Written Answers of 11 February 1991

ENERGY

  British Nuclear Fuels
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects the annual report and accounts of British Nuclear Fuels plc for the financial year 1989–90 to be published; and what are the reasons for the delay in their publication.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I understand that the accounts of British Nuclear Fuels plc for the financial year ended 31 March 1990 will be filed with the Registrar of Companies during April 1991 and published as soon as possible afterwards. The accounts have been delayed as a result of negotiations on new contractual arrangements between the company and its two major United Kingdom customers, Nuclear Electric plc and Scottish Nuclear Ltd.

  Redundant Mineworkers
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what action can be taken to recover overpaid moneys from claimants of benefit from the redundant mineworkers' payments scheme.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Overpaid moneys are recovered by means of an immediate lump sum payment, or through a weekly deduction from continuing benefit under the redundant mineworkers' payments scheme, or through commitment to repay from a future entitlement such as a mineworker's pension, or through some combination of these three ways.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many actions were taken resulting in the recovery of overpaid sums to recipients from the redundant mineworkers' payments scheme; and what was the total sum of recovered moneys for the last year in which figures are available.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The data are not collated in the form requested. However, in the tax year 1989–90 around 2,600 actions were undertaken to recover over a number of years some £700,000 in overpaid moneys.

  Coal Imports
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total amount of coal imported from the Soviet Union for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Imports of hard coal from the Soviet Union have been as follows:

  Calendar year

  Thousand tones

  1986

  48

  1987

  89

  1988

  375

  292

  Calendar year

  Thousand tonnes

  1989

  181

  1990

  1592

  1 Provisional

  Source: Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Legal Aid Board
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the names, terms of office, salaries and former occupations of the present members of the Legal Aid Board.

  The Attorney-General
  The names and occupations or former occupations, of the present members of the Legal Aid Board are:

  Names

  Occupations

  John Pitts(Chairman)

  Former Chairman and Chief Executive of the Tioxide Group. Term of office, five years expiring May 1993

  Martin Acland

  JP, General Commissioner of Income Tax and former Executive Director of Mercantile Credit Co. Term of office four years expiring May 1992.

  Diana Beale

  Advice Worker and Member of the National Association of Citizen Advice Bureaux. Term of office four years expiring May 1992

  Allan Blake

  Associate Dean for Personnel and Resources Business School, Leeds Polytechnic. Term of office five years expiring May 1993.

  Hilary Bradley

  Barrister. Term of office three years expiring May 1991.

  Lyn Devonald

  Solicitor. Term of office four years expiring May 1992.

  Kenneth Farrow

  Barrister and Assistant Recorder. Term of office four years expiring May 1992.

  Suzette Harold

  Former Managing Director of F International Ltd. Term of office three years expiring May 1991.

  Geoffrey Hibbert

  JP, former Personnel Director, Shell International Petroleum Co. Term of office three years expiring May 1991.

  David Sinker

  JP, Chartered Accountant and Chairman of the Leach Group. Term of office four years expiring May 1991.

  John Smith

  JP, former Personnel Director and Assistant Managing Director, Associated British Ports. Term of office five years expiring May 1993.

  Peter Soar

  Solicitor. Term of office five years expiring May 1993.

  The Chairman of the Board is paid £21,326 per annum. Mr. Hibbert is paid £12,925 and Mr. Blake £7,109. All other members are paid £14,218 per annum.

  Stolen Equipment
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will publish a list of the equipment stolen from his office in the last three years for which information is available; and what was the approximate value of each item.

  The Attorney-General
  No equipment has been stolen from my office or from the Treasury Solicitor's Department during the last three years. Four screwdrivers with a total value of £1.20 have been stolen from the Serious Fraud Office, and the items listed in the table have been stolen from offices of the Crown prosecution service.

  Approximate value of each item

  Total

  £

  £

  6 Video recorders

  500

  3,000

  1 Video camera

  1,000

  1,000

  1 Word processor

  1,700

  1,700

  21 Hand held dictation machines

  90

  1,890

  1 Transcriber

  250

  250

  5 Microwave ovens

  150

  750

  4 Electric fans

  25

  100

  1 Lawn mower

  400

  400

  1 Sactruck

  65

  65

  2 Volumes Oxford English dictionary

  50

  100

  1 Answerphone

  90

  90

  1 Stainless steel sink unit and waste disposal unit

  200

  200

  Central heating radiators

  —

  1000

  1 Coffee maker

  60

  60

  Total

  10,605

  Circuit Judges
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) what consultations he has had with the chief constable of the South Wales police regarding the provision of security for the persons, families and property of circuit judges when resident at Radyr Chain house, Llandrisant road, Cardiff;

  (2) what representations he has had regarding the level of security at Radyr Chain house.

  The Attorney-General
  No building of this name forms part of the Lord Chancellor's estate. The lodgings for High Court judges in Cardiff are at Whitehall, Drysgol road, Radyr.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Attorney-General what proposals he has to(a) review and (b) strengthen security at circuit judges' residential accommodation in (i) Cardiff and (ii) elsewhere.

  The Attorney-General
  No residential accommodation is provided for circuit judges. Security arrangements at the residential accommodation provided for High Court judges in Cardiff and elsewhere are regularly reviewed by officials of the Lord Chancellor's Department, and changes made when these are necessary.

  Acts of Parliament
  Sir John Wheeier
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he will make it his policy to include a comma before the year in the citation of Acts of Parliament.
  294
  The Attorney-General
  No. The practice of including a comma in the citation of an Act serves no useful purpose, and was abandoned in 1962, on the advice of the Statute Law Committee.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Attorney-General whether there is a shortage of solicitors prepared to take on legal aid work in any area of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Legal Aid Board, which administers the legal aid system in England and Wales, has received no representations from persons requiring the services of a solicitor who have been unable to obtain those services. The Scottish Legal Aid Board has also received no such representations. Similarly, the position in Northern Ireland is that no such representations have been received.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Attorney-General how many solicitors and companies of solicitors have withdrawn from the legal aid scheme over the past three years.

  The Attorney-General
  No statistics are available on the identities of solicitors or firms of solicitors undertaking legal aid work at any one time. The Legal Aid Board does, however, publish a figure showing the number of officies receiving payment. For the last three years follows:

  Number

  1987–88

  11,617

  1988–89

  11,558

  1989–90

  11,455

  The Legal Aid Board also publishes statistics which show that, despite this, over the past three years the number of legal aid payments made to solicitors has risen.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received concerning people wishing to obtain legal aid because they cannot afford the legal fees but who have been refused legal aid; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Lord Chancellor regularly receives representations regarding all aspects of the legal aid system. However, the grant of legal aid is a matter for the Legal Aid Board or the courts. The Lord Chancellor is conducting a review into the financial conditions for legal aid which will also consider how an applicant's means relate to the cost of proceedings.

ENVIRONMENT

  Litter Code
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment with regard to the introduction of the litter code under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and his Department's effort to seek the views of local authority representatives, how many local authorities submitted comments on his proposals; what proportion of comments were in favour of his proposals; and if he will make those comments publicly available.

  Mr. Trippier
  A draft of the code of practice on litter and refuse, which provides guidance on the discharge of
  295
  the new duty to ensure that land is kept clear of litter and refuse, was issued for consultation to local authorities and others in February 1990.

  Of the 160 local authorities who commented on the draft code, only a handful stated that they were opposed to it. This was, no doubt, due to the fact that the code was drafted in consultation with a code of practice advisory group which comprised representatives of the main local authority associations, statutory transport undertakers, private sector cleansing contractors and property owners. The practicalities of the proposals had therefore already been carefully considered by practitioners, but comments were taken into account in producing the final version of the code which was published on 18 January 1991.

  We have no plans, at present, to make any responses to the consultation publicly available.

  Government grants 1as percentage of local authority expenditure

  Non-domestic rates 2as percentage of local authority expenditure

  Domestic rates/community charges 3as percentage of local authority expenditure

  1979–804

  60

  22

  17

  1980–814

  59

  23

  17

  1981–82

  56

  25

  20

  1982–83

  53

  26

  21

  1983–84

  54

  26

  19

  1984–85

  54

  26

  20

  1985–86

  54

  28

  21

  1986–87

  50

  28

  22

  1987–88

  49

  28

  23

  1988–89

  46

  28

  24

  1989–90

  44

  28

  25

  1990–91

  42

  29

  28

  1 For the years 1979–80 to 1989–90 Government grants comprises aggregate Exchequer grant and rate rebate grants. For 1990–91 Government grants is made up of revenue support grant, special grants, specific grants in aggregate external finance community charge benefits, and transitional relief grant.

  2 Net of rate rebates.

  3 Net of rate rebates for the years 1979–80 to 1989–90. Net of community charge benefits and transitional relief in 1990–91.

  4 England and Wales.

  Cheshire Structure Plan
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish his decisions in respect of the Cheshire structure plan.

  Sir George Young
  My right hon. Friend intends to announce his final decision on the Cheshire structure plan in the summer. He will consult on his proposed modifications in the spring.

  Local Authority Debt
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the metropolitan councils, and London boroughs, in England in ranking order of their indebtedness, in the last year for which figures are available, with the figures for(a) their debt, (b) the level of that year's debt service charge, (c) their population, (d), (a) divided by (c) and (e), (b) divided by (c); and if he will give corresponding figures for five, 10 and 15 years ago.

  Urban Development Corporations
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the withdrawal of urban development corporations and the transfer of powers back to local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  Urban development corporations were set up as temporary regeneration agencies with limited lifetimes. No UDC completes its projected lifetime before 1993. We are keeping their lifetimes under review.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing for each financial year from 1979–80 to 1990–91 the proportion expressed as a percentage of actual local authority spending met be(a) central government grant, (b) non-domestic ratepayers and (c) domestic rate/poll tax.

  Mr. Portillo
  The information for the English local authorities is as follows:

  Mr. Key
  I have arranged for the available information to be laid in the Library of the House.

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent directions he has given to the London Docklands development corporation on policy changes envisaged for that body; and what announcement he will be making concerning the role and appointment of its chief executive,.

  Mr. Key
  The Secretary of State has issued no statutory directions to the London Docklands development corporation. The LDDC keeps its policies and programmes under constant review, as reflected in its corporate plan, and holds regular discussions with Ministers during that process. The Secretary of State welcomes the LDDC board's decision to appoint Mr. Eric Sorensen as their new chief executive. Mr. Sorensen's role will be determined by the board.

  County Hall, London
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on the future disposal of county hall, London SE1.

  Mr. Key
  The public inquiry into the relevant planning applications was reopened on 15 January and remains to be concluded. It is for the London residuary body to decide on the timing of the disposal of county hall in the light of the planning position.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to require that manufacturers prove substances are not environmentally hazardous prior to production and disposal.

  Mr. Baldry
  There are adequate powers in existing legislation to require manufactuers to obtain information about potentially hazardous substances and to assess their effects on the environment. The Notification of New Substances Regulations 1982 require manufacturers or importers to provide information about potential hazards to the environment before they place substances on the market for the first time. Section 142 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 gives the Secretary of State powers to require manufacturers to obtain information about the properties of hazardous substances in order to assess their potential for causing pollution of the environment or harm to human health. In addition there are general duties under the relevant legislation not to discharge polluting substances to air or water or to dispose of them to land without the appropriate authorisation.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to enforce the disposal and control of waste substances, created locally, within that locality.

  Mr. Baldry
  It is not practicable to enforce local disposal. All wastes must be disposed of at suitably licensed facilities and particularly difficult wastes sometimes have to travel some distance to the nearest specialist facility equipped to dispose of them safely.

  The Department is, however, currently encouraging authorities to aim for regional self sufficiency in waste disposal. To this end we have asked authorities to form voluntary regional groupings to provide better strategic planning for disposal, a uniform approach to licensing and enforcement and more effective deployment of specialist resources across authorities.

  We expect these arrangments to be in place by 1 April. The Secretary of State has reserve powers in section 31 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to set up statutory regional waste regulation authorities where suitable voluntary arrangements have not been made.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many licensed waste disposal facilities are situated(a) within the United Kingdom, (b) in Yorkshire and Humberside and (c) within West Yorkshire;

  (2) how many waste disposal inspections were carried out in 1989 and 1990; and how frequently, on average, individual waste disposal premises are inspected;
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  (3) how many inspectors are employed to monitor the activities of licensed waste disposal installations within the United Kingdom; and if he will quantify these in terms of numbers of inspectors per installation licensed;

  (4) if he will increase the number of pollution inspectors to reflect the increased power of inspectors to monitor the activities of licensed waste disposal facilities;

  (5) if he will introduce legislation to replace Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution guidelines, as conditions for the licensing of waste disposal facilities within the United Kingdom, with statutory regulations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  It is the responsibility of waste disposal authorities to issue waste disposal licences and to ensure that any conditions of the licences are met. The information on numbers of sites, inspectors, and frequency of visits is not, therefore, available. However, as part of the implementation of part II of the Environmental Protection Act, the Secretary of State will be issuing statutory guidance to waste regulation authorities over the discharge of their functions in relation to licences. This guidance will largely be a revision of the existing waste management paper No. 4 "The Licensing of Waste Facilities".

  Dumplington Shopping Centre
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department first received an application to build a regional shopping centre at Dumplington, Trafford park, Manchester; and when he anticipates being in a position to announce his decision.

  Mr. Yeo
  A planning appeal for this scheme was made in November 1986. Two subsequent applications were called-in during 1987. I cannot yet forecast when it will be possible to decide them. I will write to interested parties as soon as I can.

  Private Water Supply
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional resources and help he is offering to local authorities to help them fulfil the duties and responsibilities in the proposed regulations on the monitoring of private water supplies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Most of the expenditure incurred by local authorities as a consequence of the proposed regulations on private water supplies will relate to the sampling and analysis of the supplies. The proposals provide for local authorities to recover through charges the costs they will incur for sampling and analysis at the prescribed frequencies. The additional costs to local authorities of carrying out their enforcement activities under section 57 of the Water Act 1989 were taken into account in the increase in total standard spending which we have allowed for in next year's revenue support grant settlement.

  Once the Private Water Supplies Regulations have been made, a departmental circular will be issued to provide advice and assistance to local authorities in carrying out their functions in relation to private water supplies. A draft of this circular forms part of the consultation paper recently published. Guidance to local authorities will also be available from the drinking water inspectorate in the form of a technical booklet.

  Homelessness
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many families with dependent children were accepted as homeless in 1990, or at the nearest available date;

  (2) how many families with dependent children, accepted as homeless by their local authority, were placed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in 1990 or at the nearest available date; and if he will express the answer in terms of the total number for England and the number for each local authority;

  (3) what was the average length of stay for families with dependent children, who were accepted as homeless by the local authority, and placed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation, in 1990 or at the nearest available date; and if he will express the answer in terms of the average length of stay for England and for each local authority.

  Sir George Young
  Local authorities have a statutory duty to secure accommodation for households who have been found homeless, or threatened with homelessness, and in priority need, under part III of the Housing Act 1985. Information is reported quarterly to the Department.

  In 1989–90 local authorities accepted and found accommodation for some 80,000 households with dependent children. The information provided does not indentify families with dependent children placed in bed and breakfast accommodation nor the average length of stay and my Department has no estimates. The latest estimates for England for the total number of homeless households in bed and breakfast accommodation, for the end of September 1990, appear in table 4(a) of "Households found accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the third quarter 1990. Supplementary Tables", a copy of which is in the Library. Available information for individual local authorities appears in table 7 of the same document.

  Water Meters
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the next report of the compulsory water meter trials to be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The second interim report on the national water metering trials was published by the water industry last July and covered the installation phase of the trials. A final report covering other aspects of the trials will be published after they have been completed. This will not be until 1993.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give his estimate of the numbers of extra staff employed by local councils due to the introduction of the community charge.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 8 February 1991]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) to a question by the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) on 16 January 1991, at columns 498–99.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Community Charge
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement as to the result of the discussions between his noble Friend Lord Ferrers and the chief constable of the West Midlands, other members of a police delegation and the Association of Metropolitan authorities, held on 18 December, to discuss their financial concerns about the effects of plans to cap the community charge in their areas.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Torfaen (Mr. Murphy) on 7 February at column 236.

  Stolen Equipment
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list of the equipment stolen from his Department in the last three years for which information is available; and what was the approximate value of each item.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The following equipment has been reported as stolen and written off as such in the appropriation account:

  1988–89

  £

  Gardening equipment

  890

  Farm equipment

  8,380

  Video recorder

  193

  Radio

  257

  Projection screen

  100

  Video recorder and Microwave oven

  470

  1989–90

  £

  Gardening equipment

  1,780

  Farm equipment

  10,996

  Bicycles

  353

  1990–91

  £

  Gardening equipment

  1,006

  The following equipment is thought to have been but has not yet been formally entered on the losses register for the purposes of the appropriation account:

  1989–90

  £

  Desktop computer

  1,450

  Video recorder

  290

  Parliamentary Constituencies
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many parliamentary constituencies there are in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) Scotland.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of parliamentary con-stituencies is currently as follows:England 523; Wales 38; Scotland 72 and Northern Ireland 17.

  The number of constituencies in England will be increased to 524 at the next general election.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  National Expenditure
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total expenditure by central and local government in the last financial year; what is the estimated figure for the current year; and by how much income tax requires to be raised to yield the equivalent sums.

  Mr. Mellor
  The latest information on expenditure by central and local government was published in the "Statistical Supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement" —Cm 1520. The figures requested, consistent with the supplement, are as follows:—

  £ million

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Central government1

  Expenditure other than debt interest

  127,521

  141,214

  Debt interest

  17,823

  217,800

  Total

  145,344

  2159,000

  Local authorities3

  Expenditure other than debt interest

  47,970

  52,086

  Debt interest

  4,919

  25,200

  Total

  52,889

  257,300

  1 Including the financing requirements of public corporations (other than nationalised industries).

  2 Rounded to the nearest £100 million.

  3 Includes expenditure financed by support provided by central government (eg revenue support grant) and expenditure which local authorities finance for themselves (eg from community charge, capital receipts).

  A ready reckoner for the revenue effects of tax changes was published table 4.5 of the autumn statement.

  Departmental Purchasing
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many Departments to date have established or expanded purchasing units purchasing goods formerly bought on their behalf by the Crown Suppliers; and what are the total annual running costs of those units;

  (2) how many Departments to date have established units purchasing services formerly provided to them by the Property Services Agency; and what are the total annual running costs of those units.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Stolen Equipment
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a list of the equipment stolen from his Department in the last three years for which information is available; and what was the approximate value of each item.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The following items of equipment are noted as having been stolen from Her Majesty's Treasury in the last three years:

  seven transponders, 1987—value £1,400.

  computer accessories and document box, 1987—value

  302

  £2,126·91.

  Video recorder, 1988—value £285·89.

  electroholm screen, 1988—value £292·35.

  ICL keyboard, 1990—value £126.

