Written Answers of 25 February 1991

ENVIRONMENT

  Crown Suppliers
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many contracts have been extended by the Crown Suppliers in breach of EC/GATT regulations.

  Mr. Yeo
  Some contracts appear prima facie to fall into this category, but the question of whether breaches have actually occurred can be conclusively established only by the European Court of Justice.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what restrictions exist, or he has placed, on the freedom of TCS board members to work for any of the companies which have been the beneficiaries of contract extensions in breach of EC/GATT regulations.

  Mr. Yeo
  The general rules applying to the acceptance of outside appointments by civil servants after retirement provide adequate safeguards against any suspicion of impropriety. In particular the assent of the Department is required before any non-industrial staff member may accept an offer of employment by a company with which they have been directly or indirectly involved.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment at which board meetings in 1990 the Crown Suppliers sanctioned a number of contract extensions in breach of EC/GATT regulations.

  Mr. Yeo
  Although in the course of considering future business, the question of extending contracts was discussed, at no point did the TCS main board sanction extensions in breach of EC/GATT regulations.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what legal advice was obtained by his Department during 1989 concerning possible breaches of EC/GATT purchasing regulations by TCS.

  Mr. Yeo
  In July 1989 the Department of the Environment provided legal advice that negotiated procedures were permitted by the EC/GATT regulations on certain grounds which did not include difficulties arising from privatisation. The legal adviser also pointed out the requirement to draw up a written report of any negotiated procedure.

  In September 1989 the legal adviser responded to a draft report relying on reasons of urgency of supply, or incompatibility or disproportionate technical difficulties resulting from a change in supplier. His advice was that none of the considerations given for further contract extensions could be justified under the EC directive.

  No legal advice was sought by the Department from any other source.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether the payments made to the 322
  personnel director of the Crown Suppliers included moneys additional to the baseline statutory requirements on termination of his employment with the Crown Suppliers;

  (2) whether payments made to the business director of building management, Property Services Agency, included moneys additional to the baseline statutory requirements on termination of his contract with the Property Services Agency.

  Mr. Yeo
  Crown servants are excluded from certain parts of employment legislation providing for baseline statutory payments on termination of employment.

  EC/GATT Regulations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total value of contract extensions granted to PENTOS and Ernest Gill in breach of EC/GATT regulations.

  Mr. Yeo
  Values of contracts with individual suppliers are a matter of commercial confidentiality.

  Housing
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish details of the performance of cash incentive schemes operated by local authorities under section 129 of the Housing Act 1988.

  Mr. Yeo
  A report on the operation of cash incentive schemes in 1989–90, based on returns received from the local authorities, has today been placed in the Library. Local authorities will be reporting to the Department on the performance of 1990–91 schemes at the end of the financial year.

  Severn Trent Water
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the chairman of Severn Trent Water to discuss his company's financial strategy.

  Mr. Baldry
  As Severn Trent Water is a private sector company, it is the responsibility of its directors to deal with financial matters, within the framework of the obligations imposed on the company by its instrument of appointment as a water and sewerage undertaker. The Director General of Water Services ensures that the company complies with those obligations.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Property Services Agency(a) has been and (b) is eligible to be contracted to carry out work for the United States air force in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Property Services Agency has carried out work for the United States air force in the United Kingdom for a number of years and continues to do so.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have taken place on the post of the Property Services Agency chief executive following upon the decision to proceed with privatisation of the assets of the Property Services Agency.

  Mr. Heseltine
  It is envisaged that the post of chief executive, PSA Services will remain so long as PSA Services has the functions of a Government Department.

  Environmental Protection Act
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he intends to implement sections 49 and 50 of the Environmental Protection Act;

  (2) when he intends to implement sections 63 and 73 of the Environmental Protection Act.

  Mr. Trippier
  I shall announce a timetable for the implementation of part II of the Environmental Protection Act shortly.

  Departmental Discipline
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to ensure that disciplinary actions brought by his Department have been applied consistently at all levels of officials within his Department.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Both the Department of Environment and PSA Services maintain central registers of all disciplinary offences and the action taken. This is consulted by personnel officers before recommending penalties in each case to ensure uniformity of treatment.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements will be made to ensure continuity of employment for those persons who are disabled in his Department.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The Department already operates an equal opportunities policy designed to ensure that disablement in itself is no bar to recruitment or advancement in the Department.

  Assured Tenancies
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average rent of assured tenancies let by housing associations during 1989 and 1990 within each economic planning region.

  Mr. Yeo
  The available information comes from a survey by the National Federation of Housing Associations which provides average rents for assured tenancies let in each of the NFHA regions. Results for the fourth quarter 1989 to the third quarter 1990 have been published in the "NFHA CORE Quarterly Bulletin", and the relevant extracts have been placed in the Library.

  Unleaded Petrol
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further initiatives the Government are taking to promote the sale of lead-free petrol.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) on 4 February at column 40. Since then, we have commissioned a survey of motorists in order to find out what barriers there may be to the further uptake of unleaded petrol. Any further initiatives will be guided by the results of the survey.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much he expects the 1991–92 community charge in Waveney to be increased from last year to take account of defaulters in 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  Authorities should have as their aim the collection of 100 per cent. of the charges due to them, and we have provided them with extensive enforcement powers. It is for individual charging authorities, when setting their charges, to decide to what extent to make provision for arrears which they consider are likely to be ultimately uncollectable.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many community charge payers in Waveney he expects will benefit from all the relief schemes in 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  This information is not yet available. However, if Waveney borough council sets its community charge next year at or above £350, a couple who have not moved since 31 March 1990 living in a property of half average rateable value could look forward to a reduction of £395 between them.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the effect that the community charge reduction scheme will have upon Congleton borough council and its charge payers.

  Mr. Key
  No information is yet available on the numbers of people in each charging authority area who will benefit from a reduction. However, if Congleton borough council sets its community charge next year at or above £388, a couple who have not moved since 31 March 1990 living in a property of half average rateable value could look forward to a reduction of £398 between them.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that community charge payers in Waveney in 1991–92 are not penalised by non-payers in 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  From 1 April 1990 local authorities were given widened and strengthened enforcement powers which we would expect them to use to minimise the amount of unpaid charges.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what level of grant is to be paid by central Government to the Congleton borough council in the coming financial year; and what were the amounts paid in each of the previous five years for which figures are available taking into account any relevant changes in local authority responsibilities.

  Mr. Key
  The following amounts of grant were paid to Congleton borough council or are due to be paid:

  Year

  Amount £

  Rate Support Grant

  1986–87

  1,087,274·00

  1987–88

  883,317·00

  1988–89

  710,635·00

  1989–90

  619,947·00

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  Year

  Amount £

  Revenue Support Grant

  1990–91

  9,277,645·00

  1991–92

  8,348,987·00

  The figures for 1990–91 onwards are not comparable with previous years since the grant is now paid into the collection fund on which Cheshire county council is entitled to precept.

  Revenue support grant like rate support grant is not paid in support of particular services and it is not possible to adjust the above figures for any changes in local authority responsibilities.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what percentage of domestic properties for which rates were due domestic rates were not paid in the Chelmsford local authority area in the latest available financial year prior to 31 March 1990.

  Mr. Robert Key
  No information is collected centrally on the percentage of domestic properties for which rates were not paid.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish information on(a) poll tax receipts and non-payment and (b) non-domestic rate receipts and non-payment for all those local authorities which have made their third quarterly returns to his Department.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 20 February 1991]: I am arranging for copies of the information to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the community charge reduction scheme will only apply during 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 22 February 1991]: Regulations laid before Parliament on 14 February 1990 provide that the community charge reduction scheme in England will initially apply to 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  St. James's Park
  Sir Geoffrey Finsberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the contract was placed for the rehabilitation of the lake in St. James's park; when the work was scheduled to finish; and on what date it is now expected to be fully completed.

  Sir George Young
  The contract for the rehabilitation of the lake was placed on 29 October 1990. The work was scheduled to finish on 29 March 1991, and is expected to be completed on about 12 April.

  Bathing Beaches
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will approve a byelaw under the Public Health Act 1936 to designate beaches in Worthing as bathing beaches.

  Mr. Trippier
  Worthing is already a designated bathing water under the European Community Bathing Water Directive and has met European standards for the past two years.

  Fish
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the numbers of species of fish in the United Kingdom's coastal waters, and if he will list those species which are largely dependent upon estuaries for breeding and migration purposes.

  Mr. Curry
  I have been asked to reply.

  There are about 125 species of fin fish in United Kingdom coastal waters of which about half are of interest to fishermen. Leaving aside the non-commercial fish species, the species which take advantage of estuarine conditions at some stage in their lifecycle are bass, flounder, herring, sprat, eel, smelt, salmonids, mullet species and sandeel species.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  East Timor
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he is making to the Indonesian Government on the torture and ill-treatment of prisoners in East Timor.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  As my hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs informed the hon. Lady in reply to her question of 29 March 1990, column 289, the Indonesian authorities are well aware of our views on the need to respect human rights.

  Iran
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Iran about executions in the past year; and what representations he has made on the assassination of Dr. Kazem Rajavi.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We remain concerned at the high level of executions in Iran. We have made clear to the Iranian Government that we expect them to respond promptly to all the allegations made in the reports of the United Nations special representative on human rights in Iran, including those relating to executions.

  We have not raised with the Iranian Government the case of Dr. Rajavi, which is still under investigation in Switzerland.

  Kenya
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he is making to the Kenyan Government on behalf of the British citizens of Asian origin who face difficulties with visa and entry regulations for that country.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Immigration procedures for entry into Kenya are a matter for the Kenyan Government. We make regular representations to the Kenyan Government on this issue in London and through our High Commission in Nairobi.

  Arab and Islamic States
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings or telephone conversations he or ministers in his Department have had
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  with Ministers or officials from foreign ministries in Arab and Islamic states since 15 January; and what matters have been addressed in each case.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and officials of this Department have been in touch with Ministers and senior officials of almost all Arab and Islamic countries since 15 January. A very wide range of bilateral, regional and internal matters has been discussed, including the Gulf crisis. The great majority of Arab and Islamic Governments firmly support the United Nations resolutions on the Gulf and the requirement for Saddam Hussein to withdraw all his forces immediately and unconditionally from Kuwait.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he is giving tour operators and individuals over the safety of holidaymaking in Yugoslavia in the current year.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Our current advice is that we see no reason to discourage travel to Yugoslavia. We point out, however, that there have been localised disturbances in Kosovo and in parts of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. British nationals are also advised to avoid the area of Knin where there have been blockades on roads and railways. Visitors staying longer than one month are advised to register with the British consulates in Belgrade, Zagreb, Split or Dubrovnik.

  We are continually reviewing travel advice for all countries.

  Security Policy
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the speech he made to the European Foreign Affairs Council on European security policy.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs set out our views on European security policy in his Churchill memorial lecture on 19 February, and in his speech in Berlin on 10 December. Copies are available in the Library.

  Israel
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times the United States of America and the United Kingdom have vetoed proposed resolutions regarding sanctions against Israel in the United Nations Security Council.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he or his officials have had any meetings this year with members of(a) Kuwait and (b) Iraqi opposition political parties.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  British diplomats in Saudi Arabia have kept in close touch with all strands of Kuwaiti society as represented, for example, at the Kuwait national 328
  conference held in Jedda on 13–15 October. Officials in London have held a number of meetings with the members of a variety of Iraqi groups.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the deployment of Patriot missiles in the Occupied Territories on the cohesion of the coalition against Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The coalition against Iraq remains firm. The deployment of Patriot missile launchers in defence of Israel is a matter for the Israeli Government.

  The Gulf (Birds)
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he has given to efforts to save birdlife in the Gulf area; and if he will make a statement on progress with these efforts.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire) on 15 February at col.609. The main aim of the visit of the RSPCA team to the Gulf was to train local volunteers in the techniques of cleaning oil-contaminated seabirds. Nevertheless, the RSPCA team treated more than 500 birds in Saudi Arabia during their time there.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the number of managerial and professional persons resident in Hong Kong in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on his current assessment of the likelihood of a drain of managerial and professional persons from Hong Kong.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 20 February 1991]: The Hong Kong Government estimate that the number of managerial and professional people (including administrative and technical personnel) resident in Hong Kong in each of the past five years was:

  Number

  1986

  262,000

  1987

  279,000

  1988

  302,000

  1989

  318,000

  1990

  328,000

  The Hong Kong Government estimate that the number of emigrants who fall into these categories in each of the past five years was as follows:

  Number

  1986

  2,600

  1987

  7,400

  1988

  11,200

  1989

  9,800

  1990

  14,500

  The Hong Kong Government believe that, despite loss through emigration, the number of highly educated and professionally skilled persons in Hong Kong should not

  329
  fall in future years if the present trend of local young people graduating overseas continues. Furthermore, Hong Kong's own tertiary institutions are rapidly expanding their output of new graduates. The figures are:

  Number

  1986

  2,800

  1987

  3,000

  1988

  3,600

  1989

  4,300

  1990

  5,000

  It is estimated that by 1996 Hong Kong will be producing over 17,000 new first degree graduates per year.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Geography
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list and give the reasons for his alterations to the recommendations of the geography working group and the National Curriculum Council's consultation report on geography.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend published a draft statutory order for geography on 14 January together with draft attainment targets and programmes of study. At that time he published a statement giving his reasons for making changes to the documents, as he was required to do by the Education Reform Act. Copies of the drafts and the statement of reasons were placed in the Library. I shall send a copy of the texts to my hon. Friend.

  Chief Inspector of Schools
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will consider candidates for appointment to the post of chief inspector of schools from outside Her Majesty's inspectorate.

  Mr. Eggar
  The new senior chief inspector will be appointed after an open competition organised by the Civil Service Commission. External and internal candidates have already applied, and the post will shortly be readvertised to increase the field from which the appointment can be made.

  Teacher Training Institutions
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to reform teacher training institutions to take account of the Education Reform Act 1988.

  Mr. Fallon
  The Secretary of State already requires teacher training institutions to take account of the Act. The revised course approval criteria, which have been in effect since 1 January 1990, reflect the changing needs of schools, including the demands of the national curriculum. The Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education advises the Secretary of State on whether courses satisfy the criteria. It is keeping the criteria under review and will be offering my right hon. and learned Friend their advice on possible changes to them later this year.

  Schools Inspectorate
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for the reorganisation of Her Majesty's inspectorate of the Education Reform Act 1988.

  Mr. Eggar
  The senior chief inspector regularly undertakes reviews of all aspects of the organisation of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools, within the arrangements applying to the DES as a whole. Such reviews take account of major changes and developments in the education system, for example, the Education Reform Act 1988 and along with the rest of the Department's arrangements are subject to the Secretary of State's oversight and agreements.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much it cost to run the higher education section of Her Majesty's inspectorate in the last financial year; what the projected outturn is for the current year; and what the planned expenditure is for 1992.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  All Her Majesty's inspectorate undertake a range of duties. In 1989–90, the manpower devoted to higher education inspection and reporting was the equivalent of 40 Her Majesty's inspectorate. The inspectorate's total budget in 1989–90 was £25 million and on a pro-rata basis, the cost of higher education inspection was £2·1 million.

  The expected outturn for the current financial year is £2·3 million and for 1991–92 is £2·5 million.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the number of reports on higher educational institutions and courses completed by Her Majesty's inspectorate categorised by length of time between inspection and publication; and if he will state the average time taken between inspection and publication for Her Majesty's inspectorate reports on higher education.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  In 1990 Her Majesty's inspectorate published reports on 105 higher education institutions and 13 higher education surveys. The length of time taken between inspection and the publication of these reports is as shown:

  Months

  Reports

  2

  1

  3

  15

  4

  14

  5

  31

  6

  20

  7

  17

  8

  4

  9

  2

  10

  1

  The average time taken between inspection and publication is five months.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what consultations he has recently undertaken with regard to the future structure and funding of higher education and the future system of student support;
  331
  (2) what proposals he is considering to award state scholarships to cover the costs of tuition fees for undergraduates; and what consideration has been given to making students personally liable for the costs of tuition fees.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I are listening with interest to the continuing debate about the future structure and funding of higher education. We do not rule out some changes over time, but these would require primary legislation for which the Government have no plans. Nor do we plan any change in the arrangements whereby standard fees are met from public funds for the great majority of students who are eligible for an award.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what targets his Department works to in answering letters(a) from hon. Members and (b) from the general public.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Department aims to reply to correspondence(a) within three weeks, and (b) within four weeks of the date of receipt; and to provide an interim reply when a delay is anticipated, for instance in the large number of cases which require an inquiry of an outside body.

  Canterbury Estate, Bradford
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) to whom his Minister of State referred material he received from tenants during his visit to the Canterbury estate;

  (2) what recommendations his Minister of State made following his visit to the Canterbury estate in Bradford on 15 February; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  As Minister with special responsibility for Leeds and Bradford the purpose of my recent visit to the Canterbury estate was to acquaint myself better with that part of the task force area. I have referred the material with which I was presented by some residents to the task force, which will be following up the issues raised.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will state, for each table in the written evidence given by his Department in the autumn of 1989 to the Interim Advisory Committee on School Teachers' Pay and Conditions (i) when those figures or statistics have been or will be otherwise published, (ii) the name or type of the relevant publication, (iii) the earliest date when the figures or statistics shown in the table were available for use, and (iv) whether the figures or statistics shown in the table were specially prepared in connection with the preparation of evidence to the committee;

  (2) if he will list the publications containing figures and statistics relevant to the consideration of changes in the remuneration and other conditions of employment of school teachers which he expects his Department to publish before the autumn of 1991, in each case stating the expected month of publication;

  (3) if he will state, for each table in the written evidence given by his Department in the autumn of 1990 to the
  332
  Interim Advisory Committee on School Teachers' Pay and Conditions (i) when those figures or statistics have been or will be otherwise published, (ii) the name or type of the relevant publication, (iii) the earliest date when the figures or statistics shown in the table were available for use, and (iv) whether the figures or statistics shown in the table were specially prepared in connection with the preparation of evidence to the committee.

  Mr. Eggar
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Vocational Education
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will institute a study into the(a) funding problems, (b) viability problems and (c) survival rates in workshop-based vocational educational courses in colleges of higher education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  No.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the number of schools for each education authority which have applied for grant-maintained status and the number which have expressed to his Department or to the Grant Maintained Schools Trust an interest in so doing.

  Mr. Eggar
  The table gives the number of schools within each education authority which(a) have been approved for GM status; (b) have published GM proposals on which decisions are pending; (c) are preparing GM proposals following a ballot in favour of seeking GM status; and (d) are holding or are committed to holding a ballot.

  Local Education Authority

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  Avon

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Bedfordshire

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Berkshire

  1

  2

  —

  —

  Buckinghamshire

  2

  1

  —

  —

  Cambridgeshire

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Cheshire

  1

  —

  1

  2

  Cumbria

  —

  1

  2

  —

  Derbyshire

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Devon

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Dorset

  2

  —

  2

  1

  Essex

  1

  1

  —

  3

  Gloucestershire

  4

  —

  —

  1

  Hampshire

  1

  1

  —

  1

  Hertfordshire

  3

  —

  2

  3

  Humberside

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Kent

  4

  5

  5

  5

  Lancashire

  3

  1

  —

  2

  Leicestershire

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Lincolnshire

  6

  2

  —

  2

  Norfolk

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Northamptonshire

  2

  1

  —

  1

  Shropshire

  1

  1

  1

  —

  Somerset

  —

  1

  —

  —.

  Surrey

  1

  —

  1

  3

  Warwickshire

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Wiltshire

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Hammersmith

  l

  —

  1

  —

  Kensington

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Lewisham

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Southwark

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Tower Hamlets

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Wandsworth

  —

  1

  1

  1

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  Local Education Authority

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  Barnet

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Brent

  1

  —

  1

  1

  Bromley

  1

  —

  —

  4

  Ealing

  —

  —

  2

  4

  Hillingdon

  1

  2

  2

  4

  Newham

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Sutton

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Waltham Forest

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Birmingham

  3

  1

  —

  —

  Dudley

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Sandwell

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Wolverhampton

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Liverpool

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Bolton

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Rochdale

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Tameside

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Bradford

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Calderdale

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Kirklees

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  62

  26

  23

  47

  Many other schools are considering whether to seek GM status. In the last four months we have sent out on request about 80,000 copies of our explanatory leaflet for parents "Grant-Maintained Schools: Questions Parents Ask".

