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information is provided in the table.

  England by Local Authority Areas 1980 to 1989" (tables 1.1 to 1.10). Figures for the first nine months of 1990 are in "Local Housing Statistics" (issue 96, table 1).

  The tables indicate where the information is incomplete because all returns for the year have not been received.

  The latest available information on vacant dwellings relates to 1 April 1990 and was provided by Liverpool city council in its April 1990 housing investment programme return (HIP1).

  Copies of all these documents are in the Library.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against the uniform business rate have been lodged in the areas covering the parliamentary constituencies of(a) Hornsey and Wood Green and (b) Tottenham.

  Mr. Key
  By 5 April 1991, the valuation office had received 1,368 proposals to alter the 1990 rating list in respect of the parliamentary constituency area of Hornsey and Wood Green and 1,062 in respect of that for Tottenham.

  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to increase the staffing of
  63
  the North Yorkshire valuation and community charge tribunal, in order that appeals concerning the uniform business rate may be heard within six months of their submission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  Ratepayers had six months from 1 April 1990 in which to make proposals to alter their 1990 rating assessments and valuation officers then had a further six months to settle the proposal before the matter became an appeal. Most proposals have only recently become appeals to the tribunals. The North Yorkshire valuation and community charge tribunal has 9,800 appeals outstanding. Staffing and other administrative arrangements of tribunals have been improved to enable the caseload to be dealt with, and staffing levels are being further reviewed. Tribunals will generally give priority to hardship cases and to the more significant appeals, with a view to establishing quickly benchmarks which should allow settlements pag p 31between valuation officers and ratepayers without the need in all cases for a tribunal hearing. Complex cases may take longer and it would not necessarily be in the ratepayers' best interests for these to be rushed.

  Public Buildings (Safety)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will change the standards relating to the physical structures of public buildings to make them safer in the event of attacks by terrorists.

  Mr. Yeo
  Various measures are being taken to improve the safety of public buildings in view of recent terrorist attacks. It would not be appropriate to give details of these measures.

  Prestwich Hospital
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to come to a decision on the planning applications from Salford health authority relating to part of the Prestwich hospital, Salford site.

  Mr. Yeo
  The appeal will be determined as quickly as possible after the inspector has reported on the public inquiry to be held on 26 September.

  Local Authority Swap Contracts
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to deal with the problem arising from local authority swap contracts.

  Mr. Key
  The Government are considering the implications of the House of Lords judgment on this complex matter and will make an announcement as soon as possible.

  Heliports (London)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received the inspector's report on the City of London heliport planning application; and what the inspector recommends.

  Mr. Yeo
  The inspector's report has not yet been received.

  Lambeth (Housing)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount of bids for housing association development in Lambeth for 1991–92; and what bids will be met for new housing and rehabilitation of existing housing.

  Mr. Yeo
  This is a matter for the Housing Corporation. I have therefore asked the corporation to respond to the hon. Member direct.

  Bees
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to prevent damage to domestic bees as a consequence of the importation of the varroa mite.

  Mr. Curry
  Our aim is to keep this country free from varroasis. The Importation of Bees Order 1980 prohibits imports of honey bees except under licence from countries of high bee health status which are free from varroasis.

  Parking Offences
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many parking tickets were received and paid by his Department in each year since 1988 in respect of official vehicles.

  Mr. Hesseltine
  [holding answer 28 March 1991]: The numbers of parking tickets received and paid by the Department of the Environment in respect of the Government car service, the interdepartmental despatch service and DOE (Central) Vehicles, for each of the years requested, are:

  1988–89

  1989–90

  11990

  181

  133

  68

  1 To date.

  These numbers exclude PSA and TCS vehicles for which records are not held centrally and where the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Tameside
  Mr Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he intends to take to increase infrastructure investment in Tameside.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 22 February 1991]: Responsibility for monitoring and developing infrastruc-ture in Tameside lies primarily with the borough council. My Department has this year awarded Tameside rolling programme status for derelict land reclamation grant together with supplementary credit approvals for environmental and other regenerative schemes in the Hyde renewal area.

  Tameside is also eligible for grant aid from the European regional development fund under phase II of the Mersey basin programme, which is administered by the Government for the EC in partnership with local authorities and other eligible bodies. Tameside have submitted 25 grant applications for a range of infrastructure projects; and so far the first three of these have been approved, to a total of £110,657 grant aid. Others are expected to follow.

  Grimsargh Hall Farm
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in respect of the proposed development by J. Turner and Son at Grimsargh Hall farm, Preston; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 8 March 1991]: Two letters of objection were received by my right hon. Friend and Preston borough council copied to him a further 11 and one in support.

  My right hon. Friend considered that the issues raised did not justify calling in the application and he has authorised the council to determine it as it thinks fit.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had relating to its assessments of the ecological resources of the Gulf states from the world conservation monitoring centre in Cambridge.

  Mr. Baldry
  In addition to the hon. Member's question to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 22 March,Official Report, Volume 188, column 246, I have also received a letter from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre which draws attention to the work carried out by the centre on the Gulf conflict.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what protection has been given to sea grasses in the Gulf.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 22 March 1991,Official Report, Vol. 188, column 245.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, column 245, in what ways he has made the work of the Plymouth marine laboratory of NERC known to the Gulf states.

  Mr. Baldry
  The report on the likely biological effects of the Gulf oil slick carried out by the Natural Environment Research Council was sent to relevant agencies in Saudi Arabia via the British embassy in Riyadh in early February, and to British embassies in other Gulf states.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the information learned from the work of the Meteorological Office research aircraft in the Gulf;

  (2) what information he has had from members of the Meteorological Office, in relation to sulphur dioxide and other deleterious substances, as a result of their research flight over Kuwait; and what further monitoring action he proposes to take.

  Mr. Baldry
  I am arranging to place in the Library copies of an assessment by Departments concerned of the potential impact of the burning oil wells in Kuwait on the environment and human health; and of a report by the Meteorological Office on the recent activities of the meteorological research flight in the region. Following analysis of the data gathered by the aircraft, the Meteorological Office will publish a preliminary report of the findings in a few weeks' time. No further monitoring action is currently planned.
  66
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what satellite images of the effect of the pollution over Kuwait have been made available by other countries to his Department.

  Mr. Baldry
  Meteorological satellite images provide information on the location and extent of the smoke plume in the Gulf rather than on its effects. Images from European meteorological satellites are available to all nations through normal receiving channels.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance his Department is providing to the Kuwait Government to help them to cope with the effect of summer ventilation systems in Kuwait inhaling air with abnormal sulphur dioxide and nitrogen content.

  Mr. Baldry
  None at present. My Department continues to be in contact with the Gulf states about whether there is further scope for the application of United Kingdom expertise in the evaluation of the environmental effects of the war and possible remedial action.

  Estuaries (Effluent)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a study of the effluent from waste production and waste disposal in relation to the ecosystems of estuaries.

  Mr. Baldry
  It is already normal practice to set discharge consents for effluents to rivers and estuaries on the basis of quality objectives set for downstream waters. The quality objectives used for estuaries are to maintain the ecosystems if the quality is high, and to restore the quality if it is not. With the introduction of integrated pollution control discharges from prescribed processes will also be required to apply best available techniques not entailing excessive cost to prevent pollution.

  Hazardous Waste (US Bases)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have taken place between the Government and United States Government about disposal of hazardous waste from United States bases in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the world; and what was the outcome of the discussions.

  Mr. Baldry
  Discussions have been held since November 1989 with the United States Government about the importation into the United Kingdom of hazardous waste from United States bases overseas. Pending the outcome of these discussions imports of hazardous waste into United States bases have been suspended. The United States Government have now agreed that their forces will not in the future import hazardous waste directly into their bases in the United Kingdom. Discussions are continuing with the United States Government with a view to stopping the importation of all waste.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the total number of persons engaged in(a) agriculture, (b) steel industry, (c) coal

  67
  mining, (d) the car industry, (e) the electrical goods industry, (f) local government and (g) the national health service in 1979, 1989 and 1990, showing the percentage increase or decrease in each case.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Department's estimates of employment are categorised according to the 1980 standard

  Employees in Employment—Great Britain

  Thousands (Unadjusted for seasonal variation)

  Percentage change

  Industries (SIC 80)

  June 1979

  June 1989

  June 1990

  1979–89

  1979–90

  1989–90

  Agriculture and horticulture (Class 01)

  339

  263

  260

  -23

  -23

  -1

  Iron and steel industry (Group 221)1

  191

  45

  53

  -76

  -72

  16

  Coal extraction and manufacture of solid fuels (Group 111)

  299

  103

  91

  -66

  -70

  -12

  Manufacture of motor vehicles and parts (Class 35)

  464

  262

  245

  -44

  -47

  -6

  Electrical and electronic engineering (Class 34)

  752

  553

  556

  -26

  -26

  1

  Local government service not elsewhere specified (Activity 9112)

  662

  539

  557

  -18

  -16

  3

  Medical and other health services (Group 951, 952, 953 and 954)

  1,170

  1,377

  1,380

  18

  18

  0

  'These estimates are based on small samples and are unreliable.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the unemployment rate in each European Community country.

  Mr. Jackson
  Following is a table which gives the latest available internationally comparable unemployment rates for the 12 member states of the European Community.

  Comparisons of Unemployment between EC countries

  Standardised unemployment rates1 seasonally adjusted

  Per cent rate

  Latest month

  Spain

  15·8

  November

  Ireland

  14·7

  February

  Italy

  9·8

  October

  France

  9·1

  January

  Belgium

  8·4

  February

  United Kingdom

  8·1

  February

  Denmark

  1(7·9)

  February

  Greece

  2(7·4)

  April 1987

  Netherlands

  7·3

  December

  Portugal

  4·5

  November

  Luxembourg

  3(1·6)

  February

  1 Note for those EC countries for which no OECD standardised rates are available, similar harmonised rates compiled by the Statistical Office of European Communities (EUROSTAT) are shown in brackets.

  2 Recent comparable figures are currently not available for Greece the latest relating to April 1987.

  3 There are no reliable figures available as yet for a unified Germany, the rate for the former West Germany is 4·5 per cent, for January.

  Source: OECD "Main Economic Indicators", Labour Attache reports and Eurostat "Unemployment" Bulletins.

  Employment Offices (South Yorkshire)
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what employment offices he plans to close in South Yorkshire.

  Mr. Jackson
  Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service executive agency are the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.
  68
  industrial classification (SIC80). This classification does not specifically identify the national health service, which is included along with other employers in medical and other health services (SIC 80 groups 951, 952, 953 and 954). The available information is given in the table.

  Factory Inspection
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Bradford, South of 26 March,Official Report, column 752–53, if he will list the pilot projects and the areas they are established within, to identify unregistered premises; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Between 1 July and 31 December the Health and Safety Executive plans to carry out a pilot exercise to assess the feasibility of employing visiting officers to identify establishments for inspection. The exercise will take place in the following HSE areas:

  Marches

  South West

  East Anglia

  London North

  Greater Manchester

  West & North Yorkshire

  Scotland West

  One of the objectives of the exercise is to seek out and identify establishments not registered with HSE. The exercise is in addition to and complements normal inspection arrangements to seek out and inspect unregistered premises.

  National Council for Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list the current members of the National Council for Vocational Qualifications and give the relevant experience of each member; how many of the council are female; and what percentage of the total membership they comprise.

  Mr. Jackson
  A list of the 13 current members of the National Council for Vocational Qualifications and their experience is given below.

  CHAIRMAN

  Sir Bryan Nicholson: Chairman of the Post Office; the Council for National Academic Awards; the Industrial Society; the CBI Task Force on Vocatonal Education and Training. Formerly Chairman of Rank Xerox and of the Manpower Services Commission.

  MEMBERS

  Gerald Brinsdon: Chairman of the West Midlands Engineering Careers Co-ordinating Organisation, an

  69
  adviser to the Association of Metropolitan Authorities Education Committee and a member of the Engineering Careers Information Service steering committee. Until recently Chief Education Officer for Sandwell.

  Ken Graham CBE: Formerly Deputy General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, 1985–87. He has been a member of the board of Remploy Ltd. since 1987 and was formerly a Commissioner of the MSC 1974–87.

  Peter Reay CBE: Has held a wide range of personnel and management positions within Cadbury Schweppes PLC becoming Group Personnel Director in 1981 from which he retired recently.

  Ron Shepherd: OBE Recently retired as Manager, Education Training and Personnel Services at the Ford Motor Company.

  Barry Barker MBE: Recently retired as Secretary and Chief Executive, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (formerly Chartered Institute of Secretaries) following a career in industry and management.

  Dr. John Capey: Worked in industry as a production manager before moving into education. Has a Doctorate in education. Is currently Principal of Exeter College. He is a mentor of the Business Technician Education Council and of the CPVE Joint Board.

  Hywel Davies: Personnel Manager of South Wales Electricity Board.

  Barney Gibbens OBE: Co-founder of Computer Analysts Programmes Ltd (the CAP Group) in May 1962. This company merged in July 1988 with a large French systems house and changed its name to SEMA Group Plc—of which company he is Chairman.

  Gill Lewis: Has a degree in Chemistry from Oxford. She is

  Full time employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence Percentage with weekly earnings less than £180 (ex overtime)

  Manual

  Women Non-manual

  All

  Manual

  Men Non-manual

  All

  Scotland

  89·7

  55·1

  62·9

  50·1

  16·3

  34·3

  Borders

  ..

  ..

  84·1

  62·3

  ..

  ..

  Central

  96·8

  65·5

  74·9

  41·9

  13·3

  29·5

  Dumfries and Galloway

  ..

  ..

  72·9

  48·2

  ..

  40·0

  Fife

  89·9

  57·4

  67·7

  46·9

  19·3

  35·1

  Grampian

  ..

  52·4

  60·8

  49·3

  7·9

  30·8

  Highland

  ..

  64·5

  69·6

  54·2

  ..

  39·2

  Lothian

  86·0

  52·8

  58·1

  54·7

  18·0

  34·7

  Strathclyde

  86·5

  53·4

  60·8

  47·3

  16·4

  32·9

  Tayside

  95·8

  57·8

  67·8

  62·3

  19·8

  43·2

  Islands

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  35·1

  Highland and islands

  ..

  58·5

  65·0

  53·4

  16·5

  38·2

  Great Britain

  85·2

  46·3

  54·4

  43·5

  13·5

  28·6

  Source: NES 1990.

  NB ".." denotes sampling errors too large or numbers to small for reliable information.

  Full time employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence Percentage with weekly earnings less than £170 (ex overtime) April 1990

  Manual

  Women Non-manual

  All

  Manual

  Men Non-manual

  All

  Scotland

  84·7

  49·1

  57·2

  42·0

  13·8

  28·9

  Borders

  ..

  ..

  80·5

  54·1

  ..

  ..

  Central

  88·9

  59·5

  68·2

  32·7

  10·2

  23·0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  ..

  ..

  65·6

  42·6

  ..

  35·2

  Fife

  87·3

  54·4

  64·9

  40·2

  16·0

  29·9

  Grampian

  ..

  46·9

  55·3

  41·9

  6·6

  26·2

  Highland

  ..

  60·3

  66·2

  47·9

  ..

  34·7

  Lothian

  81·4

  45·2

  50·9

  45·6

  15·4

  29·1

  Strathclyde

  81·2

  47·5

  55·1

  39·1

  14·3

  27·5

  Tayside

  89·5

  52·2

  62·0

  53·2

  16·2

  36·6

  Islands

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  31·2

  Highland and islands

  ..

  55·1

  62·3

  47·1

  15·0

  33·9

  Great Britain

  80·7

  40·8

  49·1

  36·4

  11·1

  23·8

  Source:

  NES 1990.

  NB ".." denotes sampling errors too large or numbers too small for reliable information.
  70
  a "former business woman of the year" and is currently the Director of Human Resources at Courtaulds plc.

  John Spence OBE: Chairman of the Northern Ireland Training Authority 1984–89. Chairman of the Training and Employment Agency for Northern Ireland since 1989. Chairman of Richardsons Fertilisers Ltd.

  John Barnes: Lecturer in Political Science at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has been Chairman of the Kent Education Committee, and is currently a member of the Council for National Academic Awards.

  George Wycherley: Director and General Manager of Motherwell Bridge Fabricators Ltd. He was Chairman of the Manpower Services Commission's Area Manpower Board for Lanarkshire.

  There is currently one vacancy on the council. Of the 13 current members one is female, representing 7·7 per cent. of the total membership.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will show for full-time workers the percentage earning less than £170 and £180, giving the information for (a) women and (b) men for (1) manual, (2) non-manual and (3) all workers, excluding overtime pay for (i) Scotland, (ii) the regions of Scotland and (iii) Great Britain.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information available from the new earnings survey is given in the following tables.
  71
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide details of the number of male employees in part-time employment for(a) Scotland and (b) Great Britain; and if he will provide a regional breakdown for each.

  Mr. Jackson
  There were an estimated 953,600 male employees in part-time employment in Great Britain in September 1990, the latest date for which information is available. Estimates for the regions are available only from the census of employment. The latest available are for September 1989 and are given in the table.

