Written Answers of 25 April 1991

ENVIRONMENT

  Solihull Urban District Plan
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue guidelines on the release of land concerning the type of houses identified to meet demand in the urban district plan for Solihull

  Mr. Yeo
  Solihull's deposited unitary development plan includes a policy on the type of dwellings to be allowed on housing sites with the aim of providing a mix of types of dwellings to cater for different needs.

  The Secretary of State's strategic guidance for the West Midlands (PPG10) does not include guidelines on the release of land for different types of houses. He will, however, consider the need for advice on this subject in the forthcoming West Midlands regional guidance.

  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the number of houses identified to meet demand and over the next 20 years in the urban district plan for Solihull.

  Mr. Yeo
  The housing figure of 7,500 included in the Solihull unitary development plan is that recommended in the West Midlands strategic guidance published in February 1988. The Secretary of State does not propose to review that figure, as the guidance provides a policy package for the whole period 1988–2001 and to change any element of it could be prejudicial to the success of the package. Regional guidance for the West Midlands region, which will incorporate a review of strategic guidance, will be produced over the next two to three years, and this will provide an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of the guidance policies and make any necessary changes.

  Compulsory Purchase Compensation
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the cost of extending the 10 per cent. addition to compulsory purchase compensation to the compulsory purchase of agricultural land.

  Mr. Yeo
  Figures relating exclusively to the compulsory acquisition of agricultural land are not collected centrally.

  Starter Homes
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what encouragement he has given to an increase in the number of starter homes.

  Mr. Yeo
  For the most part it is for the building industry to offer homes at a price people can afford. We have asked planning authorities to deal promptly with planning applications and streamlined appeal procedures. We encourage local authorities to make land available for all forms of low-cost home ownership, one aspect of which 490
  is our initiative to secure the release of sites for local needs in rural areas. Through the Housing Corporation we have invested nearly £400 million since 1983 in shared ownership schemes, which has brought home ownership within the reach of over 20,000 first-time buyers.

  Countryside Stewardship Scheme
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what definition his Department uses for a public good when determining non-financial benefits under the proposed countryside stewardship scheme; and whether it includes the conservation of wildlife and habitats.

  Mr. Baldry
  It is intended that under the countryside stewardship scheme payments will be made to land managers and farmers to protect and enhance key landscapes and habitats which are valued by the public; and to improve public enjoyment of them through the sensitive provision of access. Benefits to wildlife will be derived from the protection and enhancement of the habitats on which it is dependent.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what organisations he has consulted over the implementation of the countryside stewardship scheme.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Countryside Commission has been developing countryside stewardship in conjunction with my Department, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Nature Conservancy Council, now English Nature, and English Heritage. Discussion has taken place with a large number of organisations including the British Council for Archaeology, the Council for the Protection of Rural England, the Country Landowners Association, the Farming and Wildlife Trust, the National Farmers Union, the national park authorities, the National Sheep Association, the National Trust, the Open Spaces Society, the Ramblers Association, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Royal Society for Nature Conservation, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Tenant Farmers Association and the World Wide Fund for Nature UK. There has been substantial correspondence with many others.

  Severn Estuary
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has regarding the formal designation as a special protection area under the 1979 EC Wild Birds Directive of the inter-tidal areas on the English bank of the Severn estuary so far proposed for designation by the Nature Conservancy Council.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Nature Conservancy Council's proposal for the designation of the Severn estuary as a special protection area is under consideration.

  Benzene
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are taken to monitor the levels of benzene in drinking water in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is responsible only for drinking water quality in England. I am, however, answering these questions with the agreement of the Secretary of State for
  491
  Wales. Drinking water quality in Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the respective Secretaries of State.

  I am not aware of benzene being found during 1990 in public water supplies in England and Wales.

  Benzene is not likely to be found in drinking water except as the result of pollution. If a water company suspected that benzene or other hydrocarbon was present in its supplies it would be required to monitor in accordance with regulation 14 of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 and as advised in the publication "Guidance on Safeguarding the Quality of Public Water Supplies" issued by the Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office.

  Right to Repair Scheme
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the right to repair scheme.

  Mr. Yeo
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning on 31 October 1990 to the hon. Member for Hammersmith (Mr. Soley),Official Report, column 535. The number of claims under the right to repair scheme continues to be low.

  Housing Stock
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will produce a table giving, for each of the local authorities that have undertaken large-scale voluntary transfer of their housing stock to other bodies,(a) at the time of the transfer, the local authority's outstanding loan debt on its housing stock, (b) the actual price paid for the transfer, (c) the estimate of right to buy receipts included in the valuation price, (d) the amount of the purchase price used by the local authority to repay debt incurred for local housing purposes, (e) the amount of the receipts so far re-invested in housing improvement or development either (i) with the body purchasing the stock, or (ii) registered housing associations not involved with the purchase, or (iii) other outside bodies, or (iv) by the local authority itself, (f) where such re-investment is with a registered housing association, the amount reclaimed by the local authority from the housing corporation as housing association grant and (g) an estimate of the total number of new dwellings built or planned as a result of the re-investment so far undertaken.

  Sir George Young
  The table gives the information requested except for(d), (e), (f) and (g). On (d), local authorities must set aside either 75 per cent, of the receipts from large-scale voluntary transfers or whatever is required to cover the debt on the transferred housing up to 100 per cent, of the receipts, whichever is the greater. The exact amounts of the receipts which were used to repay the debts on other housing expenditure are not available centrally. On (f), housing association grant for local authority sponsored schemes is claimed by housing associations, not by local authorities. Although the grant is used to repay development loans from local authorities, neither the Housing Corporation nor the Department is in a position to know whether the loans have been funded from voluntary transfer receipts or from other sources. On (e) and (g), local authorities are required to inform the
  492
  Department of their expenditure, but the proceeds of large-scale voluntary transfers reinvested in local housing are not separately identified.

  £ million

  Local Authority

  Loan Debt on Housing Stock

  Price paid for Transfer (gross)

  RTB Receipts included in Valuation

  Chiltern

  20·738

  32·90

  16·32

  Sevenoaks

  25·768

  65·50

  31·58

  Newbury

  43·000

  47·00

  22·29

  Swale

  37·054

  55·15

  13·10

  Broadland

  18·042

  25·08

  10·34

  North Bedfordshire

  45·228

  63·50

  8·93

  Medina

  17·300

  27·85

  3·93

  Rochester

  53·200

  76·96

  22·19

  South Wight

  16·200

  22·84

  3·83

  Mid Sussex

  24·914

  44·19

  20·45

  East Dorset

  11·200

  21·63

  3·01

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  22·300

  54·40

  14·16

  Ryedale

  13·520

  28·29

  5·54

  South Bucks

  16·300

  35·27

  6·50

  Christchurch

  7·200

  14·10

  0·30

  Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1990–91 and budgets for 1991–92.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Fisher) on 12 December 1990,Official Report, c. 442. Information relating to financial years 1979–80 to 1984–85, inclusive, is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. The provisional outturn for 1990–91 is £7·9 million and the provisional budget for 1991–92 is £6–6 million; the latter figure excludes PSAs, the Building Research Establishment Agency and the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre where budgets have not yet been finalised.

  Plankton
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his response to the conference in Plymouth, on the role of plankton in climate change, at which he was represented.

  Mr. Baldry
  The symposium on the biological consequences of global warming, held at the polytechnic of the south west, Plymouth, was a scientific meeting at which Government Departments were not represented. The role of plankton in the global carbon cycle is among the topics to be further reviewed by the intergovernmental panel on climate change, for which the United Kingdom continues to lead the scientific assessment under the chairmanship of Dr. John Houghton, chief executive of the Meteorological Office.

  Biodiversity Convention
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his response to the policy conclusions of the recent biodiversity convention, at which he was represented.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department was represented, along with officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Overseas Development Administration, at a meeting of legal and technical experts on biological diversity convened in March by the United Nations Environment Programme. This was largely concerned with deciding the necessary procedures to enable negotiation of a global convention to begin at the next meeting which will be held in Madrid from 24 June to 3 July.

  Halon
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to identify the extent of and need for halon use within the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Under the amendments to the Montreal protocol that were agreed in London last June, the production of halons is to be phased out by 2,000, subject to limited exemptions for essential uses. The parties to the protocol are to agree an initial list of essential uses next year. Halons cause serious damage to the ozone layer, but they are at present widely used for firefighting. In order to establish a clear picture of halon use within the UK my Department has decided to commission a detailed study by C. S. Todd and Associates. This will seek to identify those uses for which substitutes are already available, what can be done to help this substitution, and those uses which appear likely to be essential at present.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to issue general guidance to local authorities on procedural and other aspects of the new local authority air pollution control system established under part I of the Environment Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Trippier
  We have issued today a set of five guidance notes which are intended to serve as a manual for local authorities on the operation of the new local authority air pollution controls under the Environmental Protection Act, which came into force on 1 April. I also commend the notes to operators of processes which are affected by the controls and to others with an interest in how the new system will work.

  The notes are "Introduction to Part I of the Act," "Authorisations," "Applications and registers," "Interpretation of terms used in process guidance notes," and "Appeals."

  A set of the notes has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the results of research into the effects of competitive tendering for local authority services.
  494
  Mr. Key
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has today published the full report of the first year's research into the impact of competitive tendering under the Local Government Act 1988 which has been carried out for us by the Institute of Local Government Studies. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  The research confirms that competitive tendering has brought about improvements in the efficiency with which services are provided, combined with a renewed emphasis on the quality of service. In particular, it shows in the authorities studied that an average saving of 6 per cent. in the annual value of contracts subject to competitive tendering has been achieved, with savings often accompanied by improvements in service standards; that productivity improvements through manual staff reductions of the order of 17 per cent. to 26 per cent. have been secured in services subject to keenest competition; and that many local authorities are considering the methods and standards of service provision in a much more systematic way.

  The research is continuing for a further two years to permit a thoroughgoing analysis of contract performance and developments in local authorities over time.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Family Conciliation Services
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Attorney-General what provision his Department will be making for funding of family conciliation services in 1991–92.

  The Attorney-General
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Sims) on 18 April 1991 at column 221.

  Arbitration Figures
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received about the Lord Chancellor's proposals to raise arbitration figures to £1,000 and to include claims for personal injuries in this figure; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  I have received no such representations.

  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has, however, received numerous representations both prior to and since the publication of the report of the review body on civil justice (Cm 394), which recommended that the arbitration limit be increased to£1,000. The existing limit of £500 was set in 1981 and the new limit, which will have effect from July 1991, restores the financial level below which cases are automatically referred to arbitration to a realistic level, enabling the small claims procedure to continue to provide an efficient and accessible means of redress for small litigants.

  The civil justice review body also found that the cost of legal representation in small personal injury cases was often disproportionate to the amount in issue, and recommended that they be dealt with under the small claims arbitration procedure. The Lord Chancellor has received representation on this issue from the Law Society, the Trades Union Congress and the National Consumer Council. The Lord Chancellor is currently considering the way forward in the light of the civil justice review's recommendation and the representations that have been made.

  Court Proceedings
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Attorney-General what likelihood of success the Director of Public Prosecutions requires before proceeding(a) against a police officer and (b) against a member of the public.

  The Attorney-General
  When deciding whether or not to prosecute, the code for Crown prosecutors issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions in accordance with section 10 of the Prosecution of Offence Act 1985 stipulates two general criteria for the institution of criminal proceedings. They are, first, that there must be admissible, substantial and reliable evidence to offer a realistic prospect of conviction; and, secondly, that the public interest requires a prosecution.

  No distinction is drawn between cases involving police officers and members of the public.

  Building Work
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he will list the number and location of all new buildings or extensions commissioned by the Lord Chancellor's Department in each of the past five years which(a) had contracts worth between £3 million and £5 million and (b) had contracts worth more than £5 million.

  The Attorney-General
  The following tables show the number and location of all new buildings or extensions where construction contracts were let by the Lord Chancellor's Department, and construction commenced, from 1986 to 1990 inclusive, which had contracts each worth(a) between £3 million and £5 million and (b) more than £5 million.

  Between £3 million and £5 million

  1986

  Grimsby

  1Combined

  Guildford

  Crown

  1987

  Doncaster

  Crown

  Over £5 million

  1986

  Coventry

  Combined

  Derby

  Combined

  Truro

  Combined

  Wood Green

  Crown

  1987

  Newcastle, Quayside

  Combined

  RCJ (12 additional courts)

  High Court

  Wolverhampton

  Combined

  1988

  Harrow

  Crown

  Hull

  Combined

  Luton

  Crown

  Manchester

  (Crown Sq)

  Combined

  Northampton

  Combined

  Stoke

  Combined

  Teesside

  Combined

  1989

  Bradford

  Combined

  Chester

  Crown

  Newport (Gwent)

  Crown

  Stafford

  Combined

  Warrington

  Combined

  Woolwich

  Crown

  496

  Between £3 million and £5 million

  1990

  Borough

  Crown

  Bristol

  Crown

  Carlisle

  Combined

  St. Albans

  Crown

  1Combined Crown and County Court.

  Between £3 million and £5 million

  1990

  Borough

  Crown

  Bristol

  Crown

  1Combined Crown and County Court.

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Attorney-General in relation to immigration appeals in Scotland, during the years 1988, 1989 and 1990 how long, on average, was the lapse between the appeal being lodged and the hearing taking place; and what percentage of cases were successful.

  The Attorney-General
  The immigration appellate authorities do not record details of the average time taken for appeals to come before an adjudicator from the time the appeal is lodged. However, it is estimated that for the period 1988 to 1990, the average time taken for appeals to come before an adjudicator in Scotland from the date the parties indicated readiness to proceed to a hearing was six to eight months.

  The IAA do not record details of the percentage of successful cases at individual hearing centres.

THE ARTS

  Building Work
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will list the number and location of all new buildings or extensions commissioned by his Department in each of the past five years which(a) had contracts worth between £3 million and £5 million and (b) had contracts worth more than £5 million.

  Mr. Tim Renton
  During the past five years, the Office of Arts and Libraries has commissioned only one building project, the completion phase of the new British library building at St. Pancras. The anticipated contract value of this project in cash terms is £150 million.

ENERGY

  Home Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the network installers appointed by the Energy Action Grants Agency to administer the home energy efficiency scheme; and if he will indicate the area covered by each network installer.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I have today placed copies of a list of network installers registered under the home energy efficiency scheme in the Library of the House.

  I understand that, in the case of Scottish area 14, which covers the highlands, Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland, full coverage has yet to be reached. The Energy Action Grants Agency has had discussions with the registered network installer for that area and will be making proposasls to my Department shortly on how the benefits of the scheme can best be brought to the whole area.

  Trawsfynydd Power Station
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the reasons for the shut-down of Trawsfynydd nuclear power station; how long it was out of commission; what was the cost to the nation's power supply; and what was the cost of repair.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The two reactors at Trawsfynydd nuclear power station were shut down by Nuclear Electric plc (NE) at the beginning of February to make adjustments to operate them at a lower coolant gas pressure. This decision was taken in the light of the latest data on the irradiated properties of the steel used in the pressure vessel. Operation at reduced pressure is intended to maintain the very high margins of safety required by the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate.

  The NII was kept fully informed of NE's decision and supported the action taken by NE. The reactors will not be restarted without the agreement of the NII.

  The commercial flexibilities open to NE and the regional electricity companies mean that this is unlikely to have any effect on the cost of electricity supplies to the RECs, or on the fossil fuel levy.

  The cost to NE of adjustments to its reactors is an operational matter for the company.

  St. John Ambulance Brigade
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what facilities he is making available to staff in his Department to contribute to the appeal that has been launched for people with the name of John to help raise £5 million for the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

  Mr. Wakeham
  My Department has arrangements which enable staff to contribute by deduction from pay to charities of their choice. It has no plans to provide further facilities for the appeal mentioned by the hon. Member.

