Written Answers of 1 February 1991

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Political Science
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will include contemporary political issues in the syllabus for 14 to 16-year-olds.

  Mr. Eggar
  There is nothing to stop schools dealing with contemporary political issues subject to their legal duty to avoid political indoctrination and ensure that any political issues raised are given a balanced treatment of opposing views.

  Special Purpose Grants
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out, for the year 1991–92, the value per child(a) in each maintained sector school of the grants for education, support and training and (b) in each grant-maintained school for the special purpose grant (development).

  Mr. Eggar
  In 1991–92, the grant payable to local authorities under the grants for education support and training programme will represent nationally an average of some £28 per pupil in local education authority maintained schools. Special purpose grant (development) of some £41 per pupil will be available to grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much grant-maintained schools have been allocated for special purpose grant for staff redundancy; how many teaching and non-teaching posts have been removed; and how many teaching and non-teaching staff have been made redundant or taken early retirement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Up to 31 December 1990 approval had been given for special purpose grant for restructuring (SPG(R)) to be paid in respect of 52 teachers at grant-maintained schools. No approvals have been given in respect of non-teaching staff. Of the 52 teachers three received redundancy payments at a total cost of £29,800. A further three received voluntary severance terms at a total cost of £25,900. The remaining 46 teachers and the three receiving redundancy payments have received or will be receiving premature retirement compensation.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any changes to announce to cash limits on votes within his responsibility for 1990–91; and whether there are any proposals to amend his Department's running cost limit for 1990–91.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Subject to parliamentary approval to the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limits 642
  for class XI, vote 1, schools, research and miscellaneous services, and class XI, vote 2, higher and further education will be amended. The Department's running cost limit on class XI, vote 4 will also be increased. The cash limit changes are as follows:

  Class and vote

  Current cash limit £

  Change £

  Revised cash limit £

  XI.1

  657,650,000

  -1,500,000

  656,150,000

  XI.2

  3,115,983,000

  +1,500,000

  3,117,483,000

  The decrease on class XI, vote 1 results from slippage of certain projects in connection with research, development and implementation of the national curriculum. The token supplementary estimate also takes account of a transfer of provision for grant-in-aid to the Sports Council from the Department of the Environment to my Department.

  The increase on class XI, vote 2 is needed to offset reduced receipts to be appropriated in aid of the vote from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man for students attending higher education institutions in the United Kingdom; from the sale of property owned by the Royal College of Art to be reinvested in the college's redevelopment scheme; and from a decline in the proportion of Open university students from Northern Ireland. It also provides additional recurrent funds for the Royal College of Art to pay the rent on temporary accommodation for the school of painting following its move from a building owned by the Victoria and Albert museum.

  My Department's running cost limit will be increased by £193,000 from £80,686,000 to £80,879,000.

  These changes are within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Know-how Funds
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Nottingham, North regarding access to the know-how fund for local education authorities.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I replied to the hon. Gentleman's letter of 17 January on 31 January.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the joint assistance unit expects to meet the British Council to discuss the Brackenhurst college submission for support from the know-how fund.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I am writing to the hon. Member about this case.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in full the current disbursements under the Polish know-how fund.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The list of activities and their estimated expenditure which are being supported in 1990–91 from the Poland know-how fund is as follows:
  643

  Know-How Fund, Poland: Projects being funded 1990/91

  Aid Vote Projects

  Anticipated Expenditure

  £'000

  Banking and Finance

  Foreign Investment Agency

  357·0

  Privatisation Consultancies

  1,690·0

  Privatisation Foundation

  112·0

  Gdansk Research Centre

  32·0

  Gdansk Economic Foundation

  4·0

  Export Development Bank

  200·0

  Advanced Corporate Finance

  15·0

  Diagnostic Studies for Banks

  200·0

  Conference on Demonopolisation

  11·3

  Financial Seminars

  4·0

  New Banks - Unity Trust plc

  30·0

  National Banks of Poland - Lawyers

  2·0

  Insurance Regulators

  6·0

  Insurance Seminar

  10·0

  Insurance Consultancy

  300·0

  Assets and Liabilities

  30·0

  Stock Exchange Training

  70·0

  Total

  3073·3

  Management and Accountancy

  Accountancy Project Identification Mission (PIM)

  14·3

  Accountancy Training Project

  109·0

  Assistance with Auditing

  250·0

  Management Project Identification

  42·0

  Industrial Attachments

  300·0

  Management Educators

  25·0

  Regional Management Centres

  170·0

  Shipping Management

  20·0

  Total

  930·3

  Macroeconomic advice

  Computer Education

  8·0

  Ministry of Planning—Initial

  27·0

  Ministry of Planning—Follow-up

  70·0

  Industrial Competitiveness Research

  27·0

  Advice to Ministry of Finance

  202·0

  Total

  334·0

  Natural resources

  Section Project Identification Mission (PIM)

  5·0

  PIM Follow-up

  15·0

  Agros Vegetable Study

  55·0

  Krakow Vets Training

  42·0

  Seeds Sector Training

  55·0

  Total

  172·0

  Industry

  Vehicle Productivity Study—Phase I

  44·3

  Phase II

  123·4

  UNIDO Projects

  200·0

  National Business Services

  9·0

  Company Doctor Training

  431·0

  Industrial Restructuring

  122·0

  Industrial Competitiveness

  27·0

  Total

  956·7

  Energy

  Electric Utility

  403·0

  UNDP/World Bank Studies

  Hard Coal

  339·0

  Oil and Gas

  339·0

  Lignite and Electricity

  409·0

  Gas Pricing

  156·0

  Coal Industry Training (United Kingdom)

  130·0

  Pilot Course (Poland)

  10·5

  644

  £'000

  Coal Industry Training (Poland)

  45·0

  Total

  1,831·5

  Education and ELT

  Distance Education

  23·6

  Access to English

  319·2

  English for Management

  300·0

  VSO Teachers (English Language Lecturers)

  154·0

  Equipment for Education Ministry

  50·0

  Academic Links Programme

  185·0

  Training Awards Programme

  118·0

  Study Tour (Technical Education)

  15·0

  Book Sector Study

  29·0

  Total

  1,193·8

  Environment

  Assistance to Ministry of Environment

  20·0

  Carlisle/Slupsk-River Pollution Advice

  30·0

  Total

  50·0

  Local Government

  Equipment Supply

  20·0

  Department of Environment Mission

  8·0

  Training of Trainers

  186·0

  Foundation for local Democracy

  7·0

  Local Government Seminars

  12·0

  Training Needs Analysis

  5·0

  Total

  238·0

  Employment

  Employment: Sector PIM

  5·0

  Health and Safety

  Employment Services

  125·0

  Training

  Small Firms

  Total

  130·0

  Planning

  Urban Planning

  30·0

  Aid Co-ordination Adviser

  17·5

  Ministry of Physical Planning

  26·8

  Total

  74·3

  Telecommunications

  Telecommunications

  40·0

  Total

  40·0

  Railways

  Polish Railways Management

  150·0

  Railways Signalling Training

  15·8

  Total

  165·8

  Tourism

  Cracow Tourism Study

  20·5

  Total

  20·5

  Health

  Blood Plasma Study

  49·0

  Healthcare

  17·0

  645

  £'000

  AIDS Education

  47·6

  Pharmacy Training

  4·2

  Eurohealth Conference—Wroclaw

  11·0

  Total

  128·8

  Police

  Police Training

  30·0

  Total

  30·0

  Joint Ventures

  British Airports Authority

  41·0

  Simon Storage Gp Ltd·

  12·5

  COMTEC

  3·0

  Pilotweld

  21·0

  Total

  77·5

  BESO

  Fact Finding Mission

  3·0

  Total

  3·0

  AID Vote Total

  8,563·8

  Political Legal and Other

  British/Polish Legal Seminars

  30·0

  British/Polish Round Table

  10·0

  Placement of Polish Lawyers

  40·0

  British/Polish Commercial Law

  31·5

  Book Industry Training—Stage I

  70·0

  Book Industry Training—Stage II

  51·0

  Journalists—British Council/Thomson Foundation

  120·0

  Customs Assistance

  3·0

  Western Press

  20·0

  Tweedale Press Group

  20·0

  Photography—Delta Images

  2·8

  Trade Union Trading—Gdansk

  2·7

  Financial Journalists

  15·0

  OECD Contribution

  125·0

  Civics Education

  1·0

  Police

  4·5

  Ealing Language Courses

  45·0

  Restructuring Polish TV

  3·0

  World Service/Media

  190·0

  Cambridge University Seminar

  1·2

  Association of Countryside Rangers

  10·0

  Lecture Tour (Legal)

  1·0

  Warsaw School of Planning (Books)

  5·0

  Broadcasting

  2·0

  Jagiellonian Trust Seminars

  16·0

  Social Security Advice

  3·0

  Training Polish Diplomats

  53·2

  Information and Printing Technology Seminars

  8·0

  Polish Publishing House

  15·0

  Education for Democracy Textbook

  4·0

  Publishing Sales and Marketing Consultancy

  5·7

  Political Legal and other Total

  908·6

  GRAND TOTAL

  9,472·4

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of Strate for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have been made in the 1990–91 cash limit for expenditure by the Overseas Development Administration.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit on the 646
  overseas aid vote (class II, vote 5) will be increased by £1,444,000 from £1,477,509,000 to £1,478,953,000. The increase reflects adjustments to the aid programme including a contribution from the Scottish Office to the costs of the St. Helena ship. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  Commonwealth Foundation
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Commonwealth Foundation on its activities for 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is represented on the board of governors of the Commonwealth Foundation by the British governor, Dr. John Wood. The board meets regularly to establish the foundation's policy and future activities.

  Reforming European Economies
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his overall strategic approach to aid and assistance to the reforming east European and central European economies.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The main strategic aid is to help in the establishment of a plural democracy and to facilitate the transition from a centrally planned to a free market economy. The know-how fund is our main bilateral instrument for achieving these overall aims. Assistance under the know-how fund is concentrated on help in the financial sector, particularly privatisation, banking arid accountancy; in the employment sector; in the development of small businesses; in management training; and in assistance to parliamentarians, the media and legal structures.

ENERGY

  Mine Workings
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what were the findings of the Government-commissioned Harris research survey into attitudes to British Coal's arrangements for the notification of past and proposed mine workings; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon.Friend the Member for Sherwood (Mr. Stewart), on 20 April 1990 at column 1035.

  British Coal intends to introduce on a voluntary basis in February a pilot scheme for individually notifying householders that their property might be affected by subsidence damage as a result of underground mining operations. The intention is that these arrangements will be introduced nationally from June. The recently published Coal Mining Subsidence Bill, once enacted, will make the individual notification of householders a statutory requirement.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether any changes will be made to his Department's cash limits for 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.
  647
  Mr. Wakeham
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the following changes will be made.

  The cash limit for class V, vote 2 will be increased by £27,033,000 from £298,562,000 to £325,595,000. This extra provision sought includes £27,141,000 for UKAEA programmes mainly for additional requirements on decommissioning and radioactive waste management operations, together with restructuring costs related to the thermal reactor safety programme and to the closure of the Winfrith reactor. Extra provision of £3,700,000 to meet an increased contribution towards British Coal's topping cycle project and £34,000 to cover residual Oil Pipelines Agency costs is also required. The increases sought will be partially offset by savings of £3,842,000 on class V, vote 2.

  The cash limit for class V, vote 3 will be increased by £586,000 from £40,117,000 to £40,703,000. This extra provision is sought to meet an increase of £655,000 on the running costs limit (from £41,970,000 to £42,625,000), including additional costs arising from the implementation of the report of the public inquiry into the Piper Alpha disaster; £81,000 for additional information technology requirements; and £20,000 for increased costs in connection with the Ocean Odyssey fatal acccident inquiry. The increases sought will be partially offset by savings of £120,000 together with an increase of £50,000 in appropriations in aid on class V, vote 3.

  The increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  Geothermal Hot Dry Rock Technology
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he intends to end the research programme into geothermal hot dry rock technology.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No, the current phase of work on hot dry rock technology is due to be completed in September 1991. My Department has undertaken a thorough review of the technology with substantial input from the contractors for the present programme, Camborne school of mines (CSM), the RTZ Consultants Limited (RTZC). This has shown that very substantial uncertainties remain about the practicality of extracting energy from hot dry rocks within the United Kingdom and, although the economics are very uncertain, the technology seems unlikely to be competitive with conventional means of generation in the short to medium term.

  In the light of this I have concluded that a new direction rather than closure of the programme is needed. The next phase of work (expected to be carried out by CSM and its associates, and RTZC), for which £3·3 million will be provided over the period 1 October 1991 to 31 March 1994, will concentrate less on research in Cornwall and involve greater collaboration with a European programme now under way involving France, Germany and the European Commission. In this way the substantial expertise developed in the United Kingdom can be exploited in a European context and opportunities pursued for transferring the technology to industry. A decision on further major investment in an experimental prototype will be taken in about two years when feasibility work on the different European sites has been completed.

WALES

  Births
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many babies were born in Wales in 1990; and what were the corresponding figures for the last 10 years.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Information for 1990 is not yet available. The available information is given in the following table:

  Babies Born in NHS Hospitals in Wales (Live and Still Births)

  Year

  Number

  1979

  34,636

  1980

  35,741

  1981

  34,445

  1982

  34,019

  1983

  33,998

  1984

  34,528

  1985

  35,302

  1986

  35,552

  1987

  36,338

  1988

  37,376

  1989

  36,713

  Welsh Food
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the reasons for his decision to set up the Welsh food promotion to begin operation on 1 April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  While many organisations are involved in the marketing of Welsh food, I was concerned that no single body was in a position to assume a clear lead role and to co-ordinate our efforts.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to promote Welsh food abroad; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  One of the objectives of Welsh Food Promotions Ltd. will be to co-ordinate marketing efforts at home and abroad. I expect the company to work closely with Food From Britain and with other bodies that are engaged in that task.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are employed in the manufacture of Welsh food; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Estimates obtained from the 1987 census of employment indicate that, in Wales, there were 18·4 thousand employees employed in the manufacture of food (standard industrial classification 1980 groups 411 to 423).

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to make any changes to his Department's cash limits for 1990–91.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Yes. The cash limit for class XVI, vote 2 is to be reduced by £1,400,000 from £98,998,000 to £97,598,000. This reduction takes account of lower than expected demand for regional enterprise grants and will offset the spring supplementary estimate being sought for class XVI, vote 1 in respect of agricultural grants.
  649
  The cash limit for class XVI, vote 5 is to be reduced by £2,987,000 from £325,411,000 to £322,424,000, to offset the following increases:

  The WO/UA cash limit will be increased by £2 million from £69,904,000 to £71,904,000 in respect of additional provision for Cardiff Bay development corporation to facilitate additional land acquisition and relocation costs.

