Written Answers of 18 April 1991

PRIME MINISTER

  Overseas Aid
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister when the United Kingdom first agreed to give official overseas aid equivalent to 0·7 per cent. of annual income; and if he will list the amount in real terms and the percentage for each year since then.

  The Prime Minister
  The United Nations target for official development assistance to developing countries of 0·7 per cent. of GNP was accepted in principle by the British Government in 1974, although no date was set for meeting it. The United Kingdom has provided net official development assistance since then as follows:

  Year

  Net official development assistance £ million (1989 prices)

  Official development assistance as percentage of GNP

  1974

  1,348

  0·36

  1975

  1,395

  0·38

  1976

  1,469

  0·39

  1977

  1,679

  0·44

  1978

  1,803

  0·45

  1979

  2,100

  0·51

  1980

  1,378

  0·34

  1981

  1,678

  0·42

  1982

  1,483

  0·37

  1983

  1,457

  0·35

  1984

  1,402

  0·33

  1985

  1,479

  0·33

  1986

  1,430

  0·31

  1987

  1,331

  0·28

  1988

  1,591

  0·32

  1989

  1,578

  0·31

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday April 18.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

  East Timor
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Prime Minister, further to his answer of 18 March,Official Report, columns 3–4, on what considerations the Government based their decision not to recognise East Timor's right to self-determination.

  The Prime Minister
  The United Kingdom supported United Nations Security Council resolution 389 of 22 April 1976 which confirmed the right of the people of East Timor to self-determination. Since 1982 the United Kingdom, in company with most other member states of 206
  the European Community, has supported the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General to promote discussions between Indonesia and Portugal with a view to reaching a solution acceptable to all parties.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Prime Minister, further to his answer of 18 March,Official Report, columns 3–4, what guarantees he has received or what monitoring has been undertaken to ensure that Tornados sold to Indonesia have not and will not be used against the civil population of East Timor.

  The Prime Minister
  There has been no sale of Tornado to Indonesia.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Prime Minister what the Government are doing to promote United Nations resolution 35/27 of 1980 on East Timor's right to independence.

  The Prime Minister
  The United Kingdom abstained on United Nations resolution 35/27 of 1980. We took the view that by so doing, in company with most European Community partners and others, we could help to promote reconciliation and the search for a diplomatic solution by Indonesia and Portugal. Since 1982, the United Kingdom has supported the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General to find a solution to the problem which is acceptable to all parties.

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Prime Minister, further to his answer of 18 March,Official Report, columns 3–4, on what consideration the Government based their decision to recognise the right of Indonesia to self-determination.

  The Prime Minister
  My earlier reply referred to the right of self-defence under international law. All states have the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Paul Holmes
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been received from the Irish Prisoners' Support Group concerning prisoner Paul Holmes; what reply has been sent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Irish Prisoners' Support Group has written a number of letters referring to Mr. Holmes's request for a transfer to a prison in Northern Ireland. The most recent was on 25 January. A reply was sent on 14 March explaining the criteria under which Mr. Holmes's request was refused.

  Bedding Material
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 19 March,Official Report, column 70, what is the reason for the increase in the second half of the 1980s in the percentage of incidents, involving children injured in fires related to bedding, where the outcome was the death of the child.

  Mr. John Patten
  The available information given in the following table suggests the main source and cause is
  207
  playing with matches. However, the number of deaths are

  Supposed cause and source of accidental dwelling fires attended by local authority fire brigades, where the material first ignited was bedding1and children aged under five died, 1981–89 (United Kingdom)

  Number of deaths.

  Source and cause

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Matches:

  playing with fire

  —

  3

  1

  1

  8

  12

  8

  7

  5

  careless handling

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  —

  Smokers' material:

  playing with fire

  1

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  careless handling

  —

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  3

  misuse of equipment

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Electric space heaters:

  placing articles too near

  1

  —

  1

  2

  2

  —

  1

  —

  1

  misuse of equipment

  2

  —

  2

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  cause unspecified

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Gas space heaters:

  placing articles too near

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Electric blanket:

  misuse of equipment

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  fault in appliance

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Total

  6

  9

  5

  5

  10

  14

  16

  10

  12

  1 bedding is defined as all bedding on the bed including mattress covers, but not beds or mattresses, or cases where the electrical insulation of an electric blanket was recorded as first ignited.

  Source: Home Office Fire Statistics—(They are based on reports from fire brigades).

  Prison Education Departments
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table for England and for each region in England, giving actual expenditure on prison education departments, and expenditure required by these departments, for each year from 1986–87 to 1990–91, and their plans for 1991–92, and 1992–93, in current prices, in constant prices, and an index of constant price expenditure where 1986–87 = 100.

  Table showing expenditure on Prison Service Education Departments 1986–87 to 1992–93

  (£000)

  Region

  South East

  South West

  North

  Midland

  Total

  Price Level

  Current

  Constant

  Current

  Constant

  Current

  Constant

  Current

  Constant

  Current

  Constant

  1986–87

  Actual

  4,714

  4,714

  2,371

  2,371

  4,778

  4,778

  2,943

  2,943

  14,806

  14,806

  Planned

  4,447

  4,447

  2,077

  2,077

  4,124

  4,124

  2,337

  2,337

  12,985

  12,985

  1987–88

  Actual

  5,008

  4,754

  2,682

  2,546

  5,666

  5,379

  3,454

  3,279

  16,809

  15,958

  Planned

  5,196

  4,933

  2,514

  2,387

  5,532

  5,252

  3,329

  3,160

  16,571

  15,732

  1988–89

  Actual

  5,970

  5,275

  3,237

  2,860

  6,359

  5,619

  3,942

  3,483

  19,508

  17,236

  Planned

  6,037

  5,334

  3,176

  2,806

  6,467

  5,714

  3,971

  3,509

  19,651

  17,362

  1989–90

  Actual

  7,233

  6,008

  3,661

  3,041

  7,268

  6,037

  4,360

  3,622

  22,523

  18,708

  Planned

  7,100

  5,897

  3,704

  3,077

  7,428

  6,170

  4,829

  4,011

  23,062

  19,155

  1990–91

  Actual1

  6,946

  5,355

  3,890

  2,999

  7,638

  5,888

  5,073

  3,911

  23,547

  18,152

  Planned

  7,778

  5,996

  4,208

  3,244

  7,598

  5,857

  5,424

  4,181

  25,008

  19,278

  1991–92

  Actual

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Planned

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  29,137

  20,984

  1992–93

  Actual

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Planned

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  234,000

  23,440

  208
  relatively small and subject to considerable year to year variation, making the interpretation of any changes difficult.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The table shows the information available. It relates to England and Wales. A regional breakdown is available only up to 1990–91 when the Prison Service was reorganised. The information relating to 1991–92 and 1992–93 is therefore presented in totals. The table shows expenditure on teaching services and education materials.
  209
  1Some expenditure is not yet recorded in the accounts.

  2Provisional allocation.

  Working Visas
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions he has had about the future of the two-year working visa for Commonwealth citizens with(a) New Zealand and (b) Australia; and what representations he has received from each Government on the issue;

  (2) what proposals he has for the future of the two-year working visa for Commonwealth citizens after 1992.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have no present plans to amend the working holidaymaker arrangements for young Commonwealth citizens set out in paragraph 37 of the "Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules"—HC251. No recent discussions on the future of this scheme have taken place with either the New Zealand or Australian Government; nor have they made representations to us about this subject.

  Rape
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library guidelines issued to the courts dealing with rape cases regarding sentencing and the relevant factors to be taken into account.

  Mr. John Patten
  Guidance was given by the Court of Appeal in Rv. Billam (1986). The judgment is in the All England Law Reports for 1986, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Fire Brigades
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which lire brigades have not yet fully implemented Home Office technical bulletin 1/89; and if he will give the time scale for implementation for each fire authority.

  Mr. John Patten
  We are satisfied that all fire brigades in England and Wales have adopted the principal features of the guidance on breathing apparatus contained in Home Office technical bulletin 1/1989.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what items of equipment, and at what cost, Kent fire brigade has purchased for use solely for firefighting and rescue in the channel tunnel and its associated sites;

  (2) what contributions have been made by Eurotunnel Ltd. and Transmanche Ltd. to Kent county council for equipment provided by Kent fire brigade for training, firefighting and rescue in the channel tunnel and its associated sites;

  Operational men and women firefighters employed in each fire authority/FCDA in England as at 1 January 1991

  Wholetime

  Retained

  Authority

  Men

  Women

  Total

  Men

  Women

  Total

  Avon1

  —

  —

  641

  —

  —

  190

  Bedfordshire

  309

  —

  309

  131

  2

  133

  Berkshire

  392

  1

  393

  154

  1

  155

  Buckinghamshire

  320

  1

  321

  220

  2

  222

  Cambridgeshire

  245

  —

  245

  370

  3

  373

  Cheshire

  582

  —

  582

  204

  3

  207

  Cleveland1

  —

  —

  647

  —

  —

  75

  210
  (3) what provisions in terms of (a) staff and (b) equipment and at what financial cost have been made by Kent fire brigade in order that they may fulfil firefighting and rescue commitments in the channel tunnel and associated sites.

  Mr. John Patten
  Kent fire brigade has provided six uniformed and one civilian staff for channel tunnel site liaison and specialised training during the construction phase at a cost of £141,500, and 24 additional posts at a cost of £399,100 to maintain manning levels on fire appliances in the absence of those undertaking training. Equipment purchased specifically to meet its commitments consists of 40 long-duration breathing apparatus sets, and personal protective clothing, heavy duty lifting jacks and cutting tools at a cost of £565,600. Total contributions made by Eurotunnel plc to Kent county council amount to £628,400 to date, in accordance with the statements made by the concessionaries to the Select Committee on the Channel Tunnel Bill.

  Victims Charter
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which organisations he has received comments on the "Victims Charter", published by his Department on 22 February 1990; and if he has plans to issue a revised edition in the light of such comments.

  Mr. John Patten
  Comments on the charter were received from the following bodies:

  Victim Support

  Council of Her Majesty's Circuit Judges

  Justices' Clerks' Society

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  Crown Prosecution Service

  Metropolitan Police

  Hampshire Constabulary

  Staffordshire Police

  Association of Chief Officers of Probation

  Northumbria Probation Service

  Merseyside Probation Service.

  Many of the standards of service set out in the charter for the criminal justice agencies are already being met. Others are under discussion with the agencies concerned with a view to implementation as soon as practicable.

  Firefighters
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many operational(a) men and (b) women firefighters are employed in each fire authority/FCDA in England.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is given in the table.
  211

  Wholetime

  Retained

  Authority

  Men

  Women

  Total

  Men

  Women

  Total

  Cornwall

  154

  —

  154

  410

  —

  410

  Cumbria

  296

  —

  296

  403

  1

  404

  Derbyshire

  513

  2

  515

  376

  2

  378

  Devon

  480

  —

  480

  695

  2

  697

  Dorset1

  —

  —

  282

  —

  —

  331

  Durham

  418

  —

  418

  177

  —

  177

  Essex1

  —

  —

  858

  —

  —

  452

  Gloucestershire

  211

  —

  211

  271

  2

  273

  Hampshire

  689

  —

  689

  686

  2

  688

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  344

  2

  346

  308

  2

  310

  Hertfordshire1

  —

  —

  497

  —

  —

  242

  Humberside

  734

  —

  734

  313

  3

  316

  Kent

  812

  —

  812

  786

  3

  789

  Lancashire

  963

  —

  963

  418

  2

  420

  Leicestershire1

  —

  —

  434

  —

  —

  226

  Lincolnshire1

  —

  —

  186

  —

  —

  445

  Norfolk

  246

  1

  247

  441

  1

  442

  Northamptonshire

  298

  1

  299

  245

  1

  246

  Northumberland

  256

  —

  256

  159

  1

  160

  Nottinghamshire

  574

  —

  574

  329

  2

  331

  Oxfordshire1

  —

  —

  199

  —

  —

  271

  Shropshire

  205

  —

  205

  262

  3

  265

  Isle of Scilly

  —

  —

  —

  34

  —

  34

  Somerset

  145

  —

  145

  382

  —

  382

  Staffordshire

  465

  —

  465

  386

  —

  386

  Suffolk

  221

  —

  221

  399

  2

  401

  Surrey

  697

  —

  697

  —

  —

  120

  East Sussex1

  —

  —

  395

  —

  —

  239

  West Sussex

  332

  —

  332

  314

  2

  316

  Warwickshire

  324

  1

  325

  218

  —

  218

  Isle of Wight

  49

  —

  49

  161

  2

  164

  Wiltshire

  183

  1

  184

  297

  1

  298

  North Yorkshire

  403

  —

  403

  409

  2

  411

  Total

  11,860

  10

  16,009

  9,958

  48

  12,597

  Fire and Civil Defence Authority

  Greater Manchester

  2,201

  2

  2,203

  40

  —

  40

  Merseyside

  1,400

  1

  1,401

  9

  1

  10

  Tyne and Wear

  1,085

  —

  1,085

  32

  —

  32

  West Midlands

  2,095

  1

  2,096

  13

  —

  13

  South Yorkshire

  1,012

  —

  1,012

  129

  —

  129

  West Yorkshire

  1,967

  2

  1,969

  241

  1

  242

  London

  6,329

  47

  6,376

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  16,089

  53

  16,142

  464

  2

  466

  Total

  27,949

  63

  32,151

  10,422

  50

  13,063

  1 Totals only are shown for these authorities as they do not record the gender of their employees.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which fire brigades have yet to provide full A26 specification firefighting uniforms to all(a) whole-time and (b) retained firefighters; and if he will give the timescale for issue to (a) and (b) and the estimated cost for each fire authority.

