Written Answers of 18 February 1991

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Terry Fields
  To ask the Attorney-General what provisions exist to ensure that solicitors engaged to represent DSS claimants on legal aid at early stages of appeal do not cease to represent them when their appeals reach critical stages and legal aid runs out; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  Civil legal aid is granted by the legal aid board for most business in the county courts and the High Court subject to the applicant satisfying the board's financial eligibility and merits tests. The merits test is applied at the outset of a case to determine whether it is worth pursuing. Legal aid is not available for representation before social security appeal tribunals or the social security commissioners, but green form advice is available to prepare for the hearing.

ENVIRONMENT

  Accommodation
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department has on the number of people without permanent accommodation or temporary accommodation for each local authority area(a) in the last quarter of 1990 and (b) in January 1991.

  Mr. Yeo
  My Department has no information on the numbers of people without permanent or temporary accommodation by individual local authority area. A count of persons sleeping rough is to be carried out in April as part of the 1991 population census.

  Bed-and-Breakfast Accommodation
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department has on the number of people in temporary bed-and-breakfast accommodation for each local authority area(a) in the last quarter of 1990 and (b) in January 1991.

  Mr. Yeo
  Local authorities have a statutory duty to secure accommodation for households who have been found to be homeless, or threatened with homelessness, under part III of the Housing Act 1985. Information on households dealt with under these provisions is reported quarterly to the Department.

  The latest available figures for the number of homeless households in bed-and-breakfast accommodation are for the end of September 1990. They appear in table 7 of "Households found accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the third quarter 1990. Supplementary Tables", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Private Sector Leasing
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the number of people in private sector leasing provided by each local authority area(a) in the last quarter of 1990 and (b) in January 1991.

  Mr. Yeo
  Local authorities reported the number of dwellings leased by them with an original lease of less than three years in their annual housing investment programme returns for 1 April 1990. The information appears in "1990 HIP1 All Items Print", column A81, a copy of which is in the Library. My Department has no information on the number of people occupying these dwellings.

  Maybury School, Woking
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department first became aware of the appeal against his decision in favour of Woking borough council's compulsory purchase order on the former Maybury school site in Woking; and when he now expects to send instructions on this matter to the Treasury Solicitor.

  Sir George Young
  My Department was made aware of the appeal to the High Court against the decision to confirm the Woking BC (former Maybury County School Annexe) (No. 2) CPO 1989, by letter dated 25 October 1990. We have already instructed the Treasury Solicitor in the matter.

  County Council Staff
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a list showing the number of full-time equivalent staff employed by each individual shire county in England during 1990–91.

  Mr. Key
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  County Hall, London
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take immediate steps to facilitate the use of county hall, London, for sheltering the homeless during the winter months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The London residuary body is preparing to dispose of county hall at the earliest convenient opportunity. The suggested use would not be consistent with the discharge of LRB's statutory duty to dispose of surplus property. A total of 700 places in emergency shelters are available for rough sleepers in London and will remain open while the very cold weather continues. Most of the shelters have been full, but some still have free spaces for rough sleepers to use.

  Union Flags
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what restrictions there are on the circumstances and numbers of occasions on which union flags can be flown from civic buildings at the direction of local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  There are no restrictions on the circumstances and numbers of occasions on which union flags can be
  3
  flown from civic buildings. It is for local authorities to exercise their discretion for which they are answerable to their electorates.

  Housing
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Evironment what major research his Department has conducted or commissioned into the future housing needs in Britain.

  Mr. Yeo
  A significant part of the housing research programme is devoted to assessing the housing needs of specific groups. These include surveys of the housing needs of elderly and disabled people, of ethnic minorities, of low-income migrants and of those with AIDS and HIV infection. The Department is also examining the numbers and characteristics of those on local authority and housing association waiting lists compared with those who are allocated social housing and the needs and aspirations of concealed households and of those who share their accommodation.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites of special scientific interest have been damaged or destroyed since the passing of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; and what is the total area of such sites.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to him on 10 December 1990,Official Report, column 267.

  Private Rented Properties
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide incentives to private sector landlords to improve the conditions of their properties.

  Mr. Yeo
  The main incentive a private landlord has to improve his property is that it will command a higher rent. If the additional rental income which can be expected is insufficient to pay for the works a house renovation grant may be available. A landlord will be entitled to such a grant if a repairs notice is served by the local housing authority.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to improve the minimum conditions standards for privately rented accommodation.

  Mr. Yeo
  The minimum standard of fitness of dwellings for human habitation in section 604 of the Housing Act 1985 was replaced by an improved standard set out in paragraph 83 of schedule 9 to the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. This applies to all properties, including those in the private rented sector, and includes provisions relating specifically to buildings containing flats. There are no plans for further legislative changes at present, although the matter is being kept under review.

  Mortgage Possession Orders
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many mortgage possession orders have been made in Coventry and the west midlands in each of the last five years to the latest available date and for each of the last 12 months.
  4
  Mr. Yeo
  Comprehensive information on mortgage possessions in the city of Coventry and west midlands conurbation, including properties surrendered without a court order, is not available. The available figures for possession orders made by the courts covering Coventry and the west midlands conurbation, not all of which are executed, are as follows:

  Mortgage possession orders

  Year

  Coventry

  West midlands conurbation

  1987

  385

  2,702

  1988

  536

  2,454

  1989

  500

  2,434

  1990

  325

  2,217

  Parish and Town Councils
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the university of Aston business school to report on the national survey of parish and town councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  In the summer.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the terms of reference given to the university of Aston business school for the survey of parish and town councils on behalf of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The aim of the survey is to produce a comprehensive picture of what parish and town councils are doing and how they are doing it, and what are their finances.

  Community Forums
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to extend community forums of those districts and city areas where there are no parish or town councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The Secretary of State has power only to change the present coverage of parishes as a result of recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. Other changes are within the scope of the current review of local government.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any changes to announce to his Department's cash limits for 1991–92.

  Mr. Yeo
  Yes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary revised supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class VIII vote 15 will be increased by £829,000 from £1,000 to £830,000. This increase is required because there will be no receipts from the sale of the Crown Suppliers' vehicle hire and maintenance business in 1990–91. This increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total published in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each authority in England his estimate of the numbers who will benefit from the community charge reduction scheme.
  5
  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 8 February 1991]: My Department does not hold community charge registers for individual authorities and I am not, therefore, at present able to make detailed estimates by local authority area. On the basis of information from the family expenditure survey, I estimate that more than 18 million charge payers in England should receive some reduction in 1991–92. Estimates for individual local authority areas will become available once local authorities make their grant claims in respect of 1991–92.

  I have today placed in the Library a table showing the percentage of the average rateable value for an area below which a two-adult household will benefit from the community charge reduction scheme, provided that they have not moved since 1 April 1990. This shows that, in most areas, couples with rateable values of less than 75 per cent. of the average for their local authority will have a reduction. In many areas, couples with rateable values well above the average for their area will benefit.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish his best estimates of the amount actually paid out in poll tax transitional relief in 1990–91.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 14 February 1991]: My best estimate, given in the Chancellor's autumn statement, is that charge payers will benefit from transitional relief by £320 million in 1990–91. I shall be in a position to publish a final figure for the amount of relief given when local authorities submit their final grant claims later this year.

  Housing and Urban Renewal
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make available details of any contracts awarded by his Department to consultants to carry out work on housing or urban renewal projects, with information on the companies, principals involved, nature of project and value of project during 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: Details of contracts awarded by the Department in 1989–90 and to date in 1990–91 to bodies outside government for research and consultancy projects on topics related to housing or urban renewal have been placed in the Library. The cost of individual projects is in some cases commercially confidential and in others not finally known. The information gives approximate figures for the aggregate cost of groups of projects.

  (1)

  (2)

  (3)

  (4)

  (5)

  Authority

  Total value of projects in 1990–91 UP submission

  Total value of projects approved for grants 1990–91

  Ratio of approved to submitted

  UP Allocation 1991–92

  (£000)

  (£000)

  (Per cent.)

  (£000)

  Newcastle/Gatehead

  23,286

  18,645

  80

  17,096

  Hartlepool

  2,332

  2,030

  87

  2,012

  Langbaurgh

  2,737

  1,962

  72

  2,059

  Middlebrough

  7,108

  5,303

  75

  5,450

  North Tyneside

  5,423

  4,562

  84

  3,560

  South Tyneside

  5,683

  5,308

  93

  5,025

  Stockton

  1,765

  1,285

  73

  1,669

  Sunderland

  6,122

  5,345

  87

  5,332

  Manchester/Salford

  29,648

  26,375

  89

  21,749

  Blackburn

  4,500

  4,100

  91

  4,010

  Bolton

  4,848

  4,050

  84

  4,010

  Bristol Channel
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what action his Department is taking to reduce the damage to the ecology of the Bristol channel that may be caused by the current oil slick;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the ecological effects of the oil slick that is currently polluting the Bristol channel.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: I understand that the oil slick observed on the Bristol channel this week has resulted from a spillage of approximately 20 tons of fuel oil from Llanwern steelworks. While it is too early to give an overall assessment of its effects, reports have been received of 50 to 100, mainly lightly, oiled birds. At present the slick does not appear to have harmed major wildlife sites, although mud flats and salt marshes may suffer some short-term damage. Any attempt to clean up in such sensitive environments is likely to cause more damage than leaving oil to weather and degrade by natural processes. The Nature Conservancy Council, the Government's adviser on wildlife, is closely monitoring the situation and the Department of Transport's marine pollution control unit has provided advice on appropriate clean up techniques. The National Rivers Authority is leading the response to this incident together with the local authorities concerned and is currently working with the oil industry's oil spill service centre to recover oil at sea before it reaches the shore. There have been no reports of harm to the limited fishing grounds in the area.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each urban programme authority the total value of projects listed in their submissions for 1990–91 an 1991–92, the total value of these projects for urban programme grants and the ratio of bids to allocations.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: The information requested is currently available only for 1990–91 and is shown in columns 1–4 of the table. Information for 1991–92 will be available only after all urban programme submissions have been received and the approval process completed. Column 5 of the table shows the recently announced provisional allocations for 1991–92 for each authority.
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  (1)

  (2)

  (3)

  (4)

  (5)

  Authority

  Total value of projects in 1990–91 UP submission

  Total value of projects approved for grants 1990–91

  Ratio of approved to submitted

  UP Allocation 1991–92

  (£000)

  (£000)

  (Per cent.)

  (£000)

  Burnley

  2,770

  2,133

  77

  2,173

  Oldham

  4,368

  3,814

  87

  3,965

  Preston

  2,588

  2,405

  93

  2,461

  Rochdale

  4,739

  3,915

  83

  3,975

  Wigan

  2,630

  2,630

  100

  2,722

  Liverpool

  23,009

  19,296

  84

  19,115

  Halton

  2,140

  1,720

  80

  1,537

  Knowsley

  4,170

  4,027

  97

  4,177

  St. Helens

  2,280

  2,133

  94

  1,882

  Sefton

  2,124

  2,074

  98

  1,742

  Wirral

  4,165

  4,206

  101

  3,713

  Barnsley

  1,992

  1,832

  92

  1,832

  Bradford

  6,294

  4,910

  78

  4,711

  Doncaster

  2,539

  2,000

  79

  2,000

  Hull

  6,045

  5,131

  85

  5,120

  Kirklees

  1,602

  1,068

  67

  1,136

  Leeds

  5,922

  5,432

  92

  5,490

  Rotherham

  2,438

  2,000

  82

  2,000

  Sheffield

  8,038

  6,124

  76

  6,182

  Birmingham

  34,000

  23,530

  69

  23,535

  Coventry

  5,261

  5,084

  97

  4,772

  Dudley

  1,856

  1,489

  80

  1,637

  Sandwell

  5,419

  4,802

  89

  4,776

  Walsall

  2,347

  2,033

  87

  1,763

  Wolverhampton

  6,008

  5,563

  93

  5,398

  The Wrekin

  1,206

  1,145

  95

  1,009

  Derby

  2,095

  1,783

  85

  1,312

  Leicester

  5,321

  5,201

  98

  4,990

  Nottingham

  8,241

  7,236

  88

  5,350

  Bristol

  1,553

  1,473

  95

  1,715

  Plymouth

  1,537

  1,260

  82

  1,380

  Hackney

  9,393

  7,428

  79

  5,585

  Islington

  10,380

  9,628

  93

  9,240

  Lambeth

  15,998

  11,152

  70

  9,084

  Brent

  4,315

  3,037

  70

  2,680

  Greenwich

  1,844

  1,336

  72

  1,536

  Hammersmith & Fulham

  3,227

  2,726

  84

  2,625

  Haringey

  3,925

  2,228

  57

  2,865

  Kensington & Chelsea

  1,825

  1,630

  89

  1,860

  Lewisham

  2,660

  2,453

  92

  2,584

  Newham

  3,599

  3,560

  99

  3,061

  Southwark

  4,866

  3,340

  69

  2,816

  Tower Hamlets

  8,173

  5,915

  72

  4,910

  Wandsworth

  2,880

  3,267

  113

  3,180

  Total

  331,234

  274,114

  83

  257,568

  Snow
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to additional funds being made available to those local authorities whose areas have been hardest hit by the effects of the recent heavy snow; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: The information at present available to us does not suggest that local authority expenditure associated with the recent cold weather will have exceeded that for which prudent authorities could be expected to have budgeted. However, if any authority can demonstrate an undue financial burden as a result of recent weather conditions we will be prepared to consider whether special financial assistance should be given.

  Kirklees Metropolitan Council
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the standard spending assessment for housing for Kirklees metropolitan council for 1991–92; and what it was for 1990–91.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: There is no standard spending assessment for housing. Government support for local authority rented accommodation is provided directly through the housing revenue account subsidy system. Other housing costs which fall to be met by local authorities are taken into account within the all other services SSA element. These include the provision of bed-and-breakfast accommodation for the homeless, administration of housing benefit and the proportion of housing benefit payments not met directly

  9
  by central Government subsidy, management of housing improvement areas and the administration of improvement grants.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Nuclear Technology
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what export control regulations exist to cover trade in nuclear technology, equipment and materials; and what steps have been taken to inform United Kingdom companies of the arrangements covering nuclear exports.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The United Kingdom gives effect to its obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty through the Export of Goods (Control) Order. This requires a licence to export goods which are sensitive for nuclear purposes to any destination. My Department makes available to exporters guidance booklets describing the controls and how they are implemented. We have in addition organised a major programme of seminars to explain the control system to exporters.

