Written Answers of 26 February 1991

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Tribunals (Legal Representation)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has had about tribunals where defendants do not have legal representation.

  The Attorney-General
  I have received no representations about tribunals where defendants do not have legal representation. The Lord Chancellor has, however, received representations on this issue from Members, professional and other bodies and from members of the public.

  Leybucht Bay
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Attorney-General who will be legally representing the Government at the final hearing of the Leybucht Bay case, European Commission v. German Federal Republic, at Luxembourg on 28 February 1991.

  The Attorney-General
  The hearing in European Court of Justice case 57/89, Commission v. Germany, took place on 16 October 1990. At its sitting on 28 February 1991 the court will simply deliver judgment and, in accordance with usual practice, the Government will not be represented.

WALES

  Planning Applications, Wales
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list of instances where his Department has ruled against the decisions of local councils in Wales on cases involving planning applications during 1990.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Among 514 planning appeals allowed against the refusal or failure of local planning authorities to grant planning permission, the following are representative examples:

  small residential developments of 1–12 houses,

  single-storey extensions to dwellings,

  alterations to dwellings/loft conversions/dormers,

  residential homes for elderly/sheltered housing/nursing homes,

  conversion of agricultural buildings to residential accommodation/holiday accommodation,

  new agricultural accommodation,

  removal of agricultural occupancy conditions,

  farm diversifications schemes,

  removal of conditions applied to planning permissions,

  changes of use to tea shops, cafes, take-aways, offices, shops, flats, bed-sits,

  formation of accesses and parking spaces,

  increase in number of caravans, siting of new caravans and domestic garaging, garden sheds, store sheds, pigeon loft.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what form he proposes to announce his decision on the proposals by South Glamorgan health authority in respect of St. David's children's ear, nose and throat, and Glanely hospitals and the children's ward at the Prince of Wales orthopaedic hospital, Rhydlafar.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  By letter.

  Road Repairs
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what amounts of funding have been allocated, per highways authority, for repairs and maintenance work to motorways, trunkroads and major road bridges in Wales, excluding the Severn bridge, in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The highway authority responsible for repairs and maintenance of motorways and trunk roads in Wales is the Welsh Office. The 1991 Welsh Office departmental report (CM 1516), published on 15 Feburary, gives the following information:

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Plans

  Forecast outturn

  Plans

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Structural renewal:

  Bridges

  4·9

  4·9

  7·0

  Roads

  19·1

  19·1

  27·0

  General maintenance:

  18·0

  18·0

  19·9

  Plans for 1992–93 are broadly the same in real terms as for 1991–92.

  Roads
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales why there has been a delay in letting the contract for the bridge as part of the Lonlas-Baglan part of the M4; and how this will affect the date of the completion of the motorway.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  "Roads in Wales: Progress and Plans for the 1990s", published in April 1989, gave a start of the M4 Briton Ferry to Earlswood scheme in the period April 1991 to March 1994. The 1991 Welsh Office departmental report published on 15 February confirmed plans to let this scheme before April 1992.

  Sea Defences
  Sir Anthony Meyer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he is now in a position to respond to the Welsh Affairs Select Committee report on "The Breach of Sea Defences on 26/27 February along The North Wales Coast," published on 9 July 1990 (HC 426).

  Mr. David Hunt
  I am pleased to announce that the response has been published today.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish(a) the number of landfill sites in Wales and (b) a list of those sites that have been visited by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, together with the dates of those visits.
  411
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: On the basis of information held by Her Majesty's

  Date

  Site name

  Operator

  Waste disposal authority

  8 April 1987

  Bryn Posteg Site, Montgomery

  Montgomery DC

  Montgomery DC

  9 April 1987

  Bryn Posteg Site, Montgomery

  Montgomery DC

  Montgomery DC

  10 April 1987

  Bryn Posteg Site, Montgomery

  Montgomery DC

  Montgomery DC

  13 April 1987

  Tirpentwys, Pontypool

  Torfaen BC

  Torfaen BC

  1 May 1987

  Tirpentwys, Pontypool

  Torfawn BC

  Torfaen BC

  2 May 1987

  Tirpentwys, Pontypool

  Torfaen BC

  Torfaen BC

  7 May 1987

  Consolidated Beryllium Ltd.

  Consolidated Beryllium Ltd.

  Preseli/Pembroke DC

  7 May 1987

  Underhills Site

  Dyfed Sludge Ltd.

  24 June 1987

  BSC Site

  Alyn and Deeside DC

  Alyn and Deeside DC

  24 June 1987

  Cape Insulation

  Alyn and Deeside DC

  Alyn and Deeside DC

  25 June 1987

  Sandycroft BSC

  Pilkington

  Alyn and Deeside DC

  25 June 1987

  Pilkington Insulation Products

  Pilkington

  Alyn and Deeside DC

  25 June 1987

  Clwyd Waste Disposal Ltd.

  Clwyd Waste Disposal Ltd.

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  26 June 1987

  Clwyd Waste Disposal, Rossett

  Clwyd Waste Disposal Ltd.

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  31 July 1987

  Tirpentwys

  Torfaen BC

  Torfaen BC

  13 August 1987

  Dark Lane Site

  Clwyd Waste Disposal Ltd.

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  14 August 1987

  Old Bridge Inn, Padeswood

  A. Scarfo

  Alyn and Deeside DC

  14 August 1987

  Scarfo

  Alyn and Deeside DC

  Alyn and Deeside DC

  27 August 1987

  Municipal Site

  Brecknock BC

  Brecknock BC

  25 September 1987

  Municipal Site

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  6 January 1988

  Municipal Site

  Ynys Mon BC

  Ynys Mon BC

  22 January 1988

  Municipal Site

  Taff Ely BC

  Taff Ely BC

  3 February 1988

  Municipal Site

  Preseli/Pembroke BC

  Preseli/Pembroke BC

  12 February 1988

  Cwmrhydyceirw Quarry

  Cymrhydyceirw

  Swansea CC

  23 February 1988

  Municipal Site

  Radnor DC

  Radnor DC

  8 March 1988

  Cwmrhydyceirw Quarry

  Swansea CC

  Swansea CC

  9 March 1988

  Ruthin W D

  Glyndwr DC

  Glyndwr DC

  9 March 1988

  Municipal Site

  Glyndwr DC

  Glyndwr DC

  11 March 1988

  Municipal Site

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  16 March 1988

  Municipal Site

  Rhymney Valley DC

  Rhymney Valley DC

  20 June 1988

  Tirpentwys

  Torfaen BC

  Torfaen BC

  24 June 1988

  Cambrian Quarry

  Leigh Interests Ltd.

  Delyn BC

  24 June 1988

  Redland Aggregates Graig Quarry

  Redland Aggregates

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  24 June 1988

  Dark Lane Waste Site

  Clwyd Waste Disposal Ltd.

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  8 July 1988

  Dark Lane Waste Site

  Clwyd Waste Disposal Ltd.

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  15 July 1988

  Phurnacite

  NSF

  Cynon Valley BC

  22 July 1988

  Briton Ferry Port

  Neath BC

  Neath BC

  10 August 1988

  Borth Landfill Site

  Ceredigion DC

  Ceredigion DC

  10 August 1988

  Rhydeino, Llanarth

  Ceredigion DC

  Ceredigion DC

  11 August 1988

  Blaenau Ffestiniog

  Meirionnydd DC

  Meirionnydd DC

  11 August 1988

  Ruthin Waste Disposal Site

  Meirionnydd DC

  Meirionnydd DC

  11 August 1988

  Municipal Site

  Meirionnydd DC

  Meirionnydd DC

  28 October 1988

  Cwmrhydyceirw Quarry

  Swansea CC

  Swansea CC

  12 December 1988

  Municipal Site

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  13 December 1988

  Municipal Site

  Alyn and Deeside DC

  Alyn and Deeside DC

  14 December 1988

  Municipal Site

  Montgomery DC

  Montgomery DC

  15 January 1989

  Municipal Site

  Llanelli BC

  Llanelli BC

  16 January 1989

  Bird Shredded Products, Cardiff

  Birds

  Cardiff CC

  19 January 1989

  Llanstar Wimpey Waste

  Lanstar Wimpey

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  19 January 1989

  Cadishead, Manchester

  Wimpey Waste

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  25 January 1989

  Dark Lane

  Caird Environmental Ltd.

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  2 February 1989

  Ferry Road

  Cardiff CC

  Cardiff CC

  6 February 1989

  Ferry Road

  Cardiff CC

  Cardiff CC

  10 February 1989

  Rover Way Site

  Cardiff CC

  Cardiff CC

  27 February 1989

  Briton Ferry

  Neath BC

  Neath BC

  1 March 1989

  Municipal Site

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  1 June 1989

  Port Talbot

  Wistech Pic.

  Port Talbot BC

  28 June 1989

  Tirpentwys Site

  Torfaen BC

  Torfaen BC

  29 June 1989

  Caldicot

  Monmouth DC

  Monmouth DC

  29 June 1989

  Abergarney

  Monmouth DC

  Monmouth DC

  29 June 1989

  Severn Tunnel Site

  Monmouth DC

  Monmouth DC

  6 July 1989

  Municipal Site

  Taff Ely BC

  Taff Ely BC

  10 July 1989

  Dark Lane

  Caird Environmental Ltd.

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  5 October 1989

  Dark Lane

  Caird Environmental Ltd.

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  5 October 1989

  Dark Lane

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  5 October 1989

  Garden Lodge Landfill Site

  Shanks and McEwan Pic.

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  3 November 1989

  Llantrisant, Cardiff

  Cardiff CC

  Cardiff CC

  13 December 1989

  Motorway Remoulds, Knighton

  Motorway Remoulds

  Radnor DC

  13 December 1989

  Castle Works (1), Flint

  Delyn BC

  Delyn BC

  13 December 1989

  Maes-y-Grug Quarry

  A. Mealor & Sons

  Delyn BC

  20 December 1989

  Bryn Gwiog Quarry, Hendre

  Delyn BC

  Delyn BC

  20 December 1989

  Crown Chert Quarry, Trelogan

  Ellis Davies & Son

  Delyn BC

  11 January 1990

  Llanddullas, Colwyn Bay, Clwyd

  Colwyn BC

  Colwyn BC

  16 February 1990

  Crown Chert Quarry, Trelogan

  Ellis Davies & Son

  Clwyd CC

  412
  inspectorate of pollution, there are some 240 licensed landfill sites in Wales. The information relating to visits is as follows:
  413

  Date

  Site name

  Operator

  Waste disposal authority

  2 March 1990

  J. A. Williams Site, Forden

  J. A. Williams

  Montgomery DC

  2 March 1990

  Potters Site, Pool Quay

  G. Potter

  Montgomery DC

  5 March 1990

  Caeya Farm, Overton

  T. Williams

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  5 March 1990

  Dark Lane, Burton, Rossett

  Caird Environmental Ltd.

  Wrexham Maelor BC

  7 November 1990

  Milford Haven

  Consolidated Berlyllium Ltd.

  Preseli/Pembroke BC

  15 November 1990

  Cwmrhydyceirw

  Max Recovery Ltd.

  Swansea CC

  22 January 1991

  Silent Valley

  Blaenau Gwent BC

  Blaenau Gwent BC

  29 January 1991

  Griffiths Crossing

  Ferodo Ltd.

  Arfon BC

  29 January 1991

  Bryn Posteg, Llandeilo

  Montgomery DC

  Montgomery DC

TRANSPORT

  Railway Bridge, Osgodby
  Mr. Alison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what decisions or plans have been taken or made for the demolition of the redundant railway bridge on the A63 trunk road at Osgodby, near Selby, in North Yorkshire; and when further action can be expected.

  Mr. Chope
  This scheme has been added to the Department's regional improvement programme. Preparation will take its turn with other schemes offering accident saving potential.

  Red Routes
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish a full report on the operation of those red routes already in operation in Greater London; and if he will include in such a report(a) changes in traffic flow arising from each scheme and (b) additional resources and expenditure occasioned by their operation.

  Mr. Chope
  The only red route in operation so far is that part of the pilot scheme on the Al trunk road between Highgate and the Angel, Islington. The Transport and Road Research Laboratory will be conducting a monitoring exercise throughout 1991.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received to date on the operation of the red routes from the A1 at Highgate to the Angel, Islington; if all those have had a reply; how many supported the scheme and how many opposed it; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  About 100 letters have been received, commenting on the operation of the pilot scheme, most of which have now received a response. Some correspondents have expressed concern about the scheme; others have supported it.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatalities and injuries in road accidents in Great Britain in 1988, 1989 and 1990, resulted from motor vehicles which had been stolen or driven without the owners' consent; how many resulted from motor vehicles being driven for other criminal purposes; and how many involved vehicles driven by the police in connection with the performance of their duties.

  Mr. Chope
  The standard report form, STATS19, completed by the police for all road accidents involving personal injury, does not include the information requested.
  414
  Details of police vehicles' involvement in accidents are published in chief constables' annual reports. This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 16 January 1991,Official Report, column 497, if any additional powers are to be made available in his proposed statutory red routes as proposed in the Road Traffic Bill.

  Mr. Chope
  No. The Road Traffic Bill provides for priority routes in London to be implemented through the exercise of existing Highways Act 1980 and Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 powers.

  Street Lighting
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether highway authorities are eligible for a transport supplementary grant to bring their street lighting up to standard as a crime prevention measure.

  Mr. Chope
  Crime prevention is not one of the criteria for transport supplementary grant, but local authority capital expenditure on street lighting is eligible for transport supplementary grant on roads which are of more than local importance or where it is associated with local safety schemes. Street lighting can also be improved by the use of the local authority's block allocation of credit approvals.

  Orange Badge Scheme
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to make the orange badge scheme for disabled drivers nationally acceptable by all local authorities.

  Mr. Chope
  The orange badge scheme is in operation throughout Great Britain except for the City of London, the city of Westminster, the royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea and part of the London borough of Camden. Department of Transport officials met officers from these four authorities and members of the disabled persons transport advisory committee in September last year to explore the scope for applying some aspects of the orange badge scheme to central London. All four authorities agreed to consider the possibility of granting some concessions to badge holders, subject to the implementation of modifications to the scheme now under consideration and to changes in London boroughs' parking enforcement powers as envisaged in part II of the current Road Traffic Bill.

  London Underground
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has received from London Regional Transport concerning improvments to the Northern line; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The modernisation of the Central and Northern lines was recommended in the central London rail study, as part of the major upgrading programme for the existing underground network. Work on the Central line is well advanced and is scheduled for completion in 1995. Work on the Northern line is not likely to commence until the Central line modernisation has been completed. The Government have not yet received from London Transport a formal request for approval of this investment.

  In the meantime, London Transport is taking what steps it can within available resources to improve the quality and reliability of the existing service.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the number of deaths and serious injuries caused by seat belt use; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  No information is available as to the number of deaths and serious injuries that might have been caused by seat belt use, but we estimate that, since the introduction of compulsory front seat belt wearing in 1983, seat belts have prevented more than 1,500 deaths and 55,000 serious injuries.

  Road Repairs
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what amounts of Government funding have been allocated to highway authorities for the repair of motorways, trunk roads and major road bridges in(a) England and (b) Wales in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93;

  (2) what percentage of overall costs in repairs to motorways, trunk roads and major road bridges in (a) England and (b) Wales was accounted for by remedial work undertaken to counteract the effects of concrete cancer on those roads and bridges;

  (3) what are the estimated costs (a) in England and (b) Wales of undertaking remedial work to counteract the effects of concrete cancer on structures associated with motorways, trunk roads and major road bridges in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Chope
  Allocations of funds to my Department's agents for the structural maintenance of motorways and trunk roads (including bridges) in England are:

  £ million

  11990–91

  419

  1991–92

  444

  1992–93

  443

  1 Estimated out-turn.

  The Department has a comprehensive 15-year programme for the rehabilitation of structures on motorways and all-purpose trunk roads in England. Within this programme, some £1·5 million has been allocated in each of the years 1990–91, 1991–92 and
  416
  1992–93 to deal with problems caused by alkali-silica reaction, or concrete cancer. This represents 0·36 per cent., 0·34 per cent. and 0·34 per cent. of total capital maintenance allocations respectively.

