Written Answers of 12 February 1991

TRANSPORT

  Bus and Rail Travellers
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact on bus and rail travellers in Greater London of the reduction in transport facilities recently announced by London Regional Transport.

  Mr. Freeman
  London Buses Limited has announced that it is planning to make a number of alterations to local bus services to match them more closely to passenger demand. Details of all the proposed services are not yet available; they will be the subject of public consultation over the next few months. I understand that the changes that London Underground is developing are mainly reduced counter services at booking offices, made possible by the introduction in recent years of very reliable new ticket machines. I am advised that the changes to train services envisaged by London Underground are modest and are, in the main, aimed at improving reliability on lines where there are problems in providing a full complement of trains.

  Halifax-Huddersfield Rail Link
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will allocate funds to ensure that the West Yorkshire passenger transport authority is able to introduce in 1992 the railway link between Halifax and Huddersfield.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  If the West Yorkshire passenger transport authority seeks resources for this project, we will consider it on its merits, and taking account of the claims of other projects. Credit approvals for 1991–92 have, however, already been allocated, so the earliest that resources for new projects could be made available is 1992–93.

  A45
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many separate traffic engineering projects have been undertaken for the purpose of improving Rookery crossroads on the A45 over the past 10 years; how much this has cost in 1990 values; and whether he has any proposals for futher works;

  (2) what steps he is taking, together with the Suffolk county council, to help prevent further accidents at Rookery crossroads on the A45; and how soon he expects to publish plans for grade separation of Sow lane traffic entering and exiting Rougham industrial estate and east-west traffic on the A45.

  Mr. Chope
  There have been six engineering projects costing approximately £50,000 to 1990 prices. I shall write to my hon. Friend with details of proposals for further works.
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  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of injury accidents on or near the A45 at the Rookery crossroads at Rougham near Bury St. Edmunds in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Chope
  The number of recorded fatal, serious and slight injury accidents at or within 20m either side of junction in each of the past 10 years is as follows:

  Year

  Fatal

  Serious

  Slight

  Total

  1980

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1981

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1982

  —

  2

  —

  2

  1983

  —

  3

  —

  3

  1984

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1985

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1986

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1987

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1988

  —

  1

  1

  2

  1989

  —

  1

  5

  6

  1990

  1

  —

  1

  2

  Rail Electrification
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce his decision on rail electrification of the Western Region main line west of Reading.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  British Rail has no current plans for electrification of the main line west of Reading.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answer of 4 February 1991 Official Report, column 4, whether he will consult the chairman of British Rail in relation to the United Kingdom's participation in the European Commission high level working group with respect to low-platform wagon technology for through freight trains using the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Freeman
  Yes.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects United Kingdom approval of a standard low bogie system for running Berne gauge freight trains through the channel tunnel on to the United Kingdom railway network to be announced.

  Mr. Freeman
  Technical approval of freight wagons for operation in the United Kingdom is a matter for British Rail. Freight wagons for operation through the channel tunnel also require approval from Eurotunnel, the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority in consultation with Her Majesty's railway inspectorate, and other European railways. There is no proposal to run Berne gauge trains in the United Kingdom.

  Cars (Carbon Dioxide Emissions)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intends to introduce stricter limits on carbon dioxide emissions for cars.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the strategy set out in "This Common Inheritance"—Cmnd. 1200.

  Railway Safety
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Rail concerning their response mechanism to requests by fire services for trains to be stopped in emergency situations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  This is a matter for British Rail. I understand that BR is reviewing arrangements for emergency communication with fire services, and that BR aims to identify one railway control location for each geographical area of its operations.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what formal machinery exists for meetings between British Rail and representatives of local emergency services.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail liaises at all levels with the emergency services. Emergency procedures are regularly rehearsed both as theoretical and practical exercises to ensure that the emergency services are in a position to deal effectively with any incident that may occur.

DEFENCE

  Armed Forces Pensions
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the full provisions of the armed forces pension schemes are set out; and if he will summarise them.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The provisions of the armed forces pension scheme are set out in separate documents for each of the three services. For naval personnel, in Orders in Council; for Army personnel, in the Army Pensions Warrant 1977; for RAF personnel, in Queen's Regulations for the Royal Air Forces.

  Overall, the provisions of the scheme are extensive and detailed. In broad terms the following are provided for:
  —a lump sum and immediate long-service pension for a member who retires on completion of at least a minimum period of reckonable service of 16 years for commissioned officers, and 22 years for other ranks;
  —a preserved pension and preserved lump sum, payable at age 60 or transferable to another scheme, for a member who completes at least two years' contracted-out service, but less than the minimum reckonable service required for the award of an immediate long-service pension;
  —a lump sum and immediate tax-free pension for a member whose service is terminated prematurely on medical grounds which are attributable to service, and where the assessed degree of disability is 20 per cent. or more;
  —a lump sum and immediate pension for a member whose service is terminated prematurely on medical grounds which are not attributable to service, or which are attributable but the assessed degree of disability is less than 20 per cent., provided that at least two years' reckonable service has been given;
  —a pension for the eligible widow or widower of a member, which is for current service normally one half of that which would have been payable to the member but which, in the event of death being attributable to service, is at a special enhanced rate;
  —a pension for each eligible child, up to age 17 or longer if full-time education continues.

  In general the amount of lump sums, and rates of pension, are associated with rank held and length of service given. Awards made in cases where service is
  384
  terminated on medical grounds which are attributable to service are not less than a guaranteed minimum level related to rank held and the assessed degree of disability. No minimum length of service is required in order for the member to become eligible for such an award nor, in the event of death attributable to service, for an award to any eligible widow or widower and child.

  Long-service pensions are increased from age 55 to reflect movements in the retail prices index since the date of award. Other pensions are index-linked from the date of award.

  The provisions apply equally to male and female members of the scheme.

  Gulf War
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the contributions made in cash and in equipment by each of the allied countries involved in the Gulf war.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The following nations have committed naval, land or air forces, or medical units, to the coalition forces or are providing practical assistance to these forces:

  Argentina

  Australia

  Bahrain

  Bangladesh

  Belgium

  Canada

  Czechoslovakia

  Denmark

  Egypt

  France

  Greece

  Hungary

  Italy

  Kuwait

  Morocco

  Netherlands

  New Zealand

  Niger

  Norway

  Oman

  Pakistan

  Poland

  Portugal

  Qatar

  Romania

  Saudi Arabia

  Senegal

  Sierra Leone

  Singapore

  South Korea

  Spain

  Sweden

  Syria

  United Arab Emirates

  United Kingdom

  United States of America

  A contingent of Afghan Mujaheddin is also serving in Saudi Arabia.

  In addition to making practical contributions to the coalition force, a number of nations, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE and South Korea, are also providing financial support. Japan, Germany and Hong Kong are making a financial contribution to the coalition and Turkey has agreed that the United States may use Turkish bases for operations into Iraq.

  The following countries are providing financial or practical assistance, including medical support, to the United Kingdom.

  Bahrain

  Belgium

  385

  Canada

  Denmark

  Germany

  Hong Kong

  Japan

  Kuwait

  Netherlands

  New Zealand

  Norway

  Oman

  Portugal

  Romania

  Saudi Arabia

  Singapore

  Spain

  Sweden

  United Arab Emirates

  RAF Greenham Common
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the redeployment of units of the United States air force in the United Kingdom will have any bearing on the future of RAF Greenham Common as one of their standby bases.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The redeployment of United States dual capable aircraft in the United Kingdom, announced by my right hon. Friend on 5 February, will not have any effect on the future of RAF Greenham Common as a United States standby base.

  Trident
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimate of the cost of the Trident programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Tom King
  I am pleased to announce that for the fifth year running there has been, in real terms, a reduction in the estimated cost of the Trident programme. The revised estimate now stands at £9,863 million, based on the exchange rate used for the long-term costing of the defence programme, which this year is £1 = $1·56.

  Although this estimate represents a cash increase of £483 million compared to that announced last year, after allowing for the effects of inflation and exchange rate variations, there has been a real reduction of £126 million, and a real reduction of £1,838 million over the original 1982 Trident II estimate. This is additional to the savings resulting from the decision to have United Kingdom missiles processed in the United States facility at King's bay, Georgia.

  The proportion of the programme to be undertaken in the United Kingdom has increased from 69 to 71 per cent.

  The Select Committee on Defence previously asked that when announcing the annual revised estimate, I should report on the state of the project as a whole. I am pleased to say that the Trident programme remains on schedule to enter service in the mid-1990s. There has been no slippage in the in-service data since the decision to purchase Trident II was announced in March 1982. I am, as in previous years, sending to the Chairman of the Select Committee on Defence and the Public Accounts Committee a more detailed report covering the points on which the Select Committee on Defence sought advice. I am also placing a copy of this report in the Library of the House.

ENERGY

  Gas Escapes
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his written answer of 28 January,Official Report, column 423, whether British Gas has any enforceable obligation to make safe any gas escape free of charge or to provide safety checks free of charge where the customer is not elderly or disabled and living alone.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The obligation to make gas escapes safe free of charge is enforceable as part of British Gas's authorisation. However, there is no obligation on British Gas to offer safety checks free of charge for customers who are neither elderly nor disabled.

  Nuclear Plants
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many nuclear plants are located near the west coast of Great Britain.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There are 12 operating civil nuclear plants located near the west coast of Great Britain. In addition, two Magnox stations, at Berkeley and Hunterston, are in the process of being decommissioned.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to ensure that people who applied for shares in the electricity distribution companies are refunded immediately with the funds they submitted for shares with which they were not allocated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The receiving banks sent refunds before Christmas to the vast majority of the applicants to whom they were due. They deployed substantial resources throughout January to resolve the majority of the relatively small number of outstanding cases, and are dealing with the few that remain as a matter of priority.

  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the sum of money submitted for shares in the electricity distribution companies; who has had the use of the money submitted for shares which were not allocated; and what arrangements are being made to pay interest to the owners of the money who have not yet had it returned.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  About £7 billion was submitted in respect of the public offer. Surplus application money was returned to applicants as rapidly as possible: the interest earned on this money in the interim will accrue to the taxpayer. The terms and conditions of the sale made it clear that no interest on such funds would be payable to applicants.

  Electricity Supply
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has had with the Director General of OFFER and the chairmen of the regional electricity companies regarding the security of supply of electricity for space-heating and cooking to the elderly, the infirm and the very young during the current cold snap.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The code of practice operated by the regional electricity companies makes it clear that no
  387
  consumer in genuine difficulty with their payments will be disconnected, provided that they contact their regional electricity company and agree and keep to a payment arrangement. In addition, the Prime Minister announced on 7 February that cold weather payments to vulnerable groups in receipt of income support had been increased to £6 from 1 February and that the whole of the United Kingdom would qualify for the period from 1 to 7 February.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has had with(a) the chairmen of the regional electricity companies and (b) the Director General of Electricity regulation regarding the level of cut-offs in domestic electricity supply during the present cold snap.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given him today. The latest available 12-monthly figures show disconnections for non-payment of bills standing at their lowest level since records began in 1976.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his answer of 30 January,Official Report, column 507, for what reasons he decided not to maintain figures concerning the proportion of eligible homes in England and Wales with thermostats installed on 50 per cent. or more radiator valves.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The energy efficiency industry provides the Energy Efficiency Office in my Department with information on the sales of various types of insulation and heating products, including thermostatic radiator valves, thus enabling the Energy Efficiency Office to monitor trends in the industry. However, the information provided does not enable the incidence of installation of thermostatic radiator valves in domestic premises to be monitored, and my Department does not require such information in the normal conduct of its business.

  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he intends to publish forecasts as to when he anticipates different energy efficiency measures will achieve 50 per cent. of the eligible market.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I have no plans to publish such forecasts. Although the Government will continue to promote and encourage greater energy efficiency in the home, the take-up of individual measures by householders will depend on numerous factors, which will vary from product to product. The Energy Efficiency Office in my Department seeks to assess the success of its programmes and activities by evaluations, market research surveys, examination of trade sales figures and so on, but does not attempt to forecast future levels of market penetration.

  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has on the proportion of lighting which has been converted to energy-efficient lighting at(a) the Palace of Westminster, (b) Government buildings, (c) establishments owned or occupied in each Government Department and (d) local authorities.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  As part of the Government's drive to improve energy efficiency in Government buildings, my Energy Efficiency Office gives advice, and 388
  encourages Departments to adopt cost-effective energy efficiency measures including lighting. However each Department has responsibility for the energy management of its own estate, and the information requested is not held centrally.

  Electricity Industry Conference
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he, or officials of his Department, have been invited to participate in the conference on the electricity industry post privatisation, to be held in London on 15 April.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Yes.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Turkey
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will protest to the Turkish Government about the recent confiscation of the magazine Towards 2000 and the summonsing to military court of Mahmut Dikerdem.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We have no plans to raise these cases with the Turkish authorities. But we have repeatedly urged the Turkish authorities, at ministerial level, to respect their obligations under international human rights conventions.

  Research and Development
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many research and development agreements and contracts have been funded by departments in the Foreign Office, excluding ODA, at universities and polytechnics; how many universities and polytechnics have received those research and development contracts and agreements; what is their total value in each of the last five years; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There have been only two research contracts or agreements funded by the FCO at universities or polytechnics in the last five years. They were:

  (i) Study by London University (School of Slavonic and East European Studies) on "The Inter-War Party and Political System in the present non-Soviet Warsaw Pact countries and its relevance today" (1990).

  (ii) Study by London University (School of Oriental and African Studies on "Muslim militancy in sub-Saharan Africa") (1990).

  The combined cost was £13,245·00.

  Aramco Employees, Dhahran
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to his answer,Official Report, 4 February, column 1, whether he will instruct the British ambassador to Saudi Arabia to seek an assurance from the president of Aramco that Aramco will not penalise those British nationals under contract to the company who do not attend work during air raid warning periods.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Employees of Aramco are under a contractual agreement to the company. We understand that a few, employed on essential services, are required to work through air raid warning periods. Such persons may,
  389
  in the circumstances, wish to terminate their contracts. As I informed the hon. Member on 4 February at column 1, the British ambassador to Saudi Arabia has been assured by the president of Aramco that the company would not penalise those who sought to leave because of the war, and that accrued benefits would not be forfeited.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom delegation to the 1990 nuclear non-proliferation fourth review conference in Geneva supported paragraphs 1 to 8 of section VIII, concerning attacks on nuclear facilities contained in the addendum to document NPT/CONF.IV/ MCIII/L.1/ADD.2.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom did not take a position on the language to which the hon. Gentleman refers.

  Iraq
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many cases of breach or suspected breach of sanctions in regard to trade with Iraq have now ben received by the United Nations or brought to the knowledge of Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We follow up reported sanctions breaches both bilaterally and at the UN: these are treated confidentially and no figures on the numbers of suspected or actual cases of sanctions breaches are publicly available. Any cases of sanctions breaches by United Kingdom nationals and companies are a matter for the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  Lebanon
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take action through the United Nations to require Israel to allow Lebanese Government forces to take up their positions in south Lebanon.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We joined in the unanimous vote of the Security Council on 30 January to review the UNIFIL mandate and to reiterate support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognised boundaries.

  East Timor
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the number of civilians in East Timor who have been killed or died from starvation since the invasion by Indonesia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Reliable statistics are unavailable. We believe that the figure may be in the region of 100,000 deaths.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he or officials of his Department has had any contact with the Falantic Liberation Army in East Timor since the invasion by Indonesia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No.

  EC Food Aid
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from which EC budget the recently agreed 40 million ecu of EC food aid for Romania and Bulgaria is to be paid; and from which Department's budget are Britain's contributions paid to that budget.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The European Council on 10 December 1990 agreed 100 mecu of emergency food aid for Romania and Bulgaria; 30 mecu will come from savings in the 1990 agriculture budget. Following consideration by the 21 December Council, discussion continues on the source of the remaining 70 mecu. The United Kingdom share of this 100 mecu will form part of our contribution to Community own resources in line with all other EC budget expenditure.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which member states of the allied military force in the Gulf war remain subject to special licensing procedures for military sensitive exports from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  All exports of military equipment are subject to stringent licensing control, whatever their destination.

  Syria
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions when he or his predecessors have met the Syrian Foreign Minister since 1979; and if he will make a statement on the most recent meeting.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The right hon. Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Dr. Owen), the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, met the Syrian Foreign Minister in London in March 1979. As Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met the Syrian Foreign Minister in Damascus in October 1979 and in London in September 1981 and July 1982. My noble Friend the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Pym, met the Syrian Foreign Minister in London in September 1982 and in Damascus in October 1982. My right hon. and learned Friend for Surrey, East (Sir G. Howe), the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, had meetings with the Syrian Foreign Minister in New York in September 1983, in Damascus in January 1984, again in New York in September 1984 and lastly in London in March 1986.

  The meeting that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had with Mr. Shara' on 6 February provided the first opportunity since the resumption of diplomatic relations with Syria to discuss regional and bilateral matters at ministerial level. It was timely and valuable.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Alcoholic Beverages
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will conduct an investigation and review of the Food Labelling Regulations 1989 (S.I., 1989, No. 768) to ensure that they do not permit the adulteration of alcoholic beverages as indicated in a recent report from the trading standards department of Cleveland county council, a copy of which has been sent to him.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have not yet studied the report to which the hon. Gentleman refers. When I have done so, I will send him a detailed reply.

  Consultative Paper
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the consultative paper announced on 28 November,Official Report, column 437, is ready for issue; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Copies of the consultative paper inviting comments on the proposals of myself and the Secretary of State for Wales for reform of the law on agricultural tenancies in England and Wales have been placed in the Library of the House today and made available to interested parties.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police Officers
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will use his powers under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act to have complaints in respect of the use of racially discriminating language or behaviour by police officers referred automatically to the Police Complaints Authority.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. My right hon. Friend does not believe that it would be appropriate for him to do so.

  Establishment

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Total

  Ashford

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Hindley1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  4

  Risley

  1

  1

  3

  4

  2

  —

  11

  Total

  1

  2

  4

  4

  3

  3

  17

  1 Became a remand centre in spring 1989.

  There have been no self-inflicted deaths since 1985 at the following remand centres: Brockhill, Feltham, Glen Parva, Latchmere House, Low Newton, Pucklechurch.

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is given to prison officers and prison medical staff in dealing with remand prisoners who are(a) mentally disturbed, (b) drug addicts and (c) have AIDS.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Responsibility for the health care of prisoners in any prison service establishment rests with the managing medical officer—MMO—of the establishment. The MMO is also responsible for assessing the further

  Police Complaints
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints concerning the use of racially discriminating language or behaviour by police officers were made to the Police Complaints Authority in each of the last five years; and how many were upheld.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Hackney South and Shoreditch (Mr. Sedgemore) on 29 November 1990, at column 452, which gives the available information about such complaints. Figures for 1990 are not yet available.

