Written Answers of 5 February 1991

ENERGY

  Oil and Gas, Wales
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the results of the exploration programme for oil and gas off the Welsh coast.

  Mr. Moynihan
  One significant discovery of oil and one of gas have been made from exploration drilling undertaken to date in waters off the coast of Wales. Both discoveries were made in 1990 in block 110/13 of the United Kingdom continental shelf, for which Hamilton Brothers Oil and Gas Ltd. acts as operator. The company is planning further drilling to assess the likely extent of both discoveries.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the number of wells drilled in waters off the Welsh coast for each year from 1970 to 1990 in the exploration for oil and gas.

  Mr. Moynihan
  A total of 15 exploration wells and one appraisal well were drilled in waters off the coast of Wales between 1970 and 1990. The appraisal well and four of the exploration wells were drilled in 1990; and there were four exploration well starts in 1976, two in 1978 and one in each of the years 1974, 1984, 1987, 1988 and 1989.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of oil resources in the oilfield discovered in Block 110/13.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The oil discovery in block 110/13 of the United Kingdom continental shelf announced by the operator, Hamilton Brothers Oil and Gas Ltd., in December 1990 will require further appraisal before an estimate can be made of the amount of oil which is potentially recoverable.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has about safety precautions in operation to guard construction workers and other non-permanent staff from over-exposure to radiation at Sellafield; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  All people who are exposed to ionising radiations during their employment are subject to the requirements of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985. I am advised that all workers whether permanent or otherwise who are exposed to ionising radiations at the British Nuclear Fuels plc Sellafield plant receive appropriate training, medical checks, protective clothing and routine monitoring of dose uptake.

  Welsh Water
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what further action he now proposes to take in the light of the acquisition of a 10 per cent. stake in South Wales Electricity by Welsh Water following his letter of 22 January to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I have at present nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's letter to the hon. Member in question.

  Electricity Generation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the proportion of electricity generating capacity that will remain in the public sector for each of the next five years.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The nuclear electricity genera ting capacity in England and Wales will remain in the public sector. Under the terms of the non-fossil fuel obligation, the regional electricity companies are required to contract for amounts of nuclear generating capacity that decline from 8·553 GW in 1990–91 to 7·388 GW in 1995–96. In 1990–91 the nuclear obligation represented about 14 per cent. of the total generating capacity in England and Wales. The proportion that the nuclear obligation will represent in future years will largely depend on decisions within the private sector as to the amount of non-nuclear capacity.

PRIME MINISTER

  United States President
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister how many times he has spoken by telephone to the President of the United States of America since 1 January.

  The Prime Minister
  I have spoken to President Bush a number of times since the beginning of January and shall continue to do so.

  The Gulf
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Prime Minister whether, based on the manufacturer's estimate of extent of damage beyond targets hit, he can provide a conservative estimate of civilian casualties to date in the Gulf war.

  The Prime Minister
  The targets being attacked by coalition forces are sites which could pose a threat to allied forces or facilities supporting Iraq's occupation of Kuwait. These attacks have been carefully planned, with the aim of keeping civilian casualties as low as possible.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress on the liberation of Kuwait.

  The Prime Minister
  The allied air campaign continues to reduce Iraq's military capability and its ability to support the occupation of Kuwait. The campaign is proceeding as planned and air supremacy has now been achieved. Coalition forces have successfully dealt with Iraqi incursions into Saudi Arabia, and have largely destroyed Iraq's limited naval capability.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Administration
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the International Tropical Timber Organisation's timber projects in(a) Tefe's national forest, (b) Rio Preto's national forest and (c) Ibirama national forest in the light of policy towards commercial logging in tropical rain forests.

  Mrs. Chalker
  These Brazilian projects have three common objectives: (i) to help counter unsustainable exploitation of the forests in question while affording protection to fauna and water and soil resources, (ii) to expand markets for non-wood products both nationally and internationally, and (iii) to develop management models for the sustainable production of wood and other forest products.

  At the last meeting of ITTO in Japan in November 1990, while not objecting to the projects in principle, the United Kingdom opposed them in the forest management committee proceedings on the grounds that they were not appropriate for ITTO funding. The United Kingdom argued that as the three projects involved the development of natural resources, it would be more appropriate to pursue these under Brazil's national plan, under which the Government of Brazil now provide stringent environmental safeguards.

  In spite of these arguments, the consensus in ITTO's council was that the three projects justified ITTO funding and they were duly approved.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the £8·75 million announced in Addis Ababa by the Minister for Overseas Development on 29 January last is to be paid from sums allocated to the year 1990–91 and for 1991–92, respectively.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Of the £8·75 million new humanitarian aid for Ethiopia announced by the Minister for Overseas Development on 29 January 1991, £3·75 million is available immediately. Orders for the remaining £5 million food aid placed shortly will be for delivery and payment in 1991–92.

THE ARTS

  British Youth Opera
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what recent representations he has had from British Youth Opera; what response he has made; if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  I had the pleasure of meeting representatives of British Youth Opera, including my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam), who is a member of the council, and Miss Valerie Masterson, its vice president, on 30 January. I very much welcomed the opportunity to learn more of the company's valuable work with young opera singers. The funding of individual arts organisations is a matter for the Arts Council, with which the company is in close touch.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  EC Internal Market Council
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the matters to be discussed at the EC Internal Market Council on 18 February.

  Mr. Redwood
  It is highly likely that the 18 February Internal Market Council will be cancelled. If a Council is called, I will write to the hon. Member to let her know the items on the agenda.

  Dematerialisation
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress he has made with dematerialisation.

  Mr. Redwood
  My officials are continuing to work closely with the International Stock Exchange and other regulatory bodies to determine the appropriate legal and regulatory structure of TAURUS. This work is in parallel with the ISE's work on compensation and software preparation. It is of key importance that the right investor protection environment and legal framework are created for the electronic recording and transfer of shares. All these tasks are proving to be more complex than originally envisaged. Draft regulations under section 207 of the Companies Act 1989 should be published for comment in the next few weeks. I expect to put revised draft regulations before the House later this year, in good time for the implementation of TAURUS by the ISE.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list for the financial year 1989–90 in respect of the Export Credits Guarantee Department (i) the cumulative deficit for the year and the size of the change since 31 March 1989, (ii) the level and increase of premium income, (iii) the size and increase of the provision for claims, (iv) the turnover of exports guarantee by the ECGD, and (v) the premium income and trade results for insurance services and the project group for 1989–90, in a manner comparable with note 2 of the ECGD financial statement for 1988–89 (HC 153).

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information is included in ECGD's Trading Accounts for 1989–90. These were laid in Parliament on 31 January and a copy has been placed in the Library.

  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria he will use to calculate the selling price of the business of the Insurance Services Group of the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 4 February 1991]: The criteria for evaluating the bids will be price, commitment, understanding and strong financial resources.

  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to what policy EC member states intend to pursue on privatisation of their state export insurance services in the run-up to 1992; and if he will publish it.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 4 February 1991]: The existing status of European Community export credit

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  agencies and the manner in which they administer short-term export credit insurance differ. Thus the changes necessary to bring their operations into line with the needs of the single European market will also vary.

  A number of short-term export credit schemes are already operated primarily by companies in the private sector, but with some degree of government reinsurance, for example, in Germany (Hermes), Netherlands (NCM), Italy (SIAC) and Ireland (Insurance Corporation of Ireland). In Denmark, the agency (EKR) is an arm of central government but it is understood that there are plans for privatisation.

  France (Coface) is now placing most of its short-term reinsurance in the private sector and Portugal (COSEC) is a public limited liability company where those shares not held by the private sector will be sold later this year. In Spain CESCE is a joint stock company with over 40 per cent. of its shares not held by the Government.

  There is increasing acceptance by appropriate authorities within the EC that action is necessary further to reduce state involvement in the short-term export credit insurance sector where business operations overlap with those of private sector credit insurers, but not all member states have yet finalised arrangements to put this into effect.

  Shipbuilding
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any proposals for changes in the level of aid offered to the shipbuilding industry.

  Mr. Leigh
  Following the decision of the European Commission, which was notified to member states on 21 January 1991, I have decided to reduce the maximum level of support for merchant ships from 20 per cent. to 13 per cent. with effect from 1 January 1991.

  I have also decided that, in line with the Commission's ruling, maximum support for small ships will be reduced from the same date. Following the adoption of the seventh directive on aid to shipbuilding which amended the Community definition of small ship from one costing less than 6 million ecus to one costing less than 10 million ecus, the United Kingdom definition of a small ship has been extended to include all ships costing less than £13 million. The sliding scale used to determine the subsidy levels for small ships has been amended so that support for ships costing less than 10 million ecus will fall below the upper level of 9 per cent. set by the Commission. Shipbuilders relief of 2 per cent. is included in these figures.

  Theft
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what precautions are taken to prevent the theft of equipment from his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 30 January 1991]: All departmental staff have a duty to prevent and report loss. The measures prescribed in the Manual of Government Accounting are fully implemented. In addition a range of physical precautions is in force. Security guards are, for example, instructed to challenge persons leaving buildings with items of equipment. Some equipment is indelibly marked as the property of the Department.

  Imports
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what products from(a) Poland, (b) Czechoslovakia, (c) Romania, (d) Hungary and (e) Bulgaria are still subject to anti-dumping duties and import quotas, whether originating nationally or from the EC, or through the multi-fibre arrangement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 4 February 1991]: 1 refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 17 January 1991 at columns 593–94. I have placed in the Library of the House a list of all definitive anti-dumping remedies in force on 31 December 1990.

  All products requiring an individual import licence are listed in the open general import licence of 4 December 1987, as amended, which is published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. I have placed in the Library of the House notice to importers No. 2291 of 3 January which sets out the 1991 quota levels for restricted textiles from inter alia the five countries mentioned and notice to importers No. 2293 of the same date which includes the provisional 1991 arrangements for the United Kingdom's national restrictions on imports from Romania. Notices to importers are published in Thursday editions of Lloyd's List International.

TRANSPORT

  Airedale Route
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he received the inspector's report following the public inquiry into stage 3 of the A629/A650 Airedale route; and when he expects to make a further statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The inspector's report was received in May last year.

  The joint decision of the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport will be announced as soon as there has been a full consideration of all the issues.

  Traffic Congestion, London
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further plans he has for relieving traffic congestion in London.

  Mr. Chope
  The Road Traffic Bill provides for the establishment of a network of priority routes to help alleviate traffic congestion.

  The record levels of investment which we are supporting in London Transport and British Rail will help to make rail and bus travel increasingly attractive alternatives to car use in London, further helping to relieve traffic congestion.

  Safety Restraints
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been spent publicising the legislation which prohibits children from travelling in cars without safety restraint.

  Mr. Chope
  A total of £748,000 has been spent on advertising, posters and leaflets to publicise the legislation requiring children to wear seat restraints in cars where fitted.

  Carbon Monoxide Emissions
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement about including carbon monoxide emission level testing in the MOT vehicle test.

  Mr. Chope
  I expect to make a further announcement soon.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he intends to take to ensure that the benefits of the channel tunnel are shared by people and industry in the Doncaster area.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government have so far approved schemes valued at some £750 million of a total of £1·4 billion worth of improvements planned by British Rail. BR's plans include direct passenger services from the tunnel to the east coast main line. Pending availability of special trains for services north of London, the board is examining the possibility of running connecting services to Waterloo after the tunnel opens. The plans also include the provision of new international freight services to south Yorkshire. A number of major schemes in the Government's roads programme will improve access between Yorkshire and the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the major schemes that have been approved by his Department to improve(a) roads and (b) rail access to the channel tunnel from Doncaster and the north.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department has a substantial programme of trunk road improvements at various stages of preparation, many of which will improve links between the north and the channel tunnel.

  These improvements include the M40 extension from Birmingham to Oxford which was opened to traffic on 16 January and will relieve congestion on the M1, and the following major schemes which have also been approved and are under construction:

  A1 Bramham-Wetherby Improvement

  A282 Dartford crossing approach roads

  M20 Junctions 5–8 widening

  M20 Maidstone to Ashford

  The privately financed Dartford-Thurrock bridge is also due to be completed this year. Preparation has begun on schemes to upgrade the A1 to motorway standard between the M25 and Tyneside, to widen a large part of the M1, and on a study to increase the capacity of the M25. In addition the Department is giving a great deal of support to local road schemes which will serve channel tunnel traffic.

  British Rail plans to invest an initial £1·4 billion for channel tunnel services to enable international services to operate from London and the regions. To date approval has been given for the following schemes, among others:
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  Scheme

  £ million

  Waterloo terminal

  106

  Maintenance depot

  81

  30 Intercapital Transmanche super trains

  378

  Track and signalling improvements

  50

  30 class 92 freight locomotives

  93

  Electrification of the Tonbridge-Redhill line

  19

  There are a number of improvements for which the Secretary of State's approval is not required. These are not included in the list but form part of the overall £1·4 billion investment planned.

  Traffic Accidents (Children)
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many primary school children were in cars involved in road traffic accidents in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Chope
  In 1989, 6,193 children aged 5 to 11 were injured while travelling in a car which was involved in a road traffic accident. Of these, 27 were killed, 546 were injured and 5,620 were slightly injured. The number of uninjured persons travelling in vehicles involved in accidents is not available.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there has been an environmental impact assessment of the east London river crossing.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply to the hon. Member for Deptford (Ms. Ruddock) on 28 November, 1990 at col.410.

  Diesel Engines (Air Pollution)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he received the report from the Treasury Solicitor about the appropriate legal base for European Community document 6701/90 on air pollution from diesel-engined vehicles; and when he will provide copies of the report to members of European Standing Committee A.

  Mr. Chope
  I passed this information to Committee Members on 4 February.

  Cycle Routes, London
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the network of cycle routes in London.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on Friday 1 February at col.701.

  Thames River Services
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the piers on the Thames licensed for riverbus traffic and any such piers that could receive such traffic.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Port of London Authority (PLA) indicates that the following piers are used by Riverbus Partnership on the tidal Thames:

  (a) Greenwich pier

  (b) Festival pier

  (c) Charing Cross pier

  (d) London City Airport pier

  (e) West India pier

  (f) London Bridge City pier

  (g) Swan lane pier

  (h) Chelsea harbour pier

  (i) Putney pier

  (j) Westminster pier

  The following could receive such traffic:

  (a) Cadogan pier

  (b) Barrier Garden pier

  (c) Masthouse Terrace pier

  (d) Greenland pier

  (e) Butlers Wharf pier

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many licences have been issued for the operations of a river taxi service on the Thames.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  None on the tidal reaches of the River Thames.

  Passenger certificates have been issued by the Department for the eight Riverbus Partnership catamarans for the tidal reaches and 47 licences have been issued by the PLA (Port of London Authority) for other vessels carrying up to 12 passengers.

  Red Routes
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the report of the road research laboratory on the operation of the red route in north London; and who he expects to consult on the future of the red route.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 4 February 1991]: No decision has been made about publication of any report that the Transport and Road Research Laboratory may produce on the red route pilot scheme as monitoring will take place throughout 1991.

