Written Answers of 17 December 1991

TRANSPORT

  Cornelis Johanna BM 204
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to pay compensation to the owners of Cornelis Johanna BM 204 for the defective test carried out by his Department in 1977; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Matters relating to the surveys of this vessel under the Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) Rules 1975, including the test carried out in 1977, have been referred to the Treasury solicitor for advice.

  Metropolitan Passenger Transport Authorities
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has met representatives of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities to discuss the case for restoring the precepting status of the six metropolitan passenger transport authorities.

  Mr. Freeman
  I met a delegation from the Association of Metropolitan Authorities on 1 July to discuss this.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will restore the precepting powers to the six metropolitan passenger transport authorities.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am considering the representations which I have received on this subject.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from(a)

  Number of trains delayed over 30 minutes

  Number of trains cancelled

  (percentage)

  (percentage)

  1990–91

  1990–91 (to 31 October 1991)

  1990–91

  1991–92 (to 31 October 1991)

  Region

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  per cent.

  WCML

  4,947

  (7·7)

  2,776

  (7·9)

  2,513

  (3·9)

  523

  (1·5)

  MML

  619

  (2·8)

  259

  (2·1)

  878

  (3·9)

  153

  (1·2)

  CROSS COUNTRY

  3,118

  (8·1)

  1,341

  (6·4)

  711

  (1·8)

  364

  (1·7)

  GWML

  1,316

  (2·8)

  578

  (2·2)

  1,081

  (2·3)

  535

  (2·0)

  GATWICK EXPRESS

  301

  (0·7)

  149

  (0·6)

  1,438

  (3·3)

  1,592

  (6·5)

  ECML

  3,268

  (9·2)

  1,384

  (6·6)

  904

  (2·5)

  424

  (2·0)

  ANGLIA

  960

  (5·9)

  310

  (3·6)

  616

  (3·8)

  119

  (1·4)

  The Department does not hold data on the date and cause of delays and cancellations. These are management matters for British Rail.
  94
  the six metropolitan passenger transport authorities and (b) others about their change in status from precepting to levying authorities.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have received a number of representations from the metropolitan county passenger transport authorities, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and Members with constituency interests in PTA areas.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has made any assessment of the likely effect of seismic disturbance on the operation of the channel tunnel; and what discussions have taken place with the channel tunnel safety authority on this subject.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that Eurotunnel is currently carrying out a programme of studies, which has been agreed by a group of seismic experts appointed by the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority and Eurotunnel, to satisfy the safety authority that the Eurotunnel design criterion for the tunnel affords an appropriate level of assurance against seismic risk. The studies are examining whether passengers can be evacuated safely and within a reasonable period in the event of an earthquake equivalent to the most serious ever known in the area. These studies should be complete by February 1992.

  InterCity (Faults)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give for InterCity(a) the number of faults which resulted in delays of 30 minutes or more and (b) the number of cancellations in each of the last two years, broken down by service area, date and cause where available.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that there have been the following delays and cancellations on InterCity services:

THE ARTS

  Exhibition, Upper Waiting Hall
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to an exhibition by the Yorkshire mining museum, entitled "Out of the Pits", to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.
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  Mr. Renton
  Yes. I am glad to sponsor the "Out of the Pits" exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Civil Service College
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what surveys have been made of the cost effectiveness of the Civil Service college.

  Mr. Renton
  This is an operational matter for the Civil Service college, and I have asked the chief executive to reply directly to the hon. Member.

  Disabled Staff
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list, in percentage terms, the number of disabled people employed in each Department of State.

  Mr. Renton
  Information is collected centrally only on the employment in the civil service of people registered as disabled. There are more who have chosen not to register.

  The percentage of people registered as disabled employed in each Department of State at 1 June 1990, the latest date for which complete figures are available, was:

  Per cent.

  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  1·4

  Cabinet Office

  1·0

  Crown Estate Office

  4·4

  Crown Prosecution Service

  0·6

  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise

  1·3

  Defence

  0·9

  Education and Science

  2·6

  Employment Group

  3·2

  Energy

  1·1

  Environment

  0·9

  Export Credit Guarantee Department

  1·5

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  0·3

  Health

  0·6

  Home Office

  0·3

  Inland Revenue

  1·6

  Land Registry

  4·2

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  1·43

  National Investment Loans Office

  4·7

  National Savings

  2·8

  Office of Population Census Surveys

  2·1

  Ordnance Survey

  0·8

  Overseas Development Administration

  1·4

  Paymaster General's Office

  3·9

  Property Service Agency

  1·2

  Scottish Office

  1·2

  Scottish Prison Service

  0·1

  Social Security

  1·7

  Her Majesty's Stationery Office

  1·7

  Her Majesty's Treasury

  1·0

  Trade and Industry

  1·2

  Transport

  1·2

  Welsh Office

  1·4

  There are also over 400 people working in Departments and agencies under the Department of Employment's sheltered placement scheme.

ENERGY

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what trials, experiments or other modes of operation which would deviate from normal operational 96
  practice are included in the proposal by Nuclear Electric to restart one of the reactors at Trawsfynydd power station for a period of six months; and what revision to the temperature of operation of each of the reactor core, fuel, coolant gas and reactor presure vessel shell is included in the proposed operations;

  (2) if he will make a statement about his current assessment of the frequency probability of failure incidents in the reactor pressure vessels deployed at each of the Magnox nuclear power stations;

  (3) what effect delays in the reactor pressure vessel surveying programme at Trawsfynydd and other Magnox nuclear power stations have had on the timing of Nuclear Electric's preparation and submission of a revised safety case to the nuclear installations inspectorate;

  (4) on what date Nuclear Electric submitted a revised nuclear safety case for the continued operation of each of the Magnox power stations to the nuclear installations inspectorate; and what materials data, determined from the recent inspections of the reactor pressure vessel at Trawsfynydd and other Magnox nuclear power stations, are included in the revised safety case;

  (5) if he will make a statement on the progress of the reactor pressure vessel inspection and surveying programmes currently under way at Trawsfynydd nuclear power station; and if physical obstacles encountered during these inspections have now been overcome.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The details of any operational changes proposed in the revised safety case for a return to power at Trawsfynydd are a matter for Nuclear Electric plc. The assessment of the safety case is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate. The NII will not consent to the restart of the station until it is convinced that it is safe to do so.

  In the light of developments at Trawsfynydd, NE has reviewed the position at its four other Magnox stations with steel pressure vessels, and following certain operational changes the NII has agreed to their continued operation up to the end of 1991. Full safety cases to enable the stations to operate beyond the end of the year were submitted to the NII on II September and are currently under consideration. I understand that the NII propose's to make an announcement by the end of this month.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will make a statement on details of the temperature excursion that occurred in reactor I at Bradwell nuclear power station on 17 June 1991; what caused the increase in temperature; and whether he has been informed of any disciplinary action by Nuclear Electric as a result of this incident;

  (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the full report of the Nuclear Electric board of inquiry into the temperature excursion incident at Bradwell nuclear power station on 17 June 1991, and the report of the nuclear installations inspectorate; and if he will also place in the Library details of any equipment modifications and revisions to management procedures that have been implemented as a result of the incident.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I understand from the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate that, during the return to service of Bradwell's reactor 1 on 17 June 1991, it was observed that the gas temperature limit in a small area of the reactor core was exceeded by 30 deg C. The temperature deviation was readily brought
  97
  back within limits by control rod insertion. This incident has been classified at level 2 on the international nuclear event scale—that is, a technical incident or anomaly not directly affecting plant safety.

  I am advised by Nuclear Electric plc that incident inquiries are undertaken on a confidential basis in order to encourage the maximum disclosure of information. The details of such investigations are not, therefore, published. The conclusions and actions arising are, however, provided to the regulatory authorities.

  Coal Imports
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list, by year for the last four years and for the current year to date, the tonnages of coal imported into the United Kingdom, showing in his answer(a) the port the coal was unloaded at and (b) the country of origin of the coal.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Breakdowns of coal imports by port of entry, and by country of origin, for the periods requested, are as follows:

  Thousand tonnes

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  19913

  Port of entry

  Immingham

  669

  999

  1,268

  2,182

  2,482

  London (including Tilbury)

  538

  743

  782

  2,104

  2,395

  Middlesbrough

  2,501

  2,570

  2,812

  2,385

  2,328

  Port Talbot

  1,958

  1,997

  2,610

  2,885

  2,259

  Medway

  556

  565

  652

  855

  1,930

  Greenock

  1,216

  1,164

  1,162

  1,027

  1,081

  Liverpool

  65

  31

  286

  948

  1,080

  Cardiff

  222

  294

  229

  410

  435

  Swansea

  —

  92

  134

  162

  377

  Hull

  19

  1

  44

  152

  364

  Belfast

  172

  192

  182

  332

  326

  Others

  1,865

  3,036

  1,975

  1,340

  1,284

  Total

  9,781

  11,685

  12,137

  14,783

  16,341

  Country of origin

  United States of America1

  2,890

  4,073

  4,874

  6,176

  6,817

  Australia1

  3,459

  3,416

  2,676

  3,044

  3,924

  Colombia1

  319

  574

  874

  1,506

  2,059

  USSR

  89

  375

  181

  592

  730

  Canada

  362

  553

  729

  986

  592

  South Africa

  188

  276

  346

  356

  526

  Poland

  1,083

  1,270

  1,055

  1,043

  431

  China

  146

  319

  450

  69

  289

  Belgium

  192

  122

  78

  60

  219

  Germany2

  261

  191

  288

  250

  188

  Venezuela

  —

  92

  86

  169

  159

  Others1

  790

  424

  501

  532

  407

  Total

  9,781

  11,685

  12,137

  14,783

  16,341

  1 Some imports previously recorded by Customs and Excise as originating in the Netherlands have been re-allocated to the other countries indicated or, where revised country of origin data is not available, included in the residual entry, "Others". This re-allocution has been carried out for 1991 and estimates of such imports previously classified to the Netherlands have been included for 1990. Figures for earlier years have not been re-allocated to individual countries.

  2 Includes imports previously recorded separately for the German Democratic Republic.

  3 January to October.

  Source: HM Customs and Excise.

  Non-fossil Fuel Levy
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what sum was received by Nuclear Electric from the non-fossil fuel levy and from the electricity supply industry in the first six months of 1991–92 and in the year 1990–91;

  (2) what proportion of (a)the income received by Nuclear Electric and (b)the cost of providing electricity by Nuclear Electric in 1990–91 was provided from the non-fossil fuel levy;

  (3) what was the total value of the non-fossil fuel levy in the first six months of 1991–92 and in the full year 1990–91.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Office of Electricity Regulation estimates that total receipts for the fossil fuel levy in 1990–91 were £1,175 million. OFFER's estimate of receipts for 1991–92 will be published in due course. Levy receipts are shared between the companies which have contracts under the qualifying arrangements for the various non-fossil fuel obligation orders, in accordance with the terms of those contracts. The details of those contracts, and hence the share of the levy due to individual companies, are commercially confidential.

  Offshore Oil Wells
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the number of(a) United Kingdom offshore oil wells currently in production and (b) the number which were in production 10 years ago.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The number of wells in the United Kingdom continental shelf from which oil was produced during October 1991 was 634. The corresponding figure for October 1981 was 286.

  Magnox Nuclear Stations
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the life expectancy of the Magnox stations currently operated by Nuclear Electric.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The lifetimes of Nuclear Electric's Magnox stations are a commercial matter for the company. On 9 November 1989, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced to the House at column 1176 that it should be possible, subject to the views of the nuclear installations inspectorate, for the lifetime of at least some of the Magnox stations to be extended. It remains the Government's policy that capital approval will be given for such projects if a suitable safety and economic case can be made.

  EC Competence
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement outlining the areas of his responsibility in which the EC will have competence following the implementation of agreements at Maastricht.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The agreements reached at Maastricht will not extend the competence of the EC in areas directly related to energy.

  Solar Energy
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he has to encourage research and development into and the manufacture of commercial photovoltaic cell-based solar energy devices in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My Department is undertaking a two-year programme to assess the potential and opportunities for photovoltaic electricity generation in the United Kingdom, to identify any barriers to its use and to seek methods to overcome them.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Passes
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many hon. Members have(a) one full researcher pass, (b) more than one full researcher pass, (c) a place on the waiting list for a researcher pass and (d) a place on the waiting list and are Front Bench spokespersons.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The latest Pass Office records show that:

  (a) 168 hon. Members have one full researcher's pass;

  (b) 2 hon. Members have two full researcher's passes;

  (c) 11 hon. Members are on the waiting list for a full researcher's pass;

  (d) 4 Front Bench spokespersons are on the waiting list for a full researcher's pass
  58 Members have places on the Research Assistant's
  list which are currently not filled.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Dogs
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the number of incidents which have occurred in which dogs suspected to have been covered by the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 have actually been found to be or to be likely to be cross-breeds and therefore excluded from the provisions of the Act.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, which creates criminal offences relating to dogs that are dangerously out of control in a public place, already applies to any dog, whether or not it is a cross-breed.

  The fact that a dog is a cross-breed of one of those types of fighting dog specially controlled by section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 does not mean that it is necessarily excluded from those controls. Section 1 currently applies to any dog of the type known as the pit bull terrier, the Japanese tosa, the dogo Argentino and fib Braziliero. A cross-breed of any of these types of dog is also subject to the special controls of section 1 if it has the characteristics of these types of dogs. Ultimately it will be for the courts to decide in each case whether a particular dog is of the type covered by section 1 of the Act. In any proceedings where it is alleged by the prosecution that a dog is one to which section 1 applies, the onus is on the accused to prove the contrary.

  Central records are not kept of incidents in which dogs are involved but which do not result in prosecutions. Statistics for prosecutions under section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 are not yet available, but they will not, in any case, specify whether the dog involved was alleged to have been a cross-breed.

  Thorn Cross
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders were transferred from Hewell Grange to the young offenders institution at Thorn Cross during September 1991.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Twenty-six.