  Spent Nuclear Fuel
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when plutonium material extracted from spent nuclear fuel in the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield will start to be returned to European customers; whether the plutonium materials will be transported to European destinations by land or sea; which British seaports or airports will be used; and if he will make a statement about current intentions with regard to the transport of plutonium to overseas customers.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  British Nuclear Fuels plc expects to return plutonium extracted from spent fuel in its thermal oxide reprocessing plant to its customers in Europe from the mid-1990s onwards. Plutonium arising from reprocessing in this country is returned to its country of origin or to any other destination only subject to application of safeguards and on receipt of assurances covering peaceful use, physical protection and controls on re-transfer. Its transport must be made in compliance with stringent national and international regulations. I understand that the options for returning the plutonium referred to by the hon. Member are still under consideration.

  Domestic Energy Consumption
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the percentage of domestic electricity consumption which is used in lighting, space heating, refrigeration, water heating, washing machines and driers and cooking, respectively.

  Mr. Wakeham
  An estimated breakdown of domestic electricity consumption by end use for 1986–87 for England and Wales only is given in the table:

  End use Percentage

  Lighting

  8·9

  Space heating

  22·2

  Water heating

  14·2

  Cooking

  9·3

  Kettles

  5·3

  Washing machines

  4·2

  Tumble driers

  2·2

  Refrigerators and freezers

  18·9

  Television

  5·7

  Other1

  10·1

  Total

  100·0

  1Other includes irons, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, hi fi and small electrical appliances.

  Source: Electricity Association.

  Data for later years are not yet available.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total of fees paid to underwriters and sub-underwriters involved in the flotation of National Power and PowerGen.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Primary underwriters were not appointed for this flotation. A total of £14.9 million was paid to United Kingdom sub-underwriters and a further £6 million was paid out in commission to overseas underwriters.

  Non-fossil Fuel Obligation
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the areas of responsibility of(a) his Department,(b) the Office of Electricity Supply and (c) the Non-Fossil Fuel Purchasing Agency Ltd. in respect of determining the mechanism by which prices are paid to renewable electricity generators under the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The division of functions under the legislation is set out in my Department's "Renewables Energy Bulletin No. 4", a copy of which I placed in the Library of the House in December. As that explains, responsibility for making arrangements to comply with an order setting a non-fossil fuel obligation lies with the regional electricity companies on which the obligation is placed and for which the Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency Ltd. acts. However, in view of the role of the Director General of Electricity Supply in examining the arrangements made, the NFPA developed its pricing mechanism in close consultation with the Office of Electricity Regulation.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the number of tenders received by the
  499
  Non-Fossil Fuel Purchasing Agency Ltd. for inclusion within the 1991 renewable tranche for each of (a) wind power, (b) hydro, (c) landfill gas, (d) municipal waste incineration, (e) general industrial waste incineration and (f) others; and what is the total capacity tendered in megawatts for each category.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency Ltd. has adopted a competitive tendering procedure for selecting the projects to be contracted under the proposed 1991 Renewables Order. I am unable to publish any details of the bids submitted to the NFPA, since to do so might prejudice this procedure.

  £'000

  Television advertising

  Newspaper advertising

  Radio advertising

  Other promotional material

  1990–911

  0

  559

  0

  1,074

  1989–90

  0

  892

  0

  1,000

  1988–89

  0

  2,378

  4

  1,313

  1987–88

  0

  1,513

  0

  959

  1986–87

  16,300

  11,830

  1,219

  1,125

  1985–86

  2,212

  1,589

  0

  2—

  1984–85

  1,302

  1,572

  27

  2—

  1983–84

  682

  1,770

  50

  2—

  1982–83

  292

  955

  0

  2—

  1981–82

  2,550

  530

  0

  2—

  1980–81

  1,500

  1,590

  0

  2—

  1979–80

  20

  1,280

  0

  2—

  1 Latest forecast; expenditure on the privatisation of the electricity supply industry will be notified to Parliament in the usual way when the figures have been finalised.

  2 Expenditure on other promotional material prior to 1986–87 is not available on a comparable basis.

  Detailed decisions on expenditure by media in 1991–92 have not yet been taken.

  Building Work
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list the number and location of all new buildings or extensions commissioned by his Department in each of the past five years which(a) had contracts worth between £3 million and £5 million and (b) had contracts worth more than £5 million.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Department of Energy has commissioned no new buildings or extensions in the last five years. Expenditure on the Department's new headquarters building over the period 1987–88 to 1989–90 was borne on the Property Services Agency's vote.

  Office of Gas Supply
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the annual cost of the Office of Gas Supply and each regional consultative committee since their inception.

  Mr. Wakeham
  This is a matter for the Director General of Gas Supply and the chairman of the Gas Consumers Council. I also refer the hon. Member to the supply estimates, the Government's expenditure plans within the energy sector and the annual report of the Director General of Gas Supply which were presented to Parliament earlier this year.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list all the people he has appointed to serve at the Office of Gas Supply and each regional consultative committee giving the age, address and profession of each such person.

  Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1990–91 and budgets for 1991–92.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The information requested is as follows:

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Director General of Gas Supply alone is appointed by me. Mr. McKinnon is an accountant by profession.

  Office of Electricity Regulation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list all the people he has appointed to serve at the Office of Electricity Regulation and to each regional consultation committee, giving the age, address and profession of each such person.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 February at columns 448–49.

  Energy Research and Development
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what benefits have accrued to the United Kingdom from participation in the European Communities' energy research and development programme 1990 to 1994, to date.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Within the European Communities' third framework programme for research and development, 1990–94, there are three proposed specific research programmes on energy. These are the non-nuclear energies programme (budget 157 million ecus), the nuclear fission safety programme (budget 37 million ecus) and the controlled nuclear fusion programme (budget 458 million ecus).

  No benefits have accrued to the United Kingdom from these proposed programmes as they have not yet been adopted by the Council of Ministers.

  Office of Energy Regulation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the cost to date of the Office of Electricity Regulation and each regional consultative committee, broken down annually.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Although this is a matter for the Office of Electricity Regulation, the hon. Member should first look at the paper entitled "Government's Plans Within the Energy Sector 1991–92 to 1993–94", which was presented to the House in February.

  Nuclear Industry
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, following the recent support expressed for small nuclear power plants by Crown Prince Tupouto' A of Tonga, he will make it his policy to contact the Government of Tonga to assess what export opportunities exist for the United Kingdom nuclear industry to the South Pacific nation.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  It is Government policy to support British companies in pursuing suitable export opportunities. The staff of the high commission in Tonga keep a close watch on opportunities for United Kingdom businesses. Where appropriate, they will notify exporters of such opportunities. The high commission has noted the Prince's remarks on nuclear power, which were carried in a local magazine, and we await further developments with interest.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list in the Official Report all nuclear incidents in civil nuclear facilities reported to him by (a) the nuclear installations inspectorate and (b) the nuclear operators over the past five years; and what has been the average time lapse between the occurence of a reportable incident and its reportage to his Department over the same period.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my predecessor, the hon. Memer for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Mr. Stewart), concerning the revised criteria for the reporting of nuclear incidents at civil nuclear installations, in which he stated:"All such reports are published quarterly by the Health and Safety Executive",
  and that for all occurrences including more minor occurrences which are not formally reportable under the criteria
  "nuclear operators will publish details … in weekly or fortnightly site newsletters'.—[Official Report, 30 April 1987; Vol. 115, c. 203–4.]
  Copies of these reports and individual site newsletters have since this time been made available to the Library of the House.

  Following this statement, operators were instructed that all incidents covered by the formal reporting criteria should be reported as soon as practicable, but anyway within 24 hours to this and other interested Departments and the relevant regulatory bodies. I am not aware of any incident which was defined as reportable where the operator has failed to meet this requirement.

  International Energy Agencies
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the secretary of State for Energy if he will set out (i) the criteria adopted in the choice of United Kingdom representatives and (ii) the names of all 502
  such representatives appointed over the past 10 years to (a) the International Energy Agency in Paris and (b) the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The United Kingdom is usually represented at the governing board of the International Energy Agency (IEA) by the head of the Department of Energy's international unit and at the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by the head of the Department's atomic energy division.

  The UK is represented in the full range of IEA and IAEA committees and working groups by those with expertise in the relevant areas, including those from UK permanent missions to these organisations. To identify all officials involved over the past 10 years would involve disporportionate cost.

  The Department's Permanent Under-Secretary is currently chairman of the governing board of the IEA at official level, having been elected to that post by member countries' governing board representatives.

  Symposium on Electricity and the Environment
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representation the United Kingdom will have at the Helsinki symposium on electricity and the environment to be held in Finland on 13 to 17 May; what criteria were adopted to make the choice of representatives; and with whom his Department plans to liaise on distributing details of its outcome.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The symposium will cover technical, economic, environmental and regulatory aspects of electricity supply. The Department of Energy will be represented by two officials, at grade 5 level, from the energy technology and economics and statistics divisions; a deputy chief inspector from Her Majesty's pollution inspectorate will also attend. The responsibility for distributing details of the outcome of the symposium will lie with the sponsors.

  Chernobyl
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps have been taken since the Chernobyl nuclear accident to review and improve the civil emergency plans and regulations, as they concern civil radiation emergencies.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Following the Chernobyl nuclear accident, the lessons of the accident for the United Kingdom were carefully considered by a Government working group. As part of this review the Department of Energy carried out extensive consultations with emergency services and authorities which would be involved in dealing with a nuclear accident in the United Kingdom. These consultations showed that in addition to the emergency plans which nuclear operators are required to maintain, other contingency plans were available which, as the then Prime Minister stated;"would permit an effective response to be made to any nuclear accident, including those with more widespread effects than the specific site and off-site plans are designed to cater for."—[Official Report, 12 December 1988; Vol. 144, c.391.]

  In addition, following that review, my Department set up a nuclear emergency planning liaison group which meets twice each year with the aim of agreeing improvements in emergency planning arrangements and procedures among interested organisations at national and

  503
  local level. There have also been improvements in the information available about emergency arrangements with the publication in May 1990 of the Health and Safety Executive's booklet "Arrangements for Responding to Nuclear Emergencies" and the preparation by nuclear operators and local authorities of booklets describing emergency plans and telling the public in the area of nuclear sites what action they should take if a nuclear emergency is declared. In addition, arrangements for the regular exercising of emergency plans have been improved.

  More recently the report of Michael Barnes QC into the application for planning consent for the construction of a PWR at Hinkley Point contained a number of recommendations designed to strengthen emergency arrangements around the Hinkley Point site and at national level. These recommendations were endorsed by my right hon. Friend in his decision letter and are being taken forward by my Department, the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate and other bodies concerned.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Trade Statistics
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the effect the increase in the United Kingdom's trade-weighted relative unit values since the second half of 1983 has had on the balance of trade in manufacturing.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  None.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish a table showing for each year since 1961 the percentage increase in the volume of output and the volume of imports of consumer goods other than food and fuel together with the International Monetary Fund or other index of competitiveness.

  Mr. Mellor
  I have been asked to reply.
  504
  Information from which percentage changes in import volumes and import price competitiveness may be derived can be found in tables C14 and F3 of the monthly review of external trade statistics and its annual supplement, available from the Library of the House, or on the Central Statistical Office database which may be accessed through the Library. The information is not available for years prior to 1971. Information about percentage changes in the volume of output of consumer goods as defined could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Businesses (London)
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses(a) opened up and (b) went into receivership in each of the last five years in (i) the London borough of Southwark, (ii) south London and (iii) Greater London.

  Mr. Redwood
  Information is not readily available in the form requested. The following table gives estimates of the number of companies whose registered offices are in the areas shown.

  London borough of Southwark

  South London

  Greater London

  Companies incorporated in financial year 1990–91

  650

  5,360

  41,000

  Active companies on register at 31 March 1991

  6,600

  53,500

  330,000

  Of which:

  in receivership

  87

  259

  2,647

  It should be noted that the location of companies in receivership may depend on the location of the offices which carry out receivership duties, and that some companies have been in receivership for a number of years.

  South London consists of the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and Wandsworth.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Biology
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it a requirement of the biology national curriculum that it includes full and accurate information about the female reproductive organs.

  Mr. Eggar
  The programmes of study for science in the national curriculum set out what is to be taught to pupils from age five to 16. For children aged seven to 11, the programmes of study state that"they should be introduced to the functions of the major organ systems and to basic ideas about the processes of breathing, circulation, growth and reproduction."
  For pupils aged 11 to 14, the requirement is that
  "they should study life processes, food and feeding, respiration, movement, behaviour, growth and reproduction, particularly as they relate to human beings."

  Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1990–91 and budgets for 1991–92.

  Mr. Eggar
  The expenditure figures for advertising and other promotional materials by this Department for the financial years 1979–80 to 1990–91 are provided in the table. The 1991–92 estimated budget is £5·38 million. Final decisions on media have not been taken

  £000

  Year

  TV

  Radio

  Newspaper

  Other

  1979–80

  —

  —

  91·6

  12·2

  1980–81

  —

  —

  8·9

  58·3

  1981–82

  —

  —

  86·9

  49·9

  1982–83

  —

  —

  6·0

  33·7

  1983–84

  —

  —

  9·

  74·9

  1984–85

  —

  —

  18·5

  150·6

  1985–86

  —

  —

  14·8

  184·1

  1986–87

  align="right"—

  align="right"—

  532·0

  533·0

  1987–88

  —

  —

  280·0

  1,459·0

  1988–89

  —

  40·0

  475·0

  1,156·0

  1989–90

  —

  11·8

  238·0

  1,150·0

  1990–91

  1,100–0

  97–0

  1,407·0

  1,916·0

  Building Work
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list the number of location of all new buildings or extensions commissioned by his Department in each of the past five years which(a) had contracts worth between £3 million and £5 million arid (b) contracts worth more than £5 million.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Department of Education and Science has not commissioned any buildings in either category. The Department is, however, paying for the fitting out of Sanctuary Buildings which is leased to Property Holdings for use as the Department's headquarters. The cost of the fitting-out works exceeds £5 million. The work is due for completion later this year.

  Environmental Education
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report all (i) in-service training and (ii) first offer courses on environmental protection and management currently offered by British universities, polytechnics or colleges of higher and further education, of which his Department is currently aware; and whether he has any plans to extend support for environmental education.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Department does not at present maintain a list of the environmental courses currently available in higher and further education. The priority to be given to such courses is for individual institutions to determine, in the light of demand and within the resources available to them. The Government are, however, proposing to establish an expert committee to make recommendations on the future development of environmental provision within further and higher education.

  Shakespeare
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what initiatives he intends to take to encourage the teaching of the works of Shakespeare in schools.

  Mr. Eggar
  The national curriculum for English specifically requires schools to introduce all pupils aged 11 to 16 to some of the works of Shakespeare. This will extend the opportunities for pupils to study and appreciate Shakespeare's plays.

  Children in Hospital
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to educate children who are in hospital in London, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  It is for local education authorities to make provision for the education of children in hospital.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Building Work
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list the number and location of all new buildings or extensions commissioned by the Overseas Development Administration in each of the past five years which(a) had contracts worth between £3 million and £5 million and (b) had contracts worth more than £5 million.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My Department has commissioned buildings as follows:

  £3 million to £5 million

  Over £5 million

  Numbers

  Numbers

  1986–87

  Nil

  Nil

  1987–88

  Nil

  Nil

  1988–89

  Nil

  Nil

  1989–90

  11

  Nil

  1990–91

  Nil

  21

  1At Chatham.

  2At London.

  Kurds
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list by date, aircraft type and tonnage each planeload of supplies from Government and non-government sources which are known to his Department to have been sent from the United Kingdom as aid to the Kurds.

