Written Answers of 6 February 1991

ENERGY

  Sellafield (Fire)
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the fire at the non-operational plant at the Sellafield nuclear fuel reprocessing site in west Cumbria on Tuesday 29 January; and if he will set up an inquiry into its cause.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I understand that during remedial maintenance work on a non-operational building at British Nuclear Fuels plc's Sellafield site, sections of asbestos were in the process of being removed and replaced by plastic coated metal cladding. Tarpaulins had been erected in order to make the building weatherproof. A contractor was using oxy-acetylene equipment to remove a metal rail when sparks from the equipment caused part of the tarpaulin to catch fire.

  The Sellafield site fire brigade successfully dealt with the fire. The Cumbrian county fire service also attended.

  Although no radioactivity was involved monitoring checks were carried out purely as a precaution. They confirmed that no release of radioactivity had taken place.

  I understand that an inquiry has been convened by BNFL which will involve staff and trades union representatives. The regulatory authorities and local liaison committee were informed of the fire and a press release was issued in accordance with incident reporting procedures.

  Waste-derived Fuels
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has for further research into the development of waste-derived fuels.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My Department's plans for the development of renewable energy sources including waste derived fuel were laid out in energy paper 55 "Renewable Energy in the UK: The Way Forward", copies of which are in the Library of the House. I expect to review our strategy during the coming year.

  Smoking
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure that every non-smoking employee in his Department has the right to work in a smoke-free area; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the progress in implementing a smoke-free policy throughout his Department.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Department's policy in all the premises it occupies is to ensure that non-smokers have the opportunity to work in a smoke-free area. The operation of the policy is regularly reviewed in consultation with staff.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list, by constituency, existing combined heat and power schemes; and if he will show whether they are(a) 0 to 500 kW, (b) 500 kW to 10 MW, (c) 10 MW to 100 MW, or (d) over 100 MW.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My Department's current estimate is that there are about 500 sites in the United Kingdom using CHP plant with a total capacity of some 2,000 MW. Of this total 1,800 MW is comprised of schemes of over 500 kW, located on 120 sites in industry. The remainder comprises smaller schemes in public arid commercial buildings.

  The Director General of Electricity Supply has a duty under the Electricity Act 1989 to gather information on generating plant. The Office of Electricity Regulation—OFFER—is, in conjunction with industry, in the process of compiling a database of CHP projects operating in Great Britain. The detailed information requested by the hon. Member should be available from OFFER when the database is operational.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Katyn Massacre
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he will list the records available in the Public Record Office relating to the Katyn massacre; and whether any public papers on this subject have been withheld for more than 30 years.

  The Attorney-General
  The main records in the Public Record Office relating to the discovery of the Katyn massacre in 1943 appear on a very large Foreign Office file of that year on the more general subject of Polish-Soviet relations. This file spans items which have the Public Record Office references FO 371/34563–34590. Eight of the 762 entered papers on this file have been identified as withheld.

  Identification and listing of all other records in the Public Record Office relating to the Katyn massacre and its aftermath could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost. The staff at the Public Record Office are able to advise readers on likely sources among records there of information on this subject.

  Jurors
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Attorney-General what evidence was produced in the survey into the ethnicity of jurors on the distribution and percentage of black jurors being called for jury service.

  The Attorney-General
  The first stage of the survey into the ethnic composition of jurors has recently been completed and officials of the Lord Chancellor's Department are currently analysing the statistical data that have been collected. I will write to the hon. Member to inform him of the full results of the survey when the process of analysis and interpretation is complete.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Single Market
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the effect of the EEC changes in 1992 on matters within his Department's responsibilities.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Home Office is taking part in discussions with our Community partners on a range of matters, mainly relating to free movement of people, which are relevant to the establishment of the internal market at the end of 1992.

  In some areas measures have been agreed and therefore the effects are known. Recent examples are the rights of residence directives which were adopted last year, and the draft convention determining the state responsibility for examining asylum applications which was signed by 11 of the 12 member states last year. Documents on these measures have been deposited in Parliament.

  In other areas measures are still under consideration. We shall continue to report progress following the six-monthly meetings of responsible Community Ministers.

  Gipsies
  Mrs. Maureen Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the conclusions of the review of the Public Order Act 1986 with regard to gipsies.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We hope to announce shortly the conclusions of our evaluation of section 39 of the 1986 Act.

  Juvenile Remand Centres
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which juvenile remand centres are scheduled for inclusion in the privatisation programme.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  None.

  Immigration
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of applicants for immigration from non-EC Europe, north America, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh were refused entry into the United Kingdom since January 1990 under primary purpose rules; and what factors account for the differences in the percentages.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information on applicants for entry clearance for settlement in the United Kingdom from spouses and fiancé(e)s in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh in the first three quarters of 1990 is given in the table. Corresponding information for other countries is not available centrally. The variation in refusal rates is thought to reflect differing patterns of applications and circumstances between the three countries.
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  Spouses and finance(e)s refused entry clearance for settlement in the United Kingdom, January to September 1990

  Proportion1 of spouses and financeé(e)s refused initially2

  Country

  Solely on primary purpose grounds (Per cent.)

  Partly on primary purpose grounds (Per cent.)

  Bangladesh

  12

  4

  India

  18

  2

  Pakistan

  13

  21

  1 Applications refused initially as a percentage of applications decided.

  2Some applications are subsequently granted after an appeal.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the expected time it takes for a sponsor interview for entry clearance applications to be completed.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It remains our objective to carry out interviews within three months of receipt of papers in the United Kingdom.

  Community Relations
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Commission for Racial Equality and with leaders of the Muslim community in the United Kingdom regarding the best ways of avoiding a disruption of community relations as a result of the Gulf war.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I discussed these matters with Commissioners during a visit to the Commission for Racial Equality on 22 January. They were also discussed in the course of a meeting on the same day on other matters with the United Kingdom action committee on Islamic affairs. There are continuing and wide-ranging contacts with the Muslim community at official level.

  Visas
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the countries whose nationals require visas to enter the United Kingdom as visitors.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The list is set out in the "Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules" Cm. 1220 which took effect on 1 October 1990, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Smoking
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure that every non-smoking employee in his Department has the right to work in a smoke-free area; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the progress in implementing a smoke-free policy throughout his Department.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Under the Home Office's present no-smoking policy, smoking is banned in conference rooms, corridors, lifts and toilets. This policy is currently under review.

  Squatters
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete his review of the law on squatters and to announce any changes he proposes to make with regard to privately owned domestic properties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Government's review of the present law relating to the unlawful occupation of property is proceeding and particular attention is being paid to the problem of squatting in privately owned domestic properties. We shall announce our conclusions as soon as possible.

  Electoral Boundaries
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to lay orders which will arrange the movement of the polling district of the Longfield and New Barn ward of the Dartford borough council into the Dartford parliamentary constituency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The boundaries of the Longfield ward, which includes the New Barn residential area, were changed by the Kent (District Boundaries) Order 1987. A consequential change to parliamentary constituency boundaries can only be made following a review by the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England. This and other such anomalies throughout England will be resolved as part of the fourth general review of all constituencies which is expected to commence this year.

  Braille
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria his Department uses in deciding what information should be published in(a) minority languages, (b) braille, (c) tape or (d) large print versions.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  [holding answer 31 January 1991]: Our criteria are to target publicity material in minority languages, tape or large print according to need, within available funding. We have not produced any of this publicity material in braille.

  Death Statistics
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 January,Official Report, column 166, on causes of deaths in specified cities, if he will give such figures as are available for each year from 1984.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 4 February 1991]: The information available from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys is given in the tables.

  Table 1 Number of deaths registered due to Malnutrition1

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Greater London

  9

  13

  9

  4

  4

  Greater Manchester

  1

  0

  1

  1

  1

  Birmingham

  0

  1

  1

  1

  2

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  England and Wales

  70

  63

  68

  43

  59

  1 International classification 263.9.

  144

  Table 2 Number of deaths registered due to self-neglect2

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Greater London

  8

  1

  2

  1

  2

  Greater Manchester

  4

  1

  1

  0

  2

  Birmingham

  3

  1

  0

  1

  2

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  England and Wales

  42

  30

  19

  13

  23

  2 International classification 994.9/E904.0.

  Table 3 Number of registered deaths with mention of Hypothermia

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Greater London

  78

  134

  135

  79

  66

  Greater Manchester

  23

  33

  37

  19

  13

  Birmingham

  23

  31

  29

  17

  14

  Liverpool

  8

  10

  12

  4

  9

  England and Wales

  555

  827

  837

  559

  440

  Postal Vote Forms
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects his Department to be able to supply the new postal vote forms to Dacorum borough council.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [holding answer 29 January 1991]: In order for the Representation of the People Act 1990 to take effect, it will be necessary to make some minor amendments to the Representation of the People Regulations 1986 and the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 1986, and to make an Order in Council in respect of local elections in Northern Ireland. We shall do this as soon as possible. We intend to make the new absent voting application form RPF 8 available at the beginning of May.

  Adoption
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many children from countries other than Romania were granted entry clearance for adoption purposes during 1990;

  (2) how many children are currently awaiting adoption from Romania to families in the United Kingdom;

  (3) how many children have been adopted into families in the United Kingdom from Romania in each of the last three years;

  (4) what proportion of the children adopted into families in the United Kingdom from Romania have living birth parents.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The available information is that, since December 1989, 144 Romanian children have been granted entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom with a view to adoption by British couples. Forty-two applications are outstanding, 39 of which have been made since 1 December 1990. Earlier information about Romanian children and information about children from other countries granted entry clearance with a view to adoption in the United Kingdom has not been collected centrally.

  No statistics are collected about the natural parents of children admitted for adoption. In all cases involving children where one or both parents are living parental consent to the proposed adoption is required.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Smoking
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure that every non-smoking employee in his Department has the right to work in a smoke-free area; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the progress in implementing a smoke-free policy throughout his Department.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Department's policy generally is to encourage staff who wish to smoke to have regard to the convenience and comfort of non-smokers. Smoking is prohibited in lifts and toilets. It is customary not to smoke in conference rooms or in shared offices unless a majority of the staff sharing the office agree to allow it. This voluntary restraint works effectively in practice. The Department is not satisfied that a change of policy is required.

  Access Funds
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what deadline has been imposed for expenditure from access funds for institutions of higher and further education; and what evaluation he has made of the consequences for students of the deadline.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Any access funds grant not paid to students by the end of the academic year for which it was allocated must be returned by institutions. In the light of representations received, my right hon. and learned Friend has withdrawn an earlier condition requiring higher education institutions to return any grant held by them on 31 March in excess of 15 per cent. of their total allocation for the financial year.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the proportion of each institution's access fund which has been spent to date.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The limited information available suggests that the pattern is mixed. All institutions have been asked to provide an account of their expenditure of access funds at the end of the academic year.

  Architecture Courses
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he intends to take on the designation of architecture courses for mandatory student awards, following the recent judicial review.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have now had an opportunity to consider the judgment in this case. The High Court has ruled that "a first degree course" can include a prescribed programme of study leading to a professional objective, even though a first degree itself is awarded part way through and is followed by further studies. It was not, therefore, correct to conclude that "part 2" architecture courses taken after a first degree could not, as a matter of law, be designated under the Education Act 1962 for the purpose of mandatory awards. The courts, however, made no finding as to whether, on the facts, the architecture 146
  courses are first degree or comparable courses; and it reaffirmed that the holder of my office has discretion whether or not to designate a course even though he concludes that it is a first degree or comparable course.

  The judgment has clarified the scope of designation without disturbing my existing discretionary powers, and I do not propose to appeal against it. I have accordingly re-examined the "part 2" architecture courses in the light of the judgment. On the evidence before me, I have concluded that they are first degree or comparable courses, and that it would be appropriate to designate them for the time being, with effect from the coming into force of amending regulations. This decision is without prejudice to any action that I may wish to take following the separate consultations in progress about the length and structure of architecture courses.

  Under the special bursary scheme established for the current academic year, architecture students on "part 2" courses should already have received bursaries of equivalent value to the mandatory awards for which they would otherwise have been eligible if designation had not been withdrawn. I am asking higher education institutions to ensure this. In addition, I intend shortly to lay before the House amendments to the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 1990 to provide an award in the current academic year to any eligible student who has nevertheless not received a bursary. The bursary scheme will be wound up at the end of the current academic year, and mandatory awards will be made available to all eligible "part 2" students from the beginning of academic year 1991–92.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Uganda (HIV)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the seroprevalence of HIV in Rakai, Uganda, among(a) men and (b) women in the age groups (i) 20 to 24 years and (ii) 25 to 29 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Her Majesty's Government have not undertaken research of its own into this specific question, although I understand that the centre for international research of the United States Bureau of the Census published in May 1990 a review of certain studies into the seroprevalence of HIV in Uganda. The ODA and the Medical Research Council are jointly funding a five-year research project into the epidemiology of AIDS in Uganda; results are not yet available from this work.

  The situation regarding HIV infection globally remains one of considerable concern. The United Kingdom is continuing to provide substantial levels of support from the overseas aid programme to the WHO global programme on AIDS—the GPA—and to a number of national AIDS control programmes developed within the framework of the GPA.

  Emergencies and Reserve Funds
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the emergencies budget and the unallocated ODA reserve for the financial year 1990–91, and the percentage of each of these that has not yet been committed.
  147
  Mrs. Chalker
  [holding answer 29 January 1991]: Humanitarian assistance provided from the aid programme takes three forms: relief for unpredictable disasters such as earthquakes and cyclones, emergency food aid, and other non-food relief. Initial provision for this assistance is made at the beginning of each financial year. For 1990–91 the provision taken in the main estimates totalled £66·7 million, including £19 million for food aid, the first call on which is emergency needs.

  The aid programme is managed in a way that allows it to respond quickly to developing country needs, including humanitarian assistance. During the course of each financial year provision for humanitarian assistance is enhanced as required, drawing on the aid programme's contingency reserve and any unplanned savings arising during the year. The provision so far this financial year totals £73·5 million, of which 1·5 per cent. remains uncommitted.

  The aid programme contingency reserve for 1990–91 was £40 million, including an initial earmarking of £9 million for unpredictable disasters. The contingency reserve is now fully allocated.

  Developing Countries
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total amount of cash aid given bilaterally and through the European Community to developing countries.