  RSPCA (Exhibition)
  Dame Janet Fookes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 23 March to Friday 27 March 1992.

  Maastricht
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement outlining the areas of his responsibility in which the EC will have competence following the implementation of agreements at Maastricht.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The Community already has competence in relation to freedom of movement and residence of Community nationals and under the single market provisions of the treaty of Rome to aspects of certain other of my responsibilities, including some aspects of transborder data flow and the illicit drugs trade. Implementation of the Maastricht agreement will add the common list of countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when crossing the community's external borders; measures related to a uniform format for visas; measures on civil protection; and aspects of drug dependence.

  LEAs (Funding)
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the allocation to local education authorities for 1992–93 of section 11 funding.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  We hope to announce the allocation to education authorities and others very shortly.

  Animal Experiments
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce any further appointments to the Animal Procedures Committee.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I am pleased to be able to announce the appointment to the Animal Procedures Committee with effect from 1 January 1992 of Dr. A. J. Suckling, chief scientific officer of the RSPCA. I am grateful to Dr. Suckling for agreeing to serve on this committee.

  Mr. George Capelo
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter sent to him on 21 August 1991 by the hon. Member for East Lothian concerning Mr. George Capelo.
  101
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  An investigation is continuing into Mr. Capelo's complaint about delays at immigration control at Edinburgh and Heathrow airports. The investigation is now nearing completion and I will write to the hon. Member with the outcome early in the new year.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Britain has any plans to withdraw landing rights from the airline of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have no such plans.

  Croatia and Slovenia
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received on the alleged massacre of civilians at Dalj on 1 August 1991, Lovinac on 13 August 1991, Banija on 16 August 1991, and near Podrayska Slatina on 13 September 1991.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are investigating these incidents, and I shall report as soon as possible.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of civilian and Red Cross ambulances that have been destroyed by the action of Serbian forces in Croatia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have no reliable information on the number of ambulances destroyed by the Serbian forces in Croatia.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of civilians who have been killed during the fighting in Croatia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Conflicting claims and an absence of reliable independent sources mean that it is difficult to give precise figures for casualties in Croatia. Most estimates fall between 5,000 and 10,000 deaths.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received on the number of hospitals, churches and cultural monuments which have been damaged or destroyed by federal army action in Croatia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have no reliable figures for the number of hospitals, churches and cultural monuments damaged or destroyed by Yugoslav federal army action in Croatia.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of Red Cross medical personnel missing in Croatia; and what does he know of their fate.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 13 December 1991, no ICRC personnel were missing in Croatia. We have no reliable information on the number of local Croatian Red Cross personnel missing.
  102
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Yugoslavian authorities about the repeated shelling of Dubrovnik.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have publicly and strongly condemned the Yugoslav federal army's aggression against Dubrovnik, a city of no military significance. And at our initiative, a group of ambassadors have made strong representations to the Ministry of Defence in Belgrade.

  EC Social Action
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with the President of the European Commission concerning the facilities available within the Commission to foster multilateral agreements covering the provisions of the social chapter in the Netherlands Government draft of the proposed treaty of European union prepared for signature at the Maastricht summit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  None. This issue remains to be discussed.

  Social Chapter
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will outline the provisions governing the competence of the European Court of Justice in considering the non-adherence of the United Kingdom to the social chapter of the proposed EC treaty at Maastricht.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The ECJ has jurisdiction to interpret the treaty as it stands, not to rule on its validity.

  Children's Rights
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government intend to ratify the United Nations convention on the rights of the child; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [pursuant to his answer, 2 December 1991]: The United Kingdom ratified the United Nations convention on the rights of the child on 16 December 1991. Progress is being made towards extending ratification to the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and dependent territories.

  A copy of the instrument of ratification has been placed in the Library of the House.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Judges (Kenya)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what terms and conditions the United Kingdom Government support the employment of judges in Kenya; on what criteria judges are seconded to that country; and on what criteria judges seconded to serve in Kenya are reappointed or removed.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Judges working in Kenya under the British aid programme—there are three at the present time
  103
  —are employed by the Government of Kenya on contract. They are not seconded. The Government of Kenya pays the salaries of judges employed under these arrangements and the ODA pays salary supplements and certain other benefits. Decisions to reappoint or terminate the appointments of judges are normally made following consultations between the Government of Kenya and Her Majesty's Government and taking account of a wide range of considerations.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Authorities Credit Management Advisory Board
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what communication his Department has received about the Local Authorities Credit Management Advisory Board; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  My Department has received three inquiries from companies asking for confirmation of the bona fides of Local Authorities Credit Management Advisory Board.

  The companies from whom the inquiries were received had responded to an advertisement in the Financial Times in September and were considering entering into contracts with LACMAB for the collection of debt owed to local authorities. These contracts involved them placing £250,000 on deposit with LACMAB for six months.

  According to these companies, LACMAB had claimed to be known to my Department, and to be working under its auspices. Any such claim would be untrue. This organisation is not known to my Department, and has not carried out any work under its auspices. My officials also ascertained that the organisation had not previously been known to the Association of County Councils, Association of District Councils, Association of Metropolitan Authorities, Audit Commission or Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. We have informed the firms from whom inquiries have been received accordingly.

  Carbon Dioxide
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he intends to achieve stabilisation of carbon dioxide emissions; what estimates he has of the contributions of the transport and energy sectors to the reduction in emissions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Environment White Paper, "This Common Inheritance" (Cm 1200) set out the Government's strategy for achieving our conditional target of returning Britain's CO, emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2005. The first year report (Cm 1655) showed how the first set of measures is being put into practice. Action is being taken across all sectors of the economy taking into account the relative cost-effectiveness of measures in different sectors and other wider costs and benefits.

  Playing Fields
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to issue final planning policy guidance on the disposal of playing fields.
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  Mr. Heseltine
  We have already done so, in planning policy guidance note 17, "Sport and Recreation", published in September this year.

  Sheltered Housing
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to introduce a statutory obligation for local authorities to provide housing for those covered by community care programmes.

  Mr. Yeo
  Social services authorities will be responsible for community care assessments. Section 46(2) of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1991 requires them to consult other agencies, including housing authorities, when drawing up their community care plans to meet the needs of their area. At the same time, housing authorities should consult social services authorities in preparing their own housing investment strategies each year. When making assessments for community care, social services authorities will be expected to involve the housing authority whenever an individual's assessment indicates a possible housing need. Those who are homeless and considered vulnerable would be protected under part III of the Housing Act 1985.

  It does not follow that everyone who is assessed under the new community care arrangements will be in need of housing. There will be a majority who will be able to go on living in their existing homes with suitable domiciliary care or, perhaps, custom adaptations. Local authorities are able to award mandatory disabled facilities grants for essential adaptations where an applicant qualifies for help under the test of resources. Discretionary grants may also be available for other adaptations, including minor works assistance for the elderly.

  We see no reason, therefore, to take new statutory powers.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met representatives from Anchor housing association to discuss the development of sheltered housing schemes.

  Mr. Yeo
  My right hon. Friend has had no contact with Anchor housing association on this subject.

  Planning Applications
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the statutory provisions that relate to control of repetitious and vexatious planning applications.

  Sir George Young
  Section 70A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, inserted by section 17 of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991, gives local planning authorities the power to turn away planning applications if within the previous two years the Secretary of State has refused a substantially similar proposal on appeal or following call-in, and there has been no significant change in any material consideration.

  EC Meetings
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Environment Council held on 12 to 13 December.
  105
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all meetings he and his officials have had with his counterparts in European Community countries over the past six weeks; and if he will set out the issues discussed and decisions taken at each meeting.

  Mr. Heseltine
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy and I represented the United Kingdom at a joint session of the Environment and Energy Councils on 13 December to discuss the Commission's recent communication on a Community strategy to limit carbon dioxide emissions and to improve energy efficiency. Conclusions were agreed which recognised the need for a strategy at Community level based on a wide-ranging package of Community and national measures. It was agreed that national programmes should be formulated for limiting CO2 emissions. It was also agreed that specific measures at Community level and a move to higher energy pricing through the use of fiscal instruments were likely to be needed. The Council invited the Commission to put forward formal proposals for measures arising from the Community strategy, including any necessary proposals for Communitywide taxations, taking into account the further studies needed and the conclusions of separate discussions by Finance Ministers.

  These conclusions are a positive step Toward in the process of agreeing a coherent and coordinated approach across the Community to limiting CO2 emissions, as part of the global efforts to tackle the threat of climate change. At the same time, they clearly recognise the need for further analytical work before a decision on the questions of energy/carbon taxation can be reached. The United Kingdom will be participating in this further analysis.

  My hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside represented the United Kingdom at the Environment Council on 12 December.

  The Council agreed a regulation setting up a Communitywide eco-labelling scheme. The scheme will provide consumers with authoritative guidance as to which products are less damaging to the environment than alternatives on the basis of an assessment of their impact over the whole of their life cycle. The scheme will be voluntary. The United Kingdom has played a leading role in the development of this scheme, and in the design of the logo which will be awarded to products meeting Community criteria. Work will now begin on defining criteria for an initial tranche of 10 to 12 product groups, with a view to the scheme being launched next autumn.

  After several years of discussion, the Council finally agreed the directive to protect habitats and wild flora and fauna. The directive will establish a network of special areas of conservation for rare, endangered and vulnerable species and habitats across the Community. The network will be known as Natura 2000 and will consist of sites of international importance on the Community scale. The directive also enshrines the Berne convention into the Community's legal framework. This important measure represents a major step forward for nature conservation in the Community.

  A regulation establishing a new Community fund for the environment (LIFE) was agreed. This brings together several existing funds and also incorporates a number of new areas for Community support. The projects which could benefit from Community assistance include nature protection measures under the habitats directive,
  106
  development of clean technologies, measures to protect the marine environment, and environmental education, training and information initiatives.

  The Council agreed a new regulation amending regulation 1734/88/EEC concerning exports and imports of certain dangerous chemicals. This will introduce the prior informed consent procedure into European Community law. It enables importing countries to decide whether or not to allow the import of an internationally agreed list of dangerous chemicals. Exporters in the Community will be prohibited from supplying these if the receiving country withholds consent. Risks to human health and the environment from chemicals in third-world countries should be reduced by this measure.

  The Council adopted a common position on a regulation which provides for the collection and evaluation of data on existing chemical substances and, if necessary, proposals for control action. The regulation is complementary to the recently revised notification scheme for new chemical substances.

  In the course of a discussion on the implementation and enforcement of Community legislation, there was a favourable response to ideas put forward by the United Kingdom for a Community environment inspectorate. These envisaged an audit-type inspectorate charged with ensuring that enforcement agencies within the member states were applying EC legislation effectively and consistently. It would report its findings to the Commission who would remain responsible for any necessary follow-up action. The Commission expressed its support in principle for the United Kingdom initiative and undertook to bring forward proposals next year.

  Council conclusions on a common approach to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development next year were agreed. These set out the results which EC countries hope to achieve at UNCED and address in particular the financial, technological, legal and institutional issues on the UNCED agenda. EC Environment and Development Ministers will continue their preparations for UNCED at a joint Council in February.

  The Council formally adopted directives against hazardous waste and on the protection of water against pollution by nitrate from agricultural sources which were agreed in principle earlier this year.

  The Council also discussed the proposed regulation on the movement of waste, and new proposals on the sulphur content of gasoil and on trade in endangered species of wild flora and fauna.

  The United Kingdom drew the Council's attention to new scientific evidence on the rate of depletion of the ozone layer and called for new measures to bring forward still further the deadlines agreed last year for phasing out the use of ozone-depleting substances.

  Municipal Bonds
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to extending the right of local authorities to raise long-term capital finance by means of issuing municipal bonds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  Local authorities are already able to raise long-term capital finance by issuing bonds. We are not currently contemplating any change in authorities' powers in this field.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received since March 1991 on the issue of the capital financing arrangements of local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The many representations received on various capital finance issues could be listed only at disproportionate cost. All are considered carefully, and legislative changes made when necessary.

  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assumptions he has made, in his revenue support grant announcement, regarding the level of permitted borrowing, by individual block allocation, in 1992–93 to finance capital programmes; what were the equivalent figures in the current year; and what is the basis of his assumption that the charges in 1992–93 will fall by 11 per cent.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 9 December 1991]: The estimated borrowing limits assumed for the 1992–93 RSG consultation announcement and those used for the 1991–92 settlement are shown in the table.

  The standard spending assessment element for debt charges proposed for 1992–93 is based on a number of factors. One of the most important of these is expected interest rates for which a fall has been assumed from II percent. used in the 1991–92 settlement to 10 per cent. being proposed for 1992–93.

  Annual capital guidelines and supplementary credit approvals

  £ million

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Annual capital guidelines:

  Education

  516·2

  276·6

  PSS

  98·0

  106·0

  Home Office

  21·7

  22·6

  Transport

  389·7

  497·3

  Housing (non-HRA)

  404·5

  318·5

  Other services

  261·7

  278·4

  Total annual capital guidelines

  1,691·7

  1,499·4

  Less receipts taken into account

  473·9

  375·0

  Total basic credit approvals

  1,217·8

  1,124·4

  Plus supplementary credit approvals

  Education

  4·8

  42·1

  PSS

  18·0

  60·0

  Home Office

  49·5

  80·6

  Transport

  102·4

  131·7

  Other services

  68·9

  71·3

  Total supplementary credit approvals

  243·6

  385·8

  Total credit approvals (the sum of BCAs and SCAs)

  1,461·4

  1,510·2

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the future of local authorities' capital financing arrangements in his review of local government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  The outcome of the review of local government has not led to any proposals for changes in the existing arrangements for capital financing of local authorities.

  Local Authorities (Financial Difficulties)
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards central funding of local authorities which have financial difficulties due to(a) the collapse of BCCI, (b) late rating appeals and (c) interest rate swaps; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The local authorities affected by such financial difficulties should expect to resolve them for themselves, rather than expect funds from central Government, but the Government will always consider on their merits any proposals which affected local authorities may make.