  Consultation will be arranged in accordance with the requirements of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the powers under which he acted in introducing a red route on Archway road, N6, Holloway road, N19 and N7 and Upper street, N1.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 4 February 1991]: Section 9(1), (2) and (3), and 10(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

  Humber Bridge
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to reduce the Humber bridge board's debt.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 4 February 1991]: The board has presented a case proposing the writing off of some of its debt. We are considering this carefully and shall respond as soon as possible.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Kurds
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on conditions in the Kurdish areas within the current Iraqi borders.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We regularly receive information from a number of sources about conditions in the Kurdish areas of Iraq.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning abuses of human rights of Kurds living within the borders of Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We receive many reports of human rights abuses in Iraq and against the Kurdish population, including, for example, those of Amnesty International and Middle East Watch.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the numbers of Kurdish people who have disappeared in Iraq under the Government of Saddam Hussein.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are aware of reports of such disappearances. No precise figures are available.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will establish communication with the leaders of the Kurdish resistance to Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Officials in this Department already have contacts with the leadership of Kurdish opposition groups from Iraq.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is his policy to ensure that those responsible for the use of chemical weapons against the Kurdish people will be brought before suitable international courts.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Iraq has not accepted the jurisdiction of any international court in this matter. We have, however, ensured on numerous occasions that the subject has received proper attention at the United Nations. We were active in securing the adoption of Security Council resolutions 612 and 620 condemning chemical weapon attacks during the Iran-Iraq war and drew attention at the Paris conference on chemical weapons in January 1989 to the compelling evidence that Iraq had used chemical weapons against its Kurdish people after the ceasefire.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Amnesty International on the situation of the Kurds living in Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have spoken to Amnesty International on a number of occasions about our common concern about the human rights situation in Iraq, including abuses against the Kurdish people.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with allied coalition partners concerning the present state and the future of the Kurdish people.
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  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are in close contact with our coalition partners over all aspects of the future of the Gulf region after the resolution of the present crisis.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to Iraq concerning the oppression of Kurds.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have repeatedly made clear to the Iraqi authorities our concern at Iraqi human rights violations against the Kurdish population, both in bilateral contacts and with our EC partners.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to pursue the creation of a Kurdish homeland within the borders of Iraq in discussions on a post-war middle eastern regional settlement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear on 24 January, at column 287, there can be no question of our seeking support for the establishment of a separate Kurdish state within the boundaries of present-day Iran, Iraq and Turkey.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards the Kurdish people.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We follow the Kurdish issue closely. We have monitored reports of human rights abuses against the Kurds in Iraq and made repeated protests about these to the Iraqi authorities, both in Baghdad and in London.

  Presidency of the Security Council 1981–1990

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  January

  China

  USSR

  Togo

  Nicaragua

  France

  February

  France

  United Kingdom

  USSR

  Pakistan

  India

  March

  German DR

  United States

  United Kingdom

  Peru

  Madagascar

  April

  Ireland

  Zaire

  United States

  Ukrainian SSR

  Peru

  May

  Japan

  China

  Zaire

  USSR

  Thailand

  June

  Mexico

  France

  Zimbabwe

  United Kingdom

  Trinidad and Tobago

  July

  Niger

  Guyana

  China

  United States

  Ukrainian SSR

  August

  Panama

  Ireland

  France

  Upper Volta1

  USSR

  September

  Philippines

  Japan

  Guyana

  Zimbabwe

  United Kingdom

  October

  Spain

  Jordan

  Jordan

  Burkina Faso1

  United States

  November

  Tunisia

  Panama

  Malta

  China

  Australia

  December

  Uganda

  Poland

  Netherlands

  Egypt

  Burkina Faso

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  January

  China

  Venezuela

  United Kingdom

  Malaysia

  Cote d'Ivoire

  February

  Congo

  Zambia

  United States

  Nepal

  Cuba

  March

  Denmark

  Argentina

  Yugoslavia

  Senegal

  Democratic Yemen2

  April

  France

  Bulgaria

  Zambia

  USSR

  Ethiopia

  May

  Ghana

  China

  Algeria

  United Kingdom

  Finland

  June

  Madagascar

  Congo

  Argentina

  United States

  France

  July

  Thailand

  France

  Brazil

  Yugoslavia

  Malaysia

  August

  Trinidad and Tobago

  German FR

  China

  Algeria

  Romania

  September

  USSR

  Ghana

  France

  Brazil

  USSR

  October

  United Arab Emirates

  Italy

  German FR

  Canada

  United Kingdom

  November

  United Kingdom

  Japan

  Italy

  China

  United States

  December

  United States

  USSR

  Japan

  Colombia

  Yemen2

  1 On 6 August 1984 Upper Volta became Burkina Faso and therefore changed its position in the Council's alphabetical rotation.

  2 On 22 May 1990 Democratic Yemen merged with the Yemen Arab Republic to become Yemen. It therefore changed its position in the Council's rotation.

  84
  We believe that the Kurdish people should enjoy adequate representation and the same rights of cultural and ethnic self-expression as other citizens in all the countries in which they live.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the status of the treaty of Sevres and the joint declaration of 1922 between Britain and Iraq and their effect on the Kurdish people.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Our records show that the treaty of Sevres was never ratified and, consequently, never came into force. It was overtaken by the treaty of Lausanne of 1923 which established the present-day frontiers of the region bounded by Iran, Iraq and Turkey.

  State Borders
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which states recognised by the United Kingdom do not have clearly defined borders.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom recognises many states whose borders are not fully agreed with their neighbours. This is normally a bilateral matter for the states concerned.

  UN Security Council
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a list of those states which have occupied the chair of the United Nations Security Council in the past 10 years.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information is as follows:

  EC Decisions
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the outcome of the review of national implementation of EC decisions which the European Council asked the Commission to undertake at its Dublin meeting; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Rome European Council in December discussed a Commission report including a review of implementation of single market measures. The report confirmed Britain's excellent record. The European Council underlined the importance of timely implementation and enforcement of measures and noted that action by the Commission and member states has reduced delays.

  Occupied Territories
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the length of the curfew now imposed on the west bank and Gaza strip by the Israeli authorities; what has been the length of other curfews in the last three years; what allowance has been made for people in the occupied territories to gain access to food and medical attention; what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Israeli authorities on the curfew; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The present curfew was imposed when hostilities broke out in the Gulf. The Israeli authorities have not said when it will end. We do not keep records of the length of previous curfews. We are concerned about the impact of this curfew on the well-being of the Palestinian population of the occupied territories and in particular about access to food and medical attention. We are encouraging a joint EC demarche to the Israeli authorities.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the availability of gas masks for Palestinians in the occupied territories; if he has made any representations to the Israeli authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan (Mr. Wray) on 31 January at column 578.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Roads, Newtownards
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Court street access to the Court street/South street car park in Newtownards was closed; why it was closed; and what proposals he has to reopen this access.

  Mr. Needham
  The Court street access to the Court street/South street car park in Newtownards was closed in mid-June 1990 due to a major mechanical fault in the automatic barrier. The machinery has now been repaced and the access reopened on 14 January 1991.

  Kincora Boys' Home
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total amount of compensation to date paid to ex-residents of the Kincora boys' home; if he will itemise each payment and state on what date it was paid; how many cases are still to be processed; and on what dates he expects further cases to be settled.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 21 January 1991]: To date, compensation payments totalling £63,500 have been made to seven ex-residents of Kincora. Five ex-residents have received payments in respect of abuse suffered solely in Kincora, as follows: £10,000 on 26 May; £7,500 on 26 May 1989; £6,000 on 10 August 1989; £20,000 on 13 June 1990 and £10,000 on 25 September 1990. One ex-resident received a joint payment of £5,000 on 31 March 1988 an connection with abuse suffered in Kincora and another children's home and one ex-resident received a payment of £4,500 on 28 November 1990 in respect of a claim for abuse suffered in a children's home other than Kincora. Three claims from ex-residents of Kincora are still outstanding involving, respectively, abuse suffered in Kincora, in Kincora and another home, and a home other than Kincora, but it is not possible to say when they will be settled. In addition, a claim submitted by an ex-resident of Kincora in 1986 has to date not been pursued.

  There are also two cases, recorded in the replies on 26 October 1989, Official Report, column 538, and 19 January 1990, Official Report, column 427, relating to abuse in children's homes investigated by the Hughes inquiry which did not involve ex-residents of Kincora itself. A payment of £2,500 in respect of one claim was made on 19 July 1989, and the other has not to date been pursued by the claimants.

SCOTLAND

  Heart Disease, Scotland
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what new initiatives he is taking to reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The consultation document "Health Education in Scotland: A National Policy Statement", which I launched on 9 October 1990, identified coronary heart disease as a national priority for health education and set out our target of reducing mortality from heart disease for people under age 65 by 25 per cent. by the year 2000.

  A twin strategy involving both an individual and population approach is proposed. The individual strategy envisages family doctors identifying people who are at risk, thus enabling appropriate counselling or necessary treatment to be provided. The population strategy consists of promoting, at national and local levels, the positive lifestyle approach and in particular the aspects of healthy eating, non-smoking and exercise. National programmes will be undertaken by the Health Education Board for Scotland, which will replace the Scottish Health Education Group on 1 April, and will be complemented by action at local level by health boards and voluntary organisations. I am making additional funds available to the new board to enable programmes on priority topics such as coronary heart disease to be vigorously pursued.
  87
  As an interim measure, I have also asked the Scottish Health Education Group to develop a coronary heart disease programme which will reinforce awareness of the main behaviours associated with the disease and the often simple steps which individuals can take to reduce the risk. I hope to launch the new programme shortly.

  Premature deaths from coronary heart disease in Scotland declined by 17 per cent. between 1980 and 1988, but much remains to be done. The enhanced health education effort now in train will facilitate further progress towards the target that I have set.

  National Testing
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the total cost of publishing, advertising, administering, marking and collating the results of national tests in primary schools at levels four and seven.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Planned provision for 1990–91 for the production of test units was £593,000 and is £579,000 for 1991–92.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has held with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities about legal responsibilities for education authorities in deciding whether action for prosecutions should be taken against parents who decide to withhold their children from national tests planned for Scottish pupils in primaries four and seven.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No consultations are necessary. The legal position is clear. There is a duty on education authorities to administer testing.

  National Health Service Trusts
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report, in each case, which of Orkney health board, Shetland health board, Western Isles health board, Highlands health board, Tayside health board, Fife health board, Forth Valley health board, Lothian health board, Borders health board, Dumfries and Galloway health board, Ayrshire and Arran health board, Lanarkshire health board, Greater Glasgow health board, and Argyll and Clyde health board has employed outside financial consultants in preparing business plans for direct management and/or NHS trust status; the name of the consultants; and the cost to each health board.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The following health boards have employed external consultants to help prepare business plans:

  Health board

  Consultants

  Cost to health board (£)

  Forth Valley

  Pannell, Kerr, Forster

  11,500

  Greater Glasgow

  Pannell, Kerr, Forster

  13,000

  Lanarkshire

  Coopers, Lybrand, Deloitte

  2,000

  Lothian

  Coopers, Lybrand, Deloitte

  2,000

  Some work has also been carried out by Coopers, Lybrand, Deloitte on behalf of Ayrshire and Arran health board, but directly funded by my Department, as part of
  88
  a study on the role of health boards and the purchaser-provider relationship. The cost of this work on business plans, a small part of the overall project, is not separately identifiable.

  Employment Training
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what connection is made in policy terms between the amount of money available for employment training and the number of people unemployed.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The allocation of provision for employment training takes account of the fact that it is just one of a number of Government measures designed to help unemployed people back to work. Other relevant factors are that it is focused on helping those who have been unemployed for six months or more and who need training, and gives priority to people in the guarantee group (those aged between 18 and 24 who have been unemployed between six and 12 months) and the aim group (those under 50 who have been unemployed for more than two years).

  Scottish Homes
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the funding allocations to be made by Scottish Homes for 1991–92 under the various strategic headings announced in its recent strategic plan.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 4 February 1991]: I expect Scottish Homes to submit for approval its proposed expenditure programme for 1991–92 later this month. My right hon. Friend and I will consider these proposals carefully and the agreed expenditure programme will be announced by Scottish Homes as soon as possible thereafter.

EMPLOYMENT

  Sellafield Death
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration the nuclear installations inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive has given to the circumstances surrounding the death of David Dunn, a former employee at the Sellafield nuclear power plant.

  Mr. Forth
  The conditions attached to the nuclear site licence for Sellafield at the time of Mr. Dunn's employment required the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate to be informed if any person was exposed to radiation in excess of the annual statutory limits. The nuclear installations inspectorate would examine the circumstances of the exposure and see whether any improvements to safety could be identified. There was no indication from Mr. Dunn's radiation dose record to suggest that he had exceeded statutory limits and consequently no information concerning his case was given to the nuclear installations inspectorate at the time.

  During 1990 the nuclear installations inspectorate became aware of Mr. Dunn's case. The circumstances of his employment and his radiation dose record were examined by the nuclear installations inspectorate and technical assistance to Her Majesty's coroner was given at the inquest into Mr. Dunn's death, which was held at Whitehaven on 26 June 1990.

  Employment Offices (Closure)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the employment offices planned for closure in the three counties of Yorkshire and Humberside; and if he will give the grounds in each case.

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

  Health and Safety Inspectorate
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions the health and safety inspectorate initiated in Wales in 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Provisional figures for the year beginning 1 April 1989 show that the Health and Safety Executive's agriculture, factories, mines and quarries inspectorates and the nuclear installations inspectorate laid a total of 119 informations for breaches of health and safety legislation in Wales.

  Nuclear Power Workers
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Health and Safety Commission's working group on ionising radiations has considered the subject of the protection of(a) construction workers and (b) indirectly employed labour at nuclear power plants.

  Mr. Forth
  No. The working group on ionising radiations (WGIR) has not considered the specific protection of these groups of workers. However, WGIR does consider all matters concerning the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985 and related radiation protection matters that are referred to it by the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department has, or intends to have, any discussions with the National Radiological Protection Board over the protection of construction workers at sites under their sphere of responsibility.

  Mr. Forth
  No. The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) has no specific responsibility for construction workers. However, the Health and Safety Executive maintains a continuing dialogue with the NRPB on matters relating to radiation protection.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what differences exist in levels of protection offered between construction workers involved in the building of a nuclear plant and those directly employed in the plant.

  Mr. Forth
  None. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and its relevant statutory provisions require the same standards of protection to be applied to all workers at nuclear plants whether they are directly employed in the plant or are involved in its construction.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations he has had with the chairman of the South Glamorgan TEC concerning the start date for the(a) construction of and (b) operation of its new training headquarters.

  Mr. Jackson
  South Glamorgan TEC started operations on 4 February and currently occupy premises at Tyglas road, Llanishen. The TEC board proposes to move to permanent accommodation in Dumballs road, Cardiff. Negotiations are under way but no decision on the starting date of construction or the eventual date of occupation has been reached.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guidelines he has issued to training and enterprise councils concerning the retention or shredding of copies of tenders and other comparable commercial documents.

  Mr. Jackson
  Training and enterprise councils, as private companies, are required to observe the provisions of the Companies Act 1989 as they relate to the retention and disposal of documents.

  New Businesses
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the average net number of new businesses started each week between 1 January 1990 and 30 June 1990 as measured by VAT returns.

  Mr. Forth
  I regret that figures for 1990 are not yet available. However, during 1989, the latest period for which figures have been published by my Department, the number of businesses registered for VAT increased by nearly 1,700 a week on average. Early indications from data collected by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise are that there continues to be a substantial surplus of registrations over deregistrations.

