Written Answers of 17 April 1991

TRANSPORT

  HGV Speed Limiters
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to make it mandatory for all heavy goods vehicles of over 7·5 tonnes gross vehicle weight to he fitted with speed limiters.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department has consulted about a proposal to require new heavy goods vehicles of more than 7·5 tonnes gross vehicle weight to be fitted with speed limiters, to ensure that these vehicles cannot be driven at more than 60 mph, their motorway speed limit. I am considering the response to this consultation.

  HGV Drivers
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many HGV drivers lost their licences at the age of 45, 50, 55 and 60 years respectively, in each of the last three years; and if he will give the figures by disease or illness for each category in each year.

  Mr. Chope
  Prior to 1 April 1991 decisions on fitness to hold these licences were a matter for the statutorily independent traffic commissioners. Separate statistics relating to decisions taken on medical ground have been maintained since 1988. These are set out below. Details of the ages of the drivers concerned or the medical conditions in question are not available.

  April 1988 to March 1989

  April 1989 to March 1990

  April 1990 to March 1991

  Refusals

  1,735

  2,391

  1—

  Suspensions

  706

  783

  1—

  Revocations

  2,462

  1,716

  1—

  1 Figures not yet available.

  Road Traffic Accidents
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of road traffic accidents and the numbers of injuries and deaths that have taken place on the stretch of the A19 which passes through the Easington constituency for 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  For the section of the A19 within the Easington constituency the accident figures available for 1990 are as follows.

  Number

  Number of road traffic accidents

  16

  Number of personal injuries

  30

  Number of deaths

  2

  The accident rate is higher than I would wish although it is lower than the national average for similar trunk roads.

  Pelican Crossing
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects work to be commenced on the A6 trunk road pelican crossing between Kibworth Harcourt and Kibworth Beauchamp in Leicestershire; and if the consultations by his Department with the local people concerned are yet completed.

  Mr. Chope
  Responses to the Department's proposals are still awaited from Kibworth Harcourt and Kibworth Beauchamp parish councils. I would expect construction work to begin about six months after the satisfactory conclusion of the consultation with local bodies.

  Roadside Lighting
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to install roadside lighting along that stretch of the A 19 running through the Easington constituency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The installation of roadside lighting on the A 19 between Murton and Easington is planned for this financial year.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Parents (Appeals)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will outline the rights of parents of children who have been refused admission to the secondary school of their choice after they have lost their appeal to the local council.

  Mr. Fallon
  Parents have a right to appeal to an appeal committee, which is independent of the local council, against the council's decision as to the school their child should attend. If their appeal is unsuccessful they may complain to the Secretary of State, who can intervene if he believes that the council has acted unreasonably in refusing to admit the child to the parents' preferred school. "Unreasonably" in this context has the meaning given to it in administrative law: a body has acted unreasonably in this sense if it has acted in a way in which no sensible body, bearing in mind its statutory responsibilities, could decide to act.

  Wandsworth CTC
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what sums have been pledged by ADT in respect of the city technology college, Wandsworth; and on what dates and in what amounts these sums are due.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the dates and amounts of funds actually paid over by ADT in respect of their sponsorship of the city technology college, Wandsworth; in what form such payments have been made; and to whom the payments have been made.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  ADT plc has agreed to pay £1 million and to underwrite a further £700,000 as their contribution of the capital costs for establishing the Wandsworth city technology college. A schedule of payments is being drawn up.
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  ADT has made two payments of £500,000 and £250,000 which were paid in August 1990 and March 1991 respectively, towards the college capital programme.

  I congratulate ADT on its public-spirited sponsorship of a very attractive project to improve educational opportunities for children in south London, which is making good progress.

  Science
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he is making to the problems of the lack of qualified science teachers in respect of science key stages 1 and 3.

  Mr. Fallon
  We have taken measures to improve the supply of teachers in shortage areas. A number of these are targeted specifically at science, including the extension of the initial teacher training bursary to biology as well as chemistry and physics courses, support for the development of distance learning materials in physics, chemistry and primary science, teaching taster courses and the undergraduate work experience scheme.

  In the current financial year, the Government are making specific grants to support local authority expenditure of some £170 million for the implementation of the national curriculum. It is for local education authorities to apply for these grants, to identify needs and priorities and to direct spending towards them. However, £10 million of this total is earmarked for courses for teachers of maths and science in primary schools.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he is taking to increase the number of school laboratory technicians.

  Mr. Fallon
  Under local management of schools, the governing bodies of schools take their own decisions on staffing matters. The Government are confident that governors are best placed to take decisions including the appropriate deployment of resources between teaching and non-teaching staff, and the nature of the non-teaching staff to be appointed.

  Speech Disorders
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children whose homes are in Scotland are being educated at specialist schools for children with speech and language disorders in England.

  Mr. Fallon
  This information is not collected centrally.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Service (Race Relations)
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to improve implementation of the prison service's race relations policies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The prison service is committed to the elimination of racial discrimination in all aspects of its work. This is clearly set out in the service's public policy statement, which emphasises the need to treat all prisoners fairly and without discrimination.
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  In order to help ensure effective implementation of these policies, we are launching this week a race relations manual for use at all establishments. A copy is being placed in the Library.

  The manual explains the service's race relations policies in detail, and their implications for the various areas of prison life. It gives practical advice on how to implement the policies, and enables establishments to audit their current performance. All establishments will be required to carry out the audit process, to draw up action plans to ensure that the policies are being implemented and to develop new initiatives and ideas.

  The manual will be used primarily by each establishment's race relations management team, which reports to the governor. Governors and their area managers will maintain an oversight of progress. However, the manual emphasises the responsibilities of all staff to help to implement the service's policies. The manual will be available to all staff and prisoners.

  Briefings for governing governors are taking place this week and will be introduced by the director general of the prison service. Training sessions have already been held for representatives from race relations management teams.

  The prison service will also be introducing shortly a pack for use by establishments in delivering local race relations training and a pocketbook for staff.

  We believe that these initiatives represent a major step forward in ensuring the elimination of discrimination in prisons. They demonstrate the determination of the prison service to ensure that all prisoners are treated fairly, with humanity and with respect.

  Television (Listed Events)
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the conclusion of his consultations with interested parties about possible changes to the list drawn up for the purposes of section 182 of the Broadcasting Act 1990.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Following consultation with broadcasters, the rights holders of the events concerned, the Sports Council and the Central Council of Physical Recreation I have drawn up a list including eight events. They are:

  1. Cricket Test matches involving England

  2. The Derby horse race

  3. The FIFA World cup finals

  4. The FA cup final.

  5. The Grand National horse race

  6. The Olympic games

  7. The finals weekend of the Wimbledon tennis championships and any subsequent days if the championship overruns

  8. Additionally in Scotland, the Scottish FA cup final.

  The Commonwealth games when held in the United Kingdom and the Oxford and Cambridge boat race have both been removed from the list, as have all but the finals weekend of the Wimbledon tennis championships.