  Planning Proposals (Polls)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972 for calling a community poll concerning a planning proposal affecting that community have been used in England and Wales; and if he will list those occasions and the costs of each poll.

  Mr. Yeo
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Shared Housing Ownership
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what recent representations he has received from housing associations about the shared ownership value limits imposed by the Housing Corporation;

  (2) what provision is made by the shared ownership value limits imposed by the Housing Corporation in order to take account of the variation of average property prices within large conurbations, rural areas, and compact market towns within the same region.

  Mr. Key
  Representations have recently been received from Templar Housing Society Ltd. and Manchester and District Housing Association Ltd. Value limits are normally pitched at a slightly higher level than the average prices being paid in the regions by first-time buyers, in order to allow for some variation of prices within regions. In addition, value limits may be exceeded by up to 10 per cent. in certain rural areas and in towns which are growth areas for employment. The Housing Corporation is currently considering revised cost control arrangements for shared ownership.

  Housing Revenue Accounts
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the net value of transfers—gross transfers minus reverse transfers from housing revenue accounts to general funds—from local authority general funds to their housing revenue accounts for each calendar year since 1980 for Great Britain.

  Mr. Yeo
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 19 November, at column 97.

  Environment Protection Act
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish the regulations and code of practice on the duty of care under section 34 of the Environment Protection Act 1990; and if he will make a statement.
  109
  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, together with the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales, has today laid before Parliament the code of practice and the regulations made under section 34 (duty of care) of the Environment Protection Act. An associated circular will be issued to local authorities.

  The duty of care will come into force on 1 April 1992. From that date, every business in Britain will be responsible for taking measures to ensure that their waste goes only to authorised, responsible destinations, whether that is for recycling or for disposal. Anyone who fails to take care of their waste will be guilty of a criminal offence.

  The regulations, code of practice and circular have been further improved and clarified in the light of the many comments received. The code of practice offers practical advice for all those subject to the duty.

  I believe that this measure will be widely welcomed by responsible industry, as well as by all who care about what happens to waste. It must be right for the producers and holders of waste to take responsibility and account for where they send their waste. This should go a long way towards cutting off at source the supplies of waste that are now heedlessly and illegally dumped.

  This is a great advance in the legal control of waste.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Textile and Clothing Industry
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made in the GATT Uruguay round of trade negotiations towards international harmonisation of tariffs on textiles and clothing and the reduction of other trade barriers facing United Kingdom exports.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 12 December 1991]: There has been some support from participants in the GATT Uruguay round for the international harmonisation of textile and clothing tariffs (i.e. maximum levels would be agreed for each type of product). The European Community continues to press for agreement. We are aware of the textile and clothing industry's concerns about other trade barriers facing United Kingdom exports and these have been drawn to the attention of the European Commission, which continues to work for their elimination.

  British Petroleum
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to BP—The Way Forward to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Leigh
  Yes. Arrangements have been made for such an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall to take place from Monday 3 to Friday 7 February 1992.

  Trading Standards and Environmental Health
  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if British officials listed as trading standards officers and environmental health officers will be able to participate in the European Community action plan for the exchange of officials engaged in the enforcement of Community legislation required to build the single market,110
  as set out in Official Journal C229 of 20 November; and what information he has on the record of the United Kingdom and other EC member states on the enforcement of European Community legislation as they relate to trading standards and environmental health matters.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Commission's proposal for an action plan for the exchange of national officials between member state administrations engaged in the enforcement of single market legislation has only just been presented to the Council. The proposal will now be the subject of discussion in the Council and the Parliament. It is too early to say what the final shape of the proposal will be. A pilot project for the scheme earlier this year involved a British trading standards officer in an exchange visit to France. There is insufficient evidence at present to produce a meaningful comparison of the performance of member states on enforcement.

  Maxwell Companies (Pension Funds)
  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he received any representations before 5 November 1991 from the Investment Management Regulatory Organisation about the pension funds of any companies of which the late Robert Maxwell was a director.

  Mr. Lilley
  None.

  Telecommunication Companies
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his reply of 9 December,Official Report, column 281, if he will take steps to ensure that his consultation with other Departments is completed in time for a response to be sent to the Council on Tribunals concerning their potential interest in the disputes procedure of telecommunications companies as covered by the Competition and Service (Utilities) Bill prior to the Report stage of that Bill in this House.

  Mr. Redwood
  Consultation between Departments and the regulators has been carried out as a matter of urgency, and information has already been passed to the Council on Tribunals.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his reply of 9 December,Official Report, column 281, if he will indicate the nature of the potential interest in the disputes procedure of telecommunications companies as covered by the Competition and Service (Utilities) Bill that has been expressed by the Council on Tribunals.

  Mr. Redwood
  In its approach to the Department, the Council on Tribunals expressed potential interest in clauses which conferred new functions on the directors general in relation to dispute resolution. Clauses 1 and 5 to 7 inclusive have been mentioned for telecommunications. The council wishes to consider whether any formal procedures to hold oral hearings, similar to those held by tribunals under the Council's supervision, are likely to be established by the directors general. I would emphasise that it is dispute procedures set up by the regulators in which the Council has expressed interest, not procedures of the utilities they monitor.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his reply of 9 December,Official

  111
  Report,column 281, if he will publish the response his Department has sent to the Council on Tribunals concerning their potential interest in the disputes procedures of telecommunications companies as covered by the Competition and Service (Utilities) Bill.

  Mr. Redwood
  Correspondence and discussions are continuing between the Council on Tribunals, the Department and the regulators. It is not appropriate to publish this ongoing consultation. I made a statement to Standing Committee on the Competition and Service (Utilities) Bill on 17 December about the issues involved.

  Shipbuilding
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which shipyards participated in the study to compare build costs in Europe and the far east, undertaken for the European Commission by TECNECON, giving the figures by country for each ship type examined.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 12 December 1991]: The TECNECON study for the European Commission covered 12 ship types. Twenty-one shipyards from member states participated in the provision of cost data. Details are as follows:

  Ship type

  Shipyard/ Country

  VLCC (280,000 dwt) (double skin)

  Harland and Wolff (United Kingdom)

  Odense (Denmark)

  HDW (Germany)

  Suezmax tanker (140,000 dwt) (double skin)

  Harland and Wolff (United Kingdom)

  Solisner-Estalieros Navais SA (Portugal)

  Odense (Denmark)

  Astilleros Espanoles (Spain)

  Fincantieri (Italy)

  Aframax tanker (85,000 dwt) (double skin)

  Fincantieri (Italy)

  B & W (Denmark)

  Astilleros Espanoles (Spain)

  Product tanker (40,000 dwt)

  Kvaerner Govan (United Kingdom)

  B & W (Denmark)

  Astilleros Espanoles (Spain)

  Cape bulker (150,000 dwt)

  Fincantieri (Italy)

  Harland and Wolff (United Kingdom)

  Odense (Denmark)

  Large container (3,500 TEU)

  Bremer Vulkan (Germany)

  HDW (Germany)

  Odense (Denmark)

  Small container (1,700 TEU) (geared)

  HDW (Germany)

  Bremer Vulkan (Germany)

  Chantiers de l'Atlantique (France)

  Odense (Denmark)

  Verolme (Netherlands)

  Chemical carrier (3,000 dwt)

  Sietas (Germany)

  Verolme (Netherlands)

  Aarhus (Denmark)

  Cochrane (United Kingdom)

  LPG carrier (18,000 cm)

  Odense (Denmark)

  Kvaerner Govan (United Kingdom)

  Meyer (Germany)

  Reefer (600,000 ft3)

  Bremer Vulkan (Germany)

  Astilleros Espanoles (Spain)

  Boelwerf NV (Belgium)

  Van der Giessen (Netherlands)

  Kvaerner Govan (United Kingdom)

  Danyard (Denmark)

  112

  Ship type

  Shipyard/Country

  Ferry (2,000 passengers) (600 cars)

  Chantier de l'Atlantique (France)

  Bremer Vulkan (Germany)

  Boelwerf NV (Belgium)

  Van der Giessen (Netherlands)

  Fincantieri (Italy)

  Astilleros Espanoles (Spain)

  Tug (4,000 bhp)

  Dunston (United Kingdom)

  Damen (Netherlands)

  Aarhus (Denmark)

  Chantiers Naval De Rupelmonde (Belgium)

  Cost data submitted by individual shipyards are commercially confidential.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations his Department has had with United Kingdom shipbuilders on the level of aid for EC shipbuilding for 1992 under the terms of the EC seventh shipbuilding directive.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 12 December 1991]: I met representatives of the Shipbuilders and Shiprepairers Association, at their request, on 26 November to discuss a number of issues including the 1992 levels of aid for shipbuilding within the European Community.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his Department's position on the level of state aid for shipbuilding for 1992 under the terms of the seventh EC shipbuilding directive.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 12 December 1991]: The Government's position on state aid for shipbuilding remains unchanged. We are in favour of the multilateral phasing out of subsidies.

  The European Commission is expected to announce shortly its aid ceilings for 1992 under the seventh directive on aid to shipbuilding. Our own levels will be decided in the light of the announcement and will come into effect on 1 January 1992. Details will be given to the House in due course.

  Welsh Consumer Council
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what salary is paid to the chair of the Welsh Consumer Council.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 13 December 1991]: The appointment of chair of the WCC attracts a salary of £4,420 per annum, plus, as a member of the National Consumer Council, an additional £4,420 per annum, both of which are subject to tax and national insurance.

  British Steel
  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had on proposals or decisions to close existing capacity in British Steel in Great Britain.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 16 December 1991]: Any such proposals or decisions are a matter for the board of British Steel. My right hon. Friend meets the chairman of British Steel from time to time, but their discussions are confidential.

  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the
  113 f
  effect British Steel's investment plans overseas will have on capacity in specific areas of production in Britain with regard to general steels.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 16 December 1991]: None. Such matters are for the board of British Steel and the industry itself.

  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on British Steel's plans with regard to existing capacity utilisation over the next 12 months and for continuing production at(a) Scunthorpe, (b) Ravenscraig, (c) Dalzell and (d) Llanwern.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 16 December 1991]: Such information as British Steel have published in its annual reports. Investment has continued at Llanwern, where a new hot dip galvanising line was commissioned last year. British Steel is considering investment in a new plate mill facility at Teeside, which would replace in due course the existing plate mills at Dalzell and Scunthorpe, but no final decision has yet been taken. Production of steel will continue at Ravenscraig until at least 1994, subject to economic and commercial conditions and the demand for steel slab.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Special Needs Education
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has had from the international information centre on special needs education; what reply he is sending; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend received a letter from the international information centre on special needs education on 4 December 1991. The letter is receiving consideration within the Department and a reply will be sent as soon as possible.

  EC Competence
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement outlining the areas of his responsibility in which the EC will have competence following the implementation of agreements at Maastricht.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Following the agreement reached at Maastricht last week, the European Community will have a role in contributing to the development of quality education by encouraging co-operation between member states and if necessary by supporting and supplementing their action.

  Action by the Community is to be aimed at: developing the European dimension in education; the teaching and dissemination of languages; promoting co-operation between education establishments; developing exchanges of information and experience; encouraging the development of youth exchanges; and encouraging the development of distance education.

  The Community is required by the agreement fully to respect the responsibility of the member states for the content of teaching and the organisation of educational systems, and their cultural and linguistic diversity.
  114
  The Community's existing competence in relation to vocational training is clarified. Again the Community is required to respect the responsibility of member states for the content and organisation of vocational training.

  The measures available to the Community in relation to education and vocational training expressly exclude any harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the member states.

  The European Community will gain no new competence in those areas of scientific research under DES responsibility. The Community's existing competence allows it to undertake certain actions which will strengthen the scientific and technological basis of European industry and encourage it to become more competitive at international level.

  Primary Education
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if the three-person inquiry team on primary education will be visiting any primary schools in the course of its inquiry;

  (2) what terms of reference have been given to the three-person inquiry team into primary education.

  Mr. Fallon
  The terms of reference for the report on primary education, commissioned by my right hon. and learned Friend, are"Taking into account available evidence about the delivery of education in primary schools, to make recommendations about curriculum organisation, teaching methods and classroom practice appropriate for the successful implementation of the National Curriculum, particularly at Key Stage 2."
  In writing the report, Professor Alexander, Chief Inspector Mr. Rose and Mr. Woodhead will draw on their extensive knowledge of primary education and the national curriculum, including visits to primary schools in connection with their normal responsibilities.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Bidwell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will visit schools in Ealing to discuss the level of resources required next year to implement the national curriculum.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I have no present plans to visit schools in Ealing.

  In addition to the standing spending assessment, the Government are supporting expenditure through grants for education support and training on the national curriculum of some £170 million in 1991–92.

  Schools Budget (Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex)
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will itemise, with costings, those elements of the education budgets of (separately) Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, which constitute, in the most recent year for which information is available(a) each LEA's general schools budget, (b) each LEA's potential schools budget, (c) each LEA's real schools budget (as proposed by the Association of County Councils), (d) each LEA's aggregate schools budget and (e) that part of each LEA's budget which is attributable to services provided from the annual maintenance grant of a grant-maintained school.

  Mr. Fallon
  The information we have is as follows, taken from the LEAs' section 42 budget statements for 1991–92:
  115

  Norfolk LEA

  Suffolk LEA

  Essex LEA

  £000s

  £000s

  £000s

  General schools budget1

  206,948

  185,231

  431,033

  Potential schools budget2

  177,015

  152,305

  372,734

  Aggregated schools budget3

  149,344

  133,358

  317,119

  GM-relevant costs4

  182,665

  151,542

  369,221

  1 The general schools budget (GSB) of a local education authority is the amount appropriated by the authority for meeting expenditure in respect of all schools covered by a scheme for the local management of schools (LMS), ie all county and voluntary schools.