  School Governors and Managers
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what grants have been made to the National Association of Governors and Managers and for what purposes in the last two years.

  Mr. Fallon
  The Department contributed £8,000 per annum in 1988–89 and 1989–90 towards the cost of improving the association's administration; up to £40,000 is available in the current year in support of longer term restructuring to enable it to become an effective national organisation.

  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the number of governors of local authority maintained schools there are in England; and if he will give the membership of the National Association of Governors and Managers.

  Mr. Fallon
  There are an estimated 300,000 governors in local education authority maintained schools. Approximately 3,000 individuals and 480 governing bodies are members of the National Association of Governors and Managers.

  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what meetings have been held in recent months between Ministers and officials of his Department and representatives of the National Association of Governors and Managers; and who represented the National Association of Governors and Managers.

  Mr. Fallon
  There have been no ministerial meetings with the National Association of Governors and Managers in recent months. Officials have met members of the association's national executive on a number of occasions.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will indicate for Kent county 334
  council its ranking for the last 10 years in spending per pupil on school education as against other local education authorities.

  Mr. Fallon
  The available information is shown in the table.

  Year

  Number of LEAs for which information is available1

  Kent LEA rank2

  Primary

  Secondary

  1979–80

  96

  84

  61

  1980–81

  96

  94

  81

  1981–82

  96

  94

  79

  1982–83

  96

  91

  78

  1983–84

  96

  95

  84

  1984–85

  96

  94

  91

  1985–86

  96

  95

  96

  1986–87

  94

  93

  93

  1987–88

  97

  387

  86

  1988–89

  93

  393

  91

  Notes to table:

  1The rankings relate to authorities in England for which data is available, and are based on authorities' expenditure and pupil number returns to the relevant Government Departments. 1988–89 is the latest year for which data is available.

  2The rankings relate to net institutional spending in primary schools and secondary schools, including the cost of salaries and wages, premises, and certain supplies and services. The cost of school meals, central administration and the financing of capital expenditure is not included. The highest spending authority is ranked as 1.

  3From 1987–88, separate information is not available for nursery and primary schools, and the rankings relate to spending in all such schools.

  Kent County Council
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has received details of the draft Kent county council budget for 1991–92; and if he will indicate the standard spending assessment.

  Mr. Fallon
  The education component of Kent county council's standard spending assessment for 1991–92 is £533·3 million. My right hon. and learned Friend has received no details of the council's draft education budget.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set up an investigation into the quality of the education provided in Kent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to do so.

  Education Authority Spending
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing for each education authority in England and Wales the latest information available on spending per pupil on school education, ordered by that spending.

  Mr. Fallon
  The available information for England is shown in the tables. Information for Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  1Average net institutional expenditure per pupil in nursery and primary schools in England 1988–892

  LEA

  £

  Rank

  ILEA

  1,605

  1

  Ealing

  1,385

  2

  Brent

  1,375

  3

  335

  LEA

  £

  Rank

  Newham

  1,360

  4

  Hounslow

  1,270

  5

  Barking and Dagenham

  1,255

  6

  Barnet

  1,250

  7

  Waltham Forest

  1,250

  7

  Sheffield

  1,230

  9

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1,225

  10

  Merton

  1,210

  11

  Walsall

  1,200

  12

  Hillingdon

  1,195

  13

  Wolverhampton

  1,190

  14

  Croydon

  1,180

  15

  Gateshead

  1,180

  15

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  1,180

  15

  Doncaster

  1,175

  18

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  1,175

  18

  Sandwell

  1,175

  18

  Bromley

  1,165

  21

  Knowsley

  1,165

  21

  Bradford

  1,160

  23

  Humberside

  1,155

  24

  Leeds

  1,155

  24

  Liverpool

  1,150

  26

  South Tyneside

  1,150

  26

  Calderdale

  1,145

  28

  North Tyneside

  1,145

  28

  Cumbria

  1,140

  30

  Durham

  1,130

  31

  Hertfordshire

  1,130

  31

  Oldham

  1,125

  33

  Oxfordshire

  1,125

  33

  Rotherham

  1,125

  33

  Bedfordshire

  1,115

  36

  Harrow

  1,115

  36

  Nottinghamshire

  1,115

  36

  Tameside

  1,115

  36

  Enfield

  1,110

  40

  Kirklees

  1,110

  40

  Bexley

  1,100

  42

  Havering

  1,095

  43

  Northumberland

  1,090

  44

  Sutton

  1,090

  44

  Leicestershire

  1,085

  46

  Salford

  1,085

  46

  Bury

  1,080

  48

  Derbyshire

  1,080

  48

  Cleveland

  1,075

  50

  Shropshire

  1,075

  50

  Norfolk

  1,070

  52

  Redbridge

  1,070

  52

  Wirral

  1,070

  52

  Barnsley

  1,065

  55

  Buckinghamshire

  1,065

  55

  Coventry

  1,065

  55

  Isle of Wight

  1,055

  58

  Avon

  1,050

  59

  Essex

  1,050

  59

  St. Helens

  1,050

  59

  Staffordshire

  1,050

  59

  Surrey

  1,050

  59

  Trafford

  1,050

  59

  Wiltshire

  1,045

  65

  Birmingham

  1,040

  66

  Hampshire

  1,040

  66

  Solihull

  1,040

  66

  Stockport

  1,035

  69

  Berkshire

  1,030

  70

  North Yorkshire

  1,030

  70

  East Sussex

  1,025

  72

  Somerset

  1,025

  72

  Warwickshire

  1,025

  72

  Wigan

  1,025

  72

  Dorset

  1,020

  76

  Dudley

  1,020

  76

  Suffolk

  1,020

  76

  Bolton

  1,015

  79

  Sefton

  1,015

  79

  Cornwall

  1,010

  81

  336

  LEA

  £

  Rank

  Gloucestershire

  1,010

  81

  Cambridgeshire

  1,005

  83

  Lincolnshire

  1,005

  83

  Northamptonshire

  1,005

  83

  Sunderland

  1,005

  83

  West Sussex

  1,005

  83

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,000

  88

  Rochdale

  990

  89

  Lancashire

  985

  90

  Devon

  975

  91

  Cheshire

  960

  92

  Kent

  935

  93

  Haringey

  n.a.

  —

  Manchester

  n.a.

  —

  Wakefield

  n.a.

  —

  Average net institutional expenditure1 per pupil in secondary schools in England, 1988–892

  LEA

  £

  Rank

  ILEA

  2,505

  1

  Waltham Forest

  2,435

  2

  Brent

  2,305

  3

  Ealing

  2,145

  4

  Newham

  2,140

  5

  Croydon

  2,040

  6

  Knowsley

  1,990

  7

  Barking and Dagenham

  1,970

  8

  Coventry

  1,940

  9

  Liverpool

  1,905

  10

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  1,900

  11

  Hounslow

  1,895

  12

  Sandwell

  1,885

  13

  Walsall

  1,885

  13

  Hillingdon

  1,870

  15

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1,870

  15

  Havering

  1,860

  17

  Salford

  1,860

  17

  Wigan

  1,845

  19

  Dudley

  1,840

  20

  South Tyneside

  1,825

  21

  Barnet

  1,820

  22

  Sheffield

  1,810

  23

  North Tyneside

  1,780

  24

  Bromley

  1,770

  25

  Cleveland

  1,770

  25

  Gateshead

  1,770

  25

  Leicestershire

  1,770

  25

  Derbyshire

  1,755

  29

  Wirral

  1,755

  29

  Hertfordshire

  1,745

  31

  Nottinghamshire

  1,745

  31

  Wolverhampton

  1,745

  31

  Harrow

  1,740

  34

  Redbridge

  1,735

  35

  Bury

  1,730

  36

  Stockport

  1,730

  36

  Buckinghamshire

  1,715

  38

  Enfield

  1,715

  38

  St. Helens

  1,710

  40

  Trafford

  1,710

  40

  Rochdale

  1,700

  42

  Shropshire

  1,695

  43

  Humberside

  1,690

  44

  Bexley

  1,685

  45

  Cumbria

  1,685

  45

  Calderdale

  1,665

  47

  Oxfordshire

  1,665

  47

  Sunderland

  1,665

  47

  Merton

  1,660

  50

  Tameside

  1,660

  50

  Doncaster

  1,655

  52

  Solihull

  1,650

  53

  Barnsley

  1,645

  54

  Birmingham

  1,640

  55

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  1,640

  55

  Bedfordshire

  1,635

  57

  337

  LEA

  £

  Rank

  Bolton

  1,635

  57

  Essex

  1,635

  57

  Rotherham

  1,635

  57

  Surrey

  1,635

  57

  Warwickshire

  1,635

  57

  Avon

  1,630

  63

  Northumberland

  1,630

  63

  Sutton

  1,630

  63

  Kirklees

  1,620

  66

  Lancashire

  1,620

  66

  Staffordshire

  1,610

  68

  Bradford

  1,605

  69

  Sefton

  1,600

  70

  North Yorkshire

  1,595

  71

  Oldham

  1,590

  72

  Norfolk

  1,585

  73

  Hampshire

  1,580

  74

  Durham

  1,575

  75

  Berkshire

  1,570

  76

  Somerset

  1,570

  76

  East Sussex

  1,565

  78

  Wiltshire

  1,555

  79

  Cheshire

  1,545

  80

  Gloucestershire

  1,545

  80

  Leeds

  1,545

  80

  Northamptonshire

  1,545

  80

  Devon

  1,535

  84

  West Sussex

  1,530

  85

  Cornwall

  1,525

  86

  Isle of Wight

  1,495

  87

  Dorset

  1,490

  88

  Suffolk

  1,485

  89

  Cambridgeshire

  1,480

  90

  Kent

  1,475

  91

  Lincolnshire

  1,475

  91

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,440

  93

  Haringey

  n./.a

  —

  Manchester

  n./a.

  —

  Wakefield

  n./a.

  —

  1 Net institutional spending includes the cost of salaries and wages, premises and certain other supplies and services. The cost of school meals, central administration, and the financing of capital expenditure is not included.

  2 The figures are based on authorities' expenditure and pupil number returns to the relevant Government Departments.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in sterling, how much Germany's contribution to(a) the United Kingdom, and (b) the allied coalition for the Gulf war has been reduced as a result of the increase in interest rates by the Bundesbank.

  Mr. Mellor
  It is not possible to distinguish the effect of the increase in interest rates by the Bundesbank from other factors affecting the sterling-deutschmark and dollar-deutschmark exchange rates and thus the sterling and dollar values of Germany's financial contributions.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost to business of each 1 per cent. increase in interest rates.

  Mr. Maples
  The calculation of such costs is inevitably fairly approximate. But a one percentage point rise in interest rates may directly increase industrial and commercial companies' gross costs by £ ½–¾ billion a year. A 1 per cent. rise in wages may increase costs by about £1¾ billion a year.

  TESSAs
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the total level of personal savings has risen since the introduction of TESSAs.

  Mr. Maude
  TESSAs are proving to be very successful and are undoubtedly helping to encourage a climate of thrift. Any estimate of their effect on the overall level of personal savings would be speculative.

  Swap Deals (Hong Kong)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on the British banking system of the decision of the Hong Kong Government that swap deals entered into by the Mass Transit Railway may not be valid and will now be validated by retrospective legislation.

  Mr. Maples
  This is a matter for the Hong Kong Government. It will have no impact on the British banking system.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies Her Majesty's Treasury has made of the effect on the overall revenue from capital gains taxation of reducing the rate; and whether he will consider the results of studies undertaken in the United States of America.

  Mr. Maude
  Estimates of the effect of changes in capital gains tax rates allow for likely implications for the volume of disposals. If rates were reduced, the volume would be expected to increase, but not to the point where there would be an overall rise in tax receipts. Some studies in the United States have suggested that reductions there in the rate of capital gains tax might, for a period, increase tax receipts, but the results are the subject of considerable debate and other studies have suggested that any increase in revenue would be short-term and would quickly be followed by a fall in tax receipts. In any event, studies in the United States are not of direct relevance to the United Kingdom, because of differences between the two countries' tax regimes. In particular, most of those paying tax on capital gains in the United States would be below the annual exemption (for which there is no United States equivalent) in the United Kingdom, and, for the remainder, indexation relief means that the tax liability on gains would commonly be substantially less in the United Kingdom than in the United States. Limitations on data would make it difficult to replicate the United States studies in the United Kingdom.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much VAT was paid per annum by a family consisting of a married man on(a) half of, (b) three quarters of, (c) twice and (d) three times average male earnings, his wife and two children in 1978–79; and what is the most recent estimate.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Reliable estimates cannot be made outside the range of three quarters to one and a half
  339
  times average male earnings. For estimates within this range, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 17 January 1991 at column 560.

  Excise Duty
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the impact of indexation of excise duties by product on(a) inflation and (b) revenues in 1991–92 and a full year.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The impact of indexation of excise duties by product on the retail prices index and revenues in 1991–92 and a full year are as follows:

  Duty Item

  Retail price index

  Revenue yield 1991–92

  Revenue yield full year

  per cent.

  £ million

  £ million

  Tobacco

  0·20

  445

  515

  Petrol

  0·16

  715

  795

  Derv.

  0·1

  185

  215

  Beer

  0·08

  150

  175

  Wine

  0·05

  55

  60

  Spirits

  0·05

  105

  115

  VED

  0·07

  280

  290

  Cider

  1—

  5

  5

  Other (Rebated Oils etc)

  1—

  15

  15

  Total

  0·62

  1,955

  2,185

  1 Negligible.

  Saving Ratio
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on the saving ratio of reduced borrowing and additional savings in recent periods.

  Mr. Maples
  The personal sector saving ratio has risen from 4½ per cent. in the third quarter of 1988 to nearly 9 per cent. in the third quarter of 1990. Over this period, the year-on-year growth rate of real consumers' expenditure has fallen from nearly 7 per cent. to just over 2 per cent., while the growth of personal sector borrowing has fallen from over 22 per cent. to 13 per cent..

  Recycling
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to tax incentives to encourage industry to engage in recycling.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 22 February 1991]: I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

  Members of the European Parliament
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to ensure that Members of the European Parliament representing the United Kingdom are subject to tax on office and travel allowances in a manner identical to hon. Members of this House.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 21 February 1991]: The European Court of Justice ruled in 1981 that expenses allowances paid by the European Parliament to its Members are not liable to United Kingdom tax.

ENERGY

  Electricity Supply, East Midlands
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish a report on the electricity supply crisis in the east midlands which resulted from the severe weather conditions of 8 December 1990.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  East Midlands Electricity is preparing a report which is expected to be available during April. A copy of the report will be placed in the Library of the House in due course.

  Gas Industry (Competition)
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next plans to meet the chairman of British Gas to discuss competition in the gas industry.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I meet the chairman of British Gas from time to time to discuss a range of issues.

  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next plans to meet the Director General of OFGAS to discuss competition in the gas industry.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I meet the Director General of Gas Supply from time to time to discuss a range of issues.

  Non-fossil Fuel Obligation
  14 Mr. Andrew Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to announce details of the second non-fossil fuel obligation order.

  Mr. Rost
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his plans for the second tranche of the non-fossil fuel obligation order.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friend proposes to make the second non-fossil fuel obligation order for renewable sources of electricity generating capacity in the autumn of this year.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has on the number of employees of the 12 regional electricity companies who became shareholders in the industry on its privatisation.

  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has on the number of employees of the 12 regional electricity companies who became shareholders in the industry on its privatisation.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  About 84,000 employees and 21,000 pensioners of the 12 regional electricity companies, the National Grid Company and the Electricity Association applied for and received shares. Between them they were allocated almost 160 million shares, representing about 7·4 per cent. of the total equity of the 12 regional electricity companies.

  Energy Efficiency
  16 Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has had with community insulation groups regarding the progress of the home energy efficiency scheme.
  341
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The home energy efficiency scheme came into operation on 1 January and the initial indications are that it is being well received. Through Neighbourhood Energy Action, the community insulation groups were closely involved in the development of HEES.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans his Department has to promote energy efficiency labelling.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Since the White Paper on the Environment "This Common Inheritance" (Cmnd. 1200) my Energy Efficiency Office has consulted extensively on the practicality of appliance labelling schemes and encouraged the European Commission in its own consultative work on drawing up a proposal for a directive. We hope to introduce a voluntary scheme in advance of an EC scheme.

  There are two labelling schemes for housing currently available, both launched in 1990. The schemes are based on the Building Research Establishment's domestic energy model. The EEO is exploring with the organisations involved how the concept of home energy labelling can be more widely promoted.

  Wave-generated Electricity
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to commission a reassessment of the efficiency of wave-generated electricity.

  Mr. Moynihan
  A new study of the technical and economic prospects of the generation of electricity from wave energy began in the autumn of 1989 and will be completed this year.

  Oil Production
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the level of global oil production in 1990.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The IEA estimates global oil production to have averaged 66·6 million barrels per day in 1990.

  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the level of United Kingdom oil production in 1990.

  Mr. Wakeham
  United Kingdom oil production in 1990 is provisionally estimated at 91·6 million tonnes.

  Offshore Oil and Gas
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made in reducing the number of fallow blocks on the United Kingdom continental shelf.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Very good progress has been made. At the beginning of 1989, there were 125 blocks in the fallow category and at the end of last year the overall total was 41. I have been informed by those operators still holding fallow blocks that they expect to make further substantial progress this year.

  Coal Imports
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Coal concerning the level of coal imports after April 1993.
  342
  Mr. Wakeham
  I meet the chairman of British Coal regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.

  British Coal Enterprise Ltd.
  Mr. Knowles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the direct funding of British Coal Enterprise's job and career change scheme.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No direct Government funding is given to British Coal Enterprise. However, restructuring grants are made available to the British Coal Corporation, under section 3 of the Coal Industry Act 1987, to reimburse British Coal Enterprise for losses incurred by the Company in promoting new employment in coal mining areas. This includes the job and career change scheme.

  Energy Imports
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if the United Kingdom was a net importer of energy in 1990.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The United Kingdom was a small net importer of energy in 1990, with net imports amounting to 16·2 million tonnes of coal equivalent. However, in financial terms, the higher value of our exports meant that the United Kingdom was a net exporter of energy to the value of £446 million.

  Green Issues
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy who in his Department has been appointed to oversee and develop green issues; how many civil servants have been allocated new or additional responsibilities to deal with the management and development of green issues; and what additional allocation of resources has been made to support programmes related to green issues in his Department.

  Mr. Wakeham
  At ministerial level, I am responsible for considering the environmental implications of my Department's policies and spending programmes, and for following up the relevant parts of the White Paper "This Common Inheritance". As part of this responsibility, I chair the newly-established ministerial committee on energy efficiency which aims to stimulate improvements in all sectors of the economy.

  My Department has set up a steering group and an environment task force to co-ordinate and develop policy on energy and the environment. All relevant divisions are represented on the steering group, which is chaired by a deputy secretary. The task force, which is established within the Energy Technology Division, includes nine staff; it also calls on relevant expertise from other parts of the Department.

  Many aspects of the Department's work are related, either directly or indirectly, to environmental issues. Environmental considerations therefore play an important role in the work of a very much larger number of my Department's officials, but it is not practicable to identify what proportion of the Department's resources overall are allocated to these issues.

  My Department's programmes address environmental questions as appropriate. For example, expenditure on renewable energy R and D is due to increase by about 20

  343
  per cent. in 1991–92 over the level for 1990–91. In addition, the budget of the Energy Efficiency Office is being increased to £42 million in 1991–92.