  Political Asylum
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were given political asylum in the United Kingdom in 1990; and what were the comparable figures for each European Community nation.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Full information on grants of asylum in the United Kingdom in 1990 is not yet available. To date, about 1,600 such grants, including associated dependants, are recorded, but this understates because of delays in recording. Information on grants of asylum in other EC countries in 1990 is not yet available.

  Ms. Linda Humphries
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how much longer Linda Humphries is to be held at Risley prior to being sent to Ashworth hospital.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I understand that Miss Humphries will be admitted to Ashworth hospital very shortly, as soon as a bed is available.

  Remand Centres (Suicides)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of suicides in remand centres, and the centres concerned, for each year since 1985.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The numbers of self-inflicted deaths since 1988 by prisoners at establishments whose main role is that of a remand centre have been as follows:

  training needs of his or her health care colleagues and ensuring that, to the extent that resources permit, they are met either by making local arrangements for training—for example, by links with local NHS hospitals and clinics—by taking advantage of the wide range of external courses that are available to members of the medical and nursing professions or by securing places on courses organised centrally by the directorate of prison medical services.

  Recent courses organised centrally have included 24-week induction courses for hospital officers of which about six weeks are devoted to psychiatric care, one day to

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  AIDS and a half day to drug addiction and dependency; a two-day course and a series of one-day seminars for medical officers on clinical aspects of AIDS; a 10-day course for hospital officers with an emphasis on the nursing care of AIDS patients; and a two-day seminar on drug misuse for medical officers and other staff from establishments for women.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Sudan
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much of the £4 million of famine relief for Sudan, announced on 5 February, will be paid for from the 1991–92 budget.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The full cost—estimated at £4 million—of the additional 20,000 tonnes of food aid for famine relief in Sudan, which I announced on 5 February, will be met from the 1991–92 aid budget. My officials are already discussing the detailed uses for this pledge with a number of non-governmental organisations. I hope to agree allocations shortly.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Prudential Corporation plc
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take any action against Prudential Corporation plc for its failure to publish the salaries of directors in its latest accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Acts.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information to which the hon. Member refers is disclosed at page 41 of the company's report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 1989.

PRIME MINISTER

  United Kingdom 2000
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Prime Minister what has been the total funding to date of the United Kingdom 200 initiative set up by his predecessor under the chairmanship of Mr. Richard Branson; which voluntary organisations have been involved; what have been the achievements of the initiative; whether he has any further proposals to develop this initiative; and whether he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Total Government funding to March 1991 will be £9·434 million. The partner voluntary organisations in England are the British Trust: for Conservation Volunteers, the Civic Trust, Community Service Volunteers, Groundwork, Friends of the Earth and the Royal Society for Nature Conservation. In Wales the organisations involved are the same apart from the Civic Trust, and in addition the Keep Wales Tidy Campaign. In Scotland, the organisations are the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Scottish Conservation Projects, Community Service Volunteers and Keep Scotland Beautiful.

  The main achievements have been high-quality, practical environmental improvement projects, training and work experience together with the creation of new
  394
  environmental enterprises. This work has been carried out in partnership with the public and private sectors. In 1989–90 there were 717 projects which generated 7,819 training places and 54,218 volunteers and which attracted £2·423 million support from the private sector.

  In England United Kingdom 2000 phase 2 began on 31 March 1991 and, subject to performance, the voluntary organisations will continue to receive grant until March 1993. United Kingdom 2000 (Scotland) will be launched as a company limited by guarantee in April 1991. The initiative in Wales has recently been fully reviewed; the next steps are now under consideration.

  United Nations
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will make it his policy to put forward proposals to amend the United Nations charter to provide for periodic elections of all members of the United Nations Security Council;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to put forward proposals to amend the United Nations charter to provide that United Nations Security Council members should have veto powers;

  (3) if he will make it his policy to put forward proposals to amend the United Nations charter to provide that in the event of war waged in the name of the United Nations basic decisions are taken by all member countries of the United Nations with an ad hoc executive committee to supervise the conduct of hostilities by the armed forces acting for the United Nations.

  The Prime Minister
  No. The Government do not believe that reform of the United Nations charter is either necessary or desirable.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects the United Nations Security Council to meet to discuss the conduct of the war in the Persian Gulf.

  The Prime Minister
  The United Nations Security Council has met frequently since the outbreak of hostilities in the Gulf on 2 August, most recently in informal consultations on 8 February.

  Lanarkshire
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Prime Minister what specific plans he has to improve investment in Lanarkshire.

  The Prime Minister
  The Lanarkshire working group, which met last month, will identify the main constraints to revitalising the Lanarkshire economy and recommend measures to resolve those problems. Investment in Lanarkshire from the private and public sector, is among the working group's concerns. The working group expects to report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland around the end of April.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the estimated additional cost incurred weekly by pensioners in Northern Ireland for heating, lighting and travel when expenditure is compared with that of pensioners in a comparable region in Great Britain.

  The Prime Minister
  Information on the expenditure of pensioner households1 on heating, lighting and travel is

  395
  available at household level from the family expenditure survey. Northern Ireland compares with Wales in terms of average normal weekly disposable income for all households, including pensioner households. The table providese information from the amalgamated results of the 1988–89 family expenditure survey for pensioner households.

  Average Weekly Household Expenditure on Selected Items:

  Northern Ireland £

  Wales £

  Additional expenditure in Northern Ireland £

  Total motoring and fares

  5·20

  4·29

  0·91

  Fuel, light and power

  13·11

  8·55

  4·56

  1 A pensioner household is defined as one in which at least three quarters of the total income of the household is derived from national insurance retirement and similar pensions.

  1851 Exhibition
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Prime Minister when the holder of his office last attended a meeting of the royal commissioners for the exhibition of 1851.

  The Prime Minister
  I am not aware of such a meeting.

  Probation Officers, Liverpool
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from the probation officer based at Liverpool about salaries; and what reply he has sent.

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has received representations from seven probation officers from Merseyside about probation officers' salaries. They either have received or will receive official replies.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Prime Minister whether the policy of the Government with regard to correspondence between hon. Members and officials remains as set out in the letter from the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Forth) to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill, of 18 May 1989.

  The Prime Minister
  It is for Ministers in each Department to decide how correspondence will be handled. Following the recent scrutiny of ministerial correspondence, Departments are considering how to assist Members of Parliament to direct their inquiries to the point which is best able to give them a fast, informed and helpful reply.

  The Government reply to the eighth report from the Treasury and Civil Service Committee—Cmnd 1263—states that Ministers will normally ask the chief executive of an agency to reply to letters that concern day-to-day operational matters delegated to the agency.

  East Timor
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the Timor Gap agreement between Indonesia and Australia; and whether 396
  this agreement was discussed during his telephone conversation with Prime Minister Hawke of Australia on 5 February.

  The Prime Minister
  The Timor Gap agreement is a matter between Indonesia and Australia, who recognised East Timor's incorporation into Indonesia in 1979. The agreement in no way affects our own stance on recognition. I have not discussed the agreement with Prime Minister Hawke.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 12 February.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. I also called on Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and presented her with a gift from the Cabinet to mark her 90th year. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps have been taken by allied bombing sorties over Iraq to avoid disruption of the ecological balance of the marshes in the River Euphrates delta and to the habitat of the striped hyenas, jackals and wolves of the western desert of Iraq and northern Saudi Arabia.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 8 February 1991]: Allied aircrews have instructions to attack only military targets which could pose a threat to allied forces or facilities supporting Iraq's occupation of Kuwait. The missions are carefully planned to minimise the risk of damage to other areas.

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Worthing on 4 December 1990,Official Report, column 17, by what process British nuclear test veterans may seek to establish the Crown's legal liability for compensation for the effects of radiation while serving in Her Majesty's forces.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: The process to establish the Crown's legal liability in this matter is the need, in common law, to show that participants in the test programme had been exposed to radiation due to Ministry of Defence negligence and that such exposure caused them harm. The Government commissioned a study by the National Radiological Protection Board into this and the report published in 1988 did not establish a causal link between participation and an increased incidence of cancer. A further study by the NRPB to validate the findings of the previous study has been commissioned and the report is due to be published in 1992.

  Elderly People
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will convene a working group comprised of representatives of the Departments of Health, Social Security and the Environment and of the public, private and voluntary
  397
  sector providers, funders and user representatives to undertake an investigation into problems and issues involved in funding care for the elderly.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: There are regular opportunities for interdepartmental consultation on the care needs of elderly people. Provider and user interests are fully reflected in this process. We believe that the creation of a formal working group of the kind suggested would add little to the existing effective collaboration machinery, and might in fact diminish its effectiveness.

  Toxteth Riots
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will now place in the Library(a) the report of the Secretary of State for the Environment about the Toxteth riots, entitled "It Took a Riot", (b) the letter of the right hon. and learned Member for Surrey, East (Sir G. Howe) in response to that report and (c) the report of the former Central Policy Review Staff on problems of the inner cities; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: No.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Child Care Costs
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the change in Treasury income during the 1991–92 financial year resulting from the introduction of tax allowance for child care costs equivalent to(a) £50 a week and (b) £500 a year, assuming one tax relief per family set against the taxable income of the mother, giving separate figures for (i) all families with children under the age of 16 years and (ii) families with at least one child under the age of five years.

  Mr. Maude
  Estimates of the cost of extra allowances to working married mothers and lone parents in 1991–92 are given in the table. They are based on projections from the 1988 and 1989 family expenditure surveys and are therefore provisional.

  Cost (£ billion)

  Allowance of

  (a) £50 per week

  (b) £500 per week

  Allowance to those with

  (i) children under 16

  1·3

  0·3

  (ii) children under 5

  0·4

  0·1

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Ridley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the change in public spending, in real terms, between 1979 and 1990, expressed as a percentage in(a) the national health service, (b) the social security programme, (c) local authority education spending, (d) higher and further education expenditure, (e) subsidies to councils and housing, (f) associations in pursuit of providing cheap housing for the less well-off, (g) housing benefit, (h) rate rebates and community charge rebates and (i) the arts; and if he will also give the real-terms increase in the gross national product over the same period.
  398
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Information is not readily available in exactly the form requested. Information is, however, available on general Government expenditure by function over this period and is given in tables 2.2—cash figures—and 2.3—real terms figures—of the "Statistical Supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement"—Cm 1520. The percentage changes between 1979–80 and 1990–91 in the real-term figures for the functions covering items listed in the question are as follows:

  Per cent.

  Health

  +37

  Social Security

  +35

  Education and Science

  +16

  Housing

  -54

  Arts and libraries

  +38

  Information on individual components within each function could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  A forecast of the gross national product for 1990–91 is not readily available to allow the corresponding percentage change to be calculated. Based on the autumn statement forecast for 1990–91, gross domestic product is estimated to have risen by about 25 per cent. in real terms over the period 1979–80 to 1990–91.

  Inflation
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his Department's policy regarding the extent to which(a) quangos and (b) voluntary organisations which receive financial support are compensated for inflation.

  Mr. Mellor
  Funding of non-departmental public bodies and voluntary organisations is a matter for the relevant sponsoring Department. There is no automatic compensation for inflation.

  Severely Disabled People
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning the possibility of granting income tax relief to severely disabled people who have to pay for nursing attendant care in order that they may continue to work and to live as independently as possible; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  I have received one such representation, but, at this time of year, the right hon. Gentleman will not expect me to comment further.

  Efficient Cars
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to introduce fiscal initiatives to encourage motor manufacturers to produce more efficient cars.

  Mr. Maude
  I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

  Customs and Excise Management Act
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report all successful prosecutions made under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.
  399
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Information is published in the annual report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Personal Equity Plans
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the progress of personal equity plans.

  Mr. Maude
  I am pleased to say that PEPs continue to be very successful. In the 15 months to March 1990 a total of 580,000 plans were taken out, with initial investment of £1,600 million. The provisional figures for the first two quarters of 1990–91 show that a high level of enthusiasm for PEPs continues, with a further 200,000 plans taken out and £600 million invested. The average amount invested remains approximately £3,000.

  The total number of plans taken out since PEPs started is now nearly 1·2 million. The total subscribed—ignoring investment growth—is almost £3 billion.

  The cost of the income tax relief is estimated at £20 million for 1989–90 and £45 million for 1990–91.

WALES

  Planning Officers
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent local authority planning officers leaving their 400
  council employment and setting up private planning consultancies operating in their original areas of jurisdiction.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  No.

  Students
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what number and what percentage of full-time students over the age of 18 years in Wales are studying in(a) further education and tertiary colleges and (b) maintained 11 to 18 years schools.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The number and percentage of full-time students aged over 18 years of age for 1989–90 are as follows:

  Number

  Per cent.

  Further education and tertiary colleges1

  Aged 19

  1,104

  28

  Aged 20 and over2

  2,759

  70

  Maintained secondary schools3

  11–18

  39

  1

  Other4

  21

  1

  Total students

  3,923

  100

  1 Full-time and sandwich students on further education courses at higher and further education tertiary colleges. At 31 August 1989.

  2 Includes age not known.

  3 Aged 19 at 31 August 1989.

  4 6th form colleges in Clwyd and South Glamorgan and senior comprehensive school (14–18) in Gwent.

  401
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what numbers and what percentage of full-time students in further education colleges in each county of Wales are studying(a) A and AS level, (b) BTEC, first and national diploma and (c) GCSE.

  A and A/S levels

  BTEC first and national diploma

  GCSE

  Number

  per cent.

  Number

  per cent.

  Number

  per cent.

  Clwyd

  451

  13

  1,528

  45

  251

  7

  Dyfed

  50

  2

  1,337

  51

  40

  2

  Gwent

  112

  8

  277

  20

  79

  6

  Gwynedd

  69

  4

  782

  48

  —

  —

  Mid Glamorgan

  75

  2

  1,281

  38

  53

  2

  Powys

  13

  2

  420

  52

  40

  5

  South Glamorgan

  50

  3

  605

  39

  36

  2

  West Glamorgan

  —

  —

  89

  30

  —

  —

  WALES

  820

  5

  6,319

  42

  499

  3

  Numbers relate to full-time and sandwich students following the required courses at higher and further education colleges, excluding tertiary colleges. They are shown as a percentage of the full-time and sandwich students on further education courses.

  Languages
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment has been made of the effect of the compulsory teaching of Welsh at secondary level on the teaching of modern languages in those schools in non-native Welsh-speaking areas which have traditionally offered more than one modern language to GCSE level.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  It is too early to gauge the effect of the introduction of Welsh in those schools in non-native speaking areas but I refer the hon. Gentleman to my right hon. Friend's announcement on 22 January about the structure of key stage 4 in the national curriculum in Wales. All pupils will be required to study both Welsh and

  Relief: 1990–91

  (1)

  (2)

  (3)

  (4)

  (5)

  (6)

  (7)

  Domestic rateable value

  Relevant population1

  Domestic poundage

  Notional average domestic rates per adult

  Forecast community charge

  Difference between community charge and rates

  Amount above £18 threshold

  Local authority and community council

  £

  Number

  P

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Alyn and Deeside

  Queensferry

  99,749

  1,536

  270·8

  176

  184

  8

  -10

  Shotton

  341,760

  4,817

  270·8

  192

  184

  -8

  -26

  Connah's Quay

  845,875

  10,717

  270·8

  214

  184

  -30

  -48

  Hawarden

  777,984

  9,157

  270·8

  230

  184

  -46

  -64

  Broughton and Bretton

  348,856

  4,123

  270·8

  229

  184

  -45

  -63

  Higher Kinnerton

  104,213

  1,123

  270·8

  251

  184

  -67

  -85

  Penyffordd

  216,534

  2,564

  270·8

  229

  184

  -45

  -63

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

  402
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information for 1989–90 is as follows:

  a modern foreign language. The proposed structure provide greater flexibility for parents and pupils to be offered a full choice of subjects including a second modern language.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide the detailed calculation of the transitional relief level for poll tax payers in the community of(a) Queensferry, (b) Shotton, (c) Connah's Quay, (d) Howarden, (e) Broughton and Bretton, (f) Higher Kinnerton and (g) Penyffordd.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 4 February at columns 22–24 for the method of calculation.

  The figures for the communities requested are given in the following table:
  403

  Relief: 1991–92

  (1)

  (2)

  (3)

  (4)

  (5)

  (6)

  (7)

  Domestic rateable value

  Relevant population1

  Domestic poundage

  Notional average domestic rates per adult

  1990–91 community charge

  Difference between community charge and rates

  Amount above £37 threshold

  Local authority and community council

  £

  Number

  P

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Alyn and Deeside

  Queensferry

  99,749

  1,536

  270·8

  176

  262

  86

  49

  Shotton

  341,760

  4,817

  270·8

  192

  262

  70

  33

  Connah's Quay

  845,875

  10,717

  270·8

  214

  262

  48

  11

  Hawarden

  777,984

  9,157

  270·8

  230

  262

  32

  -5

  Broughton and Bretton

  348,856

  4,123

  270·8

  229

  262

  33

  -4

  Higher Kinnerton

  104,213

  1,123

  270·8

  251

  262

  11

  -26

  Penyffordd

  216,534

  2,564

  270·8

  229

  262

  33

  -4

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

  Blood Products
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people with haemophilia in Wales who require factor VIII infusions are being treated with high purity monoclonal products; how many are being treated with the intermediate purity concentrates; and if he will break the figures down according to(a) product manufacturer, (b) the number of units of each product prescribed in the latest year for which data is available and (c) for each health authority.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not held centrally.

  Lime Subsidy
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to reintroduce the lime subsidy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have no plans to extend grant aid for routine applications of lime. Farmers with improvement plans under the Farm and Conservation Grant Regulations can obtain grant assistance towards the cost of liming land where this is part of a programme of reseeding and regeneration. In the less-favoured areas, lime treatment alone is eligible for grant where it can be demonstrated to be genuine restoration and not routine treatment.

  Caravan Sites
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many caravan sites there are in(a) Ceredigion and (b) Dyfed; what the corresponding figures were for each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  This information is not held centrally.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps are being taken in Wales by his Department to help small businesses; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My Department continues to attach a high priority to the promotion of enterprise and to helping small businesses. General economic policies at a national level, national enterprise support policies and initiatives 404
  that are unique to Wales such as the Enterprise Wales scheme are all helping to make Wales a place where small businesses can flourish. In Wales the latest annual figures —most recently published in July 1990—show that by the end of 1989 the total number of businesses registered for VAT was nearly 85,200, an increase of 21 per cent. on the stock of businesses at the end of 1979.