  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, there will be an increase of £145,000 in the provision for class XVI, vote 12 in respect of rate rebates for the disabled.

  A sum of £842,000 is being transferred to the Office of Arts and Libraries to cover a payment of that amount to the Welsh National Opera company.

  All these changes are within the forecast outturn for the overall planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the autumn statement.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Continuous Stationery plc
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will investigate the compliance by Continuous Stationery plc with paragraphs 50(2) and 50(4) of schedules 4 and 5 of the Companies Act 1985, concerning contingent liabilities, in respect of its most recent published accounts.

  Mr. Redwood
  If the hon. Member cares to write to me with details of the reasons why he believes the accounts in question warrant investigation, I shall be pleased to consider the matter.

  Lyons Maid
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to refer any takeover bid for Lyons Maid by Unilever to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. Redwood
  If such an offer is made it will be considered by the Director General of Fair Trading under the merger control provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973 to determine whether it qualifies for reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. If it does qualify the Director General will advise my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on the question of reference. Each case is considered by the Director General and my right hon. Friend on its merits. The main criterion for my right hon. Friend in deciding whether or not to make a reference remains the possible effect of a merger on competition in the United Kingdom.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any changes will be made to his Department's cash and running cost limits for 1990–91.

  Mr. Lilley
  The cash limit for class IV, vote 2 (support for industry, international trade, statutory and regulatory work, consumer protection, and administration) will be reduced by £11,308,000 from £801,681,000 to £790,373,000. The running costs limit for the Department of Trade and Industry will be reduced by £3,024,000 from £303,764,000 to £300,740,000.

  The reduction in the cash limit covers a reduction of £7,958,000 in grant-in-aid external finance provision for
  650
  the English Industrial Estates Corporation from £24,758,000 to £16,800,000 reflecting current conditions in the property market, and a reduction of £350,000 for the Government's contribution to a rent subsidy for the International Sugar and Wheat Organisation following the transfer of responsibility to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (class III, vote 4).

  The reduction in the running cost limit is due principally to lower-than-expected costs for the restructuring of the National Engineering Laboratory. It also reflects some savings resulting from the reorganisation of certain headquarters divisions announced by my predecessor to the House of Commons on 21 February 1990, Official Report, columns 791–92, and £24,000 in respect of the transfer of some functions from gross running cost control areas to those exempt from gross running cost control.

  Crown Suppliers
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much stock will be put into the public auction of the Crown Suppliers' ex-stock; and if it will include office and domestic furniture.

  Mr. Yeo
  I have been asked to reply.

  All remaining stock, including new office furniture and fitments, domestic and commercial furniture and household goods.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date a public auction of the Crown Suppliers' ex-stock will be held in the current year.

  Mr. Yeo
  I have been asked to reply.

  The dates are 14 and 15 February 1991.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated value of the Crown Suppliers' ex-stock to be put into a forthcoming public auction.

  Mr. Yeo
  I have been asked to reply.

  The figure is between £3 million and £3·5 million at cost price.

  Personal Debt
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the latest estimates of serious personal over-indebtedness; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  There is no generally agreed definition of "serious personal over-indebtedness". However, the Policy Studies Institute in its report "Credit and Debt in Britain" which was published in February 1990 estimated that about 3 per cent. of all households (560,000) had serious debts.

  Enterprise Initiative
  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list in the Official Report those measures of assistance to firms under the enterprise initiative which are directed on a regional basis and the regions in which they are currently available;

  (2) if he will list in the Official Report those criteria by which firms in the south-east region of England are excluded from measures of assistance under the enterprise initiative;
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  (3) if he will consider making all measures of assistance to firms under the enterprise initiative available throughout the United Kingdom without regional distinction.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 30 January 1991]: Under the enterprise initiative, there are three measures of assistance which are directed on a regional basis:
  Regional selective assistance—available in the assisted areas of Great Britain;
  Regional enterprise grants—available in development areas of Great Britain and the intermediate areas of South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Plymouth and Fife;
  The consultancy initiatives—available throughout Great Britain but at a higher rate in assisted areas and urban programme areas.

  The only forms of help under the enterprise initiative not available anywhere in the south-east are regional selective assistance and regional enterprise grants. In urban programme areas in the south-east firms can benefit from higher rates of support under the consultancy initiatives.

  A wide range of criteria were used in drawing up the current assisted areas map, including unemployment, long-term unemployment, industrial and occupational structure, population density and remoteness from main markets. No areas in the south-east were judged to warrant assisted area status. The designation of urban programme areas is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  We have no intention of extending to the whole of the United Kingdom the additional help available regionally. The Government seek to promote enterprise and growth throughout the country as a whole but within this framework, extra help is needed in certain areas.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Mining Subsidence
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Attorney-General how many cases in respect of mining subsidence damage were referred to the Lands Tribunal in each of the last five years; and how long each took to be resolved.

  The Attorney-General
  The number of cases in respect of mining subsidence damage referred to the Lands Tribunal in each of the last five years is given in the table.

  Year

  Number of cases

  1986

  23

  1987

  68

  1988

  34

  1989

  26

  1990

  8

  The Lord Chancellor's Department does not keep detailed statistics on the length of time taken to resolve mining subsidence damage cases, but it is estimated that cases are resolved within 12 to 18 months, depending on the length of time it takes the parties to prepare for the hearing.

  Entry Clearance Officers
  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Attorney-General what qualifications or training(a) entry clearance officers and (b) adjudicators have in order to qualify them for the
  652
  work they carry out in the Indian sub-continent; how many entry clearance officers and adjudicators are employed; what is the average number of applications dealt with by an entry clearance officer or an adjudicator each month; and to whom they are answerable for the manner in which they perform their duties.

  The Attorney-General
  The training of entry clearance officers is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. I understand that entry clearance officers on the Indian sub-continent undergo a three-and-a-half week training course in which they are instructed in all areas of the immigration rules. On arrival at post they are given a further period of training varying between two and eight weeks depending on their location. All aspects of their work are closely monitored by line managers, to whom they are immediately answerable. Their ultimate responsibility is to their head of post. There are 82 entry clearance officers on the Indian sub-continent, who each process an average of 320 applications per month.

  Adjudicators are appointed by the Lord Chancellor from among lawyers of not less than seven years' standing. Upon appointment, adjudicators are required to attend a two to three-day induction course, to pay visits to officials of the immigration service at ports of entry in the United Kingdom, and to officials of the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service, which represents 50 per cent. of appellants before the adjudicators. Once the adjudicators take up their duties they are required to attend training seminars, which are held on a regular basis.

  The number of adjudicators currently sitting at nine hearing centres throughout the United Kingdom is as follows:

  1 Chief Adjudicator

  11 Full-time Adjudicators

  71 Part-time Adjudicators

  There are no details of the number of cases from the Indian sub-continent disposed of by individual adjudicators, but in 1990 the average number of cases disposed of each month was 1,377.

  Adjudicators are answerable to the chief adjudicator and the Lord Chancellor for their conduct. Appellants dissatisfied with a judicial decision of an adjudicator may appeal on a point of law to the immigration appeal tribunal.

  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Attorney-General what discretion is available to Ministers to bring forward the timing of the hearing of an appeal against the refusal of an entry permit by an entry clearance officer in the Indian sub-continent; and whether he has discretion to intervene in cases where evidence of an unsound refusal is made available to him.

  The Attorney-General
  Ministers have no discretion to being forward the timing of immigration appeal hearings by the adjudicators. That is a matter for the immigration appellate authorities, which are independent of Ministers, although responsibility for their administration rests with the Lord Chancellor.

  Where further evidence clearly indicates that a decision to refuse entry is unsound, the correspondence unit in the migration and visa department of the Foreign Office will refer the case back to the entry clearance officer for reconsideration.

  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the average time in the Indian sub-continent that elapses
  653
  between the lodging of an appeal against the decision of an entry clearance officer to grant an entry permit and the hearing of that appeal by an adjudicator; and what are the minimum and maximum times recorded during the past two years.

  The Attorney-General
  The immigration appellate authorities (IAA) do not record details of the minimum and maximum times for appeals from an Indian sub-continent to be determined by adjudicators. However, it is possible to provide an estimate of the average time taken by the IAA to deal with appeals at each stage of the proceedings, as follows:

  (a) From the date of receipt of the notice of appeal and explanatory statement at the IAA's headquarters in London, to the date the case papers are despatched to the parties representatives in this country: 10 to 12 weeks;

  (b) From the date on which both parties indicate readiness to proceed to a hearing, to the date of the hearing: two to three months;

  (c) From the date of the hearing to the date the Adjudicator's determination is despatched to the parties representatives in this country: one month.

  Thus the current estimate of the average time taken by an Adjudicator to deal with a case is five and a half to seven months, to which must be added the time taken by the parties' representatives in the United Kingdom to indicate readiness to proceed after receipt of the case papers from the IAA. This latter period can vary considerably but the current estimate is from two to six months.

  In addition, an appeal from a determination by an adjudicator to the immigration appeal tribunal is estimated to take four to six months.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Attorney-General whether any changes will be made to the Lord Chancellor's Department's cash limit and running costs limit for 1990–91.

  The Attorney-General
  Yes, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Lord Chancellor's Department, class X, vote 1 will he increased by £2,716,000 from £321,132,000 to £323,848,000.

  The supplementary estimate gives effect to an increase of £2,472,000 in the Department's provision for the 1990–91 accommodation charge. The increase arises from the introduction of value added tax on commercial rents.

  The supplementary estimate also gives effect to an increase of £254,000 in the Department's provision for estate management which arises from the introduction of value added tax on commercial use of fuel and utilities.

  The increase to appropriations in aid of £10,000 is required to give effect to receipts in respect of nursery facilities.

  The running costs limit for class X, vote I will be increased by £2,726,000 from £280,982,000 to £283,708,000.

  The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Attorney-General whether any changes will be made to the Crown prosecution service's cash limit and running costs limit for 1990–91.
  654
  The Attorney-General
  Yes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class x, vote 5 will be increased by £3,000,000 from £130,668,000 to £133,668,000. Within this total the Department's running costs limit will be increased by £4,000,000 from £125,107,000 to £129,107,000.

  Additional provision is required to enable the Crown prosecution service to meet increased accommodation costs, mostly caused by rent reviews and essential office moves, and the costs of agency support staff to compensate for shortfalls in recruitment particularly in the south-east. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Attorney-General whether any changes will be made to the Treasury Solicitor's Department's cash limit and running costs limit for 1990–91.

  The Attorney-General
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class X, vote 9 will be increased by £249,000 from £15,862,000 to £16,111,000. The additional provision is required for capital expenditure for new office accommodation in Taunton and a similar sum will he deducted from the provision allocated for 1991–92.

  The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Attorney-General whether any changes will be made to the Serious Fraud Office's cash limit and running costs limit for 1990–91.

  The Attorney-General
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class X, vote 7 will be increased by £60,000 from £6,567,000 to £6,627,000. The Department's running costs limit will be increased by £60,000 from £6,367,000 to £6,427,000. This increase will enable the Serious Fraud Office to meet additional costs arising from a restructuring of its senior management.

  The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisoners (Police Cells)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost of holding people in police cells, giving(a) the daily rate and (b) by police authority.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Dogs
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of present legislation to control killer dogs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The Dangerous Dogs Act 1989 increased the powers of the courts under the Dogs Act
  655
  1871, particularly as regards the destruction of dangerous dogs. The courts have already used these new powers. Last summer, the Government's consultation paper, "The Control of Dogs", reviewed the legislation on dangerous dogs and set out a number of proposals for further action. We are now considering the responses to this paper.

  Glen Parva Remand Centre
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will hold an inquiry into the conditions in Glen Parva remand centre.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  As part of his normal programme, Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons will be conducting an inspection of Her Majesty's young offender institution Glen Parva in October this year, but I see no reason for an inquiry.

  Arab People (Racist Attacks)
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role he is playing in co-ordinating special measures to protect Arab and Muslim people from racist attacks.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend is in close touch with representatives of different Muslim communities and with the police service. They and other agencies with responsibilities for dealing with attacks against law-abiding citizens and their homes and institutions in this country are clear about the priority such incidents deserve.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to make any changes to the 1990–91 cash limits within his responsibilities and to his Department's running costs' limit.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  [pursuant to my reply, 8 November 1990, column 13]: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limit on class IX, vote 2, prisons, England and Wales, will be increased by £50,000,000 from £1,294,715,000 to £1,344,715,000. The additional provision is needed to meet the costs of accommodating prisoners in police cells made necessary as a result of the serious prison disorders which occurred in April 1990 and because of industrial action by prison officers. The cash limit on class IX, vote 3, Home Office administration, immigration and police support services, England and Wales, will be increased by £36,523,000 from £758,668,000 to £795,191,000. The additional provision is necessary mainly to fund grants under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 to local authorities which have to make special provision for the needs of their ethnic minority population and also to meet higher than expected costs of Home Office accommodation.

  The Home Office running costs limit will be increased by £18,984,000 from £1,012,417,000 to £1,031,401,0001

  The increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  Furthermore, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class IX, vote 5 (the Charity Commission) will be increased by £221,000 from £14,302,000 to £14,523,000 and the running
  656
  cost limit will be increased by £419,000 from £13,414,000 to £13,833,000. These increases are to meet the costs of the inquiry under section 6 of the Charities Act 1960 into the charity War on Want. The costs of the inquiry are being met partly by savings in capital expenditure. The increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  1This is needed mainly for the greater than expected increase in the cost of accommodation, principally in the rents of offices in London.

ENVIRONMENT

  Southampton Buildings, Holborn
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the cladding removed in 1986 from the east wing of Southampton buildings, Holborn will be replaced.

  Mr. Yeo
  The cladding was removed in 1986 because of serious deterioration following storm damage in that year. Re-cladding was planned to start in December 1989, but this had to be postponed because of funding difficulties and other maintenance priorities. It is unlikely that the position will change during 1991–92, but I can assure the hon. Member that there has been no significant deterioration to the fabric of the building. Periodic inspections will be carried out and the position kept under review.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals exist for Southampton buildings, Holborn, when the Patent Office and British Library vacate the buildings; and if there are any plans to develop the site.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Patent Office now occupies only a small part of Southampton buildings, having vacated most of its accommodation there in September 1989. The building is expected to be occupied by British Library and others until the mid- 1990s, when the opportunity may occur for refurbishment or redevelopment. It is too early to say which option might be adopted.

  Disused Barns
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest guidance provided by his Department to local authorities over planning permission for the conversion of disused barns into(a) dwellings and (b) workshops or other use.