  Employees' Rights
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to encourage employees with less than two years' service to pursue their rights under guaranteed payment legislation.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 4 February 1991]: My Department has issued an explanatory booklet, "Guarantee Payments", which is widely available. There is no two-year qualifying period. All employees who have been continuously employed for one month are entitled to a statutory guarantee payment under the specified conditions unless they are employed for a fixed term not exceeding three months or unless of the specific exceptions in the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 applies.

HEALTH

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on waiting lists in the Northern regional health authority.
  91
  Mr. Dorrell
  I understand from Northern regional health authority that, in the 12 months to September 1990, the number of patients waiting more than a year for in-patient treatment fell by more than 13 per cent. in the region as a whole.

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the latest figures announced to fund the waiting list initiative.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced on 16 January, £35 million will be made available through the waiting list fund in 1991–92 to tackle long waiting times.

  Leicestershire Health Service
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a further statement on the state of the health service in Leicestershire.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I am pleased to announce that since 1979 the number of in-patients treated by Leicestershire health authority has increased by 60 per cent., the number of out-patients has increased by 43 per cent. and the number of day case patients has increased by 65 per cent. Leicestershire health authority has a capital programme for the 1990's which total over £100 million involving developments at Leicester royal infirmary and Glenfield hospital together with the expenditure of £14 million on the complete reprovision of hospital services in Loughborough.

  National Institute for Biological Standards and Research
  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the achievements to date in research work by the National Institute for Biological Standards and Research.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Since it was founded in 1972, the institute's major role has been the development of international standards for biological medicines, in which it has an international reputation. It has also been in the forefront of biomedical research, which includes AIDS vaccine research and work on improving vaccines against polio and influenza.

  Children Act 1989
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the implementation of the Children Act 1989.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I have received many constructive responses to consultative papers on this subject from a wide range of organisations and individuals.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's guidelines concerning competitive tendering within the NHS.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I see scope for much wider use of competitive tendering to test and improve the efficiency 92
  and cost-effectiveness of national health service support services. It is primarily for managers at operational level to identify where tendering for services offers the best opportunities for improved value and service to patients.

  Hospital Beds, London
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital beds have been closed in Greater London hospitals in the past three years.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We do not routinely collect this information centrally, since bed numbers are not a good indicator of levels of service in the NHS. It is for each health authority to determine the level and mix of health service provision in its area, taking account of local circumstances and the increased resources available to them.

  Physiotherapists, London
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trained physiotherapists there are currently employed by the NHS; and whether he has any plans to increase this number.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The latest available information for England relates to 30 September 1989 and shows that there were 9,750 (whole-time equivalents) qualified physiotherapists in post. Any further increase in this number will be for health authorities to determine in the light of local circumstances.

  Gulf War Casualties
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions Coventry health authority has made to facilitate treatment of potential victims of the Gulf war.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Health authorities' plans for dealing with casualties from hostilities in the Gulf involve hospitals throughout the NHS. It is for health authorities to allocate cases to particular hospitals and information on which hospitals will be used is not available centrally.

  Medical and Dental Education
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the Government's financial commitment to postgraduate and continuing medical and dental education.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Government have an ongoing financial commitment to postgraduate and continuing medical education which we regard as an essential ingredient in the delivery of high standards of patient care. From April 1991 we are making available an additional £5·8 million to assist in the introduction of a system to improve the management of postgraduate and continuing medical education in regions. I announced recently that £46 million has been secured for the development of medical audit in 1991–92. Regions will have to allocate appropriate funds to meet the resource implications of medical audit for postgraduate education.

  Health Authority Managers
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health authorities now share a general manager with another health authority; and what is his policy towards encouraging such an arrangement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally; the appointment of a general manager is a matter for the health authority concerned. Regulations allow an executive member of one authority to be an executive member of a similar type of authority.

  NHS Capital Expenditure
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will indicate capital expenditure in the national health service in the year 1978–79 and for the latest year for which figures are available, adjusted for inflation.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Total national health service gross capital expenditure in England in 1978–79 at current (1990–91 prices) was £943 million. Total capital spending this year is expected to be £1,668 million. This figure includes the effects of redefinition of capital expenditure (an additional £112 million). Without taking this into account national health service capital expenditure has risen by 65 per cent. in real terms since 1978–79.

  Nurses' Grading
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of hearing nurses' appeals against their grading.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information on nursing appeals to employing authorities is not collected centrally.

  Junior Doctors' Hours
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the latest progress concerning the reduction of hours worked by junior hospital doctors.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mrs. Fyfe) on 18 December at column 151.

  Elderly and Disabled Persons
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any proposals to amend the statutory duties of local authorities towards elderly and disabled persons.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There are no plans to amend statutory duties of local authorities beyond the changes already set out in the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 and the intention to make provision for the registration of small homes.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has as to the comparative cost to the NHS each year as a result of competitive tendering in the catering, laundry and cleaning services as against in-house servicing.
  94
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Total annual savings being achieved as a result of competitive tendering for these three services are estimated to be in the order of £120 million: private contracts account for some 27 per cent. of that total. The management costs of tendering for these services is insignificant against the net savings being achieved.

  Dental Treatment
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people over 18 years resident in the London borough of Newham or nearest equivalent area for which figures are available received free dental treatment by qualifying for an AG2 certificate in the years 1986–87 to 1989–90;

  (2) how many people over 18 years of age in England and Wales received free dental treatment by qualifying for an AG2 certificate in the years 1986–87 to 1989–90; and if these figures could be made available for each district health authority area.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not available in the form requested.

  NHS Staff (Pensions)
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there have been any recent changes to pension arrangements for national health service staff.

  Mr. Dorrell
  New arrangements for the payment of additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) are being introduced into the national health service (England and Wales) pension scheme from 1 February 1991. The new facility will give members of the scheme more choice about the way in which extra pension benefits, within Inland Revenue limits, can be provided. Those who wish to pay additional pension contributions will now be able to contribute towards a money-purchase AVC arrangement with the Equitable Life Assurance Society. They will be able to choose the type of additional cover they want to buy and the method of investment. AVCs may be used to increase the member's own pension, dependants' pensions or the lump sum payable on death. The member can choose to invest contributions in a with-profits or a unit-linked investment or, by a link with the Woolwich building society, in a deposit account.

  The new scheme will run alongside existing AVC facilities in the NHS pension scheme. The additional choice which staff will now have accords with the Government's continuing commitment to improving the choice individuals have about their pension arrangements and the way their pension contributions are invested.

  Secure Units
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Health Department when the consultation paper on provision of new secure units will be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The consultation paper, "The remand of alleged juvenile offenders", issued by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 4 February, contained proposals which call for some increase in the overall number of secure places provided by local authorities. We hope to discuss the implications of these proposals with the local authority associations as soon as possible.

  Nurse Prescribing
  Mr. Fishburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the outcome of the consultation on the report of the advisory group on nurse prescribing; and what proposals he has to introduce a system of limited drug prescribing for qualified nurses.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Torridge and Devon, West (Miss Nicholson) on 4 February.

  Tobacco Products
  Mr. David Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to implement the EC directive on the labelling of tobacco products.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Officials have written today to the major interests concerned to allow them three months to comment on draft regulations to implement this directive. In implementing the directive, I have proposed as far as possible to maintain the existing system for testing tar and nicotine yields of cigarettes. I have also proposed, insofar as the directive allows any flexibility in the matter, to choose those health warnings which seem likely to be most effective in alerting the consumer to the terrible health risks involved in smoking. I have placed a copy of the draft regulations in the Library.

  Children (Grandparents' Access)
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will seek to make changes in the law to allow access for grandparents to grandchildren who have been taken into care.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Children Act 1989, which will be implemented on 14 October 1991, makes new provisions regarding contact with children who are the subject of a care order. The Act provides that any person who has obtained the leave of the court to do so may apply for an order determining the contact which is to be allowed between the child and that person.

  This provision enables people with whom the child has previously had a close relationship to keep in touch with that child while he is in the care of the local authority. If the grandparent was the beneficiary of a residence order made under section 8 of the Act immediately prior to the care order being made, he will be one of those automatically entitled to reasonable contact.

  Where a child is being looked after by a local authority on a voluntary basis, contact is a matter for agreement between parents, foster parents and the authority. Authorities will have a duty to promote reasonable contact between the child and his relatives—including a grandparent—where this is consistent with the child's welfare.

  Incontinence Pads
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy with regard to health authorities charging for the supply of incontinence pads to residents of private care or nursing homes.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Health authorities are not empowered to charge for the incontinence pads which they may, at their 96
  discretion, supply to people living in private residential homes. Private nursing homes were specifically excluded from the free supply arrangements promulgated in 1974, since the treatment such homes provide would normally include any necessary services or equipment and the cost would be covered by the fees or charges paid to them by or on behalf of the patients (including those paid by a health authority under contractual arrangements). Under section 7 of the Health and Medicines Act 1988 health authorities may supply such goods to nursing homes for a fee which includes an element of profit. The Department is on the point of initiating a review of arrangements for the supply of incontinence pads to people living in their own homes or in private residential care.

  Embossed Literature Service
  Mrs. Rosie Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the value of the grant for the embossed literature service.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The level of grant aid for the embossed literature service in 1991–92 will be determined in the light of the available resources and competing demands for funds and taking into account the criteria applicable to grants made under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that community health councils keep their full rights to attend health authority meetings and to speak even during confidential parts of such meetings.

  Mr. Dorrell
  As members of the public, CHC members and staff have the right under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 to attend health authority meetings. Whether or not they are asked to speak, or allowed to attend confidential parts of such meetings, has always depended, and will continue to depend, upon the decision of the chairman of the meeting.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which regional or district health authorities in England have employed outside financial consultants to prepare business plans for direct management unit or NHS trust status; in each case which consultants were employed; and what was the cost to each regional or district health authority.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish his Department's estimate of the cash value of the return on capital element of the contract prices to be charged by each NHS trust in the 1991–92 financial year;

  (2) if he will publish the figures used for establishing the external financing limits of each of the NHS trusts;

  (3) what is the planned level of capital spending by each NHS trust in the 1991–92 financial year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 4 February 1991]: National health service trusts are free to manage their

  97
  affairs within their external financing limits. It is not appropriate to publish the detailed information underlying the calculations of external financing limits.

  Abortions
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to issue guidance to regional health authorities that abortions should be treated as urgent operations if non-urgent beds have to be cleared to deal with Gulf war casualties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There is no need for health authorities to prepare for Gulf casualties by emptying beds until significant ground operations begin. The decision as to whether an abortion should be treated as an urgent operation is a matter for the clinical judgment of the doctors concerned in each individual case.

  Community Care
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he is actively considering removing elements of community care provision from local authority to health authority control.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The respective roles of local and health authorities in the provision of care in the community are as set out in the White Paper "Caring for People", copies of which are available in the Library.

ENVIRONMENT

  Housing Repair Agencies
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future role he plans for housing repair agencies and their relationships with local authorities.

  Mr. Yeo
  On 19 October 1990 my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) announced that the Government would provide a grant of 50 per cent. towards the running costs of approved schemes from 1 April 1991, to be channelled through local housing authorities which would also be responsible for identifying the needs of their areas and for securing the establishment and operation of appropriate schemes.

  List of Non-Metropolitan District Councils (Top 20 in Ranking order of loan Debt per Capita)

  Council

  Rank

  Outstanding Debt £ million

  Population1

  Debt Per Capita

  POL Control

  Nottingham

  1

  423·9

  273,500

  1,550

  NOC

  Harlow

  2

  108·8

  71,300

  1,526

  Labour

  Stevenage

  3

  111·4

  74,000

  1,505

  Labour

  Norwich

  4

  175·6

  117,400

  1,496

  Labour

  Kingston on Hull

  5

  339·8

  245,100

  1,386

  Labour

  Crawley

  6

  115·0

  84,500

  1,361

  Labour

  Middlesbrough

  7

  187·0

  142,700

  1,310

  Labour

  Blackburn

  8

  167·2

  135,700

  1,232

  Labour

  Redditch

  9

  95·3

  78,100

  1,220

  Labour

  Thamesdown

  10

  203·7

  170,200

  1,197

  Labour

  Scunthorpe

  11

  65·7

  59,600

  1,102

  Labour

  Tamworth

  12

  76·0

  69,000

  1,101

  Labour

  Bracknell

  13

  114·2

  104,600

  1,092

  Conservative

  Sedgefield

  14

  93·3

  88,300

  1,057

  Labour

  Portsmouth

  15

  194·1

  184,000

  1,055

  NOC

  Northampton

  16

  193·0

  184,000

  1,049

  Conservative

  98
  He also announced that a central co-ordinating body would be set up to undertake developmental and training work, monitor progress and provide advice to individual schemes; and I am now pleased to be able to announce that, having carefully considered the submissions put to us by various potentially suitable organisations, we have decided to invite Care and Repair Ltd. to take on that role from 1 April this year. My Department is currently discussing the details of a four-year contract with them.

  Bus Subsidies
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the authorities giving subsidies to bus companies with the amounts involved for 1990–91 and the cost to each charge payer.

  Mr. Key
  The information requested is not available.

  NRA Staff
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by profession, the numbers of staff currently employed by the National Rivers Authority with science qualifications.

  Mr. Baldry
  The information requested is not held by my Department. I have however asked the chairman of the National Rivers Authority to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Derelict Gas Works
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the number of derelict sites that were previously used by gas works.

  Mr. Trippier
  Figures for the number of derelict sites that were previously used as gasworks are not available.

  Non-metropolitan Councils
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, in ranking order of loan debt per capita, the top 20 non-metropolitan district councils with their level of debt, their population, and the political party which currently controls them.

  Mr. Key
  The information is as follows:
  99

  Council

  Rank

  Outstanding Debt £ million

  Population 1

  Debt Per Capita

  POL Control

  Hartlepool

  17

  89·8

  88,700

  1,012

  Labour

  Leicester

  18

  278·1

  279,700

  994

  Labour

  Luton

  19

  167·6

  169,900

  986

  Conservative

  Brighton

  20

  139·2

  143,100

  973

  Labour

  (NOC = No Overall Control)

  1 Total resident population at 30 June 1989 (OPCS estimate)

  Recycling
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Janman), of 19 December 1990,Official Report, column 167, what criteria he uses to assess whether sites for recycling are environmentally unviable; and what assessment he has made of the environmental viability of the waste disposal site under construction behind Greenford station.

  Mr. Baldry
  The assessment of the environmental impact of any new recycling or waste transfer and disposal facility is a matter for the local planning and waste regulation authorities, which, in the case mentioned by my hon. Friend, are the London borough of Ealing and the London Waste Regulation Authority. It would be wrong to comment on the merits of any application which could come before my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on appeal.

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many jobs have been created in the London Docklands development corporation since 1981; and how much each job has cost through the allocation of public money;

  (2) what is the number of jobs created in the London Docklands development corporation; and how many are (a) additional jobs and (b) transfers.

  Mr. Portillo
  About 45,000 jobs have come to London docklands since 1981, of which an estimated 13,500 are in companies which have set up in the urban development area and some 31,500 in companies that have relocated there.

  It is impossible to distinguish between expenditure leading to job creation and that leading to other regeneration benefits.