  Deeside Community Hospital
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes the commissioning of the Deeside community hospital.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The time scale for commissioning the Deeside community hospital is a matter for the Clwyd health authority.

  Mancot Community Hospital
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his future plans for Mancot community hospital; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Plans for Mancot community hospital are a matter for Clwyd district health authority at this time.

  Hospitals, Clwyd
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to visit(a) Dobshill hospital, Clwyd, (b) Meadowsleigh hospital, Clwyd, and (a) Broughton hospital, Clwyd; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to visit these hospitals at present.

  Waste Imports
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what quantities per nation annually European toxic waste has been imported by Wales for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Information on the importation of waste by country of origin into the United Kingdom is available only for the period since the introduction of the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations in October 1988. The information available in respect of
  405
  imports of waste for disposal in Wales from European Community states for the years to 31 March 1989 and 1990 is shown in the table.

  Imports of Hazardous Waste into Wales for the Continent of Europe

  Country of Origin

  Quantity (Tonnes)

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Belgium

  3,265

  1,274

  France

  —

  16

  Federal Republic of Germany

  —

  331

  Greece

  —

  5

  Republic of Ireland

  —

  148

  Italy

  73

  974

  Luxembourg

  —

  17

  Netherlands

  351

  281

  Portugal

  —

  73

  Spain

  —

  218

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what quantity of waste, in the last year for which figures are available, was imported for direct landfill within Wales.

  Total amount of general grant paid to each district council from 1980–81 to 1988–89

  Council

  1980–81 £

  1981–82 £

  1982–83 £

  1983–84 £

  1984–85 £

  1985–86 £

  1986–87 £

  1987–88 £

  1988–89 £

  Antrim

  203,022

  328,676

  273,676

  330,827

  259,285

  312,498

  370,276

  297,415

  230,107

  Ards

  346,468

  593,983

  702,750

  877,683

  821,992

  853,823

  1,145,922

  1,144,002

  1,109,965

  Armagh

  502,001

  671,488

  692,015

  854,148

  774,515

  806,218

  874,313

  934,594

  917,120

  Ballymena

  299,894

  375,831

  393,015

  408,572

  429,719

  416,316

  515,209

  441,014

  468,248

  Ballymoney

  204,458

  311,116

  361,020

  425,117

  422,414

  433,467

  457,971

  600,071

  553,888

  Banbridge

  311,737

  383,449

  395,849

  477,166

  490,608

  505,922

  529,522

  605,433

  586,867

  Belfast

  2,010,941

  2,285,195

  2,987,789

  3,999,843

  4,365,614

  4,692,549

  5,122,136

  5,368,404

  5,680,258

  Carrickfergus

  351,657

  433,369

  523,866

  508,389

  447,617

  423,650

  430,674

  462,328

  449,508

  Castlereagh

  418,909

  422,403

  467,568

  545,002

  470,966

  435,300

  526,291

  426,557

  430,021

  Coleraine

  197,769

  227,528

  245,284

  344,277

  349,431

  370,204

  342,722

  288,401

  311,666

  Cookstown

  286,874

  330,280

  376,234

  468,069

  444,731

  470,701

  479,230

  517,465

  477,515

  Craigavon

  639,863

  727,980

  877,940

  1,169,184

  1,253,782

  1,258,565

  1,256,531

  1,503,284

  1,505,757

  Derry

  988,283

  1,389,176

  1,649,291

  2,005,417

  2,155,433

  2,150,279

  2,411,072

  2,517,295

  2,698,647

  Down

  458,227

  677,867

  750,882

  916,544

  901,658

  1,059,929

  1,235,652

  1,427,921

  1,437,359

  Dungannon

  511,942

  606,880

  735,385

  886,125

  908,574

  945,193

  887,350

  971,853

  942,600

  Fermanagh

  695,689

  807,546

  882,082

  1,015,839

  1,029,604

  1,054,522

  1,144,780

  1,193,343

  1,116,206

  Larne

  169,423

  248,236

  320,358

  346,137

  350,127

  383,348

  395,700

  372,040

  390,630

  Limavady

  239,746

  305,037

  332,150

  372,369

  382,499

  428,037

  486,044

  522,866

  607,730

  Lisburn

  361,035

  511,401

  674,101

  889,998

  915,718

  798,696

  1,089,944

  1,015,680

  1,117,620

  Magherafelt

  307,121

  394,661

  452,749

  558,461

  568,099

  615,274

  623,256

  687,739

  711,912

  Moyle

  183,634

  229,752

  265,262

  326,380

  386,676

  372,579

  447,260

  463,143

  457,943

  Newry and Mourne

  1,004,081

  1,232,093

  1,518,586

  1,890,419

  2,259,691

  2,387,487

  2,598,258

  2,632,989

  2,670,374

  Newtownabbey

  518,411

  538,930

  608,465

  892,923

  951,454

  1,027,691

  1,050,207

  1,053,659

  986,500

  North Down

  85,624

  187,687

  277,955

  378,878

  371,700

  347,092

  655,536

  581,305

  591,281

  Omagh

  440,336

  629,884

  792,264

  958,572

  1,064,991

  1,109,986

  1,026,753

  1,114,700

  1,106,807

  Strabane

  612,662

  667,876

  846,538

  890,887

  1,049,679

  1,163,216

  1,097,377

  1,243,202

  1,204,510

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a table showing the district rate for each district council in ascending order for the year 1980–81 and each subsequent year.

  Mr. Needham
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the 1990–91 estimated gross expenditure for each district council in Northern Ireland; and what is the estimated population of each district.

  Mr. Needham
  The information is set out in the table.
  406
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  No imports of hazardous waste for disposal at Welsh landfill sites have been notified under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of waste incinerated within Wales is imported; and what are the projected levels of such importation for the next decade.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Figures on waste incineration are not maintained centrally and no future projections are available.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  District Councils
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total amount of general grant factor given to each Northern Ireland district council in 1980–81 and each subsequent year.

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

  1990–91 Estimated Gross Expenditure and Estimated Civilian Population

  Council

  1990–91 Estimated Gross Expenditure for each DC £

  Population as at 30 June 1988

  Antrim

  3,904,746

  45,700

  Ards

  7,131,700

  64,000

  Armagh

  3,536,450

  49,000

  Ballymena

  4,844,774

  56,700

  Ballymoney

  2,088,880

  23,900

  Banbridge

  2,631,476

  31,900

  Belfast

  52,833,755

  298,400

  Carrickfergus

  3,792,648

  30,000

  Castlereagh

  5,379,512

  58,000

  Coleraine

  5,178,013

  48,100

  Cookstown

  2,218,294

  27,600

  407

  Council

  1990–91 Estimated Gross Expenditure for each DC £

  Population as at 30 June 1988

  Craigavon

  8,548,553

  77,200

  Derry

  12,913,960

  97,700

  Down

  5,702,974

  56,100

  Dungannon

  3,347,209

  43,700

  Fermanagh

  4,608,528

  49,300

  Larne

  2,714,676

  29,000

  Limavady

  2,276,544

  29,300

  Lisburn

  7,888,184

  93,400

  Magherafelt

  2,402,956

  33,100

  Moyle

  1,193,930

  15,200

  Newry and Mourne

  7,832,050

  87,100

  Newtownabbey

  7,839,495

  72,800

  North Down

  7,587,657

  70,300

  Omagh

  5,094,611

  44,200

  Strabane

  3,435,348

  35,200

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the increase in district rate for each district council in Northern Ireland since 1980–81 in both pence and percentage terms.

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

  Council

  1980–81

  Actual p

  per cent.

  Antrim

  6·50

  28·80

  Ards

  12·00

  50·00

  Armagh

  5·34

  25·80

  Ballymena

  4·00

  17·30

  Ballymoney

  6·00

  30·80

  Banbridge

  4·00

  16·70

  Belfast

  9·40

  30·60

  Carrickfergus

  8·50

  29·30

  Castlereagh

  6·50

  30·20

  Coleraine

  7·50

  27·80

  Cookstown

  9·00

  21·60

  Craigavon

  5·00

  15·60

  Derry

  10·26

  35·10

  Down

  7·00

  30·40

  Dungannon

  5·00

  23·20

  Fermanagh

  6·00

  25·50

  Lame

  5·00

  16·70

  Limavady

  4·50

  22·50

  Lisburn

  4·86

  20·90

  Magherafelt

  3·00

  18·75

  Moyle

  7·00

  28·00

  Newry and Mourne

  4·50

  20·00

  Newtownabbey

  6·00

  18·75

  North Down

  8·00

  33·30

  Omagh

  4·50

  23·70

  Strabane

  5·00

  19·20

  Council

  1981–82

  Actual p

  per cent.

  Antrim

  3·5

  12·1

  Ards

  6·0

  16·7

  Armagh

  2·0

  7·7

  Ballymena

  3·0

  11·1

  Ballymoney

  9·0

  35·3

  Banbridge

  3·0

  10·7

  Belfast

  6·4

  16·0

  Carrickfergus

  9·0

  24·0

  Castlereagh

  3·0

  10·7

  Coleraine

  4·0

  11·6

  Cookstown

  2·5

  11·1

  Craigavon

  5·5

  14·9

  Derry

  5·1

  12·9

  408

  Council

  1981–82

  Actual p

  per cent.

  Down

  7·0

  23·3

  Dungannon

  3·5

  13·2

  Fermanagh

  3·5

  11·9

  Larne

  4·0

  11·4

  Limavady

  3·0

  12·2

  Lisburn

  7·53

  26·8

  Magherafelt

  2·75

  14·5

  Moyle

  14·0

  43·8

  Newry and Mourne

  3·5

  13·0

  Newtownabbey

  3·0

  7·9

  North Down

  6·5

  20·3

  Omagh

  5·5

  23·4

  Strabane

  3·0

  9·7

  Council

  1982–83

  Actual p

  per cent.

  Antrim

  7·0

  21·5

  Ards

  7·0

  16·7

  Armagh

  2·5

  8·9

  Ballymena

  2·5

  8·3

  Ballymoney

  4·0

  11·6

  Banbridge

  2·2

  7·1

  Belfast

  8·4

  18·1

  Carrickfergus

  4·0

  8·6

  Castlereagh

  3·0

  9·7

  Coleraine

  2·25

  5·8

  Cookstown

  2·5

  10·0

  Craigavon

  4·25

  10·0

  Derry

  4·7

  10·5

  Down

  6·0

  16·2

  Dungannon

  2·0

  6·7

  Fermanagh

  2·75

  8·3

  Larne

  3·0

  7·7

  Limavady

  3·0

  10·9

  Lisburn

  4·4

  12·4

  Magherafelt

  3·0

  13·8

  Moyle

  4·0

  8·7

  Newry and Mourne

  8·5

  27·9

  Newtownabbey

  2·0

  4·9

  North Down

  4·5

  11·7

  Omagh

  5·0

  17·2

  Strabane

  2·55

  7·5

  Council

  1983–84

  Actual p

  per cent.

  Antrim

  —

  0·00

  Ards

  1·00

  2·00

  Armagh

  1·50

  4·90

  Ballymena

  1·50

  4·60

  Ballymoney

  1·50

  3·90

  Banbridge

  2·29

  6·90

  Belfast

  5·70

  10·40

  Carrickfergus

  1·25

  2·50

  Castlereagh

  1·00

  -2·90

  Coleraine

  2·00

  4·90

  Cookstown

  3·75

  13·60

  Craigavon

  3·72

  8·00

  Derry

  4·40

  8·90

  Down

  2·00

  4·70

  Dungannon

  2·00

  6·30

  Fermanagh

  2·25

  6·30

  Larne

  1·50

  3·60

  Limavady

  1·00

  3·30

  Lisburn

  3·01

  7·50

  Magherafelt

  4·25

  17·20

  Moyle

  1·90

  3·80

  Newry and Mourne

  4·00

  10·30

  Newtownabbey

  2·00

  4·70

  North Down

  2·50

  5·80

  409

  Council

  1983–84

  Actual p

  per cent.

  Omagh

  5·00

  14·70

  Strabane

  4·95

  13·50

  Council

  1984–85

  Actual p

  per cent.

  Antrim

  1·00

  2·05

  Ards

  —

  0·00

  Armagh

  1·50

  4·07

  Ballymena

  1·50

  4·04

  Ballymoney

  1·00

  2·05

  Banbridge

  5·18

  14·06

  Belfast

  4·25

  7·00

  Carrickfergus

  2·00

  3·09

  Castlereagh

  -1·00

  -3·00

  Coleraine

  —

  0·00

  Cookstown

  1·30

  4·02

  Craigavon

  2·45

  4·09

  Derry

  1·40

  2·06

  Down

  —

  0·00

  Dungannon

  1·00

  2·09

  Fermanagh

  2·00

  5·03

  Larne

  —

  0·00

  Limavady

  0·50

  1·06

  Lisburn

  2·60

  6·00

  Maghcrafelt

  1·10

  3·08

  Moyle

  2·85

  5·05

  Newry and Mourne

  3·00

  7·00

  Newtownabbey

  3·00

  6·07

  North Down

  1·50

  3·03

  Omagh

  2·00

  5·01

  Strabane

  —

  0·00

  Council

  1985–86

  Actual p

  per cent.

  Antrim

  1·50

  3·70

  Ards

  —

  0·00

  Armagh

  1·00

  2·99

  Ballymena

  0·85

  2·39

  Ballymoney

  1·25

  3·05

  Banbridge

  4·26

  10·47

  Belfast

  4·19

  6·46

  Carrickfergus

  2·25

  4·27

  Castlereagh

  1·00

  3·13

  Coleraine

  2·25

  5·26

  Cookstown

  3·30

  10·14

  Craigavon

  2·01

  3·80

  Derry

  4·40

  7·99

  Down

  —

  0·00

  Dungannon

  3·00

  8·57

  Fermanagh

  2·75

  6·88

  Larne

  1·50

  3·45

  Limavady

  3·00

  9·38

  Lisburn

  0·64

  1·40

  Magherafelt

  2·94

  9·77

  Moyle

  5·00

  9·13

  Newry and Mourne

  3·00

  6·52

  Newtownabbey

  4·60

  9·58

  North Down

  4·50

  9·57

  Omagh

  2·00

  4·88

  Strabane

  2·00

  4·82

  Council

  1986–87

  Actual p

  per cent.

  Antrim

  3·75

  8·93

  Ards

  3·00

  6·00

  Armagh

  3·50

  10·14

  Ballymena

  1·65

  4·54

  Ballymoney

  3·00

  7·10

  410

  Council

  1986–87

  Actual p

  per cent.

  Banbridge

  3·04

  6·77

  Belfast

  7·32

  10·60

  Carrickfergus

  2·50

  4·55

  Castlereagh

  6·08

  18·42

  Coleraine

  4·00

  8·89

  Cookstown

  3·90

  10·88

  Craigavon

  5·28

  9·61

  Derry

  7·50

  12·61

  Down

  8·00

  17·78

  Dungannon

  3·50

  9·21

  Fermanagh

  6·00

  14·04

  Larne

  4·25

  9·44

  Limavady

  4·00

  11·43

  Lisburn

  2·56

  5·54

  Magherafelt

  3·52

  10·65

  Moyle

  6·00

  10·04

  Newry and Mourne

  5·30

  10·82

  Newtownabbey

  2·50

  14·77

  North Down

  5·40

  10·49

  Omagh

  4·00

  9·30

  Strabane

  7·00

  16·09

  Council

  1987–88

  Actual p

  per cent.

  Antrim

  2·75

  601

  Ards

  —

  0·00

  Armagh

  —

  0·00

  Ballymena

  1·85

  4·87

  Ballymoney

  0·75

  1·66

  Banbridge

  3·01

  6·27

  Belfast

  3·67

  4·81

  Carrickfergus

  1·91

  3·32

  Castlereagh

  1·92

  4·91

  Coleraine

  1·00

  2·04

  Cookstown

  3·25

  8·18

  Craigavon

  3·14

  5·22

  Derry

  2·50

  3·73

  Down

  7·00

  13·21

  Dungannon

  2·50

  6·02

  Fermanagh

  2·00

  4·10

  Larne

  3·30

  6·70

  Limavady

  1·95

  5·00

  Lisburn

  0·95

  1·95

  Magherafelt

  4·49

  12·28

  Moyle

  —

  0·00

  Newry and Mourne

  5·40

  9·94

  Newtownabbey

  2·13

  3·86

  North Down

  4·00

  7·03

  Omagh

  4·65

  9·89

  Strabane

  3·50

  6·93

  Council

  1988–89

  Actual p

  per cent.

  Antrim

  2·50

  5·15

  Ards

  1·00

  1·89

  Armagh

  3·00

  7·89

  Ballymena

  3·00

  7·53

  Ballymoney

  1·00

  2·17

  Banbridge

  —

  0·00

  Belfast

  3·93

  4·91

  Carrickfergus

  3·09

  5·20

  Castlereagh

  -1·10

  -2·68

  Coleraine

  3·00

  6·00

  Cookstown

  -0·25

  -0·58

  Craigavon

  —

  0·00

  Derry

  3·05

  4·39

  Down

  5·00

  8·33

  Dungannon

  —

  0·00

  Fermanagh

  2·75

  5·42

  Larne

  3·20

  6·09

  Limavady

  2·55

  6·23

  411

  Council

  1988–89

  Actual p

  per cent.

  Lisburn

  3·82

  7·68

  Magherafelt

  2·45

  5·97

  Moyle

  -025

  -038

  Newry and Mourne

  —

  0·00

  Newtownabbey

  2·82

  4·93

  North Down

  2·80

  4·60

  Omagh

  3·35

  6·49

  Strabane

  3·00

  5·56

  Council

  1989–90

  Actual p

  Per cent.

  Antrim

  2·00

  3·92

  Ards

  3·5

  6·48

  Armagh

  3·0

  7·32

  Ballymena

  1·15

  2·68

  Ballymoney

  3·25

  6·91

  Banbridge

  —

  0·0

  Belfast

  —

  0·0

  Carrickfergus

  3·25

  5·2

  Castlereagh

  -2·00

  -5·01

  Coleraine

  2·0

  3·77

  Cookstown

  5·0

  11·7

  Craigavon

  4·12

  6·5

  Derry

  4·25

  5·86

  Down

  3·0

  4·62

  Dungannon

  —

  0·0

  Fermanagh

  2·0

  3·74

  Larne

  1·0

  1·79

  Limavady

  3·5

  8·05

  Lisburn

  —

  0·0

  Magherafelt

  2·84

  6·53

  Moyle

  2·90

  4·43

  Newry and Mourne

  -1·70

  -2·85

  Newtownabbey

  4·04

  6·73

  North Down

  2·15

  3·38

  Omagh

  3·50

  6·36

  Strabane

  3·75

  6·58

  Council

  1990–91

  Actual p

  per cent.