  Industrial Plant (Dust)
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of solid ceramic-based candle filters in dealing with dust within and from industrial plant flues.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  British Coal has undertaken extensive work to develop candle filters for cleaning dust from pressurised combustors such as utilised at the Grimethorpe fluidised bed installation. Information on its work is within the public domain. British Coal has not funded comparable activity of non-utility scale industrial plant where it is felt candle filters would probably not be economic compared with current established technology.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what volumes of plutonium arising from foreign nuclear fuel reprocessed at(a) Sellafield and (b) Dounreay remain (i) under safeguards in storage at each respective site and (ii) have been returned to the country or countries of origin.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I am advised that up to March 1990 some 3·5 tonnes of plutonium from the reprocessing of overseas spent fuel had been returned to its country of origin or sent to a country specified by the owner of the plutonium; all of this was from reprocessing of spent fuel at Sellafield. At the end of March 1990, British Nuclear Fuels plc held some 0·5 tonnes of extracted plutonium at Sellafield on behalf of overseas customers. None was held in store at Dounreay. All civil nuclear materials remain subject to Euratom safeguards and to the terms of the United Kingdom/Euratom/IAEA safeguards agreement.

  Coal Mining Subsidence
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many editions of "Coal Board Arbitration Scheme on Coal Mining Subsidence" were in operation before 1 January; and how many cases were dealt with under each edition of the scheme.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  This is a matter for the British Coal Corporation.

  Electricity Costs
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take action to assist heavy energy-using industries which face significantly increasing costs of electricity.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The 1991 prices will depend on the outcome of commercial negotiations currently underway. The Government have created a competitive market for electricity supply in which large users are fully able to participate. I do not believe that it would be right for Government to intervene in the market to assist heavy energy-using industries.

  Imports
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the cost of energy imports into the United Kingdom for the year 1990.
  344
  Mr. Wakeham
  The value of energy imports to the United Kingdom, excluding the cost of freight and insurance, for the year 1990 was £7,383 million. This is £446 million less than the comparable value for energy exports of £7,829 million.

  Offshore Gas and Oil Industries
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the level of direct employment in the offshore oil and gas industry in 1990; and what is his estimate of the number of jobs indirectly supported by the industry.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall).

  United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
  -Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what external financing limit has been set for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority for 1991–92; and what the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's capital expenditure programme is to be in 1991–92.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's external financing limit for 1991–92 will be £23·6 million. I have also approved the authority's capital expenditure programme for the year at £27 million.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has set objectives for the new chairman of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I have settled objectives with the UKAEA chairman, Mr. John Maltby, on the following terms:

  INTRODUCTION

  Peter Walker wrote to your predecessor, John Collier, on 25 February 1987, setting out the objectives which the Government wished him to pursue as Chairman of the AEA. I am writing to up-date those objectives, taking account of developments both of policy and in the regulatory field, and in the light of the progress made by the AEA to fulfil the main aims of the Government in establishing the Trading Fund in 1986. The objectives represent the general direction in which the Government wishes you to take the AEA. Specific targets, which are referred to in this letter, will be set from time to time by the Government, after consultation with you. Nothing in these objectives over-rides your responsibilities as an Accounting Officer.

  STATUTORY FRAMEWORK

  The AEA's activities are undertaken within the framework of the Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954, the Science and Technology Act 1965, the Atomic Energy Authority Act 1986, and other relevant legislation.

  SAFETY

  From October 1990, the AEA has been subject to the safety requirements imposed on licensed operators by the Health and Safety Executive under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (Repeal and Modifications) Regulations 1990. You should ensure that the AEA continues to have arrangements which secure at all times the highest standards in safety that are reasonably practicable, in its day-to-day activities, in its decommissioning activities and in the management of radioactive waste.

  DECOMMISSIONING AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT

  Decommissioning and radioactive waste management activities are growing in importance within the AEA's total sphere of operations. You should accordingly ensure that, with the funds made available for this purpose, the AEA carries out in the most cost effective way its decommissioning and radioactive waste management responsibilities, consistent with safety and other requirements of the regulatory authorities.
  345
  AEA TECHNOLOGY

  Aims

  Supported by Government, John Collier began, and you are carrying forward, a major restructuring of the AEA, which is aimed at increasing competitiveness, cutting costs, providing better value for money of its customers and increasing profitability. Since 1989, the AEA has been trading as AEA Technology.

  Strategy

  The AEA is operating in an increasingly competitive market, both for the work which it undertakes for the Government and for other customers. Within the above framework, your prime objective is to ensure that the AEA competes effectively in these markets, develops its business to meet the needs of its customers and, in doing so, earns an acceptable return on its assets. To this end, you should ensure that the AEA has a structure and cost levels that secure these objectives. The Government, whilst continuing to support the AEA in restructuring its operations, looks to the AEA to achieve returns that enable it to fund the costs of restructuring and make a return for the Exchequer.

  Defined customer-contractor relations should apply to all work carried out by the AEA. As far as funding by the Department of Energy is concerned, this work will be specified in Programme Letters agreed with the Department and carried out in accordance with the terms and conditions contained in the Letters. Subject to its statutory constraints the AEA should undertake work for customers, whether nuclear or non-nuclear, on the basis of an acceptable return after taking into account any waste management and decommissioning costs to which the work gives rise, and appropriate contributions to overheads (including the corporate research and application development programme). The AEA should have regard to the nature of the work involved in seeking such contributions.

  Within the framework of legislation and Government policy, you should ensure that the AEA explores all options for exploiting its technology, including collaborating with other organisations where this is commercially justified or where I indicate that there is a national interest in doing so. You should ensure the AEA informs the Department, at an early stage, of its plans for such collaboration.

  You should ensure that the AEA prepares annually a Corporate Plan covering the Public Expenditure Survey period consistent with the business strategy outlined in this letter and taking account of the likely development of each of the main business areas. This should be provided to the Department and contain Business Plans for each main business area. In particular, the Plan should identify those areas where increased resources (money, manpower, research and applications development) are justified by prospects of future profitable business and those where effort should be reduced. The Plan should include a Capital Investment Memorandum setting out the AEA's capital expenditure proposals. The Plan should include contingency planning showing how the AEA would respond to different market out-turns to those assumed in the Plan. I expect to review each year's Plan with you.

  Performance Targets

  You should propose suitable performance targets consistent with and complementary to the financial target (see below) for approval by the Department.

  Financial

  I expect you to ensure that the AEA stays within its External Financing Limit (EFL) as agreed from year to year.

  I expect you to ensure that the financial target, as set by me from time to time after discussion with the AEA, is achieved. I also expect to require you to surrender distributions of agreed sums from time to time to the Consolidated Fund.

  Conclusion

  This letter sets out the main strategic objectives for the term of your current appointment. I expect to discuss each annual Corporate Plan with you, to review the AEA's achievements against the specific targets which have been set, and if necessary to set new targets in the light of this discussion and review. The objectives in this letter will be reviewed not later than the Summer of 1993.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Iran (Exports)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he is taking to encourage British exports to Iran.

  Mr. Lilley
  My Department, in conjunction with the Committee for Middle East Trade provides advice and information to British exporters to Iran. In order to improve our share of an expanding market, we are, with the assistance of the British Embassy in Tehran, attempting to identify new export opportunities. We are also improving our knowledge of market conditions for the benefit of companies wishing to break into the market. The fairs and promotions branch of my Department has offered financial support to companies wishing to participate in the Iran medical fair to be held in June and it is about to make an offer in respect of the Tehran international fair in October.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the totals, by value, of United Kingdom exports to Iran for each quarter of 1988, 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Lilley
  The value of United Kingdom exports to Iran for 1988, 1989 and 1990 was as follows:

  £ million

  1988

  1989

  1990

  January to March

  69·1

  68·4

  71·6

  April to June

  62·2

  53·3

  84·6

  July to September

  63·3

  56·9

  107·1

  October to December

  52·5

  78·6

  121·4

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on Export Credits Guarantee Department cover for trade with Iran; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  I am aware of the interest being shown by British exporters in business with Iran. Cover is available from the ECGD for exports on credit terms of up to 360 days where payments are secured by irrevocable letters of credit.

  The resumption of cover for exports on medium term credit will need to take account of a number of factors including commercial considerations and conditions in the region generally. Some progress would also need to be made on the settlement of the debts outstanding to the United Kingdom on trade which took place prior to the Islamic revolution.

  Exports to Iraq
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licences for diesel generators to be exported to Iraq have been issued in the last five years.

  Mr. Lilley
  The information needed to answer this question is not readily available and the resources required to obtain it would place an unreasonable burden on the Department and the public purse.

  Monopolies and Mergers Commission
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list the current members of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission and give the
  347
  relevant experience of each member; how many of the commission are female; and what percentage of the total membership they comprise.

  Members of the MMC as at 22 February 1991

  Name

  Position

  Relevant experience

  Sir Sydney Lipworth

  Chairman

  Co-founder and former Deputy Chairman of Allied Dunbar Assurance pic and Chairman of Allied Dunbar Units Trusts plc. Barrister.

  Mr. P. H. Dean

  Deputy Chairman

  Free-lance business consultant. A former Executive Director of the RTZ Corporation plc. Solicitor.

  Mr. H. H. Hunt CBE

  Deputy Chairman

  Former Managing Director of PA Computers and Telecommunications Ltd (PACTEL). Accountant.

  Mr. H. H. Liesner CB

  Deputy Chairman

  Former Chief Economic Adviser at the Department of Trade and Industry.

  Mr. A. Armstrong

  Member

  Senior lecturer in Economics, Bristol University.

  Mr. C. Baillieu

  Member

  Former Chairman and Managing Director of Ultrasonic Machines.

  Mr. I. S. Barter

  Member

  Former Chairman and Chief Executive of Unigate International Division. Barrister.

  Professor M. E. Beesley CBE

  Member

  Founding Professor of Economics at London Business School and Government Economic Adviser.

  Mrs. C. M. Blight

  Member

  Solicitor and Economist. Member of the Law Society of Scotland, Lecturer at University of Edinburgh and Councillor for Gas Consumers in Scotland.

  Mr. F. E Bonner CBE

  Member

  Former Deputy Chairman of Central Electricity Generating Board. Accountant.

  Mr. J. S. Bridgeman

  Member

  Managing Director, Enterprises Division of British Alcan Aluminium.

  Mr. L. Britz

  Member

  Executive Councillor of the Electrical Electronic Telecommunication and Plumbing Union (EETPU), Southern Region. Director of British International Helicopters.

  Mr. K. S. Carmichael CBE

  Member

  Managing Partner of Longcrofts, Chartered Accountants.

  Mr. R. Davies

  Member

  Former Chairman of the Thomson Travel Group.

  Professor S. Eilon

  Member

  Former Head of Department of Management Science and presently Senior Research Fellow at Imperial College. Management Consultant.

  Mr. J. Evans

  Member

  Former Chairman of the Press Association, of Times Newspapers and of the International Thomson Organisation. Solicitor and Barrister.

  Mr. A Ferry MBE

  Member

  General Secretary of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Workers. Director of Harland and Wolff.

  Mr. D. G. Goyder

  Member

  Consultant to Birketts Westhorp and Long of Ipswich and Colchester. Lecturer on Company and Competition law. Solicitor.

  Mr. M. Hoffman

  Member

  Group Chief Executive, Thames Water. Chartered Engineer.

  Mr. J. D. Keir QC

  Member

  Former Joint Secretary of Unilever. Chairman of Pharmacists Review Panel. Barrister.

  348
  Mr. Redwood
  The current members of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission are listed together with a summary of their relevant experience. Two (6per cent.) are female.
  349

  Name

  Position

  Relevant experience

  Miss P. K. R. Mann

  Member

  Vice-President of J. Walter Thompson (JWT) International. Editor 'Consumer Affairs'.

  Mr. G. C. S. Mather

  Member

  General Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs. Solicitor.

  Mr. L. A. Mills

  Member

  General Secretary of the Banking Insurance and Finance Union and a member of the TUC General Council. A Governor of London Business School.

  Professor A. P. L. Minford

  Member

  Professor of Applied Economics, Liverpool University.

  Mr. J. Montgomery

  Member

  Former Head of Legal Division and Company Secretary, Shell UK. Solicitor.

  Mr. B. Owens

  Member

  Director of Welsh Water's land and leisure subsidiary and of the Cornish Brewery Company.

  Mr. D. P. Thompson RD

  Member

  Former Director General of the British Invisible Exports Council and Director of Lazards. A Governor of Henley Management College.

  Mr. C. A. Unwin MBE

  Member

  Former Regional Secretary (Midland and East Coast Region) of the General and Municipal Workers Union. A senior Governor of Welbeck College.

  Mr. S. Wainwright CBE

  Member

  Director of Amdahl (UK) Ltd. Former Managing Director of National Girobank and Deputy Chairman of the Post Office.

  Professor G. Whittington

  Member

  Price Waterhouse Professor of Financial Accounting and Fellow of Cambridge University.

  Mr. R. Young

  Member

  An Executive Director of Beauford plc. Former Chief Executive of Plastics Division of McKechnie plc.

  Mr. P. Brenan

  Reserve Member

  Chairman of the London Italian Bank. Accountant and Financial Consultant.

  Mr. A. L. Kingshott

  Reserve Member

  Director of the Crown Agents and of The Private Bank and Trust Company. Former Director of International Banking at Lloyds Bank. Chartered Secretary.

  Professor J. F. Pickering

  Reserved Member

  Vice-President (Business and Finance) of Portsmouth Polytechnic.

  Mr. L. Priestly

  Reserve Member

  Board Member of the Civil Aviation Authority. Former Chairman and Chief Executive of Trustee Saving Bank, England and Wales and Secretary-General of the Committee of London Clearing Banks.

  Company Fraud
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry of he will list those, apart from company directors, who have a statutory duty to report company fraud to any regulators.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]There is in general no statutory duty on directors or others to report company fraud to regulators. Certain people, however, are under specific statutory reporting duties which may in some circumstances require them to report fraud. In the areas for which the Department of Trade and Industry is responsible, such duties include:

  (i) The duty on a liquidator to report evidence of criminality by any past or present officer of the company, and on a liquidator, official receiver,
  350
  administrator or administrative receiver to report conduct by a director of a company, which has at any time become insolvent, which makes him unfit to be concerned in the management of a company.

  (ii) The obligation on investment businesses to keep their regulators informed of anything concerning the firm which might reasonably be expected to be disclosed to them.

  (iii) the duty on listed companies to notify to the International Stock Exchange any information necessary to avoid the creation of a false market in the company's listed securities.

  Export Licences
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West, 7 February Official Report, column 216,

  351
  he will set out (a) the total number of export licences issued by his Department in each year between 1979 to 1988 inclusive and (b) the numbers of export licence applications refused in 1989 and 1990 respectively, giving the main reasons why such applications were refused.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 20 February 1991]In 1987 and 1988 my Department granted 94,613 and 86,605 export licences respectively. Statistics for previous years are not readily available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  The number of export licence applications refused in 1989 and 1990 was 281 and 283 respectively. In addition, 3,620 and 3,495 licence applications were cancelled by DTI or withdrawn by the companies concerned in 1989 and 1990 respectively. The main reasons for refusing to grant an export licence are the unacceptable risk to national and collective security and that the export is inconsistent with the Government's policy, in particular on nonproliferation, terrorism and human rights.

  Hedgehogs
  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to monitor the level of exports of hedgehogs to the United States and Canada and elsewhere; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have been asked to reply. Under the provisions of the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976, anyone wishing to export hedgehogs requires an export permit from my Department. In the last three years three such permits have been issued, authorising the export of eight live hedgehogs to zoos in the United States.

HEALTH

  Laboratory Services
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether it is his policy specifically to encourage health authorities to contract out pathology services;

  (2) what plans his Department has to increase resources to health authorities to ensure they can improve the efficiency and quantity of laboratory services.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We have given no specific instructions to health authorities about the contracting out of pathology services or about their level of funding, since it is for each health authority to consider the organisation and level of laboratory provision it requires within its available resources. However, to help improve the efficiency and quality of these services we have given assistance to the Royal College of Pathologists to develop an accreditation scheme for pathology laboratories, and we have commented on the Audit Commission's proposals for the improvement of those services. We are also contributing to the cost of introducing a system of medical audit which will include the pathology discipline, and are funding additional schemes in the national external quality assessment schemes (NEQAS).

  Surgical Tights
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are his plans for the provision of surgical tights under the NHS.
  352
  Mr. Dorrell
  Elastic or surgical tights are available on the prescription of a hospital consultant when they are supplied through the hospital service. There are no plans to change these arrangements.

  Social Surveys
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to launch a survey into the current state of family planning provision, consumer needs and attitudes.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We receive information from a number of sources about NHS family planning provision and the needs of those who use this service. I shall shortly be meeting representatives of the main family planning voluntary and professional organisations to discuss family planning issues.

  Carers
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will publish a clear definition of the responsibilities of carers and ensure that such responsibilities are kept under constant review.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department has not sought precisely to define a carer nor their responsibilities. The care in the community policies are intended to make practical support for carers a priority and consider their views in community care planning and assessment.

  Iraq
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department has made any emergency preparations to assist the Iraqi medical authorities after the end of hostilities in combating the epidemic of water pollution diseases in Iraqi cities arising from the destruction of water supply and sewage systems.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No. We understand that a joint WHO/UNICEF mission visited Baghdad earlier this month to deliver emergency medical supplies and to assess the essential health needs of the civilian population. Additionally, the International Red Cross Committee has identified serious shortages of drinking water and after notifying the UN Sanctions Committee, dispatched water purification supplies to Baghdad. It is too soon to say what further international support the Iraqi medical authorities might require once hostilities have ended and what contribution, if any, the United Kingdom might make to such an initiative.

  North Devon Health Authority
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals there are for the purchaser of the North Devon health authority; whether there are any proposals to merge this authority with Torbay or Exeter; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  North Devon health authority is embracing the recent Government reforms. We have received no formal proposals to merge North Devon health authority with either Torbay or Exeter health authority. The preparation of any such proposals would initially be a matter for South Western regional health authority, annd the hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. C. Stuart the chairman of that authority for details.

  Incontinence Pads
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will make a statement on the guidance which he gives to regional health authorities regarding the supply of incontinence pads to elderly people in privately run residential homes.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Departmental guidance to health authorities on the supply of incontinence pads is contained in HRC(74)16. On 18 February 1991 the NHS management executive wrote to health authorities (EL(91)28), advising that existing incontinence provision should be directed to securing the best practice commended in HN(88)26. Where a change in the supply of incontinence aids is proposed, health authorities should first ensure that an alternative is in place. Copies of these letters are available in the Library. Officials will shortly be beginning a Departmental review of incontinence services.

  Speech Therapy
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has agreed guidelines for speech therapy standards with the College of Speech Therapists.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I understand that the College of Speech Therapists has not yet finalised its guidelines on professional standards. The Department is being consulted about these guidelines.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the public health needs assessments prepared for district health authorities mention the need for speech therapy services.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally.

  Irradiated Food
  Mr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice or guidance he intends to give to local authorities about the use of irradiated foods in establishments run by social services departments such as old people's homes and children's homes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No specific guidance on the use of irradiated food in establishments run by social services departments is being issued by the Department. In common with all other catering establishments, local authorities and social services departments who choose to use irradiated products will be required to inform consumers under the requirements of the Food Labelling (Amendment) (Irradiated Food) Regulations 1990.

  NHS Funding
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the allocations he proposes to make to national health service regions in England for 1991–92; and what these allocations would be if the weighted capitation funding were strictly adhered to.

  Mr. Dorrell
  1991–92 represented the second year of progress towards allocations based on weighted capitation. Table 1 shows the 1991–92 main revenue allocations for each region and the percentage increases over 1990–91. No region received less than a 10·24 per cent. increase.
  354
  Table 2 shows what each region would have received without a minimum 10·24 per cent. increase.

  The figures exclude allocations for items such as the service increment for teaching and research, joint finance, and allocations for other specific purposes.