  Mr. Yeo
  DOE circular 8/87, "Historic Buildings and Conservation Areas—Policy and Procedures", states that, finding new uses for buildings such as barns which play an important part in the history and appearance of the countryside, all possible solutions should be explored. It points out that they can make a contribution to the rural economy by providing employment. My Department also provided guidance on the re-use of redundant rural buildings in 1988 in planning policy guidance note 7 (PPG7) on "Rural Enterprise and Development" and PPG2 on "Green Belts". A draft revision of PPG7 was issued for public consultation in December 1989.

  Land Compensation Act 1973
  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to review the Land Compensation Act 1973; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Planning and Compensation Bill, introduced in another place, contains a number of major proposals for change to land compensation legislation. These include in particular a substantial widening of eligibility for home loss payments under the 1973 Act and an increase in the level of such payments for owner-occupiers.

  Urban Development Corporations
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table indicating the number of jobs created in each urban development corporation area.

  Mr. Portillo
  The totals of permanent jobs created or attracted, net of losses, are given in the table:

  UDC

  Net gain in jobs to March 1990

  Black Country

  5,734

  Bristol

  0

  Central Manchester

  285

  Leeds

  5,241

  London Docklands

  29,000

  Merseyside

  4,200

  Sheffield

  40

  Teesside

  2,741

  Trafford Park

  2,450

  Tyne and Wear

  1,630

  Total

  51,321

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of financial resources allocated to(a) the urban programme, (b) urban development corporations and (c) grants for urban development for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 31 January 1991]: The breakdown of central Government expenditure on the urban programme, urban development corporations and city grant (including urban development grant and urban regeneration grant) for 1986–87 to 1990–91 is as follows:

  1991-92 Standard spending assessments

  31 October figure for total SSA

  Final figure for total SSA

  Percentage change in total SSA

  Change in total SSA

  Change in capital financing SSA element

  Change in flood defence SSA element

  Change in all other SSA elements

  £ million

  £ million

  per cent.

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Bristol

  40·872

  41·098

  0·6

  0·226

  0·089

  0·132

  0·004

  Nottingham

  37·162

  37·138

  -0·1

  -0·024

  -0·035

  —

  0·011

  Kingston upon Hull

  31·210

  31·419

  0·7

  0·210

  0·206

  -0·002

  0·006

  Plymouth

  28·678

  28·666

  0·0

  -0·012

  -0·012

  -0·030

  0·006

  Portsmouth

  24·505

  24·729

  0·9

  0·223

  0·236

  -0·018

  0·005

  Stoke-on-Trent

  24·880

  24·470

  -1·6

  -0·410

  -0·407

  -0·008

  0·005

  Derby

  24365

  24·313

  -0·2

  -0·051

  -0·056

  0·000

  0·005

  Southampton

  23·370

  23·351

  -0·1

  -0·020

  -0·024

  —

  0·005

  Luton

  22·175

  22·230

  0·2

  0·055

  0·051

  —

  0·004

  658

  £ million

  1986–87 outturn

  1987–88 outturn

  1988–89 outturn

  1989–90 outturn

  1990–91 forecast outturn

  Urban Programme1

  236·7

  245·6

  229·0

  226·0

  232·6

  Urban Development

  Corporations (EFLs)

  89·3

  133·5

  234·4

  436·0

  553·9

  City Grants

  23·9

  26·8

  27·8

  39·1

  50·6

  1 Includes contributions from DH, DES and DTp but excludes contributions for District Health Authorities.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to increase the number of schemes in any urban programme operating at the present time; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 31 January 1991]: Local authorities decide on the number of schemes in their annual urban programmes, according to local priority. The Secretary of State has no present plans to review the list of urban programme authorities.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his current priorities in urban regeneration.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 31 January 1991]: Good progress has already been made on improving the quality of life for people in our inner cities: we aim now to build on that success, working with local government and the private and voluntary sectors.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the standard spending assessment for Stoke-on-Trent and the 10 district authorities closest to it in size, giving figures for five larger ones and five smaller ones, together with the estimated assessment for each, and the percentage increase or decrease in the final figure compared with the estimate for each; and if he will list the criteria which led to changes in the original estimates.

  Mr. Portillo
  The table lists the standard spending assessment (SSA) for Stoke-on-Trent and the 10 districts closest in size in terms of 1991–92 SSA in £m. The main reasons for change between the provisional figures for 1991–92 SSAs announced on 31 October and the final settlement figures are: that later estimates of credit approvals have been used; that later data on flood defence expenditure have been incorporated; and there have been a number of other small changes to data and service control totals. These effects are shown in columns 5, 6 a:nd 7 respectively of the table.
  659

  31 October figure for total SSA

  Final figure for total SSA

  Percentage change in total SSA

  Change in total SSA

  Change in capital financing SSA element

  Change in flood defence SSA element

  Change in all other SSA elements

  £ million

  £ million

  per cent.

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Blackburn

  19·100

  19·183

  0·4

  0·083

  0·080

  0·000

  0·003

  Brighton

  18·215

  18·329

  0·6

  0·114

  0·113

  —

  0·001

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much it would cost to exempt all those people on income support from paying 20 per cent. of the poll tax.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I have been asked to reply.

  Income-related benefit levels were adjusted in April 1989 to include help towards the 20 per cent. contribution to the community charge at an estimated cost of £500 million.

  Assuming that these benefit levels are not reduced, exempting all those on income support from paying the 20 per cent. contribution would cost an estimated £300 million in community charge benefit, at current benefit levels.

  Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1985–86–87 Family Expenditure Surveys.

  ID Investment Development AG
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply on 28 January, what information he has on the connections between ID Investment Development AG to which Heveningham hall was sold and representatives of the Iraqi Government.

  Sir George Young
  My right hon. Friend has no evidence that any such connections exist.

  Employment (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received the final report of the research project by Victor Hausner and Associates into the use of the urban programme in creating employment opportunities for black and ethnic minority communities in the inner cities; and whether he will put a copy of this report in the Libary.

  Mr. Portillo
  My right hon. Friend has not yet received the final report of this research project.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if there are any proposals to change the 1990–91 running costs limit for Ordnance Survey.

  Mr. Baldry
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary token spring supplementary estimate, the running costs limit for Ordnance Survey will be increased by £650,000 from £57,193,000 to £57,843,000. The increase is needed to fund additional expenditure in a number of areas.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any changes to announce to his Department's cash limits and running costs limits for 1990–91.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Yes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the following changes will be made:660

  (i) The cash limit for class VIII, vote 5 (central environmental services, etc.) will be reduced by £145,000 from £366,400,000 to £366,255,000. There will be a corresponding increase on class VIII, vote 8 (Department of the Environment: administration) to provide for administrative expenditure incurred in setting up the Nature Conservancy Council (England).

  (ii) The cash limit for class VIII, vote 8 (Department of the Environment: administration) will be increased by £52,000 from £157,750,000 to £157,802,000. This includes a transfer of £145,000 from class VIII, vote 5 (central environmental services) for expenditure incurred in setting up the Nature Conservancy Council (England). A transfer of £13,000 is being made to the Department of Transport to support a review of first aid arrangements. Further income of £80,000 will accrue to the Building Research Establishment as a result of Property Holdings being charged the full economic cost of services provided to it.

  (iii) The cash limit for class VIII, vote 2 (miscellaneous housing administration and grants) will be reduced by £1,000,000 from £110,217,000 to £109,217,000, to reflect a reduction in the level of claims by local authorities for reimbursement of costs incurred on the rent officer service, and a small reduction to the provision for grants for tenant participation schemes.

  (iv) The non-voted cash limit for DOE/UA (urban aid and derelict land reclamation) will be increased by £3,675,000 from £904,666,000 to £908,341,000. This is to cover increased grant-in-aid of £3,675,000 to the Bristol development corporation for land acquisitions in connection with the Bristol spine road. This will be offset by a corresponding reduction in the Department of Transport's cash limit for class VII, vote 1. Teesside development corporation will receive further provision of £4,800,000 fully offset by a corresponding decrease in grant-in-aid to Trafford Park development corporation. The provision for the city grant has also been increased by £1,122,000 to meet the higher-than-expected level of claims. There are offsetting savings of £500,000 from the recovery of derelict land grant and £622,000 from a reduction in expected claims for urban development grant.

  (v) The non-voted cash limit for DOE/LACAP (local authority capital grants and credit approvals) will be reduced by £27,890,000 from £2,813,060,000 to £2,785,170,000. This provides offsetting savings for spending on specified housing grants not at present included in the cash limit, a transfer of resources to the Department of Social Security and to cover an increase in new towns housing subsidy.

  (vi) the running costs limit for the Department of the Environment will be reduced by £13,000 from £157,754,000 to £157,741,000.

  (vii) These changes are within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes to make any changes to the cash limit on the Property Services Agency services vote in 1990–91.

  Mr. Yeo
  Yes, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class VIII, vote 13 will be increased by £15,548,000 from £29,658,000 to £45,206,000. This increase is required to
  661
  finance additional expenditure on severance payments to surplus staff as a result of the restructuring of PSA Services into a viable commercial proposition, and to finance additional and unforseen expenditure on the dilapidation costs relating to the early surrender of a leased property no longer required for use by Government Departments. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the autumn statement.

  Inner-city Decay
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the amount of expenditure by his Department to tackle inner-city decay for each year since 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 31 January 1991]: My Department supports a wide range of programmes within the Government's current initiatives for the inner cities. Resources for these programmes totalled some £1.3 billion in 1988–89 and £1.4 billion in 1989–90; expenditure during 1990–91 is expected to exceed £1.5 billion.

  Global Warming
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received a copy of the report of the German parliamentary commission on preventive measures to protect the earth's atmosphere chaired by Bernd

  Estimated Population

  Local authority

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Antrim

  45,900

  45,900

  46,600

  47,700

  48,100

  Ards

  62,200

  63,000

  63,600

  64,000

  64,500

  Armagh

  50,400

  51,200

  50,700

  49,200

  49,000

  Ballymena

  55,800

  55,800

  56,100

  56,900

  57,200

  Ballymoney

  23,800

  23,800

  23,800

  23,900

  23,900

  Banbridge

  31,600

  31,700

  32,000

  31,900

  31,900

  Belfast

  301,600

  303,600

  303,800

  299,600

  296,900

  Carrickfergus

  28,400

  29,000

  29,300

  30,000

  30,400

  Castlereagh

  58,400

  58,000

  57,900

  58,000

  58,000

  Coleraine

  47,300

  47,600

  47,700

  48,100

  48,500

  Cookstown

  27,900

  27,800

  27.700

  27,600

  27,600

  Craigavon

  75,300

  76,100

  76,600

  77,200

  77,700

  Derry

  95,300

  95,700

  97,500

  98,700

  99,500

  Down

  55,400

  55,800

  56,400

  57,000

  57,200

  Dungannon

  43,900

  43,800

  43,900

  43,700

  43,700

  Fermanagh

  51,400

  51,000

  50,300

  50,000

  50,400

  Lame

  28,600

  28,600

  28,700

  29,000

  29,100

  Limavady

  28,900

  29,100

  29,600

  30,000

  29,800

  Lisburn

  90,900

  91,900

  92,900

  95,500

  97,400

  Magherafelt

  33,000

  33,200

  33,300

  33,100

  32,900

  Moyle

  15,000

  15,100

  15,200

  15,200

  15,100

  ewry and Mourne

  84,700

  86,100

  87,100

  87,800

  88,900

  Newtownabbey

  72,100

  72,200

  72,300

  72,800

  72,900

  North Down

  69,300

  69,800

  70,700

  71,100

  71,900

  Omagh

  44,900

  54,100

  45,800

  44,900

  44,900

  Strabane

  35,800

  35,900

  35,700

  35,200

  35,600

  Totals

  1,557,800

  1,566,800

  1,575,200

  1,578,100

  1,583,000

  Figures for 1990 will not be available until mid-1991.

  Estimated Electorate

  Local Authority

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Antrim

  27,131

  27,572

  27,834

  29,054

  29,669

  Ards

  44,288

  45,266

  45,669

  46,571

  47,697

  Armagh

  34,979

  35,417

  35,181

  35,195

  35,776

  Ballymena

  39,020

  39,304

  39,611

  40,769

  41,619

  Ballymoney

  16,499

  16,685

  16,665

  17,072

  17,396

  Banbridge

  23,322

  23,600

  23,782

  24,080

  24,537

  Belfast

  216,772

  220,326

  218,611

  214,065

  214,158

  Carrickfergus

  21,073

  21,627

  21,858

  22,816

  23,554

  662
  Schmidbaver in 1987 to 1989; and what arrangements are in place to obtain for his Department copies of reports produced by Parliaments of European Community member states on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 31 January 1991]: Copies of the German parliamentary commission's report have been obtained by the Department. We receive such reports through British embassies in other member states and through direct contacts with the Governments of member states.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Local Authority Statistics
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland was was(a) the estimated population, (b) the estimated electorate and (c) the estimated total net valuation in each of the past five years for each of the 26 local authorities in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is set out in the tables.
  663

  Local Authority

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Castlereagh

  45,580

  46,005

  46,052

  46,739

  47,435

  Coleraine

  33,960

  34,623

  34,897

  35,697

  36,717

  Cookstown

  20,433

  20,551

  20,757

  20,830

  21,254

  Craigavon

  51,293

  51,716

  51,552

  52,764

  53,657

  Derry

  57,809

  58,310

  59,862

  60,423

  61,999

  Down

  36,867

  37,269

  37,735

  38,697

  39,440

  Dungannon

  30,906

  30,991

  31,269

  31,270

  31,919

  Fermanagh

  38,052

  37,868

  37,495

  37,300

  38,615

  Lame

  20,926

  21,295

  21,303

  21,794

  22,184

  Limavady

  17,292

  17,514

  18,369

  18,534

  18,739

  Lisburn

  60,660

  61,551

  62,627

  65,490

  67,825

  Magherafelt

  23,867

  24,378

  24,662

  24,664

  25,028

  Moyle

  10,135

  10,210

  10,289

  10,404

  10,546

  Newry and Mourne

  53,542

  54,709

  54,763

  55,980

  57,387

  Newtownabbey

  52,249

  52,718

  52,751

  53,674

  54,577

  North Down

  49,299

  50,089

  50,833

  51,660

  53,224

  Omagh

  29,550

  29,884

  29,992

  29,933

  30,410

  Strabane

  23,578

  24,023

  24,062

  23,975

  25,233

  TOTALS

  1,079,082

  1,093,501

  1,098,481

  1,109,450

  1,130,595

  Total non-exempt net annual value

  Local authority

  1985–86 (£)

