Written Answers of 19 April 1991

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Research Bodies
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many publicly funded research centres or institutes are planned to(a) close, (b) merge and (c) open in the next five years.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  This information is not available. Publicly funded research establishments vary from small units in higher education institutions to large institutes on a number of sites, and are run by a range of bodies including the research councils and universities.

  Nuclear Structure Facility
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received since 8 February about the decision of the SERC to close the nuclear structure facility, Daresbury; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Since 8 February, my right hon. and learned Friend and I have received 350 representations about the nuclear structure facility at the SERC's Daresbury laboratory.

  Teacher Grading
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many(a) men and (b) women teachers are on grades A, B, C, D and E allowances for each local education authority in England currently and for the last five years that figures are available for (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools.

  Mr. Fallon
  [holding answer 18 April 1991]: I am arranging to place in the Library a copy of the relevant tables for March 1988, the first year following the introduction of incentive allowances in October 1987. Corresponding information for later years is not yet available.

  Head Teachers
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many(a) men and (b) women head teachers and deputy head teachers are in place for each local education authority in England now and for the last five years that figures are available for (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools.

  Mr. Fallon
  [holding answer 18 April 1991]: I am arranging to place in the Library a copy of the relevant tables for the years 1986 to 1988. Comparable figures for other years are not readily available.

  Student Awards
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what parental contributions will be payable towards mandatory student awards in the academic year 1991–92.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [pursuant to his reply, 28 February 1991, col. 554]: I regret that the illustrative parental contribution scales which accompanied my previous reply contained some minor arithmetical errors. These errors would not have affected the assessments to be made in the summer by local education authorities, which will be based on the formulae quoted at the end of my previous reply. The formulae remain correct and will generally still keep the assessed contribution for 1991–92 at the same cash level as in 1990–91, as intended for a parent whose residual income has risen in line with average earnings.

  For the avoidance of doubt, the corrected illustrative scales are shown below.

  Illustrative parental contribution scales for 1991–92

  Residual income £

  Scale 1 contribution £

  Scale 2 contribution £

  12,650

  60

  45

  13,000

  105

  79

  14,000

  235

  176

  15,000

  365

  274

  16,000

  495

  371

  16,170

  517

  388

  17,000

  667

  501

  18,000

  849

  638

  19,000

  1,031

  775

  20,000

  1,213

  912

  21,000

  1,395

  1,049

  22,000

  1,577

  1,186

  23,000

  1,758

  1,323

  23,760

  1,897

  1,427

  24,000

  1,951

  1,468

  25,000

  2,178

  1,638

  26,000

  2,406

  1,809

  27,000

  2,633

  1,980

  28,000

  2,860

  2,151

  29,000

  3,087

  2,322

  30,000

  3,315

  2,493

  31,000

  3,542

  2,664

  32,000

  3,769

  2,835

  33,000

  3,997

  3,006

  34,000

  4,224

  3,177

  35,000

  4,451

  3,348

  36,000

  4,678

  3,519

  37,000

  4,906

  3,690

  38,000

  5,133

  3,861

  39,000

  5,360

  4,032

  40,000

  5,587

  4,203

  40,934

  5,800

  —

  41,000

  —

  4,374

  42,000

  —

  4,544

  43,000

  —

  4,715

  44,000

  —

  4,886

  45,000

  —

  5,057

  46,000

  —

  5,228

  47,000

  —

  5,399

  48,000

  —

  5,570

  49,000

  —

  5,741

  49,343

  —

  5,800

ENVIRONMENT

  New Palace Yard (Lamps)
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why the gas lamps in New Palace Yard have been converted to electricity.

  Mr. Yeo
  The gas lamps in New Palace Yard have been temporarily replaced by electric lamps following the discovery of damage to the mains supply. As substantial excavation work will be required to lay a new main, the work has been deferred to the summer recess to minimise disruption. It is expected that the gas lamps will be back in use in September.

  Community Charge (Lambeth)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much community charge has now been paid for the financial year ended 31 March in Lambeth.

  Mr. Key
  Local authorities are currently sending returns to my Department giving their community charge receipts up to 31 March 1991; no return has yet been received from Lambeth. To 31 December 1990 Lambeth had collected £24·3 million.

  Rhododendrons
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in his Department in limiting the spread of rhododendrons as a threat to woodlands and wild landscapes.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department has not carried out specific work on this subject, but the Forestry Commission is continuing research into methods of controlling rhododendron, and results are promising. Bulletin 73, Field Book 8 and Research Information Note 186, issued by the Commission, provide more detailed information about control on forest sites. I am arranging for a copy of each document to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Advice Services
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent local authorities are making use of section 38 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The Department has no information on the extent to which local authorities are using this new power to help advice and assistance agencies.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has issued any advice to local authorities on section 38 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

  Mr. Portillo
  A joint circular (Department of the Environment 23/90; Welsh Office 62/90) explained the impact of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 on parish, community and town councils. This drew attention to the new power for these authorities under section 38 to help advice and assistance agencies. Similar action seemed unnecessary for principal councils.

  Housing Corporation Expenditure
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money has been spent by the Housing Corporation in(a) Stockton, (b) Middlesbrough and (c) Hartlepool; and how many dwellings have been improved or created in each of the last four years.

  Mr. Yeo
  This is a matter for the Housing Corporation. I have therefore asked the corporation to respond to my hon. Friend direct. The subsequent reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list all those areas in England and Wales for which planning permission has been granted for opencast mining.