  Table One

  Region

  1991–92 Allocation

  Cash Increase

  (£000s)

  percentage

  Northern

  985,319

  10·24

  Yorkshire

  1,011,636

  10·81

  Trent

  1,269,521

  10·79

  East Anglian

  595,741

  12·19

  North West Thames

  1,097,165

  10·24

  North East Thames

  1,295,523

  10·24

  South East Thames

  1,221,187

  10·24

  South West Thames

  946,790

  10·24

  Wessex

  872,078

  12·45

  Oxford

  675,428

  10·24

  South Western

  999,988

  12·11

  West Midlands

  1,566,761

  10·24

  Mersey

  775,235

  10·24

  North Western

  1,294,972

  10·24

  Total

  14,853,676

  10·66

  Table Two

  Region

  1991–92 Allocation Before 10·24 per cent. Minimum Applied (£000s)

  Cash Increase Before 10·24per cent. Minimum Applied percentage

  Northern

  985,763

  10·29

  Yorkshire

  1,128,391

  11·54

  Trent

  1,415,769

  11·52

  East Anglian

  599,670

  12·93

  North West Thames

  1,087,134

  9·23

  North East Thames

  1,283,835

  9·25

  South East Thames

  1,228,938

  10·94

  South West Thames

  945,281

  10·06

  Wessex

  877,830

  13·19

  Oxford

  679,167

  10·85

  South Western

  999,988

  12·84

  West Midlands

  1,566,761

  10·37

  Mersey

  775,235

  8·54

  North Western

  1,294,972

  9·25

  All RHAs

  14,853,676

  10·66

  Dental Services
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have registered with dentists under the new dental contract.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The number of people in England and Wales registered with dentists under continuing care and capitation arrangements has grown steadily since the new contract started on 1 October 1990 and is now almost 12 million.

  Cumulative totals are as follows:

  End of month

  Cumulative total

  October 1990

  2,091,855

  November 1990

  5,780,346

  December 1990

  8,154,903

  January 1991

  10,592,019

  At 19 February 1991, which is the latest date for which figures are available, the number of people registered with dentists was 11,995,665.

  NHS Finance
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average expenditure per day per patient, in cash and constant prices, for food provisions for hospital in-patients in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 28 January 1991]The information requested for the financial years 1980–81 to 1988–89 (the latest available) is shown in the table.

  Hospital costs—England—average costs of catering provisions per patient day

  Year

  £

  £

  (cash)

  (at 1988–89 prices)

  1980–81

  1·09

  1·56

  1981–82

  1·18

  1·55

  1982–83

  1·24

  1·54

  1983–84

  1·26

  1·50

  1984–85

  1·32

  1·50

  1985–86

  1·36

  1·50

  1986–87

  1·41

  1·50

  1987–88

  1·49

  1·55

  1988–89

  1·56

  1·56

  Total revenue expenditure on hospital and community health services (HCHS)

  £000 (cash)

  Regions

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  Northern

  337,996

  437,025

  482,670

  520,838

  553,996

  586,852

  Yorkshire

  380,746

  494,198

  547,802

  583,406

  619,586

  657,579

  Trent

  449,348

  585,409

  646,945

  696,746

  742,437

  795,285

  East Anglian

  188,939

  244,605

  269,169

  288,951

  312,485

  335,302

  North West Thames

  450,636

  580,117

  649,984

  633,215

  665,435

  701,170

  North East Thames

  488,198

  636,251

  700,172

  800,677

  841,130

  881,326

  South East Thames

  471,151

  603,001

  662,702

  700,421

  739,438

  772,108

  South West Thames

  361,292

  465,365

  515,008

  530,393

  559,102

  586,260

  Wessex

  271,164

  349,377

  389,027

  418,407

  449,145

  482,636

  Oxford

  223,651

  285,343

  313,135

  334,669

  352,838

  381,948

  South Western

  332,137

  426,839

  474,291

  507,281

  540,430

  571,018

  West Midlands

  532,172

  681,869

  751,667

  809,722

  861,251

  919,255

  Mersey

  287,489

  368,928

  407,417

  436,241

  456,590

  483,314

  North Western

  463,250

  603,630

  679,828

  729,550

  769,183

  814,490

  Regions Total

  5,238,169

  6,761,957

  7,489,817

  7,990,517

  8,463,046

  8,968,543

  SHAs

  94,751

  123,474

  140,168

  150,712

  162,311

  166,311

  England

  5,332,920

  6,885,431

  7,629,985

  8,141,229

  8,625,357

  9,134,854

  £000 (cash)

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Regions

  Northern

  620,085

  664,666

  726,424

  802,662

  862,403

  Yorkshire

  699,526

  748,109

  817,426

  901,280

  971,646

  Trent

  843,156

  914,488

  1,009,393

  1,121,344

  1,211,905

  East Anglian

  358,247

  389,423

  431,278

  487,095

  528,194

  North West Thames

  728,848

  777,781

  832,775

  945,712

  1,024,712

  North East Thames

  914,188

  976,100

  1,048,946

  1,178,457

  1,276,820

  South East Thames

  807,525

  857,088

  928,872

  1,039,270

  1,115,590

  South West Thames

  608,276

  650,071

  744,435

  829,204

  903,224

  Wessex

  506,941

  549,152

  599,818

  671,018

  724,776

  Oxford

  402,374

  433,809

  478,889

  537,279

  587,380

  South Western

  603,266

  650,026

  710,039

  788,652

  852,097

  West Midlands

  973,915

  1,049,734

  1,149,328

  1,266,424

  1,381,172

  Mersey

  507,924

  542,821

  589,166

  647,160

  699,483

  North Western

  860,336

  922,352

  1,002,641

  1,104,796

  1,174,578

  Regions Total

  9,434,607

  10,125,620

  11,069,430

  12,320,353

  13,313,980

  SHAs

  174,792

  191,546

  207,281

  234,692

  259,397

  England

  9,609,399

  10,317,166

  11,276,711

  12,555,045

  13,573,377

  356
  Source:

  The annual costing returns (financial returns for 1987–88 and 1988–89) of the district health authorities in England and those of the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals. (Predecessor authorities prior to 1982–83).

  Note: The figures have been expressed at 1988–89 prices by the use of the provisions purchases sub-index of the health services prices index.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total funding for each health authority for each of the last 11 years; and what was the number of patients treated by each authority over the same period.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 29 January 1991]The following tables show the total revenue expenditure and the number of in-patients treated by each health region and the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals for the years 1979–80 to 1989–90.

  Equivalent information for each district health authority in England could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  357

  Number of inpatients treated—Regional totals—1979 to 1990

  Finished hospital stays (discharges and deaths)

  Finished consultant episodes

  Regional health authority

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Northern

  368,578

  393,788

  395,694

  376,067

  409,115

  420,080

  433,131

  441,095

  462,766

  461,033

  496,617

  504,743

  Yorkshire

  433,783

  456,885

  465,514

  454,013

  490,644

  499,895

  517,543

  525,296

  549,847

  551,458

  607,203

  607,332

  Trent

  464,917

  497,306

  511,888

  505,247

  543,221

  557,930

  578,370

  592,398

  612,890

  626,102

  678,061

  698,776

  East Anglia

  201,867

  216,878

  219,585

  213,297

  229,580

  238,332

  250,343

  253,483

  264,117

  269,637

  301,631

  316,710

  North West Thames

  403,264

  412,723

  418,144

  394,415

  408,474

  415,559

  418,753

  419,008

  421,582

  416,153

  462,539

  473,930

  North East Thames

  455,851

  473,469

  474,758

  512,655

  526,398

  534,760

  541,080

  530,372

  527,585

  521,291

  588,983

  606,278

  South East Thames

  438,889

  453,149

  462,239

  461,394

  477,283

  487,772

  501,557

  495,246

  504,666

  487,815

  546,047

  541,962

  South West Thames

  312,264

  320,149

  324,683

  315,210

  329,334

  338,587

  344,430

  347,089

  351,932

  344,259

  394,860

  387,551

  Wessex

  302,772

  318,509

  322,017

  320,936

  332,378

  345,528

  357,311

  366,421

  389,492

  391,376

  427,929

  441,658

  Oxford

  251,898

  264,990

  269,685

  266,304

  276,523

  284,583

  297,524

  299,270

  300,416

  296,433

  329,661

  344,782

  South Western

  338,890

  357,966

  365,849

  370,348

  385,293

  399,018

  408,004

  417,443

  443,179

  451,586

  515,394

  521,726

  West Midlands

  547,773

  575,105

  582,892

  591,061

  619,743

  644,202

  666,217

  673,375

  708,225

  689,457

  790,913

  810,513

  Mersey

  282,629

  297,465

  299,349

  293,928

  312,615

  322,138

  330,990

  336,944

  345,652

  347,893

  378,984

  397,085

  North Western

  509,049

  541,776

  554,967

  553,727

  585,667

  597,756

  617,628

  624,678

  644,540

  640,548

  717,666

  728,297

  SHA's

  87,696

  89,843

  92,613

  91,032

  92,317

  91,405

  90,931

  91,671

  92,465

  90,941

  98,960

  95,283

  England

  5,400,120

  5,670,001

  5,759,877

  5,719,634

  6,018,585

  6,177,545

  6,353,812

  6,413,789

  6,619,354

  6,585,982

  7,335,448

  7,476,626

  Sources:

  1. Annual accounts of regional and district health authorities in England together with those of the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals. (Predecessor authorities for the years prior to 1982–83).

  2. Statistical returns submitted to the Department (SM12).

  Notes:

  1. Revenue expenditure on HCHS covers that on all services provided by the health authorities concerned including hospital, community health, patient transport (ie ambulance), blood transfusion and other services. Capital expenditure and expenditure on family practitioner services (now family health services) is excluded. However, the expenditure figures for all regions in the years prior to 1985–86 include small elements for the administrative expenses of family practitioner committees which were not separately identified.

  2. Following the reports of the steering group on NHS information (the Körner committee) a new definition "finished consultant episode" was introduced to cover both the former in-patient and day case treatment categories. For 1988–89 information was collected under both the new and previous bases and is shown in the table accordingly.

  Liverpool Health Authority (Chairman)
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the salary of the chairman of Liverpool health authority and the contractual working hours.

  East Cumbria Health Authority
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the salary of the chairman of East Cumbria health authority and the contractual working hours.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: With effect from 1 January 1991, chairmen of district health authorities receive remuneration in the range set out in the table. No specific working hours are required by contract, but most DHA chairmen devote an average of three to 3·5 days a week to their duties.

  Teaching or1 Non-Teaching District

  Revenue2

  Remuneration

  £ million

  £

  Teaching

  45 or more

  17,610

  Non-Teaching

  60 or more

  Teaching

  45 or less

  16,659

  Non-Teaching

  30 to 60

  Non-Teaching

  30 or less

  13,812

  1 "Teaching District" means one currently designated as such for the purposes of negotiations in Whitley Councils.

  2 "Revenue" means the annual revenue budget for the financial year 1985–86.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Social Workers
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action the DHSS is taking to assist in the recruitment and training of specialist social workers for the blind.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Department of Health and Social Services presently provides funding for the award of 68 new social work bursaries per annum to enable students to obtain certificates of qualifications in social work. This generic qualifying training provides preparation for all aspects of social work. Specialist qualifying training For social workers for the visually impaired is not available. The recent announcement of a new training strategy for personal social services staff provides an additional £1 million for social services training improvements, a proportion of which will be used to increase the supply of qualified social workers through an additional 25 social work bursaries per annum.

  Continuing education and training for qualified social workers in specialist areas, including workers with the visually impaired, is provided by Health and Social Services Board and other employers through in-service and post-qualification training programmes. Additional funding to expand and develop relevant programmes of further training has been included in the training strategy funds and will be made available to appropriate employers in the forthcoming financial year.

  The Department also provides two bursaries per annum for students undergoing training as rehabilitation workers for the blind.

  Farmers
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will next attend a meeting with the Ulster Farmers Union to discuss the problems now facing Northern Ireland farmers.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Secretary of State last met the Ulster Farmers Union on 17 October 1990; I met the union on 7 January. We both met representatives of the union at the Greenmount conference with Commissioner MacSharry on 15 February; I intend to continue to meet the UFU regularly in future.

  Month of Release on Licence

  Years served

  Sentence

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  February

  Life

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  3

  3

  1

  —

  SOSP

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  April

  Life

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  May

  Life

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  6

  —

  2

  —

  —

  SOSP

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  2

  2

  —

  1

  —

  July

  Life

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  11

  14

  4

  2

  SOSP

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  September

  Life

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  October

  Life

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  December

  Life

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  3

  4

  —

  —

AGRICULTURE,FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Whales
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has made any representations to his Japanese counterpart concerning the continued Japanese killing of whales in the south Pacific ocean and Antarctic seas.

  Mr. Curry
  In June 1990 the United Kingdom co-sponsored a resolution agreed by the International Whaling Commission calling upon Japan to reconsider her intention of conducting scientific research whaling in the Antarctic ocean. Japan is now proceeding with a programme to gather new biological data on the minke whale stocks which has been slightly modified in the light of comments by the IWC's scientific committee and is well aware of our views on scientific whaling.

  Farm Sizes
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the average farm size in hectares by county in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Curry
  The information is shown in the table.

  United Kingdom average farm size by county1

  Hectares

  England

  50·1

  Avon

  30·3

  Bedfordshire

  59·2

  Berkshire

  68·0

  Buckinghamshire

  57·3

  Cambridgeshire

  64·1

  Cheshire

  30·1

  Cleveland

  55·4

  Cornwall

  29·2

  Cumbria

  63·5

  Derbyshire

  39·1

  Devon

  40·7

  Dorset

  51·6

  Life Prisoners
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons sentenced to life imprisonment have been released on licence in each month of 1990; and how many years each such person had actually served in prison since conviction.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Sixty-six prisoners serving life sentences were released on licence during 1990. Eight other prisoners, detained at the Secretary of State's pleasure, were released on licence in the same period.

  The number of years served by these prisoners (including time spent on remand and awaiting trial) at the time of their release on licence is as follows:

  Hectares

  Durham

  60·6

  East Sussex

  42·7

  Essex

  57·5

  Gloucestershire

  46·8

  Greater London

  24·8

  Greater Manchester

  21·3

  Hampshire

  60·1

  Hereford and Worcester

  36·5

  Hertfordshire

  64·8

  Humberside

  68·8

  Isle of Wight

  44·1

  Isles of Scilly

  8·3

  Kent

  46·1

  Lancashire

  30·6

  Leicestershire

  58·3

  Lincolnshire

  69·3

  Merseyside

  34·3

  North Yorkshire

  63·1

  Norfolk

  62·5

  Northamptonshire

  81·0

  Northumberland

  144·8

  Nottinghamshire

  62·0

  Oxfordshire

  83·2

  Shropshire

  45·5

  Somerset

  35·5

  South Yorkshire

  44·6

  Staffordshire

  33·3

  Suffolk

  67·5

  Surrey

  30·5

  Tyne and Wear

  49·7

  Warwickshire

  52·5

  West Midlands

  24·6

  West Sussex

  48·3

  West Yorkshire

  22·9

  Wiltshire

  70·1

  Scotland

  158·8

  Borders

  222·1

  Central

  174·0

  Dumfries & Galloway

  144·2

  Fife

  90·8

  Grampian

  96·6

  Highland

  339·4

  Lothian

  105·6

  Orkney

  53·9

  Shetland

  55·2

  361

  Hectares

  Strathclyde

  148·4

  Tayside

  208·4

  Western Isles

  28·6

  Wales

  41·4

  Clywd

  36·2

  Dyfed

  34·3

  Gwent

  32·6

  Gwynedd

  48·4

  Mid Glamorgan

  45·5

  Powys

  57·6

  South Glamorgan

  43·3

  West Glamorgan

  34·8

  Northern Ireland

  25·4

  Antrim

  28·6

  Armagh

  17·8

  Down

  22·0

  Fermanagh

  26·5

  Londonderry

  29·9

  Tyrone

  27·0

  1 Including minor holdings in England and Wales excluding minor holdings in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  Note:

  Minor holdings in England and Wales are those satisfying ALL these conditions:

  1. total area less than 6 ha;

  2. no regular whole-time farmer or worker on the holding;

  3. annual labour requirement less than 100 standard man-days (smd) where 1 smd =8 hours productive work by an adult worker under average conditions;

  4. glasshouse area less than 100 sq m;

  5. occupier does not farm another holding.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the total numbers of confirmed cases of BSE by county in England, Scotland and Wales.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information up to 15 February 1991 is detailed as follows.

  County (County No.)

  Cases

  Northern

  Cleveland (04)

  32

  Cumbria (08)

  431

  Durham (12)

  87

  Humberside (51)

  106

  Northumberland (31)

  91

  Tyne and Wear (30)

  2

  Yorkshire North (48)

  880

  Yorkshire South (47)

  80

  Yorkshire West (49)

  103

  Totals

  1,812

  Midlands and Western

  Cheshire (06)

  603

  Derbyshire (09)

  347

  Hereford and Worcester (18)

  444

  Lancashire (21)

  490

  Leicestershire (22)

  537

  Manchester (44)

  17

  Merseyside (25)

  12

  Nottinghamshire (32)

  150

  Shropshire (35)

  573

  Staffordshire (37)

  449

  West Midlands (46)

  15

  Warwickshire (43)

  239

  Totals

  3,876

  362

  County (County No.)

  Cases

  Eastern

  Bedfordshire (01)

  61

  Cambridgeshire (05)

  89

  Essex (13)

  99

  Hertfordshire (18)

  108

  Lincolnshire (24)

  195

  Norfolk (28)

  361

  Northamptonshire (29)

  200

  Suffolk (38)

  278

  Totals

  1,391

  South-East

  Berkshire (02)

  150

  Buckinghamshire (03)

  210

  Hampshire (15)

  904

  Isle of Wight (16)

  174

  Kent (20)

  510

  London (26/27)

  9

  Oxfordshire (33)

  369

  Surrey (40)

  229

  Sussex East (41)

  315

  Sussex West (42)

  603

  Totals

  3,473

  South-West

  Avon (34)

  478

  Cornwall (07)

  1,786

  Devon (10)

  2,566

  Dorset (11)

  2,027

  Gloucester (14)

  712

  Somerset (36)

  2,005

  Wiltshire (45)

  1,449

  Totals

  11,023

  Wales

  Clwyd (56)

  231

  Dyfed (55)

  927

  Glamorgan Mid (58)

  56

  Glamorgan South (57)

  61

  Glamorgan West (59)

  11

  Gwent (60)

  175

  Gwynedd (52)

  67

  Powys (52)

  215

  Totals

  1,743

  Scotland South

  Borders (93)

  34

  Central (94)

  25

  Dumfries (99)

  147

  Lothian (92)

  20

  Strathclyde (95/96)

  209

  Scotland North

  Fife (91)

  51

  Grampian (88)

  161

  Highland (87)

  49

  Orkney (83)

  9

  Shetland (82)

  2

  Tayside (90)

  66

  Western Isles (?)