  1986–87 (£)

  1987–88 (£)

  1988–89 (£)

  1989–90 (£)

  Antrim

  5,830,012

  5,994,112

  6,187,649

  6,513,335

  6,570,755

  Ards

  6,763,974

  6,924,571

  7,005,564

  7,180,240

  7,321,190

  Armagh

  4,271,435

  4,488,904

  4,563,290

  4,677,142

  4,747,395

  Ballymena

  7,039,259

  7,228,749

  7,379,867

  7,534,520

  7,684,498

  Ballymoney

  2,198,716

  2,275,208

  2,341,678

  2,396,412

  2,427,267

  Banbridge

  3,018,341

  3,147,404

  3,222,734

  3,316,300

  3,390,459

  Belfast

  48,306,943

  49,953,444

  50,605,570

  51,043,470

  51,732,828

  Carrickfergus

  4,119,067

  4,258,133

  4,357,282

  4.535,074

  4,684,614

  Castlereagh

  6,946,923

  7,139,971

  7,294,741

  7,408,177

  7,649,732

  Coleraine

  6,715,965

  6,886,587

  7,015,869

  7.213.131

  7,385,174

  Cookstown

  2,588,584

  2,674,125

  2,766,598

  2.X35.745

  2,905,501

  Craigavon

  9,128,023

  9,636,690

  9,753,690

  9,903,051

  10,035,007

  Derry

  10,292,053

  10,496,041

  10,713,397

  10,910,232

  11,126,709

  Down

  5,033,246

  5,133,055

  5,256,985

  5,420,047

  5,588,768

  Dungannon

  3,760,555

  3,917,281

  4,026,362

  4,153,398

  4,240,870

  Fermanagh

  4,308,166

  4,544,234

  4,667,363

  4,770,953

  4,938,799

  Lame

  3,515,785

  3,608,122

  3,637,364

  3,699,924

  3,815,754

  Limavady

  2,436,042

  2,496,315

  2,565,414

  2,611,704

  2,661,796

  Lisburn

  10,977,484

  11,360,776

  11,563,568

  11,997,608

  12,422,095

  Magherafelt

  2,849,759

  2,974,285

  3,028,959

  3,127,147

  3,243,890

  Moyle

  1,255,239

  1,303,200

  1,324,525

  1,355,398

  1,381,285

  Newry & Mourne

  6,577,276

  6,851,324

  7,121,027

  7,432,529

  7,673,345

  Newtonabbey

  10,115,650

  10,377,191

  10,515,650

  10,639,684

  10,585,369

  North Down

  8,207,959

  8,422,604

  8,537,887

  8,687,086

  8,835,188

  Omagh

  3,561,677

  3,741,905

  3,886,309

  4,013,140

  4,121,208

  Strabane

  2,555,439

  2,656,999

  2,725,852

  2,818,197

  2,978,889

  Totals

  182,373,572

  188,491,230

  192,065,194

  196,193,644

  200,148,385

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Beaumont-Dark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on cash and running cost limits for Northern Ireland departmental services and the Northern Ireland Office in 1990–91.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary associated supplementary estimates, it is proposed that the cash limit for the Northern Ireland Office (NIO1) will be increased by £16.5 million from £683.5 million to £700.0 million.

  The cash limit for Northern Ireland departmental services (NID1) for 1990–91 will be decreased by £27·8 million from £2,949·3 million to £2,921·5 million. This change reflects increases in respect of VAT compensation (£1·9 million) and running costs carried over from 1989–90 under end-year flexibility arrangements (£2·2 million). It also reflects decreases in respect of transfers to the
  664
  Northern Ireland Office of some £16 million and technical changes of some £16 million, the majority of which were transfers to non cash-limited areas within Northern Ireland Departments.

  The running cost limit for Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments will be increased by £3,818,000 from £592,597,000 to £596,415,000 primarily reflecting the take-up of end-year flexibility entitlement of £2,697,000, as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 25 July 1990, Official Report, column 235–40, and a transfer of £1,079,000 from the Department of Social Security in respect of services operated on an agency basis by the Departments of Health and Social Services. The revised running cost provision is £150,614,000 for the Northern Ireland Office and £445,801,000 for Northern Ireland Departments.

  Paymaster General's Office (Cash Limits)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes are proposed to the cash and running costs limits for 1990–91 in respect of the Paymaster General's Office.

  Mr. Hanley
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Paymaster General's Office (class XVIII, vote 12) will be increased by £170,000 from £19,120,000 to £19,290,000 and the running cost limit by £85,000 from £17,573,000 to £17,658,000. The increases in running costs mainly reflects an increase in postal charges. The increase in cash limit also includes a reduction in receipts from the national insurance fund.

  These increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

PRIME MINISTER

  Katyn Massacre
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library, copies of all official statements made or published by members of the Government on the Katyn massacre since I January 1961.

  The Prime Minister
  The information is not readily available and coud be provided only at disproportionate cost. Ministers have answered many questions in the House about the Katyn massacre. I refer my hon. Friend to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to him on 23 and 30 November.

  "The Times" Article
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Prime Minister if the article written by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for The Times on 17 January represented Government policy.

  The Prime Minister
  Yes.

  Conscription Forms
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to print conscription forms.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Gulf Oil Slick
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the co-ordinating arrangements with the Gulf states for dealing with the Gulf oil slick.

  The Prime Minister
  The United Kingdom is maintaining close touch through diplomatic channels with the Gulf states affected, who are leading the response to the environmental damage that Iraq is inflicting on the region. The Government have responded promptly and positively to requests received from the Saudi Arabian Government for expert advice on oil pollution control and on the care of oiled birds and stand ready to respond to 666
  any further requests. The Government have stated their readiness to help to contribute to the response of the international community through such bodies as the European Communities and the United Nations Environment Programme and have called successfully in the OECD for commitment to action to improve the world's common response for the future to events of this kind.

  Cabinet Office (Cash Limits)
  Mr. Roger King
  To ask the Prime Minister, if there are any proposals to change the 1990–91 running costs limit or cash limit for the Cabinet Office: other services.

  The Prime Minister
  The running costs limit for the Cabinet Office: other services will be increased by £622,000 from £18,074,000 to £18,696,000. This increase is offset by reductions in the running costs limits of £510,000 for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, £38,000 for the Department of Trade and Industry and £74,000 for Her Majesty's Treasury and reflects the transfer of the responsibility for certain administrative functions. At the same time the cash limit for the Cabinet Office: other services will be reduced by £728,000 from £21,256,000 to £20,528,000. This reflects the reprofiling of the timetable of a major capital project. Expenditure will now fall in later years.

THE ARTS

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will give details of any proposed changes to the cash limits of his Department's votes in 1990–91.

  Mr. Renton
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit of class XIII, vote 2, is being increased from £199,025,000 to £199,867,000 to facilitate the additional provision of £842,000 to the Arts Council of Great Britain. The increase will be met by a corresponding saving on class XVI, vote 5, which is accounted for by the Welsh Office.

  This change is within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the "next steps" agencies created since 1 January 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Since 1 January 1990, 24 "next steps" agencies have been established and these are listed in the table. In total 34 agencies have been set up covering some 80,000 staff. The project is continuing to make excellent progress: we expect there to be about 50 agencies by this summer and by the end of the year we expect that "next steps" will apply to about half the civil service.
  667

  Agencies established since 1 January 1990

  Executive agencies

  Staff number

  Building Research Establishment

  690

  Central Office of Information

  730

  Central Veterinary Laboratory

  580

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

  5,450

  Driving Standards Agency

  2,200

  Employment Service

  33,500

  Hydrographic Office1

  880

  Information Technology Services Agency

  3,350

  Insolvency Service

  1,450

  Intervention Board

  910

  Land Registry

  10,400

  Meteorological Office

  2,250

  National Engineering Laboratory

  430

  National Physical Laboratory

  820

  Natural Resources Institute

  90

  Occupational Health Service

  100

  Ordnance Survey

  2,500

  Patent Office

  150

  Radiocommunications Agency

  500

  Registers of Scotland

  1,100

  Royal Mint

  1,050

  Training and Employment Agency2

  1,700

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  90

  Veterinary Medicines Directorate

  70

  Total of 24 in number

  72,290

  1 Defence Support Agency. Figure does not include service personnel.

  2 Northern Ireland Civil Service.

  Figures based on Staff in Post as at 1 October 1990.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if there are any proposals to change the 1990–91 running costs limit for the office of the Minister for the Civil Service.

  Mr. Renton
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the running costs limit for the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service (class XIX, vote 1) will be increased by £155,000 from £33,864,000 to £34,019,000. The increase will be offset by increased appropriations in aid.

  The increase is required to meet increased demand for training and occupational health services provided by the Civil Service college and civil service occupational health service, respectively. The supplementary estimate includes a transfer of provision from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to reflect the transfer of responsibility for purchasing certain press summaries.

  In addition, the amounts listed in the table will be transferred to the Departments and agencies shown to meet part of the cost of increased management development training under the challenge funding scheme initiated by my Department. This will be met from existing but unallocated public expenditure provision.

  £'000

  Ministry of Defence

  37

  Department of Employment

  452

  Inland Revenue

  182

  Northern Ireland Civil Service

  31

  Northern Ireland Office

  21

  Department of Social Security

  60

  Department of Transport

  5

  Vehicle Inspectorate

  2

  TOTAL

  790

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Disability Working Allowance
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if receipt of disability working allowance will entitle a recipient to national insurance credits if their earnings are below the national insurance lower earnings limit.

  Mr. Scott
  We have given consideration to the representations that we received and have decided, exceptionally, that disability working allowance claimants will be awarded national insurance credits for periods when earnings fall below their lower earnings limit.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the change in Exchequer income during the 1991–92 financial year resulting from restoring child benefit, for all children, to its April 1987 value in real terms.

  Mr. Jack
  It is estimated that benefit expenditure in 1991–92 would increase by about £775 million if the level of child benefit reflected the movements in the index of retail prices which applied to the annual uprating of benefits generally from April 1988.

  Income Support Deductions
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist) on 22 October 1990,Official Report, column 78, on income support deductions.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest count showed that 85 offices had income support cases with a deduction to clear community charge arrears. The number of deductions for each office is shown in the table.

  Local office

  Number of deductions

  Scotland

  Aberdeen (N)

  1

  Airdrie

  229

  Ayr

  383

  Bathgate

  67

  Bellshill

  887

  Campbeltown

  7

  Clydebank

  248

  Coatbridge

  634

  Cowdenbeath

  274

  Cumbernauld

  969

  Dumbarton

  511

  Dumfries

  1

  Dundee (E)

  29

  Dunfermline

  246

  East Kilbride

  154

  Falkirk

  824

  Galashiels

  493

  Glasgow Anniesland

  517

  Glasgow Bridgeton

  470

  Glasgow City

  245

  Glasgow Cranstonhill

  1

  Glasgow Craigton

  968

  Glasgow Laurieston

  733

  Glasgow Maryhill

  375

  Glasgow Partick

  264

  Glasgow Provan

  640

  Glasgow Shettleston

  786

  669

  Local office

  Number of deductions

  Glasgow Southside

  764

  Glasgow Springburn

  1,006

  Greenock

  486

  Hamilton

  418

  Irvine

  131

  Johnstone

  15

  Kilmamock

  536

  Kirkaldy

  229

  Leven

  39

  Motherwell

  839

  Oban

  12

  Paisley

  481

  Perth

  12

  Port Glasgow

  241

  Stirling

  1,391

  Sub Total

  17,556

  England and Wales

  Crewe

  21

  Liverpool Belle-Vale

  119

  Liverpool Crosby

  11

  Liverpool Kirkby

  896

  Manchester Cheetham

  17

  St. Helens

  35

  Warrington

  6

  Berwick

  IS

  Chester le Street

  145

  Gateshead

  550

  Goole

  137

  Hull (W)

  28

  Newcastle (W)

  1

  Pontefract

  1

  South Shields

  64

  Stanley

  86

  Stockton

  1

  Sunderland (N)

  1

  York

  3

  Birmingham South Yardley

  21

  Boston

  56

  Coventry (W)

  32

  Hereford

  9

  Rugby

  5

  Shrewsbury

  2

  Aberdare

  17

  Barry

  32

  Bournemouth

  1

  Cardiff Central

  4

  Cardiff (E)

  1

  Chippenham

  12

  Poole

  5

  Porthmadog/Dolgellau

  15

  Salisbury

  4

  Tonypandy

  6

  Torbay

  43

  Diss

  2

  Ashford

  2

  Gravesend

  1

  Year

  Payments

  Payments

  £ cash value

  £ real value at 1990–91 price

  A

  Nottingham B

  Nationally C

  Nottingham D

  Nationally E

  Nottingham F

  Nationally G

  1980–81

  280,000

  1

  3,600,000

  Nil

  6,600,000

  Nil

  1981–82

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  1982–83

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  1983–84

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  1984–85

  170,000

  2,108

  1,700,000

  19,794·25

  2,400,000

  20,857·80

  1985–86

  450,000

  4,143

  11,600,000

  96,668·45

  15,600,000

  129,948·50

  1986–87

  2,000,000

  20,247

  10,200,000

  101,23500

  13,300,000

  131,589·50

  1987–88

  99,000

  Nil

  500,000

  Nil

  600,000

  Nil

  1988–89

  502

  Nil

  2,510

  Nil

  2,884

  Nil

  1989–90

  44,448

  Nil

  406,481

  Nil

  438,999

  Nil

  1 No information available.

  670

  Local office

  Number of deductions

  Hastings

  9

  Isle of Wight

  8

  Kingston

  3

  New Forest

  1

  New Maiden

  24

  Tunbridge Wells

  6

  Sub Total

  2,458

  TOTAL

  20,014

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received with regard to good cause backdated claiming within prescribed time for claims of the attendance or mobility component of the disability living allowance.

  Mr. Scott
  We received a large number of comments on the consultation document on disability living allowance of which only a handful commented on the issue of backdating the mobillity and care components of disability living allowance.

  Severe Weather Payments
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the temperatures used to trigger severe weather payments recorded in each of the stations relevant to the city of Nottingham for each day during the last two weeks of 1990 and those weeks in 1991 for which figures are available.

  Mr. Scott
  A weather station will trigger if there has been a period of seven consecutive days, during which the average mean daily temperature is 0 deg C or less.

  Watnall weather station, which covers the city of Nottingham, did not trigger on any day during the last two weeks of 1990, nor at any time during 1991 to date.