  Male employees in part-time employment: September 1989

  Great Britain and regions

  Numbers (000s)

  Great Britain

  920·8

  South East

  342·9

  East Anglia

  33·8

  South West

  85·2

  West Midlands

  78·6

  East Midlands

  64·2

  Yorks & Humberside

  72·3

  North West

  90·6

  North

  40·0

  Wales

  37·2

  Scotland

  76·1

  Part-time females on adult rates

  Average Gross Weekly Earnings (£)

  Average Weekly Hours

  Average Gross Hourly Earnings (pence)

  Manual

  Non-man

  All

  Manual

  Total Non-man

  All

  Manual

  Overtime Non-man

  All

  Manual

  Non-man

  All

  Scotland

  59·1

  94·8

  79·0

  19·2

  20·4

  19·9

  0·6

  0·8

  0·7

  308·2

  462·6

  396·3

  Borders

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Central

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  291·0

  ..

  ..

  Dumfries and Galloway

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Fife

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  290·9

  ..

  ..

  Grampian

  54·1

  ..

  77·9

  18·3

  ..

  18·8

  1·2

  ..

  1·1

  301·3

  451·9

  386·2

  Highland

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Lothian

  56·4

  96·6

  79·8

  18·2

  20·7

  19·7

  0·6

  0·9

  0·8

  312·4

  467·2

  406·2

  Strathclyde

  62·1

  94·2

  80·1

  20·3

  20·4

  20·4

  0·7

  0·6

  0·6

  312·3

  466·1

  397·2

  Tayside

  ..

  ..

  76·7

  ..

  ..

  19·5

  ..

  ..

  0·5

  311·2

  ..

  399·1

  Islands

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Highland and islands

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  292·2

  ..

  ..

  Great Britain

  58·9

  89·2

  76·3

  18·5

  20·1

  19·4

  0·8

  0·9

  0·8

  321·4

  446·6

  395·1

  Notes:

  1. ".." denotes sampling error too large or numbers too small for reliable estimates.

  2. The Survey excludes significant numbers of part-time employees with low weekly earnings.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide in a table the percentage of women in part-time employment who earn less than £2 per hour, less than £3 per hour, £3·40 per hour, £3·50 per hour, £4·50 per hour and £5 per hour for the categories(a) manual employment, (b) non-manual employment and (c) all women in (i) Scotland, (ii) the regions of Scotland and (iii) Great Britain as a whole.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information available from the new earnings survey is given in the following tables.

  Part-lime females on adult rates percentage with hourly earnings less than £2·00

  Manual

  Non-manual

  All

  Scotland

  3·9

  1·5

  2·6

  Borders

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Central

  5·0

  ..

  ..

  Dumfries and Galloway

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Fife

  2·0

  ..

  ..

  Grampian

  4·2

  0·9

  2·4

  Highland

  ..

  ..

  ..

  72

  Great Britain and regions

  Numbers (000s)

  Regions of Scotland

  Borders

  1·6

  Central

  3·5

  Dumfries & Galloway

  1·8

  Fife

  3·8

  Grampian

  9·4

  Highland

  3·8

  Lothian

  11·1

  Strathclyde

  33·2

  Tayside

  6·6

  Orkney

  0·5

  Shetland

  0·5

  Western Isles

  0·4

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will show for part-time women workers(a) average gross weekly earnings, (b) average weekly hours, total and overtime and (c) average gross hourly earnings for (i) manual, (ii) non-manual and (iii) all part-time women workers in (1) Great Britain, (2) Scotland and (3) the regions of Scotland.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information available from the new earnings survey is given in the following table.

  Manual

  Non-manual

  All

  Lothian

  3·4

  1·5

  2·3

  Strathclyde

  4·2

  1·6

  2·7

  Tayside

  5·3

  ..

  3·6

  Islands

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Highlands and Islands

  2·5

  ..

  ..

  Great Britain

  2·6

  1·7

  2·1

  Part-time females on adult rates percentage with hourly earnings less than £3·00

  Manual

  Non-manual

  All

  Scotland

  52·4

  25·8

  37·8

  Borders

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Central

  0·80

  ..

  ..

  Dumfries and Galloway

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Fife

  71·4

  ..

  ..

  Grampian

  57·9

  29·9

  42·5

  Highland

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Lothian

  50·3

  21·1

  33·5

  Strathclyde

  46·7

  25·6

  35·1

  73

  Manual

  Non-manual

  All

  Tayside

  0·48

  ..

  36·5

  Islands

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Highlands and Islands

  0·60

  ..

  ..

  Great Britain

  52·1

  23·5

  35·

  Note: ".." denotes sampling error too large or numbers too small for reliable estimates.

  Part-time females on adult rates. Percentage with hourly earnings less than £3·40

  Manual

  Non-manual

  All

  Scotland

  75·1

  36·8

  53·8

  Borders

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Central

  87·5

  ..

  ..

  Dumfries and Galloway

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Fife

  85·7

  ..

  ..

  Grampian

  70·5

  39·3

  53·3

  Highland

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Lothian

  78·2

  34·2

  52·9

  Strathclyde

  70·6

  33·3

  50·1

  Tayside

  84·0

  ..

  58·1

  Islands

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Highland and Islands

  77·5

  ..

  ..

  Great Britain

  71·8

  37·2

  52·2

  Part-time females on adult rates. Percentage with hourly earnings less than £3·60

  Manual

  Non-manual

  All

  Scotland

  83·5

  43·2

  61·1

  Borders

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Central

  87·5

  ..

  ..

  Dumfries and Galloway

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Fife

  89·8

  ..

  ..

  Grampian

  86·3

  41·9

  61·8

  Highland

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Lothian

  83·7

  41·7

  59·5

  Strathclyde

  81·1

  41·7

  59·4

  Tayside

  90·7

  ..

  63·5

  Islands

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Highland and Islands

  82·5

  ..

  ..

  Great Britain

  79·2

  43·8

  59·1

  Note: ".." denotes sampling error too large or numbers too small for reliable estimates.

  Full time employees on adult rates: percentage with weekly earnings including overtime less than £120

  Manual

  Women Non-manual

  All

  Manual

  Men Non-manual

  All

  Scotland

  39·2

  14·7

  20·3

  5·6

  3·1

  4·4

  Borders

  ..

  ..

  48·8

  6·6

  ..

  ..

  Central

  41·3

  16·2

  23·7

  3·2

  2·4

  2·9

  Dumfries and Galloway

  ..

  ..

  31·2

  5·7

  ..

  5·2

  Fife

  40·5

  16·0

  23·8

  5·4

  5·0

  5·2

  Grampian

  ..

  15·4

  23·2

  4·6

  1·7

  3·3

  Highland

  ..

  18·2

  27·0

  5·6

  ..

  4·5

  Lothian

  34·9

  9·5

  13·5

  5·1

  3·1

  4·0

  Strathclyde

  34·3

  14·7

  19·1

  5·9

  2·8

  4·4

  Tayside

  36·8

  17·2

  22·3

  9·0

  4·7

  7·1

  Islands

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  5·2

  Highland and islands

  ..

  17·0

  24·6

  5·3

  3·8

  4·7

  Great Britain

  33·0

  10·3

  15·0

  4·6

  2·1

  3·4

  NB ".." denotes sampling error too large or numbers too small for reliable estimate.

  Full time employees on adult rates: percentage with weekly earnings including overtime less than £130

  Manual

  Women Non-manual

  All

  Manual

  MenNon-manual

  All

  Scotland

  47·2

  20·3

  26·4

  8·6

  4·3

  6·6

  Borders

  ..

  ..

  57·3

  13·1

  ..

  ..

  Central

  49·2

  24·3

  31·8

  6·5

  3·0

  5·0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  ..

  ..

  39·6

  7·8

  ..

  8·6

  74

  Part-time females on adult rates. Percentage with hourly earnings less than £4·50

  Manual

  Non-manual

  All

  Scotland

  95·9

  64·6

  78·5

  Borders

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Central

  95·0

  ..

  ..

  Dumfries and Galloway

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Fife

  98·0

  ..

  ..

  Grampian

  96·8

  63·2

  78·3

  Highland

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Lothian

  92·5

  63·8

  76·0

  Strathclyde

  96·4

  63·5

  78·3

  Tayside

  96·0

  ..

  79·0

  Islands

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Highland and Islands

  97·5

  ..

  ..

  Great Britain

  93·1

  66·3

  77·9

  Part-time females on adult rates. Percentage with hourly earnings less than £5·00

  Manual

  Non-manual

  All

  Scotland

  98·3

  70·8

  83·0

  Borders

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Central

  97·5

  ..

  ..

  Dumfries and Galloway

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Fife

  98·0

  ..

  ..

  Grampian

  100·0

  68·4

  82·5

  Highland

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Lothian

  97·3

  70·4

  81·8

  Strathclyde

  98·6

  70·5

  83·1

  Tayside

  97·3

  ..

  82·6

  Islands

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Highland and Islands

  100·0

  ..

  ..

  Great Britain

  96·3

  73·5

  83·3

  Note: ".." denotes sampling error too large or numbers too small for reliable estimates.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will show for full-time workers the percentage earning less than £1 20 and £130 per week, giving the information for(a) women and (b) men for (1) manual, (2) non-manual and (3) all workers, including overtime pay and excluding overtime pay in (i) Scotland, (ii) the regions of Scotland and (iii) Great Britain.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information available from the new earnings survey is given in following tables.
  75

  Manual

  Women Non-manual

  All

  Manual

  Men Non-manual

  All

  Fife

  48·1

  21·3

  29·8

  8·3

  5·5

  7·1

  Grampian

  ..

  21·6

  28·6

  5·6

  2·7

  4·3

  Highland

  ..

  20·7

  2·1

  10·6

  ..

  7·8

  Lothian

  43·4

  15·5

  19·9

  7·4

  4·6

  5·9

  Strathclyde

  42·3

  19·6

  24·7

  9·2

  4·1

  6·8

  Tayside

  50·5

  23·5

  30·6

  13·2

  5·1

  9·6

  Islands

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  7·8

  Highland and islands

  ..

  20·4

  27·3

  10·1

  4·5

  7·8

  Great Britain

  42·9

  15·2

  21·0

  7·2

  3·1

  5·2

  NB ".." denotes sampling error too large or numbers to small for reliable estimate.

  Full time employees on adult rates: percentage with weekly earnings excluding overtime less than £120

  Manual

  Women Non-manual

  All

  Manual

  Men Non-manual

  All

  Scotland

  44·9

  15·7

  22·3

  8·2

  3·7

  6·1

  Borders

  ..

  ..

  51·2

  8·2

  ..

  ..

  Central

  44·4

  17·6

  25·6

  5·1

  3·0

  4·2

  Dumfries and Galloway

  ..

  ..

  32·3

  6·4

  ..

  6·2

  Fife

  43·0

  18·9

  26·6

  6·6

  7·2

  6·9

  Grampian

  ..

  16·4

  25·6

  7·0

  2·0

  4·7

  Highland

  ..

  18·2

  27·7

  6·3

  ..

  4·9

  Lothian

  42·6

  10·5

  15·6

  9·0

  3·8

  6·1

  Strathclyde

  39·6

  15·5

  20·9

  8·7

  3·4

  6·2

  Tayside

  45·3

  17·9

  25·1

  10·6

  5·1

  8·2

  Islands

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  7·8

  Highland and islands

  ..

  17·0

  25·7

  6·9

  3·8

  5·6

  Great Britain

  37·1

  11·1

  16·5

  6·8

  2·5

  4·6

  Full time employees on adult rates: percentage with weekly earnings excluding overtime less than £130.

  Manual

  Women Non-manual

  All

  Manual

  Men Non-manual

  All

  Scotland

  53·6

  21·3

  28·6

  13·5

  5·4

  9·7

  Borders

  ..

  ..

  59·8

  18·0

  ..

  ..

  Central

  57·1

  25·7

  35·1

  10·1

  4·2

  7·6

  Dumfries and Galloway

  ..

  ..

  40·6

  11·3

  ..

  11·4

  Fife

  50·6

  23·7

  32·3

  10·8

  7·2

  9·2

  Grampian

  ..

  22·6

  31·3

  11·9

  2·9

  7·9

  Highland

  ..

  24·0

  32·4

  15·5

  ..

  11·0

  Lothian

  51·2

  15·9

  21·5

  13·3

  5·7

  9·2

  Strathclyde

  49·0

  20·6

  27·0

  13·9

  5·1

  9·8

  Tayside

  54·7

  24·6

  32·5

  17·7

  6·7

  12·8

  Islands

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  11·7

  Highlands and Islands

  ..

  23·1

  31·7

  15·3

  5·3

  11·2

  Great Britain

  48·5

  16·3

  23·0

  11·6

  3·7

  7·6

  N.B. ".." denotes sampling error too large or numbers too small for reliable estimates.

  Training Courses (London)
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those providers of employment training courses, in the London area, who have had their funding cut in the current financial year.

  Mr. Jackson
  The contracts for employment training are negotiated between training providers and training and enterprise councils, where operational, or otherwise with area offices of the Employment Department. In either case the financial details of these contracts are commercial in confidence.

  Local Authority Staff (Strikes)
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which local authorities employees have taken strike action during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 27 March 1991]: Confidentiality constraints preclude the publication of
  76
  information which directly or indirectly identifies individual employers or people involved in strike action, even when such information may already be available in the public domain, for example, from media reports.

HEALTH

  Children
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to ensure that there are no more cases of children being removed from their homes by social workers in unjustifiable circumstances.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Children Act, which will be implemented on 14 October, recasts the law on protecting children at risk to ensure that, when necessary, effective protective action can be taken within a framework of proper safeguards and reasonable opportunities for parents and others connected with the child to challenge such actions before a court.
  77
  The emergency protection order replaces the criticised place of safety order. Before granting such an order the court has to be satisfied the child is likely to suffer significant harm or cannot be seen in circumstances where the child might be suffering significant harm. The order has a maximum duration of eight days with a possible single extension of seven days. Where parents or certain other persons were not present when the emergency protection order was made they will have a right after 72 hours to apply to have the order discharged.

  The Children Act introduces a new order, the child assessment order. Its purpose is to enable an assessment of a child to be made where significant harm is suspected but the child is not thought to be at immediate risk, where the local authority or other authorised person considers an assessment is required and where the parents are unwilling to co-operate. The order is intended to allow the local authority, or authorised person, to ascertain enough about the child's health or development or the way in which he has been treated to decide what further action, if any, is required.

  These new orders will enable a balance to be struck between the rights of parents to bring up their children as they see fit and the duty of the state to intervene when necessary to safeguard the welfare of a child.

  The Act also makes important changes to the use by local authorities of wardship and the High Court's inherent jurisdiction. If a local authority wishes to apply to a court for exercise of the High Court's inherent jurisdiction, it will first have to obtain leave of court to do so. Leave will be granted only if no statutory procedure is available under the Act which would achieve the desired result, and if there is reasonable cause to believe that the child is likely to suffer significant harm if inherent jurisdiction is not exercised.

  Speech Therapists
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many speech therapists are currently employed by local health authorities;

  (2) if he will list (a) the number of speech therapists and (b) the ratio of speech therapists per 100,000 of population in the regional health authorities' planning proposals for each year from 1989 to 1994.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There were 2,810 speech therapists employed by the national health service in England at 30 September 1989. Details of the ratio of speech therapists per 100,000 of population in the regional health authorities' planning proposals for each year from 1990 to 1994 are not available centrally. The ratio as at 30 September 1989, by English region is shown in the table.

  NHS qualified speech therapists in post and ratio of speech therapists per 100,000 population by regional health authorities at 30 September 1989

  Whole-time equivalent1

  Region

  Speech therapist

  Ratio

  Northern

  180

  5·7

  Yorkshire

  180

  4·9

  Trent

  260

  5·6

  East Anglia

  110

  5·5

  North West Thames

  250

  7·2

  North East Thames

  250

  6·7

  South East Thames

  260

  7·0

  South West Thames

  180

  6·0

  Wessex

  120

  4·2

  78

  Region

  Speech therapist

  Ratio

  Oxford

  150

  5·9

  South Western

  220

  6·7

  West Midlands

  270

  5·2

  Mersey

  130

  5·5

  North Western

  220

  5·6

  England2

  2,810

  5·9

  Source: Department of Health (SMI3) Annual Census of NHS non-medical manpower.

  Notes:

  1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest ten (10) whole-time equivalents. Unrounded figures have been used to calculate the ratios.

  2 Includes figures (30 WTE) for London Post-Graduate Special Health Authorities.

  Abortions
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of national health service abortions under 13 weeks since last menstrual period, and the corresponding number of day care operations, performed on women resident in each regional health authority, and in each district health authority, in England and Wales in the latest available year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  General Practitioners, Haringey
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those general practitioner practices in the Haringey health authority area intending to hold their own budget as from April in the current year.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Tim Chessells, chairman of the North East Thames regional health authority, for details.