  Mr. John Patten
  The purchase of firefighters' uniforms is a matter entirely for fire authorities. A recent survey indicated that 33 fire brigades in England and Wales issue firefighting tunics providing protection to specification A26.

TRANSPORT

  Vehicle Security
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce regulations to ensure that cars are designed to better standards in respect of their vulnerability to theft.
  212
  Mr. Chope
  My Department is pressing for the adoption, as a European Community directive, of requirements for mechanical locking systems in passenger cars, as contained in British Standard AU 209 part 1. We are also supporting an international standard on motor vehicle alarms which could when completed form the basis of another EC directive. We hope to incorporate the provisions of such directives in national regulations at the earliest opportunity. In addition, we are pressing vehicle manufacturers to improve car security by voluntary means without waiting for regulation. During national crime prevention week we are emphasising that there is ample scope for improvement here.

  Public Transport (Safety)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he is taking to improve the safety of mainline railway stations in the light of recent terrorist bomb attacks;
  213
  (2) if he will introduce measures to make the physical environment of coach, bus and railway stations safer in the event of terrorist bomb attacks.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail is responsible for the safety of mainline railway stations, and has taken a number of steps to improve security measures following the explosion at Victoria. These include a heightened police presence, the withdrawal of left luggage locker facilities, removal of litter bins, sealing of letter boxes and more regular cleaning of station concourses. Security at bus and coach stations is the responsibility of the owner and operators, and increased security measures again include a heightened police presence. Continuing vigilance by both staff and passengers is also vital, and regular reminders are issued by operators about suspicious packages.

  Vehicle Safety and Security
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce regulations to improve the safety and security of vehicles by stipulating higher standards of glass in cars.

  Mr. Chope
  A proposal for a European Community directive which requires windscreens to be made of laminated glass is being considered in the Council of Ministers. If this is adopted, it will be included in our national type approval requirements for new vehicle models and will eventually apply to all new vehicles.

  Work is in hand for a British standards code of practice on windscreen glass repair which may be incorporated into the MOT test.

  Although laminated glass may improve vehicle security, we are not intending to require it for other windows because it can increase the risk of entrapment in a vehicle following an accident. We are, however, pressing for agreement in the European Community on other measures for improving vehicle security.

  Motorways (Lighting)
  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether his Department makes comparisons of accident statistics on lit and unlit sections of Britain's motorways;

  (2) what recent studies his Department has engaged in regarding the effect on accident statistics of lighting Britain's motorways.

  Mr. Chope
  A study by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory "Light on Motorway Accident Rates" was published in 1987. Accident statistics are continually monitored, including comparisons of lit and unlit sections of motorways.

  Mr. Snape
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received over the past three years in support of the lighting of Britain's motorway networks.

  Mr. Chope
  Those who have made representations over the past three years include the National Chamber of Trade, the editor of the Sunday Mercury, various Members of Parliament, a small number of police authorities and individual members of the public. We also receive representations against further lighting of the motorway network from other interested parties.

  A14
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to let the contract for each of the remaining stages of the A14 in Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire.

  Mr. Chope
  All remaining contracts are programmed to be let by the end of the year.

  Cyclists
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if pedal cyclists are part of the London area transport survey currently being undertaken by his Department.

  Mr. Chope
  Yes. Pedal cyclists are being covered in both major components of the 1991 London area transport survey. The household survey includes questions about the ownership of cycles and the use made of them and the roadside surveys treat cycles as a separate vehicle category.

  M1 (Tourist Signs)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many tourist signs are located on the M1 motorway between Leeds and exit 34; and which tourist attractions they relate to.

  Mr. Chope
  There are four tourist signs on the M1 motorway between Leeds and exit 34; two northbound and two southbound at junction 38, relating to the Yorkshire sculpture park.

  Archway Road, London
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many properties on the line of the abandoned Al Archway road widening scheme are owned by his Department; and what plans he has to sell them.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 16 April 1991]: The Department owns 54 dwellings including some flats and 24 business premises. We are currently considering a proposal from the Archway Road tenants association for the purchase of the residential units. We are also arranging to dispose of the business premises as soon as possible.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) 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 annual toll income would be in the final year at constant prices;

  (2) 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
  [pursuant to his answer, 15 April 1991, c. 2–3]: The costs of the two Severn bridges, including the outstanding deficit on the existing Severn bridge, are due to be paid by the end of the concessionaire's tolling period.

  215
  If the concession begins on 1 January 1992, then, on the basis of the concessionaire's traffic forecasts and the tolling regime for 1992 and subsequent years set out in the Severn Bridges Bill, it would end on 30 June 2013.

  On these assumptions, the concessionaire's forecast toll revenues, in 1989 prices, are as follows:

  £ million

  1992

  29·6

  1993

  32·4

  1994

  35·4

  1995

  38·8

  1996

  39·7

  1997

  40·6

  1998

  41·6

  1999

  42·6

  2000

  43·7

  2001

  44·6

  2002

  45·6

  2003

  46·6

  2004

  47·6

  2005

  48·7

  2006

  49·7

  2007

  50·8

  2008

  518

  2009

  52·9

  2010

  54·0

  2011

  55·1

  2012

  562

  2013

  28·6

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Leicester Schools
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he will make it his policy to collect data on the number of pupils attending schools in a different district from their home within the same local education authority;

  (2) what is his policy on securing equitable funding arrangements for schools such as Bushloe high school, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire which draw a high proportion of pupils from outside their catchment areas;

  (3) what assessment he has made of the effect of Leicestershire county council's formula for funding schools on the loss of teachers for schools such as Bushloe high school in the Oadby and Wigston area; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what representations he has received about the effect of local management of schools on the number of teachers at Bushloe high school, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire;

  (5) if he will now list the budget allocation per unit for local management of schools in (a) Wigston, (b) South Wigston and (c) Oadby; what is the average budget allocation per unit for schools in the city of Leicester; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  I refer my hon. Friend to my replies of 22 March and 17 April,Official Report, columns 234 and 137. Under local management, schools are funded principally on the basis of the numbers and ages of pupils on roll. Schools are not penalised for attracting pupils from outside the home local education authority; they receive funds in respect of those pupils through the LMS formula. In this way pupils of the same age are funded at the same level, irrespective of where they live and which school they attend within the authority.
  216
  We have received a small number of representations from schools in Leicestershire which serve the 10 to 14 age range, including Bushloe high school.

  I shall write to my hon. Friend to explain the situation in more detail.

  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning opting out of schools in the Oadby, Wigston and South Wigston areas in view of the underfunding of schools which draw up to a quarter of their pupils from outside their catchment areas.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend's predecessor received a number of representations from schools in these areas, some of which referred to the possibility of seeking grant-maintained status.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research is being undertaken into the effect of the summer heat in Kuwait turning oil lakes into tar, hampering plans to suck oil into tankers.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  None of the research councils is currently undertaking any research in this area.

  Official Visits
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report the official visits he has made since his appointment to schools, sixth-form colleges, further education colleges, univer-sities, polytechnics and other educational establishments, with the dates, name of the establishment, its area and the purpose of the visits, in each case.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My official visits have been as follows:

  26 November 1990:

  Ribston Hall GM Grammar school (Gloucestershire)

  30 January 1991:

  Stockingford First school

  Stockingford Middle school

  Alderman Smith High school (Warwickshire)

  8 April 1991:

  The Open University (Buckinghamshire)

  I have also made informal and political visits to universities and colleges, and attended conferences and meetings with teachers and lecturers.

  Planned official visits to LEA-maintained schools in Gloucestershire and Lancashire were cancelled at a late stage due to urgent ministerial business. My plans before the end of the summer term include visits to maintained schools and FE colleges in the following local education authorities: Cambridgeshire, Camden, Devon, Essex, Hereford and Worcester, Kent, Liverpool, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Sheffield; to two GM schools; to one CTC; to colleges of the universities of Oxford and London, and to the university of Nottingham; and to the polytechnics of Liverpool and Sheffield.

  Foundation for Sport and the Arts
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in full the organisations with which Ministers or officials in his Department plan to hold meetings with regard to establishing the proposed Foundation for Sport and the Arts; and on what dates such meetings will take place.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend and the Minister for Sport are due to meet the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 24 April to discuss the establishment of a Foundation for Sport and the Arts. I envisage discussing the foundation with a variety of sports organisations over the coming months.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in full the organisations with which Ministers or officials in his Department have held meetings with regard to establishing the proposed Foundation for Sport and the Arts; and on what dates such meetings took place.

  Mr. Fallon
  Officials from the Department of Education and Science met officials from Her Majesty's Treasury on 21 March to discuss the establishment of the Foundation for Sport and the Arts. Officials have also spoken, informally, to a number of sporting organisations.

  Birmingham City Action Team
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many meetings of the Birmingham city action team in 1990 and the first three months of 1991 were attended by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I attended the meetings on 12 March 1990 and 30 January 1991 to agree the annual action plan.

  FE Lecturers
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will update the information provided in his answer of 18 December 1989,Official Report, columns 35–36, to the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) relating to the pay received by further education lecturers.

  Mr. Eggar
  I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

ENERGY

  Electricity Prices
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on electricity prices.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Electricity prices are a matter for the regional electricity companies subject to their statutory and licence requirements.

  Onshore Petroleum Licensing
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his future plans for onshore petroleum licensing; and if he will make a statement.
  218
  Mr. Wakeham
  The Petroleum (Production) (Landward Areas) Regulations 1991 (SI 1991 No. 981) were laid before the House today. These regulations are in substantially the same form as the previous regulations which provide for separate licences to cover the conduct of each of the exploration, appraisal and development stages. Operations under the licences are subject to the normal planning process. The new regulations, which follow discussions with the industry, incorporate a number of small changes and are designed to facilitate the conduct of operations. They will come into force on 9 May and will govern the arrangements for the next onshore licensing round.

  As soon as possible, I will publish in the London and Edinburgh Gazettes a formal announcement giving the detailed financial terms for new landward licences and the basis on which awards will be made. The notice will invite applications for a new round of landward exploration licensing.

  In parallel with the new regulations, I will be making arrangements allowing holders of old-style production licences, which covered exploration, appraisal and development activities, to transfer the exploration acreage in these licences to the new style of exploration licences.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the Government buildings currently using combined heat and power technology.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Office of Electricity Regulation—OFFER—is in the process of compiling a database of CHP projects operating in Great Britain which will include the Government estate. The information requested by the hon. Member will start to become available when the OFFER database becomes operational this autumn.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Union Flag
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has supplied a union flag to the vehicle inspection and driving test centre, Hamiltonsbawn road, Armagh; if the centre has been advised of the dates on which the union flag is to be flown; why no union flag was flown at these premises on St. Patrick's day and on Easter day; what steps are being taken to arrange for the union flag to be flown on 12 July; and if he will make a statement about future arrangements to fly the union flag at these premises.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A union flag has been supplied to the vehicle inspection and driving test centre, Hamiltonsbawn road, Armagh and the centre has been advised of the prescribed days on which the union flag is to be flown. The union flag was not flown on St. Patrick's day and Easter Sunday due to an oversight by the staff at the centre. This oversight has been drawn to the attention of the staff and they have been instructed to ensure that the union flag is flown on all appropriate dates.