  Agency

  Date

  Aircraft

  Tonnage

  Destination

  ODA

  5 April

  2 x Boeing 707

  180

  Ankara, Turkey

  ODA

  7 April

  2 x C.130

  21

  Incerlik, Turkey

  ODA

  8 April

  2 x C.130

  24

  Incerlik, Turkey

  ODA

  8 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  135

  Orumiyeh, Iran

  ODA

  9 April

  1 x Tristar

  18

  Incerlik, Turkey

  ODA

  9 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  135

  Orumiyeh, Iran

  ODA

  11 April

  1 x Tristar

  20

  Incerlik, Turkey

  ODA

  12 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  27

  Incerlik, Turkey

  ODA

  13 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  25

  Incerlik, Turkey

  ODA

  14 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  26

  Incerlik, Turkey

  ODA

  15 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  27

  Incerlik, Turkey

  ODA

  16 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  22

  Incerlik, Turkey

  ODA

  17 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  39

  Incerlik, Turkey

  ODA

  18 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  135

  Orumiyeh, Iran

  ODA

  19 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  38

  Incerlik, Turkey

  ODA

  19 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  135

  Orumiyeh, Iran

  ODA

  20 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  36

  Incerlik, Turkey

  ODA

  21 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  34

  Incerlik, Turkey

  ODA

  22 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  37

  Incerlik, Turkey

  ODA

  23 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  135

  Orumiyeh, Iran

  ODA

  24 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  135

  Orumiyeh, Iran

  Various NGOs

  12 April

  1 x Boeing 757

  23

  Incerlik, Turkey

  OXFAM

  10 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  40

  Dyarbakir, Turkey

  OXFAM

  15 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  5

  Dyarbakir, Turkey

  OXFAM

  22 April

  1 x Belfast

  16

  Dyarbakir, Turkey

  BRCS

  5 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  36

  Ankara, Turkey

  BRCS

  5 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  37

  Ankara, Turkey

  BRCS

  10 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  39

  Orumiyeh, Iran

  BRCS

  12 Apr

  1 x Boeing 707

  36

  Orumiyeh, Iran

  BRCS

  17 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  35

  Tehran, Iran

  BRCS

  18 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  34

  Orumiyeh, Iran

  BRCS

  19 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  33

  Orumiyeh, Iran

  BRCS

  20 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  40

  Tabriz, Iran

  SCF

  5 April

  Not known

  1

  Turkey

  SCF

  6 April

  Not known

  28

  Turkey

  SCF

  9 April

  Not known

  30

  Turkey

  SCF

  15 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  37

  Turkey

  SCF

  16 April

  1 x Boeing 707

  37

  Iran

  SCF

  20 April

  1 x DC8–55FQ

  31

  Iran

  1 Denotes estimate.

  Development Organisations
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any decisions were taken at the 17th Annual General Assembly of European non-governmental development organisations in Brussels, 9–11 April, that affect the present funding of United Kingdom non-governmental development organisations by his Department.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No decisions were taken at the 17th annual general assembly of European non-governmental development organisations in Brussels, 9–11 April, which affect the present funding of United Kingdom nongovernmental development organisations by my Department. The level of funding, which has increased substantially over the last few years, is constantly under review.
  508
  Mrs. Chalker
  As of 24 April, an estimated total of 684 metric tones of relief supplies have been sent from the United Kingdom by the Overseas Development Administration, and an estimated total of 540 metric tones have been sent by non-government sources. The details of which the Department is aware are as follows:

  Global Environment
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters in regard to financial support for protecting the global environment will be discussed at the meeting of G7 Finance Ministers in Washington on 28 April.

  Mrs. Chalker
  A number of important issues will be discussed at the G7 Finance Ministers meeting in Washington, but it is not possible to forecast how discussions will develop. Environment will be discussed at the development committee meeting on 29–30 April and there will be a meeting of the global environment facility on 1 and 2 May. The United Kingdom has pledged approximately £40 milion to the core facility plus £8 million for the programme to phase out CFCs.

EMPLOYMENT

  Bradford TEC
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what criteria were set for Bradford TEC for training needs in 1991–92; what targets have been set; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The training needs identified by Bradford and District TEC are based on a thorough assessment of the local labour market. Their plans include challenging targets which have been agreed with my Department covering a range of training and enterprise activities. Bradford and District TEC has developed a number of interesting initiatives, including Jobsmatch 1000. The aim of the initiative is to help 1,000 unemployed people in inner city areas to obtain a job within two years.

  Employment, South Derbyshire
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in South Derbyshire were employed in (i) 1980, (ii) 1985 and (iii) latest figures; and what is the rate of change of employment in South Derbyshire and the national average over the same period.

  Mr. Jackson
  The available information for South Derbyshire is from censuses of employment held in 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1989. Data for the constituency and comparable figures for Great Britain are given in the table. The figures relate only to employees in employment; they exclude the self-employed and members of HM Forces.

  Employees in employment (thousands)

  South Derbyshire

  Great Britain

  September of each year

  1981

  19·1

  21,314·1

  1984

  18·8

  20,845·9

  1987

  19·6

  21,271·0

  1989

  20·5

  22,234·5

  Change 1981 to 1989

  Number

  +1·5

  +920·3

  Per cent

  +7·7

  +4·3

  Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1991–91 and budgets for 1991–92.

  Mr. Jackson
  Expenditure on advertising and promotional material by the Department of Employment from 1979–80 to 1985–86 was as follows:

  £

  1979–80

  70,000

  1980–81

  320,000

  1981–82

  400,000

  1982–83

  360,000

  1983–84

  500,000

  1984–85

  320,000

  1985–86

  1,220,000

  510
  Figures for television, radio and newspaper advertising and other promotional material are not available separately.

  The figures for 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91 are as follows:

  Television

  Press/Radio

  Other promotional

  1986–87

  9·3

  3·0

  4·1

  1987–88

  3·3

  0·8

  2·8

  1988–89

  2·1

  2·3

  1·3

  1989–90

  0·9

  0·9

  1·2

  1990–91

  n/a

  0·5

  2·1

  The Department's overall advertising budget for 1991–92 is £17·4 million. Detailed discussions on expenditure by media category have not yet been taken.

  All the above figures refer only to Department of Employment expenditure. They do not cover expenditure by the former Training Agency, Training Commission and Manpower Services Commission. Figures for these are being provided to the hon. Member in reply to a separate question.

  Building Work
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list the number and location of all new buildings or extensions commissioned by his Department in each of the past five years which(a) had contracts worth between £3 million and £5 million and (b) had contracts worth more than £5 million.

  Mr. Jackson
  My Department has commissioned the following new buildings and extensions:

  in 1986, a new building in Broad lane, Sheffield for the
  Health and Safety Executive at a cost of £8 million;

  in 1991, a new building at East lane, Runcorn at a cost of £12 million to accommodate headquarters posts relocating from London;

  in 1989, an extension to Brixton unemployment benefit office, Halmaker Lodge, south-west London, costing £3·7 million.

  Southport (Tourist Industry)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what new help he will give to the tourist industry in Southport.

  Mr. Forth
  The English tourist board, which is grant-aided by my Department, will allocate a subvention of £403,300 to the North West tourist board, which covers Southport, during the 1991–92 financial year. This subvention may be supplemented during the year by additional sums from central funds held by the ETB.

  Southport will benefit from the various marketing and development initiatives undertaken by the North West tourist board, including the board's new coastal corridor initiative.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will visit Southport to look at the local tourist industry.

  Mr. Forth
  My noble Friend Viscount Ullswater, who has ministerial responsibility for tourism matters, recently met a delegation of representatives of resorts in the North West, including Southport. He also hopes to include Southport in his forthcoming extensive programme of regional visits.

  Injuries at Work
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the total numbers of injuries as a result of work activities reported to enforcement authorities falling within the east midlands region in the latest year for which Health and Safety Comission statistics are available in the categories(a) total fatal injuries to all persons, (b) total non-major injuries to all persons, (c) total over three-day injuries to all persons and (d) total all reported injuries to all persons.

  Mr. Forth
  The latest available information, provisional figures for the financial year beginning 1 April 1989, is provided in the table.

  Numbers of reported occupational injuries1 in the East Midlands region, 1989–90 (provisional)

  Numbers

  Fatal

  45

  Non-fatal major2

  3,106

  Over three day3

  13,762

  Total reported

  16,913

  1Injuries to employees, self-employed persons and non-employed persons injured in a working environment, reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1985 (RIDDOR), to all enforcement authorities excluding the HSE's railway inspectorate.

  2As defined under RIDDOR.

  3Injuries causing incapacity for work for more than three days.

  Employment Service (Annual Performance Agreement)
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the Employment Service annual performance agreement for 1991–92 will be published.

  Mr. Jackson
  I have today placed copies of the Employment Service 1991–92 annual performance agreement in the Libraries of the House.

  New Businesses, Yorkshire
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many new businesses have started in Yorkshire in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 23 April 1991]: The available information for the counties of North, South and West Yorkshire, based on VAT data, is given in the table:

  VAT registrations and deregistrations in North, South and West Yorkshire

  000s

  Registrations

  Deregistrations

  Net change

  1980

  9·1

  9·0

  0·1

  1981

  9·5

  7·6

  1·9

  1982

  10·5

  9·1

  1·4

  1983

  11·5

  91

  11·4

  1984

  11·0

  9·5

  1·5

  1985

  11·0

  10·8

  0·2

  1986

  11·4

  10·9

  0·4

  1987

  12·2

  10·6

  1·6

  1988

  14·1

  10·8

  3·3

  1989

  15·9

  11·3

  4·7

  Training Agency (Privatisation)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total sum paid out in fees to outside organisations in the furtherance of privatisation by 512
  the Training Agency/Manpower Services Commission in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1990–91 and budget for 1991–92.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 24 April 1991]: There were no fees paid to organisations in furtherance of privatisation by the Training Agency or Manpower Services Commission in the financial period from 1979–80 to 1987–88 inclusive.

  Fees to the value of £525,000 were incurred in 1988–89, to the value of £613,000 in 1989–90, and £622,000 in 1990–91. These figures are inclusive of expenses plus VAT.

  There is no current privatisation being undertaken, although an outstanding invoice for £30,000 will be paid in the current financial year.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  St. John Ambulance Brigade
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make facilities available to staff in his Department to contribute to the appeal that has been launched for people with the name of John to help raise £5 million for the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  There are no such plans to make special arrangements for this appeal. The Treasury has in the past publicised to staff the arrangements for payroll giving for charity, and I shall be drawing staff's attention to these general arrangements again in due course.

  Trade Statistics
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the fall in the profitability of exports of manufactures since 1 January 1990 as a return on sales; and whether he will publish a table comparing the reduction in profitability with the increase in export unit values, the increase in producer input and output prices and the increase in consumer prices.

  Mr. Mellor
  Information on the profit margins of manufactured exports is not available. Information on the relative profitability of manufactured exports and domestic sales, and on producers' input and output prices, is available on the CSO database, which can be accessed through the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing(a) the value of March output of the manufacturing sector, less food, drink and tobacco, calculated on the basis of note 1 of the notes to editors in CSO press notice CSO (91)51, dated 16 April, on producer prices, (b) the ratio of the input to the output, (c) the proportion of the input assumed to be imported and (d) the price index for the imported and the home-produced import components; and if he will provide corresponding figures for 1970, 1979 and 1985.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information requested is either not available or not readily so for the periods given. Some information relating to parts(a) and (b) is available for 1984, the year on which the weights for the producer price indices are currently based. The value of sales of the manufacturing sector, less food, drink and tobacco, on a

  513
  net sector basis was about £60 billion. The value of inputs on a net sector basis to the manufacturing sector less food, drink and tobacco (excluding some imported semi-manufactured goods not covered by the incides) was around two fifths of the net output value.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing the actual figures, at the respective dates, which underlie the chart in CSO press notice CSO (91) 51 dated 16 April 1991, on producer prices together with the corresponding figures from January 1970 together with the IMF index of relative export unit values and the relative DTI export unit value for the United Kingdom relative to that of West Germany; and whether he will publish a corresponding table for manufacturing, less food, drink and tobacco.

  Mr. Mellor
  The. figures underlying the chart in CSO press notice CSO (91) 51 are shown in annex B to that press notice for 1988 onwards. Comparable data are only available back to January 1974 and are published in the CSO database accessible through the House of Commons Library.

  The DTI index of relative export values of manufactures is published in "Economic Trends", available in the House of Commons Library. The IMF indices of relative export values for the United Kingdom and Germany are given in the following table. (The definition of manufacturing used by the IMF excludes food, drink and tobacco).

  Relative1export unit value index

  (1985=100)

  United Kingdom

  Federal Republic of Germany

  United Kingdom relative to FRG

  1970

  90·8

  113·1

  80·3

  1971

  91·8

  115·7

  79·3

  1972

  93·3

  116·0

  80·4

  1973

  86·0

  125·6

  68·5

  1974

  85·5

  121·8

  70·2

  1975

  86·9

  119·7

  72·6

  1976

  83·8

  120·0

  69·8

  1977

  88·8

  121·9

  72·8

  1978

  95·0

  125·2

  75·9

  1979

  100·2

  122·3

  81·9

  1980

  112·1

  116·3

  96·4

  1981

  110·0

  104·6

  105·2

  1982

  103·4

  106·0

  96·7

  1983

  100·6

  107·0

  94·0

  1984

  98·3

  99·5

  98·8

  1985

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  1986

  97·7

  110·9

  88·1

  1987

  101·5

  116·0

  87·5

  1988

  110·0

  112·4

  97·9

  1989

  104·0

  111·6

  93·2

  1990

  107·6

  115·8

  92·9

  1The UVI of each country divided by a weighted average of the 1980 UVI's of 16 major competitors.

  Inland Revenue Offices, Nottingham
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates have been received for the heating of the proposed new Inland Revenue offices in Nottingham by electricity; and what estimate has been made for heating them from the combined heat and power system operated by British Coal, Nottinghamshire county council and Nottinghamshire city council.
  514
  Mr. Maude
  The estimates obtained for the heating of the proposed new Inland Revenue offices in Nottingham by electricity showed installation costs of £1·056 million and annual fuel and maintenance costs of about £97,000. The estimates for heating the offices by the combined heat and power system were £2·16 million for the installation and about £41,000 for annual fuel and maintenance costs.

  Building Work
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will list the number and location of all new buildings or extensions commissioned by the Treasury, the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise in each of the past five years which(a) had contracts worth between £3 million and £5 million and (b) had contracts worth more than £5 million.

  Mr. Maude
  My Departments have commissioned buildings:

  £million

  Year

  Department

  £3–£5

  Over £5

  No. location

  No. location

  1986–87

  C&E

  1 Belfast

  1 Newry

  1987–88

  C&E

  2 London

  1988–89

  IR

  1 Kew

  1989–90

  IR

  1 Nottingham

  1990–91

  C&E

  1 Manchester

  1 Liverpool

  IR

  1 Glenrothes

  IR

  1 Plymouth

  IR

  1 Nottingham

  IR

  1 Bolton

  IR

  1 Belfast

  IR

  1 Birkenhead

  IR

  1 Falkirk

  1 St Austell

  1 Barnsley

  1 Wrexham

  The Treasury has not let any major contracts for building or extension work in the last five years.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the total annual income of local government in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) France and (c) Germany is raised through local taxation.

  Mr. Mellor
  [holding answer 22 April 1991]: Comparative figures for the income received by local government are published in "OECD National Accounts 1976–88" (volume II). The balance of taxation will be affected by, among other things, the different constitutional position of local authorities, and different allocation of functions to local government, in the different countries.

HEALTH

  Hospital Admissions
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to recommend to health authorities a system of booked admissions to hospitals to replace waiting lists for operations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department has long recommended that health authorities use booked
  515
  admissions wherever possible. Currently, 17 per cent. of patients waiting for admission have a firm date booked for their treatment. The South Western regional health authority is developing a region-wide admissions booking system. The Department and health regions are following progress with great interest with a view to wider application in the NHS.