  District Health Authorities
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to place the Audit Commission's annual financial audit of each district health authority in the public domain; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Audit Commission's certificate on each district health authority's accounts is published with the accounts and will include any qualifications which the commission has found it necessary to make. In addition, the commission will make public reports "in the public interest" where particularly significant issues arise. Beyond this, its reports are properly directed to the authority itself.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the current waiting list for each specialty in the Haringey health authority and the number of people who have waited(a) for over one year and (b) for over two years, in each specialty.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The latest available information, at September 1990, is given in the table. It is the time individual patients wait that matters, not total numbers on the list. In the 18 months to September 1990 the number of patients waiting over one year for treatment in Haringey district health authority fell by 51 per cent.
  79

  Waiting list including those waiting over 1 year and over 2 years September 1990

  Specialty

  Gross less self-deferred

  Waiting over one year*

  Waiting over two year

  General surgery

  661

  174

  30

  Urology

  230

  51

  16

  Trauma and Orthopaedics

  421

  170

  66

  ENT

  0

  0

  0

  Ophthalmology

  234

  17

  0

  Oral Surgery

  89

  0

  0

  Plastic Surgery

  0

  0

  0

  Obstetrics and Gynaecology

  173

  1

  0

  Return Totals

  1,811

  413

  112

  Source: SM 12: returns KH06, KHO7 and KHO7A

  *includes numbers waiting over 2 years.

  Clinical Regrading
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received in relation to the time scale of the clinical regrading appeals.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A number of letters on this subject have been received. Appeals against clinical grading decisions are heard under a complicated and time-consuming procedure agreed by the general Whitley council. We know that some nurses are unhappy about the time taken to hear their appeals under this agreement. When the clinical grading structure was negotiated, we offered to discuss a streamlined procedure specifically for clinical grading appeals. The nursing trade unions chose not to pursue this possibility and insisted on retaining the existing complex procedures.

  Pharmaceutical Pricing
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to publish his response to the European Community Commission's recent questionnaire on pharmaceutical pricing.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I am arranging for copies of our response to the Commission of the European Communities questionnaire and of the questionnaire itself to be placed in the Library.

  The response affirms the Government's wish to promote an open competitive market, and to take a positive part in future Community discussions on cost controls. The Government support discussions and exchanges of information between member states on matters of common interest in pharmaceuticals, including comparisons of prices and qualities of products to encourage rational prescribing, classification and identification systems, pack sizes, and availability of generics. There are considerable differences between member states' health care systems and their arrangements for controlling pharmaceutical expenditure. The Government consider, however, that a prescriptive central approach to price and profit controls should be avoided. Matters to do with the organisation and financing of health care are for member states.

  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he is considering any changes to the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We continue to operate the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme under the 1986 80
  agreement with the pharmaceutical industry. The scheme will continue to operate unless either side gives six months' notice of termination not earlier than April 1992. In considering future arrangements, as well as the working of the scheme, we will take account of the effects of any relevant European Community developments on price and profit controls and of the indicative prescribing scheme.

  Local Authority Child Care
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in England were received into local authority care where the specific cause was family homelessness, in every year since 1979 until the last year for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The latest available figures are the provisional statistics for the year ending 31 March 1989. The number of children received into voluntary care under section 2 of the Child Care Act in England for the years ending 31 March 1979 to 31 March 1989 where the specific cause was that their family was homeless is given in the table.

  Children admitted to Care due to Homelessness England, 1979–891

  During year ending 31 March

  Due to Homelessness

  1979

  421

  1980

  529

  1981

  471

  1982

  378

  1983

  317

  1984

  244

  1985

  215

  1986

  207

  1987

  209

  1988

  179

  11989

  223

  11989 Figures are provisional.

  Prestwich Hospital
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the patients of Pinfold, Troy and Tottington wards at Prestwich hospital, Salford, will be evacuated, as recommended by the Health Advisory Service/Social Services Inspectorate in its report dated October 1900, No. (90) MI/E e.12.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I understand that Clifton House at Prestwich hospital, Salford, will close by August 1991. Troy ward will close in May, Pinfold in June and Tottington in July.

  Sterilisation
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which district health authorities provide sterilisation within the national health service.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information collected centrally is not a form which enables accurate identification of all the district health authorities providing sterilisations.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has conducted any research into links between the availability of sterilisation and incidents of unplanned and regretted pregnancies.
  81
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No research on this specific topic has been commissioned by the Department.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the relative costs of(a) sterilisation for social reasons and (b) continued use of contraception within the national health service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Hospital Beds (Trent Region)
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the numbers of beds available to national health service patients within the Trent regional health authority.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The table shows the number of average daily available beds by district health authority for the Trent region in 1989–90, and the corresponding number of inpatients treated. The latest available information is as follows:

  Number of Beds 1989–90

  Number of Patients treated 1989–90

  Regional Total

  24,554

  698,776

  North Derbyshire

  1,574

  37,345

  South Derbyshire

  2,700

  61,608

  Leicestershire

  4,436

  110,970

  North Lincolnshire

  1,413

  36,600

  South Lincolnshire

  1,481

  39,124

  Bassetlaw

  409

  15,110

  Central Nottinghamshire

  1,484

  43,221

  Nottingham

  3,334

  117,018

  Barnsley

  1,111

  32,908

  Doncaster

  1,657

  47,926

  Rotherham

  1,129

  38,380

  Sheffield

  3,828

  118,566

  Hormone Drugs
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a further statement on his Department's survey into the use and misuse of hormone drugs.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Pendry) on 19 February at column 87. I will write to the hon. Member when further details are available.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Field) of 22 March,Official Report, column 254, if he will break down the estimated cost of £28 million for implementation of sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; if any sums were included in respect of payments to authorised representatives; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is as follows:

  £m

  Costs of running a system of authorized representatives under Sections 1 and 2

  15

  Additional costs incurred during assessment process under Section 3 through use of authorised representatives

  3

  82

  £m

  Costs of responding to increased pressures on service provision as a result of Sections 1–3

  10

  The cost estimates were based on detailed preparatory work undertaken independently by one metropolitan borough and one shire county. The metropolitan borough assumed that authorised representatives would not receive payments. The shire county assumed that 50 per cent. would be appointed by local authorities and receive fees and expenses, while the other 50 per cent. would be appointed by disabled people themselves and would receive expenses only.

  GP Lists (Barnsley)
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects 1990 figures to be available on the average general practitioner list size for the Barnsley family health services authority.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The 1990 figure for the average general practitioner list size for the Barnsley family health services authority should be available by the middle of May.

  AIDS
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give a breakdown by recipient organisation of funds made available during the current financial year to organisations specifically concerned with AIDS education; and if he will indicate in each case the purpose for which those funds are intended.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department of Health makes funds available to a range of organisations in both the statutory and voluntary sectors for services connected with AIDS education, care and support.

  In 1990–91 £8·5 million was allocated to the Health Education Authority for the development of the national AIDS public education campaign and a further £1·5 million was allocated to fund the running costs of the national AIDS helpline.

  In addition, health authorities have been asked to ensure that a substantial part of the earmarked AIDS allocation which totalled £129·5 million in 1990–91, is devoted to the development of local HIV prevention work.

  So far as the voluntary sector is concerned, in 1990–91 £1·8 million was provided to AIDS services organisations as follows:

  £

  AIDS Ahead

  40,000

  AIDS Care Education and Training (ACET)

  140,000

  Aled Richards Trust

  45,000

  Barnardo's

  15,000

  Black HIV/AIDS Network

  40,000

  Body Positive

  40,000

  British Association for Counselling

  69,470

  Care and Resources for People with AIDS (CARA)

  15,000

  Frontliners

  50,000

  Institute for the Study of Drug Dependence

  38,000

  Landmark

  60,000

  Local Authority Associations' Officer Working Group on AIDS

  19,000

  London Lighthouse

  300,000

  Mainliners

  40,000

  83

  £

  Mildmay Mission Hospital

  130,000

  National AIDS Trust

  211,000

  Positively Women

  40,000

  Standing Conference on Drug Abuse

  41,000

  Streetwise Youth

  10,000

  Terrence Higgins Trust

  450,000

  These sums are intended as a contribution to the core administrative costs of the organisations concerned but not for specific initiatives or specific areas of their work.

  Health Authority Members
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he has made for the declaration of interests which may be thought to be associated with the discharge of their duties by his appointed members of regional and district health authorities; in what way any

  Indicative Allocation £

  Bid £

  Amount of allocation not taken up £

  Per cent, of grant allocation not taken up

  Salford

  110,000

  Nil

  110,000

  100·0

  Bromley

  130,000

  76,160

  53,840

  70·1

  Bolton

  120,000

  98,200

  21,800

  22·2

  Havering

  90,000

  75,000

  15,000

  20·0

  Redbridge

  110,000

  100,000

  10,000

  10·0

  Tameside

  90,000

  84,000

  6,000

  7·1

  Essex

  560,000

  531,610

  28,390

  5·3

  Bury

  70,000

  67,900

  2,100

  3·1

  Oxfordshire

  200,000

  198,940

  1,060

  0·5

  Sefton

  110,000

  109,685

  315

  0·3

  Avon

  370,000

  369,437

  563

  0·2

  Stockport

  110,000

  109,807

  193

  0·2

  Hereford

  220,000

  219,649

  351

  0·1

  Nottinghamshire

  400,000

  399,700

  300

  <0·1

  Warwickshire

  170,000

  169,995

  5

  <0·1

  Hammersmith

  150,000

  149,940

  60

  <0·1

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Education
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total financial allocation to each of the education boards in 1985 and 1990.

  Financial allocations to Education and Library Boards

  1985–86 (Financial Year)

  Belfast £000s

  North-Eastern £000s

  South-Eastern £000s

  Southern £000s

  Western £000s

  Total £000s

  Recurrent

  42,647

  44,886

  37,805

  42,193

  38,955

  206,486

  Capital

  2,824

  4,476

  2,834

  3,841

  4,020

  17,995

  1990–91 (Financial Year)

  Recurrent

  61,424

  72,276

  61,644

  70,033

  62,870

  328,247

  Capital

  7,944

  9,847

  10,097

  13,269

  9,064

  50,221

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students transferring from primary school to second level education in 1990 were not placed in a school by(a) August, (b) September, (c) October and (d) later than October.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information supplied by the education and library boards indicates that the number of pupils transferring from primary school to secondary level 84
  such interests are made public; and what criteria or code he has published as a guide to the compilation of any such registers.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Provisions relating to declaration of interests are set out in the Regional and District Health Authorities (Membership and Procedure) Regulations 1990–11 (6), 13 and 20—and are covered in guidance issued on 12 July 1990. No specific guidance has been issued on the compilation of registers of interest.

  Mental Health Grant
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the local authorities which have indicated that they are not taking up the full amount of the new mental health specific grant.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [pursuant to his reply, 11 March 1991 c. 351–54]: I regret that the table published contained errors. The local authorities which have indicated that they are not taking up the full amount of the new mental illness specific grant should read as follows:

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:

  education in 1990 who were not placed in a school by the end of August was 31. All of these pupils were placed in a school by the end of September.

  Health and Social Services Boards
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names and addresses of the new members of the area health and social services boards.
  85
  Mr. Hanley
  The names of the chairmen and non-executive members of each health and social services board are as follows.

  Eastern Board

  Mr. N. G. D. Ferguson (Chairman)

  Mr. D. J. McGuinness

  Mr. P. McLachlan

  Mrs. B. McLaughlin

  Mr. J. C. Morton

  Professor R. G. Shanks

  Mrs. J. R. Smyth

  Northern Board

  Mr. R. J. Hanna (Chairman)

  Lady J. Brett

  Mr. D. J. Clement

  Professor M. E. H. Connolly

  Mr. J. D. McMullan

  Mr. M. A. O'Connor

  Mrs. A. V. Smyth

  Southern Board

  Mr. J. D. Thompson (Chairman)

  Mrs. S. Fisher

  Mr. W. F. Gillespie

  Mr. B. J. McShane

  Mrs. J. Power

  Mr. C. A. J Quinn

  Mr. D. J. Ryan

  Western Board

  Mr. R. G. Toland (Chairman)

  Mrs. M. R. Cooper

  Mr. W. S. Donaghey

  Mr. A. Jackson

  Mr. P. J. Kelley

  Mrs. C. R. Lavery

  Mrs A. F. Mark

  Irish Republican Army
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his reply of 11 December 1990,Official Report, column 365, whether there is any relationship between the official Irish Republican Army and any political party in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I am not able either to confirm or deny any such relationship.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the cost of implementation of sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The cost of implementing sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 has not yet been estimated.

  Government support was given to the introduction of the Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act on the basis that it would be brought into effect in stages as resources permitted. Sections 9, 10, part of 11 and 12 came into operation on 7 December 1989.

  On 1 April 1991, sections 5 and 6 of the Act, and parts of sections 4, 8 and 11, were brought into force. These provisions require health and social services boards to assess the needs of disabled people for certain social welfare services, and the ability of their carers to provide appropriate care. Boards are also required, in association with education and library boards, to ensure that young disabled people have a smooth transition from full-time
  86
  education to adult life. Substantial resources have been made available to boards to enable them to implement these provisions.

  With the implementation of these sections of the 1989 Act, Northern Ireland is now fully in line with Great Britain as far as the implementation of the Disabled Persons (Services, Representation and Consultation) Act 1986 is concerned. The intention is to maintain this position of parity.

  Of the provisions of the 1989 Act still to be brought into effect, sections 1 and 2 provide for the appointment of an authorised representative either by the disabled person concerned or by the relevant health and social services board. Section 3 requires the relevant board to give a disabled person or his authorised representative the right to make representations about his need for services, to provide on request a written statement on the assessed need for services and to respond to representations about any such statement.

  The implementation of these sections has been overtaken by wider developments in the community care field. The policy paper "People First" which was published last year, sets out the way forward for community care in Northern Ireland in the 1990s. Its wide-ranging proposals reflect and indeed amplify the spirit of sections 1, 2 and 3 of the 1989 Act.

  For example, from 1 April 1991 health and social services boards have been required to put in place new complaints procedures which will ensure the formal investigation of all complaints or representations about community care services made by individuals or by anyone on their behalf. From 1 April 1993, comprehensive assessment arrangements will be introduced covering the community care needs of all people who are vulnerable through aging, chronic mental illness, mental handicap or physical disability. A written statement of the result of assessments and the services to be provided under agreed care plans will be provided on request. The Department of Health and Social Services is currently assessing the resources needed to bring these developments fully into effect, and will ensure that boards prepare for their introduction over the intervening two years.

  In the light of these initiatives the implementation of sections 1, 2 and 3 would be largely unnecessary, as their impact in the main will be achieved through the wider community care reforms. To press ahead with them now would be to run the risk of imposing upon boards complex administrative arrangements which they would have to fund at the expense of services. As in Great Britain, it has therefore been decided not to implement these sections, but the situation will be carefully reviewed when the impact of the wider community care reforms can be assessed.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how he intends to allocate the additional revenue in Northern Ireland from value added tax consequent upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  As indicated by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget statement, this change arises from a substantial switch from local to
  87
  central taxation in the United Kingdom as a whole and will result in reduced domestic rates bills in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he is taking to limit the impact of the rise in value added tax upon citizens in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In view of the long-standing principle of parity in taxation throughout the United Kingdom, no such measures are necessary or appropriate.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional funds he is allocating to local government bodies and area boards following the increase in value added tax.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  VAT paid by local government bodies and area boards is recoverable and the increase will not therefore affect expenditure.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the reduction in rates by each council in Northern Ireland as a result of the increase in value added tax.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The total domestic rate poundage in each district council area will be reduced by an additional 82p. The district rate element remains unchanged but the reduction in the total domestic rate poundage—the domestic regional rate plus the district rate—will be 36 per cent. on average.

  11-plus
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students went through the 11-plus transfer procedure in 1990.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A total of 25,783 pupils were in the age group to transfer from primary to secondary education in September 1990. A total of 18,126 sat the transfer procedure tests.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students transferring from primary school to second level education in 1990, with an 11-plus examination grade of (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three and (iv) other, did not get placed in the school of their(a) first choice and (b) first or second choice.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:

  Grades

  1

  2

  3

  Other

  i. pupils who did not obtain a place in the school of first choice

  20

  693

  869

  596

  ii. pupils who did not obtain a place in the school of first or second choice

  2

  418

  320

  233

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students were subject to the appeal tribunal procedure of the 11-plus transfer system in 1990; and in how many cases were appeals(a) allowed and (b) disallowed.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The appeal tribunals set up by the education and library boards considered 467 appeals; 249 appeals were successful and 218 were not upheld.

  Customs Service
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration has been given to creating employment for employees of the Northern Ireland Customs Service who will be surplus to customs requirements after 1992.

  Mr. Needham
  The Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland is leading an initiative aimed at attracting Government work from the south-east of England to Northern Ireland and is achieving success. The recent and very welcome decision by HM Customs and Excise to transfer 100 VAT administration jobs from London to Newry will go a long way to providing work for Customs and Excise staff who will become surplus to requirements in 1992. The IDB is continuing its efforts to attract more work from both the public and private sectors in Great Britain.