  Mr. Yeo
  Information on the areas in England and Wales where planning permission has been granted for opencast mining is not held centrally. According to statistics published by the County Planning Officers Society 41 sites in England and Wales received approval in 1989–90 (including on appeal) as follows:

  Number

  Durham

  10

  Northumberland

  1

  Tyne and Wear

  1

  Cumbria

  1

  Leicestershire

  2

  Staffordshire

  1

  Shropshire

  4

  West Midlands

  2

  Derbyshire

  6

  South Yorkshire

  3

  West Yorkshire

  3

  Merseyside

  3

  Mid Glamorgan

  2

  West Glamorgan

  2

  Gwent

  1

  Rose Theatre Trust
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the Rose Theatre Trust to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Sir George Young
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 3 June to 7 June.

TRANSPORT

  Railway Property (Child Trespassers)
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many children have been(a) killed and (b) seriously injured in each of the past 10 years for which figures are available in consequence of electrocution or being struck by a train while trespassing on railway property.

  Mr. Freeman
  Figures for the period 1980–89 are given in the table; 1989 is the latest year for which figures are available.
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  Electrocution

  Struck by trains

  Year

  Fatal

  Seriously injured

  Fatal

  Seriously injured

  1980

  7

  9

  6

  1

  1981

  10

  10

  8

  2

  1982

  3

  13

  4

  2

  1983

  5

  18

  9

  3

  1984

  10

  17

  6

  4

  1985

  3

  14

  9

  3

  1986

  6

  12

  4

  5

  1987

  6

  6

  9

  5

  1988

  4

  6

  12

  7

  1989

  3

  8

  5

  2

SCOTLAND

  Local Authority Spending
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Scotland how much is spent by each local authority per person on(a) the mentally ill and (b) the elderly.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information for the elderly derived from the local authority financial returns is set out in the table. It is not possible to provide meaningful information for the mentally ill since the expenditure is not always separately identified.

  Local authority expenditure per head on the elderly: 1988–89

  Region

  Elderly £

  Borders

  37·0

  Central

  33·5

  Dumfries and Galloway

  28·1

  Fife

  41·7

  Grampian

  32·2

  Highland

  31·1

  Lothian

  34·6

  Strathclyde

  37·1

  Tayside

  40·7

  Orkney

  68·2

  Shetland

  78·0

  Western Isles

  94·1

  Note: This expenditure information relates to services paid for by social work authorities and used in the main by the elderly. It does not include administration and casework expenditure by these authorities in relation to the elderly since that is difficult to identify. Expenditure by housing authorities on services of benefit to the elderly is not included.

  Cancer
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will list for each year from 1986 onwards the number of cancer-related deaths in(a) Scotland, (b) Forth Valley health board area, (c) Falkirk district, (d) the postal district FK4, (e) the postal district FK5 and (f) the postal district FK6.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The number of deaths attributed to cancer (ICD* numbers 140–208) as the underlying cause of death is shown in the table.

  Deaths from malignant neoplasms, 1986–89

  Area

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Scotland

  14,534

  14,650

  14,720

  14,917

  Forth Valley health board

  784

  765

  803

  721

  Falkirk local government district

  412

  407

  420

  397

  Postal district: FK4

  32

  42

  24

  27

  268

  Area

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  FK5

  50

  44

  43

  41

  FK6

  33

  23

  32

  31

  * International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision.

  Place of Safety Orders (Orkney)
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will hold an inquiry into the events surrounding the place of stafety orders recently taken in respect of nine children in Orkney.

  Mr. Lang
  Once the legal proceedings in relation to this case are completed, it is my intention to hold a full judicial inquiry. At that stage I will make an announcement about the terms of reference and who will lead it.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Kurdish Refugees
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all United Kingdom emergency relief for refugees from Iraq; from which ODA budget the aid is paid; and whether the ODA's budget for 1991–92 has been increased to cover the cost of emergency aid for Iraqi refugees.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Total commitments for relief operations for refugees from Iraq in 1990–91 are estimated at £18·37 million. £3·25 million has been paid from the ODA's humanitarian aid subhead A3(9), and £2·5 million for ICRC from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office vote, clases II, vote 5. The remainder is our estimated share of EC budgetary expenditure and will be attributed to the aid programme in the usual way. The £18·37 million was allocated as follows:

  August 1990:—£2 million to the International Organisation for Migration.

  August 1990:—£0·5 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross and Jordanian Red Crescent.

  August 1990:—£0·25 million relief supplies from the United Kingdom.

  August 1990:—£8·25 million through the European Community

  January 1991:—US$1 million to United Nations Disaster Relief Organisation.

  February 1991:—£2·5 million to International Committee of the Red Cross Gulf Appeal

  January-March 1991:—£4·37 million through the European Community.

  Commitments so far in this financial year total £21·65 million, excluding the cost of RAF airdrops and airlift operations.

  Specific allocations are:

  April 1991—£0·5 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

  April 1991—£336,000 for relief supply flights to Turkey on 5 April.

  April 1991—£350,000 for relief supply nights to Iran on 9 April and 10 April.

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  April 1991—£30,000 grants each to Save the Children Fund and CARE (UK) for food purchases via the Turkish Red Crescent Society.

  April 1991—£50,000 grant to OXFAM for relief supply flights.

  April 1991—£650,000 through the European Community.

  Our initial assistance of over £1 million in April 1991 is being met from funds earmarked for disaster relief in the ODA's contingency reserve, provision for which is in subhead A3(7). Of the £20 million announced by the Prime Minister on 5 April, £8 million is being drawn from the aid programme contingency reserve. The balance of £12 million is our estimated share of EC budgetary expenditure and will be attributed to the aid programme.

  The United Kingdom is also providing daily relief supply flights to Turkey. Supplies are being distributed by Hercules aircraft and Chinook helicopters based at Dyarbakir. The costs of these airlift and helicopter operations are estimated at £1·5 million per week. Two further relief supply flights will leave for Iran on 18 April and 19 April. More will follow. The costs of these operations are also being met from the aid programme contingency reserve.