  Allocations for roads in Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Global Warming
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the names and designations of his expert advisers on matters relating to global warming and the greenhouse effect.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer Monday 25 February 1991]: Professor Brian Hoskins of Reading university is our scientific adviser on this matter.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Ethiopia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much of the £2 million of non-food assistance for Ethiopia, and the 25,000 tonnes for Ethiopia later in 1991, will be for the cross-border operation.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Of the £2 million non-food assistance,£1·3 million is for the cross-border relief effort. Allocation of the 25,000 tonnes of food has yet to be finalised.

  EC Assistance
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs further to his reply of 15 February,Official Report, column 596 to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan, if he will list the (a) Asian and (b) Latin American countries receiving assistance from the European Community.

  Mrs. Chalker
  In 1989, the last year for which figures are available, new EC commitments were made to the following countries: In Asia—

  Country

  Amount (ECU million)

  Bangladesh

  13·50

  China

  3·80

  India

  73·25

  Pakistan

  10·00

  Philippines

  16·50

  Thailand

  46·16

  In Latin Amercia—

  Country

  Amount (ECU million)

  Bolivia

  18·50

  Costa Rica

  0·64

  Haiti

  5·50

  Peru

  1·20

  In addition, countries in Latin America benefited from new commitments to regional bodies as follows:

  417

  Amount (ECU million)

  Andean Pact

  11·20

  Central America regional payments system for reactivation of trade

  43·50

  BCIE (Central American Bank for Economic Integration)

  6·00

  Debt
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Commissioner Marin's proposal to write off debt owed by ACP countries to the EC was last discussed at an EC Council meeting; what decision was taken; what position the United Kingdom took; and when it will next be discussed.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The proposal on ACP debt was discussed at a meeting of the EC's Economic and Finance Council

  1985–86 £ million

  1986–87 £ million

  1987–88 £ million

  1988–89 £ million

  1989–90 £ million

  Local authority expenditure in the United Kingdom (on a national accounts basis)

  42,320

  45,080

  48,700

  50,480

  56,210

  percentage

  percentage

  percentage

  percentage

  percentage

  Local authority expenditure as a percentage of GDP

  11·7

  11·5

  11·3

  10·5

  10·7

  Domestic rates (net of all rebates) as a percentage of local authority expenditure1

  13·6

  14·8

  15·1

  16·9

  16·6

  Non-domestic rates (net of all rebates) as a percentage of local authority expenditure

  19·1

  20·1

  20·1

  21·0

  20·3

  Government grants as a percentage of local authority expenditure

  50·1

  51·1

  50·2

  48·8

  48·3

  1 Community charge income in Scotland in 1989–90.

  The information is not yet available to allow a comparison to be made for 1990–91.

  Assured Tenancies
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total number of assured tenancies let by housing associations during 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Yeo
  It is estimated that some 54,000 assured tenancies were let by housing associations in England in 1989, and the provisional figure for 1990 is 61,000. In addition, in 1989 21,000 tenants converted to assured tenancies when ownership of their homes was transferred from local authorities or new towns to housing associations. The provisional estimate for 1990 is 30,000.

  Disabled Access
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many submissions he has received in response to his Department's consultation document on part M of the Building (Access for Disabled People) Regulations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The closing date for comments on the proposals for amendments to part M of the Building (Access for Disabled People) Regulations 1985 was 31 January 1991. By 20 February 1991, some 134 responses had been received from a wide variety of different organisations, companies, access groups and individuals. These will be given careful consideration before final decisions are made.418
  on 3 December 1990. The discussion was on procedure rather than the substance of the proposals and the United Kingdom was content with the outcome. It was agreed that further work should be done on the details of the proposals and that the issue would be considered at a future Economic and Finance Council meeting.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Expenditure
  Sir Peter Hordern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the figures for total expenditure by all local authorities in each of the last five years; what was that expenditure as a proportion of gross domestic product; and what proportion of that expenditure was met by(a) domestic rates or community charge, (b) non-domestic rates and (c) Government grant.

  Mr. Portillo
  The available information is as follows:

  Loop System
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what positive measures he is taking to promote the installation of the loop system to aid the partially deaf in public buildings.

  Mr. Yeo
  A consultation paper on proposals for the revision of the requirements and guidance relating to part M of the Building (Access for Disabled People) Regulations 1985 was issued last October. It included a proposal that, in new public buildings, permanent aids to hearing such as the loop system should be incorporated in auditoriums and conference rooms in excess of 100 sq m in area. Responses to the consultation paper are currently being considered.

  Building Regulations
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the legal status of building regulations; and what legal penalties exist for local authority personnel who do not carry them out properly.

  Sir George Young
  Building regulations impose legally binding requirements relating to the design and construction of buildings. A person who is carrying out building work is under a duty to comply with these requirements, and a person who contravenes them can be prosecuted and fined. While local authorities have the function of enforcing the regulations in their areas, any
  419
  failure to do so does not give rise to legal penalties, although other sanctions against the authority and its personnel may be available.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average level of community charge in England for 1990–91.

  Mr. Key
  It is £357.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the average level of community charge in England for 1990–91, if the amount of revenue support grant, or its equivalent, paid to local authorities had been maintained at its 1978–79 level in real terms.

  Mr. Key
  The rate support grant payable in 1978–79 is equivalent to £16,612 million in 1990–91 prices. If this amount had been paid as revenue support grant in 1990–91, other things being equal, the average community charge would have been £152. This estimate takes no account of changes in function since 1978–79, such as the transfer of polytechnics out of the local authority sector, and assumes that none of the benefit of the additional grant would go to non-domestic ratepayers.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether builders are liable to standard poll tax on properties on which completion certificates have not been issued and which do not meet the requirements of section 604 of the Housing and Local Government Act 1985 and public health regulations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 22 February 1991]: The standard community charge may be payable on domestic property which is not any person's sole or main residence. However, we have provided that no standard charge is payable, for example, on property whose erection is not substantially completed or which is undergoing structural alteration or when less than six months have elapsed since its erection or structural alteration was substantially completed. Furthermore, no standard charge is payable where a property is kept unoccupied because a local or public authority has prohibited its occupation.

  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the gross sum raised by the community charge in England; and what is the amount in England raised locally for schools and further education.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 22 February 1991]: The latest estimate of the amount which will be raised from the community charge in 1990–91 is £12·377 billion.

  Income from the community charge is raised in support of local authority services generally. It is not possible to say what proportion is raised in support of particular services, but schools and further education account for 46 per cent. of budgeted net current expenditure by local authorities in 1990–91.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the statutory provisions that relate to payments by a community charge payer in 1991–92 of payments for those who have defaulted on the 1990–91 charge; and if he will make a statement.
  420
  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: Under section 89 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, every charging authority keeps a collection fund into which are paid community charges, non-domestic rates and grant, and from which are met precepts and charging authorities' own demands for revenues. Non-payment of the charge may result in a deficit on the collection fund at the year end.

  In setting an amount for its community charge for a year under section 37 of the Act, the charging authority must take account of such part of any deficit on the collection fund for the previous year as relates to charges that it estimates will be uncollectable. To the extent that it estimates that the charges for the previous year are collectable, the deficit on the collection fund can be made up by means of temporary borrowing under part IV of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and is not taken into account in setting the charge for the following year.

  Environmental Assessment
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are proposed for applying the requirements for environmental assessment in directive 85/337/EEC to private Bills as recommended by the Joint Select Committee on Private Bill Procedure.

  Mr. Yeo
  My Department, the Welsh Office and the House authorities here and in another place have been co-operating in devising arrangements to implement the recommendation of the Joint Select Committee on Private Bill Procedure that environmental assessment requirements should be applied to projects for which approval is sought in private Bills. I believe that this will be a valuable aid to the Committees which consider Bills for projects which may have significant environmental effects.

  I am today issuing a consultation paper setting out the proposed arrangements. It includes a draft amendment to standing orders, which is expected to be tabled shortly, and invites comments on the administrative arrangements proposed for my Department to direct whether assessment is necessary in particular cases. I am placing a copy of the paper in the Library.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to issue guidance to local authorities on the operation of the new local authority air pollution control system under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Trippier
  I am delighted to report that we have today issued guidance notes covering all the processes which are to be prescribed for local authority air pollution control under the Act from 1 April. The notes have been drawn up after consultation with relevant industries, local authorities and other interested bodies. They will provide a sound framework within which local authorities will be able to exercise their new air pollution control functions.

  A set of the notes has been placed in the Library of the House. The notes are also being sent to district and borough councils and to port health authorities.

  Guidance for the remaining prescribed processes is well advanced and will be available in accordance with the staged timetable for introducing the new controls. General guidance on the operation of the new system will be published in the near future.

  Bird Rescue
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will discuss with his European counterparts and with the FAO the setting up of an international emergency bird rescue organisation equipped to send aid and rescue personnel and equipment to major oil spillages and other disasters where bird life is threatened.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: The Government have given some financial support to an RSPCA team now helping several Gulf states to organise bird rescue.

  The most effective way to minimise the impact of' an oil spill on wildlife, including birds, is to ensure prompt and effective remedial action to clean up the spill. We strongly support early entry into force of the International Maritime Organisation's international convention on oil pollution preparedness, response and co-operation and have received backing from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for this as well as for my right hon. Friend's call to strengthen the international response to future environmental disasters. We also look forward to discussing a feasibility study prepared by the United Nations Environmental Programme on improved international co-operation and assistance in the case of environmental threats and emergencies at the United Nations Environmental Programme's governing council in June this year.

  Housing
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the population are(a) local authority tenants and (b) owner occupiers according to the 1981 census for each parliamentary constituency in Leicestershire.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested is shown in the following table:

  Parliamentary constituencies

  Persons in owner occupier households as a percentage of all persons

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

  Blaby

  81

  13

  Bosworth

  77

  17

  Harborough

  80

  13

  Loughborough

  73

  20

  North West Leicestershire

  69

  22

  Rutland and Melton

  69

  17

  Leicester East

  60

  31

  Leicester South

  58

  30

  Leicester West

  46

  45

THE ARTS

  London Arts Board
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Minister for the Arts how many people have been approached to chair the London Arts Board.
  422
  Mr. Renton
  A number of people were approached to find out whether they would wish to be considered for this appointment. From the resulting shortlist, the Arts Council recommended, and I have endorsed, the appointment of Mr. Clive Priestly. I am delighted that the new board will be led by someone of Mr. Priestly's wide administrative experience, combined with his firm and long-standing commitment to the arts.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 26 February.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the number of civil servants employed by each Department in 1979, and the number employed in the last year for which figures are available.

  The Prime Minister
  Information on staff numbers by Department is to be found in summaries of departmental staff returns for 1 April 1979 and 1 October 1990, copies of which have been placed in the statistical section of the House of Commons Library. Table 2 of the Treasury publication "Civil Service Statistics", 1984 and 1989–90 editions, will assist in tracing machinery of Government changes that have taken place between 1979 and now. Copies of this publication have also been placed in the Library.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received concerning the Gulf war.

  The Prime Minister
  I have received a substantial number of representations, many supporting the Government's policy to secure full, immediate and unconditional compliance with the Security Council resolutions.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what Governments of the allied coalition in the Gulf were contacted by Her Majesty's Government, and in which sequence, for consultations on the Soviet peace plan for resolving the Gulf conflict before Ministers in the Government issued statements responding to the plan on 19 February.

  The Prime Minister
  We remain in constant touch with our coalition partners on a wide range of matters relating to the Gulf crisis.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Denmark (Refugees)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations are being made to Denmark about ratifying the Dublin convention on the treatment of refugees.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  At the regular meetings of European Community Immigration Ministers, my right hon. Friend and our colleagues in Europe continue to express the hope to the Danish representative that Denmark's signature of the convention will be not long delayed.

  Police, Northumbria
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he was consulted by the chief constable of Northumbria before he decided not to fill 116 police posts.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The chief constable of Northumbria informed us of several measures, including manpower reductions, which he thought might be necessary if his police authority set a budget below the provisional charge capping criteria. My right hon. Friend made it clear to the chairman of the police authority and the chief constable in a letter sent on 18 February that he expected metropolitan police authorities to set their budgets at a level which maintained operational police manpower at the level which he and his predecessors had approved.

  Police Statistics
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what increase has been made to the number of police officers and civilian auxiliaries for Leicestershire over each of the past 10 years; and what has been the increase or decrease in crimes reported detected and cleared up over that period.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information regarding police officers and civilian auxiliaries is set out in the table:

  Increase in police resources

  Year

  Police officer establishment

  Civilian staff

  1979–80

  21

  20

  1980–81

  Nil

  45

  1981–82

  Nil

  11

  1982–83

  6

  13

  1983–84

  Nil

  8

  1984–85

  Nil

  -2

  1985–86

  Nil

  -5

  1986–87

  Nil

  5

  1987–88

  Nil

  41

  1988–89

  Nil

  70

  1989–90

  27

  63

  1990–91

  53

  127

  1 Based on latest available strength figures (December 1990).

  The information requested about crime levels for the past 10 years is published in the annual reports of the chief constable of Leicestershire for the years 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1989. Copies of these publications are available in the Library. Statistics for 1990 are not yet available.

  Gulf War (Arrests)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been arrested in the United Kingdom arising out of the Gulf war; how many have been released; and how many are awaiting appeals.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A total of 113 have been detained since 2 August 1990 following service of deportation notices for reasons of national security. Nineteen have been released and 23 others who wished to leave the United Kingdom have done so. Sixteen have not yet appeared before the panel and we await the advice of the panel on 12 cases heard last week.

  Football Hooliganism
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to publish his Department's response to the Home Affairs Select Committee report on policing football hooliganism; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Government are giving urgent consideration to the Committee's report. We hope to publish a full response before the summer.

  National Security
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are currently held on grounds of national security within the terms of the Immigration Act 1971.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  On 25 February, a total of 37 persons were detained following service of notice of deportation for reasons of national security.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have today placed in the Library copies of the notes verbales exchanged between the British embassy and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those held on grounds of national security under the Immigration Act 1971 have(a) asked for their cases to be referred to an appeal but have not yet been heard, (b) had a hearing and their detention confirmed by himself and (c) been released following representation.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested, as at 25 February, is:

  (a) 16 of those detained have applied to appear before the panel and have not yet done so—postponement has been on their own request in 12 cases);

  (b) 10 remain in detention following consideration of the panel's advice;

  (c) 18, of whom six were made subject to restriction orders, have been released from detention following consideration of representations and, where applicable, advice from the panel.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters of representation concerning those held under the Immigration Act 1971 he has received from(a) hon. Members and (b) the public; and how many of those who wrote to him he has met.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The subject matter of all correspondence is not recorded centrally and, as the
  425
  representations received from hon. Members and from the public cover the general aspects of those detained and individual cases, the requested information could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

  On four specific cases of persons held under the Immigration Act following service of notices of deportation for reasons of national security, there have been two recent meetings with hon. Members.

  Football Spectators Act 1989
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of the text of the notes verbales, exchanged in May 1990, setting out the terms of the agreement reached between his Department and the Italian Ministries of the Interior and of Grace and Justice regarding arrangements for corresponding offences under the Football Spectators Act 1989.

  Departmental Picket
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis indicating under what powers the picket of his Department called by "Black People Against War in the Gulf" on 20 February was cleared away by the Metropolitan police.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand from the Commissioner that, on 20 February, a demonstration organised by the Newham monitoring project took place between 4 am and 6 pm outside the Home Office, Queen Anne's gate. During the demonstration, a male leading the chanting started using a megaphone and, after refusing a warning to desist, was arrested.

  A group of other demonstrators attempted to prevent the arrest and a scuffle broke out. To prevent further disorder, the sessional order made under section 52 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1839 was invoked and the crowd dispersed. A total of 11 persons were arrested.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many, and which, local authorities submitted crime prevention strategies to his Department in response to circular 44/90, by the 31 October 1990 deadline.