  Firefighters
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many operational(a) men and (b) women firefighters are employed in each fire authority/ FCDA in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  The Fire Authority for Northern Ireland which serves the whole of the province employs 1,792 male and one female firefighters.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Mr. Colin Wallace
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received from Mr. James Nichol, lawyer for Mr. Colin Wallace.

  The Attorney-General
  I have received no representations from Mr. Nichol, and have no reason to anticipate any.

  Bowbelle
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will take steps to ensure that a decision is taken this week as to whether to proceed with the prosecution of the skipper of the dredger the Bowbelle.

  The Attorney-General
  The decision whether to seek a re-trial rests with the Director of Public Prosecutions; he is reviewing the case. His decision will be taken with the maximum expedition consistent with thorough consideration. I have drawn the hon. Member's concern to his attention.

  Rape
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the training provided to judges to enable them to deal adequately with rape cases.

  The Attorney-General
  The Judicial Studies Board is responsible for the provision of training and information for judges. The policy with regard to the proper conduct of trials and appropriate levels of sentence in the Crown Court are laid down in decisions of the Court of Appeal criminal division.

  The board has produced guidance for trial judges in summing up to juries and a volume of sentencing guidelines, which includes sentences for rape. Copies have been distributed to each judge.

  At seminars run by the board judges are reminded that it is their duty to be sensitive to the difficulties of all those who come to court, including complainants in cases of alleged rape or other sexual assaults, who are often under considerable strain and may suffer distress whilst giving evidence.

  Iraq
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he contemplates any action against British companies named by the US Government who have allegedly been trading in weapons with the Iraqi Government.

  The Attorney-General
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 15 April by the Secretary of State for 220
  Trade and Industry to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Field), Official Report, columns 30–31. The list published by the United States Department of the Treasury concerned a number of companies and individuals 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. I am informed that the US authorities have not alleged that those on the list have broken sanctions or controls on the export of arms. A very few cases concerning persons or companies in the United Kingdom where possible breaches of restrictions on exports to Iraq have come to light are being investigated by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  Women Judges
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Attorney-General how many women judges are currently appointed; and what was the percentage of women judges for each of the last 10 years appointed to the High Court and equivalent in criminal cases.

  The Attorney-General
  There are currently 22 women judges—4·3 per cent.—out of a total of 517 High Court and circuit judges. High Court and circuit judges are not generally assigned exclusively to criminal or civil work and most sit in the Crown Court at some time. Figures for appointments to the High Court and circuit bench over the last 10 years are as follows:

  Numbers appointed

  Women appointed

  Percentage

  1981

  23

  1

  4·3

  1982

  28

  —

  —

  1983

  31

  2

  6·5

  1984

  35

  —

  —

  1985

  35

  2

  5·7

  1986

  59

  3

  5·1

  1987

  29

  —

  —

  1988

  44

  1

  2·3

  1989

  39

  1

  2·6

  1990

  41

  4

  9–8

  11991

  15

  2

  13·3

  1 To 17 April.

  Judiciary
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Attorney-General what proposals the Lord Chancellor has to improve the qualifications and training of the judiciary.

  The Attorney-General
  The Courts and Legal Services Act was considered and approved by both Houses prior to receiving Royal Assent on 1 November 1990. Section 71 and schedule 10 of that Act revised the qualifications for appointment to all levels of the judiciary. The new arrangements, which have effect from 1 January 1991, mean that higher judicial appointments are now open to solicitors as well as barristers who obtain the required qualifications, and posts are open generally to those who obtain the required rights of audience before the courts whether they are solicitors, barristers or otherwise qualified. My noble and learned friend the Lord Chancellor has no plans to change the qualifications for judicial appointment again in the near future. In addition, to ensure a well-qualified judiciary, appointments to part-time posts are normally made from candidates with standing and experience in the relevant field of law. In
  221
  making or recommending appointments to a full-time judicial post the Lord Chancellor normally requires the candidate to have served in a similar post in a part-time capacity. Both before and during this part-time service the Lord Chancellor assesses the candidate's work and abilities to establish his or her competence and suitability for judicial posts.

  The training of newly appointed judicial officers and the provisions of continued judicial studies for the experienced judiciary is the responsibility of the Judicial Studies Board. Originally the training provided by the board was confined to the criminal field but in recent years its role has been extended to cover judicial studies in the civil and family jurisdictions and also the stipendiary magistrates and certain legal chairmen and members of tribunals.

  In addition to its regular programme of induction courses and refresher seminars the board organises training in respect of new legislation, such as the Children Act and on specialist subjects such as fraud.

  Despite the fact that the volume and range of training provided by the board has already increased significantly improvements will continue to be made. The content and format of seminars will be reviewed regularly as will the range of topics covered. The publications produced by the board are also being revised and consideration is being given to issuing further volumes and other material such as video or audio tapes.

  The board and the four committees have produced a strategy document to cover the next five years. It will be included in the Judicial Studies Board report which will be published during autumn 1991.

  Conciliation Services
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Attorney-General what financial support the Lord Chancellor's Department plans to give for the provision of conciliation services.

  The Attorney-General
  The Government have no immediate plans to provide financial support for conciliation services. The Government are presently reviewing all aspects of divorce reform and conciliation is under consideration as part of that review.

EMPLOYMENT

  Gas Surge (Royston)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set up a public inquiry into the gas surge in Royston on 8 March; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive are currently investigating the gas incident on 8 March in Royston. I do not propose to set up a public inquiry since this would be unlikely to identify any causes or contributory factors which will not be identified by the HSE investigation. The results of HSE's investigation will be published.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the actions he has taken since the gas surge in Royston on 8 March in order to prevent a recurrence of this event.

  Mr. Jackson
  Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive are carrying out a full investigation into the gas 222
  incident at Royston on 8 March. The HSE will decide what action, if any, is appropriate when the investigation is completed.

  I understand that British Gas has replaced approximately 4,000 m of pipeline as a result of the incident.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the dates of the contacts he has had, whether by telephone, letter or meetings, on the lessons of the gas surge in Royston on 8 March with(a) Royston town council and (b) British Gas.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Health and Safety Executive has had contact on the following dates with Royston town council and British Gas about the gas incident in Royston on 8 March:

  (a) Contact with Royston Town Council

  (b) Contact with British Gas

  15 March

  11 March

  21 March

  12 March

  25 March

  27 March

  28 March

  11 April

  10 April 1991

  12 April

  16 April 1991

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will visit Royston as part of his assessment of the implications of the gas surge on 8 March.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Health and Safety Executive is keeping me informed of progress with its investigation into the gas incident in Royston on 8 March. I have no plans to visit Royston.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Auditors
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received reports from the Director General of Fair Trading under part II of the Companies Act 1989 on the effect on competition of the rules and guidance of qualifying and supervisory bodies for auditors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Yes. The director general has submitted reports on the rules and guidance of all the applicants for recognition under part II of the Companies Act 1989, and I have placed copies of his reports in the Library. Further copies can be obtained from his office. Copies of the applications can be obtained from the applicants on request.

  The director general discerns no significant anticompetitive effects in the rules and guidance of the qualifying bodies which have applied for recognition. He finds that a number of rules of some of the supervisory body applicants relating to the ownership and control of audit firms are likely to restrict or distort competition to a significant extent.

  I would welcome comments on the director general's findings, and in particular on whether the rules he finds anticompetitive are nevertheless reasonably justifiable having regard to the purpose of part II of the 1989 Act. I should be grateful if any comments reached me by 15 May. Comments on any other aspects of the applications made under part II should also reach the Department by that date.

  Liverpool Polytechnic
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from Liverpool polytechnic about it wrongly being on the United States Treasury list of blacklisted organisations; what action his Department has taken; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 17 April 1991]: Liverpool polytechnic has made a number of approaches to my Department. As a result, the British embassy in Washington has raised the matter of the inclusion of the polytechnic's name in the United States Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control list of "specially designated nationals".

WALES

  Education (Laboratory Technicians)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many laboratory technicians are employed in each local education authority in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  In September 1990 the number of laboratory technicians employed in secondary schools was as follows:

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  Clwyd

  61

  42

  103

  Dyfed

  61

  28

  89

  Gwent

  81

  22

  103

  Gwynedd

  30

  12

  42

  Mid Glamorgan

  116

  19

  135

  Powys

  25

  10

  35

  South Glamorgan

  69

  25

  94

  West Glamorgan

  93

  13

  106

  Schools (Absenteeism)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on absenteeism in(a) primary schools and (b) high schools in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  It is important to tackle truancy more vigorously to ensure that the national curriculum and other education reforms benefit all pupils. My right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Education and Science and the Secretary of State of Wales have this week 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. 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.

  Rent Officers
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average cost of processing applications under section 121 of the Housing Act 1988 by the rent officer service.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I estimate that the average cost of each application is about £25.
  224
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications the rent officer service in Wales is handling under section 121 of the Housing Act 1988.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  During the year ended February 1991 the rent officer service received an average of 2,670 cases per month under section 121 of the Housing Act 1988.

  Single European Market
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiative he has taken, for each local education authority in Wales, individually, to enable them to prepare their educational systems for the single European market in 1992.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  It is for local education authorities to prepare programmes to meet changing needs and policies. I understand that the Welsh Joint Education Committee is offering active and specific assistance to LEAs in Wales and through them to all their education institutions to help them develop their responses to European Community initiatives. In addition, the Department is investigating the need for a unit to provide advice and guidance about European Community education programmes for further and higher education institutions in the Principality.

  Teacher Recruitment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he plans for each of the local education authorities in Wales individually, to enable them to obtain more (i) foreign language teachers and (ii) Welsh teachers.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  We have introduced a series of measures designed to improve the supply of modern foreign language teachers and teachers of Welsh. These include:

  i. adding modern foreign languages and Welsh to the shortage subject Trainee Teacher Bursary Scheme for students entering eligible courses in the autumn of 1990. At the same time the value of the bursary was increased to £1,500;

  ii. making £134,000 available under the Grants for Education Support and Training programme (GEST) to support Articled Teacher schemes. Clwyd is the one Local Education Authority in Wales to apply for support and the school-based training scheme will aim to attract graduates in shortage areas identified by the authority which include modern foreign languages and Welsh;

  iii. approving, also under the GEST programme, local authority expenditure of some £228,000 in 1991–92 on recruitment measures which will seek to attract former teachers and mature entrants to teaching. Each scheme will seek to address local recruitment need including teachers of modern languages and Welsh where these are identified as shortage areas;

  iv. investing heavily in in-service training to increase the supply of Welsh language teachers. In 1990–91 we made available £1 million to help existing teachers of other subjects to gain the necessary expertise to teach Welsh as well. For 1991–92, £1.8 million is to be spent on such training. In addition students at initial teacher training institutions in Wales will have the opportunity to learn the language while they are training to become primary school teachers.

  Queensferry Bypass (Fencing)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the safety of the boundary fencing adjacent to the Brossley housing estate, Garden City and the A494 Queensferry bypass; and if he will inspect the fencing.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  There is no trunk road boundary fencing adjacent to the Brossley housing estate. It was a condition of the planning consent imposed on the developer of the Brossley housing estate that a solid barrier not less than 4ft 6in. high must be erected along the existing trunk road frontage of the site. This fence has nver been erected. Fences exist at the top of the embankments on each side of the A494 trunk road. These have been inspected and temporary repairs effected.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will repair deficient fencing on the A494 Queensferry bypass where it borders the Garden City Brossley estate.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The agent authority, Clwyd county council, has effected temporary repairs to the fencing which lies within the highway at this location.

  Fell Running
  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he plans to take to ensure that safety is a first priority in all future organised fell-running events in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This is a matter for the organisers of future fell-running events.

ENVIRONMENT

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he hopes to issue his draft guidance to local authorities on renewable energy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North-West (Mr. Bellingham) on 28 March,Official Report, columns 543–44.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to avoid smoke hampering aerial surveys in Kuwait.

  Mr. Baldry
  I am not aware of any action that would be open to my right hon. Friend.