  Mrs. Chalker
  In 1989 the United Kingdom gave £1,113 million in bilateral aid to developing countries. A further £674 million was given by the United Kingdom through multilateral agencies of which £305 million was channelled through the European Community.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Community Documents
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the advice of the Treasury Solicitor on the appropriate legal base for European Community documents is published in the reports attached to these documents.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Ministers who sign explanatory memoranda take full responsibility for the contents including any comments on legal base on which they take appropriate legal advice.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions representatives of the United Kingdom Government have questioned the basing of documents on article 100A by the Commission at meetings of the Council of Ministers; and if he will list the titles of such documents and the appropriate ministerial Councils involved.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We provide explanatory memoranda to the House on all Commission proposals for Community legislation. These may include reference to the Government position on whether article 100A is the correct legal base. But exchanges during Council meetings are subject to the normal rules of confidentiality.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise at the 148
  next meeting of the Council of Ministers the manner in which the Commission is basing draft documents on article 100A; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  When the United Kingdom has difficulties with the basing of a Commission proposal on article 100A, we will raise these during discussion of that proposal. We do not intend to raise the question at the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has anything to add to the evidence given by the Treasury Solicitor to the European Legislation Committee on treaty base HC178(iv) and (v) of Session 1987–88.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  No. The memorandum in evidence given by the Treasury Solicitor's Department set out clearly and in detail the issues relating to choice of treaty base after the Single European Act. The criteria identified in the memorandum for use of article 100A remain valid.

  Polly Peck International
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to seek to ensure that courts in northern Cyprus do not block the administrator of Polly Peck International from investigating or obtaining funds held there; and whether he will make it his policy to consider sanctions against northern Cyprus if such inquiries are disrupted.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The joint administrators of Polly Peck International plc were appointed by the British courts to manage the affairs of the company subject to the overall supervision of the court and the creditors. We continue to follow closely the progress of their investigation. Her Majesty's Government have no locus to intervene in the conduct of their work, especially with the courts in northern Cyprus.

  Smoking
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure that every non-smoking employee in his Department has the right to work in a smoke-free area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  It is already the policy within this Department to ensure that every non-smoking employee has the right to work in a smoke-free area.

  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress in implementing a smoke-free policy throughout his Department.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 29 January 1990 at column 15.

  Immigration
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the expected time it takes for(a) an explanatory statement to be prepared and dispatched in cases of appeal against refusal

  149
  of entry clearance and (b) for information concerning refused visitors' visas to be sent to Britain from overseas posts.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Overseas posts are under instruction to prepare and despatch explanatory statements for appeals against refusal of entry clearance to the independent appellate authority within one month for visit applications and three months for settlement applications.

  The correspondence unit of the migration and visa department in the FCO tries to reply to inquiries from Members about refused visitors' visas within three weeks of the inquiry being registered with the unit. However, in some cases it may take longer to obtain the full case details.

  Papua New Guinea
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent developments concerning Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Following talks between the two parties in Honiara, representatives of the Papua New Guinea Government and from Bougainville signed an agreement in Honiara on 23 January known as the Honiara declaration. In the declaration the two sides agreed on a regime and timetable for the restoration of services and rehabilitation of Bougainville within the existing constitutional framework of Papua New Guinea. The main features of the agreement are:deferral of discussion of the future political status of Bougainville;
  the lifting of the blockade;
  restoration of all Government services on Bougainville;
  creation of an interim legal authority and a task force, respectively to organise and carry out the restoration of services;
  commitment by both parties to refrain from the use of weapons and arms to resolve the crisis;
  provision for the establishment in Bougainville of a multinational supervisory team consisting of foreign military and policy personnel to monitor implementation of the Declaration;
  agreement by the Bougainville side to disarm its forces; and the granting by the Papua New Guinea Government of an amnesty to the members of the Bougainville forces.

  We welcome the Honiara agreement as a step towards the peaceful resolution of the Bougainville problem and hope it leads to the restoration of normality. The commitment of both sides will be essential if the agreement is to succeed.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Review
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his review of poll tax will consider privacy issues arising from the tax; whether he has consulted the data protection registrar about the review of the poll tax; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The review will cover all aspects of local taxation, including any privacy issues which arise.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on collection costs for the community charge per person on the register for each district in Hertfordshire.

  Mr. Key
  The information requested is as follows:

  Community charge collection costs per head of relevant population

  Budget Estimates 1990–91 £

  Broxbourne

  8·90

  Dacorum

  7·40

  East Hertfordshire

  9·72

  Hertsmere

  17·81

  North Hertfordshire

  13·69

  St. Albans

  10·14

  Stevenage

  17·79

  Three Rivers

  17·32

  Watford

  14·17

  Welwyn Hatfield

  12·16

  Merseyside Docklands
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many jobs have been created in the Merseyside docklands area since 1981; and how much each job has cost his Department through its allocation of money to the Merseyside docklands.

  Mr. Portillo
  A total of 4,200 permanent jobs had been created or attracted in the Merseyside development corporation area up to March 1990. It is not practicable to distinguish between expenditure leading directly to job creation and that leading to other regneration benefits.

  Smoking
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress in implementing a smoke-free policy throughout his Department.

  Mr. Heseltine
  My Department has made further progress in the last year towards creating a smoke-free working environment. Following consultation with staff and trade unions, agreement was reached to prohibit or restrict smoking in certain areas within office buildings, and to allow staff to designate their own individual offices as no-smoking areas.

  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ensure that every non-smoking employee in his Department has the right to work in a smoke-free area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  It is my Department's policy to ensure as far as possible that every non-smoker who wishes to do so is able to work in a smoke-free office. Under the terms of a new policy statement agreed with staff and issued last October, staff are able to decide by majority voting whether to designate their own offices non-smoking areas. It is not possible, within existing resources, to guarantee an absolute right to all non-smoking staff to work in a smoke-free area, but we aim to meet the wishes of any non-smokers who are not in a designated non-smoking office, by re-arranging accommodation where practicable.

  London Brick Planning Appeal
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the results will be available of the public inquiry held in April and the beginning of May 1990 into the appeal by London Brick Property Ltd. against the refusal of outline planning permission for redevelopment at Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, (APP/J0215/A/89/ 130835); and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The inspector's report on the public inquiry is being considered. We expect to be in a position to issue the decision on this appeal within the next month. A statement on the issues involved would not be appropriate in advance of that decision.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of houses and flats sold under the right to buy legislation in each of the local authorities in the county of Essex since the introduction of the legislation; and if he will show the percentage of houses and flats sold.

  Mr. Yeo
  A table showing the available information on right-to-buy sales for each English local authority for each financial year since 1986–87 and with a cumulative total to September 1990 was recently placed in the Library.Official Report column 542 refers. A late return from Chelmsford revises the totals shown in the table as follows:

  Sales 1 April 1979 to 30 September 1990

  Sales as percentage of stock

  Chelmsford

  Right-to-buy sales

  3,044

  24·0

  All sales

  3,784

  29·9

  Of which flats

  309

  —

  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the number of houses and flats sold under right to buy legislation in each of the local authorities in the county of Kent, since the introduction of the legislation; if he will show the percentage of houses and flats sold; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  A table showing the available information on right to buy sales for each English local authority for each financial year since 1986–87 and with a cumulative total to September 1990 was recently placed in the Library—Official Report column 542 refers. Late returns from Canterbury, Maidstone and Shepway revise the totals shown in the table as follows:

  1 April 1979 to 30 September 1990

  Sales as percentage of stock

  Canterbury

  Right-to-buy sales

  2,152

  24·2

  All sales

  2,600

  29·2

  Of which flats

  156

  —

  Maidstone

  Right-to-buy sales

  1,861

  16·9

  All sales

  2,741

  24·9

  Of which flats

  142

  —

  Shepway

  152

  1 April 1979 to 30 September 1990

  sales as percentage of stock

  Right-to-buy sales

  1,428

  24·7

  All sales

  1,669

  28·8

  Of which flats

  127

  —

  Of the 14 authorities in Kent three have transferred their remaining stock to a housing association—Sevenoaks (March 1989), Swale (March 1990), Tonbridge and Mailing (January 1991)—while Rochester upon Medway transferred all its remaining stock to a private company in July 1990.

  National Flag
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate the legislative provisions under which local authorities can ban the display of the national flag; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  There are no such legislative provisions. Councillors are answerable to their electors for such decisions.

  Refuse-derived Fuel
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 21 January 1991 at column 87, on refuse-derived fuel, what specific considerations he has given, to date, on any derogation to be sought under this power; what considerations and consolidations he will be giving to specific derogation once the power to derogate has been sought; and how long after the power to derogate has been sought, he expects specific derogations to be in force;

  (2) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 21 January 1991 at column 87, if the power to derogate for plant burning refuse-derived fuel will be exercised.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin).

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 29 January,Official Report, column 474, if he will (a) publish a table indicating the administrative costs of implementing the urban programme, for both local government arid national Government, for 1989–90 and (b) indicate what resources were made available for the urban programme in 1989–90.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 4 February 1991]: Resources available for the urban programme in 1989–90 from central Government totalled £242 million. Local authorities contribute 25 per cent. of revenue expenditure which, together with the central Government funding of £242 million, produced a total provision of £260 million. The Department of the Environment's administrative costs were £2 million. I regret that the Government do not hold information on the administrative costs for local government.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many poll tax payers there are; how many have a rebate; and what is the average rebate.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I have been asked to reply.

  In 1990–91 there are around 42 million people in Great Britain liable to pay the community charge and the average community charge benefit per individual is £4·30 per week. At August 1990 the estimated number of individuals receiving community charge benefit was 8·9 million. This figure probably underestimates the current position because, at that time, local authorities still had a number of unprocessed claims; it is also slightly higher than that given in my reply on 24 January 1991 to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) at columns 307–8 because updated information from local authorities has just become available.

HEALTH

  Perinatal Mortality
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the perinatal mortality rate in(a) England and Wales, (b) each region in England and (c) the United Kingdom; and what information he has on the comparable rates in the countries of the EEC.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is shown in the table. In each case the latest available data year has been given.

  Perinatal mortality in the United Kingdom, England and Wales, Regional Health Authorities and EC countries

  Area

  Year

  Rate1

  United Kingdom

  1989

  8·3

  England and Wales

  1989

  8·3

  England

  1989

  8·3

  Regional Health Authorities

  Northern

  1989

  9·2

  Yorkshire

  1989

  8·5

  Trent

  1989

  8·5

  East Anglian

  1989

  6·7

  North West Thames

  1989

  8·3

  North East Thames

  1989

  8·3

  South East Thames

  1989

  8·4

  South West Thames

  1989

  7·0

  Wessex

  1989

  8·3

  Oxford

  1989

  7·2

  South Western

  1989

  6·7

  West Midlands

  1989

  9·7

  Mersey

  1989

  8·2

  North Western

  1989

  9·2

  Wales

  1989

  8·3

  EC countries

  Belgium

  1986

  10·4

  Denmark

  1988

  8·7

  France

  1988

  9·2

  German Federal Republic

  1988

  6·5

  Greece

  1988

  12·9

  Irish Republic

  1987

  10·4

  Italy

  1988

  212·3

  Luxembourg

  1988

  7·1

  Netherlands

  1988

  9·1

  Portugal

  1988

  16·6

  Spain

  1985

  10·9

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

  2 Provisional.

  Maternal Mortality
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the most recent maternal mortality rate in the United Kingdom; and what information he has on the comparable rates in(a) the countries of the EEC and (b) the World Health Organisation European region.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information is shown in the table. In each case the latest available data year have been given. No data are readily available for the WHO European region as a whole; selected countries, other than those within the EC, are shown.

  Maternal mortality in the United Kingdom, EC countries and selected countries from the WHO European Region

  Area

  Year

  Rate1

  United Kingdom

  1989

  7·7

  Other EEC countries

  Belgium

  1986

  3·4

  Denmark

  1988

  3·4

  France

  1988

  9·3

  German Federal Republic

  1988

  8·9

  Greece

  1987

  4·7

  Irish Republic

  1987

  3·4

  Italy

  1986

  5·5

  Luxembourg

  1988

  0·0

  Netherlands

  1988

  9·6

  Portugal

  1988

  6·6

  Spain

  1985

  4·4

  Others in WHO European Region

  Austria

  1988

  5·7

  Bulgaria

  1987

  19·7

  Czechoslovakia

  1988

  13·0

  Finland

  1987

  5·0

  German Democratic Republic

  1988

  14·8

  Hungary

  1988

  16·9

  Iceland

  1988

  0·0

  Israel

  1987

  3·0

  Malta

  1988

  0·0

  Norway

  1987

  5·6

  Poland

  1988

  11·6

  Rumania

  1984

  148·8

  Sweden

  1987

  4·8

  Switzerland

  1988

  10·0

  Yugoslavia

  1987

  10·6

  1 Deaths attributed to complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium per 100,000 live births.

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

  Infant Mortality
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the most recent infant mortality rate in(a) England and Wales, (b) each region in England and (c) the United Kingdom; and what information he has on the comparable rates in (i) the countries of the EEC and (ii) the World Health Organisation European region.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information is shown in the table. In each case the latest available data year has been given. No data are readily available for the World Health Organisation European region as a whole; selected countries, other than those within the EC, are shown.

  Infant mortality in the United Kingdom, England and Wales, Regional Health Authorities, EC countries and selected countries from the World Health Organisation European Region.