  Eastern Europe
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to incorporate the eastern European countries within the portfolio of the Department of Trade and Industry's exports to Europe branch.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  No. The exports to Europe branch deals with trade between the United Kingdom and EC and EFTA countries. It would not be appropriate to include other countries within its sphere of work.

  Bankruptcies, Wales
  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms have declared bankruptcy in Wales in the last 12 months, and what they were producing.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Export Guarantees Advisory Council
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the exact date of appointment of Mr. A. G. Gormly, the hon. D. Douglas-Home, Mr. S. M. F. Harris, Professor K. Scholes, Mr. D. G. Eustace and Mr. F. M. P. Riding as members of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council in 1988.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The information requested is as follows:

  1988

  Mr. A. G. Gormly

  1 February

  Hon. D. Douglas-Home

  1 March

  Mr. S. M. F. Harris

  1 March

  Professor K. Scholes

  1 April

  Mr. D. G. Eustace

  1 August

  Mr. F. M. P. Riding

  1 August

  Gulf Crisis
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his reply of 11 February,Official Report, column 330, why Her Majesty's Government are not in a position to identify the nations from which supplies and expertise involved in the production of chemical and biological weapons, the preparation of nuclear weapons and the extension of Scud missiles in Iraq were provided.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  It is for each Government to monitor and control exports from its country. It would not he appropriate for Her Majesty's Government to comment publicly on the export policies of others.

  Timesharing
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government are yet in a position to respond to the recommendations for legislation in the Director General of Fair Trading's report on timeshare of July 1990.

  Mr. Leigh
  Yes. The report was commissioned by my predecessor because of the number of complaints which he received about the marketing and selling of timeshare. The director general was asked to review the adequacy of existing controls. I should like to record the Government's appreciation for the thoughtful and thorough analysis which his report contained.

  Timeshare is making a valuable contribution to jobs and earnings in the tourism industry in the United Kingdom and in a number of other countries. The report does not question that many timeshare owners are satisfied with the product and the industry continues to grow. Its problems must therefore be kept in perspective.

  The report confirms the Government's original view that much of the complaint and concern stems from dubious marketing practices and high-pressure selling. Although existing legislation provides a measure of protection, the Government consider that it is at the marketing and selling end of the transaction where increased controls are needed. The director general made three recommendations for changes to the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 to tighten the controls on statements about services and to bring timeshare award schemes within the Act's powers. The Government accept these recommendations in principle. The detail of their implementation will be dealt with as part of the general review of the Trade Descriptions Act currently being undertaken.

  I am glad that the responsible majority of the industry has recognised that certain marketing practices are unacceptable. The Government welcome the formation of the new Timeshare Council which aims to represent all those with an interest in the industry, including owners. The council plans to develop a code of practice and has introduced membership criteria which seek to secure greater protection for buyers.

  This is very much a step in the right direction, but these efforts need to be backed by legislative measures which would ensure that every purchaser received a prospectus giving certain minimum information about the development before signing a contract; a cooling-off period in which to cancel the contract without penalty; and protection of deposit moneys through a bonding or escrow

  11
  arrangement. These measures were recommended by the director general. Most of the timeshares which people in the United Kingdom buy are in developments abroad and most of the selling takes place abroad, too. Much of the activity is therefore outside United Kingdom jurisdiction. United Kingdom legislation would not, therefore, on its own provide effective protection, and could simply push the unscrupulous operator off-shore. For these reasons, this is an issue which can effectively be approached only on a European Community basis, and I shall be taking it up with the EC Commission. The Commission has already recognised the need for a cooling-off period for timeshare contracts in its recently issued proposal for a directive on unfair contract terms.

  The measures that I have proposed are designed to ensure that anyone interested in buying a timeshare can make an informed and considered choice. I do not believe that it is necessary for Government to intervene further through legislation in the detail of timeshare contracts, for instance in relation to the holding of management fees or rental or resale moneys, as recommended by the director general. These recommendations represent good practice and I hope that the industry will follow them, but it is up to the consumer to make sure that the contract he signs includes sensible and reasonable terms on the future management and organisation of the development.

  Export Control
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the Official Report all items of industrial dual-use equipment, materials and technology subject to control in connection with the missile technology control regime.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 12 February 1991]: The United Kingdom gives effect to its commitments as a member of the missile technology control regime through the Export of Goods (Control) Order. This requires a licence for the export to any destination of goods which are sensitive for missile technology reasons, a detailed list of which is published by my Department in "An Exporters Guide to Non-Proliferation Policy and Controls". I have placed the latest copy of the publication in the Library.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out the reasons why China, Taiwan, Burma, Brazil and Cuba remain states subject to special licensing procedures for military sensitive exports from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 12 February 1991]: All military equipment listed in group 1 of part 2 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order is subject to special licensing procedures irrespective of destination.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Northern Ireland Councils (VAT)
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the net yields of value added tax from each district council in Northern Ireland in the most recent financial year for which information is available.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Local authorities receive funds of value added tax rather than producing a net yield because they are generally not involved in large-scale 12
  business activities. Information about district councils in the form requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

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

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Information on the date on which the holder of my office last attended a meeting of the royal commission for the exhibition of 1851 is not readily available and could be obtained only with a disproportionate expenditure of time and effort.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to introduce further valued added tax relief for organisations with charitable status.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the approximate total of VAT received from the sale of bloodstock horses in each of the years 1980 to 1990; and what VAT revenue arises from such sales in Newmarket.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Complete records of the VAT yield from all United Kingdom bloodstock sales are not available for the 10-year period 1980–90. The auctioneering sector of bloodstock industry generally is currently estimated to yield approximately £0·5 million VAT annually. Bloodstock sales in Newmarket give rise to a net payment of VAT from the Exchequer.

  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what regulations apply to the levying of VAT on the breeding of livestock and the artifical insemination of pedigree cattle and bloodstock horses.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The VAT liability of supplies of breeding livestock follows the liability of the animals concerned. Supplies of breeding in connection with animals within the definition of item 4 of group 1 of schedule 5 to the VAT Act 1983 are zero-rated; others are standard-rated. The separate supply of semen or artificial insemination services is standard-rated.

  Borrowing Requirement
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the net borrowing requirement of the United Kingdom corporate sector in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990, respectively.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The net borrowing requirement of United Kingdom industrial and commercial companies is given in the January 1991 issue of "Financial Statistics", table 8.3, available from the Library.

  Takeover Bids
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of takeover bid expenditure was financed(a) by shares and (b) by borrowing in the years 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990, respectively.
  13
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The available information on expenditure by United Kingdom industrial and commercial companies on acquiring United Kingdom companies for cash or shares is given in table 3 of the business bulletin "Acquisitions and Mergers within the UK"—issue 9/91. No information is available on how the cash expenditure is financed. Analyses of types of transaction in cross-border acquisitions and mergers are given in tables 3 and 5 of the business bulletin "Cross Border Acquisitions and Mergers"—issue 96/90. Analyses comparable with that for acquisitions and mergers within the United Kingdom are not available. Copies of these two business bulletins are available in the Library.

  1978–79

  1988–89

  Thousands change

  Percentage

  Public sector manpower (excluding nationalised industries and the armed forces): total

  4,396

  4,254

  -142

  -3·2

  Civil Service manpower: total

  734

  574

  -160

  -21·8

  Source:Table 7.6, Public Expenditure Analyses to 1993–94 (Cm. 1520), February 1991.

  Agriculture and Manufacturing
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the general Government expenditure and gross domestic product being spent on and arising from(a) agriculture and (b) manufacturing in both cash and real terms since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  The 1990 edition of the "United Kingdom National Accounts"—otherwise known as the CSO Blue Book—gives the following information:

  (a) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current factor cost for the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry and for manufacturing industries in Table 2.1;

  (b) GDP at constant factor cost by industry expressed in index form in Table 2.4;

  (c) General government expenditure at current market prices analysed by industry in Table 9.4.

  Industrial analyses of general Government expenditure in real terms are not available.

  British Rail Services
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the national economic cost of the failure of British Rail properly to run passenger and freight trains between 8 and 11 February.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: None. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has asked his Department to review, with British Rail, the causes for the recent disruption to services and see what lessons can be learnt.

  Low-energy Light Bulbs
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to encourage the use of low-energy light bulbs in his Department's offices and other buildings.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Department is about to undertake a series of major refurbishment programmes which will incorporate energy conservation measures such as that suggested. As a general policy, the Department continues to support cost-effective measures to obtain the benefits from more efficient use of energy.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply of 24 January,Official Report, columns 281–82, if he will give the figures for civil service manpower and public sector manpower changes in actual and percentage terms with the exclusion from the relevant figures of nationalised industries and the armed forces.

  Mr. Mellor
  The information is as follows:

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Firearms
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received any representations concerning the implications of implementing article 5(a) of EC draft directive Com. 89/446 final on the possession of firearms by recreational shooters in(a) Wales and (b) England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have received many representations about the draft directive on the control of the acquisition and possession of weapons including representations concerning article 5 of the proposal.

  Following amendments agreed in the Council, the proposed minimum age limit of 18 years for the possession of firearms under article 5(a) of the directive would not apply in the case of hunting or target shooting. As the directive now stands, the current domestic position would, therefore, remain unchanged.

  However, the final content of the directive depends upon second reading consideration by the European Parliament and subsequent final consideration by the Council.

  Juvenile Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of(a) boys and (b) girls under the age of 16 years being held in prisons in England and Wales on 11 February; and if he will list the prisons in which these people were held.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The latest readily available information about the number of boys under the age of 16 is given in the table. There were no girls under the age of 16 being held in prisons and remand centres on this date.

  Males aged under 16 held in prisons and remand centres in England and Wales on 30 September 1990 by establishment

  Establishment

  Number of males aged under 16

  Remand centres

  Brockhill

  7

  Cardiff

  2

  Exeter

  2

  15

  Establishment

  Number of males aged under 16

  Feltham

  2

  Glen Parva

  3

  Hindley

  1

  Low Newton

  4

  —

  Total

  21

  —

  Local prisons

  Hull

  3

  —

  Total

  3

  Prisoners (HIV)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received a copy of the Prison Reform Trust's report on the prevalence of HIV in prisons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Yes. I am glad of the opportunity to refute the trust's suggestion that prisons policy is confused and in disarray. We first responded to the AIDS challenge in 1984 and a clear and coherent strategy has been developed progressively since then. We shall be responding in due course to the detail of the report. I will arrange for the hon. Member to receive a copy of the response and for one to be placed in the Library.

  Probation Officers (Pay)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the probation officers' pay settlement will be announced.

  Mr. John Patten
  Our determination on the increase in probation officers' salaries effective from 1 July 1990 was announced on 6 February 1991.

  Low-energy Light Bulbs
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to encourage the use of low-energy light bulbs in his Department's offices and other buildings.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  All prison establishments have been advised to change to low-energy electric lighting as soon as possible and funds have been made available for this purpose. It is expected that by April this year the great majority of prison establishments will either have changed to low-energy lighting or be in the process of changing to it. Guidance has also been circulated to staff responsible for other Home Office buildings on the benefits of low-energy lighting.

  Television Programmes (Local Papers)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to limit the charges which may be imposed on local papers for printing BBC and ITV programme schedules.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. The Broadcasting Act 1990 makes provision for the Copyright Tribunal to adjudicate in any case in which a publisher considers that the charge imposed for publishing TV programme listings is excessive.

  Strip Searches
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of the people strip-searched when visiting Franklands were from Liverpool, in the last year for which figures are available;

  (2) what information he has on the number of rub-downs and intimate body searches, as distinct from strip searches, carried out on visitors to prisons in England and Wales in the last three years;

  (3) how many strip searches were carried out on persons visiting prisons in England and Wales for the last three years for which figures are available;

  (4) what are the numbers of visitors strip-searched in each prison for the last three years for which figures are available;

  (5) what percentages of visitors strip-searched in England and Wales were found to be carrying unlawful substances.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information requested is not available. Where there is reason to believe that a visitor intends to smuggle drugs or other contraband into a prison, the normal practice is to inform the police and ask them to attend to deal with the matter. The action needing to be taken by them in an individual case is a matter to be determined by the police in the light of the particular circumstances. In addition, prison staff have a power under rule 86(1) of the Prison Rules 1964 to search any person entering or leaving an establishment. A visitor may be given a rub-down search if the circumstances are considered to warrant such action. In an exceptional circumstance where there is reason to believe that an arrestable offence is involved and the police are unable to attend, a strip search may be carried out with the visitor's consent. There should be no question of a prison officer conducting an intimate search.

  Sexual Offences
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in each of the years 1980 to 1989 inclusive, how many men were(a) convicted and (b) cautioned for procuring, attempting to procure or being party to the commission of (i) buggery or attempted buggery with another man and (ii) gross indecency or attempted gross indecency with another man, contrary to (x) section 4 of the Sexual Offences Act 1967, (y) section 13 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 and (z) any other legislation; of the sum total of these convictions and cautions, how many relate to offences which took place in (A) a private place within the meaning of section 1(2) of the Sexual Offences Act 1967 and (B) a public or semi-public place within the meaning of the aforementioned legislation; and how many of these total convictions and cautions relate to offences committed by men (1) over the age of 21 years with men under the age of 21 years, (2) over the age of 21 years with other men also over the age of 21 years and (3) over the age of 16 years with other men also over the age of 16 years.

  Mr. John Patten
  The table gives information on the number of men, by age, cautioned and convicted of procuring or attempting to procure or being party to the commission by a man of an act of gross indecency with another man and procuring an act of buggery between two other men. Only the age of the offender is recorded for buggery offences. It is not possible from the information held centrally to identify where the offence took place.
  17

  Male offenders cautioned and convicted of specific sexual offences by age group 1980 to 1989

  England and Wales

  Offenders

  Statute

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Men of or over age 21 procuring or attempting to procure or being party to the commission by a man under 21 of an act of gross indecency with another man

  Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 13 as amended by the Sexual Offences Act 1967 section 3(2)

  Cautions

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  4

  1—

  1—

  6

  Convictions

  25

  34

  25

  27

  18

  98

  37

  32

  45

  69

  Men of or over age 21 procuring or attempting to procure or being party to the commission by a man not under 21 of an act of gross indecency with another man

  Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 13 as amended by the Sexual Offences Act 1967 section 3(2)

  Cautions

  5

  5

  2

  2

  2

  9

  21

  1—

  1—

  22

  Convictions

  108

  80

  109

  89

  168

  237

  146

  196

  270

  265

  Men of or over age 17 procuring an act of buggery between two other men which by means of section 1(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 1967 is not an offence

  Sexual Offences Act 1967 section 4(1)

  Cautions

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1—

  1—

  22

  Convictions

  2

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  1 Not available.