  Landfill Sites
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number and names of landfill sites in England and their approximate acreage.

  Mr. Baldry
  This information is not available centrally and it would be too expensive to collect.

  Domestic Water Supplies
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice his Department has given to water companies about adding chlorine or other disinfectants to domestic water supplies during the present crisis in the Gulf.

  Mr. Trippier
  None.

  Departmental Architects
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many architects and support staff have been employed(a) full and (b) part time, in each of the last five years, in his Department; and what has been the cost to the Exchequer in each year.

  0Mr. Heseltine
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Wetlands
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when deciding the locations for dumping of dredgings what consideration is taken of whether a site meets the criteria for designation as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar convention and as a special protection area under the EC directive on the conservation of wild birds and is therefore of greater than local importance.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Nature Conservancy Council recommends to the Government sites which meet the criteria for designation as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar convention and special protection areas under the EEC birds directive. The factors which are taken into account when considering any development proposal affecting a Ramsar site or special protection area, or site identified as being a potential special protection area, are set out in DOE circular 27/87.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will call in for his own consideration the proposal made by the Port of London authority to dump dredgings on Cliffe marshes, Kent.

  Mr. Yeo
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 4 February at column 41 to the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley).

  Sport
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the recommendations of the report of the School Sport Forum, "Sport and Young People: Partnership and Action," which required action by his Department; what action has been taken to implement each recommendation; what are the reasons where the recommendation has not been implemented in full; and what further action his Department intends to take.

  Mr. Key
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Minister for Sport.

  Agencies (Complaints)
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy, when dealing with letters of complaint about agencies within his responsibility, on passing the letters to the relevant agency for reply;
  101
  and how this policy was put into effect in respect of the letter of 10 December 1990 from the chairman of Coventry's environmental services committee.

  Mr. Trippier
  The policy in regard to dealing with complaints about an executive agency is decided on its merits when drawing up the particular agency's policy and resources framework document. Generally we encourage direct contact with the chief executive on matters of day-to-day agency operation, but Ministers will deal with cases raising questions of policy direction or resource allocation and where a Member of Parliament specifically seeks a reply.

  However, the policy is not relevant to the handling of the letter of 10 December 1990 since HM inspectorate of pollution is not yet an agency.

  Homefire Plant, Coventry
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what representations have been made to his Department about the Homefire plant in Coventry by local residents and Coventry city council; and what response has been made;

  (2) whether he will visit the Homefire plant in Coventry to discuss pollution and its regulation.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Homefire plant at Coventry is regulated by HM inspectorate of pollution and is regularly visited by one of its inspectors. I therefore have no plans to visit the plant.

  The inspectorate is aware that emissions from the plant are a problem and has issued an improvement notice requiring improvements to be made by 30 June 1991.

  A number of representations have been received, in particular that from Coventry city council on HMIP's recent extension to June 1991 of the deadline for compliance with the improvement notice. Detailed replies have been given, for example on the need to use equipment not readily available as off-the-shelf units and on the impact of a decision to abandon a proposal to utilise the chosen abatement system for electricity generation following changes in the electricity industry.

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will establish an internal inquiry into the handling of the case of the Homefire plant, Coventry by the Central Pollution Agency.

  Mr. Trippier
  No.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how the allowance for losses in collection of non-domestic rates, referred to in note 1 of the letter referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) of 24 January,Official Report, column 267, was calculated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The allowances for losses in collection of non-domestic rates for 1990–91 were those used in the calculation of each authority's provisional contribution to the non-domestic rates pool. They were calculated as an appropriate percentage of net yield. These percentages were:
  102

  Per cent.

  Inner London boroughs and City of London

  0·45

  Outer London boroughs and Metropolitan districts

  0·40

  Shire districts and the Isles of Scilly

  0·20

  These percentages were agreed with the local authority associations and were based on an analysis of the proportion of total rate yield lost to absconders and bankruptcies, using data provided by CIPFA, over the period 1986–87 to 1988–89.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has as to which councils have sent poll tax demands to troops in the Gulf; whether any of those demands have subsequently been withdrawn; what further advice he has offered to the local authorities concerned; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many authorities have sought to enforce payment of outstanding poll tax against armed forces personnel and reservists serving in the Gulf prior to his advice issued to local authorities on 5 November 1990, and how many after; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  Information on actions taken by authorities in such cases is not held centrally. As my right hon. Friend told the House on 29 January, we propose shortly to issue further guidance to take account of developments since November.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the statutory provisions relating to the power of local authorities and/or community charge registrars to exempt from the poll tax those serving in British forces in the Gulf, or civilians who are supporting the military directly, whose main residence is in Britain; and whether he has any plans to compensate authorities which make such exemptions.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 31 January 1991]: The Government's policy is that no one posted to the Gulf should as a result be worse off financially. However, there are no specific powers to exempt these people from the community charge. Section 2 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 states that people will be liable to the personal community charge of the charging authority in whose area they have their sole or main residence. It is for community charge registration officers (CCROs), subject to appeal to the valuation and community charge tribunal, to determine whether a person who is posted to the Gulf has changed his sole or main residence and consequently whether his liability for the personal community charge should cease. We issued advice to community charge registration officers on 5 November 1990 on the treatment of such cases, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. As my right hon. Friend told the House on 29 January, we propose shortly to issue further guidance to take account of developments since November.

  As for the financial consequences for authorities, the existing arrangements should be adequate to allow for the temporary absence of service men and the normal rotation of units. We are considering representations from a number of authorities which have been particularly affected in the present circumstances because of the large numbers of service men normally resident in their area.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a list of the
  103
  names of those local authorities which are refusing to use their discretion to give service men and service women on active service in the middle east exemption from the community charge for the period of that service.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 4 February 1991]: It is for every community charge registration officer (CCRO), subject to appeal to the valuation and community charge tribunal, to determine whether a service man, including an auxiliary or territorial, or a civilian who is posted to the Gulf has changed his sole or main residence and consequently whether his liability for the personal community charge should cease. Information on the decisions made by community charge registration officers in these cases is not held centrally.

  Refuse-derived Fuel
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if, in preparation of the Environment Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991, he will consider making refuse-derived fuel combustion a schedule B process in any boiler up to 50 MW;

  (2) what consideration he has given, or intends to give, to the categorisation of refuse-derived fuel combustion as a schedule B process in boilers using (a) 0 to 3 tonnes per hour and (b) 3 to 6 tonnes per hour.

  Mr. Trippier
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) on 25 January at column 329.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Romsey and Waterside on 21 January,Official Report, column 87, he will list, specifically and separately, the types of derogation his Department currently intends to seek once the power to derogate for plant burning refuse-derived fuel has been included in regulations; and if it is his intention to include specific derogations.

  Mr. Baldry
  As I said in my reply on 21 January at column 87, regulations to implement the EC directive on municipal waste incineration will include powers to derogate for plant burning refuse-derived fuels which will be complemented by specific guidance from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. These are currently being considered and will be subject to consultation in due course.

  Sport
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the recommendations of the Minister for Sport's review group on sport and active recreation provision in the inner cities which required action by his Department setting out what action has been taken to implement each recommendation, and the reasons where they have not been implemented in full; and what further action he intends to take.

  Mr. Key
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Minister for Sport.

  Environmental Protection Regulations
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has concluded the preparation of the Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991.

  Mr. Trippier
  Consultations on the draft regulations are now complete. My right hon. Friend will be making the regulations, taking into account the outcome of the consultations as soon as possible.

  Essex Structure Plan
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his decision in respect of the Essex structure plan first alteration submitted to him in July 1987; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  We expect to issue the final approval of the first alteration to the Essex structure plan in March this year.

  Union Flag
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent all local authorities from banning the display of the union flag on local authority property, vehicles or businesses that operate under the issuing of a licence from a local authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  No: a local authority is answerable to its electors for such decisions. I am sure that the electors will take note of decisions of which they disapprove.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the results of the most recent survey of right-to-buy performance in London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The most recent survey of London's right-to-buy performance was carried out in September last year. The tables show that boroughs had failed to issue 4,356 notices (RTB2 and section 125) within the statutory time limits. This compares with a figure of 13,280 for September 1989.

  In addition to this exercise for the whole of London, the Department has been receiving monthly reports from 12 boroughs which have been regularly monitored because their performance has, in the past, been exceptionally poor. Delays in notices in these boroughs have fallen by more than 75 per cent. since March 1989, but two boroughs, Lambeth and Hackney, now account for nearly two thirds of the 3,712 cases outstanding. Indeed, these two boroughs account for well over one half of all cases outstanding in London.

  During the course of the September survey my Department also collected information on the working of the tenants' sanction measures introduced in March 1989, which allow tenants to have rent counted as advance payment towards the purchase of their home if sale is delayed. The reports of the use of sanctions show that 15 boroughs received no notices of delay, but that the sanctions are being used extensively in boroughs where the number of outstanding cases is high. In September 1990,

  105
  202 notices were served, including 104 in Lambeth. There were 626 outstanding notices at the end of that month, 393 of which were in Hackney.

  I am pleased to see that fewer tenants are now experiencing unjustified delays when they apply to buy their homes. Because of the significant improvements in most monitored boroughs I have decided that monthly monitoring should provisionally cease for Brent, Camden, Haringey, Hounslow, Islington, Lewisham, Newham, Richmond, Southwark and Tower Hamlets. Monitoring will continue for Lambeth and Hackney and I shall also continue to look closely at the effect of tenants' sanctions on the performance of these boroughs.

  Right to buy monitoring

  Table A—RTB2 and section 125 defaults (total)

  March 1989

  September 1989

  March 1990

  September 1990

  Monitored boroughs

  Brent

  1,929

  1,263

  464

  172

  Camden

  2,616

  674

  352

  192

  Hackney

  2,370

  2,043

  1,064

  708

  Haringey

  254

  128

  133

  40

  Hounslow

  933

  909

  419

  92

  Islington

  501

  293

  244

  167

  Lambeth

  2,067

  2,984

  3,124

  1,739

  Lewisham

  1,293

  526

  173

  106

  Newham

  1,425

  720

  3249

  146

  Richmond

  n/a

  35

  35

  49

  Southwark

  2,069

  1,462

  564

  295

  Tower Hamlets

  0

  0

  84

  6

  TOTAL

  15,457

  11,037

  6,905

  3,712

  Non-monitored boroughs

  City

  —

  5

  —

  1

  Barking

  —

  11

  —

  7

  Barnet

  —

  13

  —

  9

  Bexley2

  —

  20

  —

  6

  Bromley

  —

  10

  —

  4

  Croydon

  —

  0

  —

  1

  Ealing1

  —

  391

  —

  31

  Enfield

  —

  52

  —

  49

  Greenwich

  —

  187

  —

  163

  Hammersmith and Fulham1

  —

  474

  —

  91

  Harrow

  —

  0

  —

  31

  Havering

  —

  0

  —

  0

  Hillingdon1

  —

  359

  —

  98

  Kensington and Chelsea

  —

  83

  —

  12

  Kingston

  —

  19

  —

  11

  Merton

  —

  n/a

  —

  0

  Redbridge2

  —

  n/a

  —

  n/a

  Sutton

  —

  141

  —

  19

  Waltham Forest1

  —

  429

  —

  86

  Wandsworth

  —

  4

  —

  0

  Westminster

  —

  45

  —

  25

  TOTAL

  —

  2,243

  —

  644

  GRAND TOTAL

  —

  13,280

  —

  4,356

  Notes:

  (i) RTB2s are notices confirming or denying the tenants' Right to Buy. Section 125s are notices providing the price at which the property can be purchased.

  (ii) "Default" means that the local authority has failed in its statutory duty to provide the relevant notice within the statutory period allowed.

  (iii) Data for monitored boroughs has been collected on monthly basis since March 1989. For the purposes of this table, only data for March and September months has been shown. Data for non-monitored boroughs is collected each September.

  1 Ealing, Hammersmith, Hillingdon, Waltham Forest were temporarily monitored from February 1990 to April 1990.

  2 Bexley and Redbridge sell properties under the General Consent rather than the Right to Buy legislation.

  3 Estimate.

  106
  The scope of monitoring will be reviewed in September when the Department will again collect statistics for all London boroughs. I shall be looking carefully to see whether recent improvements in performance are being sustained, and I will if necessary consider re-introducing monthly monitoring for boroughs whose performance slips.

  In the meantime, I urge Lambeth and Hackney to take the measures that are urgently needed to improve their deplorable performance on right to buy, to safeguard the rights of their tenants and to avoid the costs that they will increasingly incur under tenant sanction provisions.
  107

  Table B—RTB6 notices received and outstanding for September 1990

  IN

  O/S

  Monitored Borough

  Brent

  1

  0

  Camden

  8

  39

  Hackney

  20

  202

  Haringey

  3

  7

  Hounslow

  0

  25

  Islington

  15

  22

  Lambeth

  65

  n/a

  Lewisham

  13

  87

  Newham

  3

  3

  Richmond

  1

  0

  Southwark

  14

  10

  Tower Hamlets

  2

  0

  Totals

  145

  395

  Non-Monitored Boroughs

  City

  0

  0

  Barking

  0

  0

  Barnet

  0

  0

  Bexley

  0

  0

  Bromley

  0

  0

  Croydon

  0

  0

  Enfield

  0

  0

  Ealing

  2

  0

  Greenwich

  9

  0

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  3

  0

  Harrow

  0

  0

  Havering

  0

  0

  Hillingdon

  0

  0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  0

  0

  Kingston

  2

  0

  Merton

  0

  0

  Redbridge

  n/a

  n/a

  Sutton

  3

  0

  Waltham Forest

  0

  0

  Wandsworth

  0

  0

  Westminster

  0

  0

  Total

  19

  0

  Grand Total

  169

  395

  Notes:

  (i) This table shows the number of RTB6 notices received (IN) during the month and of those outstanding (O/S) at the end of each month.

  Table C—RTB8 notices received and outstanding for September 1990

  IN

  O/S

  Monitored boroughs

  Brent

  0

  0

  Camden

  1

  5

  Hackney

  9

  191

  Haringey

  1

  0

  Hounslow

  0

  7

  Islington

  1

  3

  Lambeth

  39

  n.a.

  Lewisham

  0

  20

  Newham

  1

  2

  Richmond

  0

  0

  Southwark

  5

  3

  Tower Hamlets

  0

  0

  Totals

  57

  231

  Non-monitored boroughs

  City

  0

  0

  Barking

  0

  0

  Barnet

  0

  0

  Bexley

  0

  0

  Bromley

  0

  0

  Croydon

  0

  0

  Enfield

  0

  0

  108

  IN

  O/S

  Ealing

  2

  2

  Greenwich

  1

  1

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  0

  0

  Harrow

  0

  0

  Havering

  0

  0

  Hillingdon

  0

  0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  0

  0

  Kingston

  0

  0

  Merton

  0

  0

  Redbridge

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Sutton

  0

  0

  Waltham Forest

  0

  0

  Wandsworth

  0

  0

  Westminster

  0

  0

  Total

  3

  3

  Grand total

  62

  236

  n.a. Not available.

  Note:

  (i) This table shows the number of RTB8 notices received (IN) during the month and of those outstanding (0/S) at the end of each month.