  Oil Well Fires
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment has been made of the extent to which sulphur dioxide from oil wells after they are lit is less toxic than the hydrogen sulphide produced from the same wells before ignition.
  226
  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 15 April 1991 at columns 65–66 and to the related documents which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Zoological Society of London
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has launched an internal investigation into the leaking of correspondence between his Department and the Zoological Society of London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The correspondence was not leaked from my Department. We had never seen the zoo's internal memorandum quoted in the press.

  Zoos
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what latest information he holds regarding figures for annual public subsidies to zoos by EC nations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Such information is not collected by the Department.

  Work on Government Offices
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet received the advice commissioned from Arup Associates on possible remedial work on Government offices at 2 Marsham street; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  Arup Associates has now provided its advice on possible remedial work on Government offices at 2 Marsham street. The report now needs to be studied in relation to the accommodation requirements of the two Departments which currently occupy the building and in the context of overall future demand for Government offices in central London. Until this further work has been carried out, it would not be sensible to attempt to take investment decisions in respect of the building at 2 Marsham street alone.

  Ancient Monuments
  Mr. Cormack
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will issue the consultation paper, announced in the Environment White Paper "This Common Inheritance", Cm. 1200, on amendments to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

  Sir George Young
  A consultation paper has been issued today, for circulation in England, Scotland and Wales. The document puts forward a number of suggested improvements, including clarifying the definition of damage to an ancient monument and making it an offence to remove objects from scheduled sites. Copies of the document have been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses—consultees have two months within which to respond. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales will be consulting similarly.

  Right to Buy
  Mr. Hay ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings each local authority has sold under the right-to-buy legislation or voluntarily since April 1979; and what percentage of the total local authority stock they represent.

  Mr. Yeo
  I have placed in the Library a table giving available information on local authority sales up to December 1990. It shows year by year information for each authority since 1985–86 together with cumulative figures since April 1979 and the proportion of their stock sold since April 1979.

  Drought Orders
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to modify his direction to water companies specifying the uses of water which may be restricted by means of drought orders made under section 131 of the Water Act 1989.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, have today given a fresh direction, the Drought Direction 1991, to water companies under section 131 (4)(b) of the 1989 Act. The direction prescribes the uses of water which a company may be authorised to prohibit or limit under Drought Orders made by the Secretary of State.

  The 1991 direction replaces the Drought Direction 1989, with the following modifications:

  (a) the watering of all gardens (other than market gardens), together with landscaped areas such as road verges, may now be restricted (previously, only the watering of ornamental gardens or lawns was specified);

  (b) the watering of all surfaces used for sport or recreation, including artificial surfaces, may now be restricted;

  (c) the filling of privately owned pools designed for use in a medical treatment programme, or requiring to be filled during construction as a necessary part of the construction process, is now exempt from restrictions;

  (d) the manual cleaning of windows is now exempt from restrictions.

  Once a Drought Order has been made, its implementation and enforcement are the responsibility of the relevant water company. I am placing a copy of the Drought Direction 1991 in the Library.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Lawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a table showing, for each financial year from 1978–79 to 1990–91 inclusive, in constant price terms(a) total grants from central Government to local government, (b) total housing benefit, or its predecessors, rent and rate rebates, (c) other social security benefits paid in respect of rates or the community charge and (d) the total of the above support.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 16 April 1991]: The available information is as follows:
  228

  Government grants at 1989–90 prices1

  Rent rebates at 1989–90 prices

  Rent allowances at 1989–90 prices

  Rate/community charge rebates at 1989–90 prices

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  1984–85

  20,409

  2,208

  755

  1,545

  1985–86

  19,480

  2,260

  868

  1,621

  1986–87

  20,315

  2,289

  1,006

  1,725

  1987–88

  20,730

  2,250

  1,003

  1,754

  1988–89

  19,189

  2,150

  949

  1,368

  1989–90

  18,719

  2,147

  1,023

  1,299

  1990–91

  19,603

  2,178

  1,262

  1,785

  1 Government grants consisting of rate/revenue support grant, specific grants and capital grants. These include rent rebates, rent allowances and rate/community charge rebates.

  Sources: The Government's Expenditure Plans 1990–91 to 1992–93 (Cm. 1021). Public Expenditure Analyses to 1993–94 (Cm. 1520).

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Food Production
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all the third world countries receiving funding and technical cooperation from the United Kingdom in order to improve technologies in the production of safe and good quality food.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Third world countries currently receiving United Kingdom funding and technical co-operation for improving the safety and quality of the food they produce are listed below. The Natural Resources Institute at Chatham, through its ODA-funded food sciences and crop utilisation programmes, plays a leading role in this field of assistance. Many of the other research and development programmes on renewable natural resources funded by ODA, including its suppport for the international agricultural research centres of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, also contribute to the quality of food products.

  Bangladesh

  Mozambique

  Bolivia

  Nigeria

  Brazil

  Pakistan

  Cote dTvoire

  Philippines

  Dominica

  St. Helena

  Ecuador

  St. Kitts/Nevis

  Egypt

  St. Lucia

  Ethiopia

  St. Vincent

  Ghana

  Solomon Islands

  Honduras

  Sri Lanka

  India

  Tanzania

  Indonesia

  Thailand

  Jamaica

  Uganda

  Kenya

  Yemen

  Madagascar

  Zaire

  Mali

  Zambia

  Malawi

  Zimbabwe

  Montserrat

  UN Conference on Environment and Development
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution his Department is making to the preparations to the United Nations conference on the environment and development which is due to be held in Brazil in 1992.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We continue to work to make the conference a success. ODA and diplomatic wing officials
  229
  played a full part in the second meeting of the preparatory committee for the conference in Geneva in March and will continue to do so at future meetings. We have offered £32,000 to the voluntary fund established to finance participation by developing countries in the preparations for the conference. We are helping finance the preparation of national reports from Indonesia, Pakistan and Zimbabwe for the conference. Together with the Department of Trade and Industry we have financed a study on technology transfer to help developing countries address environmental problems, with a focus on global warming.

  Development Aid
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much United Kingdom development aid was distributed to(a) the Ethiopian Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, (b) Ethiopian church organisations and (c) the Ethiopian Red Cross (i) last year and (ii) in the current year; what proportion of total aid that represents for each; amd what are the reasons for the extent of the distribution to each.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Since the beginning of 1990 we have committed more than £30 million in humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia. Our assistance is channelled through international and British relief agencies, who work closely with Ethiopian non-governmental organisa-tions, including churches and other bodies. Our bilateral Government-to-Government technical co-operation pro-gramme is worth about £3 million a year and is concentrated on education and training, agriculture, and disaster prevention and preparedness.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Cyprus
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has had any communication with the Turkish Cypriots about the Cypriot Government's application for Cyprus to join the European Community; if he supports the application; and what progress has been made by this application.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Cyprus applied to join the EC in July 1990. The Commission is producing an opinion on the application, which will be submitted to the member states for their consideration.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Cypriot Government have accepted United Nations resolution 649 calling for a bizonal federal Cyprus; when the United Nations approved resolution 649; and if he will make a statement on political progress within the island of Cyprus.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The UN Secretary-General's efforts to promote a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the intercommunal dispute in Cyprus continue with our full support. The way forward is mapped out in UN Security Council resolution 649 of 12 March 1990, which both communities have accepted.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations 230
  the United Kingdom Government have received as a guarantor power concerning the purchase of arms by the Government of Cyprus.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are aware of Turkish and Turkish Cypriot concern at the purchase of arms by the Government of Cyprus. It is our long-standing policy to sell weapons neither to the Greek Cypriot National Guard nor to the Turkish Cypriot armed forces.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Saudi Government about the volume of paperwork involved before equipment can be sent to fight fires in Kuwait.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have had no discussions with the Saudi Government on this subject.

  Antarctica
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with the Government of Argentina on the recent review of Her Majesty's Government's policy towards Antarctica.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have put proposals arising from our review of United Kingdom policy to all Antarctic treaty consultative parties, including Argentina, for their consideration in advance of the special consultative meeting in Madrid, starting on 22 April.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with Norway on the recent review of Government policy towards Antarctica.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have put proposals arising from our review of policy to all Antarctic treaty consultative parties, including Norway, for their consideration in advance of the special consultative meeting in Madrid starting on 22 April.

  United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resources will be required to finance the measures necessary to enable Britain to conform to the UN convention on the rights of the child.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We do not anticipate that any extra resources will be required to meet the United Kingdom obligations under the convention.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes in legislation he proposes to enable Britain to conform to the UN convention on the rights of the child.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  None. With the reservations envisaged in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Sims) on 21 March at column 192–3 we are satisfied that the United Kingdom mainland will be able to meet its obligations under the convention.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his
  231
  Department has yet held consultations on the manner in which it will monitor the requirements of the UN convention on the rights of the child.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No. After ratification the Department of Health will co-ordinate the United Kingdom's initial report with other home Departments.

  European Political Union
  Sir Peter Blaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement on the outcome of the ministerial meeting of the intergovernmental conference on political union on 15 April.

  Mr. Hurd
  The ministerial meeting of the intergovernmental conference on political union on 15 April, attended by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, discussed Presidency proposals on a common foreign and security policy and the powers of the European Parliament.

  In discussion of a common foreign and security policy my hon. Friend the Minister of State re-stated our arguments, as set out in my answer to the House on 6 March 1991 at column 203, for strengthening co-operation among the Twelve on foreign and security policy issues and for strengthening the Western European Union (WEU) as a bridge between NATO and the Twelve. There continues to be a range of views among other member states on this and related issues.

  A range of views was expressed too on the Presidency proposals for strengthening the European Parliament's role in the legislative procedure through the introduction of "co-decision" procedures. Several members states, like the United Kingdom, were unable to accept the proposals.

  Ministers will continue discussion of both these subjects at future meetings of special representatives and of Ministers. These meetings will also consider the composite text of all proposed Treaty amendments now circulated by the Presidency.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Sir Peter Blaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council on 15 April.

  Mr. Hurd
  A meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council took place in Luxembourg on 15 April. My hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council reviewed the progress of the EC/EFTA negotiations on a European economic area, which will extend the internal market to the EFTA countries. The Council instructed the Committee of Permanent Representatives to continue work on the detailed issues and agreed to propose to EFTA a joint EC/EFTA ministerial meeting on 13 May.

  The Commission briefed the Council about the negotiations for association agreements between the European Community and Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia. The Council declared its readiness to adopt a flexible approach in the negotiations, particularly on trade access, with a view to concluding them as soon as possible.

  The Council discussed a draft EC/Japan declaration and agreed that further work was necessary before the draft could be passed to the Japanese. It also considered
  232
  which countries should participate in the European energy charter and agreed to re-examine the issue on 15 May.

  At the request of the United Kingdom, Ministers discussed a package of aid from the Community and member states to help those suffering famine in Africa. They agreed on the need for emergency aid and asked the Commission to make proposals urgently.

  Ministers also discussed disbursement of the 150 mecu humanitarian assistance for Iraqi refugees agreed at the Special European Council of 8 April. They invited the President of the Council to discuss with the United Nations Secretary-General how Saddam Hussein could be held to account for his actions.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of all exports of ivory from Hong Kong to Argentina in the last two years.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 25 March 1991]: According to the Hong Kong authorities export licensing records, no commercial exports of ivory to Argentina have been authorised in the last two years.

THE ARTS

  Library Books
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what average amount per head of population has been spent on library books in the county of Durham each year since 1987.

  Mr. Renton
  Expenditure in the county of Durham per head of population has risen over the past four years as follows:

  £

  1986–87

  0·69

  1987–88

  0·85

  1988–89

  0·90

  1989–90

  1·04

  Foundation for Sport and the Arts
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Minister for the Arts (1) if he will list in full the organisations with which Ministers or officials in his Department have held meetings with regard to establishing the proposed Foundation for Sport and the Arts and the dates on which such meetings took place;

  (2) if he will list in full the organisations with which Ministers or officials in his Department plan to hold meetings with regard to establishing the proposed Foundation for Sport and the Arts and the dates on which such meetings will take place.

  Mr. Renton
  I have been in touch with ministerial colleagues and others with an interest in the proposed foundation. My Department will continue to be closely involved in taking this forward.

HEALTH

  Adoption
  Mr. Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his officials' recent visit to Romania concerning inter-country adoption.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) on 26 March at columns 763–64. A team of Home Office and Department of Health officials visited Bucharest in November 1990 to discuss further how to co-ordinate help and facilitate procedures for British couples who wish to adopt Romanian children. We continue to be in regular contact with the Romanian authorities.