  ODA's budget for 1991–92 has not been increased further to meet the costs of these relief operations. But, as I made clear to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 17 April, the Government will look sympathetically at the case for extra money.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Children
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what provision is made for the welfare and care of children in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) Belgium, (c) Denmark, (d) Luxembourg, (e) the Netherlands, (f) Germany and (g) France.

  Mr. Jack
  This Department makes provision for the welfare and care of children to the extent that it provides cash benefits to families with children, principally through the child benefit, family credit and income support schemes.

  Tables giving details of child benefit and equivalent schemes in the countries listed by the hon. Member, as at 1 July 1990, are set out in "Social Protection in the Member States of the Community", published by the Commission for the European Communities, a copy of which is in the Library. The current publication does not cover income-related benefits such as family credit (a benefit which has no direct equivalent in the other countries) but the United Kingdom has proposed to the Commission that next year and in following years the tables should be extended to cover these benefits. Until this can be done a systematic comparison of this type of benefit is not possible.

  Disability Benefit
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will conduct a comprehensive review of disability benefits arising from the OPCS surveys on disabilities; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Scott
  The reports produced by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys provided us with an unprecedented volume of information about the financial circumstances of people with disabilities. We invited and received comments on these reports from large numbers of organisations and took their views into account before publishing our proposals in "The Way Ahead" (Cm. 917). We have since invited further comments on the documents we published last year outlining our more detailed proposals for both the new benefits. We received more than 70 replies.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those organisations which have made representations to him requesting that the disability living allowance be available to those who become disabled after the age of 85 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  No such representations have been received.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the amount spent on the social fund relative to the amount paid in single payments for the last year in which the single payment scheme operated, expressed in comparable prices and as a percentage reduction.

  Mr. Scott
  Direct comparisons between single payments expenditure in 1987–88 and social fund expenditure in 1990–91 are misleading because of the differing scope of the two schemes. Funeral and maternity payments were not part of the single payments scheme in 1987–88 but have been included in the table in order to make the comparison with social fund expenditure in 1990–91 more meaningful.

  Cash £ million

  At 1990–91 prices £ million

  Single payments

  1987–88

  1243

  2299

  Social fund

  1990–913

  —

  282 5½ per cent. reduction

  1 Includes £29 million spent on maternity and funeral payments.

  2 Calculated using the estimated gross domestic product deflator.

  3 Provisional.

PRIME MINISTER

  Computers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps are being taken to ensure that no Government Department makes use of any pirated copies of Inslaw case-tracking Promis software.

  The Prime Minister
  All Government Departments operate their information technology systems within the law. To reinforce this, Departments have issued internal notices warning of the consequences of using unlicensed software.

  Iraq
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards ensuring that the leaders of the regime in Iraq are tried for crimes against humanity; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Saddam Hussein bears personal responsibility under international law for his crimes and is responsible for those of his subordinates acting under his orders. In the case of both war crimes and genocide Saddam Hussein can, in law, be brought to trial before a national court or international tribunal. We and our EC partners have asked the United Nations Secretary-General to investigate how this might be achieved.

  Interception Commissioner
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Prime Minister when the Commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 will present his annual report; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  A copy of Lord Justice Lloyd's fifth annual report for 1990 has been laid before the House today in accordance with section 8(7) of the Interception of Communications Act 1985. The confidential appendix to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 8(8) of the 1985 Act. I am grateful to the Commissioner for his work in reviewing the issue of warrants and note that he remains satisfied that the Secretaries of State continue to exercise scrupulous care in the issue of warrants. Careful consideration is being given to both parts of the Commissioner's report.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Alphachloralose
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under what circumstances Alphachloralose can be used as a rodenticide.

  Mr. Maclean
  As from 1 March, Alphachloralose may be used as a rodenticide only when contained in a product approved under the Control of Pesticide Regulations for that purpose, of which there are currently seven. Use of these is governed by specified conditions which must be listed on labels, and which include the restriction that they are for use only as rodenticides.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Single Market
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the Official Report the short title of each of the European Community directives to implement the single market which should be on the statute book of each of the European Community member states; and what progress each such state had made by 31 December 1990 to enact into their domestic law such legislation.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The latest information giving a detailed breakdown of the situation on implementation of the individual measures in the Commission White Paper 272
  programme which were due to enter into force by the end of 1990 are given in annex 1 to document 9258/90 dated 5 October 1990, a copy of which is deposited in the Library. This confirms the United Kingdom's good record with only 18 out of 107 measures not implemented. A comparative table for all member states, together with more recent figures provided by the Commission are given in the table.

  Unimplemented measures1

  Unofficial assessment2

  Denmark

  15

  20

  United Kingdom

  18

  28

  Germany (F.R.)

  20

  32

  Portugal

  20

  31

  Spain

  27

  38

  France

  28

  38

  Ireland

  31

  43

  Belgium

  32

  37

  Netherlands

  33

  35

  Luxembourg

  35

  46

  Greece

  44

  44

  Italy

  62

  73

  1 Figures for unimplemented measures in the 5 zoctober 1990 report; out of 107 provisions required to have been transposed by 31 December 1990.

  2 Latest commission unofficial assessment (dated 9 March) of measures not implemented: out of 120 individual provisions required to have been transposed by that date.

  Somalia (Tobacco Imports)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the £3,436,000 beverages and tobacco exports to Somalia in 1990 was tobacco.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information requested is published in Business Monitor MM20 Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom for December 1990, table v, page 17, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Sheffield Forgemaster
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the chemical specification of the steel ordered for the manufacture by Sheffield Forgemaster of the so-called super gun.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 18 April 1991]; I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 12 December 1990 at cols. 412–13.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Petroleum Duty
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has on European Commission proposals for minimum rates and target rates of petrol duty.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The European Commission proposed minimum rates for mineral oils, including leaded and unleaded petrol, in December 1989. An explanatory memorandum on this proposal was submitted on 19 February 1990 (document 9777/89 COM (89) 526 final).