  Heveningham Hall
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement as to the connection of Ministers in his Department with Heveningham hall;

  (2) on what dates he or his predecessor met Mr. Abdul Al-Ghazzi; in what circumstances; and what matters were discussed;

  (3) when he or his predecessor held discussions on matters relating to Heveningham hall with Mr. Abdul Al-Ghazzi.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 4 February]: My right hon. Friend, when he was Secretary of State previously, met Mr. Al-Ghazzi towards the end of October 1980 to discuss the terms of the sale of Heveningham hall. With that one exception, no Ministers of the Department of the Environment, past or present, have since then had any dealings with Mr. Al-Ghazzi in their capacity as Ministers, other than by correspondence. At various times officials of the Department and of English Heritage have visited Heveningham hall, and had correspondence and discussions with Mr. Al-Ghazzi's representatives about the progress of the restoration work.

WALES

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the number of cases of BSE-affected cattle in the years ending 31 December 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990 for(a) Dyfed, (b) Wales and (c) Britain.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The numbers of confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Dyfed, Wales, and Great Britain during each of the years 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990 were as set out in the following table. The 1990 figures are provisional.

  Dyfed

  Wales

  Great Britain

  1986

  0

  0

  2

  1987

  8

  8

  132

  1988

  64

  131

  2,185

  109

  Dyfed

  Wales

  Great Britain

  1989

  212

  459

  7,136

  1990

  522

  976

  12,817

  Total1

  806

  1,574

  22,272

  1 Number of cases at 31 December 1990.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report, for each of the districts of Wales, those communities which will not receive any benefit under the community charge reduction scheme in 1991–92.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information requested is contained in the following tables:

  Local Government Finance

    COMMUNITY CHARGE REDUCTION SCHEME—1991–92 COMMUNITIES NOT BENEFITING
    Aberconwy

    Betwys-y-Coed

    Conwy

    Henryd

    Llandudno

    Llansanffraid Glan Conwy

    Penmaenmawr

    Alyn and Dee side

    Broughton and Bretton

    Hawarden

    Higher Kinnerton

    Penyffordd

    Arfon

    All communities benefit

    Blaenau Gwent

    Llanelli

    Brecknock

    Brecon

    Bronllys

    Cilmery

    Crickhowell

    Gwernyfed

    Hay

    Llanddew

    Llanfihangel Cwmdu with Bwlch

    Llangattock

    Llangors

    Llangynidr

    Llanigon

    Talgarth

    The Vale of Grwyney

    Cardiff

    Castle

    Cyncoed

    Heath

    Lisvane

    Llandaf

    Llanishen

    Pentwyn

    Radyr

    Rhiwbina

    Roath

    St. Fagans

    St. Mellons

    Whitchurch

    Carmarthen

    Carmarthen

    Llangunnor

    Pendine

    Ceredigion

    Aberaeron

    Aberystwyth

    Borth Cardigan

    110

    Faenor

    Geneu'r Glyn

    Lampeter

    Llanbadarn Fawr

    Llanfarian

    Llangynfelyn

    Llanilar

    Llanllwchaiarn

    Llanrhystyd

    Melindwr

    New Quay

    Tirymynach

    Trefeurig

    Y Ferwig

    Ysgubor-y-coed

    Colwyn

    Abergele

    Cefnmeiriadog

    Kimmel Bay and Towyn

    Llanddulas and Rhyd-y-Foel

    Old Colwyn

    Rhos-on-Sea

    Cynon Valley

    Llwydcoed

    Delyn

    Argoed

    Gwernaffield

    Gwernymynydd

    Mold

    Dinefwr

    All communities benefit

    Dwyfor

    Criccieth

    Llanbedrog

    Llanengan

    Porthmadog

    Glyndwr

    Llanbedr Dyffrn Clwyd

    Islwyn

    All communities benefit

    Llanelli

    All communities benefit

    Lliw Valley

    Llangyfelach

    Pont-Lliw

    Meirionnyd

    Aberdovey

    Arthog

    Bala

    Barmouth

    Bryn-Crug

    Dyffryn Ardudwy

    Harlech

    Llanelltyd

    Llanfair

    Llangelynin

    Pennal

    Tywyn

    Merthyr Tydfil

    Cyfarthfa

    Gurnos

    Monmouth

    Abergavenny

    Caldicot

    Chepstow

    Crucorney

    Devauden

    Goetre Fawr

    Grosmont

    Gwehelog Fawr

    Llanarth

    Llanbadoc

    Llanfoist Fawr

    Llangattock Vibon Avel

    111

    Llangwm

    Llangybi

    Llanhennock

    Llanover

    Llantilio Pertholey

    Llantrisant Fawr

    Magor with Undy

    Mathern

    Mitchel Troy

    Monmouth

    Portskewett

    Raglan

    St. Arvans

    Shirenewton

    Trellech United

    Usk

    Montgomeryshire

    Carreghofa

    Guilsfield

    Llandrinio

    Llandysilio

    Llanidloes

    Machynlleth

    Montgomery

    Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn

    Trewern

    Welshpool

    Neath

    Blaenhonddan

    Newport

    Allt-yr-yn

    Always

    Beechwood

    Caerleon

    Gaer

    Graig

    Langstone

    Llanvaches

    Llanwern

    Marshfield

    Michaelstone-y-Fedw

    Penhow

    Rogerstone

    Shaftesbury

    Tredegar Park

    Ogwr

    Brackla

    Coity Higher

    Coychurch Lower

    Ewenny

    Merthyr Mawr

    Porthcawl

    St. Bride's Major

    Wick

    Port Talbot

    Baglan Bay (no domestic chargepayers)

    Margam Moors (no domestic chargepayers)

    otherwise all communities benefit

    Preseli Pembrokeshire

    Haverfordwest

    Herbrandston

    Merlin's Bridge

    Milford

    Nolton and Roch

    Rudbaxton

    The Havens

    Uzmaston and Boulston

    Radnorshire

    Aberedw

    Clyro

    Knighton

    Llanbadarn Fawr

    112

    Llandrindod Wells

    Llanyre

    New Radnor

    Presteigne

    Rhayader

    Rhondda

    All communities benefit

    Rhuddlan

    Rhuddlan

    Rhymney Valley

    Caerphilly

    Penyrheol

    Rudry

    Van

    South Pembrokeshire

    Amroth

    Cosheston

    East Williamston

    Lamphey

    Manorbier

    Narberth

    Pembroke

    Penally

    St. Florence

    St. Mary Out Liberty

    Saundersfoot

    Tenby

    Swansea

    Bishopston

    Dunvant

    Ilston

    Killay

    Llangennith, Llanmadoc and Cheriton

    Mumbles

    Mynyddbach

    Penderry

    Pennard

    Penrice

    Port Eynon

    Reynoldston

    Rhossili

    Sketty

    Uplands

    Upper Killay

    Taff-Ely

    Llantrisant

    Llantwit Fardre

    Pentyrch

    Pont-y-clun

    Taffs Well

    Torfaen

    Croesyceiliog

    Fairwater

    Llantarnam

    Llanyrafon

    New Inn

    Ponthir

    Upper Cwmbran

    Vale of Glamorgan

    Barry

    Colwinston

    Cowbridge with Llanblethian

    Dinas Powys

    Llancarfan

    Llandough

    Llandow

    Llanfair

    Llangan

    Llan-maes

    Michaelston

    Penarth

    Pendoylan

    Penllyn

    Peterston-super-Ely

    113

    Rhoose

    St. Georges-super-Ely

    St. Nicholas and Bonvilston

    Sully

    Welsh St. Donats

    Wenvoe

    Wrexham Maelor

    Acton

    Bangor Is-y-Coed

    Gresford

    Sesswick

    Ynys Môn

    Beaumaris

    Cwm Cadnant

    Llanddaniel Fab

    Llaneugrad

    Llanfaelog

    Llanfair-Mathafarn-Eithaf

    Menai Bridge

    Moelfre

    Rhoscolyn

    Trearddur

    Mr. Michael
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will outline the method of calculation which has led to the specific figures for transitional relief for communities in Wales listed with his statement and press release of 17 January.

    Mr. Nicholas Bennett
    I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 4 February 1991, column 23.

    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each district council in Wales the estimates for expenditure on community charge benefits, rent allowance and internal drainage board levies which have been aggregated in table 1·5 column (1), page 11 of "The Welsh Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (No. 2)".

    Mr. Nicholas Bennett
    The Welsh revenue support grant formulae do not form a basis for calculating notional allocations of standard spending assessments for individual expenditure categories.

    Mr. Win Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set out the numerical calculations involved in establishing the entitlement of Mid Glamorgan county council and Ogwr borough council to revenue support grant, with particular reference to the formula S—N—(P x C) and the means by which the value of S, N, P and C are calculated.

    Mr. David Hunt
    The components of the formula for the calculation of an authority's entitlement to revenue support grant are as follows:S = the standard spending assessment for the authority. The method for its calculation is described in appendix 1 of the Welsh Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (No. 2).
    N = the authority's share of the distributable amount from the non-domestic rating account, calculated in accordance with paragraph 12 of schedule 8 to the Local Government Finance Act 1988.
    P = the population of the authority, calculated according to appendix 2 of the aforementioned distribution report.
    C = the authority's community charge for standard spending (CCSS), calculated as described in paragraph 8 of the distribution report.

    The requested values (rounded to the nearest thousand) are:
    114

    Mid Glamorgan County Council

    Ogwr Borough Council

    S (£000)

    363,783

    17,218

    N (£000)

    81,758

    4,130

    P x C (£000)

    77,341

    3,882

    P

    407,936

    103,326

    C (£)

    189·59

    37·57

    Revenue support grant [S-N-(P x C)] (£000)

    204,684

    9,206

  Fishguard Harbour
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans there are for developments of Fishguard, Pembrokeshire harbour within the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Responsibility for developing Fishguard harbour rests with its owners, Sealink (UK) Ltd.

  South Glamorgan Health Authority
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from the chairman of South Glamorgan health authority concerning the construction of new neighbourhood hospitals.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Since the authority published its draft strategic plan, no representations have been received from the chairman of the authority.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what policy considerations he will apply to his decision on South Glamorgan health authority's proposal to close St. David's, Glanely, and the children's ear, nose and throat hospitals;

  (2) when he expects to make a statement on the proposed hospital closures programme of South Glamorgan health authority.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 4 February 1991, column 21.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which area health authorities in Wales have employed outside financial consultants to prepare business plans for direct management unit or NHS trust status; in each case which consultants were employed; and what was the cost to each area health authority.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not available centrally.

  South Glamorgan TEC
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had in the past six months with Mr. Roger Helliwell, chairman of the board of the South Glamorgan TEC.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Several.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will increase the funding of Welsh higher education colleges to bring them up to parity with funding provision per student for English and Scottish colleges of higher education.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Following their incorporation on 1 April 1992 the funding of the Welsh institutions of higher education will be determined by my right hon. Friend as part of the annual public expenditure round.

  School Visits
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) high schools, (b) primary schools and (c) infants schools he visited in Wales in 1990.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  During 1990 I visited one high school, three county secondary schools, six county primary schools and one special school and my right hon. Friend visited one high school.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Juvenile Detainees
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what deadline has been fixed for the ending of the holding of persons aged 15 or 16 years being held in adult prisons.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No deadline has been set. The Government's proposals for reforming the arrangements for the remand of juveniles aged 15 and 16 are set out in the consultation paper which was published on 4 February. Under these proposals, prison custody for juveniles would be ended when sufficient local authority secure accommodation was available. A copy of the consultation document has been placed in the Library.

  Abandonment of Animals Act 1960
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been for each of the last five years under the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Prosecutions under the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960

  Number

  1985

  83

  1986

  59

  1987

  62

  1988

  44

  1989

  51

  Queensferry Fire Station
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will visit Queensferry fire station.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. Friend has no present plans to do so.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he has advised electoral registration officers on the practice of inspecting the community charge register and making copies of information contained in a community charge register; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether he has advised electoral registration officers as to whether (a) they can carry out independent processing of community charge data held by a community charge registration officer or (b) they can request community charge registration officers to carry out such processing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Guidance to electoral registration officers on the effective use of their statutory right of access to the community charges register was included in a Home Office circular issued on 10 August 1990 (RPA 347), a copy of which is in the Library. The guidance included advice on the processing of data and the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984. Electoral registration officers have no power to request a copy of the community charges register, or to ask community charge registration officers to process data on their behalf.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what considerations underlay the setting of penalties for non-completion of(a) electoral registration forms and (b) community charge registration forms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The penalty for failing to comply with a request from an electoral registration officer for information required in connection with his duties was first established under the Representation of the People Act 1918. Parliament considered that the information was of such importance to the electoral process that refusal to provide it should be treated as a criminal offence. Community charge legislation is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, but I understand that the purpose of empowering community charge registration officers to impose penalties is to give them a sanction with which to enforce the legal requirement on individuals to support information for registration purposes.

  Nationality Office, Liverpool
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the direct line for hon. Members' inquiries is to be established at the Liverpool nationality office;

  (2) what plans he has to establish a direct line at the Liverpool nationality office for hon. Members' inquiries.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The provision of telephone facilities in the nationality office in Liverpool is under review. Inquiries may continue to be pursued through the telephone number in Lunar house already announced.

  Asylum
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will provide a breakdown of statistics on the granting of asylum to persons in relation to gender, age, family structure and residence.
  117
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 31 January 1991]: The available information for 1989 is given in the following table. Reliable information for 1990 is not yet available.

  Persons1 recognised as refugees2 in the United Kingdom in 1989, by age of principal applicant and associated dependants

  Principal applicants

  Associated dependants3

  Age of principal applicant (years)

  0–14

  10

  *

  15–19

  185

  5

  20–24

  525

  55

  25–29

  615

  210

  30–34

  345

  250

  35–39

  235

  275

  40–44

  110

  150

  45–49

  65

  90

  50–54

  35

  20

  55–59

  30

  25

  60–64

  15

  5

  65 and over

  15

  *

  Information not available

  20

  15

  Total

  2,210

  1,100

  1 Provisional figures, rounded to nearest 5, with '*' = less than 3.

  2 Figures exclude South East Asian refugees.

  3 Tabulated by age of the principal applicant. Figures include dependants who applied with the principal applicant, and those who arrived subsequently but before the principal application was decided.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  PAYE
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much it costs to send out(a) the pay-as-you-earn annual notice of coding, form P2(T), in January of each year for the following year and (b) the subsequent form after the budget where there are changes in personal allowances.

  Mr. Maude
  The last year for which figures are available is 1990. The cost of sending out the annual coding notices in January 1990 was £1,218,745 and the cost of sending out revised notices following the 1990 budget was £672,382.

  Export Guarantees Committee
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current membership of the Export Guarantees Committee.

  Mr. Maples
  The committee is chaired by the Treasury with representatives from the Export Credit Guarantees Department, Bank of England, Department of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Defence, Foreign Office and the Overseas Development Administration.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of occasions for each year since 1980 when the Export Guarantees Committee was asked to consider extra cover because community limits on cover had been reached.