  Area

  Year

  Rate1

  United Kingdom

  1989

  8·4

  England and Wales

  1989

  8·4

  England

  1989

  8·4

  155

  Area

  Year

  Rate1

  Regional Health Authorities

  Northern

  1989

  8·4

  Yorkshire

  1989

  9·1

  Trent

  1989

  8·1

  East Anglian

  1989

  6·4

  North West Thames

  1989

  8·2

  North East Thames

  1989

  8·4

  South East Thames

  1989

  8·4

  South West Thames

  1989

  7·7

  Wessex

  1989

  8·8

  Oxford

  1989

  7·9

  South Western

  1989

  7·3

  West Midlands

  1989

  9·9

  Mersey

  1989

  7·6

  North Western

  1989

  9·1

  Wales

  1989

  8·0

  Other EC countries

  Belgium

  1988

  29·1

  Denmark

  1988

  7·6

  France

  1988

  7·8

  German Federal Republic

  1988

  7·5

  Greece

  1988

  11·0

  Irish Republic

  1988

  29·2

  Italy

  1988

  29·5

  Luxembourg

  1988

  8·7

  Netherlands

  1988

  6·8

  Portugal

  1988

  13·1

  Spain

  1988

  28·1

  Others in World Health Organisation European Region

  Austria

  1988

  8·1

  Bulgaria

  1987

  14·7

  Czechoslovakia

  1988

  211·9

  Finland

  1987

  6·1

  German Democratic Republic

  1988

  8·1

  Hungary

  1988

  15·8

  Iceland

  1988

  6·2

  Israel

  1987

  11·1

  Malta

  1988

  9·2

  Norway

  1987

  8·4

  Poland

  1988

  16·2

  Rumania

  1984

  23·4

  Sweden

  1987

  6·1

  Switzerland

  1988

  6·8

  Yugoslavia

  1987

  25·1

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

  2 Provisional.

  Braille
  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much was spent by his Department on producing information in(a) braille, (b) tape and (c) large print for each of the last five years for which figures are available;

  (2) if he will list those publications produced by his Department over the last five years which were also produced in (a) braille, (b) tape and (c) large print, and the cost of each publication.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Precise information in the form and for the period requested is not available. The table lists a number of recent documents which have been produced in braille, tape or large print, together with the approximate cost, where known.

  Document

  Type

  Approx. £ cost

  1988–89

  "A Wider Vision

  Braille

  unknown

  "Keep Warm Keep Well"

  Audio tape

  4,660

  1989–90

  156

  Document

  Type

  Approx. £ cost

  "Sign Posts"

  Braille

  1,072

  "Sign Posts"

  Audio tape

  110

  "Sign Posts"

  Large print

  unknown

  "Coordinating Services for Visually

  Braille

  309

  Handicapped People"

  "Coordinating Services for Visually

  Audio tape

  28

  Handicapped People"

  "Keep Warm Keep Well"

  Audio tape

  6,452

  1990–91

  "Keep Warm Keep Well"

  Audio tape

  7,587

  "NHS Reforms and You"

  Audio tape

  25,300

  "NHS Reforms and You"

  Braille/Moon

  4,800

  Overseas Adoptions
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what consideration he has given to expediting the work of local council social services departments when considering the adoption of children from overseas; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is his policy on the acceptability for domestic adoption procedures by social services departments of home study reports prepared for overseas authorities by independent reputable social workers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Detailed guidance on intercountry adoption issued to directors of social services last autumn includes guidance on the assessment of prospective adopters by local authorities and on home study reports which have been commissioned privately. Reports by social workers are acceptable only if prepared by or on behalf of the prospective adopters' social services department. Copies of CI(90)17 to directors of social services in England, DSW 3/90 for Scotland and equivalent guidance for Wales are available in the Library.

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by location, his Department's 12 pilot projects aimed at reducing waiting times for hearing aid services; what is the cost of each project; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The table lists the projects by location and shows the funding allocated to each project in 1990–91, based on the project manager's estimate of expenditure in each case. We shall shortly be inviting project managers to let us have their estimate of project costs for 1991–92. In addition to funding individual projects, the Department is funding the Hester Adrian research centre at the university of Manchester to carry out an evaluation of all 12 projects. The total estimated cost of the evaluation is £80,000.

  Project/location

  Funding £

  Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading

  4,000

  Manor Hospital, Walsall

  26,000

  Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield

  10,000

  Royal United Hospital, Bath

  8,000

  Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds

  21,000

  Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester

  28,000

  Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne

  9,000

  Mayday University Hospital, Thornton Heath

  12,000

  Walton Hospital, Liverpool

  15,000

  Royal East Sussex Hospital, Hastings

  12,000

  Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter

  30,000

  Queen Victoria Hospital, Morecambe

  8,000

  Drug Prices
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on examples of competitive pricing for the sale of drugs from major pharmaceutical suppliers for the main categories of prescribed drugs within the national health service, and those purchased in France and Germany; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The United Kingdom system controls profits of pharmaceutical manufacturers from their sales to the national health service not directly the prices of individual products. Accordingly we do not maintain detailed records of prices in other countries.

  Smoking
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the progress in implementing a smoke-free policy throughout his Department;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to ensure that every non-smoking employee in his Department has the right to work in a smoke-free area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  It is the Department's policy to move as quickly as possible, after local discussions and agreement, to provide a smoke-free environment for those of its employees who wish it. Implementation of this policy has been piloted in selected buildings and a programme leading to full introduction of a smoke-free working environment now forms part of the Department's accommodation strategy. It will not be possible to guarantee every non-smoking employee a smoke-free area until the Department's current accommodation strategy is implemented fully by summer 1993.

  New Treatments
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the types of operation and forms of treatment that are currently available on the National Health Service but were not so available before 1979.

  Mr. Dorrell
  As a result of medical advances, the skill and flexibility of national health service staff and the Government's continued commitment and support, a wide range of new operations and treatments have become available through the National Health Service since 1979. Some examples of these are:

  Bone implanted hearing aids

  Types of facial prostheses using titanium screws

  Minimally invasive therapy

  Some forms of laser treatment

  Cochlear implants

  Intravenous thrombolytic therapy

  Lithotripsy

  Heart, heart/lung, lung, liver transplants

  Stereotactic radiosurgery

  Drug treatment of peptic ulcer

  Drug treatment for anaemia in renal patients

  Progress in paediatric heart surgery

  Progress in treatment of certain children's cancers

  Progress in treatment of vulnerable or sick new born and older children

  Trust Members
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the membership of the Freeman hospital trust, and the Newcastle mental health unit trust in each case indicating the emoluments they are able to receive and the date from which any such emoluments may be paid.
  158
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Trust boards are made up of equal numbers of executive and non-executive directors plus a chairman. Each non-executive director will receive a remuneration of £5,000 per annum payable from the date of establishment. Remuneration for executive directors will be determined by the Trust Management Board and will be payable from the date of appointment. The chairman of the Freeman group of hospitals and Newcastle mental health national health service trusts will both receive a remuneration of £15,503 from the date of establishment increasing to £15,659 per annum from 1 January 1991.

  Following is a list of the chairmen and non-executive membership for the Freeman group of hospitals and Newcastle mental health national health service trusts;

  The Freeman Group of Hospitals National Health Service Trust

  Mr. F. Hoult

  Dr. R. Freeman

  Mrs. M. Border

  Mr. R. Middleton

  Mr. J. Teasdale Ward

  Miss H. M. Goodworth

  Newcastle Mental Health National Health Service Trust

  Reverend B. Vernon

  Mrs. I Cheyne

  Mr. D. K. Wilson

  Professor I. Ferrier

  Mr. B. Roycroft

  Mr. N. Price

  Agency Nurses
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the amount of spending in each regional health authority on agency nurses in 1989–90.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information derived from the annual accounts of regional and district health authorities in England together with those of the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals is shown in the table.

  Revenue expenditure on non-national health service (agency, etc.) nursing staff—1989–90

  Region

  £'000 (cash)

  Northern

  52

  Yorkshire

  2,527

  Trent

  1,872

  East Anglian

  3,073

  North West Thames

  27,681

  North East Thames

  32,911

  South East Thames

  20,336

  South West Thames

  17,255

  Wessex

  4,595

  Oxford

  2,624

  South Western

  2,820

  West Midlands

  6,668

  Mersey

  1,541

  North Western

  1,678

  Regions total

  125,633

  Special health authorities

  9,344

  England

  134,977

WALES

  Dams
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the capacity of each dam in Wales which falls within the scope of the Reservoirs Act 1975; and if he will give, in each case, the name of the undertaker.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not held centrally. However, most of it is available on public registers maintained by the enforcement authorities and available for inspection at their principal offices during normal working hours.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dams in each county in Wales fall within the scope of the Reservoirs Act 1975.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information, which is drawn from the latest bi-annual reports submitted to the Secretary of State by enforcement authorities—county councils—in April 1989, is as follows:

  Reservoirs falling within the scope of the Reservoirs Act 1975

  County

  Number

  Clwyd

  28

  Gwynedd

  51

  Powys

  39

  Dyfed

  52

  West Glamorgan

  13

  Mid Glamorgan

  19

  South Glamorgan

  5

  Gwent

  22

  Total

  229

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what remedial works have been carried out to dams in Wales under the terms of the Reservoirs Act 1975; and what was the expenditure involved in each case.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information in not held centrally.

  Local Authority Land
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if his proposals outlined in his consultation paper on the use of vacant local authority land are intended to dispose of public assets at below market values;

  (2) what compensation procedures will be followed by vending authorities when a potential purchaser will not pay full market value for unused local authority land under his proposals in the consultation paper on the use of vacant local authority land;

  (3) what level of human resources is to be committed to the operation of the machinery and regulations necessary to fulfil the aims of his consultation paper on the use of vacant local authority land, in particular in respect of clawback for any future enhancement of values;

  (4) if he will publish the criteria he intends to use to identify unused and under-used public sector land in his proposals in the consultation paper on use of local authority vacant land for the purpose of bringing it back into use;

  (5) if it is his intention to privatise local authority unused land.
  160
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  In the light of the responses received to our consultation paper my right hon. Friend will be considering with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures might be appropriate to encourage the bringing into use of vacant public sector land.

  Reservoirs
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many prosecutions have been made under the provisions of the Reservoirs Act 1975; what were the alleged offences; and in how many cases such prosecutions were successful.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  No prosecutions under the provisions of the Reservoirs Act 1975, have been reported by the enforcement authorities. The reports due on 1 April this year will disclose whether any prosecutions have taken place since 1989.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps have been taken to implement the provisions of the Reservoirs Act 1975 in Wales; and if he proposes to introduce any additional measures.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The provisions of the Reservoirs Act 1975 were implemented in England, Wales and Scotland in stages through subordinate legislation between 8 November 1983 and 1 April 1986. No additional measures are proposed.

  Factories, Fishguard
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans the Welsh Development Agency has to build factories at Scleddau, near Fishguard during the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  No plans at the present time.

  A-Levels
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children in(a) Dyfed and (b) Wales took their A-level examinations through the medium of Welsh during 1990; and what were the corresponding figures for the last five years.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The number of entries for Welsh Joint Education Committee A-level subjects examined through the medium of Welsh is shown in the table. Information on the number of children sitting examinations is not available, also information for Dyfed is only available from 1989 onwards.

  Wales1

  Dyfed1

  1985

  519

  —

  1986

  623

  —

  1987

  583

  —

  1988

  691

  —

  1989

  747

  152

  1990

  903

  169

  1 Summer examinations.

  Smoking
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure that every non-smoking employee in his Department has the right to work in a smoke-free area; and if he will make a statement;
  161
  (2) if he will make a statement on the progress in implementing a smoke-free policy throughout his Department.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Department has operated a no-smoking policy since 1989, with the aim of providing a smoke-free environment for the health and comfort of all staff. Smoking is restricted to designated areas and is prohibited in open-plan and other communal work areas. The policy is working well.

  Women Employees
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of employees in Wales are women; what the corresponding figures were for each year from 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is given in the table. The figures are estimates from the Employment Department's quarterly series for June each year.

  Female employees in employment as a percentage of total1

  Year

  Per cent·

  1980

  40·5

  1981

  41·4

  1982

  41·8

  1983

  42·5

  1984

  43·2

  1985

  43·7

  1986

  44·3

  1987

  45·1

  1988

  46·0

  1989

  47·2

  1990

  47·8

  1 Full-time and part-time·

  Wool Prices
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to extend the guaranteed price system for wool for a further period of five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Government's intention remains, as announced in October 1988, to end the wool guarantee as soon as possible.

  Educational Institutions
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the education committees of the relevant Welsh counties regarding the tapering provisions of top-up funding from local education authority budgets to the institutions listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 30 January 1991 at columns 514–15.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Top-up funding has been discussed by the Wales Advisory Body, which I chair and which includes members from each of the local education authorities. The WAB is the body responsible for advising my right hon. Friend on matters concerning local authority higher education.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the principals and directors of the institutions listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 30 January 1991 at columns 514–15, regarding future staffing levels and redundancy policies for academic and non-academic staff.
  162
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The staffing of these institutions is a matter for the institutions themselves and their maintaining LEAs.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the principals and directors of the institutions listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 30 January 1991 at columns 514–15, regarding the future of further education courses currently provided at those institutions.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  After 1 April 1992 the provision of further education courses will remain the responsibility of LEAs. They will be able to contract with the independent higher education institutions for the provision of further education courses in those institutions.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the principals and directors of the institutions listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 30 January 1991 at columns 514–15, regarding the restoration of vocational higher education courses closed in the present and last financial year.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Since July 1990 the approval of my right hon. Friend for the provision of higher education courses, other than courses of initial teacher training, has not been required.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) academic and (b) non-academic staff are employed at the institutions listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 30 January 1991 at columns 514–15; and if he will make a statement on future staffing levels at the institutions after 1 April 1992.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  In 1988–89 the number of full-time equivalent teaching staff at each of the five institutions which are to be incorporated was as follows:

  Number

  Polytechnic of Wales

  372·5

  Cardiff Institute of Higher Education

  404·3

  Gwent College of Higher Education

  233·6

  Normal College, Bangor

  42·2

  West Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education

  223·1

  Details of non-teaching are not held centrally.