  On 19 February 1991 the Commission issued a further duty rates proposal (document 4822/91 COM (91) 43 final) which, for leaded and unleaded petrol, complemented the

  273
  1989 proposals by setting target rates. An explanatory memorandum on the proposal was submitted on 17 April 1991.

  Copies of the explanatory memoranda are in the Library.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Bellott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to ensure that second-hand goods retain zero rate of value added tax; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The only zero rate of value added tax on goods solely because they are second-hand applies to donated goods sold by charity shops. There are, however, special schemes for accounting for tax on some second-hand goods. I have no plans to change either system.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of value added tax is payable on work done or services provided in the period up to 31 March 1991.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Traders are entitled to charge the old rate (15 per cent.) on goods or services supplied up to 31 March. This applies even where a tax invoice is issued after that date in respect of such goods and services. Normally, this would create a tax point at the new rate, but the law includes a concession which allows traders to apply the old rate.

  Baby Yarns
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will zero-rate baby yarns for the purpose of VAT.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  No. Although under the EC VAT sixth directive member states are able to retain zero rates which were in force on 31 December 1975, subject to their being for clearly defined social reasons and for the benefit of the final consumer, they may neither widen the scope of existing zero rates nor introduce new ones.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Cats and Dogs (Experimentation)
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action is taken to ensure that the cats and dogs supplied by suppliers given temporary licences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to supply non purpose-bred cats and dogs to designated establishments are not strays or were not originally stolen;

  (2) on what grounds temporary suppliers' licences are granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to suppliers of non purpose-bred dogs, including ex-racing greyhounds.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Certificates of designation issued under secton 7 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to breeding and supplying establishments are not granted on a temporary basis. Exemptions may be granted to the standard condition applying to such certificates, which requires that animals must be obtained from designated breeding and supplying establishments. Breeding estab-lishments have been granted exemptions to obtain dogs from non-designated sources only for use as breeding stock.
  274
  Exemptions may also be granted to the requirement in section 10(3) of the Act applying to project licences that only those cats and dogs specially bred at and obtained from designated sources may be used in scientific procedures. No exemptions have been granted to allow the use of cats obtained from non-designated sources at designated user establishments.

  Where there is a shortage of certain types of purpose-bred dogs for use in research, it is necessary to grant some exemptions. Care is taken to ensure that greyhounds obtained from non-designated sources are neither pets nor ex-racing greyhounds which have been supplied to charitable bodies as pets.

  The conditions applied to licences and certificates ensure that stray or stolen cats or dogs cannot be legitimately supplied for use in regulated procedures.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will identify the National Greyhound Racing Club licensed trainer who has been licensed to supply ex-racing greyhounds to the Royal Postgraduate Medical School for use in animal procedures:

  (2) if he will identify all sources of greyhounds and other dogs supplied to the Royal Postgraduate Medical School for use in animal procedures.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No certificate of designation has been granted under section 7 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 for the supply of ex-racing greyhounds to the Royal Postgraduate Medical School for use in scientific procedures. Exemptions have been granted at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School to obtain a limited number of greyhounds from non-designated sources for a limited period.

  It is not our practice to give details of the sources of animals supplied for use in scientific procedures. The RPMS intends to use specially bred greyhounds which are expected to become available during the summer. In the meantime, we understand that the RPMS has agreed with the NGRC not to use greyhounds which have raced on licensed tracks.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suppliers to establishments licensed to carry out procedures under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are licensed to supply non purpose-bred cats and dogs; what numbers of such animals were supplied to British laboratories last year; and if he will publish details in the annual statistics of scientific procedures on living animals.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Exemptions for project licence-holders to acquire dogs from non-designated suppliers have been granted in only a very small number of cases. No exemptions have been granted for cats.

  Statistics on the total number of animals supplied are not available centrally and there are no plans to collect them for publication in the annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspections of suppliers given temporary licences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to supply non purpose-bred cats and dogs to designated establishments are made each year by the Home Office inspectorate.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Inspectors have powers to inspect only designated establishments. Exemptions have been granted
  275
  to enable project licence-holders at scientific procedure establishments to obtain animals from non-designated sources. If questions were to arise about the health or quality of the animals, exemptions would not be granted or would be withdrawn.

  Police Operations
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been killed in police pursuits(a) excluding and (b) including police officers in each of the last five years in England and Wales, respectively.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The available information for 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990 is contained in the reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary for those years, copies of which are in the Library. This information was not recorded centrally in 1986 and earlier years and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

WALES

  Drinking Water (Lead Pollution)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the number of houses in Wales that have drinking water containing lead levels above those permitted by EC standards; and if he will indicate the location of those properties.

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

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the number of houses in Wales that would be required to remove lead plumbing if the permitted level of lead in drinking water is changed from 0·05 mg per litre to 0·01 mg per litre.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information is held by his Department on the number of houses in Wales having lead plumbing.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The Welsh House Condition Survey for 1981 estimated that 188,400 houses in Wales had lead plumbing.

  Public Registers
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish all those locations in Wales where the public can examine the public registers held by(a) the National Rivers Authority and (b) the Welsh Water Company.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The locations are as follows:

  (a) Caernarfon, Cardiff, Haverfordwest, Lampeter, Mold, Monmouth, Swansea.

  (b) Aberaeron, Bangor, Brecon, Haverfordwest, Mold, Nelson, Swansea.