  Mr. John Patten
  Responses to circular 44/90 were received from 52 local authorities by 31 October 1990. An additional 32 local authority responses were received after the deadline. All are being considered by an independent working group, which will report in the early summer. Those local authorities which replied in time were:

  Avon county council

  Barnsley metropolitan borough council

  Birmingham city council

  Bolton metropolitan city council

  Bradford metropolitan city council,

  Calderdale metropolitan district council

  Cambridgeshire county council

  Cannock Chase district council

  Cheshire county council

  Cornwall county council

  Coventry city council

  Cumbria county council

  Durham county council

  Powys county council

  426

  Dyfed county council

  Elmbridge borough council

  Epping Forest district council

  Epsom and Ewell borough council

  Essex county council

  Gloucestershire county council

  Hereford and Worcester county council

  Hertfordshire county council

  Humberside county council

  Lancashire county council

  Lincolnshire county council

  Liverpool city council

  London borough of Barnet

  London borough of Bexley

  London borough of Brent

  London borough of Croydon

  London borough of Enfield

  London borough of Newham

  London borough of Redbridge

  London borough of Sutton

  London borough of Wandsworth

  Mid-Glamorgan county council

  Norfolk county council

  Northampton county council

  Northumbria county council—including information from North Tyneside district council, South Tyneside District Council, Sunderland district council, Newcastle-upon-Tyne district council and Gateshead district council

  Nottinghamshire county council

  Poole borough council

  Reigate and Banstead borough council

  Salford metropolitan city council

  Sheffield city council

  Shropshire county council

  Somerset county council

  Suffolk county council—including information from Babergh district council, Forest Heath district council, Suffolk Coastal district council, Mid-Suffolk district council, Ipswich borough council and St. Edmundsbury borough council

  Wakefield metropolitan borough council

  Warwickshire county council

  Wiltshire county council

  Wirral metropolitan borough council and Wolverhampton metropolitan borough council

  Television Licence Fees
  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to extend the time limit for a refund of the television licence fee.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No.

  Murderers
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average period of time served in prison by persons convicted of murder between(a) 1974 and 1977, (b) 1979 and 1982, (c) 1983 and 1986 and (d) 1987 to date.

  Mrs. Angela Rumbold
  Information on the average time served under sentence in prison service establishments by murderers first released on licence in each of the years 1979 to 1989 was published in chapter 8 and table 8.5 of "Prison Statistics England and Wales 1989" (Cm 1221), a copy of which is in the Library. The corresponding averages for 1976, 1977 and 1978 were 9, 9·7 and 9·1 years respectively. Reliable information for 1974 and 1975 is not available.

  Anabolic Steroids
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to make the possession of anabolic steroids a criminal offence; and if he will make a statement.
  427
  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 22 February 1991]: Ministers of the Departments concerned have decided after careful study not to seek to make the unauthorised possession of steroids a crime. Carefully targeted measures to tackle steroid misuse are being developed, with emphasis on protection of young people. These include a new criminal offence of supplying steroids to minors, even without payment. This is designed to prevent coaches or other adults from giving supplies of steriods to the young people they are training; additional research into the extent of steroid misuse and to improve the testing and detection methods used in sporting circles; enhanced and extended educational efforts aimed at the public and more particularly sport to draw attention to the health problems to which steroid misuse can give rise; more vigorous action under the Medicines Act 1968 against those who advertise these products—for example in bodybuilding magazines.

  Consultations about these measures with interested organisation, at home and in Europe will begin as soon as possible.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Chemicals and Sewage Sludge
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to ensure that the results of monitoring and instances of breaches of licences by companies or individuals dumping(a) chemicals and (b) sewage sludge at sea are made available for the general public.

  Mr. Curry
  Publication of this information is already our policy. The results of monitoring work carried out by scientists in this Department are published in the aquatic environment monitoring report series.

  I intend that information on revocation of licences and convictions for breach of licence conditions will be added to the public register of licences maintained by this Department. The appropriate powers for this were obtained in the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Departmental Achievements
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the principal achievements of his Department since June 1987.

  Mr. Curry
  Between 1987 and 1989, productivity per person increased by nearly 9 per cent. in agriculture and by 2·8 per cent. in the food and drink manufacturing industry. Output of the food and drink manufacturing industry rose by 2·6 per cent. Prices of food to the consumer have risen more slowly than the general price level.

  Exports of food, feed and beverages have grown by more than 7 per cent. since 1987. Food From Britain, the nationally funded food marketing body, has focused its work more sharply on helping the United Kingdom food and drink industry to reduce its sector deficit through improved marketing at home and abroad.

  Reform of the common agricultural policy to tackle the problems of increasing expenditure and surplus production was significantly advanced by the agreement at the European Council in February 1988 on the application of budgetary discipline to the CAP. Key changes decided then were the introduction of a legally binding ceiling on CAP market support expenditure and the introduction or
  428
  extension of stabilisers in CAP commodity regimes. In 1988–89 and in 1989–90, stabilisers were triggered in many sectors, resulting in significant price cuts. The process of CAP reform was continued by the price settlements in 1988, 1989 and 1990, when common prices were generally frozen and intervention made less attractive. In 1989, the beef and sheep regimes were significantly reformed. The case for further reform is being pursued in the current Uruguay round of GATT negotiations, in which the Government are playing an active part, and within the European Community.

  This Department has taken steps to safeguard the position of United Kingdom farmers during the period of adjustment. Significant green pound devaluations, which considerably improve the competitiveness of United Kingdom agriculture and which bring closer the completion of the internal market were agreed at each of the last three price settlements. The suckler cow premium and hill livestock compensatory allowances have been increased.

  The Department has continued the policy of achieving a better balance between agricultural production and the environment by introducing a range of specific schemes and providing advice designed to encourage farmers to protect and enhance the countryside, to conserve fauna and flora and to reduce agricultural pollution and are progressively incorporating environmental considerations into agricultural support policies.

  In the United Kingdom, 19 environmentally sensitive areas have been established where payments are made to farmers to encourage environmentally beneficial agricultural practices.

  In 1989, the Department introduced the farm and conservation grant scheme, which replaced earlier grant schemes aimed at supporting capital investment in the agriculture. The scheme is targeted mainly at bringing about environmental improvements and grants for a wide range of conservation activities. We have also encouraged the planting of trees on agricultural land under the farm woodland scheme.

  In 1990, 10 nitrate-sensitive areas were designated under the Water Act 1989 to control nitrate leaching from agricultural land. Powers were taken in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to prohibit the burning of straw and stubble in England and Wales by 1993.

  The set-aside scheme, introduced in 1988, pays farmers to set aside land from arable production, thus helping to restrain production and providing an alternative source of income for farmers. The beef and sheep pilot extensification schemes. introduced in 1990, encourage less intensive use of land and lower production by aiding farmers who reduce their output of beef or sheep by at least 20 per cent. Both schemes include requirements designed to protect the environment.

  This Department has pursued policies intended to lead to improved understanding of the effects of global warming on sea level rises. We are sponsoring a national research programme, contributing to international studies, and have participated in the production of the report by the coastal zone management sub-group of the intergovernmental panel on climate change on the possible effects of climate change on coastal areas. We have also formulated a strategy to ensure that the design of flood defences will allow for adjustment and modification when more accurate information about sea level rises becomes available.
  429
  Government funding for flood and coastal defence work has been increased each year since 1987. Grant for National Rivers Authority schemes for flood and sea defence will have risen from £17·1 million in 1988–89 to £40·4 million, representing a total capital investment of £92 million, by 1993–94. For local authority schemes for flood and sea defence and coast protection, the grant provision will have increased over the same period from £15·2 million to £21·2 million, representing a capital spend of about £38 million. For internal drainage boards—mainly agricultural schemes—grant will have risen from £1·6 million to £1·8 million. A large part of the increased NRA provision is for sea defence work, notably the east coast. That for local authorities is primarily for the restoration of defences damaged in last winter's storms.

  The Department has ensured continuation of effective flood defence arrangements following privatisation of the water industry and the creation of the National Rivers Authority and provided for the financing of flood defence following the changes in local government finance. Updated guidance to drainage authorities on their environmental responsibilities was issued and regulations were made to implement the EC environmental assessment directive regarding flood defence improvement works.

  The Government have continued to demonstrate their commitment to the highest possible standards of food safety and consumer protection. A wide-ranging review of food safety legislation led to the Food Safety Act 1990, which provides a tough new framework for food safety throughout the food chain and gives Ministers flexible powers to cope with developments in future. In addition, the food safety directive was created in late 1989 to strengthen arrangements for dealing with food safety issues. At the same time, a new consumer panel was established to keep under review, from a consumers' viewpoint, the implementation of food safety and consumer protection policies.

  We operate a comprehensive food monitoring and surveillance system. The chemical safety of food is under the auspices of the steering group on food surveillance. We have also established a new, independent advisory committee and a steering group on the microbiological safety of food.

  The United Kingdom has played a full part in negotiating the directives which form part of the Community's single market programme for harmonising food law. These will remove barriers to trade and benefit consumers and industry.

  From 1 January 1989, the United Kingdom has been one of only two Community member states to achieve the higher level of milk hygiene standards laid down in Community regulations.

  Further measures have been taken to protect farm animal welfare, including legislation on battery hens, transport of animals and poultry, slaughter, a ban on veal crates and regulations which will require all stock-keepers to have received instruction and guidance in the welfare codes. The Government have continued to value the

  Exports of Cheese to Japan

  1989

  January-October 1990

  Exporting Country

  Quantity (tonne)

  Value2 (£/tonne)

  Quantity (tonne)

  Value2 (£/tonne)

  France

  2,214

  3,645

  2,136

  3,730

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  102

  1,459

  —

  —

  Netherlands

  15,001

  1,313

  8,064

  1,353

  430
  independent and authoritative advice of the Farm Animal Welfare Council. A comprehensive series of measures has been introduced to combat the problem of salmonella in eggs and poultry.

  We have moved quickly and decisively in the face of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, introducing measures to safeguard the public against any risk to human health, however remote, to bring the disease under control, and to promote necessary research. Without prejudicing the United Kingdom's high animal health status, a series of measures has been adopted to harmonise animal health measures in the single market to reduce unjustified barriers to trade.

  The Department's farm advisory service, ADAS, has since 1987 begun a transition towards becoming a commercial organisation and is due to be constituted as an executive agency in 1992.

  The Government have continued to work within the framework of the EC common fisheries policy to secure the best possible fishing opportunities for United Kingdom fishermen consistent with conservation, including obtaining recognition of our preferential claims under the 1976 Hague resolution and provision to take some of our western mackerel quotas east of 4 deg. west.

  We have announced timetables for phasing out the disposal at sea of industrial wastes and sewage sludge.

  Seabirds (Fishing Nets)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to prevent the trapping of seabirds in fishing nets.

  Mr. Curry
  A number of regulations and byelaws are concerned with the use of fishing nets, but I have no plans to introduce legislation against the accidental trapping of seabirds. There is little evidence to suggest that fishing nets are threatening the survival of any species.

  Capital Investment
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the percentage return on capital invested in agriculture in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; and what the figures five, 10 and 20 years ago were.

  Mr. Curry
  The information requested is not available.

  Cheese
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much cheese from(a) the United Kingdom and (b) each other European Community country has been sold to Japan in 1989, 1990 and 1991, and at what price per tonne in £ sterling: and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The most recent information on exports of cheese to Japan is set out below.
  431

  1989

  January-October 1990

  Exporting Country

  Quantity (tonne)

  Value2 (£/tonne)

  Quantity (tonne)

  Value2 (£/tonne)

  Germany1

  10,786

  1,189

  4,423

  1,362

  Italy

  360

  2,815

  360

  3,411

  United Kingdom

  3,833

  1,698

  2,145

  1,367

  Denmark

  16,740

  1,475

  10,682

  1,771

  Spain

  —

  —

  —

  1,431

  Ireland

  —

  —

  414

  977

  Portugal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Greece

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 Excludes former GDR.

  2 Average unit value: fob, net of export refunds and MCAs.

  Source: Eurostat.

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will prohibit the sale of cheese made with the addition of the genetically engineered enzyme chymosin without it being identified as such on the label.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Food Advisory Committee considered very carefully whether labelling was necessary in this case and advised that it was not since the enzyme itself is identical to that obtained from traditional calf rennet and neither the source organism nor its genetic material would be present in the food. The FAC's guidelines on the labelling of food produced using genetic modification were published on 17 January for comment and I have placed a copy of these in the Library of the House.

  Butter
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much butter from(a) the United Kingdom and (b) each other European Community country has been sold to the Soviet Union this year and at what price per tonne in £ sterling; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  No data are yet available on exports this year of butter from the European Community to the Soviet Union. A contract has been signed for the export of 200,000 tonnes of butter at reduced price under a derogation from minimum prices agreed by the GATT international dairy arrangement. No deliveries are known to have occurred under this contract to date.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if his policy on the funding of grant-maintained schools remains as stated in the letter of the right hon. Member for Mole Valley (Mr. Baker), the then Secretary of State for Education and Science, to the hon. Member for Blackburn on 10 November 1988.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  A grant-maintained school's grant for recurrent expenditure reflects what it would have received for direct costs from its former maintaining authority. It includes an additional amount in respect of LEA central costs and of LEA subsidies for school meals.

  In announcing the capital allocations for the grant-maintained sector for 1991–92, we made it clear that our intention was to ensure that schools becoming
  432
  grant-maintained were set up on a sound basis and were not penalised by past neglect by the LEA. This has led, on average, to relatively higher capital allocations for the grant-maintained sector in 1991–92 than for LEA-maintained schools.

  The Government make specific grant payments for staff development and the implementation of the national curriculum to grant-maintained schools and LEAs. Additional amounts of about £13 per pupil are being made available this year to grant-maintained schools to help them lay a foundation of expertise upon which to build.

  Transitional grants and other special purpose grants reflecting the particular circumstances of grant-maintained schools continue to be paid: for example, SPG(V) is paid to grant-maintained schools as they are liable for VAT whereas LEAs are not.

  Mr. David Marshall
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the case of Mr. David Marshall, concerning his dispute with Liverpool education authority, and whether he will ask the authority to review its decision.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received a letter from the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education on this matter. It is being considered.

  Pre-school Education
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the level of support from Surrey education authority to pre-school education.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested is not collected centrally. Local authority expenditure returns to the Department of the Environment do not identify separate figures for pre-school education. A single set of figures is returned covering all nursery and primary provision.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the level of support from Surrey county council to pre-school playgroups.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested is not collected centrally. Local authority expenditure returns to the Department of the Environment do not identify separate figures for education in pre-school playgroups. A single set of figures is returned covering all nursery and primary provision.

  Students
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list by institutions the allocation of recurrent grant and funded student numbers through the Universities Funding Council for the academic year 1991–92;

  (2) if he will place in the Library (i) a copy of the general letter to Vice-Chancellors and Principals relating to the Universities Funding Council allocation of recurrent grant and funded student numbers for the academic year 1991–92 and (ii) the annexes to the above in relation to each institution.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The various allocations are set out in the Universities Funding Council's circular letter 6/91 of 25 February 1991 and annexes, copies of which, as requested, have been placed in the Library.

  Grammar Schools
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children are currently receiving a grammar school education in(a) Kent and (b) England and Wales.

  Mr. Fallon
  The number of pupils attending maintained grammar schools in Kent in January 1990 was 19,611. The total for England was 98,289.

  Data for Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  School Premises
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will place in the Library the responses to the review of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981.

  Mr. Fallon
  It is not our normal practice to publish responses to such consultation. The responses will of course be considered carefully and taken into account in the review of the regulations.

SCOTLAND

  Co-operatives
  Mr. MacMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to encourage the development of retail, wholesale and manufacturing co-operatives in Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The Scottish Development Agency is involved in a range of co-operative initiatives, particularly in support of agricultural producers and employee-owned co-operatives. It has also provided significant financial assistance to the Scottish co-operative development committee, which provides advice, training and management support.' The urban programme also supports projects aimed at developing co-operative ventures in the most deprived urban areas. Assisting the establishment or growth of community enterprises or co-operative enterprises will be one of the functions of Scottish Enterprise and local enterprise companies. The urban programme will also continue to support appropriate projects.

  Brain Injuries
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what initiatives he intends to take in the provision of rehabilitation facilities for head-injured patients in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government's intention to establish a new national service for the rehabilitation of brain-injured patients in Scotland was announced on 11 May last year. Consideration of bids to host the service is well advanced and an announcement may be expected in the near future.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he has any plans to increase the amount of moneys available in project grants to health boards for the rehabilitation of severely brain-injured patients;

  (2) when he expects to announce the amount of project grants to health boards for the rehabilitation of the severely brain-injured patient;

  (3) if he will give those health boards and other organisations which have submitted to his Department applications for project grants for the rehabilitation of the severely brain-injured patient, the number for each health board, the amount applied for and the date of the application.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government's intention to establish a new national service for the rehabilitation of brain-injured patients was announced on 11 May last year. Proposals to host all or part of this service were submitted by Dumfries and Galloway, Grampian, Greater Glasgow, Lothian and Tayside health boards and Scotcare Ltd. As these proposals are still under consideration, it would riot be appropriate to publish details of individual bids. An announcement of the location of the service and its funding may be expected in the near future.