  Endangered Species
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions were entered as a result of articles relating to rare and endangered species seized by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in the year to 31 March 1990.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 8 February 1991]: During the year in question four prosecutions, involving five persons, were instituted under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, for attempted evasion of the endangered species restrictions. All related to live creatures or plants, rather than to articles derived from them.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his answer of 1 February,Official Report, column 678, if he will give details of the 1,546 live animals and birds seized by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in the year to 31 March 1990; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in respect of the disposal of such creatures.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 8 February 1991]: The total of 1,546 live animals and birds was made up of the following categories:

  Category

  Number seized

  Monkeys

  8

  Wild feline

  1

  Snakes

  171

  Tortoises

  48

  Turtles

  90

  Lizards

  571

  Frogs

  40

  Toads

  50

  Salamanders

  12

  Parrots

  22

  Other birds

  533

  As to disposal of such creatures, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 21 July 1990 at column 417. Policy in this area remains unchanged.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Latin America
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new policies Her Majesty's Government are proposing for the improvement of co-operation with the democratic Latin American Governments in their efforts to(a) consolidate democracy, (b) restore or improve freedoms, (c) promote social justice and (d) gain better access to the EC markets.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We take every opportunity to strengthen our excellent relations with Latin American countries, encourage respect for democratic freedoms and human rights and foster trade and investment. In allocating development aid, we increasingly apply the good government criteria outlined by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth
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  Affairs in his speech to the Overseas Development Institute on 6 June 1990. We are also working for an early and successful conclusion of the GATT round.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he has made to safeguard the position after 1999 of Catholics in Hong Kong who do not join the Patriotic Chinese Church; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Sino-British joint declaration on the future of Hong Kong, the Basic Law for the Hong Kong special administrative region and the international covenant on civil and political rights, which will continue to apply to Hong Kong after 1997, all make provision for the continuation of freedom of religious belief and practice in Hong Kong after 1997.

  Ex-prisoners of War
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have received from British ex-prisoners of war about their treatment while working for I.G. Farben during the second world war.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We have received a number of representations. Some cases of mistreatment by individuals were investigated after the War with a view to war crimes proceedings, but, as a general matter, we do not consider that treatment of prisoners of war who worked for I.G. Farben can be shown to have been contrary to the 1929 Geneva convention. There is no basis to raise this matter with the German authorities.

  China
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of the People's Republic of China regarding the imprisonment of Catholics at Baoding and Yixian in Hebei province.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are seeking details of the specific cases referred to by the hon. Member. We have raised our concerns over the treatment of Catholics in China on a number of occasions. Together with our European partners, we made representations about the imprisonment of Catholics in China in February 1990. My hon. Friend the then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, also raised this with the Chinese Government during his visit to Peking in July.

  Third Geneva Convention
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there are any conditions under which a signatory to the third Geneva convention may be permitted to refuse to observe any or all of its obligations under that convention.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. The third Geneva convention does not have a provision for derogation and is binding on all its parties, which include Iraq.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion he has had with the Government of Jordan about bombing of the Iraq-Jordan highway.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have received reports from the Jordanian Government of bombing incidents on the highway in late January.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to that part of United Nations Security Council resolution 678 referring to the restoration of international peace and security as being applicable to a wider area than that covered by Arab Gulf states.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 30 January at column 525. Security Council resolution 678 is concerned with the illegal Iraqi invasion and occupation of Kuwait and measures taken to restore international peace and security in that area.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what approach he has received from the Iranian Government about their peace plans for the Gulf; and what response he has sent.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Iranian Government are reported to have put forward to Iraq certain suggestions for achieving a peaceful solution to the current crisis. The details have not been disclosed, but we would support any proposal based on a complete Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait and full compliance with the relevant Security Council resolutions.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on surveys conducted by the United Nations, or any international body of which the United Kingdom is a member, into the efficacy of sanctions against Iraq up to 16 January.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 17 December to the hon. Member for Bolton, South-East (Mr. Young), at column 71. The UN has not published any survey on the efficacy of sanctions against Iraq up to 16 January. We are not aware of any such survey published by other international organisations to which we belong.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to propose the permanent sitting of the United Nations during the Gulf war so that all peace proposals can be examined on the international stage.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  As required under article 28 of the charter, the UN Security Council is so organised as to enable it to function continuously.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications he has received from the United Nations Secretary-General about bombing of vehicles on the main Iraq-Jordan highway; and what response he has made.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have received no communications from the UN Secretary-General on this subject.
  305
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on statements made by or reports issued from United Nations senior officials or its offices, as to the level of casualties, military and/or civilian, in Iraq and Kuwait.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have no information on casualty levels in Iraq or Kuwait from United Nations sources. The Amnesty International report published in December describes conditions and civilian casualties in Kuwait under Iraqi occupation.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take action to place the costs of the Gulf war to individual members of the European Community to joint European account in relation to the dependence of individual Community members on Gulf oil.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No.

  AEA Fuel Services
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West on 21 January 1991 at column 50, if the United Kingdomn embassy in Oslo promoted any services offered by the United Kingdom AEA Fuel Services.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  UKAEA Dounreay has sought and received from the British embassy in Oslo advice on marketing services relating to offshore oil installations, but the embassy has not been engaged in the promotion of its services.

  Israel
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel about the curfew imposed upon Palestinians in the west bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem; and what replies he has received.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what immediate action he intends to ensure that Israel removes the curfew currently imposed on the Palestinians of the west bank and Gaza strip.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Twelve have agreed to make an early demarche to the Israeli authorities to press for an easing of the curfew. Meanwhile, we understand that the Israelis are taking steps to ease the curfew.

  Phnom Penh
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which(a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department visited Phnom Penh between 1981 and 1990 inclusive; and if he will give the dates of the visits in each case.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No Foreign and Commonwealth Minister visited Phnom Penh between 1981 and 1990. Officials from the British embassy in Bangkok and the ODA have twice visited Phnom Penh from 8 to 16 December 1989 and from 31 August to 6 September 1990.

  Stolen Equipment
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a list of the equipment stolen from his Department in the last three years for which information is available; and what was the approximate value of each item.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The following items of equipment have been reported stolen from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the past three years:

  £ each

  £

  Two desk fans

  20·00

  40·00

  Two answer phones

  60·83

  121·66

  Two telephones from lifts

  7·00

  14·00

  One tape recorder

  —

  47·50

  Two office cleaning machines

  250·00

  500·00

  Total

  —

  723·16

  Ambassadors
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the number of Her Majesty's ambassadors currently in post who do not come from the ranks of career diplomats; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There are currently no ambassadors or high commissioners who are other than career members of Her Majesty's diplomatic service.

  Beirut
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made this year concerning the Christian community in Beirut.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have frequently urged the Lebanese Government to pursue a policy of peace and reconciliation. Further bloodshed will only cause more suffering.

  Middle East
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he intends to take through the United Nations to ensure that any long-term plans to make the middle east a region free from weapons of mass destruction would apply to Israel in the same way as they would to Arab countries.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Any middle east zone free from weapons of mass destruction would by definition have to include Israel as well as Arab states. President Mubarak proposed such a zone in 1990. We understand that the Egyptians are considering how to take their initiative forward. We would look carefully at any further proposals. In the meantime, we shall continue to pursue controls on nuclear and other sensitive technologies through the respective international fora.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  The Gulf
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to introduce a know-how programme for middle east states,
  307
  similar to that available to Poland and other central and eastern European states, following the conclusion of hostilities in the Gulf war.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Government already have technical co-operation programmes under the overseas aid programme providing know how to a number of middle east states.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Aitken
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will specify the nature of the economic co-operation with Ethiopia which the Minister for Overseas Development discussed in Addis Ababa with President Mengistu last month.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I had discussions with Ethiopian Ministers about their economic reform programme. I urged them to reach full agreement with the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, since this will be necessary in order to attract additional flows of development aid from the international community. I drew attention to the fact that the United Kingdom makes its contribution to Ethiopia's development through our participation in the European Community's development programme.

  Commonwealth Development Corporation
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to increase the funding of the Commonwealth Development Corporation during 1991.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No final decision has yet been taken on the level of funding of the Commonwealth Development Corporation for 1991–92.

  Third World Debt
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at which conferences dealing with third world debt reduction he was represented during 1989 and 1990.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Secretary of State attended the Houston economic summit in 1990. Sir Geoffrey Howe as Secretary of State attended the Paris economic summit in 1989. The permanent secretary of the Overseas Development Administration was a member of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's delegation for the 1989 and 1990 annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and World bank, and the six-monthly meetings of their interim and development committees. He also attended the Commonwealth Finance Ministers meetings in Jamaica in 1989 and in Trinidad in 1990, where Britain launched new proposals on reducing the official debt of the poorest countries. I have attended a number of international gatherings at which debt has been discussed, including the United Nations special session on economic recovery and development in April 1990.

  Bilateral Aid
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average level of per capita aid to(a) former British colonies and (b) other nations.
  308
  Mrs. Chalker
  The average level of British bilateral aid per capita to former British colonies in 1989 was £0·50 and to other developing countries £0·09.

  African Refugees
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department intends to provide for African refugees during 1991.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The aid programme is managed in a way that allows us to respond quickly to refugee needs as they arise.

  Foreign Aid
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total level of British overseas aid in each of the past five years at constant prices.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The level of total United Kingdom gross public expenditure on aid in each of the last five years at constant prices was:

  Year

  £.000 Constant 1989 prices

  1985

  1,641,558

  1986

  1,616,168

  1987

  1,476,461

  1988

  1,780,848

  1989

  1,787,863

TRANSPORT

  European Community (Representations)
  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what areas there have been joint approaches by his Department and Irish Government officials to the European Community on transport matters.

  Mr. Rifkind
  There have been no such approaches, but I and my Department keep in close contact with Irish colleagues on all matters of common transport interest.

  Anglo-Scottish Air Services
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to transfer any of the existing Anglo-Scottish air services which operate in and out of Heathrow to any other airport in the south-east of England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no such plans.

  Vehicle Emissions
  Mrs. Irene Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to reduce vehicle emissions.

  Mr. Chope
  From the end of 1992, all new cars will have to comply with strict new Community standards to control their emissions. We also intend to introduce an emissions check in the MOT test later this year.
  309
  The Government are also seeking to persuade the Community to adopt the strict US 1994 standards for emissions from trucks and buses.

  A38
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to conclude his investigations into the future status of the A38 between Exeter and Plymouth.

  Mr. Chope
  Consultants have still to be appointed for the assessment of the needs of the A38 between Exeter and Plymouth which was announced in "Roads for Prosperity".

  The assessment is likely to take about 12 months. Once it is complete, further consideration can be given to the need for and form of any improvement scheme.

  Waterloo Station (Suburban Services)
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent opportunities he has taken to travel officially on Network SouthEast's suburban commuter lines services into or from Waterloo station.

  Mr. Freeman
  I recently travelled with my hon. Friend on Network SouthEast services into Waterloo to see at first hand travelling conditions and to identify problems that commuters experience on these lines.

  Air Traffic
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority to discuss the air traffic distribution rules.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. and learned Friend met the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority on 4 February; the air traffic distribution rules were not discussed.

  Second Severn Crossing
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he is proposing to visit the site for the second Severn crossing.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have already visited the site proposed for the English landfall of the bridge.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the recent meeting between his officials, representatives of Laing GMT, and English Stones Fishery Partnership regarding compensation for disturbance of fishing rights concomitant upon the construction of the second Severn crossing.

  Mr. Freeman
  A meeting has been held with the English Stones Fishery Partnership concerning the possible effects of the proposed second Severn bridge on the partnership's fishing rights. The partnership has now deposited a petition against the Severn Bridges Bill. It will now be for the Select Committee to consider that petition in the normal way.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total investment by British Rail in improved rail services which will be in place for the proposed opening of the channel tunnel.
  310
  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail plans to invest £1·4 billion to enable international passenger and freight services to begin when the tunnel opens. However, as my right hon. and learned Friend told my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Mr. Amos) on 5 December, at column 121, it is unlikely that the trains for the daytime north of London through passenger services will be ready until 1994.

  Airport Security
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his discussions on the current level of security at British airports.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There is nothing I can add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd) on 29 January at column 446.

  Docklands Light Railway
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the future ownership of the docklands light railway; and if he has given any direction to London Regional Transport in respect of its disposal.

  Mr. Freeman
  We have no plans to change the ownership of the docklands light railway and no direction has been given to London Regional Transport in respect of its disposal.

  Train Doors
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many young people have been injured or killed in accidents caused by falling from the doors of moving trains for each of the last five years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There have been some 270 casualties in accidents involving people falling from trains in the last five years, including provisional figures for 1990. Her Majesty's railway inspectorate does not keep separate records of accidents involving young people.

  Greater Manchester Relief Road
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to release the details he has received of a proposed alternative route for the Greater Manchester northern and western relief road.

  Mr. Chope
  This route is still at the initial stages of assessment. If it proves to be a viable proposition, details will be released when public consultation takes place. I cannot say yet when that will be.

  British Rail (Disabled Access)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he proposes to discuss station access for the disabled when he next meets the chairman of British Rail.

  Mr. Freeman
  The decision whether to improve access to stations lies with British Rail. It is for BR to design and plan improvements with the help of its disability adviser, and to judge any proposals against other schemes and the resources available.

  Freight Services
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received any proposals from British Rail about additional investment in freight services.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail's 1990 plan includes some £900 million investment in freight over the period 1990–91 to 1994–95. Since last spring, we have given approval for BR to invest over £120 million in new wagons and locomotives and the electrification of the line from Tonbridge to Redhill. There are currently no outstanding investment cases for rail freight investment with the Department.

  Scottish Rail Links (Electrification)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals his Department has received from ScotRail for the electrification of rail links within Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My Department has received no such proposals from the British Railways Board. I understand that ScotRail is considering a number of possibilities.

  M66
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with North West Water about the cost of the M66 motorway over Audenshaw reservoir No. 3; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  A number of discussions have been held with North West Water, because construction of the M66 motorway will reduce the storage capacity of Audenshaw reservoir No. 3. A new pipeline from the Goyt valley is to be provided as a replacement facility. The reasonable costs of providing the pipeline will be met by the Department.

  Roadworks (Compensation)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to bring forward proposals to compensate small businesses affected by roadworks.

  Mr. Chope
  No. The legislation governing compulsory purchase and compensation is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. Compensation is already payable at full market value of property acquired. In addition, there are payments for disturbance, and for depreciation when premises are harmed by the effects of a road scheme.

  School Buses (Seat Belts)
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to introduce legislation for the compulsory use of seat belts in school buses.

  Mr. Chope
  We shall consider the question of mandatory wearing seat belts in school buses once there is a requirement for seat belts to be fitted. We are not free to introduce such a requirement nationally, but are pressing the EC to bring forward proposals to enable us to do so.

  Motor Cyclists (Training Certificates)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether certificates for motor cyclists who have completed basic training are currently available for issue at the approved Berwick, Belford and Alnwick centres; whether he has any plans to discontinue training at Alnwick; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Civil Aviation Authority
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. and learned Friend meets the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority from time to time to discuss matters of mutual interest.

  Historic Counties
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost to his Department of erecting boundary signs on main roads designating the boundaries of historic counties which are no longer effective.

  Mr. Chope
  I regret that information on the numbers of main roads crossing the borders of historic counties and on the size and design of possible boundary signs could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

  Railway Safety
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received British Rail's safety plan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The British Railways Board has submitted its safety plan to me today. I have arranged for copies o be placed in the Library.

  I welcome the board's plan, which sets out the board's safety policy and objectives and the wide range of initiatives that are already under way. These include new safety management systems, improved training, investment in new equipment and changes in working methods. The plan is a comprehensive and forward-looking document. It demonstrates the high level of commitment and of resources being devoted, throughout British Rail, to running a safe railway. I hope that the plan will increase public awareness of this enormous effort, and reassure rail users.

  Railway accidents are rare and rail remains one of the safest modes of transport. Building on this, the board is committed to maintaining and improving this enviable safety record.

  The initiatives in the plan will be taken into account in BR's estimates of future safety expenditure. We have endorsed in full both BR's expenditure of £70 million on additional safety measures in 1990–91, and its planned expenditure of some £330 million over the next three years. BR knows that there is no financial constraint on necessary and cost-effective safety expenditure.

  I have written to Dr. Cullen, the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission, seeking the commission's view on the safety plan.

  A2 Roadworks
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the cost of all roadworks undertaken on that stretch of the A2 roadway between Falconwood cemetery, Eltham and Pepper Hill, Swanscombe, from November 1984 to date; if he will adjust costs to reflect current prices; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The cost of major roadworks undertaken since the beginning of November 1984 on the A2 between Falconwood cemetery, Eltham and Pepper Hill, Swanscombe, adjusted to reflect current prices and including the accepted tender prices for works at present in hand in the London borough of Bexley and Kent, is 16·1 million approximately. This figure comprises £10·9 million for major maintenance and, in Kent, £5·2 million for hard shoulder provision forming part of the A2 London boundary-M2 improvement scheme.

  Ports
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will(a) give full details of Government grants to ports and (b) name the ports which received them in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Port modernisaton grants under section 12 of the Harbours Act 1964 were discontinued in 1971, and this provision was repealed by the Transport Act 1981. The Port of London (Financial Assistance) Act 1980 provided for grants to enable the Port of London Authority to reduce its labour force and restore the profitability of its undertaking. That Act was replaced by the Ports (Financial Assistance) Act 1981 which applied also to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company. From 3 July 1989, these grants have been superseded by Government contributions under the dock work compensation payment scheme. Amounts granted over the 10-year period were as follows:

  £ million

  PLA

  MDHC

  1980–81

  23·5

  —

  1981–82

  21·8

  25·8

  1982–83

  31·8

  56·3

  1983–84

  35·4

  40·5

  1984–85

  24·4

  9·4

  1985–86

  55·7

  9·5

  1986–87

  20·7

  4·5

  1987–88

  6·8

  8·6

  1988–89

  1·5

  2·9

  1989–90

  —

  —

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will(a) name those ports which have received loans under the Harbour Loans Act 1972 or subsequent legislation, (b) give full details of those loans and (c) list which of those loans (i) have been repaid in full (ii) have been written off and (iii) are outstanding.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Information is not readily available on loans that were paid off several years ago. The three last outstanding loans under the 1972 Act, made to the Clyde port authority in 1984 and 1985 and totalling £3·293 million, were paid off in 1989. Loans were also made under the Ports (Financial Assistance) Act 1981 as follows:
  314

  Year

  £ million

  Port of London Authority

  1982

  13·0

  1983

  11·9

  Mersey Docks and Harbour Company

  1982

  24·13

  1 Balance outstanding.

  2 £1.5 million written off May 1989; balance paid off.

  A69
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the road junctions on the A69 between Newcastle and Carlisle which are being considered for safety improvement measures.

  Mr. Chope
  Two schemes are included in the 1991–92 regional programme. They are the Bush Bends to Haydon Bridge improvement, Northumberland and Corby cross-roads improvement, Cumbria.

  Fishing Vessels
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any proposals to amend the rules and regulations governing the occupational safety of the crews of United Kingdom-registered fishing vessels.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Consultation recently began with the industry on ways of extending United Kingdom occupational safety provisions for fishermen in line with those for people in other occupations and with forthcoming European Community requirements.