  Contaminated Land
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the cost of decontaminating all contaminated land in Wales.
  276
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not available.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what discussions he has had with the chairman of the South Glamorgan health authority concerning the completion of treatment as in-patients for those presently undergoing treatment at the children's ward, Prince of Wales orthopaedic hospital, Rhydlafar, near Cardiff, on or shortly after its announced closure date of 30 April;

  (2) if he will issue guidelines to health authorities to which he has granted consent to close wards or hospitals not to implement those closures until the in-patients in situ have completed their in-patient treatment.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  As the implementation of approved service changes is a matter for health authorities, I have not discussed the timing of the transfer of the children's orthopaedic service in South Glamorgan with the chairman of the district health authority. Nor do I have plans to issue any general guidance on this particular aspect of service planning.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to take to alleviate short-term cash flow difficulties experienced by local authorities in Wales as a result of the Community Charges (General Reduction) Act 1991.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I announced on 19 March my intention to pay community charge grant to Welsh local authorities in accordance with the Community Charges (General Reduction) Act 1991. Parliamentary approval of this new expenditure will be sought in a supplementary estimate on the rate rebates, Wales vote, class XVI, vote 11.

  Pending that approval, urgent expenditure is being met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund. An advance of £45 million has already been made to cover

DEFENCE

  Aldermaston
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the welding fault problems in the A90 and A91 buildings at Aldermaston.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The work to rectify problems associated with welds in A90 was completed in April 1990. Further details may be found in the evidence given by my Department to the Select Committee on Defence and published in the reports "The progress of the Trident Programme", 5th of Session 1988–89 and 9th of Session 1989–90 (HC 374 and HC 237). During the commissioning of the A91 facility a different problem has been identified associated with corrosion in pipework and vessels. The problem is being investigated and solutions identified.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the A90 building is to be closed either fully or partially; and what will happen to staff at Aldermaston.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No. The problem associated with corrosion in pipework and vessels is in the A91 facility and
  277
  not A90. As a result the training schedules of a small number of the future operators of A91 are being revised whilst the problem is investigated.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the present problems at Aldermaston will affect the timetable for the Trident warhead production.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  We do not expect any adverse effect on the Trident warhead production programme.

  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the cost of rectifying the problems on the A90 and A91 buildings at Aldermaston.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The work to rectify the problems in A90 was completed in April 1990. It is not the practice to disclose details of individual contract costs for reasons of commercial confidentiality. Further details may be found in the evidence given by my Department to the Select Committee on Defence and published in the reports "The progress of the Trident Programme", 5th of Session 1988–89 and 9th of Session 1989–90 (HC 374 and HC 237). The investigations into the problems with A91 are at an early stage and it is not yet possible to estimate the cost of any corrective action that may be necessary.

  Main Battle Tank
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Elmet (Mr. Batiste) of 19 March,Official Report column 90, if he is now in a position to say when he expects to announce which company has been chosen to provide main battle tanks to replace the Chieftain tank.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Elmet (Mr. Batiste) on 19 March at column 90.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the average time between(a) a request for a hearing date and (b) a hearing date being set for immigration appeals in Leeds.

  The Attorney-General
  The average time between a request for a hearing date and a hearing date being set for immigration appeals in Leeds is estimated to be five to six months.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Attorney-General what action is being taken to reduce delays in hearing immigration appeals in Leeds; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor's Department is actively considering increasing the number of hearing rooms available at Coronet house, Leeds for hearing immigration appeals, and has since 1989 increased the number of staff and adjudicators at Leeds. It is also planned to establish a permanent centre in Scotland for processing Scottish immigration appeals which will reduce the workload and pressure at the Leeds centre, which currently processess Scottish appeals. The Lord Chancellor's Department is also keeping under review facilities and staffing levels at all hearing centres in light of the increasing number of appeals.
  278
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Attorney-General what action is being taken to reduce delays in immigration appeal papers, received in London from British overseas posts, being forwarded to the representatives of the parties; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The immigration appellate authorities have recently introduced streamlined procedures for the initial collation and dispatch of appeal papers received at Thanat house from posts overseas, and now aim to dispatch them to the parties representatives in this country within three weeks of their receipt. This is a significant improvement on the previous position of eight to 12 weeks.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Attorney-General when the appeal of Mr. Mohammed Ashraf (TH/13446190) against refusal to grant him entry clearance to the United Kingdom is to be heard in Leeds; when he first applied to enter the United Kingdom; when he was interviewed by the British high commission in Islamabad; when his appeal was received by the post; when his papers were received in London; when papers were sent to Mr. Ashraf's representative; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The immigration appellate authorities (IAA) expect the appeal of Mr. Mohammed Ashraf to be heard in Leeds in September 1991. Mr. Ashraf applied to enter the United Kingdom on 28 November 1988, and was interviewed by the entry clearance officer at Islamabad on 14 December 1989 and 3 May 1990. The entry clearance officer refused Mr. Ashraf's application on 24 May 1990 and on 4 July 1990 the high commission at Islamabad received Mr. Ashraf's appeal. The IAA in London received Mr. Ashraf's appeal papers on 16 August 1990 and after collating them the IAA sent the case papers to Mr. Ashraf's representatives in this country on 13 November 1990. On 1 March 1991 Mr. Ashraf's representatives indicated to the IAA that they are ready to proceed to hearing.

  The delay in the listing of this case at Leeds is regrettable and the Lord Chancellor's Department is currently taking steps to increase the hearing room capacity of the Leeds centre in order to reduce delays there.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Attorney-General how many(a) staff and (b) adjudicators are retained in Leeds concerned with immigration appeals; and if he will give figures for the comparable period of the last three years.