  Project 2000
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any additional schools of nursing have been approved to implement Project 2000 nurse training.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I announced on 9 January that £71 million was to be made available for Project 2000 in 1991–92. I am now pleased to be able to announce that agreement has been given today to the implementation of Project 2000 in 14 colleges of nursing during 1991–92, subject to the necessary educational approval being obtained from the English national board and the resolution of any outstanding financial and manpower issues.

  This will mean that, by the end of the current financial year, over half the colleges of nursing in England will have been approved for Project 2000.

  The Project 2000 implementation group has approved the following schemes for a 1991–92 start:

  1.Northern RHA—Darlington, Durham, West Durham

  2.Yorkshire RHA—York and Scarborough

  3.Trent RHA—Leicestershire

  4.East Anglia RHA—Cambridge

  5.NW Thames RHA—Barnet

  6.SE Thames RHA—Dartford, Gravesend, Bexley and Greenwich

  7.SW Thames RHA—Kingston and Epsom

  8.Wessex RHA—East and West Dorset, Salisbury

  9.Oxford RHA—Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe

  10.South Western RHA—Gloucestershirc

  11.Mersey RHA—St Helens and Knowsley, Warrington, Halton

  In addition, the following three schemes have already received advance approval for a 1991–92 start:

  12.NE Thames RHA—City and Hackney

  13.West Midlands RHA—Shropshire, Mid Staffordshire

  14.North Western RHA-Stockport, Glossop and Tameside

  Financial allocations for the new schemes will be notified as soon as possible, following discussions with the authorities concerned. I shall then consider, in the light of further advice from the implementation group, how any balance of the money provided for Project 2000 should be allocated. I shall make a further announcement as soon as possible.

  Project 2000 represents an important development in nurse education in this country. It gives more weight to the process of learning and less to the sharing of the work load in hospital wards, although the training remains practical and patient-orientated.

  Electoral Statistics (1991)
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when local government and parliamentary electoral statistics for 1991 will be available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Local government electorate statistics are being published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in Monitor EL 91/1 today, a week before the local elections. These data are now being reassembled by parliamentary constituency. Statistics in the latter form 516
  will be placed in the Library by 10 May, prior to publication in "Electoral Statistics, 1991" (Series EL no. 18) during the summer.

  Building Work
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will list the number and location of all new buildings or extensions commissioned by his Department in each of the last five years which(a) had contracts worth between £3 million and £5 million and (b) had contracts worth more than £5 million.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department does not directly commission new buildings or extensions. It occupies buildings on the common user estate provided and administered by the Department of Environment.

  Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1990–91 and budgets for 1991–92.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information for the years 1979–80 to 1987–88 is not available in the form requested.

  The Department's budget for communications and publicity includes provision for nurse recruitment, blood donor recruitment and drug misuse compaigns.

  £ million

  Expediture for 1988–89 is as follows:

  Television

  1·662

  Radio

  0·205

  Newspaper

  1·196

  Other Material

  7·736

  Expenditure for 1989–90 is as follows:

  Television

  3·549

  Radio

  0·127

  Newspaper

  2·739

  Other Material

  10·828

  Estimated Expenditure for 1990–91 is as follows:

  Television

  1·900

  Radio

  0·005

  Newspaper

  2·258

  Other Material

  13·148

  The budget for communications and publicity for 1991–92 is £24·5 million.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representation his hon. Friend the Minister of Health has received from the Act Now Group concerning Government policy of non-implementation of sections of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have received a letter from this group expressing concern at our decision not to implement sections 1, 2, and 3 of the Act at the present time. Act Now also wrote to officials in the the Department following the announcement that we did not at present intend to proceed with the implementation of section 7.

  Opticians
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many opticians are currently registered in England; and what was the figure in March 1989.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Figures on the numbers of opticians in contract with family health services authorities in England are collected by calendar year. The number of opticians in contract with English FHSAs at 31 December 1989 was 6,299 of which 5,515 were ophthalmic opticians and 784 were ophthalmic medical practitioners. The figures for 31 December 1990 should be available in the summer.

  Optical Appliances
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people qualified for financial assistance towards the cost of optical appliances in each year since 1979.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Figures are not available prior to 1986–87, when the NHS spectacle voucher scheme was introduced. The table gives details of the numbers of spectacle vouchers redeemed in England and Wales from 1986–87.

  Financial Years

  Vouchers redeemed

  (millions)

  1986–87

  2·471

  1987–88

  2·704

  1988–89

  2·417

  1989–90

  2·422

  Vasectomy and Sterilisation
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of provision of vasectomy and sterilisation operations he requires of individual health authorities.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Health authorities were advised in guidance contained in the 1974 memorandum of guidance on family planning (HSC(IS)32), which is still current, that male and female sterilisation operations should be available under the national health service both for family planning and medical reasons, a copy of which is available in the Library. The priority given to these operations generally is a matter for health authorities to determine in the light of clinical judgment and local needs and circumstances.

  Spectacle Frames
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance is available to individuals suffering from metal allergies who need to purchase specially produced non-metallic spectacle frames.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  People who are eligible for help with the cost of spectacles receive a spectacle voucher which they can use to purchase spectacles which have either metallic or non-metallic frames. Non-metallic frames tend to be cheaper than the metallic variety.

PRIME MINISTER

  President de Klerk
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with President de Klerk of South Africa.

  The Prime Minister
  I was glad to have had the opportunity to meet President de Klerk during his visit to the United Kingdom this week. We had a useful talk on a wide range of issues.

  I should add that I also had useful talks with Mr.Nelson Mandela at our meeting yesterday.

  Economic and Social Committee (United Kingdom Membership)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he will list the 24 United Kingdom members of the European Community Economic and Social Committee, indicating their dates of appointment, their occupations and their party political affiliations if known.

  The Prime Minister
  The United Kingdom members of the Economic and Social Committee who were appointed in September 1990 for a term of four years are as follows. Members are recommended to Council for appointment on the basis of their individual qualifications not political affiliations.

  Neville Beale Esq—Independent Consultant. Former senior executive of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies.

  Michael Bell Esq—Chairman, International Business Communications PLC.

  John Little Esq—Former Chairman and Chief Executive, Anderson Strathclyde. Former Chairman, Scottish Confederation of British Industries.

  Kenneth Gardner Esq MA FRSC—Consultant in food law technology and food technology.

  Dr Felix Kafka—Production and Technical Managements (Health and Safety and Environment), ICI Europa Ltd.

  Michael Mobbs Esq—Chairman and Managing Director,M L Aviation.

  Dr Ann Robinson—Head of Policy Unit Institute of Directors.

  John Whitworth Esq—Chairman, Merchant Navy Officers' Pension Fund. Former Director of the International Shipping Federation.

  Campbell Christie Esq—General Secretary, Scottish Trades Union Congress.

  Peter Dawson Esq OBE—General Secretary Professional Association of Teachers.

  Tom Jenkins Esq—Assistant Secretary, Trades Union Congress, International Department.

  John Lyons Esq CBE—General Secretary, Engineers' and Managers' Association.

  Miss Ada Maddocks OBE—National Organising Officer (Health Staffs), National Association of Local Government Officers.

  William Morris Esq—Deputy General Secretary, Transport and General Workers' Union.

  Roy Sanderson Esq OBE—National Secretary, Electrical and Engineering Staff Association (Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunication and Plumbing Union).

  Alexander Smith Esq—General Secretary, National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers.

  Wilfred Aspinall Esq—Executive Director, Managerial, Professional and Staff Liaison Group.

  Mrs Jocelyn Barrow OBE—Deputy Chairman, Broadcasting Standards Council.

  Professor William Black—Economic Adviser, Department of Economic Development, Northern Ireland. Former Professor of Economics, Queen's University, Belfast.

  Mrs Angela Guillaume—(British) Chairman, European Union of Women.
  519
  Robert Moreland Esq—Former MEP. Member of the Council for Business Graduates Association. ManagementConsultant. Chairman of Regional Development Section.

  Ms Sue Slipman—Director, National Council for One Parent Families.

  Michael Strauss Esq—Former Co-ordinating Director for Policy, National Farmers' Union.

  Andrew Tyrie Esq—Fellow, Nuffield College, Oxford.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to reply to the letter dated 27 March from the hon. Member for Monklands West, concerning the Government's policy of non-implementation of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.

  The Prime Minister
  I replied to the hon. Member on 22 April 1991.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Prime Minister what representation he has received from the Act Now Group concerning the Government policy of non-implementation of sections of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and how he has responded.

  The Prime Minister
  The Act Now Group and I have corresponded.

  Haemophiliacs
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps are taken to ensure parity of treatment for haemophiliacs in Scotland and Wales so far as factor 8 is concerned.

  The Prime Minister
  The prescribing of factor 8 in the treatment of haemophiliacs is a matter for the individual clinicians concerned. Both Scottish and Welsh patients have equal access to the treatment deemed appropriate.

  Building Works
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he will list the number and location of all new buildings or extensions commissioned by the Cabinet Office in each of the past five years which(a) had contracts worth between £3 million and £5 million and (b) had contracts worth more than £5 million.

  The Prime Minister
  The Cabinet Office has not commissioned any new buildings or extensions in the last five years which had contracts worth more than £3 million.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister whether the issue of South Africa signing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty was discussed in his meeting with President De Klerk of South Africa in London on 27 April.

  The Prime Minister
  Yes.

  Chernobyl
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the compensation received by the United Kingdom from(a) the Soviet Union and (b) any other relevant international authority to cover the financial losses incurred by United Kingdom farmers and tourist trade businesses in Scotland, Cumbria, Northern Ireland and North Wales as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear accident in the Soviet Union.
  520
  The Prime Minister
  No compensation has been paid to the United Kingdom for damage suffered following the Chernobyl accident. The Soviet Union is not a party to the international conventions on third party liability for nuclear damage.

  Iraq
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will propose the creation of safe havens for Shias in southern Iraq.

  The Prime Minister
  We are concerned for the welfare of all Iraqis. We understand that the International Red Cross and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees are ready to take over responsibility for refugees in those parts of southern Iraq presently occupied by coalition forces. The United Nations Iraq/Kuwait observer mission is being deployed to the border. Our contribution of some £20 million to the UN Secretary-General's and other international appeals is for the humanitarian need of all Iraqis. We are in touch with both the Kuwaiti and Saudi Governments about access for Iraqi refugees to their countries.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 25 April.

  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 this House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the total sum paid out in fees to outside organisations in the furtherance of privatisation by the Prime Minister's Office in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what is his estimate for 1990–91 and budget for 1991–92.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 24 April 1991]: No expenditure has been incurred by the Prime Minister's office on fees to outside organisations in the furtherance of privatisation since 1979–80, and none is planned for 1991–92.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1990–91 and budgets for 1991–92.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Total expenditure by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on advertising and other promotional material for the years 1979–80 to 1989–90, latest estimates for 1990–91 and budget provisions for 1991–92 are:
  521

  FCO

  FCO

  (Diplomatic wing)

  (ODA wing)

  1979–80

  100,266

  214,739

  1980–81

  116,532

  145,697

  1981–82

  162,998

  207,964

  1982–83

  229,711

  135,506

  1983–84

  205,247

  252,691

  1984–85

  149,932

  234,050

  1985–86

  160,535

  271,084

  1986–87

  335,754

  228,347

  1987–88

  195,000

  351,000

  1988–89

  289,184

  689,631

  1989–90

  395,842

  1,066,447

  1990–91

  926,610

  902,000

  1991–92

  540,204

  1,031,000

  A disaggregation of these figures to identify the medium used cannot be produced without incurring disproportionate costs.

  Building Work
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list the number and location of all new buildings or extensions commissioned by his Department in each of the last five years which(a) had contracts worth between £3 million and £5 million and (b) had contracts worth more than £5 million.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My Department has commissioned buildings:

  £3–5 million

  Year of Commencement

  Location

  1985–86

  Amman

  1985–86

  Warsaw

  1986–87

  Vienna

  1989–90

  Wellington

  1989–90

  Seoul

  1989–90

  Prague

  Over £5 million

  1986–87

  Kuala Lumpur

  1987–88

  Helsinki

  1989–90

  Dhaka

  Hanslope Park,

  1990–91

  Bucks

  Iraq
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives he intends to take to protect Shias in southern Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are concerned for the welfare of all Iraqis. We understand that the ICRC and the UNHCR are ready to take over responsibility for refugees in those parts of southern Iraq presently occupied by coalition forces. The UN Iraq/Kuwait observer mission is being deployed to the border. Our contribution of some £20 million to the UN Secretary-General's and other international appeals is for the humanitarian needs of all Iraqis. We are in touch with both the Kuwaiti and Saudi Governments about access for Iraqi refugees to their countries.

  South Africa
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the objectives of British foreign policy in South Africa; and what progress Her Majesty's Government are making towards those objectives.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The objectives of British foreign policy in South Africa are to encourage the creation of a democratic, non-racial, society through negotiations leading to peaceful change. Significant progress towards fulfilling this objective is being achieved.

TRANSPORT

  M6
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the extent to which the recent roadworks at the M6 Farleton interchange and on the connecting Kendal link road were carried out without avoidable disruption to traffic flows.

  Mr. Chope
  A number of different maintenance activities were identified as essential at the interchange. An assessment showed that adopting a road closure option which lasted three weeks and enabled all the works to be completed, was preferable to a series of road closures, lane closures and contraflows over nine months. The traffic management arrangements adopted were considered the most appropriate for the safe and efficient progress of the works with the least disruption to road users. The proposals were extensively publicised.

  M62
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to evaluate the safety and cost-effectiveness of the wire rope safety fence technology in use on the central reservation of the M62 in West Yorkshire.

  Mr. Chope
  A two-rope design of wire rope safety fence has been safely and successfully deployed on 10 km of the M62 since 1971. During the last 18 months, some of this fence has been replaced with an enhanced four-rope design of wire rope safety fence which has been developed by industry.

  Prior to the Department adopting this new enhanced design of fence in December 1988, a full assessment was undertaken. This indicated a satisfactory vehicle impact performance together with likely competitive costings for initial installation and future repair and maintenance.

  I will write to the hon. Member giving fuller details of the development and use of wire rope safety fencing in the United Kingdom.

  Exhaust Emissions
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received representations concerning the number of cars likely to fail the revised MOT due to unacceptable exhaust emissions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The majority of representations offered strong support for the check. At present, some 40 per cent. of cars fail annual MOT tests, and this percentage will
  523
  probably increase following the introduction of the emissions check. But the number of cars which actually fail will depend upon how many motorists have their engine tuning checked before the MOT test.

  North Devon Link Road
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will approve the siting of a sign reading Exmoor market town at the South Molton exit to the North Devon link road (A361).

  Mr. Chope
  No, although signs indicating the availability of local services in South Molton are shortly to be erected on the link road. Signs need to be restricted to giving essential information quickly and succinctly and descriptive terms or area wide designations are not therefore appropriate.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide information about blood alcohol content distributions for fatally injured drivers by sex for the last five years.

  Mr. Chope
  The information is as follows:

  Blood alcohol level in mg per 100ml of blood for fatally injured drivers and riders by sex: GB: 1985–89

  Percentage in each band

  Blood Alcohol

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Males

  0–10

  63

  65

  64

  67

  70

  11–50

  7

  7

  10

  7

  8

  51–80

  3

  3

  3

  3

  2

  Total below limit

  73

  75

  76

  78

  80

  81–100

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  101–200

  14

  14

  12

  12

  11

  201+

  11

  9

  9

  9

  7

  Total above limit

  27

  25

  24

  22

  20

  Females

  0–10

  80

  82

  86

  85

  87

  11–50

  7

  5

  6

  9

  6

  51–80

  2

  2

  0

  1

  1

  Total below limit

  89

  89

  92

  95

  94

  81–100

  2

  0

  1

  1

  1

  101–200

  6

  5

  6

  3

  3

  201+

  3

  6

  2

  2

  3

  Total above limit

  11

  11

  8

  5

  6

  Notes:

  1.These figures are based on police and coroners' returns to the Department and are incomplete covering only about two out of every three driver or rider casualties.