  Parliamentary Boundary Commission
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the current staffing levels of the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England; and what additions have been made for the general review of constituency boundaries.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The staff of the secretariat to the Parliamentary Boundary Commission has gradually increased from five, dealing with boundary work on a part-time basis, to 12 full-time staff, who will all be in post by 1 April 1991.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Broadgreen (Mr. Field) of 7 February,Official Report, column 234, how many summonses have been issued by each magistrates court in relation to non-payment of the poll tax; and what subsequent actions have taken place in each magistrates court.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is available in the Library for the period 1 April to 30 September 1990 and information for the period 1 October to 31 December 1990 will be placed in the Library this week.

  Press Complaints Commission
  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals the Press Complaints Commission has for publishing its draft rules and procedures and dealing with representations on them.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand that the commission intends to publish guidance on its rules and procedures shortly and will always be prepared to consider representations on them.

  Child Murders
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce proposals to amend the law to alter the burden of proof against those accused of murder of children.
  18
  Mr.John Patten
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: No. It is a principle of our system of justice that the accused is innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt. The high standard of proof is a necessary safeguard against wrongful conviction. Murder is the gravest of offences and it is right that the prosecution should be required to prove that the accused committed it.

  My right hon. Friend's responsibilities are to examine the law to ensure that the courts are not denied the opportunity to consider evidence and have appropriate sentencing powers. In the Criminal Justice Act 1988 we increased the maximum penalty for child cruelty from two to 10 years. The changes in our Criminal Justice Bill to the law about evidence and procedure in child abuse cases should help convict those guilty of these appalling crimes. But no such changes can avail where the difficulty is absence of evidence that a particular person committed the offence.

  Mr. Jamal Khafaji
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to respond to the inquiries of the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill about Jamal Khafaji, who is presently held in Pentonville prison.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: My right hon. Friend wrote to the hon. Member on 11 February 1991.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  CAP Payments
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much the total payments received by the agricultural industry in England were under the common agricultural policy in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Curry
  Total expenditure in the United Kingdom under the CAP in the last three years was:

  £ million

  1987–88

  1,611·1

  1988–89

  1,362·9

  1989–90

  1,230·5

  19
  Although it is possible to identify some of the payments which have been made to the agriculture industry in England—details are contained in the annual appropriation accounts class IV—Agriculture, Fisheries and Food—it is not possible to disaggregate all United Kingdom CAP expenditure in this way.

  Gulf Oil Slicks
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department's marine biology laboratories at Lowestoft have analysed the effects on the Gulf coral reefs of reduced exposure to sunlight arising from the extensive oil slicks in the Gulf.

  Mr. Curry
  The expertise and scientific programme of my Department's marine laboratory at Lowestoft are focused on the environmental conditions of our own waters. However, Britain is participating fully in the international effort to tackle the pollution in the Gulf, and my scientists stand ready to provide advice as necessary from within their areas of competence and experience.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has of the number of businesses receiving hill livestock compensatory allowance payments in 1991.

  Mr. Gummer
  I estimate that some 65,000 farm businesses in the United Kingdom will receive payments during 1991 under the hill livestock compensatory allowances scheme.

  Gulf Forces (Beef Supply)
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why it has not proved possible for the intervention board to make a successful tender for the supply of British beef to the armed services serving in the Gulf.

  Mr. Curry
  The intervention board is required to sell beef on terms laid down by the European Commission, generally by inviting tenders from meat traders. The board does not itself engage in submitting tenders for sale. The arrangements for the supply of beef to the Ministry of Defence entail the submission of tenders by wholesale meat suppliers. Officials of my Department are in contact with the Ministry of Defence to examine whether changes are possible to the various arrangements which would facilitate access to intervention stocks by Ministry of Defence suppliers.

  Potatoes
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of hectares registered with the Potato Marketing Board for potato growing, and the number of individual farmers registered, for each year since 1980.

  Mr. Gummer
  The table shows the number of producers registered with the Potato Marketing Board and the basic area available for planting since 1980.
  20

  Registered Producers

  Basic Area '000 ha

  1980

  30,225

  192

  1981

  28,760

  182

  1982

  27,498

  172

  1983

  26,499

  169

  1984

  25,480

  168

  1985

  24,948

  165

  1986

  22,565

  161

  1987

  21,439

  155

  1988

  20,155

  154

  1989

  19,266

  152

  1990

  18,276

  153

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Namibia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will indicate the amount of aid contributed by the United Kingdom and each European Community member to the development of Namibia since that country's independence.

  Mrs. Chalker
  On Namibia's independence last March, I announced in the House that Britain would provide £10 million of bilateral aid for commitment over three years. Our best available information on commitments made by other European Community members is as follows:

  Denmark:

  40 million kroner for the three years following independence.

  France:

  100 million francs for the three years following independence.

  Germany:

  100 million Deutschmarks committed in 1990.

  Italy:

  US$12 million for the three years following independence.

  The Netherlands:

  5–10 million Guilders per year.

  Spain:

  US$700,000 in emergency aid for the first year following independence.

PRIME MINISTER

  The Gulf
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister what consideration Her Majesty's Government gives to public opinion on the Gulf war; and how Her Majesty's Government-imposed reporting restrictions relate to this.

  The Prime Minister
  Support from the British public remains very strong for the actions being taken by the allies to liberate Kuwait in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions. The Government's policy is to allow all reasonable freedom and access for reporting, subject only to constraints essential to protect the safety of coalition forces and the security of allied operations.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his intention with regard to the award of a Gulf campaign medal.

  The Prime Minister
  The question of an appropriate medal for those serving in the Gulf is under consideration.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Minister for Sport
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out the precise duties and responsibilities of the Minister for Sport.

  Mr. Atkins
  With effect from 3 December 1990, responsibility for sport and recreation transferred from the Department of the Environment to the Department of Education and Science. I am responsible for sports matters generally and for sport and PE in schools. In addition, I am responsible for children's play; personal and social education, including health, AIDS, drugs and sex education; the youth service; energy conservation; and departmental purchasing. I also provide support on section 12 to 16 cases.

  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the policy of the Minister for Sport so far as regular meetings with the Football Supporters Association and the National Federation of Football Supporters Clubs is concerned.

  Mr. Atkins
  My predecessor as Minister for Sport had meetings with the Football Supporters Association and the National Federation of Football Supporters Clubs. I will meet them as and when appropriate.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what scope remains for students to negotiate alternative contact names; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what were the reasons for the decision that applicants for student loans must now provide contact names of blood relatives.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The administration of the student loans scheme is the responsibility of the Student Loans Company. I am therefore asking the managing director of the company to write direct to the hon. Member with the information requested.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide the reference for the regulation allowing the Student Loan Company to require applicants to have a bank account capable of direct debit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Education (Student Loans) Act 1990 does not require the arrangements for administering the student loans scheme to be contained in regulations.

  The Act does, however, require regulations to provide, among other things, for the manner in which repayments of loans are to be made. Regulation 7(4) of the Education (Student Loans) Regulations 1990 therefore provides that repayments shall be made by direct debit from the borrower's bank or building society account unless the loans administrator agrees otherwise. Under current arrangements the loans administrator is the Student Loans Company.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what hardship provisions graduates with student loans may seek if supporting dependants, high rent, or mortgages renders them unable to make payment; and whether he will make a statement.
  22
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Borrowers under the student loans scheme whose repayment term has begun may defer making repayments where their gross income is less than 85 per cent. of national average earnings. Repayments of about £400 a year in 1990 prices should be manageable for borrowers whose income exceeds that threshold.

  The Education (Student Loans) Regulations 1990 make further provision for borrowers who receive certain disability-related social security benefits. Those benefits are disregarded when assessing borrowers' income for deferment purposes. The Student Loans Company may also permit such borrowers to commence repayment at a later date than they would otherwise have to or to repay over a longer period.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will propose some remedy for applicants for student loans whose birth certificates have been refused by higher education institutions as adequate identification where their name has since changed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Regulation 11(4) of the Education (Student Loans) Regulations 1990 requires institutions to inspect the birth or adoption certificate of a student who seeks certification of eligibility for a loan, where that student was born in the United Kingdom. The Student Loans Company uses information contained on such certificates to identify each student individually. This helps to avoid confusion and to prevent fraud. It thereby protects both the taxpayer and the student.

  Because the information on a birth or adoption certificate does not change, it is particularly valuable where the student's name has changed since birth or adoption. In such cases, the student may also need to produce documentation showing that he or she is the person named on the birth or adoption certificate.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations the Student Loan Company has made to him regarding its delay in processing student loan applications; and whether he will make a statement on the rate of take-up of loans.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  As at Thursday 14 February, more than 98,000 applications had been made to the Student Loans Company.

  The company aims to process loan applications within 21 days of receipt. In setting itself this aim, the company relies on students' institutions to forward eligibility certificates promptly and correctly completed. It also relies on students to complete their application form correctly and then to sign and return their loan agreement form promptly. Where these conditions are met, the company is achieving its aim.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what costs the Student Loans Company has incurred to date, separating out start-up costs and continuing operations; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The total costs of establishing the student loans scheme to 31 August 1990 were £9·3 million, exclusive of VAT. This figure includes costs incurred before the Student Loans Company was founded. Between 1 September 1990 and 31 January 1991 the company incurred operational costs of £4·64 million, excluding VAT.
  23
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he intends to continue his policy restricting students in higher education to one application per academic year to the Student Loans Company; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Yes. Depending on the time in the year when students apply, they may ask the Student Loans Company to pay their loan in up to three instalments.

  Physical Education
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the interim report of the national curriculum working group for physical education will be published; and whether he will make a statement.

  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, Mr. Ian Beer. Copies of this initial advice, including my letter, will be placed in the Library.

  Youth Workers
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out(a) the funds spent in 1990–91 through the local education authority training grant system on training of youth workers and (b) the funds available in 1991–92 under grants for education support and training for the training of youth workers.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: In 1990–91 local education authority training grants are available to support some £1·2 million of expenditure on training of youth and community workers. In 1991–92 grants for education support and training are available to support some £1·25 million of such expenditure.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much of the National Youth Agency budget for 1991–92 will be spent on(a) initial youth worker training and (b) in-service youth worker training.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: The National Youth Agency's budget for 1991–92 has not yet been decided. It will be determined on the basis of the agency's work programme which will be agreed with the Department.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether grants for education support and training may be used to finance training for volunteer youth workers.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: The grants for education support and training programme for 1991–92 does not include grants which could support the training of volunteer youth workers.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidelines he has given to the National Youth Agency in relation to its proposed role and functions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: My right hon. Friend's reply on 5 April 1990 to the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr.
  24
  Burt) described the proposed role and functions of the National Youth Agency. These functions were explained in greater detail in a letter to the chairmen of the youth service bodies in June 1990. I shall send the hon. Member a copy of the list of functions.

  Dual Use Facilities
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the reason for the delay in publishing the practical guidance booklet on dual use facilities; by what date the booklet will be published; if he will require specific responses to the guidance from all local education authorities, and particularly from those with responsibility for inner-city areas; and by what date he will publish an implementation timetable for proposed new schemes.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 14 December 1990, Official Report, column 514. The dual use guidance booklet is currently being revised with a view to publication in the spring. The Department will continue to monitor good practice in this area, but there are no plans to require individual responses to the booklet from local education authorities or to publish an implementation timetable.

  Child Abuse
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list the changes he has introduced in the regime of independent schools as a result of the case involving child abuse at Crookham Court school in Berkshire;

  (2) if he will introduce legislation to require head teachers always to inform the police and his Department when a member of staff is required to leave a school because of child abuse; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  [pursuant to his answer, 22 January 1991, c. 121–23]: The Department is now consulting independent schools organisations and other bodies on amendments to the Education (Particulars of Independent Schools) Regulations 1982. The Welsh Office will consult in Wales.

  These amendments will require proprietors of independent schools to report to the Secretary of State where any person—not just any teacher as at present—is dismissed from employment for misconduct, or would have been dismissed or considered for dismissal had they not resigned. Proprietors will also be required to provide particulars of all staff, not just teaching staff, on application for registration and annually.

  The changes will enable the Department to consider placing independent schools' non-teaching staff on list 99, as well as teaching staff, and will make it possible to check regularly that no barred staff are working in independent schools in a non-teaching capacity.

  The closing date for consultation is 8 March and we plan to make amending regulations soon thereafter. In the meantime, the organisations consulted are being asked to invite any schools in membership to begin reporting voluntarily.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Women Employees
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many women are employed in civil service grades 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

  Mr. Renton
  Currently, there are no women in the civil service at grade 1 level, seven at grade 2 level and 37 at grade 3 level.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what steps he is taking to remove obstacles to, and restrictions on, the employment and promotion of people with disabilities in the civil service.

  Mr. Renton
  My Department is taking a range of initiatives to promote equality of opportunity for people with disabilities. These include support and advice to Departments and agencies in implementing the revised code of practice on disability.

  Public Relations Officers
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service in what grades press and public relations officers are employed.

  Mr. Renton
  These officers are employed in a wide spectrum of grades, but most commonly information grades.

  Agencies
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil service jobs are now performed by agencies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  More than 82,000 civil servants are working in the 34 "next steps" agencies now established. The Chancellor announced earlier this month that the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise Departments are also to operate fully on "next steps" lines. This, together with the further 32 agency candidates which have been announced, covers over 280,000 staff.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service whether the creation of "next steps" agencies will affect the numbers employed in the civil service.

  Mr. Renton
  "Next steps" is designed to produce a better-managed and more efficient civil service responsive to the needs of Ministers and the public.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Satellite Television
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been set aside to pay additional housing benefit to housing trust tenants who require a decoder to receive satellite television.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Housing benefit is an income-related benefit intended to help meet reasonable accommodation costs. Broadly this means rent and any 26
  compulsory service charges related to the provision of adequate accommodation. It is for local authorities to determine what proportion of a rent is eligible for housing benefit in any particular case by reference to the housing benefit regulations. We are currently reviewing those regulations to ensure that they clearly prevent charges for satellite television relay from being met by benefit.

  Appeal Tribunal
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many appeals are currently outstanding from the social security appeal tribunal; and what is the average time for those appeals to be dealt with at all levels.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for the administration of social security appeals lies with the president of social security and medical appeal tribunals, His Honour Judge Holden. He has advised that the total number of appeals outstanding at the social security appeal tribunals, as at 8 January 1991, is 22,823.

  The latest figures available for processing appeals are those for the quarter ending 31 March 1990. The average times for that quarter were:

  (a) from lodgement to receipt of the submission by the tribunal clerk—10·2 weeks;

  (b) from lodgement to the date of hearing—23 weeks.