  The Attorney-General
  The information requested is as follows:

  Adjudicators

  April

  Staff in post

  Full-time

  Part-time

  1988

  6

  1

  9

  1989

  6½

  1

  9

  1990

  6½

  1

  13

  1991

  8

  1

  13

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Attorney-General how many immigration appeals in Leeds were in the past three years, to date,(a) heard and (b) adjourned at the request of the parties or for other reasons; and what is the average delay between a hearing and determination being issued.
  279
  The Attorney-General
  The immigration appellate authorities (IAA) do not record details of the number of appeals adjourned.

  The number of immigration appeals heard in Leeds in the past three calendar years is as follows:

  Number

  1988

  1926

  1989

  1,513

  1990

  1,276

  1 The figure for 1988 includes cases heard in Scotland.

  Adjudicators at Leeds are on average able to prepare their determination within four weeks of the hearing. Thereafter, it takes on average two or three weeks for the determination to be typed and issued to the parties.

EMPLOYMENT

  Mining (Hazardous Substances)
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will bring forward legislation to enable the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 to be applied to mining in deep mines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Health and Safety Commission has made no proposals to my right hon. and learned Friend concerning the application of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 underground in mines. However, the Health and Safety Executive is currently reviewing mining legislation. In the course of the review it will consider whether it is now appropriate to apply these regulations below ground.

  Dock. Accidents
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many accidents were reported to the Health and Safety Executive in(a) Grimsby and Immingham docks, (b) Hull docks and (c) London docks in each year for 1979 and 1990 inclusive.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The following table shows the number of injuries occurring in the sea transport, port and inland water transport industries in (a) Grimsby and Immingham (b) Hull and (c) London reported to the Health and Safety Executive's factory and agricultural inspectorates between 1986/87 and 1989/90 (provisional) under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985.

  Number of Injuries

  Area

  11986–87

  11987–88

  11988–89

  1 51989–90

  Grimsby and Immingham2

  71

  60

  54

  39

  Hull3

  53

  57

  52

  34

  London4

  13

  16

  16

  9

  1Years beginning 1 April.

  2Grimsby and Cleethorpes Local Authority District.

  3Kingston-upon-Hull Local Authority District.

  4Greater London Local Authority District.

  5Provisional.

  Unit Labour Costs
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage change in unit labour costs in(a) Britain and (b) Germany in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Jackson
  Unit wage costs in mining and manufacturing in the former Federal Republic of Germany rose by 1·9 per cent. in the year to the third quarter of 1990, which is the latest available information. In the same period unit wage costs in manufacturing in the United Kingdom rose by 9·3 per cent.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the qualifications that were achieved by clients for each six-month period of employment training since its inception.

  Mr. Jackson
  The following table gives the percentage breakdown of the qualifications gained by trainees leaving employment training between July 1989 and September 1990.

  Employment training Breakdown of the qualifications gained by leavers between July 1989 to September 1990

  Qualification

  July 1989 to December 1989 (per cent.)

  January 1990 to June 1990 (per cent.)

  July 1990 to September 1990 (per cent.)

  City and Guilds

  39

  38

  37

  RSA

  28

  32

  30

  Pitmans

  12

  10

  10

  SCOTVEC

  11

  12

  11

  BTEC-TEC

  2

  2

  3

  GCSE

  2

  1

  2

  London Chamber of Commerce & Industry

  1

  2

  4

  Other

  20

  20

  21

  Note: Percentage totals add up to more than 100 per cent. because trainees may obtain more than one type of qualification.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of employment training trainees had employer placements in each month since the scheme's inception.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is not available in the precise format requested.

  However, information is available quarterly as shown in the table.

  Employment training (Great Britain totals) Percentage of trainees on training placements with employers for each quarter September 1989 to September 1990

  Great Britain

  September 1989

  23

  December 1989

  24

  March 1990

  25

  June 1990

  27

  September 1990

  25

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what matters he has discussed with the group of 10 TEC chairmen; and if he will make a statement.
  281
  Mr. Jackson
  I have discussed a number of issues relating to training and enterprise and the framework within which TECs operate with the group of 10 TEC chairmen. I find these meetings particularly useful as a way of hearing views directly from TEC chairmen.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many non-seconded staff are directly employed by TECs.

  Mr. Jackson
  As at 10 April 1991, 216 staff were employed by training and enterprise councils, in publicly funded posts. TECs are also able to employ other directly recruited staff using their own resources.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people under 18 years in the London borough of Newham who are not employed have not had a youth training opportunity offered to them.

  Mr. Jackson
  The London borough of Newham is part of the area covered by the London East training and enterprise council. LETEC has a clear contractual duty to ensure that every young person under 18 not in school or a job who is seeking YT entry should have the offer, and if necessary re-offers of a suitable training place. LETEC has approached the local careers service seeking further information on the position in Newham. LETEC and the Employment Department are jointly committed to maintaining the YT guarantee.

  Employment Service
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of unemployed claimants receive caseload treatment by the Employment Service.

  Mr. Jackson
  Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service executive agency are the responsibil-ity of Mike Fogden, the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage increase in funding the Employment Service has received to cope with increased unemployment.

  Mr. Jackson
  My right hon. and learned Friend announced on 20 March that the Employment Service was to receive £55 million in extra resources for 1991–92 to help unemployed people back to work. This represents an increase of some 8 per cent. in the Employment Service's running costs.

  Training Programmes (Expenditure)
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level at 1991 prices of Government expenditure on special employment and training programmes in 1988–89.

  Mr. Jackson
  Government expenditure on special employment and training programmes in 1988–89 was £3,091·6 million at 1991–92 prices.

  Payment of Accounts
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he has taken to assist the self-employed small business person to obtain timely payment of legitimate accounts rendered to large companies.

  Mr. Jackson
  Cash flow is a vital factor in the efficient running of all businesses, and any delays in obtaining payment for work done are particularly damaging for self-employed people and small businesses. It is vital that large companies recognise their responsibilities to small suppliers by settling accounts promptly.