  Full details of average mean daily temperatures recorded at all the weather stations can be found in the Library.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list in table form for Nottingham and for the United Kingdom(a) the total number of recipients and (b) the total values of the payments in (i) cash and (ii) constant terms, under the exceptionally severe weather payments in each year from 1980–81 to 1990–91 under the social fund exceptionally cold weather payments.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is as follows:
  671
  Note:

  The variations in numbers of annual payments made can be attributed to the mild weather experienced in certain years rather than changes in criteria and legislation.

  Columns B and C relate to payments made and not to the number of recipients.

  Benefits
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in table form his Department's policy in respect of recovery of overpayment of benefit in the case of each benefit for which his Department is responsible.

  Mr. Jack
  Section 53 of the Social Security Act 1986 applies a common test to the recovery of overpaid social security benefits. The statutory test is whether the overpayment results from"misrepresentation or failure to disclose a material fact".

  The independent adjudicating authorities administer this test, deciding whether an overpayment has occurred and whether it is recoverable. If an overpayment is determined to be recoverable the Department on behalf of the Secretary of State is entitled to seek recovery.

  Freephone Lines
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many freephone lines are operated by his Department; what trends are evident in the level of provision and use; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The freeline social security service provides general benefits information on 125 lines at 10 centres throughout Great Britain. The service is provided in Punjabi, Urdu and Welsh as well as English. The following specialist freeline services are also provided: social security advice line for employers; family credit freeline; Gulf crisis freeline; benefit advice line for people with disabilities.

  The Department's freeline services have been regularly expanded and modernised since their 1984 launch and altogether are now taking more than 2 million calls per year. They are important and successful parts of the Department's information and advice service.

  Gulf Crisis
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the differences in benefits that would be payable to those involved or affected by the conflict in the Gulf if the claim arose during(a) an officially declared war or (b) in an engagement in hostilities.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Entitlement to war pensions and social security benefits administered by the Department is not affected by whether a claim arose during an officially declared war or in an engagement in hostilities.

  Severe Disablement Premium
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the implications of the introduction of the severe disablement premium for the financial circumstances of carers who are precluded from claiming invalid care allowance.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The severe disability premium is intended to focus extra help on those severely disabled people who are most likely to need to buy in care, because they live alone and do not have a carer who is receiving invalid care allowance. A person receiving the severe 672
  disability premium who has a carer who is, for whatever reason, precluded from claiming invalid care allowance is, as a result of this premium, in a better position to make some payment to the carer.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of carers who are precluded from claiming invalid care allowance because the person they are caring for is in receipt of severe disablement premium.

  Miss Widdecombe
  None. The receipt of the severe disability premium by a disabled person does not preclude his carer from claiming invalid care allowance.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether there have been any changes in the cash limits or running costs limit of his Department for 1990–91.

  Mr. Scott
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit for class XIV, vote 7 (administration and miscellaneous services) will be increased by £59,013,000 from £1,706,375,000 to £1,765,388,000. The revision takes account of the transfer of industrial injury benefit from the national insurance fund to the consolidated fund, as provided for in the Social Security Act 1990 (£59,000,000). In addition, running cost changes result from a transfer from the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service (class XIX, vote 1), £60,000, a transfer to Scottish Office administration (class XV, vote 21) £42,000, and a transfer to Department of Health (class XIII, vote 3) £5,000. There is also an increase of £23,999,000 to take account of expenditure previously classified as capital now being regarded as running costs. The increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  As a result of these changes the running costs limit of the Department of Social Security is increased by £24,012,000 from £1,931,176,000 to £1,955,188,000.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Income Tax
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table which sets out, for a two-child family on(a) half, (b) three quarters, (c) full, (d) one and a half times, (e) twice, (f) five times and (g) ten times average earnings, the increase in net income to be derived from (i) a one pence cut in the standard rate of income tax in the 1991–92 financial year, (ii) an increase in personal allowances, over the above indexation, which incurred the same cost as a one pence cut in the standard rate income tax, (iii) an increase in child benefit which incurred the same cost as a one pence cut in standard rate income tax, both assuming and not assuming similar increases in the income support and family credit children's rates separately and (iv) the introduction of reduced rate tax bands of (1) 20 per cent. and (2) 15 per cent. at the same

  673
  cost as a one pence cut in standard rate income tax, showing what band of income the reduced rate would cover.

  Mr. Maude
  The effects of the various changes to income tax and child benefit on a married man with two

  Increase in income after tax1 (£ per week) compared with indexation in 1991–92 for a married man2 with two children

  Mulitiple of average earnings3

  ½

  ¾

  1

  1½

  2

  5

  10

  (i)Increase derived from 1p cut in basic rate

  0·67

  1·50

  2·34

  4·01

  4·41

  4·41

  4·41

  (ii) Increase in main income tax allowances

  1·68

  1·68

  1·68

  1·68

  2·70

  2·70

  2·70

  (iii) Increase in child benefit

  (a) £4·30 per week per child4

  2·26

  8·60

  8·60

  8·60

  8·60

  8·60

  8·60

  (b) £3·07 per week per child5

  6·14

  6·14

  6·14

  6·14

  6·14

  6·14

  6·14

  (iv) Reduced rate band of 20 per cent, on first £1,600 of

  taxable income

  1·54

  1·54

  1·54

  1·54

  1·54

  1·54

  1·54

  (v) Reduced rate band of 15 per cent, on first £750 of

  taxable income

  1·44

  1·44

  1·44

  1·44

  1·44

  1·44

  1·44

  Notes:

  1 Disregarding any change to entitlement to social security income-related benefits except in item (iii)(b).

  2 Assumed to have no reliefs and allowances other than the personal allowance and the married couple's allowance.

  3 Average earnings assumed to be £334.1 per week.

  4 Assuming no change in income support and family credit children's rates.

  5 Assuming corresponding changes in income support and family credit children's rates.

  Holiday Homes
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations took place with representatives of the tourism industry before the decision was taken to impose value added tax on the purchase of holiday homes.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The change in VAT liability referred to was one of a number of VAT coverage changes made in the Finance Act 1989. The position was made clear to the main trade association concerned in May 1989. The provision imposing the standard rate on holiday homes was subsequently found to be defective in a recent decision in a VAT tribunal. The statutory instrument was designed to return the legal position largely to what was intended in 1989. Before it was debated by the Standing Committee, I met representatives of the British Holiday and Home Parks Association and explained to them that, as tourist services, with the exception of public transport, are liable to VAT I saw no compelling case for a special relief for new, restricted occupancy holiday homes.

  VAT (Animals)
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what value added tax rate is payable on the sale of(a) pedigree cattle, (b) pigs, (c) goats, (d) rabbits and (e) shire, show and draught horses;

  (2) what rate of value added tax applies to (a) bloodstock race horses and (b) other types of horse.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Live animals of a kind generally used as, or yielding or producing food for human consumption, including cattle, pigs, goats and rabbits, are zero-rated for VAT. Other animals, including horses of all types, are taxable at the standard rate of 15 per cent.

  Unitary Taxation
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government's review of the situation on unitary taxation with the United States 674
  children are shown in the table. In a full year each of the changes would cost about £1·95 billion which is the cost of a 1 p cut in the basic rate of income tax. Estimates are based on projections of the 1988–89 survey of personal incomes in line with forecasts in the autumn statement.

  Treasury referred to by the then Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 18 December 1989 at column 176, has now been completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lamont
  The review has been extended to take account of the outcome of the case of Barclays Bank International Ltd.v. Franchise Tax Board of the State of California in the Californian appeal court. A decision has now been given in this case and it is hoped to complete the report in the near future.

  Endangered Species
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of articles relating to rare and endangered species seized by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in the last complete year for which statistics are held.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  In the year to 31 March 1990 Customs seized 1,546 live animals and birds, 188 plants and 7,148 parts and derivatives (such as elephant tusks, stuffed animals and birds and goods made from ivory or reptile leather) because their importation or exportation contravened the restrictions imposed by the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 or Council regulation No. 3626/82.

  Cigarettes
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in the tax take on cigarettes in real terms since 1987.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  In the year to September 1990 estimated real receipts from excise duty and value added tax on cigarettes were 8 per cent. lower than in 1987.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed in the cash limit and running cost limit for 1990–91 for Customs and Excise.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the
  675
  cash limit for class XVIII, vote 6 will be increased by £23,438,000 from £647,862,000 to £671,300,000 and the running costs limit by £1,380,000 from £575,799,000 to £577,179,000. The increase in the running costs limit arises from the need to enforce sanctions against trade with Iraq and for extra costs associated with a survey for the Central Statistical Office and a centrally organised telecommunications system project. The increase in the cash limit otherwise is almost wholly accounted for by the need to pay interest on large refunds of VAT being made as a result of recent legal decisions in both United Kingdom and European Community courts. There is also a predicted shortfall in receipts due mainly to a lower-than-expected number of requests by traders for out of hours attendance by officers.

  The increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any changes are proposed in the cash limit and running cost limit for 1990–91 for the Inland Revenue.

  Mr. Maude
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit for class XVIII, vote 7 will be increased by £4,167,000 from £1,403,945,000 to £1,408,112,000 and the Department's running cost limit by £182,000 from £1,327,395,000 to £1,327,577,000. The change in the running costs limit arises from a transfer from the Cabinet Office (Office of the Minister for the Civil Service) for challenge funding (class XX, vote 1). The change in cash limit also includes the full take-up of the capital end-year flexibility entitlement announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 25 July 1990. The increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  Mr. Moate
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there will be any changes to the Treasury's cash and running costs limits in 1990–91.

  Mr. Mellor
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limit for class XVIII, vote 1 will be increased by £407,000 from £77,531,000 to £77,938,000.

  The cash limit increase reflects the take-up of £509,000 of the entitlement to carry forward capital underspends announced by my predecessor on 25 July 1990, Official Report, columns 235–38, offset by a net reduction of £102,000 in provision for running costs expenditure in the light of reduced requirements. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  A token supplementary estimate will be sought for class XVIII, vote 3, reflecting higher running costs and other expenditure by the Civil Service Catering Organisation in the light of increased trading activity fully offset by an increase in receipts from their customers. The increase in running costs expenditure partly reflects the take-up of the full entitlement of £377,000 to carry forward running costs underspends announced on 25 July 1990.

  As a result of these changes, the running costs limit of Her Majesty's Treasury will be increased by £1,988,000 from £83,147,000 to £85,135,000.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is proposing any change to the Central Statistical Office's running cost limit for 1990–91.
  676
  Mr. Maples
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary token supplementary estimate, the running cost limit for class XVIII, vote 13 will be increased by £26,000 from £22,457,000 to £22,483,000. The increase reflects the measures planned, in response to the 34th report, Session 1989–90, of the Committee of Public Accounts (Cmnd 1323), to improve the quality of price collection for the retail prices index. The increase in provision for these measures is offset by savings in the capital provision on the same vote.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he proposes to make to the cash and running cost limits for 1990–91 for the National Investment and Loans Office.

  Mr. Maples
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XVIII, vote 11 will be increased by £249,000 from £1,000 to £250,000. The additional provision is required to cover a shortfall in fees payable on loans to local authorities. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement. The running costs limit will be reduced by £169,000 from £1,369,000 to £1,200,000.

  Economic and Finance Council
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The ECOFIN Council met in Brussels on 28 January. The inter-governmental conference on economic and monetary union met later the same day. I represented the United Kingdom at both meetings.

  The meeting began with a discussion of the economic situation in member states as part of the multilateral surveillance under stage 1 of economic and monetary union. It was generally agreed that strict monetary policy was essential, and that structural improvements were needed, particularly in the employment market and that saving and investment needed to be increased and budget deficits reduced.

  The presidency introduced its work programme on VAT and excise questions which was endorsed by the Council. I also made a statement emphasising the importance of the recent report on export refunds by the European Court of Auditors, which highlighted the need for improvements in the management of this significant area of the Community budget, in part to reduce the risk of fraud. It was agreed that progress in meeting the court's recommendations should be carefully monitored.

  On the basis of a report that the Commission had received pledges of $500 million from non EC members of the G24 and others for a loan to Czechoslovakia, the Council agreed that the Community would contribute a further $500 million and that the necessary legal texts should be adopted as soon as possible. The Council also agreed that the Community would pledge a 50 per cent. contribution, up to $250 million, to a loan by the G24 to Hungary.

  Over lunch, I also raised the question of burden-sharing by other countries for the costs of the war in the Gulf, and emphasised the substantial contribution being made to the allied operations by the United Kingdom.
  677
  A balance of payments loan to Greece of the order of 2·2 billion ecu (about £1½ billion) was agreed in principle. The first tranche will consist of the order of 1 billion ecu, but the release of further tranches will be decided by the Commission in consultation with the Council in the light of the Greek Government's performance in implementing its programme of economic reform. The formal decision will set out the precise conditions for the granting of this loan and will be taken at the next meeting of the Council on 25 February.

  The meeting of the intergovernmental conference focused on procedure, endorsing a proposal by the Presidency that the IGC should concentrate on drafting treaty texts and agreeing, in broad terms the work programme of the next meetings of the IGC. France and Spain introduced proposals on economic and monetary union. The next meeting of the IGC at ministerial level will be on 25 February.

HEALTH

  Psychiatric Patients
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the number of patients from psychiatric institutions who were released into the community and who have been readmitted to psychiatric institutions over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Baby Care Units
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding was provided for special care baby units for each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally.

  Medicine Labelling
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation for the mandatory labelling of medicines in large print and braille; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There are no plans to do so.

  All medicines labelling has to be clearly printed but the provision of braille labelling presents technical difficulties, not least being the lack of space available in which to carry the information required. I understand that some work has been done on this and that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society is having discussions with industry.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether leukaemia sufferers are exempted from prescription charges.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Leukaemia sufferers are not automatically entitled to free NHS prescriptions. Those in financial need will qualify for help. There are extensive general exemption arrangements designed to protect those who are likely to have difficulty in paying. Prescription pre-payment certificates are also available for anyone who does not qualify for exemption but who needs a lot of 678
  medication, and these can lead to considerable savings. As a result of the present exemption arrangements and pre-payment certificate scheme, a prescription charge is paid on less than one item in five dispensed.

  OPCS Cash Limits
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any changes to the cash limits for the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys for 1990–91.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XIII, vote 6 (Office of Population Censuses and Surveys) will be increased by £220,000 from £48,878,000 to £49,098,000. This reflects an increase of £220,000 in capital provision towards the fitting out of the 1991 census regional processing office at Hillington in Glasgow (this represents a timing change within the overall 1991 census expenditure); an increase of £272,000 in the social survey area exempt from gross running cost control for development work on the enlarged labour force survey. This latter cost will be met from within the existing resource of the Department of Employment (class VI, vote 2) and will be financed by an equivalent increase in appropriations in aid. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's current spending on research into myalgic encephalomyelitis; and whether he has plans to increase this in the next financial year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave to the hon. member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) on 15 October 1990 at column 659.