  Sickle Cell Disorders
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to introduce universal screening of new-born babies for sickle cell disorders and to develop national policies on pain control hospital care and the prevention of crises in people having sickle cell disorders.

  Mr. Dorrell
  It is important that infants affected by sickle cell disease are identified at an early stage so that they can receive appropriate treatment. Screening services are generally offered to those members of the population most likely to be affected—those orginating from Africa, the Mediterranean or middle east. This disease is rare in the indigenous population. It would therefore be unreasonable to screen all new-born babies for the disorder.

  In 1988 the Department introduced haemoglobi-nopathy cards which are given to patients with sickle cell disease or thalassaemia with the aim of ensuring that, in an emergency, their condition is identified and that they receive appropriate treatment. The decision on what measures are necessary to control pain and prevent crises is for the individual doctor to make, taking into account his knowledge of the patient and the particular circumstances of the episode. This is a matter of clinical judgment.

  Prestwich Hospital, Salford
  Mr. Robin Cook
  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 advised by the health advisory service/social services inspectorate in its report dated October 1990, No. (90) MI/E.12.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Eccles (Miss Lestor) on 15 April at column 80.

  Pharmacists (Advice)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish in the Official Report the written advice of his Department to retail pharmacists regarding the methods of disposal for unwanted medicines and poisons returned to them by their customers.
  234
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Advice is given by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society to community pharmacists on the disposal of returned medicines. The Department has not issued any written advice.

  Medical Students
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to change the arrangements under which medical students have access to national health service patients; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Medical students have always undertaken clinical work in hospitals, and this forms an essential part of their training. There are also long-standing arrangements under which final year students may assist in hospitals when a house officer is on leave. Following consultation with health authorities, the General Medical Council, the medical profession and the universities, revised guidance has been issued clarifying the circumstances in which students may have access, under close supervision, to hospital patients. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Library.

  Tobacco Advertising
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's negotiations to date with the tobacco industry on the control of tobacco advertising.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [pursuant to the reply 11 March 1991: I am pleased to announce that the Health Departments and the industry have reached agreement in principle on a revised voluntary agreement for the next three years on the advertising and promotion of tobacco products. The new agreement will be published and come into force in the next few weeks when final drafting has been completed and the agreement has been approved under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976.

  In a major addition to the voluntary agreement, the industry has agreed to remove 50 per cent. of shopfront advertising over five years. The change will start once the agreement has been concluded and will apply to all external permanent advertising material on shops. In making this reduction, the industry will act in consultation with the retail trade; it will seek to apply the reduction evenly over time by type of sign and by geographic location; priority will be given to reducing the number of those permanent advertising signs on shops clearly visible from schools; the reductions will be validated annually by independent audit; the results of the audit will be submitted to the monitoring committee and will appear in the committee's annual report.

  A major change in the agreement is that from 1 July all external signs on shops will carry a health warning; under the existing agreement signs erected before 1983 have not been required to carry a health warning and this has caused confusion to the public and has been commented on in reports of the monitoring committee.

  The new agreement will also extend the present ban on poster advertising which is visible from schools to children's playgrounds.

  Other parts of the existing voluntary agreement will also be updated and anomalies, which have come to notice through the reports of the monitoring committee, will be removed.
  235
  I am also pleased to announce that, following the resignation of Sir Peter Lazarus as chairman of the monitoring committee, the Government with the agreement of the industry, have appointed Sir John Blelloch, formerly permanent secretary at the Northern Ireland Office, to be the new chairman of the committee.

  The Government welcome these steps to maintain and develop the system of voluntary agreements, to which they remain committed.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Social Security Benefits
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give details of the social security benefits available to carers, and what steps his Department is taking to publicise these benefits.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my the hon. Member for Ynys Môn (Mr. Jones) on 27 March 1991 at column 448.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number and proportion of people claiming unemployment benefit who were disqualified or disallowed for availability or voluntary unemployment reaons and, because they were not eligible for income support, received no benefit, for May 1989 and the latest available date.

  Mr. Jack
  Information on the numbers of unemployed claimants and the decisions of adjudication officers where the question of availability or voluntary unemployment arises, is in "Unemployment Benefit Statistics—Quarterly Analysis of Unemployed Claimants" and "Unemployment Benefit Statistics—Quarterly Analysis of Decisions of Adjudication Officers", copies of which are in the Library. Figures as to the number and proportion of people disqualified or disallowed for receiving unemployment benefit who were not entitled to income support are not available.

  Claimants
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people made claims for(a) income support only, (b) unemployment benefit only and (c) income support and unemployment benefit for each quarter since the beginning of 1987; and what were the proportions and numbers in each quarter whose claims were disallowed, disqualified or suspended for (i) non-availability, (ii) refusal of employment and neglect to avail, (iii) restricted availability, (iv) not actively seeking work and (v) other reasons.

  Mr. Jack
  Information on the numbers of unemployed people claiming benefit and the decisions of adjudication officers where those claims were disallowed, is in "Unemployment Benefit Statistics—Quarterly Analysis of Unemployed Claimants" and "Unemployment Benefit Statistics—Quarterly Analysis of Decisions of Adjudication Officers", copies of which are in the Library. No information is available on the total number of claims suspended or the proportion of income support claims which resulted in a disallowance.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for(a) unemployment benefit
  236
  only; ((b) income support only and (c) both income support and unemployment benefit were made by unemployed people for each quarter from the beginning of 1987 to date.

  Mr. Jack
  The information is in "Unemployment Benefit Statistics—Quarterly Analysis of Unemployed Claimants", copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion and what number of claimants on the unemployment register are claiming income support as(a) incapable of work, (b) lone parents, (c) retired, (d) aged 60 years and over and (e) studying.

  Mr. Jack
  Claimants who are incapable of work or retired are not on the unemployed register. Information on those aged 60 and over who choose to register is in "Unemployment Benefit Statistics—Half-yearly Analysis of Unemployed Claimants", a copy of which is in the Library. Information is not available as to the number of lone parents or those who are studying.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the incorporation of attendance allowance into disability living allowance will result in any reduction of the number of people currently qualifying for attendance allowance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  There will be no reduction in the number of people receiving the existing rates of benefit. Recipients of attendance allowance who are over the age of 65 will continue to receive that benefit after April 1992, and those who are under 65 will be transferred automatically to the corresponding rate of the care component of the new disability living allowance.

  Income Support
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether loans can be paid from the discretionary social fund to applicants claiming income support while they are waiting for seven days to receive payment of income support paid in arrears; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Yes. Crisis loans may be paid from the social fund to people who are awaiting their first payment of income support, and who are facing a serious risk to their health or safety. In 1989–90, a total of 191,000 such awards were made, at a total cost of £6·2 million. Over 90 per cent. of crisis loan applications are successful.

  Source: Secretary of State's Annual Report on the Social Fund, 1989–90.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  River Severn
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take following the representations he has received on the problems of pollution and flooding along the River Severn.

  Mr. Curry
  Flood and tidal defences along the River Severn are kept under constant review by the National
  237
  Rivers Authority and the Department. As a result of flooding from the River Severn, the Severn Trent region of the NRA which is responsible for the promotion of flood defence work along the river, has instigated investigations in the form of mathematical and physical modelling, and have included defence works in their forward programme of work to be submitted to the Department for grant aid.

  The Ministry is grant-aiding a comprehensive scheme to raise flood walls and embankments on the River Severn, below Gloucester. Following the tidal flooding in February 1990, and additional section of works is being added.

  Matters relating to the problems of pollution along the River Severn are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the number of fishing vessels held in port by the eight consecutive day rule in February and March in South Shields, Seahouses, Bridlington, Scarborough, Grimsby and Fleetwood.

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

  February 1991

  March 1991

  South Shields

  0

  0

  Seahouses

  0

  0

  Bridlington

  9

  5

  Scarborough

  5

  1

  Grimsby

  24

  4

  Fleetwood

  1

  1

  The reduction in March reflects the Government's success in securing a gear option for restricted vessels.

  Whale Conservation
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps the Government are taking to ensure that a policy of whale conservation is retained for the United Kingdom, other EC countries and other international bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government have long been in the lead in pressing for the conservation of whales. The moratorium achieved under the International Whaling Commission is still in place after its review last year and the number of whales taken for scientific whaling purposes during the moratorium has been greatly reduced by the pressures of the IWC. Further, the European Community has prohibited trade in whale products. The Government will continue to work for the conservation of whales through all possible means.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Taxation
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of gross earnings a married couple with one earner on average earnings, with two children, paid in all taxes and national insurance, including local taxes and treating child benefit as a negative income tax, in 1978–79, 1989–90 and 1990–91.
  238
  Mr. Maples
  About 35 per cent. in 1978–79 and about 36 per cent. in 1989–90. Estimates including local taxes are not yet available for 1990–91.

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from small businesses concerning reductions in corporation tax.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from small businesses and representative bodies. The overwhelming majority support the Budget measures.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the level of corporation tax.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  We have received a number of representations.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the rate of corporation tax in the United Kingdom; and what is the average rate in other European Community countries.

  Mr. Maude
  The main rate of corporation tax will be 34 per cent. for 1990 and 33 per cent. for 1991, down from 52 per cent. in 1979. The EC average, excluding the United Kingdom, for 1990 is 40·2 per cent. Germany's rate is 50 per cent.; Belgium's is 43 per cent. and France's is 34 per cent. Britain and Luxembourg now have the lowest main rate of corporation tax in the Community.

  Inflation
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the inflation rate for the second, third and fourth quarters of 1991.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Retail price inflation is expected to fall sharply in April, and to decline further thereafter to 4 per cent. by the fourth quarter of 1991.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the current rate of child benefit if uprated in line with inflation since 1987.

  Mr. Mellor
  It would be £9·55. The increases this year in child benefit will raise the rate of the eldest eligible child by over 25 per cent.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received over the increase in value added tax.

  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend has received many representations over the increase in the rate of VAT.

  Mr. Hill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy on companies charging value added tax at 17·5 per cent. on goods and services supplied between 1 January 1991 and the date of his Budget statement; and if he will bring forward proposals to prevent companies from back-dating the increase in value added tax.
  239
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The normal rules for working out the date for VAT purposes—the tax point—apply when there is a change of rate. This entitles traders to apply the old rate—15 per cent.—to goods or services supplied before 1 April—the date from which the rate was increased to 17·5 per cent. Moreover, even where the issue of a tax invoice after 1 April would have created a tax point at the new rate, there is in existence a concession to the normal rules which allows traders to apply the old rate, as long as the goods or services were supplied prior to 1 April. There is therefore no question of the Government forcing companies to backdate the increase in VAT.

  Where companies do not take advantage of the concession available, perhaps because of administrative difficulties, this is a matter for their own commercial judgment, of course, taking account of relations with their customers.

  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue would be raised by charging value added tax at 17·5 per cent. on those goods and services which are at present exempt from value added tax.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The effect of applying VAT to the exempt sector cannot readily be determined, because some of the outputs such as financial services are difficult to value or tax. An estimate could be prepared only at disproportionate cost. Estimates of the cost of zero-rating are in table 4B.1 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report".

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of gross earnings value added tax took up for a family on average male earnings with two children in(a) 1978–79 and (b) 1989–90.

  Mr. Maude
  Approximately 2·7 per cent. of gross earnings and 5·0 per cent. respectively.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had about value added tax misdeclaration penalties from the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I am aware that my hon. Friend has made representations to Treasury Ministers expressing concern about the operation of the penalty regime.

  In my Budget statement I acknowledged these concerns and announced the setting-up of a thorough review of the penalty regime with a view to legislation for changes in the 1992 Budget. The review will include full consultation with the accountancy profession and business interests and all constructive proposals will be carefully considered. Pending the outcome of the review the rate of penalty was reduced from 30 to 20 per cent. from 20 March 1991 and relaxations were introducted by Customs.

  Differences1 in local authority expenditure between the 1990 public expenditure White Paper and the statistical supplement to the Autumn statement

  £ million

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  England

  Subsidies

  —

  —

  —

  -12

  -23

  Pay

  64

  86

  225

  93

  623

  Other current expenditure on goods and services

  -106

  -100

  -127

  -215

  Subsidies

  —

  —

  —

  -12

  -23

  Current grants to persons

  38

  56

  -51

  51

  23

  Net capital expenditure on assets

  4

  -21

  -13

  200

  841

  Capital grants

  1

  21

  16

  78

  108

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of local government expenditure in England he anticipates will be met from central Government in(a) 1991–92, (b) 1992–93, (c) 1993–94, (d) 1994–95 and (e) 1995–96.