  Future staffing levels will be entirely the responsibility of the governing bodies of the incorporated institutions.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will give the reasons behind the decision to provide a transitional relief level of £5 to poll tax payers in Butetown, Cardiff, for 1991–92 and all the figures involved in the calculation;

  (2) if he will give the reasons behind the decision to provide a transitional relief level of £18 to poll tax payers in Llanthavadr ym Mochnant, Montgomeryshire, for 1991–92 and all the figures involved in the calculation;

  (3) if he will give the reasons behind the decision to provide a transitional relief level of £23 to poll tax payers in Llanrumney, Cardiff, for 1991–92 and all the figures involved in the calculation;
  163
  (4) if he will give the reasons behind the decision to provide a transitional relief level of £3 to poll tax payers in Colwyn bay for 1991–92 and all the figures involved in the calculation;

  (5) if he will give the reasons behind the decision to provide a transitional relief level of £107 to poll tax payers in Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant, Glyndwr, for 1991–92 and all the figures involved in the calculation;

  Relief 1991–92

  Local authority and community council

  Domestic rateable value £

  1Relevant population number

  Domestic poundage poundage

  Notional average domestic rates per adult £

  1990–91 community charge £

  Difference between community charge and rates £

  Amount above £37 threshold £

  Cardiff

  Butetown

  222,891

  2,342

  222·11

  211

  253

  42

  5

  Llanrumney

  811,731

  9,330

  222·11

  193

  253

  60

  23

  Colwyn

  Colwyn Bay

  597,024

  7,604

  281·60

  221

  261

  40

  3

  Glyndwr

  Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant

  26,230

  528

  276·10

  137

  281

  144

  107

  Llansantffraid Glyn Ceiriog

  49,626

  828

  276·10

  165

  281

  116

  79

  Montgomeryshire

  Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant

  14,244

  285

  229·85

  115

  170

  55

  18

  1 As specified in Appendix 2 of the Welsh Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report

  Welsh College of Music and Drama
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next expects to meet the chairman of South Glamorgan education committee to discuss the future of the Welsh College of Music and Drama.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  As indicated in my right hon. Friend's reply of 30 January officials are discussing the future status of the Welsh College of Music and Drama with South Glamorgan county council.

  House Building
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many council houses were(a) started and (b) completed in 1990 for each of the local authorities in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information is given in the following table.

  Local Authority starts and completions 19901

  Welsh districts

  Starts

  Completions

  Aberconwy

  0

  0

  Alyn and Deeside

  67

  52

  Arfon

  0

  0

  Blaenau Gwent2

  0

  0

  Brecknock

  0

  19

  Cardiff

  47

  0

  Carmarthen

  0

  0

  Ceredigion

  0

  6

  Colwyn

  0

  0

  Cynon Valley

  0

  0

  Delyn

  0

  0

  Dinefwr

  0

  0

  Dwyfor

  8

  0

  Glyndwr

  0

  0

  Islwyn

  0

  9

  Llanelli

  106

  28

  Lliw Valley

  0

  69

  Meirionnydd

  0

  0

  Merthyr Tydfil

  0

  0

  Monmouth2

  0

  68

  164
  (6) if he will give the reasons behind the decision to provide a transitional relief level of £79 to poll tax payers in Llansantffraid Glyn Cevriog, for 1991–92 and all the figures involved in the calculation.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to him on 4 February. The table gives the specific information requested.

  Welsh districts

  Starts

  Completions

  Montgomeryshire

  24

  8

  Neath

  0

  0

  Newport

  0

  64

  Ogwr

  0

  6

  Port Talbot

  0

  0

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  18

  6

  Radnorshire

  0

  22

  Rhondda

  0

  0

  Rhuddlan

  8

  31

  Rhymney Valley

  0

  6

  South Pembrokeshire

  0

  0

  Swansea

  0

  75

  Taff-Ely

  0

  0

  Torfaen

  0

  0

  Vale of Glamorgan

  29

  41

  Wrexham Maelor

  31

  41

  Ynys Mon

  0

  0

  Wales total

  338

  551

  1 Provisional.

  2 The information for Blaenau Gwent and Monmouth is for the period January to November 1990.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many houses were(a) started and (b) completed by each of the housing associations in Wales in 1990.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Data for 1990 are not yet available. Housing for Wales plan to provide 3,000 additional units during the financial year 1990–91.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many council houses were sold by each of the local authorities in Wales for the last four years estimating the amount realised by each local authority on the sales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information is given in the table:
  165

  Sales of local authority dwellings and associated amounts realized 1986–1989

  Sales 1986–89

  Local authority

  Number

  Amount realized(£000's)

  Aberconwy

  624

  6,463

  Alyn and Deeside

  709

  7,023

  Arfon

  497

  5,280

  Blaenau Gwent

  1,118

  10,544

  Brecknock

  509

  5,862

  Cardiff

  3,460

  42,246

  Carmarthen

  381

  4,513

  Ceredigion

  534

  6,655

  Colwyn

  384

  3,899

  Cynon Valley

  526

  4,312

  Delyn

  456

  4,489

  Dinefwr

  364

  3,555

  Dwyfor

  94

  1,087

  GlyndŴr

  435

  4,477

  Islwyn

  1,154

  11,866

  Llanelli

  1,052

  8,290

  Lliw Valley

  634

  5,496

  Meirionnydd

  287

  2,915

  Merthyr Tydfil

  1,021

  8,995

  Monmouth

  818

  11,958

  Montgomeryshire

  410

  5,188

  Neath

  920

  8,516

  Newport

  1,633

  21,052

  Ogwr

  1,761

  18,123

  Port Talbot

  1,405

  13,218

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  859

  9,354

  Radnorshire

  161

  2,134

  Rhondda

  342

  2,473

  Rhuddlan

  369

  3,788

  Rhymney Valley

  1,237

  11,749

  South Pembrokeshire

  358

  4,560

  Swansea

  2,189

  21,841

  Taff-Ely

  1,702

  15,964

  Torfaen

  1,518

  18,072

  Vale of Glamorgan

  1,209

  16,179

  Wrexham Maelor

  1,572

  15,646

  Ynys Môn

  702

  8,407

  I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will share my pleasure that so many tenants have been able to buy their houses.

  Health Service
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the cost to date of refining and extending an analysis database to test the implications of alternative patterns of provision and to identify performance targets for the NHS in Wales as part of the Welsh Office's corporate management programme.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  About £5,600 a year, at 1990–91 prices.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the budget of the Mid-Glamorgan family practitioner committee in 1988, 1989 and 1990; and what is the budget of the Mid-Glamorgan family health services authority for 1991 and 1992.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The administration revenue net allocations to Mid-Glamorgan family practitioner committee—from 17 September 1990, Mid-Glamorgan family health services Authority—for the relevant financial years are as follows:
  166

  £

  1988–89

  11599,652

  1989–90

  1709,502

  1990–91

  21,031,730

  1 Final cash limit.

  2 Provisional cash limit.

  The 1991–92 administration revenue allocations for FHSAs in Wales will be notified shortly.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the cost, by authority, during 1990–91, of setting up teams within district health authorities in Wales whose function is to perform the purchaser role described in section 3.23 of the Welsh Office publication, "NHS Wales: Agenda for Action, 1991–93."

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The internal management and organisation of an authority's purchase role is for the individual districts to determine. In recognition of the increased responsibilities for the introduction of the contractual framework, and consideration of NHS trusts, DHAs have received additional resources totalling £2·4 million and £2·7 million in 1990–91 and 1991–92 respectively and which covers both the purchase and provider functions.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated cost of the implementation of the measures contained in the Welsh Office national health service directorate proposals in "NHS Wales: Agenda for Action, 1991–93."

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The main purpose of the agenda for action is to help the NHS refocus its activities and existing resources to achieve a better return in terms of both the health of the people of Wales and the services available to them.

  As such, the actions identified are central to the NHS management effort, with related costs being woven into and covered principally by the mainstream budgets of the various organisations involved.

TRANSPORT

  New Road, Cheshire
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the route of the toll road planned to pass through Cheshire and its estimated time of construction; what environmental studies have been carried out before the route was finalised; and what public consultations he has had in Cheshire.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Department has received four responses from the private sector to its invitation for broad outline proposals for additional longer term road capacity between Birmingham and Manchester. These proposals are still under evaluation, and no decision has been taken on a preferred scheme, or its route and timing. As and when a favoured proposal is selected, consultation will take place with all interested parties in the normal way. Any privately-financed road scheme must comply with the same environmental standards as a public scheme.

  Air Transport (VAT)
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his assessment of the effect of introducing value added tax on air transport within Europe.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Until the European Commission comes forward with detailed proposals for the post-1992 VAT regime, I can make no such assessment.

  A1(M)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of(a) accidents, (b) fatalities and (c) injuries on the A1(M) between Scotch corner and Newcastle for each year since 1980, and the number of commercial and private vehicles involved.

  Mr. Chope
  The information for the A1(M), in the detail requested, is available from the Durham county boundary, north of Scotch corner, to its northern end near Newcastle upon Tyne, as follows:

  Year

  Injury accidents

  Fatalities

  Injuries

  Commer cial vehicles

  Private vehicles

  1980

  45

  1

  79

  19

  62

  1981

  33

  1

  49

  5

  43

  1982

  37

  3

  56

  17

  42

  1983

  28

  1

  55

  24

  30

  1984

  36

  2

  58

  13

  35

  1985

  43

  4

  107

  24

  40

  1986

  42

  3

  73

  23

  50

  1987

  53

  5

  80

  23

  71

  1988

  40

  3

  72

  20

  52

  1989

  81

  1

  141

  30

  132

  '1990

  54

  4

  96

  2

  2

  1 Up to 31 October 1990.

  2 Not yet known.

  Car Accidents
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many primary school children have been knocked down by cars in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Chope
  In 1989 there were 10,749 pedestrians aged five to 11 who sustained injury after being struck by cars. Of these, 107 were killed, 2,656 were seriously injured and 7,986 were slightly injured.

  A69
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of(a) accidents, (b) fatalities and (c) injuries on the A69 for each year since 1980.

  Mr. Chope
  The number of personal injury accidents for the A69 from its junction with the M6 to Newcastle upon Tyne are as follows:

  Year

  Accidents(a)

  Fatalities(b)

  Injuries(c)

  1980

  87

  5

  142

  1981

  97

  8

  166

  1982

  90

  11

  178

  1983

  78

  4

  133

  168

  Year

  Accidents(a)

  Fatalities(b)

  Injuries(c)

  1984

  83

  3

  123

  1985

  86

  6

  181

  1986

  101

  5

  163

  1987

  91

  3

  194

  1988

  106

  10

  172

  1989

  99

  8

  156

  11990

  114

  9

  170

  1 January to November only.

  Fareham-Badenham Line
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Rail on the future of the railway line between Fareham and RNAD Badenham; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  None. This line is used only by freight traffic, and its future is a matter for British Rail.

  M27
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he has any plans to improve junction 10 of the M27 with the A32 at Fareham;

  (2) whether he has any plans for improvements to junction 11 of the M27 at Fareham, including traffic signals;

  (3) whether he has any plans to improve junction 9 of the M27 at Segensworth.

  Mr. Chope
  Yes. We intend to provide peak period traffic signals at both junctions 9 and 11 of the M27. Tenders for these have been invited with a view to completing installation of the signals this summer.

  A report of a study, announced in the White Paper "Roads for Prosperity", into the possible need for further improvements to the M27, the M271 link and their junctions is being considered at present.

  A32
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he recognises the Gosport/Fareham section of the A32 road as a road of more than local significance for the purpose of transport supplementary grant.

  Mr. Chope
  Not at the moment. However, it is open to the local highway authority to make a case by explaining the extent to which considers its proposals relate to the Secretary of State's objectives in respect of grant support for local roads, as described in the Department's annual circular about bids for transport supplementary grant.

  School Buses
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what statistics he has on the number of accidents involving school buses and the number of persons injured.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department collects information only on accidents which involve personal injury. No information is available on the use to which vehicles are put at the time of the accident, but information is available on bus or minibus accidents involving at least one school pupil who was injured whilst travelling as a passenger.
  169

  Bus or minibus accidents involving at least one school pupil injured while travelling as a passenger: GB 1985–1989

  Year

  Number of accidents

  School pupil passengers:

  Killed

  Injured

  1989

  712

  6

  1,416

  1988

  663

  8

  1,214

  1987

  658

  4

  1,254

  1986

  734

  1

  1,168

  1985

  776

  4

  1,379

  Aircraft Safety
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the main recommendations and conclusions of the first report of the Transport Committee on aircraft cabin safety.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I shall be giving the Committee the Government's full response in due course.

  Buses
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he proposes to take concerning bus priority measures in response to the Bus and Coach Council's document "Buses Mean Business".

  Mr. Freeman
  I welcome the Bus and Coach Council's initiative "Buses Mean Business". A working group under my chairmanship will be established immediately to consider ways in which buses and coaches can contribute towards easing congestion and improving the environment. We shall shortly be inviting representatives from the Bus and Coach Council and from local authority associations to participate in this group.

  We shall also invite local authorities to consider what bus priority measures might be appropriate in their areas and, if suitable schemes are put forward, we would hope to allocate appropriate resources for that purpose in 1992–93. Examples of such schemes could include green routes, which comprise a series of bus priority features such as dedicated bus lanes and priority at junctions for buses; park and ride schemes; and schemes to improve passenger facilities and the provision of information technology. The working group will also look at the potential for both the trolleybus and the guided bus.

  We are also considering how best to promote environmentally friendly buses. As a first step we are undertaking a preliminary survey of the relative merits and long term potential of alternative fuels.

  Rail Services
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent meetings he has had with the chairman of British Rail to discuss east coast main line services to London and to Europe.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. and learned Friend last met the chairman of the British Railways Board on 17 January to discuss various railway matters, including the east coast main line and channel tunnel services.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether agreement has yet been reached on the provision of a weighbridge at Coquelles in France, in connection with weight controls on lorries arriving in the United Kingdom via the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Chope
  Eurotunnel propose to install a weigh-bridge in the freight terminal at Coquelles. Discussions are continuing with Eurotunnel about United Kingdom enforcement staff using the weighing facility for checking lorry weights prior to vehicles being loaded on to the rail cars and travelling to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of British Rail's preferred geographical route for the channel tunnel high speed rail link, indicating on it where the route deviates from his preferred route; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail is still studying the options for a route for the rail link, and do not expect to reach their conclusions until the spring. My right hon. and learned Friend has not expressed any preference as to route. But he has issued initial safeguarding directions for the section between Cheriton and Upper Hailing in Kent of the route announced by BR in 1989.

  Smoking
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the progress in implementing a smoke-free policy throughout his Department;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to ensure that every non-smoking employee in his Department has the right to work in a smoke-free area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My Department's policy is to create a non-smoking environment with facilities for those who wish to smoke. Arrangements may be made for smokers and non-smokers to occupy separate offices where other management considerations permit and, where all occupants of an office agree, staff may display "no-smoking" signs in that office. Local management may also agree further measures to apply locally, on a voluntary basis.

  Further restrictions on smoking in lifts, corridors, conference rooms and other common areas were introduced in September 1990.

  Dartford Bridge
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date the Dartford bridge will be open for motor traffic; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  No date has been fixed for the opening of the new bridge between Dartford and Thurrock. Completion is on target for late summer.