  Census
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he has decided to obtain independent advice on the confidentiality arrangements for samples of anonymised records from the 1991 census.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The president of the Royal Statistical Society, having been consulted about the best procedure, has nominated Professor D. Holt, deputy vice chancellor of the University of Southampton, as technical assessor. I am pleased to be able to announce that Professor Holt has agreed to act in this capacity. He will consider I he confidentiality arrangements for the samples of anonymised records (SARs) requested from the 1991 census of Great Britain by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and will assess whether or not the arrangements ensure that any risk of inadvertent disclosure of census information about identifiable individuals is minimised. He will advise the registrars general both on the confidentiality measures included in draft specifications of the SARs and on the proposals for their subsequent use. Once the draft specifications have been revised (if appropriate) as a result of his advice, he will prepare a report for Ministers on the proposed confidentiality arrangements. That report will be considered before any final approval is given for the production and supply of the SARs.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any changes will be made to the cash limits and running cost limits of his Department in 1990–91.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the following changes will be made:The cash limit for class XIII, vote 1 (Hospital and community health services, family health services (part) and other services, England) will be reduced by £1,250,000 from £14,194,789,000 to £14,193,539,000. This reduction represents a transfer to class XIII, vote 3.
  The cash limits for class XIII, vote 3 (Department of Health administration, miscellaneous health services and personal social services, England) will be increased by £43,255,000 from £691,253,000 to £734,508,000. This provides an additional £42,000,000 for grants to haemophiliacs infected with HIV; £1,250,000 transferred from class XIII, vote 1 following a reapportionment of family health service funds and £5,000 from class XIV, vote 7 for revised manpower costs. The Department's running cost limit is reduced by £4,356,000 from £202,049,000 to £197,693,000.

  The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total published in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  Wakefield Health Authority
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on how many occasions over the last five years the finances of Wakefield health authority have been examined by his Department's director of audit;

  (2) if he will direct the Audit Commission to conduct an inquiry into the financial management of Wakefield health authority;

  (3) on how many occasions over the past five years his Department's director of audit has drawn matters of concern regarding the financial management of Wakefield health authority to the attention of (a) the Yorkshire regional health authority, (b) the Wakefield health authority and (c) other bodies; and what were the matters in question in each instance.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 31 January 1991]: In common with the arrangements for all health authorities, staff of the Department's director of audit will have made the necessary visits to Wakefield health authority in order to carry out the statutory audit of its annual accounts entailing related examination of its financial systems and procedures.

  Matters arising from audits are routinely raised with local management although auditors at their discretion may include subjects in their audit reports which are directed to the Secretary of State for Health but on which resolution is delegated to regional health authorities, who are expected to ensure that remedial action is taken in liaison with the Department.

  During the last five years the audit reports on the Wakefield health authority included one such item recommending the complete vacation and disposal of a hospital site which had already been closed for patient care. The Yorkshire regional health authority was involved in resolving this matter.

  Responsibility for the statutory audit of the national health service now lies with the Audit Commission. It is for the Audit Commission itself to decide what inquiries are appropriate.

  Health Authority Functions
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the functions which have been passed from health authorities to local authorities since 1979.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 24 January 1991]: The development and growth of community care over the last 12 years has reshaped the boundary between health and social care, not least by the reduction in the number of children and adults permanently resident in hospital. There has, however, been no transfer of statutory functions in this period.

SCOTLAND

  Local Enterprise Companies
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give the date of incorporation and the operational commencement date for the local enterprise company for Argyll, Arran and the Cumbraes;

  (2) if he will list (a) the dates of incorporation and (b) the operational commencement dates of each local enterprise company operating in the area formerly covered by the Scottish Development Agency in 1991–92.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The local enterprise company for Argyll, Bute, Arran and the Cumbraes was incorporated on 6 August 1990; the remainder of the information requested about incorporation dates is set out in the table.

  Local enterprise company

  Date of incorporation

  Borders

  30 July 1990

  Central

  25 May 1990

  Grampian

  16 May 1989

  Lanarkshire

  27 April 1990

  Lothian

  30 April 1990

  Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey1

  1 March 1990

  Tayside

  22 August 1990

  1 Straddles the Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise boundaries.

  Operational commencement is not readily linked to a single date. Local enterprise companies' operations have commenced in all cases, with the business planning process, and they are increasingly involved in operational decisions both about individual projects and about matters such as the agreement of new contracts with training providers. The next stage will be for detailed operational contracts to be awarded to companies by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. In general, these contracts will be awarded over the next few weeks and will result in local enterprise companies becoming fully operational on 1 April, the same date as Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise take over full operational responsibility from their predecessor bodies.

  Cash limits
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to make any changes to the cash limits for 1990–91 within his responsibility.

  Mr. Lang
  Yes, I intend to make changes to eight of the cash limits within my responsibility as follows.
  681
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XV, vote 3, regional and general industrial support, will be increased by £10,460,000 from £140,716,000 to £151,176,000. The increase is to provide for a special payment of grant in aid to the Scottish Development Agency to extinguish the residual public dividend capital and national loans fund debt prior to the establishment of Scottish Enterprise; this has no net effect on public expenditure.

  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XV, vote 8, housing, Scotland will be increased by £8,957,000 from £316,364,000 to £325,321,000. The increase to Scottish Homes grant in aid will provide for the acquisition of stock from local authorities and new towns and for publicising the extension of the rents to mortgages scheme. The increases are partially offset by a reduced requirement for housing support grant due to lower interest rates.

  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XV, vote 11, administration of justice, Scotland will be increased by £659,000 from £42,790,000 to £43,449,000. This increase reflects a partial take up of capital end year flexibility entitlement announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 25 July 1990 to meet expenditure on Aberdeen sheriff court delayed from last year.

  The cash limit for class XV, vote 15, education, arts, libraries and social work, Scotland will be reduced by £900,000 from £233,975,000 to £233,075,000. This reduction will partially offset the requirement for increased expenditure of £1,517,149 on the St. Helena ship being provided by the Overseas Development Administration. The remainder will be offset by further cash limits reductions of £617,149 to be announced in due course.

  The cash limit for class XV, vote 19, general register office for Scotland will be reduced by £200,000 from £7,621,000 to £7,421,000 and the running costs limit reduced by £200,000 from £8,391,000 to £8,191,000.

  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XV, vote 20, Department of the Registers of Scotland will be increased by £1,560,000 from £1,000 to £1,561,000 to cover

  Estimated period of gestation (weeks)

  Year of Termination

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  20–23

  92

  84

  69

  65

  51

  41

  51

  53

  44

  26

  24–27

  10

  6

  5

  6

  7

  5

  5

  6

  5

  3

  28 +

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Roodlands Hospital, Haddington
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if the announcement by his predecessor, the right hon. and learned Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind), of 6 September 1990, concerning the provision of a 24-hour treatment service at the casualty unit at Roodlands hospital, Haddington, remains Government policy;

  (2) whether a 24-hour treatment service is provided at the casualty unit at Roodlands hospital, Haddington; when he intends to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for East Lothian dated 21 December 1990 on that subject; and if he will make a statement.
  682
  a shortfall in receipts. In addition, funds available for surrender to the consolidated fund as extra receipts will be reduced from £372,000 to zero. These changes will be partially offset by further cash limit reductions totalling £414,851 to be announced in due course.

  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XV, vote 21, Scottish Office administration will be increased by £217,000 from £130,152,000 to £130,369,000. Increased provision is required to reduce the backlog of regional medical service reference work and to meet extraordinary legal expenses. The additional expenditure will, however, be partially offset by a reduction in the cash limits for class XIV, vote 7. Increased provision is also required for expenditure on outward seconded staff but this will be offset by a corresponding increase in receipts. As a result of changes relating to the regional medical service and the running costs provision within class XV, vote 14 the running costs limit for the Scottish Office will be increased by £442,000 from £222,597,000 to £223,039,000.

  The non-voted cash limit SOLA2 will be reduced by £10,510,000 from £347,987,000 to £337,468,000. This is required to provide for the acquisition of stock by Scottish Homes from local authorities and new town development corporations.

  These changes are within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  Abortions
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of abortions performed in(a) Scotland and (b) each of the health board areas in each of the past 10 years; what percentage they represent of all categories; and how many of the abortions were carried out after (i) 20 weeks, (ii) 24 weeks and (iii) 28 weeks.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information about abortions in Scotland by health board of treatment and area of residence, and the statutory grounds under which they were carried out, is published annually in "Scottish Health Statistics", a copy of which is in the Library. The following table shows the numbers of abortions by gestational age for the period 1980–89.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I replied on 28 January to the letter of 21 December. My letter explained the full circumstances of the 24-hour casualty service which Lothian health board is providing in Haddington.

  Scottish Food
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are employed in the manufacture of Scottish food; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  There were an estimated 43,200 people employed in firms employing more than 10 workers in Scotland in 1989 in the manufacture of food. The food
  683
  manufacturing industry remains an important industry in Scotland employing more than one in 10 of all manufacturing employees.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to promote Scottish food abroad; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what were the reasons for the withdrawal of funds from Scottish Food Promotion; who will carry out its functions in future; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Scottish Food Promotion Ltd. was established in 1987 with support from the Scottish milk marketing board, Scottish salmon board, Scotch Quality Beef and Lamb Association, and the Scottish Development Agency and Highlands and Islands development board. Support from the two development agencies was made on a reducing basis over a three-year period, with the expectation that funding from the private sector would eventually replace public support.

  I understand that the SFP board decided to wind up the company when it was unable to attract funding for its new business plan. The promotion of sales by Scottish food and drink companies is primarily a matter for the companies themselves. The Government do provide support through Food From Britain and the Department of Trade and Industry. I understand that the SDA is considering what further public support is needed for Scottish companies and that it will maintain a Scottish presence at major food and drink trade shows.

  Registers (Financial Control)
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the financial control arrangements for the registers of Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The registers of Scotland (ROS) was approved for exemption from gross running costs control from 1989–90 on the basis of meeting certain management, performance and financial targets, in particular that it should recover the full costs of its services each year. ROS has been unable to meet the cost recovery target this year and will require supplementary substantive provision for 1990–91.

  Exemption has therefore been suspended for the remainder of 1990–91 with the result that changes in ROS gross expenditure and its funding have been subject to full Treasury scrutiny.

  Net control (the successor to exemption) will resume from April 1991, subject to ROS making good the shortfall in income for 1990–91 in 1991–92.

  Crown Office (Cash limits)
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Lord Advocate proposes any changes to the Crown Office's cash and running costs limits for 1990–91.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class X, vote 13, will be increased by £1,365,000 from £28,369,000 to £29,734,000. The Department's running costs limit will be increased by £1,378,000 from £21,701,000 to £23,079,000. This increase will enable the Crown Office to meet additional costs relating to an increase in staff numbers, higher than 684
  expected salary increases and the costs of a high level review of the Department recommended by the Public Accounts Committee. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  Grant-aided Colleges
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has determined the allocations of grant-in-aid for recurrent expenditure to grant-aided colleges in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The allocations are as follows:

  Offer 1991–92 £m

  Craigie College of Education

  1·198

  Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art

  3·419

  Dundee Institute of Technology

  6·540

  Edinburgh College of Art

  3·126

  Glasgow Polytechnic

  14·525

  Glasgow School of Art

  2·993

  Jordanhill College of Education

  8·301

  Moray House College of Education

  6·259

  Napier Polytechnic of Edinburgh

  17·799

  Northern College of Education

  4·618

  Paisley College of Technology

  9·757

  Queen's College, Glasgow

  3·918

  Queen Margaret College

  4·413

  Robert Gordon Institute of Technology

  11·154

  RSAMD

  2·314

  St· Andrew's College of Education

  2·914

  Scottish College of Textiles

  2·107

  The offers, which are conditional on parliamentary approval of the supply estimates, take account of the substantial increases in the tuition fees which colleges will receive for undergraduate students under the student awards system.

  The system of determining grant-in-aid allocations distributes the funds available by reference to a funded number of students for each college, weighted by subject group. Some modifications in the funding system have been made for 1991–92 following consultation with the colleges, notably to transfer from grant-in-aid into aggregate external finance for local authorities most of the resources for in-service training of teachers at colleges of education; and also to reflect more closely colleges' past performance in attracting and retaining students. In addition there are substantial inward transfers from other providers of courses in professions allied to medicine and the built environment. Not counting these transfers, the number of students for whom grant-in-aid provision has been made has been increased by about 7 per cent. in 1991–92 in recognition of the success of the sector in attracting additional students.

  The grant allocations take account of the further substantial increases in the level of the publicly-funded undergraduate tuition fees to be paid to colleges as from September 1991 and, after adjusting for transfers, the allocations .represent an increase in Government funding of about £20 million; or 14 per cent. compared with the current year if colleges achieve their funded student enrolments. The table shows how grant-in-aid plus estimated tuition fees for funded students will change for individual colleges.
  685

  Year-on-year comparison of grant-in-aid and tuition fees

  Grant-in-aid plus estimated tuition fees for funded students (£ million)

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Change Per cent.

  Craigie College of Education

  1·634

  1·850

  +13·2

  Duncan of Jordanstone

  4·994

  5·797

  +16·1

  Dundee Institute of Technology

  9·472

  10469

  +10·5

  Edinburgh College of Art

  5·045

  5·494

  +8·9

  Glasgow Polytechnic

  16·659

  20·105

  +20·7

  Glasgow School of Art

  4·532

  5·005

  +10·4

  Jordanhill College of Education

  10·765

  11·892

  +10 5

  Moray House College of Education

  8·059

  9·119

  +13·2

  Napier Polytechnic of Edinburgh

  23·783

  27·251

  + 14·6

  Northern College of Education

  6·070

  6·833

  +12·6

  Paisley College of Technology

  13·751

  15·611

  +135

  Queen's College, Glasgow

  4·113

  4·782

  +16·3

  Queen Margaret College

  6·061

  71·09

  +17·3

  Robert Gordon Institute of Technology

  15·360

  17·814

  +16·0

  RSAMD

  2·924

  3·100

  +6·0

  St· Andrew's College of Education

  3·759

  4·460

  +18·6

  Scottish College of Textiles

  3·117

  3·363

  +7·9

  All colleges

  140·098

  160·054

  +14·2

  Note: The inward transfers of resources for building courses and courses for professions allied to medicine from other sectors, and outward transfers of resources for in-service training of teachers are excluded from the figures.