  Roads
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions he has had representations from the Government of the Irish Republic about the closure of border roads.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The closure of border roads has been discussed regularly at Anglo-Irish Conferences, and through the Anglo-Irish secretariat.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Income Support
  Sir Michael Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many low-income pensioners have gained from the extra increases in income support that took effect earlier this month.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Some 400,000 claimants have gained directly from the extra increase in the basic pensioner premium in income support; well over 1·5 million have gained through housing benefit or community charge benefit. This means that since the beginning of October 1989 there has been a real increase in every one of the pensioner premiums applying to around 6 million people at a total cost of around £300 million.

  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are receiving income support in the areas covered by the Blyth Valley Department of Social Security office.

  Miss Widdecombe
  On 28 February 1991 there were 8,326 income support claims at the Department's office in Blyth.

  Notes: Data derived from 100 per cent. count of cases in action, which include a number where payment has ceased but other action is continuing. Data are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners claim income support in Blyth Valley; and what this is as a percentage of all pensioners.

  Miss Widdecombe
  On 28 February 1991 there were 2,559 income support claims from pensioners at the
  89
  Department's office in Blyth. Data are not available on the total pensioner population in Blyth on the date and for the precise geographical area to which the above information relates.

  Note: Data derived from 100 per cent. count of cases in action, which include a number where payment has ceased but other action is continuing. Data are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many adults in Scotland over the age of 18 years are dependent on income support for their livelihood at the latest date for which figures are available;

  (2) how many people are in receipt of income support in Scotland at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In May 1989, the latest date for which information is available, some 565,000 people in Scotland over the age of 18 were wholly or in part dependent on income support. This total comprises 483,000 claimants, 81,000 partners, and fewer than 500 dependants aged 18 or over. This information is drawn from the May 1989 "Annual Statistical Enquiry", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the impact of recent technological developments upon the disabled.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Summerson).

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he intends to take to increase the availability of staff at DSS offices in response to the increase in applications for benefit; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The staff resource allocation to DSS offices is based on a system which takes account of workload forecasts. The benefit agency monitors these forecasts and the staffing allocation and determines what action is necessary in respect of any changes. Account is taken of both increases and decreases in benefit workloads as some changes can be partly or wholly offset against others.

  Sick and Disabled People
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the figure for the average annual increase in spending on long-term stick and disabled people(a) since 1979 and (b) for the period 1974 to 1979.

  Mr. Scott
  We are currently spending £10·1 billion per year on benefits for long-term sick and disabled people. This represents an annual increase of £470 million per year at 1990–91 prices since 1979, compared with £310 million per year between 1974 and 1979.

  Sir Bernard Braine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the most recent figure for the 90
  average annual increase in spending on long-term sick and disabled people since 1979; and what were the comparable figures for the period 1974 to 1979.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Torridge and Devon, West (Miss Nicholson).

  Pensioners (Incomes)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much pensioners' total incomes would have increased since 1979 if the rate of increase between 1974 and 1979 had continued; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The average net pensioner income increased by only 3 per cent., in real terms, between 1974 and 1979. My hon. Friend will be interested to learn that, had this rate of growth continued, the increase in pensioners' net incomes, in 1987 prices, between 1979 and 1987 would have been a mere £3·80 per week when in fact they rose by £24 during this period.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received regarding the income and related matters of pensioners.

  Miss Widdecombe
  My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Secretary of State recently met delegates from the Pensioners Convention. Ministers have also, in recent months, met representatives of four national pensioner organisations.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the earnings disregard in invalid care allowance; and what its value was two years ago.

  Mr. Scott
  On 8 April the earnings limit for invalid care allowance increased from £20 to £30 a week. In April 1989 the limit was £12.

  Claimants
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he is implementing to improve service to social security claimants.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Chislehurst (Mr. Sims) and for Broxtowe (Mr. Lester).

  Family Credit
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been spent on advertising family credit since September 1989; and by how many the number of recipients has increased.

  Mr. Jack
  There were 319,000 family credit awards in payment for September 1989. The number then fell every month until the end of the year, when it stood at 298,000. Further advertising from mid-November and subsequently cost a total of £6·1 million. The caseload then rose each month from January 1990 until July when it reached 326,000 and then averaged well over 320,000 throughout the second half of 1990. This is a considerable achievement when viewed against the background of a constantly changing eligible population.
  91
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of new claims for family credit was unsuccessful in the last month for which information is available.

  Mr. Jack
  Some 48·4 per cent. of new family credit claims cleared during March 1991 were unsuccessful. This includes claims which were withdrawn or invalid, as well as those where it was decided that the family was not entitled to benefit.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what level of family credit award is necessary(a) to activate entitlement to other benefits for which entitlement to or receipt of family credit is a condition and (b) prevents the claimant from making a new claim for family credit if her circumstances change during the currency of the award.

  Mr. Jack
  Entitlement to other benefits, such as the remission of NHS charges and certain payments from the social fund, exists only for families who are in receipt of family credit. Where the amount of family credit entitlement is less than 50p a week it is not payable and therefore in that situation there would be no automatic entitlement to the other benefits.

  Family credit is payable for 26 weeks and the rate at which it is payable is not affected by any change of circumstances during that period. Thus, whenever family credit entitlement is 50p a week or more, and therefore payable, no account can be taken of a change of circumstances during the currency of an award.

  Low-Income Workers
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures the Government have implemented since 1983 to assist working people on low incomes.

  Mr. Jack
  Tax and national insurance contribution changes have ensured that working people keep more of their own pay. The reformed benefit system has resulted in a huge reduction in the number of working people who would be better off on benefit, and people no longer find themselves worse off as a result of increasing their earnings.

  Occupational Pensions
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the retired population has an occupational pension; and what is the percentage for the most recently retired.

  Miss Widdecombe
  My hon. Friend will be pleased to hear that, in 1987, 52 per cent. of all pensioners and 73 per cent. of recently retired pensioners received income from occupational pensions.

  Pensioners (Benefits)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what further help he will give to people past retirement age who rely on state benefits as their sole source of income.

  Miss Widdecombe
  As a proportion of all pensioners, the number of people past state pension age living solely 92
  on state benefits, including those for disability, fell from 23 per cent. in 1979 to 16 per cent. in 1987. All pensioners' benefits are regularly uprated. In addition, income support and other income-related benefits for elderly people have recently been increased by more than the normal uprating index.

  Tax Benefit Withdrawals
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people earn less than the respective point at which the tax benefit withdrawal level falls to 34 per cent.

  Mr. Jack
  Reliable estimates are not available on the basis requested. Estimates of the number of full-time workers receiving income-related benefits and facing combined income tax and benefit withdrawal rates in excess of 40 per cent. were given to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 8 March at column 314–15. It is very unlikely that there are any full-time workers facing marginal deduction rates between 34 per cent. and 40 per cent.

  One-parent Benefit
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is(a) the weekly benefit entitlement when not working of a single parent with two children aged eight and 12 years and (b) the weekly income of a single parent with two children, also aged eight and 12 years, with earnings of £10, £15, £20, £30, £40 and £50.

  Mr. Jack
  The information is set out in the table. All assumptions are as set out in the published tax/benefit model tables. The family is assumed to live in council property appropriate to its size and to pay estimated average rent and community charge. Average rents are provisional 1991–92 figures and community charge has been assessed at £250 per annum. Any relevant changes announced in the Budget, including the increase in child benefit which will take effect in October, have also been incorporated. It has been assumed that the earnings of £10 to £30 a week are in respect of part-time work with the family remaining in receipt of income support. This means that the net income will remain static once the earnings disregard of £15·00 a week has been reached.

  It should be noted that the results in the tables remain arbitrary. They cannot reflect, except by chance, the actual circumstances of particular people and cannot claim to be representative of the population at large. The tables use hypothetical rents, so do not reflect the full range of housing costs which people can pay.

  Single person with two children aged 8 and 12 Total net income on Income Support: £121·55 Net income after rent and Community Charge on Income Support: £91·14

  Gross earnings £pw

  Total net income £pw

  Net income after rent and community charge (£pw)

  10·00

  131·55

  101·14

  15·00

  136·55

  106·14

  20·00

  136·55

  106·14

  30·00

  136·55

  106·14

  40·00

  148·34

  117·93

  50·00

  150·08

  119·67

  93
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the numbers and percentages of(a) women and (b) men in receipt of one-parent benefit (i) in 1979, (ii) in 1989 and (iii) in 1990.

  Mr. Jack
  The information is set out in the table.

  One parent benefit: Male and Female claimants

  Number

  Women per cent.

  Number

  Men per cent.

  Total

  1979

  334,000

  87

  50,000

  13

  384,000

  1989

  637,000

  91

  60,000

  9

  698,000

  1990

  681,000

  92

  63,000

  8

  744,000

  Notes:

  1. The figures are for 31 December of each year and are rounded.

  Estimated average numbers receiving benefits at any one time1

  thousands

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  Retirement pension

  8,530

  8,680

  8,880

  9,015

  9,115

  9,210

  9,350

  Widows' benefits

  495

  490

  475

  460

  445

  440

  425

  Unemployment benefit

  570

  550

  960

  1,220

  1,090

  1,020

  1,020

  Sickness benefit2

  560

  490

  435

  445

  395

  170

  180

  Statutory sick pay2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  240

  240

  Invalidity benefit

  600

  620

  620

  660

  700

  760

  825

  Industrial disablement benefit3

  270

  270

  265

  260

  265

  265

  260

  Industrial death benefit

  30

  30

  30

  30

  30

  30

  30

  Maternity allowance

  100

  115

  120

  125

  125

  110

  120

  Statutory maternity pay

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Non-contributory retirement pension

  65

  55

  50

  50

  45

  40

  35

  War pension

  385

  370

  360

  345

  330

  315

  305

  Attendance allowance

  265

  285

  315

  350

  390

  445

  490

  Invalid care allowance

  5

  5

  5

  5

  10

  10

  10

  Severe disability allowance

  150

  165

  175

  180

  195

  210

  245

  Mobility allowance

  95

  140

  185

  210

  265

  315

  390

  Income support/Supplementary benefit4

  3,020

  2,920

  3,110

  3,725

  4,165

  4,435

  4,665

  Child benefit—numbers of children5

  13,480

  13,330

  13,160

  13,145

  12,890

  12,660

  12,430

  One parent benefit

  290

  370

  430

  470

  510

  540

  565

  Family credit/Family income supplement

  85

  80

  95

  125

  165

  200

  205

  Housing benefit67

  rent rebate

  1,210

  1,205

  1,330

  1,590

  3,050

  3,735

  3,745

  rent allowance

  225

  220

  240

  250

  260

  1,015

  1,080

  rate rebate

  3,055

  3,065

  3,350

  3,700

  5,320

  7,020

  7,230

  Community charge rebates/benefit8—caseload

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Estimated average numbers receiving benefits at any one time1

  thousands

  Percentage increase

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1978–79 to 1990–91

  Retirement pension

  9,400

  9,575

  9,685

  9,710

  9,795

  9,905

  16·1

  Widows' benefits

  410

  400

  385

  370

  375

  365

  -26·3

  Unemployment benefit

  955

  1,005

  815

  600

  375

  385

  -32·5

  Sickness benefit2

  160

  100

  105

  105

  105

  105

  -81·3

  Statutory sick pay2

  245

  320

  345

  365

  360

  360

  n/a

  Invalidity benefit

  865

  935

  1,010

  1,100

  1,190

  1,270

  111·7

  Industrial disablement benefit3

  265

  285

  290

  295

  295

  305

  13·0

  Industrial death benefit

  30

  30

  25

  30

  30

  25

  -16·7

  Maternity allowance

  115

  110

  1030

  15

  20

  20

  -80·0

  Statutory maternity pay

  80

  80

  90

  95

  n/a

  Non-contributory retirement pension

  35

  40

  35

  35

  35

  35

  -46·2

  War pension

  295

  280

  270

  265

  265

  265

  -31·2

  Attendance allowance

  555

  605

  670

  730

  795

  890

  235·8

  Invalid care allowance

  10

  925

  80

  100

  115

  125

  24,00·0

  Severe disablement allowance

  245

  265

  265

  270

  280

  295

  96·7

  Mobility allowance

  420

  460

  515

  560

  585

  630

  563·2

  Income support/Supplementary benefit4

  4,765

  5,059

  5,020

  4,310

  4,155

  4,165

  37·9

  Child benefit—numbers of children5

  12,375

  12,175

  12,040

  12,010

  12,000

  12,165

  -9·8

  One parent benefit

  590

  615

  660

  705

  735

  760

  162·1

  Family credit/Family income supplement

  205

  215

  220

  280

  305

  315

  270·6

  Housing benefit67

  rent rebate

  3,710

  3,720

  3,665

  3,125

  2,950

  3,030

  150·4

  94
  2. Before 1981 One Parent Benefit was known as Child Benefit Increase.

  Source Departmental records.

  Claimants
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people received each of the main social security benefits in each year from 1979 to the latest date available; and what was the percentage increase from 1979 in each case.

  Mr. Jack
  Estimates of the numbers of claimants receiving each of the main benefits for the years 1978–79 to 1990–91 and the percentage increases since 1979 are shown in the tables.
  95

  thousands

  Percentage increase

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1978–79 to 1990–91

  rent allowance

  1,150

  1,180

  1,195

  965

  955

  975

  333·3

  rate rebate

  7,020

  7,050

  6,875

  5,150

  4,320

  11155·2

  Community charge rebates/benefit8—caseload

  865

  7,795

  1 For contributory and non income-related benefits the number of individuals receiving benefit are shown. For retirement pension women receiving their own pension, based on their own or their husbands' contributions, are counted separately. For income support/supplementary benefit and family credit/family income supplement the numbers are individuals or couples where living together. For housing benefit the number of households receiving benefit are shown. Beneficiaries may be receiving more than one benefit at any time.

  2 Reflects the introduction of statutory sick pay in April 1983 and its extension to 28 weeks from April 1986.

  3 Recipients of Disablement Pension and/or Reduced Earnings Allowance.

  4 Figures to 1987–88 include those receiving housing benefit supplement (some 440,000 in 1987–88) who are also included in the figures for housing benefit recipients.

  5 Numbers of children in families receiving child benefit, including those also receiving one parent benefit.

  6 There is significant overlap: most households getting assistance with rent will also be in receipt of rate rebate/community charge benefit.

  7 Figures to 1981–82 relate only to the rebate and allowance scheme for those not receiving supplementary benefit. Thereafter the figures reflect the partial introduction of the housing benefit scheme from November 1982, and full start from November 1983.

  8 Community Charge rebates payable in Scotland only in 1989–90.

  9 Reflects the decision announced in June 1986 to extend eligibility to invalid care to married women.

  10 Reflects the introduction of statutory maternity pay from 6 April 1987.

  11 Compares community charge benefit recipients in 1990–91 with rate rebate recipients in 1978–79.

  12 Source: Public Expenditure White Papers 1984–1990 and 1991 Departmental Report.

  Benefits and Allowances
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the benefit and allowances to which a married man with eight children under 11 years is entitled if his gross weekly earnings are(a) £90, (b) £120 and (c) £180 and he is paying average rent and rates (i) if he is working and (ii) if he is unemployed and showing the total net weekly spending power in each case.

  Mr. Jack
  The information is set out in the table. All assumptions are as set out in the published tax benefit model tables. Each family is assumed to live in council property appropriate to its size and to pay estimated average rent and community charge. Average rents are provisional 1991–92 figures and community charge has been assessed at £250 per annum. Any relevant changes announced in the Budget, including the increase in child benefit which will take effect in October, have also been incorporated.

  It should be noted that the results in the tables remain arbitary. They cannot reflect, except by chance, the actual circumstances of particular people and cannot claim to be representative of the population at large. The tables use hypothetical rents so they do not reflect the full range of housing costs which people can pay.

  Married couple with 8 children aged under 11

  Total net income on Income Support: £232·85

  Total net income after Rent and Community charge on Income Support: £197·63

  Gross earnings £

  Family credit £

  Child benefit £

  Total net income £

  Net income after rent and community charge £

  90·00

  99·89

  61·75

  246·76

  211·54

  120·00

  85·88

  61·75

  252·77

  217·55

  180·00

  58·16

  61·75

  264·65

  229·43

  Note: No rent rebate or Community Charge benefit is payable at these earnings levels. This is due to the high rate of Family Credit.

  Benefit Statistics
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the total number of supplementary benefit, income support and family support recipients and the total cost for each year since 1979 to the latest date available.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is in the table.