  Mr. Maples
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number

  1981

  8

  1982

  14

  1983

  14

  118

  Number

  1984

  14

  1985

  11

  1986

  5

  1987

  7

  1988

  5

  1989

  4

  1990

  1

  Misdeclaration Penalties
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will supply for each of the last three years the breakdown in penalties for serious misdeclaration penalties under value added tax regulations in the following table(a) under £5,000, (b) under £10,000, (c) under £20,000, (d) under £50,000, (e) under £100,000, (f) under £500,000, (g) under £1 million and (h) over £1 million and in each band the total sum thus levied.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 4 February 1991]: Serious misdeclaration penalty has been in force only since 1 April 1990 and information on penalties imposed will be published after the end of the financial year, when more data will be available.

  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many serious misdeclaration penalties under value added tax regulations have related to the profits or turnover of the business concerned in each of the last three years; and what percentage that was of the total of such cases.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 4 February 1991]: Liability to serious misdeclaration penalty can arise where large misdeclarations are made on VAT returns. Such misdeclarations encompass a range of accounting errors and information is not available to identify how many of the penalties imposed have related to the profits or turnover of the business concerned.

  The Gulf (Cash Contributions)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the cash commitments pledged by the Governments of Germany, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland, Denmark and Holland respectively towards the Gulf conflict.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have been asked to reply.

  We are not aware of all cash commitments being made by our European partners to help offset the costs of the Gulf conflict, but notable among them is a German contribution of DM 15·6 billion (which includes DM 800 million, or approximately £275 million, to the United Kingdom).

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the cash commitments pledged by the Government of Japan towards the cost of the Gulf conflict, expressed in pounds sterling; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have been asked to reply.

  We much appreciate the Japanese Government's contributions to the international effort to achieve the liberation of Kuwait. These amount to $11 billion for the

  119
  multinational forces, $2 billion for economic assistance to Jordan, Egypt and Turkey, and $22 million for humanitarian assistance. In sterling (£1 = $1·90), these figures are £5·79 billion, £1·05 billion, and £11·58 million respectively.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Statues
  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the process whereby decisions are made as to the persons to be honoured by the erection of statues on plinths in the Members' Lobby.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The forum for considering such matters is the Advisory Committee on Works of Art in the House of Commons. Its terms of reference are"to advise Mr. Speaker and the Secretary of State for the Environment on matters relating to Works of Art in the House of Commons area of the Palace of Westminster".

  The Committee receives proposals from a wide range of sources, including hon. Members.

  Film Makers
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what facilities are made available to film makers in the House.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Serjeant at Arms advises and assists applicants within the regulations for photography and filming as approved by the Services Committee; if the hon. Member has a specific matter to raise, he may wish to write to me.

  Tuna
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council whether he has taken any steps to ensure tuna served in House of Commons restaurants has been caught by methods that are not harmful to dolphins and other marine life.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Refreshment Department purchases only canned tuna fish products which derive from skipjack tuna which, it is understood, do not swim with dolphins, and which are caught in a manner unlikely to endanger other marine life. The Refreshment Department is also keeping itself informed of developments in the marketing of "dolphin-safe" canned tuna fish. Its buying policy makes it impracticable to purchase foodstuffs other than from a wholesaler.

  Parliamentary Pensions
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to the debate of 31 January, whether he is yet in a position to publish the final text of his reference to the Top Salaries Review Body concerning hon. Members' pensions and the resettlement grant.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have now written to the chairman of the Top Salaries Review Body as follows:"At the conclusion of the debate on Parliamentary Pensions held on 17 January 1990 my predecessor said that he would examine what Hon. Members had said with a view to framing a future reference to the TSRB on Parliamentary pensions. He subsequently held discussions with the Trustees
  120
  of the Parliamentary Pension Scheme and others on both the current shape of the scheme and the implementation of the recommendations made in the review body's last report (the 26th). You will have seen that I introduced a Bill to enact those recommendations and other matters this session and the Second Reading took place on 31 January. Because of acute Parliamentary concern about the state of the Fund, we have taken the unusual step of making some changes to the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund (PCPF), particularly on widows' benefit, without consulting you. Nonetheless, a number of issues remain on which we would welcome your guidance.
  As debates in the House have made clear, the principal issue on which we need your advice is the question of the so called "balance of contributions", that is the balance between the Exchequer and Member contributions.
  The PCPF is a final salary scheme with the Member contribution determined on the basis necessary to fund benefits over the long term, leaving aside surpluses and deficits. Under section 3 of the Parliamentary and other Pensions Act 1987, the Government Actuary's Department (GAD), on the basis of the cost of known benefits, estimates the total contributions necessary to fund it in the long term (the total standard contribution). Since the Member contribution is fixed this yields the Exchequer contribution as a residual. Taking account of the performance of the Fund, the GAD then adjusts the Exchequer contribution to produce the rate actually paid. The effect is that the Exchequer funds deficits but, where there is a surplus, enjoys a contributions holiday. The financing system is in other words symmetrical.
  The Trustees of the PCPF, amongst others, take the view that the character of the scheme in which the Exchequer makes contributions in this way—taking the benefit of surpluses and making good any deficits—should be changed. Their preference would be for a system which held a fixed relationship between the Exchequer and Member contribution-say in the ratio of 5:3 or 60:40. To match the current system, such a system would need to be symmetrical with regard to both surpluses and deficits, implying that the Member and Exchequer contributions would move up or down together according to the state of the Fund.
  We would therefore welcome your views on the short and long term financing arrangements of the scheme and in particular what role the GAD should play. I intend that your report be debated and that the eventual government decisions on it should establish a definitive position on this issue for some considerable time to come.
  On scheme benefits, as I have mentioned, we have decided to improve widows' and widowers' pensions from half rate to ⅝th rate in response to the Trustees' request for an increase to ⅔rds, in the light of the debate in the House on 17 January 1990. In consultation with the Trustees the Government concluded that this was the appropriate response to Members' immediate concerns over the surplus in the Fund and the level of Exchequer contributions. This should not influence you in determining the Government's policy towards the financing of the Fund nor to what we consider the proper use of surpluses, generally. It was a specific action to meet a specific need. The Trustees have accepted this although they have made clear that a two thirds widows pension remains their objective. I have made it clear that—at any rate on the present system for financing the Scheme—when there is no longer any surplus in the Fund Members' contributions would have to rise to meet the cost of this new level of benefit and any other improvements in benefits which might subsequently be recommended and accepted.
  During the debates on 17 January 1990 and 31 January 1991 Members also raised the question of the accrual rate. You last looked at this in 1983 when you recommended an improvement in the accrual rate from 1/60ths to 1/50ths. I would be grateful for your views on whether a further improvement is justified and if so on the implications for contributions.
  I ought also to record some feeling among the Trustees and other Members that you should take account of experience in other Parliamentary schemes, both Commonwealth and European. Given the timescale, I made clear to the House on 31 January that full coverage of this aspect might well need to await a separate, subsequent Report.

  121
  Finally, as you will see from the debate on 31 January, there is a considerable strength of feeling in the House that the arrangements for the Resettlement Grant and in particular the cut off at age 65, should be looked at again. I recognise, of course, that you examined this matter in your 26th Report, but the Government must obviously take very seriously an expression of such widespread concern from all sides of the House that the arguments should be re-examined. A particular point highlighted in the debate on 31 January is the unique circumstances which determine the precise timing of the end of a Parliament and therefore, for some Members, the end of a Parliamentary career. The Trustees have asked that the TSRB examine this matter seriously, with an open mind and in a way which ensures that the arguments can be put before you clearly and to the satisfaction of all concerned. I have assured them, and the House, that the Government will seek your views on that basis.
  In view of the extent of concern in the House on this matter, I would be most grateful if you could report on it separately by the middle of April, so that the Government's response can be equally prompt.
  As to the balance of contributions and other matters, I would like to consider and debate your report as soon as is practically possible so that any necessary changes can be implemented speedily. (As you will see, the Bill includes a power to make such changes by secondary legislation). So it would be of great assistance if you could report on these matters as soon as possible after your separate report on the Resettlement Grant.
  I would like to conclude by thanking the Review Body for its last report under the chairmanship of Lord Plowden and thank you in advance for agreeing to examine these complex matters. The Trustees of the Parliamentary Pensions Scheme will join me, I am sure, when I say that we are fortunate to being able to call on the Review Body's objectivity in assisting our consideration of these difficult issues."

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Calves
  Mr. Crowther
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a marking requirement in order to ensure that the ban on selling calves more than twice in any 28-day period, coming into force on 1 March, can be properly enforced.

  Mr. Maclean
  The order in question includes a requirement to retain records of identification numbers, which are already required to be marked on calves under separate legislation. I believe that this system, which follows recommendations from the Farm Animal Welfare Council, will prove a satisfactory means of enforcement.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  Members' Insurance
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what changes have been made to the insurance arrangements for hon. Members.

  Mr. Beith
  The cover afforded by the Members Group Personal Accident Insurance Policy in respect of certain of its provisions is directly related to Members' salary. Generally, these items are death benefit for Members, and permanent total disablement benefit for all persons insured under the terms of the policy. With effect from I January 1991 the cover for these items is £145,000. All other provisions set out in the memorandum dated November 1990 and circulated to all Members remain unchanged.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Religious Education
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer of 22 January,Official Report, column 123, to the hon. Member for Hexham (Mr. Amos) on religious education, if he will also publish a copy of the letter in the Official Report.

  Mr. Eggar
  When I write, copies of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Schools
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is(a) the percentage of pupils in each local education authority who receives education in schools maintained or formerly maintained by another local education authority and (b) the number and percentage of pupils educated in schools maintained or formerly maintained by each local education authority whose place or residence is within another local education authority; and if he will list in rank order the difference between (a) and (b) for metropolitan and London authorities.

  Mr. Fallon
  The percentages and pupil numbers as at January 1990 for each local education authority are listed in the tables. The local education authorities to which pupils were deemed to belong were determined in accordance with The Education (Areas to which Pupils and Students Belong) Regulations 1989 as amended by The Education (Areas to which Pupils and Students Belong) (Amendment) Regulations 1990.

  Local education authority

  Per cent.1 exports

  Number imports

  Per cent.1 imports

  City of London

  94·3

  169

  137·4

  Camden

  22·9

  6,290

  41·4

  Greenwich

  8·2

  3,560

  12·4

  Hackney

  22·4

  2,358

  10·1

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  20·7

  4,062

  34·1

  Islington

  23·2

  4,369

  24·0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  32·9

  3,642

  50·3

  Lambeth

  30·1

  2,841

  10·6

  Lewisham

  15·4

  3,715

  13·6

  Southwark

  15·8

  4,279

  17·1

  Tower Hamlets

  11·0

  1,834

  6·9

  Wandsworth

  17·0

  4,463

  19·5

  Westminster

  25·4

  6,130

  56·6

  Barking and Dagenham

  4·9

  1,480

  7·6

  Barnet

  7·0

  5,023

  15·1

  Bexley

  5·4

  1,538

  5·2

  Brent

  19·1

  1,454

  4·5

  Bromley

  4·8

  1,627

  5·0

  Croydon

  7·6

  2,559

  6·8

  Ealing

  9·3

  1,530

  4·5

  Enfield

  6·0

  2,013

  5·9

  Haringey

  15·4

  2,337

  10·3

  Harrow

  9·5

  1,982

  8·4

  Havering

  3·1

  1,491

  4·7

  Hillingdon

  4·5

  934

  3·2

  Hounslow

  8·8

  2,934

  11·2

  Kingston upon Thames

  8·7

  1,643

  11·1

  Merton

  11·1

  2,003

  11·5

  Newham

  3·4

  1,438

  4·6

  Redbridge

  6·8

  1,624

  5·6

  Richmond upon Thames

  8·6

  3,159

  24·3

  Sutton

  9·0

  2,180

  10·6

  Waltham Forest

  5·5

  994

  3·6

  123

  Local education authority

  Per cent.1 exports

  Numbers imports

  Per cent.1 imports

  Birmingham

  2·4

  2,369

  1·6

  Coventry

  0·8

  598

  1·5

  Dudley

  2·8

  1,352

  3·3

  Sandwell

  3·2

  1,661

  40

  Solihull

  2·9

  2,095

  7·6

  Walsall

  2·0

  1,728

  4·5

  Wolverhampton

  3·4

  892

  2·5

  Knowsley

  10·8

  1,027

  4·1

  Liverpool

  2·0

  2,147

  3·2

  St. Helens

  5·2

  1,206

  4·5

  Sefton

  1·2

  1,237

  3·1

  Wirral

  0·6

  79

  0·2

  Bolton

  2·4

  973

  2·6

  Bury

  6·6

  1,136

  4·8

  Manchester

  5·2

  3,482

  5·9

  Oldham

  2·3

  1,663

  5·1

  Rochdale

  3·9

  536

  1·7

  Salford

  3·5

  1,461

  4·9

  Stockport

  2·3

  919

  2·4

  Tameside

  2·9

  1,137

  3·7

  Trafford

  5·3

  793

  2·8

  Wigan

  3·

  2,716

  6·2

  Barnsley

  2·0

  287

  0·9

  Doncaster

  1·0

  338

  0·8

  Rotherham

  0·7

  969

  2·6

  Sheffield

  1·2

  373

  0·6

  Bradford

  3·1

  590

  0·8

  Calderdale

  2·0

  457

  1·6

  Kirklees

  1·3

  622

  1·1

  Leeds

  1·0

  1,357

  1·5

  Wakefield

  0·7

  660

  1·6

  Gateshead

  2·3

  436

  1·7

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  3·1

  1,200

  3·6

  North Tyneside

  3·0

  718

  2·7

  South Tyneside

  1·1

  484

  2·4

  Sunderland

  1·0

  520

  1·2

  Isles of Scilly

  1·6

  1

  0·4

  Avon

  0·6

  1,029

  0·9

  Bedfordshire

  1·2

  1,277

  1·7

  Berkshire

  2·3

  2,657

  2·7

  Buckinghamshire

  5·0

  1,061

  1·2

  Cambridgeshire

  1·4

  688

  0·8

  Cheshire

  0·9

  2,106

  1·6

  Cleveland

  0·2

  416

  0·5

  Cornwall

  0·6

  305

  0·5

  Cumbria

  0·2

  350

  0·5

  Derbyshire

  1·2

  1,469

  1·2

  Devon

  0·6

  552

  0·4

  Dorset

  0·4

  1,925

  2·6

  Durham

  1·0

  343

  0·4

  East Sussex

  1·7

  992

  1·3

  Essex

  1·7

  1,199

  0·6

  Gloucestershire

  0·7

  1,021

  1·5

  Hampshire

  1·3

  1,759

  0·9

  Hereford and Worcester

  2·4

  1,295

  1·4

  Hertfordshire

  1·0

  4,701

  3·6

  Humberside

  0·5

  1,563

  1·3

  Isle of Wight

  0·1

  15

  0·1

  Kent

  0·5

  1,305

  0·6

  Lancashire

  1·4

  1,074

  0·6

  Leicester

  0·5

  635

  0·5

  Lincolnshire

  2·4

  730

  0·9

  Norfolk

  1·1

  660

  0·7

  North Yorkshire

  1·5

  2,070

  2·3

  Northamptonshire

  0·5

  792

  1·0

  Northumberland

  1·1

  592

  1·4

  Nottinghamshire

  0·8

  721

  0·5

  Oxfordshire

  0·8

  1,929

  2·9

  Shropshire

  1·0

  678

  1·2

  Somerset

  1·8

  475

  0·8

  124

  Local education authority

  Per cent.1 exports

  Numbers imports

  Per cent.1 imports

  Staffordshire

  1·5

  1,195

  0·8

  Suffolk

  0·7

  1,306

  1·6

  Surrey

  4·0

  3,536

  3·2

  Warwickshire

  2·0

  1,280

  2·0

  West Sussex

  1·4

  1,869

  2·2

  Wiltshire

  1·7

  552

  0·8

  Exports = Pupils belonging to each LEA attending maintained, including maintained special, schools in another LEA.