  The allocations reflect the high priority which the Government are continuing to give to higher education. The funding levels will adequately cover cost increases and will also enable the colleges to continue to contribute to the rising participation in higher education of recent years. Colleges are free to recruit students above the levels on which grant-in-aid is based and can thus benefit from the increased tuition fee levels to be paid from public funds for those students who are entitled to students' awards.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table indicating current unemployment levels in each urban development corporation area.

  Mr. Jackson
  Urban development corporation (UDC) boundaries do not correspond to areas for which unemployment figures are available. Unemployment figures for the travel-to-work areas which include the UDCs, for December 1990, are contained in the following table.

  Urban development corporation

  TTWA

  Total unemployed

  1Rate

  London Docklands

  London

  230,694

  5·8

  Black Country

  Walsall

  12,307

  7·3

  Wolverhampton

  12,994

  8·7

  Dudley and Sandwell

  21,115

  7·3

  Merseyside

  Liverpool

  63,743

  12·6

  Tyne and Wear

  South Tyneside

  9,020

  15·5

  686

  Urban development corporation

  TTWA

  Total unemployed

  1Rate

  Sunderland

  20,253

  11·0

  Teeside

  Stockton on Tees

  8,357

  10·7

  Hartlepool

  5,207

  13·3

  Middlesbrough

  16,147

  11·5

  Cardiff Bay

  Cardiff

  16,497

  7·1

  Leeds

  Leeds

  23,325

  6·4

  Central Manchester

  Manchester

  62,138

  7·3

  Trafford Park

  Sheffield

  Sheffield

  25,609

  8·9

  Bristol

  Bristol

  20,548

  5·5

  1 Per cent. of workforce.

  Sheltered Placement Scheme
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement regarding his decision to stop the expansion of the sheltered placement scheme in 1990–91.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 31 January 1991]: The sheltered placement scheme (SPS) is part of my Department's sheltered employment programme. Since 1985 the scheme has been extremely successful in offering people with severe disabilities a wide choice of employment opportunities.

  In 1990–91 my Department is making available to local authorities and voluntary organisations £4·2 million more than the previous year to support jobs for people wiih severe disabilities. Our first priority in using this additional money has been to help maintain the jobs of existing SPS workers by increasing the grants paid to sponsors to assist in meeting their rising wage bills and administrative costs. In 1990–91 the scheme will support an average of 6,700 sheltered placement jobs throughout the country at an estimated cost of £15·7 million. Whilst there has been no increase in the number of SPS places in 1990–91, previous patterns of turnover indicate that some 1,000 existing places nationally are likely to become vacant to allow new entrants to join the scheme.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether any change will be made to his Department's cash limits or running costs limits for 1990–91.

  Mr. Jackson
  [pursuant to his reply, 8 November 1990, c. 10]: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the following further changes will be made:

  The cash limit for class VI, vote 1 (training and enterprise programmes) will be reduced by £152,233,000 from £2,452,338,000 to £2,300,105,000. Of this reduction, £145,000,000 will be transferred to class VI, vote 2 to offset a £132,400,000 increase in European social fund payments to third parties and a number of other minor changes. In addition £4,217,000 is transferred to class VI, vote 5 for the sale of the STA. Further transfers result in a net decrease of £3,016,000.
  687
  The cash limit for class VI, vote 2 (other programmes and central services), will be increased by £10,830,000 from £214,197,000 to £225,027,000. This increase is offset by a reduction on the class VI, vote I cash limit.

  The cash limit for class VI, vote 3 (employment service), will be increased by £24,000 from £415,304,000 to £415,328,000. This increase is offset by reductions on class VI, vote 1. The changes include the transfer of £658,000 from class VI, vote 1 in connection with the transfer of the employment rehabilitation service and increased provision of £93,000 for additional statistical work on the RPI. These increases are partly offset by receipts from the CSO and increased receipts as a result of the employment service revenue generation scheme.

  The cash limit for class VI, vote 4 (Health and Safety Commission and Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service), will increase by £1,242,000 from £137,211,000 to £138,453,000. This increase is offset by a reduction of the cash limit on class VI, vote 1. The main changes relate to a transfer of £1,500,000 from class VI, vote 1 to pay for higher staff relocation costs and the effects of the transfer of the railway inspectorate. These increases are partly offset by higher receipts.

  The cash limit for class VI, vote 5 (Sale of Skills Training Agency), will increase by £4,217,000 from a token £1,000 to £4,218,000. This increase is offset by reductions in the cash limit on class VI, vote 1. The increase is to fund the main sale expenditure of the Skills Training Agency, and to reflect a reduction in receipts due to delays in the sale of properties and leases.

  As a result of these changes, the DE group cash limits will fall by £135,920,000. However, public expenditure will reduce by only £3,520,000 because the £132,400,000 increase in ESF payments to third parties shown on class VI, vote 2 is due to its receipts which do not score in DE's cash limits but are included in public expenditure totals.

  The running costs limit for the Department of Employment (Votes 1,2,3 and 5) will be increased by £25,726,000 from £916,267,000 to £941,993,000.

  The running costs limit for the Health and Safety Commission will increase by £1,680,000 from £100,621,000 to £102,301,000.

  These increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

DEFENCE

  Gulf War (Pay)
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the comparative rates of pay of reservist troops and regular troops, by rank, serving in the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All regulars and reservists serving in the Gulf receive the same basic rates of pay. However, reservists are entitled to a taxable supplement of up to 20 per cent. of service pay (and more in special cases) to help make up any loss of civilian earnings up to a maximum total ceiling, including service pay, of £55,000.

  Territorial Army Reservists
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 16 November to the hon. Member for Don Valley,Official Report, column 228, if he will make it his practice to keep central records of individual casualties among Territorial Army reservists.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member.

  Gulf War (Costs)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current estimated daily cost of the British presence in the Gulf arising from the invasion of Kuwait.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The current full daily operating cost of the British presence in the Gulf arising from the invasion of Kuwait is estimated to be over £4 million per day.

  Gulf Oil Spills
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what protection is available to the United Nations Environment Programme global environment monitoring system studying oil spills in the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The United Kingdom has received no request for any form of protection for UNEP global environment monitoring system personnel in the Gulf.

  Prisoners of War
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the areas of Iraq that are sufficiently far from military action to constitute safe areas for prisoners of war under article 14 of the Geneva convention.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The targets being attacked by the coalition are sites which could pose a threat to allied forces or facilities supporting Iraq's occupation of Kuwait. Article 23 of the third Geneva convention states that no prisoner of war may at any time be sent to, or detained in areas where he may be exposed to the fire of the combat zone, nor may his presence be used to render certain points or areas immune from military operations. Iraq has not yet provided any information to the International Committee of the Red Cross on the personnel being held or their location, nor permitted the ICRC to satisfy itself that they are being held in accordance with Iraq's obligations.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if there are any changes to the defence cash limits and running costs limits for 1990–91.

  Mr. Tom King
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary spring supplementary estimates, the following changes will be made:
  689

  (1) Defence Cash Limits

  £'000s

  Class and Vote

  Current Cash Limit

  Change

  Revised Cash Limit

  I, 1

  9,108,295

  + 100,000

  9,208,295

  I, 2

  8,944,597

  + 196,728

  9,141,325

  I, 3

  1,407,570

  +10,975

  1,418,545

  I, 4

  1,930,960

  -87,901

  1,843,059

  I, 5

  494,027

  + 40,000

  534,027

  These changes, which increase the block Defence cash limit by £259,802,000 from £21,885,449,000 to £22,145,251,000, are principally to cover costs arising from the deployments of British forces to the Gulf area. The changes also take account of a number of minor transfers between the Ministry of Defence and other Government Departments. They are consistent with the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  (2) Running Costs Limit

  Within the block Defence cash limit the running costs limit for the Department will be increased by £66,011,000 from £5,362,678,000 to £5,428,689,000. This is mainly for additional running costs being incurred on the Defence budget as a result of the crisis in the Gulf area.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he made to Commissioner Ray MacSharry to seek to ensure that environmental protection measures are linked closely with production and budgetary reforms to the common agricultural policy being discussed by European Commissioners.

  Mr. Curry
  As my right hon. Friend the Minister made clear in his reply to the hon. Member for Bosworth on 23 January at column 247, we did not have the opportunity at the last meeting of the Agricultural Council to give our views on the EC Commission's ideas for reforming the common agricultural policy, but at next week's Council we intend to argue for the closer integration of agricultural and environmental policies.

  Tourism
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations took place with representatives of the tourism industry before the abolition of capital grants for the provision of tourist accommodation under the farm diversification scheme.

  Mr. Curry
  In reaching a decision the Ministry took into account a range of views and considerations including those of the tourism industry.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made to the European Commission to raise the levels of reimbursement for payments made in environmentally sensitive areas in objective 1 and 5b areas of the United Kingdom.
  690
  Mr. Curry
  None, since any increase would be bound to apply to other member states. A general rise would increase the overall cost of existing schemes to the United Kingdom Exchequer without any direct benefit to United Kingdom farmers.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to publish a consultation paper on reforms to bring about more explicit environmental benefits from the hill livestock compensatory allowances system.

  Mr. Curry
  I plan to consult interested parties as soon as we have specific proposals to present on how the existing environmental benefits afforded by hill livestock compensatory allowances might be made more specific.

  Drift-net Fishing
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken to protect fish stocks in waters for which Britain is responsible from the activities of drift-net fishing.

  Mr. Curry
  The small-scale drift net fisheries found in United Kingdom waters are considered to be relatively selective in operation, targeting certain fish species reasonably effectively. Various restrictions including minimum mesh size controls may be applied in these fisheries, and those for salmon and trout in particular are tightly regulated.

  Food From Britain
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what percentage of funding through Food From Britain was spent promoting Scottish food; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what percentage of funding through Food From Britain was spent promoting Welsh food; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The information is not available in the form requested. Food From Britain has the task of promoting British foodstuffs from all parts of the United Kingdom, and offers services to food companies without regard to their geographical location.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to promote(a) English food abroad and (b) British food abroad; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government are fully committed to the promotion of food from the United Kingdom both at home and abroad. We provide substantial financial support to the national food marketing organisation, Food From Britain, so that its resources and expertise can be drawn upon by British food producers, manufacturers and traders in increasing the sales of British food to the consumers of the world.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to make any changes to his Department's cash limits for 1990–91.
  691
  Mr. Gummer
  Yes. The non-voted cash limit MAFF/LACAP (supplementary credit approvals for flood defence and coast protection) will be increased by £2,300,000 from £13,230,000 to £15,530,000, to enable local authorities to devote additional resources to coast protection work following the severe winter storms at the beginning of 1990.

  The cash limit for class III, vote 5 (departmental research, advisory services and administration) will be reduced by £2,000,000, from £285,096,000 to £283,096,000, reflecting a predicted shortfall in spending on capital works.

  The net increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the autumn statement.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Missile Technology Control Regime
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries that are currently members of the missile technology control regime and the date on which they became members.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The missile technology control regime was established in 1987 by Canada, France, the FRG, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. In 1989 Spain also adhered to the MTCR guidelines. In 1990 six further countries, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway, also announced their adherence to the MTCR.

  Weapons
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest list of weapons outlawed by international law; and what efforts the United Kingdom is making to extend that list.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There is no international agreed list of outlawed weapons. However, restrictions on certain types of weapon are included in a variety of international agreements. Such restrictions apply only to countries which are parties to the agreement.

  Iraq (Muslim Holy Sites)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report his letter of 28 January to the hon. Member for Linlithgow concerning damage to Muslim holy sites in Iraq.

  Mr. Hurd
  I am arranging for a copy of my letter of 28 January to the hon. Member to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 4 and 5 February. Ministers will discuss the situation in 692
  the Soviet Union and the consequences of events in the Baltic states for the EC's aid proposals. They will also discuss food aid for Romania and Bulgaria and the extension of European Investment bank lending to Czechoslovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. The Council may review progress towards the resumption of negotiations on GATT, and will consider EC/United States trade in aircraft. Political co-operation issues will also be discussed. The ministerial meeting of the intergovernmental Conference on political union on 4 February will consider progress made by Ministers' personal representatives.

  The Agriculture Council will meet on 4 and 5 February and will discuss the development of the common agriculture policy, the agriculture aspect of the GATT Uruguay round and EC quality standards for fresh and frozen sheep carcases.

  The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 25 February to consider financial assistance to central and eastern Europe and aid to the USSR. The abolition of fiscal frontiers appears on the agenda but no substantive discussion is expected. The ministerial meeting of the inter-governmental conference on economic and monetary union on 25 February will hold a general discussion on progress made to date by Ministers' personal representatives.

  Prisoners of War
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by the United Kingdom and other countries to ensure that prisoners of war held by Iraq are being treated in accordance with the Geneva convention; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn) on 31 January at column 605.

  Falkland Islands (Fishing)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on Japanese drift-net fishing in the vicinity of the Falkland Islands.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The Falkland Islands Government, who manage the Falkland Islands interim conservation and management zone and the Falklands outer conservation zone, are not aware of any drift net fishing in the vicinity of the Falkland Islands.

  Taiwan
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Taiwanese authorities regarding drift-net fishing; and if he will make it his policy to ban all Taiwanese fishing in waters for which Britain is responsible until the Taiwanese end the use of drift-nets.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have no dealings with the authorities in Taiwan. We welcomed the decision of the authorities in Taiwan in September last year to comply in principle with the resolution on large-scale pelagic drift net fishing adopted by the 44th General Assembly of the United Nations. We also welcomed the additional
  693
  measures undertaken by the authorities in Taiwan such as a ban on the building of new drift net vessels and a ban on the operation of drift net fishing in the Atlantic. We do not propose to take action against Taiwan fishing vessels.

  British Overseas Territories (Fishing)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which countries licences have been granted for fishing operations in the economic exclusion zone waters of British overseas territories.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Dependent territories of the United Kingdom do not have exclusive economic zones, but a number of them have fisheries jurisdictions. Licences have been issued to vessels and associations from a number of countries; it is not normal practice to enter into licence agreements with foreign Governments.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he proposes to make any changes in his Department's diplomatic wing cash limits and running costs limits for 1990–91.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the following changes will be made: The cash limit for class II, vote 1 (overseas representation) will be increased by £18,058,000 from £534,722,000 to £552,780,000. In addition, the running costs limit on vote 1 will be increased by £14,986,000 from £477,103,000 to £492,089,000. These changes reflect increased costs due to the Gulf crisis; construction of buildings and adverse effect of overseas price movements.

  The cash limit for class II, vote 2 (other external relations) will increase by £11,402,000 from £176,019,000 to £187,421,000. This takes account of increased costs on Vietnamese boat people; international conferences; FCO scholarships; military assistance; consular expenditure in the middle east as a result of the Gulf crisis and higher than forecast expenditure on our contributions to international organisations due to the adverse effect of overseas price movements.