  Visa Nationals
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has reviewed the arrangements for visa nationals who travel abroad and return during a period of leave in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  At present, a visa national who intends to leave the United Kingdom for a visit abroad
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  and then to return before the expiry of his current leave can obtain a re-entry visa from the Home Office. However, because re-entry visas are issued without substantive consideration of applications, they do not contribute to immigration control and I am not satisfied that they represent an effective use of resources. Furthermore, because returning visitors are eligible to receive a fresh six months' leave on each admission, a visa national can in theory prolong a visit indefinitely and without effective scrutiny through repeated use of re-entry visas. I have therefore decided that re-entry visas will no longer be issued with effect from 16 May 1991 and that alternative arrangements should be made.

  In recent years it has been the practice, when introducing a new visa regime, to provide an exemption for visa nationals who are settled here or have been admitted for work, study or other long-term purposes. The visa exemption scheme, currently limited to 11 visa nationalities, is functioning satisfactorily and there is no longer any reason why its scope should remain confined in this way. I am therefore laying before Parliament today immigration rules changes to extend the scheme to all visa nationalities. From 16 May any visa national who is settled here and returns after an absence of not more than two years, or has been granted a limited leave of more than six months and returns before the expiry date of that leave, will benefit from the exemption.

  Visitors will remain outside the scope of the exemption scheme. However, in order to provide increased flexibility for those who plan to travel abroad and return during a

  Year

  Current balance (1) £ million

  Balance on trade in oil (2) £ million

  Non-North sea current balance1 (3) £ million

  Non-North sea current balance as a percentage of non-North sea money GDP2 3 (4)

  1970

  821

  -496

  1,317

  2·5

  1971

  1,114

  -691

  1,805

  3·1

  1972

  203

  -665

  868

  1·3

  1973

  -998

  -944

  -54

  -0·1

  1974

  -6,822

  -3,360

  -3,462

  -4·1

  1975

  -1,525

  -3,062

  1,537

  1·5

  1976

  -772

  -3,952

  3,180

  2·6

  1977

  53

  -2,775

  2,828

  2·0

  1978

  1,123

  -1,989

  3,112

  1·9

  1979

  -453

  -737

  284

  0·1

  1980

  2,843

  308

  2,535

  1·1

  1981

  6,748

  3,105

  3,643

  1·5

  1982

  4,649

  4,639

  10

  0·0

  1983

  3,787

  6,972

  -3,185

  -1·1

  1984

  1,832

  6,933

  -5,101

  -1·7

  1985

  2,738

  8,101

  -5,363

  -1·6

  1986

  -66

  4,070

  -4,136

  -1·1

  1987

  -4,322

  4,183

  -8,505

  -2·1

  1988

  -15,542

  2,797

  -18,339

  -4·0

  1989

  -19,904

  1,303

  -21,207

  -4·2

  1990

  -12,794

  1,576

  -14,370

  -2·7

  Forecast £ billion4

  1991

  -6

  +1

  -7

  -1

  1 Defined as col. 1 less col. 2.

  2 Non-North sea GDP is the average measure of GDP at current market prices less the value added of the extraction of mineral oil and natural gas industry.

  1Based on non-North sea money GDP figures adjusted to remove the distortion caused by the abolition of domestic rates.

  4Source: consistent with financial statement and Budget report 1991–92.

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  visit, my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary has decided to introduce on 16 May a new multiple entry visa valid for six months. This will replace and carry the same charge as the existing six month double entry visa. The existing two year and five year multiple entry visas will remain available.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Trade Statistics
  Mr. Lawson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will provide a table showing, for each calendar year from 1970 to 1990 inclusive,(a) the non-oil current account surplus or deficit, (b) non-oil money GDP, (c) (a) above as a percentage of (b) above;

  (2) if he will publish a table showing, for each year from 1970 to 1990 inclusive, plus the Budget forecast for 1991, the non-oil current account surplus or deficit expressed as a percentage of non-oil GDP.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 15 April 1991]: The annual values for the years 1970 to 1990 of the current account balance less the balance of trade in oil are shown in the table, together with these current balance values expressed as a percentage of non-North sea gross domestic product. Non-North sea GDP is not published as a separate series. There is no standard definition of the non-oil current balance; the measure shown here does not take account of the full impact of the oil industry, nor would it be feasible to do so.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Farm Prices
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on farm prices for the current year.

  Mr. Curry
  Negotiations are continuing on the European Commission's proposals for agricultural prices for the 1991–92 marketing years; the Agriculture Council next meets on 22 and 23 April.

  Brucellosis
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in how many herds of cattle brucellosis has been identified in the current year; how many heads of cattle have been destroyed; what is the basis of compensation for cattle killed as a result of this identification of brucellosis; and if he will make a statement on the extent of brucellosis and the measures taken to curtail it.

  Mr. Maclean
  In Great Britain, no case of brucellosis has been confirmed this year and so far one animal has been slaughtered as a reactor. In Northern Ireland, brucellosis has been confirmed in two herds, and 36 reactors and 196 contact animals have been slaughtered.

  Compensation for reactors is paid at 75 per cent. of market value, subject to a ceiling.

  The United Kingdom is officially brucellosis free under community criteria, and qualifies for blood testing to be carried out only every two years.

PRIME MINISTER

  Correspondence
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Prime Minister when he will be replying to the letter of 19 March from the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North on the subject of the campaign for non-payment of the poll tax by a prospective parliamentary candidate.

  The Prime Minister
  A reply to the hon. Member has been sent today.

WALES

  Rents
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average time taken by the rent officer service for Wales to deal with applications made to them under(a) section 70 of the Rent Act 1977 and (b) section 121 of the Housing Act 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what increase there has been in personnel employed in the rent officer service in Wales since the introduction of the Housing Act 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Fifteen.

ENVIRONMENT

  Water Authorities
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now able to dissolve the English residuary water authorities.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend has today dissolved by order the residuary Anglian, Northumbrian, North West, Severn-Trent, Wessex and Yorkshire water authorities. He will dissolve the remaining authorities as soon as they have discharged their functions.

  Gulf Oil Pollution
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the report by the head of the meteorological research flight on the Hercules flight through the smoke plume in the Gulf.