  Severe Disability Premium
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applicants in Birmingham for severe disability premium are(a) awaiting decisions of the appeal tribunal and (b) awaiting his Department's action following appeal tribunal decisions.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The responsibility for social security appeal tribunals lies with the president of the social security and medical appeal tribunals, His Honour Judge Derek Holden. He has supplied me with the following information:

  (a) just over 700 cases held by the Birmingham tribunal concern the income support severe disability premium and are awaiting decisions, listing or the adjudication officer's submission;

  (b) the information is not available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Community Charge Benefit
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the proportion of those receiving poll tax rebates in Wales expressed as a percentage of the total number of poll tax payers.

  Miss Widdecombe
  At 31 August 1990, community charge benefit was in payment to 24 per cent. of those liable to pay the charge in Wales.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will initiate a study into the relationship between the number of applications for special cold weather payments in any social security office area and the extent of local newspaper advertising of the relevant application forms.

  Mr. Scott
  The hon. Member's suggestion will be considered as part of the review of cold weather payments.

  Retirement Pension
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the cost each year to the Exchequer of giving those over 80 years of age an additional 25p a week pension; and what is the administrative cost of making these additional payments.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The estimated current cost of giving those over 80 years of age an additional 25p per week pension is over £26 million a year. As the addition is added automatically to the pension on the first payday after the pensioner's 80th birthday there is no additional administrative cost involved in making these payments.

THE ARTS

  Cultural Matters (EC Competence)
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will be attending any future meetings of the intergovernmental conference on political union of the European Community to discuss the competence of the Community in cultural matters.

  Mr. Renton
  I have no plans at present to do so. The discussions of the intergovernmental conference on political union cover a wide range of issues, on which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs is in the lead. The view of Her Majesty's Government is that the treaty of Rome does not confer competence on the Community in the cultural area.

  Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Grist
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what proposals there are to ensure that the fabric of museums and galleries is being maintained.

  Mr. Renton
  I have commissioned Arup Research and Development to conduct a study of the building renovation needs of national museums and galleries which I sponsor. I expect it to report to me in summer 1991.

  Scholarships
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how many scholarships in the arts and in what main areas of activity are sponsored by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  No arts scholarships are sponsored by the OAL. Many of the institutions sponsored by the OAL provide education, training, work experience, and so on, for their staffs. In addition, the national film and television school has a scholarship fund from which support is given to British students in need, developed with the aid of private sponsors.

  Funding, London
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Minister for the Arts when he plans to meet the chair of Greater London Arts to discuss funding for smaller arts clients in London.

  Mr. Renton
  I have no such plans. The funding of arts clients in London is a matter for the Arts Council and for Greater London Arts as appropriate.
  28
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what proportion of central Government arts spending is spent within Greater London.

  Mr. Renton
  Nearly 37 per cent. of the Arts Council of Great Britain's total grant in aid in 1989–90 was allocated to clients in Greater London.

  Arts Council Grant
  Kim Howells
  35. Dr. To ask the Minister for the Arts how much of the Arts Council grant in England and Wales in 1989–90 was actually paid to artists, writers, musicians and those in the performing arts; and how much was absorbed by administration.

  Mr. Renton
  The total of the Arts Council's grant in aid spent in England and Wales in 1989–90 was £139,745,000. Just under £14·4 million was spent by the Arts Council of Great Britain, the Welsh Arts Council and the 12 English regional arts associations on operational services. The functions of these bodies extend well beyond grant administration and include arts promotion and marketing, other professional advice and support to client organisations, and development and planning work.

ENERGY

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report the details relating to the flotation of the electricity generating companies on (a) the number of individuals who responded to the official advertising campaign and registered as prospective applicants in advance of the sale, (b) the number of those pre-registered who subsequently were not allocated any shares, (c) the value of the cheques received from those pre-registered who subsequently were not allocated any shares, (d) the date on which the cheques received from unsuccessful pre-registered applicants were encashed, (e) the date when the subsequent refunds were subsequently made and (f) the value of the interest generated by the encashment of cheques prior to refund to unsuccessful applicants.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The available information is as follows:

  (a) By midnight on 14 November 1990 the electricity share information office had received approximately 7·3 million applications to register;

  (b) Approximately 97 per cent. of registrants who duly applied as customers received an allocation. No figures are available in respect of registrants who applied other than as customers;

  (c, f) The systems employed to record applications and account for interest do not permit the separate identification of data relating to wholly unsuccessful and partially successful applications. The value of cheques submitted with wholly unsuccessful applications by registrants and of the interest earned on those cashed is therefore not available;

  (d, e) Cheques from the public in the retail offers were cashed principally in the week 10 to 14 December 1990. Refunds of application monies were dispatched by first-class post on a phased basis, principally from 16 to 19 December 1990. The majority of wholly unsuccessful application forms and their accompanying uncashed cheques were returned the previous week.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report details relating to

  29
  the information made available to the public in advance of the flotation of the electricity generating companies about encashment of cheques where no shares were allocated to them.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The prospectus for the 12 regional electricity companies share offers stated in chapter VII, paragraph 8 of the terms and conditions of application that the right was reserved to present for payment all cheques or bankers' drafts received. It also stated in chapter VI, section 2e that this would be avoided where practicable in respect of applications for which it was not expected to make an allocation.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied with the procedures used to refund money in the electricity generating companies flotation to those who had pre-registered but were subsequently allocated no shares; and whether he has any plans to use such a system in any future flotations.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  In the case of the 12 regional electricity companies share offers, the procedures were designed to enable cheques to be returned to applicants receiving no allocation as quickly as possible; most received them before Christmas.

  For the minority of cases where no shares were allocated, but where it was not practicable to avoid cashing cheques, provision was made for refunds to be issued; this took place in the majority of these cases before Christmas.

  For the generating companies share offers the arrangements are much simpler, not least because, as only two companies are being offered together, it will not be necessary to cash cheques that are duly submitted with application forms unless it is expected that an allocation will be made.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy on what date he expects to publish the long-term safety reviews for Hinkley A, Trawsfynydd and Sizewell A nuclear power stations.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I understand that the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate—NII—has almost completed its detailed assessment of the long-term safety review of Hinkley Point A. The HSE will publish the NII's findings later this year. The NII's examination of the long-term safety reviews for Trawsfynydd and Sizewell A are due for completion by late 1991 and the end of 1992 respectively. The HSE proposes to publish the NII's findings on these long-term safety reviews as soon as possible thereafter.

  Kansai Electric Power Station
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to consult his Japanese opposite number regarding the radiation leak at the nuclear power station of Kansai Electric; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My Department has been informed of the incident at the Mihama-2 plant at Kansai Electric on Saturday 9 February by our embassy in Tokyo and has also received information from other sources including the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, to which the Japanese Government have supplied an account of events.
  30
  From the accounts that my Department has received, it would appear that the amount of radioactivity released was extremely small and that there is no reason to believe that it constituted any danger to the population or the environment. My Department has also been told that the incident was not serious and that the reactor was shut down safely by its own protective systems.

HEALTH

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average number of beds available within the South Manchester health authority area in 1980, 1985 and 1990; what is the current actual position; and what are the comparable figures for England as a whole.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Number of average daily available beds

  1980

  1985

  1989–90

  South Manchester DHA

  2,423

  2,277

  1,927

  England

  355,979

  325,487

  270,334

  Number of patients treated

  Finished hospital stays (discharge and deaths)

  Finished consultant episodes

  1980

  1985

  1989–901

  South Manchester DHA

  61,745

  69,361

  76,259

  England

  5,670,001

  6,353,812

  7,476,626

  1 Figures for 1989–90 refer to Finished Consultant Episodes and should not be directly compared with earlier figures (discharges and deaths).

  More recent information on beds and patients treated is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to write to Mr. P. Hadfield, the chairman of South Manchester health authority, for details.

  The Gulf
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision is being made by his Department for the support of families and service men and women who are subject to trauma, stress and long-term mental illness arising from war in the Gulf.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department has issued advice to health authorities and social service departments about contingency planning arrangements for Gulf casualties.

  The families of all service personnel are entitled to national health service and social services in the same way as any other resident. It will be for local services to arrange appropriate long-term care and support for all in their area who are subject to trauma, stress and long-term mental illness.

  Mr. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been conducted into the use of psychotherapeutic treatment as against the use of drugs in the treatment for trauma, stress and long-term mental illness in the case of service men and women and their families consequent upon the war in the Gulf.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Substantial research has been undertaken into the appropriate role of drugs and psychotherapy in
  31
  the treatment of trauma, stress and long-term mental illness in respect of previous conflicts. The war in the Gulf is of too recent origin to have permitted research in this area.

  Health Authority Funding
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the basis on which extra resources to enable health authorities to reduce creditor levels are being allocated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The basis for allocating this money has not been finalised. Each authority receiving some of this allocation will also be expected to contribute to reducing its creditor levels from within its own resources.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the secure establishments other than prisons in England and Wales where young(a) men and (b) women, under the age of 16 years can be held.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  On 31 January 1991, there were 36 secure units in community homes for children in England and Wales, all of which admitted young people under the age of 16. Details of them are given in the table. In addition, the Department runs two youth treatment centres—YTCs—Glenthorne in Birmingham and St. Charles in Essex. Both YTCs admit young people under the age of 16.

  Secure units in England and Wales open on 31 January 1991

  Local Authority

  Name of home in which secure unit is located

  Type of places

  England

  Avon

  Kingswood

  Boys

  Berkshire

  Brookside

  Mixed

  Birmingham

  St. John's

  Mixed

  Cambridgeshire

  Salters

  Girls

  Cheshire

  Redsands

  Mixed

  Coventry

  Stoke House

  Mixed

  Derbyshire

  Greenacres

  Mixed

  Derbyshire

  Moorfield

  Mixed

  Devon

  Northbrook

  Mixed

  Durham

  Aycliffe (2 units)

  Mixed

  East Sussex

  Lansdowne

  Mixed

  Greenwich

  Frant Court

  Girls

  Hammersmith

  Stamford House

  Boys

  Hampshire

  Fairfield

  Girls

  Hampshire

  Glen House

  Boys

  Hertfordshire

  Woodside

  Mixed

  Hillingdon

  Middlesex Lodge

  Girls

  Lancashire

  Briars Hey

  Girls

  Lancashire

  Red Bank (2 units)

  Boys

  Leeds

  Eastmoor (2 units)

  Boys

  Lincolnshire

  Kesteven

  Mixed

  Liverpool

  Blackbrook House

  Girls

  Liverpool

  Dyson Hall

  Boys

  Newham

  Little Heath Lodge

  Boys

  Northumberland

  Netherton Park

  Mixed

  Oxfordshire

  Thornbury House

  Boys

  Rotherham

  Keppels View

  Mixed

  Salford

  Park House

  Boys

  Southwark

  Orchard Lodge

  Boys

  West Sussex

  Beechfield

  Mixed

  Wales

  Gwent

  Ty Mawr

  Boys

  Mid Glamorgan

  Silverbrook

  Girls

  West Glamorgan

  Llwyncelyn

  Boys

  Hospital Closures, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals have closed since 1979(a) nationally and (b) in the Doncaster area.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We are aware of 463 hospitals or facilities that have been approved for total closure from 1979 to 31 December 1989. Of these, two hospitals were in the Doncaster area.

  Over the same period, the NHS has increased in-patient treatment as follows:

  1979

  1988–89

  England

  5,400,120

  6,585,982

  Doncaster

  28,103

  41,969

  That is an increase of 22 per cent. nationally—49·3 per cent. in the Doncaster area.

  Day case treatment also increased as follows:

  1979

  1988–89

  England

  592,061

  1,016,327

  Doncaster

  2,909

  4,961

  That is an increase of 71·7 per cent. nationally—70·5 per cent. in the Doncaster area.

  From 1979–80 to 1989–90 expenditure on the NHS capital programme has grown by 55 per cent. in real terms.

  Census Data
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has now considered the British Computer Society's report on its independent review of the confidentiality arrangements for the computer processing of 1991 census data; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The report is contained in the White Paper "1991 Census of Population: Confidentiality and Computing"—Cm 1447—which is being published today by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Health and for Scotland. The White Paper includes a statement by the Government and also sets out the Government's reply to the society's recommendations.

  The society's report contains the following summary assessment:
  "The Review Team has examined all relevant arrangements already in place, and the plans and stated intentions where preparatory work is still in progress. The Review Team can report that the arrangements made so far are, in its opinion, fully in keeping with the very high standards of confidentiality required; and that the plans and intentions current at the time of preparing this Report are consistent with that standard."

  In their statement, the Government welcome not only the society's conclusions and recommendations but the opportunity to reaffirm their determination to protect the confidentiality of the information about individual persons and households to be collected in the census on 21 April.

  Population Forecasts
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are involved in making population forecasts in(a) the Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys, (b) the Department of the Environment, (c) elsewhere in public departments and (d) in county authorities.
  33
  Mr. Dorrell
  Six people are employed in a unit at the OPCS the main task of which is preparing, publishing, and disseminating population projections.

  Four people in the Department of Environment spend part of their time working on the migration element of subnational population projections, including consultation with local authorities. In total, less than one person a year is spent in this activity each year.

  In the Government Actuary's Department three people are involved in making population projections. Information is not held centrally for people involved elsewhere in public departments or in county authorities and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Gulf Casualties
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of national health service acute beds are normally available for emergency admissions.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally. It is for each hospital unit to decide the proportion of its national health service acute beds to be made available for emergency admission. The proportion of all patients—in-patients and day cases—admitted immediately was 56 per cent. in 1989–90.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what consideration is currently being given to the projected lengthening of surgical waiting lists resulting from national health service treatment of war casualties;

  (2) if he will instruct all regional health authorities to open, equip and staff wards and beds, previously closed for financial reasons, to meet the needs of Gulf patients and continued treatment of waiting list patients.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) and the hon. Members for Easington (Mr. Cummings), for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) and for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms. Walley) on 17 January at columns 583–84.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, once Gulf casualties have been transferred to the national health service, hospitals will be responsible for dealing with relatives' inquiries and visits.

  Mr. Dorrell
  National health service hospitals treating Gulf casualties will deal with relatives' inquiries and visits in conjunction with the military administrative officers (civil hospitals).

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds are available within English, Welsh and regional burns units to deal with serious burns.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Identification of the need for, and provision of, services for serious burns are matters for regions to determine. In the event of exceptional demand, consultants would be expected to exercise their normal discretion to seek inter-hospital transfer or to set up "satellite" units.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what training has been provided to national health service nurses on how to deal with the effects of chemical weapons upon patients;
  34
  (2) what advice has been given to national health staff about the possibility of contamination by chemical and biological agents when treating patients contaminated by such agents;

  (3) what experience existing national health service staff, not called for service in the Gulf, have in dealing with the results of chemical and biological weapons;

  (4) what information national health service hospitals have received concerning patients contaminated by biological agents as a result of warfare in the Gulf;

  (5) what proportion of persons suffering from the effects of chemical contamination in the Gulf are likely to be treated, in the longer term, by the national health service;

  (6) what number of chemical warfare victims can be dealt with by the national health service.