  Health Care Costs
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each health board the cost per patient of general medical services.

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

  Cost per patient of GMS services in Scotland 1989–90

  Health board

  Cost/Patient (£),

  Ayrshire and Arran

  33

  Borders

  38

  Argyll and Clyde

  35

  Fife

  32

  Greater Glasgow

  30

  Highland

  48

  Lanark

  29

  Grampian

  36

  Orkney

  59

  Lothian

  34

  Tayside

  34

  Forth Valley

  32

  Western Isles

  54

  Dumfries and Galloway

  39

  Shetland

  47

  Scotland

  34

  Ancillary Health Services
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many contracts for ancillary services awarded by health boards in the last four years have been terminated either because the company went into liquidation or withdrew from the contract.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I am aware of only one contract for domestic services being terminated. The firm had gone into receivership.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the level of unemployment in Scotland at the latest available date.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The seasonally adjusted level of unemployment in Scotland in January 1991 was 201,300.

  Smoked Food
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to change the law regarding the transport of smoked food by mail order; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Proposals to amend the Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 1959 to introduce a system of new controls on the temperature of foods during production, storage, distribution and service to the consumer were the subject of a consultation in 1989. The proposed temperature controls are intended to minimise the opportunity for growth of pathogenic microorganisms such as listeria and salmonella.

  Smoked or cured fish is included in the list of specified food products which would have to be kept chilled unless they have undergone a process which prevents the growth of pathogenic micro-organisms at ambient temperature. While the Scottish regulations are still in draft, the Government have received representations about the way in which they would apply to certain foods, including foods sent by mail. After considering these, we believe that in certain areas it would be reasonable to make changes to the draft regulations which would not present a public health risk.

  Officials will therefore consult interested parties on a number of proposed changes. Including among these is a proposal to exempt foods delivered by mail order through the post or by courier to allow the industry more time to develop practical means of achieving necessary controls. Research studies have been commissioned by the Government to identify ways in which to maintain product stability in this area. When the results of this research are available, further discussions with the industry on practical solutions will be held. This exemption will be kept under review and we will examine urgently ways to provide consumers with information on these products.

  East Fortune Hospital
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many patients have been transferred out of East Fortune hospital because of recent ward closures; if he will list the hospitals or other places to which they have been transferred; and what information he has as to whether any of those patients have subsequently died;
  436
  (2) if he will make a statement on the employment of NHS staff affected by the closure of wards at East Fortune hospital.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 20 February 1991]: A total of 17 long-stay and 11 geriatric assessment patients have been transferred from East Fortune hospital to the following hospitals:

  Long-stay

  Assessment

  Edenhall hospital

  13

  —

  Belhaven hospital

  3

  —

  St. Andrew's voluntary residential home, Dunbar

  1

  —

  Roodlands hospital

  —

  11

  Two patients have since died in Edenhall hospital. One was aged 89 years and the other aged 80 years. Both patients were suffering from several chronic illnesses. I am assured by Lothian health board that it is not unusual for two elderly and ill patients to die in one ward within a period of two to three weeks, especially at this time of year.

  Out of a total of 98 staff who could not remain at the hospital, 95 have been found suitable alternative posts. The remaining three staff have opted for redundancy as no suitable alternative posts which were acceptable to those staff could be found.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Mortgage Interest Relief
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the value of mortgage interest tax relief if it had been index-linked for inflation since its inception and since 1979.

  Mr. Maude
  If the mortgage interest relief limit had been indexed in line with the retail prices index since its inception, at £25,000, in 1974, it would be £119,000 in 1990–91. With indexation since 1979, the ceiling would be £57,000. The latest estimates of the total cost of mortgage interest relief in 1990–91, with the limit at these levels, are £9·9 billion and £9·3 billion respectively compared with £7·8 billion for the current limit of £30,000. The estimates exclude behavioural effects, which would be substantial.

  Departmental Achievements
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the principal achievements of his Department since June 1987.

  Mr. Maude
  Since 1987, we have continued to build upon the changes, begun in 1979, to strengthen the economy, foster a spirit of enterprise and improve living standards.

  Sterling has been brought into the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system, reinforcing the Government's strict anti-inflationary policy. Output is 7 per cent. higher. Beginning in 1987, business investment grew faster for three years than during any comparable period since the second world war. Taxes have been reformed and the basic rate of income tax cut to 25 per cent. Privatisation of 29 more major businesses has taken place and 24 per cent. of the adult population now own shares. The Government have exercised strict control of

  437
  public expenditure. General Government expenditure has been brought below 40 per cent. of GDP for the first time since 1966–67. Over the three years to March 1990, £26 billion of public sector debt was repaid. Over 2 million more people are in work than in 1987. We have put forward proposals for the next steps towards European Community and monetary union, involving the introduction of a common Community currency, the hard ecu, to be managed by a new monetary institution—the European Monetary Fund.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest forecast collection of receipts from(a) the higher rate of capital gains tax and (b) the lower rate of capital gains tax; and what were the comparable figures for total receipts from capital gains tax in 1990–91 and in 1978–79.

  Mr. Maude
  Receipts from capital gains tax in the years requested are:

  £ million

  1978–79

  353

  1 1990–91

  2,100

  1 1990 Autumn Statement forecast.

  It is estimated that, of receipts in 1990–91, about £1,600 million will have been charged at 40 per cent. on gains of higher rate taxpayers for 1988–89 and 1989–90 and £200 million will have been charged at 25 per cent. on gains of basic rate taxpayers and non-discretionary trusts for 1988–89 and 1989–90. The remaining £300 million will correspond to gains for 1987–88 and earlier years which were taxed at 30 per cent. and to gains of discretionary trusts in 1988–89 and 1989–90 which were taxed at 35 per cent.

  It is also estimated that, of receipts in 1978–79, about £300 million will have been charged at 30 per cent. with the remainder charged at the special rates then applying for gains under £9,500.

  These figures exclude gains realised by companies which are chargeable to corporation tax.

  National Health Service
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy on the introduction of a national lottery to help finance the national health service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maples
  The Government fully acknowledge the importance and priority of health. Real resources for health service are planned to increase by 5 per cent. in 1991–92. There are no plans to introduce a national lottery.

  Incomes
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the (i) annual and (ii) quarterly rise in real personal disposable incomes since January 1979.

  Mr. Maples
  The rises, expressed as percentages of the level in the previous year or quarter, are given in the table:

  Annual

  per cent.

  1979

  5·8

  1980

  1·5

  1981

  -0·7

  438

  Annual

  per cent.

  1982

  -0·2

  1983

  2·8

  1984

  2·4

  1985

  2·6

  1986

  4·5

  1987

  3·3

  1988

  5·7

  1989

  5·4

  Quarterly

  Per cent.

  1979

  Q1

  0·9

  Q2

  0·9

  Q3

  0·7

  Q4

  5·2

  1980

  Q1

  -3·6

  Q2

  0·1

  Q3

  1·7

  Q4

  -0·4

  1981

  Q1

  0·4

  Q2

  -1·9

  Q3

  -0·6

  Q4

  0·7

  1982

  Q1

  -0·7

  Q2

  1·7

  Q3

  -1·0

  Q4

  0·4

  1983

  Q1

  1·0

  Q2

  2·1

  Q3

  -0·4

  Q4

  0·7

  1984

  Q1

  0·5

  Q2

  0·5

  Q3

  0·5

  Q4

  1·7

  1985

  Q1

  -1·4

  Q2

  2·8

  Q3

  0·1

  Q4

  1·0

  1986

  Q1

  0·5

  Q2

  2·7

  Q3

  0·5

  Q4

  0·2

  1987

  Q1

  -0·6

  Q2

  2·4

  Q3

  1·2

  Q4

  1·2

  1988

  Q1

  1·3

  Q2

  1·7

  Q3

  0·7

  Q4

  2·3

  1989

  Q1

  1·0

  Q2

  2·2

  Q3

  -0·1

  Q4

  0·7

  1990

  Q1

  1·6

  Q2

  0·7

  Q3

  1·0

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the exchequer what corporation tax had been payable by(a) BT plc, (b) Cable and Wireless plc and (c) British Steel plc since they were privatised.

  Mr. Maude
  Details of the tax affairs of identified taxpayers are confidential and may not be revealed without the express permission of those concerned.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost in 1991–92 and in a full year of reducing the small companies rate of corporation tax to 20 per cent.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: Table 4.5 of the 1990 autumn statement shows the direct effect of a 1 percentage point change in the small companies rate is £35 million in 1991–92. The corresponding full-year effect is £55 million.

  Subject to the qualifications in that table, the costs associated with a 5 percentage point reduction, to 20 per cent., may be expected to be broadly pro rata to the effects of a 1 percentage point change.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost in 1991–92 and in a full year of raising the lower limit for the reduced rate for corporation tax from £200,000 to(a) £250,000 and (b) £300,000; and how many firms would be affected in each case.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: The costs would be as follows:

  Lower limit of marginal relief

  1991–92

  Full year

  £

  £ million

  £ million

  250,000

  20

  30

  300,000

  35

  50

  The figures assume company incomes at 1990–91 levels, that the upper limit for marginal relief remained at £1 million and that the change took effect from 1 April 1990. In each case about 30,000 companies would be affected.

  Savings (Advertising)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much expenditure has been incurred by the Inland Revenue on a television and newspaper advertising campaign to inform savers who are non-taxpayers that they will no longer need to pay tax on their savings after 6 April; what considerations underlay the decision to authorise such expenditure in addition to direct mailing; and what assessment was made of the costs and benefits of this additional expenditure.

  Mr. Maude
  The figure is £6,384,000. Advertising was the only effective way to explain the change to the up to 15 million non-taxpayers affected by it. The advertising campaign and the delivery of a leaflet to all households are complementary features of the publicity for the new system. They are designed to encourage as many as possible of those affected to register for payment of interest without deduction of tax and so reduce the number who make repayment claims. The costs of the publicity will be morc than offset by the consequential saving on administrative costs in making fewer repayments.
  440
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much expenditure has been incurred to produce and send leaflets to every household in Great Britain explaining that savers who are non-taxpayers will no longer need to pay tax on their savings after 6 April.

  Mr. Maude
  A total of £1,365,000.

  Inflation
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average percentage increase in inflation during the period(a) 1974 to 1979 and (b) 1979 to 1990.

  Mr. Maples
  Between December 1973 and December 1979 the average annual rate of inflation, as measured by the retail prices index, was 16 per cent. per annum. This compares with 7·2 per cent. for the period December 1979 to December 1990.

  Kuwaiti Bank Holdings
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Darling) of 4 February 1991,Official Report, column 7, what information he has on the total value of investments and bank holdings in Britain by all Kuwaiti sources as of August 1990, and the comparable figures for 1988, 1986 and 1984.

  Mr. Maples
  Figures for Kuwaiti bank holdings in Britain as of August 1990 are not available. However, United Kingdom banks and other financial institutions' external liabilities to Kuwait on 29 June 1990 were $10,871 million. Comparable figures for 1988, 1986 and 1984 are not available.

  The information requested on investments is not available.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Ridley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentage public expenditure changed between 1983–84 and 1989–90 in real terms; and what percentage of gross domestic product public expenditure was in each of those years.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Figures on general Government expenditure, excluding privatisation proceeds, in real terms and general government expenditure, excluding privatisation proceeds, as a proportion of gross domestic product were set out in table 2.1 of the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement. The figures show that general Government expenditure, excluding privatisation proceeds, rose by 4 per cent. in real terms between 1983–84 and 1989–90. As a proportion of gross domestic product it fell from 46½ per cent. to 39½ per cent. over the same period.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list(a) the cost to date to the United Kingdom of the Gulf war, (b) the amounts of assistance to the United Kingdom's Gulf costs either provided or promised, stating the sums of money from each relevant country or organisation, and (c) the increased revenue to the Treasury resulting from increases in oil prices since 2 August 1990.
  441
  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 18 February 1991]: (a) The additional costs to the defence budget of the Gulf conflict so far assessed are some £1½ billion, including equipment lost and munitions used. Eventual defence costs, which would be spread over some years, are uncertain, but, allowing for continuation of the campaign, could be around £3 billion. There are also small costs on other public expenditure programmes and about £160 million of claims have been paid by ECGD to exporters against defaults by Iraq.

  (b) Assistance promised to date amounts to about £1·4 billion. This includes in cash £660 million from Kuwait, about £275 million from Germany, about £250 million from the United Arab Emirates, about £15 million from Hong Kong and about £8 million from Denmark. Within this total we estimate that the assistance received to date is worth about £350 million. This includes half the German cash contribution, £25 million cash contribution towards transport costs from Japan and assistance in kind, such as the provision of food, fuel, water and accommodation by Saudi Arabia under the agreement for host nation support. Assistance in kind has also been received from Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Kuwait, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and UAE.

  (c) Government revenues have so far been little affected by the increase in the oil prices for a period after last August. The increase in revenue attributable to the higher oil prices in the second half of 1990 is likely to be around £1 billion. More than half this will be received in March this year, and the remainder in 1991–92.

  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the various cash contributions towards the costs of the Gulf war promised by other countries to date, the dates when he expects each contribution to be paid; if the proceeds will be paid into the Consolidated Fund; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 22 February 1991]: The following financial contributions have been
  promised to date:

  Japan—$50 million (£25 million; received 18 January)

  Germany—DM800 million (about £275 million; £137 million received 20 February)

  Kuwait—£660 million

  United Arab Emirates—$500 million (about £250 million)

  Hong Kong—HKS230 million (about £15 million)

  Denmark—KR90 million (about £8 million)

  The second tranche of the German contribution is expected to be paid in March. The dates of the other payments are not yet known. The Japanese contribution has been appropriated in aid of class 1—Defence—votes. The first part of the German contribution—DM400 million—has just been paid into our foreign currency reserves and the sterling equivalent will be credited to the Consolidated Fund.

  Insolvent Companies
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he has had with the Governor of the Bank of England as regards the setting up of a lifeboat fund for technically insolvent companies.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: None. However, the so-called "London approach", in which the Bank of England plays a facilitating role, where appropriate, can help to ensure that difficulties between
  442
  companies and their creditors are resolved in an orderly fashion and on the basis of the fullest possible information. The Government very much support this approach.

  Vehicle Tax
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total revenue from motor taxation in 1989–90; and what is his estimated revenue for 1990–91 divided into its constituent parts.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: Following is the available information:

  1989 £ billion

  1990–91 £ billion (forecast)

  Vehicles excise duty

  2·9

  3·0

  Hydrocarbon oil excise duty

  8·7

  9·6

  Car tax

  1·5

  1·4

  Value-added tax

  5·2

  1—

  Total

  18·3

  1—not available

  Tax Burden (Distribution)
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the regional distribution of(a) the personal tax burden and (b) the overall tax burden.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: The amount of income tax payable by region for 1987–88, the latest year for which information is available, is shown in table 11·7 of Regional Trends 25 (1990 edition). Regional information for taxes overall is not available.

  TESSAs
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has on the likely size of deposit in a TESSA in the first year.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: It is too early to make a firm estimate.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each region of the United Kingdom(a) the number of higher rate tax payers, (b) the number of basic rate tax payers and (c) the number who pay no national insurance or income tax.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: The latest available information for (a) and (b) relates to 1987–88 and has been published in table 11·7 of Regional Trends 25 (1990 edition). I regret that information relating to (c) is not available.

  Irradiated Food
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice he intends to give to Government Departments about the use of irradiated food in central Government establishments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: The sale of irradiated foods is subject to the Food Labelling (Amendment) (Irradiated Foods) Regulations 1990.
  443
  It is a matter for individual Government Departments and establishments to determine policy for the use of irradiated foods with the provider of their catering services. Current civil service catering organisation policy is not to accept or knowingly use irradiated foods.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Computers
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make it his policy to seek amendment to the EC draft software directive to allow organisations to back up their computer systems for use in disaster recovery of vital database systems;

  (2) whether he will make it his policy to ensure that the EC draft software directive does not place the owners of proprietary products in a monopoly situation;

  (3) whether he will make it his policy to ensure that the EC draft software directive is not used by large suppliers of IT products as a means of stifling competition.