  (2) what has been the assessment of the meteorological research flight in relation to (a) hydrogen sulphide, (b) carbon monoxide, (c) carbon dioxide, (d) sulphur dioxide, (e) nitrogen compounds and (f) combinations of hydrocarbons and chlorine in the smoke plumes in the Gulf; and what was the finding of particles of aerosol per cubic metre.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 15 April,Official Report, Vol. 189, columns 65–66, and to the related documents which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations have been received from Iran about oil-black rain and oil-black snow.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend has received no such representations.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 28 March,Official Report, columns 538–39, to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks), what interim assessments he has had from the United Nations Environment Programme for a comprehensive assessment of environmental damage in the Gulf.

  Mr. Baldry
  None so far. I understand that implementation of the 90-day programme for the comprehensive assessment proposed by UNEP has now begun, but it is too early to make a substantive report on progress.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when local authorities are to be compensated in respect of the statutory reduction of community charges; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  A new grant is to be paid to local authorities to reimburse them for the loss of community charge income arising from the provisions of the Community Charges (General Reduction) Act 1991. Payment of this grant will be made in 10 monthly instalments of 9 per cent. commencing in April on the basis of an estimate of the income forgone by each authority.
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  Final grant entitlement will be calculated after the end of the financial year 1991–92. Parliamentary approval of this new service will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the relevant vote, class VIII, vote 14. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure (estimated at £435 million for the grant payments to be made in April) will be met by a repayable advance from the contingencies fund.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of(a) the total costs of administration of the community charge in England in 1990–91 and (b) the costs of the administration of the rates in 1989–90.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 16 April 1991]: Local authorities budgeted to spend £440 million on the administration of the community charge in 1990–91. This compares with £200 million for the collection of both domestic and non-domestic rates.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the average reduction in 1991–92 in community charges resulting from the provisions of the Community Charges (General Reduction) Bill for all those entitled to a reduction under the community charge reduction scheme prior to the enactment of the Bill.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 15 April 1991]: Following the Community Charges (General Reduction) Act and the improvements to the community charge reduction scheme, the average reduction in net charge payable after community charge benefit in England, for those who were previously within the scope of the community charge reduction scheme as already planned for 1991–92, is estimated at £86. For those with no entitlement to community charge benefit the average reduction is estimated at £113.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many community charge payers he estimates will benefit, net of rebates and the community charge reduction scheme, from the provisions of the Community Charges (General Reduction) Bill by(a) £140, (b) £120 to £140, (c) £100 to £120, (d) £80 to £100 and (e) less than £80; and in each case, how many are (i) pensioners and (ii) income support recipients.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 15 April 1991]: The Community Charges (General Reduction) Act 1991 provides for headline community charges everywhere to be reduced by £140, or to zero where the charge set is less than that figure. About 20 million chargepayers in England will additionally receive help from the community charge reduction scheme and/or through community charge benefit.

  Both the community charge reduction scheme and community charge benefit help people meet their headline community charges and reduce the amount falling to be paid. The community charge reduction scheme limits increases between 1989–90 rates and community charge liabilities in 1991–92. Community charge benefit helps those with low incomes. It follows that when the headline charge is reduced, the amount of help a person needs to meet the headline charge is also reduced.

  For example, a person on income support would only have to pay 20 per cent. of the community charge as reduced by £140 and any entitlement under the community

  185
  charge reduction scheme, CCRS. If their original charge was £400, and if there were no entitlement to CCRS, the charge after benefit would have been £80; after the £140 reduction the headline charge is £260 and the charge payable is £52. The 35 per cent. reduction in net charge is the same as the percentage reduction in headline charge.

  The information requested is given in the table below:

  Reduction in payment per year

  Charge payers (millions)

  Pensioners (millions)

  (a) £140 plus

  14·2

  1·9

  (b) £120 to £139·99

  1·7

  0·2

  (c) £100 to £119·99

  2·2

  0·3

  (d) £80 to £99·99

  2·9

  0·5

  (e) less than £80

  14·6

  5·0

  All 4 million individuals in England on income support are entitled to maximum community charge benefit and hence fall in category (e) in the above table.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates the average community charge will be in England in 1991–92(a) before the effects of the Community Charges (General Reduction) Bill and (b) after the reduction provided for in the Bill, in both cases giving figures (i) gross of the community charge reduction scheme and rebates, (ii) net of the community charge reduction scheme but gross of rebates and (iii) net of the community charge reduction scheme and rebates.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 15 April 1991]: The information requested is as follows:

  £

  (a) Before Community Charges (General Reduction) Act

  (i) Average charge (gross)

  392

  (ii) Average charge less community charge reduction scheme

  340

  (iii) Average charge less community charge reduction scheme and community charge benefit

  285

  (b) After Community Charges (General Reduction) Act and revision to community charge reduction scheme

  (i) Average charge (gross)

  252

  (ii) Average charge less community charge reduction scheme

  220

  (iii) Average charge less community charge reduction scheme and community charge benefit

  187

  Taking account of the allowance in income support for the 20 per cent. minimum contribution, the estimated average charge in England is reduced to less than £175. Charges have been calculated without allowing for reduction in charges due to capping.

  Concrete Batching Plant, London N19
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make a decision on the inspectors' report into a planning application for a concrete batching plant at Monnery road, London N19; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  A decision is expected shortly.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on action being taken to end environmental destruction in the Gulf region.
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  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 16 April 1991]: I listed the actions which the United Kingdom had taken to help alleviate the effects of oil pollution in the Gulf in my reply to the motion tabled by the hon. Member for Linlithgow on 15 March, Official Report, Vol. 187, columns 1384–91. Since then, the Government have continued to respond positively to requests for assistance from the Gulf states. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry was accompanied on his recent visit to Kuwait by a team of experts to advise on the capabilities which United Kingdom industry could offer for extinguishing oil fires and capping the wells. The Government are also making available to the Gulf states an assessment of the health and environment effects of those fires. In relation to the coastal oil slick, part of the £1 million which the United Kingdom has contributed to the International Maritime Organisation is being deployed to clean up Karan island, a key Gulf breeding site for green turtles.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's estimate of the number of homeless people on 1 January of each year since 1981 who are sleeping in(a) bed and breakfast accommodation, (b) hostels and (c) other temporary accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 16 April 1991]: Information on homeless households for whom local authorities have accepted a statutory duty to secure accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 and the Housing Act 1985 is reported quarterly to the Department.