  1

  Totals

  774

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the number of(a) suspected and (b) confirmed cases of BSE by county in England, Wales and Scotland for (i) 1990 and (ii) to date in 1991.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested is as follows:
  363

  Number of confirmed cases and total reported cases in 1990

  County

  Positive

  Total

  Eastern

  Bedfordshire

  38

  42

  Cambridgeshire

  56

  62

  Essex

  60

  78

  Hertfordshire

  65

  79

  Lincolnshire

  94

  111

  Norfolk

  234

  281

  Northamptonshire

  119

  136

  Suffolk

  161

  192

  Midland and West

  Cheshire

  422

  493

  Derbyshire

  240

  275

  Hereford and Worcester

  243

  307

  Lancashire

  330

  442

  Leicestershire

  315

  379

  Manchester

  10

  13

  Merseyside

  7

  10

  Nottinghamshire

  98

  117

  Shropshire

  317

  408

  Staffordshire

  293

  362

  West Midlands

  7

  8

  Warwickshire

  141

  182

  Northern

  Cleveland

  20

  23

  Cumbria

  264

  318

  Durham

  60

  78

  Humberside

  77

  94

  Northumberland

  49

  63

  Tyne and Wear

  1

  3

  North Yorkshire

  539

  720

  South Yorkshire

  57

  64

  West Yorkshire

  70

  91

  South East

  Berkshire

  63

  82

  Buckinghamshire

  136

  162

  Hampshire

  446

  517

  Isle of Wight

  110

  133

  Kent

  250

  286

  London

  5

  6

  Oxfordshire

  203

  237

  Surrey

  117

  148

  Sussex East

  178

  214

  Sussex West

  329

  378

  South West

  Avon

  314

  430

  Cornwall

  909

  1,170

  Devon

  1,330

  1,587

  Dorset

  1,129

  1,369

  Gloucestershire

  350

  471

  Somerset

  1,251

  1,500

  Wiltshire

  806

  1,081

  Wales

  Clwyd

  144

  310

  Dyfed

  582

  690

  Glamorgan North

  38

  43

  Glamorgan South

  22

  24

  Glamorgan West

  8

  10

  Gwent

  87

  118

  Gwynedd

  30

  47

  Powys

  126

  170

  Scotland

  Borders

  23

  33

  Central

  13

  20

  Dumfries

  90

  134

  Fife

  39

  49

  Grampian

  101

  174

  Highland

  28

  37

  Lothian

  10

  16

  Orkney

  5

  6

  Shetland

  0

  1

  Strathclyde

  127

  180

  364

  County

  Positive

  Total

  Tayside

  42

  63

  Total

  13,828

  17,327

  Number of confirmed cases and total reported cases

  1/1/91—15/2/91

  County

  Positive

  Total

  Eastern

  Bedfordshire

  0

  8

  Cambridge

  0

  7

  Essex

  0

  10

  Hertfordshire

  0

  13

  Lincolnshire

  4

  30

  Norfolk

  9

  60

  Northamptonshire

  2

  22

  Suffolk

  8

  51

  Midland and West

  Cheshire

  14

  108

  Derbyshire

  0

  54

  Hertfordshire and Worcestershire

  4

  63

  Lancashire

  7

  84

  Leicestershire

  0

  68

  Manchester

  1

  10

  Merseyside

  0

  0

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  18

  Salop

  7

  76

  Staffordshire

  3

  56

  West Midlands

  0

  3

  Warwickshire

  3

  29

  Northern

  Cleveland

  1

  3

  Cumbria

  8

  62

  Durham

  0

  8

  Humberside

  1

  10

  Northumberland

  1

  19

  Tyne and Wear

  0

  0

  Yorkshire North

  42

  149

  Yorkshire South

  7

  11

  Yorkshire West

  5

  10

  South East

  Berkshire

  1

  20

  Buckinghamshire

  2

  22

  Hampshire

  5

  97

  Isle of Wight

  0

  21

  Kent

  4

  41

  London

  0

  3

  Oxfordshire

  0

  46

  Surrey

  1

  15

  Sussex East

  4

  50

  Sussex West

  3

  84

  South West

  Avon

  0

  113

  Cornwall

  26

  257

  Devon

  51

  339

  Dorset

  51

  273

  Gloucestershire

  3

  116

  Somerset

  44

  345

  Wiltshire

  19

  221

  Wales

  Clwyd

  3

  59

  Dyfed

  29

  169

  Glamorgan Mid

  0

  5

  Glamorgan South

  0

  6

  Glamorgan West

  0

  2

  Gwent

  3

  17

  Gwynedd

  0

  8

  Powys

  6

  33

  Scotland

  Borders

  0

  7

  Central

  2

  3

  365

  County

  Positive

  Total

  Dumfries

  16

  29

  Fife

  1

  2

  Grampian

  6

  22

  Highland

  4

  8

  Lothian

  0

  1

  Orkney

  0

  0

  Shetland

  0

  1

  Strathclyde

  13

  32

  Tayside

  3

  10

  Total

  427

  3,519

  Milk Marketing Scheme
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the report of the Consumers Committee for England and Wales on the milk marketing scheme 1933.

  Mr. Gummer
  [pursuant to his reply, 14 January 1991, c. 391]: The report of the Consumers Committee for England and Wales of the milk marketing scheme 1933 is being published today. Copies of the report will be placed in the Library of the House.

EMPLOYMENT

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the differences between the 1990–91 plans published in the 1990 public expenditure White Paper and the 1990–91 estimated outturn.

  Mr. Jackson
  My Department's report, copies of which are available in the Library, contains in paragraph 20 the information requested.

  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what new commitments have been undertaken since publication of the 1990 public expenditure White Paper which will involve spending in years after 1993–94.

  Mr. Jackson
  The new schemes undertaken are as follows:

  The job interview guarantee is a new initiative which guarantees all participants an interview for a specific vacancy: it aims to change employers' perceptions of long-term unemployed people and assist long-term claimants to cope more effectively in the jobs market. It is now being extended beyond the inner city areas where it was successfully piloted.

  Programme development funds pilots provide local flexibility of funding to tailor action to special inner city needs.

  Training credits are being piloted by 10 training and enterprise councils. The credits allow young people to "buy" approved training from an employer or specialist provider. The pilots will be evaluated and decisions made on whether to further extend the schemes.

  The teacher placement service, responsibility for which transfers from the DTI in April 1991, is expected to involve spending after 1993–94. It is the intention of the Government to transfer ministerial responsibility for offshore oil safety to my Department during 1991.

  Capital Projects
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for
  Employment what major new capital projects have been started since last year's public expenditure White Paper; and what costs will arise from them in 1990–91 and future years.

  Mr. Jackson
  Information on capital projects is collated yearly for the supply estimate. Listed in the table are the major capital projects over £500,000 which have been started since the publication of the 1990–91 supply estimate.

  (£'000s)

  Project

  1990–91 expenditure

  Future years expenditure

  Sheffield DEHQ mainframe computer

  500

  3,284

  Integration of Employment Service computer systems

  1,007

  3,022

  Construction of Corby ES office

  964

  848

  Construction of Great Yarmouth ES office

  246

  1,908

  New ES area office Derby

  106

  796

  New ES area office Nottingham

  212

  318

  New Hackney, Victoria park ES office

  22

  1,588

  Refurbishment Shoreditch ES office

  96

  858

  Construction Everton ES office

  423

  796

  Refurbishment Whytheshawe ES office

  454

  552

  New Cheetham Hill ES office

  158

  848

  New Wrexham ES office

  451

  1,957

  New Rhyl ES office

  424

  1,060

  Departmental Annual Report
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many measures of performance are contained in the current year's annual report; and how many there were in last year's; whether any measures of performance have been enhanced or dropped as a result of a review of performance indicators; and whether the previous year's targets have been met.

  Mr. Jackson
  My Department now measures performance through labour market outcomes and end products rather levels of activity as in last year's public expenditure White Paper. Measures of performance in the two documents are therefore not comparable.

  For the Employment Service (ES), last year's public expenditure White Paper set out levels of activity in advance of its becoming a "next steps" agency. Performance targets to which ES has been working are set out in the 1990–91 annual performance agreement which was published in April 1990. The chief executive of the ES will report to my right hon. and learned Friend on ES achievements and use of resources at the end of the financial year. The report will be published in the summer. Discussions on the targets for the 1991–92 annual performance agreement are well advanced and I intend to place a copy in the Library by the beginning of April.

  Programmes administered through training and enterprise councils (TECs) will be increasingly measured by the achievement of outputs rather than simply activity. This is in line with the move to output related funding for TECs. The TEC network will be fully established by September 1991.
  367
  Performance measures for the Health and Safety Executive and ACAS are largely unchanged from last year and overall are being met.

  The estimated performance for 1990–91 is shown in the tables in my departmental report, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Employment Legislation Tribunals
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether employers have access to the names of employees who have taken companies to tribunals under the Race Relations Act 1976, Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and other employment legislation.

  Mr. Forth
  As with cases heard by most other courts, applications to industrial tribunals, and the tribunals'

  Employees in employment in manufacturing and in service industries in the Leeds travel-to-work area

  September 1981

  September 1984

  September 1987

  Divisions of the standard industrial classification 1980

  Number (000s)

  Per cent.1

  Number (000s)

  Per cent.1

  Number (000s)

  Per cent.1

  2–4 Manufacturing industries

  81·8

  27·5

  67·8

  23·4

  68·2

  23·5

  6–9 Service industries

  187·5

  63·0

  195·6

  67·4

  197·0

  68·0

  1 Percentage of all employees in the travel-to-work area.

  Mining Accidents
  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the annual average number of fatalities and major injuries in British Coal's mines in 1969–70, 1979–80 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Forth
  The information requested is as follows:

  British Coal Corporation's mines

  Year

  Average number of fatalities

  Average number of major injuries

  1969–70

  96

  677

  1979–80

  44

  493

  1989–901

  15

  580

  1 Figures for 1989 and 1990 are provisional. Statutory changes in the recording of serious and major injury reporting took place in 1981 and 1986, both widening the scope of reportable injuries. As a result of these changes, accidents recorded after 1986 are not comparable with earlier years.

  Vocational Training
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he has any plans to encourage the extension of training facilities for unemployed people who wish to obtain heavy goods vehicle licences as a means of improving their job prospects;

  (2) if he will draw up proposals to provide for free driving lessons for unemployed people who wish to learn to drive as a means of improving their job prospects.

  Mr. Jackson
  It is for training and enterprise councils to determine the vocational training provision they will support for unemployed people in the light of the local labour market.

  Restart Courses
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will draw up proposals to include education studies falling within the 21-hour rule as an option for Restart courses.
  368
  decisions, are required by law to be entered on to a register which is held at the central office of the industrial tribunals and is open to inspection by the public.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number and proportion of the Leeds work force in(a) the service sector and (b) the manufacturing sector in each year from 1979 to 1990.

  Mr. Jackson
  Employment estimates for local areas are compiled only when censuses of employment are taken. They cover employees in employment only and exclude then self-employed and also members of Her Majesty's forces.

  The available information from censuses of employment taken in 1981, 1984 and 1987 is given in the table.

  Mr. Jackson
  No; since the two serve different purposes. The 21-hour rule enables unemployed income support claimants to follow part-time education courses for up to 21 hours a week while continuing to receive benefit. Restart courses are short-term courses designed to help longer-term unemployed people to build confidence and motivation and plan their way back to work. Many claimants who take up educational opportunities under the 21-hour rule can also benefit from a Restart course. People who are studying under the 21-hour rule can normally attend Restart courses without disruption to their studies, for example, during vacations.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentages of those on compulsory Restart courses obtain employment at their conclusion.

  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.

  Long-term Unemployed
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of job vacancies is taken up by the long-term unemployed.

  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.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he has undertaken to encourage employers to provide jobs for the long-term unemployed.

  Mr. Jackson
  We have in place an extensive range of employment and training measures to help long-term unemployed people compete more effectively in the labour market. The job interview guarantee specifically aims to encourage employers to consider long-term unemployed
  369
  people for their vacancies and has had proven success in helping people back into jobs in the difficult labour markets of the inner cities. The Secretary of State for Employment has announced that, from April 1991, we shall be providing up to 100,000 additional opportunities in programmes such as the job interview guarantee and job club which provide help in securing job interviews and jobsearch.

  South Glamorgan TEC
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what level of financial commitment he has made to fund the new South Glamorgan TEC headquarters; and on what terms.

  Mr. Jackson
  My Department has not yet agreed the precise level of financial contribution it will make to the funding of the new South Glamorgan TEC headquarters.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what date he first made a financial commitment to assist the new South Glamorgan TEC headquarters project.

  Mr. Jackson
  My Department gave initial agreement to make a financial contribution to the cost of the new South Glamorgan TEC headquarters in September 1990.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average cost of answering a parliamentary question for written answer to the Department of Employment.

  Mr. Jackson
  The average cost of answering a written parliamentary question is not routinely recorded in the Employment Department. Estimates are, however, made where there is a likelihood of exceeding the disproportionate cost threshold (currently £250). However, following an interdepartmental exercise in 1972 in which the Employment Department participated an assessment was made of the average cost throughout all Departments of answering a written question. This assessment was based on staff time, using average rates of pay and associated costs for the grades concerned, together with a share of the cost of parliamentary sections and any substantial non-staff costs such as computer usage. This assessed figure is regularly updated and currently stands at £64.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  European Standing Committees
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will take steps to give the members of the European Standing Committees notification of the dates which have been listed for consideration by the appropriate Councils of Ministers of documents which have been referred to the Standing Committees.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The expected timetable for Council consideration of an EC document is set out in general terms in the Government's explanatory memorandum on the document. In addition, monthly forecasts of the agendas for individual Council meetings are placed in the 370
  Vote Office (though these are subject to last-minute changes). However, the Government have stated their commitment to holding scrutiny debates early in the consideration of a proposal and certainly before its adoption by the Council wherever possible.

  House of Commons Accommodation
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what inquiries he has made into the leasing of offices at 7 Millbank, London SW1, for use as staff or hon. Members' accommodation.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I understand that No. 7 Millbank is one of a number of properties at present under consideration by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to provide accommodation for the House.

WALES

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his most up-to-date estimate of the number of jobs that have been created by the Cardiff Bay development corporation since its inception.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The activities of Cardiff Bay development corporation are aimed primarily at facilitating development by the private sector. The following table shows the result of the earliest and most recent surveys of businesses in the corporation's designated area since its inception.

  Date of Survey

  Number of Businesses in CBDC area

  Number of Employees in Businesses Responding

  Number of Businesses not Responding

  January 1988

  861

  15,247

  64

  September 1990

  901

  17,032

  87

  Trunk Roads
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing each of the trunk road improvement schemes in Wales scheduled to start between the current time and April 1994 and which will cost in excess of £1 million; and if he will indicate the order of priority of these schemes in relation to the finance available.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The 1991 departmental report (Cm. 1516) published on 15 February indicated the following planned starts in 1991–92:

  M4 Brynglas Tunnels and Malpas Relief Road

  M4 Briton Ferry-Earlswood

  A483 Welshpool Relief Road

  Construction of the M4 Baglan-Briton ferry scheme is planned to start six months after the Briton FerryEarlswood scheme to achieve simultaneous completion.

  Other schemes in the short term programme, to start before April 1994, are shown in the 1991 supplement to "Roads in Wales: Progress and Plans for the 1990s", which was published on 25 February. The precise timing and order of starts will depend on completion of engineering, design and statutory procedures, and the availability of finance.

  Bathing Beaches
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report for each designated beach in Wales for the 1990 bathing season (a) the date and time of each sample taken for total coliforms and E. Coli and (b) the actual levels of total coliforms and E. Coli present in each sample.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The data requested is on the public registers maintained by the Welsh region of the National Rivers Authority, and available for inspection during normal working hours at its offices. A summary of the information is contained within the report prepared under article 13 of the EC bathing water directive, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report for each non-designated beach in Wales for the 1990 bathing season (a) the date and time of each sample taken for total coliforms and E. Coli and (b) the actual levels of total coliforms and E. Coli present in each sample.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The data in respect of non-designated bathing waters monitored by the National Rivers Authority is kept on public registers maintained by the authority and available for inspection during normal working hours at its offices.

  Aluminium
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps are being taken to reduce the ingestion of aluminium into the human body.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Aluminium is an abundant mineral to which all individuals receive widespread exposure from several sources. A review by the independent Committee on Toxicity in 1985 concluded that existing levels of aluminium in food were not a cause for concern. Intakes of aluminium through food continue to be monitored.

  Site

  Date of refusal

  Date of appeal

  Date report received

  Date of decision

  Result

  Garnant Farm, Amman Valley, Dyfed

  12 July 1984

  28 November 1984

  18 April 1986

  22 July 1986

  Allowed

  Llanilid West, Llanharan Mid Glamorgan

  14 March 1986

  27 March 1986

  5 June 1987

  15 October 1987

  Dismissed

  Brynhenllys, Upper Cwmtwrch, Powys

  24 March 1986

  21 April 1986

  4 August 1987

  21 October 1987

  Dismissed

  Park Slip, Mid Glamorgan (Relaxation of condition)

  4 August 1987

  6 August 1987

  Inspector decision

  25 January 1988

  Dismissed

  Cheapside, Ewloe, Clwyd

  24 February 1987

  5 May 1987

  23 May 1988

  20 July 1988

  Dismissed

  Derlwyn, Glynneath, West Glamorgan

  17 July 1987

  30 July 1987

  (2 reports) 1 September 1988

  10 November 1989

  Allowed

  17 August 1989

  Llanilid West Revised, Llanharan, Mid Glamorgan

  19 September 1989

  12 December 1989

  17 September 1990

  —

  Not yet decided

  Bannel Bridge, Buckley, Clwyd1

  9 August 1990

  10 December 1990

  —

  —

  —

  Brynhenllys Brecknock, Powys1

  20 July 1990

  7 September 1990

  —

  —

  —

  Park Slip West North of Cefn Cribwr, Mid Glamorgan1

  2 November 1990

  20 December 1990

  —

  —

  —

  1 Inquiry not yet held.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he intends to require local authorities in Wales to update their 1985 local waste disposal plans and to deposit those plans with his Department.
  372
  The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 lay down a standard of 200 microgrammes per litre for aluminium in water. This standard is not related to toxicity but was set for reasons of water quality. There are no plans to reduce this level.

  Fluorine
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the link between certain industrial processes and the deposit of fluorine in the populations of those residing near such processes.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I am informed that Her Majesty' inspectorate of pollution is aware of the release of fluorides to air from works for which it has responsibilities. Emission limits for fluorides are specified at a level which, following dispersion, should not present any problems to local inhabitants. I understand there is no evidence to suggest that releases of fluorides from industrial installations in Wales represent any health risk to local communities.

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list of opencast coal planning applications by British Coal that have been refused by the mineral planning authorities, and appeals that have been lodged by his Department; and if he will indicate for each case(a) the date of the refusal, (b) the date of the appeal, (c) the date that the inspector submitted his report to the Secretary of State, (d) the date when he announced his decision and (e) whether the appeal was granted or refused.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Information on applications refused by mineral planning authorities is not held centrally. Information on appeals to the Secretary of State which have not been subsequently withdrawn is as follows:

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  No. Under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 each authority will be required to prepare a waste disposal plan and to send a copy to the Secretary of State.
  373
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list of planning applications for a landfill waste disposal site that he has called in for his own determination during the past 10 years.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  None has been called in during the past 10 years.

  Fish Farming
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his Department's current involvement with matters relating to fish farming in coastal waters.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The responsibilities of United Kingdom Fisheries Departments, including the Welsh Office, for fish farming are set out in the memorandum "Fish Farming in the UK" submitted to the House of Commons Agriculture Committee in October 1989.

  Training
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will provide the figures for Wales corresponding to those given in tables 6.6 and 6.8 on employment and youth training published in Cm 1506.

  Employees in employment

  Merthyr and Rhymney

  Wales

  Year

  Number

  Percentage of total employees

  Number

  Percentage of total employees

  Coal mining1

  1981

  7,400

  16·6

  34,800

  3·7

  1987

  4,600

  10·0

  14,600

  1·6

  Manufacturing2

  1981

  14,500

  32·6

  238,100

  25·4

  1987

  14,300

  31·1

  224,300

  24·3

  1Activity headings 1113–1115 of 1980 SIC.

  2 Divisions 2–4 of 1980 SIC.

  Education
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the directors and principals of all the 'Welsh colleges selected for direct funding from I April 1992 to discuss the particular financial problems of sustaining workshop-based vocational educational higher education courses.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Officials from the Welsh Office are scheduled to meet the director of the Polytechnic for 'Wales and the principals of the higher education colleges concerned shortly to discuss a range of issues arising from the proposed transfer. Further meetings will be arranged as necessary.

  Local Plans
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the date when each local authority in Wales deposited their local plans with his Department.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Local planning authorities are required to place local plans on deposit for public inspection and to send copies of those plans to the Secretary of State. The dates when each local planning authority in Wales deposited local plans were as follows:
  374
  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is not readily available and I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

  Farming
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to ensure that the basic hill livestock compensatory allowance form is sent out to all relevant farmers at the earliest possible date.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The HLCA claim forms were issued to farmers on 7 February.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has of the number of people employed in mining and manufacturing in Merthyr and Rhymney, and in Wales; what percentage these are of the total employed; and what the comparable figures were in 1979.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The latest available estimates for the Merthyr and Rhymney travel-to-work area, from the September 1987 census of employment, are given in the following table.

  Comparable figures for the Merthyr and Rhymney travel-to-work area are not available for years prior to 1981. Estimates from the September 1981 census of employment are provided as follows.