  Supplementary Benefit/Income Support1 and Family Income Supplement/Family Credit1: Recipients and expenditure

  Recipients (000's)

  Expenditure (£ million)

  IS/ Supplementary Benefit1

  FC/FIS

  IS/ Supplementary Benefit

  FC/FIS

  1978–79

  3,020

  85

  2,256

  24

  1979–80

  2,920

  80

  2,436

  27

  1980–81

  3,110

  95

  3,172

  42

  1981–82

  3,725

  125

  4,840

  66

  1982–83

  4,165

  165

  6,261

  94

  1983–84

  4,435

  200

  5,591

  123

  1984–85

  4,665

  205

  6,444

  126

  1985–86

  4,765

  205

  7,377

  130

  1986–87

  5,095

  215

  7,962

  161

  1987–88

  5,020

  220

  7,952

  180

  1988–89

  4,310

  280

  7,575

  394

  1989–90

  4,155

  305

  7,675

  425

  1990–91

  4,165

  315

  8,545

  484

  Source: Public Expenditure White Papers and Departmental Report 1991.

  1In April 1988 Supplementary Benefit was replaced by Income Support, and Family Income Supplement was replaced by Family Credit.

  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the central Government expenditure on rent rebates, rent allowances, rate rebates and family credit in 1979 and 1990; and what was the income level at which these benefits cease and the number of persons in receipt of such benefits in each year.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information available is in the table. In 1979–80 help with housing costs was provided through the supplementary benefit scheme administered by the Department of Health and Social Security, and the
  97
  rent and rate rebate and rent allowance schemes which were the responsibility of the Department of the Environment. The costs and numbers getting help with housing costs through supplementary benefit are not readily available. The figures for 1979–80 therefore represent Department of the Environment schemes only.

  The expenditure data shown for 1979–80 reflect total local authority spending. This was subsidised at the rate of 90 per cent. The 1990–91 figures are the amount of the central Government grant paid to local authorities through housing benefit subsidy. Direct comparison of the two sets of figures would be misleading because of the limited nature of the information for 1979–80.

  The income level at which eligibility to family income supplement/credit and housing/community charge benefit ceases depends on the size of the household. Additionally in the latter two benefits the level of eligible costs affects entitlement. There is therefore no single income level at which entitlement would cease.

  Expenditure £ million

  Caseload (Thousands)1

  1979–80

  Rent rebate

  238

  1,205

  Rent allowance

  40

  220

  Rate rebate2

  201

  3,065

  Family income supplement3

  27

  80

  1990–91

  Rent rebate

  4510

  3,030

  Rent allowance

  1,549

  975

  Community charge benefit2

  2,192

  7,795

  Family credit3

  484

  315

  Notes:

  1 Estimated average numbers receiving benefits at any one time. For family income supplement/family credit and community charge benefit couples are counted as one. For rent and rate rebates and rent allowances the number of households receiving benefit is shown. Beneficiaries may be receiving more than one benefit at any time.

  Thousands

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–921

  Rent rebate

  —

  1,930

  1,920

  —

  —

  —

  1,760

  1,670

  1,780

  Rent allowance

  —

  520

  540

  —

  —

  —

  580

  610

  590

  Rate rebate/community charge benefit

  3,070

  3,200

  3,190

  3,400

  3,320

  2,920

  3,020

  3,230

  —

  1 Forecast.

  Notes:

  (1) The available data relates to claimants only, not dependants.

  (2) The figures partially overlap as eg. some people who get a rent allowance also get community charge benefit.

  (3) No forecast has yet been made of community charge benefit caseload for 1991–92 because of the recent general reduction in charges.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are dependent on(a) income support, (b) family credit and (c) housing benefit, broken down into claimants, dependants and children for (i) the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow, (ii) Inverclyde district council area, (iii) Strathclyde and (iv) Scotland as a whole.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 14 March 1991]: Income support and family credit information for the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow and the Inverclyde district council area or in respect of the number of partners or children is unavailable and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Information in respect of Greenock and Port Glasgow local offices, Strathclyde and Scotland is as follows:
  98
  2 Rate rebate in 1979–80, community charge benefit in 1990–91.

  3 Family income supplement in 1979–80, family credit in 1990–91.

  4 From 1990–91, most central Government support for rent rebates appears in the Department of the Environment and Welsh Office programmes, as rent rebate subsidy in England and Wales will be paid from local authorities housing revenue accounts. The amounts for 1990–91 are:

  Rent Rebates (England) £2,297 million

  Rent Rebates (Wales) £158 million.

  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of people claiming sickness and invalidity benefit at the latest date available; and what was the number of people claiming sickness and invalidity benefit in March 1979 and 1989.

  Mr. Scott
  The total number of people claiming sickness or invalidity benefit at 28 February 1991, the latest date available, is 1,690,0001. This total is provisional and subject to amendment.

  The total number of people claiming sickness or invalidity benefit on 31 March 1979 was 1,289,0002; and on 1 April 1989 was 1,392,0002.

  1 Source—local office caseload count.

  2 Source—Social Security Statistics.

  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will state the total number of supplementary benefit recipients, including dependents, as defined for community charge purposes for each year since 1979;

  (2) what was the total number of persons dependent on both social security and housing rebates in (a) 1979–80, (b) 1984–85, (c) 1985–86, (d) 1989–90, (e) 1990–91, for the latest date available, and the forecast for 1991–92.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information available is listed in the tables. No reliable data exist for the period before 1983–84 on numbers of claimants who got both supplementary benefit and help with housing or rate costs.

  Greenock and Port Glasgow

  Strathclyde

  Scotland

  Income support1

  15,940

  284,900

  506,900

  Family credit

  21,010

  216,200

  339,000

  1 Data derived from February 1991 count of cases in action, which include a number where payment has ceased but other action is continuing. Data are provisional and subject to amendment.

  2 Number of awards actually in payment on 8 February 1991, i.e. excludes awards on claims made before that date but not decided at that stage.

  3 True caseload at the end of July 1990, i.e. including backdated awards. Information on this more comprehensive basis is only available for Scotland as a whole.

  Housing benefit information for the parliamentary constituency of Greenock and Port Glasgow or in respect of the number of children is unavailable and could be

  99
  obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information in respect of Inverclyde district council area, Strathclyde and Scotland is as follows:

  Inverclyde direct council1

  Strathclyde1

  Scotland

  Claimants2

  11,900

  266,000

  544,000

  Partners2

  33,400

  375,000

  3153,000

  1 Does not include information about New Towns or Scottish Homes properties.

  2 Data relates to August 1990.

  3 Partially estimated.

  Benefits (Norwich)
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out in the Official Report the number of people refused unemployment benefit in the Norwich area under the availability/actively seeking work rules since April 1990, the number of claimants in Norwich on income support who have had benefit penalties imposed through the use of the availability/actively seeking work rules since April 1990, and the number of social fund applicants in Norwich who have been refused loans in the last financial year because of local social fund budget restraints.

  Mr. Jack
  The information concerning income support recipients in the Norwich area who have had benefit penalties imposed through the use of the availability/ actively seeking work rules is not kept and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Statistics on unemployment benefit adjudication are not separately identified for Norwich. To indicate trends, figures are provided at table 1 for the East Midlands and Eastern region, which includes Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Suffolk and Nottinghamshire. The information is collected quarterly for the purpose of publication in the "Unemployment Benefit Statistics—Quarterly Analysis of Decisions of Adjudication Officers", a copy of which is available in the Library. Monthly figures are not separately available.

  Information on the number of people being refused social fund loans because of local social fund budget restraints is not collected. Table 2 shows the number of applications refused at the Mountergate and Chantry Norwich offices because they were considered to be for items of insufficient priority.

  Social fund officers are required to take account of the local guidance on priorities, provided by the office manager, and they are further required to view each and every case on its merits having regard to the needs and circumstances of the customer. Wherever possible the social fund officer will look to elevate the overall priority of the application to ensure that payment is made. I understand that the managers of the Norwich local offices have written to the hon. Member separately on the subject of local guidance on priorities, and they will notify him of any future changes to this guidance.
  100

  Table 1

  Adjudication Statistics—East Midlands and Eastern Region (From April 1990)

  Decisions of Adjudication Officers

  Subject

  Period ending

  Allowed

  Disallowed

  Availability

  June 90

  317

  490

  September 90

  291

  657

  December 90

  337

  555

  Restricted availability

  June 90

  400

  149

  September 90

  385

  141

  December 90

  436

  115

  Actively seeking work

  June 90

  8

  17

  September 90

  14

  12

  December 90

  20

  10

  Table 2

  Social Fund Loan Refusals for the Norwich Mountergate and Chantry Offices (Period 1 April 90–28 February 91)

  Refusals due to Low Priority

  Budgeting Loans

  Crisis Loans

  Mountergate

  180

  0

  Chantry

  1,229

  1

  Correspondence
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to answer the letter from the hon. Member for Birkenhead, sent on 2 November 1990, and the reminder sent on 20 February 1991, about the chairman of the Attendance Allowance Board.

  Mr. Scott
  I replied to the hon. Member on 27 March.

  Local Office, Cardiff
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to alter the disposition of offices for(a) the payment and (b) the processing of social security benefit claims in Cardiff.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The management team for the new Cardiff district has now been appointed and one of its main priorities is to look at ways to provide the best possible service to its customers. This will include considering a variety of options for organising work and paying benefits within the district. There will be the widest possible consultation with Members of Parliament, and with local statutory and voluntary organisations. Members of Parliament will, therefore, be kept consulted over any proposed changes affecting their constituency.

  Occupational Pensions Board
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will list the current members of the Occupational Pensions Board and give the relevant experience of each member; how many of the board are females; and what percentage of the total membership they comprise.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In addition to the chairman and deputy chairman there are currently 12 members of the Occupational Pensions Board. Four members of the board
  101
  are female—representing almost 29 per cent. of the total membership. As from 6 April 1991 membership of the board is as follows:

  Chairman: SIR JEREMY ROWE, CBE.

  Deputy Chairman: MR. JOHN MARTIN, Consulting Actuary.

  Members:

  Mr. R. AMY

  Compensation and Benefits Director; Former Chairman of the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) International Committee; Former Treasurer of the NAPE; Former Chairman of the NAPF Parliamentary Committee.

  Mrs. R. BROWN

  Managing Director; Author and broadcaster on pensions matters; Former member of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC).

  Miss C. H. DAWES

  Pensions lawyer; Member of the Association of Pensions Lawyers (APL); Member of the Occupational Pensions Advisory Service (OPAS) Trust.

  Mr. R. ELLISON

  Pensions lawyer; Member of the APL; Chairman of the Law Society Pensions sub-committee; Council member of the NAPF; Member of the OPAS Trust.

  Mr. R. J. HEBBLETHWAITE

  Financial and marketing adviser.

  Mr. A. U. LYBURN

  Vice-President of the Faculty of Actuaries; General Manager (Personnel) of a large Insurance Company. MR. R. NEALE

  CBI nominee; Former Pension Fund Manager; Member of Governing Council of the OPAS.

  MR. A. PICKERING

  Head of Trade Union Membership Services Department; Pension scheme trustee; Council member and Treasurer-Elect of the NAPF.

  Mr. W. M. R. RAMSAY

  Director and Executive Committee member of a large Asset Management Company.

  Mr. K. R. THOMAS

  TUC nominee; Pension scheme trustee; Member of the OPAS Trust.

  BARONESS TURNER OF CAMDEN

  Principal Opposition Spokesperson on Social Security, Employment and Pensions matters in the House of Lords; Former member of the EOC.

  Miss H. WIESNER

  Consumer consultant; Member of Board of LAUTRO; Member of Board of the Investers Compensation Scheme; Member of the Insurance Brokers Registration Council.

  Rent Rebates
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many tenants in the public and private sectors, respectively, are in receipt of rent rebates; and what percentage this is of the total number of tenants in each sector.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information in respect of Scotland is as follows:

  Percentage of Total tenants

  Tenants in the Public Sector (Rent rebates)

  470,000

  55

  Private Sector (Rent allowances)

  80,000

  39

DEFENCE

  HMS Endurance
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the future of HMS Endurance.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to my answer of 25 March to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter),Official Report, column 304.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received from Colonel Mike Brooke of the Royal Engineers who is leading a six-nation ordnance clean-up team in Kuwait on the scale of the problems which are to be faced.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  British forces have been reporting through the military chain of command on a regular basis on their activities. These activities have principally involved immediate humanitarian assistance in Kuwait in areas where we have special expertise, including explosive ordnance disposal.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions are given to commanders in the Gulf on the treatment of private photographs or film used to record environmental and ecological scenes by service men stationed in the Gulf; whether confiscation is permitted; and what provision is made for confiscated film to be recovered.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I am not aware of any instructions on the treatment of private photographs or film of environmental and ecological scenes in the Gulf.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 21 March,Official Report, column 232, if he will set out in tabular form the optical and chemical properties of the oil smoke plume as measured by Royal Air Force aircraft.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Measurements made by the meteorological research flight aircraft within the smoke plume at about 100 km from Kuwait showed the following concentrations:Sulphur dioxide—around 500 ppb (parts per billion); a typical value in an urban environment is 25 ppb.
  Nitrogen oxides—around 25 ppb.
  Ozone —around 40 ppb.
  The nitrogen oxides and ozone levels are consistent with those found in an urban environment.

  At the 100 km distance the soot concentration was about 150 micrograms per cubic metre and contained about 20,000 soot particles per cubic centimetre, 0·1 to 10 microns in size. Visually the particles caused substantial reductions of sunlight beneath the plume and almost complete darkness within the plume. At 1,000 km from Kuwait, particle concentrations within the plume were less than 1,000 per cubic centimetre, only the very smallest particles remained.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been made of the rise and temporary decline in temperature between convenient points in(a) region and (b) time (i) in Kuwait, (ii) Bahrain and (iii) on the Kuwait/Iraq border, as a result of oil-well fire effects.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Meteorological Office has made estimates of the depression of maximum day-time temperatures in the Gulf area based on the generally sparse measurements of surface temperature that are available. When the smoke plume is overhead, calculations indicate that the day-time temperatures in Kuwait city are depressed by 4 to 6 degs. C, in Bahrain the depression is 1 to 3 degs. C. No surface measurements are available from the Kuwait-Iraqi border. Values similar to Kuwait city are expected. Larger depressions of temperature may occur close to the source of the plume and beneath high concentrations of smoke.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the work of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in clearing mines and booby traps in the Ahmadi and Magwa oil fields.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  British forces have been providing assistance in Kuwait in areas where we have special expertise, including explosive ordnance disposal. Much has already been achieved and progress continues to be made. It is not possible to comment in detail on operations in specific areas as they involve several other agencies and can change from day to day.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the tonnage of bombs dropped by coalition forces on Kuwait and Iraq which(a) missed their target and (b) accurately hit their target.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The assessment of the effectiveness of weapons used by British forces during the conflict is not yet complete. Information is not available for other coalition countries.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information was received from the Soviet Union on the ground deployment of Iraqi forces during Operation Granby.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not the practice to comment on such matters.

  RAF Edzell
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who is funding the recently awarded contract for construction work on the communications building at RAF Edzell.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  This work is being funded by the United States navy.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the role of RAF Edzell.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The role of RAF Edzell is to facilitate the interoperability of Royal Navy and United States navy communications systems, and to provide communications support to Royal Navy ships.

  Oilfield Fires
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to measure and monitor the potential carcinogenic effects on service men of burning oil field smoke of(a) carbon monoxide, (b) carbon dioxide and (c) sulphur dioxide.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None. These compounds are not known to be carcinogenic.

  International Military Services
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the intended future role of International Military Services in relation to overseas defence sales; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what arrangements he has made to sell International Military Services to the Saudi Arabian Government.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The scale of IMS business is being re-assessed in the light of current market developments. Within overall Government policy, decisions on individual business ventures are matters for the company's commercial judgment and are regarded as commercial in confidence.

  Iraqi Military Equipment
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 23 March,Official Report, column 264, to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) how much Iraqi equipment has been recycled in the period 23 March to 10 April.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None.

  Explosives and Propellants Agreement
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will place a copy of the explosives and propellants agreement between the Government and British Aerospace/Royal Ordnance in the Library;

  (2) on what date the explosives and propellants agreement, between the Government and British Aerospace/Royal Ordnance, was signed.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The explosives and propellants procurement agreement between my Department and Royal Ordnance was signed on 18 August 1986. The details are commercially confidential.

  HMS Daedalus (Slipway)
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what powers are available to his Department for controlling access to and use of the slipway connecting HMS Daedalus to the sea at Marine Parade West, Lee-on-Solent.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence owns the slipway connecting HMS Daedalus to the sea at Marine Parade West, Lee-on-Solent. We therefore have the normal powers of a landowner to regulate access and thus to remove trespassers.

  Radio Frequency Radiation
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has performed any trials of the use of radio frequency radiation as a weapon.
  105
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Mr. Hamilton) to the hon. Member on 25 March, column 302.

  Fox Hunting
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the organisations and individuals authorised to shoot foxes on Ministry of Defence land at Kirknewton camp, West Lothian, Scotland.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No organisations or individuals have been authorised to shoot foxes on Ministry of Defence land at Kirknewton camp.