  Mr. Dorrell
  NHS hospitals will treat all Gulf casualties admitted to them. Those suffering from the effects of chemical weapons will be decontaminated before being evacuated to the United Kingdom. There is therefore no threat to NHS staff from treating such casualties.

  I am advised that, after decontamination has taken place, the most likely effects of chemical weapons are similar to those arising in other circumstances, for which NHS staff are already trained. The experience which individual members of staff have depends on a variety of circumstances and is not recorded centrally.

  The NHS has not been asked by the Ministry of Defence to prepare for reception of casualties suffering from the effects of biological weapons. Should the need arise, such casualties would need immediate treatment and this would be given in the Gulf area.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to provide the levels of skilled staff required to expand regional burns unit capacity, should this be required.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Normal regional planning for contingencies, such as major accidents, includes taking account of the possible need to increase levels of skilled staff in burns units. National guidance has been issued to regions to supplement their normal planning arrangements in the event of casualties from the Gulf war.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what counselling and other support services will be provided to national health service personnel treating war casualties.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The provision of counselling and other support services for NHS personnel treating war casualties will be determined at local level.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has given to regional health authority press officers concerning casualties from the Gulf treated in the national health service.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department has issued advice on how to deal with issues likely to arise.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of psychiatric services will be made available to personnel returning from the Gulf.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Personnel returning from the Gulf and referred to the NHS will have available the full range of normal NHS psychiatric services for treatment as appropriate.

  Constituency Electorates
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many forms RPF 29 have been received by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys detailing the electorates of parliamentary constituencies for 1991, at the latest convenient date.

  Mr. Dorrell
  By 13 February, 197 electoral registration officers in local authorities in England and Wales had submitted RPF 29 returns containing 1991 electorate figures to OPCS: 206 were outstanding.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what matters were discussed at the meeting last week between Mr. John Yates of the Inter-Authority Comparisons and Consultancy Company and the Minister of State; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what reasons have been given to him by the Inter-Authority Comparisons and Consultancy Company for its withdrawal from the Government's initiative on reduction of hospital waiting lists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Mr. Yates was invited to explain the decision to withdraw from the agreement with the Department to carry out studies of long waiting lists in 1991–92. We are determined to reduce the number of long-wait patients. We expect to use outside help to carry this important work forward.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what instructions have been given to health authorities with regard to the reduction of hospital patients' waiting lists; and what targets have been set for achievement by March 1992.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Duncan Nichol, chief executive of the NHS management executive, has written to general managers to say that targets will be agreed with each of the 14 regional health authorities for substantial reductions in the number of patients who wait more than one year for treatment. As a minimum, no patient should have to wait more than two years by March 1992. The £35 million waiting list fund for 1991–92 will be deployed to help regions achieve their targets.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest estimate of those on the NHS waiting lists in the Greater London area; and what the figure was in each of the last five years.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 17 January 1991]: Figures for March 1990, the latest available centrally, and the previous five years are given in the table. What matters is the time patients wait, not the total numbers on the list. In the 12 months to March 1990 the number of patients waiting over one year for in-patient treatment in the Greater London area health authorities fell by 14 per cent.

  London Health Authorities: Waiting lists at 31 March (in-patients)

  Total (excluding self-deferred cases)

  1985

  107,951

  1986

  121,412

  1987

  125,077

  36

  Total (excluding self-deferred cases)

  1988

  124,661

  1989

  130,482

  1990

  126,616

  Source: SBH2O3 1985–1987.

  KH06/7/7A 1988–90.

  NHS Personnel (Gulf War)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many national health service(a) doctors, (b) surgeons and (c) nurses are presently serving in the Gulf; and what proportion of the total number of national health service doctors, surgeons and nurses this represents.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not available centrally.

  Iran-Iraq War Casualties
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many persons injured during the Iraq-Iran war were treated in the United Kingdom; and how many of these were affected by chemical and biological weapons.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not available.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money was spent by(a) regional and (b) district health authorities on building nursing and residential homes for (i) the elderly, (ii) the mentally ill and (iii) the disabled in each of the last five years; and what was the average cost per place in each category.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Water-Borne Pathogens
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if there has been evidence of increased reporting of any potentially water-borne pathogens in the Severn-Trent area in the last three months.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No such evidence has been recorded by the public health laboratory service.

  Cold-related Deaths
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will produce a table to show, for each month of the last five years, the number of men aged 65 years and over, and women aged 60 years and over, who had died from(a) cold-related causes and (b) all causes, and for each of the last 20 years, for each quarter, the same information.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Hip Replacement
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost of in-patient treatment per hospital bed per week for a hip replacement operation; what is the total spent on such operations in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
  37
  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: The cost of a hip replacement is estimated to be £2,780 at 1989–90 prices. Since this cost is dependent on the length of patient's stay no meaningful average hospital in-patient cost can be given. During 1989–90 some 45,000 hip replacement operations were performed at an estimated total cost of £125·3 million.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Northern Ireland Environment Minister has reached an agreement or understanding with the Irish Republic's Environment Minister regarding the siting of a hazardous waste incinerator at Maydown.

  Mr. Needham
  No.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his policy on whether planning permission would be given to any hazardous waste incinerator in Northern Ireland without referral to a public inquiry.

  Mr. Needham
  Each planning application is treated on its merits depending on the scale and type of development proposed. A planning application for a major development involving a hazardous waste incinerator would not be determined without a public inquiry being held under the terms of article 22 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1972.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will seek to have higher costs to pensioners living in Northern Ireland reflected in higher pension rates for Northern Ireland pensioners.

  Mr. Hanley
  No. It is the Government's policy to maintain social security benefits at the same level throughout the United Kingdom.

  Disabled Workers
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many employers with 20 or more people employ a 3 per cent. quota of registered disabled people.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: In June 1990, 291 employers with 20 or more people were known to employ a 3 per cent. quota of registered disabled people.

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what grants are available for employers in Northern Ireland to enable handicapped people to operate machinery.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: The adaptations of premises and equipment scheme administered by the disablement advisory services of the Training and Employment Agency, provides financial assistance to those employers who need to make essential alterations to machinery and equipment to facilitate their disabled employees.

  Severe Weather Payments
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the answer from the Secretary of State for Social Services to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 7 February 1991,Official Report, column 251, whether the changes to the cold weather payment scheme apply to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: I am glad to be able to confirm that payments of £6 will be made on the same basis as in Great Britain.

WALES

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total value of grants which Wales has received from the European regional development fund in each of the past three years.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Figures for European regional development fund assistance committed to Wales in each of the last three years are as follows: 1988 £63·3 million; 1989 £28·8 million; and 1990 £27·4 million.

  Recession
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact of the current recession on business and employment in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  It is encouraging that the Government's policy of fighting inflation is working and although the economy of Wales, like the rest of the United Kingdom, is experiencing a difficult time at present, all the indications suggest that the medium to long-term prospects for the Welsh economy are as good as ever.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made with the implementation of the national curriculum in respect of the Welsh language.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Implementation of Welsh in the national curriculum is proceeding to timetable.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many teachers are employed full time in Wales teaching the Welsh language to adults; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the total annual expenditure incurred by public authorities in Wales in teaching the Welsh language to adults.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information on the expenditure by local authorities on Welsh classes for adults is not held centrally. However, in 1990–91 Welsh Office grants worth £428,000 were made available to a range of organisations to support activities in this field.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is proposing to take to implement the draft
  39
  Welsh Language Bill prepared by the Welsh Language Board, and which has been submitted to him; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Welsh Language Board's proposals for legislation will be carefully considered and the Government's response will be announced in due course.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what studies have been undertaken by the Welsh Office of techniques and methods of teaching the Basque language to non-Basque-speaking adults in the Basque country.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  None.

  CBI
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he plans to meet the CBI in Wales to discuss the economic situation in the Principality.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I meet representatives of the CBI in Wales regularly to discuss a wide range of issues relevant to the development of the Welsh economy.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are now out of work in(a) Clwyd and (b) Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  In January 1991 there were 11,383 and 101,452 unemployed claimants in Clwyd and Wales respectively.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the latest percentage figures he has for unemployment in the Wrexham travel-to-work area and in Wales as a whole.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Unemployment in the Wrexham travel-to-work area currently stands at 6·4 per cent. of the work force compared with a figure in Wales as a whole of 7·8 per cent.

  Investment
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next proposes to meet the chairmen of the major clearing banks to discuss future investments in companies in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I meet the major clearing banks periodically to discuss a range of matters, including progress of the Welsh economy.

  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by what amount inward investment in Wales has increased over the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. David Hunt
  There has been a 75 per cent. increase in the number of inward investment projects secured for Wales over the past five years. In 1990, 142 projects were secured, promising some 16,000 jobs and capital investment of almost £640 million.

  Renal Units
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has any plans to develop the services provided by renal units in 1991–92.
  40
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Following wide consultation on the future of regional services in Wales, the development of renal services will, from April, fall to district health authorities subject to monitoring by the Department.

  Hospitals (Construction Projects)
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the major construction projects on district general hospitals, currently under way or due to start, which are funded wholly or partly by moneys allocated to district health authorities by the Welsh Office.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The number of projects is shown in the following table:

  Major construction projects costing over £1 million on district general hospital sites

  Health district

  Project

  Under construction, Clwyd

  Ysbyty Glan Clwyd—Phase 2

  Ysbyty Maelor Wrexham—Phase 2

  East Dyfed

  West Wales General Hospital—Upgrading

  Mid Glamorgan

  Prince Charles Hospital—Phase 2

  East Glamorgan General Hospital—Geriatric Unit

  South Glamorgan

  University Hospital of Wales—

  Paediatric Cardiac Unit

  Cardiac Catheter Laboratories

  Upgrading Intensive Care and Coronary Care Unit

  Replacement Energy Sources

  West Glamorgan

  Singleton Hospital—

  West Ward Block Staff Residences

  Morriston Hospital—

  School of Nursing

  Foreign Languages
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many pupils from state schools in Wales passed with A, B or C grades in French, German or Spanish A-level in each of the years 1987 to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  In 1990 a total of 614 advanced-level certificates were issued by the Welsh Joint Education Committee in grades A to C in French, German and Spanish to school pupils in Wales.

  The detailed information is as follows:

  Grade

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  French

  A

  61

  67

  91

  92

  B

  111

  93

  109

  144

  C

  132

  124

  184

  207

  German

  A

  27

  33

  24

  39

  B

  53

  49

  39

  42

  C

  35

  36

  40

  65

  Spanish

  A

  6

  9

  9

  8

  B

  10

  11

  18

  11

  C

  10

  12

  8

  6

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made during this financial year in reducing hospital waiting lists.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Detailed information on waiting lists at September 1990 will be published soon which I fully expect to show that Welsh hospitals continue to treat record numbers of patients. Since 1979 in-patient and out-patient attendance has increased by some 34 per cent. and 28 per cent. respectively.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what changes he plans in the method of distributing transitional payments for poll tax reductions.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have no plans for changing the arrangements for distributing the relief payments totalling £62 million under the community charge reduction scheme, which I announced in the House in my statement of 17 January. These arrangements, taken together with the realistic local government finance settlement for Wales in 1991–92, represent an excellent deal for the Welsh charge payer.

  Mr. Grist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he is now in a position to announce his decisions on the allocation of the £18 million additional resources he announced on 17 January.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I shall he announcing today details of an £8·14 million increase in local authority capital provision.

  I propose to allocate transport grants totalling £6 million for road improvements in Mid and West Glamorgan. PRNI (projects of regional and national importance) funding of £400,000 will also be made available for new rolling stock on the city line in Cardiff.

  I have also decided to provide substantial additional resources for the urban programme. A further £1,745,000 will be directed to a range of projects including £275,000 each for the establishment of small business units at Shotton enterprise centre and provision of an all-weather playing surface at Deep Duffryn. A total of £250,000 will be spent on road improvements at Crumlin and £345,000 for highway and environmental programmes in Cardiff. I shall also be providing £100,000 for the purchase of land and the construction of factory units at Holyhead. Finally, I have been encouraged by the excellent response we have received to the valleys community revival scheme. I have therefore decided that, in order to make room for further, worth while projects, an extra £500,000 should be awarded under the scheme.

  I shall announce further details of local authority capital provision as soon as possible.

  Housing, Swansea
  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will discuss with Swansea city council special assistance towards the problems of prefabricated reinforced concrete houses, in particular, and the future housing role of Welsh local authorities.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I understand that a consultants' report on the matter has only recently been made available 42
  to the council for consideration. I have no doubt that discussions involving my officials will follow. I look to this local authority and to all others to act as effective enablers in tackling housing functions working in close partnerships with housing associations and the private sector.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the payment to farmers of hill livestock compensatory allowances.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I announced the substantial increases proposed for HLCA rates—worth an extra £4·7 million to Welsh farmers—on 11 February. Claim forms have previously been issued to farmers and my officials will be giving the highest priority to the processing of these claims. Subject to parliamentary approval of the new rates and the necessary checks farmers in Wales will receive their money as quickly as possible.

  Dairy Cattle
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dairy cows there were in Wales in 1988 and 1989; and what information he has on the corresponding figures for the Irish Republic, Denmark and Spain.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is shown in the table:

  thousand head

  Number of dairy cows in December

  1988

  1989

  Wales

  336

  331

  Irish Republic

  1,387

  1,400

  Denmark

  764

  770

  Spain

  1,741

  1,822

  Common Agricultural Policy Payments
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much the total payments received by the agricultural industry in Wales were under the common agricultural policy in each of the last three years.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Total expenditure in the United Kingdom under the common agricultural policy in the last three years was:

  £ million

  1987–88

  1,611·1

  1988–89

  1,362·9

  1989–90

  1,230·5

  Although it is possible to identify some of the payments which have been made to the agriculture industry in Wales—details are contained in the annual appropriation accounts, class XVII, votes I and II, Wales—it is not possible to disaggregate all United Kingdom common agricultural policy expenditure in this way.

  Export Clinics
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the export clinics held under the Welsh Office valleys export service have been held in the Llanelli travel-to-work area.
  43
  Mr. David Hunt
  Thirty-three export services clinics have been held in the valleys programme area: three of them have been held within the Llanelli travel-to-work area, with two further clinics at Pontardulais, which is easily accessible to companies based in the Llanelli area. A further clinic at Llanelli itself is scheduled for the programme in the coming quarter.