  The cash limit for class II, vote 3 (external broadcasting and monitoring) will increase by £4,760,000 from £142,685,000 to £147,445,000 to take account of increased rental for Bush house and increased costs as a result of the Gulf crisis.

  The cash limit for class II, vote 4 (the British Council) will increase by £2,076,000 from £76,233,000 to £78,309,000 to take account of the adverse effect of overseas price movements. These increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  Saudi Arabia
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being given to British nationals to leave Saudi Arabia following the cessation of civilian flights.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have arranged for British nationals to leave Saudi Arabia on Kuwait Airways flights 694
  from Dhahran. Only about 230 British nationals have taken up this opportunity. The last of these flights left on 30 January.

  Saudia Airlines is operating a service of three flights a week between Jedda and the United Kingdom and a daily shuttle service between Jedda and Riyadh. British Airways will provide a similar service between London and Jedda from 31 January. It continues to be possible to travel without difficulty by road between Dhahran, Riyadh and Jedda.

  The American military have also offered seats on their aircraft to British nationals.

TRANSPORT

  Boom Equipment
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation has taken place, and what advice has been received, from local authorities as to the adequacy of the scale, type and amount of boom equipment stationed in Scotland for use in an oil pollution incident.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Department's marine pollution control unit (MPCU) keeps local authorities fully informed of the content of its stockpiles of beach protection and cleaning equipment and is always ready to consider any suggestion they might make about the amount or type of equipment it keeps. However, there have been no formal consultations with, or advice from, local authorities as to the adequacy of the scale, type and amount of boom equipment stationed in Scotland for use in an oil spill incident.

  As I explained in my answer of 4 July at col. 563 the MPCU's stocks of highly mobile resources, including booms, are on short notice stand-by at various locations around the United Kingdom from where they can be quickly deployed to the west coast of Scotland, or any other part of the United Kingdom which may be threatened by a major oil spill.

  The adequacy of these resources is kept under constant review and following the Rosebay incident off the south Devon coast in May of last year, the MPCU has taken steps to enhance substantially its stockpiles, including the one at Cambusbarron in Scotland, by improving its stocks of booms, shoreline barriers, skimmers and other equipment.

  Prestwick Airport
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to encourage an increase in freight and passenger traffic using Prestwick airport; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  It is for airlines to decide whether they wish to mount services using Prestwick, and for BAA plc, as the owner of the airport, to encourage them to do so. Proposals put forward for new services by foreign airlines will be considered as quickly as possible within the framework of the appropriate air service agreements, and account will be taken of the Government's wish to see effective use of Prestwick.

  Rail Electrification
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give, for Great Britain as a whole and for Scotland, the total rail route length, and the percentage which is electrified, including projects approved or under construction.

  Mr. Freeman
  At 31 March 1990 British Rail had 10,307 route miles in Great Britain of which some 28 per cent. are electrified or will be electrified by projects approved or under construction. British Rail has some 1,700 route miles in Scotland, 10 per cent. of which are or will be electrified.

  Rail Crossings
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the railway inspectorate's review of footpath crossings announced in his answer to the hon. Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Snape) on 9 July at column 96 has been completed; and if he intends to place a copy of the review's findings in the Library when it is completed.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate is reviewing the warning and layout arrangements at footpath and bridleway crossings and the criteria for their application. Its findings will be published in due course as an additional chapter to the railway construction and operation requirements for level crossings. A copy will be placed in the Library at that time.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of British Rail's review of all the footpath and bridleway crossings of the east coast main line and proposals for bridges or underpasses at, or stopping-up or diversion of, those crossings.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  This is a matter for British Rail. Proposals to stop up certain level crossings on the east coast main line railway are contained in British Rail's East Coast Main Line (Safety) Bill. If this Bill is given a Second Reading, it will be for the Committee appointed to consider it to take evidence on the case for British Rail's proposals.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department issues to local authorities with regard to the reinstatement of existing provision for disabled people, such as dropped kerbs and tactile pavements when roads are being repaired and reinstated.

  Mr. Freeman
  Highway authorities are required under the Disabled Persons Act 1981 to have regard to disabled persons when considering the provisions of ramps at appropriate places between carriageways and footpaths. The Department of Transport's advice on these provisions, including such features as dropped kerbs and tactile pavements, is contained in departmental advice notes TA 52/87 "Design Considerations for Pelican and Zebra Crossings" and TA 57/87 "Roadside Features", and in the Department's disability unit circular 1/86. Where provisions are in place we would recommend that they are retained when roads are repaired and reinstated.

  Cycling Accidents
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list, in descending order by borough, the number of cycling accidents in each London borough in the last three years.

  Mr. Chope
  The information requested is as follows.

  Number

  1987

  Westminster

  266

  Wandsworth

  200

  Camden

  191

  Lambeth

  190

  South wark

  180

  Islington

  180

  Hounslow

  168

  Richmond

  160

  Eating

  1S9

  Hillingdon

  154

  Kingston

  139

  Bromley

  137

  Croydon

  136

  Kensington and Chelsea

  129

  Lewisham

  117

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  110

  Barnet

  107

  Enfield

  105

  Hackney

  104

  Tower Hamlets

  100

  Havering

  97

  Bexley

  96

  Greenwich

  94

  Brent

  89

  Merton

  87

  Sutton

  86

  Waltham Forest

  82

  Newham

  81

  Redbridge

  75

  Haringey

  69

  Barking and Dagenham

  62

  Harrow

  60

  City of London

  32

  1988

  Westminster

  323

  Lambeth

  233

  South wark

  195

  Camden

  189

  Wandsworthk

  186

  Islington

  179

  Ealing

  161

  Hounslow

  155

  Kensington and Chelsea

  151

  Kingston

  146

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  141

  Bromley

  137

  Hillingdon

  137

  Croydon

  134

  Richmond

  132

  Hackney

  131

  Lewisham

  111

  Enfield

  107

  Barnet

  102

  Newham

  93

  Waltham Forest

  91

  Brent

  90

  Tower Hamlets

  90

  Havering

  88

  Merton

  83

  Greenwich

  83

  Barking and Dagenham

  77

  Haringey

  73

  Redbridge

  69

  Harrow

  68

  Sutton

  68

  Bexley

  66

  City of London

  38

  697

  Number

  1989

  Westminster

  461

  Lambeth

  322

  South wark

  245

  Camden

  233

  Wandsworth

  228

  Islington

  219

  Kensington and Chelsea

  208

  Ealing

  201

  Hounslow

  194

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  173

  Hillingdon

  173

  Richmond

  170

  Croydon

  153

  Barnet

  151

  Bromley

  150

  Tower Hamlets

  145

  Kingston

  138

  Hackney

  127

  Lewisham

  123

  Enfield

  121

  Greenwich

  119

  Havering

  118

  Waltham Forest

  112

  Brent

  111

  Haringey

  111

  Newham

  105

  Redbridge

  96

  Merton

  94

  Sutton

  91

  Bexley

  74

  Harrow

  73

  Barking and Dagenham

  66

  City of London

  58

  Source: London Accident Analysis Unit fact sheets 18 and 33.

  Cycling
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress towards implementing the 1,000-mile cycle lane network in London.

  Mr. Chope
  In 1990 the London planning advisory committee consulted all London highway authorities on the proposals for a 1,000-mile strategic cycle network. Replies are being co-ordinated by the London Cycling Forum. Results are expected later this year.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the availability of finance to local authorities for the provision of cycling facilities.

  Mr. Chope
  Transport supplementary grant (TSG) and credit approvals for local authority capital expenditure on highways are allocated in the light of information included in authorities' annual transport policies and programme (TPP) submissions.

  The Department's circular inviting TPP submissions for 1991–92 said that expenditure on provision for cyclists will be considered for TSG where it is integral to a highway or traffic management scheme which meets the criteria for TSG accepted expenditure. Specific cycling schemes, in addition to those which form or are part of a local safety scheme, can also qualify for TSG support if they are intended to reduce accidents on roads of more than local importance. This can involve not only the construction of facilities on main roads (such as cycle lanes and cycle
  698
  crossings) but also the development of cycle routes on minor roads which attract significant numbers of cyclists away from roads of more than local importance.

  Most expenditure on cycling facilities is likely to take the form of "minor works" for which authorities are given a block allocation of accepted expenditure. Other expenditure on cycling, as on all other categories of expenditure, may be funded from within authorities, approved levels of borrowing, from capital receipts or from revenue.

  There is no predetermined share of the total resources available reserved for cycling facilities, and it is for individual authorities to decide how much of their overall allocations to devote to them.

  Child Safety Belts
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he can now announce the date at which rear seat belts for children in cars will become mandatory.

  Mr. Chope
  Regulations requiring children under 14 years of age to be restrained when travelling in the rear seats of cars, where appropriate restraints exist and are available, came into force on 1 September 1989.

  The European Commission is currently discussing a proposal for a directive on child restraint construction which is expected to include requirements on installation involving both restraint and vehicle manufacturers.

  Road Repairs
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give an estimate of the cost of maintenance and repairs for motorways and roads for 1990.

  Mr. Chope
  The latest forecast of expenditure on maintenance of motorways and trunk roads in England in 1990–91 is £543·8 million.

  This includes £419·5 million of capital expenditure on the renewal of roads and the renewal and strengthening of bridges (including the Severn bridge) and £124·3 million of current expenditure on roads and bridges.

  A19 Improvement Study
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make available sufficient funding to enable the recommendations contained within the A19 improvement study prepared by consultants Bullen and Partners on behalf of the northern regional office of the Department of Transport to be implemented in full.

  Mr. Chope
  The consultant's report listed recommendations for improvements to the A19 in an order of priority. The scheme with top priority, Testo's roundabout improvement, is currently under way.

  The other improvements recommended will be processed within the annual programmes of regional improvements as funds permit.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he proposes to make to the cash limit and running costs limit for his Department.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limits in class VII will be changed as follows:
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  Class and Vote

  Current cash limit

  Changes

  £ thousand revised cash limit

  VII

  1

  1,798,862

  14,027

  1,802,889

  2

  259,693

  29,037

  268,730

  4

  135,796

  313,500

  149,296

  5

  267,519

  41

  267,520

  1 Take up in part of entitlement to end year flexibility announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 25 July 1990 (Official Report, cols. 235–40). There is a transfer of £100,000 from the Department of Environment (class VIII, vote 6) consequent upon the decision to pay grant direct to English Heritage and a token provision to enable certain payments in respect of the construction and maintenance of roads.

  2 There are increases of £8,900,000 transferred from class VII, vote 1, for the relocation of part of my Department and for additional accommodation costs and capital equipment, £20,000 in respect of first aid work and OMCS challenge funding allocations and £288,000 shortfall in appropriations in aid offset by a reduction of £171,000 resulting from the transfer of railways inspectorate to the Department of Employment (class VI, vote 4).

  3 Increases to cover shortfall in appropriations in aid of £13,500,000 in respect of the sale of marks scheme.

  4 Token.Provision has been made to enable increased expenditure on urban traffic control which will be recovered from local authorities.

  The running costs limit of the Department of Transport has been increased by £2,847,000 from £322,416,000 to £325,263,000 as a consequence of running costs increases on two Votes. The bulk of this increase comprises the transfer of £2,700,000 from programme expenditure on class VII vote 4.

  The increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  The Gulf (Pollution Control)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what response he has made to the Saudi Government's request for the loan of small numbers of skilled pollution control experts and advisers.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Two pollution control experts, one from the Department's marine pollution control unit and the other from the DTI's Warren Spring laboratory, arrived in the Gulf yesterday.

  Both have considerable experience in dealing with pollution arising from oil spills dating back to the Torrey Canyon incident off the Scilly isles in 1969 and both have been involved in clean-up operations in the Gulf on previous occasions.

  Their role will be to advise the Saudi Government on response techniques and any possible needs for additional equipment.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his meeting with EEC colleagues on 29 January about the standing task force of national experts on oil pollution going to the Gulf; and if he will give a breakdown of the numbers and experience of such a task force.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The meeting held on 29 January at official level was of a technical nature aimed at assessing the situation in the light of available knowledge, considering possible response strategies and determining the extent to which the Community might be able to help if requested to do so by the Saudi Government.
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  Member states expressed a willingness to help and it is clear that much equipment and expertise is available if required. However, I am also aware that considerable counter-pollution resources already exist in the Gulf area as a result of existing contingency plans to deal with spillages of oil from tanker casualties and other sources. It is important therefore not to mobilise European resources until it is clear that they would be needed and not simply hinder the operation.

  The EC task force has no specific number of personnel. It is drawn from member states in response to specific requests to the EC for assistance and its composition will vary from incident to incident depending on the type of help and advice being sought.

  Rail Technology
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to examine the new European rail technology being developed by Powell Duffryn Standard Limited.

  Mr. Freeman
  BR plans to use low-platform wagon technology for channel tunnel freight services, and I am taking a close interest in the development of this new rolling stock. My hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, West (Mr. McLoughlin) visited Powell Duffryn in Cardiff last September, and I hope to visit their recently acquired French operation in April.

  Dartford Tunnel
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on forthcoming closures of the Dartford tunnels for carriageway repairs.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 31 January 1991]: Investigations into the condition of the existing tunnels at Dartford are continuing. Until they are complete and have been evaluated, no forecast can be given of the extent and timing of any closures. If closure of one of the tunnels does become necessary, it will not happen until some time after the opening of the new bridge at the end of this summer. The increased capacity would then provide three lanes of traffic in each direction during any closure, 50 per cent. more than at present.

  Speed Limits (Essex)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer on 7 December 1990,Official Report, column 254, if he has determined Essex county council's highway committee's application of October 1988 to extend the 30 mph and 40 mph speed limit zone in Dembury; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 31 January 1991]: Approval in principle was given to Essex county council on 27 December 1990. I now await their application for confirmation of this order. I understand this is likely to be submitted sometime early in March.

  Road Links
  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the names of the consultants appointed by his Department to examine a possible new road link between Exeter and Plymouth and a second
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  Tamar road bridge; what was the date they were appointed; what is the proposed timetable and their terms of reference; and what are the organisations from whom evidence will be taken.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 25 January 1991]: Consultants have still to be appointed for the assessment of the needs of the A38 between Exeter and Plymouth which was announced in "Roads for Prosperity". The assessment is likely to take about 12 months.
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  The proposal for a second Tamar crossing was one of the six projects on which the private sector were invited to express views on the suitability for private finance in June 1990. The responses are under consideration and an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

  The Department is joining with the local authorities in a traffic study of Plymouth and its environs; this should be complete by the end of 1991.