  Estimates of the number of such households, including some on whom inquiries had not yet been completed, in each type of temporary accommodation at 31 December of each year since 1980 are as follows:

  Bed and breakfast

  Hostels1

  Other

  1980

  1,330

  3,380

  ..

  1981

  1,520

  3,320

  ..

  1982

  1,640

  3,500

  4,200

  1983

  2,700

  3,400

  3,740

  1984

  3,670

  3,990

  4,640

  1985

  5,360

  4,730

  5,830

  1986

  8,990

  4,610

  7,190

  1987

  10,370

  5,150

  9,240

  1988

  10,970

  6,240

  12,890

  1989

  11,480

  8,020

  18,400

  1990

  11,130

  9,010

  25,030

  1 Including women's refuges.

  .. Not available.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  West Bank
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government about plans to build new housing units for Israeli settlers in the occupied Palestinian west bank.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We continue to make very clear to the Israelis that we oppose all such activity. Israeli
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  settlements in the occupied territories, including east Jerusalem, are in our view illegal and an obstacle to the search for peace.

  Kurds
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance has been given to Turkey to alleviate the problem of Kurdish refugees from Iraq; what assistance has been given to the Kurds within Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the plight of the Kurdish people of Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have contributed £20 million in response to the United Nations and other international appeals for help to Iraqui refugees. This money is for use in Turkey, Iran and Iraq and other affected countries. We have also contributed three Hercules aircraft and nine Chinook helicopters to assist with the delivery of relief supplies. This is at a cost of some £1 million per week.

  We remain concerned at the plight of the Iraqi refugees and determined to play our full part in meeting their needs.

  China
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the question of human rights was discussed at his recent meeting in Peking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised the subject of human rights, and in particular the present situation in Tibet, with both Mr. Qian Qichen, the Chinese Foreign Minister, and Mr. Jiang Zemin, the General Secretary. He referred to a list of cases of particular concern compiled by Amnesty International. We have made regular representations to the Chinese authorities, both bilaterally and with our EC partners, about reported human rights abuses in China.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken concerning the imprisonment of Catholic priests and clergy of other denominations in China at the most recent date.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We regularly make representations to the Chinese about these matters. EC ambassadors in Peking made a demarche on this subject last year and my hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs also raised it on his visit to Peking in July last year.

  On his recent visit to Peking, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs reminded the Chinese authorities of our general concern about reports of human rights abuses. He referred to a list of cases of particular concern, which included a number of people imprisoned for their religious beliefs.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the question of religious freedom in Hong Kong after the handover to China in 1997 was discussed during his recent visit to Peking.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  This question did not arise during the recent discussions that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had with the Chinese Government. The Sino-British joint 188
  declaration and the Basic Law both make provision for the continuation of freedom of religious belief and practice in Hong Kong after 1997. In addition, the international covenant on civil and political rights, article 18 of which covers religious freedom, will, under the joint declaration and Basic Law, continue to apply to Hong Kong after 1997.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to China.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Thorne) on 15 April, in Official Report, Vol. 189, columns 111–12.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what considerations persuaded the coalition to allow Iraq to use helicopter gunships after the peace treaty; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  At the meeting between General Schwarzkopf and the Iraqi military authorities on 3 March on the suspension of hostilities, the use of fixed wing combat aircraft by Iraq was prohibited. No limitation was placed on the use of helicopters.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Africa
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will raise in the European Community the special need for additional funds for emergency relief in Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The need for additional funds for emergency relief in Africa was discussed, at our request, at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on Monday 15 April. The principle of further emergency aid was agreed. Detailed proposals will be presented by the Commission as soon as possible.

  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government and the European Community have taken to provide additional food supplies to Africa; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Since the first clear indications of the serious food situation in Africa became apparent in September 1990, the United Kingdom has committed 158,000 tonnes of food aid. I also announced at the beginning of this week an additional £30 million of non-food emergency and relief assistance in Africa. The need for additional funds for Africa was discussed by EC Foreign Ministers on 15 April, and detailed proposals are expected to be agreed soon.

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Training
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how much the total number of training places available through employment training has been reduced in the Northumberland area over the last two years.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested is not available. There have been boundary changes and a change in the way data have been collected over the past two years.

  Health and Safety Commission
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list the current members of the Health and Safety Commission and give the relevent experience of each member; how many of the commission are females; and what percentage of the total membership they comprise.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Health and Safety Commission consists of the following members, including the chairman, with their relevant experience:

  John Cullen FEng. Phd.—worked in industry for 27 years becoming European director for regulatory affairs, engineering and health and safety for Rohm and Haas Limited. He has been chairman of the Health and Safety Commission since October 1983.

  Edward Carrick—has extensive experience in local government including vice convenor of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities' environmental committee. He has also been involved in safety standards and training in the construction industry.

  Paul Gallagher—has been president since 1987 of the Electrical Electronic Telecommunication and Plumbing Union. He has wide negotiating experience in industry.

  Peter Jacques CBE—is head of the social insurance and industrial welfare department, TUC and has been a member of the Health and Safety Commission since October 1974.

  John C. Marvin—was chief executive-chairman of Hickson International from 1985 to 1990. Previously with ICI, including spells abroad, his special interests are in relation to the Chemical Industries Association.

  Dr. Colin Shannon CBE—has wide experience in local government at district and national representative levels. He has been vice chairman of the Institute of Environmental Health Officers since 1983.

  Nigel J. Pitcher—is a chartered engineer with wide experience in the contracting industry from power stations to motorways. He is a director of 12 Laing group companies including Laing Engineering Limited and John Laing Construction.

  Rex H. M. Symons—is deputy chairman of Merck Holdings Ltd. also a director of British Drug Houses Ltd. being managing director from 1981 to 1989. He acts as the Confederation of British Industry's work place health and safety consultant and is the executive vice-chairman of the Dorset training and enterprise council.

  Alan Tuffin—is general secretary of the Union of Communication Workers and a member of the TUC general council. He is chairman of the TUC's social insurance and industrial welfare committee.

  Dame Rachel Waterhouse—recently retired as chair-man of the Consumers Association, having been a member since 1966. She still serves as a member. President of the Institute of Consumer Ergonomics. Wide experience in consumer and social affairs, having specialised in health and safety matters.

  The Commission has one female member, which is 10 per cent. of the total.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current maximum level of payment per trainee being made by training enterprise councils to agencies providing skill and vocational training to the young, and of this how much is due to the trainee and agency, respectively.

  Mr. Jackson
  Payments to providers of youth training are a matter for negotiation between them and the training and enterprise councils. Trainees who are not employed must receive a weekly training allowance of at least £29·50 when they are aged 16, and at least £35·00 when they are aged 17 and above.