  Valleys Loan Scheme
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many projects located in the Llanelli travel-to-work area have benefited from the Welsh Development Agency valleys loan scheme for small businesses.

  Mr. David Hunt
  There have been no applications from the Llanelli travel-to-work area for the Welsh Development Agency's valleys small loans scheme. Other Welsh Development Agency loans in the Llanelli area since the inception of the valleys programme total £36,000.

  Hospitals (Postal Services)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairmen of the South Glamorgan and Mid Glamorgan health authorities concerning the frequency of misdirected post, samples and medical records between the Prince of Wales hospital, Rhydlafar, the Prince of Wales hospital, Bridgend and the Prince Charles hospital, Merthyr.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This is a matter for the health authorities concerned which advise that they are not aware of any such problems.

  Surplus School Places
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if any changes have been made or are proposed to the criteria for determining the capacity of schools as laid down in Welsh Office circular 20/88.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Welsh Office circular 20/88 includes a suggested method for determining the capacity of primary schools. We are currently consulting education interests in Wales on draft proposals to introduce more open enrolment into primary schools from the start of the 1992 school year. The proposals include an alternative formula for calculating the capacity of primary schools. More open enrolment for secondary schools was introduced with effect from 4 August 1990. Welsh Office circular 47/88 contains an annex suggesting a method for calculating capacity in these schools.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the current level of surplus places in each local education authority in Wales separately distinguishing primary and secondary schools.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is as follows:

  Surplus places

  Primary

  Secondary

  Clwyd

  11,151

  2,913

  Dyfed

  9,178

  2,089

  Gwent

  10,009

  10,527

  Gwynedd

  4,469

  4,412

  44

  Surplus places

  Primary

  Secondary

  Mid Glamorgan

  13,663

  7,556

  Powys

  3,096

  1,477

  South Glamorgan

  12,196

  8,907

  West Glamorgan

  14,213

  7,496

TRANSPORT

  Drink Driving
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the numbers of random breath tests required to detect each week(a) 1,000 drivers above twice the legal alcohol limit, (b) 1,000 drivers above the legal limit but below twice the limit, and (c) 50,000 drivers below the legal limit.

  Mr. Chope
  Data from the roadside surveys undertaken by the transport and road research laboratory in 1990 indicate that the following numbers of tests would be required:

  (a) 625,000

  (b) 116,000

  (c) 50,500

  These surveys were carried out on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights—the high-risk periods for drink-driving. They are, therefore, likely to underestimate the number of tests required to detect drivers over the legal limit at other times.

  Vehicle Emissions
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) which of those organisations that responded to the consultation document of 20 September 1990 were in favour of tighter MOT emission standards than those outlined;

  (2) further to his reply of 22 January, Official Report, column 111, if he will discuss with the European Commission the future introduction of MOT motor vehicle emission standards based on individual manufacturers' specifications.

  Mr. Chope
  A number of those consulted suggested tighter emission standards than those proposed or limits based on manufacturers' settings. The EC type approval directive on emissions precludes the setting of standards which are stricter than those to which vehicles were required to conform when new. But, as many vehicles are capable of achieving emission levels well within the limits which will be set in the regulations, we have made it clear that motorists should aim to have their vehicles tuned to manufacturers' settings wherever possible.

  The standards we have proposed are intended to be a first step in in-service emissions checking, and standards will be progressively tightened in the future. The European Commission has already initiated discussions with member states on harmonised standards for emission testing. If resulting European legislation permits us to test to manufacturers' settings we shall consider the matter further.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) further to his reply of 22 January,Official Report, column 111, when he now plans to sign enabling regulations relating to MOT motor vehicle emission standards; and if he will make a statement;
  45
  (2) what assessment he has made of MOT vehicle test emission standards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Franks) on 13 February, at column 464.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will incorporate manufacturing design standards into a servicing schedule for cars;

  (2) if he will introduce an effective system for checking pollution from vehicles on the road, including those under three years of age.

  Mr. Chope
  Proper engine tuning is important for all vehicles, including those less than three years old. All motorists are well advised to ensure that their engine tuning is checked when they have their vehicles serviced. We are encouraging vehicle manufacturers to consider including engine tuning in routine service schedules.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what roles he has assigned to(a) local authorities, (b) the vehicle inspectorate and (c) the police in on-the-road checks for pollution control; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The new in-service emission standards will be enforced primarily at MOT tests under the supervision of the vehicle inspectorate. In due course I envisage an increasing role for both the vehicle inspectorate and the police in roadside spot checks on emissions.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to ensure that dedicated equipment for carbon monoxide testing is used in MOT testing; and if he will introduce a British standard for such equipment.

  Mr. Chope
  We are making arrangements to ensure that all types of emission-checking equipment which will be used in MOT testing have been certified to appropriate standards. As there is currently no British standard for such equipment, we are requiring that equipment should be designed and certified to the established international standard or an equivalent. I hope that the United Kingdom will play an active role in any further development of current equipment standards. Emission-checking equipment will not have to be dedicated to MOT testing, but we shall expect MOT test stations to have approved equipment available in MOT test bays whenever tests are being conducted.

  Trains, London
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning the current extent of one-person operation on the trains of the British Railways Board in the London travel-to-work area, the changes that have occurred since 1979, and those projected by the board.

  Mr. Freeman
  Many trains on routes into London and elsewhere are now one-person operated. Further extensions of one-person operation are an operational matter for the board and depend on various factors including the availability of suitable rolling stock and associated safety features such as cab radio.

  Racism
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call for a report from London Underground Ltd. on its response to the findings of the Commission for Racial Equality about the use of racist tests in appointing middle managers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that London Underground Ltd. has already revised its selection methods and introduced equality targets for ethnic minority representation at all levels in the company. The Commission for Racial Equality has commented:"The solutions introduced by London Underground serve a possible model for other employers".

  Railway Drivers
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will request Her Majesty's railway inspectorate to survey the incidence of resignation or early retirement of railway drivers over the last 10 years, together with any matters related thereto.

  Mr. Freeman
  This is a matter for railway operators.

  Driving Tests
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that only Department of Transport-approved driving instructors will be allowed to undertake the retesting of convicted drunken drivers.

  Mr. Chope
  Our proposals for the retesting of certain disqualified drivers are set out in the Road Traffic Bill. The new extended tests will be carried out only by the Department's driving examiners.

  Private Contractors
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much private contractors are charged when their construction and demolition work for private concerns blocks or hinders the public highway and pavements.

  Mr. Chope
  Under part IX of the Highways Act 1980, any person carrying out building or demolition work who places any scaffolding, other structure, hoarding, fence, builders' skip, or building materials which obstructs the highway is required to obtain a licence, permission or consent from the highway authority, and to comply with its terms. The highway authority does not have power to charge for occupation of the highway. The New Roads and Street Works Bill before Parliament includes an amendment to the Highways Act 1980 which would enable fees to be prescribed for the occupation of the highway in such circumstances.

  Parking
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what legislation governs the illegal parking of vehicles partly or wholly on pavements; what the maximum penalty is for committing such an offence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  There is no uniform national provision which prohibits pavement parking.
  47
  The parking of heavy goods vehicles over 7·5 tonnes gross weight on the pavement, except when necessary for loading or unloading is an offence under section 19 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and is subject to a standard fixed penalty notice—£16—or a maximum level 3 fine. London and a few provincial cities have taken equivalent local Act powers to extend this offence to other vehicles.

  The latent power in paragraph 22 of schedule 2 to the Road Traffic (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988 which, if commenced, would introduce a new national offence of parking a vehicle, other than a heavy goods vehicle, on the verge of an urban road, or on the footway or on any land situated between two carriageways on an urban road is being repealed by the Road Traffic Bill.

  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer) on 11 December 1990, at column 344.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects construction of the east London river crossing to start; and what is his latest estimate of the construction period.

  Mr. Chope
  The programme for construction depends on completion of the statutory procedures. Subject to that, the current timetable is for construction to start in 1992 and finish by 1996.

  Blighted Homes
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy on the use of his discretionary powers to buy, in advance of statutory blight provisions becoming operable, homes that are blighted by the announcement of proposed new road works; and what criteria he adopts in deciding which homes he will buy.

  Mr. Chope
  Where there is a genuine possibility that any part of a property may be required for one of our highway schemes, we are empowered to consider advance acquisition under section 248 of the Highway Act 1980. For owner-occupied residential property the criteria against which each application for purchase is considered are:

  (a) a compelling reason for wishing to sell immediately, other than the prospect of the highway scheme;

  (b) the reason why a sale cannot be achieved except as a discount is because of the road proposal; and

  (c) serious financial hardship would result if the Department did not buy.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what statutory powers his Department is currently purchasing homes that are blighted by the proposal to widen the M20 between junctions 3 and 5.

  Mr. Chope
  The majority of properties have been purchased under the blighted land provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 contained in paragraph 16 of schedule 13. A few have been the subject of discretionary purchase under section 248 of the Highways Act 1980.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether personal hardship is a factor that he takes into account in deciding whether to use his discretionary powers to buy, in advance of statutory blight provisions becoming operable, homes that are blighted by the announcement of proposed new road works.
  48
  Mr. Chope
  Yes, for those homes where there is a genuine possibility that part of the land may be required for proposed new road works.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will specify the legislative provisions that give him statutory powers to buy, in advance of statutory blight provisions becoming operable, homes that are blighted by the announcement of proposed new road works.

  Mr. Chope
  Section 248 of the Highways Act gives my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State power to acquire, at his discretion, property not immediately required for road purposes but which in his opinion may be so required.

  Cyprus Airways
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of free sale arrangements offered by Cyprus Airways, as a result of subsidies by the Cyprus Government, on British operators;

  (2) what discussions have been held with the Government of Cyprus on the implications for fair competition of the subsidy given by that Government to Cyprus Airways.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My Department holds regular talks with representatives of the Government of Cyprus on all aspects of our bilateral aviation relationship. We are always prepared to consider any complaint from British airlines who believe they may be facing unfair competition.

  Airline Companies
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will approach the European Commission to seek assistance for airline operators in Europe in order to survive the impact of the Gulf war, to be given in such a way as to ensure that British companies are operating on a level playing field both inside and outside Europe.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The EC Commissioner for competition has already indicated that if Governments wish to make subsidies available to their airlines, the Commission will be concerned to ensure that competition is not unduly distorted to the detriment of consumers and of airlines whose governments do not think that giving subsidies is an appropriate response to current problems. The Government welcome this approach.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what processes are available for reconsideration of licences where a foreign government are subsidising their national airline in such a way as to offer unfair competition to United Kingdom operators.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Within the European Community, subsidies are governed by the treaty of Rome rules. Outside the EC, the effect of subsidies to national airlines on competition would fall to be considered under the terms of individual bilateral arrangements between the United Kingdom and other countries.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the Government subsidy provided to the airline Sabena during
  49
  the Gulf crisis on (a) British airlines with which it is in competition and (b) the creation of a level playing field in air transport within Europe and worldwide.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I understand that while Sabena has said that it would like a subsidy, the Belgian Government have not announced that they will give one. Any proposal for state aid by EC member states to national airlines would have to be notified to the EC Commission, which would be concerned to ensure that there is no undue distortion of the competition in the aviation market.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he will make arrangements(a) to facilitate extended credit for United Kingdom air operators and (b) to provide direct financial assistance to small airlines to enable them to absorb the impact of the Gulf war;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) fair competition and (b) British air operators of fuel subsidies offered by foreign Governments to their operators; and if he has any plans to help United Kingdom operators in this respect.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  It is for airlines themselves to respond to changing market conditions in the light of their commercial judgment.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will arrange for Civil Aviation Authority charges to be waived or deferred in order to safeguard the position of United Kingdom operators during the Gulf war.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have no plans to do so.

  Semtex
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the security systems installed at United Kingdom airports to which he refers in his reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West of 8 February,Official Report, column 255, are able to detect Semtex explosives in addition to detonation devices in bombs.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I am not prepared to reveal details of security systems or their capabilities.

  Showmen's HGVs
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what specific restrictions in respect of the carriage of goods apply to vehicles in taxation class, "Restricted Showman's HGV".

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: A showman's goods vehicle is a vehicle permanently fitted with a living van or some other special type of body or superstructure, forming part of the equipment of a travelling show. The vehicle must be registered in the name of a person who follows the business of a travelling showman and used solely for that purpose. This means that the only goods to be carried must be directly related to the occupation of travelling showman. The restricted showman's HGV class applies to such vehicles which, although over 3,500 kg gross vehicle weight, cannot be taxed according to their plated weight because they are exempt from plating and testing.

  MOT Test
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the categories of road vehicles exempt from the three-yearly MOT test.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: Exemptions from the MOT test are listed in regulation 6 of the Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulation 1981, No. 1694, as amended. I refer the hon. Member to page 7524/1 of the "Encyclopedia of Road Traffic Law and Practice" volume 3, a copy of which is in the Library.

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

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, South (Mr. Sumberg) on 11 February at column 308.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Privy Council
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council (1) on what basis briefings are made on a Privy Council basis;

  (2) on what basis decisions are made on a Privy Council basis that are not subsequently explicitly approved by Parliament.

  Mr. MacGregor
  It is not the practice to disclose information on this subject.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Video Facility
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make immediate temporary arrangements to enable hon. Members to have access to a dedicated video viewing facility whenever the House is sitting.

  Mr. MacGregor
  It has been agreed by the Services Committee that a dedicated video viewing facility is to be established in the House and will be run by the Library. That facility is expected to be available in the autumn. It is unlikely that any arrangement, other than that which already exists in the television viewing rooms, can be identified before that time.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Soviet Union
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations have been made in respect of Georgy Molodchikov of Kiev who has been unsuccessfully applying to leave the Soviet Union;

  (2) what representations have been made in respect of Emil Tsilpen of Moscow who has been unsuccessfully applying to leave the Soviet Union;
  51
  (3) what representations have been made in respect of Ruben Ustayev of Tashkent who has been unsuccessfully applying to leave the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We can certainly raise these cases with the Soviet authorities, but in order to make our representations most effective we shall need further details.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made in respect of Elena Morgulis of Sverdlovsk who has been unsuccessfully applying to leave the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Mrs. Morgulis' case has been added to the list of cases which we regularly raise with the Soviet authorities. We shall continue to press all these cases until a satisfactory outcome is achieved.