  Mr. Leigh
  The directive, like existing United Kingdom copyright law, provides that persons who newly create computer programs are given exclusive property rights in those programs in the same way as authors of other copyright works. This encourages the production of new programs and fair competition between program creators, thus producing greater choice for the consumer. The directive will ensure that rights cannot be used to prevent either the independent development of interoperable programs or the making of back-up copies of programs.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations he has received from British computer users concerning the restrictions placed on them by contracts prepared to conform to the EC draft software directive and what response he has made;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to seek amendment to the EC draft software directive to draw a distinction between the copying of programs with the primary purpose of transfer into a system for immediate resale and commercial gain and the copying of programs with the primary purposes of system maintenance and research;

  (3) what representations he has received from British computer users concerning the effects of the EC draft software directive on their software maintenance rights; and what response he has made;

  (4) what representations he has received from the British banking community concerning the impact of the copyright restrictions proposed by the EC draft software directive on the efficiency and standardisation of a bank's operating environment; and what response he has made;

  (5) what assessment his Department has made of the implications of the EC draft software directive on the freedom of choice of maintenance services for software licensees;

  (6) what assessment his Department has made of the implications of the EC draft software directive on the small and medium enterprises commonly known as third-party maintenance organisations;

  (7) what assessment his Department has made of the implications of the Council of Ministers common position on the EC draft software directive on the applicability of the fair dealing exception in respect of computer software.
  444
  Mr. Leigh
  I do not expect the directive to change existing practices in software maintenance significantly. Under existing United Kingdom copyright law, copyright owners are free to make whatever contractual arrangements they wish with users of their works, subject only to the general law of contract. This will continue to be the case under the directive except that owners of copyright in computer programs will not be able to prevent decompilation of those programs by persons wishing to create interoperable programs, under certain conditions. The creation of independent computer programs intended to maintain interoperability within computer systems will therefore be possible, free of contractual restraint.

  The fair dealing provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 will continue to apply to computer programs on points not covered by the directive. Representations on these matters have been received from the computer users of Europe group, which represents many United Kingdom bodies, including at least one in the banking sector.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment his Department has made of the implications of the EC draft software directive on the use of open systems;

  (2) if he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards current de facto standards used by the information technology business whilst open international standards are emerging; and what assessment his Department has made of the implications of the EC draft software directive on the continued use of these de facto standards;

  (3) if he will make it his policy to allow information properly learnt, pursuant to the EC draft software directive, to be used to develop both new non-infringing hardware and new non-infringing software;

  (4) what assessment his Department has made of the implications of the EC draft software directive on the trade in those software products containing interfaces to other pieces of software which are so widely used as to be considered as de facto standards;

  (5) what representations he has received from British computer users concerning the effects of the EC draft software directive on the ability of compatible vendors to create and market competing computer programs; and what response he has made.

  Mr. Leigh
  Open systems, de facto standards, trade in software products incorporating those standards and competing computer programs have all developed in the United Kingdom in parallel with strong protection of computer programs under United Kingdom copyright law. I expect this situation to be unchanged under the proposed directive, which protects only the particular expressions of a computer program, not the ideas and principles which underlie it, and contains exceptions to the rights of copyright owners in order that interoperable programs may be developed.

  Stock Exchange
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received about the closure of the Newcastle branch of the London stock exchange.

  Mr. Redwood
  None.
  445
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department was consulted by the London stock exchange about the reduction in its regional representation in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. This is a matter for the international stock exchange.

  Electricity Prices
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has met representatives of those sect ors of industry which face severe difficulties as a consequence of increases in the price of electricity where this increase provides comparative disadvantages in regard to the maintenance of international trade.

  Mr. Redwood
  My right hon. Friend has had no recent meetings with industrialists on the subject of electricity prices, but is well aware of their concerns.

  Import Restrictions
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all items and products subject to either tariffs of more than 5 per cent., bilateral or EC-wide import quotas, voluntary restraint agreements of any type or anti-dumping duties.

  Mr. Redwood
  On the subjects of import quotas, voluntary restraint arrangements and anti-dumping duties, I refer my hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade's replies of 17 January 1991 at columns 593–94, 4 February 1991 at column 26 and 5 February 1991 at column 78. On the question of anti-dumping duties, there are certain changes to the list that was placed in the Library of the House. Linear Tungsten Halogen Lamps from Japan is now subject to definitive anti-dumping duties of 35·6 per cent. and 46·5 per cent. which will expire on 20 January 1996. The definitive anti-dumping duties in force against two of the products on the list—clogs from Sweden and hydraulic excavators from Japan—have now expired. Provisional anti-dumping duties of between 2·1 per cent. and 17·4 per cent. have been imposed on small-screen colour television receivers from Hong Kong and China; these are due to expire on 24 May 1991.

  With regard to the Community's common customs tariff, a very wide range of products is subject to rates of more than 5 per cent. Full details are contained in the Official Journal of the European Communities which can be found in the Library of the House.

  Company liquidations
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the statutory provisions that relate to the setting up of a second company by the owners of a company while the original company is in receivership.

  Mr. Redwood
  There are no additional statutory provisions that relate to the formation and promotion of a company by the directors, shareholders or beneficial owners of another company that is in administrative receivership. If, however, action is taken to disqualify a director of a failed company from holding office in the future, the person concerned would have to obtain the 446
  leave of the court before setting up or taking part in the management of another company. Leave is granted only in exceptional circumstances.

ENERGY

  Statistics
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has on the proportion of energy used(a) in housing, (b) commercial, (c) industrial and (d) public buildings in 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The estimated proportions of United Kingdom expenditure on energy in 1989 accounted for by different categories of building are as follows:

  Housing 27 per cent.; Public 4 per cent.; Commercial 9 per cent.; Industrial 3 per cent.

  Data for 1990 is not yet available.

  Source: Table 9 of the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1990 and Building Research Establishment publications.

  Coal Mining Subsidence
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much money British Coal holds for provision of coal mining subsidence damage.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The corporation's annual report and accounts for 1989–90 show a cumulative provision of £243 million to cover its latent liability to meet the cost of surface damage expected to arise. The financial arrangements which the corporation makes for settling claims in any particular year are a matter for the corporation.

  OFFER
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many of the total staff of the Office of Electricity Regulation are on secondment from Government Departments and, in particular, from his Department.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The total number of OFFER staff on loan from other Government Departments is 22. Of these, four are from the Department of Energy.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total staff of OFFER.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The total number of full-time equivalent staff in post at OFFER stands at 200·5.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many appointments to OFFER are subject to his decision;

  (2) how many of the appointments to OFFER which he makes are presently filled by people seconded from his Department.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Director General of Electricity Supply alone is appointed by me. He is not seconded from my Department.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many appointments to OFFER are subject to consultation with him or his Department;

  (2) how many of the appointments to OFFER on which he is consulted are filled by people on secondment.
  447
  Mr. Wakeham
  I and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry are consulted by the director general prior to the appointment of the 12 chairmen of the consumers' committees. None of these appointments is filled by a person on secondment. My Department is naturally consulted where any appointment is to be filled by a person on secondment from the Department.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether he or any of his Ministers or officials have been in contact with Professor Littlechild since he wrote to the chairman of the Electricity Consultation Committee on 18 February;

  (2) what contact he or any of his Ministers or officials had on 12 February with the Deputy Director General of Electricity Supply about electricity disconnections.

  Maintenance and repairs

  New build

  Supervision and management

  Improvement and repair grants

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  1978–79

  25·3

  62·3

  13·3

  15·9

  1979–80

  31·1

  54·4

  15·9

  24·8

  1980–81

  35·5

  68·3

  21·5

  28·8

  1981–82

  33·8

  67·5

  24·8

  28·8

  1982–83

  48·2

  93·3

  27·9

  34·3

  1983–84

  45·1

  99·4

  31·9

  45·5

  1984–85

  50·5

  89·0

  33·8

  58·4

  1985–86

  54·4

  81·5

  36·7

  60·2

  1986–87

  58·3

  63·9

  37·7

  56·5

  1987–88

  62·6

  55·7

  37·3

  45·2

  1988–89

  64·7

  55·9

  43·3

  36·4

  1989–90

  70·1

  51·3

  46·3

  33·7

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the average increases in Housing Executive rents in Northern Ireland for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Needham
  The average increases were:

  £

  1979

  0·83

  1980

  1·60

  1981

  2·72

  1982

  1·88

  1983

  0·72

  1984

  0·64

  1985

  0·55

  1986

  0·71

  1987

  0·55

  1988

  1·60

  1989

  1·75

  1990

  1·94

  1991

  1·73

  Waste Recycling
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is considering introducing financial measures to encourage the introduction of new processes and plants to recycle waste products.

  Mr. Needham
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry provides grant support to industry in Great Britain under the environmental technology innovation scheme for research into a range of environmental issues including recycling of industrial and
  448
  Mr. Wakeham
  I, my ministerial colleagues and officials are in regular contact with the Director General of Electricity Supply and OFFER on regulatory matters concerning electricity.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Housing
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the amount spent by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on(a) maintenance and repairs, (b) building new houses, (c) administration and (d) improvement and repair grants, for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Needham
  The chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has advised me that the information requested is as follows:

  household waste. Grant is not available for new plant using existing technology. Consideration is being given to ways of providing similar support in Northern Ireland.

  Hospital Wards and Beds
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make funds available to enable wards and beds, closed permanently or temporarily, to be reopened.

  Mr. Hanley
  Resources of £830 million will be available to health and social services boards in Northern Ireland in 1991–92, an increase of almost £84 million on the current year. It is a matter for boards to determine the distribution of their resources across the various programmes of care.

  Bed closures in the last five years have been in line with the targets set in the Department's regional strategy and have been achieved through improvements in performance resulting in a more efficient use of beds and other resources. Over the same period the total number of patients treated increased by more than 12 per cent. to 315,962 and the total number of operations by 15 per cent. to 274,172.

  Fraud
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fraud cases were taken by the DHSS in Northern Ireland over the last five years.

  Mr. Hanley
  A total of 5,693.

  Housing Executive
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how far copies of electoral registers are available to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive district offices; and if he will take steps to improve the accuracy of the executive's records of occupancy, through use of the electoral register.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and I am advised by its chief executive that staff in district offices consult the electoral register as and when required. The electoral register cannot, however, be used as the sole means of checking occupancy as it is compiled once a year and is not therefore always up to date.

  Cardiac Surgery
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients in Northern Ireland are on current waiting lists for cardiac surgery at the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast.

  Mr. Hanley
  At 30 September 1990 there were 833.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients have been removed from lists of those awaiting cardiac surgery as a result of death during the waiting period in the last three years.

  Mr. Hanley
  A total of 67.

  Larne-Belfast Road (Accidents)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) road accidents, (b) fatalities and (c) serious injuries have occurred in each of the last 10 years on the Larne-Belfast road between Corr's corner and Lame harbour.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:

  Number of Accidents

  Persons Killed

  Persons Seriously Injured

  1980

  19

  —

  6

  1981

  27

  —

  14

  1982

  20

  2

  11

  1983

  18

  —

  7

  1984

  22

  —

  7

  1985

  22

  3

  5

  1986

  33

  1

  17

  1987

  33

  4

  11

  1988

  40

  5

  23

  1989

  52

  1

  20

  1990

  42

  4

  14

  Larne Borough Council
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will outline the reasons underlying the receipt by Lame borough council of relatively low amounts of general grant paid to district councils in each of the last 10 years; and what consideration he has given to revising the formula for general grant to achieve more equitable distribution.

  Mr. Needham
  General Exchequer grant (GEG) payable by the Department of the Environment (NI) to 450
  district councils is calculated in accordance with a statutory formula set out in article 3 of, and schedule 1 to, the Local Government etc (Northern Ireland) Order 1972. The calculation is dependent on the population, rateable valuations and the penny rate product of a district in a particular year.

  The GEG is divided into two parts:

  i. the derating element which recompenses councils for loss of income due to the statutory derating of certain hereditaments; and

  ii. the resources element which provides additional finance to those councils whose valuation resources per head of population is below a standard determined by the Department.

  The amount of GEG paid to Lame borough council was calculated strictly in accordance with the statutory formula. There is no evidence to suggest that the formula results in an inequitable distribution of GEG and there are no plans at present to revise it.

  Policy Co-ordination Committee
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times the policy coordination committee met between June 1987 and June 1990; and what subjects were discussed.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The policy co-ordinating committee is an interdepartmental committee of officials which meets regularly to consider issues of common concern to Departments. By convention discussions between officials are internal to Government.

  Mortgage Repossessions
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Housing Executive dwellings sold to sitting tenants were returned to Housing Executive control because occupiers were unable to keep up mortgage payments; and how many such dwellings were returned to housing stock for letting.

  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and I have been advised by its chief executive that no houses previously sold to sitting tenants who have been unable to keep up mortgage payments have been returned to Housing Executive control.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times all the Northern Ireland Office Ministers met together between June 1987 and June 1990.

  Mr. Brooke
  I meet the members of my ministerial team, both individually and together, frequently. It would not be practical to count the number of these occasions since 1987.

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of Alzheimer's disease have been identified within Northern Ireland; how many sufferers are(a) hospitalised, (b) in residential/nursing homes and (c) being cared for by relatives; and whether he proposes to increase financial support for sufferers cared for by relatives in their own homes.

  Mr. Hanley
  It is estimated that about one in 10 of all people over age 65 in Northern Ireland suffers from
  451
  dementia. Of these, about 80 per cent. are affected by Alzheimer's disease with or without another condition. Thus approximately 15,500 people are likely to be affected by the disease. Information about the location of patients in hospital, residential or nursing homes or in the community is not available.

  Attendance allowance and mobility allowance help people including Alzheimer's sufferers with the extra costs of being disabled provided they satisfy the relevant conditions. The introduction of disability living allowance in 1992 will extend help to people less severely disabled who at present do not qualify for attendance allowance or mobility allowance. In addition the carer premium payable to carers on income support or housing benefit will be increased from £10 to £10·80 a week from 8 April 1991, the date from which there will be a general benefits uprating.

  The Government's policy on community care set out in "People First" aims to promote the development of a range of flexible and sensitive services in a variety of settings to meet the needs of vulnerable people. It recognises the valuable contribution that family, relatives and friends make to community care and aims to ensure that practical support for carers is accorded a high priority.

  Local Government Superannuation
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have applied for added years under paragraph (i), (ii) and (iii) of article 16 of the Local Government (Superannuation) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 1985; and how many such applications have been refused.

  Mr. Needham
  Determination of superannuation rights is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland local government officers superannuation committee, a statutory body charged with the administration of the superannuation fund. No records are held by the Department and it is not therefore possible to provide the information requested.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those organisations and the specific number of individuals who have expressed support to the Department of Education for the introduction of student loans in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Since the publication of the White Paper "Top-Up loans for Students" (Cm520) in November 1988, some 480 representations expressing a variety of views have been received from various sources. Of these 452 were postcards sent in pursuance of a campaign mounted by student unions

  Social Security
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which social security offices in Northern Ireland are taking telephone inquiries or representations in restricted hours; what restrictions are involved; on what date they came into operation, and what is their projected duration.

  Mr. Hanley
  There are three social security offices in Northern Ireland where the telephone service to the 452
  income support section is restricted. These are Corporation street (Belfast), Londonderry and Newtownabbey. Telephone inquiries are not accepted between the hours of 12.30 pm and 5 pm

  The restriction came into effect in September 1990 and is expected to be lifted soon.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the problems which have led to time restrictions being placed on social security offices' acceptance of telephone calls and on the problems caused for claimants and welfare advice centres by these restrictions.

  Mr. Hanley
  The recent introduction of a computer system for income support necessitated a massive training and conversion programme. Despite the extra measures provided to compensate for the inevitable disruption, a few social security offices found it difficult to maintain their full services and telephone inquiries were subsequently restricted.

  Although this may have caused some inconvenience, a full caller and correspondence service continued to operate for both claimants and welfare advice agencies.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the action which is being considered to help reduce backlogs of work in local social security offices and to end restrictions on acceptance of telephone inquiries.