  Authority

  Local plan

  Deposited

  Aberconwy BC

  Llandudno/Conwy

  14 February 1980

  Afan BC

  Upper Afan Valley

  14 August 1981

  Arfon BC

  Rural Arfon

  9 December 1987

  Arfon BC/Isle of Anglesey BC1

  Menai Strait

  3 July 1980

  Blaenau Gwent BC

  Tredegar

  1 September 1983

  Blaenau Gwent BC

  Abertillery

  30 April 1987

  Blaenau Gwent BC

  Ebbw Vale

  18 August 1988

  Blaenau Gwent BC

  Brynmawr, Nantyglo and Blaina

  19 April 1990

  Brecknock BC, Radnorr DC, Powys CC1

  Hay/Talgarth and District

  13 January 1986

  Brecknock BC, Radnor DC, Powys CC1

  Central Powys

  13 January 1986

  Cardiff CC

  East Moors

  7 December 1979

  Cardiff CC

  South Butetown

  23 June 1980

  Cardiff CC

  West Ely/St. Fagans

  11 December 1980

  Cardiff CC

  North Butetown

  27 July 1981

  Cardiff CC

  Lisvane

  3 April 1981

  Cardiff CC

  Radyr/Morganstown

  19 February 1981

  Cardiff CC

  Canton/Riverside

  24 November 1983

  Cardiff CC

  Adamsdown/Splott

  1 July 1985

  Cardiff CC

  Tongwynlais and the Wenallt

  7 October 1985

  Cardiff CC

  Grangetown

  10 June 1987

  Clwyd CC

  Special Landscape Area

  3 January 1984

  Colwyn BC

  Coastal Colwyn

  28 July 1988

  375

  Authority

  Local plan

  Deposited

  Cynon Valley BC

  Hirwaun and District

  4 November 1982

  Cynon Valley BC

  Abernant/Plasdraw

  8 March 1984

  Cynon Valley BC

  Aberaman/ Abercwmboi and Cwmbach

  8 March 1984

  Cynon Valley BC

  Cwmdare/Trecynon and Llwydcoed

  8 March 1984

  Cynon Valley BC

  Aman Valley

  8 March 1984

  Cynon Valley BC

  Ynysybwl

  6 March 1986

  Cynon Valley BC

  Abercynon

  10 November 1988

  Delyn BC

  Mold

  28 January 1983

  Delyn BC

  Delyn

  31 May 1990

  Dyfed CC

  Black Mountain

  1 November 1984

  Dwyfor DC/ Gwynedd CC1

  Porthmadog/Ffestiniog

  4 November 1977

  Dwyfor DC

  Pwllheli

  15 July 1988

  Dwyfor DC

  Rural Dwyfor

  2 July 1982

  Gwent CC

  Brynmawr

  4 January 1980

  Gwent CC

  Gilwern

  15 December 1983

  Gwynedd CC

  Touring Caravans and Tents

  4 November 1977

  Gwynedd CC

  Ardudwy

  20 March 1981

  Gwynedd CC

  Llanelltyd

  20 March 1981

  Islwyn BC

  Trinant and Pentwyn

  10 August 1981

  Llanelli BC

  Wern Action Area

  29 October 1983

  Lliw Valley BC

  Southern Lliw Valley

  20 July 1984

  Lliw Valley BC

  Northern Lliw Valley

  14 September 1990

  Mid Glamorgan CC

  Nelson and Treharris

  9 September 1982

  Mid Glamorgan CC

  Central Aberdare

  8 March 1984

  Mid Glamorgan CC

  Llantrisant

  19 April 1985

  Monmouth BC

  Abergavenny

  12 January 1989

  Monmouth BC

  Chepstow

  15 March 1990

  Newport BC

  Marshfield and Castleton

  15 December 1986

  Newportt BC

  South East Newport

  23 July 1984

  Ogwr BC

  Ogmore and Garw

  16 May 1983

  Ogwr BC

  Greater Bridgend

  8 September 1983

  Ogwr BC

  Kenfig-Pyle

  15 August 1985

  376

  Authority

  Local plan

  Deposited

  Port Talbot BC

  Cwmafan, Bryn, Goytre Valley and Rural Margam

  20 October 1987

  Powys CC/Brecknock BC

  Brecon and District

  31 March 1989

  Rhondda BC

  Rhondda

  30 December 1983

  Rhondda BC

  Tonypandy and Clydach Vale

  22 February 1990

  Rhuddlan BC

  Rhuddlan Borough

  26 May 1988

  Rhymney Valley DC

  Caerphilly Basin

  14 July 1982

  Rhymney Valley DC

  Mid Rhymney Valley

  18 June 1985

  Rhymney Valley DC

  Upper Rhymney Valley

  8 November 1985

  Swansea CC

  Swansea

  9 May 1988

  Torfaen BC

  South East Pontypool

  15 March 1982

  Vale of Glamorgan BC

  Barry

  3 February 1982

  Vale of Glamorgan BC

  Barry-Penarth Coastal

  3 February 1982

  Vale of Glamorgan BC

  Cowbridge

  21 February 1983

  Vale of Glamorgan BC

  East Vale

  12 October 1984

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  Wrexham Maelor

  28 November 1986

  1 Denotes joint local plans.

  "Roads in Wales"
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends updating the information given in the Welsh Office publication "Roads in Wales: Progress and Plans for the 1990s" published in April 1989.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I am pleased to announce that I have issued today a 1991 supplement to "Roads in Wales". Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

TRANSPORT

  Rail Electrification
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answer of 1 February to the hon. Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden,Official Report, column 699, whether the 10 per cent. of routes electrified in Scotland include those under the control of Strathclyde PTE/section 20 areas.

  Mr. Freeman
  My previous answer did not include electrified routes in Strathclyde. Including those increases the percentage of BR's total route mileage in Scotland which is electrified, including projects approved or under construction, to around 23 per cent. In the Strathclyde area some 203 out of 282 route miles (72 per cent.) are electrified.

  M6
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list his proposals for widening the M6 between Birmingham and Manchester; what stretches will be affected; what consultations he intends to have on the proposals; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Schemes for the widening of the M6 between Birmingham and Manchester were announced as part of the Government's expanded trunk road programme in the White Paper "Roads for Prosperity", presented to Parliament in May 1989. Consultants are currently examining the various ways of providing extra capacity on this motorway. There has been discussion with local authorities and others as part of this process. I hope that we shall be able to announce detailed proposals towards the end of the year.

  Auxiliary Coastguards
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of any increased danger to the public as a result of the reduction in manpower and equipment of the auxiliary coastguard service;

  Falmouth coastguard region—Hope cove and Prawle sectors incidents by station 1986–1990

  Coastguard station

  Yealm

  Bigbury

  Hope cove

  Prawle

  Dartmouth

  Totals

  (Hope cove)

  (Hope cove)

  (Hope cove)

  (Prawle)

  (Prawle)

  1986

  A

  3

  —

  9

  8

  3

  23

  B

  2

  1

  6

  1

  1

  11

  C

  5

  4

  14

  10

  19

  43

  D

  1

  —

  6

  3

  —

  10

  1987

  A

  1

  1

  4

  6

  2

  14

  B

  —

  —

  2

  2

  —

  4

  C

  4

  5

  8

  13

  17

  47

  D

  2

  1

  10

  1

  —

  14

  1988

  A

  2

  2

  5

  9

  3

  21

  B

  1

  1

  3

  —

  2

  7

  C

  5

  4

  6

  11

  4

  30

  D

  2

  4

  11

  1

  —

  18

  1989

  A

  5

  19

  4

  5

  2

  35

  B

  1

  3

  2

  3

  2

  11

  C

  2

  3

  6

  2

  1

  14

  D

  1

  —

  11

  1

  —

  13

  378
  (2) what changes are planned by way of manpower and equipment for Prawle Point coastguard centre.

  (3) what changes are planned by way of manpower and equipment for Dartmouth auxiliary coastguard station;

  (4) if he will initiate a study into the implications of savings in the coastguard auxiliary service for risk of injury or death to those in difficulties on the seas or along the south Devon cliff coastline;

  (5) what changes are planned by way of manpower and equipment for Yealm auxiliary coastguard station;

  (6) what changes are planned by way of manpower or equipment for Bigbury auxiliary coastguard station;

  (7) what changes are planned by way of manpower a nd equipment for Hope Cove auxiliary coastguard centre;

  (8) if he will make a statement about future manning levels at the Hope Cove auxiliary sector office;

  (9) what plans he has over the next five years to alter levels of manpower and equipment along the coastline of South Hams.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Recommendations relating to changes to Her Majesty's coastguard's manpower and equipment were made by an internal review of the Coastguard Sector Organisation and Auxiliary Service. Local coastguard senior management is holding discussions with local interests and staff about the implications of these recommendations in each region. No decisions will be taken on the review's recommendations until the implications have been fully assessed, and full account has been taken of local circumstances and conditions.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the incidents in the Hope cove and Prawle point sectors for each of the last five years which have involved the search and rescue teams of the auxiliary coastguards of Brixham district.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The number of actual and potential search and rescue incidents attended by auxiliary coastguards at the five stations in Hope cove and Prawle point sectors for the years 1986–1990 are as follows:
  379

  Coastguard station

  Yealm

  Bigbury

  Hope cove

  Prawle

  Dartmouth

  Totals

  (Hope cove)

  (Hope cove)

  (Hope cove)

  (Prawle)

  (Prawle)

  1990

  A

  1

  3

  7

  6

  10

  27

  B

  1

  3

  6

  2

  2

  14

  C

  3

  3

  6

  —

  1

  13

  D

  —

  1

  4

  —

  —

  5

  Five year total

  42

  58

  130

  84

  60

  374

  Incident Legends:

  A: Investigation/Coordination.

  B: Cliff rescues.

  C: Coastal searches.

  D: Other rescues.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the remit given to the chief coastguard to review coastguard sector organisation and coastguard auxiliary service; and by whom this review was initiated.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The review of the Coastguard Sector Organisation and Auxiliary Service was an internal review initiated by the previous chief coastguard as part of the marine directorate's programme of reviews of administration and operations. Its terms of reference were:"To examine the nature of HM Coastguard's commitments on the coastline, reporting on the adequacy and value for money of the present arrangements; and proposing changes if necessary."

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes are planned by way of manpower and equipment for Brixham district controller's office of the coastguard.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  No changes are contemplated in the manning or equipping of the district controller Brixham's district office.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the use of the GP boat attached to the Hope Cove auxiliary coastguard sector office in the last two years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  During 1989 and 1990 the Hope Cove GP boat was launched on patrol every weekend and public holiday during the summer season, over 70 times in all. Although coastguard boats are not declared rescue facilities, during patrols 10 rescues were carried out of persons found to be in trouble. The boat was also launched:

  five times to carry out rescues

  15 times on exercise and training

  20 times to provide offshore coordination of incidents and to assist with coastal searches

  20 times when the number of sport divers active off Hope Cove justified a Coastguard presence afloat.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration underlay his decision to accept the review of coastguards with regard to the future of the Coastguard Sector Organisation and Coastguard Auxiliary Service in South Hams.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The review of the Coastguard Sector Organisation and Auxiliary Service was accepted as a consultative document not a statement of intent. The review proposes a framework for the future which offers opportunities to improve the availability, readiness, and training of the auxiliary and sector organisation to meet current requirements.

  European Airworthiness Organisation
  Mr. Warren
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to secure the location of the headquarters of the European Airworthiness Organisation in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority proposed that the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) headquarters should be located at Gatwick, and their initiative was endorsed by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State. The JAA board has since considered the eight candidates for the location of its headquarters, and decided on Amsterdam last December. I am confident that the United Kingdom will continue to play a prominent role in JAA.

  Fenchurch Street Railway
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are British Rail's performance targets in the Fenchurch Street line; and what have been their achievements against these.

  Mr. Freeman
  The table sets out Network SouthEast's quality of service objectives and the Fenchurch Street line's achievement for 1989–90 and for 1990–91 so far.

  Quality of service (performance by percentage) Fenchurch Street line

  Objective

  1989–90

  11990–91

  Punctuality ( 5 minutes)

  AM Peak

  88·0

  76·8

  85·4

  PM Peak

  88·0

  79·5

  76·8

  All trains

  92·0

  87·4

  87·6

  (Punctuality targets revised 1 April 1990 from 87·5 per cent. AM and PM Peaks and 90 per cent. All Trains)

  Service Provision

  99·0

  97·2

  97·7

  Cleaning

  Heavy Interior (every 28 days)

  100·0

  96·1

  89·3

  Exterior (daily)

  100·0

  96·1

  76·1

  1988

  1989

  Load Factors

  am peak

  24·1

  21·6

  sliding door: max. 135 per cent.

  slam door: max. 110 per cent.

  pm peak

  21·5

  20·9

  1Up to January 1991.

  2Passengers in excess of capacity, per cent.

  Autoguide
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made an evaluation of the Autoguide pilot project in London; and if he will make a statement;
  381
  (2) what information he has in relation to any decrease in congestion and increased traffic speeds in London attributable to Autoguide;

  (3) if he has issued a licence for an Autoguide pilot scheme for any areas of the country, excluding London;

  (4) if he will list the roads covered by the Autoguide pilot project in London.

  Mr. Chope
  Negotiations with GEC Ltd. on the terms of a licence to install and operate an Autoguide system in London are continuing. Agreement has yet to be reached on the proposed pilot scheme and so it is not possible to say which roads would be included. Estimates made by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory suggest that drivers equipped with the Autoguide system could reduce their mileage by about 6 per cent. and their journey times by some 10 per cent. No applications have yet been received or invited for Autoguide licences in areas outside London.

  Road Schemes
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all road schemes for which draft line orders were published before 3 July 1988, for which no environmental impact assessment has been carried out, and whose line orders have yet to be confirmed.

  Mr. Chope
  All schemes in the national trunk road programme have for many years been subject to a very full environmental appraisal before the line orders are confirmed. Within the requirements of the EC directive, a formal environmental impact statement has accompanied all draft orders published since 21 July 1988. Those schemes for which draft line orders were published prior to the implementation of the directive and for which line orders have yet to be confirmed are as follows:

  A34

  Newbury bypass

  A40

  Gypsy corner/Western Circus

  A406

  Regents Park Road

  A406

  Silver Street—Hall Lane

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the road schemes in which his Department has extended the distance limit for safeguarding purposes beyond the 67m limit specified in article 15(1)(b) of the General Development Order 1988.

  Mr. Chope
  [pursuant to his reply, 20 February 1991, column 182]: There is a second case in which the distance limit for safeguarding purposes has been extended beyond 67m. It comprised a two-mile section of the M6 in the east midlands, which forms part of the proposed motorway widening between junction 4 of the M6 and its junction with the M1. The basis for safeguarding is the same as that for the 80-mile section of the M1 referred to in my reply of the 20 February.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will request the chairman of British Rail to make available to interested parties the documentation being submitted to the inquiry commissioned by British Rail into the alternative routes for the channel tunnel rail link from the North downs to London;

  (2) if he will ensure that all parties making submissions to the independent inquiry into the channel tunnel rail link are given access to all the relevant documentation, including submissions and assessments by other parties.
  382
  Mr. Freeman
  No. It would be inappropriate for British Rail to make available documents relating to an internal study and which is not in the nature of a public inquiry. The results of the study will be published in due course if the project proceeds and there will be ample opportunity for discussion before statutory approval is given for a new line.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will request the chairman of British Rail to publish the inception report which set the terms of reference for the inquiry by the independent assessor into the route of the channel tunnel rail link.

  Mr. Freeman
  I understand that British Rail expects to publish soon the interim report by W. S. Atkins on the methodology used by British Rail to compare alternative route options.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the chairman of British Rail to publish the report on alternative routes for the channel tunnel rail link.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe) on 21 January 1991 at column 35.

SCOTLAND

  Natural Heritage Agency
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the proposals to date for appointees to the regional boards of the proposed Scottish Natural Heritage Agency and their chairmen.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It will be for Scottish Natural Heritage to decide whether to have regional boards and, if so, whom to appoint to them.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sites of special scientific interest are currently designated in Scotland; how many of these designations were objected to under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As at 1 February 1991, 1,307 sites of special scientific interest had been notified in Scotland. A right of objection was introduced by the Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1985, which came into effect on 26 August 1985. The Nature Conservancy Council's latest available figures are that 491 sites were confirmed during the period from 1 August 1985 to 30 November 1990 and that representations or objections were received in respect of 149 of those sites.

  Tobacco (Children)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his policy for the enforcement of legislation controlling the sale of tobacco to children; and if he intends to introduce any amendments in connection with the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Bill.
  383
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As with all criminal offences in Scotland, it is for the procurator fiscal to consider reports of alleged offences in relation to the sale of tobacco to children under 16 with a view to criminal proceedings.

  We intend to consult Scottish local authorities about the introduction in the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Bill of powers to enable them to enforce such offences in a way which would be appropriate to prosecution procedures in Scotland.

  Morar Bypass
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the outcome of the public inquiry on the Morar bypass, held on 20 March 1990, to be announced.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The inquiry report was submitted at the end of September 1990. It contained some recommendations by the reporter which have been the subject of detailed consideration. This is almost complete and it is expected that my right hon. Friend's decision will be issued shortly after the Easter recess.

  Health Board Chairmen
  Mr. Eadie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of occasions during the last 10 years on which a Minister of the Scottish Office has hosted a dinner for health board chairmen; and what were the venues in each case.

  Mr. Lang
  Dinners for health board chairmen were held on 8 July 1983 and 8 February 1991 in Edinburgh castle.

  Electoral Statistics
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the total electorate for each parliamentary constituency in Scotland as at 16 February.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not yet available centrally. I shall write to the hon. Member in due course and place a copy of the information in the Library.

  Nature Conservation
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for(a) each site of special scientific interest and (b) each national nature reserve the number of current management agreements between the Nature Conservancy Council and landowners; and if he will place a copy of each agreement in the Library.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Eadie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average time it takes each of his departmental Ministers to answer letters received from right hon. and hon. Members.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 22 February 1991]: Disproportionate costs would be incurred in the
  384
  preparation of an answer in the form requested. A survey carried out in my Department during a representative period in 1990 showed an average response time of 17 working days.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the additional funding given to the Nature Conservancy Council to facilitate renotification of sites of special scientific interest in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 22 February 1991]: The renotification of sites of special scientific interest is 97 per cent. complete. The allocation of funds to renotification is a matter for the Nature Conservancy Council within its budget.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Africa
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to give further encouragement to the pursuit of structural adjustment in African countries.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Support for the process of economic reform has been a central aspect of our aid policy for Africa for several years and will continue to be so. We pledged and provided a total of £250 million for the first phase of the World Bank's special programme of assistance for sub-Saharan Africa. We expect shortly to make a further substantial pledge for the second phase of this programme.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the 27 African countries threatened with famine.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Government are greatly concerned that 29 million people may be at risk of starvation in 25 African countries. Ethiopia, Sudan, Mozambique, Angola and Liberia are the most seriously affected with a total of over 20 million people at risk. HMG have committed over £118 million emergency assistance to these five countries since the beginning of 1989 and £22 million of relief aid to the rest of Africa. We are ready to do more through 1991.

  Iraq
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of humanitarian needs inside Iraq.

  Mrs. Chalker
  None. Security Council resolution 666 charges the United Nations Sanctions Committee to make the necessary determination to establish whether or not humanitarian circumstances have arisen, and to keep the situation regarding foodstuffs in Iraq and Kuwait under review.

  Neither the ICRC nor the UNICEF/WHO team now in Baghdad have yet been able to conduct a full assessment for consideration by the United Nations Sanctions Committee. The ICRC have, however, identified a serious shortage of drinking water and, after notifying the United

  385
  Nations Sanctions Committee, dispatched water purification supplies to Baghdad. The United Nations Sanctions Committee has authorised a consignment of food for ICRC distribution to Iranian internees and some other Asian nationals which the ICRC have identified as being in need.

  Yemen
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the level of overseas aid to the Republic of Yemen will be affected by events in the Gulf.

  Mrs. Chalker
  With the withdrawal of aid personnel from certain parts of the middle east to ensure their safety, our aid programme to the Republic of Yemen is on hold, although certain activities are continuing in the United Kingdom. We hope to resume our bilateral programme in the Republic of Yemen as and when circumstances allow, although it is not possible to say at this stage at what level that might be.

  Food Relief Flights
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many food relief flights his Department is sponsoring.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The ODA has provided financial support for four current food airlift operations, one each in Ethiopia, Sudan, Angola and Mozambique.