  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the name of the new bridge currently being constructed over the River Thames at Dartford.

  Mr. Chope
  No decision has been taken on a name for this new bridge.

  Thames River Services
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial support he gives to riverbus operations on the Thames.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 5 February 1991]: The Government have made a grant of £500,000 to the consortium responsible for the riverbus service.

  North Devon Link Road
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the safety record of the north Devon link road and take any steps necessary to realign, redesign and light junctions with local roads.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 5 February 1991]: As indicated during my right hon. and learned Friend's meeting with the hon. Member on 4 February, the safety of the north Devon link road and its junctions is kept under continuing review and, as part of this process, lighting is to be installed at Landkey junction near Barnstaple.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Income Tax
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) working families with children and (b) childless people in work had incomes below the tax threshold at the latest date for which information is available.

  Mr. Maude
  There are an estimated 0·5 million working families with children and 1 million childless people in

  Date of first appointment

  Expiry date of current appointment

  The Rt. Hon. Robin Leigh-Pemberton, Governor

  1 July 1983

  30 June 1993

  Edward Alan John George, Esq.

  1 March 1990

  28 February 1995

  Sir George Adrian Hayhurst Cadbury

  1 March 1970

  28 February 1994

  Sir Hector Laing

  1 March 1973

  28 February 1991

  Sir David Gerald Scholey, CBE

  1 March 1981

  28 February 1994

  Sir David Alan Walker

  1 March 1982

  28 February 1993

  The Hon. Sir John Francis Harcourt Baring, KCVO

  1 March 1983

  28 February 1991

  Dr. Donald Valentine Atterton, CBE

  1 March 1984

  29 February 1992

  Sir Frederick Brian Corby

  1 March 1985

  28 February 1993

  Lord Haslam of Bolton

  1 March 1985

  28 February 1993

  Gavin Harry Laird, Esq. CBE

  1 March 1986

  28 February 1994

  Sir Martin Wakefield Jacomb

  19 May 1986

  28 February 1991

  Sir Colin Ross Corness

  1 March 1987

  28 February 1991

  Brian Quinn, Esq.

  1 April 1988

  29 February 1992

  John Stanton Flemming, Esq.

  1 October 1988

  29 February 1992

  Andrew Duncan Crockett, Esq

  1 March 1989

  28 February 1993

  Anthony Laurie Coleby, Esq.

  1 March 1990

  28 February 1994

  Professor Mervyn Allister King

  1 March 1990

  29 February 1992

  Smoking
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure that every non-smoking employee in his Department has the right to work in a smoke-free area; and if he will make a statement.;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the progress in implementing a smoke-free policy throughout his Department.
  172
  work not liable to income tax in 1990–91. These estimates are based on information projected from the 1988 and 1989 family expenditure surveys and are, therefore, provisional.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby of 15 January,Official Report, column 461, on the reserves, if he will indicate how exchange rate mechanism intervention arrangements and swaps affect the published total inflows and outflows in the months since Britain joined the exchange rate mechanism.

  Mr. Maples
  It has been the practice of successive Governments not to disclose details of official intervention in the foreign exchange markets: the information is market sensitive, and disclosure of details would risk undermining the effectiveness of intervention.

  The European monetary co-operation Fund—EMCF—swap involves the issue of ECUs to European monetary system central banks in exchange for deposits by them of 20 per cent. of their gold and dollar reserves. Any valuation change arising from the quarterly rollover of the United Kingdom's EMCF swap is included in the published total of reserves.

  Bank of England
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the present members of the court of the Bank of England and the dates of their appointment.

  Mr. Maples
  The current members of the court of the Bank of England are as follows:—

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Codes of practice on smoking have recently been introduced in the Treasury's main Parliament street building and in the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency at all locations. The codes provide for no smoking in most communal areas, with decisions about whether or not there should be smoking in offices to be taken by the occupants. A no-smoking policy is in operation throughout the computer suite of the Chessington computer centre. Elsewhere in the centre a policy similar to that in the rest of the department is in force.

  Taxation
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate, on the same basis as the ready reckoner published in the autumn statement, the effect on a one-earner, two-child family of spending in 1991–92 the sum on(a) a 1p cut in the basic rate of income tax, (b) raising income tax thresholds above their indexed levels, (c) raising child benefit assuming; (i) no change in income support and family credit rates and (ii) corresponding changes in income support and family credit rates.

  Mr. Maude
  [pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1991, c. 390]: I regret that two figures at (c) (i) in the table were erroneous; rather than £6·30 and £12·60 these should have been £4·30 and £8·60 respectively.

  Oil Prices
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the impact on revenues of a $1 increase on the price of a barrel of oil in(a) a full year and (b) a month.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 5 February 1991]: The extra North sea tax accruals—royalty, petroleum revenue tax and corporation tax—from a sustained increase in the crude oil price of 1 dollar per barrel would yield about £0·2 billion in a full year assuming no change in the exchange rate or in company activity in the North sea. Additional tax receipts in 1990–91 arising from an increase of 1 dollar per barrel in the 1990 calendar year would be about £0·15 billion. The monthly average is £12·5 million but the effect in individual months is very variable depending upon due dates for corporate tax and the six-monthly structure of payments of PRT and royalties.

  Paris Club Debt
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present total stock of Paris Club debt; and how much of it is debt owed to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 5 February 1991]: The Paris club mainly restructures debts outstanding to the export credit agencies of OECD countries. At end 1987 OECD export credit agencies total outstanding stock of debt was about $375 billion. Of this total, about $48 billion was debt outstanding to the United Kingdom.

  Respondents by ethnic origin and by grade level as a percentage of all respondents (1 April 1990)

  Grade level

  White

  Black

  Asian

  Other ethnic

  Total ethnic

  Total respondents

  1

  100·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  100·0

  2

  100·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  100·0

  3

  100·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  100·0

  4

  99·4

  0·0

  0·3

  0·3

  0·6

  100·0

  5

  98·2

  0·2

  1·2

  0·4

  1·8

  100·0

  6

  97·6

  0·2

  1·9

  0·3

  2·4

  100·0

  7

  98·5

  0·2

  0·9

  0·3

  1·5

  100·0

  SEO

  98·6

  0·2

  0·9

  0·3

  1·4

  100·0

  HEO

  98·2

  0·4

  1·1

  0·3

  1·8

  100·0

  EO

  96·9

  0·9

  1·9

  0·4

  3·1

  100·0

  AO

  93·9

  2·3

  3·4

  0·4

  6·1

  100·0

  AA

  93·2

  3·1

  3·4

  0·3

  6·8

  100·0

  Others

  98·5

  0·9

  0·6

  0·0

  1·5

  100·0

  Total

  95·5

  1·7

  2·5

  0·4

  4·5

  100·0

THE ARTS

  National Museums
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he expects the survey by Ove Arup into the future of the national museums to be completed.

  Mr. Renton
  I expect that the current review by Arup Research and Development of the building renovation needs of the national museums and galleries which I sponsor will be completed by summer 1991.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what is the estimated cost of the survey by Ove Arup into the future of the national museums.

  Mr. Renton
  The total cost of the review of the renovation needs of the national museums and galleries which I sponsor is estimated at £120,000 including the consultancy fees to be paid to Arup Research and Development.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he intends to publish the survey by Ove Arup into the future of the national museums.

  Mr. Renton
  I shall be considering in due course what would be the most appropriate action to take in respect of the advice offered to me by Arup Research and Development when it reports to me on the building renovation needs of the national museums and galleries which I sponsor.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what is the percentage representation of members of ethnic minorities at each grade level in the civil service.

  Mr. Renton
  The information requested is as follows, these are provisional figures as at 1 April 1990 and are based on the 80 per cent. of staff who have responded to the ethnic origin survey. The programme for action on race, which was introduced in May 1990, will build on existing measures to ensure equality of opportunity for all staff.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many statutory instruments were placed before the House in the 1989–90 Session; and how many were the subject of the affirmative procedure and of the negative procedure.

  Mr. MacGregor
  In Session 1989–90, a total of 164 instruments requiring affirmative approval, 916 instruments subject to annulment, 49 statutory rules of Northern Ireland—subject to negative procedure—and eight special procedure orders were considered by the Joint or Select Committee on Statutory Instruments. These figures do not include Orders in Council and draft Orders in Council made or proposed to be made under paragraph 1 of schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Act 1974. Subject to the decision of the House, the Sessional Return relating to delegated legislation will include figures for the total number of statutory instruments laid before the House during this and in future Sessions.

  Select Committee on Trade and Industry
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the airline used and the desination of each of the overseas visits undertaken by the Select Committee on Trade and Industry for the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Since January 1990 the Committee has undertaken three visits overseas. The arrangements made in respect of each visit were as follows. The first, in February 1990, was to Brussels using Air Europe and British Airways, except for one Member who travelled between Newcastle and Brussels by Sabena. The second, in May 1990, was to Oslo, Helsinki, Stockholm and Reykjavik; the flights to Oslo and from Stockholm were by British Airways; between Oslo, Helsinki, and Stockholm by Finnair; between Stockholm, Reykjavik and Glasgow by Icelandair; between Glasgow and London by British Airways. The third in June 1990 was to Zurich, Berne and Vienna; the flights to Zurich and from Vienna were by British Airways; and by Swissair between Zurich and Vienna.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Privy Council
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will state in table form which of the powers of the Privy Council listed in his reply of 25 January,Official Report, column 369 (a) can and (b) cannot be scrutinised by the House.

  Mr. John MacGregor
  The only category of Privy Council functions subject to parliamentary scrutiny, is those powers conferred on Her Majesty in Council, or on the Privy Council, by Act of Parliament. The exercise of some of these functions is subject to the affirmative resolution procedure and of others to the negative resolution procedure; some orders made in exercise of such powers are required to be laid before Parliament but are not subject to annulment; the remainder are not subject to 176
  any form of parliamentary scrutiny. It would not be practical to tabulate the individual powers falling into these groups without disproportionate cost.

  Royal Prerogative
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many times the royal prerogative has been used through the Privy Council to establish orders in the last 10 years.

  Mr. MacGregor
  It would not be possible to provide a precise answer except at disproportionate cost. Approximately 7,000 Orders in Council have been made in the last 10 years of which, it is estimated, some 20 per cent. have been prerogative orders, dealing with such matters as the prorogation and dissolution of Parliament, the grant and amendment of royal charters, the government of dependent territories and the approval of reports of the judicial committee of the Privy Council.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Walter Somers (Iraq)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement upon the contents of the press release of April 1990 by the firm Walter Somers referring to the clearing by his Department of exports of components to Iraq.

  Mr. Lilley
  The press release of 17 April 1990 from Eagle Trust plc, of which Walter Somers was at that time a subsidiary, refers to Walter Somers' dealings with the Department of Trade and Industry. These references correspond with my Department's records of its dealings with Walter Somers.

  Foreign Currency
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the countries for the last two years that have their currency printed in the United Kingdom; how many are covered by the export guarantee scheme; and if he will show in his answer those countries that were having their currency manufactured in the United Kingdom at the end of 1990.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  For reasons of commercial confidentiality, we do not disclose information on printing of foreign currencies.

  Footwear Labelling
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the numbers of organisations that have made representations concerning the draft directive on footwear labelling; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  Following a request for comments on the draft directive on footwear labelling which officials in my Department sent to a wide range of bodies representing the interests of manufacturers, retailers and consumers, representations were received from 31 organisations.

  There is general agreement on the need for Community rules on footwear labelling. The comments on the detail of the draft directive were communicated to the EC Commission and the first draft has now been revised. My

  177
  officials are continuing to consult all the interested parties and will seek to ensure in future discussions with the Commission that the common labelling rules ultimately agreed will be acceptable to all concerned.

  Garston Amhurst
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to appoint inspectors to investigate the affairs of Garston Amhurst under the Companies Act.

  Mr. Redwood
  On 7 March 1990 compulsory winding-up orders were made against GAA Group Holdings Limited, Garston Amhurst Associates (London) Limited, Garston Amhurst Associates (Bristol) Limited, Garston Amhurst Associates (Financial Services) Limited and Garston Amhurst Associates (Financial

  Company name

  Current position

  Garston Amhurst Associates (Bristol) Limited

  Compulsory Liquidation 18 May 1990

  Garston Amhurst Associates (Financial Management) Limited

  Compulsory Liquidation 14 June 1990

  Garston Amhurst Associates (Financial Services) Limited

  Compulsory Liquidation 18 May 1990

  Garston Amhurst Associates (General) Limited

  Directors convicted 14 August 1990

  Garston Amhurst Associates (London) Limited

  Compulsory Liquidation 15 June 1990

  Garston Amhurst Mortgages Limited

  Compulsory Liquidation 13 August 1990

  It is not the Department's policy to pursue for outstanding accounts and annual returns once a company has been placed in compulsory liquidation. In the case of Garston Amhurst Associates (General) Limited, the directors were convicted for failing to submit accounts and annual returns and fined accordingly.

  The registrar has confirmed that action is continuing to secure compliance.

  Sound Diffusion plc
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will publish the inspectors' report on Sound Diffusion plc.

  Mr. Redwood
  I cannot say. The inspectors' report has not yet been submitted.

  Company Accounts
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will take the necessary measures to reduce the time limits for filing annual company accounts with the registrar of companies.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will propose legislation under which the public limited companies would be required to file their accounts at Companies House within 90 days of the reporting year end.

  Mr. Redwood
  We have no immediate plans to reduce the time allowed for companies to deliver their accounts to the Registrar of Companies. While some reduction in the time periods allowed is a desirable longer-term objective, our present priority is to secure fuller compliance with the existing statutory requirements. The Government's efforts have resulted in a considerable improvement, but I am looking for a yet higher rate of compliance.
  178
  Management) Limited. On 2 May 1990, Garston Amhurst (Mortgages) Ltd. was compulsorily wound up. As a result of inquiries by the Serious Fraud Office criminal charges have been preferred and three of the four directors charged have pleaded guilty. The trial of the fourth is expected to begin shortly. In the circumstances, I have no plans to appoint inspectors.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he plans to take any action against Garston Amhurst for its failure to file any accounts since 1985.

  Mr. Redwood
  There is no company currently registered under the name Garston Amhurst. There are, however, six similarly named companies on the register which are listed in the table, together with their current position.