  2.Only drivers and riders aged 16 or over who die within 12 hours of their accident are included.

  3.Results for 1989 are provisional.

  Drunken Drivers (Refraining)
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that only Department of Transport approved driving instructors will be allowed to undertake the retraining of convicted drunken drivers.

  Mr. Chope
  There are no proposals to change the existing requirement that driving instruction, for which 524
  payment is made, can only be given by a person who is registered or licensed to do so. Our proposals for an experiment in the use of rehabilitation courses for drink-drivers are set out in the Road Traffic Bill. Courses will have to be approved by the Secretary of State. Their main aim is to educate offenders about the effects of drinking and driving. Provision will not be restricted to driving instructors as courses will not normally involve driving lessons.

  Organ Donor Cards
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether an organ donor card could be included with current driving licences; and whether there is any EC directive on the subject.

  Mr. Chope
  Organ donor cards are issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Swansea, with full and provisional driving licences. There is no EC directive on organ donor cards.

  Wheel Clamping
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State of Transport what plans he has to introduce legislation to control the actions of private wheel clamping companies.

  Mr. Chope
  None at present, but I am keeping the situation under review.

  M65
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when contracts for the construction of the Blackburn to M6/M6 1 section of the M65 will be let; when work will start; and when it is due to be completed; (2) if he will make a statement as to any outstanding legal or public expenditure processes which will have to be completed before contracts for the Blackburn to M6/M61 section of the M65 are let.

  Mr. Chope
  The route of the new motorway is fixed. Proposals for the consequential alterations to other highways and means of access were published last month. We expect to publish the Order for compulsory purchase of land this summer. A period will be allowed for objections and comment. A public inquiry will be necessary if there are objections.

  Subject to the successful outcome of any inquiry and the availability of funds work could start in Spring 1993. The new road will take three years to build.

  Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1990–91 and budgets for 1991–92.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The spending by my Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year and the estimated spending in 1990–91 are as follows:
  525

  Television

  Radio

  Newspaper

  Other

  £'000s

  £'000s

  £'000s

  £'000s

  1979–80

  4,141

  62

  105

  1,532

  1980–81

  3,502

  336

  129

  1,737

  1981–82

  3,615

  6

  410

  1,457

  1982–83

  2,319

  98

  816

  1,415

  1983–84

  4,655

  22

  334

  1,488

  1984–85

  1,723

  207

  476

  2,873

  1985–86

  70

  858

  834

  4,026

  1986–87

  72

  520

  738

  4,489

  1987–88

  2,310

  50

  140

  3,010

  1988–89

  1,867

  110

  365

  3,367

  1989–90

  1,930

  233

  982

  3,289

  1990–91

  3,122

  145

  833

  3,962

  Detailed decisions have not yet been taken on expenditure by media for 1991–92, but the overall figure is expected to be approximately.£10 million.

  Building Work
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will list the number and location of all new buildings or extensions commissioned by his Department in each of the past five years which(a) had contracts worth between £3 million and £5 million and (b) had contracts worth more than £5 million.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  None since 1989–90. Before that, the Property Services Agency was responsible for expenditure on major new buildings.

  Glasgow-Paris (Channel Tunnel Link)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to when direct passenger trains will start to run, through the channel tunnel, between Glasgow and Paris.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 24 April to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Darling) at column 450.

  Clifton Bypass
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce his decision on the A453 Clifton bypass; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  As soon as possible.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date he received the detailed study on the A453 Clifton bypass, Nottingham.

  Mr. Chope
  I received a supplementary report from the landscape advisory committee on 22 April. The committee has reinspected all the route options for the A453 Clifton improvement, and I am urgently considering its report in the light of other views expressed during public consultation.

  A13 (Water Main)
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the incidents which took place on the A13 involving the fracturing of a water main on Thursday, 18 April and of a gas mains pipe on Friday, 19 April by the contractor employed by his Department; what investigations were made regarding the competence of this company before they were given the 526
  contract; and what compensation will be made to the London borough of Tower Hamlets for the emergency work carried out to rectify the problem.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department is undertaking a review of the incidents that took place. The contractor is a public company which has been used by the Department on numerous trunk road and motorway schemes over many years. The normal practice on schemes of this nature is for information to be obtained from statutory undertakers on the location of their services, which is passed on to the contractors who have a responsibility for checking locations once on site.

  Apportionment of financial responsibility must await the outcome of the review.

  Accidents (Motorways)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of accidents at motorway repair and maintenance sites since 1986 have been attributed to(a) drivers' vision being impaired by badly sited or excessively bright temporary lighting, (b) excessive speed or (c) inadequate driving warning.

  Mr. Chope
  The information requested is not available. The Department has awarded a research contract into safety of major motorway roadworks sites, which will include an examination of ways of reducing accidents.

  Vehicle Testing Stations
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are taken by his Department to monitor the performance of individual vehicle testing stations.

  Mr. Chope
  MOT testing stations are authorised only if the examiner is of good repute and provides the required level of premises and equipment. All testers must attend a course run by the vehicle inspectorate and pass a test of competence. Performance of testing stations is monitored by regular inspections by the vehicle inspectorate, at least once a year and more frequently if sub-standard performance is suspected. Motorists have a right of appeal against the refusal of a testing station to issue a test certificate. The vehicle inspectorate also makes incognito visits to testing stations; follows up complaints about stations; and checks vehicles at the roadside. Sub-standard performance can and does result in withdrawal of authorisation to test.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if individual vehicle testing stations are permitted to sell vehicles that they themselves have tested.
  527
  Mr. Chope
  Yes.

  Docklands Light Railway (Collision)
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the collision of two trains on the docklands light railway on 22 April and its implications for the safety of the public.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate has reported that there was a sideways collision between two trains which converged at a junction on the northern approach to West India Quay station at approximately 7.20 am. A train arriving from Stratford struck the leading coach of a train from Tower Gateway. The latter train was under manual control due to a trackside equipment failure at Westferry station.

  This was a low-speed collision, and I was glad to learn that no serious injuries were sustained.

  Docklands light railway is urgently investigating the accident. Until the cause is established, and any necessary remedial action taken, additional controls have been implemented to strengthen the existing procedure for emergency manual operation.

  I have asked the railway inspectorate to keep me informed of developments.

  Signalling Failure (Aberdeen)
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the report by British Rail dated 25 March into a signalling failure at Aberdeen railway station.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The report is part of BR's internal inquiry into the derailment of a train at Aberdeen station on 5 February. HM railway inspectorate was notified of the accident and will consider the results of BR's inquiry. Meanwhile, BR has taken action to avoid a recurrence.

  Exter-Plymouth Roads
  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his current intention on the appointment of consultants to undertake an assessment of the future road needs between Exeter and Plymouth, including the possibility of a new route; when an announcement can be expected; and what have been the reasons for changes in his policy on this matter.

  Area under restriction

  Glenshane, Co Londonderry

  Belraugh, Co Londonderry

  Glenwherry, Co Antrim

  Total

  Acres

  10,497

  1,305

  8,620

  20,422

  Hectares

  4,251

  528

  3,491

  8,270

  Estimated number of breeding sheep

  13,400

  1,250

  7,000

  21,650

  Number of farms

  79

  11

  31

  121

  Clenbuterol
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been found guilty of possession of clenbuterol; how many prosecutions are pending; how much clenbuterol has been seized this year; and if he will make a statement about measures to prohibit the movement of clenbuterol across the border from the Republic of Ireland.
  528
  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 24 April 1991]: We will be inviting bids from consultants later this year for the study of the needs of the A38 from Exeter to Plymouth. This will be linked with studies into the planning and environmental issues pertaining to the proposal for a privately financed second Tamar crossing, which will also commence shortly.

  Motorway Tolls
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has commissioned or organised into the comparison of traffic flows between a freely available motorway and a toll road; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 24 April 1991]: To assist in modelling the traffic that would use a tolled Birmingham northern relief road, last year the Department undertook a study jointly with the bidders to assess the value which road users in the area placed on saving time.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Health and Social Services Councils
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names and addresses of the members of the four new health and social services councils excepting those nominated by district councils.

  Mr. Hanley
  The names of the chairmen of the health and social services councils are as follows:

  Mrs. Patricia Stout, Eastern

  Mr. Robert Pinkerton, Northern

  Mrs. Fionnuala Cook, Southern

  Mr Francis Hughes, Western

  Nominations for membership of the councils have been invited from district councils, voluntary and community groups and other interested groups and individuals. It is hoped to announce the names of the members shortly.

  Chernobyl
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the area in acres and hectares, the number of sheep, and the number of farms currently under restriction, including the county or counties involved, as a result of the radioactive contamination following the Chernobyl accident.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is as follows:

  Mr. Hanley
  Two persons have been successfully prosecuted for the illegal administration of clenbuterol to cattle and three further prosecutions are pending. Thirteen kilos of the substance in powder form have been seized this year. The importation of unlicensed products such as clenbuterol into the United Kingdom is illegal. Inspectors of the Department of Health and Social Services work closely with HM Customs and Excise and the RUC in
  529
  seizing illicit supplies and arranging for the subsequent prosecution of offenders. It should be noted that any animal presented for slaughter with traceable and unjustified levels of clenbuterol will be condemned and destroyed.

DEFENCE

  Royal Naval Supplies Depot
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he proposes to expand the royal naval supplies depot at Eaglescliffe, Stockton.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have no plans at present to expand the royal naval stores depot at Eaglescliffe.

  Tornados (Loss)
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Tornados were lost during the Gulf war due to(a) enemy ground fire and (b) crashing into the ground from flying so low.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Seven Tornado GRIs were lost during the Gulf conflict. One of these crashed shortly after take-off due to a mechanical problem. The circumstances in which the other six were lost are still under investigation.

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what ways armed forces personnel are used to help arms manufacturers sell their goods abroad or at arms fairs; what is the cost to the Exchequer; whether manufacturers or sellers make any contribution towards these costs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Armed forces personnel provide assistance to the United Kingdom defence industry in a wide variety of ways, the costs of which, in general, fall either to the relevant companies or to the purchasing nations.

  Kurdish Refugees
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's latest estimate of the number of Kurdish refugees killed by falling relief supplies; and what steps have been taken to improve the accuracy of supply drops.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I am not aware of any deaths caused by Royal Air Force relief operations. RAF aircrew take the greatest care to avoid accidents, and operating procedures are kept under constant review.

  Iraq (Use of Weapons)
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what ground-based anti-aircraft weapons systems were used by the Iraqis against RAF Tornados during the Gulf war; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Before the conflict, Iraq was believed to have possessed the following air-defence systems:

  surface to air missiles: SA-2, SA-3, SA-6, SA-7, SA-8, SA-9, SA-13, SA-14, ROLAND;
  530
  air defence guns: 22mm ZSU-23–4, 37mm M-1939, 57mm (including ZSU-57–2), 85mm, 100mm, 130mm.

  All aspects of the Gulf conflict are currently under investigation; it is not possible to say which systems were used against RAF Tornados.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's assessment as to(a) the capability of the JP233 bomb to immobilise Iraqi airfields permanently during the Gulf War and (b) how effectively the Iraqis were able to repair airfields attacked by JP233 bombs.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  RAF Tornado GRIs equipped with the JP233 low-level attack weapon system were used to disrupt and harass Iraqi air operations rather than to close Iraqi airfields. Detailed analysis of equipment and munition effectiveness during the Gulf conflict is still being undertaken.

  Gulf War
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what time of the day was the friendly fire incident in late February in the Gulf in which five British service men lost their lives.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The incident in which US A-10 aircraft inadvertently attacked two Warrior armoured infantry vehicles, killing nine British servicemen occurred shortly after 1500 local time (1200 GMT) on 26 February 1991.

  Chemical Agents (Defence Manual)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been(a) the production cost and (b) the distribution, of his Department's publication "Medical Manual of Defence Against Chemical Agents".

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The initial order in 1987 for 3,432 copies of the "Medical Manual of Defence Against Chemical Agents", which was printed by HMSO, incurred a production cost in the order of £8,400 at 1991 prices. The initial distribution was 2,256 Army, 180 RAF and 220 Royal Navy, with 776 kept in the maintenance stock. About 1,000 further copies were ordered from HMSO at the beginning of Operation Granby, and these were issued as required to the services.

  Missing Documents
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on missing documents connected with the barracks at Aldershot, which were stolen from inside a vehicle stolen from a street in Chatham, Kent on 3 December 1990; what were the documents' security classification; and whether either(a) the documents or (b) the vehicle have yet been recovered.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A car belonging to a drainage contractor was stolen from outside his home in Chatham, Kent in early December 1990. It contained some unclassified maps and plans which the contractor needed to carry out his contract. As at 19 April neither the documents nor the car had been recovered.

  Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other

  Television advertising

  Radio advertising

  Newspaper advertising

  Other promotional material

  Total

  1979–80

  2·280

  0·040

  5·750

  0·137

  8·207

  1980–81

  0·540

  0·168

  6·100

  0·851

  7·659

  1981–82

  0·010

  0·042

  4·200

  1·037

  5·289

  1982–83

  0·010

  0·071

  3·900

  1·032

  5·013

  1983–84

  Nil

  0·072

  5·300

  1·904

  7·276

  1984–85

  0·488

  0·023

  6·863

  1·501

  8·875

  1985–86

  1·820

  0·019

  6·822

  1·032

  9·693

  1986–87

  0·727

  0·224

  8·071

  1·167

  10·189

  1987–88

  0·553

  0·026

  7·682

  2·523

  10·784

  1988–89

  2·859

  0·182

  9·559

  4·444

  17·044

  1989–90

  1—4·432

  1—

  13·359

  6·214

  24·005

  1990–91

  2·883

  0·219

  9·212

  8·623

  20·937

  1991–922

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1Figures for both television and radio advertising.

  2Budgets not yet finalised.

  Notes:

  1.All figures are expressed in £(pounds) million.

  2.In the time available it has not been possible to provide a break down of the 1989–90 television and radio advertising figure.

  3.Figures for 1990–91 are estimates

  I will write to the hon. Member once the 1991–92 figures are available.

  Building Work
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will list the number and location of all new buildings or extensions commissioned by his Department in each of the past five years which(a) had contracts worth between £3 million and £5 million and (b) had contracts worth more than £5 million.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I regret that the information cannot be provided in the form requested without disproportionate effort. I refer the hon. Member to the details given in the long-term projects tables, published as part of the supply estimates, class I, for the Ministry of Defence for the years in question.

  Tanks
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the suitability of American manufactured tanks as a replacement for Chieftain tanks.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  My Department is making a full assessment of the suitability of the US M1A2 Abrams tank as equipment for our future main battle tank fleet.

  Iraq
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to deploy British armed forces to protect the population of southern Iraq.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United Kingdom has contributed a 20-strong contingent to the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait observation mission, which will operate in the demilitarised zone along the Iraq-Kuwait border. There are no other plans to deploy British forces into southern Iraq.
  532
  promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1990–91 and budgets for 1991–92.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is as follows:

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Uncorroborated Confessions
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to bring forward proposals to prevent convictions based on uncorroborated confessions in police custody; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The use of uncorroborated confession evidence is within the remit of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice, as I announced to the House on 14 March. We shall consider what changes may be needed in the light of the commission's findings.

  Right of Silence
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to amend the rules relating to the right of silence of suspects interviewed in police stations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The right of silence will be among the matters to be considered by the Royal Commission and we should await its findings.

