Written Answers of 13 February 1991

TRANSPORT

  Woodford Aerodrome
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations British Aerospace plc has made to his Department about the extent to which Woodford aerodrome in Greater Manchester is functioning within the standards set down by the Civil Aviation Authority; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether he has any plans to review the standards laid down by the Civil Aviation Authority governing the use and operating limits of individual aerodromes;

  (3) if he will cite the relevant legislation under which the Civil Aviation Authority is empowered to vary or authorise a temporary derogation from the standards laid down governing the use and operating limits of individual aerodromes; and whether he monitors such variations or derogations.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have received no representations from British Aerospace about Woodford aerodrome. The statutory responsibility for regulating the safety of civil aviation in the United Kingdom rests with the Civil Aviation Authority in accordance with the Air Navigation Order 1989. This includes the granting of aerodrome licences to persons or organisations who are deemed by the authority to be fit and competent to hold such licences. I have no plans to review the standards laid down.

  Aerodromes
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) for which aerodromes he has appointed British Aerospace plc a statutory undertaker; what was the date of the appointment in each case; and how long he expects the appointments to last;

  (2) if he will list the circumstances in which a plc may be appointed statutory undertaker and cite the principal, relevant legislation governing its conduct thereafter.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The status of certain operators as statutory undertakers is governed by section 57 of the Airports Act 1986. In the main the airports specified are those which are subject to economic regulation under part IV of the Act. Airports specified in this section are deemed to be statutory undertakers for the purposes of other legislation specified in schedule 2 of the Act.

  British Aerospace, through its wholly owned subsidiary British Aerospace (Liverpool Airport) Ltd., owns 76 per cent. of Liverpool Airport plc, which is a statutory undertaker under the 1986 Act. No other airport owned by British Aerospace is a statutory undertaker.

  Rolling Stock
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 30 January 1991 at col.520, what information he has on the numbers of (i)
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  diesel locomotives over 20 years old, (ii) electric locomotives over 20 years old, (iii) high-speed trains over 15 years old and (iv) coaching vehicles over 20 years old, in use by British Rail.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Neither the Department of Transport nor Her Majesty's railway inspectorate holds this information.

  Vehicle Emissions
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will introduce an emissions check in the MOT testing scheme for cars.

  Mr. Chope
  The regulations implementing a carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions check will be made at the earliest opportunity, subject to notification to the EC. I hope that checking will start on 1 November 1991.

  If vehicles are to pass the MOT test, they will need to be properly tuned so that carbon monoxide (CO) emissions are kept as low as possible. The standards we will be setting for carbon monoxide levels are realistic, but they will be only minimum standards and motorists should aim to have their vehicles tuned to manufacturers' specifications wherever possible. The hydrocarbon emissions check will enable MOT testers to be sure the engine is running normally before they carry out the carbon monoxide check.

  This will be a first step in in-service emissions checking. It is our intention that the standards in the test should reflect future improvements in engine technology and developing international standards.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Geography
  Mr. Terry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list the people who were consulted when the consultative report on attainment targets in geography was revised over Christmas 1990; and how many of these were geographers or geography teachers;

  (2) why he decided to remove inquiry skills and land-use conflicts from the attainment targets in geography.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend received advice from the National Curriculum Council in the form of its report on consultation and recommendations for both attainment targets and programmes of study in geography. He accepted the greater part of this advice, but made a number of changes in publishing the draft order for geography. At that time, he explained his view that the main emphasis of the attainment targets should be on the assessment of pupils' knowledge and understanding of aspects of geography, and that less emphasis should be placed on the assessment of skills which are not particular to geography and the study of people's attitudes and opinions.

  Lancashire County Council
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what requests he has received from Lancashire county council to discuss the 1991–92 capital allocation.
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  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received no such requests.

  Departmental Achievements
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the principal achievements of his Department since June 1987.

  Mr. Eggar
  We have made rapid progress in implementing the important changes introduced by Parliament in 1988 to improve standards and choice.

  The Education Reform Act (ERA) includes measures to provide a national curriculum for pupils of compulsory school age, comprising a range of subjects for which targets, programmes of study and testing are being established; to widen the choice available to parents; to ensure that schools can admit pupils up to the limit of their capacity; to require all local education authorities to develop schemes for the local management of their schools, with budgets largely determined by reference to pupil numbers; to offer all schools the opportunity to opt out of local authority control and have grant-maintained status; to establish a number of city technology colleges; to establish polytechnics and other major colleges as independent institutions; to reform the government and management of further education colleges; and to reform the finance and management of the university system.

  In addition, the Government continue to seek to improve teaching quality. They are continuing to provide substantial funds through direct grant to support in-service training. The criteria to which courses of initial teacher training must conform have been improved. Regulations are being prepared under which the performance of all teachers in maintained schools will be appraised on a two-year cycle. A range of initiatives has been taken on the supply and recruitment of teachers, and new arrangements for teachers' pay have been brought forward.

  The Government have reformed the examination system for 16-year-olds, through the introduction of the GCSE based on national criteria, resulting in a significant increase in attainment: the proportion of school leavers in England with five or more grades A to C at GCSE—O-level—CSE rose from 26·4 per cent. in 1987 to 31·9 per cent. in 1989 and the proportion of 18-year-olds in England achieving two or more A-levels rose from 15· 7 per cent. in 1987 to 17·4 per cent. in 1989. The proportion of 16-year-olds participating in full-time education in England rose from 48·4 per cent. in 1987–88 to 55·4 per cent. in 1989–90.

  Participation in higher education has increased, with the proportion of 18 to 19-year-olds in Great Britain entering higher education rising from 14·6 per cent. in 1987–88 to nearly 19 per cent. in 1990–91, with every prospect of increasing still further. A student loans scheme, unique in the world in combining universal entitlement with a substantial interest subsidy, has been successfully introduced.

  Accreditation of Teacher Education
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress Her Majesty's inspectorate have made in their role as assessors to the 468
  Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and to local committees as set out in Department of Education and Science circular 24/89.

  Mr. Fallon
  Her Majesty's inspectorate attend all meetings of the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and as many meetings of the local committees as their other duties permit. Her Majesty's inspectorate comment on proposals for new and revised post-graduate certificate of education (PGCE) and bachelors of education (BEd) courses and contribute as necessary to the work of the committees. Her Majesty's inspectorate assessors are currently evaluating the work of the local committees and their progress during the first year of operation.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much extra money was given to the funding councils in respect of the new criteria and accreditation procedures for teacher training, as per circular 24/89.

  Mr. Fallon
  Grant to the funding councils took account in both 1990–91 and 1991–92 of the costs associated with the new arrangements for initial teacher training announced in circular 24/89. In neither year were funds earmarked within the total grant made available. It is for the funding councils to determine how to reflect the changes in their allocation of funds to individual institutions.

  Music
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the interim report of the national curriculum working group for music will be published.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I will publish the report tomorrow, together with my letter to the chairman of the group, Sir John Manduell. Copies of this initial advice, including my letter, will be placed in the Library.

ENVIRONMENT

  London Docklands Communities
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of(a) public highways and thoroughfares, (b) private houses and (c) local authority houses that were lost in the development of the London Docklands development scheme; and what resources have been made available to local and family historians to trace such lost communities.

  Mr. Key
  Developments in London docklands have not led to the loss of any public highways or thoroughfares.

  LDDC has sought to minimise the loss of existing public and private housing. Some demolition is unavoidable in connection with the LDDC's Limehouse link road and a small number of smaller schemes. Over 500 households have recently been rehoused in connection with the link. The rehousing options offered by LDDC included three attractive newly built estates to help retain existing communities as well as providing a wide choice of homes in or near the area.

  LDDC has also helped a number of docklands organisations involved with local history, including some

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  £32,000 in grants over the past two years for the Island History Trust, the Rotherhithe heritage museum, and Bermondsey memories.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each category of those eligible for poll tax exemption in 1990–91 his estimates of(a) the number exempted and (b) the cost to central Government.

  Mr. Portillo
  The estimated numbers exempt from the personal community charge in England at 1 June 1990 are as follows:

  Number

  People whose sole or main residence is in a residential care home, nursing home, private hospital, or hostel providing care, who are receiving care

  321,000

  Patients whose main residence is an NITS hospital

  42,000

  Severely mentally handicapped

  97,000

  Residential care workers employed at a very low salary

  1,500

  Aged 18 and in receipt of child benefit, or aged 18 or 19 and in full-time education

  179,000

  Full time students whose term address is in Scotland or Northern Ireland

  2,500

  Members of religious communities

  11,000

  Residents of certain crown buildings (mainly military training colleges) for whom the crown makes contributions in aid to local authorities

  4,000

  Members of visiting forces, international headquarters and defence organisations and their dependents and diplomats

  40,000

  Contributors to the collective community charge

  20,000

  In detention (Source: Home Office)

  45,000

  Reliable information on persons without fixed abodes and living in short-stay hostels is not available.

  There is no cost to Government as a result of these exemptions since these groups have never been liable to the community charge under the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

  Mr. Richard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate how many non-domestic ratepayers in England will have faced rates increases in cash of 50 per cent. or more when comparing 1991–92 bills with those of 1989–90.

  Mr. Portillo
  I estimate that approximately 700,000 non-domestic properties in England will attract rate bills in 1991–92 which will be more than 50 per cent. higher in cash terms than in 1989–90. This estimate takes no account of any changes in rateable values as a result of appeals.

  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the increase in percentage terms in the average rate bill paid by(a) shops, (b) hotels and (c) all non-domestic properties between (i) 1989–90 and 1990–91 and (ii) 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Portillo
  The average percentage increases in rate bills for shops and hotels in England are estimated to be:

  1989–90 to 1990–91

  1990–91 to 1991–92

  Shops

  13

  15·3

  Hotels

  23·7

  26·4

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  For non-domestic properties as a whole, average bills will have risen broadly in line with increases in the retail prices index. These estimates do not take account of changes in rateable values as a result of appeals.

  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the increase in the average non-domestic rate poundage in England in each year from 1981–82 to 1991–92.

  Mr. Portillo
  The percentage increases in the average non-domestic rate poundage are shown in the table:

  Per cent.

  1981–82

  20·7

  1982–83

  13·0

  1983–84

  6·5

  1984–85

  5·3

  1985–86

  7·2

  1986–87

  10·3

  1987–88

  5·3

  1988–89

  7·0

  1989–90

  7·8

  1990–91

  17·6

  1991–92

  1109

  1 The figures given are the RPI figures for September 1989 and September 1990 used in setting the non-domestic rate multipliers for 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give figures for(a) rate support grant per head, (b) business rate income per head and (c) total aggregate external finance for each local authority in England.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 8 February 1991]: I have today arranged for the available information to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Joint Police Authorities
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to announce his proposals for capping of the joint police authorities for 1991–92; what representations he has received concerning the impact of capped police budgets on the recruitment and retention of police officers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  We have received a number of comments and representations on our intentions for charge capping for 1991–92, including those made separately to my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and to my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State, Home Office when they met a number of police authority representatives to hear their views. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State told the House on 29 January, we stand firmly by our intentions for capping, which are, however, necessarily provisional, since under the statute capping decisions cannot be made until authorities have set their budgets.

  It is now for each authority to set its budgets 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.

  My right hon. Friend intends to take his capping decisions as soon as reasonably practicable after authorities have set their budgets. When he comes to do so he will take account of all appropriate considerations.

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to replicate the principal civil service pension scheme in the Property Services Agency Government-owned company and to make provision for its replication in the privatised companies.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Government have made it clear that if PSA is incorporated as a Government-owned company, or sold, steps will be taken to provide transferring employees with pension arrangements that are broadly comparable, and redundancy entitlements that are as far as possible identical, to those they have in the civil service.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if it remains Government policy that the Property Services Agency projects will be sold to the private sector this year.

  Mr. Yeo
  No decisions have been taken on the form or timing of sale.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if it is his intention to proceed with the establishment of the Property Services Agency as a Government-owned company on 1 July; and what plans he has to establish separate Government-owned companies for Property Services Agency Building Management, Property Services Agency Projects, and Property Services Agency Special Services.

  Mr. Yeo
  No decisions have been taken on whether PSA should trade as a Government-owned company or companies before sale, but a number of companies have been established to protect names.

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

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

  Mr. Heseltine
  Information is not available in precisely the form requested. The Department's losses and special payments register, from which the note to the appropriation accounts on losses is prepared, contains the following details for losses by fraud, theft, arson, sabotage, malicious damage and culpable negligence:

  Number of items

  Value £

  1987–88

  16

  43,570

  1988–89

  44

  23,070

  1989–90

  13

  8,440

  It is not possible without disproportionate cost to extract details for individual items or for loss by theft alone.

  Estate Action
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress of his Department's estate action work at Wyrley Birch, Birmingham, and give an indication of expected date of completion.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Wyrley Birch estate action scheme was approved by the Department on 24 November 1989 and was scheduled for completion in 1991–92. The £45 million package of works involves nearly 300 flats and maisonettes, which will benefit from refurbishment works, new security measures including a concierge scheme and environmental works. We understand that the works, which are being undertaken by Birmingham city council, are progressing satisfactorily.

  Energy Conservation
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce a requirement that building regulations on the construction of new housing and offices should specify higher levels of energy conservation.

  Mr. Yeo
  Higher thermal insulation standards and other energy conservation measures were incorporated in the amendments to the building regulations and supporting approved documents which took effect on 1 April 1990. We shall be examining the scope for further measures of this kind once we have been able to monitor how the current requirements are working in practice, and in particular whether they are giving rise to any technical problems.

  Liverpool
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the recent visit of the Minister for Inner Cities to Liverpool.

  Mr. Portillo
  My most recent visit to Merseyside was on 10 December 1990. On that day I visited Widnes where I met the leader of Halton borough council at the chemical museum, followed by a tour of derelict land sites and the town centre Victoria square refurbishment. In Birkenhead I performed a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the commencement of an office development at the Pier hotel. During a river crossing from Birkenhead to Liverpool I was appraised of the revitalisation of the Mersey ferries by Merseytravel, and in Liverpool I received a presentation by the Mersey Barrage Company on its proposals.

  Housing Corporation
  Mr. Simon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will give details of the regional distribution of the Housing Corporation's approved development programme for 1991–92.

  Sir George Young
  In my reply on 17 December to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes),Official Report, Vol. 183, column 24, I gave details of the overall shape of the Housing Corporation's approved development programme for 1991–92. Total net expenditure for that year is set at £1·4 billion, principally for the provision of new housing for rent, but with a significant proportion for low-cost home ownership and with the aim, overall, of tackling homelessness as a priority need.
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  I have now agreed with the corporation the regional distribution of the programme. The distribution has been determined by reference to the recently revised housing needs indicator as the agreed measure of the incidence of need, but with upward adjustment for some regions to ensure that their permitted new approvals in 1991–92 are restored to 1989–90 levels (the current year's planning having been restricted by the corporation's earlier programming difficulties). My intention is that in 1992–93, the housing needs indicator should be applied without adjustment.

  The planned regional distribution of new approvals for housing for rent in 1991–92 is shown in the table, alongside the regions' housing needs indicator scores:

  Regional distribution of housing for rent (units)

  Region

  Revised HNI scores

  1991–92 distribution of units

  1991–92 distribution of units1

  percentage

  percentage

  numbers

  London and Home Counties (NE)

  12·30

  11·49

  2,320

  London and Home Counties (NW)

  11·88

  11·10

  2,240

  London and Home Counties (S)

  15·61

  14·58

  2,945

  West

  12·50

  11·68

  2,360

  East Midlands

  9·61

  8·98

  1,810

  West Midlands

  10·93

  10·94

  2,210

  North East

  13·26

  14·46

  2,920

  North West

  10·39

  11·05

  2,230

  Merseyside

  3·53

  5·72

  21,155

  Total

  3100·00

  100·00

  420,190

  1 Figures represent the (rounded) mid-point of a target range.

  2 Excludes Merseyside special allocation, which provides 184 additional units.

  3 Column does not sum exactly due to rounding.

  4 Excludes special homelessness programme, which targets additional resources on the three London regions and the west.

  The same basis for distribution has been used for the remaining elements of the programme, including the allocation for housing for sale.