  The Government are therefore taking action to strengthen their encouragement of the voluntary adoption of good payment practice and to foster closer co-operation betweeen buyers and sellers.

  As part of this initiative, my Department will shortly be issuing a revised booklet on credit management for small firms, and is sponsoring a new guide on good payment practice by the Institute of Credit Management which will be specifically aimed at larger companies. These publications will be widely distributed and publicised.

  The Government themselves are giving a further lead. Each of the major spending Departments will be monitoring its own payment performance this year, and the results will be published.

HEALTH

  Cholesterol
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he has any plans to launch a national education programme, similar to those in the United States, relating to consumer awareness of cholesterol levels;

  (2) what guidance his Department gives on the issue of whether, independently of lowering dietary fat intake, increased consumption of oat bran can reduce blood cholesterol; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what information his Department holds on a causal link between high blood cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease;

  (4) if he has evaluated the relative cost-effectiveness of (a) treatment and (b) public health programmes designed to lower blood cholesterol.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Standing Medical Advisory Committee reported last year on the cost-effectiveness of opportunistic cholesterol testing, a copy of which is available in the Library. Annex I to the report details evidence from a large number of studies showing"a direct and consistent association between blood cholesterol levels and the incidence of coronary heart disease. This association has all the characteristics of a causal relationship".

  Because the committee identified divergent medical opinion in this area, it was decided to issue the report for widespread consultation. A large number of responses has been received and these are now being analysed. We expect to be in a position to reach conclusions on the findings soon.

  Recommendations in the report have implications for a national education programme. In considering the results of the consultation exercise we will have regard to the need for public education specifically about cholesterol levels.
  283
  The Government already give advice on healthy eating which encourages the adoption of a balanced overall diet. Oat bran, like any other food, can form part of a healthy diet. There is insufficient evidence at present to give specific advice about the role of oat bran in reducing blood cholesterol.

  Passive Smoking
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has received the Health Education Authority's report on passive smoking; and what response he will make to its findings and recommendations.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We welcome the publication of this report.

  The Government have for some time publicised the dangers of passive smoking and encouraged the introduction of smoking policies in the workplace and in public places. By providing clear and up-to-date information, the booklet serves to keep the issue in the public eye and to maintain the progress which is being made.

  Adoption
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the review of inter-country adoption will be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The first consultative document of the adoption law review, "The nature and effect of adoption—discussion paper No. 1", a copy of which is available in the Library, has been issued and the responses are being considered. Further consultative documents will follow including one on inter-country adoption.

  Issue of this paper has been deferred until after the meeting of the special commission of the Hague conference on private international law which begins on 22 April so that a preliminary report of the outcome of the meeting can be included in the law review paper and comments sought.

  Kidney Disease
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of renal dialysis units and nephrologists within(a) Wessex regional health authority and (b) other regional health authorities within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The table shows the number of NHS dialysis and transplant units and nephrologists employed by region in England, and the totals for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  Region

  Number of Renal Dialysis/Transplant Units

  Number of Nephrologists (and Whole time equiv's)

  Wessex

  1

  7

  (6·6)

  Northern

  3

  22

  (19·1)

  Yorkshire

  3

  13

  (12·6)

  Trent

  5

  22

  (22·0)

  East Anglia

  4

  4

  (4·0)

  NW Thames

  6

  15

  (14·0)

  NE Thames

  7

  27

  (24·3)

  SE Thames

  6

  38

  (34·1)

  SW Thames

  2

  4

  (4·0)

  Oxford

  3

  11

  (9·6)

  South Western

  4

  12

  (11·0)

  284

  Region

  Number of Renal Dialysis/Transplant units

  Number of Nephrologists (and Whole time equiv's)

  West Midlands

  1

  6

  (4·9)

  Mersey

  5

  10

  (10·0)

  Northern Western

  5

  16

  (15·4)

  Wales

  5

  2

  (1·1)

  Scotland

  13

  17

  (17·0)

  Northern Ireland

  1

  11

  (11·0)

  Manpower figures include permanent paid and honorary staff.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of surviving renal transplant patients per million population within Wessex regional health authority; and what is the United Kingdom average per million.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information is not available in the form requested. According to the latest information provided by the United Kingdom transplant support services, the patient survival rate one year after transplantation in 1987–88 was 88 per cent. for Wessex and 92 per cent. for the United Kingdom.

  This information is based on a follow-up study of 1,750 patients, including 74 in Wessex, receiving first cadaveric kidney transplants.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the demand for renal services within Wessex regional health authority; and what is the relative rate of treatment per million population for end-stage renal failure in Wessex and other regional health authorities within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No assessment specific to Wessex has been undertaken. The need for renal services will be reviewed as part of the purchasing process in 1991–92. These services have expanded steadily in Wessex over the last few years, and no patient whom consultants believe to require treatment has knowingly been turned away.

  According to information provided by the European Dialysis and Transplant Association, the number of new patients per million population accepted for treatment of end-stage renal failure during 1988, the last year for which complete data are available, by regional health authority is as follows:

  Region

  Treatment for end stage renal failure in 1988 (pmp)

  Wessex

  44·8

  Northern

  58·4

  Yorkshire

  44·2

  Trent

  49·1

  East Anglia

  65·0

  North West Thames

  49·7

  North East Thames

  61·1

  South East Thames

  76·1

  South West Thames

  23·3

  Oxford

  50·4

  South Western

  51·2

  West Midlands

  52·0

  Mersey

  34·6

  North Western

  83·8

  Wales

  66·4

  Scotland

  62·8

  Northern Ireland

  42·5

  British Fluoridation Society
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the benefit accruing from the annual grant made to the British Fluoridation Society.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The British Fluoridation Society receives a grant under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 for its work in providing support by means of information, advice, materials and other assistance to regional health authorities considering the implementation of water fluoridation in their areas. We are satisfied that the grant represents good value for money.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Hostages
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the release of John McCarthy, Terry Waite and other hostages held in the middle east.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We continue to make every effort in our contacts with the Iranian authorities, who we believe to have a decisive influence, to secure the release of the hostages. We have also contacted other countries, and the EC troika, to reinforce the point in their own dealings with Iran.