  United Nations
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the United Nations optional protocol on civil and political rights.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As we have accepted the right of individual petition under the European convention on human rights and the compulsory jurisdiction of the European Court, we have accepted the strongest available mechanism for individual petition available to us and therefore need not accept that offered by the optional protocol.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests for action to be taken have been made to the Security Council of the United Nations, under chapter VII of the United Nations charter, following the allied bombing of Iraqi nuclear facilities.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None.

  Foreign Visitors (Safety)
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's embassies and consulates are taking to assure intending visitors to the United Kingdom and tourist operators that it is safe to come here.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  British missions overseas are advising intending travellers that it is safe to visit the United Kingdom although visitors should of course take all normal precautions. Posts are reassuring travellers that security precautions have been increased, particularly around airports.

  Disarmament Conference
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government's representatives to the conference on disarmament concerning the consequences of military attacks on civil nuclear facilities.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None.

  International Labour Adviser
  Mr. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will publish the manning level of the international labour adviser's Department and the comparable figures for five, 10 and 25 years ago;

  (2) what are the functions of the international labour adviser in his Department;

  (3) if he will make a statement about the future of his office's international labour adviser's Department.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The manning levels including support staff, for the office of international labour adviser are as follows:

  Staff

  1991

  3

  1986

  3

  1981

  5

  1966

  8

  Two reviews have recently been carried out on the need for a separate office of ILA. The conclusion endorsed by Ministers was that retention is no longer justified.

  The function of the ILA has been liaison between United Kingdom Government Departments, overseas posts, FCO departments and British trade union organisations on international labour and social questions, and to offer advice as necessary.

  Occupied Territories
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the extent to which the Israelis are using the cover of hostilities to increase the settlement of the occupied territories.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have no information to suggest that settlement activity has intensified since the beginning of hostilities.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the living conditions in the occupied territories; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have seen a worrying decline in living standards in the occupied territories since the Gulf crisis began. We are particularly concerned at the impact of the continuing curfew and have made our views known to the Israeli authorities.

  Equatorial Guinea
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made since 1979 to the Government of Equatorial Guinea concerning the abuse of human rights in that country.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The United Kingdom and Equatorial Guinea do not maintain resident missions in each other's capitals. Relations are minimal and contacts few. We have made no representations to the Government of Equatorial Guinea on human rights.

  BBC World Service
  Mr. Temple-Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ensure that the extra costs incurred by the BBC World Service in performing additional tasks as a result of the Gulf war will be met by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 1 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Arbuthnot) which stated that the cash limit for class II, vote 3 (external broadcasting and monitoring) would be increased by £4,760,000. Of this sum £1,160,000 will be devoted to extra expenditure incurred in this financial year as a result of the Gulf war. The remaining costs of extra broadcasting to the end of this financial year are being met from existing Foreign and Commonwealth Office funds.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policy objectives with regard to the Gulf war have been discussed with or agreed with Israel.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Our objectives are those of the United Nations Security Council; to eject Iraqi forces entirely from Kuwait; to restore the legitimate Government of Kuwait; and to restore international peace and stability to the region. We believe the Israelis share them.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the considerations underlying the policy of deferring steps to resolve the Arab-Israeli dispute until the conclusion of the conflict in the Gulf.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Iraqi occupation of Kuwait has created a situation in which it is not realistic to expect progress on Arab-Israel. We regret this. But it is the fault of Saddam Hussein, who has gravely damaged the Palestinian cause. We shall return to this problem with renewed vigour as soon as Iraq has left Kuwait.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the economic effects on less-developed countries of the Gulf war.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms. Primarolo) on 3 December 1990 at coloumn 18. The assessment is still complicated by uncertainty over the future level of oil prices, which have fallen significantly in recent weeks.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure humanitarian needs within Iraq can be met by international agencies.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  As I informed the House on 8 February, we have been in close contact for several months with the United Nations humanitarian agencies and with the International Committee of the Red Cross about contingency planning for the Gulf crisis.
  54
  The United Nations Disaster Relief Organisation has co-ordinated contingency plans fsor dealing with refugees and displaced persons from Kuwait and Iraq with the other relief organisations. We have pledged some £3 million to this and the International Committee of the Red Cross's appeals, further to the £11 million pledged bilaterally and through the European Community last year.

  The International Committee of the Red Cross has sent two consignments of medicines to Baghdad. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF are sending further medical supplies.

  It is for the United Nations Sanctions Committee to determine whether a humanitarian case for food supplies for Iraq (and Kuwait) exists. So far the sanctions committee has been unable to take a position due to the lack of an independent assessment.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further information he has about atrocities committed by Iraqi soldiers in Kuwait; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Recent information from inside Kuwait shows that the Iraqis continue to carry out a regime of arrests and tortures similar to that graphically described in the Amnesty International reports of October and December last year. Kuwaiti and foreign residents, including women and children, are being tortured and executed for offences such as carrying opposition literature or refusing to display portraits of Saddam Hussein. Recently reports have been received of an incident involving the hanging of a number of women.

  Weapons Technology
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his European Community counterparts to reach an accord that would effectively prevent European firms from providing technology and equipment that would enable another country to acquire weaponry of mass destruction.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We and our partners in the Twelve regularly discuss measures to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The European Council in Rome in December 1990 identified non-proliferation as a possible area for intensified co-ordination among the Twelve.

  Ivory
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many spot checks have been made by the Hong Kong authorities on ivory-holding premises since 19 October 1990; and if any irregularities were discovered.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 1 February 1991]: A total of 142 spot checks have been made by the Hong Kong authorities on ivory-holding premises since 19 October 1990. No irregularities were discovered.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current number of possession licences issued to holders of ivory stocks in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 1 February 1991: As at 31 January 1991, there were 983 possession licences held by 868 commercial ivory stockholders in Hong Kong.
  55
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current total of all ivory known to be held in Hong Kong; and on what date it was assessed.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 1 February 1991]: When last assessed on 17 July 1990, the total commercial ivory stock held in Hong Kong was 463 tonnes to the nearest tonne.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the information on countries of origin of tusks held in Hong Kong has been forwarded to the World Wide Fund for Nature.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 1 February 1991]: Information on the countries of origin of tusks held in Hong Kong was forwarded to WWF Hong Kong on 1 February 1991.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any ivory has been confiscated by the Hong Kong authorities since 17 October 1990; and if any prosecutions for illegal export have been entered since that date.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 1 February 1991: A total of 20·1 kg of worked ivory was seized by the Hong Kong authorities between 17 October 1990 and 31 January 1991. This ivory will be confiscated if the prosecutions to be entered result in convictions. During the period, one prosecution for illegal exportation involving 10,091 pieces of ivory name seals and blocks seized in Japan was entered and was successful.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of ivory exported from Hong Kong since midnight on 17 July 1990.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 1 February 1991]: Since midnight on 17 July 1990, Hong Kong has fully complied with the requirements of CITES in respect of trade in African elephant ivory. Since that date there have been no exports of ivory except as expressly provided for under the convention.

  Endangered Species
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of items from endangered species seized by the Hong Kong authorities in the second half of 1990 and the prosecutions arising from such seizures.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 1 February 1991]: In the second half of 1990, the Hong Kong authorities seized a wide variety of specimens of endangered species, from which 54 prosecutions arose. Details are as follows:

  Seizure of Endangered Species (1 July 1990 to 31 December 1990)

  Species

  Mammal

  Felidae (wild cats) skin

  349 pc

  Elephant—Ivory

  94·3 kg

  Monkey (live)

  6 hd

  Slow Loris

  9 hd

  Gibbon

  3 hd

  Pangolin: live/stuffed/carcass

  3 hd

  meat/scale

  9·6 kg

  56

  Species

  Bird

  Bird of prey/owl—live/dead

  10 hd

  meat

  0·3 kg

  Parrot

  54 hd

  Reptile

  Reptiles: skins

  695 pc +

  10,000 pairs of watch straps

  live/stuffed/carcass

  7 hd

  Sea turtle: scale

  52 pc

  live/stuffed/shell

  103 hd

  Tortoise

  9 hd

  Amphibian

  Giant Salamander: live/carcass

  2 hd

  Fish

  Asiatic Bony Tongue

  45 tails

  Arapaima fish

  558 tails

  Insect

  Mounted butterfly

  5 pc

  Corale

  500 kg

  Plant

  Orchid

  2,269 pc

  Total Number of Seizures: 166

  East Timor
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when(a) the United Nations Security Council, or (b) the European Community Council of Ministers last discussed (i) the Indonesian occupation of East Timor and (ii) the killings of the East Timor people and enforcement of United Nations resolutions on this matter.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 12 February 1991]: The last discussion in the United Nations Security Council of Indonesia's invasion of East Timor was on 22 April 1976. These matters have not been discussed by the Economic Community Council of Ministers.

Employment

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to place a copy of the new training and enterprise council operating agreement and operating manual for 1991–92 in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  I intend to place a copy of the TEC operating agreement and the TEC operating manual in the Library during March. These documents will reflect the new flexibilities and responsibilities which TECs will have from April 1991.

  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the funding available to the training and enterprise councils may be spent on(a) administration and (b) promotion and advertising.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: Budgets are allocated to individual TECs on the basis of

  57
  proposals set out in their business and corporate plans. The proportion of funding allocated to promotion and advertising and administration varies between TECs.

  Youth Training
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether training and enterprise councils are in 1991 guaranteeing every school leaver at age 16 years a suitable youth training place before Christmas.

  Mr. Jackson
  Training and enterprise councils are contracted to meet the Government's guarantee of the offer of suitable training for all under-18s who have left school, are not in a job and who are seeking a place on youth training. The guarantee applies continuously to young people in this situation until they reach their 18th birthday. The guarantee is their top priority within youth training funds and their business plans are closely scrutinised to ensure that they have made sufficient provision to meet it.

  Employment Service
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of the employment service in Pickering and Malton, North Yorkshire.

  Mr. Jackson
  I wrote to my hon. Friend the Member for Ryedale (Mr. Greenway), in whose constituency Pickering and Malton lie, on 13 February, to inform him of the plans for the future of the employment service in Malton and Pickering. The employment service is developing an enhanced service at Malton and plans to transfer the services from Pickering to Malton between the end of March and mid-April and to close the pan-time offices at Pickering.

  South Glamorgan TEC
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what date he received the second corporate plan of South Glamorgan training and enterprise council.

  Mr. Jackson
  As in the case of other TECs, my officials received several drafts of the corporate plan for South Glamorgan TEC.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he took into account the discussions between his area director for Wales and the chairman of South Glamorgan TEC concerning the desirability of William Cowlin and Sons proceeding with its tender for the new TEC building, before approving its corporate plan.

  Mr. Jackson
  The William Cowlin and Sons tender to refurbish premises for South Glamorgan TEC had been withdrawn before the plans were submitted for my right hon. and learned Friend's approval.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what date he approved the South Glamorgan TEC corporate plan.

  Mr. Jackson
  I approved the corporate plan for South Glamorgan TEC on 23 January.

  Jobcentres
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are employed by the Department in jobcentres in(a) Gwynedd and (b) Ynys Mon; and of that total how many are able to speak Welsh.

  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.

  Earnings
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on a comparative basis of the average earnings of skilled, semi-skilled, unskilled men, and women, in manufacturing industry in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, at the latest convenient dates and five years ago in £ sterling equivalents and purchasing power equivalents.

  Mr. Forth
  The only information available is published by(a) the Statistical Office of the European Communities on the average gross hourly earnings of manual workers by industrial groups, in "Earnings: Industry and Services, No. 1 1990", a copy of which will be available shortly in the Library of the House; and (b) the International Labour Office on average wages by industry for OECD and other countries in "Yearbook of Labour Statistics 1989–90", a copy of which is available in the Library.

SCOTLAND

  Neil Duncan
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to the Exchequer of the police inquiry into the case of Neil Duncan and others.

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  The total estimated police cost was £65,000, of which the Exchequer share, En the form of police grant, would be £33,150.

  Scottish Development Agency
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the levels of investment by the Scottish Development Agency in the Paisley, South constituency since 1983.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Agency expenditure (excluding running costs) on projects in the constituency is set out in the table.

  Year

  Expenditure

  £

  1983–84

  12,000

  1984–85

  251,000

  1985–86

  355,000

  1986–87

  86,000

  1987–88

  224,000

  1988–89

  236,000

  1989–90

  206,000

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to introduce legislation to encourage employers to recruit more disabled employees.
  59
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  No

  CAP Payments
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much the total payments received by the agricultural industry in Scotland were under the common agricultural policy in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Total expenditure in the United Kingdom under the common agricultural policy was:

  £ million

  1987–88

  1,611·1

  1988–89

  1,362·9

  1989–90

  1,230·5

  Details of schemes with identifiable expenditure in Scotland are given in the annual appropriation accounts volume 9: class XVI Scotland. It is not possible to disaggregate all United Kingdom CAP expenditure in this way.

  Local Health Councils
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the likely effectiveness of local health councils which are appointed by the health boards they are empowered to monitor.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The role of health boards is changing. Increasingly they will be concerned with strategic issues and with the procurement of services to meet the health needs of their areas. Councils are likely to concentrate on the services provided. The two roles are mutually compatible and supportive.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the budgeted expenditure per head of population of each of the Scottish regional councils in 1990–91.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: The information is set out in the table:

  1990–91 Budget Estimates per head of population

  £

  Borders

  850·13

  Central

  775·74

  Dumfries and Galloway

  816·00

  Fife

  819·06

  Grampian

  761·23

  Highland

  1,017·12

  Lothian

  829·85

  Strathclyde

  855·50

  Tayside

  819·12

  Note:

  Figures have been calculated using total relevant current expenditure including loan and leasing charges and population figures at June 1989.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the income per head of each of the Scottish regions from the Scottish Office, revenue support grant and non-domestic rates in 1990–91.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: The information is set out in the table:
  60

  1990–91 Revenue support grant per head of population

  1990–91 Non-domestic rates per head of population

  £

  £

  Borders

  558·71

  96·85

  Central

  383·71

  175·41

  Dumfries and Galloway

  510·77

  122·23

  Fife

  374·05

  202·40

  Grampian

  435·25

  161·82

  Highland

  613·28

  178·23

  Lothian

  315·13

  206·88

  Strathclyde

  450·68

  174·67

  Tayside

  445·83

  149·25

  Enterprise Ayrshire
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what allocation he has made to Enterprise Ayrshire for training for the coming financial year; what is the allocation to the existing equivalent programmes for the current year; what estimate he has of the reduction in training places as a result; what effect it will have on permanent and temporary employees inherited by Enterprise Ayrshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: There is no specific allocation of resources to individual training programmes in the current year in respect of the area for which Enterprise Ayrshire will be responsible for organising Government-financed training provision from 1 April. The allocation of resources for 1991–92 to individual local enterprise companies is a matter for Scottish Enterprise rather than my right hon. Friend. The number of training places to be provided next year in individual local enterprise company areas is a matter for consideration by the relevant local enterprise company, in consultation with Scottish Enterprise. It depends upon a wide range of factors and is not the subject of estimates by the Scottish Office. Staffing complements are also a matter for consideration between local enterprise companies and Scottish Enterprise. However, it is important to be clear that local enterprise companies do not directly inherit any staff. Staff from the Training Agency and the Scottish Development Agency have the statutory right to an offer of employment with Scottish Enterprise. Any arrangements to second staff to local enterprise companies do not detract from that statutory right.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what contribution he made towards the cost of the management consultants' reports on the parallel business plans for a national health service trust and managed unit within the health board for the South Ayrshire hospitals; what was the total cost of the study; and who else contributed towards it.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hughes) at volume 185, columns 87–88.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the study being undertaken into a national health service trust for
  61
  South Ayrshire hospitals; what has been the nature of such representations; and what action he proposes to take as a result.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: I have received a number of representations concerning trust status for South Ayrshire hospitals. all of which will be given careful consideration.