  The housing needs indicator undergoes periodic revision. The recent review was undertaken by a joint working group representing the Department of the Environment, the Housing Corporation and the National Federation of Housing Associations. Copies of the working group's second report have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Bathing Waters
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the EC Commission regarding the state of British bathing waters.

  Mr. Trippier
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State spoke to Commissioner Ripa di Meana on 19 December 1990 about the revised proposals for improving the United Kingdom's bathing waters that we had sent to the EC Commission last November.

  The Commissioner was pleased both about the progress we are making in improving standards and about our plans for increased investment in the future. They agreed that United Kingdom and EC Commission officials should study the United Kingdom's proposals in detail so that the Commission could satisfy itself that bathing waters were being improved as quickly as practicable. That work is currently under way.
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  They also agreed that once the Commission has satisfied itself that the United Kingdom is doing all that is practicably possible there would be no advantage in pursuing further legal proceedings which, of themselves, do nothing to speed improvements.

  Sheffield Development Corporation
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken on outstanding matters following Sir John Garlick's inquiry into the running of Sheffield development corporation.

  Mr. Portillo
  As I told the House on 15 October, the Garlick report contained several criticisms. Action has been taken since then on all these, as follows:

  (i) Guidance on Conflicts of Interest
  I have today issued guidance to the chairmen and board members of all the urban development corporations on arrangements for dealing with conflicts of interest. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  (ii) Hallamshire Investments
  The chairman of the Sheffielddevelopment corporation, Mr. Sykes, has taken no part in the affairs of Hallamshire since 19 December 1990. His formal resignation, accepted with regret by the board on that day, takes effect on 30 May, and he has leave of absence until then.

  (iii) Secretarial Support: use of SDC facilities for private business
  This problem has been resolved: half a secretarial post is available for Mr. Sykes' SDC business and private business will be conducted elsewhere.

  (iv) Improvement of systems and procedures
  An action plan has been agreed with SDC and is being implemented. This includes a thorough review of systems for handling consultancy appointments.

  Community Charge Register
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each authority in England his estimate of the turnover in the community charge register, expressed as a percentage, that will take place during the current financial year; and what is the national figure.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 8 February 1991]: No estimates of the turnover in community charge registers are currently available. My Department is making arrangements to collect information on the changes to the registers in the year up to 1 June 1991.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he intends to require waste disposal authorities to implement least-cost options where proposals for waste recycling or waste into energy projects are identified as cheaper than landfill;

  (2) if he plans to require waste disposal authorities to seek tenders for waste disposal by landfill, waste recycling and energy from waste in parallel.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 12 February 1991]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has no power to require waste disposal authorities to choose one particular waste disposal option over any other. However, part II of schedule 2 to the Environmental Protection Act 1990 will require those authorities to subject waste disposal to competitive

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  tendering and it will empower them to consider maximising recycling and minimising pollution, as well as value for money, when assessing tenders for waste disposal contracts.

  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what capital funds and grants are available to a waste disposal authority for the construction of waste recycling centres as part of an energy-from-waste scheme using refuse-derived fuel, in a public-private sector partnership.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 12 February 1991]: The sources from which local authority capital commitments can be financed are:

  (i) credit approvals which permit capital expenditure to be financed by borrowing or by credit arrangements or specified grants to be taken up;

  (ii) usable capital receipts;

  (iii) Exchequer capital grants or contributions (other than European Community and specified capital grants) and capital grants and contributions from other persons; and

  (iv) revenue contributions.

  A waste disposal authority may draw on any of these sources of finance for a scheme of the type described by my hon. Friend.

  Country

  Project

  Company

  Export value £ million

  ATP element £ million

  Date authorised

  Indonesia

  Jabotabek Railway Study

  L· H· Manderstam

  1·000

  1·000

  June 1984

  Malaysia

  Ulu Jelai Hydro Feasibility Study

  WLPU/Ewbank

  1·850

  1·850

  April 1984

  Thailand

  Mini Hydros Pilot Plant

  Balfour Beatty

  2·500

  2·500

  June 1983

  Indonesia

  Ombilin Coal Mining Training

  Dowty Meco

  0·655

  0·655

  September 1982

  Thailand

  Post-Harvest Ground Nut Study: Phase II

  Rural Investment Overseas

  0·499

  0·499

  April 1984

  Indonesia

  Jabotabek Feasibility Study

  Manderstam/F· Wheeler

  0·007

  0·007

  September 1986

  China

  Cosco Ships

  British Shipbuilders

  44·300

  13·578

  July 1986

  Indonesia

  Steel Bridging

  Mabey & Johnson

  10·702

  6·846

  April 1987

  Indonesia

  Navigational Aids

  Pharos Marine

  9·906

  7·007

  April 1987

  Malaysia

  Liwagu Hydroelectric Study

  Watermeyer/Ewbank

  0·850

  0·850

  October 1986

  Malaysia

  Rural water supervision

  John Taylor

  3·000

  3·000

  October 1985

  Panama

  Gas Turbine Power Station

  JBE

  14·222

  6·727

  October 1987

  Seychelles

  Mahe Water Consultancy

  Sir A· Gibb

  0·122

  0·122

  July 1987

  Zimbabwe

  Harare Airport

  Sir A· Gibb

  0·257

  0·257

  May 1985

  China

  Bohai Aluminium Phase I

  Davey McKee (Poole)

  27·750

  8·786

  April 1988

  China

  Yue Yang Coal Power Station

  GEC

  171·718

  51·417

  July 1987

  China

  Yue Yang Third Party Inspection

  Kennedy and Donkin

  0·324

  0·324

  August 1988

  China

  Yue Yang Monitoring

  Hattersley

  0·273

  0·273

  May 1988

  Egypt

  Leak Detection Equipment

  Palmer Environmental

  0·251

  0·251

  April 1987

  Indonesia

  Cigading Port

  Tarmac Consortium

  17·280

  13·173

  March 1989

  Indonesia

  Bandung TV Studio

  Quantel-Link Systems

  11·735

  9·201

  October 1988

  Indonesia

  Scattered Diesels

  GEC

  6·887

  5·421

  January 1989

  Indonesia

  Airport Security Systems

  Holmes Aviation

  0·020

  0·020

  March 1989

  Indonesia

  Forest Radio Communications

  Phillips Radio Communications

  0·228

  0·138

  April 1988

  Kenya

  Chemeilil Sugar Mill

  Crown Agents

  0·003

  0·003

  April 1985

  Kenya

  Power Distribution

  Private Consultant

  0·007

  0·007

  November 1988

  Kenya

  Mombasa Causeway

  Sir A· Gibb

  0·412

  0·315

  April 1989

  Malaysia

  Privatisation Programme

  J· H· Schroder Wagg & Co·

  0·642

  0·194

  June 1987

  Thailand

  Laem Chabang Port

  Port of Felixstowe Int·

  0·151

  0·151

  May 1986

  Zimbabwe

  Zisco Monitoring

  W· S· Atkins

  0·048

  0·048

  October 1987

  Egypt

  Maghara Coal Mine

  Babcocks

  0·080

  0·080

  October 1988

  Indonesia

  Radio Studios

  David Whittle Associates

  0·390

  0·390

  March 1988

  Indonesia

  Aircraft Simulator

  CAA

  0·050

  0·050

  January 1990

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  The Government have announced that local authorities in England may bid for £10 million in supplementary credit approvals in 1991–92, which has been earmarked for investment in recycling facilities.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Project Funding
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the 42 projects classified in departmental records as negotiated contracts funded out of aid and trade provision monies since 1979; and if he will give the date on which such funding was authorised in each case.

  Mr. Redwood
  The projects are listed in the table. It should be noted that there are 41 projects listed rather than 42 as given in my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade's previous answer, 24 October 1990,Official Report, columns 205–6. This was because of double counting in the previous answer which has now been corrected.
  477

  Country

  Project

  Company

  Export value £ million

  ATP element £ million

  Date authorised

  Indonesia

  Satellite Remote Sensing

  Technology Applied Systems

  0·062

  0·025

  May 1989

  Indonesia

  Cigading/Serpong Railway Rehabilitation

  Davy/British Rail Int·

  33·000

  20·995

  March 1990

  Indonesia

  Radio Studio Rehabilitation

  Audix Ltd·

  6·330

  5·040

  February 1990

  Kenya

  Digital Micro Wave Link

  Telectron Systems

  12·040

  4·214

  June 1989

  Morocco

  Nador Steel Works Study

  W· S· Atkins

  0·265

  0·133

  July 1988

  Pakistan

  Karachi Water II

  Portals Water Treatment

  18·940

  6·629

  July 1988

  Phillipines

  Gas Turbines Power Station

  JBE

  37·500

  7·276

  March 1988

  Red Sea

  Regional Hydro Carbon Study

  Robertson Research Int.

  0·375

  0·187

  May 1989

  Telecommunications
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which representative bodies responded to the Government's consultative document, "Competition and Choice: Telecommunications Policy for the 1990s"; and if he will publish their responses.

  Mr. Redwood
  The representative bodies listed in the table have responded to the consultative document. Unless respondents have indicated otherwise, the Government intend to make public the responses when announcing the conclusions of the review.

  Action with Communities in Rural England

  Advisory Committee on Telecommunications for Disabled and Elderly People

  Advisory Committee on Telecommunications for Small Businesses

  Age Concern England

  Association for Information Management (Aslib)

  Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland

  Association of Independent Radio Contractors

  Association of the Electronics, Telecommunications and Business Equipment Industries (EEA)

  British Computer Society

  British Motorship Owners Association

  British Telecommunications Unions Committee

  Cable Television Association

  Computing Services Association

  Confederation of Information Communication Industries

  Consumers' Association

  Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council

  English Advisory Committee on Telecommunications

  Federation of Communications Services (Cellular Service Providers Group)

  Federation of Communications Services (Duopoly review working party)

  Gandalf Users Forum

  General Council of British Shipping

  Gingerbread

  Greater London Association for Disabled People

  Hull City Council

  Institution of Electrical Engineers

  Joint Radio Committee of the fuel and power industries

  Kent County Council

  London Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  National Association of Victims Support Schemes

  National Consumer Council

  National Council for One Parent Families

  National Federation of Retirement Pensions Associations

  Network Operators Committee (Band III)

  Newspaper Society

  Northern Ireland Advisory Committee on Telecommunications

  Northern Region Councils Association

  OFTEL Working Group on Telecommunications for the Hearing Impaired

  Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation

  Royal National Institute for the Deaf

  Samaritans

  Scottish Advisory Committee on Telecommunications

  Scottish Council Development and Industry

  Sheffield City Council

  478

  Specialised Satellite Services Operators Group

  Telecommunications Industry Association

  Telecommunications Managers Association

  Telecommunications Users' Association

  UK Offshore Operators Association

  UK Paging Operators Association

  US Council for International Business

  Welsh Advisory Committee on Telecommunications

  Patent Office
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the Patent Office.

  Mr. Leigh
  It is important that the financial framework for the Patent Office enables it to provide a high-quality service as economically as possible. However, at present there is no clear relationship between the level of resources allocated to the Patent Office and customer demand. In order to provide such a relationship the Patent Office will move to a net running cost regime from 1 April. While this provides a close link between customer demand and current resources, restrictions will remain, for example, on transferring funds between financial years. Additional flexibilities, which the Patent Office believes would enable it to improve the service provided to customers, would be available to a trading fund established under the Government Trading Act 1990. As announced in the trade and industry expenditure plan report (Cm. 1504) published this week, I hope that the Patent Office will achieve trading fund status later in the 1991–92 financial year. The Patent Office is today opening a consultation process on this proposal, seeking comments by 12 April. I have placed a copy of this letter in the Library.

  As part of the process of approving the 1991–92 Patent Office corporate plan a review has been conducted of he performance of the Patent Office against the targets for t he period 1990–91 to 1994–95 announced by the then Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley), on 1 March 1990, at column 295. These were three efficiency targets covering annual average improvements in patent search and trade mark productivity and a relative reduction in the size of common services over the five years, together with an annual quality of service measure for patent searches, and a quality of service measure for the five years taken together for trade mark examination. These targets continue to be testing ones for the Patent Office and I do not propose to alter them. I regret, however, that the review has identified an arithmetic error in the calculation of the overall average productivity improvement which results from these targets. The figure should have been 2·5 per cent. a year rather than 4 per cent.

  Companies House
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes are planned to the financial regime under which Companies House operates.

  Mr. Redwood
  Companies House currently operates on a net running cost regime. Although this makes it possible to match resources to fluctuations in workload, it does not enable the agency to work in a fully commercial manner. For example, there are restrictions on transferring funds between financial years.

  Companies House plans to take advantage of the greater financial flexibilities which should be available as a trading fund under the Government Trading Act 1990. The aim is to enable the agency to operate more efficiently, so that its many customers can enjoy an even better service representing improved value for money. I hope that Companies House will achieve trading fund status later in 1991–92, as described in the trade and industry expenditure plans report (Cm 1504) published this week.

  Companies House is today issuing a consultative letter on these proposals, seeking comments by 12 April. A copy of this letter will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Antarctica
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which members of his Department were on the British delegation to the November 1990 Antarctic treaty meeting; and whether his Department will be represented at the April 1991 meeting of the Antarctic treaty parties.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 8 February 1991]: An official from my Department was a member of the British delegation to the Antarctic treaty meeting in November 1990, and one will attend the meeting scheduled for April 1991

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contribution was made by his Department to discussions on environmental protection measures by the Antarctic treaty parties in Chile in 1990.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 8 February 1991]: An official from my Department was a member of the British delegation to the Antarctic treaty meeting in November 1990 which took an active part in the discussions on a draft protocol to the Antarctic treaty for the protection of the Antarctic environment.

  Film Industry
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the level of Government provision of film screen finance since 1987 in(a) Britain, (b) France, (c) Germany, (d) Italy and (e) Spain.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: I have no annual information on the level of Government screen finance in France, Germany, Italy or Spain over this period. In Britain, the Government have provided £2 million a year to British Screen Finance Ltd. The Government also provide funding for the British Film Institute, which supports a number of activities, including film production.
  480
  Government support for the British Film Institute since 1987–88 has been as follows:

  Actual expenditure (£ million)

  1987–88

  10·04

  1988–89

  11·30

  1989–90

  11·90

  1990–91

  112·75

  1 Provision.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the number of British films made in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 12 February 1991]: The number of films registered as British for the purposes of the Eady levy in the years 1980 to 1985 was as follows:

  Films

  1980

  41

  1981

  32

  1982

  27

  1983

  36

  1984

  37

  1985

  118

  1Up to 23 May.

  Registration ended with the implementation of the Films Act on 23 May 1985, and no official statistics on the number of British films have been collected since that date.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department has taken over the past 12 months to promote new British films overseas.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 12 February 1991]: My Department provided financial support to enable 10 film companies to attend the Cannes festival last May, and is providing support for a further 10 companies attending a festival in Los Angeles later this month.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Earnings
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the numbers of women who have earnings below(a) the tax threshold and (b) the national insurance threshold, broken down into married women, lone parents and single women at the latest date.

  Mr. Maude
  Provisional estimates for 1990–91, based on projections from the 1988 and 1989 family expenditure surveys, are as follows:

  Numbers (million)

  Women with earnings below

  Tax threshold

  National Insurance lower earnings limit

  Single women

  0·5

  0·4

  Lone parents

  0·2

  0·1

  Married women

  2·2

  1·6

  Budget
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects his Budget to be announced.

  Mr. Mellor
  As the Chancellor told my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, South (Mr. Bruce) on 31 January, column 1095, he intends to make his Budget statement on 19 March.

  General Election Payments
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of fees paid to, charges incurred and expenses claimed by the acting returning officer for the Wrexham constituency for the 1987 general election.

  Mr. Maples
  The expenses of the Wrexham parliamentary constituency, met from the consolidated fund, were as follows:

  £

  Acting Returning Officer's fee

  1,073

  Presiding Officers' fees

  4,225

  Poll Clerks' fees

  5,330

  Clerical assistance

  3,050

  Renting and adaptation of buildings

  6,173

  Miscellaneous expenses

  4,542

  24,393

  Government Employees, Scotland
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the total number of administrative staff employed by the Government in Scotland for each year since 1975, indicating by which Departments they were employed.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Details of the numbers of staff—both non-industrial and industrial—employed in Scotland, by Department, are to be found in the annual Treasury publication "Civil Service Statistics", copies of which may be seen in the statistical unit of the House of Commons Library. (Figures for 1975 and 1976 will be found in the 1976 edition.)