  Antrim

  1·50

  2·83

  Ards

  7·50

  13·04

  Armagh

  3·50

  7·95

  Ballymena

  3·00

  6·82

  Ballymoney

  3·75

  7·46

  Banbridge

  3·90

  7·65

  Belfast

  4·12

  4·91

  Carrickfergus

  3·75

  5·70

  Castlereagh

  6·49

  17·12

  Coleraine

  —

  0·00

  Cookstown

  4·00

  8·38

  Craigavon

  3·30

  4·89

  Derry

  7·20

  9·38

  Down

  2·00

  2·94

  Dungannon

  3·75

  8·52

  Fermanagh

  2·00

  3·60

  Larne

  7·93

  13·97

  Limavady

  3·50

  7·45

  Lisburn

  1·99

  3·71

  Magherafelt

  2·66

  5·74

  Moyle

  5·82

  8·51

  Newry and Mourne

  —

  0·00

  Newtownabbey

  0·59

  0·92

  North Down

  3·39

  5·15

  Omagh

  5·80

  9·91

  Strabane

  6·50

  10·70

  412

  Grant Factors
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the de-rating and resources elements of the general grant factor for each of the past five financial years; and on what basis they were set.

  Mr. Needham
  The de-rating and resources elements of general exchequer grant for each of the past five financial years are set out in the following table.

  The basis on which the grants are set is determined by a Local Government (General Grant) Order made in accordance with paragraph 3(1) of schedule 1 to the Local Government, &c. (Northern Ireland) Order 1972.

  The derating and resources elements of the general exchequer grant from 1985–86 to 1989–90

  1985–86

  Council

  Derating element £

  Resources element £

  Antrim

  126,057

  186,441

  Ards

  386,595

  467,228

  Armagh

  132,753

  673,465

  Ballymena

  378,519

  37,797

  Ballymoney

  95,836

  337,631

  Banbridge

  127,936

  377,986

  Belfast

  4,692,549

  —

  Carrickfergus

  161,021

  262,629

  Castlereagh

  307,948

  127,352

  Coleraine

  370,204

  —

  Cookstown

  124,448

  346,253

  Craigavon

  902,136

  356,429

  Derry

  795,414

  1,354,865

  Down

  140,584

  919,345

  Dungannon

  196,697

  748,496

  Fermanagh

  160,977

  893,545

  Larne

  253,222

  130,126

  Limavady

  70,205

  357,832

  Lisburn

  525,986

  272,710

  Magherafelt

  131,018

  484,256

  Moyle

  43,081

  329,498

  Newry and Mourne

  281,471

  2,106,016

  Newtownabbey

  1,027,691

  —

  North Down

  211,480

  135,612

  Omagh

  100,362

  1,009,624

  Strabane

  136,141

  1,027,075

  1986–87

  Council

  Derating element £

  Resources element £

  Antrim

  140,551

  229,725

  Ards

  418,708

  727,214

  Armagh

  147,765

  726,548

  Ballymena

  400,601

  114,608

  Ballymoney

  110,205

  347,766

  Banbridge

  138,868

  390,554

  Belfast

  5,122,136

  —

  Carrickfergus

  141,018

  289,656

  Castlereagh

  366,486

  159,805

  Coleraine

  342,722

  —

  Cookstown

  138,876

  340,354

  Craigavon

  938,657

  317,874

  Derry

  905,216

  1,505,856

  Down

  166,625

  1,069,027

  Dungannon

  218,230

  669,120

  Fermanagh

  191,402

  953,378

  Larne

  282,811

  112,889

  Limavady

  78,025

  408,019

  Lisburn

  566,277

  523,667

  Magherafelt

  148,519

  474,737

  Moyle

  48,889

  398,380

  Newry and Mourne

  299,790

  2,298,468

  Newtownabbey

  1,050,207

  —

  413

  Council

  Derating element £

  Resources element £

  North Down

  243,549

  411,987

  Omagh

  109,902

  916,851

  Strabane

  159,922

  937,455

  1987–88

  Council

  Derating element £

  Resources element £

  Antrim

  146,900

  166,594

  Ards

  429,833

  714,169

  Armagh

  150,996

  783,598

  Ballymena

  424,152

  16,862

  Ballymoney

  116,584

  483,587

  Banbridge

  148,134

  457,299

  Belfast

  5,368,404

  —

  Carrickfergus

  112,449

  349,879

  Castlereagh

  359,491

  67,066

  Coleraine

  288,401

  —

  Cookstown

  150,418

  367,047

  Craigavon

  1,013,227

  490,057

  Derry

  951,978

  1,565,317

  Down

  193,953

  1,233,968

  Dungannon

  233,012

  738,841

  Fermanagh

  206,270

  987,073

  Larne

  306,533

  65,507

  Limavady

  83,825

  439,041

  Lisburn

  566,119

  449,561

  Magherafelt

  169,212

  518,527

  Moyle

  50,788

  412,355

  Newry and Mourne

  337,411

  2,295,578

  Newtownabbey

  1,053,659

  —

  North Down

  270,383

  310,922

  Omagh

  122,545

  992,155

  Strabane

  167,243

  1,075,959

  1988–89

  Council

  Derating element £

  Resources element £

  Antrim

  153,926

  76,180

  Ards

  443,215

  666,750

  Armagh

  163,613

  753,508

  Ballymena

  463,535

  4,713

  Ballymoney

  123,032

  430,856

  Banbridge

  146,384

  440,482

  Belfast

  5,680,258

  —

  Carrickfergus

  131,957

  317,551

  Castlereagh

  331,884

  98,137

  Coleraine

  311,666

  —

  Cookstown

  150,765

  326,749

  Craigavon

  1,027,812

  477,945

  Derry

  1,009,969

  1,688,677

  Down

  221,091

  1,216,268

  Dungannon

  239,443

  703,158

  Fermanagh

  222,697

  893,509

  Lame

  326,908

  63,722

  Limavady

  91,399

  516,331

  Lisburn

  619,286

  498,333

  Magherafelt

  182,270

  529,641

  Moyle

  51,664

  406,279

  Newry and Mourne

  345,298

  2,325,076

  Newtownabbey

  986,500

  —

  North Down

  281,056

  310,225

  Omagh

  133,486

  973,321

  Strabane

  176,010

  1,028,500

  1989–90

  Council

  Derating element £

  Resources element £

  Antrim

  167,073

  88,870

  Ards

  472,128

  665,198

  Armagh

  169,540

  783,284

  Ballymena

  489,728

  17,816

  414

  Council

  Derating element £

  Resources element £

  Ballymoney

  135,581

  395,177

  Banbridge

  147,901

  443,222

  Belfast

  5,600,725

  —

  Carrickfergus

  160,755

  364,581

  Castlereagh

  336,583

  16,030

  Coleraine

  330,250

  —

  Cookstown

  174,634

  354,176

  Craigavon

  1,112,690

  416,548

  Derry

  1,060,634

  1,951,544

  Down

  234,793

  1,218,476

  Dungannon

  248,728

  737,570

  Fermanagh

  236,190

  914,427

  Larne

  338,432

  58,062

  Limavady

  99,362

  522,104

  Lisburn

  657,792

  394,805

  Magherafelt

  198,064

  530,801

  Moyle

  54,942

  349,535

  Newry and Mourne

  350,273

  2,249,375

  Newtownabbey

  985,802

  —

  North Down

  284,166

  380,510

  Omagh

  148,647

  994,195

  Strabane

  208,586

  1,077,913

  Power Station Emissions
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how soon he expects energy developments in Northern Ireland will enable requirements of EC directives on sulphur dioxide emissions from power stations to be complied with; and whether he envisages the use of natural gas for generating electricity to reduce noxious emissions from power stations in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  I recently wrote to the chairman of Northern Ireland Electricity confirming that, if it is built as coal/oil-fired plant, the proposed phase II generating station at Kilroot would require flue gas desulphurisation. The letter also acknowledges that one of the alternative options, which envisages Kilroot phase II being completed as a natural gas fired plant, would satisfy the requirements of the EC large combustion plants directive. However, the technical and economic feasibility of using natural gas for power generation is still being assessed and no decision has yet been taken.

  Hazelbank-Macedon Area
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the reservation of the Hazelbank-Macedon area in the Belfast urban area plan 2001 for landscape, amenity or recreation use provides protection to the area from office-housing development.

  Mr. Needham
  All planning applications are considered on their merits having regard to the development plan for the area and to any other material considerations. It is likely that any future planning application for office or housing development on this site would be the subject of a public local inquiry under the terms of article 22 of the Planning (NI) Order 1972.

  Hotel Development
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many hotel development applications in Northern Ireland have been approved in lands restricted for landscape, amenity or recreation use.
  415
  Mr. Needham
  Since 1987 planning permission for 21 such proposals has been granted by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.

  Hazardous Waste, Maydown
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information regarding the proposal to site a hazardous waste incinerator at Dupont's Maydown complex has been furnishd to the DED's health and safety inspectorate; and what action the inspectorate is now undertaking.

  Mr. Needham
  Du Pont (UK) Limited has provided the Department of Economic Development's health and safety inspectorate with outline information concerning the possible siting of a toxic waste incinerator at Maydown, Co. Londonderry, and the inspectorate is continuing to monitor health and safety aspects of the company's proposals as further details become available.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 470, what consultation the DOE environmental protection division have had regarding the proposed siting of a hazardous waste incinerator at Du Pont's Maydown complex; what information has been furnished to the division regarding the proposal; and what advice it has given or action it has taken on the matter to date.

  Mr. Needham
  The environmental protection division of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland was advised by Du Pont (UK) Ltd of the proposal to establish a hazardous waste incinerator on its site at Maydown in October 1990. In December 1990 the company confirmed in writing that the evaluation of the project was under way. Officials from the Department's environmental protection division will be available for consultation with the company.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 471, if he will make a statement indicating the scope and nature of informal discussion of the proposed hazardous waste incinerator at Maydown between officials of the United Kingdom and Irish Governments.

  Mr. Needham
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the joint statement of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference which took place in Dublin on 31 January 1991.

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement outlining Government policy on balancing the needs of environmental protection and public safety and perceived job creation benefits indicating in which Northern Ireland Government Department the principal responsibility for assessing the balance rests.

  Mr. Needham
  Proposals for job creation must weigh and reconcile priorities in the public interest. These priorities include tile protection of the environment. Responsibility for assessing the proper balance lies jointly with the Government Departments most immediately 416
  involved in such proposals, having regard to their relevant statutory functions in securing environmental protection and public safety. By virtue of its wide-ranging remit, the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland has a significant role in such joint assessments.

  Waste Imports
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what proportion of waste incinerated within Northern Ireland is imported; and what are the projected levels of such importation for the next decade;

  (2) in what quantities per nation annually European toxic waste has been imported by Northern Ireland for each year since 1979;

  (3) what quantity of waste, in the last year for which figures are available, was imported for direct landfill within Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  None.

HEALTH

  Health Services, Kent
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for each parliamentary constituency in Kent what percentage of the population are local authority tenants according to the 1981 census.

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

  Persons in households renting from local authority as a percentage of all persons

  Parliamentary constituency

  per cent.

  Ashford

  31

  Canterbury

  22

  Dartford

  25

  Dover

  27

  Faversham

  15

  Folkestone and Hythe

  17

  Gravesham

  27

  Maidstone

  25

  Medway

  24

  Mid Kent

  21

  North Thanet

  16

  Sevenoaks

  23

  South Thanet

  18

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  22

  Tunbridge Wells

  21

  Gillingham

  14

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health authority covers which parliamentary constituency in Kent.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information is as follows:

  Bexley Health Authority

  Bexleyheath

  Erith and Crayford

  Old Bexley and Sidcup

  Bromley Health Authority

  Beckenham

  Chislehurst

  Orpington

  Ravensbourne

  Canterbury and Thanet Health Authority

  Canterbury

  Thanet North

  417

  Thanet South

  Dover

  Faversham

  Dartford and Gravesham Health Authority

  Dartford

  Gravesham

  Sevenoaks

  Maidstone Health Authority

  Maidstone

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  Mid-Kent

  Medway Health Authority

  Medway

  Faversham

  Mid-Kent

  Gillingham

  South East Kent Health Authority

  Dover

  Ashford

  Folkestone and Hythe

  Tunbridge Wells Health Authority

  Sevenoaks

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  Tunbridge Wells

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for each health authority covering the Kent area, which hospitals have been granted permission to establish a national health service trust.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No hospitals in Kent have been given approval for national health service trust status to date.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for each health authority covering the Kent area, which hospitals have indicated an interest in establishing a national health service trust.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is as follows:

  Bexley district health authority

  Bexley Acute and Community Services

  Bexley Mental Health and Mental Handicap Services

  Dartford and Gravesham district health authority

  Dartford and Gravesham Acute Unit

  Dartford and Gravesham Priority Services Unit

  Maidstone district health authority

  Maidstone Acute and Community Unit

  Maidstone Mental Handicap Unit

  Tunbridge Wells district health authority

  Tunbridge Wells mental handicap services

  Queen Victoria hospital, East Grinstead

  Sevenoaks hospital

  Bromley district health authority

  Bromley Acute Services

  Bromley Priority Services

  South East Kent district health authority

  South East Kent Health Authority Community Services

  William Harvey and Buckland hospitals

  Census Statistics
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for each parliamentary constituency in Kent, (1) what percentage of the population are(a) Asian and (b) black according to the 1981 census;
  418
  (2) what percentage of the population are (a) Asian and (b) black according to the latest information updated since the 1981 census.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not available. There was no question on ethnic group in the 1981 census.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for each parliamentary constituency in Kent, what percentage of the population are owner occupiers according to the 1981 census.

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

  Parliamentary constituency

  Persons in owner occupier households as a percentage of all persons

  Ashford

  61

  Canterbury

  65

  Dartford

  67

  Dover

  59

  Faversham

  77

  Folkestone and Hythe

  67

  Gravesham

  66

  Maidstone

  66

  Medway

  67

  Mid Kent

  70

  North Thanet

  72

  Sevenoaks

  66

  South Thanet

  70

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  68

  Tunbridge Wells

  63

  Gillingham

  77

  Over Hospital
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will seek a report from Gloucester health authority regarding the extent of consultation during the partial closure of Over hospital.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Community Health Council Regulations 1985, as amended, provide that a health authority need not consult on any variation of service if the authority"is satisfied that, in the interest of the health service, a decision has to be taken without allowing time for consultation. In this circumstance the district health authority shall immediately notify the community health council of the decision".

  This was the case in the partial closure of Over hospital, which was both urgent and temporary. The community health council was notified immediately of Gloucester district health authority's decision.

  I understand that if Gloucester health authority decides to make this temporary closure permanent, it will consult.

  Laboratory Services
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statutory provisions apply to the contracting out of laboratory services by regional and district health authorities; if he is required to approve the terms of such contracts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Under section 23 of the National Health Service Act 1977, and regulations made under that Act, regional and district health authorities exercising the Secretary of State's functions have the power to arrange for non-NHS bodies to provide services
  419
  under that Act. The Secretary of State's approval of the terms of contracts is not required as the health authorities concerned would be acting on his behalf in arranging such contracts. Key issues for health authorities to take into account are the need for appropriate involvement of the individuals and groups concerned and the achievement of cost-effectiveness.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of readmissions to mental illness hospitals and units in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The table provides the numbers of admissions to national health service mental illness hospitals and hospital units where these admissions are known not to be a first admission to a national health service psychiatric hospital or hospital unit. The figures relate to admissions, and not individuals, since a person may be readmitted more than once during a year.

  Reliable centrally collected figures by admission status for years 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90 are not yet available. When figures are available they will not be directly comparable with earlier data.

  Year

  Readmissions

  1977

  118,792

  1978

  120,456

  1979

  120,073

  1980

  127,184

  1981

  132,893

  1982

  133,475

  1983

  138,080

  1984

  138,431

  1985

  146,895

  1986

  145,578

  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the mental illness hospitals planned for closure by 1996 by the health authorities concerned with the total number of beds in each and the number of beds currently occupied by patients.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The tables show mental handicap and mental illness hospitals planned for closure over the next five years and the district health authority in which each hospital is situated. The other information requested is not held centrally.

  Table 1

  Mental handicap hospitals

  DHA

  South East Thames

  Leybourne Grange

  Maidstone (managed by Tunbridge Wells)

  Eastry

  Canterbury and Thanet

  Grove Park

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  Laughton Lodge

  Eastbourne

  Mount Pleasant

  Hastings

  Yorkshire

  Brandesburten

  Hull

  Claypenny

  York

  Whixley

  Harrogate

  Stansfield

  Caldergate

  Caister

  Grimsby (located in North Lincolnshire but managed by Grimsby)

  Oxford

  420

  Mental handicap hospitals

  DHA

  Wayland Hospital

  West Berkshire

  Trent

  Aston Hall

  Southern Derbyshire

  Balderton

  Central Nottinghamshire

  Wessex

  Coldharbour

  West Dorset

  Burderop

  Swindon

  Pewsey

  Swindon

  East Anglian

  Risbridge

  West Suffolk

  Lothingland

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  Jane Walker

  East Suffolk

  Hadleigh House

  East Suffolk

  Hales Hospital

  Norwich

  North Western

  Brockhall Hospital

  Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  Scott House

  Rochdale

  Offerton House

  Stockport

  Table 2

  Menial illness hospitals

  DHA

  Northern

  St. Mary's, Stannington

  Gateshead

  Yorkshire

  Storthes Hall Hospital

  Huddersfield

  Clifton Hospital

  York

  Stanley Royd Hospital

  Wakefield

  Scalebor Park Hospital

  Airedale

  Trent

  Pastures Hospital

  South Derbyshire

  East Anglia

  St. Audry's Hospital

  East Suffolk

  St. Nicholas' Hospital

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  St. Andrews

  Norwich

  North West Thames

  Nil

  North East Thames

  Friern Hospital1

  Hampstead

  South East Thames

  Cane Hill Hospital

  Croydon (managed by Bromley)

  Tooting Bee Hospital

  Wandsworth (managed by West Lambeth)

  Hellingley Hospital

  Eastbourne

  St. Augustine's Hospital

  Canterbury and Thanet

  Maidstone Hospital (psychiatric wing)

  Maidstone

  South West Thames

  Long Grove Hospital, Epsom

  Kingston and Esher

  Brookwood Hospital

  South West Surrey

  Wessex

  Whitecroft Hospital

  Isle of Wight

  Herrison Hospital, Dorchester

  West Dorset

  Old Manor Hospital, Salisbury1

  Salisbury

  Oxford

  St. John's Hospital

  Aylesbury Vale

  Fairmile Hospital

  West Berkshire

  Littlemore Hospital

  Oxford

  South Western

  Coney Hill Hospital

  Gloucester

  Moorhaven Hospital

  Plymouth

  Tone Vale Hospital, Taunton

  Somerset

  421

  Mental illness hospitals

  DHA

  West Midlands

  Barnsley Hall Hospital

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  Rubery Hill Hospital

  South Birmingham

  Central Hospital

  South Warwickshire

  Hollymoor Hospital

  Solihull

  Mersey

  Rainhill Hospital

  St. Helens and Knowlsley

  Winwick Hospital

  Warrington

  North Western Nil

  1 With some facilities remaining on site.

  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish comprehensive statistics about mentally ill hospital patients comparable to those in the DHSS statistical bulletins which ceased in 1986.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The K6rner recommendations on health services information were implemented for each financial year, commencing from 1 April 1987. These recommendations involved several definitional changes to information collected by the national health service and some statistics comparable with those previously published are no longer available from central returns. Some information on mental illness is contained in the forthcoming booklet, "Hospital Episode System—Summary Tables for England —1987/88"—a copy of which will be placed in the Library. Further estimates for activity within the specialties of mental illness and mental handicap will be published in a bulletin later in 1991.