  2 The potential schools budget (PSB) consists of a part of the general schools budget (GSB)—ie the GSB less expenditure on certain excepted items: capital expenditure; expenditure supported by central government grants; and expenditure on school meals, home to school transport and transitional exceptions (eg cleaning and grounds

  116
  maintenance).

  3 The aggregated schools budget (ASB) is that part of an authority's GSB which is allocated according to a formula to individual LEA schools, ie the amount which the schools themselves decide how to spend, once they have delegated powers and responsibilities under LMS.

  4The GM-relevant costs constitute the total budget in respect of the LEA's maintained schools which corresponds to the total annual maintenance grant AMG) of grant-maintained (GM) schools, ie the GSB less expenditure on items for which provision is made outside the AMG of GM schools, those items being: central Government specific grants; capital expenditure; and expenditure on home to school transport, education welfare officers and psychologists, pupil support, statemented pupils and special units.

  The "real schools budget" is a construct suggested in a report by Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte for the Association of County Councils. The Department does not have the information to calculate it.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Municipal Bonds
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to extending the right of local authorities to raise long-term capital finance by means of municipal bonds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  Local authorities are already able to raise long-term capital finance by issuing bonds. We are not currently contemplating any change in authorities' powers in this field.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the maximum salary payable to the chief executive of each of his Department's executive agencies, including performance-related element, and the length of time of the chief executive's contract in each case.

  Mr. Maples
  Following is the information requested for each of the five executive agencies concerned in respect of 1991–92.

  Her Majesty's Stationery Office

  The chief executive has standard terms and conditions for a grade 2. All increases in pay are performance related. The grade 2 pay range from 1 December 1991 is £60,100 to £70,400.

  Royal Mint

  The chief executive's maximum salary, including bonus, payable in respect of the agency's performance is £66,000. The appointment is for five years starting from January 1988.

  Central Office of Information

  The chief executive has additional responsibilities as head of profession for the Government information service and is paid as a grade 3. The grade 3 range in London from 1 December 1991 is £51,300 to £59,000. All pay increases are performance-related. The performance element in respect of his duties as chief executive is under discussion. His appointment is for a three-year term starting from 5 April 1990.

  Valuation Office

  The chief executive is a grade 2 and his maximum salary, including individual bonus, payable in respect of the agency's performance is £69,465. He has been appointed for a period ending no later than 31 March 1994.

  Central Statistical Office

  The salary from 1 December 1991 of the director (chief executive), is £77,500, the standard rate of pay at grade lA level. It is intended that, following Sir Jack Hibbert's retirement at the end of February 1992, his successor will be appointed for a period of five years.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the quality of service performance indicators adopted by each of his Department's executive agencies since their establishment; and separately identify those quality of service performance indicators already operative prior to agency status.
  118
  Mr. Maples
  Following is the information for each of the five executive agencies concerned.

  Her Majesty's Stationery Office

  1991 Target

  Per cent.

  Print orders delivered to time

  Vital

  100·0

  Overall

  95·0

  Print orders delivered without fault

  100·0

  Print production jobs delivered to time

  Basic

  100·0

  Overall

  95·0

  Print production jobs delivered without fault

  100·0

  Stock catalogue items

  92 per cent, of customer orders despatched within five working days of receipt

  95 per cent, of items despatched first time from existing stocks

  Publications—Mail, EDI and telephone orders (Publications centre)

  85 per cent, of customer orders despatched within four working days of receipt

  95 per cent, within five working days of receipt

  Prior to agency status, the following quality of service performance indicators were operative.

  1987–88 Target

  Per cent.

  Print orders delivered to time

  Vital

  95·0

  Overall

  90·0

  Print orders delivered without fault

  100·0

  Print production jobs delivered to time

  90·0

  Print production jobs delivered without fault

  100·0

  Stock catalogue items

  Time taken between receipt of customer order and despatch of goods—80 per cent, within one week

  Publications ordered by post—6 days average

  Royal Mint

  The Royal Mint's published financial target covering the three-year period 1990–91 to 1992–93 is to achieve a 12·5 per cent. current cost return on net assets. Other targets are commercially sensitive and details are not published.

  Central Office of Information

  to deliver all work in accordance with client specification; and

  to deliver all work on time.

  The COI had no formal quality of service targets before it became an executive agency on 5 April 1990.

  Valuation Office

  timeliness (percentage of work completed to external and internal time limits)

  valuation accuracy (percentage of valuations settled within plus 10 per cent. of initial valuation when facts settled).

  Both indicators were first introduced, following pilot studies, in April 1991, before establishment as an agency on 30 September 1991. Targets for 1991–92 are, respectively, 82 per cent. and 80 per cent.
  119
  Central Statistical Office

  The Central Statistical Office was established as an executive agency on 19 November 1991. The current quality of service targets for the CSO are included in annex E of its agency framework document, copies of which have been placed in the Library. None of the targets relating to quality of service were in force prior to the CSO's establishment as an executive agency.

  Volunteer Drivers
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about his proposals for taxation on volunteer drivers' mileage allowance.

  Mr. Maude
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Michie) on 12 December at column 480.

  Business and the Environment
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has met, or has plans to meet, representatives of the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment; if he plans to meet representatives of any other environmental groups between the present time and March 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maples
  At present, I have no plans to meet representatives of the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment. In the run-up to the Budget, my Treasury colleagues and I meet a wide range of groups. Environmental issues are discussed.

  Rent-free Periods (VAT)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the decision of Customs and Excise to treat rent-free periods as benefit subject to value added tax.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  It is long-standing Customs policy that rent-free periods are outside the scope of VAT unless services are performed in return by the tenant for the landlord. As this is uncommon, in practice only a few cases will lead to VAT being charged.

  Taxation
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the occasions on which announcements of proposals for abolishing or reducing taxes have been made other than on Budget day since 1979.

  Mr. Maude
  Since 1979, no specific proposals for abolishing central Government taxes or reducing tax rates have been announced other than on Budget day or during the passage of the Finance Bill.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much have total privatisation proceeds been since 1979.

  Mr. Maude
  Total privatisation proceeds from May 1979 to end 1990–91 are about £33·5 billion.

  Direct Taxation
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the consultative document on proposals to implement the three direct tax measures adopted by the Economic and Finance Council in July 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  On 23 July 1990, the Economic and Finance Council adopted three proposals to remove possible tax obstacles to Communitywide business activity and cross-border expansion. The measures are the mergers directive, to defer certain tax charges that could otherwise arise on a cross-border merger or demerger; the parents/subsidiaries directive, to eliminate the double taxation of dividends and abolish withholding taxes on them when they are paid to a parent company in another member state; and the arbitration convention, to set up a mechanism to resolve transfer pricing disputes between taxing authorities in different member states.

  In the Government's view, these are issues on which there should be full consultation before implementing legislation is brought forward. Accordingly, the Inland Revenue is today issuing a consultative document including draft clauses. Comments on the consultative document and draft legislation are invited by 14 February 1992. We shall carefully consider all comments and representations which are made before introducing the necessary legislative provisions at the earliest opportunity. I have placed copies of the document, including the draft clauses, in the Library.

  Public Services Survey
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 27 November,Official Report, columns 508–9, if he will publish the details requested of him when he announces the date and arrangements of the opinion survey, or at the point it commences, whichever is the earlier.

  Mr. Maude
  Details of the survey will be announced in due course.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the margin between Public Works Loan Board interest rates and the Government gilt rates.

  Mr. Maples
  The Public Works Loan Board lending rates for quota loans are set so that they are close to but below the rates at which local authorities can borrow on the market. The rates are calculated by adding a margin of½ to 1 per cent. depending on maturity to the per yield curve Government gilts. The formula for calculating the per yield curve was described in the February 1990 issue of the Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much inward investment into the United Kingdom has been made by the other EC countries for each of the last three years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The available information on the inward direct investment into the United Kingdom by other
  121
  member countries of the European Community between 1987 and 1989 is given in table 2.4 of "Business Monitor MA4" (1989 overseas transactions) published by the Central Statistical Office, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will be able to provide up-to-date figures on the same basis as those provided to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East in his answer of 8 January 1990,Official Report, columns 558–64, revising his figures to include an estimate of the effects of the introduction of the community charge; and what estimate he has made to date of the effect on the tax burden of the introduction of the community charge.

  Income tax, NICs and indirect tax payments at multiples oj average earnings, 1990–91

  Multiples of Average Earnings

  0·5

  0·75

  1

  1·5

  2

  3

  4

  5

  7

  10

  20

  Single

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  23·83

  42·97

  62·10

  100·89

  162·13

  284·61

  407·09

  529·57

  774·53

  1,141·97

  2,366·77

  NICs

  10·56

  17·45

  24·34

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  Total income tax and NICs

  34·39

  60·42

  86·44

  129·17

  190·41

  312·89

  435·37

  557·85

  802·81

  1,170·25

  2,395·05

  VAT

  —

  11·17

  14·97

  23·26

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  17·01

  21·18

  30·29

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community Charge

  —

  8·48

  8·97

  9·95

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  97·08

  131·56

  192·67

  Percentage of Earnings

  Income Tax

  15·6

  18·7

  20·3

  22·0

  26·5

  31·0

  33·2

  34·6

  36·1

  37·3

  38·6

  NICs

  6·9

  7·6

  7·9

  6·2

  4·6

  3·1

  2·3

  1·8

  1·3

  0·9

  0·5

  Total income tax and NICs

  22·5

  26·3

  28·2

  28·1

  31·1

  34·1

  35·5

  36·4

  37·5

  38·2

  39·1

  VAT

  —

  4·9

  4·9

  5·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  7·4

  6·9

  6·6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community Charge

  —

  3·7

  2·9

  2·2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  42·3

  43·0

  41·9

  Married, no children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  15·56

  34·70

  53·83

  92·11

  148·90

  271·38

  393·86

  516·34

  761·30

  1128·74

  2,353·54

  NICs

  10·56

  17·45

  24·34

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  Total income tax and NICs

  26·12

  52·15

  78·17

  120·39

  177·18

  299·66

  422·14

  544·62

  789·58

  1,157·02

  2,381·82

  VAT

  —

  10·25

  14·39

  23·46

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  18·91

  23·10

  32·29

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community Charge

  —

  14·65

  15·04

  15·82

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  95·96

  130·70

  191·96

  Percentage of Earnings

  Income Tax

  10·2

  15·1

  17·6

  20·1

  24·3

  29·5

  32·2

  33·7

  35·5

  36·9

  38·4

  NICs

  6·9

  7·6

  7·9

  6·2

  4·6

  3·1

  2·3

  1·8

  1·3

  0·9

  0·5

  Total income tax and NICs

  17·1

  22·7

  25·5

  26·2

  28·9

  32·6

  34·5

  35·6

  36·8

  37·8

  38·9

  VAT

  —

  4·5

  4·7

  5·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8·2

  7·5

  7·0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community Charge

  —

  6·4

  4·9

  3·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  41·8

  42·7

  41·8

  Married, both working

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  1·11

  20·25

  39·39

  77·66

  115·94

  201·82

  311·03

  433·51

  678·47

  1,045·91

  2,270·71

  NICs

  7·34

  14·23

  21·12

  34·90

  47·11

  56·56

  56·56

  56·56

  56·56

  56·56

  56·56

  Total income tax and NICs

  8·45

  34·48

  60·51

  112·56

  163·05

  258·38

  367·59

  490·07

  735·03

  1,102·47

  2,327·27

  VAT

  —

  11·66

  16·15

  25·12

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  21·83

  25·56

  33·03

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community Charge

  —

  15·01

  15·13

  15·36

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  82·98

  117·35

  186·06

  Percentage of Earnings

  Income Tax

  0·7

  8·8

  12·9

  16·9

  18·9

  22·0

  25·4

  28·3

  31·7

  34·2

  37·1

  NICs

  4·8

  6·2

  6·9

  7·6

  7·7

  6·2

  4·6

  3·7

  2·6

  1·8

  0·9

  Total income tax and NICs

  5·5

  15·0

  19·8

  24·5

  26·6

  28·1

  30·0

  32·0

  34·3

  36·0

  38·0

  122
  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 9 December 1991]: Updated figures for 1990–91, including estimates of community charge payments in 1990–91, are given on a basis similar to that provided to the hon. Member in his answer of 8 January 1990, at columns 559–64. No figures of the impact of the community charge in 1991–92 can be provided until the 1991 family expenditure survey is published.

  The latest estimates for 1991–92 for direct taxes and indirect taxes excluding the community charge were given in the reply to the hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 20 November 1991, at columns 174–76.
  123

  Multiples of Average Earnings

  0·5

  0·75

  1

  1·5

  2

  3

  4

  5

  7

  10

  20

  VAT

  —

  5·1

  5·3

  5·5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  9·5

  8·3

  7·2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community Charge

  —

  6·5

  4·9

  3·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  36·1

  38·3

  40·5

  Married, 2 children

  Amounts, £ per week

  Income Tax

  1·06

  20·20

  39·33

  77·61

  134·40

  256·88

  379·36

  501·84

  746·80

  1,114·24

  2,339·04

  NICs

  10·56

  17·45

  24·34

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  28·28

  Total income tax and NICs

  11·62

  37·65

  63·67

  105·89

  162·68

  285·16

  407·64

  530·12

  775·08

  1,142·52

  2,367·32

  VAT

  —

  9·98

  14·67

  24·95

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  18·40

  21·72

  29·01

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community Charge

  —

  14·13

  14·68

  15·79

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  80·16

  114·74

  175·64

  Percentage of Earnings

  Income Tax

  0·7

  8·8

  12·8

  16·9

  21·9

  28·0

  31·0

  32·8

  34·8

  36·4

  38·2

  NICs

  6·9

  7·6

  7·9

  6·2

  4·6

  3·1

  2·3

  1·8

  1·3

  0·9

  0·5

  Total income tax and NICs

  7·6

  16·4

  20·8

  23·1

  26·6

  31·0

  33·3

  34·6

  36·2

  37·3

  38·7

  VAT

  —

  4·3

  4·8

  5·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other indirect

  —

  8·0

  7·1

  6·3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community Charge

  —

  6·2

  4·8

  3·4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  34·9

  37·5

  38·2

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

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

  3 In order to provide comparability with 1978–79, when support for children was given partly through child tax allowance, child benefit is treated as a negative income tax for the married couple with two children.