  Bingo
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the financial year ended 31 March 1990, how many raids were made by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise on non-profit-making clubs for the purpose of checking that the correct bingo duty had been paid; and how much revenue was raised as a result of such raids.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  In exercise of their legal responsibility for the care and management of a range of indirect taxes, Customs and Excise make inquiries of, and visit, a variety of businesses and organisations including non-profit making members' clubs which may incur liability to bingo duty. No central record of these inquiries and visits is maintained, or of their effect on the revenue yield from bingo duty. This information could be provided only at the cost of disproportionate time and effort.

  Waste Recycling
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider introducing financial measures to encourage manufacturers to introduce new processes and plants to recycle waste products.
  482
  Mr. Maude
  I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

  Mortgage Tax Relief
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the likely increase in tax receipts in the year 1991–92 in the event that higher rate tax relief on mortgages were to be disallowed.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: The direct revenue cost of mortgage interest relief for 1990–91 at a rate in excess of the basic rate is provisionally estimated to be £470 million. A little over half this accrual cost is reflected in 1990–91 receipts. The estimate is based on the assumption that interest rates remain at their current levels.

  Third-world Debt
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the net financial transfer of resources from the United Kingdom to the 17 most indebted countries for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 12 February 1991]: The data requested are neither collected nor published by individual country.

  "Next Steps" Agencies
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made towards establishing Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue as "next steps" agencies.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [pursuant to the reply, 31 January 1991, c. 573]: On 25 July 1990 my predecessor announced that changes would be made in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to enable it to operate fully on "next steps" lines, columns 239–41. The key element of these changes is that 30 commands performing the bulk of the Department's operational and service activities will become executive units. These include the 21 regional collections, the investigation division and certain units at present organised as headquarters divisions.

  The head of each unit will be appointed by the chairman of Customs and Excise and will be more personally accountable for the performance of the unit against agreed plans and targets, in return for substantial new freedoms to manage and innovate. This will increase the direct involvement of the head of the unit and all its staff in the tasks to be done, and improve their effectiveness and their personal satisfaction in the unit's achievements. I expect these changes to lead to further advances in the efficiency of the units and the Department as a whole, and the quality of service provided.

  These changes are set out in the framework document for the Department, "Next Steps: A Framework for Her Majesty's Customs and Excise", which has been published today, together with framework documents for East Midlands and Manchester collections and the VAT central unit, as the first three in the series of executive unit framework documents which describe the responsibilities, freedoms and accountabilities in individual units. The departmental framework document contains a programme of action which includes the introduction of

  483
  significant additional personnel and financial freedoms over the next two to three years. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Framework documents for the remaining executive units will be published before the House rises for the Easter recess. The arrangements proposed for executive units will take effect from 1 April 1991.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Non-governmental Organisations
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the non-governmental organisations associated with overseas development which received financial support from his Department in 1988–89, the total sum received by each organisation in that year and the breakdown of the total sum received by each organisation to show separately the sums received(a) under the joint funding scheme, (b) for emergency relief and (c) other.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. Friend will recall the reply I gave to his question on 16 November last year, column 407, in which contributions to 116 non-governmental organisations in 1988–89 were set out. They totalled £63,214,364, including £11,667,912 from the joint funding scheme and £29,540,580 for emergency relief (disasters, refugees and food aid).

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the individual amounts granted to United Kingdom nongovernmental organisations by the European Community in each of the years 1989 and 1990(a) for projects in developing countries, (b) for development education and (c) other.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Under its non-governmental organisations programme the European Community co-finances projects in developing countries and development education projects with European non-governmental organisations. Normally the Community contributes 50 per cent. of the costs of individual projects. In 1989, the latest year for which figures are available, amounts granted to United Kingdom non-governmental organisations were as follows:

  £000's

  (A) For projects in developing countries

  Acord

  75

  Action Aid

  107

  Action of Disability Development

  83

  Aga Khan Foundation

  302

  Britain-Tanzania Association

  15

  British Red Cross

  292

  Catholic Fund for Overseas Development

  336

  Catholic Institute for International Relations

  355

  Christian Aid

  625

  Church Missionary Society

  53

  Commonwealth Trade Union Council

  37

  Cooperation for Development

  549

  Concern Universal

  63

  Find Your Feet

  17

  Harvest Help

  93

  Health Unlimited

  78

  Help the Aged

  185

  Indian Volunteers for Community Development

  68

  Intermediate Technology Development Group

  19

  Joe Homan Trust

  17

  484

  £000's

  Leonard Cheshire Foundation

  201

  Lesotho Durham Link

  81

  Marie Stopes International

  443

  Methodist Church

  19

  Opportunities for Women

  59

  Oxfam

  803

  Population Concern

  316

  Ranfurly Library

  126

  Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind

  336

  Save the Children Fund

  81

  Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund

  90

  SOS-Sahel

  42

  Tear Fund

  272

  Tools for Self Reliance

  71

  Voluntary Service Overseas

  263

  War on Want

  183

  Water Aid

  137

  World University Service—United Kingdom

  17

  Total

  6,909

  (B) For Development Education

  £000's

  British defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa

  9

  Catholic Institute of International Relations

  121

  Centre for International Studies

  47

  Centre for World Development Education

  27

  Christian Aid

  27

  Commonwealth Trade Union Council

  161

  Derry Development Education Centre

  45

  International Broadcasting Trust

  26

  National Association for Developing Education Centres

  232

  Oxfam

  27

  Voluntary Service Overseas

  17

  World Development Movement

  68

  Total

  807

  Other

  In addition Christian Aid, Oxfam, World University Service—UK, and Leicester WDC—UK received funding for projects in consortium with other European NGOs. The total grants amounted to £1,855,000.

  Aid (Africa)
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those major capital projects completed over the last two years which were financed by the Overseas Development Administration in Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  [holding answer Tuesday 12 February]: The most recent years for which the information requested is available are 1987 and 1988. The list of capital projects completed in those financial years from ODA's bilateral country programme funds and by the Commonwealth Development Corporation is as follows:

  Country

  Title

  1987

  Overseas Development Administration

  Kenya

  Provision of grain storage facilities.

  Malawi

  Periodic maintenance of a road linking Liwonde and the port of Monkey Bay.

  Mozambique

  Provision of trucks, trailers buses, Land Rovers and spare parts from Leyland UK.

  Sudan

  Red Sea fisheries project to improve catches and design of boats for fishermen.

  Swaziland

  Rehabilitation of community and Government schools damaged by storms in 1987.

  485

  Country

  Title

  Commonwealth Development Corporation

  Botswana

  Provision of a power station at Moropule.

  Botswana

  Telecommunication system improvement for Botswana Telecommunications Corporation.

  Ghana

  Investment in Twifi oil palm plantations and palm oil mill.

  Cote d'Ivoire

  Rubber Project II: to promote outgrower rubber production in south-east region.

  Cote d'Ivoire

  Investment in Societe Africaine de Plantations d'Heveus (rubber producers).

  Malawi

  Assistance to the Investment and Development Bank which provides development finance to small entrepreneurs.

  Mauritius

  Investment in Bonair Fashions which manufactures clothes and textiles.

  Tanzania

  Investment in Kibo Match Corporation Ltd. which is involved in paper board production.

  Zambia

  Investment in Zambia Oxygen Ltd.

  1988

  Overseas Development Administration

  Tunisia

  Supply of engine handling equipment for the engine test facility of the Samko diesel engine assembly plant.

  Ghana

  Agricultural development in the upper region.

  Mauritius

  Rehabilitation of airconditioning system at the Mauritius Civil Aviation Department's communication centre at Bigara.

  Seychelles

  Provision of water supply to Mont Buxton.

  Seychelles

  Rehabilitation of Management Training Centre.

  Commonwealth Development Corporation

  Cote d'Ivoire

  Rubber Project II: promotes outgrower rubber production in Cavally.

  Malawi

  Investment in Kavuzi tea estate and factory.

  Malawi

  Investment in rehabilitation of farms under the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation.

  Mauritius

  Construction of Mauritius Development Bank (lending to small-scale enterprises).

  Mauritius

  Assistance to Export Development and Investment Authority which leases factories to entrepreneurs.

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Clwyd

  1,033

  834

  303

  228

  542

  405

  609

  226

  340

  231

  Dyfed

  526

  948

  323

  247

  572

  213

  53

  31

  128

  93

  Gwent

  667

  1,630

  691

  422

  1,452

  412

  142

  264

  215

  541

  Gwynedd

  136

  307

  285

  175

  3

  51

  48

  169

  59

  0

  Mid Glamorgan

  1,759

  1,717

  1,407

  556

  2,163

  289

  138

  235

  305

  584

  South Glamorgan

  702

  1,256

  500

  665

  347

  536

  97

  211

  128

  278

  Powys

  112

  26

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  21

  73

  46

  West Glamorgan

  1,798

  1,121

  990

  442

  939

  667

  286

  188

  204

  303

  The figures quoted relate to the October to December period for each financial year shown.

  It should be noted that the 1990–91 figures are still provisional.

  Corlan Housing Association
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 28 January,Official Report, columns 409–10, if he has discussed with the chairman of Tai Cymru its reasons for approving the mortgage application under section 9 of the Housing Associations Act 1985 by Corlan Housing Association for the land that it acquired from Helical Bar Ltd.
  486

  Country

  Title

  Uganda

  Rehabilitation of a sugar estate/factory and ethanol distillery owned by Sugar Corporation of Uganda.

WALES

  Housing
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if Welsh local authorities will continue to provide social housing in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Although local authorities are no longer the principal providers of new social housing they will continue to play a vital enabling role, in partnership with housing associations and the private sector, and in ensuring that the housing requirements of their areas are appropriately tackled.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy concerning council housing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  It is that council housing should be managed and maintained effectively, economically, and in accordance with local housing authorities' statutory obligations; that council tenants should have the opportunity to purchase their homes under statute; that they should also have a genuine choice of landlord; and that housing associations should continue to be the main providers of new subsidised homes for rent, working in close partnership with local authorities.

  Redundancies
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, by county, the number of confirmed redundancies in Wales in the third quarter of each financial year since 1978–79; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Figures from 1978–79 to 1980–81 are not available by county. The information from 1981–82 to 1990–91 is set out in the tables.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  No.

  Welsh Assembly
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met representatives from the Association of District Councils to discuss their proposals for(a) an elected Welsh Assembly and (b) a single tier of local government in Wales; and whether he will make a statement on both issues.
  487
  Mr. David Hunt
  I met representatives of the Council of Welsh Districts, together with representatives of the Assembly of Welsh Counties, on 7 January. I am considering the Council of Welsh District's proposals both for an elected Welsh assembly and for a single tier of local government in Wales, and will also be considering other proposals on these matters. I will make my decisions known in due course.

  Factories, Cardiganshire
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans the Development Board for Rural Wales has to build advance factories in Cardigan during the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Development Board for Rural Wales has the following plans for building advance factories in Cardigan:

  Year

  Units

  Note

  Subject to Welsh

  1991–92

  2 × 3,000 sq ft

  Office approval

  1992–93

  4 × 1,500 sq ft

  In draft programme

  1993–94

  1 × 1,500 sq ft

  In draft programme

  1994–95

  2 × 3,000 sq ft

  In draft programme

  The development board works to a five-year "outline" industrial development programme, which is modified and reviewed on an ongoing basis. Therefore, any specific proposals beyond 1991–92 are subject to possible alteration and change according to circumstances.

  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest developments regarding the building of advance factories at New Quay, Cardiganshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Development Board for Rural Wales has no definite plans to construct units at New Quay at the present time and has no local land holdings.

  Farmers
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will next attend a meeting of the European Council of Ministers to discuss the problems now facing Welsh farmers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In line with long-established practice, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food takes the lead in European Community discussions and negotiations. I know that my right hon. Friend has the interests of Welsh farmers clearly in mind in that context, and I am in regular contact with him.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had in the current year with the National Farmers Union in Wales about livestock compensatory allowances; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I met the National Farmers Union of Wales on Monday 28 January 1991 to discuss, among other issues, hill livestock compensatory allowances.

  Sports Centres
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many times he has visited the national sports centre for Wales;
  488
  (2) how many times he has visited the outdoor pursuits centre at the Menai straits, Gwynedd.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend has not yet had the opportunity to visit the national sports centre for Wales, Cardiff, or the national watersports centre, Plas Menai.

  Housing (Elderly People)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many county council homes for the elderly there are in each of the counties of Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information requested is shown in the table:

  County

  Number of homes for elderly people1

  Clwyd

  20

  Dyfed

  29

  Gwent

  24

  Gwynedd

  27

  Mid Glamorgan

  34

  Powys

  14

  South Glamorgan

  21

  West Glamorgan

  21

  Wales

  190

  1 As at 31 March 1990.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what policy initiatives he proposes for the running of county council homes for the elderly in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend's proposals for the further improvement of services for elderly people in Wales is set out in chapter 11 of the White Paper "Caring for People—Community Care in the Next Decade and Beyond" (Cm 849). As regards county council-run homes, the White Paper makes it clear that we intend that their standard should be at least on a par with those expected by county councils of the private and voluntary sectors, and that those standards should be monitored and controlled by the inspection units which authorities are required to set up by 1 April 1991. In drawing up their plans for social care, which are to be published by 1 April 1992, social services authorities will need to review, in the light of their assessment of local needs and circumstances, the extent and nature of the residential care they provide. They will need to do this in terms of the balance with wider patterns of domiciliary and day care and also with regard to the need to maximise choice from a variety of sources of care.

  Nursing and Residential Homes
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) private nursing homes and (b) private residential homes there are in each of the counties of Wales.

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

  County

  Number of private nursing homes1

  Clwyd

  70

  Dyfed

  25

  Gwent

  51

  489

  County

  Number of private nursing homes1

  Gwynedd

  28

  Mid Glamorgan

  8

  Powys

  8

  South Glamorgan

  16

  West Glamorgan

  67

  Number of private residential homes1

  County

  Elderly, younger physically handicapped and blind people2

  Mentally ill people

  Mentally handicapped people

  Clwyd

  151

  6

  22

  Dyfed

  69

  3

  8

  Gwent

  22

  —

  2

  Gwynedd

  84

  4

  7

  Mid Glamorgan

  32

  —

  1

  Powys

  17

  4

  5

  South Glamorgan

  79

  —

  —

  West Glamorgan

  26

  6

  16

  WALES

  480

  23

  61

  1 As at 31 March 1990.

  2 A number of these homes are dually registered as both nursing and residential homes and will therefore have also been included in the first table.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy concerning private nursing and residential homes in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend's proposals for the further improvement of all forms of social care are set out in chapter 11 of the White Paper "Caring for People—Community Care in the Next Decade and Beyond.' (Cm 849). The Government believe that people should enter residential and nursing home care as a positive choice. Social services authorities, working closely with health authorities and other interests, should ensure the development of adequate networks of domiciliary, day and residential care in the private, voluntary and public sectors which maximise choice and ensure high quality in all aspects of provision.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Surplus Food
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he is making for implementing the EC surplus food scheme in the United Kingdom for 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The European Commission has reviewed the operation of this scheme in 1988 and 1989, and its report is awaited. In the meantime the Commission has decided to continue the distribution of surplus food from intervention stocks to the most deprived citizens of the Community. I have to say that the Government's view remains that the scheme is an inefficient method of dealing with surpluses and of assisting those whom it should help. Nevertheless, as in the past, the Government do not wish to deprive eligible United Kingdom citizens of an opportunity available to their counterparts elsewhere in the Community.

  The Commission has allocated some 150 million ecu to the European Community for this purpose, the same as in 1990. The United Kingdom has maintained its share of the
  490

  County

  Number of private nursing homes1

  WALES

  273

  1 As at 31 March 1990.

  budget in obtaining some 24·95 million ecu, which represents about £17·62 million worth of butter and beef. This produce will continue to be distributed in the United Kingdom by those charitable and other non-profit making organisations wishing to do so and meeting the prescribed conditions. To improve the cost-effectiveness of the scheme, preference may be given to organisations capable of distributing produce widely throughout their local community and to groups of smaller organisations co-operating in the same locality. The scheme applies to certain clearly defined categories of people. Pensioners or the unemployed are eligible only if they fall into one or other of these categories. The coverage of those who are eligible will depend on the extent to which suitable organisations volunteer to participate. I am arranging for further details to be publicised widely and to be sent to the appropriate bodies, and I will place a copy of this information in the Library.