  Heathrow Airport
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to carry out the recommendations of the Civil Aviation Authority regarding greater access to Heathrow airport.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I am considering the authority's advice and hope to announce a decision before long.

  M40
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what effect the recent opening of the M40 motorway extension has had on traffic flow on the M1 motorway.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 7 February 1991]: So far the available figures show that traffic flows on the M1 have been reduced by between 4,000 and 11,000 vehicles per week day. But these are initial counts only.

WALES

  Thyroid Cancer
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of thyroid cancer have been recorded in Wales in each of the last five years; and how many deaths.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The latest available information for usual residents of Wales—all ages, male and female —is as follows:
  315

  Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of thyroid cancer1

  Year

  Number

  1982

  41

  1983

  57

  1984

  50

  1985

  65

  1986

  47

  Number of deaths from thyroid cancer12

  Year

  Number

  1982

  18

  1983

  31

  1984

  15

  1985

  20

  1986

  13

  1987

  31

  1988

  20

  1989

  14

  1 Malignant neoplasm of thyroid gland: ICD9 Code 193.

  2 Source: Office of Population Census and Survey.

  Health Promotion Authority
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the budget of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Subject to parliamentary approval, in 1991–92 a total of £2·472 million will be made available for the authority's core allocation and a further £340,000 will be allocated for new projects. An additional £28,000 will be available as a further earmarked reserve to meet the cost of the authority's contribution to the family planning information service. The allocation will be conditional upon satisfactory completion of annual performance review. It represents a further and substantial commitment of resources to the authority. Allocations for 1992–93 and 1993–94 have not yet been decided.

  Housing
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the speech made on 1 February by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales on the subject of housing.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I made no speech about housing on 1 February.

  Secure Accommodation (Juveniles)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money has been spent by local authorities in Wales on(a) secure accommodation within Wales and (b) secure accommodation outside Wales for alleged juvenile offenders on remand in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much he estimates local authorities in Wales will need to spend(a) in terms of capital and (b) in terms of annual revenue expenditure to meet the requirements for secure accommodation for the remand of alleged juvenile offenders as a result of the Government's proposals of 4 February.
  316
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The general implications of the proposals for Welsh authorities are being taken into account in our review of secure care and we shall be consulting local authorities on this matter.

  Stolen Equipment
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State or Wales if he will publish a list of the equipment stolen from his Department in the last three years for which information is available; and what was the approximate value of each item.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Details of equipment stolen from the Department during the last three financial years are set out in the tables.

  £

  Financial year 1987–88

  Twelve plastic name settings

  94·50

  Tape dispenser

  5·11

  Twenty-one telephones

  508·62

  Departmental car

  1,700·00

  2,308·23

  Financial year 1988–89

  Three flags

  225·00

  Tools

  119·22

  Union Jack Flag

  41·40

  Four telephones

  112·00

  497·62

  Financial year 1989–90

  Ladder

  169·05

  Roadwork signs

  4,834·68

  5,003·73

  Health Service
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what moneys have been allocated to district health authorities in Wales under the waiting times initiative to tackle problematic waiting lists referred to in objective 45 of the Welsh Office NHS directorate agenda for action; and what is the estimated cost of implementing the proposals for service improvement, in objectives 45 to 54;

  (2) what action he has taken to ensure a greater concern and sensitivity to consumers' needs referred to in objectives 46, 53, 54, in the Welsh Office NHS directorate agenda for action; and what is the budgeted cost for 1991 and 1992 of objectives 32 to 35, outlining the need for a more integrated information system within each district;

  (3) if he will give details of the outcome of his Office's objective of developing a pricing policy for Welsh health common services authorities to cover overheads and allow for development of consultancy expertise as cited in objective 38 of the Welsh Office NHS directorate agenda for action; and what is the budgeted cost for 1991 and 1992;

  (4) which devised business action plans for each of the Welsh health common services authorities referred to in objective 37, page 52, of the Welsh Office NHS directorate agenda for action have been identified to make best use of staff and technical resources; and what are the annual budgets in 1991 and 1992 for each of the Welsh health common services authorities referred to;
  317
  (5) if he will give the estimated cost, in 1990–91 and 1991–92, of implementing the proposals for rationalising the supplies and stores objectives listed in the Welsh Office NHS directorate agenda for action; and what are the estimated costs, by area health authority in Wales in 1991 and 1992, of objectives 41, 42, 43 and 44, on schemes for health promotion;

  (6) what will be the cost of (a) the establishment of an all-Wales telecommunications network referred to in objective 34 and (b) implementing objectives 36 to 40, listed in pages 52 and 53 of the Welsh Office NHS directorate agenda for action, outlining various schemes for general management modifications.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what budget has been allocated in 199–2 to those agencies in Wales charged with developing an appropriate and consistent approach to health promotion and health promotion targets, referred to in objectives 41, 43 and 44 of the Welsh Office national health service directorate agenda for action.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  In respect of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him earlier today. In respect of district health authorities I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 30 January 1991, at columns 515–17.

  The 1991–92 administration revenue allocations for family health services authorities will be announced as soon as possible.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the budgeted cost of the establishment of goal setting machinery for promotion and prevention, referred to in objective 42 of the Welsh Office national health service directorate agenda for action in 1990–91.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Homelessness
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average length of stay for families with dependent children, who were accepted as homeless by their local authority and placed in bed and breakfast accommodation, in 1990 or at the nearest available date; and if he will express the answer in terms of the average length of stay for Wales and for each local authority.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information is not centrally available.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many families with dependent children were accepted as homeless in 1990 or at the nearest available date.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  A total of 4,850 households with dependent children were accepted as homeless during the financial year 1989–90.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many families with dependent children, accepted as 318
  homeless by their local authorities, were placed in bed and breakfast accommodation in 1990 or at the nearest available date; and if he will expand the answer in terms of the total number for Wales and the number for each local authority.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information requested is given for the financial year 1989–90 in the table:

  Households with dependent children accepted as homeless and placed in bed and breakfast accommodation 1989–90

  Number

  Aberconwy

  20

  Alyn and Deeside

  5

  Brecknock

  1

  Cardiff

  404

  Carmarthen

  1

  Ceredigion

  8

  Colwyn

  1

  Delyn

  18

  Dinefwr

  16

  Islwyn

  9

  Llanelli

  39

  Meirionnydd

  3

  Monmouth

  2

  Neath

  6

  Newport

  31

  Ogwr

  5

  Port Talbot

  3

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  30

  Radnorshire

  2

  Rhondda

  2

  Rhuddlan

  2

  Rhymney Valley

  20

  South Pembrokeshire

  2

  Swansea

  2

  Taff-Ely

  3

  Torfaen

  10

  Vale of Glamorgan

  7

  Wrexham Maelor

  15

  Ynys Mon

  1

  Wales

  688

  NHS Land and Property
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest estimated revenues, by district health authority, for sale of NHS land and property in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  [holding answer 7 February 1991]: Taking into account historical performance and delivering receipts within forecast, the latest estimate of receipts from the sale of surplus NHS land and property in Wales for 1990–91 and 1991–92 is £5 million and £7 million respectively. A reliable estimate by individual DHA is not possible given the unertainties associated with the disposal of property.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy to provide transitional funding before 1 April 1992 to higher education courses at five Welsh higher education colleges so as to provide for direct funding for those courses threatened with closure in the academic year 1991–92.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  [holding answer 8 February 1991]: The local authority higher education institutions will receive their funding from within local authority provision for 1991–92—in the main through the higher education

  319
  quantum. We have accepted the advice received from the Wales Advisory Body for Local Authority Higher Education on the programmes to be funded from the HE quantum in 1991–92.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Books and Equipment
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the 10 local education authorities with the lowest expenditure per pupil on books and equipment; and what is the average local authority expenditure on books and equipment.

  Mr. Fallon
  The table lists the 10 local education authorities with the lowest expenditure per pupil on books and equipment in 1988–89, the latest year for which information is available. Average local authority expenditure on books and equipment in 1988–89 was £54 per pupil.

  Expenditure per pupil on books and equipment—1988–89

  LEA

  £

  Tameside

  35

  Birmingham

  34

  Merton

  34

  Barnsley

  32

  Avon

  31

  Leeds

  22

  Lincolnshire

  22

  St. Helens

  22

  Cleveland

  21

  Sheffield

  17

  Notes:

  1. The figures are based on LEA returns to DOE and pupil number returns to DES.

  2. The figures cover spending on books and equipment in nursery, primary and secondary schools.

  Kent Education Department
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total revenue budget for Kent county council education department for 1990–91.

  Mr. Fallon
  The 1990–91 education budget for Kent local education authority is estimated at £432·3 million. This estimate is based on Kent county council's 1990–91 budget return to the Department of the Environment submitted in May 1990 and is on a similar basis to the education component of its 1990–91 standard spending assessment.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was(a) the bid and (b) the capital allocation to Kent county council education department for 1989–90.

  Mr. Fallon
  For 1989–90, Kent county council submitted a bid for an education capital allocation of £24·492 million and was given an allocation of £8·610 million.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the standard spending assessment for Kent county council education department for 1990–91.
  320
  Mr. Fallon
  The education component of Kent county council's 1990–91 standard spending assessment is £456·6 million.

  Education Statistics, Leeds
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money was spent on primary and secondary schools in Leeds in 1979 and in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Fallon
  The available data are as follows:

  (£000's)

  Leeds

  1979–80

  1988–89

  Nursery and primary

  27,835

  56,652

  Secondary

  35,929

  83,135

  Notes to table:

  1. The figures are taken from Leeds' expenditure returns to DOE and cover net institutional expenditure. They include the costs of salaries and wages, premises and certain supplies and services. They do not include the cost of school meals, central administration, debt charges or revenue contributions to capital outlay.

  2. All figures quoted are in cash terms.

  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the secondary school population in Leeds in 1979 and in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Fallon
  The information requested for Leeds local education authority is as follows:

  Pupils in maintained secondary schools1

  January 1979

  73,747

  January 1990

  50,777

  1 Includes middle schools deemed secondary.

  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money in real terms was spent on average on each child attending state primary and secondary schools in Leeds in 1979 and in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Fallon
  Leeds spent £480 per nursery and primary pupil in 1979–80 and £1,155 in 1988–89, the latest year for which figures are available. It spent £490 per secondary pupil in 1979–80 and £1,545 in 1988–89. At 1988–89 prices those figures are £905 and £1,155 respectively for nursery and primary schools, and £920 and £1,545 respectively for secondary schools.

  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much Leeds education authority spent on books and equipment per pupil in 1987–88 and 1988–89; what is the estimated expenditure for 1990–91; and what is the comparable average expenditure for metropolitan districts over the same period.

  Mr. Fallon
  Leeds spent £19 per pupil on books and equipment in 1987–88 and £22 per pupil in 1988–89. The comparable average figures for metropolitan districts are £41 per pupil in 1987–88 on books and equipment and £48 in 1988–89. Estimated figures for 1990–91 are not available.

  Pupil:Teacher Ratios
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the pupil:teacher ratio in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Leeds in 1979 and in the latest year for which figures are available.
  321
  Mr. Fallon
  The information requested for Leeds local education authority is as follows:

  Pupil: teacher ratio

  Primary

  Secondary

  January 1979

  24·6

  17·8

  January 1990

  19·4

  14·8

  Iraqi Students
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will indicate the income derived from postgraduate courses of study by Iraqi students in each year from 1981 to 1990 inclusive; and what proportion of these amounts were provided from grants or loans from the Government of Iraq.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Fees for overseas students are set by institutions. They are expected to meet the full cost of the provision made, but details of the actual fees charged are not collected by the Department. However, on the basis of the minimum fee levels recommended by institutions' representative bodies for different types of courses, the Department's estimate is that the total fee income from the numbers of Iraqi postgraduate students in British institutions in the 10 academic years 1980–81 to 1989–90 —details of which were provided at column 372 on 14 January in response to an earlier question from the hon. Member—was in the region of £35 million to £40 million. The Department does not collect information about the sources of individual students' funding.

  Licensed Teachers
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the annual cost per trainee teacher of the licensed teacher scheme, disaggregated into (i) payment to licensee, (ii) payment to mentor teacher and (iii) additional expenditure incurred in paying for other teachers to cover mentors' usual teaching commitments.

  Mr. Fallon
  The information is not available in the form requested. Licensed teachers are employed by local education authorities and school governing bodies and are paid in accordance with the teachers' pay and conditions document 1990.

  Training and associated costs for licensed teachers, including payment of incentive allowances to mentor teachers and the provision of supply cover both for the licensee and mentor, are eligible for support under the grants for education support and training programme.

  A table showing the amount of local education authority expenditure to be supported in the 1990–91 and 1991–92 financial years and the number of licensed teachers expected to be supported has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what monitoring he is undertaking of the costs and effectiveness of the licensed teacher scheme; how many local authorities are operating the scheme; and how many teachers are involved.

  Mr. Fallon
  We have commissioned the National Foundation for Educational Research to evaluate the scope, organisation and effectiveness of the first two years of the licensed teacher route to qualified teacher status. In 322
  addition to its routine inspections, Her Majesty's inspectorate is conducting a three-term examination of the licensed teacher programmes being operated by 11 local education authorities. In 1990–91, 57 LEAs applied under the local education authority training grants scheme and were allocated £2·3 million to support the training of 500 licensed teachers. For 1991–92, 67 LEAs have been allocated £5·4 million to support 1,500 licensed teachers under the grant for education support and training programme. A condition of receiving funding under this programme is that authorities monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of their training schemes for licensed teachers.

  Oxbridge Undergraduates
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the number of undergraduates who enter Oxford and Cambridge university colleges who came from local authority-maintained schools; and if he will show the numbers as a proportion of the entry as a whole for each college for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Information on individual institutions is collected by the "Universities Statistical Record". Apart from regularly published information, further data at the institutional level may be released only with the prior authorisation of the institution.

  Stolen Equipment
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a list of the equipment stolen from his Department in the last three years for which information is available; and what was the approximate value of each item.

  Mr. Eggar
  The equipment stolen from the Department over the last three years is as follows:

  £

  1 Portable typewriter

  208·00

  7 Dictating Machines at £68 each

  476·00

  1 Calculator

  51·00

  1 Pocket Calculator

  9·00

  1 Pocket memo dictating machine

  74·00

  1 Camera (taken from the site of Nottingham CTC)

  290·00

  1 Video recorder

  245·00

  1 Long play video recorder

  334·00

  Assisted Place Pupils
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the number of assisted place pupils who have entered higher and continuing education and the number who have entered Oxford and Cambridge colleges; and if he will show such figures for each full year as available.

  Mr. Fallon
  The numbers of APS pupils entering universities, polytechnics and other establishments of further and higher education is available for academic years 1988·89 onward and are shown in the table. Information is not collected on the particular institutions which pupils enter.
  323

  Destination of Assisted Pupil leavers

  Academic Year

  Numbers of assisted pupils1

  University

  Polytechnic

  FHE

  Total

  Total pupils leaving AP schools

  1988–89

  1,560

  400

  354

  2,314

  2,783

  1989–902

  1,822

  432

  611

  2,865

  3,670

  1 Figures include both fifth and sixth form leavers.

  2 Subject to confirmation.

  Nuclear Structure Facility, Daresbury
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will allocate to the Science and Engineering Research Council £20 million earmarked for funding for the nuclear structure facility at Daresbury;

  (2) if he will give the allocated budgets for 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 for the synchrotron radiation source project and the nuclear structure facility at the Daresbury laboratory of the Science and Engineering Research Council in Cheshire.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. and learned Friend allocates the science budget to the Science and Engineering Research Council and other bodies in the light of advice from the Advisory Board for the Research Councils. It is for the research councils to determine the detailed allocation of the funds made available to them.

  Shire Counties (Expenditure)
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list all shire counties in England in rank order of expenditure(a) per secondary pupil and (b) per primary pupil (i) including all items included in the general schools budget except capital and (ii) as in (i) but also excluding school meals and home-to-school transport for the latest year for which he has information.

  Mr. Fallon
  The information requested is not yet available.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Church of England (Vacancies)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, what is the average period of vacancy for (i) bishoprics and (ii) incumbencies in the Church of England.

  Mr. Alison
  Over the last five years the average period of vacancy for diocesan bishops has been 22 weeks and for incumbents 29 weeks.

DEFENCE

  Atomic Weapons Establishment Bill
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has now made of the costs anticipated for 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95 to fund the proposals by the Atomic Weapons Establishment Bill, since his statement to the House of 18 December 1990,Official Report, column 251.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The only expenditure I expect to arise directly from the provisions of the Atomic Weapons 324
  Establishment Bill, as opposed to expenditure which the Secretary of State is able to make under his existing powers, is that of setting up an employing company at AWE. As I told the House on 18 December, this is likely to be of the order of £50,000. This will probably be incurred during 1991–92.

  The Gulf
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expressions of concern he has received from service men and their families about the length of time that mail takes to arrive in the Gulf and about the non-arrival of some mail; and what response he proposes to make.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have received a number of letters from service families expressing concern about the length of time it takes for mail to arrive in the Gulf, but these must be set against the very large volume of mail being delivered daily to our forces.

  All forces mail to the Gulf is being moved by RAF aircraft. The transit time for letters is around five days and ten days for parcels, though these timings may be exceeded for troops in forward positions.

  The importance of an efficient mail service is fully appreciated by the Services and every effort is made to achieve the earliest possible delivery.

  Foreign Service Personnel (Training)
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what income was derived from foreign and Commonwealth personnel sent for training at United Kingdom service establishments in each of the years 1985 to 1990 inclusive; and what amounts were paid in each year by the Government of Iraq.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The income from training foreign and commonwealth personnel at United Kingdom service establishments in the financial years 1985–86 to 1989–90 is set out below. It is not our practice to release details of military training provided for individual countries—details of payments by Iraq are not held centrally and would require disproportionate effort to collect.

  Financial Year

  £ million

  1985–86

  25·0

  1986–87

  47·9

  1987–88

  41·2

  1988–89

  50·2

  1989–90

  51·7

  Stolen Equipment
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a list of the equipment stolen from his Department in the last three years for which information is available; and what was the approximate value of each item.
  325
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The number and value of major cases of theft of assets reported in the three most recent years for which information is available were provided in the Comptroller and Auditor General's Report on Fraud and Irregularities at Defence Establishments HC 134 (14 January 1991) at Table 1.

  Three of the cases are covered in greater detail in cases 4, 5 and 6 of appendix 1 to that report, and the other two cases were:

  1987–88
  £22,761—Controlled and prescription only drugs.

  1989–90
  19,707—Equipment.

  Details of the individual items of equipment included in these major cases and in minor theft cases, which are handled at unit/establishment level, cannot be provided without disproportionate effort.

  Land Acquisition
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all land acquisitions by his Department in Scotland in the last 10 years, giving the dates of the acquisitions, the area acquired, and whether each acquisition is in the form of(a) freehold, (b) leasehold and (c) training rights.