  Imports = Pupils belonging to another LEA attending maintained, including maintained special, schools in each LEA.

  1 All percentages rounded to one decimal place.

  London Authorities

  Percentage of imports less percentage of exports1

  Rank

  City of London

  43·1

  1

  Westminster

  31·2

  2

  Camden

  18·5

  3

  Kensington and Chelsea

  17·5

  4

  Richmond upon Thames

  15·8

  5

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  13·4

  6

  Barnet

  8·1

  7

  Greenwich

  4·2

  8

  Barking and Dagenham

  2·7

  9

  Wandsworth

  2·5

  10

  Kingston upon Thames

  2·5

  11

  Hounslow

  2·4

  12

  Havering

  1·6

  13

  Sutton

  1·5

  14

  Southwark

  1·3

  15

  Newham

  1·2

  16

  Islington

  0·8

  17

  Merton

  0·4

  18

  Bromley

  0·1

  19

  Enfield

  0·0

  20

  Bexley

  -·2

  21

  Croydon

  -·8

  22

  Redbridge

  -1·1

  23

  Harrow

  -1·2

  24

  Hillingdon

  -1·3

  25

  Lewisham

  -1·8

  26

  Waltham Forest

  -1·9

  27

  Tower Hamlets

  -4·1

  28

  Ealing

  -4·9

  29

  Haringey

  -5·2

  30

  Hackney

  -12·2

  31

  Brent

  -14·5

  32

  Lambeth

  -19·5

  33

  Exports = puplis belonging to each LEA attending maintained, including maintained special, schools in another LEA.

  Imports = pupils belonging to another LEA attending maintained, including maintained special, schools in each LEA.

  1 All percentages rounded to one decimal place.

  Metropolitan authorities

  Per cent. of imports less per cent, of exports1

  Rank

  Solihull

  4·8

  1

  Wigan

  3·0

  2

  Oldham

  2·8

  3

  Walsall

  2·5

  4

  Sefton

  2·0

  5

  Rotherham

  1·9

  6

  Salford

  1·4

  7

  South Tyneside

  1·3

  8

  Liverpool

  1·2

  9

  Wakefield

  0·9

  10

  Tameside

  0·8

  11

  Sandwell

  0·8

  12

  Manchester

  0·7

  13

  Coventry

  0·7

  14

  125

  Metropolitan authorities

  Per cent. of imports less per cent. of exports1

  Rank

  Dudley

  0·5

  15

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  0·5

  16

  Leeds

  0·5

  17

  Sunderland

  0·2

  18

  Bolton

  0·1

  19

  Stockport

  0·1

  20

  Kirklees

  - 0·1

  21

  Doncaster

  -0·2

  22

  North Tyneside

  -0·3

  23

  Calderdale

  -0·3

  24

  Wirral

  -0·4

  25

  Sheffield

  -0·6

  26

  Gateshead

  -0·7

  27

  St. Helens

  -0·7

  28

  Birmingham

  -0·8

  29

  Wolverhampton

  -0·9

  30

  Barnsley

  -1·1

  31

  Bury

  -1·7

  32

  Rochdale

  -2·2

  33

  Bradford

  -2·3

  34

  Trafford

  -2·5

  35

  Knowsley

  -6·7

  36

  1 All percentages rounded to one decimal place.

  Exports—Pupils belonging to each local education authority atending maintained, including maintained special, schools in another local education authority.

  Imports—Pupils belonging to another local education authority attending maintained, including maintained special, schools in each local education authority.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what information he has on trends in expenditure on books and equipment in grant-maintained schools;

  (2) what information he has on trends in employment of teaching and classroom support staff in grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Department does not collect detailed information on these matters. However, a number of GM schools have used the additional flexibility which

  England—School leavers—Maintained schools

  Proportion of leavers with five or more GCSE results at Grades A-C as percentage of all school leavers, and the rank position of the LEA

  1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87

  1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88

  1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89

  LEA

  Per cent.

  Rank

  Per cent.

  Rank

  Per cent.

  Rank

  Barking and Dagenham

  9·9

  96

  11·8

  94

  11·3

  95

  Barnet

  41·0

  1

  41·5

  1

  38·9

  2

  Bexley

  26·6

  23

  27·8

  20

  28·5

  26

  Brent

  19·1

  73

  19·1

  75

  20·6

  78

  Bromley

  30·5

  10

  32·0

  9

  29·9

  19

  Croydon

  22·9

  51

  22·7

  55

  22·1

  70

  Ealing

  19·6

  68

  19·2

  74

  22·5

  67

  Enfield

  23·7

  45

  24·8

  44

  26·9

  41

  Haringey

  17·3

  82

  17·3

  85

  16·6

  89

  Harrow

  37·8

  2

  38·3

  2

  38·6

  3

  Havering

  23·9

  44

  23·3

  52

  24·4

  57

  Hillingdon

  21·2

  62

  20·0

  70

  22·7

  65

  Hounslow

  21·5

  58

  21·5

  63

  25·2

  49

  Kingston upon Thames

  34·8

  3

  34·1

  5

  32·2

  10

  Merton

  24·9

  36

  23·4

  49

  24·6

  54

  Newham

  12·4

  93

  14·3

  93

  14·9

  93

  Redbridge

  25·6

  32

  26·6

  28

  25·5

  47

  Richmond upon Thames

  26·5

  25

  29·6

  14

  32·4

  8

  Sutton

  34·4

  4

  34·9

  4

  39·1

  1

  Waltham Forest

  11·0

  94

  11·3

  95

  12·7

  94

  Birmingham

  16·9

  85

  18·3

  79

  19·1

  85

  126
  opting-out brings to increase the sums spent on books and equipment. Some GM schools have appointed more teaching and support staff.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils have been admitted to grant-maintained schools this year; and how many were admitted in their last years as local education authority-maintained schools.

  Mr. Eggar
  This information is not available. However, grant-maintained schools are proving popular with parents and many grant-maintained schools have had large increases in applications.

  Schools Budgets
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of potential schools budget will be delegated to schools by Hereford and Worcestershire education authority under LMS; arid if he will provide the information in the same format as the table in columns 325–28 of the Official Report of 11 December 1990.

  Mr. Fallon
  Hereford and Worcester's LMS scheme begins only in April, but we do not yet have budget information. However, we have had early indications from the authority that in the next financial year it intends to delegate to its school in excess of 85 per cent. of the potential schools budget.

  GCSE
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list for each local education authority the proportion of school leavers with five or more GCSE results at grades A-C as a percentage of all school leavers, and the rank position of the local education authority in each of the three-year periods 1984–87, 1985–88 and 1986–89.

  Mr. Fallon
  The table gives information for leavers from maintained schools, for each local education authority, aggregated over the academic years ending 1985 to 1987, 1986 to 1988 and 1987 to 1989.
  127

  1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87

  1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88

  1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89

  LEA

  Per cent.

  Rank

  Per cent.

  Rank

  Per cent.

  Rank

  Coventry

  19·9

  67

  20·7

  68

  21·2

  76

  Dudley

  21·5

  58

  22·3

  59

  25·5

  47

  Sandwell

  13·4

  92

  14·6

  92

  15·5

  92

  Solihull

  29·4

  11

  30·8

  11

  31·7

  12

  Walsall

  19·1

  73

  20·9

  67

  23·4

  59

  Wolverhampton

  15·4

  89

  17·8

  82

  19·9

  81

  Knowsley

  10·6

  95

  10·0

  96

  8·5

  96

  Liverpool

  17·0

  84

  17·9

  81

  19·4

  84

  St. Helens

  23·6

  46

  23·2

  54

  20·5

  79

  Sefton

  27·0

  21

  26·4

  31

  28·5

  26

  Wirral

  23·5

  47

  25·9

  39

  27·8

  31

  Bolton

  24·9

  36

  26·0

  36

  28·7

  24

  Bury

  28·4

  15

  26·4

  31

  27·7

  33

  Manchester

  17·3

  82

  15·9

  90

  16·4

  90

  Oldham

  16·1

  87

  15·5

  91

  18·1

  86

  Rochdale

  20·2

  64

  18·7

  76

  20·9

  77

  Salford

  18·9

  75

  21·8

  60

  23·2

  62

  Stockport

  24·3

  41

  24·9

  43

  28·6

  25

  Tameside

  23·5

  47

  24·7

  45

  27·1

  39

  Trafford

  31·7

  7

  31·1

  10

  30·7

  15

  Wigan

  27·2

  19

  29·4

  15

  30·2

  18

  Barnsley

  15·7

  88

  16·9

  87

  19·7

  82

  Doncaster

  19·2

  72

  18·7

  76

  21·7

  73

  Rotherham

  17·4

  81

  19·5

  73

  23·0

  63

  Sheffield

  18·9

  75

  20·1

  69

  22·2

  68

  Bradford

  16·7

  86

  16·0

  89

  16·9

  88

  Calderdale

  19·3

  70

  20·0

  70

  21·5

  75

  Kirklees

  24·1

  43

  25·1

  42

  25·6

  46

  Leeds

  21·5

  58

  21·3

  65

  22·0

  71

  Wakefield

  15·4

  89

  17·6

  83

  17·5

  87

  Gateshead

  18·8

  77

  19·8

  72

  20·4

  80

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  17·7

  80

  17·4

  84

  21·6

  74

  North Tyneside

  21·9

  56

  23·3

  52

  27·5

  36

  South Tyneside

  18·1

  79

  18·3

  79

  22·2

  68

  Sunderland

  19·3

  70

  18·7

  76

  21·8

  72

  Inner London

  15·4

  89

  16·1

  88

  15·9

  91

  Avon

  24·7

  38

  26·1

  35

  27·8

  31

  Bedfordshire

  25·9

  29

  26·0

  36

  24·9

  52

  Berkshire

  27·5

  17

  29·3

  16

  32·3

  9

  Buckinghamshire

  31·6

  8

  33·4

  6

  36·0

  5

  Cambridgeshire

  24·4

  40

  26·0

  36

  28·0

  29

  Cheshire

  26·6

  23

  28·3

  19

  29·1

  23

  Cleveland

  27·5

  17

  27·1

  26

  26·5

  43

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  25·5

  33

  27·3

  24

  29·9

  19

  Cumbria

  24·2

  42

  26·9

  27

  28·0

  29

  Derbyshire

  21·5

  58

  22·4

  58

  24·6

  54

  Devon

  23·4

  49

  24·4

  47

  26·3

  44

  Dorset

  28·4

  15

  27·2

  25

  27·6

  35

  Durham

  20·0

  65

  21·0

  66

  23·4

  59

  East Sussex

  25·7

  30

  27·4

  23

  31·4

  13

  Essex

  25·1

  35

  26·3

  33

  27·4

  37

  Gloucestershire

  28·6

  14

  29·1

  17

  31·2

  14

  Hampshire

  26·0

  28

  27·7

  21

  29·6

  21

  Hereford and Worcester

  25·7

  30

  28·5

  18

  29·2

  22

  Hertfordshire

  28·9

  13

  30·3

  12

  31·9

  11

  Humberside

  21·1

  63

  21·5

  63

  22·6

  66

  Isle of Wight

  18·3

  78

  17·1

  86

  19·5

  83

  Kent

  27·1

  20

  26·5

  30

  27·3

  38

  Lancashire

  24·7

  38

  25·6

  40

  26·8

  42

  Leicestershire

  22·9

  51

  23·4

  49

  25·1

  51

  Lincolnshire

  25·3

  34

  25·2

  41

  25·2

  49

  Norfolk

  21·9

  56

  22·7

  55

  24·5

  56

  North Yorkshire

  31·4

  9

  32·8

  7

  34·5

  7

  Northamptonshire

  20·0

  65

  21·7

  61

  22·8

  64

  Northumberland

  29·0

  12

  29·8

  13

  30·7

  15

  Nottinghamshire

  19·6

  68

  21·6

  62

  23·4

  59

  Oxfordshire

  26·5

  25

  26·2

  34

  27·7

  33

  Shropshire

  27·0

  21

  27·7

  21

  30·3

  17

  Somerset

  22·2

  53

  24·5

  46

  27·1

  39

  Staffordshire

  23·4

  49

  23·4

  49

  24·9

  52

  Suffolk

  22·0

  55

  22·7

  55

  24·2

  58

  Surrey

  34·4

  4

  36·4

  3

  38·0

  4

  Warwickshire

  26·2

  27

  26·6

  28

  28·5

  26

  West Sussex

  32·1

  6

  32·5

  8

  35·5

  6

  Wiltshire

  22·2

  53

  23·9

  48

  25·9

  45

  England

  23·5

  27·4

  25·8

  128

  Primary Schools, Hertfordshire
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Education and Science whether he will estimate the total funds per pupil which would be allocated to a primary school in Hertfordshire which opted for grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Eggar
  The amount of grant per pupil in 1991–92 for any primary school in Hertfordshire receiving grant-maintained status will depend on the local education authority's scheme for the local management of schools and on decisions yet to be taken by Hertfordshire on its budget for that year.

  Direct Funding
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary and secondary schools have now elected for direct funding.

  Mr. Eggar
  In total, 145 schools have held ballots on the question of whether to apply for GM status, of which 109 schools have voted in favour and 36 against.

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  PCFC SECTOR

  Primary

  Recruitment

  7,816

  8,776

  9,821

  10,837

  12,029

  Funded places

  8,075

  8,499

  8,923

  9,249

  10,151

  Secondary

  Recruitment

  3,635

  4,335

  4,145

  4,214

  4,503

  Funded places

  4,391

  4,738

  5,026

  4,941

  5,301

  UFC SECTOR

  Primary

  Recruitment

  1,148

  1,328

  1,552

  1,977

  2,301

  Funded places

  1,199

  1,357

  1,509

  1,875

  2,078

  Secondary

  Recruitment

  4,290

  4,741

  4,665

  4,729

  4,960

  Funded places

  4,948

  5,043

  5,051

  5,122

  5,714

  CERN
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of the Science and Engineering Research Council's total funding has been represented by the United Kingdom contribution to CERN over each of the last five years; and how this percentage is projected to change in future.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The information requested is as follows:

  United Kingdom contribution to CERN as percentage of SERC budget

  Financial year

  Per cent.

  1985–86

  12·7

  1986–87

  14·1

  1987–88

  15·7

  1988–89

  14·8

  1989–90

  11·9

  11990–91

  11·9

  11991–92

  12·8

  11992–93

  12·5

  1 Estimate.

  130
  Of the schools voting in favour, 102 have been secondary schools, four have been middle schools and three have been primary schools. Of these schools, 58 secondary schools and two middle schools have been approved for GM status and 12 schools have been rejected. Proposals from the remaining schools are either still to be published or not yet decided.

  In addition, there are ballots pending at 40 schools. Twenty-eight of these are secondary schools, one is a middle school and 11 are primary schools.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report tables showing, in respect of (a) polytechnic and other Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council colleges and (b) university departments of education the target number of places, and the number of students accepted for (i) primary places and (ii) secondary teacher training, for each year from 1986 to date.