  Fisheries Council
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 19 and 20 December.

  Mr. Gummer
  [pursuant to his reply, 14 January 1991, Official Report, col. 388]: I am pleased to announce that the Commission has agreed that the United Kingdom may exempt from the days in port requirement any vessel which satisfies the Fisheries Departments that it will carry only longlines or nets having a mesh size equal to or greater than 110 mm, with or without a 100 mm square mesh panel. Regulations to amend the Sea Fishing (Days in Port) Regulations 1991 (SI 1991/139) will be laid before Parliament shortly.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has received from the National Rivers Authority concerning burial of BSE-affected cattle by farmers under their own land.
  491
  Mr. Maclean
  The National Rivers Authority has provided advice on the burial of carcases generally which has been incorporated into the revised "Guidance of Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Water" which was published in draft on 15 January. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  Grain
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether all export contracts on grain exported to the EC state EC mass per storage volume, as set out in SI 1975 No. 655, arranged by British Cereal Exports; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  British Cereal Exports is a promotional body which aims to identify the needs of grain buyers in export markets and to help ensure that these are met competitively by United Kingdom exporters. It does not itself export grain.

  The details of grain export contracts are matters to be determined by the exporter and the importer of the grain. Cereals export trade organisations have recently been reminded of the provisions of SI 1975 No. 655 which lays down specific requirements to be met if the term EC mass per storage volume is used in trade in cereals between the United Kingdom and other member states of the European Community.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the specific weight of grain taken into intervention in the United Kingdom is assessed on instruments which comply with the requirements of SI 1975 No. 655; and what those regulations require in respect of contracts for grain weighed out of intervention containing the words EC mass per storage volume.

  Mr. Curry
  The use of instruments complying with the requirements of SI 1975, No. 655 is not stipulated by EC regulation 1908/84, which governs intake of grain into intervention, nor are such instruments used for that

  Number of confirmed cases of bovine tuberculosis by county in England 1990

  January-March

  April-June

  July-September

  October-December

  Avon

  7

  14

  5

  n/y/a

  Gloucestershire

  Bedfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  n/y/a

  Berkshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Buckinghamshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  0

  0

  0

  n/y/a

  Cheshire

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Cleveland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cornwall

  4

  13

  10

  n/y/a

  Cumbria

  0

  7

  1

  1

  Derbyshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Devon

  10

  7

  8

  n/y/a

  Dorset

  1

  2

  2

  n/y/a

  Durham

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Essex

  0

  0

  0

  n/y/a

  Kent

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hampshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hereford and Worcester

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hertfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Humberside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Isle of Wight

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lancashire

  0

  1

  0

  n/y/a

  Leicestershie

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lincolnshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Greater Manchester

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Merseyside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  492
  purpose in practice. Contracts for sales of grain out of intervention do not contain the words "EC mass per storage volume"; they are not affected, therefore, by the provisions of the SI, which is concerned only with trade in cereals between the United Kingdom and other member states of the European Community.

  Tourism
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, further to his answer of 1 February at column 693, to the hon. Member for Swindon, he will list those organisations in the tourism industry which (a) were asked for their views and (b) responded.

  Mr. Curry
  We did not specifically ask organisations for their views before the abolition of these capital grants because this would have given a clear signal of our intentions and would have led to a rush of applications to beat the deadline. Over the period since the introduction of the farm diversification grant scheme in 1988, the Government have received representations about it from a number of organisations, including:

  The National Farmers Union

  The Country Landowners Association

  The English Tourist Board

  The British Hotels, Restaurants and Caterers Association

  The Youth Hostels Association

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of individual confirmed cases of bovine tuberculosis by month, for each county of England and Wales in 1990.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is available only by quarter. Figures for October to December are provisional pending laboratory tests. Details for England are given in the following table.

  The figures for Wales are a matter for the Secretary of State for Wales.
  493

  January-March

  April-June

  July-September

  October-December

  West Midlands

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Norfolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Northamptonshire

  0

  0

  0

  n/y/a

  Northumberland

  1

  3

  0

  0

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Oxfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Shropshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Somerset

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Staffordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Surrey

  0

  0

  0

  0

  East Sussex

  1

  0

  3

  n/y/a

  West Sussex

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Tyne and Wear

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Warwickshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wiltshire

  1

  1

  1

  n/y/a

  North Yorkshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South Yorkshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  West Yorkshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  ENGLAND TOTAL

  25

  50

  30

  1

  n/y/a—Not yet available.

  Fallen Animals
  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to assist hill farmers who are experiencing problems with disposal of fallen stock; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the present situation in respect of the disposal of fallen animals; and if he intends to introduce any legislation in this area.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Members to the letter I wrote on 30 January to Sir Simon Gourlay, president of the National Farmers Union, on this matter, a copy of which I have placed in the Library of the House. I have no current plans to introduce any further legislation.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Correspondence
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what is the latest estimate of the average cost of a ministerial reply to letters from right hon. and hon. Members.

  Mr. MacGregor
  No definite costings are available. A recent scrutiny of ministerial correspondence estimated total costs of £17·5 million for some 250,000 ministerial replies, a mean average of £70. The estimate was based on small samples, and revealed a considerable range of costs related to the complexity of each Department's caseload.

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

  Mr. MacGregor
  My predecessor, the right hon. and learned Member for Surrey, East (Sir G. Howe), attended a meeting of the commissioners in December 1989.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases related to non-payment of the poll tax have been dealt with by each magistrates court in Wales during 1990; and what was the average amount of time allocated to cases of non-payment of the poll tax by each magistrates court.

  Mr. John Patten
  The figures for the number of summonses and liability orders issued and the amount of time devoted to the enforcement of the community charge by magistrates courts in Wales during 1990 are set out in the table:

  Community Charge enforcement in Wales in 1990

  Summonses

  Liability orders

  Sitting hours

  Hawarden

  48

  3

  1

  Rhuddlan

  —

  —

  —

  Wrexham Maelor

  5,840

  3,665

  20·5

  Llanelli

  2,077

  1,145

  34

  Gogledd Ceredigion

  2,978

  2,242

  62

  Carmarthen South

  5,367

  3,412

  21

  Cleddau

  4,846

  3,869

  55

  Bedwellty

  500

  388

  5

  East Gwent

  6,918

  596

  25

  Newport

  5,301

  3,214

  15

  Conwy & Llandudno

  5,911

  3,951

  27

  North Anglesey

  2,053

  1,307

  13

  Penllyn

  —

  —

  —

  Caernarfon & Gwyrfai

  3,559

  1,082

  8

  Lower Rhymney Valley

  5,765

  4,441

  24

  Merthyr Tydfil1

  —

  —

  —

  Miskin

  15,990

  11,988

  29

  Newcastle & Ogmore

  15,815

  12,662

  48

  1 Figures for Merthyr Tydfil based on first return: 1 April-30 September 1990

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money is currently allocated to magistrates courts specifically to assist with cases related to the poll tax; and whether he has any plans to increase resources to deal with the current situation.

  Mr. John Patten
  Specific grant is provided to support expenditure on the workload of the magistrates courts as
  495
  a whole. The Government's proposals for increased grant support were set out in the Home Office annual report 1991 (Cm 1509), but we continue to keep the community charge enforcement position under review.

  Probation Service
  Mr. Bidwell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had concerning delay in implementing the pay increase for probation officers of November 1990; what assessment he has made of the effect of the delay on morale in the service; and to when the increase will be backdated.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to authorise the new salary scale for probation officers upon which there has been arbitration.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the probation officers' 1990–91 pay award.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about the length of time it has taken to fix the increase in probation officers' salaries effective from 1 July 1990.

  The main part of the delay was due to the staff side's decision to refer the matter unilaterally to arbitration. My right hon. Friend received the report of the ACAS arbitration panel on 6 November 1990, nearly four months after the employers' side made their final offer of 9·25 per cent.

  Our decision to accept the increase of 9·25 per cent. and one of the three structural changes to the salary scale included in the arbitration award was announced on 6 February 1991. I expect most probation officers to see this decision as reasonable.

  Departmental Achievements
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the principal achievements of his Department since June 1987.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The number of police posts in England and Wales increased by 4,285, bringing the total to 127,155. The number of civilians supporting the police increased by 4,699 to 45,405, and since 1986–87 expenditure on the police has increased by 19·5 per cent. in real terms. These increases have been accompanied by action to ensure that the police use their resources efficiently and to enhance their capacity to deal with crime of all kinds, including that with an international dimension.

  Sixteen safer cities projects have been set up in inner-city areas supporting over 850 initiatives with the objective of reducing crime, lessening the fear of crime and creating conditions in which economic enterprise and community life can flourish. Crime Concern, an independent body which seeks to encourage and facilitate local crime prevention activity and to draw the business sector into crime prevention, has been established. Advice on crime prevention has been issued to local authorities, other relevant agencies and to the public, with over 3 million copies of the crime prevention handbook distributed. The standing conference on crime prevention meets annually to discuss and promote new crime prevention ideas.
  496
  My Department has continued to give the highest priority to tackling drug misuse. The London world ministerial drug summit reaffirmed our commitment to be at the forefront, both at home and abroad, of efforts to combat drug misuse. Reciprocal agreements with seven further countries on confiscation of the proceeds of drug trafficking have been concluded, bringing the total to 19. The first five local teams set up under the drug prevention initiative to strengthen community resistance to drug misuse have now started work.

  Legislation has been passed to enable the United Kingdom to ratify the United Nations convention against the illicit traffic in drugs; to enhance the control of firearms; to strengthen the country's defences against terrorism; to increase the powers available to the courts for dealing with football hooligans; to improve our ability to give effect to our policy of firm but fair immigration control; to create a new and more open and competitive framework for the licensing and regulation of independent radio and television services, leading to greater choice for viewers and listeners while maintaining proper safeguards for programme quality and standards; to remove outdated restrictions on licensing laws; to enable the United Kingdom to participate more effectively in the international fight against crime, including a major reform of the extradition law; to make provision for courts to order the confiscation of the proceeds of profitable crime; to provide for unduly lenient sentences to be reviewed; to create a statutory right for the victims of crime to receive compensation; to tighten the law on possession of knives and to ban the sale of offensive weapons which have no legitimate use; to strengthen the jury system; to reform the law on official secrets by replacing section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 with provisions protecting just six classes of official information; and to put the security service on a statutory basis, with the appointment of a commissioner and provision for complaints to be made to an independent tribunal. Legislation has been passed to encourage key Hong Kong personnel and their families to remain there by giving them the assurance of British citizenship in order to help them maintain the future stability and prosperity of the territory.

  Since the beginning of 1987 five new prisons have been opened, providing some 2,500 places, and construction has begun at 13 other sites, which will provide nearly 8,000 additional prison places. By the end of March 1991 nearly 3,000 more places will also have been provided at existing establishments. The Home Office has embarked on a major programme to improve existing prisons. At the beginning of 1987 about 45 per cent. of prison places had access to night sanitation, but by April this year 60 per cent. of all places are expected to have access. Conversion of the remaining places is a high priority.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to provide for the issue of refunds for unexpired television licences where the person to whom the licence was issued has died and more than one month remains valid on the licence.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No.
  497
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the estimated cost of the concessions of the reduced television licence for registered blind people;

  (2) whether he has any proposals to extend the reduced cost television licence currently available to registered blind people to those who are registered as partially sighted.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The cost of the concession in 1989–90 in terms of revenue forgone was £47,500. The concession is available to people so blind as to be unable to perform any work for which eyesight is essential. There are no plans to change that criterion.

  Police, Staffordshire
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what increase has been made to the number of police officers and civilian auxiliaries for Staffordshire over each of the past five years; and what has been the increase or decrease in crimes reported, detected and cleared up over that period.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is set out in the tables:

  (i) Increase in resources

  Year

  Police Officer Establishment

  Civilian Staff

  1985–86

  Nil

  +20

  1986–87

  +27

  +11

  1987–88

  +25

  +3

  1988–89

  +10

  +2

  1989–90

  +22

  -24

  1990–91

  +14

  +41

  Financial year

  Applications

  Cases assisted

  Individuals benefitting

  Cost1£

  1986–87

  141

  41

  65

  51,425·87

  1987–88

  89

  38

  61

  41,400·23

  1988–89

  75

  37

  45

  45,541·08

  1989–90

  70

  43

  55

  42,484·65

  1990–912

  41

  25

  29

  30,666·02

  1 Excluding administrative overheads.

  2 To 8 February 1991.

  Parking, London
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will hold discussions with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the scope for further action by officers to deter the parking of untaxed and uninsured vehicles on streets in Greater London.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The enforcement of offences relating to untaxed and uninsured vehicles is an operational matter and therefore for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. I understand that police officers and traffic wardens routinely report vehicle excise offences involving parked vehicles to the Department of Transport and support enforcement campaigns run by that Department. Insurance offences normally come to light only when a driver is stopped and asked to produce his documents.
  498

  (ii) Changes in level of crime

  Year

  Increase/decrease in recorded crime per cent

  Increase/decrease in clear-up rate per cent

  1985

  +3

  +9

  1986

  +8

  -7

  1987

  +1

  -4

  1988

  -2

  +7

  1989

  +5

  +1

  1990

  N.A.

  N.A.

  Voluntary Repatriation
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the facilities available for immigrants who seek voluntary repatriation; how many have applied for such repatriation over the past five years; what has been the cost; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Financial assistance is available in certain circumstances from public funds for non-British citizens settled in this country who wish to return permanently overseas to a non-European country. The scheme, which is operated under section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971, is administered on behalf of the Government by the International Social Service of Great Britain. Assistance, which is means-tested, and is limited to the payment of fares and incidental expenses incurred in leaving the United Kingdom, including the transport of a small amount of personal effects. There is no resettlement grant.

  Over the past five years the number of applications, the number of cases assisted, the number of individuals leaving the United Kingdom and the cost were as follows:

  Overseas Electors
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by parliamentary constituency, the numbers of overseas electors included in the draft electoral register for 1991–92, together with totals for each constituent part of the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information requested is set out in the table. The figures do not include valid applications which were received too late for inclusion in the draft register, which was published on 28 November 1990. Final figures for the electoral register for 1991–92 will be published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in the summer.