  Kuwait
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning abuses of human rights and rapes of Palestinian and Filipino women in Kuwait; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what information he has on the number of settlers going into northern Cyprus from Turkey in each of the last five years;

  (2) what discussions he has had with the Turkish Government as to their policy of allowing Turkish nationals to settle in northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  There is no reliable information on the number of Turkish settlers in northern Cyprus.

  All parties to the intercommunal dispute are aware that this issue will have to be addressed in the context of the comprehensive, just and lasting settlement for which the UN Secretary-General is working, with our full support.

  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has had discussions with the Government of Cyprus about the build-up of arms in that country.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  It is our long-standing policy to sell weapons neither to the Greek Cypriot National Guard nor to the Turkish Cypriot armed forces. The Cyprus 286
  Government are aware of our view that the continuation of arms purchases does not assist the UN Secretary-General's search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the involved parties in Cyprus as to the rights of ownership of land and property in that country; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The issue of property and land ownership rights is a key element in the current efforts by the UN Secretary-General to resolve the intercommunal dispute in Cyprus. We have been in close touch with the parties to the dispute on this and other issues.

  Kurds
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to call for a middle east peace conference to discuss the creation of a national home for the Kurds.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have made clear our desire to see the political and human rights of the Kurdish people fully respected within existing international boundaries. It is evident from our discussions with Iraqi Kurdish leaders that they seek genuine autonomy within Iraq, not the creation of a separate Kurdish state.

  East Timor
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise at the United Nations Human Rights Commission the treatment of East Timorese citizens by the Indonesian Government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  I can confirm that this matter was raised by the EC Presidency statement during the 47th session of the UN Human Rights Commission, which included a reference to the situation in East Timor.

  Mauritius
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for entry into the United Kingdom have been refused by the British high commission in Mauritius in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The number of applications for entry into the United Kingdom refused by the high commission in Mauritius in each of the last five years is as follows:

  Year

  Total

  1986

  202

  1987

  237

  1988

  195

  1989

  183

  1990

  206

  South Atlantic (Oil Exploration)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has of any interest shown in oil exploration in the south Atlantic.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  A number of seismic survey companies have shown interest over the years in carrying out oil exploration in the south Atlantic.

  Commonwealth
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the aims and objectives of Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the Commonwealth.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Our aim is to maintain and foster the special relationship we share with Commonwealth partners. The Commonwealth can play an increasingly constructive and moderating role in world affairs. We hope that Commonwealth partners will work to strengthen the global trend towards pluralist democratic and accountable government.

  Nigel Bramble
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking or will be taking to assist Nigel Bramble, aged 14 years and severely handicapped, from the 13ritish dependency of Montserrat, to complete his schooling in the United Kingdom before returning with his mother to the dependency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Nigel Bramble is currently studying at a state school which has the facilities to cater for his special educational and medical needs. His mother has applied to regularise their immigration status. We have been in touch with the Home Office. Given the circumstances surrounding the case, they have given an assurance that we would not seek to remove Nigel Bramble and his mother from the United Kingdom. l have asked my officials to discuss this with officials of the Home Office, the Department of Education and the Department of Health.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if appropriate provision is available for Nigel Bramble, aged 14 years and severely handicapped, born in the British dependency of Montserrat, to complete his schooling in the dependency if he is forced to return there from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There is a school for children with special needs in Montserrat, which Nigel Bramble attended until June 1990. It is, however, the view of local and visiting British medical consultants that the school has nothing further to offer Nigel, given its limited resources.

  Dependent Territories
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken in regard to the United Nations convention on the rights of the child as it applies to educational provision in Britain's dependent territories; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Neither the United Kingdom nor the Dependent Territories have yet ratified the convention.

  Brazil
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has(a) received and (b) made to the Brazilian Government in connection with human rights concerns regarding protection by federal police of rural workers facing death threats.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We are in regular touch with the Brazilian authorities and with NGOs in UK regarding the human rights situation in Brazil. No specific representations have been made to the Brazilian Government on the circumstances of rural workers.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Brazilian Government in connection with human rights concerns about federal police protection for Fr. Ricardo Figuera, Carlos Cabral Pereira, Sebastiao Vieira da Silva, Roberto Neto da Silva, Fr. Vardario Lopes Costa and Orlando Canuto Pereira, who are involved with representation of Rio Maria rural workers.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Her Majesty's embassy in Brasilia is looking into the cases of those mentioned and I look forward to receiving their report.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer,Official Report, column 112, of 15 April, if he will estimate the number of sharks represented by the import of 3,838 tonnes of shark fins into Hong Kong in 1990.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  It is difficult, if not impossible, to estimate the number of sharks represented by the weight of shark fins imported into Hong Kong in 1990 since

  (a) the imported fins are obtained from sharks of different species and different maturity; and

  (b) the fins vary widely in size and weight.

  Iraq
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conditions Her Majesty's Government laid down prior to 15 April for Iraq's compliance with basic human rights law in dealing with the insurrection in the north and south; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We expect Iraq to live up to its international obligations under the Geneva conventions, the international convention on civil and political rights and the genocide convention. In addition, SCR 688, adopted on 5 April, demands that the Iraqi Government stop their repression of their own people.

  POLITICAL UNION: INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE
  POLITICAL UNION: INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE
  FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL, 15th APRIL
  FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL, 15th APRIL