  Community Service Orders
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress with community service orders.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  National standards on the supervision of community service orders were introduced two years ago, on 1 April 1989, and were designed to achieve tighter and more consistent management of this work by probation services. My Department will very shortly publish an analysis of the first year's operation of the standards.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new measures he will propose to enhance the effectiveness of crime prevention; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Government are constantly seeking to enhance the effectiveness of crime prevention in the interests of community safety. The report of an independent working group appointed by the Home Secretary to study the partnership approach to crime prevention is due in early summer. In the light of the group's findings the Government will consider whether further measures are necessary to ensure the effective organisation of crime prevention and to assess the impact of particular initiatives. In addition the Government will be evaluating the success of the national Crime Prevention Week which ended on 20 April.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on the Sunday trading legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has recently received about Sunday trading.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier to the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Cartwright) and my hon. Friend the Member for Berkshire, East (Mr. MacKay).

  Domestic Violence Units
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will report on progress in establishing domestic violence units.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  At least five forces have established dedicated units. A number of others are currently considering them as part of their response to the Home Office circular on domestic violence issued to the police last summer.

  Detective Superintendent Alan Watson
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to whether Detective Superintendent Alan Watson is still on duty.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No, it would not be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to do so.

  Crime
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new proposals he has to reduce the levels of crime.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We shall continue to develop and pursue vigorously our policies to combat crime and protect the public. These include additional people and money for the police and a growing programme of crime prevention measures. The provisions of the Criminal 534
  Justice Bill will enhance the courts' powers to deal effectively with offenders. Effective crime prevention is not just a responsibility of the Government, the police and the courts; it needs the support of the entire community.

  Lollipop People
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what vacancies exist for lollipop people(a) in Ealing and (b) in the remaining London boroughs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that in Ealing, taken as the Metropolitan police divisions of Ealing and Southall, there are 20 vacancies for school crossing patrols. In the Metropolitan police district as a whole, vacancies exist for 245 school crossing patrols.

  Prisons (Arts Courses)
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any courses in the arts are offered to prisoners.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Yes. Visual arts and crafts, literature, music, film and video and drama and dance activities are all carried out in prisons. The Home Office has also funded with the Arts Council of Great Britain a recent research project into arts activities in prison. I shall be placing in the Library copies of this report and an accompanying directory of arts activities in prisons.

  Miscarriages of Justice
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will update his response to the sixth report of the Home Affairs Committee of Session 1981–82, on miscarriages of justice.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier to the hon. Members for Norwich, South (Mr. Garrett) and for The Wrekin (Mr. Grocott).

  Drug Misuse
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce regular screening of prisoners for drug misuse.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  As my hon. Friend knows, all new receptions are seen and interviewed by health care staff and asked whether they have ever taken drugs. Indications of the use of drugs by injection are looked for at that time. Steps have been taken to try to reduce the supply of illicit drugs into establishments and the need for further measures is kept under review.

  Deportation
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of middle east countries issued with notices of intention to deport on national security grounds(a) in November or December 1990 and (b) in January 1991 (i) were removed following the signing of a deportation order (ii) had deportation orders made against them and (iii) left the United Kingdom voluntarily.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The answer is as follows:
  535

  Number

  (a) (i)

  None

  (ii)

  2

  (iii)

  13

  (b) (i)

  None

  (ii)

  5

  (iii)

  56

  1 Including the two who left under their own arrangements after service of the deportation order.

  Police Costs
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the annual cost of(a) police operations and (b) court time in England and Wales incurred while policing, investigating and prosecuting alleged offences by gay men under the Sexual Offences Act 1967.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information about the number and annual costs of such police operations and related court time is not kept centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Building Work
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list the number and location of all new buildings or extensions commissioned by his Department in each of the past five years which(a) had contracts worth between £3 million and £5 million and (b) had contracts worth more than £5 million.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Information about the number and location of new buildings or extensions commissioned by my Department in each of the last five years is not held centrally in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  However, details of capital projects of the values specified are included in the summaries of capital project expenditure in the supply estimates: Class IX, vote 2—table 1 (Prisons) and vote 3—table 1 (Administration, Immigration and Police Support Services).

  Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1990–91 and budgets for 1991–92.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Figures for expenditure on newspaper and television advertising from 1979–80 to 1983–84 were given in an answer to a question from the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 25 May 1984 at column 587 and those for 1984–85 were given in answer to another question from the hon. Member for Newham, North-West on 19 December 1985 at column 275.

  Figures for radio advertising and other promotional literature for the years from 1979–80 to 1984–85 were given in answer to questions from the hon. Member on 19 November 1986 at columns 202–04.The hon. Member was
  536
  also given in those replies figures for expenditure on newspaper, television and radio advertising and other promotional literature for 1985–86.

  Figures for the years 1986–87 to 1990–91 (provisional) for total advertising expenditure—all media—and production and distribution of other promotional material were given in answer to a question from the hon. Member on 12 March 1990 at columns 23–24.

  Apart from the final year, 1990–91, it would not be possible to provide more detailed information for those years except at disproportionate cost.

  Expenditure figures for the years 1990–91 and 1991–92 are as follows:

  1990–911 000's

  1991–922 000's

  Television advertising

  2,024

  3,500

  Radio advertising

  109

  300

  Newspaper advertising

  3,595

  1,800

  Production and distribution of other promotional material (including poster advertising)

  6,750

  8,085

  1 Provisional.

  2 Estimate.

  Household Insurance
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local authorities have taken advantage of the block insurance scheme to enable residents in high crime areas to obtain insurance; what steps his Department is taking to encourage more local authorities to establish block insurance schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I understand that more than 100 local authorities take advantage of block insurance schemes to offer their tenants insurance cover, although the schemes are not necessarily related to the prevalance of crime in the area.

  The standing conference on crime prevention working group on the costs of crime, which reported in December 1988, touched on the value of block insurance and my right hon. Friend the Minister of State subsequently brought the report to the attention of the Association of British Insurers. My officials have also been in touch with the Housing Corporation and the Insurance Service for Housing Associations. It is for local authorities to decide whether to establish schemes for their tenants.

  Working Visas
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of(a) New Zealand, (b) Australia and (c) Canada were admitted to the United Kingdom on two-year working visas in each year from 1979 to 1990; and how many in each year were extended to three years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 8 April 1991]: Reliable figures of working holidaymaker admissions are available only from I May 1990. The numbers admitted between 1 May and 31 December 1990 are given in the following table. Under the immigration rules, the maximum stay permitted for working holidaymakers is two years.
  537

  Admissions as working holidaymakers for selected nationalities 1 May—31 December 1990

  No. of persons

  Nationality

  Total admitted

  of which: granted leave to enter for two years

  New Zealand

  6,440

  4,930

  Australia

  11,600

  8,690

  Canada

  1,800

  1,130

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Accommodation
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council why and when The Times received exceptional space in the Press Gallery of the House.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The authorities of the House have not been able to find out precisely when a room was allocated to The Times, but records going back as far as 1894 refer to this.

  The hon. Member will be aware that The Times newspaper has a very long traditional connection with the reporting of the House and this may well have led to the allocation by our predecessors of a special room for use by its reporters.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  St. John Ambulance Brigade
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make facilities available to staff' in his Department to contribute to the appeal that has been launched for people with the name of John to help raise £5 million for the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  If the hon. Member sends me details of the appeal, I shall ensure that they are circulated within my office.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  St. John Ambulance Brigade
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make facilities available to staff in his Department to contribute to the appeal that has been launched for people with the name of John to help raise £5 million for the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

  Welsh Office publicity spend

  £'000

  Year

  Radio advertising

  Television advertising

  Press advertising

  Other publicity

  Total

  1979–80

  Nil

  —

  61

  —

  24

  85

  1980–81

  Nil

  —

  62

  —

  22

  84

  1981–82

  Nil

  —

  100

  —

  44

  144

  1982–83

  Nil

  —

  99

  —

  28

  127

  1983–84

  Nil

  —

  108

  —

  34

  142

  1984–85

  Nil

  —

  66

  —

  100

  166

  1985–86

  Nil

  Nil

  —

  31

  92

  123

  1986–87

  Nil

  27

  —

  49

  331

  407

  1987–88

  Nil

  39

  —

  191

  615

  845

  1988–89

  Nil

  64

  —

  112

  1,105

  1,281

  538
  Mr. MacGregor
  If details of the appeal are sent to my office, I will ensure that they are properly circulated.

WALES

  St. John Ambulance Brigade
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what facilities he has made available to staff in his Department to contribute to the appeal that has been launched for people with the name of John to help raise £5 million for the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Staff in my Department can contribute to appeals through the normal range of facilities, including the payroll giving scheme.

  Haemophiliacs
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many haemophiliacs there are in each of the area health authorities in Wales;

  (2) how many haemophiliacs in each of the area health authorities in Wales will receive the most pure form of factor 8; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Information on the number of haemophiliacs in each of the district health authorities in Wales is not held centrally. Central funds have been provided for the purchase of high purity factor VIII to treat patients under the care of the haemophilia reference centre at the university hospital of Wales. Its prescribing is a matter for the clinicians concerned and I am unable to provide information on the number of patients treated.

  Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1990–91 and budgets for 1991–92.

  Mr. David Hunt
  A breakdown of annual expenditure by the Welsh Office on advertising and other publicity from 1979–80 to 1990–91 is set out in the following table.
  539

  Year

  Radio advertising

  Television advertising

  Press advertising

  Other publicity

  Total

  1989–90

  Nil

  57

  —

  354

  1,758

  2,169

  1990–911

  Nil

  17

  —

  251

  1,161

  1,429

  1 Estimated.

  Building Work
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will list the number and location of all new buildings or extensions commissioned by his Department in each of the past five years which(a) had contracts worth between £3 million and £5 million and (b) had contracts worth more than £5 million.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Information on new buildings/extensions commissioned in respect of the national health service in Wales is as follows:

  All over £5 million

  Locations

  Numbers

  1986–87

  Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli

  3

  Llandough Hospital, Obstetric Unit, South Glamorgan

  Royal Gwent Hospital, Scheme 6, Gwent

  1987–88

  Morriston Hospital, Scheme 3, Swansea

  1

  1988–89

  Prince Charles Hospital, Phase 2, Merthyr Tydfil

  2

  Singleton Hospital, West Ward Block, Swansea

  Hospital buildings are vested in the Secretary of State, but operational responsibility for them lies with the district health authority.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent initiatives have been taken by his Department to raise the level of public, industry and commercial awareness of energy efficiency and conservation in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Energy Efficiency Office (Wales) has a continuing programme of visits and events for the promotion of the efficient use of energy for the benefit of industry, commerce, the public sector and domestic consumers.

  This is in line with the strategic framework published by my predecessor, the right hon. Member for Worcester (Mr. Walker), in May 1989, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

  Speed Signs (M4)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales at what time the 30 mph and 60 mph speed limits were switched on on the illuminated maximum speed indicators on the westbound carriageway of the M4 motorway between junction 48 and the Pont Abraham services on the evening of Friday 19 April; at what time they were switched off; and what was the nature of the problem which necessitated the activation of the speed limits.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  South Wales police are responsible for the operation of the matrix signalling system in the area involved.
  540
  Their records show that the system was activated once on Friday 19 April at 21.02 hours due to a vehicle (car) fire on the hard shoulder of the westbound carriageway. The fire service extinguished the fire, and the police switched off the matrix system at 21.33 hours.

  It is police policy in such situations to activate 60 mph signs in advance of the incident and 30 mph signs closer to the scene.

  Chernobyl
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the area in acres and hectares, the number of sheep, and the number of farms currently under restriction, including the county or counties involved, as a result of the radioactive contamination following the Chernobyl accident.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In Wales restrictions affect approximately 207,500 acres (approximately 84,000 hectares); 292,000 sheep (maximum post-lambing figure); and 410 holdings. The restrictions involve parts of the counties of Clwyd, Powys and Gwynedd.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total amount of grants from the Exchequer that have been paid to farmers in Wales to deal with the consequences of the Chernobyl accident.

  Mr. David Hunt
  As at 29 March 1991, compensation payments totalling £5,130,404 had been authorised for sheep producers in Wales affected by the Chernobyl incident.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) Television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 197–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1990–91 and budgets for 1991–92.

  Miss Widdecombe
  For information from 1979–80 to 1989–90, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 12 March 1990 at cols 71–72.

  The total estimated outturn for publicity in 1990–91 is £12·843 million. Of this, £5·025 million has been committed for the purpose of advertising.

  £ million

  Television

  3·38

  Press

  1·517

  Other material

  (This includes information and promotion)

  7·946

  The estimate for the 1991–92 national social security advertising and publicity budget is £12·992 million. Detailed decisions on media have not yet been made.
  541
  The estimate for the 1991–92 publicity budgets for the Benefits Agency is £8·724 million and £1·254 million for the Contributions Agency. Detailed decisions on media have not yet been made.

  Building Work
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will list the number and location of all new buildings or extensions commissioned by his Department in each of the past five years which(a) had contracts worth between £3 million and £5 million and (b) has contracts worth more than £5 million.

  Mr. Jack
  The Property Services Agency of the Department of the Environment has managed and executed new buildings and extensions on behalf of this Department in the period in question.

  This Department commissioned buildings at the following locations within the following project values.

  Year

  £3–£5 million

  Over £5 million

  1986–871

  Nil

  Nil

  1987–881

  Nil

  Nil

  Livingston, North

  Fylde (2 buildings),

  Ashton in

  1988–89

  Washington

  Makerfield

  1989–90

  Nil

  Belfast, London

  North Fylde. Leeds,

  Preston. Newton

  1990–91

  North Fylde

  Abbott

  1Before 1 April 1988 this Department had no responsibility for funding major new buildings on the Government's civil estate. This was the responsibility of the Property Services Agency.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what rules govern eligibility for unemployment benefit for those with part-time employment; and what form of recourse is available to claimants who have been refused unemployment benefit due to part-time employment.

  Caseload (including backdated awards) as at end of month

  Number of family credit awards current at end of month'

  Employees

  Self-employed

  Total

  April 1989

  251,897

  235,820

  43,160

  278,980

  May 1989

  235,751

  255,420

  44,620

  300,040

  June 1989

  263,480

  263,200

  45,520

  308,720

  July 1989

  275,414

  268,140

  45,080

  313,220

  August 1989

  281,734

  269,340

  44,680

  314,020

  September 1989

  288,631

  273,880

  44,960

  318,840

  October 1989

  278,122

  269,840

  44,120

  313,960

  November 1989

  274,194

  260,020

  43,940

  303,960

  December 1989

  263,135

  255,440

  43,140

  298,580

  January 1990

  265,548

  255,300

  44,100

  299,400

  February 1990

  278,392

  261,960

  44,860

  306,820

  March 1990

  281,559

  263,360

  45,920

  309,280

  April 1990

  280,898

  267,240

  46,760

  314,000

  May 1990

  268,933

  267,940

  47,260

  315,200

  June 1990

  275,250

  272,360

  47,480

  319,840

  July 1990

  279,856

  277,620

  48,200

  325,820

  August 1990

  281,414

  —

  —

  2324,000

  September 1990

  282,019

  —

  —

  2326,000

  October 1990

  280,744

  —

  —

  2326,000

  November 1990

  293,343

  —

  —

  2324,000

  December 1990

  284,429

  —

  —

  3—

  542
  Mr. Jack
  A person working part-time must satisfy the contribution conditions for receipt of unemployment benefit and be available for work on the days for which he claims. He must also actively seek work and show that any restrictions he places on his availability do not prevent him from having reasonable prospects of employment. Benefit is not payable for any day on which he earns over £2, or for any week in which he has done his full normal week's work or earned at least £52.

  A person refused unemployment benefit may appeal to the local social security appeal tribunal. He may also be entitled to family credit or income support.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) of 11 March,Official Report, column 415 on the percentage of income support claimants repaying social fund loans, if he will give the figures for the East Midlands region, by local authority.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of income support and the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and copies will be placed in the Library and the public information office.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many family credit awards were current; and what was the caseload including backdated awards at the end of each month since April 1989, for employees and self-employed people, respectively.