  Career Guidance
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's review of career guidance, announced in May 1990.

  Mr. Howard
  I have no plans to place a copy of my Department's internal review of the careers service in the Library. I wrote on March 27 to the local authority associations, the chairmen of TECs, the CBI and the TUC seeking their views on a consultative paper on the future of the careers service. A copy of this consultative paper has been placed in the Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Income (Statistics)
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what will be the net income after the Budget proposals have come into effect (i) after housing costs of a married man with children aged 13 to 16 years earning(a) £104 and (b) £105 per week, (ii) of a married man with children aged three, eight and 11 years paying average rent and rates as used in the tax benefit model tables earning (a) £65 per week and (b) £80 per week, (iii) after benefits of a married man with children aged four and six years earning (a) £60 per week gross and (b) £140 per week gross (iv) under current tax and benefit structure of a married man with children aged three, eight and 11 years with gross earnings of (a) £65 per week and (b) £105 per week and (v) under the current tax and benefit structure of a married man with children aged four and six years earning (a) £80 per week and (b) £90 per week.

  Mr. Jack
  The information is set out in the tables. All assumptions are as set out in the published tax-benefit model tables. For the purposes of these examples, it has been assumed that housing costs remain static irrespective of the level of gross earnings. Each family is assumed to live in council property appropriate to its size and to pay estimated average rent and community charge. Total net income is the product of the interaction of income-related benefits and the tax system at any given level of gross earnings. In the tables relating to the situation after the Budget proposals have come into effect, 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. Those relating to the situation before the Budget use benefit rates in force before the April uprating.
  191
  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 they do not reflect the full range of housing costs which people can pay.

  The information is as follows:

  Tables (i) to (iii)—post Budget Married couple with two children aged 13 and 16

  Gross earnings (£pw)

  Net income after rent and community charge (£pw)

  104

  130·59

  105

  130·63

  Married couple with three children aged three, eight and 11

  Gross earnings (£pw)

  Net income after rent and community charge (£pw)

  65

  132·67

  80

  133·48

  Married couple with two children aged four and six

  Gross earnings (£pw)

  Net income after rent and community charge (£pw)

  60

  111·5

  140

  119·0

  Tables (iv) to (v)—pre-Budget Married couple with three children aged three, eight and 11

  Gross earnings (£pw)

  Net income after rent and community charge (£pw)

  65

  121·23

  105

  125·60

  Married couple with two children aged four and six

  Gross earnings (£pw)

  Net income after rent and community charge (£pw)

  80

  103·17

  90

  103·72

  Child Allowances
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will explain, as precisely as the information available permits, how the 1977 upratings of child dependency increases and war widows' children's allowances, respectively, were calculated; and what amounts were paid out in respect of these allowances in 1977 and at the latest available date.

  Mr. Jack
  In November 1977 the rates of child dependency increases of benefit for the first child in a family and war widows' children's allowance were 192
  increased by 14·5 per cent. in line with the general up-rating of long-term benefits. The rates of child dependency increases for the second and any subsequent child in a family were calculated by reducing the rate payable for the first child by the 50p differential between the rate of child benefit payable for the first child and that payable for any other child.

  On the basis of the information available, expenditure on child dependency increases of benefit in the financial year 1977–78 is estimated to have been in the region of £230 million, of which about £90 million was for child dependency increases of short-term benefits. Since 1984, child dependency increases of short-term benefits have been payable only where the beneficiary has reached state pension age. Equivalent expenditure in the last financial year, 1990–91, is estimated to have been £158 million. Information on expenditure on war widows' children's allowances is not available as no records were kept of the numbers receiving the two levels of allowance then payable; expenditure in 1990–91 was about £1·7 million.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the cash limits of the social fund for 1991–92 applied to the Peterlee and Seaham offices for 1991–92 and the estimated expenditure on discretionary grants and loans for 1990–91.

  Mr. Scott
  Details of the district office budget allocations for 1991–92 and monthly local office expenditure up to February 1991, the latest figures available, are in the Library.

  Expenditure
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the level of expenditure on social security each year since 1979, both in cash terms and at 1990–91 prices, excluding expenditure on unemployment benefit, income support for the unemployed and their families and other expenditure on the unemployed; and what has been the percentage change in real terms each year and cumulatively.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Details of total social security spending from 1978–79 to 1990–91, excluding the amount spent on unemployed people, are given in the table. The table is as follows:

  Expenditure £ million

  Cash

  1990–91 prices

  Percentage change in real terms

  Cumulative percentage change

  1978–79

  15,228

  38,416

  —

  —

  1979–80

  18,146

  39,234

  2·13

  2·13

  1980–81

  21,221

  38,774

  -1·17

  0·96

  1981–82

  24,941

  41,558

  7·18

  8·14

  1982–83

  27,989

  43,544

  4·78

  12·92

  1983–84

  31,180

  46,364

  6·48

  19·40

  1984–85

  33,630

  46,590

  2·64

  22·04

  1985–86

  36,525

  49,023

  3·01

  25·05

  1986–87

  39,533

  51,283

  4·61

  29·66

  1987–88

  42,292

  52,084

  1·56

  31·22

  1988–89

  44,483

  50,985

  -2·11

  29·11

  1989–90

  48,380

  52,129

  2·24

  31·35

  1990–91

  54,149

  54,149

  3·88

  35·23

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) council tenants and (b) private tenants in Lambeth were in receipt of housing benefit at the end of February based on claims for refund of housing benefit by his Department to Lambeth.

  Miss Widdecombe
  This information has not yet been received from Lambeth council.

SCOTLAND

  Coronary Surgery, Lothian
  Mr. Eadie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will investigate the delay in carrying out elective coronary surgery in the Lothian health board area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have made substantial extra resources available to Lothian for cardiac surgery. Last year, the number of operations increased and waiting lists fell by 5·4 per cent. I will however give further consideration to the programme in the light of the hon. Members' representations.

  Ravenscraig
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to promote employment prospects in the Ravenscraig district.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The Lanarkshire working group, which I supervise, is identifying the constraints to regenerating the Lanarkshire economy and the measures necessary to overcome these constraints. I expect the group to put forward its recommendations for economic development measures, including job creation projects, around the end of this month.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the future of the poll tax.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I refer to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber (Sir R. Johnston).

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the cost of implementing the Government's new proposals for local government finance.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  A consultation paper on the Government's proposed new local taxation system will be issued shortly. Until the proposals have been finalised, it will not be possible to estimate the costs of implementation.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will next meet COSLA to discuss local government finance.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend earlier today to the hon. Members for East Kilbride (Mr. Ingram) and for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth (Mr. Hogg).
  194
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each year from 1967–68 to 1991–92 the aggregate grant percentage for rate/revenue support grant.