  Mr. Hanley
  Extra overtime and additional staff have been allocated to the three social security offices where, because of pressure of work, telephone restrictions are in operation. Officials in the Department of Health and Social Security are keeping the position under close review and it is hoped that the restrictions will end shortly.

  Electricity Supply
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications to obtain supply of electricity from the Irish Republic have been made by (1) householders and (2) commercial undertakings in each of the last 10 years; how many have been granted and refused in each of those years; to how many premises in the Irish Republic the Northern Ireland Electricity Service has made a supply available in each of those years; and what is the total number of properties in Northern Ireland which receive their supply from the Republic and vice versa.

  Mr. Needham
  The following numbers of householders and commercial undertakings in Northern Ireland applied to obtain a supply of electricity from the Irish Republic during the period 1 February 1981 to 31 January 1991:

  Year commencing I February

  Households

  Commercial undertakings

  1981

  1

  —

  1982

  —

  —

  1983

  1

  —

  1984

  1

  —

  1985

  —

  —

  1986

  —

  1

  1987

  3

  —

  1988

  1

  2

  1989

  —

  —

  1990

  1

  —

  453
  Two applications (both by commercial undertakings) were refused, one each in 1986 and 1988. I know of no premises in the Republic of Ireland which receive a supply of electricity from NIE. Information on the total number of properities in Northern Ireland which receive their supply from the Republic is not available.

  Clenbuteral
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any plans to make the drug Clenbuteral a prohibited substance.

  Mr. Hanley
  The use of the drug Clenbuteral is already prohibited under the Medicines Act 1968 except where prescribed by a veterinary surgeon for therapeutic purposes in horses and bovines.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many seizures, of what quantities, of the drug Clenbuteral have been made in Northern Ireland during the past year; and in what areas the seizures were made.

  Filled places on ACE

  District council

  1 January 1989

  1 July 1989

  1 January 1990

  1 July 1990

  Belfast

  2,814

  3,285

  3,452

  3,311

  North Down

  119

  149

  185

  186

  Lisburn

  345

  382

  479

  412

  Newtownards

  148

  184

  210

  181

  Down

  195

  190

  211

  193

  Castlereagh

  115

  145

  153

  132

  Carrickfergus

  184

  197

  207

  191

  Larne

  107

  124

  121

  110

  Ballymena

  162

  198

  209

  232

  Antrim

  186

  204

  202

  203

  Moyle

  81

  114

  132

  127

  Coleraine

  128

  214

  224

  220

  Magherafelt

  171

  222

  247

  232

  Ballymoney

  67

  128

  171

  167

  Newtownabbey

  236

  324

  353

  342

  Cookstown

  145

  171

  171

  168

  Dungannon

  357

  382

  391

  388

  Armagh

  138

  234

  281

  245

  Banbridge

  95

  110

  127

  116

  Craigavon

  328

  356

  371

  373

  Newry and Mourne

  561

  639

  648

  611

  Derry

  747

  985

  1,050

  883

  Limavady

  95

  118

  185

  196

  Strabane

  226

  314

  307

  298

  Fermanagh

  243

  278

  316

  296

  Omagh

  224

  223

  255

  233

  Totals

  8,217

  9,870

  10,658

  10,046

  Education
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the level of funding for universities, teacher education colleges and further education colleges in Northern Ireland for the past five years(a) in real terms and (b) in terms of resources per student together with the numbers of students both full time and part time.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: The information is as follows:
  454
  Mr. Hanley
  There have been two seizures as follows:

  Ballygawley, Co. Tyrone:—

  32 × 500 ml plastic containers of the drug in liquid form.

  Aughnacloy, Co. Tyrone:—

  13 × 1 kilo plastic bags of the drug in powder form.

  Mr. William, Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any deaths in Northern Ireland during the past two years have been attributed to the use of the drug Clenbuteral by livestock owners which was inhaled during the feeding of the drug to cattle.

  Mr. Hanley
  None of which we are aware.

  Action for Community Employment
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons were employed on ACE schemes in each council district in Northern Ireland at 1 January and 1 July in each of the past two years.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is as follows:

  Recurrent grant

  Financial years (1 April to 31 March)

  Real terms

  Universities

  Colleges of education

  Further education colleges

  Total

  Year

  £'000s

  £'000s

  £'000s

  £'000s

  1985–86

  76,956

  6,279

  59,769

  143,004

  1986–87

  75,541

  5,884

  63,386

  144,811

  1987–88

  79,683

  6,346

  66,008

  152,037

  1988–89

  79,717

  6,476

  68,817

  155,010

  1989–90

  82,194

  6,788

  165,021

  154,003

  1 Figures for 1989–90 exclude academic salary increases paid in 1990–91.

  455

  Student numbers Academic years (1 August to 31 July)

  Universities

  Colleges of education

  Further education colleges

  Year

  F/T

  P/T

  FTE

  F/T

  P/T

  FTE

  F/T

  P/T

  FTE

  1985–86

  14,622

  5,224

  17,495

  1,130

  n/a

  n/a

  15,139

  39,931

  25

  1986–87

  14,973

  5,123

  17,791

  1,189

  n/a

  n/a

  15,699

  37,595

  26

  1987–88

  15,505

  5,339

  18,441

  1,271

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  28

  1988–89

  15,976

  5,527

  19,016

  1,355

  n/a

  n/a

  15,619

  41,089

  30

  1989–90

  16,503

  5,881

  19,738

  1,410

  n/a

  n/a

  17,062

  41,622

  31

  Notes: F/T, P/T and FTE denote respectively full-time, and full-time-equivalent students.

  Part-time student numbers for the colleges of education are not available.

  Recurrent grant per student, real terms

  Universities

  Colleges of education

  Further education colleges

  Year

  Grant

  FTE

  Grant per FTE

  Grant

  F/T

  Grant per F/T student

  Grant

  FTE

  Grant per FTE

  £000

  £

  £000

  £

  £000

  £

  1985–86

  76,956

  17,495

  4,399

  6,279

  1,130

  5,557

  59,769

  25,909

  2,307

  1986–87

  75,541

  17,791

  4,246

  5,884

  1,189

  4,949

  63,386

  26,335

  2,407

  1987–88

  79,683

  18,441

  4,321

  6,346

  1,271

  4,993

  66,008

  28,143

  2,346

  1988–89

  79,717

  19,016

  4,192

  6,476

  1,355

  4,779

  68,817

  30,140

  2,283

  1989–90

  82,194

  19,738

  4,164

  6,788

  1,410

  4,814

  65,021

  31,009

  2,097

  The absence of part-time student numbers for the colleges of education means that their grant per student figures are not comparable with those for universities and further education colleges.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  Appointments
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether he will arrange for the post of Director of Finance and Administration for the House of Commons to be re-advertised substituting `s/he' for the word 'he' in the original advertisement.

  Mr. Beith
  No. The original advertisements for the post of Director of Finance and Administration made it clear that the House of Commons is an equal opportunities employer. There are several female candidates among the very large number of applicants who have responded to these advertisements, and applications for the post are now being considered. If it were to prove necessary to re-advertise the post because none of the applicants was suitable for appointment, the availability of the post to candidates of either sex would be emphasised.

  Visual Display Units
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what health advice is available to the staff of the House and, in particular, to those who work with visual display units.

  Mr. Beith
  [holding answer 22 February 1991]: A nursing sister was appointed to the House in 1977 and has been available for consultation by Members and staff since then. The House also has arrangements for access to the civil service occupational health service. In addition, arrangements have been made in the past for workplace cervical screening.
  456
  On 16 July 1990 the House of Commons Commission approved the establishment of an occupational health service for staff of the House of Commons. The House of Lords will participate in the scheme on a cost-sharing basis.

  The service will be staffed by a qualified medical adviser and the equivalent of two full-time nursing advisers. They will have the professional support of the occupational health department of St. Thomas's hospital on a contractual basis. The service is expected to begin on 1 March.

  The new unit will provide a range of medical and occupational health services for staff of both Houses, such as pre-employment screening, referrals in respect of long-term sickness, the maintenance of health standards, and the routine screening of certain occupations.

  In advance of using visual display units, staff are encouraged to take an eye test administered by the nursing sister. If any defect in eyesight is revealed the member of staff is referred to an optician. If spectacles are prescribed for use with VDUs, financial provision is available to cover their cost and the cost of the eye test.

  Staff working with VDUs are issued with a guidance booklet published by the Health and Safety Executive on the ergonomic aspects of their work. A more comprehensive publication produced jointly by CCTA and the Council of Civil Service Unions is issued to the departmental managers of staff operating VDUs.

  In addition, inspections of the ergonomic aspects of working with VDUs are carried out from time to time in departments of the House to establish good working practices. Once the occupational health service is established, these inspections will be arranged on a regular basis.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Libya
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the development of underground storage depots for chemical and nuclear arms in Libya.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are aware of press reports of an underground facility near Sebha, several hundred miles south of Tripoli, which may be connected with Libya's chemical weapons development programme. We are not aware of any underground storage depots for nuclear weapons in Libya. It is not our practice to comment publicly on information which may be available to us on such matters.

  Baltic States
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to allow the accredited diplomatic representatives of the Baltic states to nominate their successors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Baltic states have no diplomatic representatives accredited to the Court of St. James's, though one individual continues to enjoy certain privileges as a matter of courtesy. The question therefore does not arise.

  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's current policy regarding the granting of diplomatic accreditation to representatives of the Baltic states.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Baltic states do not fulfil the conditions for recognition as independent sovereign states. The question of diplomatic accreditation for their representatives therefore does not arise. We continue, however, to extend certain diplomatic courtesies on a personal basis to the sole surviving member of the pre-war Baltic legations.

  Yemen
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why British subjects have been asked to leave the Republic of Yemen.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We considered that there was a high risk to the safety of British nationals in the Republic of Yemen from public demonstrations and violence against those nations allied against Iraq. On 14 January we therefore advised all British nationals whose continued presence was not essential to leave until the situation became clearer.

  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the United Kingdom Government's policy towards the new administration in the Republic of Yemen.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We welcomed the unification of the YAR and the PDRY, which was announced on 22 May 1990, and have enjoyed good relations with the new administration. However, in recent months we have differed over their response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

  Mr. Brian Angel
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the Zimbabwe police report given to the High Commissioner on the murder in Harare of Mr. Brian Angel, a United Kingdom citizen.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The police report is not in the public domain, but the Zimbabwean authorities have been asked whether a copy may be placed in the House of Commons Library, as requested.

  There is to be a public inquiry into Mr. Angel's death in Harare on 1 March 1991.

  Lebanon
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further action he intends to enforce the UNIFIL mandate in south Lebanon.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Twelve reaffirmed in their declaration on the Gulf of 19 February their strong support for the full implementation of the Taif agreement as the means to achieve national reconciliation in a Lebanon free of all foreign troops. We shall continue to support UNIFIL's contribution to this task.

  Occupied Territories
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any further evidence that Israel is easing the curfew in the occupied Israeli territories.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Israelis reimposed curfews on the west bank and much of Gaza from 24 February. However, the daytime curfew has been lifted over the south of the Gaza strip and in Gaza city. Our consulate general in Jerusalem is continuing to monitor the situation carefully.

  The Gulf
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the role of the United Nations in co-ordinating the campaign to defeat the environmental pollution of the Gulf by the release of Iraqi oil.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Two United Nations specialised agencies have been principally involved in efforts to tackle the oil spills in the Gulf and their environmental consequences. The United Nations environment programme has sent its own team of experts to the Gulf to assess the situation and prepare a report for the UN Secretary-General. The International Maritime Organisation, based iii` London, is acting as a clearing house for the matching of specific requirements on site with specific offers of assistance in tackling the oil spills. We strongly support the efforts of both these agencies, and are providing administrative support to the IMO.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the statement of the Minister of State on 21 February, on the nature of the Soviet peace proposals, if he will specify what aspects of the proposals are unacceptable to the Government as a basis for settlement of the Gulf conflict.
  459
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Although certainly an improvement on earlier proposals, those emerging from Soviet/Iraqi talks on 19 February nevertheless did not constitute unconditional compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.

  Mr. Flyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policy reasons underpinned the decision by the allied military commanders to refuse to promise safe air passage to his Iraqi counterpart on his recent diplomatic visit from Baghdad to Moscow.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: No request for safe air passage was made by the Iraqi authorities. As we have made clear, allied forces have instructions to attack only military targets and facilities supporting the occupation of Kuwait.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports of abuses of human rights in Israel and the occupied territories he has received; what representations he has made on behalf of Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We receive various reports of alleged human rights abuses in Israel and the occupied territories. Subjects raised recently include the economic deprivation of Palestinians under lengthy curfew, the holding of Palestinians in prison in Israel, the detention without trial of Palestinian leaders and the deportation of four Palestinians from the occupied territories in January. We have raised all these issues with the Israelis and regularly remind them of their obligation to administer the occupied territories in accordance with the fourth Geneva convention.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports have been received concerning violations of human rights in Iran since 1979, what representations, and on what date, were made by Her Majesty's Government to the Government of Iran; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have received a large number of reports of human rights abuses in Iran since 1979. With our EC partners, we have frequently expressed our deep concern about these reports both through the United Nations and whenever possible directly to the Iranians. They will be well aware of the need to reply in detail to all the allegations contained in the UN special representative's reports.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning human rights in Egypt; what representations have been made to the Government of Egypt by Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have received a number of representations about the alleged persecution of Christians in Egypt. These relate to a particular case now before the Egyptian courts. This matter is sub judice, but we are watching developments. The attention of the Egyptian authorities has been drawn to growing public interest in the case.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received 460
  of violations of human rights in Turkey; what representations Her Majesty's Government have made about these; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 29 October 1990 at column 389. Since then, the issue of human rights has been raised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with the Turkish Foreign Minister on 13 January.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of violations of human rights in(a) Oman, (b) Qatar, (c) Bahrain and (d) the United Arab Emirates; what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are aware of reports from bodies such as Amnesty International of allegations of human rights abuses in some of the Gulf states, although we have seen no such reports in the case of Oman. We deplore all human rights violations, wherever they may occur. The Governments of the Gulf states are well aware of the importance we attach to the observance of international human rights standards throughout the world.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will instruct the United Kingdom ambassador to the United Nations to raise the problem of human rights abuses in East Timor at the earliest opportunity in the UN Security Council.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The appropriate UN forum for this issue at the moment is the Commission on Human Rights. The joint statement by the EC to the present session of UNHCR will refer to East Timor.

  El Salvador
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the talks between the Government of El Salvador and the FMLN.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We understand that regular talks under UN auspices are held between the Government of El Salvador and the FMLN. We have frequently made clear to all concerned the importance we attach to a successful outcome.

  Kuwait
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made concerning democracy in Kuwait between 1986 and 2 August 1990 and since 2 August 1990; and what discussions about the restoration of the 1962 constitution have been held with the Emir of Kuwait.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Future constitutional arrangements will be a matter for the Government and people of Kuwait. The Kuwait national conference held in Jedda in October 1990 agreed that there should be a return to the provisions of the 1962 constitution as soon as possible after liberation.

  We welcome the Kuwaiti Crown Prince and Prime Minister's recent public reiteration of the Government's

  461
  commitment to popular participation under this constitution, including new elections for the National Assembly after liberation.

  Western Sahara
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent advice his Department has given to United Kingdom citizens engaged in humanitarian relief work in the west Sahara area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have received no request for advice from British citizens engaged in humanitarian relief work in the western Sahara.

  If the hon. Member would be so kind as to write to me specifying which type of advice he has in mind I shall see that he receives a full reply.

HEALTH

  Health Services, Kent
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) in each health authority covering the Kent area how many hospitals have been(a) closed and (b) partially closed since March 1979;

  Total number of in-patient and day cases treated in Kent in years 1979 and 1989–90

  1979

  1989–90

  District health authority

  In-patients

  Day cases

  In-patients

  Day cases

  Discharges and deaths1

  South East Kent

  21,560

  1,458

  36,091

  5,698

  Canterbury and Thanet

  38,849

  2,629

  48,340

  5,518

  Dartford and Gravesend

  25,023

  2,322

  28,971

  3,176

  Maidstone

  16,692

  2,182

  25,552

  6,403

  Medway

  28,759

  5,576

  35,344

  3,215

  Tunbridge Wells

  29,313

  2,823

  32,770

  5,907

  Bexley

  16,601

  2,674

  23,788

  4,888

  Bromley

  29,822

  4,075

  34,563

  6,429

  1 Figures for 1979 relate to discharges and deaths. Figures for 1989–90 relate to finished consultant episodes.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute and non-acute hospital beds there were in each health authority covering the Kent area in(a) March 1979 and (b) March 1990.