  GP Services
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the level of achievement of the targets set for childhood immunisation and cervical screening for each area of general practice as defined by the Jarman index.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information is not available in the form requested. For information on the proportion of doctors receiving a target payment in each family health services authority I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) on 11 February at columns 351–56.

  Physically Disabled People
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy on unaided access for physically disabled people to NHS facilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Health authorities are required to comply with building regulations which contain requirements in respect of access for disabled people. From 1 April this year, building regulations will be legally enforceable on the NHS. In 1989, the Department published guidance on designing hospital facilities to meet the needs of disabled people which the NHS is encouraged to use and which exceeds the requirements of building regulations.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase unaided access to NHS facilities for physically disabled people.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The national health service will be legally bound by the new standards in respect of access for 422
  disabled people which are soon to be introduced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the Royal College of Physicians' report on health services for adults with physical disabilities.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department has received copies of the report and a copy will be placed in the Library. We welcome it as a timely contribution to the process of improving services for disabled people. It gives a clear picture of the present situation and will be a considerable help to those at all levels in the National Health Service who are concerned with the planning and operation of these services.

  Disabled Young People
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action he is taking to ensure that all district health authorities prepare and enforce formal arrangements for the transfer of disabled young people from paediatric to other consultants; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what information he has on the number of district health authorities that have prepared and enforced formal arrangements for the transfer of disabled young people from paediatric to other consultants.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In 1988 health authorities were asked to ensure appropriate planning for disabled young people on moving from child to adult health services. The need to ensure continuity in the supervision of their health care will also be underlined in guidance currently being prepared on the welfare of children and young people in hospital. The available information is contained in the Royal College of Physicians' report on health services for adults with physical disabilities.

  GP Centre, Cheam
  Sir Neil Macfarlane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth family practitioners' officials to review the funding arrangements for the new general practitioner centre in Malden road, Cheam; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  General medical practitioners, as independent contractors, are responsible for providing their own practice premises. From 1 April 1990 family health services authorities have been allocated cash-limited funds with which to finance improvements to GPs' practice premises under the cost rent and improvement grant schemes.

  It is for Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth family health services authority to administer its allocations on the basis of best value for money, taking into account local needs and priorities. The hon. Member may wish to write to Mr. J. Speirs, the chairman of Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth family health services authority regarding the funding arrangements for the general practitioner centre in Malden road, Cheam.

  Kidney Machines
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost of providing a dialysis unit; what is the running cost; and how many would be required to provide dialysis for all persons judged to be in need of it.
  423
  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally. The planning and provision of renal services is a matter for health authorities to decide, taking into account local needs and priorities.

  St. Paul's Eye Hospital
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether St. Paul's Eye hospital in Liverpool has been put on the market for sale.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No.

  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the future of St. Paul's eye hospital in Liverpool is currently the subject of consultation.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Yes. Liverpool health authority issued proposals for the closure of St. Paul's eye hospital on 21 November 1990 and invited comments by 22 January. The closing date for comments has now been extended to 19 February.

  Training
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he received the application for funding of the Project 2000 training programme submitted on behalf of the Thames College of Health Care Studies; and when he expects to give his decision.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Project 2000 submission from South East Thames regional health authority, identifying Thames college of health care studies as the region's first choice for funding in 1991–92, was received on 25 January 1991. This submission, with the others which have been received, is being referred for consideration to the Project 2000 implementation group. Decisions on funding will be taken in the light of the implementation group's recommendations and will be announced as soon as possible.

  Wheelchairs
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has now approved a particular design for a powered wheelchair for the use of patients in hospital or suffering disability.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department provides an evaluation service to assist NHS prescribers, rather than approve wheelchairs for health service use, as such. Chemotherapy

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that where use of the drug Ondansetron is judged clinically to be of help to patients receiving chemotherapy sufficient funding is available to enable it to be prescribed.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Ondansetron is available for prescription by doctors throughout the national health service for the prevention of nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for cancer.

  It is for the individual doctor to decide whether to prescribe Ondansetron, or indeed any drug, in a given set of circumstances. In many districts drug and therapeutic committees have been set up to secure the agreement and
  424
  commitment of clinicians to an efficacious and economical system of drug usage and have drawn up formularies of preferred treatments. It is for health authorities to determine what financial allocation should be made available to any particular area of clinical care, including the provision of drugs.

  Disability Working Allowance
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are his calculations of the additional costs that may be incurred through entitlement to(a) free prescriptions, (b) free dental treatment, (c) travelling costs to hospitals and (d) vouchers for glasses for those people in receipt of disability working allowance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 8 February 1991]: Disability working allowance does not exempt claimants from normal NHS charges unless they are exempt for other reasons—for example, a qualifying medical condition—or are entitled to full or partial remission under the NHS low income scheme.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the percentage of the population yet to pay their 1990 poll tax(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in Nottingham; and what additional cost is necessary per poll tax payer to make good the deficit.

  Mr. Key
  My Department has estimated, based on returns from three quarters of all authorities, that in England, no payment had been made by 31 December by 11 per cent. of persons with a liability in respect of a personal community charge. In Nottingham the figure is 23 per cent.

  Comparable figures for Scotland and Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales.

  It is too early to say what charges payable in 1990–91 will prove to be uncollectable. The effect on chargepayers in future years will be minimised if authorities use all the means at their disposal to ensure that charges are paid in full.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the lowest poll tax charge in England; and what would be the total increase in central Government expenditure required to reduce all charges to this level.

  Mr. Key
  The lowest average community charge in England in 1990–91 was £150, in the London borough of Wandsworth. Assuming that local authorities do not change their budgets, and making no allowance for the reductions in community charge benefit grant and transitional relief grant that would result, central Government grants would need to increase by £7 billion in order for all authorities to set a charge of £150.

  Public Transport
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much the standard spending assessment for 1991–92 of London boroughs and the City of London has been reduced to reflect the fact that they do not provide support for public transport; what that figure is per adult; and if he will give the equivalent figures for 1990–91.

  Mr. Key
  The total 1991–92 standard spending assessment for London boroughs and the City has been reduced by about £160 million, equivalent to £31·40p per adult, to reflect the fact that they do not provide support for public transport. The equivalent figures for 1990–91 are £121 million and £24·01p per adult.

  Crown Suppliers
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much public money has been paid to the unsuccessful Crown Suppliers contract furnishings management buy-out team;

  (2) what is the total amount of public money paid to the Crown Suppliers contract furnishing division buy-out team.

  Mr. Yeo
  A total of £76,980, in support of their professional advisers' fees.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what improprieties by the Crown Suppliers main board members have been indicated from internal departmental investigations over the last three years.

  Mr. Yeo
  Irregularities in respect of travel claims, acceptance of hospitality and the appointment of consultants; only one case was sufficiently serious to justify disciplinary action.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many performance pay bonuses have been awarded to the Crown Suppliers board in the period 1 January 1990 to 1 January 1991; and what was the total cost of those bonuses.

  Mr. Yeo
  Two, at a cost of £1,357·87.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total estimated cost of closing the Crown Suppliers contract furnishings division.

  Mr. Yeo
  At this stage it is too early to provide a firm estimate. The costs incurred to date are about £6·3 million.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place all those Property Services Agency internal audit reports on Crown Suppliers purchasing practice which have been produced since 1989 in the Library.

  Mr. Yeo
  It would be inappropriate to make internal audit reports generally available; such reports are, however, made available to the National Audit Office and used by the Comptroller and Audit General to inform his examination of the Department's work.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total cost from 1984 to date of the Government's proposed privatisation of the Crown Suppliers.
  426
  Mr. Yeo
  Since 3 February 1988 when the privatisation decision was announced, the cost of the Government's advisers' fees; of support for management buy-out teams' advisers' fees; and of the unit set up to oversee the privatisation, has amounted to £1·3 million.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost of settled claims to date which have directly arisen from the closure of the contracts furnishing division of the Crown Suppliers.

  Mr. Yeo
  A total of £408,670·36.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the future of the Crown Suppliers vehicle hire and maintenance division.

  Mr. Yeo
  An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost to date of the design, installation and maintenance of the Crown Suppliers UNISYS system.

  Mr. Yeo
  The total cost between April 1988 and December 1990 of the design, installation and maintenance of the current Crown Suppliers UNISYS computer system was £9·78 million.

  Housing, Kent
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what were the figures for homelessness for each parliamentary constituency in Kent in(a) 1979 and (b) 1989;

  (2) if he will list the local authority housing departments which cover each parliamentary constituency in Kent.

  (3) how many council houses have been bought in each parliamentary constituency in Kent since 1979;

  (4) what were the figures for homelessness for each local authority housing department in the Kent area in (a) 1979 and (b) 1989;

  (5) how many council houses have been bought in each housing authority in Kent since 1979.

  Mr. Yeo
  The table gives each parliamentary constituency in Kent together with their respective local authority housing department(s). In all but four constituencies, the constituency consists of part of one or more local authority areas.

  Constituency

  Local authority(ies)

  Ashford

  Ashford

  Canterbury

  Canterbury (part), Swale (part)

  Dartford

  Dartford, Sevenoaks (part)

  Dover

  Dover (part)

  Faversham

  Swale (part)

  Folkestone and Hythe

  Shepway

  Gillingham

  Gillingham, Swale (part)

  Gravesham

  Gravesham

  Maidstone

  Maidstone (part)

  Medway

  Rochester upon Medway (part)

  Mid-Kent

  Maidstone (part), Rochester upon Medway (part)

  North Thanet

  Canterbury (part), Thanet (part)

  Sevenoaks

  Sevenoaks (part)

  South Thanet

  Thanet (part), Dover (part)

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  Tunbridge Wells

  Tunbridge Wells

  427
  Local authorities report the number of households accepted and found accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 and the Housing Act 1985. Annual figures for each local authority in Kent are given in "Local Housing Statistics"; the figures for 1979 are in table 14 of edition No. 54 and the figures for 1989 are in table 9(b) of edition No. 94

  A table showing the available information on sales for each English local authority for each financial year since 1986–87 and with a cumulative total to September 1990 was recently placed in the Library—Official Report, 30 January 1991, column 542.

  Late returns from Canterbury, Maidstone, Rochester upon Medway and Shepway revise the totals shown in the table as follows:

  Sales 1 April 1979 to 30 September 1990

  Sales as per cent, of stock

  Canterbury

  rtb sales

  2,152

  24·2

  all sales

  2,600

  29·2

  of which flats

  156

  —

  Maidslone

  rtb sales

  1,861

  16·9

  all sales

  2,741

  24·9

  of which flats

  142

  —

  Rochester upon Medway

  rtb sales

  14,100

  130·4

  all sales

  113,166

  197·6

  of which flats

  1481

  —

  Shepway

  rtb sales

  1,428

  24·7

  all sales

  1,669

  28·8

  of which flats

  127

  —

  1 Incomplete numbers of sales·

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

  It is not possible to give the homelessness acceptance figures or the numbers of sales for all the parliamentary constituencies in Kent. These statistics are available only by local authority area.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the 1990 capital allocation to each local authority housing department covering the Kent area;

  (2) what was the 1990 housing investment programme capital bid by each local authority housing authority department covering the Kent area.

  Mr. Yeo
  A table listing Housing Investment Programme allocations for 1991–92 for each local authority was placed in the Library on 13 December 1990. Local authorities' proposals for gross capital expenditure in 1991–92 were as follows:

  £ thousands

  Ashford

  9,949

  Canterbury

  11,715

  Dartford

  5,218

  428

  £ thousands

  Dover

  5,819

  Gillingham

  8,118

  Gravesham

  7,094

  Maidstone

  14,405

  Rochester upon Medway

  10,494

  Sevenoaks

  8,773

  Shepway

  5,093

  Swale

  11,547

  Thanet

  4,899

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  3,900

  Tunbridge Wells

  4,516

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) according to information submitted to support 1990's capital allocation bids under the housing investment programme, what was the number of unfit properties in each local authority in Kent;

  (2) according to information submitted to support 1990's capital allocation bids under the housing investment programme, what was the number of (a) unfit housing association properties, (b) unfit public sector properties and (c) unfit private sector properties within the area of each local authority housing department in Kent.

  Mr. Yeo
  Local authorities report the number of unfit dwellings in their own stock, and estimates of those owned by housing associations, other public sector bodies and in the private sector, in their annual housing investment programme returns—HIP1. The available figures for 1 April 1990 appear in "1990 HIP1 All Items Print", columns A31, A32, A33, and A34 respectively; a copy of which is in the Library.

  MOD Quality Assurance Unit
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what expenditure has been incurred by the Teesside development corporation in preparation for the promised move of the MOD quality assurance unit to Preston farm, Stockton.

  Mr. Key
  Teesside development corporation has incurred expenditure totalling £2·47 million, including land acquisition and site preparation costs, on the site earmarked for the relocation of the MOD quality assurance organisation.

  Structure Plans
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what economic factors he takes into account when approving structure plans.

  Sir George Young
  Local planning authorities are required to base their structure plans on an appreciation of the economic characteristics of their area, and the effect that any changes in them are likely to have on the development of their area and the planning of such development. They also take account of national and regional economic policies and the resources likely to be available for carrying out their structure plan proposals. The Secretary of State similarly takes these matters into account in his approval of structure plan proposals.

  Vipera Berus
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to extend full protection to vipera berus; and if he will make a statement on any other amendments he proposes to seek to make to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in respect of species protection.

  Mr. Baldry
  Following advice from the Nature Conservancy Council, my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Environment and the Countryside announced on 3 January that the Government had decided to introduce new protective measures for three species, including vipera berus, the adder. I have arranged for a copy of the news release to be placed in the Library of the House.

  The necessary instrument to give effect to these changes will be laid before Parliament shortly.

  Staff Negotiations
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department intends issuing a statement or circular on the implementation of section 12 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989; and what communications he has received concerning the problems of implementing section 12.

  Mr. Key
  My Department has no plans to issue any general guidance on section 12 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, which requires local authorities to avoid having their interests in negotiations with their staff on pay and conditions of service represented by councillors who are themselves local council employees or officers of trade unions representing local authority employees. My Department has received from a number of local authorities queries about the application of the section and other representations.

  Humberside County Council
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission on the future of Humberside county council to be implemented.

  Mr. Key
  The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has, as yet, made no recommendations as a result of its further review of the county of Humberside. It is, therefore, premature to speculate on the implementation of any such recommendations.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has concerning the whereabouts and possible destination of the Karin B waste.

  Mr. Trippier
  I understand that Rechem has accepted some of this waste for disposal at its high temperature incinerators at Pontypool in Torfaen district and Fawley in Hampshire and has complied with the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988.

  Housing, Tandridge
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council homes are owned by Tandridge district council, east Surrey; and what percentage is vacant.

  Sir George Young
  The number of council-owned dwellings reported by Tandridge district council in its April 1990 housing investment programme return—HIP1 —was 3,567, of which some 2 per cent. or, 72, were vacant.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the change in the level of registered homeless persons in Tandridge district, east Surrey, in the last 12 months.

  Sir George Young
  Local authorities report each quarter the number of households for which they accepted responsibility to secure accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985.

  There has been no significant change in the number of households accepted as homeless by Tandridge district council over the 12 months to September 1990.

  The latest reported figures for individual local authorities, including those for Tandridge district, appear in a table of "Households found accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the third quarter 1990. Supplementary Tables".

  Copies of this document and those for previous quarters are in the Library.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to when Mrs. Jean Hopwood of 12a Therapia road, SE22, may expect completion of the purchase of her home from the London borough of Southwark under the right-to-buy scheme.

  Mr. Yeo
  I understand that this case has been subject to delay and involves some unresolved negotiations. I trust that Southwark council will do everything that it can to enable satisfactory completion of the sale. The Government have introduced measures which enable tenants to seek financial redress in cases where local authorities do not perform within statutory time limits. These are available, if appropriate, in this case.

  Nuclear Fuel
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will participate in, or be represented at, the conference on the management of spent nuclear fuel to be held in London, 29–30 April.

  Mr. Trippier
  My Department will not be represented at the conference on the management of spent nuclear fuel on 29 and 30 April.

  Environment Conferences
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will participate in the conference on paying for water, effluent and pollution control 1991–92, to be held in London on 13 February.

  Mr. Trippier
  No, but I understand that the Office of Water Services is providing one of the speakers.
  431
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has been invited to participate in the conference, "What on Earth is to be Done?", to be held in London on 19 March.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend has accepted an invitation to give the opening speech at this conference.

  Water Mains
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to bring forward legislation requiring water authorities to contribute to the costs of highway reconstruction following water main bursts.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply.

  The answer is yes. The Public Utilities Street Works Act 1950 contains provisions on the liability of water authorities and other undertakers to highway authorities for damage caused to the property of the highway authority. A distinction is drawn between damage caused as a consequence of the exercise of an undertaker's statutory powers and that caused as a consequence of the carrying out of a statutory duty. The law as it stands is unsatisfactory and has led to a number of disputes over the apportionment of the costs of repairing the road following a burst main. The New Roads and Street Works Bill now before Parliament would replace the 1950 Act provision with a straightforward duty on undertakers to compensate the highway authority in respect of any damage or loss suffered by the authority as a result of the execution of street works or an event such as a burst main.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of housing association build is built to(a) wheelchair standard and (b) mobility standard.

  Mr. Yeo
  [pursuant to his reply, 30 January 1991 c. 538]: Approximately 3 per cent. of housing association completions of new dwellings in England reported to my Department in the year ending September 1990 were dwellings for the chronically sick and disabled, built to mobility standards. A further 0·5 per cent. were dwellings for the chronically sick and disabled built to wheelchair standards.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received any representations about the exercise of his community charge-capping powers in relation to the proposed 1991–92 budget for West Yorkshire police authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 8 February 1991]: We have received a number of representations from and on behalf of the West Yorkshire police authority about our intentions for charge capping for 1991–92, including those made when I met a delegation from the authority on 29 November 1990.