  In Sudan the airlift is operated by the Lutheran World Federation from Nairobi to Juba. I have just approved further assistance of £200,000 bringing our total contribution for this airlift since February 1989 to £1·2 million.

  Somalia
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Somalia.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The various groups who were opposed to the overthrow of Siad Barre's regime have been unable to agree so far on setting up a new Government. We are urging them to do so. Meanwhile fighting continues with the remnants of Siad Barre's forces and also reportedly between some of the rival groups.

  Beef
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to propose environmental conditions into the beef protocol of the Lomé agreement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  [holding answer 19 February 1991]: When the fourth Lomé convention takes effect (ratification is required by all member states in the Community and two thirds of the ACP countries), the provisions of the beef protocol will allow certain ACP countries to import beef into the EC at reduced levy, subject to national quotas. As environmental concerns are covered in articles 33–41 of the convention, the beef protocol is already subject to them.

DEFENCE

  Atomic Weapons Research Establishment
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State For Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that employees of AWRE are provided with the same opportunities to remain within the UKAEA pension scheme after privatisation as former AWRE employees who transferred to the employment of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. and Amersham plc; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The question of pension arrangements for members of the UKAEA principal non-industrial superannuation scheme (PNISS) employed at AWRE after contractorisation is under consideration.

  I have given assurances that nobody will suffer detriment to their pension arrangements as a result of contractorisation.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on escapes of dangerous material from biological weapons depots in Iraq destroyed by allied bombing.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have no reliable information regarding any environmental effects of allied bombing of biological weapons facilities in Iraq. The methods used in attacking such sites are designed to minimise the risk of contamination outside the sites. Any remaining risk must be balanced against the risk of Iraq using these weapons against coalition forces or civilian populations.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the extent to which the suffering of the Kuwaiti population to which he referred in his answer of 18 February,Official Report, column 64, has been increased by the effect of allied bombardment.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 18 February, at column 64.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his answer of 18 February,Official Report, column 64, whether any military objectives have been discussed with Israel beyond those laid down by the United Nations Security Council.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Israel is not a member of the coalition in the Gulf and is not involved in the action to implement the United Nations Security Council resolutions.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions British air sorties over Iraq and Kuwait have missed intended military targets and hit attendant civilian areas causing deaths and injuries to civilians; and what steps the British military commanders in Saudi Arabia have taken to avoid such civilian casualties.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is allied policy to attack only military targets and facilities supporting Iraq's occupation of Kuwait. Great care continues to be taken during these attacks, both in the tactics and the weapons used, to minimise the risk of causing civilian casualties. Only a
  387
  minority of the precision-guided munitions used by the RAF are assessed to have missed their intended target. There are indications that most of these have fallen well away from inhabited areas. Any civilian casualties that may have resulted are greatly regretted.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he now has on the number of consecutive days prior to the bombing of the Al-Amariyah bunker that it had been used for the protection of civilians.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None. The United States has made it clear that the bunker would not have been attacked if it had been known that civilians were inside.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr. Brazier) on 19 February 1991,Official Report, column 134, if he will set out the evidence that Iraq has nuclear weapons that are capable of polluting the Gulf region; and when Her Majesty's Government reached the conclusion that Iraq has a nuclear weapons capability.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We continue to assess that Iraq is not currently capable of constructing a nuclear explosive device.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the numbers of forces each country has(a) committed to service and (b) promised are available to the coalition forces in the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 12 February, at columns 382–83. The precise natue of the national contributions to the coalition force in the Gulf is a matter for the Governments concerned.

  Teesside Development Corporation
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will supply a copy of the specification for facilities for the quality assurance unit to the Teesside development corporation.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  A summary of area requirements sub-divided by category was sent to Teesside development corporation on 25 January 1991. Additional data were passed to Teesside development corporation on 28 January 1991.

  Quality Assurance Unit
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current estimate of the cost of relocating his Department's quality assurance unit to(a) Preston Farm, Stockton-on-Tees, (b) ICI Billingham and (c) Portland in Dorset.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  My Department is currently reassessing the scope of work to be relocated and the feasibility and likely cost of a number of locations. Current studies will be completed as soon as possible.

  Prisoners of War
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements exist to allow families resident in the United Kingdom to visit prisoners of war; and whether he has plans to alter the present arrangement.
  388
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Suitable arrangements are being made to allow visits by the close families of the Iraqi prisoners of war held at Rollestone camp. These will begin shortly.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  White Collar Crime
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Attorney-General if he has any plans to meet the Director of the Serious Fraud Office to discuss the prosecution of white collar crime; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  I expect to meet the director again shortly to discuss matters of departmental interest.

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a further statement on the state of the Crown prosecution service.

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown prosecution service continues to strengthen both in numbers, effectiveness, and the working relationships with other agencies. The Crown prosecution service warmly welcomes the report of the working group on pre-trial issues.

  Land Access
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to implement the Law Commission's recommendations on access to neighbours' land.

  The Attorney-General
  The Government have accepted the recommendations contained in the Law Commission's report "Rights of Access to Neighbouring Land" (Law Corn. No. 151), which they will seek to implement when parliamentary time allows.

  Jury Service
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) how catchment areas for jury service are determined; and whether there are circumstances in which those summoned for jury service can opt to fulfil their duties within adjacent catchment areas;

  (2) what measures are taken when females are asked to undertake jury service to ensure that there is (a) a limit to the hours they need to be away from their homes, (b) coverage for any homework and child care responsibilities they might normally undertake and (c) that they are not vulnerable by having to resort to public transport at unsociable hours;

  (3) what consideration is taken into account in determining whether a person is to be summoned to undertake jury service of (a) the distances they are required to travel to court, (b) the availability of public transport facilities and (c) the length of time a juror will need to be away from their home.

  The Attorney-General
  The Juries Act 1974 provides that the Lord Chancellor shall have regard to the convenience of persons summoned and to their respective places of residence and in particular to the desirability of selecting jurors from within reasonable daily travelling distance of the court which they are to attend. The area
  389
  from which jurors are summoned to attend a particular location of the Crown Court usually coincides with the petty sessional areas from which the persons are normally committed for trial to that location when charged with a class 4 offence. However, jurors are normally only summoned from those parts of the catchment area which are within one or two hours travelling time. The court day normally begins at 10.30 am and concludes at about 4.30 pm and although they are normally expected to attend some time in advance jurors are usually away from their homes or places of work for a maximum of about nine hours. This, of course, varies with the length of the court day and the actual travelling time for a particular juror. No special arrangements are made for females who are performing this important public duty to which all those eligible are expected to contribute.

  Where public transport is not easily accessible jurors may receive an enhanced rate for use of a private vehicle. Those who cannot reasonably use public transport and do not have their own transport may, of course, apply for excusal. There is no provision for a juror to opt to attend a court which has an adjacent catchment area.

  Those with young children are entitled to receive jurors allowances including financial loss allowance in the same way as any other juror. Financial loss allowance is paid where a juror, in consequence of attendance has incurred any expenditure (other than travelling and subsistence costs which are paid as separate allowances) which he or she would not otherwise incur including any expenditure on child care costs or any loss of earnings or benefit. There is, however, an overall maximum of £35·30 per day which may be paid in respect of financial loss for the first 10 days of service. This increases thereafter to £70·60.

  Any person may apply for excusal from jury service and summoning officers are instructed to treat with sympathy applications on the grounds of the need to care for young children.

  Mortgage Arrears
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will give by year the number of court actions for mortgage arrears or repossessions, by petty sessions division, since 1987.

  The Attorney-General
  Mortgage possession actions are a civil matter and as such come within the jurisdiction of the Chancery Division of the High Court and the county courts in England and Wales which are divided into six circuits.

  The number of mortgage possession actions issued in the county courts since 1987 were:

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Midland and Oxford

  18,123

  13,965

  17,075

  28,651

  North Eastern

  11,248

  10,866

  10,656

  13,331

  Northern

  12,276

  11,547

  10,771

  13,818

  South Eastern (London)

  5,487

  5,673

  9,849

  19,963

  South Eastern (Provinces)

  17,854

  17,080

  26,135

  42,684

  Wales and Chester

  6,443

  6,080

  6,189

  9,477

  Western

  7,749

  7,444

  10,743

  17,554

  Total

  79,180

  72,655

  91,418

  145,478

  The number of writs for mortgage possession issued in the Chancery Division of the High Court since 1987 were:

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1,203

  1,206

  1,981

  2,818

  390
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will give by year the number of court actions for mortgage arrears or repossessions in the Mansfield court area since 1987.

  The Attorney-General
  The number of mortgage possession actions issued in Mansfield county court since 1987 were:

  Number

  1987

  518

  1988

  411

  1989

  445

  1990

  664

THE ARTS

  British National Bibliography
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will list the number of titles included in the British National Bibliography in each of the years 1960, 1970, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Renton
  The number of titles included in the British National Bibliography is as follows:

  Source of information

  Year

  Number

  Estimate based on books on the on-line file published in that year

  1960

  18,892

  Number added to the on-line file in that year

  1970

  28,042

  Number added to the on-line file in that year

  1980

  41,043

  Number added to the on-line file in that year

  1985

  38,997

  Number added to the on-line file in that year

  1986

  27,513

  Number added to the on-line file in that year

  1987

  50,924

  Number added to the on-line file in that year

  1988

  60,175

  Number added to the on-line file in that year

  1989

  53,902

  Number added to the on-line file in that year

  1990

  61,053

  Libraries and Information Services Council
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will list the reports produced by the Libraries and Information Services Council for England in each year from 1986 to 1990.

  Mr. Renton
  The Library and Information Services Council has produced the following reports:

  Published by

  1986

  The future development of libraries and information services: progress through planning and partnership

  HMSO

  ISBN

  0 11 430011 9

  391

  Published by

  Library and Information Services in 1985: Review by the Library and Information Services Council (included in Report by the Minister for the Arts on Library and Information Matters during 1985)

  HMSO

  ISBN

  0 10 223486 8

  Professional education and training for library and information work: a review by the Library and Information Services Council

  Library Association Publishing Limited

  ISBN

  0 85365 707 6

  1987

  Joint Enterprise: Roles and Relationships of the Public and Private Sectors in the Provision of Library and Information Services

  HMSO

  ISBN

  0 11 430016 X

  Joint enterprise: Roles and Relationships of the Public and Private sectors in the Provision of Library and Information Services. Report of a seminar held on Tuesday 21 July 1987.

  Office of Arts and Libraries

  Library and Information Services in 1986: Review by the Library and Information Services Council (included in Report by the Minister for the Arts on Library and Information Matters during 1986)

  HMSO

  ISBN

  0 10 225287 4

  1988

  Financing Our Public Library Service: LISC's Response

  J Whitaker and Sons

  ISBN

  0 85021 195 6

  Library and Information Services in 1987: Review by the Library and Information Services Council (included in Report by the Minister for the Arts on Library and Information Matters during 1987)

  HMSO

  ISBN

  0 10 233288 6

  1989

  The Minister for the Arts' Statement on Public Library Policy: LISC's Response

  Office of Arts and Libraries

  Library and Information Services in 1988: Review by the Library and Information Services Council (included in Report by the Minister for the Arts on Library and Information Matters during 1988)

  HMSO

  ISBN

  0 10 223689 5

  Role of Government in relation to the co-ordination of library and information services

  limited circulation

  1990

  Library and Information Services in 1989: Review by the Library and Information Services Council (included in Report by the Minister for the Arts on Library and Information Matters during 1989)

  HMSO

  ISBN

  0 10 222290 8

  Public Library Services for Children and Young People: A Statistical Survey

  British Library

  ISBN

  0 7123 3195 6

PRIME MINISTER

  Norwegian Prime Minister
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what was discussed at his meeting with his Norwegian counterpart on 13 February.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 21 February at column 223.

  Street lighting
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will seek to improve co-ordination between the Home Office and Departments of Environment and Transport to identify where early action can be taken to reduce the public's fear of, and to help prevent, crime by improving the standard of street lighting in towns; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Home Office has just received a first draft of a report of a major research study undertaken by the University of Southampton to assess the impact of improved streetlighting on crime and the fear of crime in the London borough of Wandsworth. The results are being considered. The Home Office is also engaged in a monitoring exercise on the link between lighting improvements and crime in four urban areas. When all the relevant information is to hand Home Office Ministers will consider, in conjunction with other Departments as appropriate, what further action is necessary to try and reduce the public's fear of crime.

  German Chancellor
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what matters were discussed during his meeting with Chancellor Kohl in Bonn on 11 February.

  The Prime Minister
  Chancellor Kohl and I discussed a number of current issues, including the Gulf, relations with the Soviet Union and European Community affairs. I look forward to developing our close relationship.

  Nuclear Accidents
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his progress in preparing a contingency plan to deal with the effects of any future nuclear accident overseas following the parliamentary answer to the hon. Member for Bedfordshire, North (Sir T. Skeet) on 30 June 1987,Official Report, columns 65–67.

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend the Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley), the then Secretary of State for the Environment, announced in January 1988 that proposals for implementing the national response plan had been finalised. Details of the proposals have been published in a booklet: "The National Response Plan and Radiation Incident Monitoring Network (RIMNET). A Statement of Proposals" published by HMSO, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The radiation monitors for the first phase of the RIM NET system have been in operation since June 1988, and I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will be making an announcement shortly with regard to the award of the contract for installing phase 2 of RIMNET.

  Electricity Prices
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister whether his office has been consulted about the proposed 13 per cent. increase in domestic electricity prices.

  The Prime Minister
  It is for the Director General of Electricity Supply to receive and consider the companies' proposals, and to satisfy himself that they are consistent with the companies' licence requirements.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what communications he, or his officials, had with the deputy director-general of the BBC on 13 February concerning BBC news coverage of the casualties caused to Iraqi civilians by allied air raids on Baghdad.

  The Prime Minister
  There is contact on a regular basis between my office and the media on a variety of subjects, including the coverage of the Gulf conflict.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister if President Bush contacted Her Majesty's Government prior to his speech in Massachussets on 15 February calling for the overthrow of President Saddam Hussein; and what is the Government's policy in relation to the President of Iraq.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government's policy towards Iraq is to secure full, immediate and unconditional compliance with the Security Council resolutions.

  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the progress of military action to liberate Kuwait in accordance with resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.

  The Prime Minister
  The military action to free Kuwait is making steady progress, while attempting to avoid civilian casualties so far as possible. The forces of the multinational coalition deserve great credit for their performance.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Young Offenders
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take immediate steps to deprive the courts of the power to remand 15 and 16-year-old boys in prison.

  Mr. John Patten
  On 4 February, we published a consultation paper setting out our proposals for reforming the arrangements for the remand of alleged juvenile offenders. We propose to end the remand to prison custody of 15 and 16-year-old boys, as soon as enough places in local authority secure accommodation are available.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement outlining the current practice in respect of allowing the staff of the Metropolitan police time off in working hours for sporting and leisure activities;

  (2) what was the highest total number of hours given in time off for leisure of sporting activities to any member of the Metropolitan police force in 1990;

  (3) how many working hours were lost in the Metropolitan police force in 1990 because of sporting and leisure activities; and what was the cost to public funds;

  (4) if he will list the various sporting and leisure activities which the staff of the Metropolitan police force had time off work for last year.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Deputy Commissioner has told me that officers representing the Metropolitan police at 394
  first or second team level, at sports affiliated to the Metropolitan Police Athletic Association are allowed up to four hours once a week in duty time to take part in matches, subject to the exigencies of duties. The sports involved are as listed.

  American Football

  Angling

  Archery

  Association Football

  Athletics and cross country

  Badminton Basketball

  Billiards and Snooker

  Bowling

  Bridge

  Canoeing

  Chess

  Cricket

  Cycling

  Darts

  Fencing

  Flying

  Golf

  Hockey

  Judo

  Lawn Tennis

  Male Voice Choir

  Martial Arts

  Karate

  Kung Fu

  Aikido

  Kendo

  Motor Sport

  Rallies

  Motor Cycle

  Racing

  Old Vehicles

  Mountaineering

  Netball

  Race Walking

  Rowing

  Rugby Football

  Rugby League

  Sailing

  Shooting

  Skiing

  Squash Racquets

  Sub-Aqua

  Swimming

  Water Polo

  Table Tennis

  Ten-pin bowling

  Triathlon

  Tug of War

  Volleyball

  Weightlifting

  Wrestling

  The Deputy Commissioner does not hold centrally the other information requested, which could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

  Gambling
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward legislation to outlaw the advertising of gambling and amusement coin-operated slot machines in such a way as to promote the exploitation of young people.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. The results of the Home Office research study "Amusement Machines Dependency and Delinquency", published in July 1988, provided no grounds to justify additional controls on amusement-with-prizes and other coin-operated amusement machines. As regards "jackpot" machines, these are permitted only On premises either licensed or registered under the Gaming
  395
  Act 1968 to which young people do not normally have access and which are already subject to controls on advertising.

  Remand Prisoners, Manchester
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions have been held on the impact on the effectiveness of Greater Manchester police as a result of extra duties relating to the holding of prisoners in police cells and as to what effect it will have on the prisoners, their families, and on solicitors and the probation service; and what discussions there have been about finding alternative accommodation;

  (2) what discussions he has had with Greater Manchester Police about the number of people expected to be held in police cells in Greater Manchester for each of the next three years; how much this is expected to cost in police overtime; and how much will be spent in improving police cells during that period.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Officials are in daily contact with the Greater Manchester police with a view to minimising the use of police cells for prisoners and any impact on police effectiveness, the prisoners, their families, solicitors and the probation service. The elimination of the problem depends on the provision of new or refurbished accommodation and the resolution of industrial relations difficulties in certain prisons in the north-west, where I hope that staff will note the comments of Lord Justice Woolf in his report that is being published today. The prison service is also actively reviewing the use of the prison estate in order to make the most effective use of the available accommodation. It is not possible to estimate centrally the extent to which police overtime may continue to be needed, and the amount to be spent on improving police cells is a matter for the police authority to determine in relation to other priorities. The costs incurred by the Greater Manchester police in keeping in police cells people who should be in prison are reimbursed by the prison service.

  Escaped Detainees
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether Molly Donalds, Karen Rhoden, and Patricia Weir, who escaped from Drake Hall on 24 January 1989, have since been recaptured;

  (2) whether Ikaete Margarita Jackson, Salamat Oliuvag-Benigun, and Florence Omawuaye Asore, who escaped from East Sutton Park in January 1989, have since been recaptured.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No. These six women are still unlawfully at large.

  Female Prisoners
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when new evidence is due to be issued about the categorisation and allocation of female prisoners to penal establishments; what factors gave rise to the review; whether it will consider the large numbers of absconders from open prisons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Guidance will be issued to governors shortly, following an examination of procedures which 396
  was prompted by the need to establish a more systematic and consistent basis for allocating female prisoners, particularly as between closed and open establishments. The risk of absconding is an important factor to be taken into account in considering an individual's suitability for open conditions.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Concessionary Fuel
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) following the reply to the hon. Member for Rother Valley on 31 January,Official Report, column 633, concerning concessionary fuel, what action has been taken by British Coal to inform and give advice to concessionaires who have accepted the lump sum offer;

  (2) pursuant to the answer of 31 January, Official Report, column 633, on concessionary fuel, what action his Department has taken in conjunction with British Coal; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Officials contacted British Coal as soon as they became aware that a lump-sum option was being offered to recipients of cash-in-lieu of concessionary coal. That contact has been followed up with a letter confirming the importance of concessionaires obtaining benefit advice before making a decision. The Department will also be issuing appropriate guidance to Social Security offices and local authorities. We understand that British Coal is currently considering its position.

  Pension Deductions
  Sir Anthony Meyer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many retirement pensioners during each of the last five years for which figures are readily available have had sums deducted from their pensions in respect of accommodation or national health service treatment after the statutory six weeks stay in national health service hospitals; and what was the total sum received by the national health service in consequence of these deductions during each of these years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Figures are not available in the precise form requested. However, data are available on the number of people counted on specified dates in the past five years who had their benefit reduced as a result of receiving in-patient treatment under the national health service. The numbers are as follows:

  Number

  31 March 1986

  76,450

  30 September 1987

  73,250

  31 March 1988

  68,990

  31 March 1989

  66,220

  31 March 1990

  60,590

  The money by which a pensioner's benefit is reduced is not paid directly to the national health service but remains within the national insurance fund which helps fund the NHS. In 1989–90 the fund paid £4·06 billion towards the cost of the NHS.