  Mr. Mellor
  For 1991–92, around 83 per cent. of budgeted current expenditure. As my right hon. Friend said in his Budget statement, local taxation is now at a level that the Government believe should be sustainable in the longer term. Much depends however on the level of local authority expenditure in future years.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the percentage of local government expenditure paid for by central Government in 1991–92; what it was in 1986–87 and 1981–82; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Central Government support for local authorities in 1991–92 will account for around 83 per cent. of current expenditure in England, compared with 78 per cent. in 1986–87 and 81 per cent. in 1981–82. For consistency, the figures for past years include income from non-domestic rates.

  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, using the territories and economic categories of table 5.7 of Cm. 1520, of changes between total local authority expenditure (a) between table 21.4.11. of Cm. 1021 and table 5.11 of Cm. 1520 and (b) between table 5.11 of Cm. 1021 and the "Financial Report and Budget Statement" 1991–92.

  Mr. Mellor
  Information on differences between the figures for local authority expenditure given in the 1990 public expenditure White Paper—Cm. 1021—and the "Statistical Supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement"—Cm. 1520—for the years up to 1989–90 are given in the table. They are on the same basis as the information on differences from Cm. 1021 presented in the supplement, that is, they exclude differences arising from changes in the way expenditure is recorded—classification changes—or from transfers between Departments or sectors, for example, switching responsibility for expenditure from central Government to local authorities. Corresponding analyses for 1990–91 and future years and on differences between the supplement and the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" are not available.
  241

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Lending and other financial transactions

  4

  9

  8

  -2

  -74

  Total

  6

  50

  57

  192

  1,498

  Scotland

  Pay

  —

  —

  —

  -11

  -14

  Other current expenditure on goods and services

  —

  -7

  Subsidies

  —

  —

  —

  -5

  -3

  Current grants to persons

  —

  —

  —

  -4

  -6

  Net capital expenditure on assets

  1

  —

  —

  -24

  -7

  Capital grants

  —

  —

  —

  7

  -1

  Lending and other financial transactions

  —

  —

  —

  9

  -4

  Total

  1

  —

  —

  -35

  -34

  Wales

  Pay

  —

  —

  —

  12

  81

  Other current expenditure on goods and services

  —

  —

  —

  25

  Subsidies

  —

  —

  —

  -12

  -12

  Current grants to persons

  3

  7

  3

  11

  9

  Net capital expenditure on assets

  —

  -1

  —

  4

  57

  Capital grants

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Lending and other financial transactions

  —

  1

  —

  4

  -2

  Total

  3

  7

  3

  44

  136

  Great Britain

  Pay

  64

  86

  225

  94

  689

  Other current expenditure on goods and services

  - 106

  -100

  -127

  -197

  Current grants to persons

  41

  63

  -48

  57

  26

  Net capital expenditure on assets

  4

  -22

  -13

  180

  892

  Capital grants

  1

  21

  16

  85

  110

  Lending and other financial transactions

  5

  9

  8

  11

  -80

  Total

  10

  57

  61

  201

  1,600

  Northern Ireland

  Pay

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  Other current expenditure on goods and services

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Subsidies

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Current grants to persons

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Net capital expenditure on assets

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -1

  Capital grants

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lending and other financial transactions

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  United Kingdom

  Pay

  64

  86

  225

  94

  695

  Other current expenditure on goods and services

  -106

  -100

  -127

  -197

  Subsidies

  —

  —

  —

  -29

  -38

  Current grants to persons

  41

  63

  -48

  57

  26

  Net capital expenditure on assets

  4

  -22

  -13

  180

  891

  Capital grants

  1

  21

  16

  85

  111

  Lending and other financial transactions

  5

  9

  8

  11

  -80

  Total

  10

  57

  61

  201

  1,605

  1 The differences shown are differences after adjustments for changes of classification and switches between departments and spending sectors.

  Charities
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the proposals he announced in the Budget for assistance to charities in respect of value added tax.
  242
  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend has received a large number of representations from charities since his Budget statement.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from charities since his Budget statement.
  243
  Mr. Maude
  My right hon. Friend has received a large number of representations from charities since his Budget statement.

  Manufacturing Output
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change in manufacturing output has been in the last three months.

  Mr. Mellor
  In the three months December to February, manufacturing output was 2·1 per cent. lower than in the previous three months.

  Growth
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for how many consecutive quarters he forecasts growth will be negative after 1990.

  Mr. Mellor
  Forecasts of GDP are published for half-yearly periods. The Budget forecast shows a fall in GDP of 1½ per cent. between the second half of 1990 and the first half of 1991, and growth of ¾ per cent. between the first and second halves of 1991.

  Interest Rates
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about current interest rates.

  Mr. Maples
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs. Ewing).

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the position of the pound sterling within the exchange rate mechanism.

  Mr. Maples
  Sterling is currently trading a little above its central rate.

  Foundation for Sport and Arts
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list in full the organisations with which Ministers or officials in his Department plan to hold meetings with regard to establishing the proposed Foundation for Sport and the Arts; and on what dates such meetings will take place;

  (2) if he will list in full the organisations with which Ministers or officials in his Department have held meetings with regard to establishing the proposed Foundation for Sport and the Arts; and on what dates such meetings took place;

  Married couple with two children aged seven and 11—Rent: £25·60—Community charge: £9·62

  Gross earnings

  Take home pay

  Family credit

  Child benefit

  Rent rebate

  Community charge benefit

  Total net income

  Net income after rent and community charge

  Earnings £100—£110

  100·00

  91·94

  43·32

  16·75

  1·25

  2·08

  155·34

  120·12

  101·00

  92·60

  42·86

  16·75

  1·12

  2·05

  155·38

  120·16

  102·00

  93·26

  42·39

  16·75

  1·00

  2·02

  155·42

  120·20

  103·00

  93·92

  41·93

  16·75

  0·87

  1·99

  155·46

  120·24

  104·00

  94·58

  41·47

  16·75

  0·74

  1·96

  155·50

  120·28

  105·00

  95·24

  41·01

  16·75

  0·61

  1·93

  155·54

  120·32

  106·00

  95·90

  40·55

  16·75

  0·00

  1·90

  155·10

  119·88

  107·00

  96·56

  40·08

  16·75

  0·00

  1·87

  155·26

  120·04

  244
  (3) how many meetings have taken place between Ministers and officials from his Department with representatives of the pools companies, to discuss the establishing of a new Foundation for Sport and the Arts, since 28 March; and what plans there are for further meetings;

  (4) what progress has been made towards the setting up of the proposed Foundation for Sport and the Arts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Since 28 March, my officials have held one meeting—on 16 April—with representatives of Littlewoods, Vernons and Zetters, the three members of the Pools Promoters Association. Following that meeting, work is progressing towards the establishment of the Foundation for Sport and the Arts. Further meetings with the promoters will be held as necessary.

  Pay Increases (Statistics)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average increase in net weekly spending power of a man with two children of seven and 11 years and a non-working wife for each extra £1 he earns if he increases his pay from(a) £100 to £110, (b) £110 to £120, (c) £120 to £130, d) £130 to £140 and (e) £140 to £150, assuming he pays average rent and community charge.

  Mr. Jack
  I have been asked to reply.

  For the purposes of these examples it has been assumed that housing costs remain static irrespective of the level of gross earrnings. The information is set out in the tables, which show changes in net weekly spending power at the various levels of gross pay to which the hon. Member has referred. Total net income is the product of the interaction of income-related benefits and the tax system at any given level of gross earnings. All assumptions used are as those 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 October increase in child benefit, have also been incorporated. 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.
  245

  Gross earnings

  Take home pay

  Family credit

  Child benefit

  Rent rebate

  Community charge benefit

  Total net income

  Net income after rent and community charge

  108·00

  97·22

  39·62

  16·75

  0·00

  1·84

  155·43

  120·21

  109·00

  97·88

  39·16

  16·75

  0·00

  1·81

  155·60

  120·38

  110·00

  98·54

  38·70

  16·75

  0·00

  1·78

  155·77

  120·55

  Earnings £111—£120

  111·00

  99·20

  38·24

  16·75

  0·00

  1·75

  155·94

  120·72

  112·00

  99·86

  37·77

  16·75

  0·00

  1·72

  155·10

  120·88

  113·00

  100·52

  37·31

  16·75

  0·00

  1·69

  156·27

  121·05

  114·00

  101·18

  36·85

  16·75

  0·00

  1·66

  156·44

  121·22

  115·00

  101·84

  36·39

  16·75

  0·00

  1·63

  156·61

  121·39

  116·00

  102·50

  35·93

  16·75

  0·00

  1·60

  156·78

  121·56

  117·00

  103·16

  35·46

  16·75

  0·00

  1·57

  156·94

  121·72

  118·00

  103·82

  35·00

  16·75

  0·00

  1·54

  157·11

  121·89

  119·00

  104·48

  34·54

  16·75

  0·00

  1·51

  157·28

  122·06

  120·00

  105·14

  34·08

  16·75

  0·00

  1·48

  157·45

  122·23

  Earnings £121—£130

  121·00

  105·80

  33·62

  16·75

  0·00

  1·45

  157·62

  122·40

  122·00

  106·46

  33·15

  16·75

  0·00

  1·42

  157·78

  122·56

  123·00

  107·12

  32·69

  16·75

  0·00

  1·39

  157·95

  122·73

  124·00

  107·78

  32·23

  16·75

  0·00

  1·36

  158·12

  122·90

  125·00

  108·44

  31·77

  16·75

  0·00

  1·34

  158·30

  123·08

  126·00

  109·10

  31·31

  16·75

  0·00

  1·31

  158·47

  123·25

  127·00

  109·76

  30·84

  16·75

  0·00

  1·28

  158·63

  123·41

  128·00

  110·42

  30·38

  16·75

  0·00

  1·25

  158·80

  123·58

  129·00

  111·08

  29·92

  16·75

  0·00

  1·22

  158·97

  123·75

  130·00

  111·74

  29·46

  16·75

  0·00

  1·19

  159·14

  123·92

  Earnings £131—£140

  131·00

  112·40

  29·00

  16·75

  0·00

  1·16

  159·31

  124·09

  132·00

  113·06

  28·53

  16·75

  0·00

  1·13

  159·47

  124·25

  133·00

  113·72

  28·07

  16·75

  0·00

  1·10

  159·64

  124·42

  134·00

  114·38

  27·61

  16·75

  0·00

  1·07

  159·81

  124·59

  135·00

  115·04

  27·15

  16·75

  0·00

  1·04

  159·98

  124·76

  136·00

  115·70

  26·69

  16·75

  0·00

  1·01

  160·15

  124·93

  137·00

  116·36

  26·22

  16·75

  0·00

  0·98

  160·31

  125·09

  138·00

  117·02

  25·76

  16·75

  0·00

  0·95

  160·48

  125·26

  139·00

  117·68

  25·30

  16·75

  0·00

  0·92

  160·65

  125·43

  140·00

  118·34

  24·84

  16·75

  0·00

  0·89

  160·82

  125·60

  Earnings £141—£150

  141·00

  119·00

  24·38

  16·75

  0·00

  0·86

  160·99

  125·77

  142·00

  119·66

  23·91

  16·75

  0·00

  0·83

  161·15

  125·93

  143·00

  120·32

  23·45

  16·75

  0·00

  0·80

  161·32

  126·10

  144·00

  120·98

  22·99

  16·75

  0·00

  0·77

  161·49

  126·27

  145·00

  121·64

  22·53

  16·75

  0·00

  0·74

  161·66

  126·44

  146·00

  122·30

  22·07

  16·75

  0·00

  0·71

  161·83

  126·61

  147·00

  122·96

  21·60

  16·75

  0·00

  0·68

  161·99

  126·77

  148·00

  123·62

  21·14

  16·75

  0·00

  0·65

  162·16

  126·94

  149·00

  124·28

  20·68

  16·75

  0·00

  0·62

  162·33

  127·11

  150·00

  124·94

  20·22

  16·75

  0·00

  0·59

  162·50

  127·28

SCOTLAND

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report an analysis for the years 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92 showing for each regional, district and island council and for Scotland as a whole (a) grant-aided expenditure, (b) grant-aided expenditure expressed as pounds per head, pounds per adult and pounds per community charge unit, (c) the community charge required to be levied to finance grant-aided expenditure, (e) the long-run community charge required to be levied to finance expenditure 1 per cent., 5 per cent. and 10 per cent. below and 1 per cent., 5 per cent. and 10 per cent. above grant-aided expenditure; (f) Government grant as a percentage of local authority expenditure at each of the spending levels specified in (e)
  246
  above, (g) that level of expenditure as a percentage of grant-aided expenditure which would require a zero community charge and (h) that level of expenditure as a percentage of grant-aided expenditure which would require a zero long-run community charge.