  As my right hon. Friend told the House on 29 January, we stand firmly by these intentions which are, however, necessarily provisional, since, under the statute, capping
  432
  decisions cannot be made until authorities have set their budgets. It is now for each authority to set its budget having regard to all relevant considerations including its statutory duties, the approved level of police manpower, our intended capping criteria, the need as appropriate for expenditure restraint, and the scope for greater efficiency.

  Solvent
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of used solvent is imported to the United Kingdom; and what proportion of this is(a) originally exported from the United Kingdom and (b) imported to the manufacturer for disposal.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: The import of used solvent which is special waste is subject to the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980. Records of shipments made under these regulations are maintained by the disposal authorities concerned and not by the Department. The producer of the waste is identified but not the manufacturer of the original solvent.

  Waste Recycling
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that importation of waste substances for recycling results in the recycling of all the materials imported.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: Under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988 which implement European Community directive 84/631 as amended on transfrontier shipments, hazardous waste that is imported for recycling must be subject to a contract between the producer of the waste and the recycler to the effect that the waste will be recycled. It is proposed in the draft Council regulation on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community to extend the use of contracts binding the producer and the recycler to all imports of waste, except for certain categories of waste —to be determined—which are completely innocuous.

  Hazardous and Toxic Waste
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to define in legislation the terms hazardous waste and toxic waste.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: Hazardous waste and toxic waste are equated in British legislation to special waste. Special waste is defined in the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980. These regulations will be revised in due course to reflect the definition of hazardous waste which will be made under the new EC directive on hazardous waste agreed at the Environment Council on 21 December 1990.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on progress on grant-maintained schools.
  433
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many applications he has received from schools for grant-maintained status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the progress of grant-maintained status awarded to schools.

  Mr. Eggar
  A total of 93 schools have now submitted proposals to my right hon. and learned Friend, and he is awaiting a further 18 proposals following ballots in favour. Of the 93 applications, 60 have been approved, 12 rejected and 21 have yet to be decided.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will outline the advantages to pupils, parents and teachers of a school opting for grant-maintained status and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  GM schools have many advantages for pupils, parents and teachers. The schools are run by local people; they can make their own decisions about how to make the best use of resources, including a part of LEA expenditure on centrally provided services; their governors and heads have greater autonomy than is provided by local management of schools; and they are proving popular with parents.

  Postgraduate Research
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the current numbers in Scottish universities undertaking post-graduate research in physics, chemistry and mathematics; and what were the comparable figures for 1990, 1989 and 1988.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The numbers of postgraduate students at Scottish universities in physics, chemistry and mathematics were 317, 422 and 135 respectively in the academic year 1989–90. The comparable figures for 1988–89 were 350, 431 and 103. Figures are not yet available for the current academic year.

  RE Teachers
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many qualified religious education teachers are currently employed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  In 1988 three were approximately 13,300 full-time teachers in maintained secondary schools in England with a qualification in religious education, of whom 6,400 were teaching the subject.

  Cricket Coaching
  Mr. John Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the coaching of cricket in schools.

  Mr. Atkins
  Many schools offer their pupils the opportunity to take part in cricket and I am keen that schools continue to teach the game. PE including sport is a compulsory part of the school curriculum. In addition, the Sports Council provides funding to help develop sports coaching and facilities, and will soon be publishing a review of coaching and coach education.

  Paperwork
  Mr. Stevens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to reduce the amount of paperwork in schools as a result of the introduction of the national curriculum.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government have already acted to cut schools' paperwork. I recently announced that we had agreed with the National Curriculum Council and the School Examinations and Assessment Council to restrict the amount of non-essential guidance and other material sent to schools. We hope that other bodies, including LEAs' will follow our example.

  Scientific Research
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met the chairman of the Science and Engineering Research Council to discuss the funding of scientific research; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. and learned Friend occasionally meets the chairman of the Science and Engineering Research Council. I have met Sir Mark Richmond twice recently when the funding of scientific research was among the issues discussed.

  Education Spending
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science by what percentage the education component of standard spending assessment is due to rise between 1990–91 and 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  The education components of standard spending assessments in England will rise by an average of 16 per cent. between 1990–91 and 1991–92. This substantial increase, far in excess of the likely rate of inflation, should enable all authorities to deliver education services of a high quality if they manage their affairs well.

  History
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received following the publication of his report about history in the national curriculum.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Barnsley, Central (Mr. Illsey).

  Primary Schools
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many four-year-old children were admitted to primary schools in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Eggar
  The total number of four-year-olds admitted to primary classes in maintained schools in England in September 1989 and January 1990 was 441,100. For the previous year the figure was 410,900.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he proposes to take in respect of the part of his "Starting with Quality" report on under-fives dealing with the number of places in nursery education.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to increase the number of places in nursery education.

  Mr. Eggar
  The committee of inquiry urged increases in overall provision for the under-fives—including childcare —rather than in nursery education specifically. It is for local authorities to decide how far this can be given priority. Much is being done: the numbers of under-fives in maintained schools went up by 29,000 between 1989 and 1990.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the latest figures for the real increase in teachers' pay since 1979.

  Mr. Eggar
  Teachers' average salaries have increased by some 30 per cent. in real terms since 1979. When the IAC's latest recommendations are fully implemented it is likely that there will be a further real terms increase as inflation is likely to fall over the coming year.

  Local Management of Schools
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the purpose of the local management of schools scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  The key aims of the local management of schools are to ensure that resources are allocated to schools in a fair and open way, based mainly on the number of pupils they have to educate; and that as much as is reasonably possible of local authorities' potential schools budget is delegated to schools, to manage as they see fit.

  I expect the introduction of the local management of schools to benefit all schools. Many schools are already experiencing those benefits; many more will do so when formula funding and delegated management have been fully implemented in every local education authority.

  Rural Schools
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what policies exist to aid small rural schools.

  Mr. Fallon
  The Government's policies for promoting improvements in the education service through the implementation of the national curriculum, through the local management of schools, and through grants for education support and training, all take account of the needs of small rural schools.

  Reading Standards
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to monitor reading standards in the national curriculum.
  436
  Mr. Eggar
  The national curriculum will secure, for the first time, national information about standards in reading from age seven onwards. Once it is fully in place, all pupils will be required by law to be assessed in reading at the ages of seven, 11, 14 and 16; and aggregate statistics will be published.

  Nursery Provision, Kent
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science where in rank order of nursery provision in England and Wales, Kent county council education authority stands.

  Mr. Eggar
  The table shows that in January 1990, Kent local education authority appeared 89th out of the 96 local education authorities in England in regard to the percentage of under-fives attending maintained nursery school and nursery classes.

  Similar data for Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Under Fives in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in rank order January 1990

  Percentage attending nursery classes and nursery schools

  1 Hounslow1

  66

  2 South Tyneside

  58

  3 Wolverhampton

  57

  4 Walsall

  56

  5 North Tyneside

  56

  6 Cleveland

  55

  7 Manchester

  54

  8 Newham

  54

  9 Salford

  53

  10 Liverpool

  50

  11 Barnsley

  50

  12 Hillingdon

  49

  13 Nottinghamshire

  48

  14 Wakefield

  48

  15 Sheffield

  44

  16 Sandwell

  44

  17 Knowsley1

  42

  18 Leeds

  41

  19 Doncaster1

  41

  20 Tameside

  40

  21 Newcastle upon Tyne

  40

  22 Rotherham

  40

  23 Durham

  40

  24 Merton1

  40

  25 Haringey

  38

  26 Kirklees

  38

  27 Derbyshire

  38

  28 Bolton

  37

  29 Sunderland

  36

  30 Bradford

  36

  31 Inner London

  35

  32 Waltham Forest

  35

  33 Barking1

  35

  34 Ealing

  35

  35 Gateshead

  35

  36 Solihull1

  35

  37 Oldham1

  34

  38 Humberside

  34

  39 Dudley

  34

  40 St. Helens

  33

  41 Sefton

  32

  42 Birmingham

  32

  43 Brent

  32

  44 Kingston upon Thames

  31

  45 Bedfordshire

  31

  46 Rochdale

  31

  47 Sutton

  31

  48 Northumberland

  30

  49 Hertfordshire

  30

  437

  Percentage attending nursery classes and nursery schools

  50 Bury

  29

  51 Barnet

  29

  52 Calderdale1

  28

  53 Wigan

  25

  54 Berkshire

  25

  55 Coventry

  25

  56 Wirral

  24

  57 Cumbria

  23

  58 Trafford1

  22

  59 Leicestershire

  22

  60 Staffordshire

  22

  61 Cheshire

  21

  62 North Yorkshire

  21

  63 Enfield1

  20

  64 Northamptonshire

  20

  65 Richmond upon Thames

  19

  66 Warwickshire

  17

  67 Stockport

  17

  68 Lancashire

  17

  69 Avon

  17

  70 Harrow1

  16

  71 Suffolk

  16

  72 Bexley

  15

  73 Oxfordshire

  14

  74 Cornwall3

  14

  75 Redbridge1

  13

  76 Shropshire

  12

  77 Devon

  11

  78 Cambridgeshire

  11

  79 Surrey

  11

  80 Buckinghamshire

  10

  81 Lincolnshire

  9

  82 East Sussex

  8

  83 Hereford and Worcester1

  7

  84 Croydon

  7

  85 Isle of Wight1

  7

  86 Essex

  6

  87 Dorset1

  6

  88 Norfolk

  6

  89 Kent

  5

  90 Hampshire

  5

  91 Havering1

  4

  92 West Sussex

  4

  93 Wiltshire1

  3

  94 Bromley1

  2

  95 Somerset1

  1

  96 Gloucestershire2

  0

  England

  25

  Note:

  1 Have no Nursery schools.

  2 Have no Nursery schools or Nursery classes.

  3 Includes Isles of Scilly.

  Nurseries
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of three and four-year-olds in Kent county council education authority area have places in(a) nursery schools, (b) nursery classes and (c) infant classes.

  Mr. Eggar
  The percentage of children under five attending maintained nursery schools, nursery classes and infant classes in primary schools in Kent local education authority in January 1990 was as follows:

  Percentage of Under Fives1

  Nursery schools

  0·2

  Nursery classes

  4·8

  Infant classes

  12·3

  438

  1 The number of under fives as a percentage of the estimated population aged 3 and 4.

  Nuclear Structure Facility, Daresbury
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the number of postgraduate students attached to the nuclear structure facility at Daresbury.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  There are 33 postgraduate students who spend part of their time at the nuclear structure facility at the SERC's Daresbury laboratory.

  Research, Bristol
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many research contracts and agreements the United States Department of Defence currently has with Bristol universities and polytechnics; what is their total value, and if his Department has any involvement in the placing of those research contracts and agreements.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Such information is not collected centrally. The Department is not involved in these institutional matters.

  Higher Education Fees
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to issue a directive prohibiting colleges of higher education from imposing top-up fees.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The setting of fees for degree and other courses is properly a matter for individual higher education institutions. Primary legislation, for which the Government have no plans, would be required to change this. Equally, the Government have no plans to change the arrangements whereby standard fees are met in full for students eligible for an award under the awards arrangements.

  Nuclear Research
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to negotiate a higher basic country contribution to the European nuclear research centre.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The United Kingdom, in conjunction with other members, will continue to encourage CERN to increase the proportion of its budget financed from sources outside the member state contribution system. This could include further assistance, either in cash or in kind, from the two host states.

  London Institute
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to ensure himself that the criteria used by the London institute for allocating money from the access fund is within the guidelines laid down by the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The conditions of payment of access funds set by my right hon. and learned Friend already require institutions to follow guidelines set by the funding councils. All institutions have been asked to account for their expenditure of access fund grant at the end of the academic year.

  History and Geography
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the teaching of history and geography and the attainment targets stipulated in the national curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The representations received in response to the proposals of the then Secretary of State for attainment targets and programmes of study in geography and history were the subject of consultation reports published recently by the National Curriculum Council. On 14 January my right hon. and learned Friend published draft statutory orders and draft associated documents containing attainment targets and programmes of study in these two subjects, and invited comments and representations by 15 February.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the teaching of history in schools is to be pursued with the intention of understanding contemporary issues; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by right hon. and learned Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre Forest (Mr. Coombs) on 14 January 1991 at column 373–74 when he published a draft order and associated document setting out attainment targets and programmes of study for history in the national curriculum.

  Proportion of leavers with 5 or more GCSE results at Grades A-C3

  1 2 Net Institutional expenditure per pupil 1988–89

  as percentage of all leavers

  LEA

  £

  rank

  ILEA

  2,505

  15·9

  91

  Waltham Forest

  2,435

  12·7

  94

  Brent

  2,305

  20·6

  78

  Ealing

  2,145

  22·5

  67

  Newham

  2,140

  14·9

  93

  Croydon

  2,040

  22·1

  70

  Knowsley

  1,990

  8·5

  96

  Barking

  1,970

  11·3

  95

  Coventry

  1,940

  21·2

  76

  Liverpool

  1,905

  19·4

  84

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  1,900

  32·2

  10

  Hounslow

  1,895

  25·2

  49

  Sandwell

  1,885

  15·5

  92

  Walsall

  1,885

  23·4

  59

  Hillingdon

  1,870

  22·7

  65

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  1,870

  21·6

  74

  Havering

  1,860

  24·4

  57

  Salford

  1,860

  23·2

  62

  Wigan

  1,845

  30·2

  18

  Dudley

  1,840

  25·5

  47

  South Tyneside

  1,825

  22·2

  68

  Barnet

  1,820

  38·9

  2

  Sheffield

  1,810

  22·2

  68

  North Tyneside

  1,780

  27·5

  36

  Bromley

  1,770

  29·9

  19

  Gateshead

  1,770

  20·4

  80

  Cleveland

  1,770

  26·5

  43

  Leicestershire

  1,770

  25·1

  51

  Wirral

  1,755

  27·8

  31

  Derbyshire

  1,755

  24·6

  54

  Wolverhampton

  1,745

  19·9

  81

  Hertfordshire

  1,745

  31·9

  11

  Nottinghamshire

  1,745

  23·4

  59

  Advisory Board for the Research Councils
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on ABRC's flexibility margin for 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The science budget for 1991–92 has been fully allocated. In its recent advice to my right hon. and learned Friend, the Advisory Board for the Research Councils recommended that sums of £39 million and £60 million, respectively, should remain unallocated in 1992–93 and 1993–94. He expects to receive further advice from the ABRC on the allocation of these sums in the spring.

  Local Education Authorities
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list all local education authorities in England in rank order of expenditure per secondary pupil per year, starting with the higher spending authority, together with their position in the table of examination results for school leavers achieving grades A-C at GCSE in 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Fallon
  [pursuant to his reply 8 February 1991, columns. 257–60]: It appears that some of the information supplied was not published fully in the Official Report.

  The correct answer should read as follows:

  The following table gives the net institutional expenditure per secondary school pupil in the financial year 1988–89, and averaged examination results for three years 1986–87 to 1988–89. The purpose of averaging is to reduce sampling error within the derived percentages. Comparable information is not yet available for 1989–90.
  441

  Proportion of leavers with 5 or more GCSE results at Grades A-C3

  1 2Net Institutional expenditure per pupil 1988–89

  as percentage of all leavers

  LEA

  £

  rank

  Harrow

  1,740

  38·6

  3

  Redbridge

  1,735

  25·5

  47

  Bury

  1,730

  27·7

  33

  Stockport

  1,730

  28·6

  25

  Enfield

  1,715

  26·9

  41

  Buckinghamshire

  1,715

  36·0

  5

  St. Helens

  1,710

  20·5

  79

  Trafford

  1,710

  30·7

  15

  Rochdale

  1,700

  20·9

  77

  Shropshire

  1,695

  30·3

  17

  Humberside

  1,690

  22·6

  66

  Bexley

  1,685

  28·5

  26

  Cumbria

  1,685

  28·0

  29

  Calderdale

  1,665

  21·5

  75

  Sunderland

  1,665

  21·8

  72

  Oxfordshire

  1,665

  27·7

  33

  Merton

  1,660

  246

  54

  Tameside

  1,660

  27·1

  39

  Doncaster

  1,655

  21·7

  73

  Solihull

  1,650

  31·7

  12

  Barnsley

  1,645

  19·7

  82

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  1,640

  32·4

  8

  Birmingham

  1,640

  19·1

  85

  Bolton

  1,635

  28·7

  24

  Rotherham

  1,635

  23·0

  63

  Bedfordshire

  1,635

  24·9

  52

  Essex

  1,635

  27·4

  37

  Surrey

  1,635

  38·0

  4

  Warwickshire

  1,635

  28·5

  26

  Sutton

  1,630

  39·1

  1

  Avon

  1,630

  27·8

  31

  Northumberland

  1,630

  30·7

  15

  Kirklees

  1,620

  25·6

  46

  Lancashire

  1,620

  26·8

  42

  Staffordshire

  1,610

  24·9

  52

  Bradford

  1,605

  16·9

  88

  Sefton

  1,600

  28·5

  26

  North Yorkshire

  1,595

  34·5

  7

  Oldham

  1,590

  18·1

  86

  Norfolk

  1,585

  24·5

  56

  Hampshire

  1,580

  29·6

  21

  Durham

  1,575

  23·4

  59

  Berkshire

  1,570

  32·3

  9

  Somerset

  1,570

  27·1

  39

  East Sussex

  1,565

  31·4

  13

  Wiltshire

  1,555

  25·9

  45

  Leeds

  1,545

  22·0

  71

  Cheshire

  1,545

  29·1

  23

  Gloucestershire

  1,545

  31·2

  14

  Northamptonshire

  1,545

  22·8

  64

  Devon

  1,535

  26·3

  44

  West Sussex

  1,530

  35·5

  6

  Cornwall

  1,525

  29·9

  19

  Isle of Wight

  1,495

  19·5

  83

  Dorset

  1,485

  27·6

  35

  Suffolk

  1,485

  24·2

  58

  Cambridgeshire

  1,480

  28·0

  29

  Kent

  1,475

  27·3

  38

  Lincolnshire

  1,475

  25·2

  49

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,440

  29·2

  22

  Haringey

  n/a

  16·6

  89

  Manchester

  n/a

  16·4

  90

  Wakefield

  n/a

  17·5

  87

  Notes to table:

  1. Net institutional expenditure includes the cost of salaries and wages, premises, and certain supplies and services. It does not include the cost of school meals, central administration, debt charges or revenue contributions to capital outlay.