  National Insurance Contributions
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the relative entitlements of(a) a widow who has paid full national insurance contributions for 35

  397
  years and then becomes unemployed and (b) a widow in the same position who has never paid national insurance contributions.

  Mr. Jack
  The information is as follows:

  Widow (a)

  If claims and satisfies conditions, payable rate of unemployment benefit reduced by amount of widows benefit (excluding additional pension).

  Widow (b)

  Not entitled to unemployment benefit. May be entitled to widows benefit based on late husband's contribution record.

  Both have possible entitlement to income support, housing benefit and community charge benefit.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for how many years an individual has to pay full national insurance contributions to qualify for a state pension(a) in full and (b) other specific categories of pension.

  Mr. Jack
  To qualify for a 100 per cent. category A basic retirement pension a person must have paid full rate contributions for approximately nine-tenths of their working life. The working life is normally calculated as 49 years for a man and 44 years for a woman, but is reduced in certain circumstances, such as where home responsibilities protection applies. If the contribution record is insufficient to give the full rate, basic pension may be paid on a pro-rata basis at rates varying between 25 per cent. and 100 per cent. Below 25 per cent. no basic pension is payable.

  Other specific categories of retirement pensions are category B for a wife, widow or widower derived from their spouses contributions and calculated on a similar basis and categories C and D non-contributory pensions for elderly people, which have a residence rather than a contributory requirement. Further details on the entitlement conditions for all state retirement pensions can be found in leaflet NP46, which is available in the Library.

  Local Offices (Industrial Action)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what areas of work were affected, or not covered at all, as a result of the recent industrial action in(a) Wallasey, (b) Stockton, (c) Redcar, (d) Doncaster, (e) Hull, (f) Leicester, Yeoman Street, (g) Tottenham, (h) Ilford, (i) Bloomsbury, (j) Kensington and (k) Camberwell local offices.

  Miss Widdecombe
  As can only be expected when industrial action has been taken, all areas of work were affected to some degree in the local offices mentioned and local management had to prioritise work accordingly. The prompt payment of benefits remained the top priority for all these offices. Every effort was made by management and staff to ensure that their offices remained open to the public and to provide a telephone service (although this was necessarily limited in some cases).

  Liable Relative Work
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, by region, the allocated number of staff days for liable relative work during the period 1 April 1990 to 31 December 1990; and what was the number used.
  398
  Miss Widdecombe
  The staff days allocated and used for liable relative work during the period 1 April 1990 to 31 December 1990 for each region are in the table.

  The figures are obtained from the Department's monthly statistical returns. Caution needs to be applied in making direct comparisons between allocations and usage. Allocations include management and common services (typists etc) which may not be included in liable relative usage figures.

  Region

  Allocated

  Used

  North East

  59,634

  42,249

  Midlands

  57,789

  35,052

  London North

  60,984

  34,951

  London South

  65,241

  29,866

  Wales and South West

  45,423

  30,018

  North West

  48,591

  33,337

  Scotland

  36,126

  26,196

  Local Office, Norcross
  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many forms DS 1060 were sent out by his Department's office at Norcross, Blackpool, in the period 1 January 1990 to 31 December 1990.

  Mr. Scott
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average time taken by his Department's office at Norcross, Blackpool, to answer a letter from(a) a member of the public and (b) an hon. Member.

  Miss Widdecombe
  (a) A quality assessment study has just been completed at North Fylde central office, which includes Norcross, and this shows that in relation to inquiries by members of the public 62 per cent. of letters were answered in less than three weeks. The study shows an improvement over the findings in the last quality assessment exercise. Further positive efforts to improve this aspect of customer service will continue and the results will be monitored. This study also showed that 78 per cent. of those questioned considered the quality of service given to be good or very good.

  (b) The precise information is not available in the form requested. However, across the span of the five different benefits the current average lies in the range of five to 12 working days.

  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will instigate a review of the level of performance of his Department's office at Norcross, Blackpool.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The North Fylde office at Blackpool is responsible for processing a wide range of diverse benefits each of which is regularly monitored to establish performance levels. Where deficiencies are shown management action is taken to improve the situation. In the case of a major problem recourse to a full review is available to management and such a step has recently been taken in relation to the War Pensions area of work. We are content therefore that satisfactory performance control mechanisms exist at the North Fylde offices.

  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many files have been recorded as lost at his Department's office at Norcross, Blackpool, in 1990.
  399
  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Severe Weather Payments
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total number of people who(a) were entitled to and (b) claimed severe weather payments in 1986–87 and, so far as the information is available, in the current winter; and how many in each case were pensioners.

  Mr. Scott
  We estimate that about 2·2 million households are eligible to claim cold weather payments this winter, of whom 1·25 million are pensioner households. Information on claims made this winter is not yet available.

  Cold weather payments in 1986–87 were made under the previous scheme. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Moray, (Mrs. Ewing), on 14 February, at col 583, which lists the number of payments. Details are not available of the claims made, or of the numbers of people eligible for payments.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cold weather payments were made each day from 1 February.

  Mr. Scott
  Information regarding the number of cold weather payments made is collected each calendar month. When it becomes available, the information for February will be placed in the Library.

  Table A

  Research currently underway

  Project

  Cost

  Completion due

  (£ thousands)

  Maternity rights and benefits

  144

  Final report awaited

  Consumer views of the attendance allowance medical examination

  In-house

  Completed: final report received

  Invalid care allowance

  142

  Completed: final report received

  Disability working allowance research

  32

  April 1991

  Survey of incomes in and out of work2—Econometric analysis of durations

  67

  Early 1992

  Survey of incomes in and out of work—further analysis of attitude data

  10

  Autumn 1991

  Survey of incomes in and out of work—replacement ratio analysis

  In-house

  Autumn 1991

  Severe hardship payments for 16/17 year olds

  119

  Final report awaited

  Impact of family credit

  204

  August 1992

  National child development survey—5th sweep

  1175

  July 1993

  Operation of the social fund

  330

  December 1991

  Survey of social fund review procedures

  110

  April 1991

  Survey of credit and debt

  111

  April 1991

  Preliminary study of people leaving certain long-stay institutions

  5

  Completed: Final report recently received

  Improvements to family expenditure survey grossing up procedures

  30

  June 1991

  Family credit and the self-employed

  131

  March 1993

  Actively seeking work provisions

  35

  Awaiting final report

  British household panel study

  1125

  March 1995

  Survey of retirement and retirement plans

  828

  Autumn 1991

  Analysis of data from the survey of retirement, including econometric modelling

  54

  December 1992

  Consumer perceptions of personal pensions

  26

  Completed: final report recently received

  British social attitudes survey 1991, 1993, 1994

  160

  Late 1992 (for 1991 survey)

  OPCS omnibus survey

  141

  May 1991

  Information needs of informal advisers

  39

  Completed: report recently received

  Forms design

  70

  October 1991

  400
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the additional cost if the cold weather payments were paid to those pensioners who receive(a) £20 a week above the income support maximum and (b) £10 a week above that level.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 15 February 1991]: The estimated costs are for (a) £5·5 million per week and for (b) £4 million per week.

  Note: These costs are for payments to those benefit units which have at least one member who is 60 years or over and capital under £1000. These estimates assume all those entitled to a payment make a claim.

  Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1986–87–88 Family Expenditure Surveys.

  Research Projects
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the research projects(a) currently underway and (b) planned by the Department in all areas excluding invalidity benefit, giving the title of the research, its estimated cost and its completion date in each case.

  Mr. Scott
  The tables set out the details of research under way and planned by the Department. A number of additional studies are under consideration to start in 1991–92 depending on available resources but details of these have not yet been fully considered.
  401

  Project

  Cost(£ thousands)

  Completion due

  Evaluation of consumer consultations in the social security system

  42

  Final report awaited

  Hard to place residents of resettlement units

  47

  April 1992

  Survey of admissions to London resettlement units

  In-house

  July 1991

  Assessment of women users of resettlement units and their needs

  2

  June 1991

  Housing benefit reviews

  100

  Completed: final report received

  1 DSS contribution to joint funded research.

  2 Main stage of the survey of incomes in and out of work completed summer 1990. Results published in: Erens, B and Hedges, B: Survey of Incomes In and Out of Work (SCPR, 1990) and Garman, A and Redmond, G: The Changing characteristics of unemployed men, Employment Gazette, September 1990.

  Table B

  Planned research

  Project

  Anticipated cost(£ thousands)

  Anticipated completion due

  Changes in income and benefit status over time

  103

  To be decided

  Structure of employers' national insurance contributions

  To be decided

  To be decided

  Survey of incomes in and out of work—takeup of in-work benefit

  In-house

  Autumn 1991

  Survey of incomes in and out of work—Econometric analysis of partner activity

  16

  December 1991

  Survey of occupational pensions

  Awaiting costings

  To be decided

  Information needs of and access to service by minority ethnic groups

  50

  To be decided

  Information needs of and access to service by people with disabilities

  50

  September 1991

  Annual independent national customer survey

  To be decided

  September 1991

  Customer perceptions of resettlement units

  37

  July 1991

  Effect of benefit availability on housing decisions

  60

  To be decided

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many parliamentary questions have not been answered because of disproportionate cost over the last year; and if he will list those that could now be answered due to the effectiveness of the operational strategy of computerisation.

  Miss Widdecombe
  There have been 33 questions receiving such answers over the last year. It would not be possible to undertake the type of analysis requested without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how much money has been allocated for loans and grants under the social fund for 1990–91 in each district council area of Wales;

  (2) if he will publish the numbers of successful claims for (a) grants and (b) loans under the social fund as a percentage of the total number of applicants for each, in every district council area of Wales in 1990;

  (3) of the successful social fund applications for (a) grants and (b) loans, how many were allocated to (i) pensioners, (ii) single parents, (iii) disabled people, (iv) families and (v) single people for each district council area in Wales during 1990;
  402
  (4) how much money was (a) allocated and (b) utilised as (i) loans and (ii) grants under the social fund in each district council area in Wales during 1990; and in each instance what amount of money was set aside for cases which are pending in 1990–91.

  Mr. Scott
  Information is not collected according to district council areas. Statistics for all local offices of the Department on(a) allocations for loans and grants, (b) applications processed and awards made, and (c) expenditure, are in the Library.

  Awards are made from the year's budget in which they are paid, not the budget for the date of application.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of those in receipt of income support are having deductions made to the repayment of social fund loans; and what is the average level of repayments by quintile to each of his Department's offices in Derbyshire.

  Mr. Scott
  The table shows the number of applicants repaying social fund loans at the end of November 1990. It is not possible to provide quintile figures on repayments.

  Number

  Chesterfield

  1,338

  Derby (Becket Street)

  630

  Derby (Heritage Gate)

  394

  403

  Number

  Derby (London Road)

  980

  Ilkeston

  646

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of those in receipt of income support are having deductions made for the repayment of social fund loans in each of his Department's offices in Derbyshire.

  Mr. Scott
  The information provided is for the quarter ending in November 1990.

  Per cent.

  Chesterfield

  7·6

  Derby (Becket Street)

  5·4

  Derby (Heritage Gate)

  6·2

  Derby (London Road)

  7·8

  Ilkeston

  9·4

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many local offices in Nottingham and the United Kingdom are currently giving community care grants from the social fund to(a) high priority applications only, (b) high and medium priority applications only and (c) high, medium and low priority applications.

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

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has consulted small firm organisations on the new instructions to be issued to employers following the implementation of the Statutory Sick Pay Act 1991.

  Mr. Scott
  We consulted the National Federation of the Self Employed and Small Businesses, the Forum of Private Business and the Confederation of British Industry on the draft statutory sick pay leaflet on small employers relief (NI 278). A number of useful comments were made and incorporated in the leaflet, which is now being distributed to all employers.

  Industrial Injuries
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will take steps to add further categories of workers to those who can be assessed for industrial injuries disablement benefits when it is established they suffer from industrial deafness, including those whose industrial deafness arose from work in the coal mining industry.

  Mr. Scott
  The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council advises the Secretary of State on the prescription of occupations under the industrial injuries scheme. Work involving the use of pneumatic percussive tools for mining coal and work in the immediate vicinity of these tools when in operation are already prescribed occupations for occupational deafness purposes.

  Benefit Uprating
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the reason for the interval between the uprating announcement and the payment of uprated benefits; and if he will make a statement.
  404
  Miss Widdecombe
  The administrative complexities of changing the level of payment for several million beneficiaries receiving a wide range of different benefits means that a considerable period of time is required between the announcement and payment of uprated benefits.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which benefits have been uprated in line with inflation since 1979; and which have not.

  Mr. Jack
  The Government are now spending more on social security, in real terms, than ever before. Expenditure increased by £14–5 billion in real terms at 1990–91 prices between 1979–80 and 1990–91, a real increase of 35 per cent.

  Taking the period since 1979 as a whole, all weekly benefit rates have been uprated in line with inflation, or better in some cases, with the exceptions of child benefit, statutory sick pay and sickness benefit. These have been uprated but not always in line with inflation.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he hopes to conclude his inquiries into the error in calculation of family credit for Mr. Mike Rawlinson of Totnes, South Devon (Ref. YR 008417C) and the delay in vetting the claim; when payment, together with arrears will be made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  A revised maximum award of family credit of £54·15 a week is being issued today, including all the arrears due. Entitlement could not be recalculated until necessary further information regarding Mr. Rawlinson's employment had been received. I shall write to my hon. Friend with details of this case.

  Mean-tested Benefits
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, further the answer to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 19 February 1991 Offical Report, columns 105–6, what contribution each means-tested benefit makes to the £0·9 billion difference between (a) and (b).

  Miss Widdecombe
  The savings which would be made by the reduced payment of income-related benefits would approximately be of the following magnitude: income support, £250 million; housing benefit, £330 million and community charge benefit: £180 million. Where income-related benefits are raised to prevent loss of entitlement, there are some extra costs, approximately £100 million, associated with an increase in pensioner premiums.

  Pensions
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what procedures exist to credit a pension to someone working in the United Kingdom who is(a) a United States citizen and (b) a citizen of another EC country.

  Mr. Jack
  A United States citizen who has worked and paid social security contributions in the United Kingdom will receive a retirement pension under United Kingdom domestic law if he has paid sufficient contributions to qualify. If he has not paid enough contributions for this
  405
  purpose but he has also been covered by the United States insurance scheme, the social security convention between the United Kingdom and the United States of America provides for insurance in both countries to be combined to help him to satisfy the qualifying conditions for a United Kingdom pension. Any United Kingdom pension resulting from this calculation will be payable in the proportion that the United Kingdom insurance bears to the combined insurance.

  The United Kingdom pension for a European Community national who has worked in more than one EC country is calculated in accordance with Council regulation (EEC) No. 1408/71. The social security records of all the EC countries concerned are combined as though they were United Kingdom insurance and the pension rate is then calculated in proportion to the actual United Kingdom insurance in the combined total. A separate calculation is made of entitlement under domestic law alone and the United Kingdom pension is then paid at the higher of the two results. Special rules exist for cases where the person has been insured for less than a year in any one EC country.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will issue to every state earnings-related pension holder an annual statement which will include the amount of pension to be paid on retirement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department does notify certain national insurance contributors if their national insurance record is not sufficient in any one tax year for that year to count towards their basic pension entitlement, but there are no plans to issue annual statements to state earnings-related pension holders.

  People are able to obtain details of their current or future possible state retirement pension entitlement by requesting a pension forecast from the retirement pension forecast unit at Newcastle.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consideration he has given to allowing state earnings-related pensions participants to make additional voluntary contributions; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Although people who have a reduced basic pension entitlement may, under certain conditions, be able to pay extra voluntary contributions to enhance their entitlement, there are no current plans to extend this to state earnings-related pensions.

  1 Average weekly earnings adult males

  Weekly upper earnings limit

  Upper earnings limit as a percentage of average earnings

  £

  £

  April

  1978

  89·10

  120·00

  1978–79

  134·7

  1979

  101·40

  135·00

  1979–80

  133·1

  1980

  123·80

  165·00

  1980–81

  133·3

  1981

  140·50

  200·00

  1981–82

  142·3

  1982

  154·50

  220·00

  1982–83

  142·4

  1983

  164·70

  235·00

  1983–84

  142·7

  1984

  178·80

  250·00

  1984–85

  139·8

  1985

  192·40

  265·00

  1985–86

  137·7

  1986

  207·50

  285·00

  1986–87

  137·3

  1987

  224·00

  295·00

  1987–88

  131·7

  1988

  245·80

  305·00

  1988–89

  124·1

  1989

  269·50

  325·00

  1989–90

  120·6

  1990

  295·60

  350·00

  1990–91

  118·4

  1 Average weekly full-time earnings of all adult males.

  Source: New Earnings Survey.
  406
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many persons over the age of 60 years are in receipt of state retirement pensions or other equivalent income; and how this figure would be affected if the entitlement to a pension was given to men who retired at 60 years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 21 February 1991]: There are aproximately 10 million people in receipt of retirement pension. It is estimated that there are around 1·4 million men between the age of 60 and 64 who might qualify for retirement pension if pension age for men is reduced to 60.

  National Insurance Fund
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what saving for the national insurance fund has been achieved by transferring out expenditure on industrial injury benefit, maternity pay and statutory sick pay;

  (2) which benefits have been transferred since 1979 to the Consolidated Fund from the national insurance fund.

  Mr. Jack
  The Social Security Act 1990 provided for expenditure on industrial injuries benefits to be met directly from the consolidated fund and for the national insurance fund to be reimbursed from the consolidated fund for the costs of statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay, these benefits being non-contributory. The relevant amounts for the 1991 tax year are estimated to be £574 million in respect of industrial injuries benefit, £956 million in respect of statutory sick pay and £332 million in respect of statutory maternity pay, making a total of £1·862 billion.

  Since 1979 there have been no other transfers of benefit costs from the national insurance fund to the consolidated fund.

  Male Earnings
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of average male earnings the upper earnings limit represents; and what percentage it represented in each year since 1978–79.

  Mr. Jack: The information requested is in the table.

  Non-contributory benefits
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost implications of abolishing non-contributory benefits and replacing them with their nearest contributory equivalent.

  Mr. Scott
  Many of the non-contributory benefits have neither direct nor approximate contributory equivalents. Even where there is a near equivalent, for example severe disablement allowance and invalidity benefit, it is not 408
  possible to abolish that benefit and transfer recipients to the contributory benefit without breaching the contributory principle, or diluting it to the point where it becomes meaningless. Such beneficiaries are very often receiving a non-contributory benefit because of failure to satisfy the contribution conditions for a contributory benefit. The scenario implied in the question would require a fundamental change to the social security system for which no cost estimates are available.

  THE GULF WAR: CONTRIBUTIONS TO UK COSTS
  THE GULF WAR: CONTRIBUTIONS TO UK COSTS
  IRAQI NUCLEAR FACILITIES: IAEA INSPECTION
  IRAQI NUCLEAR FACILITIES: IAEA INSPECTION
  IRAQ: UNICEF/WHO MEDICAL SUPPLIES SHIPMENT
  IRAQ: UNICEF/WHO MEDICAL SUPPLIES SHIPMENT
  WALES: DERELICT LAND PROGRAMME
  WALES: DERELICT LAND PROGRAMME
  HIGHER EDUCATION EXPENDITURE COMPARISONS
  HIGHER EDUCATION EXPENDITURE COMPARISONS
  CITY TECHNOLOGY COLLEGES
  CITY TECHNOLOGY COLLEGES
  SERVICEMEN IN THE GULF: RELIEF FROM COMMUNITY CHARGE
  SERVICEMEN IN THE GULF: RELIEF FROM COMMUNITY CHARGE
  CHRIST CHURCH, DONCASTER
  CHRIST CHURCH, DONCASTER
  HOUSING ACT 1988: CASH INCENTIVE SCHEMES
  HOUSING ACT 1988: CASH INCENTIVE SCHEMES