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

  Anti-tank Device
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the third tranche of orders for the anti-tank device will be placed with Royal Ordnance plc.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Manufacturing release for the third tranche of the light anti-armour weapon 80 (LAW 80) is under consideration. I hope to make a decision shortly.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what units are currently on standby for the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has announced the deployment to the Gulf of a further half squadron of RAF Buccaneer aircraft. Any additional deployments will be announced as appropriate when they arise.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether any plans for rotating units in the Gulf could result in United Kingdom forces being replaced by forces from other Community countries;

  (2) what plans he has for rotating units currently serving in the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The roulement of units in the Gulf will, if necessary, be considered as part of the normal military planning process, but is unlikely to involve the replacement of British units by forces from other European Community countries.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors, if any, compromise the minimisation of allied casualties as the overriding priority in considering how and at what time the plans for the liberation of Kuwait should be put into effect.
  326
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The aim of the current allied air campaign is to reduce the ability and the will of the Iraqi forces to fight, so that allied ground forces can, if necessary, complete the liberation of Kuwait in the shortest possible time with the fewest casualties.

  Defence Jobs
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the consequence in Wales for jobs in defence establishments following the decision to reduce in real terms defence spending.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State indicated to the House on 21 January at column 103, we are continuing to study the broad proposals stemming from the options for change study. We will keep the House informed of progress in our planning as the implications for individual establishments become clearer.

  HMS Onyx and Brereton
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he proposes to pay off(a) HMS Onyx and (b) HMS Brereton; when he announced each such decision; what further vessels he intends to announce the decommissioning of in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  HMS Onyx was decommissioned in December 1990. HMS Brereton is to be decommissioned in April 1991. It is not our normal practice to announce formally the decommissioning of individual vessels. Other ships which are to be decommissioned in the current financial year are HMS Penelope, HMS Hubberston, HMS Cuxton, HMS Cormorant and HMS Hart.

  Holy Loch
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 February,Official Report, column 167, under what circumstances he envisages visits to the Holy loch by United States naval vessels carrying cruise missiles after the base has been closed.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are no specific plans for future visits to the Holy loch by United States vessels after the submarine forward support facility has closed. However, the Holy loch is currently one of a number of berths around the United Kingdom approved for visits by nuclear powered submarines. Holy loch's use for future periodic visits is therefore possible.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Non-fossil Fuel Obligation
  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 24 January,Official Report, column 280, what plans he has to extend the non-fossil fuel obligation provisions of the Electricity Act 1989 to Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  There are no plans to extend the non-fossil fuel obligation provisions of the Electricity Act to Northern Ireland. However, in drawing up proposals
  327
  for electricity privatisation in Northern Ireland, I am considering legislative provisions to encourage the use of renewable energy sources. I expect to publish the proposals shortly.

  General Grant Factor
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the general grant factor in pence per pound for each district council for 1980–81 and each subsequent year.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is not recorded in the form requested.

  Leisure Facilities
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the income from recreation and leisure facilities for each district council for the last available year and state the number of such facilities in respect of each council.

  Mr. Needham
  The income from recreation and leisure facilities for the 1989–90 year is set out below. Information about the number of facilities in respect of each council is not held centrally.

  £

  Antrim

  233,251

  Ards

  374,905

  Armagh

  189,989

  Ballymena

  215,486

  Ballymoney

  213,475

  Banbridge

  180,021

  Belfast

  2,951,829

  Carrickfergus

  461,142

  Castlereagh

  1,901,042

  Coleraine

  963,758

  Cookstown

  101,546

  Craigavon

  782,775

  Derry

  746,218

  Down

  347,639

  Dungannon

  144,177

  Fermanagh

  649,150

  Larne

  127,517

  Limavady

  220,400

  Lisburn

  409,556

  Magherafelt

  197,189

  Moyle

  209,563

  Newry and Mourne

  403,414

  Newtownabbey

  537,666

  North Down

  378,294

  Omagh

  352,411

  Strabane

  153,711

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many district councils sought, and how many received, Government loan sanction to build

  Year

  Per cent. increase (non-domestic)

  Per cent. increase (domestic)

  Per cent. annual rate of inflation

  1980–81

  17·9

  22·3

  21·8

  1981–82

  9·8

  11·7

  12·0

  1982–83

  6·9

  8·1

  9·4

  1983–84

  2·9

  3·4

  4·0

  1984–85

  7·9

  9·1

  5·2

  1985–86

  8·1

  9·3

  6·8

  1986–87

  9·4

  10·7

  3·0

  1987–88

  2·9

  3·2

  4·4

  1988–89

  7·98

  8·92

  3·9

  328
  leisure facilities where a Department of Education grant was unavailable; and if he will list the councils and the schemes.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Regional Rates
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the regional rate in Northern Ireland for each year since 1980–81.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The regional rate in Northern Ireland for each year since 1980–81 is set out in the table:

  Year

  Regional rate (non-domestic) (pence)

  1980–81

  71·7

  1981–82

  78·7

  1982–83

  84·1

  1983–84

  86·54

  1984–85

  93·34

  1985–86

  100·87

  1986–87

  110·38

  1987–88

  113·53

  1988–89

  122·59

  1989–90

  138·07

  1990–91

  148·27

  Domestic ratepayers have received a reduction of 12 pence in the poundage each year, through the domestic rate aid grant. The resulting domestic regional rate poundages were:

  Year

  Regional rate (domestic) (pence)

  1980–81

  59·70

  1981–82

  66·70

  1982–83

  7210

  1983–84

  74·54

  1984–85

  81·34

  1985–86

  88·87

  1986–87

  98·38

  1987–88

  101·53

  1988–89

  110·59

  1989–90

  126·07

  1990–91

  136·27

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the percentage increase in Northern Ireland's regional rate for each year since 1980–81; and what was the annual rate of inflation for each year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The percentage increase in Northern Ireland's regional rate and the annual rate of inflation in April for each year since 1980–81 is set out below.
  329

  Year

  Per cent. increase (non-domestic)

  Per cent. increase (domestic)

  Per cent. Annual rate of inflation

  1989–90

  12·63

  14·0

  8·0

  1990–91

  7·39

  8·09

  9·4

  District Councils
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the penny product for each Northern Ireland district council's district rate.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is set out in the table:

  Penny rate products for each Northern Ireland district council 1990–91 year

  District

  1p Product £

  Antrim

  51,960

  Ards

  59,350

  Armagh

  38,640

  Ballymena

  59,470

  Ballymoney

  19,020

  Banbridge

  27,870

  Belfast

  400,790

  Carrickfergus

  30,690

  Castlereagh

  63,230

  Coleraine

  59,030

  Cookstown

  23,020

  Craigavon

  71,280

  Derry

  84,080

  Down

  46,730

  Dungannon

  32,880

  Fermanagh

  40,550

  Larne

  28,820

  Limavady

  22,230

  Lisburn

  95,700

  Magherafelt

  25,240

  Moyle

  11,810

  Newry and Mourne

  61,680

  Newtownabbey

  81,520

  North Down

  77,340

  Belfast Housing Districts

  Year

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  1982–83

  118

  486

  217

  215

  109

  209

  390

  1983–84

  40

  367

  107

  179

  126

  361

  308

  1984–85

  41

  331

  198

  244

  38

  173

  325

  1985–86

  63

  393

  408

  110

  124

  179

  183

  1986–87

  47

  146

  135

  164

  148

  183

  191

  1987–88

  —

  237

  122

  83

  193

  115

  175

  1988–89

  22

  184

  108

  136

  167

  78

  129

  1989–90

  35

  308

  80

  70

  184

  77

  52

  11990–91

  38

  124

  74

  99

  125

  17

  85

  1 Figures for 1990–91 are for the period April 1990-January 1991.

  (b) The numbers of dwellings built by registered housing associations for the period 1979–80 to 1990–91 are as follows:

  Belfast housing districts

  Year

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  1979–80

  —

  —

  —

  37

  —

  —

  —

  1980–81

  —

  19

  —

  55

  —

  —

  —

  1981–82

  —

  8

  —

  —

  5

  —

  —

  1982–83

  —

  89

  —

  25

  9

  28

  66

  1983–84

  22

  70

  —

  7

  2

  64

  96

  1984–85

  —

  72

  —

  11

  68

  40

  250

  1985–86

  —

  77

  —

  22

  56

  22

  58

  1986–87

  31

  51

  —

  —

  41

  8

  46

  1987–88

  —

  45

  —

  36

  38

  11

  91

  1988–89

  —

  76

  —

  —

  48

  17

  133

  1989–90

  40

  4

  —

  —

  10

  45

  27

  11990–91

  4

  30

  7

  —

  —

  46

  81

  330

  District

  1p Product £

  Omagh

  34,860

  Strabane

  23,130

  Housing, Belfast
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what number and percentage of houses in each housing district in Belfast were declared unfit for human habitation in each of the years between 1979 and 1991.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I have been advised by the chief executive that the information is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many houses have been built by(a) the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and (b) housing associations in each housing district in Belfast over the period from 1979 to 1991.

  Mr. Needham
  (a) This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I have been advised by the chief executive that the information sought for the period 1979–80—1981–82 is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. For the period 1982–83—1990–91 the numbers of dwellings built are as follows:
  331

  1 Figures for 1990–91 are for the period April 1990-January 1991.

  General Grant Factor
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the general grant factor paid to each district council in Northern Ireland in 1990–91 and the amount that would have been paid if the 1980–81 general grant factor had been used.

  Mr. Needham
  The total estimated amount of general grant due to each district council in 1990–91 is set out in the table:

  Estimated grant payable in 1990–91 year

  Council

  £

  Antrim

  271,500

  Ards

  1,246,451

  Armagh

  981,329

  Ballymena

  485,881

  Ballymoney

  560,834

  Banbridge

  594,700

  Belfast

  5,490,717

  Carrickfergus

  472,571

  Castlereagh

  373,483

  Coleraine

  296,053

  Cookstown

  589,420

  Craigavon

  1,607,153

  Derry

  3,700,423

  Down

  1,514,200

  Dungannon

  987,085

  Fermanagh

  1,105,293

  Larne

  440,627

  Limavady

  660,561

  Lisburn

  1,063,829

  Magherafelt

  710,623

  Moyle

  480,442

  Newry and Mourne

  2,594,300

  Newtownabbey

  914,170

  North Down

  678,434

  Omagh

  1,182,481

  Strabane

  1,259,828

  It is not possible to apply the 1980–81 general grant factor to district council expenditure in 1990–91. The calculation of the general grant factor is dependent on the population, rateable valuations and the penny rate product for a district in a particular year. The criteria applying in 1980–81 are not comparable with those applying in 1990–91.

  Spelling
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will postpone the implementation of proposals to penalise pupils who have difficulty with spelling in examinations; and what provision is being made to prevent disadvantaging dyslexic children when penalties for poor spelling are introduced at examination level.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Northern Ireland Schools Examinations and Assessment Council (NISEAC) is required by law to seek to ensure that its examinations are recognised as equivalent in standard to those conducted elsewhere in the United Kingdom. As part of the process of achieving this its GCSE syllabuses conform to the nationally set general and subject criteria for GCSE and, if there is any change to those criteria, this would affect NISEAC examinations also. The possible introduction of a penalty for poor spelling is currently being considered by the joint council for the GCSE and final decisions have not yet been taken.
  332
  On the matter of the position of dyslexic children, for reasons of equivalence of standards it will be necessary to conform to whatever arrangements are agreed in relation to the spelling penalty for these pupils, and others with learning difficulties, in England and Wales.

  Hazardous Waste, Maydown
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the consideration given by the Industrial Development Board to funding a hazardous waste incinerator at Dupont's Maydown complex; what discussions have taken place with Dupont on the subject of grant aid; what figures are being indicated; and what discussions have taken place between the Department of Economic Development and the Industrial Development Board on such grant aid.

  Mr. Needham
  The Industrial Development Board has not yet given detailed consideration to financial support for a high temperature waste incinerator at Maydown. Du Pont is still at a very early stage in considering the feasibility of constructing such a facility.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any Northern Ireland Government Minister, Department or public agency communicated with any public official of the Irish Republic regarding Dupont's interest in hazardous waste incineration at its Maydown plant prior to receipt of a letter from the appropriate Minister in the Republic of Ireland in November 1990.

  Mr. Needham
  No.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Gulf Crisis
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to establish the nations from which supplies relating to the extension of Scud missiles, the manufacture of chemical and biological weapons and the preparation of nuclear weapons, in Iraq were provided; if he will make a statement setting out the information he currently has on the subject; and if he will further indicate which supplies were in breach of international or EC trade restrictions.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  There are a variety of agreements to which most EC countries subscribe. We are not in a position to say where such supplies were obtained.

  Accountancy Monitoring
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy before awarding the supervisory status created for accountancy and auditing under the Companies Act 1989 to any accountancy body, to inquire whether the reports of the monitoring unit are accessible to members of the public.

  Mr. Redwood
  I understand that the reports will not be available to the public.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make it his policy prior to
  333
  making any decision on conferring supervisory status to any accountancy body to inquire whether all firms permitted to carry out audits are bonded.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Secretary of State will recognise an applicant for recognition only if, among other things, it has adequate rules or arrangements designed to ensure that its company auditing members take such steps as may reasonably be expected of them to secure that they are able to meet claims against them arising out of company audit work.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether any of the applicants for the supervisory status created for accountancy and auditing by the Companies Act 1989 have informed him of their intentions to consult the public for their arrangements on auditor monitoring;

  (2) whether he will make it his policy to request applicants for the supervisory status in the accountancy and auditing regime created by the Companies Act 1989 to consult the public on the rules for auditor independence.

  Mr. Redwood
  The applicants have assured me that they are ready to make details of the applications available on request. I welcome this and will take into account any representations I receive from the public in considering the applications.

  Software Directive
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if the Common position on the software directive adopted by the Council of Ministers allows vendors to engage in limited reverse analysis of a program for the purpose of developing a new program which competes with the program being analysed;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to seek modifications to the EC draft software directive to add a limited derogation for maintenance purposes;

  (3) in what circumstances the compilation of software into a form which is readable by human beings will be permitted under the European software directive.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Council of Ministers adopted a common position on the EC directive on the legal protection of computer programs in December and modification of its terms can be made only if the European Parliament proposes amendments. The directive does not provide a general exception to copyright to allow the reproduction or translation of a program in any form or to allow its analysis for the purpose of maintenance or for producing a new product. There will, however, be cases where such activities will fall within the scope of exceptions in articles 5 or 6. These provisions allow error correction, analysis of a program during running and decompilation of a program for the purpose of achieving interoperability of an independently created program with another program, subject to certain conditions.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what consideration he has given to the impact that a vendor monopoly on the service of computer programs would have on independent systems integrators and maintenance firms;

  (2) what consideration he has given to the costs that a monopoly to conduct program maintenance would impose on computer users in terms of high prices, service and product choice.
  334
  Mr. Leigh
  The aim of the EC software directive is to afford protection to computer programs as their development requires the investment of substantial resources. Some exceptions to protection are, however, permitted and these will allow certain maintenance activities. In any event, those supplying maintenance services to the users of computer systems are subject to both national and Community competition law relating to abuse of monopolies and restrictive practices.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that the views of users of information technology concerning the EC software directive are represented to the European Commission.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department sought the views of all interested parties, including users, throughout the negotiations on the EC software directive and all these views were taken into account in determining the United Kingdom attitude to the proposals. User groups also made their views known to the EC Commission.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether acts characterised as United Kingdom local custom and usage in the computer industry and undertaken to maintain computer programs will be permitted by the EC directive on software copyright;

  (2) whether acts characterised as United Kingdom local custom and usage in the computer industry and undertaken to engage in reverse analysis of computer programs to develop non-infringing programs will be permitted under the EC directive on software copyright.

  Mr. Leigh
  The directive will require member states to give copyright protection to computer programs as literary works. This is already the case in the United Kingdom. When the directive is implemented, the protection afforded will be very similar to that already existing here, so the legality, or otherwise, of the activities referred to as "local custom and usage" will not change to any significant degree.

  Securities and Investments Board
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the status and accountability of the Securities and Investments Board.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Securities and Investments Board is the designated agency to which certain functions have been transferred under section 114 of the Financial Services Act 1986. Section 117 of the Act requires the SIB to report at least once in each year to the Secretary of State on the discharge of those functions and requires the Secretary of State to lay copies of the reports before Parliament.

  Money Laundering
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases of money laundering were brought to his attention in each year since 1985 by either (1) the public, (2) his inspectors, (3) the Official Receiver, (4) the Serious Fraud Office, (5) agencies created under the Financial Services Act and (6) other professional or regulatory agencies.
  335
  Mr. Redwood
  This information is not available in the form requested.

  Company Asset Figures
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement of the uses his Department makes of the company asset figures included in his Department's annual report on companies under table E1.

  Mr. Redwood
  The figures show how information on company accounts held at Companies House can be used in producing aggregate financial data. Thes figures are aimed primarily at providing general information for outside readership, rather than for the Department's own use. More detailed figures which are extracted from these sources are published which can be used in the analysis of industrial and commercial sectors by both Government and outside bodies.

  Binder Hamlyn
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any of his inspectors appointed since 1979 have been partners in Binder Hamlyn.

  Mr. Redwood
  Yes. Three partners in BDO Binder Hamlyn have been appointed inspectors since 1979.

  Auditors
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is considering proposing legislation to require the auditors' terms in office for banks and insurance companies to be rotated every five years; and what representations he has so far received on this matter from accountants or bodies linked to the accountancy profession.

  Mr. Redwood
  We have no plans for such legislation. Responses to two recent consultation exercises were overwhelmingly against requiring companies to change auditors at regular intervals on the grounds that it would increase costs and make audits less effective as each new set of auditors would have to start from scratch in building up knowledge about the client which is essential if the audit is to be effective.

  Levitt Group
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many communications he has received from the receivers on the affairs of the Levitt Group; and how many meetings have been held between his Department and the receivers on the affairs of the Levitt Group.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department is in contact with the liquidators as and when the need arises.

  Telecommunications
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress he has made in his discussions with the Director General of Telecommunications to ensure that premium rate services are provided only following an opt-in decision by the subscriber, communicated in writing.
  336
  Mr. Redwood
  The regulation of premium rate telephone services is primarily, a matter for the Director General of Telecommunications, Sir Bryan Carsberg. He has welcomed British Telecom's recent introduction of optional call-barring to premium rate services, as recommended by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in its report on chatlines and message services published in January 1989.

  British Telecom are able to make the facility available to customers on digital exchanges. It will become more widely available as more exchanges are digitalised.

  Companies House
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give a breakdown of the manner in which the 1989–90 surplus of the Companies House executive agency has been disbursed.

  Mr. Redwood
  Companies House's operating surplus funds the wider costs of running the system of regulating companies and developing company law. In 1989–90 the relevant costs were investigations division (including external inspections) £10·5 million, companies division £1·6 million and the solicitors' office £0·5 million.

  Overseas British Companies
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he intends to propose legislation to require British companies operating overseas to reveal information about the constraints on the remittance of overseas cash and other assets.