  Average daily number of available beds (wards open overnight only) and number of patients treated for acute and non-acute specialties in Kent in years 1979 and 1989–90

  1979

  1989–90

  District Health Authority

  Acute

  Non-Acute

  Acute

  Non-Acute

  Average daily number of available beds:

  South East Kent

  549

  454

  557

  471

  Canterbury and Thanet

  990

  1,936

  756

  1,027

  Dartford and Gravesham

  661

  1,985

  491

  690

  Maidstone

  415

  1,326

  339

  695

  Medway

  570

  421

  559

  360

  Tunbridge Wells

  830

  1,589

  660

  725

  Bexley

  391

  1,262

  267

  728

  Bromley

  879

  1,712

  598

  1,026

  Discharges and deaths1

  South East Kent

  16,671

  4,889

  27,964

  8,127

  Canterbury and Thanet

  30,156

  8,693

  37,886

  10,454

  Dartford and Gravesham

  18,446

  6,577

  22,262

  6,709

  Maidstone

  12,543

  4,149

  19,958

  5,594

  Medway

  20,759

  8,000

  25,614

  9,730

  Tunbridge Wells

  23,781

  5,532

  27,147

  5,623

  Bexley

  11,755

  4,846

  15,527

  8,261

  Bromley

  23,022

  6,800

  24,905

  9,658

  1 Figures for 1979 relate to discharges and deaths. Figures for 1989–90 relate to finished consultant episodes.

  462
  (2) in each health authority covering the Kent area how many hospital units have been (a) closed and (b) partially closed since March 1979.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We do not hold information centrally about closures of hospital units or partial closures of hospitals. Information about hospitals which have been approved for total closure following formal consultation is as follows:

  District Health Authority

  Number of hospitals closed 1 January 1979 to 31 December 1989

  Bexley

  0

  Bromley

  3

  Canterbury and Thanet

  1

  Dartford and Gravesham

  0

  Maidstone

  1

  Medway

  1

  South East Kent

  0

  Tunbridge Wells

  5

  The following table shows the extent to which the eight health authorities which cover the Kent area have increased in-patient treatment and day cases over the same period—1 January 1979 to 31 December 1989.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Figures for available beds and for patients treated are shown in the table.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, further to his reply of 18 January,Official Report, columns 417–18, if he will make it his policy to publish in draft form any new indicators relating to long-standing illness or disabilities which may be used for standard spending assessments; and if he will consult widely on any such proposals before they are formally introduced.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Any proposed amendment to the standard spending assessment will be subject to consultation with the local authority associations and will be published in draft form.

  Cervical Cancer
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women have died from cervical cancer in each of the past 10 years; if he will give the figures by region and district; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Operations
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the cancellation of operations in the Wigan health authority area; and if he will will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  None.

  Audit Commission
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements have been made with the Audit Commission for the publication of the comparative figures from their health authority audit profiles.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The health authority audit profiles are sent to each of the authorities concerned by the commission. There are no arrangements for them to be published.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether reports by the Audit Commission on NHS self-governing trusts will be publicly available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Reports by the Audit Commission, on the audit of NHS trusts or any other body, are made to the management of the body audited and are not published by the commission. Section 18 of the Local Government Finance Act 1982 provides that certain reports cannot be excluded from material supplied to the press.

  Firework Injuries
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost to the health service of treating injuries caused by fireworks in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information on which to base such an estimate is not available.

  Health Education Authority
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the work of the Health Education Authority.
  464
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Health Education Authority was established in 1987 to undertake health education activity. Its current work concentrates on seven major education programmes—HIV, AIDS and sexual health; "Look After Your Heart"; cancer; smoking; alcohol; nutrition and dental health; and family and child health. The HEA initiates and supports a wide range of public information campaigns through mass media publicity and promotional events. In providing support to those in direct contact with the public, the HEA gives priority to developing and supporting health education in primary health care services, schools, colleges and youth settings, the workplace and local health promotion. Government funding of the HEA will exceed £30 million in 1991–92.

  Family Planning
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to replace the current dual system for general practitioners and clinic services as the funding system for family planning services, with a single method source of payment.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  An important feature of the reformed NHS in England is the bringing together of district health authorities and family health services authorities as partners in health care provision accountable to regional health authorities. RHAs will be able to ensure that DHAs and FHSAs work together to make most effective use of available resources and to develop a more integrated and balanced family planning service responsive to local needs, taking account of the need for consumer choice.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further steps he is taking to help local authority social services departments implement their inspection and registration responsibilities for adult residential homes; and what contacts he has had with local authority and private residential care interests on these subjects.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  On 13 February, the chief social services' inspector in the Department issued "Inspecting for Quality—Guidance on Practice for Inspection Units in Social Services Departments and other Agencies". He also issued a paper entitled, "Inspection Units for Adults: Training Implications" to help with the training of inspection and registration staff. I am placing copies of this material in the Library. On the same day, with my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Social Security, I met representatives of a number of private residential care associations with representatives of the Association of County Councils and the Association of Metropolitan Authorities. At this meeting, we explored constructively issues that may arise in the relationship between private home owners and the registration and inspection officials of social services departments. The introduction of inspection units on 1 April 1991, with the new procedures for handling complaints, represent the first phase of the community care policies which the Government will implement in full by April 1993.

  Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full and part-time staff are employed in the Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys and at what cost; and what are their tasks.

  Mr. Dorrell
  At 1 February 1991, 2,297 full-time and 112 part-time staff were employed in the Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys. The estimated cost for the current financial year is £32,506,000, including salaries, national insurance costs and some superannuation.

  The staff carry out a broad range of tasks. These include preparation for the 1991 census of population, a variety of statistical work, designing, executing and publishing reports of surveys carried out for other Government Departments, maintaining the national health service central register and administration of the laws relating to births, death and marriage registration.

  In support of these activities, staff are also employed in developing and maintaining information technology systems and in providing personnel, finance, accommodation and management information services.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys is to conduct, commission or participate in a longitudinal survey of individuals, or information relating to individuals, obtained through the 1991 national census.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The OPCS has no plans to conduct, commission or participate in a longitudinal survey based on the 1991 census. Such a survey would entail repeated interviewing of a sample of the population over a period of time. However, the OPCS administers a longitudinal study which can be used to link together, when required, data for a 1 per cent. sample of the population of England and Wales to produce statistical tables. The study includes the information from the various records of events held by the OPCS. The events include the 1971 and 1981 censuses, births and deaths and so on. The study provides additional insights in the process of changes over time and increases the usefulness of information collected by the OPCS. As announced in the winter 1989 issue of "Population Trends", a copy of which is in the Library, the OPCS plans to include the appropriate sample of records from the 1991 census in the study.

  Maternity Services
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how district health authorities will make decisions about which hospitals to place contracts with for maternity services;

  (2) whether women will have a free choice of where to have their baby within the national health service after April 1991;

  (3) how decisions will be made, for each district health authority, about drawing on the contingency reserve for maternity services.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  District health authorities will seek the views of their residents on where they prefer to be treated through consultation with local GPs and organisations representing patients' interests. DHAs objectives will be to place their contracts in line with these preferences.
  466
  Health authorities will make provision to pay for the likely volume of referrals which are not covered by existing contracts. They will release those resources in response to demand.

  Decisions about where women have their babies will therefore continue to be a matter for discussion between the mother, her GP and relevant health professionals. A key advantage of the reforms will be the improved arrangements to give practical effect to such decisions.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) for each district health authority, if he will state (i) the total amount and (ii) the percentage of the budget for contracts which has been set aside as a contingency reserve for extra-contractual referrals for maternity services;

  (2) if he will list for each district health authority (a) the districts and hospitals with which they have placed contracts for maternity services and (b) the number of births contracted for in each hospital and in each district.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Health authorities are in the course of making decisions on these matters in preparation for the introduction of NHS contracts in April. This information is not held centrally.

  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for(a) each district health authority and (b) for each of the last three years (i) the number of women who gave birth in hospitals within their local district health authority, (ii) the number of women who gave birth in hospitals outside their local district health authority and (iii) for women giving birth out of their local district health authority, (1) a list of the districts and hospitals where they had babies, and (2) for each district and each hospital, the number of women who had their babies there.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally.

  Patient Services
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he is satisfied that there will not be a conflict of interest in cases where the same solicitor is acting for both parties when drawing up a purchaser/provider contract for patient services;

  (2) what guidance is given to health authorities and national health service trusts on the use of solicitors when drawing up purchaser/provider contracts for patient services under section 4 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A decision on whether to use solicitors when drawing up national health service contracts is for health service bodies themselves. No guidance has been issued.

  Whether a solicitor should be prepared to act for both parties, and whether there is a potential conflict of interest, is a question of professional conduct.

  Health Authority Spending
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish expenditure per capita by each regional health authority in England, indicating in the presentation of figures any distortions because of non-regional specialist units and teaching hospitals situated in each regional health authority.
  467
  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 6 February 1991]: Following is information derivable from 1989–90 annual accounts submitted to the Department:

  Total Revenue Expenditure on Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) Per Head of Resident Population—1989–90

  Region

  £ (cash)

  Northern

  281

  Yorkshire

  267

  Trent

  259

  East Anglian

  258

  North West Thames

  294

  North East Thames

  338

  South East Thames

  305

  South West Thames

  304

  Wessex

  247

  Oxford

  232

  South Western

  262

  West Midlands

  265

  Mersey

  291

  North Western

  293

  Sources:

  1. Annual accounts of regional and district health authorities for
  468
  1989–90.

  2. Mid 1989 estimates of resident population (Office of Population Censuses and Surveys).

  Notes:

  1. Revenue expenditure on HCHS covers the total revenue expenditure by the health authorities concerned including that on hospital, community health, patient transport (i.e. ambulance), blood transfusion and other services. All capital expenditure and expenditure on family health services (formerly family practitioner services) is excluded.

  2. Expenditure by the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals is excluded but expenditure by regional and district health authorities on non-regional specialist units and teaching hospitals is not separately identifiable in their accounts and cannot be similarly excluded.

  3. Figures of expenditure per head of resident population vary between regions for a number of reasons other than the location of specialist units and teaching facilities. For example:

  (a) people quite commonly cross regional boundaries for treatment and the population figures make no allowance for this or for differences in the age/sex structure and morbidity of particular populations.

  (b) the expenditure figures for the Thames regions will be influenced by the payment of London weighting allowances to staff employed in relevant districts and by a generally higher level of costs than pertains in other parts of the country.

DEFENCE

  Defence Export Services Organisation
  Ms. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will be considering the future of the Defence Export Services Organisation in the light of local representations and international events.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  No.

  Quality Assurance Unit
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of apprentices with the quality assurance unit who were recruited in Teesside.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Fourteen of the DGDQA's apprentices were recruited from the north-east in 1990 out of a total of 49. There is also one apprentice from that region in his final year of training.

  Equipment Procurement
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations there have been between his Department, the relevant employers, and trade unions concerning(a) the European fighter aircraft programme and (b) the proposed replacement of the Challenger 1 battle tank.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Consultations take place, as required, between my Department and relevant companies and trade unions on a range of projects.

  Jordan (Arms Sales)
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations he has received on the sale of arms and ammunition to Jordan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Apart from a question from the hon. Member for Rhondda (Mr. Rogers) on 17 May 1990 at column 520, none.

  The Gulf
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contact the Red Cross has had with Iraqi personnel held as prisoners of war in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Saudi Arabia.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The International Committee of the Red Cross has full access to Iraqi prisoners of war for whom the United Kingdom is responsible. It has visited all those held in the United Kingdom and will visit those recently captured in the Gulf in due course. We understand that the committee has also had access to prisoners of war for whom the United States and Saudi Arabia are responsible, as required by the third Geneva convention.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what response the Red Cross has had from the Iraqi authorities regarding captured British service personnel.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We understand that the International Committee of the Red Cross has made repeated approaches to the Iraqi authorities regarding captured allied prisoners of war, but that Iraq has so far 470
  failed to meet its obligations under the third Geneva convention to provide personal details and access. The British Government continue to pursue the matter as being of the gravest concern.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of(a) RAF, (b) Army and (c) Royal Navy personnel serving in the Gulf area on 1 August, 1 September, 1 October, 1 November and 1 December 1990, 1 January and 1 February; what is the current total cost beyond normal estimated spending; and if he will make a statement on his current estimate of the likely total personal and financial commitment.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  For reasons of operational security it has been our practice not to break down manpower figures between the three services. The approximate total numbers of British forces personnel committed to Operation Granby for the dates requested are:

  Number

  1 September 1990

  5,000

  1 October 1990

  15,000

  1 November 1990

  16,000

  1 December 1990

  30,000

  1 January 1991

  35,000

  1 February 1991

  40,000

  About 1,000 British service personnel were in the Gulf area on 1 August, including the Armilla patrol and military training personnel and advisors. We have no plans at present for further major developments of personnel.

  The current additional cost of the United Kingdom's deployment is more than £1·5 billion. The final financial commitment will depend on a number of factors, not least of which is the duration of the conflict, but we could incur very considerable costs in the consumption of weapons and ammunition, raising the total bill, assuming replacement over several years, to the area of £3 billion.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether benzodiazepines are being prescribed to pilots in the Gulf between missions to help them sleep.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Temazepam, a type of benzodiazepine, is being prescribed in low doses under very strict medical control to assist RAF pilots to sleep on return from sorties in the Gulf.

  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will provide alternative means to the blue aerogrammes for families and friends to communicate with troops in the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have no plans to provide alternative means to the blue aerogramme for families and friends to communicate with troops in the Gulf.

  The 'bluey' is well recognised by both civil and military postal staff and attracts first-class priority handling. There have been reported shortages of the aerogramme in some civil post offices, but this should not recur. Regular, substantial supplies are being delivered to the post office supplies division at Swindon and post offices should face no problems in replenishing their stocks.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners (Overseas)
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the current total annual cost of paying pensions to British pensioners residing in Canada;

  (2) what is the most recent estimate of the number of British pensioners residing in Canada.

  Mr. Jack
  The total cost of paying retirement benefit pension and widow's benefit to British beneficiaries residing in Canada in the 12-month period from January to December 1990 was approximately £82 million. The number of British pensioners and widows residing there was just over 100,000 at 31 December 1990.

  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost of index-linking the pensions paid to British pensioners in Canada; and on what basis such an estimate is made.

  Mr. Jack
  To pay full United Kingdom rates of retirement pension and widows benefit immediately would cost an estimated £119 million in the first year. This figure, which is at April 1991 rates of benefit, is based on the actual cost of uprating the benefits in payment to a 2·5 per cent. random sample of beneficiaries in receipt of United Kingdom retirement pensions and widow's benefit in Canada in March 1987. The base figure has been updated to take account of benefit increases since then and of the number of pensioners and widows resident in Canada at 31 December 1990. If comparable increases were made in respect of all countries where annual pension increases are not currently made, the total cost would be about £287 million in the first year.

  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of British state pensioners living overseas, by country, who are in receipt of(a) an index-linked British state pension and (b) a non-index-linked British state pension.

  Mr. Jack
  The tables show the overseas countries where United Kingdom pensioners are known to live and the number of pensioners living there at 31 December 1990. Table(a) lists the countries where annual pension increases are paid, and table (b) where they are not.