  Sandhurst and Military Beagles
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who is responsible for the costs of staff for the Sandhurst and Military Beagles.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst is responsible for the cost of the single kennel huntsman who is employed to look after the Sandhurst and Military Beagles and also part of the academy's grounds.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what agencies of the CSCE have so far been set up; what is the foundation and composition of each and where is it located; and when he expects ministers of the CSCE member Governments to meet to more closely define the functions of each of these agencies and enable them to make progress in achieving the tasks assigned to them.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Paris summit of the conference on security and co-operation in Europe established three institutions: secretariat, conflict prevention centre and office for free elections. The Paris charter, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, defines their size, composition and function.

  The institutions are accountable to the Council of Foreign Ministers of CSCE states, which will meet for the first time in Berlin in June.

  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contributions the United Kingdom is making to(a) the Western European Union, and (b) the secretariat and crisis prevention centre of the CSCE and other agencies of that organisation; and what is the approximate manpower in post in each case.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom will meet 9·1 per cent. of the approved budgets of the CSCE secretariat, the conflict prevention centre and the office of free elections. When fully operational, these will have a total staff of eight, seven and five respectively. We meet 17 per cent. of the WEU budget. The overall staff total of WEU institutions is approximately 109.

  Kuwait
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the availability of smog masks in Kuwait.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Many people living and working in Kuwait have acquired smog masks. There is no difficulty in importing them from Saudi Arabia.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what knowledge he has of the effect of mixture of hydrocarbons and chlorine in the drinking water in Kuwait.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Environmental damage to drinking water supplies and the build-up of hydrocarbons in the food chain in Kuwait are elements proposed as part of the comprehensive environmental assessment now being carried out by the United Nations Environment Programme together with other United Nations agencies.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what knowledge he has of the countries to which substantial numbers of the population of Kuwait have fled since the end of the war.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Many of those who were resident in Kuwait at the time of the Iraqi invasion have not yet returned. We have no information about residents who have left Kuwait since 28 February.

  The ICRC, International Committee of the Red Cross, which has a delegation in Kuwait, is in touch with the Kuwaiti Government about the position of foreign communities, including those who may wish to leave the country.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what knowledge he has of the build-up of hydrocarbons in the food chain in Kuwait.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Environmental damage to drinking water supplies and the build-up of hydro-carbons in the food chain in Kuwait are elements proposed as part of the comprehensive environmental assessment now being carried out by the United Nations Environment Programme together with other UN agencies.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has of the effects of oil pollution on the lungs of sheep in Kuwait.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  None.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the diaspora of Palestinians from Kuwait since 1 March.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We do not hold details of departures by Palestinian residents of Kuwait. We have repeatedly expressed our concern to Kuwaiti Ministers about reports of ill-treatment of Palestinians. ICRC representatives in Kuwait are now in touch with the Kuwaiti Government about their position.

  Kuwait
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the ill-treatment and torture of Palestinians in Kuwait.
  107
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We continue to express our concern to the Kuwaiti authorities that Palestinians should be treated fairly and in accordance with the law. Our latest reports suggest that the situation is improving. The ICRC, which has been given access to Palestinian detainees, confirms that their conditions have greatly improved. We shall continue to monitor the situation and raise it with the Government of Kuwait whenever necessary.

  Dried Milk (Embargo)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken since 8 March concerning the embargo on dried milk for Iraq being applied to Jordan.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  United Nations sanctions against Iraq do not apply to Jordan. We have no evidence that shipments of dried milk to Jordan have been affected.

  NATO
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals are currently under discussion for the reconfiguration of NATO.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The NATO summit, held in London in July 1990, agreed on the adaptation of the alliance to the changes taking place in Europe. This review process, which is likely to be completed later this year, involves changes in NATO's strategy and force structures, including the development of smaller, more mobile and flexible active forces, increasing reliance on multinational formations, reduced readiness and training requirements and greater reliance on the ability to build up larger forces if and when they might be needed. In the nuclear field, the alliance will maintain for the foreseeable future an appropriate mix of nuclear and conventional forces, based in Europe, and kept up to date where necessary. But the size and tasks of NATO's nuclear deterrent forces will change. NATO's political role is also changing to reflect the changed political situation in Europe. The alliance has extended the hand of friendship to the Soviet Union and the eastern European countries. Contacts between these countries and NATO are increasing in frequency and scope.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The Special European Council met on 8 April. Ministers discussed the political, security and economic aspects of the post-war situation in the Gulf. At British request, they considered the plight of the refugees in and from Iraq and agreed to provide 150 mecu in emergency aid. Ministers condemned the Iraqi Government's repression of its civilian population particularly the Kurds and called for the maintenance of sanctions while current Iraqi policies persist. Ministers also considered the conditions for peace and stability in the region and the role of the Community in the peace process. I also refer my hon. Friend to the statement on the 108
  situation in Iraq made in the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs this afternoon.

  The Economic and Finance Council met on 8 April and discussed tax issues relating to road transport; the financial implications of the Commission's 1991–92 common agricultural policy price-fixing proposals; the Commission's proposals for a loan to Romania; articles 4 and 8 of the takeovers directive; and the regulated markets provision of the investment services directive. New proposals to remove withholding taxes on cross-border interest and royalty payments within groups of companies and to provide tax relief for the losses of companies' overseas permanent establishments and subsidiaries were formally presented to the Council, although without discussion. The Ministerial meeting of the intergovernmental conference on economic and monetary union on 8 April discussed progress made by Ministers' personal representatives over the last month, in particular focusing on capital liberalisation and transition to stage 2.

  The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 15 April and may discuss the follow-up to the informal European Council meeting of 8 April. It will review progress in the EC-EFTA negotiations on a European economic area and consider the next steps in the negotiations. The Commission might report on the negotiations taking place for association agreements with Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. In EPC discussions, Ministers may discuss, inter alia, the latest developments in Iraq, Yugoslavia and Albania. Ministers will discuss EC-Japan relations including a draft declaration, which the presidency and Commission intend to agree with Japan in May and also the Commission's draft document on the energy charter. A ministerial meeting of the intergovernmental conference on political union will be held on 17 April and will discuss a full range of issues including an overview of progress in negotiations.

  The Fisheries Council will meet on 18 April and will discuss the 10th and 11th amendments to the conservation regulation, the Commission communications on the common fisheries policy and data on the landing of fisheries products in member states.

  The Agriculture Council will meet on 22–23 April and will discuss the 1991 price-fixing proposals and the agriculture aspects of the GATT Uruguay round.

  The Research Council will meet on 24 April and may discuss relations with the European Parliament in the light of its request for the Commission to withdraw the five proposals for research programmes under the third framework programme on which the Council has agreed common positions. The Council will discuss the position of foreign-owned companies in Community research programmes. It is possible that common positions will be agreed on the information technologies, biomedical and health, non-nuclear energy, industrial and materials, and agro-industrial research programmes of the third framework programme.

  The Industry Council will meet on 29 April and may discuss the Commission's communications on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), biotechnology and the future of the ECSC Treaty. Ministers may also discuss industrial policy, the consumer electronics and semiconductors industries and the state of work concerning the textiles industry (annual report).

  Palestinians
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for 'Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, column 259, whom he classifies as representative Palestinians; and what information he has on calls for elections in the occupied territories by Palestinians living there.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is not for us to say who should form a Palestinian delegation, but if a negotiation with Israel is to achieve results it is essential for this delegation to be able to speak on behalf of the majority of Palestinians. There is a continuing debate in the occupied territories on the desirability of elections there and the form these might take: no consensus has yet emerged.

  Turkey
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits to the Diyarbakir region of Turkey have been made by Her Majesty's Government's staff from the embassy in that country; whether they visited the Iraqi Kurdish refugee camps; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 10 April a first secretary from our embassy in Ankara, together with a senior Overseas Development Administration official, travelled to southeast Turkey for a four-day visit to view at first hand the refugee camps and the effectiveness of the relief effort. Also, our air attaché in Ankara has been in Incirlik from the outset of the relief operation, and flew with the first RAF relief sortie.

  Antarctica
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he consulted(a) the United States of America and (b) Japan on the recent review of Government policy towards Antarctica.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We did not consult the USA or Japan during the recent review of United Kingdom policy on Antarctica. However, once the review was complete we put the United Kingdom proposals to all Antarctic treaty consultative parties, including the USA and Japan, for their consideration in advance of the special consultative meeting in Madrid later this month.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are to be the objectives of the Government at the forthcoming meeting of Antarctic treaty parties in Madrid in April with regard to(a) a prohibition on mining, (b) the time limit on any prohibition and (c) the mechanisms necessary to extend the prohibition.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, wrote to all Members of Parliament on 25 March setting out the United Kingdom's proposals for a moratorium on mining in Antarctica which we believe may hold the key to a return to consensus.

  We have not proposed a specific length for the moratorium or a mechanism for its termination or extension. We have, however, made clear our requirement that a legal vacuum at the end of the moratorium should be avoided. These issues will be taken forward at the meeting in Madrid.
  110
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which European Community partners he consulted on the recent review of Antarctica policy.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We did not consult our EC partners while conducting the review of United Kingdom policy on Antarctica. However, once the review was complete, we put our proposals to all Antarctic treaty consultative parties including France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Germany, for their consideration in advance of the special consultative meeting that will be held in Madrid later this month.

  Japanese Prisoners of War
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards claims by British ex-prisoners of war for compensation against the Japanese Government for injury suffered during the 1939–1945 war.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The question of compensation for the sufferings of former British prisoners of war of Japan was settled in the 1951 treaty of peace with Japan. We received a total of £4,816,473 from the Japanese Government, which was paid to claimants in instalments between 1952 and 1956. The level of compensation was less than we would have wished, but it was agreed by the allied powers that the Japanese Government had fully discharged their obligations.

  Libya
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his German counterpart about the involvement of German companies in the development of Libya's chemical weapons plant at Sebha; and if he will raise the matter at the next European Foreign Affairs Council.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have been, and remain, in close touch at all levels with the German authorities about this issue.

  Kurds
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 13 March,Official Report, column 550, to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Sillars), what recent meetings Her Majesty's Government's representatives have had with representatives of Kurdish movements in Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met Iraqi Kurdish representatives on 9 April. I met Jalal Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, in Damascus on 12 March. Contacts between officials and Kurdish representatives continue.

  Mr. Abdul Malik
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision is to be taken on the application made by Abdul Malik (Ref: IMM/99947) to the post in Islamabad to join his wife in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
  111
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In accordance with the guidelines on the handling of representations by Members of Parliament in immigration cases, issued to Members on 14 December 1988, I have referred the question to the correspondence unit of the migration and visa department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The hon. Member will receive a reply from the unit as soon as possible.

  Mr. Rashad Mahmood
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision is to be made on the application made by Rashad Mahmood (Ref: IMM/82219) to the post in Islamabad to join his wife in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In accordance with the guidelines on the handling of representations by Members of Parliament in immigration cases, issued to Members on 14 December 1988, I have referred the question to the correspondence unit of the migration and visa department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The hon. Member will receive a reply from the unit as soon as possible.

  Solomon Smolyar
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Soviet Government about their failure to grant an exit visa to Solomon Smolyar of Leningrad who has been offered treatment at the Rambam medical centre in Haifa.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Mr. Smolyar's case is among those on which we regularly press the Soviet authorities, and has been raised again recently. We shall keep up the pressure until there is a satisfactory outcome.

  European Parliament
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate has been made of the cost of not having a single seat for the European Parliament.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are not aware of any single official estimate.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Council of Ministers last discussed the seat of the European Parliament.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Council of Ministers has not held a formal discussion of the European Parliament seat for some years. But the subject has been discussed informally at various times. Heads of Government briefly considered the European Parliament seat at the Dublin European Council last June.

  Hong Kong and China
  Mr. Thorne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his visit to Hong Kong and China from 1 to 10 April.

  Mr. Hurd
  I paid an official visit to China from 3–8 April at the invitation of the Chinese Foreign Minister, and visited Hong Kong for a day at each end of that visit. This was the first visit by a Foreign Secretary to China since 1986.
  112
  In Peking I had two full sessions of talks with the Foreign Minister and met the Party General Secretary, the Premier, the chairman of the National People's Congress and the director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office. With the Foreign Minister, I covered major international issues of common concern, including the middle east, arms proliferation and Cambodia. We also discussed a number of bilateral matters, including commercial relations. I raised our concerns about human rights, including in Tibet, both with the Foreign Minister and with the General Secretary.

  A central element in my discussions was Hong Kong. I told the Chinese that we wanted to intensify work on the practical issues which need to be resolved in order to ensure a smooth transition in 1997. In achieving this we need to respect two key principles. On the one hand, Britain, China and Hong Kong need to co-operate on the implementation of the joint declaration. On the other, the Hong Kong Government need to be able to fulfil their duty to govern effectively. Seeking the views of China on certain important matters, and paying close attention to those views where possible, is compatible with those principles, but the task of taking decisions rests with the Hong Kong Government.

  The Chinese reaffirmed their support for the joint declaration and agreed that we should strengthen the work of the joint liaison group. We were unable to achieve a breakthrough on the question of Chinese support for the new airport in Hong Kong. It is an economic fact that private investment in such a project is unlikely to appear unless investors are confident that it has Chinese support.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what shark products in what quantities have been imported into Hong Kong in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The only shark product of significant quantity imported into Hong Kong is shark fin. The following quantities have been imported over the past three years:

  Tonnes

  1988

  3,738

  1989

  3,556

  1990

  3,838

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the Hong Kong authorities to make the next assessment of the total commercial ivory stock held within the colony.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: It is likely that the Hong Kong authorities will initiate the next assessment of the total commercial ivory stock held in Hong Kong towards the end of this year.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the ivory exported from Hong Kong since 17 July 1990 in accordance with the CITES requirements.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: No commercial exports of ivory covered by CITES have been authorised since midnight on 17 July 1990 except for one pre-convention specimen, consisting of one antique piece weighing 0·1 kg.
  113
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 18 February,Official Report, column 55, if he will state the disposal arrangements for the ivory name seals and blocks seized in Japan.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The disposal of the ivory name seals and blocks seized in Japan is a matter for the Japanese authorities. The seized items have not been returned to Hong Kong.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information is known to his Department about destruction by(a) coalition forces and (b) Iraqi forces of holy places at Samarra; and what he has done since his letter of 28 January to the hon. Member for Linlithgow to avoid damage.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have been asked to reply.

  We have no information about damage to holy places at Samarra. Throughout the air campaign, coalition pilots attacked only military targets or facilities supporting Iraq's occupation of Kuwait. These attacks were carefully planned, and took account of the locations of Islamic holy places and sites of historical importance.

SCOTLAND

  Primary School Testing
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total cost to date of introducing national testing in primary schools, including all costs for advertising, leafleting, training and additional materials in schools.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs. Ewing) on 6 February 1991. Expenditure on leaflets and advertising has amounted to £250,000.

  Crofting
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many crofting tenants there now are.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  According to the records held by the Crofters Commission, there were 13,444 crofting tenants at 31 December 1990. This figure includes crofters who are tenants only of a share or shares in common grazings.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many crofts in each crofting area have transferred from tenure to owner-occupancy under the terms of the Crofting Reform Act 1976.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is as follows:

  Former county

  Number of whole croft purchases1 inti-mated to the Crofters Commission since enactment of the Crofting Reform Act 1976

  Argyll

  313

  Caithness

  317

  Inverness (including Skye, Harris and Uists)

  591

  114

  Former county

  Number of whole croft purchases1 intimated to the Crofters Commission since enactment of the Crofting Reform Act 1976

  Orkney

  191

  Ross and Cromarty (including Lewis)

  282

  Sutherland

  208

  Shetland

  322

  Total

  2,224

  1 In addition to the figures for whole croft purchases, 447 part-crofts have been purchased and 1,597 croft house sites.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many crofting tenants, by estate, of the Secretary of State have exercised their right to buy(a) the house site and (b) the croft, under the Crofting Reform Act 1976.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is set out in the tables.