  Overseas electors included in the draft electoral register published on 28 November 1990 by Parliamentary Constituency

  Number

  England

  28,512

  Aldershot

  112

  Aldridge-Brownhills

  26

  499

  Number

  Altrincham and Sale

  87

  Amber Valley

  19

  Arundel

  62

  Ashfield

  12

  Ashford

  74

  Ashton-under-Lyne

  11

  Aylesbury

  82

  Banbury

  61

  Barking

  8

  Barnsley Central

  2

  Barnsley East

  4

  Barnsley West and Penistone

  15

  Barrow and Furness

  44

  Basildon

  38

  Basingstoke

  78

  Bassetlaw

  37

  Bath

  80

  Batley and Spen

  33

  Battersea

  112

  Beaconsfield

  151

  Beckenham

  66

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  29

  Bethnal Green and Stepney

  22

  Beverley

  57

  Bexhill and Battle

  96

  Bexleyheath

  29

  Billericay

  51

  Birkenhead

  26

  Birmingham, Edgbaston

  62

  Birmingham, Erdington

  9

  Birmingham, Hall Green

  12

  Birmingham, Hodge Hill

  13

  Birmingham, Ladywood

  18

  Birmingham, Northfield

  25

  Birmingham, Perry Barr

  21

  Birmingham, Selly Oak

  70

  Birmingham, Small Heath

  7

  Birmingham, Sparkbrook

  18

  Birmingham, Yardley

  9

  Bishop Auckland

  21

  Blaby

  53

  Blackburn

  30

  Blackpool North

  22

  Blackpool South

  33

  Blaydon

  22

  Blyth Valley

  22

  Bolsover

  2

  Bolton North East

  17

  Bolton South East

  9

  Bolton West

  36

  Boothferry

  46

  Bootle

  17

  Bosworth

  42

  Bournemouth East

  63

  Bournemouth West

  53

  Bow and Poplar

  21

  Bradford North

  30

  Bradford South

  15

  Bradford West

  32

  Braintree

  67

  Brent East

  50

  Brent North

  119

  Brent South

  27

  Brentford and Isleworth

  102

  Brentwood and Ongar

  104

  Bridgwater

  54

  Bridlington

  39

  Brigg and Cleethorpes

  59

  Brighton, Kemptown

  92

  Brighton, Pavilion

  95

  Bristol East

  25

  Bristol North West

  130

  Bristol South

  14

  Bristol West

  171

  Bromsgrove

  26

  Broxbourne

  87

  Broxtowe

  49

  500

  Number

  Buckingham

  92

  Burnley

  13

  Burton

  33

  Bury North

  38

  Bury South

  64

  Bury St. Edmunds

  68

  Calder Valley

  37

  Cambridge

  243

  Cannock and Burntwood

  26

  Canterbury

  76

  Carlisle

  21

  Carshalton and Wallington

  39

  Castle Point

  45

  Central Suffolk

  48

  Cheadle

  76

  Chelmsford

  80

  Chelsea

  153

  Cheltenham

  85

  Chertsey and Walton

  131

  Chesham and Amersham

  173

  Chesterfield

  19

  Chichester

  115

  Chingford

  36

  Chipping Barnet

  69

  Chislehurst

  65

  Chorley

  40

  Christchurch

  76

  Cirencester and Tewkesbury

  78

  City of Chester

  80

  City of Durham

  41

  City of London and Westminster, South

  207

  Colne Valley

  29

  Congleton

  45

  Copeland

  28

  Corby

  48

  Coventry North East

  18

  Coventry North West

  21

  Coventry South East

  20

  Coventry South West

  53

  Crawley

  69

  Crewe and Nantwich

  39

  Crosby

  68

  Croydon Central

  50

  Croydon North East

  57

  Croydon North West

  41

  Croydon South

  97

  Dagenham

  8

  Darlington

  38

  Dartford

  53

  Daventry

  77

  Davyhulme

  54

  Denton and Reddish

  22

  Derby North

  24

  Derby South

  24

  Devises

  104

  Dewsbury

  17

  Don Valley

  18

  Doncaster Central

  23

  Doncaster North

  13

  Dover

  65

  Dudley East

  20

  Dudley West

  28

  Dulwich

  88

  Ealing, Acton

  138

  Ealing North

  53

  Ealing, Southall

  53

  Easington

  5

  East Berkshire

  124

  East Hampshire

  117

  East Lindsey

  37

  East Surrey

  90

  Eastbourne

  107

  Eastleigh

  87

  Eccles

  24

  Eddisbury

  85

  501

  Number

  Edmonton

  32

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  37

  Elmet

  29

  Eltham

  46

  Enfield North

  23

  Enfield, Southgate

  83

  Epping Forest

  60

  Epsom and Ewell

  91

  Erewash

  25

  Erith and Crayford

  16

  Esher

  176

  Exeter

  76

  Falmouth and Camborne

  45

  Fareham

  106

  Faversham

  58

  Feltham and Heston

  56

  Finchley

  94

  Folkestone and Hythe

  52

  Fulham

  159

  Fylde

  54

  Gainsborough and Horncastle

  38

  Gateshead East

  28

  Gedling

  32

  Gillingham

  41

  Glanford and Scunthorpe

  40

  Gloucester

  26

  Gosport

  70

  Grantham

  62

  Gravesham

  53

  Great Grimsby

  13

  Great Yarmouth

  39

  Greenwich

  60

  Guildford

  127

  Hackney North and Stoke Newington

  38

  Hackney South and Shoreditch

  34

  Halesowen and Stourbridge

  35

  Halifax

  27

  Halton

  26

  Hammersmith

  68

  Hampstead and Highgate

  194

  Harborough

  78

  Harlow

  39

  Harrowgate

  84

  Harrow East

  73

  Harrow West

  83

  Hartlepool

  20

  Harwich

  60

  Hastings and Rye

  53

  Havant

  95

  Hayes and Harlington

  26

  Hazel Grove

  42

  Hemsworth

  14

  Hendon North

  48

  Hendon South

  113

  Henley

  139

  Hereford

  54

  Hertford and Stortford

  102

  Hertsmere

  85

  Hexham

  49

  Heywood and Middleton

  17

  High Peak

  68

  Holborn and St. Pancras

  108

  Holland with Boston

  11

  Honiton

  66

  Hornchurch

  29

  Hornsey and Wood Green

  199

  Horsham

  116

  Houghton and Washington

  22

  Hove

  89

  Huddersfield

  34

  Huntingdon

  65

  Hyndburn

  9

  Ilford North

  32

  Ilford South

  39

  502

  Number

  Ipswich

  38

  Isle of Wight

  93

  Islington North

  92

  Islington South and Finsbury

  99

  Jarrow

  16

  Keighley

  61

  Kensington

  140

  Kettering

  39

  Kingston upon Hull East

  10

  Kingston upon Hull North

  35

  Kingston upon Hull West

  8

  Kingston upon Thames

  114

  Kingswood

  40

  Knowsley North

  13

  Knowsley South

  17

  Lancaster

  63

  Langbaurgh

  54

  Leeds, Central

  10

  Leeds, East

  16

  Leeds, North East

  54

  Leeds, North West

  39

  Leeds, West

  14

  Leicester, East

  10

  Leicester, South

  44

  Leicester, West

  8

  Leigh

  14

  Leominster

  93

  Lewes

  111

  Lewisham, Deptford

  27

  Lewisham, East

  45

  Lewisham, West

  60

  Leyton

  29

  Lincoln

  27

  Littleborough and Saddleworth

  48

  Liverpool, Broadgreen

  26

  Liverpool, Garston

  28

  Liverpool, Mossley Hill

  42

  Liverpool, Riverside

  19

  Liverpool, Walton

  16

  Liverpool, West Derby

  16

  Loughborough

  42

  Ludlow

  46

  Luton, South

  48

  Macclesfield

  100

  Maidstone

  55

  Makerfield

  26

  Manchester, Blackley

  20

  Manchester, Central

  15

  Manchester, Gorton

  36

  Manchester, Withington

  77

  Manchester, Wythenshawe

  17

  Mansfield

  11

  Medway

  58

  Meriden

  47

  Mid Bedfordshire

  85

  Mid Kent

  42

  Mid Norfolk

  57

  Mid Staffordshire

  29

  Mid Sussex

  105

  Mid Worcestershire

  39

  Middlesbrough

  17

  Milton Keynes

  114

  Mitcham and Morden

  39

  Mole Valley

  121

  Morecambe and Lunesdale

  37

  Morley and Leeds South

  6

  New Forest

  80

  Newark

  18

  Newbury

  109

  Newcastle upon Tyne Central

  64

  Newcastle upon Tyne East

  26

  Newcastle upon Tyne North

  25

  Newcastle-under-Lyme

  24

  503

  Number

  Newham North East

  14

  Newham North West

  19

  Newham South

  16

  Normanton

  11

  North Bedfordshire

  93

  North Colchester

  77

  North Cornwall

  55

  North Devon

  75

  North Dorset

  56

  North Durham

  20

  North East Cambridgeshire

  37

  North East Derbyshire

  25

  North Hertfordshire

  107

  North Luton

  65

  North Norfolk

  47

  North Shropshire

  43

  North Thanet

  45

  North Warwickshire

  27

  North West Durham

  20

  North West Hampshire

  87

  North West Leicestershire

  29

  North West Norfolk

  53

  North West Surrey

  156

  North Wiltshire

  83

  Northampton North

  40

  Northampton South

  54

  Northavon

  14

  Norwich North

  48

  Norwich South

  94

  Norwood

  54

  Nottingham East

  38

  Nottingham North

  6

  Nottingham South

  46

  Nuneaton

  24

  Old Bexley and Sidcup

  42

  Oldham Central and Royton

  20

  Oldham West

  17

  Orpington

  84

  Oxford East

  105

  Oxford West and Abingdon

  198

  Peckham

  21

  Pendle

  43

  Penrith and The Border

  38

  Peterborough

  43

  Plymouth, Devonport

  39

  Plymouth, Drake

  39

  Plymouth, Sutton

  52

  Pontefract and Castleford

  4

  Poole

  68

  Portsmouth, North

  29

  Portsmouth, South

  48

  Preston

  22

  Pudsey

  18

  Putney

  161

  Ravensbourne

  67

  Reading, East

  123

  Reading, West

  79

  Redcar

  40

  Reigate

  100

  Ribble Valley

  66

  Richmond (Yorks)

  33

  Richmond and Barnes

  210

  Rochdale

  38

  Rochford

  69

  Romford

  23

  Romsey and Waterside

  83

  Rossendale and Darwen

  36

  Rother Valley

  10

  Rotherham

  13

  Rugby and Kenilworth

  139

  Ruislip-Northwood

  61

  Rushcliffe

  51

  Rutland and Melton

  88

  Ryedale

  504

  Number

  Saffron Walden

  82

  St. Albans

  150

  St. Helens, North

  34

  St. Helens, South

  17

  St. Ives

  64

  Salford, East

  22

  Salisbury

  85

  Scarborough

  52

  Sedgefield

  19

  Selby

  43

  Sevenoaks

  85

  Sheffield, Attercliffe

  19

  Sheffield, Brightside

  8

  Sheffield, Central

  26

  Sheffield, Hallam

  87

  Sheffield, Heeley

  18

  Sheffield, Hillsborough

  16

  Sherwood

  40

  Shipley

  66

  Shoreham

  91

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  28

  Skipton and Ripon

  53

  Slough

  39

  Solihull

  76

  Somerton and Frome

  80

  South Colchester and Maldon

  65

  South Derbyshire

  27

  South Dorset

  29

  South East Cambridgeshire

  93

  South East Cornwall

  67

  South East Staffordshire

  12

  South Hams

  57

  South Norfolk

  60

  South Ribble

  46

  South Shields

  8

  South Staffordshire

  32

  South Suffolk

  46

  South Thanet

  52

  South West Bedfordshire

  75

  South West Cambridgeshire

  111

  South West Hertfordshire

  113

  South West Norfolk

  44

  South West Surrey

  121

  South Worcestershire

  119

  Southampton Itchen

  55

  Southampton Test

  73

  Southend East

  42

  Southend West

  44

  Southport

  65

  Southwark and Bermondsey

  16

  Spelthorne

  70

  Stafford

  73

  Staffordshire Moorlands

  27

  Stalybridge and Hyde

  42

  Stamford and Spalding

  57

  Stevanage

  74

  Stockport

  38

  Stockton, North

  35

  Stockton, South

  48

  Stoke-on-Trent, Central

  7

  Stoke-on-Trent, North

  7

  Stoke-on-Trent, South

  10

  Stratford-on-Avon

  64

  Streatham

  95

  Stretford

  30

  Stroud

  89

  Suffolk Coastal

  79

  Sunderland, North

  16

  Sunderland, South

  23

  Surbiton

  66

  Sutton and Cheam

  81

  Sutton Coldfield

  60

  Swindon

  63

  Tatton

  71

  Taunton

  59

  Teignbridge

  54

  The Wrekin

  21

  505

  Number

  Thurrock

  13

  Tiverton

  68

  Tonbridge and Malling

  74

  Tooting

  86

  Torbay

  83

  Torridge and West Devon

  73

  Tottenham

  30

  Truro

  57

  Tunbridge Wells

  93

  Twickenham

  139

  Tyne Bridge

  2

  Tynemouth

  33

  Upminster

  36

  Uxbridge

  47

  Vauxhall

  95

  Wakefield

  25

  Wallasey

  56

  Wallsend

  18

  Walsall North

  17

  Walsall South

  14

  Walthamstow

  28

  Wansbeck

  6

  Wansdyke

  59

  Wanstead and Woodford

  58

  Wantage

  89

  Warley East

  8

  Warley West

  1

  Warrington North

  30

  Warrington South

  39

  Warwick and Leamington

  68

  Watford

  78

  Waveney

  65

  Wealden

  100

  Wellingborough

  55

  Wells

  39

  Welwyn Hatfield

  96

  Wentworth

  16

  West Bromwich East

  14

  West Bromwich West

  —

  West Derbyshire

  46

  West Dorset

  57

  West Gloucestershire

  50

  West Hertfordshire

  95

  West Lancashire

  44

  Westbury

  132

  Westminster North

  136

  Westmoreland and Lonsdale

  50

  Weston-Super-Mare

  47

  Wigan

  30

  Wimbledon

  144

  Winchester

  74

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  115

  Wirral South

  58

  Wirral West

  60

  Witney

  80

  Woking

  170

  Wokingham

  105

  Wolverhampton North East

  11

  Wolverhampton South East

  10

  Wolverhampton South West

  33

  Woodspring

  54

  Woolwich

  19

  Worcester

  45

  Workington

  12

  Worsley

  26

  Worthing

  74

  Wycombe

  104

  Wyre

  39

  Wyre Forest

  51

  Yeovil

  60

  York

  80

  506

  Overseas electors included in the draft electoral register published on 28 November 1990 by Parliamentary Constituency

  Number

  Wales

  867

  Aberavon

  4

  Alyn and Deeside

  21

  Blaenau Gwent

  4

  Brecon and Radnor

  26

  Bridgend

  40

  Caernarfon

  16

  Caerphilly

  10

  Cardiff Central

  70

  Cardiff North

  32

  Cardiff South and Penarth

  25

  Cardiff West

  29

  Carmarthen

  22

  Ceredigion and Pembroke North

  33

  Clwyd North West

  32

  Clwyd South West

  21

  Conwy

  35

  Cynon Valley

  1

  Delyn

  25

  Gower

  29

  Islwyn

  Llanelli

  13

  Meirionnydd Nan Conwy

  8

  Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney

  9

  Monmouth

  54

  Montgomery

  7

  Neath

  7

  Newport East

  13

  Newport West

  34

  Ogmore

  9

  Pembroke

  47

  Pontypridd

  24

  Rhondda

  3

  Swansea East

  9

  Swansea West

  31

  Torfaen

  11

  Vale of Glamorgan

  53

  Wrexham

  26

  Ynys Môn

  25

  Overseas electors included in the draft electoral register published on 28 November 1990 by Parliamentary Constituency

  Number

  Scotland

  1,445

  Aberdeen, North

  12

  Aberdeen, South

  52

  Angus, East

  25

  Argyll and Bute

  16

  Ayr

  19

  Banff and Buchan

  7

  Caithness and Sutherland

  9

  Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley

  9

  Central Fife

  10

  507

  Number

  Clackmannan

  12

  Clydebank and Milngavie

  3

  Clydesdale

  4

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  12

  Cunninghame, North

  20

  Cunninghame, South

  4

  Dumbarton

  4

  Dumfries

  18

  Dundee, East

  29

  Dundee, West

  16

  Dunfermline, East

  17

  Dunfermline, West

  12

  East Kilbride

  8

  East Lothian

  21

  Eastwood

  40

  Edinburgh Central

  85

  Edinburgh East

  22

  Edinburgh, Leith

  44

  Edinburgh, Pentlands

  46

  Edinburgh South

  102

  Edinburgh West

  48

  Falkirk East

  18

  Falkirk West

  11

  Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

  19

  Glasgow, Cathcart

  15

  Glasgow Central

  8

  Glasgow, Garscadden

  3

  Glasgow, Govan

  8

  Glasgow, Hillhead

  44

  Glasgow, Maryhill

  12

  Glasgow, Pollok

  10

  Glasgow, Provan

  2

  Glasgow, Rutherglen

  6

  Glasgow, Shettleston

  —

  Glasgow, Springburn

  5

  Gordon

  39

  Greenock and Port Glasgow

  4

  Hamilton

  1

  Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber

  39

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  9

  Kincardine and Deeside

  58

  Kirkcaldy

  18

  Linlithgow

  7

  Livingston

  7

  Midlothian

  20

  Monklands East

  2

  Monklands West

  7

  Moray

  12

  Motherwell North

  2

  Motherwell South

  3

  North East Fife

  38

  North Tayside

  26

  Orkney and Shetland

  13

  Paisley North

  21

  Paisley South

  16

  Perth and Kinross

  35

  Renfrew West and Inverclyde

  47

  Ross, Cromarty and Skye

  24

  Roxburgh and Berwickshire

  9

  Stirling

  54

  Strathkelvin and Bearsden

  11

  Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale

  34

  Western Isles

  2

  Northern Ireland

  177

  508

  Number

  Belfast East

  20

  Belfast North

  11

  Belfast South

  21

  Belfast West

  8

  East Antrim

  9

  East Londonderry

  7

  Fermanagh and South Tyrone

  9

  Foyle

  3

  Lagan Valley

  12

  Mid Ulster

  11

  Newry and Armagh

  6

  North Antrim

  9

  North Down

  20

  South Antrim

  8

  South Down

  4

  Strangford

  12

  Upper Bann

  7

  United Kingdom Total

  31,001

  Drug Offences
  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the latest recorded figures for convictions for(a) class 1 and (b) class 2 drug offences and the figures for each year from 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 4 February 1991]: Data are readily available only for 1986 onwards and information on the number of convictions recorded in the United Kingdom concerning class A and class B drugs is given in the table.