  Mr. Lang
  The percentages for 1975–76 to 1991–92 of rate/revenue support grant to actual relevant expenditure are shown in the table. Figures for earlier years are not readily available.

  RSG as a percentage of relevant expenditure

  1975–76

  52·2

  1976–77

  61·0

  1977–78

  60·4

  1978–79

  57·4

  1979–80

  51·6

  1980–81

  49·6

  1981–82

  53·7

  1982–83

  55·7

  1983–84

  55·0

  1984–85

  51·0

  1985–86

  48·4

  1986–87

  47·2

  1987–88

  47·1

  1988–89

  46·7

  1989–90

  48·1

  1990–91

  48·3

  1991–92

  48·0

  1. Total relevant expenditure figures include loan and leasing charges.

  2. Rate/revenue support grant figures represent the original amounts of RSG awarded.

  3. No account has been taken of specific grants payable to local authorities.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the estimated cost of collecting local authority taxes in(a) 1991–92, (b) 1992–93 and (c) 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Based on local authorities' own budget estimates for 1991–92, the cost of collecting the community charge and non-domestic rates will be £47·4 million. The comparable information for 1992–93 and 1993–94 will not be available until local authorities have submitted their budget estimates for those years.

  Full account has been taken in successive aggregate external finance settlements of the costs incurred by local authorities in collecting both the community charge and non-domestic rates.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of expenditure by Scottish local authorities in connection with the administration of the community charge for 1991–92.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Based on local authorities' own budget estimates, the cost of community charge registration and collection in 1991–92 will be £61·6 million.

  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further progress the Government have made in their review of the poll tax.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment, Scotland and Wales will be issuing a consultation paper shortly on the Government's proposals to introduce a new local tax to replace the community charge.
  195
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the cost of the latest changes in local government funding in Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The Scottish share of the cost of the step change in the level of central Government funding for local authorities announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 19 March is around £490 million gross. The net cost, after taking into account changes to the community charge reduction scheme and community charge benefit will be about £380 million.

  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the average level of poll tax is expected to be in the coming year.

  Mr. Lang
  Following the passage of the Community Charges (General Reduction) Act 1991, the average personal community charge in Scotland for this year is £253 and the average combined personal and water charge is £282.

  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with local authorities about the financing of local government.

  Mr. Lang
  My hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Local Government and I met representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on 8 April to discuss a range of local government finance issues.

  Fishing
  Mr. Buchanan-Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has plans to meet the Scottish Fishermen's Federation to discuss the tie-up scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I have arranged to meet representatives of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation on 23 April 1991 to discuss their concerns about the Scottish fishing industry in general.

  Unemployment
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to discuss unemployment.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Meetings with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are normally undertaken by me and my noble Friend the Minister with responsibility for the highlands and islands respectively. We both had contact with the bodies which fall within our responsibilities earlier this month. The Secretary of State has had opportunities for discussion with the chairmen of both Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise during the past two months.

  Training and Employment
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman of Scottish Enterprise to discuss training and employment.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend met the chairman of Scottish Enterprise on 26 February and I met the chairman on 2 April. On both occasions a wide range of subjects relevant to Scottish Enterprise was discussed.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from shop stewards on the future of the steel works at Ravenscraig, Clydesdale and Dalzell.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Since the beginning of last year, Scottish Office Ministers have held seven meetings with trade union representatives from the Scottish steel industry. At these meetings, the unions made representations in support of the case for investment to secure the future of the Scottish plants.

  Kuwait and Southern Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the letter of 13 March of the Minister of State, Scottish Office to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, what requests he has had from UNICEF or the World Health Organisation or other agencies for help in Kuwait or southern Iraq to fight diseases such as cholera and typhoid; and what response he has sent.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There have been no direct requests to my right hon. Friend from any such organisations for assistance to fight disease in Kuwait and Southern Iraq. The Government support the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross and have contributed £2·5 million to its Gulf appeal. We have also contributed $1 million to the United Nations and other agencies through the United Nations Disaster Relief Organisation. The work of these organisations will include action to control diseases such as cholera and typhoid.

  Elderly People, Glasgow
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to further involve the private sector in the provision of care for the elderly in the Greater Glasgow health board area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is for Greater Glasgow health board to decide whether it wishes to extend partnership developments with the private sector in its strategy for care of the elderly.

  Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with Grampian health board regarding NHS trust status for Aberdeen royal infirmary, Foresterhill.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None. However, my officials maintain close contacts with the board on this and other aspects of the NHS reforms.

  Housing
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss problems in Scottish housing.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I expect to meet representatives of the Housing Committee of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on 24 September. My last meeting with them was on 25 January.
  197
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the statutory rights available to tenants who are transferred out of the ownership of Scottish Homes by means of a ballot in terms of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 against their wishes.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 April 1991]: Tenants who are transferred to a private sector landlord from Scottish Homes as part of a large-scale voluntary disposal after a ballot, will hold assured tenancies and will have the statutory rights set out in part II of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 and the associated schedules.

  Except for those tenants whose new landlord is a fully mutual co-operative housing association, tenants will have a contractual right to buy their home. This would become a statutory right to buy, after the coming into force of regulations, in terms of section 81A of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, which I expect soon to be laid before this House.

  In addition, the terms of the new tenancy would be those agreed in advance of transfer and would have been made available to the tenants for their consultation process prior to the ballot taking place.

  Fife (Development and Enterprise)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to promote development and enterprise in Fife region.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The Government's main instrument for promoting development and enterprise in lowland Scotland is Scottish Enterprise and its associated network of local enterprise companies. For Fife region, the relevant local enterprise company is Fife Enterprise which, for the first year of its operation in 1991–92, has a budget in excess of £21 million.

  Poll Tax
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he will take to stop councils being required to pursue people for small sums of unpaid poll tax.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I am satisfied that local authorities have adequate discretion under existing arrangements to decide whether or not to pursue arrears in particular cases.

  Expenditure
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will itemise expenditure by the Industry Department on new towns in every years since 1987–88, including plans for 1991–92.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Central Government expenditure on Scottish new towns through the new town development corporations since 1987–88 and the planned expenditure for 1991–92 are recorded in tables 3.18 and 3.20 on pages 42 and 43 of the Scottish Office Report "Serving Scotland's Needs 1991–92 to 1993–94", published earlier this year.