  4 Average earnings are taken to be the average gross weekly earnings of all full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. These are estimated to be £306·20 per week in 1990–91.

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

  6 Estimates of the burden of the community charge have been derived from the 1990 family expenditure survey. All respondents were assumed to pay the charge to which they were liable. The calculations include water charges in order to put the estimates on a comparable basis to the estimates for earlier years. Community charge payments are net of transitional relief and community charge benefit. Since community charge payments vary widely between households with similar incomes, the estimated charge payments are only approximate.

  UN Economic Commission for Europe
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department routinely reviews the work conducted and reports produced by the United Nation's Economic Commission for Europe.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 16 December 1991]: The papers and reports of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe are received by my Department. They are one of the many sources of information used to keep abreast of developments in Europe, particularly in the former centrally planned economies.

  Tax Allowances and Reliefs
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers would be affected by the restriction of all tax allowances and reliefs except the single person's allowance to the basic rate, giving the numbers who have gross incomes of(a) less than £30,000, (b) £25,000, (c) £20,000, (d) earnings below the higher rate threshold and (e) earnings below the national insurance upper earnings limit.
  124
  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 16 December 1991]: Latest estimates for 1991–92 are as follows:

  Restriction of allowances1and reliefs to the basic rate

  Number of taxpaying individuals affected

  Thousands

  (a) Total income under £30,000

  290

  (b) Total income under £25,000

  0

  (c) Total income under £20,000

  0

  (d) Total earned income2 under £26,9953

  200

  (e) Total earned income2 under £20,2804"

  100

  1Except for the basic personal allowance.

  2Includes income from employment, self employment and occupational pensions.

  3The sum of the basic rate limit and the level of the basic personal allowance for those under 65.

  4National Insurance upper earnings limit.

PRIME MINISTER

  Mr. Andrew Miller
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Prime Minister when his office answered or proposes to answer the letter from Mr. Andrew Miller, Flat 2–2,2049 Paisley road west, Glasgow.
  125
  The Prime Minister
  There is no record of my office having received Mr. Miller's letter.

  European Central Bank
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from Manchester city council about the location of the proposed European central bank; what reply he is sending; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The leader of Manchester city council wrote to me on 29 November in connection with Manchester's proposed bid to host the European central bank and its precursor, the European Monetary Institute. I will send the right hon. Member a copy of my reply.

  Social Charter
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out all the provisions of the social charter which have been agreed by the other members of the Community.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the explanatory memorandum on the social charter, which was submitted by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment on 24 November 1989. A copy of the explanatory memorandum and the text of the social charter are available in the Library.

EMPLOYMENT

  Businesses (East Midlands)
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the net change month on month in the number of businesses in(a) Amber Valley, (b) Derbyshire and (c) the east midlands in the latest month for which figures are available and two previous months.

  Mr. Forth
  I regret that the information requested is not available.

  Unemployment Benefit (Disqualification)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed people were disqualified for unemployment benefit under each paragraph of section 20(1) of the Social Security Act 1975 in the area covered by the Newport, Gwent, unemployment benefit office, in the latest month for which information can be obtained; in how many cases disqualification was imposed for the maximum period of 26 weeks; and whether he will arrange for records of the lengths of disqualifications to be kept on a routine basis in future.

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

  South Glamorgan TEC
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what form of contribution he now envisages towards the costs of establishing a new headquarters for the South Glamorgan training and enterprise council to 126
  which he referred in his answer of 28 February 1991,Official Report, column 571; in what financial year that contribution will take place; what level it will be; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  A contribution towards the cost of the new South Glamorgan TEC headquarters continues to be part of the Department's expenditure plans for 1991–92.

  Adaptations to premises at Waterfront 2000 in Cardiff commenced in November this year and occupancy is anticipated towards the end of January 1992. The Department's contribution towards the cost of adaptation work is likely to be around £280,000.

  Prince of Wales Youth Business Trust
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the Prince of Wales Youth Business Trust to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Jackson
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 24 to Friday 28 February 1992.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if, pursuant to his answers of 18 November,Official Report, columns 50–51, concerning Coventry unemployment and the numbers of vacancies, he will review his policy of referring hon. Members' questions about labour market statistics to the Library.

  Mr. Jackson
  No. The decision to refer questioners to the NOMIS database, which can be accessed on line by the House of Commons Library staff, follows the established principle of referring to published sources. It is good resource management to refer to information which is publicly available when the effort has already been made to provide an easily accessible, up-to-date and accurate computer database.

HEALTH

  Infant and Maternal Mortality
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state(a) the infant mortality rate, (b) the maternal mortality rate and (c) the perinatal and neonatal death rates for each of the years 1988, 1989 and 1990 in the United Kingdom, each other country of the EC and the WHO European region.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Complete data are not available in the form requested. The latest data from the WHO European regional office indicator presentation system are shown in the tables, together with any later estimates from other sources.

  Caution should be used in interpreting international rates, particularly those relating to perinatal mortality, due to differences in ascertainment between countries.
  127

  Infant mortality rates in the United Kingdom, EEC countries and countries in the WHO European Region

  Area

  1988

  1989

  1990

  United Kingdom

  9·0

  8·4

  7·9

  Other EEC countries

  Belgium 1986 9·7

  9·11

  8·71

  —

  Denmark

  7·6

  8·01

  —

  France

  7·8

  7·51

  —

  German Federal Republic

  7·5

  7·4

  —

  Greece

  11·0

  9·71

  —

  Irish Republic

  8·9

  7·51

  —

  Italy

  9·2

  8·31

  —

  Luxembourg

  7·6

  8·6

  —

  Netherlands

  6·8

  6·81

  —

  Portugal

  13·1

  12·2

  —

  Spain 1986 9·2

  8·11

  8·41

  —

  Others in WHO European Region

  Austria

  8·1

  8·3

  —

  Bulgaria

  13·6

  14·4

  —

  Czechoslovakia

  11·9

  11·3

  —

  Finland

  6·1

  5·81

  —

  German Democratic Republic

  8·1

  7·6

  —

  Hungary

  15·8

  15·7

  —

  Iceland

  6·2

  5·3

  —

  Israel 1987 11·1

  10·01

  N/A

  —

  Malta

  9·2

  10·6

  —

  Norway

  8·3

  N/A

  —

  Poland

  16·2

  16·0

  —

  Romania

  25·3

  26·9

  —

  Sweden 1987 6·1

  5·81

  6·01

  —

  Switzerland

  6·8

  7·3

  —

  Yugoslavia

  24·5

  23·71

  —

  Notes:Deaths under 1 year per 1,000 live births.

  Data, except for United Kingdom, from WHO European Regional Office Indicator Presentation System.

  1Provisional from other sources.

  Maternal mortality in the United Kingdom, EEC countries and countries in the WHO European Region.

  Area

  1988

  1989

  1990

  United Kingdom

  6·3

  7·7

  17·8

  Other EEC countries

  Belgium 1986 3·4

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  Denmark

  3·4

  n/a

  —

  France

  9·3

  n/a

  —

  German Federal Republic

  8·9

  5·3

  —

  Greece

  5·6

  n/a

  —

  Irish Republic

  1·8

  n/a

  —

  Italy

  7·6

  n/a

  —

  Luxembourg

  0·0

  0·0

  —

  Netherlands

  9·6

  n/a

  —

  Portugal

  6·6

  10·1

  —

  Spain 1986 5·5

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  Others in WHO European Region

  Austria

  5·7

  7·9

  —

  Bulgaria

  9·4

  18·7

  —

  Czechoslovakia

  13·0

  9·6

  —

  Finland

  11·1

  n/a

  —

  German Democratic Republic

  14·8

  11·6

  —

  Hungary

  16·9

  15·4

  —

  Iceland

  0·0

  0·0

  —

  Israel 1987 3·0

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  Malta

  0·0

  0·0

  —

  Norway

  3·5

  n/a

  —

  Poland

  11·6

  10·7

  —

  Romania 1984 148·8

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  Sweden 1987 4·8

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  Switzerland

  10·0

  3·7

  —

  Yugoslavia

  16·3

  n/a

  —

  Deaths attributed to complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium per 100,000 live births.
  128
  Data, except for United Kingdom, from WHO European Regional Office Indicator Presentation System.

  1Provisional from other sources.

  Perinatal mortality rates in the United Kingdom, EEC countries and countries in the WHO European Region.

  Area

  1988

  1989

  1990

  United Kingdom

  8·8

  8·3

  18·1

  Other EEC countries

  Belgium 1986 10·4

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  Denmark

  7·4

  n/a

  —

  France

  9·2

  8·9

  —

  German Federal Republic 1986 7·6

  16·5

  16·4

  —

  Greece

  12·9

  112·1

  —

  Irish Republic 1987 10·3

  111·3

  19·9

  —

  Italy

  12·0

  111·0

  —

  Luxembourg

  18·1

  27·1

  —

  Netherlands

  9·2

  19·6

  —

  Portugal

  15·2

  14·6

  —

  Spain 1986 10·6

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  Others in WHO European Region

  Austria

  7·4

  n/a

  —

  Bulgaria 1986 11·8

  110·9

  10·6

  —

  Czechoslovakia 1985 12·7

  n/a

  9·6

  —

  Finland

  8·4

  n/a

  —

  German Democratic Republic

  18·8

  n/a

  —

  Hungary 1986 18·3

  115·8

  14·6

  —

  Iceland

  20·8

  14·3

  —

  Israel

  110·3

  n/a

  —

  Malta

  13·8

  15·9

  —

  Norway 1987 7·9

  18·2

  n/a

  —

  Poland

  14·7

  n/a

  —

  Romania 1985 112·4

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  Sweden 1986 7·5

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  Switzerland 1986 7·7

  17·2

  n/a

  —

  Yugoslavia

  16·4

  n/a

  —

  Notes:

  Deaths 0–6 days + stillbirths per 1,000 total births.

  Data, except for United Kingdom from WHO European Regional Office Indicator Presentation System.

  1 Provisional from other sources.

  Neonatal mortality rates in the United Kingdom, EEC countries and countries in the WHO European region

  Area

  1988

  1989

  1990

  United Kingdom

  4·9

  4·7

  14·5

  Other EEC countries

  Belgium 1986 5·2

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  Denmark

  4·6

  14·7

  —

  France

  4·1

  13·8

  —

  German Federal Republic

  4·0

  14·0

  —

  Greece 1987 8·5

  18·1

  16·6

  —

  Irish Republic 1987 4·3

  15·3

  14·3

  —

  Italy 1986 7·9

  17·5

  16·5

  —

  Luxembourg

  4·3

  16·4

  —

  Netherlands

  4·6

  14·6

  —

  Portugal

  8·6

  18·1

  —

  Spain 1985 5·9

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  Others in WHO European region

  Austria

  4·7

  14·9

  —

  Bulgaria 1987 7·9

  17·4

  n/a

  —

  Czechoslovakia

  8·1

  17·8

  —

  Finland 1987 4·2

  13·9

  n/a

  —

  German Democratic Republic

  15·0

  n/a

  —

  Hungary

  11·8

  n/a

  —

  Iceland

  4·1

  n/a

  —

  Israel

  16·5

  n/a

  —

  Malta

  6·3

  n/a

  —

  Norway 1987 4·7

  14·5

  n/a

  —

  Poland

  11·6

  111·5

  —

  Romania 1984 8·8

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  Sweden 1987 3·8

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  129

  Area

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Switzerland

  4·2

  14·4

  —

  Yugoslavia

  13·5

  n/a

  —

  Notes:Deaths under 28 days per 1,000 live births.

  Data, except for United Kingdom, from WHO European Regional Office Indicator Presentation System.

  1 Provisional from other sources.

  Oral Tobacco
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether, prior to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State's attendance at the EC Health Ministers Council in November, he commissioned an independent review of the scientific evidence offered by the European Commission in support of its proposed ban on oral tobacco.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We receive independent advice on the health hazards posed by oral snuff from the Committee on Carcinogenicity, an independent advisory committee to the Department of Health.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the published scientific evidence studied by his Department in support of the EC directive banning oral tobacco, before the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State attended the EC Health Ministers Council in November.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The list of published scientific evidence is extensive. I will therefore send my hon. Friend a copy of the list and place a copy in the Library.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to reinstate free sight tests for(a) all age groups and (b) elderly people.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have made provision for vulnerable members of the community such as children, adults on low incomes and those with certain special needs to continue to be entitled to free sight tests but we believe that those who can afford to pay should do so.

  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the continued imposition of a charge for NHS sight tests.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have received a number of representations. There is no charge for NHS sight tests: they continue to be available free to the most vulnerable groups in the community, accounting for approximately 40 per cent. of the population. There are no plans to change the current arrangements.

  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the numbers of people over pensionable age who presented themselves for sight tests in each year since 1988.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Baby Deaths (Doncaster)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the results of the epidemiological survey into the causes of brain damage to babies at Doncaster royal 130
  infirmary will be complete; with what other areas and hospitals it is being compared; and if copies of the findings will be sent to the Doncaster Members of Parliament and the Doncaster community health council.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Trent regional health authority has appointed two experts from outside the region to determine whether or not the occurrence of brain damaged births within the Doncaster district is comparable with other districts, and if necessary in the light of findings to make any recommendations. I understand that the study should be completed by March 1992. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Michael Carlisle, the chairman of Trent regional health authority, for details.

  Dysentry
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by month for the last 12 months the number of cases of dysentry that have been confirmed in the United Kingdom, the locations of the outbreaks and the cause of the outbreaks.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In the year 1991 to week 49, there have been community outbreaks of dysentry in the following towns and cities in England and Wales: Grimsby; Manchester; Leeds; Bradford; Hull; Scunthorpe; Halifax; Huddersfield; Cardiff; Bristol; Darlington; Easington; Carmarthen; Haverfordwest; Gainsborough; Sheffield; Doncaster; Birmingham.