  Crofting County/Estate

  A

  B

  C

  Argyll

  Ardachy

  2

  2

  —

  Balmeanach

  2

  —

  —

  Bonnavoulin

  —

  —

  1

  Calgarry

  3

  —

  —

  Killeonan

  10

  1

  3

  Kinlochlaich

  2

  1

  —

  Knockvologan

  2

  —

  1

  Moy

  2

  —

  1

  Pottie

  2

  —

  —

  Sunart

  23

  1

  4

  Tomaig

  3

  —

  —

  White Hart Parks

  7

  —

  —

  Total

  58

  5

  10

  Caithness

  Dunn and Scarmclate

  20

  —

  1

  Forss

  1

  —

  —

  Hallum

  1

  —

  —

  Hoy and Braal

  1

  —

  —

  Lochend

  6

  —

  1

  Lybster

  2

  —

  —

  Skaill

  5

  1

  —

  Stempster

  3

  1

  —

  Upper Dounreay

  7

  1

  —

  West Murkle

  4

  —

  —

  West Watten

  11

  —

  —

  Total

  61

  3

  2

  Inverness-shire

  Balranald

  1

  1

  4

  Barra

  —

  2

  9

  Benbecula

  9

  8

  14

  Beolary

  —

  1

  3

  Borve

  —

  1

  2

  Bracadale

  11

  21

  66

  Claigan

  —

  2

  2

  Eoligarry

  1

  2

  8

  Inshes

  10

  —

  1

  Kilbride

  —

  2

  5

  Kilmuir

  22

  56

  83

  Kingsburgh

  4

  5

  11

  Luskentyre

  —

  1

  4

  Mains of Ardersier

  6

  —

  —

  Milton of Culloden

  4

  —

  2

  Ness-side

  4

  —

  —

  Newton

  3

  1

  12

  Raasay

  4

  17

  10

  Scallasaig

  2

  1

  3

  Scaristavore

  —

  1

  3

  115

  Crofting County/Estate

  A

  B

  C

  Scorrybreck

  1

  8

  6

  Tomich

  12

  —

  2

  Vatersay

  —

  —

  1

  Woodside of Culloden

  3

  —

  2

  Total

  97

  130

  253

  Orkney

  Stove

  5

  —

  —

  Ross and Cromarty

  Arabella

  3

  1

  3

  Balnabean

  2

  —

  3

  Broomhill

  4

  —

  1

  Corntown

  7

  —

  2

  Culcairn

  2

  —

  1

  Dounie

  1

  —

  2

  Geanies

  2

  —

  4

  Kinbeachie

  4

  —

  —

  Kinkell

  2

  —

  2

  Raddery

  3

  —

  1

  Seafield

  4

  —

  1

  Total

  34

  1

  20

  Shetland

  Ordale

  4

  —

  4

  Sutherland

  Armadale

  13

  —

  9

  Borgie

  2

  —

  1

  Syre

  6

  —

  4

  Total

  21

  1

  14

  Grand Total

  280

  140

  303

  A = Whole croft

  B= Part croft

  C = Croft house

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of persons employed by the Crofters Commission(a) in the Inverness headquarters and (b) elsewhere in the crofting counties, in each of the last five years and in 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) The numbers of staff employed in the Inverness headquarters of the Crofters Commission on 1 April in each of the years were:

  Permanent staff1

  Casual staff

  1979

  52½

  —

  1986

  51

  —

  1987

  51

  —

  1988

  51

  1

  1989

  52

  3

  1990

  48

  5

  1 These figures do not include Commissioners.

  (b) No staff are employed by the Commission outwith Inverness. However the Commission is able to call upon the services of professional staff from the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department area offices throughout the crofting counties in respect of crofting schemes and regulatory matters.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the total cost to the Exchequer of the Crofters Commission in each of the past five years.
  116
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is as follows:

  Total expenditure of the Crofters Commission

  Financial year

  £'000s

  1986–87

  1154

  1987–88

  752

  1988–89

  849

  1989–90

  936

  1990–91

  21,080

  1 Comparable figures are not available for this year as the costs of the permanent staff were until then incorporated in the overall Scottish Office staffing expenditure.

  2 Forecast outtum.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the crofting estates owned by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland with, in each case, the number of tenants, the acreage of inbye land and the acreage of common grazing.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information relating to crofting estates belonging to the Secretary of State is set out in the table. The Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department does not hold separately information relating to the acreage of inbye land or common grazing. The total hectarage figures given, however, includes both inbye land and common grazing.

  The Secretary of State's crofting estates as at 31 December 1990

  Area and estate

  Crofting lets1

  Other agricultural

  Total hectarage

  ARGYLL:

  Kinlochlaich

  5

  —

  1,500

  Sunart

  38

  1

  2,548

  Morven-Bonnavoulin

  1

  —

  29

  Isle of Mull

  Glenforsa2

  —

  2

  4,789

  Isle of Islay

  Whitehart Parks

  8

  —

  264

  Mull of Kintyre

  Killeonan

  1

  —

  9

  Moy

  3

  —

  64

  Totals

  56

  3

  9,203

  INVERNESS (Mainland)

  Mains of Arderseir

  1

  —

  4

  Inshes

  2

  —

  30

  Milton of Culloden

  1

  —

  6

  Woodside of Culloder

  l

  1

  6

  Beolary

  6

  —

  972

  Tomich

  8

  1

  120

  Scallasaig

  10

  —

  1,985

  Total

  29

  2

  3,123

  ROSS AND CROMARTY:

  Arabella

  2

  —

  73

  Balnabeen

  5

  —

  73

  Corntown

  5

  —

  98

  Culcairn

  1

  —

  53

  Dounie

  2

  —

  56

  Geanies

  2

  —

  63

  Kinkell

  2

  —

  58

  Raddery

  2

  1

  77

  Seafield

  3

  —

  30

  Totals

  24

  1

  581

  117

  Area and estate

  Crofting lets1

  Other agricultural lets

  Total hectarage

  CAITHNESS:

  Dunn and Scarmclate

  11

  —

  584

  Forss

  7

  1

  605

  Hoy and Braal

  2

  —

  100

  Lochend

  2

  —

  223

  Lybster

  1

  —

  132

  Stempster

  2

  —

  67

  West Murkle

  1

  —

  23

  West Watten

  2

  —

  88

  Totals

  28

  1

  1,822

  SUTHERLAND:

  Armadale

  95

  2

  4,735

  Borgie

  9

  —

  4,958

  Keoldale

  43

  —

  11,032

  Syre

  20

  —

  4,736

  Totals

  167

  2

  25,461

  Inverness (SKYE AND RAASAY)

  SKYE:

  Bracadale

  166

  8

  19,697

  Claigan

  4

  —

  1,480

  Kilbride

  10

  —

  3,451

  Kilmuir

  373

  —

  19,120

  Kingsburgh

  27

  —

  5,334

  Scorrybreck

  16

  —

  4,003

  RAASAY:

  Raasay

  33

  2

  6,731

  Totals

  629

  10

  59,816

  INVERNESS (WESTERN ISLES)

  HARRIS:

  Scaristavor

  10

  1

  1,240

  Luskentyre

  10

  —

  2,397

  Borve

  32

  —

  3,014

  NORTH UIST:

  Balelone/Balmartin

  5

  6,555

  Balranald

  49

  Newton

  49

  7

  BENBECULA:

  Benbecula

  76

  2

  1,045

  BARRA:

  Barra

  56

  1

  1,143

  Eoligarry

  66

  1

  1,324

  VATERSAY:

  Vatersay

  43

  1

  1,362

  Totals

  396

  13

  18,080

  NORTHERN ISLES

  ORKNEY:

  Stove

  4

  —

  247

  SHETLAND:

  Cliff

  24

  —

  312

  Fetlar

  6

  —

  71

  Ordale

  11

  1

  807

  Westafirth

  13

  —

  971

  Totals

  58

  1

  2,408

  Grand Total

  1,387

  33

  120,494

  1 The number of "crofting lets" may differ slightly from the number of "tenants" because of some multiple tenancies.

  2 Leasehold subject.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information on the pollution of drinking water in Scotland, including levels of aluminium and other toxic substances, his Department is gathering.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Records are maintained of the quality classification of drinking water supply sources and of those supply zones where water does not currently meet the quality standards set in the EC drinking water directive and the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990.

  Where a standard is persistently infringed, a water authority may in certain circumstances apply for authorisation of a relaxation, but otherwise must submit an undertaking to make a necessary quality improvement within a specified time. There are separate arrangements for reporting specific pollution incidents or other significant water quality failures. No water supply zones have been notified as failing to meet the standards for any toxic substance. For lead arising from plumbing systems, water authorities are due to report by the end of this year on any zones where there is a risk that tap water will not meet the new lead standard, stricter than that of the EC directive, set in the water quality regulations.

  The standard for aluminium, not classed as a toxic substance in the EC directive, may be relaxed if the aluminium is of natural origin. My answer to the hon. Member for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) on 4 March 1991, column 65–66, gave details of maximum authorised levels of aluminium in such cases.

  Other substances such as nitrates and pesticides are the subject of specific inquiries to water authorities from time to time.

  Annual reports to be published by water authorities by 30 June 1991 will provide information and data on water quality standards in all supply zones.

  Education Spending
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total spending on education in Scotland as a percentage of Scottish gross domestic product in real terms in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Public expenditure on education includes expenditure both by the Secretary of State directly and by education authorities. Details are as follows:

  Expenditure by Secretary of Stateand education authorities inreal terms at 1989–90 prices (£ million)2,090

  Expenditure as a percentage of the Scottish GDP

  1977–78

  2,090

  7·06

  1978–79

  2,107

  7·06

  1979–80

  2,071

  7·11

  1980–81

  2,159

  7·67

  1981–82

  2,214

  7·80

  1982–83

  2,366

  8·16

  1983–84

  2,367

  7·93

  1984–85

  2,318

  7·74

  1985–86

  2,293

  7·37

  1986–87

  2,379

  7·24

  1987–88

  2,450

  7·28

  1988–89

  2,475

  7·04

  1989–90

  2,544

  7·12

  119
  Note: 1989–90=estimated outturn.

  Sources: A Commentary on the Scottish Programme The Scottish Office Departmental Report Scottish Economic Bulletin

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total expenditure on(a) nursery, (b) primary and (c) secondary education by local authorities in Scotland in 1989–90.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is given in the table, which has been compiled from local authority financial returns.

  Net current expenditure on nursery, primary and secondary schools 1989–90

  £ million

  Nursery

  39·658

  Primary

  605·294

  Secondary

  751·602

  Feu Redemption
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what information he has concerning the current average cost of feu redemption; and whether he has any plans to abolish such a charge;

  (2) if he has any plans to review the law on feu redemption.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information about costs of feu duty redemption is not held centrally. Before considering whether any legislation on this question is desirable, my right hon. Friend proposes to await the recommendations of the Scottish Law Commission on completion of its current major review of property law in Scotland.

  Housing
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet the Scottish Homes board to discuss progress being made in the proposed disposal of former Scottish Special Housing Association houses in the Borders region in terms of the voluntary disposal procedures in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether, in the event of the disposal of the former SSHA houses in the Borders region being rejected in whole or in part, by a majority of the tenants or by himself, he would require to give his consent to any proposed agents to factor any properties remaining in the possession of Scottish Homes;

  (2) if he will allow local authorities to be considered as appropriate bodies to compete to act as agents of Scottish Homes in any future factoring arrangements on expiry of exisiting contractual arrangements of Scottish Homes properties in the Borders region;

  (3) what instructions he will give to Scottish Homes in terms of future factoring arrangements for former SSHA housing stock in the Borders region;

  (4) if he will make a statement on how he intends to exercise his powers in section 3A of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988, relative to his consent being required for Scottish Homes appointing other persons to act as its agents.
  120
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In terms of Scottish Homes (Powers) General Authority 1989, a general authority given by my right hon. Friend in terms of section 2(3)(a) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988, Scottish Homes may appoint such agents as it considers necessary, on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit and reasonable. The general authority does not, however, authorise Scottish Homes to appoint agents to manage houses where the cost of doing so is greater than if Scottish Homes managed those houses without an agent.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 5 March,Official Report, column 142, if he will publish the revised timetable for the proposed disposal of former SSHA housing stock in the Borders region including the time for Scottish Homes to process proposals to purchase stock.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has asked Scottish Homes to publish the proposed timetable and expects it to do so during May.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now reconsider his policy of proscribing tenants choice of landlord in relation to the public sector; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to amend the relevant legislation.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 5 March,Official Report, column 144, if he will now publish the safeguards he will insist upon as a condition of his consent to a voluntary transfer of housing stock under the provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 in protecting the interests of tenants against any private sector or voluntary sector landlord who is subsequently made bankrupt or goes into liquidation.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to my reply of 5 March.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether multi-option ballots are to be allowed to be put to tenants under the voluntary disposals of former SSHA housing stock in the Borders region in terms of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In the guidance which my right hon. Friend has given to Scottish Homes there is nothing which prevents the agency from putting forward two or more options to the ballot stage for consideration by tenants. I understand that it remains Scottish Homes' intention, however, that at each ballot only one proposal for change will be put to the tenants.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to publish details of the burdens and other heritable conditions to be determined by Scottish Homes which are to be inserted in the title deeds of the heritable properties to be disposed of under the voluntary disposals of former Scottish Special Housing Association housing stock in the Borders region in terms of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988; what specific heritable conditions will be imposed to protect and safeguard future tenants; and what powers he has to vary any such conditions.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As stated in my reply of 5 March, these properties are owned by Scottish Homes
  121
  and which, if any, burdens or other heritable conditions are imposed on the stock to be transferred is a matter for the agency.

  My right hon. Friend has no powers to vary any such conditions, although he may take these into account in the giving or withholding of his consent to any disposal.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 5 March,Official Report, column 144, regarding the valuation system to be adopted in any large-scale voluntary transfer of housing stock, what procedures are to be put in place to decide what condition the stock is in and who will arbitrate in the event of a dispute about the valuation of the necessary remedial work.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In terms of Scottish Homes' published procedures, the agency itself will undertake a current survey of the properties so that the condition can be established. As stated in my answer of 5 March, the district valuer will be invited to assess the market value of the stock. This valuation will be on the basis of open market value subject to existing tenancies with account being taken of the condition of the stock. Negotiations on the offers made by prospective landlords will be a matter for Scottish Homes.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what power he has to ensure that former SSHA tenants, currently holding tenancies with Scottish Homes, will continue to be the subject to affordable levels of rent in the event of being transferred to another private or voluntary sector landlord under the voluntary disposal of stock provisions in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The basis for determin-ing future rents will form part of the overall proposal which will be put to tenants in the ballot which will precede the approval of any such disposal. Future rental increases will be determined by the provisions of the tenancy agreement and in the case of dispute will be subject to the arrangements for rental increases under assured tenancies under the provisions of sections 24 and 25 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988. These provisions allow the tenant to refer the prescribed notice of increase in rent to the rent assessment committee for determination.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what level of financial support he expects to pay to private sector landlords acquiring former SSHA housing stock in the Borders region in terms of the voluntary disposal provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988; and what financial support will be provided to cover elements of any management costs involved in making the successful bid to purchase.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Scottish Homes would be responsible for the consideration and payment of any request for financial support from a private sector landlord. It would be for the agency to consider, in the first instance, the elements of costs which might be assisted. In terms of section 3(a) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988, any proposal by Scottish Homes to provide financial support would require the approval of my right hon. Friend given with the consent of Treasury. Before granting that approval, he would wish to be assured that the assistance would be in accordance with his and Scottish 122
  Homes' policy objectives and would provide value for the public funds involved, relative to the competing demands for those funds.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that any tenants of Scottish Homes who do not wish to transfer to the private sector, in terms of the voluntary disposal of former SSHA houses in Borders region under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 will be permitted to remain as tenants of Scottish Homes.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. However, my right hon. Friend will withhold his consent to any disposal if he is not satisfied that the interests of tenants have been fully protected and he will give his consent only if a majority of those replying to the ballot are in favour of the proposal put to them.

  In the guidance which he issued to Scottish Homes in February 1991, my right hon. Friend asked Scottish Homes to ensure that tenants are advised of their rights and of all the opportunities available to them, as soon as possible after Scottish Homes' initial clearance of any case put to it for disposal. He will wish to ensure that advice has been given to tenants before giving his consent.

  Breast Cancer Screening
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the mobile breast cancer screening programme to be fully operational; and what is the total budget allowed for the programme in 1991–92.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The programme will be fully operational by August and the total budget for 1991–92 is £3.346 million.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been taken to advertise and publicise the mobile breast cancer screening units which are currently operational in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The arrangements for advertising and publicity are made by the health boards in consultation with the screening units. Publicity will be given prior to a visit by a screening unit to a local area and can take the form of a local or national press notice, local radio and television. In addition promotional seminars for the primary health care teams are held by the screening unit about one month in advance of a scheduled visit.

  Information leaflets about the breast screening service in Scotland have been placed in all GP surgeries, in community centres and libraries.

  Fish Farms
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he is giving to the problems of eider duck and golden-eye duck devouring substantial quantities of young mussels and other products on fish and shellfish farms.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Consumption of young shellfish by eider ducks or golden-eye ducks is known to occur at some shellfish farms. Licences can be issued by my right hon. Friend, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, to shoot protected birds where that is necessary to prevent serious damage. So far no application for a licence to shoot these or other species of protected bird has been made in respect of a marine shellfish or fish farm.
  123
  Advice on non-lethal methods of deterring predation by these ducks at shellfish farms is being prepared by the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland in conjuction with the Association of Shelfish Growers and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. This advice will take account of the findings on such predation carried out by Aberdeen university department of zoology and commissioned by the HIDB and the Scottish Office.

  Vacation Hardship Allowance
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how much was paid out in vacation hardship allowance in 1989–90 in Scotland;

  (2) how many students received vacation hardship allowance in 1989–90 in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A total of £3,860·60 was paid in vacation hardship allowances to 14 students during academic session 1989–90.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the unemployment rate in Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  In February 1991, the Scottish seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8·2 per cent. of the work force.

  Property Development
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now relax the rules about the Scottish Enterprise or local enterprise companies only being property developers of last resort.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  No. The right approach is to promote and, where appropriate, assist private sector develolpment and the normal functioning of the industrial property market in Scotland. There is no case for the use of public money to finance property development in cases where the private sector would be prepared to make the necessary provision.