  2. The expenditure figures are based on LEA expenditure returns to DOE and pupil number returns to DES. N/A denotes that an expenditure return has not been received from an LEA.

  3. The examination data are aggregated from the results of a sample survey for the academic years 1986–87, 1987–88 and 1988–89. The survey is based on a 10 per cent. sample of pupils in maintained and independent schools (excluding special schools) who have reached the minimum
  442 443
  school leaving age. The percentages quoted do not reflect the achievements of pupils at O-level, CSE or GCSE after leaving school; nor their attainments in examinations leading to vocational or other qualifications at school or elsewhere. The data includes grades A-C at O-level and CSE grade 1.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the airline used, and the destination of each of the overseas visits undertaken by the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee for the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Date

  Destination

  Itinerary

  Airlines used

  14–17 May 1990

  Brussels, Bonn, Paris

  London-Brussels

  British Airways

  Brussels-Cologne

  No airline used

  Cologne-Paris

  Lufthansa

  Paris-London

  British Airways

  10–14 June 1990

  Lisbon, Madrid, Lyons

  London-Lisbon

  British Airways

  Lisbon-Madrid

  Iberia

  Madrid-Lyons

  Air France

  Lyons-London

  British Airways

  21 June 1990

  Calais

  No airline used

  19–22 November 1990

  Utrecht, Milan, Rome

  London-Amsterdam

  British Airways; 3 Members with northern constituencies flew respectively with Aer Lingus, Air UK, British Midlands

  Amsterdam-Milan

  KLM

  Milan-Rome

  Alitalia

  Rome-London

  Alitalia

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  Director of Finance and Administration
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the process whereby the advertisement for a Director of Finance and Administration for the House of Commons, placed in The Economist of 26 January, was drafted.

  Mr. Beith
  Advertisements for the new post of Director of Finance and Administration were placed in the national media in late January by Korn/Ferry International, acting on the instructions of the implementation manager appointed by the House of Commons Commission.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Management Consultancies
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list each of the management consultancies operating in his Department, the title of the project, the finishing date and the cost(a) currently and (b) in 1990 and excluding any in (a).

  Mr. Jack
  Details of current studies and those undertaken since April 1990 are in the tables. The cost of individual studies is not given, as that could breach commercial confidentiality, but total expenditure on these studies in the financial year 1990–91 to date is £2·94 million.
  444
  Mr. MacGregor
  Overseas visits undertaken by the Home Affairs Committee in the last 12 months and the airlines used are as follows:

  Current consultancies

  Consultancy firm

  Project

  Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge

  Headquarters relocation project

  Admiral Management Services Limited

  Quality management systems

  Andersen Consulting

  Training project

  Andersen Consulting

  Contributions unit development

  Arthur D. Allwright Associates

  Purchasing consultancy

  Baddeley Associates Limited

  Communicating the operational strategy

  Baddeley Associates Limited

  Code and instruction review

  Baddeley Associates Limited

  Headquarters review team—consultancy support

  Cavendish Tricorne

  Corporate efficiency

  Cavendish Tricorne

  Local factors model

  Cavendish Tricorne

  Information technology services agency manpower model

  Cavendish Tricorne

  War pensions

  Cavendish Tricorne

  Local pay additions

  Cavendish Tricorne

  Performance related pay

  Christine Gratton

  Women in management courses

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  Creation of the purchasing and supply manual

  445

  Consultancy firm

  Project

  DPS Consultancy Limited

  Retirement counselling courses

  Dun & Bradstreet International

  Purchasing consultancy

  Equalities Associates

  Equal opportunities seminars

  Ernst and Young

  Integrated complementing system (development)

  Ernst and Young

  Departmental information systems strategy scoping study (headquarters units)

  Hadley Hunter

  Overpayments recovery

  Lloyd Northover

  Corporate image for Department of Social Services property

  Meena Goyal

  Housing and community charge

  Meena Goyal

  Benefits project work

  Mick Tyler

  Integrated complementing system

  Mr. John Mesher

  Statement on the principles of trusteeship

  PA Consultancy Group

  Enhancement of the MMD—BMD database (Nottingham staff resource unit)

  PA Consulting Group

  Management reviews

  PA Consulting Group

  Review of the Department of Social Services central office management

  PA Consulting Group

  Human resource needs

  Peat Marwick McLintock

  Counselling for staff leaving under the voluntary redundancy scheme

  Peat Marwick McLintock

  Selection and recruitment of the benefit agency's training manager

  Other consultancies in 1990–91

  Consultancy firm

  Project

  Finishing date

  Anita Ram

  Selected International Comparisons of Household Incomes

  October 1990

  Baddeley Associates Limited

  Director of Social Security Operations (Change Management Project—Managers Charter)

  April 1990

  Ben Williams Consultants

  Customer Service Training

  November 1990

  British Standards Institute

  Corporate Image for DSS Property

  May 1990

  CAS Marketing Services

  Purchasing Consultancy (Engagement Purchasing Director)

  April 1990

  Cavendish Tricorne

  Contributions Unit Development (Human Resource Planning)

  September 1990

  Cavendish Tricorne

  Overbearing Model

  October 1990

  Cavendish Tricorne

  Integrated Pay and Personnel Project

  October 1990

  Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency

  Departmental Information Systems Strategy Scoping Study

  June 1990

  Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency

  Financial Information Strategy Project (Annual Review)

  October 1990

  Civil Service College

  Director of Social Security Operations

  April 1990

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  Agencies Systems Planning

  August 1990

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  Agencies Systems Planning (Training Seminar for Leaders)

  May 1990

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  HQ Relocation Project

  November 1990

  446

  Consultancy firm

  Project

  Perspective Technica

  Quality management systems

  Price Waterhouse

  Contributions unit development (human resources personnel strategy project)

  Price Waterhouse

  Administrative resource management system unit costs and budgeting

  Projecteam

  Headquarters relocation project

  Property Holdings

  Headquarters relocation project

  Public Arts

  Headquarters relocation project

  Redhouse Lane

  Headquarters relocation project

  SERCO Limited

  Purchasing consultancy

  Symonds Facilities Management plc

  Headquarters relocation project

  TOP-IX Limited

  Administrative resource management system work measurement pilot exercise, keywork library

  The Harry Mitchell College

  Administrative resource management system work measurement pilot exercise

  Touche Ross

  Benefits agency implementation work (MIS and finance)

  Touche Ross

  Contributions unit development (FIS and MIS)

  Touche Ross

  Performance indicators for resettlement units

  University College London

  Psychologist for the forms design unit

  Warwick University

  National Insurance contributions yield

  447

  Consultancy firm

  Project

  Finishing date

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  Procurement Management Information System

  December 1990

  Enator

  Performance Integrated Monitoring for Managers System

  April 1990

  Enator

  Integrated Complementing System

  June 1990

  Enator

  OPSTRAT Project

  October 1990

  Enator

  Integrated Monitoring System

  December 1990

  Ernst and Young

  Integrated Complementing System

  May 1990

  Ernst and Young

  Departmental Information Systems Strategy DISSC Impact Analysis

  October 1990

  Ernst and Young

  Self Investment by Pensions Schemes

  September 1990

  Hadley Hunter

  Lone Parenthood Study

  July 1990

  Handley Walker

  Post Office Counters—Fee Negotiations

  April 1990

  Handley Walker

  Post Office Counters—Fee Negotiations (Stage 2)

  October 1990

  Handley Walker

  Purchasing of Welfare Milk

  November 1990

  Logica UK Limited

  Integrated Complementing System (Integrated Monitoring System)

  November 1990

  London Economics

  Self Investment by Pensions Schemes

  June 1990

  Market and Opinion Research International

  Headquarters Relocation Project

  August 1990

  Mass Observation

  Relocation Assessment

  April 1990

  Nationwide Anglia Relocation

  HQ Relocation Project

  October 1990

  Nigel Parry

  HQ Relocation Project

  September 1990

  Office for Public Management Ltd (King's Fund College)

  Director of Social Security Operations

  April 1990

  P-E Inbucon

  Survey of Local Authorities (Community Charge Benefit Monitoring Exercise)

  August 1990

  PA Consulting Group

  Rewards Strategy

  October 1990

  PA Consulting Group

  Director of Social Security Operations—Change Management (Rewards Strategy)

  April 1990

  Price Waterhouse

  Integrated Complementing System

  April 1990

  Price Waterhouse

  Integrated Complementing System (Development)

  June 1990

  Price Waterhouse

  Research into Costs in Residential Care and Nursing Homes

  September 1990

  Price Waterhouse

  Benefits Agency Finance Director (Selection and Recruitment of)

  November 1990

  Price Waterhouse

  Training Requirements

  November 1990

  Price Waterhouse

  Executive Information Systems Feasibility Study

  January 1991

  Professor Steven Haberman

  Self Investment by Pensions Schemes

  July 1990

  Sema Group

  Social Fund Support

  June 1990

  Touche Ross

  Administrative Resource Management System (Complementing)

  October 1990

  Touche Ross

  Integrated Complementing System (Maintenance)

  May 1990

  Touche Ross

  Lone Parenthood Study

  July 1990

  Touche Ross

  War Pensions

  October 1990

  Touche Ross

  Asset Management

  November 1990

  Whitegates Estate

  Headquarters Relocation Project

  October 1990

  Disability Working Allowance
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the numbers of people who would be eligible for the disability working allowance if the capital limit was set at(a) £16,000 and (b) £8,000 broken down in each case by whether tariff income is taken into account for capital over (i) £8,000, (ii) £5,000 and (iii) £3,000.

  Mr. Scott
  We have estimated that about 50,000 people will be entitled to disability working allowance at any one time. The intention is that there should be taken into account at a rate of £1 for each £250 of capital above £3,000. However, given the small numbers involved and 448
  the uncertainty about the characteristics of this group it is not possible to estimate with confidence how this estimate would be affected if a different capital rule was applied.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his estimate of the total numbers of people who would be eligible for the disability allowance if the taper was set at(a) 50 per cent., (b) 40 per cent. or (c) 30 per cent.;

  (2) what would be the additional net cost to the Department of reducing the taper applied in the disability working allowance from the illustrative rate of 70 per cent. to (a) 50 per cent., (b) 40 per cent. and (c) 30 per cent. broken down by (i) gross cost and (ii) offsetting savings in income-related benefits.
  449
  Mr. Scott
  The effects of applying different tapers in disability working allowance cannot be predicted with confidence since the estimates include assumptions about behaviour changes and likely earnings levels among potential claimants who are not currently in work. Our best estimates are as follows:

  Gross cost £ million

  Net cost1 £ million

  Caseload

  (a) 50 per cent, taper

  30

  20

  65,000

  (b) 40 per cent, taper

  50

  30

  75,000

  (c) 30 per cent, taper

  80

  50

  90,000

  1 This is the cost after deducting the savings in other benefits. These include savings from people moving off incapacity benefits and savings on income-related benefits which may be payable in addition to DWA.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost of raising the capital limit for the purposes of the disability working allowance from £8,000 to £16,000.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 10 December 1990 at col.303–4.

  Benefits, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest figures for the Doncaster area as to how many people are receiving(a) income support, (b) family credit and (c) housing benefit; and what percentage of the Doncaster adult population this represents.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest available information is as follows:

  Number

  Income support1

  31,991

  Family credit2

  1,977

  Housing benefit3

  22,937

  Notes:

  1 Data derived from 30 November 1990 count of cases in action, which include a number of cases where payment has ceased but other action is continuing.

  2 Number of families who, at the time their award was made, were living in the Doncaster area. Data does not include family credit awards made after 28 December 1990.

  3 Total number of people in receipt of housing benefit in the Doncaster borough council area in November 1990. The borough council boundary is not conterminous with the boundary of the area covered by the Department's local offices in Doncaster and Wath-on-Dearne.

  Data are not available on the total adult population in Doncaster on the dates and for the precise geographical areas to which the above information relates.

  Computerisation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the frequency and nature of errors on the computer system used to calculate benefits at his Department's offices in the Doncaster area; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department's strategy for the computerisation of the social security payment system, which includes local offices in the Doncaster area, will be 450
  completed on time in July 1991. One of the aims of the strategy is to reduce the level of payment errors. Although information on specific types of errors are not currently available either locally or nationally, the majority relate to human error, rather than computer faults. The latest available information indicates that the national error rate for all types of income support payments stands at around 5·3 per cent. compared with 7·4 per cent. prior to computerisation. The error rate for payments of retirement pension averages 2 per cent.

  Local Offices
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the posts, grade and functions of existing vacancies in each of his Department's offices in Nottingham.

  Miss Widdecombe
  On 28 January 1991, the four former offices in Nottingham located in Shakespeare street, David lane, Station street and Castle gate were restructured into two administrative units, namely West Nottinghamshire and East Nottinghamshire districts. There are no vacancies at the present time in either district.

  Benefits
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to review the division between benefits which are paid for out of the national insurance fund and those which are paid for out of taxation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The Social Security Act 1990 made certain changes in the division between benefits which are paid for out of the national insurance fund and those which are paid for out of taxation. We have no current plans to review the division further.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals in(a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland were receiving rate rebate/community charge benefit in 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 31 January 1991]: The figures for 1988–89, 1989–90 and the latest estimates, based on benefit caseload processed at 31 August 1990, for 1990–91 are in the table. The 1990–91 figures are likely to underestimate the current position, because some authorities still had a number of unprocessed claims at that time. The information requested for 1987–88 is not available.

  thousands

  England and Wales

  Scotland

  Rate Rebates 1988–89

  5,840

  840

  Rate Rebates and Community Charge Rebates in Scotland 1989–90

  5,700

  1,100

  Community Charge Benefit 1990–91

  7,940

  970

  Cold Weather Payments
  Dr. Bray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all the dates on which, at(a) Glasgow airport and (b) Edinburgh airport, the average mean daily temperature for seven consecutive days was equal to or below 0 deg Celsius, and thus triggered cold weather payments in the Glasgow-Strathclyde area and the Edinburgh area, respectively.
  451
  Mr. Scott
  Edinburgh airport weather station has not triggered this winter, as at 5 February 1991.

  Glasgow airport weather station has triggered twice. The average mean daily temperature for the week ending 16 January 1991 was -0·2 deg C and for the seven days preceding 4 February the temperature was -0·1 deg C.

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

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) pursuant to his answer of 7 February on cold weather payments arrangements, what is the estimated extra cost of the amendments to the scheme per week; and for how long the revised arrangements will endure;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 7 February on cold weather payments, whether claimants will receive payments earlier under his revised scheme;

  (3) pursuant to his answer of 7 February on cold weather payments arrangements, whether arising from the waiving of the seven-day qualifying rule claimants will be paid for part weeks and single days.

  Mr. Scott
  As my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister said today, given the continuation of the widespread and exceptional severe weather, we are again waiving the seven-day qualifying period this week. As at last Thursday, the coming Thursday 14 February will be deemed to be the trigger day for all areas of the country which have not already triggered; and people in the appropriate group will be eligible for payment, at the new enhanced rate of £6, for the current seven days just as they will for the seven days up to last Thursday. We shall continue to monitor the situation carefully, and if the cold weather should continue to the same degree we shall take similar measures.

  It will not be possible to give the cost of the changes to the scheme until it is known how many people have claimed. Claimants will, as before, receive payment as soon as possible after making a successful claim. All payments will relate to a seven-day period.

  Income Support
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number of people in receipt of mortgage interest payments under income support and who have had that payment stopped under the 52-week limit for those in hospital; how many of these people then returned home; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is not available.

  Widows' Benefits
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances a person's entitlement to a retirement pension or widow's benefit will be enhanced or reduced by the provisions of the Social Security (Widows Benefit and Retirement Pensions) Amendment Regulations 1990.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The regulations neither enhance nor reduce entitlement to retirement pension or widows benefit. They are essentially technical in nature and set out more clearly than the original regulations the entitlement conditions for reduced rate benefit where the contribution conditions are not fully satisfied.

  Severely Disabled People
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated number of severely disabled people in employment, or self-employment, who require nursing or personal care to enable them to continue to work; what is the average number of hours of care required by each such person per week; and if he will give the average cost of such care.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is not available.

  National Insurance Credits
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when his Department's office in Newcastle expects to give a ruling regarding national insurance credits in respect of Mr. M. J. D. of Birmingham, whose national insurance number is LT079153B; and if he will make a statement about the length of time taken to resolve this matter.

  Mr. Jack
  Resolution of this matter involved consultation between this Department and the Employment Services Agency. This has taken longer than expected but has now been concluded. We expect to be able to write to Mr. M. J. D. of Birmingham within the next week to confirm his credit position. Investigations are in hand to examine thoroughly the reasons for the delays in this case and I will write to the hon. Member about this.

SCOTLAND

  Industrial Investment Fund
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what EC prohibitions exist with regard to the establishment of a Government funded Scottish industrial investment fund able to provide security-free loans, capital repayment holidays, lower than market rate interest rates, and special support for training.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Any proposal to establish a Government-funded organisation providing state aid to industry would require to comply with the provisions of articles 92 and 93 of the treaty of Rome, including the provisions in those articles relating to notification to, and approval by, the European Commission.

  Salmon
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the recent scale of farmed salmon exports from Norway to the European Community and on its impact on the Scottish fish farming industry.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is understood that Norway exported 72,000 tonnes of farmed salmon to the European Community in 1990. Production of Scottish farmed salmon in 1990 was 32,350 tonnes. I recognise the Scottish industry's concern at the current state of the market and the effect of Norwegian imports on it. The Norwegian Government have recently given renewed assurances of efforts by their industry to stabilise the market and on that basis the European Commission has proposed to close without remedy the anti-dumping case brought by Scottish and Irish producers. The Government are considering this proposal.

  Soft Fruit Growers
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he proposes to protect Scottish soft fruit growers from subsidised east European imports; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  East European imports of semi-processed soft fruit have been the subject of continuing representations to the European Commission since the collapse of the informal price agreements with Poland and Yugoslavia last year. The Government took the lead in ensuring that the Commission reacted to market disruption by introducing safeguard action in the form of minimum import prices in July 1990. These prices were originally intended to last until 31 December. They have, however, been extended to 31 March 1991 as the Commission was unable to meet its commitment to negotiate new price agreements on the basis of the undertaking given when substantial concessions were given by the Community on the extension of the generalised system of preferences to certain East European countries.

  The Government have also made clear their view that, if satisfactory price agreements are still not negotiated before the expiry of the current arrangements, provision should be made for the safeguard action to continue for at least nine months to allow adequate cover during the 1991 marketing season.

  Community Charge
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing by region the number of £50 civil penalties imposed on persons failing to return poll tax registration forms; and if he will consider simplification of such forms and consider allowing local editions as in England.