  Auditing Practices Board
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his representative on the Auditing Practices Committee recommended the issue of a consultative document on the formation of the auditing practices board.

  Mr. Redwood
  The decision to issue a consultative document on the proposed Auditing Practices Board was a matter for the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies, not the Auditing Practices Committee. However, I welcome the consultative committee's decision to give everyone with an interest in auditing an opportunity to comment on and contribute constructively to the proposed new arrangements for setting auditing standards and issuing guidance to auditors.

  Insolvency
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a list of the investigations carried out under the Insolvency Act 1986 and its predecessors; and how many reports have been published on these investigations.

  Mr. Redwood
  Investigations under the Insolvency Act 1986 are carried out by official receivers in all cases where winding-up orders against companies or partnerships or bankruptcy orders against individuals have been made by a court.

  Where official receivers' investigations reveal prima facie evidence of criminality they make reports which are considered by departmental solicitors who decide whether prosecution is appropriate. Such reports are not published.

  Details of the reports submitted by official receivers alleging possible criminal offences are published in the

  179
  insolvency general annual report. For 1987, 1988 and 1989 the number of reports submitted was 499, 567 and 627 respectively.

  Non-life Insurance Business
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the recommendations of the review of non-life insurance business conducted by Mr. Geoffrey Hunt and announced in a written answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. King) of 23 June 1988,Official Report, columns 641–42, showing those upon which action has been taken and indicating that further action is proposed.

  Mr. Redwood
  It became apparent during the study that there was no widespread pressure for change to returns made to the Department by insurance companies. Mr. Hunt did not therefore make any recommendations for change.

  ECGD
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the cumulative exposure of long-term project assistance under the Export Credits Guarantee Department(a) in total and (b) on a country by country basis as at 31 march 1983, 1988 and 1990.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Total amounts at risk in respect of project business are included in ECGD's annual trading accounts, copies of which are in the Library. As a matter of general policy, ECGD's exposure on individual countries is not made public.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what was the number of applications for ECGD cover in each of the years since 1980 distinguishing between short-term cover and long-term cover; and what was the number of applications accepted in each case;

  (2) what was the number of applications for EGCD cover in countries now part of the European Community in each year since 1980, distinguishing between short-term cover and long-term project cover.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 5 February 1991]: The information which the hon. Member has requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Accountancy
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what date has been set for the commencement of the statutory audit regulation system provided for by the Companies Act 1989.

  Mr. Redwood
  No date has been set. However, we hope that the relevant provisions of the Act will be commenced by 1 July 1991.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has approved(a) the staffing, (b) the salary structure and (c) the fees to support the joint monitoring unit set up to supervise the statutory audit regulation system provided for by the Companies Act 1989.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Secretary of State has not yet determined the applications for recognition he has 180
  received from supervisory bodies for auditors under the Companies Act 1989. He will only approve the applications if he is satisfied that the applicants have among other things adequate arrangements and resources for the effective monitoring and enforcement of compliance with their rules.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will provide additional funding to enable the Accounting Standards Board to have full-time independent members.

  Mr. Redwood
  The composition of the Accounting Standards Board is a matter for the Financial Reporting Council. Both the chairman and technical director of the board are full-time, and the seven other members are drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds, including users, preparers and auditors of accounts.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will hold a public hearing prior to making a decision on the award of supervisory status to any accountancy body under the powers created under the Companies Act 1989.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. But we are very willing to consider any relevant representations we receive.

  Smoking
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress in implementing a smoke-free policy throughout his Department.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Department is working towards a non-smoking working environment. At present, smoking is prohibited in most common areas including conference rooms, most meeting rooms, libraries, waiting rooms, reception areas, lifts and toilets. Smoking is banned in any office where a majority of staff vote for such a ban. Copies of the Department's policy statement on smoking and an example of a notice to visitors to the Department have been placed in the House Library.

  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to ensure that every non-smoking employee in his Department has the right to work in a smoke-free area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Department's policy has been jointly agreed between management and the departmental trade union side.

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Training
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the aim group, and what percentage of the guarantee group are currently on employment training.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is not available in the form requested. We estimate that: 20 per cent. of those unemployed people who joined the guarantee group in the year April 1989 to March 1990 started on employment training; and 35 per cent. of those unemployed people in the aim group at April 1989, or who joined it in the following 12 months, started on employment training.

  Sheltered Employment
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on provision for sheltered workshops and the sheltered placement scheme in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Howard
  As last year's consultative document "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities" made clear, we are committed to providing sheltered employment for people with severe disabilities. In the current financial year we are providing funds for an average of 5,550 people in sheltered workshops and 6,700 people under the sheltered placement scheme. In this financial year, in order to help meet the costs incurred by sponsors we have already increased the annual grant ceiling per place for voluntary bodies by £200 to £3,480 and that for local authorities by £130 to £2,730. I am now further increasing these grant ceilings for this financial year by £40 to £3,520 and by £30 to £2,760 respectively.

  In 1991–92 I am providing £4·3 million more than this year's provision for sheltered workshops and the sheltered placement scheme. These additional funds will again be used to help meet the costs of voluntary bodies and local authorities by increasing the grant ceilings by a further £280 and £240 respectively to bring them to £3,800 for voluntary bodies and £3,000 for local authorities.

  In addition, I shall be making available just under £6 million in 1991–92 for capital expenditure which represents an increase of just over £2 million on expenditure this year. This money will be available to help meet the cost of essential refurbishment and development where that is clearly consistent with our long-term objectives for sheltered employment. I expect that some money will also be available in 1991–92 for innovative or experimental activities aimed at exploring the scope for improving the way in which the provision is made.

  Pressure on resources both within the sheltered employment programme and elsewhere has meant that I have had to decide that the average number of places nationally in both these forms of sheltered provision will remain the same in 1991–92. However, previous patterns of turnover on the sheltered placement scheme indicate that some 1,000 existing places are likely to become vacant to allow new entrants to join the programme.

  I will be considering future sheltered employment provision, including the balance between the sheltered placement scheme and other forms of sheltered employment, in the light of comments received on the consultative document. However, research reported by Social and Community Planning Research in "Employment and Handicap" and discussed in the consultative document revealed that a substantial number of severely disabled people are in open employment or self employment but not under the sheltered placement scheme. It is clearly important that we know more about how such severely disabled people manage without the support offered by the sheltered employment programme and the Employment Service has therefore commissioned research to explore this matter further.

  Smoking
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure that every non-smoking employee in his Department has the right to work in a smoke-free area; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the progress in implementing a smoke-free policy throughout his Department.

  Mr. Forth
  The policy of the Employment Department group is to discourage non-smokers from taking up smoking, positively to encourage smokers to give it up or to cut down and to create a smoke-free environment, with facilities for those who wish to smoke, rather than the other way round. In offices where it is the wish of the staff no-smoking agreements have either been implemented or are in the process of negotiation.

  David Holt Plastics, Haslingden
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the occasions on which factory inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive visited the premises of David Holt Plastics, Haslingden, Rossendale; and what action resulted from each visit.

  Mr. Forth
  The table shows the occasions on which Factory Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive have visited David Holt Plastics, Haslingden, Rossendale and the action taken by HSE as a result of each visit:

  Date of Visit

  Action taken

  25 May 1988

  Immediate Prohibition Notice Issued

  26 May 1988

  Advice given as a result of continuing investigation into fatal accident

  31 May 1988

  2 June 1988

  Advice given

  10 June 1988

  Advice given as a result of continuing investigation into fatal accident

  30 August 1988

  31 January 1988

  Advice given

  11 July 1989

  Advice given

  20 August 1989

  Advice given

  31 August 1989

  Advice given

  26 January 1990

  Advice given

  25 April 1990

  Letter sent

  30 April 1990

  Advice given

NORTHERN IRELAND

  District Councils
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what categories of district council community centres, if any, are liable to be rated by his Department.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Commissioner of Valuation must assess rateable values for all premises and there are no categories of property which are automatically granted exemption.

  Applications for exemption for district council community centres, or whatever property, are determined on the facts in each case.

  Smoking
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will make a statement on the progress in implementing a smoke-free policy throughout his Department;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to ensure that every non-smoking employee in his Department has the right to work in a smoke-free area; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Since the introduction in October 1987 of a formal policy on smoking in the Northern Ireland civil service, smoking has been specifically prohibited in:

  (a) conference rooms when used for meetings of civil servants;

  (b) training rooms;

  (c) lifts;

  (d) official cars;

  (e) kitchens, other cooking facilities and mess rooms, and food stores;

  (f) public counters and security/reception points.

  The introduction of further prohibitions is a matter for local management, the staff and the local trade union side, usually after an attitude survey has been conducted. To date over 300 attitude surveys have been undertaken, resulting in partial or total restrictions. Where total restrictions are in force smoking rooms have been provided for those who choose to continue to smoke.

  Management in the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) also endorse the ideal of non-smoking as a safeguard to health. The introduction of a non-smoking policy is being actively pursued in the Northern Ireland Office in Belfast and is under review for the London office.

  Areas of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he proposes to take to complete the early designations of areas of special scientific interest; and whether he has set a target date for completion.

  Mr. Needham
  The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the Environment Committee, in its recent report on environmental issues in Northern Ireland, recommended that sufficient resources be allocated to ensure that the process of ASSI designation can be completed within eight years. I am at present examining the recommendations in this report. The Government's response to the report will take the form of a Command Paper and I would not wish to pre-empt that response at this stage.

  Peat Bogs
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken to ensure the conservation of peat bogs in the Province.

  Mr. Needham
  The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland has taken action to ensure the conservation of peat bogs in a number of ways. Five peat bogs are managed as national nature reserves and to date a total of eight lowland raised bogs and one upland raised bog have been declared as areas of special scientific interest. In addition the Department has opened a visitor centre at the Peatlands park, County Tyrone, the main 184
  emphasis of which is the interpretation of the history, exploitation, uses and future of peat. Extensive surveys of peatland areas have been and are being carried out.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will list those areas of peat bog which meet the criteria for designation as areas of special scientific interest.

  Mr. Needham
  The following lowland raised peat bogs meet the criteria for declaration as areas of special scientific interest (ASSI) and have been declared:

  Black Bog, County Tyrone

  Dunloy Bog, County Antrim

  Fairy Water Bogs, County Tyrone (a complex of 3 bogs)

  Garry Bog, County Antrim

  Moneygal Bog, County Tyrone

  Moninea Bog, County Fermanagh

  On the basis of surveys carried out eight of the nine lowland raised bogs of highest nature conservation interest have been declared as ASSIs. The other lowland raised bog was not declared as an ASSI as the result of the decision to permit the commercial extraction of peat which was made after taking account of the report of the Planning Appeals Commission which had conducted a public inquiry. One upland raised bog area at Teal Lough and Slaghtfreeden, Counties Tyrone and Londonderry has been declared an ASSI. Further bogs which are identified as meeting the criteria will be declared as ASSIs.

  EC Directives
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he proposes to take to ensure that EC directives are implemented in the Province at the same pace as in the rest of the United Kingdom.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  It is the responsibility of individual Departments in Northern Ireland to ensure that EC directives within their area of responsibility are complied with by the due date required by the EC. In doing so they follow the same procedures used in the rest of the United Kingdom.

  Breathalyser Tests
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of breathalyser tests carried out in Northern Ireland between 19 December 1990 and 1 January 1991; how many of these proved positive; and what was the number of tests for the same period in 1989.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 5 February 1991]: A total of 187 breathalyser tests were carried out in Northern Ireland during the period 19 December 1990 to 1 January 1991 and 61 of these proved positive. Corresponding figures for 1989–90 are 128 and 53.

SCOTLAND

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress to discuss unemployment in Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I intend to meet the General Council of the Scottish Trades Union Congress on Friday of this week to discuss matters affecting the Scottish economy.

  Inverclyde Economy
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Inverclyde district council; and if they discussed inter alia, the local economy and its industrial base.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  On 18 January 1991, and on behalf of my right hon. Friend, I discussed industrial development in the area, and the Inverclyde enterprise zone in particular, with a delegation from the council and the hon. Member for Renfrew, West and Inverclyde (Mr. Graham).

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to abolish the poll tax.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The Government are at present conducting a careful and fundamental review of the community charge arrangements. At this stage we are not ruling particular options in or out.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Scottish university students and student nurses to discuss the poll tax and its effects on their activities.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about the community charge from and on behalf of students and student nurses.

  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the current levels of poll tax payments in Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The information requested is not held centrally. I understand however that most levying authorities have already collected or expect to collect at least 95 per cent. of the budgeted revenue due to them from community charges in respect of 1989–90 and that their collection rates for 1990–91 are at present broadly in line with last year's pattern.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's consideration of alternative systems of local government finance.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The Government are at present conducting a careful and fundamental review of the community charge arrangements. We have not ruled particular options out or in.

  Health Board Allocations
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will reconsider his financial allocation to Scottish health boards for 1991–92.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No, Sir.

  Ambulance Service
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from general practitioners in Grampian region about the centralisation of ambulance service call-out procedures.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The only recent representations which I have received have been from the hon. Member on behalf of the general practitioners at Keith.

  Health Services, Grampian
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman of Grampian health board to discuss the provision of health services in the region.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I hold regular meetings with all health board chairmen to discuss issues affecting the national health service in Scotland.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had this year with the National Farmers Union of Scotland about the total livestock compensatory allowance.

  Mr. Lang
  The annual meeting between Agriculture Ministers and the four national farming unions to discuss the economic situation in the hills and uplands took place on 23 October 1990 and my predecessor attended. There have been no further meetings since then.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his policy on the sale of council houses and its effect on the housing problem in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government's policy on council house sales is to extend freedom of choice to many who otherwise would have no option but to continue renting. Of the 210,000 public sector houses which have been sold, over 203,000 have been bought by the sitting tenants.

  Since April 1979 public sector sales have released some£1·4 billion in extra resources for local authorities through capital receipts, which can be used for new public sector provision, for modernising or improving existing stock, or for reducing outstanding capital debt. This benefits remaining council tenants, either through increased capital investment on council housing or through loan charges and rent rises being less than they would otherwise have been.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received advocating the imposition of restrictions on Sunday trading in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In the previous 12 months one representation has been received advocating the imposition of restrictions on Sunday trading in Scotland.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to changes in the Scottish Sunday trading laws.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  With one small exception relating to hairdressers and barbers, the restrictions on Sunday trading in the Shops Act 1950 do not apply in Scotland. My right hon. Friend has no present proposals for changes in the existing law.