  Temporary Sheriffs
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current daily rate paid to a temporary sheriff sitting in the sheriff court in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  The current daily rate effective from 1 April 1991 is £212.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many temporary sheriffs were employed in the Scottish courts for more than 80 per cent. of the available court sitting days in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Lang
  The information is set out in the table:

  Reports published

  Session

  Nursery

  Primary

  Secondary-independent

  Special

  College

  Community

  Total

  1983–84

  4

  112

  23

  6

  3

  3

  151

  1984–85

  7

  118

  21

  9

  1

  2

  158

  1985–86

  9

  112

  24

  11

  4

  2

  162

  1986–87

  11

  116

  26

  6

  2

  2

  163

  1987–88

  10

  113

  23

  4

  4

  3

  157

  124

  Year

  1988

  0

  1989

  0

  1990

  3

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many temporary sheriffs hold commission to serve in sheriff courts in Scotland; how many sessions were put in by temporary sheriff courts for the latest period for which figures are available in Scotland; and what was the cost to his Department.

  Mr. Lang
  Ninety-three temporary sheriffs currently hold a commission to serve. Between 1 March 1990 and 28 February 1991, temporary sheriffs sat on 4,300 occasions at a cost of approximately £1,100,000.

  Primary Schools (National Testing)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received on national testing in primary schools; and how many were for his proposals and how many against.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  To date 1,100 representations have been received covering a complete spectrum of views on testing.

  School Inspections
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what are the intended and actual frequencies of inspection by Her Majesty's inspectors of schools in Scotland for(a) nursery schools, (b) primary schools, (c) secondary schools, (d) further education colleges, (e) centrally-funded institutions, (f) community education services and (g) other services;

  (2) how the frequency of inspection by Her Majesty's inspectors has altered for various categories of educational institution since 1979.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 4 February 1991]: Each year a management plan for Her Majesty's inspectorate is agreed with the Secretary of State. This establishes a programme of inspections which will provide the necessary information on an agreed range of issues from a balanced sample of schools. The inspections vary in nature, from full inspections which examine all aspects of the work of an institution and lead to a published report on the institution, to more limited selective inspections which focus on a particular issue and may contribute to a published or an internal report. The configuration of the inspection programme therefore varies in accordance with the issues under investigation.

  Publication of reports on full inspections began in 1983 and the numbers of reports on institutions published since then are as follows:
  125

  Reports published

  Session

  Nursery

  Primary

  Secondary-independent

  Special

  College

  Community

  Total

  1988–89

  9

  82

  20

  6

  2

  2

  125

  1989–90

  6

  69

  18

  4

  2

  1

  100

  The reduction in the number of full inspections in 1988–89 and 1989–90 was to accommodate an increase in surveys of aspects of education and other priority work undertaken by the inspectorate. There has been a corresponding increase in the rate of publication of aspect reports in recent years. In 1988–89 16 of these were published, and 22 in 1989–90, compared to an average of six per session in earlier years.

  Bathing Water
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the amounts of loans received from the European investment bank in each of the past three years which were used for the improvement of river and bathing water quality.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 28 March 1991]: No loans from the European investment bank for this purpose were received in Scotland during 1988 to 1990.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the anticipated income for each local authority in Scotland for 1991–92 from(a) aggregate external finance and (b) community charges.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The figures are shown in the table.

  Aggregate External Finance £000

  Total CC Income £000

  Borders

  79,835

  17,667

  Central

  182,112

  54,602

  Dumfries & Galloway

  112,446

  26,385

  Fife

  240,865

  75,373

  Grampian

  346,160

  83,647

  Highland

  184,082

  36,917

  Lothian

  479,248

  212,866

  Strathclyde

  1,693,546

  434,203

  Tayside

  280,835

  81,108

  Berwickshire

  1,484

  555

  Ettrick & Lauderdale

  2,789

  1,318

  Roxburgh

  3,121

  1,311

  Tweeddale

  1,226

  516

  Clackmannan

  5,122

  3,758

  Falkirk

  13,365

  4,988

  Stirling

  9,703

  6,198

  Annandale & Eskdale

  2,530

  1,919

  Nithsdale

  4,339

  2,846

  Stewartry

  1,605

  925

  Wigtown

  2,554

  1,422

  Dunfermline

  11,592

  6,915

  Kirkcaldy

  12,336

  8,162

  North East Fife

  6,399

  4,214

  Aberdeen City

  26,209

  16,940

  Banff & Buchan

  7,183

  4,045

  Gordon

  6,039

  2,734

  Kincardine & Deeside

  3,766

  1,184

  Moray

  7,159

  2,669

  Badenoch & Strathspey

  938

  368

  126

  Aggregate External Finance £000

  Total CC Income £000

  Caithness

  2,338

  659

  Inverness

  5,022

  1,507

  Lochaber

  2,224

  943

  Nairn

  796

  279

  Ross & Cromarty

  5,761

  2,148

  Skye & Lochalsh

  1,684

  405

  Sutherland

  1,470

  506

  East Lothian

  8,810

  5,384

  Edinburgh City

  59,443

  41,209

  Midlothian

  7,157

  4,474

  West Lothian

  12,961

  5,901

  Argyll & Bute

  10,224

  4,831

  Bearsden & Milngavie

  3,497

  2,366

  Clydebank

  6,891

  3,993

  Clydesdale

  5,694

  3,944

  Cumbernauld & Kilsyth

  5,204

  2,795

  Cumnock & Doon Valley

  4,197

  2,130

  Cunninghame

  14,601

  10,456

  Dumbarton

  7,423

  7,723

  East Kilbride

  5,637

  6,735

  Eastwood

  4,272

  2,070

  Glasgow City

  135,736

  54,606

  Hamilton

  10,545

  7,424

  Inverclyde

  10,830

  5,585

  Kilmarnock & Loudoun

  7,232

  4,458

  Kyle & Carrick

  10,697

  9,700

  Monklands

  12,887

  7,440

  Motherwell

  16,041

  8,011

  Renfrew

  22,061

  15,857

  Strathkelvin

  8,797

  6,142

  Angus

  8,069

  3,842

  Dundee City

  23,459

  12,316

  Perth & Kinross

  11,913

  5,725

  Orkney

  24,566

  2,027

  Shetland

  54,719

  2,399

  Western Isles

  53,017

  3,624

  Footnotes

  1. The Community charge income figures shown are local authorities' own budgeted estimates for 1991–92 of community charge receipts from personal, collective and standard charges, inclusive of community charge benefits and receipts from the transitional relief and community charge reduction schemes. They accordingly reflect the position before the decision to increase the level of central government support for local authorities and to reduce all 1991–92 personal community charges by £140.

  2. Aggregate External Finance includes revenue support grant, estimated non-domestic rate income and estimated specific grants for each authority. An additional £47·2 million of specific grant relating to the urban programme expenditure has not yet been allocated to individual authorities.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were(a) gross local authority revenue expenditure, (b) net local authority revenue expenditure, (c) rate support grant/revenue support grant, (d) local authority income from non-domestic rates and (e) local authority income from domestic rates/community charges at constant prices for each year from 1978–79 to 1991–92.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The information is set out in the table:
  127

  (1) Gross revenue expenditure £million

  (2) Net revenue expenditure £ million

  (3) RSG £ million

  (4) Non-domestic rate income

  (5) Domestic rates/ Community charge income £ million

  1978–79

  4,692·9

  4,309·5

  2,625·4

  974·0

  520·7

  1979–80

  4,921·4

  4,532·9

  2,583·3

  989·6

  523·5

  1980·81

  5,111·5

  4,771·9

  2,651·2

  1,134·8

  607·5

  1981–82

  5,218·3

  4,835·1

  2,519·9

  1,391·2

  768·0

  1982–83

  5,273·8

  4,875·9

  2,540·7

  1,445·9

  816·1

  1983·84

  5,323·8

  4,908·1

  2,555·0

  1,3874·1

  772·2

  1984–85

  5,299·6

  4,869·5

  2,364·7

  1,373·2

  784·4

  1985–86

  5,184·7

  4,756·9

  2,278·7

  1,372·5

  853·5

  1986–87

  53,16·0

  4,881·5

  2,148·5

  1,437·5

  911·2

  1987–88

  5,394·8

  4,943·2

  2,212·3

  1,524·5

  991·3

  1988–89

  5,469·5

  4,961·3

  2,289·7

  1,510·5

  994·6

  1989–90

  n/a

  5,021·4

  2,414·7

  1,313·5

  1,059·2

  1990–91

  n/a

  5,131·9

  2,495·3

  1,189·0

  1,062·1

  1991–92

  n/a

  5,243·6

  2,615·5

  12,98·1

  1,266·8

  Notes:

  1. Gross revenue expenditure figures are only obtained from local authorities in Local Financial Returns (LFRS). The LFR is for 1988–89

  2. The figures in column 2 are taken from LFRS to 1988–89, Final Outturn returns for 1989–90, Provisional Outturn returns for 1990–91 and Budget Estimate returns for 1991–92.

  3. In column 3 the figures represent the redetermined amounts of rate and revenue support grant where appropriate.

  4. The figures in column 4 are Final Outturn to 1988–89. For 1989–90 to 1991–92 the figures represent the Non-Domestic Rate Income estimated by the Department as part of AEF.

  5. In column 5 the figures are Final Outturn to 1988–89 and Provisional Outturn for 1990–91. The 1991–92 figure shown is the total of loca authorities' own budgeted estimates. It reflects the position before the decision to increase the level of central government support for loca: authorities and to reduce all 1991–92 personal community charges by £140.

  6. All figures have been converted to real terms by means of the Treasury GDP deflator (March 1991). All years are at 1990–91.

  Mr. McAnion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the anticipated net local authority revenue expenditure and gross local authority revenue expenditure for 1991–92 for(a) all regional council services, (b) education, (c) police and fire services, (d) social work, (e) roads and transport, (f) loan charges attributable to regional services, (g) all district council services, (h) leisure and recreation services, (i) loan

  Column 1 Revenue expenditure £ million

  Column 2 Loan and leasing charges £ million

  Total columns 1 and 2 £ million

  (a) All regional services

  4,117·7

  474·7

  4,592·4

  (b) Education1

  2,278·8

  167·5

  2,446·4

  (c) Police and Fire services1

  598·4

  30·2

  628·6

  (d) Social Work1

  631·2

  39·9

  671·1

  (e) Roads and Transport1

  393·0

  193·6

  586·5

  (f) Loan Charges (Regions)

  —

  474·7

  —

  (g) All district services

  691·4

  188·1

  879·5

  (h) Leisure and Recreation2

  254·4

  55·2

  309·6

  (i) Non-housing district loan charges

  —

  188·1

  —

  (j) Cleansing services3

  164·8

  16·4

  181·2

  (k) Libraries and Museums and Art Galleries 2 4

  93·8

  13·0

  106·8

  (l) Environmental Health services2

  50·5

  3·2

  53·8

  1 Figures include Regional and Island authority expenditure.

  2 Figures include Regional, Island and District authority expenditure.

  3 Figures include Island and District authority expenditure.

  4 Figures include expenditure on Art Galleries as well as Museums as separate figures for these two services.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total investment in manufacturing industry in Scotland in each year since 1974.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 28 March 1991]: The table shows estimates of capital investment in terms of net capital expenditure for manufacturing industry in Scotland between 1974 and 1988, the latest year for which figures are available.
  128
  charges attributable to district council non-housing services, (j) cleansing services, (k) libraries and museums and (l) environmental health services.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: The only information at present available to my Department in relation to expenditure in 1991–92 is based on local authorities' budget estimate returns. These show that authorities plan expenditure on services supported by aggregate external finance and personal, collective and standard community charges as follows:

  Scottish net capital expenditure for manufacturing industry

  Net capital expenditure £ million current prices

  Year

  Orders III to XIX SIC 1980

  Divs 2–4 SIC 1980

  1974

  310

  —

  1975

  426

  —

  1976

  465

  —

  1977

  493

  —

  1978

  551

  —

  1979

  597

  589

  129

  Net capital expenditure £ million current prices

  Year

  Orders III to XIX SIC 1968

  Divs 2–4 SIC 1980

  1980

  —

  654

  1981

  —

  617

  1982

  —

  542

  1983

  —

  491

  1984

  —

  623

  1985

  —

  866

  1986

  —

  777

  1987

  —

  736

  1988

  —

  1,026

  Source: Annual Census of Production.

  Note: From 1988 contributors to the Annual Census of Production were asked to include as capital expenditure the value of assets acquired under financial leasing arrangements.

  Industry (Fixed Capital)
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the gross domestic fixed capital formation for(a) all industries and (b) manufacturing industry in Scotland in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 28 March 1991]: The information requested is given in the table, covering 1978 to 1988, the latest years for which data are available.

  Gross domestic fixed capital formation in Scotland for (a) all industries covered1 and (b) manufacturing industry

  Year

  All industries covered1

  GDFCF (£ million current prices) Manufacturing industry

  1978

  2,072

  523

  1979

  2,327

  562

  1980

  2,668

  645

  1981

  2,575

  586

  1982

  2,621

  541

  1983

  2,661

  470

  1984

  2,852

  597

  1985

  3,130

  862

  1986

  3,079

  789

  Local authority expenditure in Scotlandon functions outside the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland

  £ million

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Pay

  15

  17

  18

  22

  22

  48

  Other current expenditure on goods and services

  10

  11

  13

  14

  14

  Current grants to persons

  285

  335

  386

  400

  456

  528

  Net capital expenditure on assets

  2

  2

  1

  1

  1

  1

  TOTAL

  313

  364

  419

  438

  493

  577

  130

  Year

  All industries covered1

  GDFCF (£ million current prices) Manufacturing industry

  1987

  3,034

  738

  1988

  3,573

  951

  Source: Central Statistical Office.

  1 The industries covered are Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, Energy and Water Supply, Manufacturing, Transport and Communications (excluding air and sea transport) and Dwellings.

  Notes:

  (1) Figures exclude leased assets and investment in land and existing buildings.

  (2) Figures after 1979 are not entirely consistent with those for earlier years. However, differences are thought to be small.

  Carstairs Hospital
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients at the state hospital at Carstairs no longer require to be kept in secure wards and could be returned to semi-secure wards at local hospitals if they existed.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 26 March 1991]: Where patients are suitable for transfer, arrangements will be made for this to take place.

  Local Authority Expenditure
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish an analysis, comparable with table 5·7 of Cm. 1520, showing that local authority expenditure in Scotland which falls outside expenditure within his own responsibility

  Mr. Mellor
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested, consistent with that given in the statistical supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement (Cm. 1520), is given in the following table.

  IRISH LANGUAGE NURSERY GROUP: FUNDING
  IRISH LANGUAGE NURSERY GROUP: FUNDING
  ARMS SALES TO MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES
  ARMS SALES TO MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES
  PALESTINIANS EXPELLED FROM KUWAIT: COMPENSATION
  PALESTINIANS EXPELLED FROM KUWAIT: COMPENSATION
  US ARMS SALES TO IRAQ
  US ARMS SALES TO IRAQ
  ARMS CONTROL IN THE MIDDLE EAST
  ARMS CONTROL IN THE MIDDLE EAST
  GULF CEASE-FIRE AND ARMS CONTROL DISCUSSIONS
  GULF CEASE-FIRE AND ARMS CONTROL DISCUSSIONS
  MIDDLE EAST PEACE AND SECURITY: US COMMANDER'S REMARKS
  MIDDLE EAST PEACE AND SECURITY: US COMMANDER'S REMARKS
  INTERNATIONAL ORDER
  INTERNATIONAL ORDER
  ISRAELI NUCLEAR WEAPON PROGRAMME AND MIDDLE EAST ARMS CONTROL
  ISRAELI NUCLEAR WEAPON PROGRAMME AND MIDDLE EAST ARMS CONTROL
  IRAQ: ATTACKS ON NUCLEAR PLANTS
  IRAQ: ATTACKS ON NUCLEAR PLANTS
  MIDDLE EAST PEACE AND SECURITY: MILITARY PRESENCE
  MIDDLE EAST PEACE AND SECURITY: MILITARY PRESENCE
  IRAQ: REPARATIONS TO KUWAIT
  IRAQ: REPARATIONS TO KUWAIT
  BRITISH VETERINARY ASSOCIATION: MEMBERSHIP OF EUROPEAN FEDERATION
  BRITISH VETERINARY ASSOCIATION: MEMBERSHIP OF EUROPEAN FEDERATION
  SHOPS ACT 1950: ENFORCEMENT
  SHOPS ACT 1950: ENFORCEMENT
  NATIONAL INSURANCE: PUBLICITY FOR NEW RATES
  NATIONAL INSURANCE: PUBLICITY FOR NEW RATES
  CCGT GENERATING STATION PROJECTS: FINANCING
  CCGT GENERATING STATION PROJECTS: FINANCING
  BRITISH COAL CORPORATION: BOARD
  BRITISH COAL CORPORATION: BOARD