  Mr. Lang
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Vacation Hardship Allowance
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how vacation hardship allowance is calculated.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The vacation hardship allowance may be used to provide student maintenance outwith term time in certain defined circumstances. Its maximum value is broadly similar to the additional weeks allowance for students on courses with extended terms and in recent
  247
  years this has been increased to reflect the movement in student maintenance rates generally. The amount actually payable in any individual case depends on the circumstances of the applicant.

  On 27 March, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science announced that, subject to the approval of the necessary regulations, the equivalent discretionary allowance would be discontinued in England and Wales. Those regulations come into force on 17 April and I can confirm that it is our intention to discontinue this allowance in Scotland also.

  Health board

  Application received

  Current status

  Argyll and Clyde

  1

  Commenced fundholding 1 April 1991

  Greater Glasgow

  1

  Application received March 1991: currently under consideration

  Lothian

  1

  Commenced fundholding 1 April 1991

  Tayside

  2

  Recognition granted; date of commencement still to be set.

  Practices in Scotland may submit applications at any time during the course of a year. It is for the health board to determine and agree in consultation with the individual practices concerned the date on which recognition takes effect, and the date of commencement.

  Number of vials/bottles produced by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service Years ending 31 March—to NHS, private sector. No products were issued to other bodies in the period

  Product

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Vials or bottles

  NHS

  Private sector

  NHS

  Private sector

  NHS

  Private sector

  NHS

  Private sector

  Factor 8

  Vials

  37,243

  —

  52,204

  —

  41,335

  —

  42,798

  —

  Factor IX (DEFIX)

  Vials

  1,013

  —

  9,614

  —

  9,160

  —

  7,812

  —

  Intramuscular IgG

  Normal IgG

  Vials

  6,735

  30

  8,592

  7

  14,200

  7

  15,225

  —

  Anti-D IgG

  Vials

  12,870

  54

  16,693

  44

  16,935

  22

  16,637

  36

  Anti-tetanus IgG

  Vials

  4,934

  —

  4,555

  —

  4,175

  —

  3,904

  —

  Hepatitis (HBs) IgG

  Vials

  601

  —

  734

  1

  1,519

  —

  1,320

  —

  Varicella Zoster

  Vials

  393

  —

  400

  —

  490

  —

  550

  —

  Rubella IgG

  Vials

  170

  —

  120

  —

  20

  —

  315

  —

  Rabies IgG

  Vials

  40

  —

  195

  —

  53

  —

  30

  —

  Measles IgG

  Vials

  175

  —

  70

  —

  65

  —

  203

  —

  Intravenous IgG

  Normal IgG

  Vials

  4,970

  —

  7,919

  —

  8,485

  —

  10,854

  —

  CMV IgG

  Vials

  64

  —

  817

  —

  1,291

  —

  902

  —

  Measles IgG

  Vials

  20

  —

  65

  —

  46

  —

  —

  —

  Tetanus IgG

  Vials

  5

  —

  88

  —

  8

  —

  62

  —

  Albumin

  Bottles

  2,490

  —

  6,642

  —

  6,426

  —

  4,692

  —

  SPPS

  Bottles

  75,258

  4

  93,594

  16

  88,631

  —

  84,378

  —

  Note: Products are made available to the private sector only when all NHS needs are fully covered.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for the past 10 years, the number of units of blood used in(a) NHS hospitals and (b) private hospitals.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for budget-holding status have now been(a) received for general practitioners and (b) accepted by the boards, for each Scottish health board; and in respect of what starting date in each case.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Five applications for recognition as a GP fundholder have been received by health boards to date. The further details requested are set out in the following table.

  Blood Products
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those blood products produced by the Scottish blood transfusion service, with the number used in the past 10 years in(a) NHS hospitals; (b) private hospitals and (c) sold to other bodies.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not readily available in respect of the last 10 years but information relating to the four years to 31 March 1990 is set out in the following table.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not readily available in respect of each of the last 10 years but information relating to the four years ending 31 March 1990 is set out in the following table:
  249

  Units of whole blood (450 ml)

  NHS

  Private

  1986–87

  26,092

  315

  1987–88

  18,967

  243

  1988–89

  22,243

  211

  1989 –90

  11,576

  128

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for the past 10 years, the number of units of blood used for the extraction of other blood components.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not readily available in respect of the last 10 years but information relating to the four years ending 31 March 1990 is set out in the following table:

  Years ending 31 March

  Units used for extraction of other blood components

  1986–87

  259,144

  1987–88

  240,538

  1988–89

  243,594

  1989–90

  263,733

  Purchaser/Provider Contracts
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been taken to ensure that Scottish general practitioners are aware of the terms of the purchaser/provider contracts being made on their behalf by health boards.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Circulars to health boards issued by the Scottish Office have emphasised that one of the main objectives of the new NHS contracts system is to provide health boards and GPs with the opportunity to work more closely together for the benefit of patients. Boards have therefore been instructed to set up appropriate consultative arrangements for discussion with general practitioners on their present and intended referral patterns, and to liaise on the placement of contracts and on the introduction of changes to contracts once these are in place.

  Health Board Staff
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each health board the number of regraded professional and technical category B staff who have appealed against their new grade; and how many of these appeals have been heard.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on the number of appeals by PTB staff against their new grades and on those heard is not held centrally. At Scottish appeals committee level 2 appeals have been heard and 25 are awaiting a hearing.

  Designated Place Provisions
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much public money, both capital and revenue, respectively, has been invested by his Department in designated place provisions under section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 in each year since 1980.
  250
  Mr. Lang
  The information is as follows:

  Capital(£)

  Revenue (£)

  1980–81

  —

  —

  1981–82

  —

  —

  1982–83

  150,000

  —

  1983–84

  —

  119,000

  1984–85

  —

  109,000

  1985–86

  —

  109,500

  1986–87

  —

  70,000

  1987–88

  —

  —

  1988–89

  —

  —

  1989–90

  —

  —

  1990–91

  150,000

  3,350

  Care for the Elderly
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of private residential or nursing homes for the elderly in each local authority which have closed in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many NHS long-stay beds for the elderly have been closed in each health board in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not available centrally in the form requested.

  Community Care
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take to monitor the effect on carers of the return of patients to the community; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government recognise the important role played by carers and their own need for support. Funding has been provided to establish a Scottish office for the Carers National Association. In preparing community care plans local authorities will take account of the views of organisations representing carers; and in assessing the needs of individuals for community care services local authorities will take account of the support being provided by any informal carers and their ability to continue offering it. The recently introduced complaints procedure will offer improved rights for uses of services to complain if the services they receive are inadequate. All these aspects of community care will be monitored by the Scottish Office.

  Funding of Health Services
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for programmes for Scotland for funds for the development of medical audit by general practitioners, money for pilot projects in areas of deprivation and local initiatives in the delivery of primary health care services to members of ethnic minority groups, along the lines of those announced for England.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Scottish arrangements for medical audit in general practice differ radically from those in England. In Scotland general practitioners and hospital doctors have equal access to a block of funds allocated to health boards for medical audit purposes, and to funding retained centrally for national projects.
  251
  By October 1990 there were 33 audit projects in hand or planned in general practice in Scotland covering 11 health boards. The project list includes four joint projects with other specialties and one national project. The total recurring resources for medical audit allocated to boards for 1991–92 amount to £2·3 million, a 50 per cent. increase over 1990–91.

  Developing audit in general practice is a high priority for the Government, and from July this year an audit adviser with a national remit for facilitating the implementation process will be funded from central resources. Audit activity in general practice is expected to increase significantly as a result.

  With regard to money for pilot projects in areas of deprivation and local initiatives in the delivery of primary health care to members of ethnic minorities, it is not clear to which announcement or announcements this refers. If the hon. Member cares to provide clarification of this I would be happy to provide a further response.

  Health Services
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce an initiative in Scotland similar to that announced for England and Wales in February for the development of services through the integration of primary and secondary health care.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The structure of the health service in Scotland already brings together all aspects of hospital, community health and family practitioner services within health board's responsibilities.

  The health boards and NHS management executive in Scotland are working together to ensure that this integration works as well as possible at all levels, and thereby to improve the overall quality of service to patients.

  Number

  Grade 5

  Grade 4

  Grade 3

  Grade 2

  Grade 1

  Trainee

  Senior Assistant

  Assistant

  Total

  Scotland

  5

  18

  57

  125

  62

  35

  1

  3

  306

  Argyll and Clyde

  0

  1

  1

  4

  2

  0

  0

  1

  9

  Ayrshire and Arran

  0

  1

  1

  3

  3

  2

  0

  0

  10

  Borders

  0

  0

  3

  2

  0

  2

  0

  0

  7

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  3

  Fife

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Forth Valley

  0

  0

  0

  3

  6

  0

  0

  0

  9

  Grampian

  1

  4

  8

  23

  4

  8

  0

  1

  49

  Greater Glasgow

  0

  6

  13

  37

  22

  8

  0

  0

  86

  Highland

  0

  0

  3

  2

  6

  0

  0

  0

  11

  Lanarkshire

  0

  1

  3

  11

  11

  2

  0

  0

  28

  Lothian

  2

  4

  21

  28

  2

  10

  0

  0

  67

  Orkney

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Shetland

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Tayside

  2

  0

  3

  12

  5

  2

  1

  1

  26

  Western Isles

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Percentage of Total Number

  Grade 5

  Grade 4

  Grade 3

  Grade 2

  Grade 1

  Trainee

  Senior Assistant

  Assistant

  Scotland

  1·6

  5·9

  18·6

  40·8

  20·3

  11·4

  0·3

  1·0

  Argyll and Clyde

  0·0

  11·1

  11·1

  44·4

  22·2

  0·0

  0·0

  11·1

  Ayrshire and Arran

  0·0

  10·0

  10·0

  30·0

  30·0

  20·0

  0·0

  0·0

  Borders

  0·0

  0·0

  42·9

  28·6

  0·0

  28·6

  0·0

  0·0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0·0

  0·0

  33·3

  0·0

  33·3

  33·3

  0·0

  0·0

  Hospital Costs
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average annual cost of keeping an elderly person in a national health service long-stay hospital bed.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The average cost is £360 per week (£18,720 per annum) at 1989–90 prices. Details are published annually by the Common Services Agency, information and statastics division.

  Education (Grants)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what current grants, within aggregate external finance, he is giving to education in 1991–92.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In 1991–92, current grants within aggregate external finance will be available to support local authority activities in extending the use of Gaelic (£1·5 million) and to assist with the cost of in-service training of teachers and lecturers (£9.0 million).

  Physiological Measurement Technicians
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each health board the number, in both absolute and percentage terms, of physiological measurement technicians in each of the new pay scale categories.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  An agreement concluded by the Professional and Technical Staffs "B" Whitley Council in September 1989 introduced a new pay and grading structure for various groups of technicians in the NHS. Physiological measurement technicians were assigned to one of the eight medical technical officer (MTO) grades which are assistant, senior assistant, trainee and grades 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Health boards have stated that on 30 September 1990 the number of staff formerly graded as physiological measurement technicians in each of the MTO grades is as set out in the following tables.
  253

  Grade 5

  Grade 4

  Grade 3

  Grade 2

  Grade 1

  Trainee

  Senior Assistant

  Assistant

  Fife

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  Forth Valley

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  33·3

  66·7

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  Grampian

  2·0

  8·2

  16·3

  46·9

  8·2

  16·3

  0·0

  2·0

  Greater Glasgow

  0·0

  7·0

  15·1

  43·0

  25·6

  9·3

  0·0

  0·0

  Highland

  0·0

  0·0

  27·3

  18·2

  54·5

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  Lanarkshire

  0·0

  3·6

  10·7

  39·3

  39·3

  7·1

  0·0

  0·0

  Lothian

  3·0

  6·0

  31·3

  41·8

  3·0

  14·9

  0·0

  0·0

  Orkney

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  Shetland

  0·0

  100·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  Tayside

  7·7

  0·0

  11·5

  46·2

  19·2

  7·7

  3·8

  3·8

  Western Isles

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  The Gulf
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to encourage or to assist Scottish companies to contribute to the rebuilding of the infrastructure in Kuwait; and with what response.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The Department of Trade and Industry has the lead role for ensuring that all United Kingdom companies are fully informed about, and assisted to participate in, the rebuilding and re-equipping of Kuwait.