  Mr. Redwood
  Issues of this sort are better dealt with through accounting standards than in the law. I understand that this is one of the points which the Accounting Standards Board will be considering as it develops its work on accounting standards, taking into account the difficulties as well as the benefits which might flow from such a requirement.

  Export Credits
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list by country the total sums involved in claims covered by signed bilateral rescheduling agreements with Export Credits Guarantee Department as at 31 March 1989 and 31 March 1990.

  Mr. Leigh
  It is not the practice of this or previous Governments to disclose the amounts of debt rescheduled bilaterally by the Export Credits Guarantee Department on a country-by-country basis.

  Figures for ECGD's debt restructuring on a regional basis are as follows:

  Amounts outstanding under signed bilateral agreements

  £ million

  Region

  31 March

  1989

  1990

  CENTRAL AMERICA

  Countries involved:

  Costa Rica, Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago

  113·44

  121·74

  SOUTH AMERICA

  Countries involved:

  Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru

  483·29

  801·82

  337

  Region

  31 March

  1989

  1990

  EUROPE

  Countries involved:

  Poland, Romania, Turkey, Yugoslavia

  1,402·05

  1,383·44

  AFRICA

  Countries involved:

  Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Republic, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia

  2,121·97

  2,928·46

  ASIA

  Countries involved:

  Indonesia, Philippines

  51·77

  67·78

  Export Guarantees Advisory Council
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all the members of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council from 1983 with the dates on which their appointments were made and terminated.

  Mr. Leigh
  The information requested is as follows:

  Name

  Appointed

  Terminated

  A. W. Higgins, Esq, MBE, MC, DL, JP

  1977

  1983

  R. J. Withers, Esq, CBE

  1978

  1983

  P. E. Leslie, Esq

  1978

  1981

  D. F. Rees, Esq, OBE

  1979

  1984

  J. N. Scott, Esq

  1980

  1986

  R. J. Dent, Esq

  1980

  1985

  J. F. Main, Esq, OBE

  1980

  1983

  Sir Jeffrey Benson

  1981

  1987

  Miss M. Neville-Rolfe

  1982

  1985

  W. J. A. Dacombe, Esq

  1982

  1986

  M. D. McWilliams, Esq

  1982

  1987

  W. Hogbin, Esq

  1983

  1988

  W. G. Barrett, Esq

  1983

  1986

  R. H. George, Esq, OBE

  1984

  —

  E. L. Brooks, Esq

  1984

  —

  M. M. Baker, Esq

  1985

  1986

  P. W. Bulfield, Esq

  1985

  1988

  T. W. B. Sallitt, Esq, CBE

  1986

  1990

  P. E. Leslie, Esq

  1986

  —

  A. G. Gormly, Esq

  1988

  —

  Hon. D. Douglas-Home, CBE

  1988

  —

  S. M. F. Harris, Esq

  1988

  —

  Prof. K. Scholes

  1988

  —

  D. G. Eustace, Esq

  1988

  —

  F. M. P. Riding, Esq

  1988

  —

  Iraq (Exports)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total sum provided or arranged under the export credit schemes to assist United Kingdom exports to Iraq in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Leigh
  I refer to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade gave to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 17 October 1990,Official Report, column 837.

  Wool
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the report of a joint DTI/HM Customs investigation into wool fibre deficiencies in wool imported from the Prato region of Italy is to be published; for how long the investigation was conducted; how many samples were tested; what action he proposes taking following the investigation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 7 February 1991]: The results of the investigation into certain wool imports have so far been inconclusive. We are now exploring the possibility of a further exercise on a wider basis.

  Carpets
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken to improve surveillance of labelling by overseas carpet manufacturers, following a recent survey by the West Yorkshire Trading Standards Authority which was reported to him; how many sample tests of carpets have been carried out by his Department in each of the past five years to check whether fibre content conforms to label descriptions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 7 February 1991]: My Department has not conducted any testing exercise in respect of the fibre content of carpets.

  Company Liquidations
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list by local authority area the number of company liquidations for the first six months of the financial years 1989–90 and 1990–91 and the percentage change between these two figures.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 8 February 1991]: This information could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Training
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the occupancy levels of employment training in terms of(a) actual numbers and (b) target numbers by (i) training and enterprise council area and (ii) standard occupational classification.

  Mr. Jackson
  It is estimated that there are currently about 197,000 people on employment training; this figure cannot be broken down as requested. Targets for those in training and by standard occupational classification are not available.

  Noise at Work
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many prohibition notices were issued against employers in 1989–90 relating to the control of noise at work for each of the geographical areas of, respectively, the factory inspectorate, the mines and quarries inspectorate, the agricultural inspectorate and the railways inspectorate.
  339
  Mr. Forth
  The following prohibition notices were issued by the factory inspectorate1 during the period 1989–90.

  Number

  London South West

  1

  South Yorkshire and Humberside

  1

  East Midlands

  1

  1 No prohibition notices were issued for noise related offences by HSE's agricultural inspectorate, and mines and quarries inspectorates or by the railways inspectorates during the period 1989–90.

  Factory inspectorate1

  Agricultural inspectorate

  Quarries inspectorate

  South West

  9

  —

  1

  South

  1

  —

  —

  South East

  —

  —

  —

  Greater London

  11

  —

  —

  East Anglia

  9

  —

  —

  North Home Counties

  6

  —

  —

  East Midlands

  3

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  2

  —

  —

  Wales

  1

  —

  1

  Marches

  10

  —

  —

  North Midlands

  13

  —

  —

  South Yorkshire and Humberside

  15

  4

  —

  West and North Yorkshire

  3

  —

  —

  Greater Manchester

  7

  —

  —

  Merseyside

  3

  —

  —

  North West

  2

  1

  —

  North East

  9

  —

  —

  Scotland East

  5

  —

  —

  Scotland West

  3

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  112

  5

  2

  1 No improvement notice were issued for noise related offences by Health and Safety Executive's mines inspectorate and railway inspectorate during the period 1989–90.

  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions were taken against employers in 1989–90 relating to the control of noise at work for each of the geographical areas of, respectively, the factory inspectorate, the mines and quarries inspectorate, the agricultural inspectorate and railways inspectorate; and what were the penalties in each case.

  Mr. Forth
  One information was laid in the period 1989–90 in respect of noise-related offences: This was taken by the factory inspectorate1 in the west and north Yorkshire area. It resulted in a conviction with a fine of £1,800.

  1 No proceedings were instituted for noise related offences by the Health and Safety Executive's agricultural inspectorate, and mines and quarries inspectorate, or by the railway inspectorate during the period 1989–90.

  Labour Statistics, Kent
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what was the level of unemployment for each parliamentary constituency in Kent in(a) June 1990 and (b) November 1990;

  (2) for each parliamentary constituency in Kent, what was the level of unemployment in (a) June 1990 and (b) November 1990, calculated on the same basis as that which was used to make such calculations by his Department in April 1979;

  (3) what was the level of unemployment in April 1979, for each parliamentary constituency in Kent.

  Mr. Jackson
  Unemployment data for parliamentary constituencies is only available from July 1983. The
  340
  Mr. Flannery
  To ask the Secretary of State For Employment how many improvement notices were issued against employers in 1989–90 relating to control of noise at work for each of the geographical areas of, respectively, the factory inspectorate, the mines and quarries inspectorate, the agricultural inspectorate and the railways inspectorate.

  Mr. Forth
  The following improvement notices were issued during the period 1989–90.

  available information is obtainable from the NOMIS database in the House of Commons Library. It is not possible to estimate the number of people who would now be registered as unemployed according to the basis prevailing in 1979. At that time people had to register at jobcentres or careers offices as well as unemployment benefit offices in order to qualify for benefits. These procedures no longer exist.

  Hazardous Substances
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many companies and how many individuals were prosecuted under the Contol of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, between 1 October 1989 and 31 December 1990; how many and what percentage of those prosecutions were successful; and what penalties were imposed on those found guilty of such offences.

  Mr. Forth
  Provisional figures for the first year of operation of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations—1 October 1989 to 30 September 1990—show a total of 29 informations laid under the regulations by HSE's factory and agricultural inspectorates. These resulted in 28 convictions—97 per cent.—with an average fine of £604 imposed. All these proceedings were taken against employers. No prosecutions were taken under the COSHH regulations against individuals as employees or self-employed persons.

  Self-employed People
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the percentage of self-employed people in the work forces of member states of the EC.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is shown in the table.

  Self employed as a percentage of the civilian workforce

  1988 (mid year) percentage

  Belgium

  12·8

  Denmark

  8·3

  Federal Republic of Germany

  18·8

  France

  13·8

  Greece

  32·5

  Ireland

  18·8

  Italy

  21·6

  Luxembourg

  10·2

  Netherlands

  8·8

  Portugal

  29·2

  Spain

  18·0

  United Kingdom

  210·7

  Source: OECD Labour Statistics 1968–1988 except United Kingdom (ED).

  1 Figures are for 1986, latest available.

  2 The latest available figure (September 1990) is 11·9 per cent.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the number of unemployed people in the Paisley, South constituency for each September between 1979 until 1990.

  Mr. Jackson
  Unemployment figures for parliamentary constituencies have only been available since June 1983. The following information is available in the Library. The table shows the number of unemployed claimants in the Paisley, South parliamentary constituency in each September for the years 1983 to 1990.

  The number of unemployed claimants in the Paisley South parliamentary constituency in September of each year (not seasonally adjusted)

  Year

  Number

  1983

  6,021

  1984

  5,854

  1985

  5,710

  1986

  5,596

  1987

  5,228

  1988

  4,317

  1989

  3,147

  1990

  2,785

  Direct comparisons are affected by the changes in the coverage of the count that have occurred over the period.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table in ranked order

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91 (to date)

  Item

  £

  Item

  £

  Item

  £

  12 cameras and photographic equipment

  17,195

  Six cameras

  2,278

  10 cameras

  1,100

  Five typewriters

  2,070

  Two typewriters

  850

  Six dictation machines

  220

  One video camera

  1,144

  Six dictation machines

  456

  One telephone and answer machine

  200

  Three video recorders

  2,300

  Four telephones/ancillaries

  240

  One video camera and two video recorders

  2,200

  Three dictation machines

  188

  One TV and video

  680

  One visual display unit, printer

  2,100

  342
  showing the total rises in unemployment over the past 12 months in the 50 worst affected parliamentary constituencies.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is available on the NOMIS database in the House of Commons Library.

  Training, Merseyside
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will make a statement on the future of training schemes provided by the Merseyside Council for Voluntary Service;

  (2) by how many places the allocation of adult training places on the Merseyside Council for Voluntary Service scheme have been reduced; and what provision he will now make for the training of the category of trainees previously assisted by the Merseyside Council for Voluntary Service;

  (3) by how much the total number of training places, available through employment training, has been cut in the Merseyside area;

  (4) if he will visit the Merseyside Council for Voluntary Service scheme.

  Mr. Jackson
  I am writing to the hon. Gentleman.

  Ford Motor Company
  Mr. Aspinwall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department has monitored the success of the employee development and assistance programme operated by Ford Motor Company in Britain; and whether he has plans to encourage other major companies to launch similar schemes.

  Mr. Jackson
  My Department is following closely the progress of the Ford employee development and assistance programme which supports a wide range of opportunities for the personal development of the company's employees. I welcome any company initiatives that will assist in developing the skills and competencies of individual employees.

  Stolen Equipment
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a list of the equipment stolen from his Department in the last three years for which information is available; and what was the approximate value of each item.

  Mr. Jackson
  Equipment stolen and written off in the Department's annual accounts over the past three years for which information is available is as follows:
  343

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91 (to date)

  Item

  £

  Item

  £

  Item

  £

  One telephone

  24

  One visual display unit and printer

  2,814

  Four scientific instruments

  132

  Two office machines

  275

  —

  —

  Video equipment

  1,923

  Other stores

  475

  —

  —

  One gas cylinder

  110

  —

  —

  —

  —

  One microwave oven

  220

  Total value (to nearest £)

  23,671

  7,318

  8,205

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will provide, for each quarter since September 1989, the number of decisions concerning (i) refusal of employment, (ii) actively seeking work, (iii) restricted availability and (iv) neglect to avail oneself of employment, in which the time between receiving the referral and the adjudication officer's decision was(a) up to seven days, (b) eight to 14 days, (c) 15 to 21 days, (d) 22 to 28 days and (e) over 28 days, as recorded by the 5 per cent. sample of adjudication officer decisions;

  (2) under what circumstances the disqualification, disallowance or suspension of a claim for unemployment benefit and/or income support results in a person's removal from the unemployment register;

  (3) if he will make a statement on the progress that has been made on introducing the new framework and active signing in each region of the Employment Service and the impact of the changes on the implementation of the Social Security Act 1989.

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

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all reports completed and the expected dates of publication of future Government reports on the operation of the "actively seeking employment" procedures.

  Mr. Jackson
  No reports on the operation of the "actively seeking employment" procedures have been completed. It is not possible to provide dates of publication for future Government reports concerning these procedures, as these will depend on the nature of the work commissioned and the time taken to complete any research.

HEALTH

  Medicine Inspectors
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost per hour of employing a medicines inspector; and what is the charge per hour to those requiring an inspection for a wholesale dealers licence.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Current pay scales for medicines inspectors are £16,822 to £22,138 and £21,905 to £27,299 for a principal medicines inspector. In addition there are overheads including superannuation, national 344
  insurance, accommodation, training, travel and subsistence and support services. These costs cannot be allocated to the different grade of inspector or, until the current unit cost evaluation and fee review is completed, to the type of inspection undertaken. Fees for inspections are at a standard rate and not charged at an hourly rate.

  Medicines Control Agency
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many inspections have been undertaken by the Medicines Control Agency in each of the last three years.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is shown in the table:

  Number

  1987–19881

  867

  1988–1989

  900

  1989–1990

  891

  1 (April 1—March 31)

  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the present cost of a wholesale dealers licence from the Medicines Control Agency; and whether any additional charges are involved in applying for and obtaining such a licence.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  An application for a wholesale dealers licence costs £1,105. An inspection is usually necessary in order to determine the application for pharmacy and prescription-only medicines wholesalers, for which there is an additional fee of £1,105.

  Breast Care Nurses
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Royal College of Nursing concerning the setting of standards for breast care nurses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Standards of nursing care are a matter for the profession. Representatives from the NHS breast screening programme, in partnership with the Royal College of Nursing, are in the advanced stages of determining standards for nurses working in the programme's assessment centres. General standards for breast care nurses are being drawn up with the breast care nurses forum at the Royal College of Nursing.

  Haemophiliacs
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many haemophiliacs who require Factor VIII injections are given the new highly purified material from
  345
  Armour Pharmaceuticals; how many are given the older material from Bio Products; and if he will provide a breakdown for each regional health authority.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally.

  Pain Relief
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information he has regarding the number of national health service hospitals that have a pain management team for cancer patients; and if every nationl health service hospital treating cancer patients has a pain relief consultant;

  (2) what information he has regarding the number of national health service hospitals with a specific person responsible for pain relief post-operatively;

  (3) if he will estimate the national health service personnel, time and funds available to relieve postoperative pain;

  (4) how many national health service hospitals have a policy for managing post-operative pain;

  (5) what information he has regarding the number of national health service in-patient beds allocated for pain relief investigation and management; and by what percentage the figure has changed in the last five years;

  (6) if he will list the pain relief facilities possessed by each national health service region, including comprehensive pain clinics and hospices;

  (7) what studies have been carried out by his Department of American pain management programmes; how many such programmes there are in national health service hospitals; and what information he has regarding the cost effectiveness of such programmes;

  (8) what information he has regarding the number of hours per week devoted to the relief of chronic pain in national health service hospitals;

  (9) what information he has on the number of national health service in-patient beds allocated for pain relief investigation and management;

  (10) if he will request national health service regions, when allocating funds to district health authorities, to require them to identify resources being used for pain relief;

  (11) what guidance he has given to the national health service regions regarding provision for pain relief; if he monitors such provision; and what additional funding he has provided for it.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information about numbers of beds, financial and staffing resources allocated to the investigation and management of pain including postoperative pain is not held centrally. All medical and nursing staff will wish to relieve pain experienced by their patients. It is for health authorities acting upon the advice of clinicians to determine the level of pain relief services they consider necessary to meet the needs of their populations and make suitable arrangements for such provision. In doing so, they will wish to take into account the report of the joint working party on pain after surgery published by the Royal College of Surgeons and College of Anaesthetists in September 1990, a copy of which is available in the Library. Study of American pain management programmes and evaluation and adoption of that or any other pain management programme is first for the medical profession.

  Hospices
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has regarding access for cancer patients to hospices; and if he will list the towns that have hospices and the towns with populations over 100,000 that do not have one.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The available evidence suggests that the majority of people admitted to hospices have cancer. It is for health authorities to ensure that terminally ill people and their families have access to a comprehensive range of health services. Information on hospice provision is not available in the form requested, but I understand that the St. Christopher's hospice information service regularly publishes a directory of hospice services.

  London Ambulance Services
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, pursuant to his answer of 28 January,Official Report, column 425, which person or body authorised the reduced standard of response time applicable to ambulances in Greater London; what consultations he had and with which bodies or persons concerning the adoption of this standard; and on what date it will be adopted.

  Mr. Dorrell
  As indicated in my reply to the hon. Member on 21 January, at column 75, the management executive advised health authorities of the adjusted recommended response times. Consultations took place with representatives of regional general managers and regional ambulance officers. It is for individual ambulance authorities to decide whether to adopt the recommended standards.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the number of(a) emergency and (b) non-emergency ambulance vehicles allocated to each of the ambulance stations of the London ambulance service, or held in servicing or reserve, as at 31 December 1990; and where such statistics are publicly available;

  (2) what is the number of (a) trainee ambulance personnel and (b) qualified ambulance personnel in the employ of the London ambulance service at the latest convenient date; and how many with para-medical qualifications receive gross salaries of £13,000 per annum or more;

  (3) if he will list the names of any ambulance stations of the emergency service of the London ambulance service which were unmanned for any period in the month of January, together with the total period and number of occasions of any such occurrence;

  (4) what was the number of emergency ambulances of the London ambulance service manned and on duty for each of the shifts on each day of the week 7 to 13 January.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is not held centrally. The management of the London ambulance service is the responsibility of the London ambulance service board. The hon. Member may wish to write to Mr. James Harris, the chairman of board, for details.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of(a) emergency and (b) non-emergency ambulance vehicles in the ownership of the London ambulance service; what was the number of vehicles constructed in each category in each year since 1981; and where such information is publicly available.
  347
  Mr. Dorrell
  The table shows the number of emergency and non-emergency vehicles in the ownership of the London ambulance service. Data are not collected centrally on the number of vehicles constructed/commissioned in each category. The management of the

  Ambulance service vehicles for London ambulance service

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  Ambulances

  2-trolley emergency

  358

  360

  387

  360

  2-trolley dual purpose

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sitting case seats only (under 14)

  396

  338

  286

  265

  Sitting case stretcher capacity

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sitting case seats plus lift mechanism

  210

  240

  248

  269

  Car (with or without stretcher or wheelchair capacity)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bus—14 or more seats with or without stretcher or wheelchair capacity

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total ambulance service vehicles used to transport patients

  966

  938

  921

  894

  Other ambulance service vehicles

  Major incident vehicles, radio and/or equipment vehicles (trailers, caravans, etc.)