  United Kingdom

  Number of convictions relating to:

  Year

  Class A drugs

  Class B drugs

  1986

  4,486

  21,155

  1987

  4,263

  21,489

  1988

  3,692

  23,102

  1989

  3,752

  26,759

  Adoption
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many clearance papers were issued for the admission to the United Kingdom of children adopted abroad, or in the process of adoption, for each of the last five years in total and by country of origin; and if he will make a statement concerning Romanian children in particular.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  [holding answer 12 February 1991]: The available information is that, since December 1989, 149 Romanian children have been granted entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom with a view to adoption by British couples. Fifteen applications have been refused or withdrawn and 42 applications are currently outstanding, 39 of which have been made since 1 December 1990. Earlier information about Romanian children and information about children from other countries granted entry clearance with a view to adoption in the United Kingdom has not been collected centrally.

  Explosives
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration was given to the implications for the financing of appropriate policing when the proposed Control of Explosives Order was drafted.

  Mr. Forth
  I have been asked to reply.

  This question relates to proposals currently being prepared for the Home Secretary by the Health and Safety Commission.

  The financial implications of policing the proposed control of explosives regulations were considered during the preparation of the related cost-benefit analysis. This analysis estimates that the proposed regulations will lead to clear savings for the police.

HEALTH

  Breast Care Nurses
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many breast care nurses, and at what grade, are currently in post in each district.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mental Health Grant
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the potential level of the specific mental health grant to each local authority and give an indication of the take-up proposed at the latest convenient date;

  (2) if any local authorities have yet indicated they are unable to take up the offer of the specific mental health grant.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The indicative allocations for each local authority are set out in circular HC(90)24/LAC(90)10, a copy of which is in the Library. So far, over 70 per cent. of authorities have notified their intention to take up the grant and none has advised us that the grant will not be taken up. We will publish a full list when we have received the outstanding notifications.

  AIDS
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what publicity arrangements he has made to inform people of the protection afforded by, and to advise on the proper use of, a safe spermicide combined with condoms as a protection against AIDS; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The AIDS public education campaign has adopted a broad-based strategy which offers people clear health educational advice on which to base informed decisions about their sexual behaviour. This includes advice that the use of condoms can reduce the risk of infection with HIV. Clinical studies do not show that spermicides confer additional protection against HIV infection.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what publicity arrangements he has made to inform people of the relative safety of water-based and oil-based lubricants in terms of contraception and as a protection against AIDS; and if he will make a statement.
  510
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The AIDS public education campaign has, since inception, advocated that where lubricants are used with condoms they should be water-based, and warned that oil-based lubricants may damage or weaken rubber condoms. This advice has been given in leaflets and press advertisements since 1986.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much he expects will be transferred from the national health service to Dorset county council for the resettlement of discharged mentally ill patients as a result of the sale of Coldharbour and Herrison hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Neither of the hospitals in question has been sold and the amount of any future transfer will be for the region to discuss with Dorset county council and the district health authorities involved. My hon. Friend may wish to contact Mr. Robin Buchanan, e chairman of Wessex regional health authority, for the information lie seeks.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the number of mental illness hospital beds in each district within the West Midlands regional health authority area by name in the three latest years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 4 February 1991]: The number of mental illness beds in West Midlands regional health authority is given in the table.

  District health authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  351

  307

  229

  Herefordshire

  186

  170

  166

  Kidderminster and district

  77

  83

  81

  Worcester and district

  331

  302

  291

  Shropshire

  409

  410

  394

  Mid Staffordshire

  445

  423

  386

  North Staffordshire

  777

  727

  692

  South East Staffordshire

  735

  732

  709

  North Warwickshire

  30

  30

  30

  South Warwickshire

  438

  394

  365

  Central Birmingham

  199

  198

  199

  North Birmingham

  476

  426

  417

  South Birmingham

  361

  367

  340

  West Birmingham

  540

  520

  51.1

  Coventry

  277

  245

  273

  Dudley

  153

  143

  197

  Sandwell

  17

  17

  57

  Solihull

  329

  313

  307

  Walsall

  14

  14

  14

  Wolverhampton

  208

  208

  205

  Total—West Midlands

  6,345

  6,030

  5,862

  Source: KHO3

  Gulf Casualties
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines have been issued by his Department to local social services departments concerning contingency plans for the rehabilitation of disabled service men and women injured during the Gulf war.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe) on 5 February at column 154.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, under Operation Granby, how many health authorities
  511
  have been directed to refuse non-emergency admissions to hospitals; how many such refusals have been made to date; if he will make funds available to enable wards and beds closed temporarily and permanently to be reopened, so that non-emergency admissions may be made in addition to any Gulf casualties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No health authority has been directed to refuse non-emergency admissions to hospitals. The national health service should get sufficient notice of casualties to enable hospitals to cope without emptying beds in advance. It will be for health authorities to decide whether wards not currently operational will need to be reactivated to receive casualties from the Gulf.

  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 16 January, the Government are providing extra money to meet the full costs of any Gulf casualties. We have told health authorities that they should spend what is necessary and we have given guidance on how to account for and reclaim Gulf costs.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the cancellation of operations by the national health service because of the Gulf crisis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  None. The national health service should get sufficient notice of casualties to enable hospitals to cope without emptying beds or cancelling operations at the present time.

  Blood Products
  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much it costs to collect(a) a pint of human blood and (b) a donation of plasma.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The average cost of collecting, processing and transporting a unit of blood in 1989–90 was £29·25. The cost of collecting a donation of plasma is not held centrally.

  Patients' Notes
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he is satisfied with current arrangements for protecting the confidentiality of patients' notes which may be subject to scrutiny by the family health services authorities.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Personal health information is strictly confidential. It may be examined only by authorised persons, and only to the extent authorised. The Department is working on draft guidance on the confidentiality of personal health information in the NHS which will be issued for consultation shortly.

  Staff Accommodation
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department gives to health authorities on steps to take in order to protect NHS staff resident in hospital accommodation blocks from the risk of fire.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 7 February at column 239.

  NHS Drugs
  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements exist for the return to pharmacies of medicinal drugs prescribed and supplied to national health service patients but not taken.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No formal arrangements exist for the return to pharmacies of unused medicines, but all pharmacies accept such medicines for safe and appropriate destruction.

  It is not considered good professional practice to use any medicines where there is uncertainty as to the quality of the medicine.

  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what would be the estimated net saving to the national health service annually if a system for the return of unused medicinal drugs from nursing homes to pharmacies were established;

  (2) what estimate his Department can make of the value of medicinal drugs prescribed and supplied to national health service patients which are not taken.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information on which to base such estimates is not available.

  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department will arrange for the return of prescription medicinal drugs from registered nursing homes to pharmacies when these drugs are not taken by the patient for reasons such as changed prescription, removal to another institution or death, if the packaging is still intact or the nature and origin of the drugs is certified by a qualified person.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The person responsible for a nursing home has a statutory duty to make adequate arrangements for the recording, safe-keeping, handling and disposal of drugs. Health authorities are responsible for ensuring that the statutory requirements are met and must inspect each home at least twice a year.

  It is not considered good professional practice to use medicines where there is uncertainty as to the condition under which a medicine has been stored.

  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners in previous years, in complying with his wishes to move to use computers, applied for a grant for the installation of a computer system that was above the figure of payment set out in the published computer cost reimbursement schedule.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No figures are held centrally either in respect of individual claims made by GPs or individual amounts reimbursed by family health services authorities.

  Social Workers for the Blind
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to assist in the recruitment and training off specialist social workers for the blind.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Recruitment and training of staff are the responsibility of employers. The Department is funding a number of initiatives to enable employers to make most effective use of existing work forces and I have recently announced a training strategy aimed at improving
  513
  the supply and training of the personal social services work force at all levels. In addition, we also provide funding specifically for the training of rehabilitation workers with the blind.

  NHS Spending
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was(a) total NHS spending and (b) hospital and community health services spending as a proportion of real national disposable income in each year since 1987–88.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [pursuant to the reply 28 January, column 433]: I have subsequently been advised that the term -real national disposable income" does appear in the national accounts. The cash figures that underlie this series are the gross national disposable income (GNDI) figures and the following table gives gross NHS and HCHS spending in the United Kingdom as a proportion of GNDI for the years 1987–88 to 1989–90.

  Gross expenditure as a proportion of Gross National Disposable Income

  Financial Year

  NHS Total

  1HCHS Total

  1987–88

  5·1

  3·8

  1988–89

  5·0

  3·8

  1989–90

  5·0

  3·8

  Source: CSO.

  1 New definition of HCHS expenditure which was used in the Departmental Report. Includes Family Health Services Authority administration, Disablement Services Authority and Family Health Service cash-limited spending.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Iraq
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Our relations with Iraq are bad.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to pay an early visit to the Gulf to discuss the crisis with Governments of Gulf states.

  Mr Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to visit Saudi Arabia to discuss the Gulf war with the Emir of Kuwait; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  I visited Egypt and Saudi Arabia last week, and also called on the Emir of Kuwait in Ta'if. I was greatly encouraged by the resolve and determination of these important members of the coalition.

  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Arab League states about the further exploration of diplomatic solutions to the Gulf crisis.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Discussions with members of the union of Maghreb nations and of the Arab League 514
  continue. We all agree on the need to end the conflict as early as possible on the basis of the relevant Security Council resolutions. But a diplomatic solution can be possible only once Saddam Hussein is willing to comply with the Security Council resolutions.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made with our European partners on burden-sharing in connection with the United Kingdom costs of the war in the Gulf.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are in touch with a number of countries, including European partners, who may be willing to contribute to our costs. Germany has agreed to provide a cash sum of £275 million. This is in addition to practical assistance which the Germans and other partners have already made available in support of British deployments to the Gulf.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has made to peace proposals from Iran.

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

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest Gulf position.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest developments in the Gulf.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The allied coalition remains united and steadfast in its determination to prosecute the military campaign until we know that all Iraqi forces are out of Kuwait. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary found complete agreement on this during his recent visit to Egypt and Saudi Arabia. We do not want the conflict to continue a day longer than necessary. But even as recently as 48 hours ago Baghdad radio announced that"Iraq will never cease fighting until total victory is achieved."

  In the light of this sustained Iraqi belligerence it would be irresponsible for the Governments of the allied coalition to agree to a ceasefire, or a pause in hostilities, while our troops are engaged and exposed. None the less, we continue to hope that the Iraqi leadership will see sense and, as a first step, make an unequivocal commitment to withdraw from Kuwait accompanied by concrete steps towards full compliance with UN Security Council resolutions.

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on the creation of a stable framework for lasting peace and security in the Gulf.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on the creation of a stable security framework in the Gulf.
  515
  Sir Marcus Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the consideration being given to peace and security in the middle east after the present hostilities.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It must be for the Gulf states and others in the region to decide future arrangements for peace and security once hostilities have ended. We are ready to play our part, if asked to do so, in support of those arrangements.

  Mr. Brandon-Bravo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made with other countries on burden sharing with United Kingdom costs of the conflict in the Gulf.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We continue to have discussions with a number of countries which may be willing to contribute to our costs. Generous cash contributions have been pledged by Kuwait, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, and Hong Kong totalling £1·2 billion.

  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the non-military assistance being provided by European and other countries in respect of the allied efforts in the present Gulf conflict.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Considerable non-military assistance is being provided by European and other countries to the multinational force in the Gulf, mainly in the form of financial backing or medical and other logistical support. We are still in discussion with a number of countries which have not contributed directly to the military effort, but which may be willing to help defray our costs.

  Soviet Union
  Mr. Andrew MacKay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to visit the Soviet Union to discuss United Kingdom-Soviet relations.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State attaches importance to maintaining a dialogue with the Soviet Government. Dates for his next visit to the Soviet Union have not yet been fixed.

  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Soviet ambassador to discuss United Kingdom-Soviet relations.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  British-Soviet relations were among the subjects discussed when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State saw the Soviet ambassador on 31 January.

  Drugs
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British participation in the international fight against drugs.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We give high priority to combating drugs problems. We welcome the recent appointment of Mr. Giacomelli to head the new United Nations 516
  international drug control programme and will continue to work vigorously with the United Nations, in the European Community, with the Council of Europe's Pompidou group and through bilateral assistance programmes in the international fight against drugs.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the high commissioner of the republic of Cyprus to discuss United Nations resolutions on Cyprus.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs last met the Cyprus high commissioner formally on 1 November. He called on me on 15 November.

  British-American Relations
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet the United States Secretary of State to discuss British-American relations.

  Mr. Hurd
  I am often in touch with Secretary Baker and hope to meet him again within the next few weeks.

  Dalai Lama
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is proposing to meet the Dalai Lama of Tibet when he visits Britain next month.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

  Guatemala
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to meet representatives of the Government of Guatemala.

  Mr. Garet-Jones
  Neither I nor my right hon. Friend have any present plans to meet representatives of the Guatemalan Government. Developments in the Gulf obliged me to abandon plans to attend the inauguration of President Serrano on 14 January. I look forward to visiting Guatemala when I can.

  East Timor
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the current situation in East Timor.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General to promote contacts between the Indonesian and Portuguese Governments aimed at achieving a settlement which reflects the interests of the people of East Timor.

  International Criminal Court
  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will initiate discussions with the United Nations with a view to establishing an international criminal court.
  517
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The question of establishing an international criminal court is already under consideration at the United Nations in connection with the draft code of crimes against the peace and security of mankind. The United Kingdom participates in these discussions, most recently in November 1990.

  Colombia
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Colombia about human rights.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Human rights were discussed during the visit to London of the then President Barco in April 1990. We take every suitable opportunity to register our deep concerns about human rights in Colombia. We welcome President Gaviria's commitment to uphold them.

  Mr. Dimitri Birman
  Mr. Archer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Soviet authorities regarding the case of Dimitri Birman who has been refused permission to emigrate to Israel.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Her Majesty's embassy in Moscow has made representations to the Soviet Foreign Ministry about the case of Dimitri Birman, and we shall continue to follow it closely.

  Departmental Achievements
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the principal achievements of his Department since June 1987.

  Mr. Hurd
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Her Majesty's representatives overseas have protected and promoted British interests and pursued the Government's overseas objectives.

  The United Kingdom has played a prominent part in bringing about constructive change in Europe. With other western partners we have promoted democracy and human rights in eastern Europe, a policy pursued over many years which has at last borne fruit. To help the further progress of eastern European countries the FCO is managing a programme of assistance—the know-how fund. The Government have joined others in setting up the European bank for reconstruction and development, whose headquarters will be in London.

  The FCO played a leading part in the negotiations which completed the unification of Germany and the restoration of its sovereignty, a longstanding objective of British policy.

  The United Kingdom contributed to the conclusion of a treaty on conventional forces in Europe which, if implemented, will enhance stability in Europe. This treaty, the charter of Paris, which was agreed at the summit meeting of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the NATO London declaration, form the foundation of a Europe with greater freedom and security for all.

  In the European Community, the FCO has worked with other Government Departments for:
  518
  completion of the single market (70 per cent. of legislation agreed);
  reform of the common agricultural policy, including the 1988 budget decision;
  strengthening European political co-operation; and a co-ordinated EC contribution to eastern Europe.

  The United Kingdom has made a substantial contribution to change in South Africa where the release of Nelson Mandela and the opening of direct talks between the South African Government and the ANC are important achievements. We help black communities in South Africa.