  Location

  Duration

  Description of work

  Lothian

  A1/A6137 (Vert) Crossroads Haddington

  5 weeks January/Feburary (excluding Sundays)

  Advance ducting and services contract (Haddington Bypass Works)

  Haldane Avenue/Hospital Road Junction

  4 Weeks March/April

  Junction Improvement Works

  Haddington

  (Haddington Bypass Works)

  A1/A6137 (Vert) Roundabout on Haddington Bypass

  4 months April/August

  Construction of new roundabout (Haddington Bypass Works)

  Haddington Bypass (East End) to Junction B1347 North Berwick Road

  5 weeks November/December (excluding weekends)

  Road patching

  Haddington to East Linton

  61/2 weeks April/May (excluding weekends)

  Road patching

  Haddington to East Linton

  6 months June/December (intermittent, maximum 2 locations)

  Gas main installation

  Beltonford Bridge

  6 weeks November/December

  Road resurfacing

  Tynefield/Beltonford/Dunbar Bypass

  6 weeks January/February

  Road patching

  Lawfield/Thorntonloch Phases

  2 weeks March/April

  Road resurfacing

  1 & 2

  Bilsdean Bypass

  2 weeks November (excluding weekends)

  Road patching

  Dunglass

  3 weeks November/December

  Road patching

  Borders

  Cockburnspath

  1 week January

  General road maintenance

  2 days March

  General road maintenance

  3 weeks June

  Road reconstruction

  2 weeks October

  General road maintenance

  Tower-farm to Cockburnspath

  Continuing, started November

  Road reconstruction

  Tower Bridge

  21/2 weeks May/June

  Reconstruction

  Penmanshiel

  1 day August

  Road patching

  454
  Mr. Lang
  Information on the number of civil penalties imposed for failure to return registration forms is not held centrally. We will be looking at the registration arrangements as part of our review of the community charge and this exercise will include a review of the forms if it is decided to retain existing procedures. Meanwhile there is no intention of moving away from the present arrangement in Scotland, whereby the format of the registration form is prescribed. There is, of course, nothing to prevent community charges registration officers inserting additional explanatory information along with the forms that are issued.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of patients receiving treatment for mental illness in Scottish hospitals in 1990.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information for 1990 is not yet available. The total number of patients who were resident in mental illness and psychiatric units at 31 December 1989 was 13,599. The number of in-patient discharges in 1989 was 29,576. For the year ended 31 March 1990 Scottish hospitals dealt with 3,651 day case attendances as well as treating 36,448 new out-patients.

  A1
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the locations and duration of temporary traffic light controls on the Scottish section of the A1 trunk road during the last year, giving the reason for each case.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Temporary traffic light controls on the A1 in Scotland (approximately 90 m long) during 1990 were as follows:
  455

  Location

  Duration

  Description of work

  Harelawside

  2 weeks June/July

  Road reconstruction

  Grantshouse

  1 day February

  Road edge repair

  Renton to Greenwood

  11 weeks March/May

  Construction of metre strips

  6 weeks November/December

  Construction of metre strips

  Renton

  1 week December

  Earthworks for British Rail

  Houndwood

  2 weeks January

  Road reconstruction

  3 days April

  Road edge repair

  1 day June

  Road patching

  3 weeks October

  Construction of metre strip

  Howburn

  2 days December

  British Rail works

  Heugh Head

  21\2 weeks January/February

  Road reconstruction

  Reston to Swinewoodmill

  13 weeks March/June

  Construction of metre strips

  Reston

  2 days January

  Road drainage repairs

  1/2 day August

  Installation of traffic counters

  2 days December

  Road edge repairs

  Burnmouth

  2 days April

  Road patching/resurfacing

  1 day May

  Road drainage repairs

  2 days September

  Road patching

  Lamberton/Burnmouth

  3 days June

  Road patching

  Lamberton

  1/2 day February

  Installation of traffic counters

  2 days May

  Road patching

  1 day November

  Installation of traffic counters

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many exceptionally large or heavy loads, requiring notification or escort by the police or local authority, were conveyed on the Scottish section of the A1 trunk road in each of the last 12 months.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information on the differing types of exceptionally wide or heavy loads moving annually on the Scottish road network is not held on a centralised data base. Police and bridge authorities are notified in respect of their individual interest. There are many thousands of such notifications per annum on the road network and records for the A1 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Lothian and Borders police however estimate that the number of exceptional loads on the A1 requiring accompaniment are in the region of 200 per annum.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the road juctions with the A1 trunk road in Scotland which are being considered for safety improvement measures.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The first interim report of the A1 steering group has identified measures which could be taken at Coveyheugh junction, Greenwood junction, Knowes Farm Road junction, Huntington Road junction and at Gladsmuir.

  The Scottish Office Environment Department is discussing these measures with Borders and Lothian regional councils, my agents for maintaining the A1 trunk road in Scotland, with a view to the early implementation. The measures proposed involve the improvement of signing and road markings.

  Age Concern
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department issues any guidelines to social work departments about consulting committees and local communities before deciding to close local Age Concern organisations.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  We have not issued any guidance since decisions on the support of local projects are for authorities themselves to determine.
  456
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the amount of central Government support given to Govan Age Concern since its inception.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Central Government grants under the urban programme totalling £183,274 have been paid to Strathclyde regional council in respect of approved expenditure by the Govan Age Concern project since its inception.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department was informed of, or consulted about, the intended closure of Govan Age Concern.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  No.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department has ever received and evaluated reports on the work, objectives and achievements of Govan Age Concern.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Yes.

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of Alzheimers' Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend has not met representatives of Alzheimers' Scotland and has not received any request for a meeting.

  Health Clinic, Johnstone
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the proposed commencement, termination and opening dates for the new health clinic at Ludovic square, Johnstone; and what range of services will be provided at the clinic.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Work started on site on 14 January 1991 and building work is expected to be completed by the spring of next year. Commissioning of the building will take some six to eight weeks thereafter and I anticipate that the new clinic will therefore be opened in summer 1992.

  It is planned to provide the services currently offered in the existing accommodation including chiropody, dental

  457
  and mothercraft but these may be augmented as the result of an update of a user survey to be carried out prior to the opening of the new centre.

  Accommodation for one local GP will be provided and evening clinics may be introduced to meet local needs.

  Sports and Recreation
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps urgently to collect information regarding the number of playfields, stadia and recreation grounds in Scotland(a) available to schools and (b) available to the public in general.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I am aware that the Secretary of State for Education and Science plans to make available to the Sports Council (Great Britain) in 1991–92 additional resources to enable the council, the Central Council of Physical Recreation and the National Playing Fields Association to set up a register of recreational land in England. I have advised the director of the National Playing Fields Association that if this register proves to be worthwhile in England, the Government will consider whether a similar register should be created in Scotland.

  Paisley Town Centre
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the planning proposal currently before him for the pedestrianisation of Paisley town centre; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Paisley town centre steering group has inquired when a decision would be made on my right hon. Friend's consent to the making of this order and my hon. Friend, the Minister for Industry and Local Government discussed the matter with the hon. Member and the hon. Member for Paisley, North (Mrs. Adams). Explanation of the reasons for rejecting the objections lodged against the scheme have been sought from Strathclyde regional council. Subject to the provision of satisfactory explanation there is no reason why prompt progress should not be made with the consideration of the order.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what funding has been allocated to the Scottish Council for Independent Schools for an advertising campaign to advise parents of the assisted places scheme.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None. The recent advertising campaign to promote awareness of the assisted places scheme was funded directly by the Scottish Office.

  Milk Production
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farms produce milk and how many of these farms produce less than 200,000 litres per annum.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In June 1990 there were 3,143 farm units in Scotland producing milk and 2,665 registered producers. Approximately 700 producers hold a quota of less than 200,000 litres.

  Imported Waste
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what proportion of waste incinerated within Scotland is imported; and what are projected levels of such importation for the next decade;

  (2) in what quantities per nation annually European toxic waste has been imported by Scotland for each year since 1979;

  (3) what quantity of waste, in the last year for which figures are available, was imported for direct landfill within Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Very little, if any, of the waste incinerated in Scotland is imported. On the basis of current information it seems unlikely that this will change significantly in the next decade.

  Imports from Europe of hazardous waste, as defined in the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988, were 453 tonnes in 1988 and 480 tonnes in 1989. Virtually all of this waste was imported from Eire for recycling. There have been no reports of hazardous waste under the regulations being imported for direct landfill.

  Forestry
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount of planting undertaken by the private sector and supported by the woodland grant scheme in 1990 and for each conservancy, indicating in each case the proportion of broadleaves and conifer.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The areas of new planting grant-aided under the woodland grant scheme in the year ended 31 March 1990, the latest date for which figures are available, were as follows:

  Conservancy

  Conifers hectares

  Broadleaves hectares

  Total hectares

  North England

  155

  242

  397

  East England

  31

  339

  370

  West England

  75

  357

  432

  Wales

  147

  120

  267

  North Scotland

  2,515

  906

  3,421

  Mid Scotland

  1,202

  288

  1,490

  South Scotland

  1,771

  237

  2,008

  Great Britain

  5,896

  2,489

  8,385

  These figures do not include new planting grant-aided under other Forestry Commission schemes or the farm woodland scheme.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the total amount of planting undertaken by the Forestry Commission in 1990 in each conservancy and (b) the respective amounts of broadleaf and conifer.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The areas of new planting undertaken by the Forestry Commission in the year ended 31 March 1990, the latest date for which figures are available, were as follows:

  Conservancy

  Conifers hectares

  Broadleaves hectares

  Total hectares

  North England

  170

  25

  195

  East England

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  West England

  1

  2

  3

  459

  Conservancy

  Conifers hectares

  Broadleaves hectares

  Total hectares

  Wales

  86

  10

  96

  North Scotland

  1,749

  99

  1,848

  Mid Scotland

  900

  66

  966

  South Scotland

  914

  59

  973

  Great Britain

  3,820

  261

  4,081

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

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: Mail for European destinations is accepted provided that it is appropriately packed with a completed customs declaration form and is in compliance with any restrictions and prohibitions which are in force in the relevant country. Incoming packages from European countries would, of course, be subject to the postal requirements of the country of origin and would need to have a satisfactory customs declaration.

  Housing
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the gross domestic fixed capital formation in dwellings in Scotland in constant terms in each year since 1970.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: The table gives gross domestic fixed capital formation in dwellings in Scotland in current prices from 1971, the earliest year for which estimates are available on a consistent basis, until 1988.

  Constant price figures are not available as separate price deflators are not available for Scotland.

  Scotland: Non-HRA gross capital allocations (1990–91 prices)

  Mainstream non-HRA allocations (£ million)

  Earmarked resources for Glasgow and Edinburgh repair grant backlogs (£ million)

  Total (£ million)

  1978–79

  126·3

  —

  126·3

  1979–80

  105·3

  —

  105·3

  1980–81

  117·8

  —

  117·8

  1981–82

  132·1

  —

  132·1

  1982–83

  159·9

  —

  159·9

  1983–84

  141·4

  —

  1141·4

  1984–85

  228·2

  —

  228·2

  1985–86

  154·4

  —

  154·4

  1986–87

  155·9

  —

  155·9

  1987–88

  117·1

  71·5

  188·6

  1988–89

  122·2

  60·4

  182·6

  1989–90

  122·5

  52·1

  174·6

  1990–91

  107·4

  22·3

  129·7

  1991–922

  91·9

  7·8

  99·7

  1 Special arrangements applied in 1983–84 when authorities were allowed to exceed consent subject to certain conditions.

  2 Provisional.

  460

  Gross domestic fixed capital formation in dwellings in Scotland1

  £ million

  1971

  201

  1972

  206

  1973

  247

  1974

  368

  1975

  451

  1976

  525

  1977

  458

  1978

  565

  1979

  684

  1980

  704

  1981

  708

  1982

  792

  1983

  883

  1984

  984

  1985

  997

  1986

  1,124

  1987

  1,217

  1988

  1,333

  Source: Central Statistical Office

  1 Estimates from 1971–79 are not strictly comparable with estimates for later years.

  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the Government's allocation to local authorities for expenditure on improvement grants for private sector housing in real terms in each year since 1978–79.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: We do not issue capital allocations to local authorities specifically for expenditure on housing improvement grants. It is for each local authority to determine, from within its overall non-HRA capital allocation for assistance to the private housing sector, the level of resources it wishes to utilise for meeting such grants in the light of other competing demands for resources. Gross non-HRA capital allocations issued to local authorities since 1978–79 and incorporating any supplementary allocations made during the year, are set out in the table, expressed in 1990–91 prices.

EMPLOYMENT

  Disablement Resettlement Officers
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what criteria are used to measure the performance of disablement resettlement officers; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Employment and Disability
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment show many responses he has received from Scotland to his White Paper on employment and disability.

  Mr. Jackson
  We have received 45 responses to my consultative document "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities" from organisations and individuals in Scotland.

  Horticultural Therapy
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met representatives of Horticultural Therapy to discuss its role in the development of training and employment for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  I have never met representatives from Horticultural Therapy. I understand that Horticultural Therapy is an organisation which assists people, including people with physical disabilities, mental handicaps and mental illness, to gain therapeutic benefit from horticulture. Therapeutic rehabilitation could be a factor in improving the chances of people with disabilities being able to gain and retain employment and develop in it. My Department provides considerable assistance to people with disabilities through training, rehabilitation and employment schemes and services to help them realise their full potential in work, including some support through horticultural work.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to provide financial support to Horticultural Therapy to enable it to develop therapeutic, leisure, training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities and mental health problems throughout the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Jackson
  I understand that Horticultural Therapy currently receives grants from the Department of Health and the Home Office. It would be a matter for Horticultural Therapy to consider whether it wished to put appropriate proposals for which it is seeking financial support to relevant Government Departments for consideration, including to local officials in the Employment Service or to training and enterprise councils or local enterprise companies.

  Disabled People (Quota System)
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to review the quota system for the employment of people with disabilities to assist people who are eligible to register but who do not wish to register.

  Mr. Jackson
  In our consultative document "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities" the operation of the quota scheme was discussed and comments were invited on its merits and demerits. We are presently considering the response to the consultations.

  Quarterly Attenders
  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment who determines the criteria for quarterly attender status; how they are set and under what provisions; and what is the number of claimants with quarterly attender status in each available year.

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

  Special Needs Training
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guidelines have been issued by his Department to training and enterprise councils concerning special needs training; and whether he has set any specific targets for the numbers of special needs trainees.

  Mr. Jackson
  My Department issued guidelines to training and enterprise councils in the publication "Developing a Special Training Needs Strategy—A Guide for TECs". Further sources of help and information are listed in the publication.

  There are no specific national targets for the numbers of special needs trainees. However, TECs are required to provide appropriate training for people with special training needs. The TECs are obliged by contract to identify such people by endorsement procedures in youth training and initial assessment in employment training. They must show in detail in their business plans how they intend to ensure appropriate provision.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many places were offered annually under the employment training scheme since its founding; and how many of these positions have been filled by trainees with special needs.

  Mr. Jackson
  Employment training started in September 1988 with 300,000 available places. During 1989–90 there were an average of 244,000 to 255,000 available places and in 1990–91 there are resources for an average of 215,000 places. In the period September 1988 to September 1990, 11 per cent. of all entrants were people with disabilities and 16 per cent. of all entrants were assessed as having a literacy and/or numeracy training need.

  Textile and Clothing Industry
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate how many jobs were lost in the textile and clothing industry in each quarter of 1990 by travel-to-work area and region.
  463
  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested is not available.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs in manufacturing industry in the north-west of England were lost in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Jackson
  There are no figures for job losses and job gains. The available information is as follows:

  Employees in manufacturing in the north-west

  Unadjusted December each year

  Net change since previous year

  1985

  5,000

  1986

  -11,000

  1987

  10,000

  1988

  20,000

  1989

  -2,000

  11990

  -2,000

  1 The latest available regional employment estimates are for September 1990.

  South Glamorgan Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to make available to hon. Members who may request them the documents in relation to the South Glamorgan TEC headquarters building project.

  Mr. Jackson
  The documents are the property of South Glamorgan TEC which is a private company. Their release is a matter for the TEC.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what date his Department first became aware of the ownership of the company which submitted the winning tender for the construction of the new South Glamorgan training and enterprise council headquarters; and whether there is any commercial connection between this company and members of South Glamorgan TEC.

  Mr. Jackson
  The contract to build new premises for South Glamorgan training and enterprise council has not yet been awarded.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has now inspected the documents offered to him by South Glamorgan TEC as regards the headquarters building project and the tender procedures used.
  464
  Mr. Jackson
  I see no need to inspect these documents.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what date his Department contacted the chairman of South Glamorgan TEC regarding the decision on which building company should undertake the work of constructing the TEC's new headquarters building.

  Mr. Jackson
  Discussions during the development phase of South Glamorgan TEC took place at regular intervals and included various issues including the TEC's premises.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when his Department was notified that the building company owned by the chairman of South Glamorgan TEC had withdrawn its tender for the construction of the TEC's new headquarters building.

  Mr. Jackson
  On 7 December 1990.

  Local Offices
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many representations have been received about the closure of employment service offices during 1990;

  (2) how many representations have been received from hon. Members regarding the closure of employment service offices; and how they were dealt with.

  Mr. Jackson
  Some 140 representations have been made to me, my colleague Ministers and the employment service chief executive about the closure of employment service offices during 1990. Forty-three hon. Members have written to us on this subject. All representations have been taken into account in deciding the future of particular offices.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guidelines exist for TEC's in respect of building projects they may undertake in respect of the procedure for requesting or openly advertising tenders.

  Mr. Jackson
  Training and enterprise councils, as private companies, are required to observe the provisions of the Companies Act 1989 and their memorandum and articles of association when tendering for business.

  FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL, 4th FEBRUARY
  FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL, 4th FEBRUARY
  FALKLAND ISLANDS: FISHING CONTROL
  FALKLAND ISLANDS: FISHING CONTROL
  KIEV: BRITISH DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION
  KIEV: BRITISH DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION
  HILL LIVESTOCK COMPENSATORY ALLOWANCES
  HILL LIVESTOCK COMPENSATORY ALLOWANCES
  SALMON FISHING IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS
  SALMON FISHING IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS
  ANIMAL FEED INDUSTRY REVIEW: EXPERT GROUP
  ANIMAL FEED INDUSTRY REVIEW: EXPERT GROUP
  DETENTION OF PALESTINIAN: HANDCUFFING ALLEGATION
  DETENTION OF PALESTINIAN: HANDCUFFING ALLEGATION
  DISABILITY BENEFITS: APPEAL COURT RULING
  DISABILITY BENEFITS: APPEAL COURT RULING
  NHS: CONSULTATION DELAYS
  NHS: CONSULTATION DELAYS