  The PHLS communicable disease surveillance centre has received 9,006 reports of isolations of shigella sonnei, the main causative organisms for dysentry in this country, from laboratories in England and Wales in 1991. They are as listed in the table, with weeks 49 to 52 of 1990 included to complete a 12-month period.

  Weeks

  Total

  1990

  49–52

  314

  1991

  1–4

  367

  5–8

  237

  9–12

  417

  13–16

  707

  17–20

  821

  21–24

  806

  25–28

  905

  29–32

  947

  33–36

  449

  37–40

  504

  41–44

  970

  45–48

  1,471

  Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  Food Hygiene
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when registration of premises used for food business will be a statutory requirement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Food Premises (Registration) Regulations 1991 have been laid before Parliament. The objective of these regulations is to ensure that local authorities responsible for the enforcement of food
  131
  legislation have information about the food businesses operating in their area so that they can target their enforcement resources to those which represent the highest risk to health. The regulations take effect on 1 February 1992. Existing businesses must register with their local authority by 30 April 1992. There will be a national publicity campaign to alert the owners of food businesses to the new requirements.

  Hypothermia
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has received any statistical data relating to the above-average deaths from hypothermia and related conditions during or arising from the severe cold weather in the first half of February 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys analysis of the excess deaths in February 1991 shows that there were a total of 15 deaths where hypothermia was mentioned as a cause of death.

  Carers
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will outline the services available for carers now supporting elderly and disabled people in the community.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The provision of practical support for carers is the second of the key objectives identified in the White Paper "Caring for People". In meeting carers' needs, health and local authorities should consult carers about their wishes and needs, and ensure that services are available. The King's Fund's recent publication "Focus on Carers", a copy of which will be placed in the Library, funded by the Department, outlines the kinds of services which can be made available to support carers. It is for health and local authorities to decide what services should be provided in their areas depending upon local needs and circumstances.

  NHS (Non-British Patients)
  Mr. Andrew Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of national health service expenditure is spent on treating non-British subjects who are bona-fide reciprocal arrangement patients;

  (2) what proportion of national health service annual expenditure is spent on patients who are not British subjects and whose country of origin has no reciprocal arrangements.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The possession of British nationality is not of itself a requirement for free NHS hospital treatment. Anyone not ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom has to pay for NHS hospital treatment unless he or she is covered by one of a number of specific exemptions, including reciprocal arrangements.

  Comprehensive information is not collected centrally on the cost to the NHS of treatment to patients exempted from charges.

  Mr. Andrew Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those countries which enjoy reciprocal arrangements whereby production of a national health service number is not necessary but where free treatment is available in the United Kingdom on production of an ID card of country of origin.
  132
  Mr. Dorrell
  The territories are as follows: Anguilla, Australia, Austria. Belgium, British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Channel Islands, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Falkland Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Irish Republic, Isle of Man, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Montserrat, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, St. Helena, Spain, Sweden, Turks and Caicos Islands, USSR and Yugoslavia.

  NHS (Patients' Numbers)
  Mr. Andrew Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients using national health service doctors' surgeries or receiving national health service treatment are asked to give their national health service number.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Cranage Hall Hospital
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice he has given to Mersey regional health authority about the possible establishment of a village community for mentally handicapped patients on the site of the Cranage Hall hospital; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will give details of the progress which has been made towards the closure, disposal and subsequent use of the Cranage Hall hospital and its grounds.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department does not offer advice about the future of specific hospitals. The future of services at Cranage Hall hospital is a matter for Crewe health authority.

  NHS Numbers
  Mr. Andrew Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new national health service numbers have been issued over the last three years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The national health service central register, which is part of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, controls the issue of national health service numbers in England and Wales.

  For births in England and Wales, the registrars of births and deaths issue a national health service number, on behalf of the national health service central register, as part of the process of the legal registration of the birth.

  Numbers issued this way over the last three years are:

  Midyear to mid year

  Number (000s)

  1988–89

  687·4

  1989–90

  691·6

  1990–91

  706·7

  Additionally, the national health service central register issues, centrally, national health service numbers where the allocation of a number is necessary in all circumstances other than birth. Examples are the allocation of numbers to immigrants and provision of a number in adoption cases but allocation can occur whenever a patient registers with a general practitioner without providing a number and the patient cannot be positively traced on the central register. The number of allocations have been:

  133

  Year

  Number (000s)

  1989

  153·2

  1990

  135·1

  1991

  1362·6

  1 The high number of allocations this year is a consequence of resolving queries during computerisation of the central register and a return to pre-1991 levels is expected in the future.

  (£ million)

  New construction and improvement

  Structural maintenance including bridge repair

  Other highway maintenance including lighting and road safely

  Total

  1980–81

  50·1

  66·2

  116·3

  1981–82

  48·0

  86·7

  134·8

  1982–83

  65·8

  78·6

  144·3

  1983–84

  58·2

  87·4

  145·7

  1984–85

  54·9

  88·2

  143·1

  1985–86

  64·6

  89·1

  153·7

  1986–87

  66·9

  97·3

  164·2

  1987–88

  78·5

  109·6

  188·0

  1988–89

  63·4

  115·7

  179·0

  1989–90

  73·3

  47·5

  77·1

  197·8

  1990–911

  78·3

  58·8

  75·1

  212·2

  1991–921

  97·4

  65·5

  76·8

  239·7

  Figures do not necessarily acid up because of rounding.

  Separate figures for structural and current maintenance were not collected before 1989–90.

  1 Provisional figures.

  Schools Budget
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide, on a basis consistent with the answer of 14 October 1991,Official Report, columns 68–73, a list of local

  Extent of LEAs delegation to schools in 1991–92

  Local Education Authority

  PSB Delegated to Schools

  PSB not Delegated per pupil in

  Central Administration as proportion of PSB

  Schools with Delegated Budgets in

  1991–92

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1991–92

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  (£)

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  West Glamorgan

  84·30

  85·16

  284

  1·8

  2·1

  14

  South Glamorgan

  83·96

  85·49

  270

  3·2

  3·4

  32

  Dyfed

  83·36

  80·65

  285

  4·0

  3·9

  0

  Mid Glamorgan

  82·60

  81·58

  313

  4·9

  5·0

  39

  Clwyd

  82·50

  81·90

  300

  4·8

  5·0

  74

  Powys

  82·19

  82·07

  336

  4·5

  4·0

  100

  Gwynedd

  82·18

  82·48

  328

  5·5

  5·2

  37

  Gwent

  81·79

  81·71

  320

  3·9

  3·9

  52

  National Averages

  82·90

  82·59

  301

  4·0

  4·0

  38

  Notes:1 It should be noted that the figures are not readily comparable across LEAs because of variations in the treatment of items of expenditure in relation to the General Schools Budget (GSB) from which the PSB is derived.

  2 The PSB consists of the GSB less expenditure on certain excepted items: capital expenditure; expenditure supported by central government grants; and expenditure on school meals, home to school transport and transitional exceptions such as grounds maintenance. From 1993 LEAs are required to delegate a minimum of 85 per cent. of PSB to schools.

  3 The 1990–91 details are taken from the outturn budget statements for 1990–91 where they are available.

  4 Pupil numbers have been taken from the latest statistical information available to the Department ie, the September 1991 STATS 1 forms.

  5 The percentages stated may differ from the percentages calculated by individual LEAs because of the effects of rounding.

  Housing Statistics Land Sales
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the latest available estimate of the number of houses in multiple occupation in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information requested is not available.

WALES

  Highways
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will show total expenditure by all Welsh local highway authorities from 1980–81 to 1991–92 on(a) new construction and improvement, (b) structural maintenance and (c) current maintenance.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Expenditure since 1980 is as follows:

  education authorities in rank order by the proportion of the potentiel schools budget held back in 1991–92 showing in each case the proportion held back in 1990–91.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information in the table:

  Land Scales
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much land has been sold in the last few years by his Department giving the acreage and the estimated receipts.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In the last three financial years up to 31 March 1991, 177·4 acres of land were sold by my
  135
  Department amounting to estimated receipts of £9,697,000. In addition the Forestry Commission sold 8,057 acres of forest land and 2,119 acres of non-forest land on behalf of my Department. The receipts for the forest land amounted to £5,269,000. Records of receipts for non-forest land are not kept separately by country and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Severn Bridge
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales from what time signs on the M4 in the area of Newport indicated the closure on Sunday 8 December of the Severn bridge and the M4; and at what time the signs were switched off.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Signs in the Gwent police area indicating a bridge closure were set at 20:48 hours. The incident was dealt with and the messages displayed on the signs were removed at 23:17 hours, when it was considered safe to allow traffic to resume using the crossing.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what alternative route was signposted for drivers during the closure of Severn bridge and part of the M4 on Sunday 8 December; and why the chosen route was recommended.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  During the closure of the Severn bridge, traffic was diverted along the A449, A40, M50 and M5 roads. This is the recognised and pre-arranged diversionary route.

  A low bridge at the Gloucestershire village of Newnham makes the A48 road unsuitable as a diversionary route, although there is little doubt that drivers of light vehicles such as cars and motorcycles who had knowledge of this route, chose to use it.

  Hospital Trusts
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to meet health board chairmen to discuss(a) hospital trusts and (b) finance.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend last met district health authority chairmen on 20 November and intends to meet them again on 25 March 1992.

  Cockles
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to prevent overfishing of the foreshore cocklebeds.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The gathering of cockles is, where appropriate, regulated through byelaws made by sea fisheries committees.

  University of Wales
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish target student intake figures for each constituent college in the university of Wales in each year from the current year until 1998; and state in each case what proportion of the intake is estimated to come from schools within Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  There are no target intake figures set centrally for universities. The number of students in the 136
  constituent colleges of the university of Wales being funded by the Universities Funding Council in 1991–92 are:

  Number

  Aberystwyth

  3,485

  Bangor

  2,882

  Cardiff

  7,148

  St. David's Lampeter

  812

  Swansea

  4,235

  College of Medicine

  980

  For the years from 1993–94, subject to parliamentary approval of the Further and Higher Education Bill, funding of higher education institutions in Wales will be the responsibility of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales. No assumption is made centrally about the proportion of entrants to the university of Wales that come from schools within Wales.

  Lesser Horseshoe Bats
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will produce guidelines for local planning authorities in Wales so as to enable them to ensure the survival of roosts of lesser horseshoe bats; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 gives special protection to horseshoe bats. Guidance on the operation of these controls is contained in Welsh Office Circular 38/82 (DOE24/82), Welsh Office Circular 52/87 (DOE27/87) and in the joint Welsh Office/DOE booklet "Planning—a Householders Guide".

  Welsh Water plc
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent consultations he has had and proposes to have with the Director General of OFWAT concerning the diversification proposals of Welsh Water plc with the public electricity supply industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The diversification proposals of Welsh Water plc are a matter for the company and its shareholders. The Water Industry Act 1991 and the licence appointing water and sewerage companies protects the core business, in this case Dwr Cymru Cyfymgedig, and the interests of customers. The Director General of Water Services has amended the licence to ensure sufficent information is available to allow him to protect the interests of customers.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the Director General of OFWAT concerning the commercial value and content of the consultancy work placed by Welsh Water plc with the LEK Partnership since Mr. lain Evans became a non-executive director of Welsh Water.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  None. This is a matter for the company and its shareholders.

  Welsh Health Common Services Authority
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority concerning the
  137
  units of administrative headquarters work for that authority which are to be relocated to the new headquarters building at the Roath basin, Cardiff; if those units unclude the artifical limb and appliance service, currently based at Rookwood hospital, Llandarf, Cardiff and the National Blood Transfusion Service currently co-located with the Prince of Wales hospital, Rhydlafar, Llantrisant road, Cardiff; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  A full option appraisal was prepared by the authority, which considered various alternatives for its relocation. The appraisal concluded that neither the artifical limb and appliance service nor the National Blood Transfusion Service should be housed in the proposed new accommodation due to the nature of the services they provide and the nature of the building in Roath basin.

  River Ely
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the National Rivers Authority regarding the deterioration in the water condition of the lower reaches and estuary of the River Ely; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The National Rivers Authority has a carefully planned strategy to improve the quality of the River Ely including the rebuilding of the sewage treatment works serving Tonyrefail, the construction of a new trunk sewer from Rhiwsaeson sewage treatment works to improve the quality of the River Clun, which flows into the Ely, and the transfer of the effluent from the Cogan outfall to the proposed new sewage treatment works at Lavernock. The strategy is being vigorously pursued by the authority. A number of benefits have already accrued and there should be further major improvements in the next three to five years. My right hon. Friend sees no need to consult the authority's chairman in these circumstances.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total increase in spending by the national health service in Wales in each year since 1979 after adjustment for the health costs deflator.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  In order to show the dramatic difference between the funding of the NHS under a Labour Government and under this administration I have taken the opportunity to provide the information requested by the hon. Gentleman for each year since 1974. He will note the marked improvement under this Government compared with the period 1974–79.

  Year

  NHS gross expenditure adjusted for changes in input unit costs1

  NHS gross expenditure adjusted by the GDP deflator

  £ million

  £ million

  (1990–91 prices)

  (1991–92 prices)

  1974–75

  1,106

  1,024

  1975–76

  1,153

  1,095

  1976–77

  1,146

  1,084

  1977–78

  1,189

  1,077

  1978–79

  1,235

  1,115

  1979–80

  1,204

  1,118

  1980–81

  1,223

  1,216

  1981–82

  1,284

  1,263

  138

  Year

  NHS gross expenditure adjusted for changes in input unit costs1

  NHS gross expenditure adjusted by the GDP deflator

  £ million

  £ million

  (1990–91 prices)

  (1991–92 prices)

  1982–83

  1,330

  1,301

  1983–84

  1,346

  1,320

  1984–85

  1,371

  1,360

  1985–86

  1,390

  1,375

  1986–87

  1,407

  1,432

  1987–88

  1,446

  1,506

  1988–89

  1,471

  1,571

  1989–90

  1,489

  1,598

  1990–91

  1,544

  1,652

  1991–92

  2—

  31,781

  Notes:

  1 Calculated against service inflation reflecting pay and price movements in English authorities.

  2 Index for 1991–92 is not available as estimates are not made until after the financial year has ended.

  3 Current provision.

  Changes in input volumes are an inadequate guide to the level of services the NHS can be expected to achieve since they do not reflect the continuing success of NHS management in increasing the efficiency with which it uses resources.