  At the United Nations the United Kingdom has contributed to the adoption of resolution 598 which led to the ceasefire in the Iran-Iraq conflict. We supported the United Nations's negotiations which brought Namibia peacefully to independence.

  The United Kingdom played an important part in securing a prompt, firm and united response by the United Nations Security Council to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, and joined our partners in the international coalition in action to remove Iraqi forces from Kuwait in pursuit of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

  The United Kingdom has been at the forefront of international co-operation to combat drug trafficking and to protect the environment.

  The Overseas Development Administration of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has maintained a substantial aid programme. Gross public expenditure on overseas aid in the period 1987–89 totalled £4·75 billion. Priorities include supporting economic reforms, promoting good government, and reversing environmental degradation. About 80 per cent. of our bilateral aid has been allocated to the poorer countries. We have taken the lead in promoting measures to reduce the debt burden of poorer countries. We have responded swiftly to appeals for emergency aid—over £100 million from 1987–89.

  The assistance provided to business men by Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff overseas (nearly one third of whom are engaged in trade promotion work) has contributed to export sales by small, medium and major United Kingdom companies.

  Consuls and honorary consuls have provided assistance to an increasing number of British nationals travelling and living overseas. During the latter part of 1990 our embassies in Baghdad and Kuwait helped with the evacuation to the United Kingdom of 1,796 people.

  European Political Union
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's attitude towards the inter govermental conference on political union in the light of the Gulf conflict.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The 4 February meeting of the intergovernmental conference on political union discussed proposals for a common foreign and security policy. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and others emphasised the need to take account of the Twelve's response to the Gulf crisis. Foreign Ministers will return to this subject at subsequent meetings of the IGC.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made at the current session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As observers at this year's Commission on Human Rights, our delegation is playing an active part in its work. I visited Geneva on 4–5 February and gave a speech to the commission, a copy of which is being placed in the Library of the House. We shall continue our efforts in the remaining weeks of the commission and beyond to promote respect for fundamental human rights and to urge compliance by all states with their international obligations in this field.

  Western Sahara
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Morocco on the question of independence for western Sahara.

  Target

  Progress

  (i) Consular Work

  (a)To deal with the greater demand for consular services arising from the 6 per cent, increase in the number of British nationals travelling overseas within existing resources.

  The greater volume of travellers to 31 December 1990 was dealt with within overall existing resources.

  (b)To increase interest in, and usage of, public education television and radio fillers; to achieve free broadcast at airtime value of £1 million; and in 1990–91 to target our public information campaign more closely towards those travellers identified as being the major cause of the avoidable consular workload.

  Efforts to achieve the £1 million figure by year end continue. The targetting of the information campaign has been achieved through issuing a leaflet with all British visitors' passports since October 1990, and is ongoing for 1991.

  (c)To complete, by the end of 1990–91, a phased programme for the issue at overseas posts of passports in the European Community common format without any overall increase in existing staffing levels, while at the same time coping with a forecast increase in the number of passport applications.

  Under the above programme, the nine largest passport issuing posts overseas are to be equipped for the computerised issue of passports in the European Community common format. By 31 December 1990, five of these posts were operating the new system. Two more will be equipped before the end of the current financial year: the remaining two posts will be converted to the new system during financial year 1991–92. On the basis of information currently available, it is expected that the programme will be completed within existing staffing levels.

  (ii) Information Work

  (a)To improve the speed of delivery of ministerial statements and other verbatim material to overseas posts, while reducing annual costs by £135,000.

  Project scheduled for completion on 1 July 1991.

  (b)To improve the effectiveness of other information services (eg through better targetting on foreign policy objectives) without increasing costs.

  Improved systems established for the management of publications, including tighter ordering procedures, more consistency of presentation and better quality control.

  Savings on television production and exhibitions have been achieved by recruiting specialists and contracting out less work, eg a 40 per cent, saving on the cost of a new film about the workings of Parliament.

  Efficiency savings achieved to date—£126,500.

  (iii) Cultural Work

  (a)To increase the number of FCOSAS awards jointly funded with United Kingdom institutions, private trusts, private sector and other partners from 156 in 1988–89 to 275 in 1990–91.

  Evidence at 31 December 1990 suggested that 475 such awards would be made in 1990–91.

  520
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have remained strictly impartial in this dispute. However, as one of the permanent members of the Security Council, we have consistently supported the United Nations Secretary General's efforts to arrange a free and fair referendum to determine the territory's future.

  Value-for-Money Exercise
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the(a) target and (b) progress as at 31 December 1990 of the value-for-money exercise in respect of (i) consular work, (ii) information work, (iii) cultural work, (iv) commercial work, (v) overseas accommodation and (vi) nongovernmental organisations.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 31 January 1991]: The following progress had been made by the FCO by 31 December 1990 in meeting the value-for-money targets set for financial year 1990–91.
  521

  Target

  Progress

  (iv) Commercial Work

  (a) At existing levels of manpower resources, to improve further the targetting and quality of Posts' services to exporters, monitored through the Quality Measurement System and the charging mechanism, and to increase further the quantity and quality of reporting of export opportunities.

  Good progress has been made. Commercial Sections' work overseas, and the deployment of resources, are now guided and directed by the BOTB Forward Plan. The monitoring carried out under the Quality Measurement System has revealed that, over the last 15 months, customers' perception of the extent to which their needs were being met remained positive. The overall satisfaction rates for information, advice and promotion services, were consistently high during 1990.

  (b) To ensure better focussed and targetted output by Commercial Sections overseas directed towards the targets and priorities set out in the BOTB Forward Plan.

  High customer satisfaction borne out by demand for chargeable services, eg sales of market information enquiries increased by over 60 per cent, during the period April-November 1990; over 90 per cent, of the companies contacted would use the services again.

  (v) Overseas Accommodation

  (a) To reduce running costs on the overseas estate by £500,000 in 1990–91 by asset recycling.

  Performance at 31 December 1990 suggests target of £500,000 will be met or exceeded.

  (b) To reduce the level of furnishing stocks by 15 per cent, in the course of the 1990–91; and to achieve a saving in storage charges of £100,000.

  Furnishing stock levels at 31 December 1990 indicated that the target will be achieved; that for savings on storage charges has already been met.

  (c) To achieve 5 per cent, saving on cost of furnishings by direct purchase.

  The FCO is currently in negotiation with a large number of contractors: but it is expected the £250,000 target will be met.

  (d) To achieve savings on consultancy services, construction contracts and the purchase of goods of £250,000.

  £250,000savingsfigurehad been achieved by 31 December 1990.

  (vi) NGOS

  British Council

  (a) To reduce costs of the English language testing service by 55 percent, between 1987–88 and 1991–92.

  The target had been achieved by 31 December 1990. Total global surplus of £170,000 obtained in 1989–90. Forecast surplus for 1990–91 is £120,000.

  (b) To reduce by 1993–94 annual global costs of provision of information to outside enquirers by 15 per cent, of the 1988–89 expenditure figure.

  On target. Costs were reduced by £150,000 in 1989–90.

  (c) To reduce telephone, telex and fax expenditure at headquarters by 5 per cent, per annum between 1989–90 and 1991–92.

  Ahead of target. Reduction of 12 per cent. achieved in 1989–90; reduction of 10 per cent. forecast for 1990–91. Savings of £80,000 were produced in 1989–90.

  (vii) Commonwealth Secretarial

  (a) To find during 1991, in co-operation with other member governments of the Commonwealth, a cost effective solution to the Commonwealth Secretariat's accommodation problem and to press for an improved budgetting and management system for the Secretariat.

  The Commonwealth Senior Officials' Meeting in November1990 authorised the Secretariat to continue negotiations for the purchase of a second HQ building to accommodate their overspill staff. The meeting also introduced new programme budgetting procedures.

  BBC World Service

  (a) The BBC World Service has a number of performance measures and targets relating to efficiency, economy and effectiveness.

  As at 31 December 1990, the BBC World Service was on course to meet all its targets for 1990–91 by 31 March 1991.

DEFENCE

  The Gulf
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 January 1991 at column 504 to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson), if he will give the names and size of the ships chartered by Her Majesty's Government for use in the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Although some information has been given in the past, in view of the current terrorist threat and the possibility of reprisals against those shipping companies willing to carry out work in support of 522
  British forces in the Gulf, I do not believe it would be prudent to provide further details. To date a total of 130 vessels have been chartered by Her Majesty's Government for use in the Gulf, of which seven have been British flagged.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his statement of 31 January,Official Report, columns 1108 and 1114, if he will now give consideration to the provision of call-time-limited free phone calls to the United Kingdom and Germany for service personnel in the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We believe that the concession announced by my right hon. Friend on 31 January is the
  523
  most equitable means of subsidising telephone calls made from the Gulf by service personnel. Cable and Wireless has recently announced a complementary scheme which aims to provide 100,000 £10 phone cards free over a two to three-month period.

  Grant paid—Leisure/Recreation Centres

  Council

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Total

  Antrim

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  56,348

  50,399

  4,769

  —

  —

  111,516

  Ards

  —

  607

  7,073

  157,704

  200,810

  814,810

  129,014

  543,319

  20,105

  7,646

  1,881,088

  Armagh

  —

  —

  —

  —

  63,069

  349,485

  5,154

  —

  —

  —

  417,708

  Ballymena

  2,386

  91,793

  494,344

  133,965

  262,121

  —

  20,257

  —

  45,522

  —

  1,050,388

  Ballymoney

  674,434

  449,326

  200,855

  343

  3,522

  1,232

  2,589

  56,250

  20,537

  —

  1,409,088

  Banbridge

  53,739

  10,092

  3,329

  1,836

  10,755

  60,385

  —

  608

  —

  —

  140,744

  Belfast

  1,004,949

  2,252,944

  3,164,971

  1,666,133

  648,768

  96,307

  134,652

  74,162

  80,641

  —

  9,123,527

  Carrickfergus

  20,190

  684

  —

  —

  110,742

  45,754

  9,000

  —

  —

  —

  186,370

  Castlereagh

  57,382

  70,962

  2,822

  18,193

  47,648

  29,437

  —

  3,187

  9,524

  —

  239,155

  (Swimming pool only)

  Cookstown

  —

  —

  19,806

  —

  18,652

  390,275

  266,570

  89,712

  52,080

  —

  837,095

  Coleraine

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  14,644

  2,318

  456

  18,129

  25,145

  60,692

  Craigavon

  53,616

  27,903

  456

  12,774

  —

  —

  —

  7,065

  —

  —

  101,814

  Down

  —

  67,940

  287,704

  187,423

  139,810

  73,665

  186,959

  7,830

  3,222

  1,588

  956,141

  Derry

  51,719

  73,479

  24,648

  48,015

  3,481

  1,681

  —

  14,942

  7,748

  5,562

  231.275

  Dungannon

  —

  —

  —

  16,881

  9,675

  —

  1,750

  —

  —

  —

  28,306

  (Swimming pool only)

  Fermanagh

  3,144

  —

  80,878

  —

  7,819

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  91,841

  Larne

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,956

  435

  981

  —

  4,372

  (Swimming pool only)

  Limavady

  120,020

  17,316

  64,909

  —

  15,357

  12,504

  2,799

  —

  —

  —

  232,905

  Lisburn

  —

  —

  89,644

  311,981

  476,337

  168,002

  60,748

  11,557

  43,005

  61,376

  1,222,650

  Magherafelt

  119,916

  228,065

  40,208

  90,795

  76,126

  113,992

  8,879

  16,542

  27,859

  6,423

  728,805

  Moyle

  —

  —

  109,972

  91,546

  93,039

  1,833

  —

  855

  —

  —

  297,245

  Newry/Mourne

  72,311

  93,689

  297,573

  243,595

  50,832

  29,275

  296,173

  173,482

  61,921

  13,998

  1,332,849

  Newtownabbey

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  19,366

  —

  —

  19,366

  North Down

  317,600

  135,580

  83,353

  22,172

  —

  —

  19,854

  —

  —

  —

  578,559

  Omagh

  397,476

  351,497

  319,543

  1,651

  7,040

  21,838

  18,381

  25,515

  1,458

  3,861

  1,148,260

  Strabane

  1,973

  —

  —

  —

  449,413

  171,073

  —

  —

  15,243

  65,435

  703,137

  Total

  2,950,855

  3,871,877

  5,292,088

  3,005,007

  2,695,016

  2,452,540

  1,218,452

  1,050,052

  407,975

  191,034

  23,134,896

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funds are available to assist district councils with the capital cost of leisure centre construction; and if he will make it his policy to fund those councils which have proceeded with schemes ahead of receiving grant aid.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The funds made available by Government are determined from year to year in relation to the overall priorities of the Department of Education. In the current financial year funds have been made available to allow a start to be made on a sports hall facility at Dungannon.

  Expenditure incurred by district councils which has not been approved by the Department of Education is not grant-aided retrospectively. It is not proposed to change this policy.

  Councils may also apply for EC funding in support of capital development.

  EC Funding
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much European Community funding has been granted to each Northern Ireland district council; and if he will list the schemes and show from which European Community fund the grant was made.

  Mr. Needham
  I have arranged for the information requested by the hon. Gentleman to be placed in the Library.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Leisure Facilities
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much grant aid has been given towards the capital cost of district council recreation or leisure centres in each of the past 10 years; and if he will specify the council to which each grant was given.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Grants by the Department of Education have been made as follows:

EMPLOYMENT

  Adjudicated Decisions
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the relationship between information on adjudicated decisions contained in the chief adjudication officer's quarterly reports and clerical returns; and whether the series are compatible.

  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.

  Social Security Act 1989
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research his Department is undertaking or has commissioned concerning the Social Security Act 1989; and when he expects the research to be published.

  Mr. Jackson
  My Department is presently undertaking research on the implementation of the actively seeking employment condition for benefit entitlement. A study on the perception of employers to this condition has also been commissioned from the Institute for Manpower Studies. It is not possible at this time to provide an indication of the timing of any publication.

SCOTLAND

  Artistic Institutions
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the projects funded by his Department to help(a) musical, (b) theatre and (c) other artistic institutions and organisations in Scotland to make their activities easily available to low-income Scottish people.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The following projects, funded under the urban programme, aim to improve access to, and involvement in, the arts by communities in the worst deprived urban areas in Scotland.

  (a) Music

  Music Project—Inverclyde

  C Sharp Music Factory—Castlemilk

  (b) Theatre

  West Lothian Youth Theatre—Livingston

  Barlanark Theatre Workshop

  Enterprise Theatre—Govan

  Garthamlock Visual Statement

  St. Andrew's High School Theatre—Clydebank

  (c) Other

  Craigmillar Arts Project

  Community Arts Programme—Ardrossan

  Garnock Valley Arts Resource Centre—Glengarnock

  Maryhill Arts Project

  Forum Arts Centre—Townhead

  Community Arts Project—Motherwell

  Community Arts Team—Dundee

  Falkirk Community Arts Project

  Glasgow 1990—Arts Co-ordinator

  Business and the Arts—Govan

  Castlemilk Community Arts/Cultural Development

  Slide Workshop (Magic Lantern Van)—Edinburgh

  Springburn Museum and Exhibition Centre

  The Dundee Dance Factory

  Stanley Community Arts Project—Ardrossan

  Beechwood Integrated Arts Project—Renfrew

  Gear Community Arts Project—Glasgow

  Gorbals Community Arts and Leisure Programme

  Training
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland ( I) how much money he intends to invest in Monklands for the purpose of job creation and training in 1991 to 1994;

  (2) how much the Training Agency plans to invest in Lanarkshire in 1991 to 1994;

  (3) how much money he intends to invest in Strathkelvin for the purpose of job creation and training in 1991 to 1994;

  (4) how much the Training Agency plans to invest in Dumbartonshire in 1991 to 1994;

  (5) what specific resources have been allocated by the Scottish Development Agency to Lanarkshire for the years 1991 to 1995.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  In Scotland from 1 April 1991 Government resources for investment in economic development leading to the creation of jobs and for training will be devolved to Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, working in conjunction with the local enterprise companies. These organisations will decide where such resources are to be invested. Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are the successor bodies to the Training Agency and to the Scottish Development Agency and the Highlands and Islands Development Board.
  526
  Decisions about the allocation of resources for Lanarkshire and, within that area, for Monklands will be taken by Scottish Enterprise in conjunction with the relevant local enterprise company, Lanarkshire development agency. Similarly, such decisions in relation to Dumbartonshire and, within that area, Strathkelvin will be taken by Scottish Enterprise in conjunction with Dumbartonshire Enterprise Company.