DEFENCE

  The Gulf
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the number of fatal military and civilian casualties in the Gulf war from(a) the United
  198
  Kingdom, (b) the United States of America, (c) Kuwait, (d) other countries participating in the coalition force, (e) Iraq and (f) other countries, respectively.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Twenty-five military personnel were killed in action during the operation to liberate Kuwait. There were no United Kingdom civilian casualties during the operation. I understand that the figures for military deaths from other coalition countries during the operation were as follows:

  Number

  (a) United States

  142

  (b) Kuwait

  One

  (c) Other coalition countries

  51

  As at 16 April, the United States also had five personnel still listed as missing. I understand that it is estimated that about 1,300 Kuwaitis were killed in the first three days following Iraq's invasion and about 1,700 subsequently. We have no authoritative information on civilian casualties suffered by other coalition countries, nor on military or civilian casualties sustained by Iraq or by other countries outside the coalition.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Obstetric Services
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what resident paediatric support exists for the obstetric units at the Royal maternity hospital, the Mater hospital and the City hospital, Belfast.

  Mr. Hanley
  Resident paediatric support for the obstetric units at the Royal maternity hospital, the Mater hospital and the Belfast city hospital is provided at two levels. Registrars are based at the Royal maternity and the Belfast city hospitals and combine with a registrar at the Royal Belfast hospital for sick children to provide a one in three rota for all three obstetric units. This means that a registrar is on call one night in three and one weekend in three. At senior house officer level, two senior house officers in the Belfast city hospital combine with two in the Royal Belfast hospital for sick children to provide a one in four rota for the Belfast city hospital and the Mater. The Royal maternity hospital has four resident senior house officers who between them provide 24 hour cover.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deliveries were recorded in 1989 in the obstetric units of the Royal maternity hospital, the Mater hospital and the City hospital, Belfast.

  Mr. Hanley
  The number of deliveries was as follows:

  Hospital

  Live births

  Stillbirths

  Total

  Royal maternity hospital

  3,171

  23

  3,194

  Mater

  887

  5

  892

  Belfast City hospital

  2,888

  14

  2,902

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the current rota for obstetric staff at the Royal maternity hospital, the Mater hospital and the City hospital, Belfast;
  199
  (2) how many consultant obstetricians and consultant gynaecologists are currently employed at the Royal maternity hospital, the Mater hospital and the City hospital, Belfast.

  Mr. Hanley
  Eleven consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists are employed in the Mater hospital, Belfast city hospital and royal group of hospitals, including the royal maternity and the royal Victoria hospitals. These consultants provide 24-hour cover to the hospitals concerned.

  A rota indicates the degree to which a doctor is on call outside his normal working week. For example a 1:3 rota means that he is on call one night in three and one weekend in three. The term is normally used in relation to junior doctors. Details of the current rota for junior doctors at the hospitals are set out below.

  Rota

  Royal Victoria hospital

  Senior registrars and registrars

  1 in 4

  Senior house officers

  1 in 4

  House officers

  1 in 3

  Belfast city hospital

  Senior registrars and registrars

  1 in 4

  Senior house officers

  1 in 4

  Mater hospital

  Registrars

  1 in 2

  Senior house officers

  1 in 3

  Milk
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the quantity of milk produced in the year ending 31 March 1991; what was the relevant quota for milk production; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Wholesale milk production in Northern Ireland in the year ending 31 March 1991 is provisionally calculated to have been 1,285·950 million litres. This volume will be adjusted to take account of its butterfat content. The final wholesale production figure will not be known for some time. Wholesale quota for the Province is 1,285·628 million litres. This figure may be increased by the addition of any unused direct sales quota. Direct sales quota is 5.6 million litres. Direct sales production will not be known until final returns have been received from direct sellers.

  Industrial Development Board
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total expenditure of the Industrial development board in(a) Germany, (b) the United States, (c) South Korea and (d) Japan in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Needham
  Expenditure incurred by IDB in maintaining its offices in Germany, United States, South Korea and Japan during 1990–91 was £580,675, £1,598,472, £677,343 and £1,017,050 respectively. The components of this expenditure are salaries, rents, capital works and promotional costs.

  Because of changes in IDB's accounting methods, comparable information for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  200
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost per job to be provided to the industrial development board in each of the past two years for jobs provided by firms from(a) Germany, (b) the United States, (c) South Korea and (d) Japan.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is as follows:

  Cost per job (£s)

  Germany

  USA

  South Korea

  Japan

  1989–90

  21,825

  23,871

  —

  39,740

  1990–91

  —

  15,690

  —

  —

  IBR Pneumonia
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of infectious bovine rhino-tracheitis pneumonia in cattle have been identified in each of the past six months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Four cases of infectious bovine rhino-tracheitis in cattle have been reported to the Department of Agriculture in the past six months. The occurrences were as follows:

  Number

  October 1990

  Nil

  November 1990

  1

  December 1990

  2

  January 1991

  1

  February 1991

  Nil

  March 1991

  Nil

  In each case, the Department of Agriculture has taken the appropriate control measures.

  Physical and Social Environmental Programme
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those grants under the physical and social environment programme which have been allocated to(a) Irish cultural activities and (b) British cultural activities; if both sections of the community are benefiting from this programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The physical and social environment programme makes provision for a sub-programme under the broad heading of community reconciliation. The overall aim of the sub-programme is to encourage greater mutual understanding and respect for different cultural traditions, and to promote greater contact between the different communities in Northern Ireland. Within the sub-programme there are five measures:

  Cross-community contact

  Community relations council

  Cultural traditions

  District councils

  Education

  The programme is for the period up to December 1993 with European regional development fund support of £9 million towards gross expenditure of £12 million.

  The four projects which have so far received funding are:

  201

  Project

  Grant £

  Measure

  Ultach trust

  0·5 million

  Cultural traditions

  Spirit of Enniskillen bursary scheme

  0·5 million

  Cross-community contact

  Cross-community project associated with tall ships race

  38,000

  Cross-community contact

  Lurgan pub with no beer

  15,000

  Cross-community contact

  Inward Investment
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs are expected to be provided by firms attracted from(a) Germany, (b) the United States, (c) South Korea and (d) Japan for each of the past five years.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is as follows:

  Years

  Germany

  USA

  South Korea

  Japan

  1986–87

  —

  —

  —

  193

  1987–88

  —

  220

  —

  —

  1988–89

  100

  74

  500

  —

  1989–90

  40

  785

  —

  100

  1990–91

  —

  55

  —

  —

  Newcastle Disease
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the level of compensation being provided for those who have had flocks of poultry destroyed as a result of the recent outbreak of Newcastle disease.