  Within the overall United Kingdom effort the Scottish Office Industry Department and Scottish Enterprise are working together to ensure that companies in Scotland can take full advantage of any opportunities which arise. Details of the names and capabilities of over 300 companies have been passed to DTI for inclusion in their Kuwait database and these companies will be informed about developments and opportunities as they arise, Both bodies, together with DTI, were instrumental in organising an extremely successful business briefing on rebuilding Kuwait in Edinburgh on 4 April. The Department also ensured that Scottish interests were represented in a delegation of United Kingdom businessmen, led by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, which visited Kuwait from 8 to 11 April.

  Male

  Female

  Fire Authority

  Whole time

  Retained

  Volunteer

  Whole time

  Retained

  Volunteer

  Central

  239

  160

  12

  —

  2

  —

  Dumfries & Galloway

  97

  189

  13

  —

  —

  1

  Fife

  377

  94

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Grampian

  308

  445

  28

  —

  2

  6

  Highland &Islands

  95

  376

  982

  —

  1

  10

  Lothian & Borders

  687

  285

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Strathclyde

  2,231

  617

  232

  2

  4

  3

  Tayside

  401

  245

  44

  1

  —

  —

  Totals

  4,435

  2,411

  1,311

  4

  11

  20

  Oban Hospital
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many hospital beds were available in Oban for(a) medical, (b) surgical, (c) maternity, (d) geriatric and (e) other health care during each year since 1987; how many are currently available; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many beds will be available in the proposed new Oban hospital for (a) medical, (b) surgical, (c) maternity, (d) geriatric and (e) other health care; and if he will make a statement.

  Primary Testing (Leaflet)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to his Department in respect of air freight charges to convey the leaflet, "Primary Testing: A Guide for Parents" to Shetland and subsequently distribute the leaflet to schools in Shetland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A single contract for distribution throughout Scotland was negotiated on the basis of competitive tender. The information requested is therefore not available.

  Orkney Children's Panel
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary my of State for Scotland when he proposes to announce his decision on whether or not he consents to the removal from office of the reporter to the Orkney children's panel.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend expects to announce his decision shortly.

  Fire Service
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many operational(a) men and (b) women firefighters are employed in each fire authority or fire and civil defence authority in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information, as at 31 December 1990, is as follows:

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The latest centrally available information on staffed beds in Oban hospitals for the last four years is set out in the attached table. Current available staffed beds are as at year ending 31 December 1990.

  The new Oban hospital will provide 138 beds. The board's present intention is to designate 70 for acute, 62 elderly and elderly with mental disability and six for obstetrics. In addition a full range of support services will be available including out-patients, accident and emer-gency, operating facilities and an X-ray unit.
  255

  Hospital activity statistics for Oban hospitals—average available staffed beds; by specialty group: years ending 31 March 1987 to 1990 and year ending 31 December 19901

  Year ending 31 March

  Year ending 31 December1

  Specialty

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1990

  All specialties

  163

  162

  163

  162

  159

  Medical specialties

  41

  41

  41

  41

  41

  Surgical specialties

  33

  33

  33

  33

  33

  Maternity specialties

  10

  9

  10

  9

  6

  Geriatric specialties

  62

  62

  62

  62

  62

  Other specialties

  17

  17

  17

  17

  17

  1 Provisional.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made regarding the building of the new Oban hospital; what was the closing date for tenders; which bid was successful; when building will begin; when completion is expected; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Tenders have been issued by Strathclyde regional council in respect of the enabling work to access the new Oban hospital site. This work will involve the realignment of the existing trunk road and creation of spur road to give site access, and is programmed to start in June this year.

  Tenders for the main hospital building contract are planned for issue before the end of April. It is anticipated that the contract will be awarded in November, and on this timetable the hospital will be completed towards the end of 1994.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when Scottish local authorities are to be compensated in respect of the statutory reduction of community charges; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  A new grant—community charge 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 to Scottish authorities in 49 weekly instalments each totalling £8·921 million commencing later this month on the basis of an estimate of the charge income forgone by each authority. Final grant entitlement will be calculated after the end of the financial year 1991–92. Parliamentary approval of this new expenditure will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the relevant vote (class XV vote 22). Pending that approval, urgent expenditure (estimated at £26·762 million for the grant payments to be made in April and the early part of May) will be met by repayable advances from the contingencies fund.

  With the consent of the Treasury, I also plan to front-load payments of revenue support grant to Scottish authorities for the current year. Through a combination of community charge grant and revenue support grant, Scottish authorities will receive grant totalling nearly £955 million by the end of June which is over £280 million more than would have been the case under the normal arrangements for the payment of revenue support grant.

  It is obviously desirable that levying authorities should issue revised bills as quickly as possible, but I am satisfied
  256
  that this additional grant will compensate all authorities for the loss of charge income which they are likely to face while rebilling takes place.

  Educational Spending
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, at 1990–91 prices, what was the capital allocation for educational spending for each of the regional and islands councils in every year since 1978–79.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 15 April 1991]: This is a matter for the educational authorities.

DEFENCE

  Hydrocarbons
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 March,Official Report, column 556, to the hon. Member for Newport West (Mr. Flynn), on protection against hydrocarbons, what are the interim results of the quantitative and qualitative analysis of longer-term effects of hydrocarbons released, undertaken in liaison with United States and Saudi environmental health officials.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Work is continuing on the analysis of the long-term effects of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. However, they are not expected to cause skin problems, provided exposure is intermittent and short. The current consensus also suggests that there is no risk of ill-effects to the lungs arising from short-term exposure and only small risks as a result of long-term exposure. Commercially available protective masks have now been issued to British service personnel to reduce inhalation of hydrocarbons.

  Mr. Colin Wallace
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason he specifically asked Mr. David Calcutt QC not to prepare a report, but simply to state his conclusions, on the Colin Wallace affair.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The terms of reference for Mr. Calcutt's investigation were set out in my statement to the House on 30 January last year at column 112. I undertook that his conclusions and recommendations would be made public, without publishing any classified matters or material. This is what has been done.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking in Kuwait to deal with(a) land mines on approach roads to oil fires and (b) mines hidden in lakes of oil.
  258
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  British forces are not involved in such work at present. However, we are considering the ways in which British forces might support the civil rehabilitation and reconstruction programme in Kuwait.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  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, using the support types of table 5.1 of Cm. 1520 supplemented by the categories of grant of table 5.2, of changes in central Government support for local authorities in the United Kingdom as a whole and by territory, (a) between table 21.4.1. of Cm. 1021 and table 5.1 of Cm. 1520 and (b) between table 5.1 of Cm. 1520 and the "Financial Report and Budget Statement" 1991–92.

  Mr. Mellor
  Information on differences between the figures for central Government support for local authorities given in the 1990 public expenditure White

  Differences1 in Central Government Support for Local Authorities between the 1990 Public Expenditure While Paper and the Statistical Supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement

  £ million

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  21992–93

  England

  —

  Revenue support grant3

  —

  —

  —

  -70

  -27

  —

  1,617

  1,990

  Non-domestic rate payments3

  —

  —

  31

  108

  115

  —

  Current grants within AEF4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -4

  191

  259

  410

  of which: Low rateable value area/area protection grants

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  10

  40

  Inner London education grants

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Current grants outside AEF4

  —

  —

  —

  -3

  -79

  761

  1,353

  1,400

  of which: Transitional relief

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -94

  260

  260

  Credit approvals

  —

  —

  —

  -3

  —

  148

  199

  220

  Capital grants

  1

  —

  1

  -9

  39

  -162

  68

  80

  Total

  1

  —

  32

  23

  43

  938

  3,496

  4,100

  Scotland

  Revenue support grant

  —

  —

  —

  —

  9

  16

  268

  260

  Non-domestic rate payments

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Current grants within AEF4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  -17

  14

  10

  of which: Area protection grant

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Current grants outside AEF4

  —

  —

  -3

  -1

  -42

  -19

  5

  —

  of which: Transitional relief

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -3

  13

  Credit approvals

  -1

  -1

  -1

  -9

  -11

  15

  -4

  10

  Net capital allocations

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  30

  40

  Total

  -1

  -1

  -4

  -10

  -43

  -5

  313

  400

  Wales

  Revenue support grant

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  268

  260

  Non-domestic rate payments

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Current grants within AEF4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -3

  7

  12

  20

  Current grants outside AEF4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -6

  30

  75

  100

  of which:Transitional relief

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  10

  Credit approvals

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -16

  21

  60

  Capital grants

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -1

  11

  -8

  -10

  Total

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -10

  33

  238

  200

  Great Britain

  Revenue support grant

  —

  —

  —

  -70

  -18

  16

  2,023

  2,330

  Non-domestic rate payments

  —

  —

  31

  108

  115

  —

  Current grants within AEF4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -6

  181

  285

  440

  of which: Low rateable value area/area protection grants

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  10

  40

  Inner London education grants

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Current grants outside AEF4

  —

  —

  -3

  -4

  -127

  772

  1,433

  1,500

  of which: Transitional relief

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -94

  264

  300

  Credit approvals

  -1

  -1

  -1

  -12

  -12

  147

  215

  300

  260
  Paper—Cm. 1021—and the "Statistical Supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement"—Cm. 1520—are given in the table. They are on the same basis as the information on differences from Cm. 1021 presented in the supplement, that is, they exclude differences arising from changes in the way expenditure is recorded—classification changes—or from transfers between departments or sectors, for example, switching responsibility for expenditure from central Government to local authorities. Corresponding analyses of differences between the supplement and the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" are not available. Details of changes since the supplement arising from the introduction of the community charge grant and the measures announced on 17 January to reduce the levels of community charges are set out in table 5.2 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report".
  261

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  21992–93

  Capital grants

  1

  —

  1

  -9

  38

  -150

  91

  110

  Total

  —

  -1

  28

  14

  -9

  966

  4,047

  4,770

  Northern Ireland

  Current grants outside AEF4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -1

  -2

  -1

  —

  Capital grants

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  Total

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -1

  -1

  —

  —

  United Kingdom

  Revenue support grant

  —

  —

  —

  -70

  -18

  16

  2,023

  2,330

  Non-domestic rate payments

  —

  —

  31

  108

  115

  —

  Current grants within AEF4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -6

  181

  285

  440

  of which: Low rateable value area/area protection grant

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  10

  40

  Inner London education grant

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Current grants outside AEF4

  —

  —

  -3

  -4

  -128

  771

  1,432

  1,500

  of which: Transitional relief

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  -94

  264

  300

  Credit approvals

  -1

  -1

  -1

  -12

  -12

  147

  215

  300

  Capital grants

  1

  —

  1

  -9

  38

  -149

  92

  110

  Total

  —

  -1

  28

  14

  -10

  965

  4,047

  4,700

  1 The differences shown are differences after adjustments for changes of classification and switches between departments and spending sectors.

  2 Figures are rounded to the nearest £10 million or, in the case of totals for current grants outside AEF and totals including these grants, to the nearest £100 million.

  3 The differences shown for 1991–92 and 1992–93 are higher than the corresponding differences shown in the 1990 Autumn Statement (table 1.3) because they take account of a switch between revenue support grant and capital grants/credit approvals. This switch was below the threshold for which differences were adjusted in the Autumn Statement.

  4 Aggregate external finance.

  262

  THE GULF WAR: ALLIED GROUND CAMPAIGN CODE NAME
  THE GULF WAR: ALLIED GROUND CAMPAIGN CODE NAME
  THE GULF WAR: DAMAGE TO NON-MILITARY TARGETS
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  THE GULF WAR: DEGREE OF FORCE
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