  Local Enterprise Companies
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision there is under the Scottish Enterprise legislation for each local enterprise company to collate monthly figures on unemployment in their areas.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  None. The collation of unemployment figures remains the responsibility of the Employment Department.

  Housing
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of eligible homes in Scotland currently have(a) cavity wall insulation, (b) 150mm of loft insulation, (c) thermostats on 50 per cent. or more radiator valves, (d) double glazing on 50 per cent. or more external windows, (e) compact fluorescent lighting in 50 per cent. or more light fittings, (f) gas condensing boilers and (g) floor insulation; and by when he forecasts that each of these figures will reach 75 per cent. and 90 per cent. of the eligible market.

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

  Blood Products
  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration the Medicines Control Agency is giving to licensing the process made available to the Scottish national blood transfusion service to produce a higher potency factor VIII for the rest of the commercial plasma fractionation/supply industry in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Matters relating to the Medicines Control Agency are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  An application for a licence for the production of higher potency factor VIII has not yet been submitted to the agency by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, but it will do so soon. The intention is to produce a supply to meet the needs of Scottish patients.

  Sports and Recreation
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the financial support given by his office to local authorities and schools to meet the needs of(a) physical education and (b) recreation in schools and communities in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Central Government support for local authority expenditure is not hypothecated to individual services.

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

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is not available centrally in the form requested. However, data are available on the proportions of general medical practitioners in each health board area achieving the target levels for childhood immunisation and cervical screening; and this information as at 1 April 1990 is published in "Health Briefing No. 91/01/STA", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Health Boards
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the names of the new members of Grampian health board to serve from 1 April.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will name the non-executive members of the new health boards.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The names of those appointed as non-executive members of health boards with effect from 1 April 1991 are listed with their area of residence.

  Appointments

  Residence

  Argyll and Clyde health board

  Mr. N. M. Faccenda

  Connel

  Mrs. M. A. Foggie

  Greenock

  Mrs. E. S. Lander

  Kilmacolm

  Dr. J. Moffat

  Greenock

  Mr. C. H. Parker

  Kilmacolm

  Mrs. J. C. Le Roux

  Dunoon

  Ayrshire and Arran health board

  Mr. J. Cahill

  Seamill

  Mr. J. W. G. Donaldson

  Isle of Arran

  Mrs. A. Dunbar

  Saltcoats

  Dr. K. G. Fegan

  West Kibride

  Mr. W. M. Richie

  Kirkoswald

  Mr. I. B. Valentine

  Ayr

  Borders health board

  Dr. D. W. Cameron MBE

  Hawick

  Mr. D. A. G. Kilshaw

  Melrose

  Miss M. C. M. Marshall

  Lauder

  Mr. J. P. Metcalfe

  Hawick

  Lady F. E. Sanderson

  Melrose

  Mr. R. A. Stewart

  Galashiels

  Dumfries and Galloway health board

  Mrs. V. M. I. Jardine-Paterson

  Lockerbie

  Mr. H. S. McFadzean

  Port William

  Mr. W. Seright

  Dumfries

  Mrs. J. D. Tulloch

  Lockerbie

  Dr. A. P. D. Wilkinson

  Castle Douglas

  Mr. W. I. Wilson

  Stranraer

  Fife health board

  Mrs. S. L. Aitken

  Wormit

  Dr. A. C. A. Alexander

  Dunfermline

  Mr. F. J. R. Craig

  Gateside

  Dr. C. G. Ingram

  St. Andrews

  Mrs. M. Steedman OBE

  Cupar

  Mr. G. M. Thomson

  Perth

  Forth Valley health board

  Mr. E. T. M. Bell-Scott

  Muckhart

  528

  Appointments

  Residence

  Mr. K. Harding

  Dunblane

  Dr. G. B. Hastings

  Bridge of Allan

  Mr. P. A. Joynson

  Stirling

  Mrs. K. A. Smith

  Killearn, Glasgow

  Mr. C. S. R. Stroyan

  Bridgend of Teith

  Grampian health board

  Mr. A. B. Broomfield

  Aberdeen

  Dr. C. A. MacLeod

  Aberdeen

  Professor D. Ogston

  Aberdeen

  Mr. J. A. Snedden

  Elgin

  Mr. N. Thornton-Kemsley, CBE

  Laurencekirk

  Mrs. J. G. A. Wisely, JP

  Aberdeen

  Greater Glasgow health board

  Rev. R. D. M. Campbell

  Newton Mearns

  Mrs. A. Gilchrist

  Newton Mearns

  Lady S. Goold

  Clarkston

  Mr. P. W. Hoist

  Glasgow

  Professor R. M. Mackie

  Bearsden

  Mr. A. Scobbie

  Bearsden

  Highland health board

  Mr. J. G. Ligertwood

  Inverness

  Mr. D. J. Mackay

  Beauly

  Mrs. A. Macpherson

  Conon Bridge

  Mr. C. Neilson, JP

  Fort William

  Mrs. S. G. H. Stone

  Tain

  Mrs. C. Thomson

  Inverness

  Lanarkshire health board

  Dr. W. R. Criggie

  Lanark

  Mrs. A. S. Hinshalwood

  Strathhaven

  Mr. I. L. Livingstone

  Motherwell

  Mr. R. J. Logan, MBE, JP

  Carnwarth

  Mr. J. P. Robison, JP

  Lanark

  Mr. J. Thomson, MBE

  Motherwell

  Lothian health board

  Professor R. C. B. Aitken

  Edinburgh

  Mrs. G. Barton

  Edinburgh

  Mr. J. A. Campbell

  Edinburgh

  Mr. R. Findlay

  Edinburgh

  Mrs. M. B. M. Knox

  Edinburgh

  Mr. G. S. Millar

  Edinburgh

  Orkney health board

  Mr. J. Flett

  Kirkwall

  Captain M. Gunn

  Stromness

  Mr. E. M. Gibson, MBE

  Kirkwall

  Mrs. E. B. Kerr

  Stromness

  Mr. J. Rendall

  Papa Westray

  Dr. J. S. Walker

  Kirkwall

  Shetland health board

  Mr. R. R. Bentley

  Virkie

  Mrs. M. U. Colligan

  Voe

  Sqn. Ldr. B. P. Gregson

  Unst

  Dr. M. D. Hunter

  Levenwick

  Mr. R. L. Johnson

  Lerwick

  Miss A. I. Manson

  Brae

  Tayside health board

  Rev. K. Campbell

  Barnhill

  Mr. D. W. M. Davidson, JP

  Blairgowrie

  Mrs. S. H. Fallon

  Inchture

  Rt. Rev. L. E. Luscombe

  Kirkton of Tealing

  Professor R. E. Olver

  St. Andrews

  Western Isles health board

  Mr. J. H. Downie

  Isle of Harris

  Mrs. C. R. Macaskill

  North Uist

  Mr. A. Matheson

  Stornoway

  Mr. I. D. Maclver

  Stornaway

  Cereals
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farms produce cereals; and how many of these farms produce less than 75 acres of cereals per annum.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The June 1990 main agricultural census recorded that 13,208 farms in Scotland were growing cereals. Of those 8,273 were growing less than 30.3 hectares (75 acres) of cereals.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of pupils on the roll of each school involved in the assisted places schemes.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is set out in the table:

  School

  Total roll at September 1990

  Aberlour House School, Moray

  133

  Albyn School for Girls, Aberdeen

  470

  Ardvreck School, Crieff

  151

  Beaconhurst Grange School, Bridge of Allan

  229

  Belhaven Hill School, Dunbar

  80

  Belmont House School, Newton Mearns

  379

  Blairmore School, Huntly

  80

  Butterstone House School, Dunkeld

  54

  Cargilfield School, Edinburgh

  182

  Clifton Hall School, Midlothian

  106

  Craigclowan Preparatory School, Perth

  207

  Craigholme School for Girls, Glasgow

  544

  Crawfordton House School, Dumfriesshire

  80

  Croftinloan School, Pitlochry

  98

  Daniel Stewart's and Melville College, Edinburgh

  1,886

  The Mary Erskine School, Edinburgh

  560

  Dollar Academy

  1,132

  Drumley House School, Ayrshire

  126

  Edinburgh Academy

  919

  Fernhill School, Glasgow

  305

  Fettes College, Edinburgh

  429

  Fort Augustus Abbey School

  62

  George Heriot's School, Edinburgh

  1,452

  George Watson's College, Edinburgh

  2,094

  Glasgow Academy

  773

  Glenalmond College, Perthshire

  309

  Gordonstoun School, Morayshire

  476

  Hamilton College

  719

  The High School of Dundee

  1,143

  The High School of Glasgow

  946

  Hutchesons' Grammar School, Glasgow

  1,666

  Keil School, Dumbarton

  211

  Kelvinside Academy, Glasgow

  640

  Kilgraston School, Perthshire

  274

  Kilquhanity House School, Castle Douglas

  50

  Lathallan School, Montrose

  66

  Laurel Bank School, Glasgow

  396

  Lomond School, Helensburgh

  551

  Loretto School, Musselburgh

  391

  Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh

  374

  Morrison's Academy, Crieff

  761

  New Park School, St. Andrews

  115

  Oxenfoord Castle School, Midlothian

  90

  Park School, Glasgow

  361

  Park Lodge School, Helensburgh

  100

  Rannoch School, Perthshire

  291

  Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen

  1,173

  Rudolf Steiner School of Edinburgh

  287

  St. Aloysius' College, Glasgow

  1,075

  St. Columba's School, Kilmacolm

  551

  St. Denis and Cranley School, Edinburgh

  210

  St. George's School for Girls, Edinburgh

  843

  530

  School

  Total roll at September 1990

  St. Leonard's School, St. Andrews

  378

  St. Margaret's School for Girls, Aberdeen

  399

  St. Margaret's School for Girls, Edinburgh

  796

  St. Mary's School, Melrose

  80

  Strathallan School, Forgandenny, Perthshire

  533

  Wellington School, Ayr

  449

  Westbourne, Glasgow

  302

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

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: A variety of minor items are periodically reported missing. The following more substantial items have been formally recorded since 1988 as losses to the Scottish Office whi[ch are attributable to theft.

  Year

  Item

  Approximate value £

  1988

  Cash

  400

  1989

  Motor car

  2,000

  1989

  Furniture/machinery

  3,800

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Care
  Mr. Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is(a) the payment per resident from his Department to private nursing and or care homes and (b) the public expenditure per resident in local council care.

  Miss Widdecombe
  At May 1990, the latest date for which complete figures are available, the estimated average annual payment of income support to people in residential care and nursing homes was £6,719 per year.

  Information regarding amounts of other social security benefits paid to people in residential care and nursing homes and information regarding amounts of any social security benefits paid to people in local authority residential accommodation is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health that the available figures show that in 1988–89, the gross annual expenditure by local social service departments on residential care (excluding nursing home care) per supported resident aged 65 and over was £8,788. The net annual local authority expenditure was £5,980. The difference between gross and net is due to fees and charges, most of which are paid out of social security benefits.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security where the full terms of the war pensions scheme are available; and if he will summarise them.
  531
  Miss Widdecombe
  The full terms of the war pensions scheme are to be found in the Department's publication "War Pensions. The Statutes, Regulations, Rules and Orders as now in Force" a copy of which is available in the Library. The scheme provides for pensions where the disablement or death of a member of the armed forces is due to service; there are similar provisions for other groups such as members of the Merchant Navy. Allied provisions for members of the armed forces form part of the occupational pension scheme which is administered by the Ministry of Defence.

  Pregnancy
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what steps he takes to monitor the financial, housing or social circumstances of pregnant girls aged under 18 years in the light of the higher risks faced by them and their babies;

  (2) if he is monitoring the applications for income support made by pregnant girls under 18 years old; and if he will now make it his practice to grant such applications during the winter without any further requirements of severe hardship;

  (3) how many pregnant girls under 18 years old and in the first six months of their pregnancy are receiving income support due to severe hardship; and what proportions of such applications are currently being granted.

  Mr. Jack
  All pregnant girls aged 16 or 17 years of age can get income support under normal rules for the 11 weeks prior to, and for six weeks after, their confinement. During the earlier stage of pregnancy they can get income support if they are incapable of work, but the remainder are guaranteed the offer of a youth training place. For those on youth training, training allowance replaces income support. The Secretary of State for Employment has taken measures to ease access to appropriate youth training provision for pregnant girls, the aim of which is to provide training relevant to their needs.

  The severe hardship provisions within income support provide the necessary discretion to enable sensitive handling of such cases and for financial, housing and social circumstances to be taken into account, and there are no plans for making seasonal adjustments to the rules. Between 5 January 1991 and 8 February 1991, of 218 claims for income support by pregnant girls 162 (74 per cent.) were in need of income support under the severe hardship provisions.

  Mobility Benefit
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the method by which his Department calculates the cost of extending entitlements to the mobility component to those aged over 65 years.

  Mr. Scott
  The estimate of the cost of extending entitlement to the higher rate mobility component of the disability living allowance to those over 65 was produced by looking at the numbers of people identified by OPCS who were over the age of 65 and not already getting mobility allowance who would meet the current qualifying conditions for mobility allowance were the age limit to be removed.

  Therapeutic Work
  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of(a) invalidity benefit and (b) severe disablement allowance are taking advantage of the therapeutic earnings provisions; and what is the average weekly amount earned in both cases.

  Mr. Scott
  Information on the number of people claiming an incapacity benefit and receiving earnings for therapeutic work is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Similarly, information on the level of payment received is not collected centrally.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number of persons within the Doncaster metropolitan borough area who are in receipt of attendance allowance.

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

  Income Support
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he has issued any additional guidance to his Department's offices in relation to making income support available to under 18-year-olds in view of the exceptionally cold weather;

  (2) what monitoring he is undertaking of the number of applications made, and applications granted, for income support for under 18-year-olds due to severe hardship in the current exceptionally cold weather; and what figures he has collected.

  Mr. Jack
  All claims to income support from young people under 18 years of age which are not successful under normal rules are automatically referred for sympathetic consideration under the severe hardship provisions. All such claimants are automatically interviewed by staff who have been trained to recognise the needs of these particularly vulnerable young people. No further guidance was, therefore, necessary to cater for the exceptionally cold weather.

  During the week commencing 4 February, 866 claims to income support were received from young people and directions for payment were made in 647 (75 per cent.) of them.

  Social Fund
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many social fund loan applications were refused in each of his two Department's offices at Greenock and Port Glasgow in(a) 1989–90 and (b) 1990 to date due to perceived inability to repay; and what advice was given to those experiencing such a refusal.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 6 February 1991]: The table shows the number of applications recorded as refused on grounds of inability to repay. All letters notifying decisions advise applicants of their right to ask for a review and refer to the citizens advice bureau or a local law centre as a

  533
  source of general advice. Money advice is normally offered to applicants discovered to he in financial difficulties, including such cases where an applicant is refused because of a perceived inability to repay.
  534

  1989–90

  1990 to December 1990

  Greenock

  89

  136

  Port Glasgow

  111

  144

  EASTERN EUROPE: DISPOSAL OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT
  EASTERN EUROPE: DISPOSAL OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT
  EAST TIMOR: ARREST OF FRANCISCO DIAS XIMENES
  EAST TIMOR: ARREST OF FRANCISCO DIAS XIMENES
  MILITARY EQUIPMENT: DISPOSAL UNDER CFE TREATY
  MILITARY EQUIPMENT: DISPOSAL UNDER CFE TREATY
  WAR WIDOWS: PENSIONS FOLLOWING REMARRIAGE
  WAR WIDOWS: PENSIONS FOLLOWING REMARRIAGE
  VIETNAM: TRADE BALANCE
  VIETNAM: TRADE BALANCE
  LET PROPERTY: COMMUNITY CHARGE LIABILITY
  LET PROPERTY: COMMUNITY CHARGE LIABILITY
  AGRICULTURAL TENANCIES: CONSULTATIVE PAPER
  AGRICULTURAL TENANCIES: CONSULTATIVE PAPER
  ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION WORKING GROUP, SCOTLAND
  ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION WORKING GROUP, SCOTLAND