  Food Poisoning
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many research projects on food poisoning the Scottish Office is funding in Scotland; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: The following research projects in Scotland relevant to food poisoning are being funded by the Scottish Office.

  1. Rapid methods of determining bacterial numbers in milk and milk products.

  2. The properties, particularly in respect to pathogenicity, of spore forming organisms in milk.

  3.The source and factors controlling the growth of Listeria spp in milk and milk products.

  4. Quantify the routes and describe the factors regulating the transmission of micro-organisms in eggs.

  5. Biochemical activity, virulence factors and food chain distribution of Yersinia enterocolitica.

  6. Listeriosis: A case control study to test the hypothesis that the consumption or handling of "high risk" foods are risk factors in acquiring infection.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of food poisoning were detected and treated in Scotland in 1988, 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: The numbers of confirmed notifications by doctors to health boards of cases of food poisoning in these years were 2,998, 3,197 and 3,037 (provisional) respectively. Information about the treatment of individual patients is not held centrally.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) under 25-year-olds, (b) 25 to 35-year-olds and (c) over 35-year-olds are unemployed in (i) Scotland, (ii) Strathclyde and (iii) Glasgow; and how many in each age group have been unemployed for more than 12 months.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: The available information for those aged under 25, aged 25 to 34 years old and aged 35 years or over can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the House of Commons Library. Library staff are ready to assist in accessing the information if necessary.

DEFENCE

  Welsh Service Personnel
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will publish figures outlining the number of applicants and entrants to(a) the Army, (b) the Royal Navy and Royal Marines and (c) the Royal Air Force who (i) were born in Wales and (ii) who are normally resident in Wales;
  62
  (2) of those members of the United Kingdom regular forces serving in the Gulf, how many are normally resident in Wales; and if he will publish separate figures for (a) the Army, (b) the Royal Air Force and (c) the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

  The Gulf
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the number of deaths of(a) military personnel and (b) civilians that have occurred as a direct result of the outbreak of hostilities in the Gulf.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of military casualties to date in the Gulf conflict.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Her Majesty's Government are not in a position to provide an overall estimate of the number of people killed so far during hostilities. The United Kingdom has no personnel confirmed as killed as a direct result of hostilities.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on how many civil servants have been called up as reservists for service in the Gulf; and if he will make a statement on the effect of such calls-ups on their pay, posts and promotion prospects.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The civilian employment of reservists called out for service as a result of the Gulf conflict is not centrally recorded. Reservists called out from the civil service will be paid the military pay appropriate to their service rank. If necessary, under established balance of civil pay procedures, they will also receive additional payments from their previously employing Department to bring total emoluments up to the level of their civil service pay. Posts will be kept available for reservist staff called out for service and their promotion prospects will be unaffected.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the resolution of the House of 21 January on the Gulf represents Her Majesty's Government's policy.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Yes.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps have been taken to minimise civilian casualties in the Gulf conflict wherever possible; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what advice he has issued to British commanders on how minimising civilian casualties should be interpreted;

  (3) what consideration has been given in authorising the use of B-52 bombers by the allied coalition to minimising civilian casualties wherever possible;

  (4) what is his latest estimate of civilian casualties to date in the Gulf conflict.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Allied pilots have instructions only to attack targets which could pose a threat to allied forces or facilities supporting Iraq's occupation of Kuwait. These attacks are carefully planned, with the aim of minimising the risk of causing civilian casualties. Iraq has made varying claims about the number of civilian casualties, but we are unable to verify these claims.
  63
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what losses have been suffered to date in the middle east by(a) the allies and (b) the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In the air campaign so far, six RAF Tornado GR1 s have failed to return from missions over Iraq. A further Tornado GR1 was lost following a mechanical failure immediately after take-off. The United States announced on 15 February that, in addition to the United Kingdom losses, coalition forces have lost a further 22 aircraft to enemy action.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action the joint information bureau has taken to police and enforce the media ground rules for reporting the Gulf war.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The allied joint information bureaux provide contact points for journalists and as such do not directly police and enforce the ground rules for reporting. Responsibility for policing and enforcing these ground rules falls to various authorities, including individual national staffs who man the bureaux. British authorities in theatre routinely raise with journalists aspects of compliance with the ground rules. In certain cases the Saudi authorities will take direct action.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what basis(a) war facts and information are withheld and (b) disinformation released.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Government's policy is to allow all reasonable freedom and access for reporting, subject only to constraints essential to protect the safety of coalition forces and the security of allied operations.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provisions have been made for the long-term management of sewage and waste oils from military operations arising from the British forces in the Saudi Arabian desert.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In desert areas sewage is incinerated, while waste oil is drained into drums carried for this purpose and removed to a civilian disposal facility.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what protective measures have been taken to protect British forces in the Gulf from being bitten by the camel spider, scorpions, the carpet viper, the black desert cobra, the horned viper and desert ants.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All personnel moving to the Gulf are briefed on the particular health risks associated with the local environment, including those posed by arachnids, reptiles and insects. Normal military clothing and footwear are considered sufficient protection in normal circumstances and we have no knowledge of any specific problems concerning the species mentioned.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the policy of the Royal Air Force operating in the Gulf in regard to targets of opportunity; and what guidance is given to pilots to judge whether such targets are civilian.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Allied pilots have instructions to attack only targets which could pose a threat to allied forces or facilities supporting Iraq's occupation of Kuwait.
  64
  On occasions, aircraft have returned with their bombs because their crews have been unable to identify their target clearly.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will obtain a copy of the account of Mr. Ramsey Clark concerning the damage caused to residential areas in Iraq from allied bombing raids.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We are unable to confirm the claims made by Mr. Ramsey Clark about damage to residential areas in Iraq.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities are available in Bundeswehr hospitals for Gulf wounded.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are no plans to use Bundeswehr hospitals for the treatment of British personnel wounded in the Gulf.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of the effect of the interdiction of Iraqi logistic systems on the non-Iraqi population of Kuwait.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The people of Kuwait have had to suffer over six months of occupation and ill-treatment by Iraq. Conditions for the Kuwaiti people will improve only when that occupation is ended, which is the aim of the allied military campaign.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military objectives in the Gulf have been discussed or agreed with Israel.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The aims of the coalition forces are those laid down by the United Nations Security Council.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of the level of civilian casualties to date in Basra.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Iraq has made numerous claims about civilian casualties resulting from the allied air campaign, including in the Basra area. We are unable to verify Iraq's claims.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the military purpose served by the destruction of the justice and local government ministries in Baghdad.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The justice and local government ministries form an integral part of the national command and control structure of Iraq.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any of the Patriot missile launchers are located in the occupied territories.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Deployments of Patriot missile launchers in defence of Israel are a matter for the Israeli Government.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of the length of time in which the Al-Amerieh bunker had been used as an air raid shelter.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The bunker attacked in Baghdad on 13 February was constructed in the early 1980s during
  65
  the Iran-Iraq war, but, as the United States has said, it was converted to a military command and control facility in the late 1980s.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a detailed inquiry into the alleged destruction of a civil air raid shelter in Baghdad, and review procedures required to minimise the risk of any similar occurrence.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the bombing on 13 February of Iraqi civilians sheltering in the Baghdad air raid shelter.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The allied aim remains to keep civilian casualties to a minimum. The United States has made it clear that the bunker would not have been attacked if it had been known that the civilians were inside. The United Kingdom has the same policy.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that contracts for passenger and freight air transport during the current period are directed to British firms which have been subject to financial pressures due to the Gulf crisis.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  While reserving the right to secure charter air transport services by open competition, some 95 per cent. of Ministry of Defence contracts arising from the Gulf situation and related activities have been let to United Kingdom firms. A further 3 per cent. related to requirements which could not be met in the United Kingdom market.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans exist to deal with large-scale contamination by anthrax spores of personnel serving in the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A range of counter-measures have been taken, or are available, to deal with the possible use of chemical or biological weapons against our forces deployed in the Gulf. For obvious reasons, it is not our practice to comment on specific agents or countermeasures. We have made it clear ther Her Majesty's Government would view any use of such agents with very grave concern.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the defence of the Falkland Islands.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We welcome the continuing improvement in United Kingdom-Argentine relations and the contribution which this makes to security in the south Atlantic. The measures agreed between both Governments at Madrid last year for reciprocal consultation on military movements have helped the confidence-building process. We remain fully committed to the defence of the Falkland Islands and to maintaining adequate forces there for this purpose.

  Incubators, Iraq
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of the effect of the war upon the usability of incubators in Iraq to save babies' lives.
  66
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Allied forces have not attacked hospitals and there is no reason to believe that Iraqi hospitals have been unable to continue to function. By contrast, evidence was given to the United Nations Security Council on 27 November 1990 of the deaths of 120 new-born babies in a Kuwaiti hospital when they were taken from their incubators by the Iraqis.

  RAF (Training)
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much military low flying in the United Kingdom over the past 10 years was by non-RAF pilots; and from which nations these pilots came.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  As I indicated in my answer of 7 February to the right hon. Gentleman,Official Report, column 219, low flying by aircraft of other nations, apart from United States air force aircraft based in this country, amounts to less than 2 per cent. of total low flying activity over the past 10 years. Central records do not distinguish the individual nations concerned and it would involve disproportionate cost and effort to try to establish this information.

  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts or agreements Her Majesty's Government have entered into over the past 10 years for the Royal Air Force to train foreign pilots in low flying.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave the right hon. Gentleman on 7 February,Official Report, column 219.

  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which countries' nationals have received pilot and navigational training by the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom over the past 10 years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not the practice to give details of military assistance provided to individual countries.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice to operators of fishing vessels his Department has issued pending the introduction of electronic identification equipment.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  When submarines are operating on the surface normal "rules of the road" apply. In the case of dived submarines, it is the responsibility of the submarine's captain to keep clear of surface craft. In addition, designated submarine exercise areas are clearly marked on all Admiralty charts and fishermen are advised to keep special watch for submarines on or near the surface while transitting these areas. In the Firth of Clyde, where submarine movements are most frequent, mariners are given advance warning of the times and general areas in which dived submarine operations are planned.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects electronic identification equipment to be made generally available for use on fishing vessels.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Trials of these devices have not yet been completed. It is too early to say when they may become generally available, but I hope that commercially produced models will be ready later this year.
  67
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what trials have been undertaken by his Department into the use of electronic identification equipment on fishing vessels operating in waters used by submarines.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Initial trials involving a static device took place last summer and trials of a towed device were carried out in December. Further trials involving a range of commercially produced devices will take place in the near future.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the electronic identification equipment tested by his Department costs per unit; and whether he intends to make it available free of charge.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It will not be possible to estimate the cost of these devices until the trials programme has been completed and the specification for the devices has been finalised. No decision on funding has yet been taken.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any trials into the use of electronic identification equipment on fishing vessels have examined their effect on the behaviour of marine life.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. The purpose of the trials being conducted by the Ministry of Defence is to establish whether net pingers provide an effective means of improving a submarine's ability to detect fishing nets.

  Gulf Forces (Food Supplies)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards purchasing food for the forces from outside the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In accordance with Government policy, the Ministry of Defence aims to secure best value for money in the purchasing of food for the armed forces. This means that having specified what is required in terms of rigorous quality standards, the Department seeks competitive tenders whenever it can.

  Under EC directives the Ministry of Defence is obliged to advertise the majority of its forthcoming purchases in the Official Journal of the EC. To date there has been very little response from overseas companies, and almost all the Ministry's contracts for food for the armed forces are placed with firms in the United Kingdom. These firms in turn obtain their supplies from normal trade sources in this country and abroad. We do not seek to influence the selection by companies of their sources of supply any more than is necessary to ensure that the required quality standards are met.
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  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the amount and cost of(a) butter and (b) beef which has been bought by him for the forces from (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) other countries, listing the countries in each case, for 1990 and to date in 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The value of butter and beef purchased by the Ministry of Defence for the services is as follows:

  Butter

  Value

  £

  1990

  200,000

  11991

  8,000

  1 To the end of January.

  Beef

  £ million

  1990

  13

  11991

  1

  1 To the end of January.

  Details of supplies by country of origin are not available. However, it is estimated that approximately 95 per cent. of purchases of beef in 1990 came from South America, mainly Uruguay, with the remainder from the United Kingdom, and that all butter came from the United Kingdom.

  Military Manoeuvres
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what definition of the term military manoeuvre is used when considering the applicability of the Manoeuvres Act 1958 to military exercises.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer Monday 11 February 1991]: There is no statutory definition of the term "military manoeuvre", but in common service usage the term would be used to describe the strategic or tactical movement of a military force.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions during the last 10 years when a Manoeuvres Commission has been appointed under the provisions of the Manoeuvres Act 1958.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer Monday 11 February 1991]: On no occasion in the last 10 years has a manoeuvres commission been appointed under the provisions of the Manoeuvres Act 1958.

  GULF SEABIRDS: RSPCA ASSISTANCE
  GULF SEABIRDS: RSPCA ASSISTANCE
  DEFENCE COMMUNICATIONS MASTS: SITE PROPOSALS
  DEFENCE COMMUNICATIONS MASTS: SITE PROPOSALS
  EC SURPLUS FOOD SCHEME
  EC SURPLUS FOOD SCHEME
  COMMUNITY CHARGE
  COMMUNITY CHARGE
  DIOCESE OF GUILDFORD (EDUCATIONAL ENDORSEMENTS) ORDER: SALES OF PROPERTY
  DIOCESE OF GUILDFORD (EDUCATIONAL ENDORSEMENTS) ORDER: SALES OF PROPERTY