  7

  7

  8

  5

  Recovery vehicles (Land Rover type or converted ambulance)

  7

  7

  8

  6

  Other ambulance service vehicles

  50

  54

  57

  58

  Total other ambulance service vehicles

  64

  68

  73

  69

  Total ambulance service vehicles

  1,030

  1,006

  994

  963

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the percentage of emergency calls received by the London ambulance service which showed response times within a period of 14 minutes for each day of December 1990.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Data are only available centrally on a financial year basis. In 1989–90 the London ambulance service responded to 78·8 per cent. of emergency calls within 14 minutes. The management of the London ambulance service is the responsibility of the London ambulance service board. The hon. Member may wish to write to Mr. James Harris, the chairman, for details.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what inflation factor was applied to the funding of the London ambulance service between each of the financial years 1979–80 and 1989–90; and on what basis each was calculated.

  Mr. Dorrell
  For the years 1979–80 to 1989–90 the Department used the resource allocation working party formula—RAWP—to allocate resources to regions. The allocation included an element for service development and inflation as measured by the gross domestic product deflator. The South West Thames regional health authority has overall responsibility for the London ambulance service. The hon. Member may wish to write to Baroness Cumberlege, the chairman of South West Thames regional health authority, for details.

  Smoked Salmon
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish notices in the press explaining the present legal position with regard to the posting of smoked salmon.
  348
  London ambulance service is the responsibility of the London ambulance service board. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. James Harris, the chairman, for details.

  Mr. Dorrell
  An advertising campaign to raise awareness on the new temperature controls generally is planned for the end of February.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the provisions which apply to the posting of smoked salmon(a) in England to European destinations and (b) from points in Europe to destinations in England;

  (2) what steps he intends to take to intercept smoked salmon being sent into this country by post from Europe.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulations 1990 apply to food businesses in England arid Wales. Foods specified in the regulations posted to destinations in Europe are covered by the regulations while in England and Wales. Relevant foods posted in Europe to England and Wales would similarly need to comply with the regulations. Securing compliance with the regulations is a matter for local enforcement agencies.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will delay the implementation of the Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulations 1990 as they affect smoked salmon, until the results of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food research at Torry are known.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We shall be considering the Torry research very shortly.

  Romanian Babies
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has about Romanian babies being brought into the United Kingdom and subsequently returned to Romania by adults not wishing to pursue adoption procedures.
  349
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We are not aware of any case where this has happened. Adoption law provides that Romanian children are given the same protection as any other child who is subject to adoption proceedings.

  Stolen Equipment
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a list of the equipment stolen from his Department in the last three years for which information is available; and what was the approximate value of each item.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The tables show the official equipment that has been stolen from the Department of Health's London headquarters buildings only, together with its approximate value. The buildings are also occupied by the Department of Social Security's London headquarters staff and the lists include equipment stolen from both Departments' London headquarters. The information for the financial year 1988–89 is not comprehensive, as records were not kept in all buildings at that time.

  Period: 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989

  Description of item(s)

  Approximate value £

  One calculator

  15·00

  Two answering machines—at £80 each

  160·00

  Total

  175·00

  Period: 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990

  Description of item(s)

  Approximate value£

  Eight answering machines—at £65 each

  520·00

  Five telephones—at £42 each

  210·00

  One telephone handset

  10·00

  Three electric fans—at £20 each

  60·00

  Three video recorders—at £333 each approximately

  1,000·00

  Two packs of computer ribbons—at £12·50 each

  25·00

  Nine dictating machines plus tape—at £32 each approximately

  290·00

  District health authority

  Project

  Bexley

  Queen Mary's, Sidcup—Extension to Maternity Department

  Queen Mary's, Sidcup—Pathology

  Brighton

  Royal Sussex County Boiler House

  Royal Sussex County Tower Block—Lift/Ass Works

  RSCH Tower Block South Lift

  Bromley

  Bassetts Residential Centre MH Services

  Orpington Phase 1

  Camberwell

  Crystal Palace (Bowley Close) MH Centre

  Kings College Hospital—Childrens Ward

  Kings Day Surgery and Office Accommodation

  Canterbury and Thanet

  Faversham Hospital Geriatric Wards

  Isle of Thanet DGH—Margaret Wing Interim Development

  Dartford and Gravesham

  Archery House—MH Unit

  Eastbourne

  Crowborough Community Base and Day Hospital

  Seaford Health Centre

  Eastbourne New DGH Phase 2

  Greenwich

  Thamesmead Main Health Centre

  Hastings

  Hastings DGH Main Phase 1

  350

  Description of item(s)

  Approximate value£

  Two paper weights—at £5 each

  10·00

  Two computers—at £2,000 each

  4,000·00

  Seven calculators—at £15 each

  105·00

  One battery

  5·00

  One extension lead

  25·00

  One heater

  30·00

  Total

  6,290·00

  Period 1 April 1990 to 31 January 1991

  Description of item(s)

  Approximate Value £

  Four answering machines at £65 each

  260·00

  Two loudspeakers at £50 each.

  100·00

  One mains adaptor

  5·00

  Three dictaphones at £30 each

  90·00

  One computer keyboard

  150·00

  Various computer software

  100·00

  Two fax machines at £700 each

  1,400·00

  Three two-way radios + battery charger kit

  800·00

  Computer hardware tool kit

  500·00

  Five computers at £2,000 each

  10,000·00

  Two "Liberator" portable computers at £700 each

  1,400·00

  Total

  £14,805·00

  South East Thames RHA
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish in the Official Report a list of major and minor capital projects undertaken or initiated in each district authority area since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  According to information held centrally, 40 capital projects each costing more than £1 million have been started since 1 January 1980. These are set out in the table. Information on smaller schemes is not held centrally.
  351

  District health authority

  Project

  Hastings DGH Pre-Phase Works

  St. Anne's ESMI Unit

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  Guys Phase 3 Redevelopment of Engineering Services Facility

  Guys Phase 3 Renal Unit

  Guys Phase 3 Substructure

  Guys Replacement Telephone System

  Lewisham DGH Phase 1A

  Lewisham DGH Phase 1B

  Maidstone

  Coxheath EMI (John Day House)

  Maidstone DGH Phase 1 (Nucleus)

  Maidstone DGH Phase 1A (Nucleus)

  Maidstone DGH Staff Residences

  Regional Distribution Centre

  Medway

  Keycol EMI Unit and Day Hospital

  Medway DGH Phase 3B

  Medway DGH Residential

  South East Kent

  Buckland DGH

  RVH Folkestone Phase 2

  William Harvey

  Tunbridge Wells

  Kent and Sussex, Phase 1

  Kent and Sussex Phase 2

  West Lambeth

  St. Thomas' Hospital South Wing

  We are building the health service not just for today, but for the next century, so the Government attach the highest priority to improving and modernising health buildings on which about £1 billion will be spent in England this year. Some 470 schemes each costing over £1 million are at various stages of planning, design and construction.

  Residential Care Homes
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanism there is to link levels of state funding and the quality of care elderly residents can expect.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government determine the amount of aggregate external finance each local authority will receive on the basis of standard spending assessments. It is for each authority to determine its own priorities including appropriate care for the elderly residents it supports.

  Liverpool Health Authority (Chairman)
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what qualifications are required for appointment to the post of chairman of Liverpool health authority.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Chairmen of health authorities are appointed for the personal skills and experience they can bring to the strategic and management issues facing the authority. They are expected to either live or work or have other links with the community they serve.

  General Practitioner Budgets
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish in the Official Report the number of general practitioners who have opted to become budget holders in each district health authority area under the South East Thames regional health authority area, and the number of budget holders as a percentage proportion of the total number of general practitioners in each district; and if he will make a statement.
  352
  Mr. Waldegrave
  I intend to make a statement to the House on the recognition of general practitioner fundholders throughout the country in the next few weeks. I will then write to my hon. Friend with the detailed information he seeks.

  Food Hygiene
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what restriction will now apply to the sending of Patum Peperium, a gentleman's relish, and similar products through the post in light of the Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulations 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The foods covered by temperature controls are listed in the Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulations 1990, copies of which are available in the Library. Food businesses will need to consider whether their products are required to be temperature controlled or whether the exemptions for foods which have been processed or packaged to prevent the growth of pathogenic micro-organisms at ambient temperatures apply.

  Patum Peperium may well have a high enough salt content to prevent the growth of pathogenic microorganisms without the need for temperature control hut this will depend on the particular recipe used and is for the manufacturer to determine.

  Pensioners (Sight Tests)
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pensioners had sight tests in the year 1988–89 and in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not available centrally.

  Eggs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, pursuant to his reply of 22 January,Official Report, column 162, he will now recirculate to NHS district general managers a copy of the letter of 31 July 1988 advising against the use of unpasteurised egg in recipes where the egg is unlikely to be cooked thoroughly.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The existing guidance to all NHS district managers, given in the letter issued on 29 July 1988 remains extant. The Department keeps this matter under regular review and will issue reminders or revised guidance as necessary.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will raise at the Council of Health Ministers the impact on health in the third world and eastern Europe of the dumping of high tar tobacco produced in the EC; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We will continue to ensure that the health issues arising from the EC tobacco regime are given full consideration in Europe.

  Target Payments: By Family Health Services Authority (FHSA)

  FHSA Name

  Childhood Immunisation

  Pre-School Booster

  Cervical Cytology

  Percentage Qualifying

  Percentage Qualifying

  Percentage Qualifying

  Higher Payment

  Lower Payment

  Total

  Higher Payment

  Lower Payment

  Total

  Higher Payment

  Lower Payment

  Total

  Northern Region

  Cleveland

  50

  28

  78

  41

  25

  66

  61

  27

  88

  Cumbria

  85

  10

  95

  77

  18

  95

  66

  31

  97

  Durham

  67

  20

  87

  61

  23

  84

  53

  43

  96

  Northumberland

  91

  5

  97

  90

  7

  97

  87

  13

  100

  Gateshead

  45

  46

  90

  38

  49

  87

  43

  49

  91

  Newcastle

  48

  40

  88

  29

  53

  82

  57

  31

  87

  North Tyneside

  56

  20

  76

  35

  21

  56

  43

  51

  94

  South Tyneside

  45

  50

  95

  51

  38

  89

  51

  50

  100

  Sunderland

  40

  53

  93

  31

  50

  81

  35

  65

  100

  Yorkshire Region

  Humberside

  46

  42

  88

  34

  44

  78

  51

  43

  94

  North Yorkshire

  76

  14

  90

  78

  11

  89

  79

  19

  99

  Bradford

  42

  37

  79

  34

  32

  66

  48

  31

  79

  Calderdale

  63

  24

  86

  49

  25

  74

  70

  28

  98

  Kirklees

  39

  56

  95

  33

  51

  84

  77

  24

  100

  Leeds

  59

  28

  87

  53

  25

  78

  48

  40

  87

  Wakefield

  11

  10

  21

  9

  8

  17

  90

  9

  99

  Trent Region

  Derbyshire

  80

  18

  98

  72

  25

  97

  78

  21

  100

  Leicestershire

  65

  28

  93

  59

  25

  84

  61

  35

  96

  Lincolnshire

  70

  25

  95

  64

  26

  90

  68

  30

  98

  Nottinghamshire

  72

  20

  91

  61

  27

  88

  61

  29

  90

  Barnsley

  35

  65

  100

  21

  75

  96

  93

  8

  100

  Doncaster

  29

  53

  82

  19

  49

  68

  80

  18

  97

  Rotherham

  29

  57

  86

  21

  48

  69

  67

  22

  89

  Sheffield

  60

  28

  89

  50

  29

  79

  63

  31

  94

  East Anglia Region

  Cambridgeshire

  68

  27

  95

  35

  54

  89

  57

  32

  89

  Norfolk

  89

  7

  96

  90

  6

  96

  86

  12

  98

  Suffolk

  20

  4

  24

  18

  6

  24

  89

  12

  100

  North West Thames Region

  Bedfordshire

  75

  16

  91

  61

  25

  85

  73

  25

  98

  Hertfordshire

  77

  13

  90

  67

  20

  88

  68

  23

  91

  Barnet

  29

  33

  62

  24

  29

  52

  3

  59

  62

  Brent and Harrow

  36

  17

  52

  30

  15

  45

  7

  45

  52

  Ealing, Hammersmith, Hounslow

  27

  33

  60

  18

  23

  41

  8

  39

  46

  Hillingdon

  33

  46

  79

  18

  33

  51

  23

  67

  89

  NHS Costs
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost per ambulance emergency call out, and the average cost per day of an ambulance on non-emergency work for the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information collected centrally relating to the costs of ambulance services does not allow apportionment between emergency and non-emergency uses.

  Immunisation and Cervical Screening
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of general practitioners in each family health services authority received target payments for childhood immunisation and cervical screening in the first six months of 1990–91.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The table shows the proportion of GPs in each family health services authority qualifying for target payments at 1 April 1990. GPs received these target payments at the end of September 1990.
  355

  FHSA Name

  Childhood Immunisation

  Pre-School Booster

  Cervical Cytology

  Percentage Qualifying

  Percentage Qualifying

  Percentage Qualifying

  Higher Payment

  Lower Payment

  Total

  Higher Payment

  Lower Payment

  Total

  Higher Payment

  Lower Payment

  Total

  Kensington, Chelsea, Westminster

  19

  8

  28

  11

  14

  25

  3

  17

  20

  North East Thames Region

  Essex

  74

  15

  89

  73

  16

  89

  61

  29

  90

  Barking and Havering

  34

  38

  72

  26

  36

  62

  32

  70

  100

  Camden and Islington

  13

  23

  36

  5

  16

  21

  1

  21

  22

  City and East London

  19

  7

  26

  6

  6

  12

  7

  20

  27

  Enfield and Haringey

  31

  16

  47

  30

  14

  43

  26

  20

  47

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  34

  14

  48

  27

  12

  39

  19

  26

  45

  South East Thames Region

  East Sussex

  77

  14

  92

  61

  27

  88

  51

  42

  93

  Kent

  76

  20

  96

  57

  35

  92

  43

  35

  78

  Greenwich and Bexley

  35

  25

  60

  21

  32

  53

  37

  42

  79

  Bromley

  59

  19

  78

  50

  9

  59

  33

  65

  98

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  21

  23

  43

  13

  19

  31

  10

  23

  33

  South West Thames Region

  Surrey

  63

  29

  93

  18

  47

  65

  52

  44

  96

  West Sussex

  85

  11

  96

  77

  18

  95

  64

  29

  94

  Croydon

  52

  26

  78

  10

  41

  51

  25

  53

  78

  Kingston and Richmond

  50

  35

  85

  24

  52

  76

  17

  65

  82

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  29

  29

  58

  22

  22

  44

  7

  41

  47

  Wessex Region

  Dorset

  85

  13

  98

  80

  17

  97

  79

  20

  99

  Hampshire

  85

  13

  98

  81

  16

  98

  69

  30

  98

  Wiltshire

  59

  39

  98

  53

  42

  95

  83

  16

  99

  Isle of Wight

  67

  33

  100

  44

  51

  96

  87

  13

  100

  Oxford Region

  Berkshire

  79

  16

  95

  65

  24

  90

  58

  40

  97

  Buckinghamshire

  83

  7

  90

  74

  15

  89

  94

  5

  100

  Northamptonshire

  86

  13

  99

  58

  41

  100

  78

  20

  98

  Oxfordshire

  88

  9

  97

  74

  23

  97

  78

  21

  99

  South Western Region

  Avon

  71

  21

  92

  74

  13

  87

  72

  26

  98

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  77

  13

  90

  89

  3

  92

  77

  23

  100

  Devon

  86

  13

  99

  80

  14

  95

  75

  26

  100

  Gloucestershire

  74

  23

  98

  60

  27

  87

  89

  9

  98

  Somerset

  91

  8

  99

  98

  2

  100

  91

  9

  100

  West Midlands Region

  Hereford and Worcester

  66

  25

  91

  66

  26

  93

  81

  15

  96

  Shropshire

  53

  44

  97

  48

  50

  98

  76

  23

  99

  Staffordshire

  54

  31

  85

  47

  32

  79

  69

  33

  100

  Warwickshire

  56

  31

  88

  41

  39

  80

  79

  21

  100

  Birmingham

  49

  24

  73

  43

  26

  69

  34

  39

  73

  Conventry

  44

  41

  85

  45

  22

  67

  55

  34

  89

  Dudley

  53

  29

  83

  70

  20

  90

  55

  42

  98

  Sandwell

  37

  45

  82

  29

  31

  61

  23

  77

  100

  Solihull

  63

  29

  91

  46

  33

  79

  53

  47

  100

  Walsall

  53

  24

  76

  49

  18

  67

  50

  46

  95

  Wolverhampton

  17

  21

  39

  9

  18

  27

  25

  74

  99

  Mersey Region

  Cheshire

  69

  29

  97

  61

  30

  91

  74

  25

  99

  Liverpool

  28

  26

  54

  14

  13

  27

  15

  80

  96

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  44

  33

  77

  28

  21

  50

  21

  77

  98

  Sefton

  56

  29

  85

  47

  28

  75

  40

  54

  94

  Wirral

  63

  26

  88

  63

  18

  80

  41

  59

  100

  North Western Region

  Lancashire

  49

  30

  79

  60

  23

  83

  48

  38

  87

  Bolton

  37

  39

  77

  26

  47

  73

  49

  47

  96

  Bury

  60

  33

  94

  63

  24

  87

  70

  27

  97

  Manchester

  10

  40

  50

  4

  6

  10

  13

  57

  70

  Oldham

  54

  38

  92

  22

  34

  56

  47

  46

  92

  Rochdale

  51

  34

  85

  35

  33

  67

  52

  40

  92

  Salford

  27

  51

  78

  8

  31

  39

  38

  59

  98

  Stockport

  70

  28

  97

  59

  34

  93

  61

  36

  98

  Tameside

  31

  50

  81

  21

  64

  85

  68

  24

  92

  Trafford

  63

  26

  90

  46

  35

  81

  64

  32

  97

  Wigan

  14

  18

  32

  4

  10

  14

  59

  39

  98

  356 357

  FHSA Name

  Childhood Immunisation

  Pre-School Booster

  Cervical Cytology

  Percentage Qualifying

  Percentage Qualifying

  Percentage Qualifying

  Higher Payment

  Lower Payment

  Total

  Higher Payment

  Lower Payment

  Total

  Higher Payment

  Lower Payment

  Total

  England

  59

  23

  82

  50

  25

  75

  56

  32

  88

  Note

  Figures for higher and lower payments may not add to TOTAL because of rounding error.