  Mr. Jack
  [pursuant to his reply, 11 March 1991, cols. 417–18]: I regret that the figures given for the caseload for the months of August to December 1989 were incorrect. The correct information is as follows:
  543

  Caseload (including backdated awards) as at end of month

  Number of family credit awards current at end of month1

  Employees

  Self-employed

  Total

  January 1991

  281,250

  —

  —

  3—

  February 1991

  288,924

  —

  —

  3—

  1 A breakdown between employees and self-employed is not available.

  2 Provisional totals: no breakdowns between employers and employed at this stage.

  3 Meaningful figures not yet available because of claims not yet decided.

  Local Government Finance
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many poll tax payers will lose their rebate entitlement as a result of the proposed reduction in the poll tax(a) nationally and (b) in Gateshead.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 28 March 1991]: It is estimated that, as a result of the general reduction of community charges by £140, the number of people qualifying for community charge benefit will be about 1·4 million less than if the previous higher charges had remained in place. This estimate takes account of the abolition, from 1 April 1991, of the minimum benefit rule for community charge benefit.

  Information about Gateshead is not available

  Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1986–87–88 Family Expenditure Surveys at 1991–92 prices and benefit levels.

SCOTLAND

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of launching Highlands and Islands Enterprise and its associated local enterprise companies.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have asked the chairman to write direct to the hon. Member.

  Legal System
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when Glasgow sheriff court opens and closes each day.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Glasgow sheriff court opens to the public at 9.15 am on weekdays and closes when all courtroom business has been completed or when the offices close at 3.45 pm, whichever is the later. Court business can also be conducted outwith these times where necessary.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average hours use per day on judicial business of Glasgow sheriff court.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In the quarter ending 31 December 1990, the average court sitting day, excluding lunch breaks, was 3·8 hours. In addition, sheriffs undertook judicial business in chambers.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sheriffs, including sheriff principals there are in each sheriffdom; and how many there were five years ago.
  544
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The complement for each sheriffdom is set out in the table:

  1991

  1986

  Glasgow and Strathkelvin

  24

  24

  Grampian, Highland and Islands

  13

  13

  Lothian and Borders

  16

  15

  North Strathclyde

  15

  13

  South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway

  16

  13

  Tayside, Central and Fife

  15

  14

  Floating Sheriffs

  6

  5

  Total

  105

  97

  Health Service Contracts
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for the Argyll and Clyde health board(a) the services which are subject to compulsory competitive tendering, (b) the contracts which have been awarded to the private sector and (c) the contracts which have been awarded in-house; and what plans he has to extend compulsory competitive tendering in the health service.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:

  a) The services of domestic catering, portering, transport and painting have been subjected to competitive tendering.

  b) Two contracts for portering and one for painter work have been awarded to outside contractors.

  c) 19 contracts have been awarded in-house.

  This has released an extra £2·2 million for the board to spend on patient care.

  Health boards have been encouraged to keep under review the range of services which may be susceptible to competitive tendering.

  Homes for the Elderly
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further resources he has allocated to local authorities in Scotland to help them meet targets for the provision of homes for the elderly in terms of both quantity and quality.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There are no such targets set centrally. The allocation of grant-aided expenditure for social work for 1991–92 provides for an increase of 14 per cent. on that for 1990–91. It is for individual authorities to decide on the allocation of expenditure to particular services in accordance with their own perception of needs and priorities.

  Schools
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each year since 1980 the number of special classes or units in primary schools in each local
  545
  authority region, expressing this as a proportion of all (a) primary schools in the region and (b) secondary schools in each region; and if he will express this as a proportion of all secondary schools in the region.

  Number and percentage of education authority primary schools with special departments by local authority region

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Education authority

  Number of departments

  Percentage

  Number of departments

  Percentage

  Number of departments

  Percentage

  Number of departments

  Percentage

  Borders

  7

  9·1

  7

  9·1

  6

  7·8

  6

  7·8

  Central

  0

  —

  2

  1·7

  2

  1·7

  4

  3·4

  Dumfries and Galloway

  9

  7·8

  12

  10·5

  11

  9·6

  14

  12·3

  Fife

  9

  6·1

  10

  6·8

  10

  6·8

  10

  6·9

  Grampian

  2

  0·7

  2

  0·7

  2

  0·7

  2

  0·7

  Highland

  11

  5·4

  10

  5·0

  11

  5·5

  14

  7·0

  Lothian

  11

  4·5

  12

  4·9

  12

  4·9

  13

  5·3

  Strathclyde

  8

  0·9

  8

  0·9

  10

  1·1

  10

  1·1

  Tayside

  13

  7·0

  15

  8·1

  13

  7·0

  13

  7·0

  Orkney

  0

  —

  0

  —

  1

  5·0

  1

  5·0

  Shetland

  1

  3·7

  1

  3·7

  1

  3·7

  1

  3·7

  Western Isles

  2

  4·9

  2

  5·9

  2

  5·9

  1

  3·0

  Scotland

  73

  3·1

  81

  3·5

  81

  3·5

  89

  3·8

  Number and percentage of education authority secondary schools with special departments by local authority region

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Education authority

  Number of departments

  Percentage

  Number of departments

  Percentage

  Number of departments

  Percentage

  Number of departments

  Percentage

  Borders

  5

  55·6

  5

  55·6

  5

  55·6

  5

  55·6

  Central

  7

  33·3

  7

  36·8

  8

  42·1

  9

  47·4

  Dumfries and Galloway

  6

  37·5

  7

  43·8

  9

  56·3

  7

  43·8

  Fife

  9

  47·4

  9

  47·4

  9

  47·4

  9

  47·4

  Grampian

  5

  12·5

  4

  10·3

  4

  10·3

  5

  12·8

  Highland

  10

  37·0

  10

  37·0

  10

  37·0

  11

  40·7

  Lothian

  10

  19·6

  10

  19·6

  10

  19·6

  8

  15·7

  Strathclyde

  6

  3·1

  6

  3·1

  8

  4·3

  8

  4·4

  Tayside

  6

  18·8

  6

  18·8

  7

  21·9

  6

  18·8

  Orkney

  0

  —

  0

  —

  0

  —

  0

  —

  Shetland

  0

  —

  0

  —

  0

  —

  0

  —

  Western Isles

  1

  6·3

  1

  6·3

  1

  6·3

  1

  6·3

  Scotland

  65

  14·8

  65

  15·0

  71

  16·6

  69

  16·3

  Courts (Closed Circuit Television)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has concerning the provision of closed circuit television links in court proceedings involving child witnesses in cases dealing with physical and or sexual abuse subsequent to the introduction of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I indicated last year in our debates on what are now sections 56 to 59 of the 1990 Act that we would be consulting the judiciary about the arrangements for implementation of these provisions. Equipment demonstrations have been mounted and consultations have taken place. An announcement will be made when we have completed our examination of the results.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria he will use to judge whether to approve or otherwise any application for setting up an NHS trust.
  546
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is readily available only from 1987.

  The numbers and proportions of education authority primary and secondary schools with an attached special department, including classes or units, at September in each year are shown in the table:

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The criteria for NHS trust applications are published in "NHS Trusts: A Working Guide".

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland under what authority the chief executive of the national health service in Scotland has appointed Douglas Brown and Donald MacNeill as chairman designate and chief executive designate, respectively, of the Ayrshire national health service trust; on whose authority Donald MacNeill is organising the national health service trust application from property belonging to the Ayrshire and Arran health board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No appointments have been made by the chief executive of the national health service in Scotland: that of chairman-designate was announced by the Secretary of State. Procedures for applications are laid down in chapter 5 of "NHS Trusts: A Working Guide", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he has made to ensure that members or
  547
  officers of health boards charged with the responsibility of carrying out the consultation on NHS trusts are not themselves involved in any way in the trust application.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In all cases where trust proposals are being pursued, a team drawn from the unit concerned has been established under the control of a project manager.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information is included in the application for national health service trust status for the new Ayr hospital about the prospective directors of the trust.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The application describes the proposed management framework. This will be examined as part of the assessment of the trust proposal.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guarantees he has given to those appointed as officers designate of NHS trusts that they will be appointed to the equivalent substantive positions on the trusts, if eventually approved.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None. The appointment of executive members of a trust is a matter for the chairman and non-executive members.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the details of the standard contract between health boards in Scotland and proposed national health service trusts.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 22 April 1991]: There is no standard contract. NHS contracts between health boards and NHS trusts will be a matter for the parties concerned having regard to any general guidance which may be issued from time to time by the Scottish Office Home and Health Department.

  Chernobyl
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the area in acres and hectares, the number of sheep, and the number of farms currently under restriction, including the county or counties involved, as a result of the radioactive contamination following the Chernobyl accident.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Following the removal from 14 January 1991 of restrictions on a number of farms in Scotland, 148,647 acres (60,181 hectares), 116,000 sheep, post-lambing figure, and 63 farms in parts of Central region, Stirling district; Dumfries and Galloway region, Stewartry, Wigtown and Nithsdale disricts; Strathclyde region, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Kyle and Carrick, Cunninghame, Kilmarnock and Loudoun, East Kilbride and Eastwood districts are currently subject to restriction under the Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Radioactivity in Sheep) Order 1991.

  Inverclyde Initiative
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the central Government financial assistance to the Inverclyde initiative, since its creation detailing precise allocations to specific activities.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 26 March 1991]: Central Government financial assistance to the Inverclyde Initiative for the years in question was as follows:
  548

  Scottish Development Agency Project and programme expenditure (the precise breakdown requested is not available)

  £

  1985–86

  3,387,000

  1986–87

  2,676,000

  1987–88

  2,792,000

  1988–89

  4,762,000

  1989–90

  7,784,000

  Urban programme—Inverclyde community initiatives fund

  £

  1987–88

  7,687

  1988–89

  8,404

  1989–90

  17,328

  Cancer
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will list for each year from 1986 onwards the number of reported cases of cancer-related diseases in(a) Scotland, (b) Forth Valley district 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
  [holding answer 19 April 1991]: The number of cancer-related1 diseases from 1986 onwards for (a) Scotland, (b) Forth Valley health board area, (c) Falkirk local government district, (d) the postal district FK4, (e) the postal district FK5 and (f) the postal district FK6 are shown in the table:

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Scotland

  24,995

  25,439

  25,901

  25,860

  Forth Valley health board

  1,268

  1,283

  1,303

  1,233

  Falkirk local government district

  655

  631

  668

  689

  Postal district FK4

  40

  64

  32

  60

  Postal district FK5

  70

  56

  82

  79

  Postal district FK6

  43

  43

  55

  45

  Final figures for 1990 are not yet available.

  1 All Malignant Neoplasms; International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision.

  Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish or place in the Library the minutes of discussion and decision of Grampian health board of 7 March with regard to the item dealing with NHS trust status of Aberdeen royal infirmary, Foresterhill site.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 22 April 1991]: Board minutes are a matter for the board concerned, in this particular case the discussion referred to took place in closed session, but I understand that Grampian health board has made clear to the hon. Member its willingness to make the minutes available.

  Forestry Commission
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the names of each individual on each regional advisory committee of the Forestry Commission and indicate whether they represent forestry, trade union or environmental interests.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 22 April 1991]: The Forestry Act 1967 stipulates that not fewer than four members of each regional advisory committee will be appointed by the Forestry Commissioners after consultation with organisations appearing to them to represent the interests of owners of woodlands and timber merchants respectively and organisations concerned with the study and promotion of forestry. In 1974, Forestry Ministers instructed the commissioners to appoint to each RAC representatives of agricultural, planning and environmental interests; it was also decided that the remaining place should continue to be allocated to a trade union representative.

  The names of the members of each RAC, and the backgrounds from which they have been drawn, are given in the table. RAC chairmen are, as far as possible, appointed from independent backgrounds.

  North of England RAC

  Professor G. R. Dickson—Chairman

  R. N. Cartwright—Forestry (Forestry Profession)

  J. Derham—Trade Union

  T. R. Fetherstonhaugh—Forestry (Timber Growers)

  N. C. Forbes Adam—Forestry (Timber Growers)

  Lady E. Kirk-Environment

  A. A. Macdonald—Planning

  R. J. Steel Addison—Agriculture

  J. T. Todd—Forestry (Timber Merchants)

  East England RAC

  W. E. Lane—Chairman

  N. A. Braden—Forestry (Timber Merchants)

  D. M. Clark—Planning

  M. Craske—Trade Union

  T. Cook—Forestry (Timber Growers)

  N. G. Halsey—Forestry (Timber Growers)

  A. R. Pelly—Forestry (Timber Growers)

  C. Stratton—Environment

  L. Woodham—Agriculture

  West England RAC

  Mrs. R. Thomas—Chairman

  N. D. Anderson—Forestry (Timber Growers)

  Lord Courteney—Agriculture

  C. A. Eade—Forestry (Timber Growers)

  A. Fooks—Trade Union

  R. Jarman—Environment

  J. T. Perry—Planning

  G. E. Smith—Forestry (Timber Merchants)

  J. H. B. Workman—Forestry (Forestry Profession)

  North Scotland RAC

  F. Critchley—Chairman

  B. E. Crabtree—Trade Union

  A. D. M. Farquharson—Forestry (Timber Growers)

  Professor C. Gimingham—Environment

  Councillor F. R. M. Keith—Planning

  A. N. G. Laing—Forestry (Timber Growers)

  M. J. Leslie-Forestry (Timber Merchants)

  Professor H. G. Miller—Forestry (Forestry Profession)

  M. Pottinger—Agriculture

  Mid Scotland RAC

  Dr. Jean Balfour—Chairman

  A. W. Barbour—Forestry (Timber Growers)

  P. Fairweather—Forestry (Forestry Profession)

  J. A. Fell—Forestry (Timber Growers)

  Councillor G. McGrath—Planning

  J. McNaughton—Agriculture

  550

  Morton—Trade Union

  P. S. Murray—Forestry (Timber Merchants)

  P. Wormell—Environment

  South Scotland RAC

  H. A. Waterson—Chairman

  D. B. Crawford—Forestry (Forestry Profession)

  J. F. S. Gourlay—Agriculture

  D. J. Liddell-Grainger—Forestry (Timber Growers)

  D. Minns—Environment

  Captain J. W. N. Mitchell—Forestry (Timber Growers)

  T. Smith—Forestry (Timber Merchants)

  Councillor A. L. Tulley—Planning

  H. Wilson—Trade Union

  Wales RAC

  M. A. McLaggan—Chairman

  Mrs. S. A. G. Ballance—Forestry (Timber Growers)

  J. Donovan—Environment

  Dr. G. K. Elliot—Forestry (Forestry Profession)

  J. R. Lloyd Jones—Agriculture

  M. J. Morgan—Planning

  K. Neale—Trade Union

  Colonel P. C. Ormrod—Forestry (Timber Growers)

  M. Oxnard—Forestry (Timber Merchants)

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the biographical details of the Forestry Commissioners indicating whether they have experience in(a) forestry, (b) environment and conservation, (c) employment and (d) other.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 22 April 1991]: The information is as follows:

  CHAIRMAN
  J. Raymond Johnstone—Chairman of the Forestry Commission since 1989. Chairman of Murray Johnstone Ltd. Chairman Scottish Financial Enterprise. Honorary president Scottish Opera. Past member Scottish Advisory Committee of the Nature Conservancy Council.

  DEPUTY CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTOR GENERAL
  R. Cutler—Full-time appointment since 1990 at grade 2 level. Professional forestry qualifications and considerable experience in multi-purpose forest management. Formerly member of the Colonial Forest Service in Kenya, latterly chief executive, New Zealand Ministry of Forestry.

  OTHER COMMISSIONERS: FULL-TIME
  R. T. Bradley—Commissioner Private Forestry and Development at grade 3 level. Professional forestry qualifications and wide experience in multi-purpose forest management. Held various posts in the Forestry Commission since 1960, becoming a Commissioner in 1985.
  D. L. Foot—Commissioner Operations at grade 3 level. Professional forestry qualifications and wide experience in multi-purpose forest management. Held various posts in the Forestry Commission since 1961, becoming a commissioner in 1986.
  D. S. Grundy—Commissioner Administration and Finance at grade 3 level. Economist. Joined the Forestry Commission in 1982, after periods with the Ministry of Fuel and Power, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of the Environment and the Civil Service College. Appointed commissioner in 1990.