  Manufacturing Productivity
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Scotland what was the level of manufacturing productivity in Scotland in(a) 1979, (b) 1987 and (c) the latest date for which he has figures.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The latest available figures relate to 1989. Information on Scottish manufacturing productivity in 1979, 1987 and 1989 are set out in the following table:

  1985 = 100

  1979

  1987

  1989

  Manufacturing output

  103·3

  100·8

  113·5

  Manufacturing employment

  139·5

  94·2

  97·4

  Manufacturing productivity

  74·1

  107·0

  116·5

  Source: Index of Production and Construction for Scotland ED quarterly employment surveys.

  Between 1979 and 1989 Scottish manufacturing productivity increased by 4·6 per cent. per annum, a rate of growth greater than that of the United Kingdom, Canada, United States of America, west Germany, France, Japan or Italy.

  Rail Services
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to have discussions with ScotRail regarding the adequacy of rail services in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend and I meet senior management of ScotRail from time to time. Contacts at official level also take place frequently. Discussions at such meetings cover a wide range of topics concerning rail services in Scotland.

  Elderly People
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what he is doing to assist local councils to finance services for the elderly.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend provides resources through the aggregate external finance settlement. This is not hypothecated to services to particular client groups: it is for individual regional, islands and district councils to allocate their resources in accordance with local needs and priorities.

  Primary School Pupils
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the testing of primary school pupils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given earlier today to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce).

  Opencast Mining, Douglas Valley
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Scottish region of the British Coal opencast executive to discuss LAW Mining Companies' application to opencast coal in the Douglas valley.
  188
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has not met the opencast executive to discuss this matter.

  Government Structure
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration has been given by his Department in the last year to possible changes in the structure of government in Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  As my right hon. Friend considers that the creation of a separate Scottish legislative body would be harmful to Scotland's interests, no such consideration has been given. Questions about the functions and structure of local government will be looked at in the course of the review of the community charge. Any constructive suggestions received in the context of that review will be welcome.

  Scottish Industry
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received recently from Scottish industrialists about the prospects for Scottish industry.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I am in constant informal contact with Scottish industrialists through meetings and visits to companies as part of my normal business. This provides regular opportunities to discuss matters of concern.

  More specifically I met representatives of the Scottish CBI on 23 January. A wide-ranging discussion was held covering issues of importance to the Scottish economy.

  Scottish Constitutional Convention
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet representatives of the Scottish Constitutional Convention to discuss its report.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest assessment of the contribution of the steel industry to the Scottish economy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  In 1989 the steel industry's output amounted to about three quarters of a per cent. of total Scottish output.

  Smoking
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress in implementing a smoke-free policy throughout his Department.

  Mr. Lang
  In April 1990 smoking restrictions were applied, permitting smoking in working rooms during specified periods only. Since October 1990 smoking has not been permitted in working rooms at any time. Areas in each main building have been set aside for use by smokers. Special counselling services were arranged for 262 smokers who requested them.

  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to ensure that every non-smoking employee in his Department has the right to work in a smoke-free area; and if he will make a statement.
  189
  Mr. Lang
  All staff in the Scottish Office work in smoke-free conditions. Since 1 October 1990 smoking has not been permitted except in areas set aside for this purpose.

  Housing Associations
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for the monitoring of the activities of housing associations; and on what date they will become effective.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Section 4 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 gives Scottish Homes statutory responsibility for registering and monitoring housing associations in Scotland. Scottish Homes inherited comprehensive monitoring powers from the Housing Corporation in Scotland and in addition has issued performance standards for housing associations which it, and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations expect associations to work towards.

  Community Charge
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his most recent estimate of the percentage of community charge payers yet to pay the 1990 poll tax(a) in Scotland, (b) in Strathclyde and (c) in Inverclyde; and what is his estimate of the additional cost per poll tax payer required to make good the deficit.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The information is not available centrally.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of sites of special scientific interest which have been opposed under schedule 11.4.1(a) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; how many local hearings have been held and in relation to which sites; how many proposed sites of special scientific interest designations have been withdrawn as a result; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There is a right of objection to notification of a site of special scientific interest, but there is no provision for hearings to be held. However, after notification, where there is dispute about the operations that may be carried out on such a site, my right hon. Friend may make a nature conservation order under section 29 of the Act and schedule 11 of the Act describes the procedures to be followed which include provision for a local inquiry or hearing.

  To date five such cases have resulted in local inquiries. They are as follows:

  Loch of Strathbeg (Banff and Buchan)

  North Fetlar (Shetland)

  Culbin Foreshore (Nairn)

  Kinneil Kerse (Falkirk)

  Loch Obisary (Western Isles)

  In the first four cases the reporter recommended and my right hon. Friend agreed that the order be confirmed as each area meets the criteria of special scientific interest set out in section 29(1) and (2) of the 1981 Act. A determination in the last case will issue soon.

  Forestry Commission
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been raised from the sale of Forestry Commission land and woodlands during the past 10 years; and what is the anticipated income from sales to the year 2000.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 4 February 1991]: A total of £137 million was raised from the sale of Forestry Commission land and property between 1981, when the disposals programme started, and 31 March 1990, the latest date for which figures are available. It is anticipated that a similar sum will be raised from further sales to the year 2000.

  Health Education Board
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the subject of the new Health Education Board.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Health Education Board for Scotland, which will replace the Scottish health education group, will come into operation on 1 April 1991. It will be the national centre for health education, expertise and information and will undertake campaigns at a national level, with particular reference to the priority areas of coronary heart disease, cancer, smoking, AIDS, drug misuse, alcohol misuse and accidents set out in the consultation document "Health Education in Scotland: A National Policy Statement". The additional funds I am making available will give the new board a budget of £5·1 million in 1991–92.

  I am pleased to be able to announce that the following persons have accepted the Secretary of State's invitation to serve as members of the new board under the chairmanship of Mr. Ernie Walker, OBE:

  Mr. David Campbell, Chairman, West Independent Newspapers Ltd;

  Mr. John Christie, Assistant Director of Education, Tayside Regional Council;

  Miss Wilma Craigmile, MBE, formerly Director of Nursing Services, Tayside Health Board;

  Professor Charles Forbes, Professor of Medicine, University of Dundee;

  Dr. Nancy Loudon, Vice-President, Family Planning Association;

  Professor Doreen Parry, Professor of Dietetics and Nutrition, Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh;

  Mr. Jimmy Reid, journalist and broadcaster:

  Professor Rex Taylor, Professor of Social Administration and Social Work, University of Glasgow;

  Mr. Raymond Watkins, Chief Administrative Dental Officer, Forth Valley Health Board;

  Mr. David Woods, Managing Director, Scottish Provident Institution.

  In addition, the general manager of the board, when appointed, will become an executive member.

  The board will have a vital role in tackling Scotland's health problems. I am confident that its work will be greatly facilitated by the wide range of interests, expertise and skills which the chairman and members will bring to bear.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  National Insurance
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the main changes to national insurance benefits and the savings or expenditure which accrued from each change since 1979 in(a) cash prices and (b) 1990 prices.

  Mr. Jack
  Between 1978–79 and 1990–91, expenditure on national insurance benefits has grown by almost £20

  Changes to national insurance benefits: estimated expenditure effects

  Great Britain: £ million

  Financial year introduced

  1Cash effect

  Cash effect 1990–91 prices

  Uprating of long-term benefits by prices

  1981–82

  -280

  -470

  5 per cent. abatement in uprating of invalidity benefit, unemployment benefit, sickness benefit and maternity allowance

  1981–82

  -160

  -270

  Abolition of earnings related supplements to short-term benefits

  1982–83

  -390

  -610

  Introduction of statutory sick pay2

  1983–84

  -10

  -10

  Restoration of 5 per cent. abatement of unemployment benefit

  1984–85

  80

  110

  Offsetting of invalidity benefit age addition by additional pension

  1986–87

  -140

  -180

  Restoration of 5 per cent. abatement of invalidity benefit

  1986–87

  120

  160

  Extension of statutory sick pay2

  1986–87

  -80

  -100

  Introduction of statutory maternity pay2

  1987–88

  40

  50

  Unemployment benefit abatement for occupational/personal pension reduced from age 60 to 55

  1988–89

  -63

  -70

  Weekly earnings rule introduced for unemployment benefit

  1989–90

  -49

  -50

  Unemployment benefit "full extent normal" rule—de minimis provision

  1989–90

  "Actively seeking work" test for unemployment benefit

  1989–90

  Aboltion of pensioners earnings rule

  1989–90

  375

  410

  Widows: revised entitlement conditions for women widowed before April 1988

  1989–90

  13

  14

  Statutory sick pay: amendment of rates and higher/lower rate threshold

  1990–91

  -72

  -72

  1 Figures shown represent the initial estimates of the effect on national insurance benefit expenditure only in the first full year following implementation. No account is taken of the impact of the changes on administration costs, income tax and national insurance contribution revenues or expenditure on income-related benefits, other than as shown in note 2.

  2 Amounts shown represent the net effect on national insurance benefit expenditure after employers' recoveries from contributions to the national insurance fund in respect of payments of statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay to their employees.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to receive recommendations from the Government Actuary on the level of contributions to the national insurance fund necessary to prevent it running into deficit after 1993.

  Mr. Jack
  The exact level of contributions needed in the 1993–94 year will be considered as a result of advice from the Government Actuary in the autumn of 1992. The fund is projected to keep its level above the minimum recommended by the Government Actuary.

  Benefits
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average length of time taken to process applications for each of the benefits administered by his Department.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The average length of time taken to process benefit claims over the period 1 April 1990 to 31 December 1990 for the major benefits administered by the Department is in the following table.

  Days

  Attendance allowance

  41·6

  Income support

  5·0

  Invalid care allowance

  38·5

  192
  billion in cash terms and by £3·7 billion in real terms. The cost and savings which have accrued from the main policy changes to national insurance benefits since 1979 are set out in the table.

  Days

  Mobility allowance

  34·3

  Retirement pension

  20·3

  Sickness/invalidity benefit

  9·2

  Social fund

  i. Budget loan

  5·1

  ii. Community care grant

  7·2

  iii. Crisis loan

  0·4

  X per cent.

  In Y days

  Child benefit (straightforward)

  96·0

  in 5

  Child benefit (not straightforward)

  88·2

  in 16

  Family credit

  63·3

  in 20

  One-parent benefit

  88·3

  in 12

  Retirement pension

  85·7

  in 30

  War disablement pension

  30·7

  in 125

  War widow's pension

  44·6

  in 50

  Annual Report
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to publish his Department's annual report.

  Mr. Jack
  Our departmental report was published on Friday 1 February 1991 and copies were placed in the Vote Office and the Library.

  Road Fund Licences
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on his policy towards extending the road fund licence concession to those who are made immobile after their 66th birthday.

  Mr. Scott
  This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  Operational Strategy
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on progress on implementing the operational strategy.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department's strategy for the computerisation of the social security payment system, which will be completed by July 1991, is proceeding as planned. The aims of the strategy are better service to the public through faster turnaround of claims, faster response to inquiries and less risk of payment errors; better value for the taxpayer by reducing the number of staff needed to administer social security; more satisfying jobs for staff by automating repetitive or tedious tasks thus enabling them to provide a better service to the public. By 21 January 1991, of a total of 451 offices, 411 had received the departmental central index, 402 the retirement pensions system, and 348 the income support system.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many social fund loan applications were refused by each of his Department's offices in Nottingham in(a) 1989–90 and (b) 1990 to date due to perceived inability to repay; and what advice was given to those refused.

  Mr. Scott
  The table shows the number of applications recorded as refused on grounds of inability to repay. All decision letters advise applicants of their right to ask for a review and refer to the citizens advice bureau or a local law centre as a source of general advice. Money advice is normally offered to applicants discovered to be in financial difficulties, including such cases where an applicant is refused because of a perceived inability to repay.

  1989–90

  1990 to December 1990

  Castlegate

  62

  31

  David Lane

  100

  73

  Shakespeare Street

  15

  16

  Station Street

  41

  39

  Expenditure
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update to 1989–90 his answer of 26 January 1989 to the hon. Member for York (Mr.194
  Gregory), Official Report, columns 711–12, giving the proportion of the real growth in social security expenditure attributable to increases in the number of beneficiaries and to increases in the average amounts of benefit paid.

  Mr. Jack
  Between 1978–79 and 1989–90, social security programme expenditure has increased by 36 per cent. in real terms, from £38·5 billion to £52·2 billion at 1989–90 prices. The Government's commitment to meeting genuine needs has seen social security spending rise from 26 per cent. of public spending in 1978–79 to 32 per cent. in 1989–90.

  The main groups benefiting from the growth of the programme have been:
  Pensioners: expenditure on the elderly has increased by about £5·2 billion in real terms. This substantial rise in social security spending has taken place at the same time as the rapid growth of occupational and personal pensions and the higher income from savings which many pensioners now enjoy. The result is that pensioners' incomes from all sources have increased by 31 per cent. between 1979 and 1987.
  Long-term sick and disabled: expenditure has grown by 105 per cent.—almost £4·4 billion—in real terms. A total of 590,000 more people now receive invalidity benefit than in 1978–79 and the numbers receiving attendance allowance have increased by 530,000. The numbers receiving mobility allowance have increased sixfold from 95,000 to 585,000 over the period.
  The family: total benefit support for the family has increased by 28 per cent. in real terms over the period. Spending on family credit in 1989–90 was £425 million. This is more than double the spending on family income support which it replaced.

  It is not possible to produce a meaningful breakdown of expenditure changes, for the reasons detailed in the answer to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 26 February 1990 at column 64.

  Claimants
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if his Department will conduct a study into the correlation between reducing levels of unemployment benefit claims and increasing levels of invalidity benefit claims; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The Department is already planning further research into the reasons for increasing numbers of invalidity benefit recipients. Factors such as the relationship with unemployment will form part of this work.

  SERPS
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the percentage of costs in fees, commissions and administration of the state earnings related pension scheme; and what are the comparable costs for personal pensions.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department does not keep separate accounts of the administrative costs of the state earnings-related pension scheme; neither does it keep information on the costs in fees, commissions or administration costs for personal pensions, as these are a matter for the individual providers.