  Mr. Hanley
  Schedule 2 to the Disease of Animals Order (Northern Ireland) 1981 provides for compensation for flockowners in the case of Newcastle disease. The rate is at the value of the birds immediately before slaughter. Compensation is also paid for any eggs or feed which have

  District council area

  11985

  11986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Antrim

  291

  298

  300

  296

  349

  316

  327

  Ards

  202

  200

  208

  216

  198

  197

  188

  Armagh

  521

  518

  523

  523

  501

  467

  368

  Ballymena

  664

  662

  694

  705

  660

  658

  656

  Ballymoney

  105

  115

  123

  126

  115

  99

  98

  Banbridge

  122

  128

  135

  140

  130

  107

  109

  Belfast

  13,322

  13,616

  13,706

  13,743

  13,327

  13,577

  14,209

  Carrickfergus

  107

  114

  117

  126

  148

  162

  161

  Castlereagh

  316

  366

  433

  473

  489

  497

  506

  Coleraine

  751

  775

  773

  769

  764

  739

  729

  Cookstown

  244

  241

  250

  258

  246

  232

  228

  Craigavon

  719

  748

  766

  7X1

  781

  766

  741

  Derry

  832

  838

  851

  874

  863

  X64

  962

  Down

  424

  443

  452

  466

  461

  460

  453

  Dungannon

  210

  220

  231

  235

  213

  201

  284

  Fermanagh

  504

  508

  517

  522

  497

  459

  453

  Larne

  129

  129

  133

  137

  139

  129

  127

  Limavady

  126

  127

  139

  141

  134

  124

  117

  Lisburn

  499

  478

  482

  519

  511

  495

  479

  Magherafelt

  105

  113

  116

  119

  124

  106

  108

  Moyle

  14

  12

  11

  10

  10

  9

  10

  Newry and Mourne

  439

  431

  428

  434

  428

  389

  386

  Newtownabbey

  278

  310

  282

  293

  268

  228

  299

  North Down

  802

  764

  786

  831

  848

  861

  864

  Omagh

  624

  628

  630

  641

  642

  627

  626

  Strabane

  143

  146

  147

  152

  140

  125

  116

  Total

  22,493

  22,928

  23,233

  23,530

  22,983

  22,894

  23,604

  202
  to be destroyed. Provision is made for those flockowners who are dissatisfied with the amount of compensation offered to have recourse to independent valuation.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many poultry flocks have been affected by Newcastle disease since 1 April; what is the source of the present outbreak; what precautions have been taken against the spread of Newcastle disease; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Newcastle disease has been confirmed in one poultry flock since 1 April 1991.

  Epidemiological investigations are continuing but the available evidence indicates that the source of the outbreak was contaminated feed.

  The Department of Agriculture in accordance with EC and domestic legislation impress restrictions on the movement of all poultry, poultrymeat and eggs in a 10 km zone around infected areas.

  After consultation with the poultry and compound feedingstuffs industries, the Department introduced regulations requiring all poultry rations to be heat-treated, or until 31 August 1991 handled through closed systems, so as to minimise the risk of contamination. Heat treatment of feedstuff's is the most secure means of preventing the spread of infection from this source. The Department has issued advice to poultry producers on how to prevent infection, the symptoms to look out for and the need to report promptly any suspicion of disease.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons were employed in the non-industrial civil service in each district council area, as at 1 April in each year from 1985 to 1991.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 15 April 1991]: The information relating to the Northern Ireland civil service is as follows:
  203
  1 These figures exclude 82 staff in 1985 and 72 staff in 1986 who were employed in the probation service. Staff working for the newly created probation board for Northern Ireland were excluded from the Northern Ireland civil service figures from 1987 onwards.

HEALTH

  Pharmaceutical Advisory Committee
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will list the current members of the standing pharmaceutical advisory committee and give the relevant experience of each member; how many of the commission are females; and what percentage of the total membership they comprise.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The current members of the Standing Pharmaceutical Advisory Committee (SPAC) are:

  Mr. W. M. Darling, CBE, FRPharmS

  Mr. T. P. Astill, BPharm, LLB Barrister, MRPharmS

  Dr. S. Ellis, MPharm, PhD, FRPharmS

  Mr. A. Massam, LLB Barrister, FRPharmS

  Mr. J. Ferguson, FRPharmS

  Professor A. T. Florence, DSc FRSs FRSE FRPharmS

  Professor P. Spencer, BPharm DSc, PhD, FRPharmS,

  FIBiol, MCPP

  Professor D. Ganderton, BPharm, PhD, MRPharmS

  Mr. P. J. Keen, FRPharmS

  Miss M. E. Tompkins, MRPharmS, MSc

  Mr. N. L. Wood, BPharm, MRPharmS

  Mr. J. Kirby, FRPharmS

  Mrs. L. J. Stone BPharmS

  Twelve members are appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, and the president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain is an ex-officio member.

  Including the ex-offlcio member, three out of 13 members are female.

  All members of SPAC are chosen by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State bearing in mind their standing in the profession and their experience in their own field of pharmacy.

  Next Steps Initiative
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has identified any further candidates for agency status under the "next steps" initiative within his Department.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Following a detailed feasibility study, I have identified my Department's medicines control agency as a candidate for executive agency status.

  I am confident that the move to agency status will be beneficial enabling the agency to operate with greater freedom and clearer responsibility within an agreed framework of objectives, performance targets and resources, thus enhancing the agency's ability to safeguard public health through the control of medicines.

  Detailed discussions on an agency framework document have been set in hand with a view to establishing the medicines control agency as an executive agency in 1991.

  I will be considering other candidates for agency status in due course.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of persons currently on waiting lists for hospital in-patient treatment.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [pursuant to her reply, 16 April 1991]: The new figures for 30 September 1990 show that 705,706 patients were waiting for in-patient treatment, excluding those who had asked for their admission to be deferred, a 1 per cent. reduction since March 1990. The number waiting over a year for treatment fell by 2 per cent. in the six months to September 1990. This is on top of the 9 per cent. reduction in the previous 12 months. Provisional figures show the downward trend is gaining momentum, with a 12 per cent. reduction expected in the five months to February this year.

  MEDICINAL PRODUCTS: PROPOSED EC REGULATION
  MEDICINAL PRODUCTS: PROPOSED EC REGULATION
  RACE RELATIONS IN PRISONS
  RACE RELATIONS IN PRISONS
  POPULATION ISSUES: UN CONFERENCE AGENDA
  POPULATION ISSUES: UN CONFERENCE AGENDA