  For childhood immunisations, the higher target—£1,737 per annum for the average list size—is paid for 90 per cent. coverage and the lower target—£579—for 70 per cent. coverage. The necessary coverage levels are the same for the pre-school booster targets—the higher target is worth £579 and the lower target £193. For cervical cancer screening, the higher target—£2,202—necessitates 80 per cent. coverage and the lower target—£734—necessitates 50 per cent. coverage.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost per pint of blood used in the health service in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Blood is donated by volunteer donors and no charge is made to NHS hospitals for it. The average cost of collecting, processing and transporting a unit of blood in 1989–90 was £29·25.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost(a) per general practitioner appointment and (b) per general practitioner home visit, in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost in the last year for which figures are available for the supply of a new(a) general hospital, (b) ambulance, (c) general practitioner surgery, (d) dental surgery and (e) prescription.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The average gross cost of a prescription dispensed by community pharmacists or dispensing doctors in England in 1989–90 was £6·36. For the other items mentioned, the cost will vary according to the specification adopted and no meaningful average cost can be given.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in the last year for which figures are available, what is the average cost to the taxpayer per adult and per child visit to the dentist; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Data are collected centrally only on numbers of courses of treatment, not individual patient visits. The estimated average cost of an NHS adult course of treatment in England in 1989–90, net of patient charges, was £18. The estimated average cost of a course of treatment for a child in the same period was £17.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost per adult and per child patient for treatment by general practitioner and hospital service for asthma for the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Electoral Statistics
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the largest, smallest and average electorate for constituencies in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) Scotland.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is shown in the table in respect of the 1990 electoral registers.

  Parliamentary electors (1990)

  England

  Largest constituency: Milton Keynes

  109,839

  Average size of 523 constituencies

  69,577

  Smallest constituency: Surbiton

  43,607

  Wales

  Largest constituency: Pembroke

  72,981

  Average size of 38 constituencies

  58,093

  Smallest constituency: Meirionnydd Nant Conwy

  32,805

  Northern Ireland

  Largest constituency: East Londonderry

  75,407

  Average size of 17 constituencies

  66,506

  Smallest constituency: Belfast South

  53,516

  Scotland

  Largest constituency: Gordon

  77,974

  Average size of 72 constituencies

  54,676

  Smallest constituency: Western Isles

  23,084

  Numbers on the 1991 registers are currently being collected from electoral registration officers.

  GPs (Deprived Area Payments)
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he is satisfied with the working of the special deprived area payments for general practitioners.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 8 February 1991]: We are satisfied that our policy objective of targeting the payments on those practices that service areas of highest deprivation is being met. We have received a number of representations about the scheme and we have agreed that officials will discuss these with the British Medical Association.

  Hospital Food
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has issued any guidance about the introduction of charging patients for food in hospital trusts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 8 February 1991]: No. The provision of meals to NHS hospital in-patients is not subject to compulsory charges. Hospitals may offer a wider choice of menu and charge for the additional services provided.

SCOTLAND

  Flat-finding Agencies
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider licensing flat-finding agents or take other steps to ensure that they are suitable people to conduct this work.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I do not believe such action to be necessary.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the activities of Lothian Rentals flat-finding agency in Edinburgh and their implications for the law governing the regulations of such activities.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have received no such representations.

  Clinical Physics and Bioengineering
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the percentage change in the salary costs as a result of the change to the medical technical officer grade in those staff administered by the Department of Clinical Physics and Bioengineering, West Graham street, Glasgow; and what are the equivalent figures for those staff in Lothian, Fife, Grampian and Tayside health boards.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The costs of introducing the medical technical officer grade arose from the transfer of staff to a common pay spine and from the assignment of individuals to particular grades within the new structure following local review. These costs are not available centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate costs.

  Housing Finance
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the housing support grant for Renfrew district council for each year since 1975.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Right to Buy Sales by public sector housing agency—Scotland

  Number of sales October 1980 to September 1990

  Percentage of stock at 30 September1980 sold

  of which in 1990

  SCOTLAND

  198,925

  19·1

  2·5

  LOCAL AUTHORITY

  150,520

  16·8

  2·4

  Borders

  Berwickshire

  665

  23·3

  1·6

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  1,215

  24·4

  1·8

  Roxburgh

  1,255

  20·0

  1·4

  Tweeddale

  374

  23·0

  1·2

  Central

  Clackmannan

  1,794

  18·7

  2·4

  Falkirk

  6,420

  19·1

  2·0

  Stirling

  2,621

  20·0

  2·7

  Dumfries and Galloway

  360

  £ million

  11979–80

  6·5

  1980–81

  6·6

  1981–82

  2·2

  1982–83

  —

  1983–84

  —

  1984–85

  —

  1985–86

  —

  1986–87

  —

  1987–88

  —

  1988–89

  —

  1989–90

  —

  1990–91

  —

  1991–92

  20·0285

  1 Exchequer subsidy in the form of housing support grant became payable from 1979–80.

  2 Housing support grant for 1991–92 relates to the estimated deficit on hostel running costs during the year.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration is being given to undertaking a ministerial review of the long-term consequences of the right to buy provision in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office is to conduct a new research study to evaluate the impact of the right to buy. The study will be carried out over an 18-month period and will update previous research carried out into this subject. We will consider any policy implications of the findings in due course.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the current percentage rate of disposal of public sector tenancies to owner-occupation under the right-to-buy provisions shown by each local authority housing area in Scotland;

  (2) how many properties have been sold in Scotland under the right-to-buy provisions, shown by each local authority housing area in Scotland, indicating the percentage of the public sector stock tenancies remaining under management of each housing authority.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The table gives details of sales made under the right-to-buy legislation. The second column shows the percentage of stock sold since October 1980, and the third column shows the component of that percentage represented by sales in 1990. Information is not held centrally about the management arrangements for public sector stock.
  361

  Number of sales October 1980 to September 1990

  Percentage of stock at 30 September1980 sold

  of which in 1990

  Annandale and Eskdale1

  1,284

  25·0

  1·9

  Nithsdale

  2,138

  24·6

  1·9

  Stewartry

  745

  28·7

  1·7

  Wigtown

  1,103

  23·1

  1·7

  Fife

  Dunfermline

  5,945

  25·5

  2·3

  Kirkcaldy

  5,852

  22·2

  2·2

  North East Fife

  2,703

  33·5

  1·8

  Grampian

  Aberdeen

  5,358

  13·8

  1·8

  Banff and Buchan

  2,859

  22·3

  1·6

  Gordon

  1,529

  25·0

  1·4

  Kincardine and Deeside

  788

  21·6

  1·3

  Moray

  2,839

  25·9

  2·1

  Highland

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  415

  38·1

  5·3

  Caithness

  847

  19·6

  0·9

  Inverness

  1,497

  21·0

  2·3

  Lochaber

  752

  21·5

  2·3

  Nairn

  260

  23·4

  2·0

  Ross and Cromarty

  901

  14·2

  1·4

  Skye and Lochalsh

  182

  24·9

  2·1

  Sutherland

  272

  15·7

  0·8

  Lothian

  East Lothian

  4,043

  24·8

  2·4

  Edinburgh

  11,951

  21·2

  3·6

  Midlothian

  3,384

  25·6

  2·6

  West Lothian

  3,588

  16·2

  2·1

  Strathclyde

  Argyll and Bute

  1,379

  16·4

  2·4

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  280

  15·3

  1·9

  Clydebank

  2,086

  17·6

  4·2

  Clydesdale

  1,361

  14·0

  1·7

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  814

  18·5

  2·6

  Cumnock and Doon Valley2

  1,353

  13·1

  1·5

  Cunninghame

  3,821

  16·7

  2·5

  Dumbarton

  1,619

  12·3

  2·0

  East Kilbride2

  442

  27·2

  1·4

  Eastwood

  503

  25·2

  2·4

  Glasgow

  16,939

  9·7

  2·5

  Hamilton

  3,996

  17·4

  3·2

  Inverclyde

  2,024

  10·2

  1·2

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  2,704

  14·8

  1·6

  Kyle and Carrick

  4,339

  24·0

  3·1

  Monklands

  3,577

  12·5

  2·8

  Motherwell

  4,171

  10·4

  2·2

  Renfrew

  6,747

  17·1

  2·2

  Stratkelvin

  2,505

  22·7

  2·1

  Tayside

  Angus

  3,101

  21·3

  2·5

  Dundee

  5,785

  14·4

  4·2

  Perth and Kinross

  3,884

  23·7

  3·2

  Islands Councils

  Orkney Islands

  396

  26·2

  2·2

  Shetland Islands

  402

  16·1

  1·2

  Western Isles

  653

  26·4

  0·9

  New Town

  Cumbernauld3

  0

  0·0

  0·0

  East Kilbride

  7,927

  44·1

  4·2

  Glenrothes

  3,627

  39·6

  3·1

  Irvine

  1,370

  31·1

  4·7

  Livingston

  3,505

  32·6

  5·0

  SCOTTISH HOMES (SSHA)4

  31,976

  34·4

  2·4

  362 363

  1 Return outstanding for quarter 1 1982.

  2 Returns outstanding for quarter 3 1990.

  3 All sales have been voluntary sales.

  4 Includes voluntary sales.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the level of public sector tenanted housing stock below which the provisions of the right to buy would make sensible local authority strategic management of housing impossible to achieve.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No such level has been set.

  Rented Housing
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the total number of houses for rent built by Scottish Homes or its predecessor within Renfrew district for each year since 1960.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  New House Building 1960–1990—Scottish Homes (Own Stock)

  Year

  Number of completions

  1960–61

  Nil

  1962

  750

  1963

  540

  1964–65

  Nil

  1966

  1,448

  1967–68

  Nil

  1969

  367

  1970

  126

  1971

  Nil

  1972

  916

  1973

  925

  1974

  Nil

  1975

  440

  1976

  432

  1977

  364

  1978

  460

  1979

  632

  1980

  Nil

  1981

  268

  1982

  Nil

  1983

  209

  1984–86

  Nil

  1987

  18

  1988

  72

  1989–90

  Nil

  1991

  24

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the total number of houses for rent built by Renfrew district council or its predecessors for each year since 1960.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The total numbers of dwellings completed by Renfrew district council for the years 1976 to 1990 are set out in the table. It is not possible to say whether all these were for rent. Information for earlier years is not available on a comparable basis.

  New dwellings completed by Renfrew district council

  Number

  1976

  184

  1977

  84

  1978

  47

  1979

  65

  1980

  122

  1981

  113

  364

  Number

  1982

  179

  1983

  34

  1984

  135

  1985

  19

  1986

  10

  1987

  64

  1988

  27

  1989

  —

  11990

  —

  1 January to September only.

  Homelessness
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to review or amend arty provisions of the Homeless Persons (Scotland) Act; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have no current plans to review or amend further the provisions of part II of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987. But I expect to issue soon a revised code of guidance on the homelessness legislation in Scotland, to which local authorities are to have regard in exercising their homelessness functions.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average length of stay for families with dependent children, who were accepted as homeless by their local authority, and placed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation, in 1990 or at the nearest available date; and if he will express the answer in terms of the average length of stay for Scotland and for each district and islands council.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many families with dependent children were accepted as homeless in 1990, or at the nearest available date.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  According to returns so far submitted by local authorities to the Scottish Office, they accepted 9,900 households with dependent children as homeless in 1989–90. Some returns are known to be outstanding.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many families with dependent children, accepted as homeless by their local authority, were placed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in 1990 or at the nearest available date; and if he will express the answer in terms of the total number for Scotland and for each district and islands council.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Returns so far submitted by local authorities to the Scottish Office indicate that in 1989–90 they placed 670 households with dependent children, whom they had accepted as homeless, in bed and breakfast accommodation temporarily pending inquiries under the legislation, and 166 in such accommodation following assessment. Some households may be included in both these figures, which represent less
  365
  than 7 per cent, and less than 2 per cent, respectively of the number of households with dependent children accepted as homeless in 1989–90. A breakdown by district and islands council is set out in the table. Some returns are known to be outstanding.

  Households with dependant children accepted as homeless, Scotland, 1989–90 found bed and breakfast accommodation, by local authority

  Local authority

  Temporarily pending inquiries

  Following assessment

  Scotland

  670

  166

  Borders

  Berwickshire

  —

  —

  Ettrick & Lauderdale

  —

  —

  Roxburgh

  —

  —

  Tweeddale

  1

  —

  Central

  Clackmannan

  1

  —

  Falkirk

  4

  1

  Stirling

  7

  1

  Dumfries & Galloway

  Annandale & Eskdale

  —

  —

  Nithsdale

  —

  —

  Stewartry

  4

  —

  Wigtown

  14

  —

  Fife

  Dunfermline

  —

  1

  Kirkcaldy

  13

  2

  North East Fife

  8

  1

  Grampian

  Aberdeen

  42

  36

  Banff & Buchan

  7

  —

  Gordon

  9

  —

  Kincardine & Deeside

  3

  1

  Moray

  4

  —

  Highland

  Badenoch & Strathspey

  —

  1

  Caithness

  —

  —

  Inverness

  2

  —

  Lochaber

  8

  1

  Nairn

  —

  —

  Ross & Cromarty

  6

  —

  Skye & Lochalsh

  6

  —

  Sutherland

  —

  —

  Lothian

  East Lothian

  35

  1

  Edinburgh

  3

  —

  Midlothian

  23

  36

  West Lothian

  32

  26

  Strathclyde

  Argyll & Bute

  21

  6

  Bearsden & Milngavie

  1

  —

  Clydebank

  5

  1

  Clydesdale

  —

  —

  Cumbernauld & Kilsyth

  28

  11

  Cumnock & Doon Valley

  5

  —

  Cunninghame

  93

  11

  Dumbarton

  14

  —

  East Kilbride

  —

  1

  Eastwood

  4

  4

  Glasgow

  19

  3

  Hamilton

  2

  2

  Inverclyde

  —

  —

  Kilmarnock & Loudoun

  32

  —

  Kyle & Carrick

  114

  9

  Monklands

  1

  —

  Motherwell

  1

  —

  Renfrew

  69

  —

  Strathkelvin

  19

  2

  366

  Local authority

  Temporarily pending inquiries

  Following assessment

  Tayside

  Angus

  —

  5

  Dundee

  8

  —

  Perth & Kinross

  —

  1

  Islands Councils

  Orkney Islands

  —

  —

  Shetland Islands

  1

  1

  Western Isles

  3

  1

  Mental Illness
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients receiving treatment for mental illness in Scottish hospitals were eligible to vote in 1990.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to assist long-term patients receiving treatment for mental illness in Scottish hospitals to exercise their right to vote in local and parliamentary elections.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Guidance to health boards relating to the electoral registration of informal patients in mental illness and mental handicap hospitals was last issued in 1987 and the need for further guidance is kept under review. Explanatory leaflets for patients are distributed within relevant hospitals and informal patients are given the opportunity prior to 10 October each year to complete the necessary patient's declaration form.

  Stolen Equipment
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a list of the equipment stolen from the Lord Advocate's Department in the last three years for which information is available; and what was the approximate value of each item.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There have been no such losses.

  New Housing
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the total levels of new housebuilding, houses completed, in each year from 1970 to 1979 and in 1989 in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested for the years 1970 to 1978 was given on page 8 of "Scottish Housing Statistics No. 12, 4th Quarter 1980". Figures for 1979 and 1989 appear in table 5 of the Scottish Office quarterly statistical bulletins on housing. These publications are available in the House Library.

  Mortgages
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the total volume of mortgage lending in Scotland in real terms in each year since 1970.
  367
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not available.

  City Hospital, Aberdeen
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the tender value of the private medical company for the 60-bed geriatric unit at the City hospital in Aberdeen; and what was the value of the nearest unsuccessful tender.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 8 February 1991]: The successful tender was valued at £2,356,000. The nearest unsuccessful tender was received from a second private company and the value of its tender is commercially confidential. Grampian health board has explained to both that company and the in-house team the reasons why they were unsuccessful.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what numbers of students attended the centrally funded education institutions in 1989–90.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 8 February 1991]: In 1989–90 a total of 29,871 full-time and 10,508 part-time higher education students attended institutions which are centrally funded by the Scottish Office Education Department. Provisional figures show an additional 184 full-time and 22,953 part-time students attending non-advanced courses in these institutions in 1989–90.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the operation of the relaxation of the attendance allowance rule for terminally ill people since its inception.

  Mr. Scott
  Provisions introduced with effect from 1 October 1990, enable anyone with a terminal illness to qualify for attendance allowance at the higher rate from the date of claim. Up to 31 December 1990 a total of 13,600 claims were decided under these provisions and of these decisions over 13,000 were successful. The majority of such claims were cleared within two weeks.

  Local Offices, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will review the level of funding of his Department's offices in the Doncaster area, in the light of changing demand;

  (2) what plans he has to alter the work load and staffing at each of his Department's offices in the Doncaster area.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department allocates funds for staffing and administrative expenditure to local offices using systems designed to match resources to requirements. Staffing is based on workload which local offices record each month, and resource managers take account of revised workload forecasts when reviewing local office complements. Expenditure is reviewed centrally and locally each month.
  368
  The Department's offices in Doncaster are being combined to form one administrative unit for management purposes. The staffing for 1991–92 will encompass I he combined complement from the two existing offices.

  Pension Ages
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the cost of equalising pension ages for men and women for(a) retirement pension and (b) income support pensioner premiums; and how these estimates would differ if (i) spouse additions and (ii) widow/widower pensions were paid on the same basis on male and female pensions at (1) 65 years, (2) 60 years or (3) 55 years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The cost of paying state retirement pension to men from age 60 has been estimated at about £3,000 million a year in 1985–86 prices. Paying pensions to women from age 65 has been estimated to save about £500 million in 1985–86 prices. Income support pensioner premiums are payable to men and women at age 60. The cost of providing State pensions to men and women at age 55 and the further information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what information he obtained about the supply and demand of places in residential and nursing homes for the elderly before the setting of income support levels;

  (2) what information he obtained about dependency levels in residential homes for the elderly before setting income support levels;

  (3) what information he obtained about charges for extras in residential and nursing homes for the elderly before the setting of income support levels;

  (4) what information he obtained about differences in staff costs between residential and nursing homes for the elderly before the setting of income support levels;

  (5) what information he obtained about regional variations in charges in residential and nursing homes for the elderly before the setting of income support levels.

  Miss Widdecombe
  A considerable amount of information, including all these issues, received from various interested parties as well as information from a survey commissioned by the Department, and carried out by management consultants Price Waterhouse, was considered before the income support limits were set for residential care and nursing homes. A copy of the Price Waterhouse report has been placed in the Library. Information about occupancy of homes is obtained from quarterly statistical returns.

  Stolen Equipment
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Social Security if he will publish a list of the equipment stolen from his Department in the last three years for which information is available; and what was the approximate value of each item.

  Mr. Jack
  The information in the table relates to the number of break-ins in offices other than London
  369
  headquarters, which is the responsibility of the Department of Health. Further information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Number of break-ins

  Estimated value of equipment

  £

  1987–88

  90

  1

  1988–89

  54

  1

  1989–90

  85

  32,000

  1 No records held.

  State Pensions
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report the state pension entitlement for (a) single persons and (b) married couples as of April 1991; and if he will show comparable figures for April 1979 and indicate the change in real and nominal terms.