  Mr. Fallon
  The figures are as follows:

  Sport
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the recommendations of the report of the School Sport Forum "Sport and Young People: Partnership and Action" which required action by his Department; what action has been taken to implement each recommendation; what are the reasons where a recommendation has not been implemented in full; and what further action his Department intends to take.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government's response to the School Sport Forum report "Sport and Young People: Partnership and Action" was published on 27 November 1989. Further consideration to both curricular and extra-curricular sport is now being given by the national curriculum PE working group and as part of the Government's current review of sports policy.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the recommendations of the Minister for Sport's review group on sport and active recreation provision in the inner cities which required action by his Department, setting out what action has been taken to implement each recommendation, and the reasons where they have not been implemented in full; and what further action he intends to take.
  131
  Mr. Atkins
  The recommendations of the review report "Sport and Active Recreation in the Inner Cities" are being considered as part of the Government's wider review of sports policy. We expect to announce our conclusions in the summer.

  Nuclear Physics
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the amount of the Science and Engineering Research Council's budget devoted to nuclear physics in each of the last five years in(a) cash terms and (b) constant terms.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Gross expenditure by SERC's nuclear physics board over the last five years is as follows:

  Cash terms £ million

  Constant terms £ million

  1986–87

  71,152

  92,486

  1987–88

  83,377

  102,778

  1988–89

  84,297

  96,844

  1989–90

  77,982

  84,220

  11990–91

  62,052

  62,052

  1 Forecast outturn (Excludes Laboratories Directorate expenditure previously attributed to Nuclear Physics Board).

  Veterinary Schools
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the capital cost of bringing the animal accommodation of veterinary schools at universities up to the standard laid down in Home Office regulations.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  It is for each university to determine how best to respond to the new code within the resources at its disposal from the Universities Funding Council and elsewhere.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial provision has been earmarked for the upgrading of animal accommodation at university veterinary schools in each of the next three financial years; and whether this provision is contained within block grant or capital provision.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The expenditure plans announced on 8 November provided an extra £10 million a year for capital spending by the Universities Funding Council. The increased total allowed for additional equipment for teaching and necessary improvements to animal houses. The distribution of aggregate capital and recurrent funds among universities is a matter for the council, which will announce its allocations for 1991–92 later this month.

DEFENCE

  Helicopter Noise (Insulation Grants)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria are used for the provision of helicopter noise insulation grants to houses in the vicinity of RAF Cottesmore, Leicestershire.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are no helicopters based at RAF Cottesmore. The noise insulation grant scheme in operation is based on fixed-wing flying.
  132
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria are used for the provision of helicopter noise insulation grants to houses in the vicinity of the helicopter landing site at Bessbrook, County Armagh.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Householders in the vicinity of the helicopter landing site at Bessbrook are eligible for noise insulation grants if their homes are subject to noise levels of 70dB(A) averaged over a 12-hour period. The contour which determines the boundaries of the scheme was originally predicted by computer model. Subsequent on-site noise measurements by the university of Ulster, which followed the normal convention of counting the total number of movements in a 24-hour period within the 12-hour average, produced a contour of smaller radius. Nevertheless the computer-predicted contour remains as the boundary for the noise insulation grant scheme.

  Bloodhound Missile
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the current state of readiness of the Bloodhound surface-to-air missile system;

  (2) what is his policy towards the retention of the Bloodhound surface-to-air missile system.

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

  War Pensioners Welfare
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of interviews carried out by War Pensioners Welfare staff in the last three years for which figures are available; and how many of these were at the request of the pensioner concerned.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I have been asked to reply. The information requested is in the table.

  Total number of interviews by war pensioners' welfare staff

  Number of interviews at pensioners' request

  1988

  41,229

  27,793

  1989

  43,223

  27,481

  1990

  43,672

  27,288

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Senior Citizens
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the current average weekly income of senior citizens who are totally dependent on the retirement pension and income support.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Very few pensioners are dependent on retirement pension and income support alone; income support beneficiaries automatically qualify for the maximum community charge benefit payable; those who are tenants also qualify for maximum housing benefit. In addition, income support recipients are exempt from national health charges, such as those for prescriptions or dental services.

  Information on the community charge benefit and housing benefit in payment to people in receipt of both

  133
  retirement pension and income support is not available. It is therefore not possible to provide an estimate of the actual weekly income of this particular group.

  In May 1989, the last date for which information is available, the average weekly payment of retirement pension and income support combined, net of the other benefit payable, was £75·391 for couples and £53·311 for singles. The average payment of housing benefit to pensioner households overall, for example, those in which either the claimant or the partner received retirement pension but not necessarily income support, was £19·50 per week.

  1 These figures represent the average income of those people who receive both income support and retirement pension (in all its derivatives) but have no other income or capital.

  European Directives
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the European directives which have been implemented by his Department since 1979 and those outstanding.

  Mr. Jack
  The Department has the main responsibility for legislation arising from only two directives:Council directive 79/7/EEC of 19 December 1978 on the progressive implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in matters of social security; and
  Council directive 86/378/EEC of 24 July 1986 on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in occupational social security schemes.

  The necessary legislation was enacted timeously.

  Year

  Annual expenditure (nearest £ million) residential care homes

  Average per claimant £

  Annual expenditure (nearest £ million) nursing homes

  Average per claimant £

  December 1981

  23

  1,769

  —

  —

  December 1982

  39

  2,438

  —

  —

  December 1983

  104

  4,000

  —

  —

  December 1984

  200

  4,762

  —

  —

  December 1985

  259

  4,702

  89

  5,933

  February 1986

  328

  4,686

  131

  6,550

  May 1987

  438

  5,214

  233

  7,281

  May 1988

  556

  5,398

  322

  7,318

  May 1989

  658

  5,529

  447

  7,982

  May 1990

  740

  5,920

  530

  8,281

  Notes:

  1. Prior to December 1985 the figures are not sufficiently reliable for the total to be subdivided into residents in residential care homes and nursing homes, and therefore only the overall total has been given.

  2. Figures for December 1981–1984 are taken from the annual statistical inquiry, figures for December 1985-May 1990 are taken from the quarterly statistical inquiry.

  Information regarding amounts paid to people in publicly owned homes (Part III) is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Industrial Injuries Benefit
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) for the country as a whole and (b) for the Nottingham offices (i) the number of claims for industrial injuries disablement benefit lodged during each of the past 10 years, (ii) how many claims were accepted and (iii) what has been the total amount paid out in such benefits.

  Mr. Scott
  The available information is as follows:
  134

  Pensioners
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total percentage of pensioner units whose income does not exceed £5,000, at current prices, for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is in the table.

  Proportion of Pensioner Units with Income not exceeding £5,000 per annum at 1990 prices

  Year

  Percentage

  1978

  64·9

  1979

  67·1

  1980

  66·1

  1981

  62·1

  1982

  60·3

  1983

  54·1

  1984

  55·8

  1985

  54·1

  1986

  52·2

  1987

  51·1

  Income Support
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much income support has been paid to claimants in(a) private nursing home care, (b) private residential home care, (c) public nursing home care and (d) public residential care homes in the last 10 years (i) in total and (ii) as an average per claimant.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The annual expenditure and the average expenditure per claimant for private residential care and nursing homes since 1981 for people claiming income support/supplementary benefit are in the table:

  (i) Disablement Benefit Claims—Great Britain—1980–89

  Year

  Total claims (thousands)

  1989

  102

  1988

  87

  1987

  100

  1986

  122

  1985

  119

  1984

  107

  1983

  121

  135

  Year

  Total claims (thousands)

  1982

  115

  1981

  116

  1980

  126

  After 1986, claims were necessary to establish entitlement to Reduced Earnings Allowance where Disablement Benefit is itself not payable because assessed disablement is less than 14 per cent.

  (ii) Information on the number of claims accepted is not available.

  The figures below are for the number of initial assessments of disablement in the year they were first paid. Initial awards of gratuities are available until 1986–87 only.

  Initial Disablement Assessments

  Year

  Disablement Gratuities (thousands)

  Disablement Pensions (thousands)

  1989–90

  n/a

  n/a

  1988–89

  n/a

  7

  1987–88

  n/a

  10

  1986–87

  6

  5

  1985–86

  53

  6

  1984–85

  53

  6

  1983–84

  58

  6

  1982–83

  56

  7

  1981–82

  65

  6

  1980–81

  65

  7

  Figure for 1986–87 covers the period 1 October 1986 to 4 April 1987.

  (iii) Total benefit expenditure estimates for disablement benefit only are not available. The figures below include expenditure on reduced earnings allowance.

  Industrial injuries benefit expenditure 1980–81 to 1989–90

  Year

  £ (million)

  1989–90

  470

  1988–89

  451

  1987–88

  453

  1986–87

  440

  1985–86

  407

  1984–85

  381

  1983–84

  369

  1982–83

  343

  1981–82

  315

  1980–81

  282

  Disablement benefit claims received in Nottingham offices

  Year

  Total claims1

  1990–912

  693

  1989–90

  966

  1988–89

  1,052

  1987–88

  1,207

  1986–87

  1,647

  1985–86

  1,786

  1984–85

  1,486

  1 Offices at Castlegate, David Lane, Shakespeare Street and Station Street.

  2 Figures to December 1990 only.

  Note: Figures of claims made are retained at local offices for only six years. Figures relating to claims accepted and the amount paid in disablement benefit at Nottingham offices are not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the countries visited by each of the Ministers in his Department since he became Secretary of State, with the topics discussed in each country.
  136
  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is as follows:

  Country

  Topics discussed

  Secretary of State

  United States of America

  Family maintenance systems

  Minister of State

  United States of America

  Disability

  France

  Disability

  Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Mrs. Shephard)

  Germany

  Social Charter, Occupational Pensions operational matters

  Portugal

  Pension age, Social Charter, standards, use of IT in social security context

  Belgium

  Discussions on Social Charter with EC Social Affairs Commissioner

  Discussions on pensions age and Social Charter with Belgium Ministers

  Ireland

  EC Presidency—social affairs proposals

  Ireland

  Informal Social Affairs Council

  Belgium

  Speech to Social Services Committee of the Senate and meeting at National Labour Council

  France

  Visit to European Parliament, Strasbourg—general discussion

  Italy

  Forthcoming EC Presidency—Social Affairs proposals

  Egypt

  Invited by Egyptian Minister Egyptian situation discussed

  Italy

  Informal Social Affairs Council

  Luxembourg

  Forthcoming EC Presidency—Social Affairs proposals

  Belgium

  Speech to Ligue de Families

  Agencies
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on progress on the conversion of his Department's regions into agencies.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department has so far established two agencies, the Resettlement Units executive agency in May 1989 and the Information Technology Services agency in April 1990. The Social Security Benefits agency and the Contributions agency are planned to be implemented in April 1991. The White Paper "Children Come First", CM 1264, announced the proposed setting up of the child support agency in early 1993.

  The aim of introducing agencies is to enable the Department to provide a better quality of service to its customers by the introduction of more effective and efficient management.

  Mobility Allowance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to propose changes to the mobility allowance to ensure that it would apply to anyone made immobile after their 66th birthday.

  Mr. Scott
  We have no such plans.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has on levels of overpayment of housing benefit by local authorities; and what guidance is issued by his Department in such cases.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest available information shows that in 1988–89, 475 out of 483 local authorities in Great Britain identified overpayments amounting to £213 million. This includes overpayments arising through fraud and claimant or administrative error. Guidance on all aspects of overpayments is included in the housing benefit guidance manual issued by this Department. This is supplemented by the issue of circulars as appropriate. Officials also advise authorities by telephone and in writing in individual cases.

  SERPS
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his policy towards the review or abolition of the incentives for people who have already opted out of SERPS.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Sections 3 and 7 of the Social Security Act 1986 restrict entitlement to the 2 per cent. incentive for members of personal pensions and new occupational schemes to a period before 6 April 1993. The Secretary of State has a statutory duty to review the terms of the contracted-out rebate at intervals of not more than five years and this will be done on receipt of a report by the Government Actuary.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his policy towards those who, having opted out of SERPS, seek to return to SERPS when the incentives to opt out end.

  Miss Widdecombe
  There are no restrictions on an individual who is a member of an occupational or personal pension scheme rejoining SERPS at any time.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate of the cost to the taxpayer of the opting out from SERPS.
  138
  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 20 December 1990 at column 316.

  War Pensions Office, Swansea
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about proposals to close the war pensions office in Swansea; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  No representations have been received, but there have been a number of local inquiries about the future of the Swansea war pensioners welfare office. The matter was also discussed at a meeting of the Dyfed and West Glamorgan war pensions committee in December 1990. The proposal was one of a number of recommendations about the location of war pensioners welfare offices made in the report of a routine management inspection of the war pensioners welfare service carried out last year. The recommendations are being considered, but no decisions have yet been taken. Any proposals for change which may emerge will be discussed fully with the central advisory committee on war pensions, and local war pensions committees will have an opportunity to comment. The interests of war pensioners and war widows will be safeguarded and we shall ensure that the effectiveness of the welfare service is fully maintained.

  Census Officers
  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any proposals to amend the unemployment benefit entitlement regulations so as to allow unemployed persons to apply for the position of assistant census officer without disadvantaging their financial position.

  Mr. Jack
  An unemployed person, in receipt of benefit, will be subject to the normal earnings rules if he becomes an assistant census officer.

  IRAQ: ARMAMENTS SUPPLIED BY GERMAN FIRMS
  IRAQ: ARMAMENTS SUPPLIED BY GERMAN FIRMS
  GULF WAR: BELGIAN RESPONSE
  GULF WAR: BELGIAN RESPONSE
  KATYN MASSACRE: MEMORIAL PROJECT
  KATYN MASSACRE: MEMORIAL PROJECT
  OCCUPIED TERRITORIES: EFFECTS OF CURFEW
  OCCUPIED TERRITORIES: EFFECTS OF CURFEW
  KHIAM, SOUTH LEBANON: PRISONERS
  KHIAM, SOUTH LEBANON: PRISONERS
  GULF WAR OBJECTIVES
  GULF WAR OBJECTIVES
  GULF WAR: AMBIT OF UN RESOLUTION
  GULF WAR: AMBIT OF UN RESOLUTION
  GULF WAR: PROPOSAL FOR FURTHER UN CONSIDERATION
  GULF WAR: PROPOSAL FOR FURTHER UN CONSIDERATION
  GULF WAR: ARMS CONTROL OBJECTIONS
  GULF WAR: ARMS CONTROL OBJECTIONS
  THE GULF: POST-WAR SETTLEMENT
  THE GULF: POST-WAR SETTLEMENT
  EUROPEAN COUNCIL: MAJORITY VOTES
  EUROPEAN COUNCIL: MAJORITY VOTES
  ANTARCTICA: EC COMPETENCE
  ANTARCTICA: EC COMPETENCE
  MEAT: INSPECTION COSTS
  MEAT: INSPECTION COSTS
  CHILD TAX ALLOWANCE
  CHILD TAX ALLOWANCE
  ORAL SNUFF
  ORAL SNUFF
  LANDFILL OPERATIONS: CONTRACT ALLOCATION
  LANDFILL OPERATIONS: CONTRACT ALLOCATION