  The final column therefore gives expenditure in real terms after adjustment by the GDP deflator.

  Tenovus Cancer Research Centre
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had regarding the future funding and research activities of the Tenovus cancer research centre at the University hospital of Wales, Heath, Cardiff; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  To date I have received no official representations regarding the future funding and research activities of the Tenovus institute for cancer research located at the University hospital.

  Smoking
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to take as a result of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales report, "Implementation of Non-Smoking Policies in Hospitals in Wales 1987–89."

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My officials have today issued revised guidance to the NHS in Wales. Most patients and staff do not smoke and they are therefore entitled to a smoke-free environment. There should be a progressive move to no smoking by staff and patients, except in limited segregated smoking areas, to take effect by the end of 1993.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Hepatitis B
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of hepatitis B have occurred within each health board area during each of the last five years; and what fatalities have resulted therefrom.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is as follows:
  139

  Eastern

  Northern

  Southern

  Western

  Area unknown

  Total

  1986

  6

  2

  1

  1

  3

  13

  1987

  4

  2

  —

  1

  —

  7

  1988

  2

  1

  —

  2

  —

  5

  1989

  3

  2

  —

  3

  —

  8

  1990

  2

  —

  —

  2

  —

  4

  TOTAL 1986–90

  17

  7

  1

  9

  3

  37

  There was one fatality in the Western board in 1987 and one in the Eastern board in 1989.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what progress is being made in promoting an immunisation programme against hepatitis B in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what groups have been identified as at risk from hepatitis B; and if he can provide figures, as a percentage of each group, for those who have been immunised.

  Mr. Hanley
  Government policy is that only certain groups and individuals at high risk of contracting the disease should be immunised because of the low incidence of hepatitis B infection in the United Kingdom.

  Details of the groups and individuals for whom vaccination against hepatitis B should be considered are given in paragraphs 13.3.5 to 13.3.7 of the United Kingdom Health Departments' 1990 handbook on "Immunisation against Infectious Disease," a copy of which has been placed in the Library. As those at high risk are identified and immunised locally by occupational health physicians or family doctors immunisation figures are not maintained centrally.

  AIDS
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the year-by-year number of deaths from AIDS in each health board area.

  Mr. Hanley
  The number of persons with AIDS who are known to have died each year in Northern Ireland is given in the table. In line with the procedure followed in reports under the AIDS (Control) (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 and to safeguard confidentiality, actual figures in the range of one to nine reported in individual health board areas are not published.

  Number

  1985

  1

  1986

  —

  1987

  1

  1988

  1

  1989

  7

  1990

  9

  11991

  4

  1To 30 November.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are presently known to have tested HIV positive in each health board area; and how many of these have developed AIDS.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is as follows.
  140

  Cases diagnosed

  Board area

  HIV

  AIDS

  Eastern

  53

  15

  Northern

  10

  111

  Southern

  15

  Western

  13

  1In line with the procedure followed in reports under the AIDS (Control) (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 and to safeguard individual confidentiality actual figures in the range of one to nine in individual board areas are not published.

  HIV
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if all nursing, medical and auxiliary staff in hospitals, general practices and on-district duties are formally notified when they are dealing with HIV positive patients.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is the responsibility of health and social services boards to ensure that an assessment is made of the risk of HIV infection to staff from their patients and, with due regard to confidentiality, to inform those who need to know of the potential danger.

  Swimming Lessons
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many primary schools in each of the education and library board areas which were participating in swimming instruction programmes before the introduction of the local management of schools system of funding have now ceased to do so; and if he will give numbers for each of the years 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92.

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

  Cross-border Terrorism
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has had specific discussions at meetings of the Anglo-Irish Conference about Republican terrorist incidents with a cross-frontier element which have occurred in Northern Ireland since 1 January 1990; and whether he has had any commitment from the Irish Republic that further security measures are to be put in place.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Discussions on security matters form a major part of the business of all Anglo-Irish Conference meetings. Both Governments have been constant in their determination to achieve the greatest possible security co-operation. Progress has been made in a number of areas, including joint threat assessment, liaison structures,
  141
  technical co-operation and communications. The commitment of both Governments to improving the effectiveness of cross-border co-operation remains unswerving.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Republican terrorist incidents which have occurred in Northern Ireland since I January 1990 are estimated to have had a cross-frontier element; and if he will give details.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It would not be appropriate to disclose detailed information held by the Royal Ulster Constabulary about incidents in which charges may be brought.

  Castlereagh (Ill-treatment Allegations)
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how much of the compensation paid for alleged ill-treatment in Castlereagh holding centre since June 1989 to clients represented by solicitors Madden and Finucane, was made by way of out-of-court settlements; how many of these complaints were substantiated by the Independent Commission for Police Complaints; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how much compensation has been paid for alleged ill-treatment in Castlereagh holding centre since June 1989 to individuals other than clients represented by solicitors Madden and Finucane; what proportion was made by way of out-of-court settlements; how many of these complaints were substantiated by the Independent Commission for Police Complaints; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information about compensation payments is not available in the form requested. Compensation claims against the Chief Constable and complaints against individual members of the RUC are handled separately. Persons claiming compensation do not necessarily allege misconduct by individual officers and records held by the RUC and the police authority do not show whether these persons have also made complaints; nor do their records, or those of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints, show whether complainants are also seeking compensation. The commission, however, in its annual reports, provides information on complaints made by persons arrested under the emergency legislation. From the period 1 January 1989 to 30 September 1991, it dealt with 1,065 such cases of complaint. In 788 cases, the complainant failed to co-operate with the investigating officer, 31 cases were withdrawn and 245 were regarded as unsubstantiated because of insufficient evidence. The commission considered one case to have been substantiated, and the officer concerned was subsequently found not guilty of a disciplinary offence.

  Terrorist Murders
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the number of terrorist murders for the period 15 November 1984 to 14 November 1985 and for each succeeding comparable period until 14 November 1991.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  A total of 469 murders, believed to be terrorist-related, were committed during the period 15 November 1984 to 14 November 1991.

  The figures for each successive 12-month period are as follows:
  142

  Number

  1984–85

  43

  1985–86

  58

  1986–87

  80

  1987–88

  82

  1988–89

  54

  1989–90

  70

  1990–91

  82

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will detail the percentage of murders in each of the last six years which are attributable to(a) republican terror groups and (b) Loyalist terror groups.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Set out in the table are the percentage of murders believed to have been carried out by republican and loyalist groups.

  Republican groups

  Loyalist groups

  per cent.

  per cent.

  1985

  89

  11

  1986

  75

  25

  1987

  79

  21

  1988

  74

  26

  1989

  68

  32

  1990

  71

  29

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Badgers
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy that any licence issued under section 4 of the Badgers Act 1991 should(a) be to a named individual, (b) refer to a specific badger sett, (c) specify the circumstances under which sett interference may occur and (d) be for a limited period of time.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 12 December at col.550.

  Vegetarian Diets
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the research projects his Ministry is funding into the nutritional aspects of vegetarian diets, giving the amount spent on each project, the establishment where the work is being carried out, and when the project is due to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  My Department is funding one project on nutritional aspects of vegetarian diets. The project is entitled "The Effects of Vegetarian Diet on Hormone Levels and Risks of Osteoporosis". The research is being done in the Department of Chemical Pathology at University College London and the Middlesex School of Medicine. The project will be completed on 17 February 1993 at a cost of £150,000. It is aimed at studying the effects of a vegetarian diet on bone density in women aged 30–55 years. The data gained overall will be of importance to the Department in its responsibility for giving dietary advice to population groups who may be at risk of developing disease.
  143
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what scientific evidence he has of(a) nutritional or (b) other deficiencies of' a diet which contains no meat; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  This Ministry is committed to the promotion of healthy eating. This is based on a balanced diet, which normally contains a proper proportion of meat. Those who do not eat meat need to take extra care that their diet contains enough of all the nutrients for health. Meat is a particularly rich source of B vitamins and well absorbed minerals, including iron. People habitually consuming diets which contain little or no meat may need higher iron intakes and thus diet selection needs to be made with much more care. Adolescent girls who avoid meat may be particularly at risk of iron deficiency.

  Irradiated Food
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his current policy in respect of seeking an exemption under the EC rules for food labelling for irradiated ingredients: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I am fully committed to providing consumers with information on food labels to enable them to choose between foods which have been irradiated and those which have not. Rules for the labelling of all foods and listed food ingredients which have been irradiated have already been agreed by the EC. Further proposals on food irradiation currently before the Council of Ministers include more detailed rules on the labelling of irradiated ingredients. I am seeking to ensure that the further requirements on ingredient declarations are as comprehensive as practicable.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Severe Hardship
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how long it takes to process a claim by an under 18-year-old for income support on grounds of severe hardship.

  Mr. Jack
  Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, has informed me that separate information about the processing of claims from under 18-year-olds on grounds of severe hardship is not available. However, the average clearance time for all income support claims was 3·1 days in October 1991. Claims from under l8-year-olds are given priority and a direction for income support under the severe hardship provision is made within 24 hours of the customer being interviewed in the local office.

  Source: Benefits Agency management information systems database.

  Income Support
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the number of pensioners who are in receipt of income support.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 5 November at column 82.

  There are about 1·4 million pensioners in receipt of income support where "pensioners" is taken to mean
  144
  income support claimants who also receive retirement pension. The number is about 1·7 million if the definition is taken as income support claimants aged 60 or over.

  Source: 1990 Annual Statistical Enquiry.

  Local Offices
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide translation and interpretation facilities in local offices to meet the needs of the ethnic minorities communities.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The provision of translation and interpreting services in local offices is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what number and proportion of unemployed people were receiving(a) income support only, (b) unemployment benefit only, (c) income support and unemployment benefit, broken down by sex in each case, at the date for which the most up-to-date information is available.

  Mr. Jack
  The latest information is shown in the table.

  Income support only

  Unemployment benefit only

  Income support Unemployment benefit

  Males

  969,906

  315,290

  93,094

  (55 per cent.)

  (18 percent.)

  (5 per cent.)

  Females

  242,460

  137,865

  9,062

  (14 per cent.)

  (8 per cent.)

  (1 percent.)

  Note: This information is taken from the Unemployment Benefit Statistics Quarterly Analysis of Unemployed Claimants, May 1991, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  The figures in brackets illustrate the number shown as a percentage of all unemployed people receiving benefits for unemployment.

  Maxwell Companies (Pension Funds)
  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) whether he has received any representations before 5 November 1991 from the Investment Management Regulatory Organisation about the pension funds of any companies of which the late Robert Maxwell was a director;

  (2) whether he has received any representations before 5 November 1991 from the Occupational Pension Board about the pension funds of any companies of which the late Robert Maxwell was a director.

  Miss Widdecombe
  No such representations were received.

  Social Fund Inspectors
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many social fund inspectors were employed on 31 October;

  (2) how many applications for review by a social fund inspector were outstanding for more than one month on 31 October.
  145
  Mr. Scott
  I am informed by the Social Fund Commissioner that on 31 October 1991 there were 66 social fund inspectors employed and 3,043 review applications outstanding for more than one month.

  Pension Equalisation
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make a statement on the effect of the protocol relating to equalisation of pensions signed at Maastricht;

  (2) when he expects to introduce legislation to enforce the protocol on equalisation of pension ages signed at Maastricht; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The implications of the protocol are still being discussed.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to issue the Government's discussion paper on equalisation of pension age for the state scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The discussion paper "Options for Equality in State Pension Age"—which, as I said when I made my statement to the House on 26 June, will help to inform debate by exploring the issues and providing background information—will be published tomorrow.

  Occupational Pension Funds
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will bring forward regulations relating to(a) the disclosure of information on occupational pension funds arising from the Social Security Act 1988, (b) limited price indication, (c) self-investment (both arising from the Social Security Act 1990) and (d) contracting-out rebates for the next quinquennium.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We shall bring forward amending regulations relating to disclosure of information in the new year, shortly after the publication of a booklet giving guidance to trustees on the exercise of their function.

  Implementation of limited price indexation was delayed because of the uncertainties arising from the Barber judgment. In the light of the Maastricht protocol we are considering whether and when the necessary regulations should now be introduced. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) on 12 December at column 527 in relation to self-investment regulations, and my reply to the hon. Member on 15 November at column 685 in relation to the contracting-out rebate.

  Chief Adjudication Officer's Report
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the seventh annual report of the Chief Adjudication Officer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The report is being published today. Its findings point to improvement in some areas of adjudication, including those in the Employment Service, while in some others, standards remain disappointing. The Chief Adjudication Officer welcomes the positive response made to the majority of recommendations in his 1989–90 report, and goes on to make further recommendations to build on the progress made so far. He welcomes the 146
  commitment of the chief executives of both the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service to the improvement of adjudication standards as an integral part of customer service.

  The recommendations are being considered, and will be the subject of a formal response in due course.

  Benefits
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been, in percentage terms, the proportion to the index of average earnings, for a family consisting of husband, wife, and two children aged five and 10, of(a) child benefit, (b) unemployment benefit and (c) sickness benefit during the first six months of sickness, for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 16 December 1991]: For many families, unemployment benefit and sickness benefit are not the sole sources of benefit income.

  The information requested is given in the table:

  Date1

  Child benefit (per cent. of earnings)

  Unemployment benefit (per cent. of earnings)

  Sickness benefit (per cent. of earnings)

  November 1979

  7·0

  29·2

  29·2

  November 1980

  7·0

  26·6

  26·6

  November 1981

  7·0

  25·4

  25·4

  November 1982

  7·3

  25·6

  25·6

  November 1983

  7·4

  25·1

  24·1

  November 1984

  7·3

  24·5

  23·5

  November 1985

  7·0

  24·7

  23·6

  July 1986

  6·7

  23·6

  22·6

  April 1987

  6·5

  22·7

  21·7

  April 1988

  5·9

  21·5

  20·6

  April 1989

  5·4

  20·8

  19·9

  April 1990

  4·9

  20·4

  19·6

  April 1991

  4·8

  20·9

  20·0

  1 Date used is month of uprating for the year in question.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the number of pensioners who are in receipt of housing benefit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In May 1990, there were 2,067,000 housing benefit cases in Great Britain where either the claimant, or the partner, or both were aged 60 or over.

  Source: Housing Benefit Management Information System annual 1 per cent. sample May 1990.

DEFENCE

  Women Employees
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women are employed in each of the top three civil servant grades in his Department.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  At present, none. My Department did not recruit women into the fast stream until 1971 and those in the first intakes have yet to attain the most senior positions.

  RNAD Ernesettle
  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends announcing his decision about the future of RNAD Ernesettle; and if he will make a statement.
  147
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I shall announce a decision after giving full consideration to the representations made by the trade unions and other interested parties.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the competitive tendering process.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I believe that competition in the procurement of defence equipment has been successful in providing value for money both to my Department and to the taxpayer. This assessment is supported by the Committee of Public Accounts in its recent report on "Initiatives in Defence Procurement".

  Diversification
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about diversification in the defence industry.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Decisions affecting the future of a company, including its product lines, are best left to the commercial judgment of its management.

  Peace-keeping Forces
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account he has taken of future United Kingdom involvement in European and United Nations peace-keeping forces in determining the reorganisation of British regiments.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The size and structure of Britain's Army for the 1990s has been determined in the light of a thorough assessment of its likely future commitments.

  Horses (Ceremonial Duties)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on procuring additional horses for ceremonial purposes during the past year; from which sources the horses were procured; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A total of £170,000 was spent in 1990–91 on horses purchased from the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. About 55 horses are purchased each year to replace those which are retired from active duty.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the military effectiveness of individual units is one of the factors he is taking into account in deciding the fate of Territorial Army battalions.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. There is no objective definition of military effectiveness, which is therefore not a suitable criterion to use in formulating such decisions.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future role and size of the Territorial Army.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made on 10 December at columns 733–48.

  Nuclear Testing
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, when he next meets the Secretary General of NATO, he will discuss with him the implications of a moratorium on nuclear testing.

  Mr. King
  I last met the Secretary General of NATO at the NATO Defence Planning Committee in Brussels on 12 and 13 December.

  Scottish Regiments
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current total numbers of regiments recruited in Scotland and the projected numbers after the envisaged cutbacks in the number of battalions.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are currently 12 regiments from the Infantry, Royal Armoured Corps and Royal Artillery who recruit from Scotland. Following restructuring there will be 10. Other arms and services are drawn from all parts of the United Kingdom, including Scotland.

  Property Sales
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much Ministry of Defence property has been sold in the last five years; and what value was received for it.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In the five years to 1990–91, the last year for which records are complete, the Ministry of Defence sold its freehold interest in land totalling 7,280 acres, and 8,073 service and civilian dwellings which, taken together, generated receipts totalling £454 million.

  Libya
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions Ministers and officials of his Department have had with their Libyan counterparts over the last five years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None.

  Sleeping Accommodation
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total of unused sleeping accommodation on Ministry of Defence premises in the Greater London area and surrounding counties.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

  Royal Navy
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for reductions in personnel and vessels in the Royal Navy.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Our plans to move to a smaller and better equipped Navy remain as set out in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1991. We will move to these lower force levels while introducing newer and more capable vessels. Navy manpower will reduce from the present total requirement of 63,000 to around 55,000 by the mid-1990s.

  Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the medical service of the Queen Elizabeth military hospital is for civilians.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  About 60 per cent of patients treated in 1990 were civilians (including service dependants).

  Iraq
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Her Majesty's Government first learned of the military testing role of the Al-Atheer site in Iraq.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Al-Atheer site was visited by the second (22 June to 3 July 1991) and fourth (27 July to 10 August 1991) nuclear inspections teams. The sixth nuclear inspection team (22 to 30 September 1991) confirmed the linkage between Al-Atheer and the Iraqi nuclear weapons programme.

  Royal Fleet Auxiliary
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will name the vessels currently in service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, giving the date of construction and the life expectancy of each vessel.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The names and construction completion dates of the ships currently in service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are listed below.

  Ship

  Completion date

  Olwen

  1965

  Olna

  1966

  Olmeda

  1965

  Grey Rover

  1970

  Blue Rover

  1970

  Gold Rover

  1974

  Black Rover

  1974

  Brambleleaf

  1976

  Bayleaf

  1982

  Orangeleaf

  1982

  Oakleaf

  1981

  Resource

  1967

  Regent

  1967

  Fort Grange

  1978

  Fort Austin

  1979

  Sir Bedivere

  1967

  Sir Geraint

  1967

  Sir Percivale

  1968

  Sir Tristram

  11965

  Sir Galahad

  1987

  Argus

  21988

  Diligence

  21984

  Notes:

  1Rebuilt in 1985.

  2 RFA in-service date after conversion from commercial use.

  All RFA vessels are maintained to Department of Transport and Lloyd's survey standards and their service life expectancy is kept under regular review. It is not our policy to provide details on the life expectancy of individual vessels.

  Naval Procurement
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which major naval procurement decisions are due in(a) the next three months, (b) the next six months and (c) the next financial year.
  150
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  On current plans we hope to make announcements on the order of further type 23 frigates, and on our procurement plans for an aviation support ship early next year. We plan to place the order for the fourth Trident submarine, subject to the satisfactory outcome of negotiations.

  HMS Challenger
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in relation to the shipping companies or others bidding for HMS Challenger; and what terms have been agreed to by his Department.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 8 July at column 285. The position is unchanged.

  "Options for Change"
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the number of Her Majesty's forces from whom he expects to receive requests for financial assistance in relation to housing finance in relation to the decline in numbers arising from "Options for Change", the proportion of these in Scotland, the total sums involved and the Scottish proportion, and information of the relationship between his Department and relevant local authorities in order to overcome the problems arising from service personnel leaving the forces in considerable numbers.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not possible to predict the number or geographical distribution of those leaving the armed forces over the next few years who might seek such assistance.

  My Department is liaising closely with the Department of the Environment and the Scottish Office concerning the problems which may be faced by those service personnel leaving the forces as a result of restructuring.

  Army Resources, York
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to inspect Army resources in York.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend visited units in north Yorkshire last month, although not York itself.

SCOTLAND

  Stonyetts Hospital
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of responding to the petitioners and others who made representations against the closure of Stonyetts hospital in terms of(a) administration and personnel, (b) stationery and (c) postage; and if he will indicate whether the latter was first or second class.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is as follows:(a) £3,796; (b) £318 and (c) £1,350.

  Of the 7,401 responses, only 130 were issued by first class post.

  Oak Trees
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Forestry Commission's policy on giving grants for the growing of traditional English oak, Quercus robur; and what proposals the European Commission has made on genetic purity of tree species.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 16 December 1991]: The Forestry Commission pays a higher rate of grant for the planting or regeneration of broadleaved species, including Quercus robur. In ancient semi-natural woodlands, the commission will grant-aid the establishment only of species which are appropriate to the ecology of the site; this will often include Quercus robur.

  EC directive No. 66/404 introduced arrangements for the registration of sources of good quality seed with the aim of improving the genetic quality of trees being used within the Community. EC directive No. 71/161 requires that tree seed offered for sale must have less than 1 per cent. impurities, which includes seed from another species. There are, however, derogations from these requirements in favour of the United Kingdom which permit the collection and planting of acorns from non-registered stands of native oak.

  Cetaceans
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made on the establishment of a programme for the retrieval of carcases of stranded small cetaceans in Scotland to conduct post-mortems on these animals and to analyse tissue samples for contaminants.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 16 December 1991]: A contract, funded by the Department of the Environment, has been offered to the veterinary investigation service of the Scottish Agricultural College. The co-ordinator for the programme of retrieval of carcases and research on stranded small cetaceans in Scotland is expected to take up post early in the new year.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what work is being carried out by his Department to investigate the status of small cetaceans and the threats facing them; and how much money has been allocated to this work each year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 16 December 1991]: The Department's scientists work closely with other researchers in the United Kingdom and take part in international groups such as the ICES study group on seals and small cetaceans. A number of groups are funding research into the status of the bottle-nosed dolphin colony in the Moray firth. The Government's own effort will he increased in 1992 with the appointment of a co-ordinator on strandings of cetaceans in Scotland and introduction of new arrangements for voluntary reporting of accidental capture of cetaceans by fishermen. Much of the Department's work is ad hoc, when strandings or accidental captures occur, and detailed costings of this effort are not available.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what budget has been allocated to the analysis of contaminant levels in stranded small cetaceans; and which body or institution will be conducting this work.
  152
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 16 December 1991]: Research on levels and significance of contaminants in small cetaceans is undertaken by Scottish Office scientists as part of a wider programme of studies on contaminants in the aquatic environment. Additional work on stranded or accidentally captured cetaceans will be undertaken next year and reports and analyses of strandings in Scotland will be co-ordinated through funds provided by DOE. A new system for fishermen to report, voluntarily, accidental capture of cetaceans is also being introduced. The full costs of this work will depend on the number of carcases reported and retrieved for analysis.

  Glenesk Foods, Brechin
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates he has made of the financial consequences for the local economy of the closure of the Glenesk Foods Ltd. factory in Brechin; and what action he intends to take.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 16 December 1991]: The information received by my Department from HL Foods indicates that the Glenesk Foods Ltd. factory in Brechin is not faced with complete closure. HL Foods has decided to cease the factory's canning operations but will continue to produce ready meals at the site. Such matters are best left to the commercial judgment of the company concerned.

  The local enterprise company, Scottish Enterprise Tayside, is actively involved in the soft fruit and vegetable industries in Tayside through a number of initiatives. The enterprise company has already held meetings with those involved at Glenesk Foods to establish the likely effect on soft fruit suppliers and to develop, in partnership with others, an action plan to minimise the effect of the job losses. The full range of Employment Service activities will also be available to assist those who have lost their jobs to gain employment.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farmers in Scotland have applied for the set-aside scheme for 1991–92; how many hectares of land are involved; what was the total expenditure for set-aside schemes for each year since 1988; how many farmers benefited; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 16 December 1991]: A total of 131 farmers have applied to enter the one-year set-aside scheme for 1991–92, proposing to set aside a total of 2,345 hectares; 122 farmers have applied to enter into an agreement under the five-year set-aside scheme, with effect from I October 1991, proposing to set aside a total of 4,542 hectares.

  Claims made and expenditure incurred on the five-year set-aside scheme are as follows:

  Set-aside year

  Number of claims

  Expenditure £

  1988–89

  364

  2,312,558

  1989–90

  529

  3,522,265

  Claims for the 1990–91 year, ended 30 September 1991, are currently being processed. It is estimated that 658 claims will be paid, amounting in total to £4,670,000.
  153
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which crops were proposed for each acre of agreed set-aside land for each year since 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 16 December 1991]: No agricultural crops may be produced on set-aside land. A green plant cover must be established on land set-aside as fallow, by sowing or by allowing the naturally occurring vegetation to regenerate. No plant species are prescribed for sown plant cover.

  Under the non-agricultural use option, set-aside land may be used to produce hay for horses or to grow crops intended as cover for game birds in a commercial shooting enterprise. Such cover crops must include a mixture of appropriate species and may not be harvested. No records are kept of the specific areas used for hay or game crops under this option.

  Helicopter Companies
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the regulations governing foreign ownership of British passenger fixed-wing airlines apply to British passenger helicopter companies.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have been asked to reply.

  There are no such regulations. However, under section 65(3) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, if the Civil Aviation Authority is not satisfied that an applicant for an air transport licence is either a United Kingdom national or a body specified in section 65(3), it must refuse to grant a licence unless the Secretary of State for Transport gives his consent. Similarly, under section 66(3) of the Act, if the CAA has reason to believe that the holder of a licence is no longer either a United Kingdom national or a body specified in section 65(3), it has a duty to inform the Secretary of State accordingly and, if he so directs, revoke the licence. Sections 65(3) and 66(3) of the 1982 Act apply both to passenger fixed-wing aircraft and to passenger helicopter companies.

  IMMIGRATION: DNA TEST
  IMMIGRATION: DNA TEST
  PEAT IMPORTS FROM THE IRISH REPUBLIC
  PEAT IMPORTS FROM THE IRISH REPUBLIC
  INTERNATIONAL SPACE YEAR FORUM: REPRESENTATION
  INTERNATIONAL SPACE YEAR FORUM: REPRESENTATION
  SOVIET AND RUSSIAN REPUBLICS: MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
  SOVIET AND RUSSIAN REPUBLICS: MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
  EC STAFF
  EC STAFF
  TURKISH BASES: COALITION FORCE
  TURKISH BASES: COALITION FORCE
  IRAQ: EXCLUSION ZONE
  IRAQ: EXCLUSION ZONE
  EAST TIMOR
  EAST TIMOR
  RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: UN CONVENTION
  RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: UN CONVENTION
  DENTAL SERVICES
  DENTAL SERVICES
  GAS SUPPLY
  GAS SUPPLY
  ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COUNCILS, 12th AND 13th DECEMBER
  ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COUNCILS, 12th AND 13th DECEMBER
  ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT: UN CONFERENCE
  ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT: UN CONFERENCE