  Vibration White Finger
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases of vibration white finger have been acknowledged by, and what was the total sum paid out in each of, his Department's offices in Newcastle and Gateshead between September 1989 and December 1990.

  Mr. Scott
  Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of financial difficulties facing private nursing homes for the elderly.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We have taken account of representations of interested organisations and also the survey of costs conducted on behalf of the Department by

  Scotland

  Greenock

  Port Glasgow

  Strathclylde

  Year

  Number of Payments

  Amount

  Real value

  Number of Payments

  Amount

  Real value

  Number of Payments

  Amount

  Real value

  Number of Payments

  Amount

  Real value

  (000s)

  (£000s)

  (£000s)

  (000s)

  (£000s)

  (£000s)

  (000s)

  (£000s)

  (£000s)

  (000s)

  (£000s)

  (£000s)

  1979–80 No scheme

  1980–81 No figures available

  1981–82

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1982–83

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1983–84

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1984–85

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1985–86

  1·9

  49·9

  67·1

  1·1

  25·7

  34·5

  53·3

  1,198·3

  1,610·8

  84·2

  1,928·0

  2,591·7

  1986·87

  7·9

  39·5

  51·3

  10·2

  50·8

  66·1

  216·4

  1,082·1

  1,406·6

  291·2

  1,455·9

  1,892·4

  1987·88

  2·3

  11·3

  13·9

  1·2

  6·1

  7·5

  47·9

  241·2

  297·3

  84·7

  426·6

  525·9

  1988–89

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·5

  2·5

  2·8

  1989–90

  1·8

  17·8

  20·5

  0·9

  9·0

  10·3

  47·0

  438·9

  504·2

  48·2

  444·7

  510·9

  1990–91

  Figures not yet available

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the temperatures used to trigger severe weather payments recorded in each of the weather stations used for Greenock, Port Glasgow and Gourock for each day during the last two weeks of 1990 and those weeks in January 1991, for which figures are available.

  Mr. Scott
  A weather station will trigger if there has been a period of seven consecutive days, during which the average mean daily temperature is 0 deg. Centigrade or less. Glasgow airport weather station, which is the weather station relevant to Greenock, Port Glasgow and Gourock, did not trigger on any day during the last two weeks of 1990. The only time to date that the weather has been severe enough to trigger cold weather payments in Greenock, Port Glasgow and Gourock was on Wednesday 16 January when the seven day running mean temperature was recorded as — 0·2 deg. Centigrade.

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

  Smoking
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make a statement on the progress in implementing a smoke-free policy throughout his Department;
  196
  management consultants Price Waterhouse. On 24 October my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, announced a very substantial increase on the limit for the elderly in nursing homes of £45 a week—£55 in London —from April this year. The limit is now fairly set in relation to median costs in homes across the country.

  Severe Weather Payments
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for(a) Greenock and Port Glasgow, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole (i) the total number of recipients and (ii) the total values of the payments in (1) cash and (2) constant terms, under the exceptionally severe weather payments in each year from 1979–80 to 1990–91.

  Mr. Scott
  The information is in the following table.

  (2) if he will make it his policy to ensure that every non-smoking employee in his Department has the right to work in a smoke-free area; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department's current nonsmoking policy, aimed at introducing extensive smoke-free areas in all DSS offices, was introduced in July 1989. A review of progress in June last year revealed that nearly 80 per cent. of the offices had introduced smoke-free working areas. In the remaining offices local discussions towards introducing smoke-free working areas were continuing.

  DEFENCE Ammunition
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the position of ammunition with respect to the list of products agreed by the European Council on 15 April 1958, to be included within the provisions of paragraph 1(b) of article 223 of the treaty of Rome.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Artillery ammunition and ammunition for automatic and portable firearms is included in the EEC Council list of items defining the scope of paragraph 1(b) of article 223 of the treaty of Rome. Ammunition for sporting guns, pistols and other small arms of a calibre less than 7mm is excluded from this list.

  Gulf War (Journalists)
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure access if accredited Scottish journalists to Scottish units serving in the Gulf; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Opportunities have been provided for Scottish journalists to have access to Scottish units serving in the Gulf and I would expect further such opportunities to be provided.

  Tornado Aircraft
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the availability of spare parts for Tornado aircraft sold by Britain to Saudi Arabia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  No. It has not been the practice of this or previous Administrations to comment on the details of specific sales.

  Smoking
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure that every non-smoking employee in his Department has the right to work in a smoke-free area; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the progress of implementing a smoke-free policy throughout his Department.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Further to my hon. Friend's reply of 29 January 1990, it remains the Department's policy to discourage smoking. New guidance is being prepared which brings to the attention of staff the latest research into the dangers of smoking. Non-smoking areas continue to be established in the Department's buildings in response to the wishes of staff. A number of new proposals for such areas are currently under consideration. We are also considering banning smoking in all conference rooms in the Department's buildings.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he will consider the immediate construction of a national network of incinerators to destroy proscribed cattle offal and the carcases of BSE-affected cattle;

  (2) what is his estimate of the proportion of slaughtered BSE-affected cattle that are (a) incinerated, (b) buried in licensed landfills and (c) buried by farmers under their own land.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information for BSE carcases is as follows:

  Per cent.

  Incinerated

  83·3

  Buried on licensed landfill sites

  16·4

  Used for research

  0·2

  Buried on farm

  0·1

  New incineration capacity is expected to become available later this year.
  198
  Specified bovine offal is banned from any use in human or animal food and must be disposed of within the framework of health and environmental restrictions.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will advise dairy farmers not to bury under their land slaughtered cattle suspected or confirmed as having contracted BSE;

  (2) if he will consider introducing a ban on the indiscriminate burial of BSE-affected cattle on farms.

  Mr. Maclean
  The disposal of animals slaughtered as suspect BSE cases is the responsibility of the state veterinary service (SVS). On farm burial is used only when other options are not available and is strictly supervised by the SVS to ensure there is no risk to human or animal health. In 1990 only 19 out of 16,432 carcases were buried on farm.

  Mr. Marland
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made to set up the review of the animal feed industry announced in the Government's reply to the fifth report of the Agriculture Committee, Session 1989–90, on bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Government undertook to establish a small group of experts to review the regulation of the whole animal feed industry in its response to a recommendation of the fifth report of Agriculture Select Committee, 1989–90. I am now able to announce that the group of experts has been set up. It comprises:

  Professor Lamming—Chairman, Professor of Animal Physiology, Nottingham University

  Professor Thomas, Principal and Chief executive of the Scottish Agricultural College

  Mr. Colin Maclean, Technical Director, Meat and Livestock Commission

  Dr. Mary Cooke, Deputy Director Public Health Laboratory Service

  The terms of reference are:
  "To review the existing regulatory framework covering the animal feed industry in the United Kingdom. To advise on whether any improvements are required in the mechanisms by which the responsible Departments take account of food safety requirements in regulating the industry and to report to Ministers by the end of 1991".

  The first meeting of the group will be held very shortly.

  Food (Intervention Storage)
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish(a) a table showing the tonnage and value of various foodstuffs in intervention storage (i) in the United Kingdom and (ii) in the EEC and (b) give these quantities as a percentage of annual output.

  Mr. Curry
  The information requested is shown in the table:

  Intervention stocks ('000 tonnes)

  Value£million1

  stocks as percentage of annual production (1989)

  United Kingdom

  Butter

  23

  14·98

  18

  SMP

  7

  4·13

  5

  Cereals

  631

  20·25

  3

  Beef

  74

  81·82

  8

  199

  Intervention stocks ('000 tonnes)

  Value£million1

  stocks as percentage of annual production (1989)

  EC

  Butter

  243

  188·03

  14

  SMP

  336

  218·33

  24

  Cereals

  12,417

  790·96

  8

  Beef

  2210

  166·63

  3

  Olive Oil

  71

  62·86

  5

  Dried Fruit

  37

  8·65

  30

  Tobacco

  87

  17·92

  21

  1 Values (except for dried fruit) from 1991 preliminary draft budget, representing end-year depreciated value of stock. Dried fruit value based on current disposal prices.

  2 Latest published figure. Informal Commission estimates are that stocks are currently around 700,000 tonnes.

  Quick Frozen Food
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the Government's definition of quick frozen food.

  Mr. Maclean
  Quick frozen foodstuff is defined in the Quick Frozen Foodstuffs Regulations 1990 which came into force on 10 January this year.

  Decommissioning Schemes
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to implement proposals in line with EEC guidelines, following the decision by the Council of Ministers in December 1990, to increase the advance for decommissioning schemes.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government have no plans to introduce a decommissioning scheme.

  Irradiation
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications for a licence to irradiate food have so far been received.

  Mr. Maclean
  No formal application has yet been made.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what environmental protection and nature conservation provisions will be required of recipients of specific support schemes for organic farming.

  Mr. Curry
  There are no specific support schemes for organic farming, but farmers are able to benefit from a number of general schemes. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North-West (Mr. Bellingham) on 14 December 1990 (Official Report, c. 539). The standards established by the United Kingdom register of organic food standards and by other organic sector bodies already contain relevant provisions for the conservation of the environment. However, it is too early to say what additional requirements might form part of any specific support schemes for organic farming, the introduction of which is dependent on agreement in Brussels.

  Deer
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has conducted into the grazing of wild deer on spring grass in the west country.

  Mr. Curry
  None.

  Sugar
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what level he estimates the stockpile of sugar in the EC to be for the marketing year 1990–91; and what have been the actual levels in the last five years.

  Mr. Curry
  There has been no sugar in EC intervention stores during the 1990–91 marketing year. The following maximum quantities of sugar were held in intervention in each of the last five years for limited periods of time:

  Tonnes

  1985–86

  122,000

  1986–87

  835,700

  1987–88

  50,000

  1988–89

  Nil

  1989–90

  Nil

  Food Irradiation
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licences have been granted for the irradiation of food in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  No licences to irradiate food have yet been granted. All applications will require detailed consideration by experts—including a full physical inspection of premises by qualified personnel. Information on any licence issued will be published in the London and Edinburgh Gazettes.

  Food Research
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Department will produce its programme for the research to be commissioned from the Institute of Food Research in 1991–92.

  Mr. Curry
  A programme of work for 1991–92 is currently under discussion with the Institute of Food Research and will be issued as soon as possible.

  Coastal Defence
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Government have any plans to develop a national plan on coastal defence which would include clear regional strategic plans for local authorities.

  Mr. Curry
  In allocating grant to the National Rivers Authority and to local authorities empowered under the Land Drainage Act 1976 and the Coast Protection Act 1949 to undertake coastal defence work, this Department has full information on the forward capital coastal defence programmes of those authorities, and gives highest priority to schemes giving protection to people arid property. The Department also funds the national flood and coastal defence research and development programme
  201
  with the aim inter alia, of developing understanding of coastal processes and improving design of coastal defences. This strategy ensures that Government funding is provided at the appropriate level and is used to the best possible effect. We have no plans to change the nature of these arrangements but we do expect to develop even closer liaison between this Department and authorities in order to add to the effectiveness of our respective planning procedures.

  Smoking
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the progress in implementing a smoke-free policy throughout his Department;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to ensure that every non-smoking employee in his Department has the right to work in a smoke-free area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  This Department has continued to develop non-smoking regimes in our buildings taking account of local circumstances. Restrictions already apply at many locations and a formal departmental policy statement is to be issued shortly with the intention of further extending such regimes. The general approach is to discourage smoking on official premises while providing some separate facilities for smokers.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held on 4 and 5 February; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Gummer
  I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting together with my hon. Friend, the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry), the Parliamentary-Secretary in my Department.

  The Council had before it a Commission paper on the future of the common agricultural policy. This contained few figures and made no specific proposals, but suggested that a revised common agricultural policy should have as a principal aim keeping as many farmers as possible on the land. The revised policy could involve significantly lower prices and higher direct payments to producers, the latter being modulated in favour of small producers.

  I welcomed the Commission's willingness to contemplate radical reform of the common agricultural policy, but pointed out that the Commission's ideas seemed likely to involve a considerable increase in Community expenditure, probably to levels well above the agreed guideline; would place the more efficient and competitive Community producers at a disadvantage compared to their international competitors; and would involve unacceptable discrimination between member states. Several other Ministers expressed similar hesitations.

  It is not clear what action the Commission will now take. It must in any case shortly produce price proposals for 1991–92 but Ministers made it clear that these were a separate matter.

  The Council voted (with the United Kingdom voting against) to bring producers' direct sales of yogurt, ice cream and certain other milk products within the scope of Community rules on milk quotas for the first time. It was not possible, on this occasion, to complete parliamentary scrutiny of changes to the milk quota arrangements prior to adoption. This was due to the Commission's precipitate action in bringing the matter before the Council and the Presidency's putting the matter to the vote.

  VIETNAM
  VIETNAM
  AUNG SAN SUU KYI: REPRESENTATIONS
  AUNG SAN SUU KYI: REPRESENTATIONS
  BALTIC STATES: INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
  BALTIC STATES: INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
  LITHUANIA: ALLEGED ATTACKS
  LITHUANIA: ALLEGED ATTACKS
  LITHUANIA: THEFT FROM BRITISH JOURNALISTS
  LITHUANIA: THEFT FROM BRITISH JOURNALISTS
  EUROPEAN COUNCIL: UNANIMOUS VOTES
  EUROPEAN COUNCIL: UNANIMOUS VOTES
  ANGLO-AMERICAN RELATIONSHIP
  ANGLO-AMERICAN RELATIONSHIP
  NORTH KOREA
  NORTH KOREA
  NORTHERN IRELAND: REMAND PRISONERS
  NORTHERN IRELAND: REMAND PRISONERS
  JUVENILES ON REMAND
  JUVENILES ON REMAND
  PRISONERS IN POLICE CUSTODY
  PRISONERS IN POLICE CUSTODY
  PRISONS: CERTIFIED NORMAL ACCOMMODATION
  PRISONS: CERTIFIED NORMAL ACCOMMODATION
  PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS: RPM
  PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS: RPM
  EXPORT CREDITS: USSR
  EXPORT CREDITS: USSR
  BALTIC STATES AND GATT
  BALTIC STATES AND GATT
  ABORTION STATISTICS
  ABORTION STATISTICS