  Miss Widdecombe
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 24 October last year, basic retirement pension from April 1991 will be £52 for a single person and £83·25 for a married couple. The amounts paid in April 1979 were £19·50 and £31·20 370
  respectively. The nominal change in the level of benefit over this period is therefore £32·50 for a single person and £52·05 for a married couple. Measurement of the change in the real value of benefit over this period cannot be calculated until the retail prices index for April 1991 is available.

  Benefits
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 11 December 1990,Official Report, column 196, concerning the value of benefits in November 1979 and April 1991, if he will give the answer using the index of retail prices which applies to the annual uprating of benefits in April 1991.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 6 December 1990 at column 196.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he would list for each of the benefits for which he is responsible the statutory duties which lie upon his Department to encourage greater take-up of each benefit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 7 February 1991.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number and proportion of claimants who are disqualified for unemployment benefit, and of these, the number and proportion who are in receipt of reduced income support.

  Mr. Jack
  The latest information at May 1989 shows that of the 1,090,631 income support claimants registered as available for employment 31,574—2·9 per cent. —were receiving reduced income support because of disqualification or disallowance. Other information on numbers of unemployed claimants and the decisions of adjudication officers is in "Unemployment Benefit Statistics—Quarterly Analysis of Unemployed Claimants" and "Unemployment Benefit Statistics—Quarterly Analysis of Decisions of Adjudication Officers", copies of which are in the Library.

  Welfare Rights
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assistance and support his Department has given to local authority welfare rights teams since 1979; and what further help is planned.

  Mr. Jack
  The Department welcomes the existence of welfare rights advisers and encourages co-operation at a local level between such advisers and departmental staff.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners claim income support; and what this is as a percentage of all pensioners.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In May 1989, the latest date for which figures are available, 1,552,000 pensioners received income support. This was 15 per cent. of all pensioners.

  Sources:

  Annual statistical inquiry May 1989 for income support recipients.

  Office of Population Censuses and Surveys for population figures.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are wholly dependent upon the state pension for their income; and what is this as a percentage of all pensioners.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Income-related benefits are available to help people whose only income is the basic state retirement pension, although a few do not claim their full entitlement. Available information suggests that less than 1 per cent. of people over state pension age receive only the basic state retirement pension and no other state benefits or private income. It is not possible to estimate precisely the total number of pensioners in this position.

  Severe Weather Payments
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many payments have been made under the severe weather payments system in each area covered by the relevant weather station for each week since mid-January.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Independent Living Fund
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what provision he proposes for those currently assisted by the independent living fund after its abolition in 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Our plans for the future of the independent living fund are still under consideration following the decision to phase the implementation of community care.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people within the last year applied for(a) a crisis loan, (b) a budgeting loan and (c) a community care grant from social fund, Merseyside; how many were subsequently awarded payment in each of the stated categories; how many people were refused help and for what reasons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 28 January 1991]: The information requested is given in the following tables:

  Table A

  Crisis Loans

  YTD figures for month ending December 1990

  Local office

  Number of applications

  Number of awards

  Number of refusals

  Belle Vale

  705

  642

  10

  Bootle

  1,017

  919

  64

  Breckfield

  1,677

  1,540

  86

  City

  1,426

  1,289

  28

  Crosby

  837

  804

  18

  Edgehill

  1,990

  1,832

  63

  Garston

  707

  435

  132

  Huyton

  1,308

  1,241

  24

  Kirkby

  1,159

  1,121

  27

  Norris Green

  734

  672

  36

  Toxteth

  3,096

  2,419

  127

  West Derby

  411

  410

  3

  TOTAL

  15,067

  13,324

  618

  Table B

  Budgeting Loans

  YTD figures for month ending December 1990

  Local office

  Number of applications

  Number of awards

  Number of refusals

  Belle Vale

  2,576

  1,521

  907

  Bootle

  3,380

  2,095

  1,061

  Breckfield

  3,929

  2,093

  1,489

  City

  2,320

  1,387

  711

  Crosby

  2,353

  1,312

  889

  Edgehill

  4,004

  2,222

  1,452

  Garston

  1,692

  1,058

  562

  Huyton

  3,961

  2,606

  1,084

  Kirkby

  4,241

  2,474

  1,354

  Norris Green

  2,271

  1,310

  814

  Toxteth

  4,301

  2,435

  1,450

  West Derby

  886

  582

  288

  TOTAL

  35,914

  21,095

  12,061

  Table C

  Community care grants

  YTD figures for month ending December 1990

  Local office

  Number of applications

  Number of awards

  Number of refusals

  Belle Vale

  1,061

  456

  575

  Bootle

  1,514

  620

  866

  Breckfield

  1,901

  649

  1,157

  373

  Local office

  Number of applications

  Number of awards

  Number of refusals

  City

  1,166

  439

  633

  Crosby

  1,181

  427

  719

  Edgehill

  1,898

  632

  1,209

  Garston

  872

  301

  519

  Huyton

  1,804

  675

  1,089

  Kirkby

  2,031

  689

  1,223

  Table D

  Reason for refusal—crisis loans1

  Belle Vale

  Bootle

  Breckfield

  City

  Crosby

  Edgehill

  Garston

  Edgehill

  Kirkby

  Norris Green

  Toxteth

  WestDerby

  Excluded items

  0

  0

  3

  0

  1

  2

  0

  2

  1

  1

  0

  0

  Previous application and SFO decision for item

  1

  0

  2

  1

  0

  4

  1

  1

  1

  0

  11

  0

  Inability to repay

  2

  2

  8

  6

  1

  13

  0

  6

  0

  3

  16

  0

  Help available from another source

  0

  2

  9

  3

  2

  1

  1

  1

  0

  6

  10

  0

  Insufficient priority

  0

  0

  2

  0

  2

  2

  2

  0

  9

  3

  31

  1

  Suitable alternative available

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  8

  2

  0

  No serious risk to health or safety

  3

  44

  46

  8

  13

  35

  125

  10

  8

  20

  54

  1

  Other

  6

  21

  22

  10

  3

  12

  5

  8

  8

  11

  17

  1

  1 An application may have more than one reason for a refusal decision. Therefore the sum total of reasons for refusal will be greater than the number of applications actually refused.

  Table E

  Reasons for refusal by local office—BLs1

  Belle Vale

  Bootle

  Breckfield

  City

  Crosby

  Edgehill

  Garston

  Edgehill

  Kirkby

  Norris Green

  Toxteth

  WestDerby

  Not in receipt of Income Support

  117

  109

  244

  102

  115

  181

  66

  144

  172

  84

  142

  41

  Not in receipt of Income Support for 26 weeks

  195

  250

  317

  168

  191

  298

  90

  261

  233

  190

  266

  41

  Excluded items

  40

  41

  54

  24

  42

  62

  13

  42

  25

  20

  62

  7

  Previous application and SFO decision for item

  81

  59

  86

  38

  42

  120

  26

  67

  88

  90

  142

  6

  Inability to repay

  17

  46

  94

  45

  20

  94

  22

  84

  81

  85

  133

  15

  Insufficient priority

  438

  480

  563

  97

  335

  663

  246

  416

  643

  397

  624

  131

  Loan refused CCG awarded

  73

  33

  106

  60

  94

  88

  66

  41

  84

  40

  95

  52

  Other

  32

  95

  120

  190

  162

  76

  118

  71

  118

  59

  112

  7

  1 An application may have more than one reason for a refusal decision. Therefore the sum total of reasons for refusal will be greater than the number of applications actually refused.

  Table F

  Reasons for refusal by local office—CCGs1

  Belle Vale

  Bootle

  Breckfield

  City

  Crosby

  Edgehill

  Garston

  Edgehill

  Kirkby

  Norris Green

  Toxteth

  WestDerby

  Savings over £500 sufficient to meet cost

  6

  3

  1

  0

  4

  4

  4

  4

  0

  2

  2

  0

  Not in receipt of IS and unlikely to become entitled

  73

  78

  165

  98

  85

  148

  68

  127

  141

  59

  149

  24

  Excluded items

  18

  20

  27

  7

  20

  33

  13

  16

  15

  17

  26

  6

  Excluded person

  14

  2

  4

  0

  1

  0

  1

  19

  5

  1

  2

  2

  Amount less than £30 (not travel)

  4

  12

  6

  4

  8

  4

  3

  3

  7

  5

  5

  1

  Previous application and decision for item

  34

  37

  48

  18

  30

  66

  21

  41

  62

  66

  97

  7

  Insufficient priority

  62

  78

  168

  27

  10

  10

  149

  146

  58

  64

  274

  185

  Secretary of State direction 4 not satisfied

  377

  529

  768

  450

  540

  794

  348

  742

  892

  499

  877

  18

  Other

  16

  144

  73

  26

  46

  42

  107

  24

  59

  63

  72

  1

  1 An application may have more than one reason for a refusal decision. Therefore the sum total of reasons for refusal may be greater than the number of applications actually refused.

  Community Charge Benefit
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average number of families who received rate rebates or community charge benefit in each year from 1980 to 1990 in the categories of(a) retirement pensioners, (b) invalidity pensioners, (c) unemployed, (d) lone parents, (e) students, (f) single people and (g) families in paid work.

  (Thousands)

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Elderly1

  3,870

  3,920

  3,920

  3,720

  3,690

  3,015

  2,550

  Invalidity persioners2

  2,680

  2,880

  2,890

  3,020

  3,090

  200

  190

  Unempolyed3

  885

  615

  Lone parents

  635

  555

  Students

  640

  70

  Other

  565

  1 Data on elderly people relates to women aged 60 or over and men aged 65 or over for 1983 to 1987, and all claimants aged 60 and over for 1988 and 1989.

  374

  Local office

  Number of applications

  Number of awards

  Number of refusals

  Norris Green

  1,131

  422

  706

  Toxteth

  2,328

  680

  1,478

  West Derby

  490

  240

  240

  Total

  17,377

  6,230

  10,414

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 29 January 1991]: The table shows the number of households, including single people, receiving rate rebates or community charge benefit, broken down into such categories as are available. Figures are not available prior to 1983, as the housing benefit scheme did not then exist in its present form.
  375
  2 Aged 60 to 79 and who qualify for higher pensioner premium.

  3 Not including cases where neither income support nor unemployment benefit are in payment.

  Notes:

  (1) The available figures relate to a combination of data on income support and non-income support cases. The income support data relates to statistical inquiries carried out in May of each year. The non-income support data relate to those carried out in September of each year except 1984 (October) and 1988 and 1989 (May).

  (2) Data on community charge rebates in Scotland for 1989 and community charge benefit in Great Britain as a whole for 1990 are not available. The 1989 figures shown, therefore, relate to England and Wales only.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Procedural Changes
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what progress has been made in respect of the proposed procedural changes in the House; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John MacGregor
  A number of procedural changes have been made over the past year or so on matters including private Members' time and oral questions.

  The Procedure Committee is continuing its work and I am hopeful that its inquiry into parliamentary questions will provide the basis for further improvements. In addition, I remain willing to receive ideas from Members for improvements in our procedures, including those which will reduce costs.

  Security
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a further statement on security within the Palace of Westminster.

  Mr. MacGregor
  It has been the long-standing practice of Leaders of the House not to comment on matters of security within the Palace of Westminster. I can however reassure my hon. Friend that the matter is kept under continuing review, and I am sure that he has noticed some considerable changes recently.

  European Parliament
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what recent discussions there have been concerning the improvement of communications facilities between the House and the European Parliament.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The question of establishing easier telecommunications and postal links with institutions of the European Communities, including the European Council, is expected to be considered at the next meeting of the Services Committee on 13 February.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Stolen Equipment
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will publish a list of the equipment stolen from his Department in the last three years for which information is available; and what was the approximate value of each item.

  Mr. MacGregor
  No equipment has been reported stolen from the Privy Council office in the last three years.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Duchy (Official Visit)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he intends to pay an official visit to the duchy.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I recently attended a meeting of the Knowsley magisterial advisory committee on Merseyside, and I hope to pay another visit to the duchy in the near future.

  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will next make an official visit to the duchy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  I have no precise plans to make an official visit to the duchy at present, although I hope to do so in the near future. I recently visited the Knowsley magisterial advisory committee and was very impressed by its businesslike approach to the difficult and responsible job it has in finding candidates who are entirely suitable for the important judicial appointment of justice of the peace.

  Duchy Business
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much time he has spent on duchy business since he last answered oral questions.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Up to a quarter of my time is spent carrying out my duties as Chancellor of the Duchy.

  Duchy Land Holdings
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will commission an environmental assessment of the duchy and of all its land holdings.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  Management of the duchy estates is conducted by professionally qualified people, who take into active consideration the effect upon the environment of any decisions which they recommend. The range of such decisions extends from the control of pollution to concern for the impact on the environment of any new development on the duchy's land holdings. I do not, therefore, consider any further environmental assessment necessary.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Stolen Equipment
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a list of the equipment stolen from his Ministry in the last three years for which information is available; and what was the approximate value of each item.

  Mr. Curry
  All cases of theft from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food during the last three years
  377
  for which information is available and for which authority has been granted to write off the loss incurred are shown in the following table:

  Year and detail

  Amount £

  1987–88

  Beekeeping equipment

  58·00

  Binoculars (2)

  232·00

  Electronic typewriter

  491·11

  Pen set

  71·93

  Compass (2)

  30·98

  Pencil sharpeners

  10·00

  Strimmer

  228·00

  Trailer board

  50·00

  Club hammer

  20·00

  Hairdryer

  8·99

  Beckman rota

  4,800·00

  Grundig stenorettes

  440·00

  Calculators (3)

  27·45

  Stylon tape

  20·00

  Optical square

  10·00

  Cassette recorder

  50·00

  Tripod

  35·00

  Total 1987–88

  £6,583·46

  1988–89

  Spare wheel (and tyre)

  58·19

  Bird scarer

  242·00

  Step ladders

  20·00

  Patio set

  60·00

  Aluminium irrigation equipment

  1,95·500

  Binoculars

  24·99

  Calculator

  10·13

  Pocket dictaphone

  47·25

  Total 1988–89

  £2,417·56

  1989–90

  Tool box

  220·00

  Calculator

  25·00

  TV and cassette radio

  99·99

  Video camera

  800·00

  Land rover

  7,830·00

  Scales

  20·00

  Hotplate

  30·00

  Dictaphone

  60·38

  Total 1989–90

  £9,085·37

  Total 1987–90

  £18,086·39

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Outturn

  Provisional outturn

  EC budget provision

  MECU

  £million

  MECU

  £million

  MECU

  £million

  Total

  1,138·849

  745·66

  1,232·134

  858·68

  1,341

  934·55

  Of which

  Export refunds

  61·961

  40·57

  61·869

  43·12

  69

  48·09

  Intervention

  104·573

  68·47

  89·425

  62·32

  137

  95·48

  Sources: 1989—19th Financial Guarantee Report.

  1990—Consumption of Credits Doc VI/440/90.

  1991—Consumption of Credits Doc V1/101/91.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if any restriction is placed by the EC on the tar levels of tobaccos exported to the third world.

  Mr. Curry
  No. The specification of tobacco exports is a matter for commercial decision between buyer and seller.

  Agricultural Expenditure
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has submitted to the Council of Ministers about the reduction of agricultural spending to be submitted to the GATT conference; and if he will place his proposals in the Library.

  Mr. Curry
  The Commission negotiates in the GATT in close consultation with member states on the basis of the offer which the Council of Ministers approved in November. We have not submitted proposals to the Council but with other member states have urged the Commission to continue the effort to find a basis for a successful agreement.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out the reasons why the EC has decided to budget for the expenditure of £23,000,000,000 on agriculture in 1991; what is the legal limit for such expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The agreed budget for total EC agriculture expenditure in 1991, including estimated costs arising from German unification, is now 34,785 mecu (£24,240 million). This excludes the 1,000 mecu (£697 million) monetary reserve, which is a provision for increased costs above 400 mecu (£279 million) caused by movements in the dollar/ecu market rate. The budget was based on estimates made last year. Within this total, the budget for market support is 31,516 mecu (£21,962 million) which is subject to a legal limit (the guideline) of 32,511 mecu (£22,656 million).

  Tobacco
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total sum which the EC proposes to spend on the production of tobacco in 1991; and if he will provide separate figures for the proposed spending on storing and on subsidising the export of such tobacco, giving in each case the comparable expenditure figures in 1990 and 1989, respectively.

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

  Milk Quotas
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the fiscal effect on United Kingdom farmers of the Agriculture Council's decision to bring producers' direct sales of yogurt, ice cream and certain other milk products within the scope of Community rules on milk quotas.
  379
  Mr. Curry
  Producers whose direct sales of milk and milk products exceed their available quota are subject to a supplementary levy of up to 15·7 pence per litre of milk at the current rate. From 1 April 1991 direct sales of yogurt, ice cream and certain other milk products will be taken into account in determining liability for this levy. We are considering how and on what terms to make quota available to producers directly affected by the Council's decision.

  Sheep and Cow Subsidies
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the sheep subsidy and hill cow payments will be made; what delays there have been in payment; and if he will make a statement.

  Severely disadvantaged area

  Disadvantaged area

  New rate £

  Existing rate £

  New rate £

  Existing rate £

  Cows

  63·30

  54·50

  31·65

  27·25

  Hardy breed ewes

  8·75

  7·50

  n/a

  n/a

  Other ewes

  4·90

  4·50

  2·45

  2·25

  The new financial limit of 1·4 livestock units per hectare comes into effect from 1 January 1991 and will limit payments to those producers who stock above this level. There will be no other changes to the conditions of the scheme.

  We shall be laying before Parliament a draft Statutory Instrument giving effect to the new rates as soon as possible. The increased rates are expected to cost £17·5 million in a full year.

  This 14 per cent. average increase, which follows an increase for hardy breed ewes worth over £5 million last year will bring HLCA payments in the United Kingdom to some £142 million in a full scheme year.
  380
  Mr. Gummer
  [pursuant to the replies of 18 January and 31 January 1990]: My right hon. Friends and I have now completed the annual review of the economic conditions in the United Kingdom's less-favoured areas, in consultation with representatives of farming interests. The review has shown that average net farm incomes of livestock producers in our hill and upland areas are forecast to fall even further in 1990–91 following the significant decline also experienced in the previous year.

  We have concluded that, in response to the exceptionally difficult circumstances faced by producers, there should be increases in all the rates for hill livestock compensatory allowances but with larger increases for the sectors in greatest difficulty.

  Subject to parliamentary approval the new rates will be as follows:

  All sectors of agriculture face a period of change. There is the need to adapt to new market requirements and to find support arrangements which pose a less severe budgetary burden and reflect environmental concerns more effectively. No sector can be exempt from change. But this substantial and increased level of support indicates the Government's continuing commitment to livestock farming in the less favoured areas with the additional contribution it brings in ensuring economic activity in these difficult areas and in providing environmental benefits.