  OTHER COMMISSIONERS: PART-TIME
  J. D. Pollock-Appointed 1978. Former General Secretary of the Educational Institute for Scotland. Past member of the Manpower Services Committee Scotland and the Broadcasting Council for Scotland. Former chairman of the Scottish Trades Union Congress. Member of the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
  D. Coutts—Appointed 1984. Chartered accountant with local government experience. Norfolk county councillor since 1970 (leader 1973–79). Member of Local Government

  551
  Audit Commission 1983–90.
  C. R. Woosnam—Appointed 1986. Woodland owner and farmer. Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors with wide experience of management of agricultural and forestry properties in Wales and the Border counties. Member Timber Growers UK (deputy chairman (1983–86).
  F. M. Strang Steel—Appointed 1988. Woodland owner and farmer. Has managed a mixed forestry/farming estate near Selkirk for 10 years. Chairman of south-east region of Scottish Landowners Federation. Member Timber Growers UK. A keen conservationist and member of Borders Farming and Forestry Wildlife Advisory Group.
  R. P. Hancock—Appointed 1988. International insurance consultant. Member of Lloyd's, freeman of the City of London. Presently has farming and forestry interests in Surrey and the Scottish Borders. Particular interest in wildlife conservation and deer husbandry. Council member of the Surrey County Agricultural Society.
  T. S. Mallinson—Appointed 1989. President Timber Trade Federation. President UK Institute of Carpenters. Former Chairman Timber Research and Development Association and former president Institute of Wood Science. Chairman Epping Forest Centenary Trust.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the biographical details of the conservators of the Foresty Commission, indicating whether they have experience in(a) forestry, (b) environment and conservation, (c) employment or (d) other.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 22 April 1991]: The Forestry Commission's conservators are:

  North England—S. A. Neustein

  East England—N. Dannatt

  West England—R. J. N. Busby

  Wales—J. F. Morgan

  North Scotland—J. Atterson

  Mid Scotland—G. J. Hamilton

  South Scotland—G. M. Cowie

  They are Forestry Commission officials who have been appointed to their posts through the normal departmental procedures. It would not be appropriate to give biographical details.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Whales
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to press for a permanent ban on any killing of whales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have taken a strong stand, both as Minister of State and as Minister, on the importance of conserving whale stocks and I have repeatedly stated my determination that no whale stock should again be over-exploited by man. Unless and until certain conditions are met I would not even contemplate agreeing to the lifting of the moratorium imposed by the International Whaling Commission on commercial whaling.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to make any representations to the Japanese authorities about their continued slaughter of whales.

  Mr. Curry
  The Japanese Government are well aware of our views on scientific whaling. Last year the United 552
  Kingdom co-sponsored a resolution agreed by the International Whaling Commission calling on Japan to reconsider her intention of conducting scientific research whaling in the Antarctic ocean. Japan agreed to modify her programme in the light of comments by the IWC's scientific committee. We shall raise the issue again at the forthcoming meeting of the IWC.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under what circumstances he would support a limited resumption of commercial whaling.

  Mr. Curry
  We are not prepared even to contemplate agreeing to the lifting of the moratorium placed by the International Whaling Commission on commercial whaling unless and until it is clear that whale stocks are at healthy levels, a satisfactory management procedure is in place and the methods of killing whales are as humane as possible. These conditions have not yet been met.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will pursue a common and permanent ban on the killing of whales for commercial, research or other purposes within the EC's common fisheries policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The European Community does not have competence for whaling matters and could not therefore take action within the common fisheries policy. There are no moves, however, by any member state to begin whaling in Community waters and trade in cetacean products is prohibited.

  The United Kingdom has been and will remain in the forefront in the International Whaling Commission in working to ensure that the objective of conserving whales is fully observed.

  Scottish Seed Potatoes
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to whom his Department communicates the relevant information where his plant health department confirms that a batch of Scottish seed potatoes has high levels of virus infection.

  Mr. Curry
  If virus levels in excess of those prescribed in the Seed Potatoes Regulations 1984 are found in Scottish seed potatoes dispatched to England and Wales, this is reported immediately to the Scottish Office.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulations govern the disposal or destruction of a consignment of Scottish seed potatoes which are confirmed to have high levels of infection or virus.

  Mr. Curry
  Regulation 18 of the Seed Potatoes Regulations 1984 provides authorised officers with powers to serve notices requiring action to be taken in respect of seed potatoes which, on an official examination, do not meet various requirements in the regulations. The course to be taken will depend on the circumstances of the case. Notices are unlikely to be served if all the tubers have been removed from their sealed containers, thereby preventing their resale as seed, and if the virus concerned is not one which is subject to statutory action under the Plant Health (Great Britain) Order 1987.

  Agricultural Spending
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many letters he has received on the subject of the decision by the United Kingdom on 8 April to oppose the measures presented by the Commission to increase the legal limits of agricultural spending; and what is the nature of these representations;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the measures proposed on 8 April by the European Commission on the limits of agricultural spending; and what steps the Council now proposes to take on these proposals.

  Mr. Curry
  The Commission's 1991–92 price proposals, published on 13 March, are designed to contain agricultural expenditure within the legally binding limit—the guideline. At the ECOFIN Council on 8 April the United Kingdom confirmed its support for a settlement compatible with the guideline.

  Farm Subsidies
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the average subsidy paid in the last financial year, on a per acre basis to farms smaller than 163 acres;

  (2) what was the average subsidy paid in the last financial year, on a per acre basis, to farms larger than 163 acres;

  (3) what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which farm size is an accurate basis for the allocation of financial subsidies;

  (4) what was the average subsidy paid on a per acre basis to farms of 33 acres or less in the last financial year.

  Mr. Curry
  Support for farmers under the CAP is provided primarily through market prices; in some sectors direct subsidies to farmers also play a role. The level of support received by individual farmers will depend on factors such as the combination of enterprises on a particular holding and the level of output, and any estimate of average levels of support per acre would be of little relevance. For these reasons farm size on its own would not provide a satisfactory basis for determining levels of support.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment his Department has made of the effects that the proposed alterations to the CAP would have on the British farming industry;

  (2) what is his estimate of the average subsidy which will be paid on a per acre basis to farms of (a) 33 acres or less, (b) less than 163 acres and (c) more than 163 acres over the current financial year and in that beginning in April 1992 if the current proposals for the reform of the CAP go ahead unchanged.

  Mr. Curry
  The European Commission has yet to produce detailed proposals for the reform of the CAP. If the Commission was to pursue the principles for reform set out in its February discussion paper, United Kingdom producers would be severely disadvantaged.

  Green Premiums
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the extent to which the proposed levels of green premiums payable to farmers will be sufficient to compensate farmers for the loss of income brought about by(a) the use of less intensive farming techniques and (b) the reduction in subsidies from the CAP.

  Mr. Curry
  There are no proposals yet from the European Commission for green premiums.

  Livestock Rendering
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many companies in the livestock rendering industry have gone out of business in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not available centrally. However, since 1 April 1990 10 renderers in Great Britain have asked to have their names removed from the register of protein processors under the Processed Animal Protein Order 1989.

  Green Currency
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to seek the abolition of the green currency system.

  Mr. Curry
  It is Government policy to seek the removal of the monetary gaps created by the green currency system by the end of 1992 at the latest.

  Blue Ear Disease
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that blue ear disease in pigs is kept out of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  Under European Community rules, member states are not permitted to send breeding or production pigs to other member states from holdings or, where appropriate, municipalities where the new blue ear pig disease exists.

  The disease has been confirmed in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. Because we have no foot and mouth disease quarantine premises approved for the handling of pigs, we do not, in any case, import live pigs from these countries. There is no evidence that pigmeat contributes to the transmission of this disease, but we shall continue to keep a close watch on developments and we shall press for additional controls if these appear justified on the basis of scientific evidence.

  Farm Diversification
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to seek through the policies of the EC to encourage diversification within the rural economy.

  Mr. Curry
  This has been our policy for several years and we have already secured the adoption of Council regulation 3808/89, which extends the scope of the Community provisions for capital grants for farmers to include grants for diversification.

  Production Methods
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to seek to amend the common agricultural policy to improve and widen incentives to production methods which enhance environmental protection and countryside management.

  Mr. Curry
  Our aim is to secure greater integration of environmental and agricultural policies so as to encourage farming methods which protect the environment and enhance the natural beauty of the countryside.

  Farms (Environmental Benefits)
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to seek amendment to the common agricultural policy to make environmental benefits available to farmers and landowners irrespective of the size of their property.

  Mr. Curry
  Our policy is to ensure that schemes offering incentives to farmers and landowners to adopt environmentally friendly farming systems continue to apply irrespective of farm size.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to support the European Commission's proposal for a more effective and attractive set-aside scheme.

  Mr. Curry
  We favour making the set-aside scheme more effective and attractive. In particular we need to ensure more even uptake throughout the Community and to make set-aside more environmentally friendly. The Commission's proposal for a one-year set-aside scheme linked to refund of cereals co-responsibility levy does not meet these objectives; therefore we do not support it.

  Farming Techniques
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies his Department has made or intends to make of incentives to encourage farmers to move towards less-intensive farming techniques.

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  TV

  Radio

  Press advertising

  Other publicity material

  £

  £

  1982–83

  nil

  nil

  3,000

  n/a

  1983–84

  nil

  nil

  27,000

  n/a

  1984–85

  nil

  niil

  26,000

  575,000

  1985–86

  nil

  nil

  29,000

  656,000

  1986–87

  nil

  nil

  54,000

  825,000

  1987–88

  nil

  nil

  12,000

  693,000

  1988–89

  nil

  nil

  380,000

  1,004,000

  1989–90

  nil

  nil

  116,000

  2,373,000

  1990–91

  nil

  nil

  53,000

  2,379,000

  Figures for publicity advertising prior to 1982–83 are not available as the information for those years includes recruitment and other types of advertising. Information is not readily available to distinguish between expenditure on advertising in newspapers and that in the press generally. Separate figures for expenditure on other publicity material prior to 1984–85 are available only at disproportionate cost.
  556
  Mr. Curry
  Socio-economic and environmental evaluation studies are being carried out in respect of the environmentally sensitive areas, nitrate sensitive areas and pilot beef and sheep extensification schemes.

  Building Work
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will list the number and location of all new buildings or extentions commissioned by his Department in each of the past five years which(a) had contracts worth between £3 million and £5 million and (b) had contracts worth more than £5 million.

  Mr. Curry
  The Ministry took on responsibility for vote accounting and project sponsorship for major new building projects three years ago. Before this the Department of the Environment, Property Services Agency held this responsibility and I have details therefore only of commissions placed after the date of the change.

  New buildings commissioned by this Department over these last three financial years in the categories requested are:

  (i) value between £3 million and £5 million 1989–90. One at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.

  value over £5 million 1988–89. One near Sand Hutton, Yorkshire. One at Weymouth, Dorset.

  There were no extensions.

  Advertising
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979–80 and in each following year; and what are his latest estimates for 1990–91 and budgets for 1991–92.

  Mr. Curry
  Expenditure by the Department in the financial year 1982–83 and each subsequent year was as follows:

  The overall publicity budget for 1991–92 is estimated to be £4·4 million.

  Fish Imports
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the level of imports of Icelandic fish, both as a total figure and as a percentage of all imports of fish.

  Mr. Curry
  In 1990, the latest year for which we have complete figures, United Kingdom imports of fresh, chilled and frozen fish from Iceland totalled 109,198 tonnes. This is 36 per cent. of the total United Kingdom imports for 1990, or 302,313 tonnes.

  Chernobyl
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about his reasons for refusing to grant permission for the publication in the New Scientist of a scientific paper by scientists from his Ministry about the behaviour of radioactive caesium in the soil following the contamination of British soil arising from the Chernobyl accident.

  Mr. Gummer
  My Department took the initiative for and prepared this article. A text for publication was submitted to the New Scientist on 4 April, and I hope that it will publish it in a future edition. The hon. Member's information is therefore not correct.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the area in acres and hectares, the number of sheep, and the number of farms currently under restriction, including the county or counties involved, as a result of the radioactive contamination following the Chernobyl accident.

  Mr. Gummer
  Following the release of some areas from restriction this January, the information for England is as follows:county: Cumbria
  area: approximately 104,000 acres (42,000 hectares)
  holdings: 144
  sheep: 130,000 (estimated post-lambing figure).

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all actions taken by his Department since the Chernobyl accident to mitigate the effects upon United Kingdom farmers of the radioactive fallout from the Soviet accident.

  Mr. Maclean
  Full details of the Department's actions were submitted to the Agriculture Select Committee in May 1988. The development of live-monitoring techniques and the introduction of "mark and release" arrangements were designed to minimise disruption of normal husbandry practices of those farmers whose sheep have been caught by post-Chernobyl movement and slaughter restrictions and the Government have so far paid over £8558
  million in compensation to the farmers concerned. In addition, we have funded an extensive scientific research programme aimed at obtaining a better understanding of the behaviour of radiocaesium in the affected upland ecologies and at identifying any options for remedial treatment of either the land or the sheep which graze it. However, our first priority has been to ensure that consumers remain fully protected at all times and, by successfully maintaining public confidence in the quality and safety of British produce, the Government have helped to sustain healthy markets for British farmers both at home and overseas.

  Clenbuterol
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any evidence of the use of clenbuterol in cattle; what precautions have been taken to detect the importation of clenbuterol from Community countries; what new controls have been introduced this year to control the importation from the Republic of Ireland of beef strengthened by clenbuterol; and if he will make a statement on the existence and use of clenbuterol in the beef industry.

  Mr. Maclean
  Clenbuterol is the active ingredient in three veterinary medicinal products licensed under the Medicines Act for use, only on prescription, to treat respiratory disease in calves and horses and as an aid to cattle at the time of calving. At present, there is no evidence of any existence or use of illegal clenbuterol in the beef industry in Great Britain.

  Last year, around 300 liver samples were taken from slaughterhouses in Great Britain and tested for clenbuterol. No positives were detected. Surveillance in 1991 is being stepped up, both in terms of the number of animals tested, and the age range of cattle covered. Within the Ministry's imported meat monitoring programme, which includes checks on meat from EC countries such as the Republic of Ireland, 114 liver samples have been tested and no positives found.

  Carcases (St. Tudwals)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the results of his Department's investigations into the carcases of red deer and sheep on the island of St. Tudwals, near Abersoch, Gwynedd.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have been asked to reply.

  Samples were submitted for examination to the veterinary investigation centre at Bangor by a private veterinary surgeon. This was an ordinary commercial transaction and as with all such work the results are confidential.

  IRAQI KURDS: INTERNAL DEPORTATIONS
  IRAQI KURDS: INTERNAL DEPORTATIONS
  PALESTINIANS IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES: UN REPORT
  PALESTINIANS IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES: UN REPORT
  PALESTINIANS IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES: DEPORTATIONS
  PALESTINIANS IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES: DEPORTATIONS
  JORDAN: ARMED INCURSIONS INTO ISRAEL
  JORDAN: ARMED INCURSIONS INTO ISRAEL
  IRAQI KURDS AND SHIAS: PROTECTION
  IRAQI KURDS AND SHIAS: PROTECTION
  WAR CRIMES: EXTRADITION FROM BRITISH TERRITORY
  WAR CRIMES: EXTRADITION FROM BRITISH TERRITORY
  KOLA PENINSULA: SOVIET MILITARY INSTALLATIONS
  KOLA PENINSULA: SOVIET MILITARY INSTALLATIONS
  COMPETITIVE TENDERING: RESEARCH REPORT
  COMPETITIVE TENDERING: RESEARCH REPORT