  Table (A): number of retirement pensioners and widows benefit beneficiaries in overseas countries where annual increases are paid

  Country

  Number

  Alderney

  464

  Austria

  3,086

  Belgium

  4,162

  Bermuda

  364

  Cyprus

  3,783

  Denmark

  439

  Finland

  85

  France (including Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique and Reunion Island)

  8,195

  Germany

  16,041

  Gibraltar

  435

  Greece

  1,208

  Guernsey

  5,007

  Iceland

  32

  Irish Republic

  62,240

  Israel

  2,681

  Italy

  13,916

  Jamaica

  15,378

  Jersey

  6,997

  472

  Country

  Number

  Luxembourg

  89

  Malta

  1,917

  Mauritius

  180

  Netherlands

  3,474

  Philippines

  110

  Portugal (including Madeira)

  2,338

  Sark

  78

  Spain (including the Balearic and Canary Islands)

  22,593

  Sweden

  234

  Switzerland

  2,151

  Turkey

  341

  United States of America

  60,318

  Yugoslavia

  952

  Total

  239,288

  Table B: Number of retirement pensioners and widows benefit beneficiaries in overseas countries where annual pension increases are not paid

  Country

  Number

  Albania

  5

  Algeria

  3

  Andorra

  164

  Angola

  2

  Anguilla

  77

  Antigua and Barbuda

  210

  Argentina

  191

  Ascencion Island

  4

  Australia

  138,668

  Bahamas

  145

  Bahrain

  23

  Bangladesh

  3,640

  Barbados

  1,432

  Belize

  20

  Benin

  2

  Bolivia

  8

  Botswana

  71

  Brazil

  241

  Brunei

  17

  Bulgaria

  8

  Burma

  3

  Burundi

  1

  Canada

  101,723

  Cayman Islands

  53

  Central African Republic

  3

  Chile

  74

  China

  17

  Colombia

  24

  Cook Islands

  6

  Costa Rica

  14

  Cote D'Ivoire

  1

  Cuba

  2

  Czechoslovakia

  46

  Djibouti

  64

  Dominica, Commonwealth of

  474

  Dominican Republic

  156

  Ecuador

  14

  Egypt

  53

  El Salvador

  1

  Ethiopia

  33

  Falkland Islands and Dependencies

  12

  Faroe Islands

  5

  Fiji

  34

  Gambia

  20

  Ghana

  74

  Grenada

  579

  Guatemala

  8

  Guinea

  1

  Guyana

  181

  Haiti

  1

  Honduras

  4

  Hong Kong

  581

  Hungary

  195

  India

  3,546

  Indonesia

  26

  Iran

  3

  473

  Country

  Number

  Japan

  60

  Jordan

  12

  Kenya

  498

  Kiribati

  3

  Kuwait

  7

  Lebanon

  16

  Lesotho

  8

  Liberia

  3

  Libya

  5

  Macau

  4

  Madagascar

  2

  Malawi

  72

  Malaysia (including Sarawak)

  93

  Maldive Islands

  2

  Mali

  1

  Mauritania

  1

  Mexico

  100

  Monaco

  212

  Mongolia

  1

  Montserrat

  268

  Morocco

  45

  Mozambique

  2

  Namibia

  15

  Nauru

  1

  Nepal

  15

  Netherlands Antilles

  7

  New Zealand

  30,494

  Nicaragua

  3

  Nigeria

  165

  Norfolk Island

  13

  Norway

  246

  Oman

  19

  Pakistan

  6,582

  Panama

  6

  Papua New Guinea

  13

  Paraguay

  3

  Peru

  48

  Poland

  2,375

  Qatar

  9

  Romania

  15

  Rwanda

  1

  St. Helena and Dependencies

  44

  St. Kitts-Nevis

  369

  St. Lucia

  688

  St. Vincent

  410

  San Marino

  2

  Saudi Arabia

  52

  Senegal

  8

  Seychelles

  40

  Sierra Leone

  51

  Singapore

  96

  Solomon Islands

  6

  Somalia

  99

  South Africa

  31,347

  South Korea

  3

  Sri Lanka

  181

  Sudan

  8

  Swaziland

  73

  Syria

  4

  Tahiti

  1

  Tanzania

  10

  Thailand

  33

  Togo

  111

  Tonga

  2

  Trinidad and Tobago

  4

  Tunisia

  397

  Turks & Caicos Islands

  9

  Tuvalu

  2

  Uganda

  22

  United Arab Emirates

  75

  USSR

  774

  Uruguay

  20

  Vanuatu (New Hebrides)

  2

  Vatican City

  1

  Venezuela

  38

  Virgin Islands (British)

  26

  Western Samoa

  12

  474

  Country

  Number

  Yemen Arab Republic (North)

  1,633

  Zaire

  2

  Zambia

  174

  Zimbabwe

  4,902

  Total

  336,157

  Notes:

  a) There were a further 1,760 pensioners and widows whose country of residence was not known at the time the figures were prepared.

  b) The tables include 10,584 pensioners and 359 widows to whom the Department is making payment on behalf of the Northern Ireland Authorities.

  Fraud
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, by region, the allocated number of staff days for fraud work covering the period 1 April 1990 to 31 December 1990; and what was the number used.

  Mr. Jack
  The Department allocates resources for the investigation of fraud on a yearly basis in terms of posts. The number of posts allocated to benefit fraud work by region, for the year 1990–91, are shown in the table, with the number of staff days actually used on fraud work by region during the period 1 April 1990 to 31 December 1990.

  Regions

  Allocated complement for fraud work 1990–91

  Staff days used on fraud work 1 April 1990 to 31 December 1990

  North East

  469

  61,855·0

  Midlands

  518

  61,625·3

  London North

  472

  60,130·2

  London South

  502

  52,325·6

  Wales and South West

  436

  52,243·5

  North West

  433

  53,314·5

  Scotland

  359

  43,336·5

  Total

  3,189

  384,830·6

  Social Fund
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the changes in priority categories used for allocating grants from the social fund since its introduction, for each of the local offices where the criteria have changed.

  Mr. Scott
  This information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will visit Glasgow, Pollok to meet parent groups to discuss his plans for child benefit.

  Mr. Jack
  I shall visit Glasgow on 28 February as part of a long-term programme of tightly scheduled visits to local offices but, unfortunately, the time available on this occasion does not allow for meeting parent groups as the hon. Member suggests.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy not to implement the Housing Benefit (General) Amendment No. 3 Regulations 1990, S.I. 1990/2564, before they have been considered by the House or a Committee of the House.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Housing Benefit (General) Amendment No. 3 Regulations 1990 were laid before Parliament on 19 December 1990 and came into force on 14 January 1991. The regulations are subject to negative procedure and will continue in force unless the negative resolution to be debated in Standing Committee shortly is approved.

  Family Credit
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide illustrative examples of people who would be(a) better off and (b) worse off claiming family credit once the condition of entitlement is reduced from 24 hours to 16 hours.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: The extent to which people will be better off claiming family credit as a result of the change in the hours threshold for family credit will vary according to factors such as the hours worked, hourly rates of pay, family size and age of children.

  For example, based on the methods and assumptions in the DSS tax benefit model tables, a lone parent with one child aged three years and weekly earnings from part-time employment of around £40 for between 16 and 24 hours work would experience an increase in net income, after paying rent and community charge, as a result of being eligible for family credit under the new rule.

  Similarly, a lone parent with one child aged eight years and weekly earnings of around £70 for between 16 and 24 hours work who does not currently qualify for income support would be better off as a result of becoming eligible for family credit.

  There will also be a number of people who are currently on income support but not in work but who, as a result of the change, will decide to boost their incomes by taking a job working 16 hours or more which will enable them to qualify for family credit, and thus be better off.

  No existing beneficiaries will be worse off as a result of the change, since transitional protection will ensure that there is no loss of benefit for those already on income support and working between 16 and 24 hours at the point of change. However, for some claiming thereafter, for example a couple with a large family and a large mortgage, the combination of earnings from 16 and 24 hours work plus family credit will be less than they would have received from 16 and 24 hours work plus income support.

EMPLOYMENT

  Small Businesses
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) men and (b) women are employed in small businesses in 1991; and what was the figure for 1979.

  Mr. Forth
  Small businesses employing fewer than 20 people employed 7 million people in 1986, the latest year 476
  for which figures are available, compared with only 5·4 million in 1979. Separate figures for men and women are not available.

  Training
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how he intends to improve the numbers receiving training in work.

  Mr. Howard
  The main responsibility for training people in work must lie with their employers. They will receive support and encouragement through the network of training and enterprise councils in England and Wales, and local enterprise companies in Scotland and through the investors in people initiative which will encourage employers to invest in all their employers.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the numbers of employees receiving training in Britain.

  Mr. Jackson
  Figures from the labour force survey show that in the spring of 1989, 3·1 million employees received job-related training in the four weeks prior to the survey. This was an increase of more than 70 per cent. compared with the same period in 1984.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many training and enterprise councils are now established; and how many more are being planned.

  Mr. Howard
  Excellent progress is being made in setting up training and enterprise councils. All 82 TECs in England and Wales are now in place and 51 are fully operational. By the summer, the full network will be up and running—a full two years ahead of schedule.

  Tourism
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met the chairman of the British tourist board to discuss the state of the tourist industry in Britain.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State last met the chairman of the British Tourist Authority on 10 December.

  In the light of the present difficulties of the tourist industry, £800,000 has been made available to enable the English tourist board, working closely with the authority and the three other national tourist boards, to launch a major campaign next month to ensure that United Kingdom residents are aware of the opportunities for taking a holiday in the United Kingdom. My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State has also decided to make available to the BTA a further £800,000 on top of the grant in aid already agreed for 1991–92 for promotion overseas after the situation in the Gulf has been resolved.

  Coal Mine Safety
  Mr. Lofthouse
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the director general of the Health and Safety Executive to discuss safety in coal mines.

  Mr. Forth
  No. The Health and Safety Commission published a consultative document on the management
  477
  and administration of safety and health at mines in May 1989, revised in November 1990, following extensive consultations with mining unions and others.

  Discussions are continuing, so it would be inappropriate for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State to be involved at this stage.

  National Council for Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the work of the National Council for Vocational Qualifications.

  Mr. Jackson
  The National Council for Vocational Qualifications was established in 1986 and is a central feature of our vocational education and training policies. It has a lead role in bringing about a comprehensive and coherent system of national vocational qualifications covering every occupation and extending to all levels of employment. Such a system provides a quality framework for identifying and designing relevant training to ensure that the nation's work force has or acquires the skills needed in employment to compete successfully.

  A review last year of the council's progress in establishing the new system concluded that a firm foundation had been laid, with national vocational qualifications available now to around one third of the work force in many major industries.

  In the light of such progress, the council has been given additional resources and has been set the target of ensuring that, by the end of 1992 national vocational qualifications applicable to 80 per cent. of the work force are available in all the most important occupational areas.

  This is a very challenging target, but there is much support for it, particularly among employers who have come together in more than 150 groups to develop national vocational qualifications for occupations in their industries. We are confident that the target can be achieved.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were in employment in the United Kingdom in 1979 and 1990.

  Mr. Howard
  The work force in employment in the United Kingdom stood at 25,365,000 in June 1979 and at 27,393,000 in September 1990.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of job vacancies at jobcentres in the London borough of Wandsworth on 21 February.

  Mr. Forth
  On 4 January 1991, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of unfilled vacancies at the jobcentres covering the Wandsworth area was 129.

  South Glamorgan TEC
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer, 18 February,Official Report, column 581, what proposals he has for depositing a copy of the corporate plan of the South Glamorgan TEC in the Library.

  Mr. Jackson
  The executive summary of the plans of the South Glamorgan TEC will be deposited in the Library when it becomes available.
  478
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what involvement his Department had in the tender process for constructing the new South Glamorgan TEC headquarters project at Dumballs road, Cardiff.

  Mr. Jackson
  My Department has not been involved in the tendering process for construction work to the proposed South Glamorgan TEC headquarters.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what date his director of field operations first contacted the chairman of South Glamorgan TEC concerning the procedure for carrying out the construction of the new TEC headquarters.

  Mr. Jackson
  The first contact took place on 9 December 1990 and was in the form of a telephone conversation.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when his Department was first made aware of the involvement of E. C. Harris & Co., quantity surveyors, in the tendering process for the construction of the new South Glamorgan TEC.

  Mr. Jackson
  My Department first became aware of the involvement of E. C. Harris, quantity surveyors, in the tendering process for the refurbishment of South Glamorgan TEC offices on 24 September 1990.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place copies in the Library of the notes of the telephone discussion which took place between the director of field operations and the chairman of South Glamorgan TEC on 7 December 1990.

  Mr. Jackson
  No notes of this telephone discussion were taken.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when his Department was informed that the Bank of Wales had ceased any financial involvement in the project to develop the new South Glamorgan TEC headquarters.

  Mr. Jackson
  Financing arrangements of this kind are a matter for the TEC board.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what analysis his Department made of the relative costs and benefits of South Glamorgan TEC renting new premises for its operations compared with participation in the new headquarters refurbishment project; and what advice was given to the TEC in this respect in June and July 1990.

  Mr. Jackson
  In June and July 1990, my Department discussed various locations with the South Glamorgan TEC. The final decision on where to locate is for the individual TEC to make, taking into account the finances available.

  Safety Representatives
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what examination his Department has conducted of the Swedish system of regional safety representatives and its applicability to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Systems of safety representatives differ greatly from one country to another because of major
  479
  differences in legal systems and in approaches to industrial relations. The Health and Safety Commission is responsible for keeping British health and safety legislation under review. In doing so, it keeps itself informed of relevant developments in other countries, including Sweden. It is for the commission to propose that elements of other countries' systems be adopted in this country should it decide that this would be appropriate.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his Department's response to the recent report commissioned by the Health and Safety Executive on the implementation and effectiveness of the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977, in particular on the decline noted in the proportion of firms with appointed safety representatives.

  Mr. Forth
  It is for the Health and Safety Commission to consider whether to propose any change in the present system of safety representatives and safety committees in the light of the report published by the executive. I will consider any proposals that the commission may decide to put to me.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what free explanatory leaflets or other publicity and advisory material to raise public awareness and provide guidance on the aims and advantages of the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 have been produced by the Health and Safety Executive since 1977; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Comprehensive guidance on the 1977 regulations is contained in the Health and Safety Commission's booklet "Safety Representatives and Safety Committees", first published in 1977 and reissued in a new format in 1988. The booklet contains the texts of the regulations, two associated approved codes of practice and supporting guidance notes.

  Repetitive Strain Injury
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department will send an official to observe the second national conference on repetitive strain injury to be held in Nottingham on 16 March; and if he will make a statement.
  480
  Mr. Forth
  Officials in the Health and Safety Executive are obtaining details of this conference, on the basis of which a decision on whether to attend will be made.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for changing the role of local committees for the employment of disabled people.

  Mr. Jackson
  We discussed the future role of committees for the employment of disabled people in our consultative document "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities" and asked for comments on how local advisory arrangements might best be developed. We are presently considering the responses we have received.

  Rover Learning Business
  Sir Hal Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had on the work of Rover Learning Business, with particular reference to the emphasis on self-development.

  Mr. Jackson
  My officials have recently met Rover Learning Business to examine ways to encourage other companies to adopt self-development initiatives linked to business performance similar to that introduced at Rover. They agreed jointly to run seminars to spread to other businesses the message that support for self-development can lead to real business performance improvements.

  Earnings Statistics
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment the overall percentage increase in earnings during the periods(a) 1974 to 1979 and (b) 1979 to 1990.

  Mr. Forth
  The overall increase in earnings in the whole economy during the period 1974 to 1979 was 109 per cent. and the provisional overall increase during the period 1979 to 1990 was 181 per cent.

  THE BIRMINGHAM SIX
  THE BIRMINGHAM SIX
  COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND
  COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND
  UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTICS
  UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTICS
  KUWAIT: FUTURE CONSTITUTION AND RECONSTRUCTION
  KUWAIT: FUTURE CONSTITUTION AND RECONSTRUCTION
  KUWAIT: RECONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS
  KUWAIT: RECONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS
  KUWAIT INVESTMENT OFFICE: LOCATION
  KUWAIT INVESTMENT OFFICE: LOCATION
  "BRITANNIA": OPERATING COSTS
  "BRITANNIA": OPERATING COSTS
  THE GULF WAR: AVAILABILITY OF NAPALM
  THE GULF WAR: AVAILABILITY OF NAPALM
  THE GULF WAR: ATTACKS ON NUCLEAR AND CHEMICAL PLANTS
  THE GULF WAR: ATTACKS ON NUCLEAR AND CHEMICAL PLANTS
  THE GULF WAR: CS GAS AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS
  THE GULF WAR: CS GAS AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS
  FRIENDLY SOCIETIES
  FRIENDLY SOCIETIES
  BRITISH RAIL CANCELLATIONS AND THE GDP
  BRITISH RAIL CANCELLATIONS AND THE GDP
  INLAND REVENUE: THEFT OF CHEQUES
  INLAND REVENUE: THEFT OF CHEQUES
  AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES
  AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES
  PRIVATE BILLS: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS
  PRIVATE BILLS: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS