Written Answers of 28 February 1991

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Courts (Delays)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay of four months in Bow county court case No. 9005276 in paying out of court money paid into court and accepted in settlement.

  The Attorney-General
  The delay in payment to the plaintiff of money held in court was the result of a regrettable administrative error in the office at Bow county court.

  The defendant made an offer of settlement before a hearing date had been allocated. The offer was accepted by the plaintiff but not processed by the court until prompted by the plaintiff's solicitors.

  The court funds office then made payment on 30 January 1991. Exceptionally, the payment included interest to take account of any inconvenience the plaintiff may have suffered as a result of the delay.

  Stipendiary Magistrates
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Attorney-General how many stipendiary magistrates there were in April 1988; what is the current position; what is the number of new stipendiary magistrates who have been appointed on a part-time or shared basis since the beginning of April 1988; whether they operate in several courts; what steps he intends to take to ensure that the commitment of lay magistrates is not reduced by their relegation to adjudication on a restricted range of routine offences; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  On 1 March 1988 there were 63 stipendiary magistrates, including 14 in the provinces. On 1 March 1991 there will be 68 stipendiary magistrates, including 19 in the provinces. No stipendiary magistrates have been appointed on a part-time or shared basis since 1 April 1988; however for particular reasons, such as to avoid delays, most stipendiaries sit from time to time outside their own commission areas and suitably qualified lawyers are appointed to act as stipendiaries in various courts as required.

  Stipendiary magistrates are asked to deal with the whole range of cases coming before the magistrates courts. They are there to support lay magistrates, not to supplant them.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Property Identification
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Lord President of the Council whether it is the policy of his Department to mark property with an indelible mark or similar means of identification.
  544
  Mr. MacGregor
  It is not the general policy of the Privy Council Office to mark its property, but items of value are appropriately inventoried.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list, for each year since 1979, the number of statutory instruments reported as ultra vires by the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments.

  Mr. MacGregor
  This information which is available in the Library is kept only on a sessional basis. The numbers of instruments reported because of a doubt as to vires both by the Joint Committee and the Select Committee since Session 1978–79 are as follows:

  Joint

  Select

  1978–79

  1

  0

  1979–80

  5

  0

  1980–81

  4

  0

  1981–82

  2

  0

  1982–83

  5

  1

  1983–84

  8

  0

  1984–85

  3

  0

  1985–86

  14

  1

  1986–87

  19

  2

  1987–88

  34

  2

  1988–89

  29

  0

  11989–90

  40

  6

  1Includes instruments reported on by reason of unusual or unexpected use of powers.

  Low-energy Light Bulbs
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what steps he is taking to encourage the use of low-energy light bulbs in the Palace of Westminster.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Parliamentary Works Office, which has responsibility for such matters, are fitting low-energy light bulbs wherever possible. Many chandeliers and lighting globes have been converted, including those in the Members Tea Room, the Grand Committee Room and Westminster Hall. Work has taken place also to convert inefficient fluorescent lighting in other areas of the Palace including the stranger's corridor and Whips Offices. It is estimated that these measures will save some £10,000 per annum in energy costs.

  Irradiated Food
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Lord President of the Council whether he intends to supply irradiated food in(a) the restaurants and (b) the cafeterias of the House; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]I am referring the matter to the Catering Sub-Committee to make recommendations.

ENERGY

  Electrical Appliances
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made by his Department in achieving the adoption by the European Community of a
  545
  scheme to label electrical appliances with information regarding energy efficiency; and if he will propose that any adopted scheme be mandatory.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Since the publication of the White Paper on the environment "This Common Inheritance"—Cm. 1200—the Energy Efficiency Office has consulted extensively on the practicality of appliance labelling schemes and encouraged the European Commission in its own consultative work on drawing up a proposal for a directive, on which agreement is expected shortly. We hope to introduce a voluntary scheme in the United Kingdom in advance of an EC scheme.

  Sizewell B
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what assessment has been made of the risk of explosion of the Sizewell B pressurised water reactor pressure vessel if there were an external crack;

  (2) if he will publish the studies conducted into the consequences of an explosion of the reactor pressure vessel of the Sizewell B power station in property damage and land denial; and whether any assessment has been made of the costs thereof.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The reports of the Sizewell B and Hinkley Point C inquiries and the examination by the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate of the safety cases made by the Central Electricity Generating Board on the two proposed pressurised water reactors demonstrate the very full assessment that has been made of the risk of pressure vessel failure including the question of risk from external cracks. In the light of the evidence presented at both inquiries, the respective inspectors concluded that the risk of explosion is extremely remote. No studies have, therefore, been made of the consequences of such an explosion.

  Property Marking
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether it is the policy of his Department to mark property with an indelible mark or similar means of identification.

  Mr. Wakeham
  It is the practice of my Department to mark all non-fixed items of equipment of a significant value with means of identification.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the agencies, organisations and individuals who have communicated with his Department concerning the plume of soot and smoke from burning oil over Iraq heading in the direction of the south and east.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Concern has been expressed to me, in particular by hon. Members, about the possible effects of burning oil in the Gulf region; a copy of the Meteorological Office report assessing these effects has already been placed in the Library of the House. I am, however, not aware of any communications to my Department specifically about a plume of soot and smoke from burning oil over Iraq heading in the direction of the south and east, to which the hon. Member refers.

TRANSPORT

  Traffic Forecasts
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken in assessing future transport infrastructure to improve forecasting methods and to take account of generated traffic.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department has a substantial programme of research aimed at improving its understanding of travel behaviour and its traffic forecasting and assessment methods. The standing advisory committee on trunk road assessment will start a review later this year of the evidence on travel responses to trunk road improvements, including trip generation, and will advise the Department accordingly.

  Vehicle Excise Licences
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many mitigated penalty offers were made by the vehicle registration office to vehicle owners without valid excise licences in each of the last three years; how many such offers have been(a) accepted and (b) refused; and what was the net expenditure of such offers in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Chope
  The number of mitigated penalties offered and accepted for the last three calendar years were:

  Offered

  Accepted

  1988

  399,799

  185,131

  1989

  377,122

  184,131

  1990

  450,809

  216,277

  Where offers to settle out of court are not accepted, it is the Department's policy to take prosecution action wherever possible against evaders. The total amounts recovered in fines, penalties and costs ordered by the courts as well as in accepted mitigated penalties for the last three years were:

  Fines, penalties and costs £ million

  Accepted mitigated penalties £ million

  1988

  25·6

  7·2

  1989

  25·6

  7·2

  1990

  27·3

  8·5

  The direct staff costs incurred by the Department's officials in enforcing the payment of vehicle excise duty were approximately £10 million per year.

  Riding for the Disabled
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department will reimburse the Camsley Grange group of the Riding for the Disabled Association for its reasonable costs in reinstating its riding track on land away from the Thelwall viaduct widening works.

  Mr. Chope
  As soon as possible.

  Roadside Furniture
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the current regulations concerning roadside furniture; and whether he has any plans to change them.
  547
  Mr. Chope
  The current regulations relating to traffic signs on the public highway are the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1981 (SI 1981/859), as amended, and the Traffic Signs (Speed Limits) Regulations and General Directions 1969 (SI 1969/1487), as amended. It is intended that new regulations combining and updating the two documents will be laid before Parliament later this year.

  Powers to provide street lighting and safety fences are contained in the Highways Act 1980. Part VIIA of the same Act provides for the placing on certain classes of highway objects or structures for enhancing the amenity of the highway and its environs, or for providing a service for the benefit of the public. Advertisement displays are subject to the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989/670). Control of parking equipment such as meters and pay and display machines is covered by section 51 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended. Most other forms of street furniture, such as bus shelters, seats and litter bins are not covered by specific regulations.

  Back Scatter Machine
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department is considering trials at British airports of the American back scatter machine.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Yes, but the manufacturer has not yet been able to provide a machine for us to trial.

  Road Repairs
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the cost of maintenance and repairs for motorways and roads for each year from 1979 to 1991 in 1979 prices.

  Mr. Chope
  The information is as follows:

  £ million at 1979 prices (cash prices in brackets)

  Capital

  Current

  Total

  1979–80

  41 (41)

  37 (37)

  78 (78)

  1980–81

  52 (64)

  30 (36)

  82 (100)

  1981–82

  77(101)

  36 (47)

  113 (148)

  1982–83

  92 (133)

  33 (48)

  125(181)

  1983–84

  79 (118)

  34 (51)

  113 (169)

  1984–85

  89 (144)

  35 (57)

  124 (201)

  1985–86

  93 (164)

  44(77)

  137 (241)

  1986–87

  133 (218)

  57 (93)

  190 (311)

  1987–88

  157 (264)

  50 (84)

  207 (348)

  1988–89

  114 (190)

  61 (102)

  175 (292)

  1989–90

  190 (329)

  59 (103)

  249 (432)

  11990–91

  235 (419)

  60 (106)

  295 (525)

  1 Forecast outturn.

  Notes:

  1. Figures cover motorways and trunk roads in England. They exclude lighting for which information is not readily available for all years.

  2. Capital expenditure comprises renewal of roads, and renewal and strengthening of bridges including the Severn bridge. Current expenditure is net of receipts—tolls, damage claims, administration and hire charges and VAT refunds.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make it his policy to encourage vehicle manufacturers to provide effective seat belts for all permanent seating positions and anchorage points for child safety seats and harnesses.
  548
  Mr. Chope
  Yes. All the seats of new cars already have to be fitted with approved belts and anchorage points and suitable child restraints to fit these seats are widely available. New minibuses and coaches are also required to have belts fitted on the front seats and exposed forward facing seats respectively. We consider that the more widespread fitting of belts in coaches and minibuses would enhance safety. We shall continue to encourage vehicle manufacturers to fit effective belts in them.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to initiate a study of road accidents and their elimination by remedial and traffic engineering methods.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department's Transport and Road Research Laboratory's programme of research includes development and assessment of highway engineering and traffic management techniques for reducing casualties. Recent publications have included the results of the "Urban Safety Projects" in five towns which have shown that, if those techniques were applied nationally, road accidents could be reduced by some 5 per cent. Copies of the report are in the Library of the House.

  Heavy Vehicles
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to undertake a study on the safety aspects of the size and weight of heavy and lengthy vehicles on the road infrastructure.

  Mr. Chope
  I have no plans to institute a new study specifically on this subject.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to introduce regulations to require heavy vehicles and trailers to be fitted with effective spray guards.

  Mr. Chope
  Regulations were introduced in 1984 in the United Kingdom requiring all new heavy motor vehicles and trailers to be fitted with spray suppression devices complying with BS AU200. The Council of Ministers ha.s now agreed a European Community directive on spray suppression closely modelled on our existing requirements in the UK. But the minimum efficiency required has been raised compared with that required in 1984, reflecting improvements in spray suppression technology.

  Fuel-efficient Vehicles
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to promote the development of more fuel-efficient motor vehicles.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government's strategy for encouraging fuel efficiency is outlined in chapter 5 of the Government's White Paper "This Common Inheritance"—Cm. 1200. My Department is currently promoting research into improvements in fuel efficiency and is also encouraging industry to do the same.

  Cleveland Light Rail Transit
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what undertakings about funding he has given to the Cleveland light rail transit system; and if he will make a statement.
  549
  Mr. Freeman
  We have given no undertakings. If the promoters put a full case to us for resources for their project, we will consider this on its merits. No final decision could however be taken before the necessary statutory powers have been obtained.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the proposed cost of the Cleveland light rail transit.

  Mr. Freeman
  Cleveland county council has given us an estimate for the first phase of between £55 million and £85million, depending on which route is chosen.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the Cleveland light rail transit; and what replies have been given.

  Mr. Freeman
  Cleveland county council sent preliminary work on the project to the Department in 1989, and was told in June 1990 that on the evidence then available it looked unlikely to qualify for the central Government support. The council has since informed us that it is pursuing the project but has not yet put forward a case for resources.

  We have also received expressions of concern from the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Hartlepool and from Shildon town council about the effect of the proposal on the Bishop Auckland—Teesside railway service. Both were informed that it was for the county council to decide what scheme to promote.

  Property Identification
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is the policy of his Department to mark property with an indelible mark or similar means of identification.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Wherever practicable and worthwhile.

  Infrastructure
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has reconsidered the terms of private finance competitions regarding transport infrastructure, in the light of comments made by potential promoters.

  Mr. Freeman
  In taking forward the Government's initiative aimed at encouraging private sector involvement in the financing, building and operation of transport infrastructure, I held meetings last year with representatives of the construction industry, financial institutions and consultancy firms. Following these discussions, I have reconsidered some aspects of the Department's practice in the holding of competitions, and have written to those who attended the meetings. The text of my letter has been placed in the Library.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Vocational Education
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will institute a study into the costs and benefits of providing workshop-based vocational education courses at further education and higher education level(a) separately in further education and higher education colleges and (b) jointly in one college.
  550
  Mr. Howarth
  No.

  Voluntary-aided Schools
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list for each local education authority the total capital bids for voluntary-aided schools submitted in September 1990 and the allocations made in December 1990.

  Mr. Fallon
  Total capital bids for voluntary-aided schools submitted in September 1990, and allocations announced in December 1990, are as follows:

  LEA allocation

  Total bid

  Total

  £000

  £000

  1991–92

  1991–92

  City of London

  97

  —

  Camden

  1,055

  226

  Greenwich

  201

  36

  Hackney

  162

  195

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,357

  1,295

  Islington

  181

  173

  Kensington and Chelsea

  3,580

  2,640

  Lambeth

  937

  70

  Lewisham

  329

  65

  Southwark

  1,616

  861

  Tower Hamlets

  597

  334

  Wandsworth

  130

  49

  Westminster

  346

  324

  Barking

  1,955

  1,955

  Barnet

  3,605

  718

  Bexley

  2,341

  305

  Brent

  193

  35

  Bromley

  429

  198

  Croydon

  3,051

  1,814

  Ealing

  315

  —

  Enfield

  812

  302

  Haringey

  1,412

  1,163

  Harrow

  172

  —

  Havering

  159

  147

  Hillingdon

  905

  20

  Hounslow

  236

  53

  Kingston upon Thames

  646

  —

  Merton

  228

  98

  Newham

  284

  134

  Redbridge

  3,399

  116

  Richmond upon Thames

  902

  195

  Sutton

  3,374

  2,354

  Waltham Forest

  1,800

  300

  Birmingham

  3,539

  1,113

  Coventry

  1,570

  1,369

  Dudley

  2,385

  2,006

  Sandwell

  351

  7

  Solihull

  687

  55

  Walsall

  400

  —

  Wolverhampton

  614

  61

  Knowsley

  1,329

  571

  Liverpool

  8,180

  4,493

  St. Helens

  2,299

  2,149

  Sefton

  2,233

  1,750

  Wirral

  1,017

  631

  Bolton

  984

  436

  Bury

  830

  574

  Manchester

  1,305

  827

  Oldham

  609

  174

  Rochdale

  756

  436

  Salford

  567

  343

  Stockport

  341

  291

  Tameside

  136

  35

  Trafford

  140

  715

  Wigan

  2,126

  1,108

  Barnsley

  25

  25

  551

  LEA allocation

  Total bid

  Total

  £000

  £000

  1991–92

  1991–92

  Doncaster

  145

  145

  Rotherham

  385

  158

  Sheffield

  885

  127

  Bradford

  1,002

  873

  Calderdale

  634

  444

  Kirklees

  326

  218

  Leeds

  12,626

  12,288

  Wakefield

  346

  180

  Gateshead

  449

  64

  Newcastle Upon Tyne

  1,050

  847

  North Tyneside

  251

  203

  South Tyneside

  59

  21

  Sunderland

  523

  116

  Avon

  1,342

  619

  Bedfordshire

  1,127

  600

  Berkshire

  723

  358

  Buckinghamshire

  2,401

  2,207

  Cambridgeshire

  825

  79

  Cheshire

  3,324

  1,997

  Cleveland

  884

  398

  Cornwall

  444

  369

  Cumbria

  1,292

  869

  Derbyshire

  1,106

  889

  Devon

  2,951

  567

  Dorset

  6,734

  3,985

  Durham

  1,103

  718

  East Sussex

  1,319

  1,065

  Essex

  1,264

  1,010

  Gloucestershire

  1,694

  1,229

  Hampshire

  2,994

  1,926

  Hereford and Worcester

  2,580

  1,356

  Hertfordshire

  2,302

  1,656

  Humberside

  1,400

  46

  Isle of Wight

  260

  210

  Isles of Scilly

  —

  —

  Kent

  7,737

  2,837

  Lancashire

  6,534

  4,051

  Leicestershire

  967

  598

  Lincolnshire

  1,753

  276

  Norfolk

  587

  13

  North Yorkshire

  2,005

  775

  Northamptonshire

  400

  27

  Northumberland

  1,175

  747

  Nottinghamshire

  1,359

  135

  Oxfordshire

  4,178

  2,526

  Shropshire

  318

  238

  Somerset

  2,135

  2,041

  Staffordshire

  2,084

  979

  Suffolk

  890

  345

  Surrey

  2,965

  839

  Warwickshire

  3,112

  788

  West Sussex

  2,129

  1,875

  Wiltshire

  1,677

  1,068

  Total

  167,984

  93,339

  Barkestone Church of England School
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will defer his decision to make an order under the Education Act 1973 regarding Barkestone Church of England school and its attendant property until he has received further representations on this matter from the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton.

  Mr. Fallon
  The Secretary of State expects to make the order towards the end of March 1991. My right hon. and learned Friend will be happy to consider further 552
  representations from my hon. Friend regarding the inclusion of Barkestone Church of England school provided these are received before then.

  Student Awards
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what parental contributions will be payable towards mandatory student awards in the academic year 1991–92.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary regulations, the existing parental contribution scales for mandatory awards for students from England and Wales will be adjusted for academic year 1991–92 in line with movements in average earnings. The effect will be that, for a parent whose residual income rises by 10 per cent. between financial years 1989–90 and 1990–91, the assessed contribution in 1991–92 will generally be the same in cash as in 1990–91. This fulfils the Government's commitment to begin reducing the real cost of the parental contribution. Similar adjustments will be made to the spouse's contribution scale and to the scales used for equivalent awards elsewhere in the United Kingdom. As previously announced, the basic maintenance award rates in 1991–92 will be held at their 1990–91 levels. The following are the new parental contribution scales:

  Rental contribution scales for 1991–92

  Residual income

  Scale 1 contribution

  Scale 2 contribution

  12,650

  60

  45

  13,000

  105

  79

  14,000

  235

  176

  15,000

  365

  274

  16,000

  495

  371

  16,170

  517

  388

  17,000

  667

  501

  18,000

  849

  638

  19,000

  1,031

  775

  20,000

  1,213

  912

  21,000

  1,395

  1,049

  22,000

  1,577

  1,186

  23,000

  1,758

  1,323

  23,760

  1,897

  1,423

  24,000

  1,951

  1,464

  25,000

  2,178

  1,634

  26,000

  2,406

  1,805

  27,000

  2,633

  1,976

  28,000

  2,860

  2,147

  29,000

  3,087

  2,318

  30,000

  3,315

  2,489

  31,000

  3,542

  2,660

  32,000

  3,769

  2,831

  33,000

  3,997

  3,020

  34,000

  4,224

  3,173

  35,000

  4,451

  3,344

  36,000

  4,678

  3,515

  37,000

  4,906

  3,686

  38,000

  5,113

  3,857

  39,000

  5,360

  4,028

  40,000

  5,587

  4,199

  40,935

  5,800

  4,358

  41,000

  —

  4,370

  42,000

  —

  4,540

  43,000

  —

  4,711

  44,000

  —

  4,882

  45,000

  —

  5,053

  46,000

  —

  5,224

  47,000

  —

  5,395

  553

  Residual income

  Scale 1 contribution

  Scale 2 contribution

  48,000

  —

  5,566

  49,000

  —

  5,737

  49,366

  —

  5,800

  Notes:

  Scale 2 was introduced following the announcement on 15 March 1988 that tax relief on new non-charitable covenants would cease. Contributions on this scale are 25 per cent. less than those on scale 1 for the same residual income. Scale 1 applies to parents whose student children began their courses before the 1988–89 academic year and scale 2 applies to students who first entered higher education in 1988–89 or later. Well over 90 per cent. of assessments in 1991–92 will be at the scale 2 rates.

  For 1991–92, the level of contribution will be assessed as follows:

  For 1991–92, the level of contribution will be assessed as follows:

  Residual income

  Scale 1

  Scale 2

  From £12,650 to £16,169

  £1 in £7·70

  £1 in £10·25

  From £16,170 to £23,759

  £1 in £5·50

  £1 in £7·30

  From £23,760

  £1 in £4·40

  £1 in £5·85

  The maximum contribution remains unchanged at £5,800 for both scales. The minimum contributions for both scales are also unchanged at £60 and £45 respectively.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what changes for the 1991–92 financial year he has decided to make in the arrangements for calculating annual maintenance grant for grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have today laid before Parliament the Education (Grant-Maintained Schools (Finance) Regulations 1991. These set out the method of calculating annual maintenance grant—AMG—for grant-maintained schools for the 1991–92 financial year.

  The principal changes compared to the 1990 regulations are:
  (a) the new regulations make clear that late or incomplete data submitted by LEAs need not be taken into account in finalising AMG figures. This change will ensure that grant-maintained schools receive basic budget information for each financial year as early as possible in that year, as most LEA schools do now.
  (b) the regulations also provide for a more standardised approach in calculating the amount a grant-maintained school will receive in respect of services previously funded centrally by its former LEA. The amount will be equivalent to 16 per cent. of the sum it receives for direct expenditure at the school—the latter normally being its budget share calculated as under its former LEA's scheme for the local management of schools.

  These changes will lead to greater simplicity, clarity and predictability in the calculation of AMG for each grant-maintained school.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Stormseal Windows
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has had about the closure of Stormseal UPVC Windows Ltd; and if he will make a statement.
  554
  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 26 February 1991]It is not the practice to comment on the affairs of individual companies.

  Sensitive Exports
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with the German economics office concerning co-operation over halting the export from the European Community of sensitive military-useable materials and technologies.

  Mr. Lilley
  [holding answer 27 February 1991]My officials regularly meet their counterparts in the German Federal Ministry of Economics to discuss matters of common interest concerning export controls on sensitive goods and technology. There was a meeting last month hosted by the German Government of experts from member countries of the missile technology control regime as part of the continuing efforts to co-operate in preventing the proliferation of missile technology.

PRIME MINISTER

  The Gulf
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the conflict in the Gulf.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made earlier today.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister at what times on 22 February Her Majesty's Government first obtained the text of(a) the first Soviet plan and (b) the revised Soviet plan for Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait; and from what source this text was obtained.

  The Prime Minister
  In the evening of 18 February I received a personal message from President Gorbachev in which he set out the proposals he had put to the Iraqis. Details of the revised plan were received in the morning of 22 February from Moscow; the Soviet Government put it to the United Nations Security Council in the morning—New York time—of 23 February.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what communications he or his officials had with his counterparts in member states of the allied coalition in the Gulf on 22 February; and what matters were discussed.

  The Prime Minister
  We had extensive consultations on 22 February with partners in the allied coalition, and with the Soviet Union, predominantly on the terms under which Iraq must withdraw from Kuwait and comply with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what consideration was given to the effects of the damage done to bridges and roads in Kuwait and in southern Iraq by the allied bombing sorties when the time period for Iraqi military withdrawal from Kuwait was set on 22 February.

  The Prime Minister
  The allied deadline took account of circumstances at the time and was intended to ensure that Iraq ended its occupation of Kuwait in the shortest possible time.

  Kuwait
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to submit proposals to the United Nations and to the allied Governments for the establishment of a free and autonomous nation, with a democratic government, in Kuwait on the completion of its liberation.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 26 February at column 463.

  Nuclear Test Ban
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan (Mr. Wray),Official Report, 17 January, column 572, he will set out the proposals that have been submitted by the United Kingdom to the conference on disarmament in Geneva in each year since 1979 on the matter of nuclear testing.

  The Prime Minister
  The United Kingdom has participated fully in the relevant ad hoc committee and in the group of scientific experts which is considering the subject.

  Mr. Ian Richter
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Prime Minister what information he possesses on the present health and whereabouts of Mr. Ian Richter, a British citizen held in jail in Iraq.

  The Prime Minister
  Mr. Richter was last visited in Abu Ghraib prison by Her Majesty's consul general in Baghdad on 2 January shortly before the withdrawal of our staff from Iraq. Mr. Richter was then in good health, had sufficient supplies to last some time and well understood why the embassy staff were withdrawing.

  We are using all possible channels, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to check that Mr. Richter is safe. We remain in close touch with his family.

  Norwegian Prime Minister
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West concerning the meeting with the Norwegian Prime Minister,Official Report, 21 February 1991, column 223, what matters were raised during the discussions on developments in Europe.

  The Prime Minister
  Mrs. Brundtland and I exchanged views on NATO, the European Community and on the negotiations toward a European economic area.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 28 February.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

HEALTH

  Medway Health Authority
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to Medway health authority about purchasing patient care facilities from outwith the authority area.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Like all district health authorities—DHAs—Medway health authority's key task will be to secure, through contracts, a package of services to reflect the health needs of its resident population. DHAs will be able to commission services from units which they consider to offer the best quality and value for money, both inside and outside their district boundaries. In placing contracts, all DHAs will need to consider their residents' access to services.

  Guidance on these and other aspects of contracts has been published in "Contracts for Health Services: Operational Principles" (EL(89)169) and "Contracts for Health Services: Operating Contracts" (EL(90)MB24), copies of which are available in the Library.

  Crewe DHA
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many training places are available per year in the Crewe district health authority for neonatal nurses and how many have been filled;

  (2) what health instruction programmes for the prevention of ischaemic heart disease are available in the Crewe and Nantwich area;

  (3) how many special and/or intensive care cots there are in the Crewe district health authority.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. J. Taylor, the chairman of Crewe health authority, for details.

  NHS Operations
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the number of national health service(a) total operations and (b) heart operations in the current financial year which were (i) undertaken and (ii) planned; if he will instruct health authorities to reinstate the previously planned number of operations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information on numbers of operations planned is not held centrally. Statistics of operations carried out are collected for full financial years and those for the current year are not, therefore, yet available.

  In the year ending March 1989 an estimated 3·27 million operations were performed in NHS hospitals in England, of which an estimated 57,000 were heart operations.

  Fostering
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he intends to take to minimise the time taken to inform care authorities of doubts about the safety of a fostered child.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Government guidance to agencies on the protection of children from abuse contained in the
  557
  document "Working Together" a copy of which is available in the Library, applies equally to all children, whether in foster care, at home with parents or in residential accommodation. Under the Boarding-out of Children (Foster Placement) Regulations 1988 local authorities are required to make regular supervisory visits to each foster home and also to regularly review the child's welfare and progress, including health, physical, educational and social development. The child must be seen alone whenever the person authorised to visit considers this appropriate.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he intends to take to implement a national framework for foster parent training.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The current Government guidance on foster care refers to the kinds of training needed by all

  Deaths from ischaemic heart disease (ICD 410–414)

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  England

  Males

  Number

  85,340

  83,035

  81,037

  79,036

  77,095

  Rate

  3·72

  3·6

  3·51

  3·41

  3·31

  Females

  Number

  66,868

  65,086

  63,824

  63,797

  63,414

  Rate

  2·77

  2·69

  2·63

  2·62

  2·6

  Wales

  Males

  Number

  5,852

  5,584

  5,492

  5,419

  5,344

  Rate

  4·29

  4·08

  3·99

  3·91

  3·83

  Females

  Number

  4,413

  4,300

  4,251

  4,233

  4,342

  Rate

  3·05

  2·96

  2·91

  2·88

  2·93

  England, Wales and elsewhere

  Males

  Number

  91,626

  89,073

  86,978

  84,880

  82,847

  Rate

  3·77

  3·65

  3·55

  3·45

  3·36

  Females

  Number

  71,478

  69,594

  68,257

  68,204

  67,947

  Rate

  2·79

  2·71

  2·65

  2·64

  2·62

  Mersey Regional Health Authority

  Males

  Number

  4,717

  4,543

  4,315

  4,361

  4,208

  Rate

  4·02

  3·89

  3·7

  3·74

  3·6

  Females

  Number

  3,815

  3,604

  3,530

  3,558

  3,655

  Rate

  3·05

  2·89

  2·84

  2·87

  2·95

  Crewe District Health Authority

  Males

  Number

  487

  481

  456

  498

  468

  Rate

  4·04

  3·97

  3·74

  4·08

  3·76

  Females

  Number

  389

  404

  332

  383

  376

  Rate

  3·11

  3·22

  2·63

  3·03

  2·93

  Source:OPCS 1985–1988 DH5 Mortality Statistics 1989 VS5

  Rate per 10,000 population (ie number of deaths *10,000/population)

  Junior Doctors
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate how many additional junior hospital doctors would be needed to reduce the working hours of junior doctors to 60 hours per week.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Increasing the number of junior doctors is not the way to solve the problem of the long hours worked by some junior hospital doctors. It would be counter to our policy set out in "Achieving a Balance—Plan for Action", a copy of which is available in the Library, to improve both patient care and career prospects for junior doctors by expanding the consultant grade and controlling the numbers in training.

  Our approach to reducing hours is set out in the heads of agreement on junior doctors' hours, a copy of which is
  558
  foster carers and on ways in which these can be provided. It is for each local authority to identify and agree with the foster parent the specific training needed in individual cases. Training packages from the National Foster Care Association, which the Government help to fund, have proved valuable in training programmes.

  Ischaemic Heart Disease
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the average death rates for ischaemic heart disease, from 1985 to 1989, for males and females(a) in the Crewe health authority, (b) in the Mersey regional health authority, and (c) in England and Wales.

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

  available in the Library. To support the initiative, the Government are funding 200 new consultant and 50 new staff grade posts in England in the financial year 1991–92.

  Bedding Fires
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the annual number of child deaths due to bedding fires in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The figures for the latest available five years are set out in the table.

  Death from burning bed-clothes (ICD code E898.0), age 0–14 years, England and Wales, 1985–1989.

  Year

  Number

  1985

  2

  1986

  8

  1987

  2

  559

  Year

  Number

  1988

  —

  1989

  4

  Cot Deaths
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has sought to obtain any evidence of a link between sudden infant death syndrome and the use of fire-retardant materials in mattresses for young children.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The chief medical officer has established an expert working group to consider the hypothesis that toxic gases may be released by fungal action on components of mattresses, including antimony and phosphorous based fire retardants, and that this may be a cause of sudden infant death syndrome. Their report is expected shortly.

  St. Paul's Eye Hospital
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the consultative process for the closure of St. Paul's eye hospital, Liverpool is being carried out correctly by the Mersey regional health authority; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether the consultation process set down by his Department for the closure of St. Paul's eye hospital, Liverpool requires South Sefton health authority to produce a consultative document on the eye services to be transferred from St. Paul's.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Consultation on this closure is a matter for the Liverpool health authority. It is for the South Sefton health authority to decide if it needs to comment on changes affecting its services. We issued guidance last year on the procedure for consultation. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. M. Emberton, the chairman of Liverpool health authority or Mr. D. Tod, the chairman of South Sefton health authority, for details.

  Cancer Testing
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many compensation claims remain to be settled in the cases of faulty cancer smear tests undertaken by Liverpool area health authority; what is the average time it has taken to settle claims; and what is the average sum payable.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. M. Emberton., the chairman of Liverpool health authority, for details.

  National Health Service Trusts
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when nursing staff employed by national health service trust hospitals are to receive the 1991 pay award made to national health service nursing staff; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Staff transferring from health authority to trust employment retain all their contractual and related rights on transfer. They continue to be subject to nationally negotiated agreements unless or until their contracts are changed to exclude this. The Government 560
  announced on 31 January 1991 that they had accepted in full the recommendations of the independent pay review body for nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff. Nursing staff transferring to NHS trusts and retaining their existing terms and conditions of employment will receive this award, the first stage of which is payable from 1 April 1991.

  Electorates
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the current electorates for each constituency in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the numbers of registered elector's on 16 February for each parliamentary constituency in Greater London.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information about the 1991 electoral registers, which came into effect on 16 February, is currently being collected from local electoral registration offices. The OPCS expects to place figures relating to parliamentary constituencies in the Library by 10 May, prior to their publication in "Electoral Statistics 1991"—Series EL No. 18.

  Health Authorities, Devon
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he will make of the financial and staff implications of an amalgamated centralised health authority of North Devon, Exeter and Torbay.

  Mr. Dorrell
  If any regional health authority formally submits to my right hon. Friend a proposal to amalgamate neighbouring district health authorities, we shall consider most carefully all their arguments and the results of local consultation, as well as the financial and staffing implications. We shall need to see clear evidence that any amalgamation is in the interests of the residents of the districts concerned and of the health service generally.

  Eye Tests
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which groups of people can currently receive a free eyesight test; and what changes in criteria are proposed.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Since 1 April 1989 the groups entitled to a free NHS sight tests have been:

  Children under 16.

  Full time students under 19.

  People on Income Support or Family Credit and their partners.

  Holders of exemption certificate AG2.

  People who are registered blind or partially sighted.

  Those who- need certain complex lenses.

  Diagnosed diabetics and glaucoma sufferers.

  Close relatives aged 40 or over of diagnosed glaucoma sufferers.

  Patients of the Hospital Eye Service.

  These groups cover approximately one-third of the population. There are no plans to alter these criteria.

  Unit Costs
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing the figures in table 3 of Cm. 1513 adjusted for changes in input unit costs.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 19 February 1991]The information requested for the hospital and community
  561
  health services, family health services and for the health service as a whole for the years 1985–86 to 1989–90 is given in the table. This information measures changes in total inputs at constant factor cost but ignores the continuing success of national health service management in

  Health Services, England

  £m, adjusted to 1989–90 base

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  NHS hospital, community health, family health (cash limited) and related services

  Current expenditure

  Gross

  13,902

  13,983

  14,239

  14,292

  14,306

  Net

  13,503

  13,576

  13,836

  13,887

  13,880

  Capital expenditure

  Gross

  1,255

  1,292

  1,287

  1,313

  1,438

  Net

  1,145

  1,110

  1,055

  1,007

  1,206

  NHS family health services (non-cash limited)

  Current/total expenditure

  Gross

  4,435

  4,535

  4,686

  4,836

  4,811

  Net

  3,974

  4,048

  4,193

  4,310

  4,228

  Total Health Services

  Current expenditure

  Gross

  18,885

  19,072

  19,481

  19,644

  19,677

  Net

  17,986

  18,145

  18,552

  18,686

  18,645

  Capital expenditure

  Gross

  1,290

  1,331

  1,314

  1,342

  1,462

  Net

  1,181

  1,150

  1,078

  1,014

  1,230

  Total expenditure

  Gross

  20,165

  20,396

  20,785

  20,978

  21,139

  Net

  19,155

  19,282

  19,617

  19,698

  19,875

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Poor Countries
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what criteria the definition of poorer countries as countries with annual average incomes of less than $700 per head was chosen; and what is the definition of a low-income country used by the World bank and by the United Nations.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The $700 income per head upper boundary for low-income countries reflects the banding values currently adopted by the development assistance committee of the OECD. The classification of low-income countries used in the World bank's latest world development report is based on income per head under $545 in 1988. The United Nations has no generally agreed definition. It primarily uses the category of Least Developed Countries, which is based on income, manufacturing base and literacy at the time of the particular country's inclusion on the list. The United Nations Development Programme, at its governing council's special session, on 19 to 22 February 1991 agreed a classification of low income which for most developing countries is based on 1989 gross national product per head under $750.
  562
  increasing the efficiency with which it uses resources. It is therefore an inaccurate measure of output of the NHS. Information is not available in this form for other parts of the programme or for later years.

  Aid Loans
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table showing, for each country receiving British bilateral aid, the amount of old aid loans that have been converted into grants, and the amount of aid loans still outstanding.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The figures are as follows:

  £ million

  Aid loans converted into grants

  Aid loans outstanding (principal) as at 1 August 1990

  Afghanistan

  0·98

  Antigua

  0·04

  Bangladesh

  15·36

  Barbados

  0·47

  Belize

  21·24

  Bolivia

  0·15

  Botswana

  20·68

  Brazil

  3·26

  Cameroon

  0·07

  Cayman Islands

  0·79

  Colombia

  2·19

  Costa Rica

  3·21

  Cote D'Ivoire

  3·66

  Cyprus

  0·31

  Dominica

  9·99

  East African Community

  2·33

  Ecuador

  7·53

  Egypt

  17·57

  7·02

  Ethiopia

  2·50

  Falkland Islands

  0·16

  Fiji

  1·53

  Gambia

  5·15

  563

  Aid loans converted into grants

  Aid loans outstanding (principal) as at 1 August 1990

  Ghana

  50·85

  0·29

  Gibraltar

  0·79

  Grenada

  6·69

  Guyana

  30·68

  Honduras

  3·99

  India

  1564·16

  Indonesia

  39·85

  Jamaica

  —

  54·91

  Jordan

  —

  47·52

  Kenya

  67·58

  —

  Laos

  —

  0·03

  Lesotho

  0·40

  —

  Liberia

  —

  0·08

  Malawi

  30·70

  —

  Malaysia

  —

  12·18

  Malta

  —

  0·19

  Mauritius

  —

  8·35

  Mozambique

  21·81

  —

  Nepal

  1·97

  —

  New Hebrides

  —

  0·10

  Nicaragua

  —

  0·58

  Nigeria

  —

  5·03

  Pakistan

  76·03

  —

  Paraguay

  —

  4·10

  Peru

  —

  4·19

  Philippines

  —

  5·48

  St. Kitts

  —

  5·62

  St. Lucia

  —

  5·00

  St. Vincent

  —

  5·00

  Senegal

  1·07

  —

  Seychelles

  —

  11·14

  Sierra Leone

  10·35

  —

  Singapore

  —

  5·28

  Solomon Islands

  —

  5·03

  Sri Lanka

  25·21

  —

  Sudan

  9·87

  —

  Swaziland

  —

  11·04

  Tanzania

  3·40

  —

  Thailand

  —

  0·84

  Tonga

  —

  1·46

  Tunisia

  —

  0·28

  Turkey

  —

  59·44

  Uganda

  22·09

  —

  Vietnam

  —

  0·20

  Country

  Project

  Total commitment

  United Kingdom Contractor/Supplier

  £ million

  Colombia

  System X Digital Telecoms

  4·939

  GEC/Plessey

  Egypt

  Maghara Coal Mine

  0·080

  Babcocks

  India

  URI-Hydro

  17·920

  Boving and Co.

  Indonesia

  Radio Studios

  0·390

  David Whittle Associates

  Indonesia

  Aircraft Simulator

  0·050

  CAA

  Indonesia

  Satellite Remote Sensing

  0·025

  Technology Applied Systems

  Indonesia

  Cigading/Serpong Railway Rehabilitation

  26·429

  Davy/British Railway International

  Indonesia

  Radio Studio Rehabilitation

  5·040

  Audix Ltd.

  Jordan

  Reconstruction of TCC

  0·793

  BT Telecoms

  Kenya

  Moi University

  0·050

  Cambridge Education Consultants

  Kenya

  Digital Radio Link I

  2·434

  GEC

  Kenya

  Digital Micro Wave Link

  4·214

  Telectron Systems

  Morocco

  Gas Turbines

  7·276

  JBE

  Morocco

  Diesel Electric Locos

  6·300

  Brush Electrical

  Morocco

  Nador Steel Works Study

  0·133

  W. S.Atkins

  Pakistan

  Karachi Water II

  13·125

  Portals Water Treatment

  Philippines

  Gas Turbines Power Station

  7·276

  JBE

  Red Sea

  Regional Hydro Carbon Study

  0·187

  Robertson Research International

  Swaziland

  Fire Equipment

  0·123

  Carmichael Fire and Bulk

  Tunisia

  Railway Equipment

  0·572

  Balfour Beatty

  Tunisia

  Yarn and Fibre Plant

  0·337

  Extrusion Systems Ltd.

  Turkey

  Natural Gas Conversion

  62·470

  AMEC International Construction

  Total

  160·163

  564

  Aid loans converted into grants

  Aid loans outstanding (principal) as at 1 August 1990

  Western Samoa

  0·20

  —

  Yemen

  —

  4·16

  Zambia

  —

  45·16

  Zimbabwe

  22·90

  23·65

  Totals

  1,013·01

  430·12

  1 An agreement signed in January 1979 provided for India to receive an amount of local cost aid equivalent to its payments in respect of old aid loans.

  Developing Countries
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Government policy on targeting aid on the poorest people within developing countries.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We are committed to using the aid programme to alleviate poverty in developing countries. To this end, we contribute both to activities specifically targeted on the poorest people and to activities more generally designed to promote sustainable economic growth.

  Aid and Trade Provision
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) which companies had money allocated to them under the aid and trade provision in 1989–90, or the nearest convenient year; and how much they each received;

  (2) how much money was allocated under the aid and trade provision in 1989–90, or the most recent convenient year.

  Mrs. Chalker
  In 1989–90 we entered into aid and trade provision agreements to help developing country Governments to finance agreed development projects as follows:

  Ethiopia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from which year's emergency budget the £2 million of non-food aid for Ethiopia, announced by the Minister for Overseas Development on 29 January,Official Report, column 463, and any other famine relief paid for in 1990–91 will be deducted.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Famine relief provided in the financial year 1990–91 is expected to be paid for from that year's emergency aid budget. As I told the House in reply to the hon. Lady's questions yesterday and on 29 January, the £2 million of non-food aid for Ethiopia is available in the current financial year.

THE ARTS

  Theatre Funding
  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will list the amount of support per capita for repertory theatre given by regional arts associations in each English county.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 27 February 1991]: I am afraid that this information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will receive a deputation led by the right hon. Member for Southend, West to discuss the funding aspects for theatre in the south of Essex.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 27 February 1991]: Under the "arm's length" principle which governs central Government support for the arts, the funding of regional theatre in Essex is a matter of artistic policy for Eastern Arts and the Arts Council as appropriate. In the first instance my right hon. Friend might therefore most usefully pursue the matter with the funding bodies.

  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will hold a meeting with Eastern Arts to discuss the need for subsidised repertory theatre in Essex.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 27 February 1991]: The need for subsidised repertory theatre in Essex is a matter of artistic policy for Eastern Arts and the Arts Council to decide as appropriate.

  I did, however, visit the eastern region on 27 February during which I had extensive discussions on this and other matters with the director of Eastern Arts and with the director of the new Eastern Arts Board.

  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make it his policy to transfer responsibility for providing grants to repertory theatres from Eastern Arts to the Arts Council.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 27 February 1991]: In my statement to the House on 19 December 1990 on the structural reforms of arts funding I announced that, subject to appropriate safeguards, responsibility for funding regional artistic activity would increasingly pass from the Arts Council to the new regional arts boards. I am awaiting advice from the Arts Council on the detailed application of that policy. I therefore have no plans to expand the range of the Arts Council's existing funding responsibilities.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Dairy Farmers
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions he has cancelled registration of dairy farmers because of their failure to comply with the Milk and Dairies (General) Regulations 1959 in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested is as follows:

  Occasions

  1980

  24

  1981

  27

  1982

  10

  1983

  13

  1984

  15

  1985

  27

  1986

  18

  1987

  17

  1988–89

  18

  1989–90

  15

  Note: The basis on which this information is held changed from calendar to financial years on I April 1988.

  Registrations are cancelled in cases where dairy farmers fail to rectify contraventions of the regulations noted on hygiene inspection visits. The regulations provide for dairy farmers to be given an opportunity to make representations and/or objections to a notice of intention by the Minister to cancel their registration. Objections must be referred to an independent tribunal whose report must be taken into account by the Minister in making his final decision.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his dairy officers make unannounced on the spot checks of dairy farms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Routine inspections of dairy farms to check on compliance with Milk and Dairies (General) Regulations 1959 are in most cases made by appointment. However, unannounced inspections are carried out if there is reason to believe that hygiene conditions on a dairy farm may be unsatisfactory. In addition, where a first inspection indicates that hygiene conditions are unsatisfactory, an unannounced follow-up visit normally takes place to check that the problems identified have been rectified.

  Potato Quotas
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulations exist concerning the transfer of potato quotas from one producer to another; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The transfer of potato quotas from one producer to another is a matter for the Potato Marketing Board. Arrangements in respect of the 1991 crop which provide for permanent or temporary transfer were notified by the board to registered producers in August last year.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Escaped Detainees
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether Joke Lawal, Tina Tony Okpoye and Agatha Ekwueme, who escaped from Drake Hall on 24 April and 25 May 1988, have since been recaptured;

  (2) whether Tawakality Jaiyesimi, Bhagyawati Jain and Uche Angela Okeke, who escaped from Drake Hall on 3 February and 30 November 1989, have since been recaptured.

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

  Immigration
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when papers concerning the appeal of Mrs. Rifat Iqbal, Home Office reference: A 421556, the wife of Mr. Mumtaz Ahmed, were received by his Department from the post in Karachi, reference KA 55157; and when papers are going to be passed to the appropriate representatives and appellate authorities.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The appeal documents were received in the Home Office on 4 December 1989. There are substantial backlogs of appeals awaiting preparation of explanatory statements and these, along with some further inquiries which were needed, delayed work on Mrs. Iqbal's case. However, the statement has now been prepared and will be dispatched to the appellate authorities very shortly. They will make arrangements for it to be forwarded to the appellant's nominated representative.

  Restraint Orders
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of the United Kingdom are currently prohibited from free movement within the United Kingdom, apart from those held on remand or imprisoned.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Eighty-five British citizens are currently subject to orders made under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989, excluding them from the mainland of Great Britain or from Northern Ireland.

  Deportation
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes he has made in the panel of advisers appointed to hear representations and advise him in cases where he is minded to deport a person for reasons of national security or related reasons.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I have appointed as additional reserve members of the panel Miss Patricia Hutchinson CMG, CBE and Mr. Alistair Graham.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Beaumont-Dark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effect of the television licence regulations on viewers' liability to a television licence.
  568
  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The administration of television licences is currently governed by the 1984 Wireless Telegraphy Regulations (SI 1984/1053), as amended, which in turn cross refer to earlier United Kingdom regulations and to the radio regulations of the International Telecommunications Union. In line with standing advice from the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments, I now propose to consolidate and clarify these regulations. Subject to parliamentary approval the new regulations will take effect on 1 April 1991, the date on which the BBC is due to take over the administration of licence fee collection.

  The new regulations will largely repeat in condensed form the substance of the present ones. They will also lake the opportunity to clarify several issues. First, they will make it clear that all viewers of United Kingdom television services available to the general public are liable to the television licence, irrespective of the nature of the service or the means by which it reaches the home. This will resolve uncertainties arising out of the changes to the ITU regulations and restore beyond doubt the principle that the licence fee is effectively a levy on all viewers intended to fund the BBC. The Government will be considering the long-term future of the licence itself during the review which will precede the expiry of the BBC's charter in December 1996, but is concerned that meanwhile the arrangements should be properly enforced.

  The opportunity will also be taken to confirm that the licence fee is still payable if a television set is used for other purposes as well; to ensure that the special licence arrangements for hotels do not extend to long-term accommodation; and to remove the "communal facility" condition which in practice has proved unnecessary to the operation of the concessionary licence scheme for occupants of accommodation for retired pensioners and those in similar circumstances.

  Probation Officers
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the pay and working conditions of probation officers.

  Mr. John Patten
  The pay and conditions of service of probation officers are determined by the Secretary of State under paragraph 18A of schedule 3 to the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973. The joint negotiating committee for the probation service makes recommendations to my right hon. Friend on these matters.

  On 6 February 1991, having considered an arbitration award on probation officers' pay, we determined that the increase in probation officers' salaries effective from 1 July 1990 should be 9·25 per cent. and that all officers with 14 years' service on 1 July 1990 should receive the second career grade allowance. I expect that most probation officers will see this as a reasonable settlement.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken to implement European directive No. 86/609 on the protection of animals used for experimental purposes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The United Kingdom has been complying fully with the directive since 1 January 1990
  569
  when the final provisions of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 came into force. In some respects the 1986 Act exceeds the requirements of the directive.

  IRA Terrorists
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) the names of IRA terrorists convicted in Britain since 1974, (b) the date of their conviction, (c) the offences for which they were convicted and (d) the length of the prison sentences imposed on them.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Information in this form is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Hampshire Constabulary
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been(a) the establishment of the Hampshire constabulary, both police and civilians and (b) the number of police per head of population in Hampshire in each year since 1979.

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

  Year

  Police establishment1

  Civilian establishment1

  Population per officer

  1979

  3,034

  760

  517

  1980

  3,034

  758

  519

  1981

  3,084

  767

  514

  1982

  3,084

  778

  517

  1983

  3,084

  781

  520

  1984

  3,084

  769

  525

  1985

  3,084

  769

  529

  1986

  3,105

  769

  530

  1987

  3,105

  846

  532

  1988

  3,128

  846

  532

  1989

  3,148

  846

  531

  1990

  3,173

  859

  —2

  1 As at 31 December.

  2 Information not yet available.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases related to the non-payment of the poll tax have been dealt with by each magistrates court in Leicestershire; what was the average amount of time allocated to cases of non-payment of the poll tax; what was the cost to the taxpayers of the proceedings; and what was the amount recovered by way of liability orders.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information about the number of enforcement proceedings and sitting hours in each clerkship in the period 1 April to 31 December 1990 is in the Library. It is estimated that the total cost of community charge proceedings in Leicestershire during that period was about £23,000. I have no information about amounts recovered under liability orders, which are not collected by magistrates' courts.

  Football Grounds (Licences)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what timetable has been provided to him by the Football Licensing Authority for the issuing of licences at football grounds.
  570
  Mr. John Patten
  [holding answer 19 February 1991]: The Football Licensing Authority has advised that it is unlikely to be in a position to implement the football licensing scheme, or to be fully prepared for the implementation of section 9 of the Football Spectators Act 1989, earlier than the beginning of the 1992–93 league football season. Although the recruitment of ground safety inspectors by the authority is proceeding satisfactorily, the authority's view is that the full programme of inspections necessary before licences can be required for all grounds at which designated matches are played cannot realistically be completed before then. It is, however, expected that inspectors will be recruited and trained in time to enable the implementation of section 13 of the 1989 Act possibly as early as 1 June 1991. The powers under section 13 will enable the authority to exercise the functions of keeping under review the discharge by local authorities of their functions under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 in relation to sports grounds at which designated football matches are played and to require local authorities to include specified terms and conditions in safety certificates. My right hon. and noble Friend is writing today to the hon. Member, pursuant to my replies to his earlier questions on 4 and 17 December, about the timetable for the implementation of sections 9 and 13 of the 1989 Act.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training, Greater Manchester
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how much the total number of training places, available through employment training, has been cut in the Greater Manchester area in the last year.

  Mr. Jackson
  There has been no reduction in training opportunities in the 1990–91 financial year in the Greater Manchester area.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the change in unemployment in 1990 for(a) the European Community as a whole and (b) the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Jackson
  Using the latest available internationally comparable figures from the Statistical Office of the European Community (SOEC), in December 1990 the unemployment rate for the EC as a whole was 8·4 per cent., down 0·1 percentage points on a year earlier. This compares with a rate of 7 per cent. in December 1990 for the United Kingdom, up 0·7 per cent. on a year earlier.

  Proof of Employment
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what the response of the British Government is to proposals from the European Community for a council directive on a form of proof of an employment relationship.

  Mr. Forth
  The Government support the principle that, in general, workers should receive a written statement of their main terms and conditions of employment. The law in the United Kingdom already provides for this. The Government see no need for European Community legislation on this matter.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what provisions exist for hon. Members to obtain copies of the minutes of board meetings of training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Jackson
  TECs are private companies and minutes of board meetings are confidential to the TEC.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list his latest estimate of the average funding paid to training providers for individual YTS training in each training and enterprise council.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what provisions exist to enable training agencies to appeal against decisions of training and enterprise councils.

  Mr Jackson
  Training providers should take up any concerns they may have with the chief executive of the relevant training and enterprise council.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether, pursuant to his answer of 25 February, he has made provision for his financial assistance commitment to the South Glamorgan TEC headquarters to be carried over into the financial year 1991–92.

  Mr. Jackson
  A contribution towards the cost of the proposed new South Glamorgan TEC headquarters is part of my Department's expenditure plans in Wales for 1991–92.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what rights directors of training and enterprise councils have to be consulted on policy decisions by the training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Jackson
  Training and enterprise councils are private companies and their directors therefore have the rights and obligations that are established in company law. In addition a TEC's memorandum and articles of association will contain provisions relating to the conduct of business.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will call for a report from the chairman of the Wakefield training and enterprise council on the circumstances leading up to the withdrawal of contracts for the provision of employment training and youth training from the NACRO New Careers training agency.

  Mr. Jackson
  No. Training and enterprise councils are responsible for deciding with whom they should contract for training.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what mechanisms exist to enable the monitoring of the use of public funds by training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Jackson
  TECs operate under a performance-based contract and are required to provide my Department with regular management and financial information on their performance and activities.
  572
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total amount of Government funding that will be received by the Wakefield training and enterprise council during the current financial year.

  Mr. Jackson
  Wakefield training and enterprise council, which became operational on 7 January 1991, has a budget of £2,348,000 for the current financial year.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the places to be provided by the training agencies with whom the Wakefield training and enterprise council proposes to contract during the next financial year will be reserved for trainees with special needs.

  Mr. Jackson
  Provision of training opportunities, including those for people with special needs, in the Wakefield area is the responsibility of the Wakefield training and enterprise council (TEC).

  Training, Avon
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much of the £4 million Avon area training budget for the year 1990–91 has still to be allocated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  This information is an internal management matter for the TEC.

  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, further to his answer of 20 February 1991,Official Report, column 190, whether trainees affected by the sudden closure of any of the providers of employment training in Avon will be able to make alternative arrangements of their choice; how many training places will be specifically allocated to accommodate the numbers of trainees displaced; and if he will make available extra resources to keep open those schemes where trainees choose to finish their training.

  Mr. Jackson
  Every effort is being made to ensure that suitable alternative arrangements are available for trainees affected by the closure of any ET schemes in Avon. How much alternative provision is needed and the nature and location of that provision will depend upon choices made by trainees as the circumstances of each individual trainee are reviewed.

SCOTLAND

  Health Boards
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the nominating body or person for each health board member as of 1 April 1991.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is as follows.

  Those members of health boards who did not seek reappointment or who were ineligible for reappointment were not considered for membership of the new health boards. Those existing members seeking reappointment were nominated by their health board.

  Health Board

  Nominating Body, if any

  Argyll and Clyde

  Mrs. E. S. Lander

  CBI

  Mr. C. H. Parker

  CBI

  573

  Health Board

  Nominating Body, if any

  Ayrshire and Arran

  Dr. K. G. Fegan

  Health Board

  Mr. W. M. Ritchie

  Health Board

  Borders

  Mr. D. A. G. Kilshaw

  Health Board

  Miss M. Marshall

  Scottish Association for Mental Health

  Fife

  Mr. F. J. R. Craig

  Self

  Mrs. M. Steedman OBE

  Self

  Mr. G. M. Thomson

  Health Board

  Forth Valley

  Dr. G. B. Hastings

  Strathclyde University

  Mr. C. S. R. Stroyan

  Self

  Mrs. K. A. Smith

  Women's Royal Voluntary Service

  Grampian

  Dr. C. A. MacLeod

  Self

  Prof. D. Ogston

  University of Aberdeen

  Greater Glasgow

  Mr. A. Scobbie

  Self

  Highland

  Mr. D. J. Mackay

  CBI

  Mrs. A. Macpherson

  Ross and Cromarty Council of Voluntary Service

  Lothian

  Prof R. C. B. Aitken

  University of Edinburgh

  Mr. R. Findlay

  Self

  Mrs. M. B. M. Knox

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

  Orkney

  Mr. E. M. Gibson MBE

  Health Board

  Mrs. E. B. Kerr

  Orkney Local Health Council

  Mr. J. Rendall

  Voluntary Services Orkney

  Shetland

  Mrs. M. U. Colligan

  Shetland Islands Council

  Sqn. Ldr. B. P. Gregson

  Health Board

  Mr. R. L. Johnston

  Health Board

  Tayside

  Mr. R. J. Jarvis

  Self

  Prof. R. E. Olver

  University of Dundee

  Western Isles

  Mr. I. D. Mclver

  Health Board

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the names, addresses and qualifications of all persons appointed to each of the newly reconstituted health boards in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on Wednesday 13 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Tayside, North (Mr. Walker) at columns 525–26. Two further appointments have been made since then as follows:

  Appointments

  Residence

  Tayside Health Board

  Mr. R. J. Jarvis

  Dunning

  Western Isles Health Board

  Rev. J. A. MacDonald

  Daliburgh

  574
  Health board members are appointed for their experience, abilities and personal qualities and not on the basis of specific qualifications which may not be relevant to their appointment.

  Smoking(Children)
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prosecutions there have been in the last year for selling tobacco to under-16s.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requestd is not separately identifiable within the criminal statistics maintained by the Scottish Office Home and Health Department.

  GP Payments
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each health board the proportion of practices receiving the higher and lower payment for(a) childhood immunisation, (b) cervical cytology and (c) pre-school booster.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on the attainment of these targets is collected on a GP rather than a practice basis; and data on the position as at 1 April 1990 is published in "Health Briefing No. 91/01/STA", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  "Next Steps" Agencies
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the establishment of "next steps" agencies within the Scottish Office.

  Mr. Lang
  I have decided that historic buildings and monuments in the Scottish Office Environment Department and the fisheries enforcement services in the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department should be established as agencies. I intend that this should be from 1 April 1991. The agencies will continue to be part of the Scottish Office and will be titled respectively Historic Scotland and the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.

  Each agency will be headed by a chief executive to whom I shall delegate extensive management freedom to organise the work of the agency efficiently, effectively and economically in a way which produces the best possible results. The chief executive will work within a policy and resources framework set by me and will be responsible to me for meeting specific objectives and challenging targets. The staff of the agencies will remain civil servants.

  Vacant Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimate of the number of properties which are empty in(a) local authority housing, (b) housing association housing and (c) Government Department housing; and what is the estimate of the percentage this represents of the total number of properties in each such group.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 February 1991]: Information on local authority property which was vacant at 31 March 1990 was published in table 15 of the Scottish Office "Statistical Bulletin HSU No. 17", which is available in the Library. Comparable figures for housing association and Government Department housing in Scotland are not collected centrally.

WALES

  Animal Carcases
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to take any action to secure the burial of carcases of animals left at St. Tudwal's Island East; if he will institute proceedings against the owner in respect of cruelty to the animals involved and the failure to dispose of carcases; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Responsibility for burial of the carcases left at St. Tudwal's Island East rests with the owner of the animals. Local authorities have enforcement powers if there is a risk to public health. It is understood that the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is collecting evidence.

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

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have taken personal charge on environmental issues and the follow up to the Environment White Paper published last September.

  Local Authority

  Persons registered for the community charge1

  Persons in receipt of community charge benefit2

  Persons in receipt of community charge benefit and receiving income support2 3

  Alyn and Deeside

  55,360

  10,700

  5,000

  Colwyn

  42,714

  N/A

  N/A

  Delyn

  50,852

  N/A

  N/A

  Glyndwr

  31,647

  6,500

  2,800

  Rhuddlan

  44,221

  11,600

  6,100

  Wrexham Maelor

  88,462

  21,900

  9,600

  Carmarthen

  42,537

  7,100

  4,000

  Ceredigion

  53,303

  7,700

  4,400

  Dinefwr

  29,590

  6,200

  2,700

  Llanelli

  57,913

  16,300

  8,000

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  51,889

  11,600

  6,500

  South Pembroke

  31,135

  6,300

  3,800

  Blaenau Gwent

  58,152

  17,500

  8,500

  Islwyn

  50,567

  9,400

  5,600

  Monmouth

  58,658

  7,600

  3,900

  Newport

  101,455

  29,800

  14,500

  Torfaen

  68,288

  17,200

  9,000

  Aberconwy

  40,867

  8,200

  4,400

  Arfon

  43,134

  11,900

  6,500

  Dwyfor

  20,835

  4,900

  2,300

  Meirionnydd

  25,344

  5,100

  2,500

  Ynys Mon

  51,711

  13,100

  6,400

  Cynon Valley

  49,536

  15,500

  9,100

  Merthyr Tydfil

  44,832

  13,500

  7,600

  Ogwr

  102,021

  28,000

  11,400

  Rhondda

  59,902

  19,000

  9,900

  Rhymney Valley

  77,050

  22,100

  13,100

  Taff Ely

  73,449

  16,100

  8,200

  Brecknock

  31,262

  N/A

  N/A

  Montgomeryshire

  40,772

  5,600

  2,900

  Radnorshire

  18,036

  2,700

  1,500

  Cardiff

  218,353

  50,900

  31,300

  Vale of Glamorgan

  84,286

  15,700

  9,900

  Lliw Valley

  47,274

  12,200

  6,100

  Neath

  50,118

  13,400

  6,100

  576
  Environmental issues are an integral part of the work of civil servants in a range of Welsh Office divisions. Staff and financial resources are devoted as necessary to these responsibilities.

  Work in progress includes, for example, the two major initiatives by the Welsh Development Agency which I announced last September—"Landscape Wales" and "Urban Development Wales"—on which the agency will spend about £34 million this year. Also the 1991–92 urban programme package which I announced in December, and which now stands at £6·6 million, will support many environmental improvements in the Principality. It is important too to promote knowledge and understanding amongst the young and that is why I was pleased to announce last September a competition for both primary and secondary schools in Wales on environmental issues.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the latest figures showing the total number of individuals registered for poll tax in each district council area of Wales to date; and of these, how many(a) have received rebates, (b) have not paid any poll tax to date, (c) have been granted rebates of 80 per cent., (d) receive family premium, (e) are in receipt of pensioners' premiums and (f) receive disabled people's premiums.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The latest available information is given in the following table. Information is not available centrally for parts(b), (d), (e) and (f) of the question.
  577

  Local Authority

  Persons registered for the community charge1

  Persons in receipt of community charge benefit2

  Persons in receipt of community charge benefit and receiving income Support2 3

  Port Talbot

  38,830

  11,000

  5,500

  Swansea

  140,255

  38,700

  21,100

  1 Includes students and persons subject to the collective community charge. As at 15 November 1990.

  2 As estimated by the Department of Social Security at August 1990. Excludes students, who are only required to pay 20 per cent, of the personal community charge.

  3 Persons in this category receive rebates of 80 per cent. Excludes a small number of persons who receive rebates of 80 per cent, but who are not on income support.

  Disability
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which counties in Wales employ a senior social worker whose sole specialty is the care of physically handicapped people.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Information relating to the number of senior social workers whose jobs are solely or largely concerned with services to people with physical disabilities is published in the report "Social Services in Wales for People aged 16–64 who have Physical Disabilities", which was produced by the social services inspectorate for Wales in December 1990. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The report found that Clwyd, Gwent and South Glamorgan employ senior social workers specifically in this capacity. In other counties, the duties of senior social workers also cover other client groups.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department has any plans to launch an all-Wales strategy for the physically disabled on similar lines to the all-Wales strategy for the development of services for people with a mental handicap.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The Welsh Office strategy for those with physical or sensory disabilities is to ensure that everything reasonably practicable is done to enable them to live as normal and fulfilled lives as possible in their own homes and communities. To this end, Welsh Office guidance on the preparation of joint plans by social services authorities, working with health authorities and other interests, for the development of social and community care, sets out a distinctive framework for Wales. The plans must identify present levels of activity, assets and expenditure and be produced in consultation with users and carers. This approach builds on the successful experience of the development of services under the existing all-Wales strategies for mental handicap and mental illness.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has any plans to embark on a major programme of investment in services for the physically disabled.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  People with physical disabilities are benefiting from the record levels of resources made available for health and personal social services in Wales and will benefit further from the reforms set out in the White Paper "Caring for People—Community Care in the Next Decade and Beyond" (Cm. 849), chapter 11 of which sets out the programme for Wales.

  To help promote the more flexible forms of community care which are proposed in the White Paper we have
  578
  introduced a new grant scheme in respect of services for people with physical or sensory disability and for elderly people. Under this scheme £1·5 million will be made available in support of projects in 1991–92.

  Health Services
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many specialist clinics dealing with(a) vasectomy, (b) IUDs, (c) cervical smears and (d) psychosocial problems have been operational in each district health authority area in Wales in each year since 1976.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to clarify the rules and levels of derogations for local abattoirs in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The European Commission has issued proposals to harmonise public health standards in all meat plants from 1 January 1993. These contain proposed exemptions for retailers who cut and store meat only for direct sale to the final consumer. The proposals would also give the Commission powers to grant permanent derogations from the structural rules for small businesses. At present the Commission has not yet detailed its position on the question of derogations, and discussions are continuing.

  Sports Council for Wales
  Mr. Gwilyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the level of funding he has made available to the Sports Council f6r Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Subject to the approval of Parliament the Sports Council for Wales' grant-in-aid for 1991–92 will be £5·2 million, an increase of 8·7 per cent. over the Council's 1990–91 allocation.

  Housing (Young People)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he has taken and intends to take to persuade local authorities to allocate moneys gained under the right-to-buy scheme for the acquisition of affordable rented houses and flats for young people under the age of 25 years on local waiting lists.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  It is for local authorities to decide how best to deploy the resources available to them.

  Output
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the figures per head for output generally and output in the manufacturing industry in Wales in 1989 and 1990; and what were the equivalent figures for each year from 1979 onwards.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Estimates of the gross domestic product per head of population in Wales are given in the table. Information for 1990 is not yet available. Manufacturing output figures, defined as gross value added per employee, were given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in response to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 22 February 1991 equivalent figures for all industries are not available.

  Gross domestic product per head of population

  Factor cost: Total

  Current prices (£) Manufacturing1

  1979

  2,509

  684

  1980

  2,860

  695

  1981

  3,062

  712

  1982

  3,397

  814

  1983

  3,705

  882

  1984

  3,839

  992

  1985

  4,231

  1,061

  1986

  4,667

  1,260

  1987

  5,162

  1,395

  1988

  5,815

  1,655

  19892

  6,372

  1,801

  1 Divisions 2 to 4, Standard Industrial Classification Revised 1980.

  2 Provisional

  Vacant Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimate of the number of empty residential properties in the private sector; and what is the estimate of the percentage this represents of the total number of residential properties in the private sector.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Based on housing investment programme returns from local authorities, there were at 1 April 1990 approximately 27,000 vacant dwellings in the private sector representing approximately 3 per cent. of the total number of residential properties in the private sector.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are currently registered as community charge payers in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  There were 2,174,610 people registered for the community charge at 15 November 1990. This figure includes students and people subject to the collective community charge.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Diplomatic Immunity
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to seek amendment of the Vienna convention to end the practice of giving diplomatic immunity for driving and parking offences.
  580
  Mr Lennonx-Boyd
  No

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

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Mr. Brenner's case is included on the list of those on which we make regular representations to the Soviet authorities. We shall not let up until there is a satisfactory outcome.

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

  (2) Iosif Davido of Kiev who has been unsuccessfully applying to leave the Soviet Union;

  (3) Philip Bogod of Leningrad who has been unsuccessfully applying to leave the Soviet Union.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  These cases have now been added to the list of those on which we make regular representations to the Soviet authorities. We shall not let up until there is a satisfactory outcome.

  Iraq (Nuclear Weapons)
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have made any assessment of Iraqi violations of its non-proliferation treaty commitments.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There was clear evidence that, before the outbreak of hostilities, Iraq was trying to develop a nuclear capability in breach of its undertaking not to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons and not to seek any assistance whatsoever to do so.

  Saddam Hussein
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Sillars),Official Report, 30 January, columns 527–28, he will set out the purpose and outcome of the meeting between the then Minister of State, the right hon. and learned Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor), and President Saddam Hussein on 24 November 1988, to which he refers.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend met the Iraqi president on 24 February 1988 to discuss regional and bilateral issues, and to deliver a message from the Prime Minister about British prisoners in Iraq. The president agreed to the release of Mr. John Smith, then in prison in Baghdad.

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick),Official Report, 16 January, column 836, how he plans to discuss the problem of arms sales to possible aggressor nations, to which he makes reference.
  581
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are already considering the problem ourselves and with our partners in the Community and in other international fora. The subject of arms sales will remain high on the international agenda.

  Iraq
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) of 18 February,Official Report, column 54, from which vote head the £3 million of aid and earlier £11 million pledge to the United Nations disaster relief co-ordinator and the International Committee of the Red Cross will be paid, and in which financial year; what contribution Her Majesty's Government have made to UNICEF and the World Health Organisation for medical supplies for Baghdad; and whether the report of the UNICEF mission currently in Baghdad will be classified as an independent assessment on which the sanctions committee can make a decision regarding food supplies.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Kingdom made prompt pledges of financial support following appeals from the international aid agencies in the context of the Gulf crisis. All these pledges have been paid.

  Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990, the United Kingdom gave some £11 million in humanitarian assistance for refugees and displaced persons from Iraq and Kuwait. A total of £2·72 million in bilateral assistance was paid from class II, vote 5, Foreign and Commonwealth Office-Overseas Development Administration: overseas aid. A total of £8·1 million in assistance was paid through the European Community.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks),Official Report, 31 January, column 606, on ministerial visits to Iraq since 1979, if he will set out the date and purpose of each visit.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My noble Friend the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Carrington, visited Iraq on 3 to 4 July 1979. As Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs visited Iraq on 16 to 18 July 1980, 16 to 17 July 1981 and 27 March 1983. My right hon. Friend the Member for Shoreham (Sir R. Luce), the then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, visited Iraq on 20 to 22 November 1984. My right 582
  hon. and learned Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, visited Iraq on 23 to 25 February 1988. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, the then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, visited Iraq on 12 February 1989.

  These ministerial visits were undertaken as part of the normal conduct of Anglo-Iraqi bilateral relations.

  Nuclear Facilities, Iraq
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what considerations were given to the 1977 protocol 1 to the Geneva conventions of 1949 before allied forces bombed Iraqi nuclear facilities.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Due consideration was given to all relevant rules of international law, including those reflected in protocol 1 of 1977 additional to the Geneva conventions, which is not however applicable to the conflict in the Gulf.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the allied bombing of Iraq's nuclear facilities upon the long-term stability and effectiveness of the 1975 nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There is no reason why the matter referred to by the hon. Member should have any adverse effect on the NPT.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has had any communication with the secretary general of the International Atomic Energy Agency following the allied bombing and destruction of the Iraq nuclear facility at Tuwaitha.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have had no such communications, but our officials maintain regular contact with Dr. Blix and his staff.

  Nuclear Test Ban
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the partial test ban treaty amendment conference held in New York in January.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 27 February, Vol. 186, column 497–98.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what action is being taken by the allied forces to protect the civilian population of Iraq from the effects of oil conflagration;

  (2) what action is being taken by the allied forces to protect the Kurdish people from the effects of oil conflagration.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have no information indicating a serious threat to the Kurdish people from the effects of oil conflagration. The environmental damage caused by the fires started at Kuwait's oil wells is wholly to be laid at the door of Saddam Hussein.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he, Ministers or officials of his Department had with academic specialists on the middle east region since 16 January on formation of policy towards restoring security in the Gulf following the end of hostilities.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is in regular contact with academics on a wide range of subjects involving the middle east in the course of its normal business.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has had any consultations with his American counterparts, or officials at the United States State Department concerning the occupation of Basra by allied military and civilian personnel following the end of hostilities in the Gulf war.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our objectives do not include the occupation of Iraqi territory. Coalition forces present in Iraq at the cessation of hostilities will, as has been stated on repeated occasions, be brought home.

  Israel
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 25 February, what are the territorial limits within which it is a matter for the Israeli Government as to where patriot missile launchers may be deployed.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Israel is obliged under the fourth Geneva convention to provide the same degree of protection for the inhabitants of the occupied territories as she does for her own citizens. It follows that the Israeli Government have the right to deploy Patriot missile launchers in Israel and in the occupied territories.

  Crimes Against Humanity
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will obtain for his Department's library a copy of the article in The Times of 25 February written by John and Ann Tusa on the steps which could be taken to establish machinery for those held responsible for crimes against humanity to be brought to justice; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have consistently stated that individuals bear personal responsibility for crimes under international law. This position is reflected in Security Council resolution 674.
  584
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations are taking place amongst the allies and at the United Nations for machinery to be established for those held responsible for crimes against humanity to be brought to justice.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the right hon. and learned Member for Warley, West (Mr. Archer) on 13 February, Vol. 185, column 514–15.

  Western European Union
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the role of the Western European Union in relation to the future of European security arrangements.

  Mr. Hurd
  I attended together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence a ministerial meeting of the Western European Union to discuss this subject in Paris on 22 February. We issued a working paper, copies of which are being placed in the Library of the House.

  The paper records agreement among WEU members on the continuing importance of NATO as the framework for the collective defence of all allies, and on the need to strengthen the WEU as the European pillar within the alliance, linked to the process of political union.

  Differences remain on other issues. I made it plain that there was no case for the Twelve taking on a defence role, or for placing the WEU under the European Council. In order to be effective, the WEU should be moved to Brussels, and flexible arrangements should be made to associate all European allies who wish to do so with its work.

ENVIRONMENT

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

  Mr. Heseltine
  I have overall responsibility for all environmental matters within my Department. Two divisions have been specifically established to develop environmental issues following the publication of the Environment White Paper, "This Common Inheritance" in September 1990—environmental protection central division and environmental protection and industry division. These have 27 staff. The Department's existing environmental protection group, directorate of rural affairs and heritage division have a combined complement of 740·5 including a significant strengthening in the complement of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to meet the needs of the new system of integrated pollution control. Environmental issues also form a growing part of the work of all parts of the Department.

  My hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside announced last November my Department's

  585
  plans to spend an extra £130 million in 1991–92 to protect and improve the environment. Included in this sum is an extra £13·7 million for environmental research, £23 million for the National Rivers Authority and £27 million to help local authorities improve waste disposal and recycling facilities. The extra spending also implements a number of White Paper commitments, including the creation of a new fund for repairs to cathedrals and the environmental grant fund for voluntary groups.

  Local Government Finance
  Sir Richard Luce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in his review of the financing of local government, he will make it his policy to reassess the criteria for the standard spending assessment so as to reduce the disparity in per capita support for the Adur district as against its neighbouring district.

  Mr. Portillo
  Standard spending assessments are calculated in the same way for all authorities according to the formulae set out in the revenue support grant distribution report approved by the House of Commons. These formulae followed extensive analysis and research which was fully discussed with the local authority associations. We are always willing to consider any new evidence with a view to making changes to SSAs in future should that prove necessary.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what grant per poll tax payer is received by(a) Nottingham and (b) Westminster.

  Mr. Key
  Government grants in 1990–91 consist of revenue support grant, special grants, specific grants in aggregate Exchequer finance, community charge benefit grant and transitional relief grant. Government grants per head of relevant population were £358 in Nottingham and £980 in Westminster.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update the information on numbers of people and percentages of liable adults paying the poll tax, by county, provided in his answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East of 26 November 1991,Official Report, column 259, to give the information as of 31 December.

  Mr. Key
  I am arranging for the information to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Dagenham of 8 February,Official Report, column 263, if he will publish a table showing in rank order the estimated percentage rise in average business rate bills, by local authority, between 1990–91 and 1991–92 taking account of transitional arrangements.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 22 February 1991]: I have today placed in the Library a table showing for each local authority the estimated percentage rise in average non-domestic rate bills in cash terms between 1990–91 and 1991–92. These estimates are based on the local rating list on 1 April 1990 and do not take account of subsequent changes in rateable value or of additions to or deletions from the list.

  Planning Policy
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses he has received to the review on planning policy guidelines "The Countryside and the Rural Economy".

  Mr. Yeo
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received 386 responses and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales 41. The final version of the revised planning policy guidance note 7 "The Countryside and the Rural Economy" is likely to be issued in the summer.

  Housing Associations
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action the Housing Corporation takes to ensure that housing associations pursue equal opportunities policies in relation to employment, housing allocation and awarding contracts to architects and contractors.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Housing Corporation has a specific statutory duty under section 71 of the Race Relations Act 1976, as amended, to have regard, in the exercise of all its functions, to the need to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial groups. I have asked the Housing Corporation to write to the hon. Member with information about the action it pursues both in this field and in other areas of equal opportunities policy.

  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the policy of the housing corporations towards black housing associations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Housing Corporation has recently issued a consultative document, reviewing its policy towards black and minority ethnic housing associations. I have asked the Housing Corporation to write to the hon. Member setting out the principles of its past and future policy.

  Hostels
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when the hostels announced by the then Minister for Housing, the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Mr. Spicer), on 18 October 1990 and in his reply to the hon. Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes), on 18 December 1990,Official Report, column 119, will open;

  (2) how money has been provided in (a) revenue funding and (b) capital for each of the hostels announced by the then Minister for Housing on 18 October 1990 and for the hostels he announced in his reply to the hon. Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes) on 18 December 1990, Official Report, column 119.

  Sir George Young
  The information requested concerning all the hostel schemes approved to date, including those announced on 18 October and 18 December, is given in the table.
  587

  Scheme location and borough

  Number of spaces

  Expected opening date

  Approved capital costs

  Approved annual revenue costs

  Housing association/voluntary agency

  £

  £

  St. Mungo Association

  32 Nevern Square, SW5 (Kensington)

  20

  24 December 19901

  65,075

  225,368

  St. Mungo Association

  29/30 Bassett Road, W10 (Kensington)

  22

  24 December 19901 (part) 2 January 19911 (remainder)

  77,380

  230,478

  Providence Row HA

  50 Crispin Street, E1 (Tower Hamlets)

  8

  10 January 1991l

  28,468

  23,278

  Look Ahead HA

  Princess Beatrice House, SW10 (Kensington)

  4

  12 February 19911

  16,496

  Nil

  St. Mungo Association

  City Road, EC1 (Islington)

  45

  25 February 19911 (part) early March 19911 (remainder)

  304,820

  212,269

  Church HA

  Station Hotel, N1 (Islington)

  35

  March 1991

  273,428

  90,340

  Church HA

  King George's Hostel, SW1 (Westminster)

  100

  March 1991

  220,095

  154,620

  Church HA

  165 Chevening Road, NW6 (Brent)

  6

  March 1991

  64,298

  10,561

  St. Mungo Association

  Woodberry Down, N15 (Haringey)

  19

  March/April 1991

  219,578

  1441,918

  Church HA

  St. Mark's Rectory, NW1 (Westminster)

  13

  April 1991

  115,973

  78,203

  Providence Row HA

  47/49 Crispin Street, E1 (Tower Hamlets)

  16

  April 1991

  149,940

  172,420

  Threshold HA/Centrepoint Soho

  Vauxhall Hostel, SW8 (Lambeth)

  60

  April 1991 (part) May 1991 (remainder)

  925,985

  627,840

  Shaftesbury Society

  Lansdowne Mission, SE1 (Southwark)

  23

  June 1991

  131,300

  44,884

  Shaftesbury Society

  Sir John Kirk Mission, SE5 (Southwark)

  23

  June 1991

  158,165

  39,997

  Shaftesbury Society

  4 Aldershot Road, NW6 (Brent)

  9

  June 19912

  168,244

  27,718

  Notting Hill HT/De Paul Trust

  2 Moorland Road, W2 (Westminster)

  16

  June 1991

  152,507

  88,611

  St. Mungo Association

  53 Chichester Road, NW6 (Brent)

  17

  September/October 1991

  405,504

  70,502

  Church HA

  Belgrave Hospital, SW9 (Lambeth)

  150

  Awaiting planning consent—applied for October 1990

  2,140,625

  221,773

  1 Actual opening date.

  2 Subject to planning consent.

  Vacant Properties
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the estimate of the number of empty residential properties in the private sector; and what is the estimate of the percentage this represents of the total number of residential properties in the private sector;

  (2) what is the estimate of the number of properties which are empty in each of (a) local authority housing, (b) housing association housing and (c) Government Department housing; and what is the estimate of the percentage this represents of the total number of properties in each such group.
  588
  Sir George Young
  The available information for April 1990 is in the table. Figures are for England, except in the case of Government Departments, which are for Great Britain.

  Vacant dwellings (thousands)

  As a percentage of stock

  Local authority1

  99·2

  2·5

  Housing association2

  19·7

  3·5

  Other Public Sector3

  31·1

  16·4

  Private4

  586·8

  4·0

  1 Derived from local authorities housing investment programme returns for April 1990. Includes 38,900 dwellings which are awaiting or undergoing major works or awaiting sale or demolition.

  2 Derived from housing association returns to the Housing Corporation for March 1990. Includes 12,700 dwellings, mainly

  589
  purchased from the private sector, which require rehabilitation work before suitable for occupation.

  3 1989–90 figures reported by Government Departments to the Treasury and includes dwellings owned by local health authorities. Many are vacant because of operational requirements, notably those owned by the Ministry of Defence. The Government are encouraging the sale of housing which is surplus to requirements and many of those that are vacant are in the process of disposal.

  4 Includes both rented and owner occupied dwellings. Local authorities provide figures in their housing investment programme returns, but because of the difficulty of obtaining up-to-date information on private sector vacancies, the estimates are likely to be less reliable than other information provided.

  Twynham Housing Association
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has received concerning the transfer of housing stock to the Twynham housing association; and what response he has made.

  Sir George Young
  Christchurch borough council has applied for consent to dispose of its housing stock to Twynham housing association. The application is currently under consideration and a decision will be announced as soon as possible.

  Rent Arrears
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the latest figures are on the arrears of rent outstanding to each local authority in Kent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr Yeo
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning on 21 February,Official Report, column 209–10, to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall).

  Integrated Pollution Control
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish general guidance on the implementation and operation of integrated pollution control.

  Mr. Trippier
  The Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office have today published a document entitled "Integrated Pollution Control—a Practical Guide" which provides guidance on part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the associated regulations in so far as they relate to integrated pollution control (IPC). Copies have been placed in the House Libraries.

  The guidance describes and explains the legislation. It describes the procedures for obtaining or varying an IPC authorisation and explains the meaning of key terms such as best available techniques not entailing excessive cost.

  The guidance takes account of discussions with various representative bodies, including the Confederation of British Industry and the Chemical Industries Association.

  I believe the guidance will prove an invaluable source of assistance to both industry and HMIP in securing the orderly implementation and operation of IPC. It complements and provides the framework for more detailed guidance and instructions on IPC procedures and individual classes of IPC process which HMIP will be publishing in the coming weeks and months. In addition, over the next few months HMIP will be holding a series of seminars locally for businesses which will come within IPC, to explain in depth how the new system will work in practice. Details will be available shortly.
  590
  The general guidance will be reviewed after about 12 months' experience of IPC and will, if necessary, then be amended and updated.

  The general guidance can be obtained free of charge from the Department of the Environment, Room A107, Romney house, 43 Marsham street, London SW1P 3PY or from the HMIP regional headquarters offices in Bedford, Bristol and Leeds.

  Environmental Impact Assessment Convention
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the convention on environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context.

  Sir George Young
  Her Majesty's ambassador to Finland signed the convention on environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context on behalf of the United Kingdom at Espoo, Finland on 26 February 1991.

  The convention sets out arrangements under which the environmental assessment procedures for proposed activities which are likely to have significant adverse transboundary impacts are extended to involve the authorities and public in affected countries. The convention applies to the activities specified in appendix I to the convention where they are likely to have significant adverse transboundary impacts, and to any other activities where the parties concerned so agree.

  The convention's provisions are consistent with the provisions of directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment which has been implemented in the United Kingdom by various regulations including the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988 (S.I. No. 1199). Where a project which is likely to have significant adverse transboundary effects is proposed in the United Kingdom and is subject to environmental assessment, the appropriate Government Department will ensure, as part of the environmental assessment procedures, that the requirements of the convention are complied with.

  The Government welcome this convention, which was negotiated in an ad hoc group of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, and in the preparation of which the United Kingdom took an active part. For the most part, because of our geographical position, activities in the United Kingdom are unlikely to have significant adverse environmental effects in other countries. However, the convention will make an important contribution to international environmental improvement by ensuring that where development projects are likely to have significant adverse transboundary effects those effects are taken into account and appropriate mitigation measures are considered before such projects are approved.

  Ironbridge
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for the future of Ironbridge following the wind-up of Telford development corporation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  In June 1989, my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside agreed to the setting up of a trust to take on the management of historical and archaeological assets at Ironbridge, to coincide with the winding up of Telford development corporation.
  591
  The unique collection of historic and archaeological remains in the Ironbridge Gorge is recognised as a world heritage site and is a significant national tourist attraction. Setting up a trust was considered to be the most appropriate means of ensuring a secure future for the collection.

  To reflect the importance of this transfer, my Department is establishing an endowment of £4 million for the trust, Ironbridge Heritage Foundation Ltd, for the maintenance and management of the site and monuments. The trust will soon be exploring investment options for the dowry and ownership of the assets will be transferred from Telford development corporation to the trust.

  Tonbridge and Mailing
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what use he intends to make of his sanction powers under part III of the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980 in relation to Tonbridge and Malting borough council.

  Mr. Key
  On 10 October 1990, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State served a notice under section 19A of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 on Tonbridge and Malting borough council, setting out his view that in 1988–89 the authority had failed to achieve the required rate of return in carrying out the work described in section 10(2)(a) to (d) of the Act (highways, construction and maintenance work).

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has now considered the response which the authority made to the section 19A notice which acknowledged the failure to achieve the rate of return in 1988–89 and also in 1989–90. The authority indicated that it has resolved to cease carrying out the work described in section 10(2)(a) to (d) of the Act, with the exception of winter maintenance and emergency works, by the end of the current financial year.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has concluded that the record of financial failure by the authority's direct service organisation is such as to justify further use of his sanction powers. He has therefore today made a direction under section 19B of the 1980 Act prohibiting the authority from carrying out the work described in section 10(2)(a) to (d) of the Act after 31 March 1991, with the exception of winter maintenance and emergency works.

  Emission Controls
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what considerations he has given to the implications of EC competition policy when drafting emission control regulations, in particular those affecting small-scale users of coal or refuse-derived fuel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 27 February 1991]: My hon. Friend is aware that we are taking appropriate advantage of the derogation in the municipal waste incineration directive. Controls on the small-scale burning of coal and refuse-derived fuel are currently being drafted.

  Noise Insulation
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the assistance available to householders who need to insulate their homes against noise pollution; and what conditions must be met to qualify for assistance.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 22 February 1991]: I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 22 February, Official Report, column 308. In addition we plan to introduce noise insulation regulations for new railways.

  The Ministry of Defence is undertaking a programme to conduct noise surveys around military airfields in the United Kingdom and grants are paid for secondary double-glazing where homes are found to be subject to noise levels of 70 dB(A) averaged over a continuous 12-hour period.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Appointees
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of all Government-nominated members and the names of all district council nominated members of(a) the senate of Queens University, Belfast, (b) the court of the University of Ulster, (c) the trustees of the Ulster museum, (d) the trustees of the Ulster Folk and Transport museum, (e) the board of governors of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, (f) the Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland and (g) the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, in each year since 1979, giving the year of appointment and length of service in each case.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:

  (a) Senate of The Queen's University of Belfast

  Name

  Year of appointment

  Length of service (years)

  Government nominated members

  S. Craigs

  1979

  3

  Mrs. C. Kennedy

  1979

  3

  W. Harvey

  1979

  3

  F. A. Mackle

  1979/1982/1987

  12

  R. B. Henderson

  1982

  5

  G. H. Dunlop

  1982

  3

  Dr. J. Love

  1982

  5

  Mrs. C. Quigley

  1983

  3

  Sir J. Shiel QC

  1987

  4

  Miss A Lamb

  1987

  4

  Rev. J. Dunlop

  1987

  4

  C. T. Hurst

  1987

  4

  District Council nominated members

  Alderman J. Carson

  1979

  1

  Councillor Mrs. G. Bannister

  1980

  1

  Councillor M. G. Brown

  1981

  3

  Alderman R. Empey

  1984

  3

  Alderman N. A. Dodds

  1987

  4

  (b) Court of the University of Ulster

  Name

  Year of appointment

  Length of service (years)

  Government nominated members

  I. H. N. Wallace

  1984

  4

  Dr. C. E. Wright

  1984

  4

  593

  Name

  Year of appointment

  Length of service (years)

  D. Fell

  1984/1988

  6

  D. Barry

  1984

  4

  Dr. W. G. H. Quigley

  1984

  4

  Dr. M. N. Hayes

  1984

  4

  A. J. Green

  1988

  2

  Dr. C. McMurray

  1988

  2

  J. Murray

  1988

  2

  J. L. Semple

  1988

  2

  F. A. Elliott

  1988

  2

  District Council nominated members

  Councillor N. Dodds

  1984

  5

  Councillor A. Redpath

  1984

  5

  Councillor R. J. Mitchell

  1984

  4

  Councillor M. F. Kane

  1984

  4

  Councillor M. J. Fegan

  1984

  5

  Councillor F. McAteer

  1984

  5

  Alderman G. L. Herron

  1984

  7

  Councillor J. J. Rooney

  1984

  7

  Councillor F. Marks

  1984

  7

  Councillor H. Gibson

  1984

  7

  Councillor J. Dougan

  1984

  7

  Councillor B. Porter

  1984

  3

  Councillor J. Simpson

  1984

  7

  Councillor E. Biggerstaff

  1984

  4

  Councillor Mrs. Ardill

  1984

  6

  Councillor W. Ward

  1984

  4

  Councillor A. Kane

  1984

  7

  Councillor P. Black

  1984

  4

  Councillor M. Ritchie

  1984

  4

  Councillor A. McGonnell

  1984

  7

  Ms. K. Gleeson

  1984

  4

  Councillor R. Robinson

  1984

  5

  Councillor R. Cartwright

  1984

  7

  Councillor T. Lilburn

  1984

  7

  Councillor L. Bhrighde

  1984

  5

  Councillor R. McPherson

  1984

  7

  Councillor A. Moffett

  1984

  2

  Councillor Rev. J. Auld

  1984

  5

  Councillor Mrs. Grant

  1984

  5

  Councillor Mrs. Britton

  1984

  5

  Councillor D. Kelly

  1986

  2

  Councillor I. Johnston

  1987

  2

  Councillor Mrs. P. E. Armitage

  1988

  3

  Councillor W. Mathews

  1988

  3

  Councillor P. Devine

  1988

  3

  Councillor W. McFadden

  1988

  1

  Councillor Rev. R. Doherty

  1988

  1

  Councillor W. Abraham

  1988

  3

  Councillor G. Hatch

  1988

  1

  Councillor E. O'Neill

  1988

  3

  Councillor F. McQuillan

  1988

  3

  Councillor O. Kelly

  1988

  1

  Councillor I. Adamson

  1989

  2

  Councillor N. McCausland

  1989

  2

  Councillor S. Gallagher

  1989

  2

  Councillor R. Coulter

  1989

  2

  Alderman J. Trueman

  1989

  2

  Councillor S. Steele

  1989

  2

  Councillor Rev. W. McCrea

  1989

  2

  Councillor A. Crawford

  1989

  2

  Councillor R. Bradford

  1989

  2

  Councillor S. McKenna

  1989

  2

  Councillor D. Hussey

  1989

  2

  (c) The Trustees of the Ulster Museum

  Name

  Year of appointment

  Length of service (years)

  Government nominated members

  Mr. J. Warwick

  1966

  18

  Mr. J. C. Nolan

  1972

  7

  Dr. W. H. D. McCormick

  1973

  12

  Mr. C. G. Mooney

  1973

  12

  594

  Name

  Year of appointment

  Length of service (years)

  Mr. M. H. Armstrong

  1974

  6

  Dr. D. B. McNeill

  1975

  9

  Lady Dunleath

  1977

  9

  Sir Robert Porter QC

  1979

  3

  Mr. L. Pimley

  1981

  6

  Mr. K.Darwin

  1982

  6

  Mr. M. Solomon

  1982

  9

  Mr. R. H. Pierce

  1985

  3

  Mr. J. G. May

  1985

  6

  Mrs. C. M. Kennedy

  1986

  3

  Mr. G. H. Moore

  1987

  4

  Mrs. A. Robinson

  1987

  4

  Mr. J. McCoubrey

  1988

  2

  Mr. C. Ward

  1989

  2

  Miss C. M. Dickson

  1989

  2

  Mr. R. A. McLaughlin

  1991

  —

  District Council nominated members

  Councillor D. S. Cook

  1973

  12

  Councillor H. B. Evans

  1977

  2

  Councillor Mrs. M. Crooks

  1977

  3

  Alderman S. Semple

  1981

  6

  Councillor D. Deeny

  1983

  2

  Councillor Blair

  1984

  1

  Councillor Mrs. H. Bradford

  1984

  7

  Councillor Mrs. R. Rea

  1984

  5

  Councillor Mrs. M. Clarke

  1985

  4

  Councillor Mrs. D. Dunlop

  1985

  4

  Councillor R. G. Newton

  1985

  6

  Councillor J. H. Allen

  1987

  1

  Councillor R. Stinson

  1989

  2

  Councillor A. P. McConaghy

  1989

  2

  Councillor I. Adamson

  1989

  2

  Councillor N. McCausland

  1989

  2

  (d) The Trustees of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

  Name

  Year of appointment

  Length of service (years)

  Government nominated members

  Mr. J. L. MacQuitty

  1964

  21

  The Lord O'Neill

  1969

  21

  Rev. P. L. Livingstone

  1970

  9

  Miss C. Murray

  1973

  9

  Prof. D. W. Harkness

  1977

  14

  Mr. J. I. D. Johnston

  1977

  9

  Miss G. Carville

  1978

  9

  Mr. G. Burns

  1981

  4

  Mr. J. T. Steele

  1982

  8

  Mr. J. Cooper

  1985

  6

  Sir L. McCollum

  1986

  5

  Mr. J. J. Tracey

  1987

  4

  Mrs. P. Farren

  1988

  3

  Mrs. P. Rice

  1990

  5 months

  Mr. H. Faulkner

  1991

  1 month

  District Council nominated members

  Councillor Mrs. M. E. O'Fee

  1973

  12

  Councillor F. A. Wheeler

  1973

  12

  Col. A. N. Clarke

  1976

  9

  Alderman J. W. Farrington

  1977

  4

  Alderman Sir Myles Humphreys

  1977

  4

  Councillor B. Bell

  1977

  4

  Councillor W. Wright

  1981

  3

  Councillor T. Patton

  1981

  4

  Councillor E. Smyth

  1981/89

  6

  Councillor C. Wilson

  1984

  3

  Councillor Mrs. H. Bradford

  1985

  6

  Alderman R. J. Mitchell

  1985

  3

  Councillor N. Mulligan

  1985

  6

  Alderman W. C. Corry

  1985

  4

  Councillor P. Lunn

  1985

  4

  Alderman S. Semple

  1987

  4

  Councillor I. Hunter

  1988

  1

  595

  Name

  Year of appointment

  Length of service (years)

  Councillor Mrs. E. T. Black

  1989

  2

  Councillor I. Adamson

  1989

  2

  (e) The Board of Governors of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland

  Name

  Year of appointment

  Length of service (years)

  Government nominated members

  Mrs. D. Flanagan

  1974

  6

  Captain P. S. Montgomery

  1974

  5

  Mr. T. Mullarkey

  1974

  5

  Mr. A. S. Worrall

  1974

  8

  Mr. D. Wylie

  1974

  5

  Miss E. Conway

  1975

  5

  Dr. P. Froggatt

  1977

  8

  Mrs. E. P. A. Morrow

  1977

  5

  Mr. R. Coulter

  1977

  8

  Mr. A. C. Brooke

  1979

  7

  Mr. S. McMahon

  1980

  5

  Mrs. H. Hickey

  1981

  5

  Mr. B. Baird

  1981

  9

  Mrs. S. Collins

  1981

  3

  Miss D. Brown

  1982

  5

  Mr. P. Brand

  1982

  5

  Prof. W. L. Warren

  1984

  5

  Mr. P. McAvinchey

  1985

  5

  Mr. B. R. Johnston

  1986

  5

  Mrs. A. Davey-Orr

  1987

  4

  Mr. G. Priestley

  1987

  4

  Mr. M. Wallace

  1987

  4

  Ms. C. M. Hurd-Wood

  1988

  3

  Miss J. Johnston

  1988

  6 months

  Miss M. Andrews

  1989

  2

  Mr. P. Donnelly

  1990

  11 months

  Ms. J. Woods

  1991

  —

  Mr. T. McAuley

  1991

  —

  District Council Nominated Members

  Mr. W. J. Johnston

  1974

  6

  Mr. C. Ward

  1980

  5

  Councillor R. Stinson

  1985

  5

  Councillor W. H. King

  1990

  2 months

  (f) The Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland

  Name

  Year of appointment

  Length of service (years)

  Government nominated members

  Mr. Charles C. Fox

  1979

  5

  Mr. E. G. Sherrard

  1973

  7

  Mr. N. E. Morrison

  1980

  4

  Mr. R. Wolsey

  1976

  5

  Mr. P. D. McGuinness

  1981/1984

  6

  Mr. Robert J. Jordan

  1984/1990

  7

  Mr. H. C. R. Whitley

  1984

  1

  Dr. J. Parsons

  1985/1990

  6

  Dr. R. McQuiston

  1984

  1 month

  Mr. J. W. Anderson

  1984

  6

  Mr. L. Reford

  1990

  1

  Mr. G. J. Gallagher

  1987/1991

  4

  Mr. H. Clendinning

  1984

  7

  Mr. T. Prunty

  1991

  1

  District Council nominated members

  Mr. N. Brown

  1984

  2

  Mr. S. Cavan

  1987

  3

  Mrs. J. McVitty

  1990

  1

  596

  (g) The Belfast Harbour Commissioners

  Name

  Year of appointment

  Length of service (years)

  Government nominated members

  Mr. W. H. Barnett CBE

  1951

  29

  Mr. J. B. Neill

  1957

  28

  Mr. J. S. Pollock

  1960

  22

  Mr. R. T. Corry OBE

  1960/1985

  24

  Mr. D. Rebbeck CBE

  1962

  23

  Mr. C. T. Hurst OBE

  1967

  20

  Mr. C. Neill

  1970

  17

  Mr. H. O. McMurray

  1976

  9

  Mr. W. D. McKee CBE

  1977

  5

  Mr. D. Moreland

  1977

  14

  Mr. C. Nimmons

  1979

  9

  Mr. G. Milligan

  1979

  9

  Sir Myles Humphries

  1979

  9

  Mr. W. F. O'Kane (Jnr)

  1979

  12

  Mr. R. Barnett

  1982

  9

  Mr. T. R. Corry

  1985

  6

  Mr. G. R. Irwin

  1986

  5

  Mr. D. J. McRandal

  1987

  4

  Mr. W. Devlin

  1987

  4

  Mr. F. D. Tughan

  1988

  3

  Mrs. C. M. Kennedy

  1988

  3

  District Council nominated members

  Councillor P. J. Devlin

  1979

  6

  Councillor R. N. M. Empey

  1985

  4

  Alderman T. Patton OBE

  1989

  2

  Health Care (Information Technology)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the capital expenditure on information technology by the health and social service boards for doctors' practices, and expenditure on information technology training in 1989–90 and 1990–91 and capital expenditure for hospital and community health services on computers.

  Mr. Hanley
  During the financial year 1989–90 expenditure by health and personal social services boards on information technology for doctors' practices was £53,000, and the total capital expenditure on information technology for hospital and community health services was £7,426,000.

  Accurate figures for expenditure on information technology training in 1989–90 are not readily available in respect of all boards, but total expenditure was in the region of £100,000.

  The relevant expenditure figures for the financial year 1990–91 are not available at this stage.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total take-up of student loans to date in Northern Ireland by(a) institution and (b) area board expressed as a percentage of the estimated number of eligible students; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mawhinney
  Geographically disaggregated figures are not at present available from the Student Loans Company and therefore could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Department of Education review of initial teacher education listing those organisations consulted.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In July 1990, as Minister responsible for education in Northern Ireland, I announced that discussions about the future provision of initial teacher training would take place between the Department of Education and other interested parties to ensure that the teacher training institutions are well placed to give Northern Ireland teachers the best possible preparation for the challenges of teaching in the 21st century.

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–881

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Full-time

  Part-time

  FURTHER EDUCATION COLLEGES

  Belfast College of Technology

  1,196

  6,252

  965

  4,387

  —

  —

  898

  4,987

  1,223

  5,814

  Belfast College of Business Studies

  923

  3,370

  965

  2,493

  —

  —

  1,079

  2,783

  1,097

  2,314

  Rupert Stanley College of Further Education

  1,030

  1,546

  1,489

  1,776

  —

  —

  934

  2,440

  1,152

  2,901

  North West College of Technology

  1,003

  3,656

  1,083

  3,718

  —

  —

  1,368

  3,847

  1,405

  4,194

  Fermanagh Technical College

  539

  1,791

  526

  1,575

  —

  —

  589

  1,459

  610

  1,723

  Limavady Technical College

  357

  751

  378

  624

  —

  —

  490

  675

  576

  819

  Omagh Technical College

  553

  935

  548

  906

  —

  —

  563

  1,233

  611

  1,122

  Antrim Technical College

  254

  526

  245

  762

  —

  —

  229

  976

  214

  964

  Ballymena Technical College

  883

  2,079

  893

  2,125

  —

  —

  975

  2,659

  960

  2,685

  Newtownabbey Technical College

  427

  2,648

  507

  2,383

  —

  —

  606

  2,252

  645

  2,457

  North Antrim Technical Area

  117

  790

  201

  853

  —

  —

  181

  939

  169

  1,007

  Coleraine Technical College

  499

  1,048

  434

  934

  —

  —

  574

  1,031

  631

  1,169

  Magherafelt Technical College

  264

  481

  338

  442

  —

  —

  327

  557

  257

  561

  Larne Technical College

  267

  1,106

  289

  1,147

  —

  —

  243

  1,335

  257

  1,252

  Northern Ireland Hotel and Catering College, Portrush

  233

  61

  210

  55

  —

  —

  206

  48

  181

  25

  Lisburn Technical College

  487

  1,824

  558

  1,584

  —

  —

  497

  1,445

  664

  1,481

  Down Technical Area

  Downpatrick Technical College

  471

  1,093

  469

  1,241

  —

  —

  602

  1,687

  721

  546

  Ballynahinch Technical College

  Newcastle College of Further Education

  180

  190

  263

  255

  —

  —

  225

  174

  232

  132

  Castlereagh Technical College

  387

  2,340

  480

  2,348

  —

  —

  332

  1,758

  341

  1,920

  North Down Technical Area

  Newtownards Technical College

  882

  1,730

  812

  1,772

  —

  —

  705

  1,742

  610

  1,874

  Bangor Technical College

  Lurgan Technical College

  556

  790

  559

  759

  —

  —

  555

  673

  516

  587

  Portadown Technical College

  1,178

  1,261

  971

  1,553

  —

  —

  839

  1,747

  1,026

  1,588

  Armagh Technical College

  720

  565

  789

  519

  —

  —

  791

  644

  904

  691

  Banbridge College of Further Education

  272

  570

  245

  660

  —

  —

  240

  826

  297

  875

  East Tyrone Technical Area

  Dungannon Technical College

  675

  1,415

  767

  1,512

  —

  —

  680

  1,716

  750

  1,513

  Cookstown Technical College

  Newry Technical College

  786

  1,113

  715

  1,212

  —

  —

  891

  1,456

  1,013

  1,408

  Kilkeel Technical College

  TEACHER TRAINING2

  St. Mary's College

  567

  —

  595

  —

  635

  —

  692

  —

  701

  —

  Stranmillis College

  563

  —

  594

  —

  636

  —

  663

  —

  709

  —

  Universities

  Queens University

  7,164

  1,389

  7,360

  1,511

  7,537

  1,665

  7,680

  1,690

  7,868

  1,800

  University of Ulster

  7,458

  3,835

  7,613

  3,612

  7,968

  3,674

  8,296

  3,837

  8,635

  4,081

  1 Further education statistics for 1987–88 not available owing to industrial action by further education lecturers in that year.

  2 Part-time student numbers for teacher training colleges are not available.

  598
  These discussions are now taking place. During November and December departmental officials met informally the heads and senior staff of the four initial teacher training institutions to consider relevant issues.

  Further Education
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the numbers of student enrolments both full-time and part-time in each further education college, teacher education college and university in Northern Ireland during the past five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The numbers are as follows:
  599
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the cost of grants paid to students' unions in individual further education colleges during the last five years.

  College

  1985–86

  1986–97

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Belfast College of Technology

  N/A1

  N/A1

  N/A1

  5,318

  8,018

  Belfast College of Business Studies

  N/A1

  N/A1

  N/A1

  2,000

  8,000

  Rupert Stanley, Belfast

  N/A1

  N/A1

  N/A1

  6,000

  7,000

  North-West

  N/A1

  2,340

  2,918

  2,909

  3,574

  NI Hotel and Catering College

  351

  346

  441

  214

  336

  Down

  —

  213

  —

  —

  —

  Newcastle

  —

  378

  156

  —

  85

  North Down and Ards

  1,222

  1,668

  —

  1,439

  2,078

  1 Figures not available for these years.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the percentage of students receiving full maintenance grants in Northern Ireland for the last five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

  Young People (Social Security)
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many 16 and 17-year-olds have been refused income support as a percentage of applicants in the past 12 months.

  Mr. Hanley
  During 1990, 41 claimants, some 14 per cent. of all claimants aged 16–17, were refused income support.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many 16 and 17-year-olds have(a) applied for and (b) been granted crisis loans under the social fund in the past 12 months for each social security office.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is not available.

  Disabled People
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the proportion of disabled people employed in each Department for the years 1987, 1988 and 1989.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The proportion of Northern Ireland civil service (NICS) staff who were or had previously been registered as disabled is given for each of the years 1987 and 1989 as follows:

  Percentage registered disabled

  Department

  1987

  1989

  Agriculture

  0·8

  1·1

  Economic Development

  1·1

  1·4

  Education

  1·1

  0·8

  Environment

  0·9

  1·3

  Finance and Personnel

  0·8

  1·2

  Health and Social: Services

  1·2

  1·3

  Northern Ireland Office (NICS)

  0·8

  1·0

  Overall

  0·98

  1·2

  The position for 1988 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  600
  Dr. Mawhinney
  The costs of grants paid to students' unions by education and library boards during this period were as follows:

  A confidential questionnaire issued to staff in the Northern Ireland civil service established that 5 per cent. considered themselves to have some disability, though the majority had not registered that disability.

  There was one registered disabled person employed during 1987–89 in the home civil service group in the Northern Ireland Office, though a similar proportion of staff considered themselves to have some form of disability.

  NHS Trusts
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those units applying for NHS trust status, stating the ratio of public dividend capital and interest-bearing debt required for repayment of originating debt and what were their external finance limits.

  Mr. Hanley
  There have as yet been no actual applications for HSS trust status in Northern Ireland; there have however been initial expressions of interest in achieving HSS trust status.

  General Practitioners
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report in tabular form the proportion of general practitioners in each health and social services board area qualifying for target payments from childhood immunisations, preschool booster and cervical cytology screening at 1 April 1990 and 1 October 1990.

  Mr. Hanley
  Information relating to 1 October 1990 is not presently available. However details of the proportion of general practitioners in each health and social services board qualifying for target payments at 1 April 1990 and 1 July 1990 are as follows:

  Proportion of GPs qualifying for target payments

  1 April 1990

  Eastern Board

  Northern Board

  Southern Board

  Western Board

  Vaccinations/Immunisations

  Total GPs

  387

  206

  173

  157

  No. Qualifying

  290

  192

  154

  128

  Percentage

  75

  93

  89

  82

  1 July 1990

  Total GPs

  388

  206

  175

  157

  No. Qualifying

  334

  203

  168

  140

  Percentage

  86

  98

  96

  89

  601

  1 April 1990

  Eastern Board

  Northern Board

  Southern Board

  Western Board

  Preschool boosters

  Total GPs

  387

  206

  173

  157

  No. Qualifying

  189

  182

  56

  68

  Percentage

  49

  88

  32

  43

  1 July 1990

  Total GPs

  388

  206

  175

  157

  No. Qualifying

  208

  203

  88

  75

  Percentage

  54

  98

  50

  48

  Cervical Cytology

  Total GPs

  387

  206

  173

  157

  No. Qualifying

  201

  172

  101

  97

  Percentage

  52

  83

  58

  62

  1 July 1990

  Total GPs

  388

  206

  175

  157

  No. Qualifying

  236

  190

  114

  120

  Percentage

  61

  92

  65

  76

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

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 11 February 1991]: In addition to a variety of minor items, the following more substantial items were formally recorded as losses to the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments due to theft during the years 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90.

  £

  Lorry and equipment

  4,039·15

  Forest Service equipment from stores

  812·40

  Forest Service Hathaway Pump

  595·83

  Tools and protective clothing from Bedford van

  520·62

  Two wheels from a trailer

  250·00

  Equipment from Forest Service machine

  223·10

  9 road signs

  203·22

  Timber and tools

  199·18

  RT equipment and haversack from stores

  173·77

  Tools and protective clothing from an excavator

  145·57

  Tools from shelter

  127·50

  Tools from shelter

  127·23

  Tools, road signs and warning lamps

  114·49

  Hydraulic road breaker

  1,199·48

  Vibrating plate compactor

  520·00

  Unit including jack hammer and disc cutter

  3,254·00

  Oxygen and acetylene cylinders

  861·00

  Trailer and tractor wheels

  1,667·50

  JCB digger

  19,508·50

  Gas cylinders

  1,002·00

  Plant machinery

  1,645·00

  Additionally there were 27 write offs totalling £1,025·65 valued under £100.

  1988–89

  £

  2 lorry wheels

  504·52

  Protective clothing and wrecking bars from stores

  315·18

  2 chainsaws and accessories from stores

  271·19

  Wheels and tow hitch from rollalong shelter

  253·81

  Tools from drainage site yard

  221·25

  Spades and padbolt locks

  170·39

  602

  £

  Tools from an excavator

  127·43

  Items from site hut

  123·25

  Life jackets and warning lamps

  112·43

  Camera and calculator

  110·23

  Tools from site hut

  109·50

  25 fire extinguishers

  849·05

  CCTV mobile unit

  550·00

  Bedford van

  867·90

  Radio Transceiver

  1,000·00

  Hand held portable radio

  632·00

  Additionally there were 21 write offs totalling £850–91 valued under £100.

  1989–90

  £

  Tools from Forest office

  620·19

  Video equipment

  584·85

  Parts from a trailer

  381·40

  Tools and security grilles from work site

  310·94

  Tools and protective clothing from shelter

  242·42

  Three lifebuoys

  223·31

  Tow hitch and wheels from rollalong shelter

  166·45

  Wire from work site

  141·13

  Belling Cooker and wire cutters

  139·56

  Cannon Thunderbird Scarer and gas cylinder

  138·75

  Camera

  127·50

  Honda motorcyle

  642·56

  Welder and chainsaw

  1,270·31

  Transit van

  1,600·00

  One portable hydraulic power pack complete with tools

  2,485·39

  Two dictaphones

  120·00

  Camera and blow torch

  200·00

  Two cameras

  200·00

  Various materials used for training purposes—timber, metal

  3,470·00

  Additionally there were 28 write offs valued under £100—totalling

  1,141·65

  Education
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what review he has undertaken of the future position of A-levels in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]The current review of A-level study in England and Wales will continue to be monitored in Northern Ireland. I fully share the desire of the Secretary of State for Education and Science to maintain existing high standards of A-levels.

  The Northern Ireland Schools Examinations and Assessment Council is obliged by the provisions of the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 to seek to ensure that the standards of its examinations and assessments are equivalent to those elsewhere in the United Kingdom. In Northern Ireland, therefore, we would expect to conform to whatever developments take place in Great Britain.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the level of access funds allocated to each institution and area board in Northern Ireland and the amounts allocated to students to date.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 25 February1991]: The sums allocated to the institutions and boards and the amounts so far disbursed to students are:

  603

  Allocated

  Disbursed

  £000

  £000

  Queen's University, Belfast

  169

  50

  University of Ulster

  150

  127

  Stranmillis College of Education

  15

  4

  St. Mary's College of Education

  14

  14

  Belfast Education and Library Board

  29

  16

  North-Eastern Education and Library Board

  29

  6

  South Eastern Education and Library Board

  29

  22

  Southern Education and Library Board

  29

  9

  Western Eduction and Library Board

  28

  21

  Access fund allocations to universities are for the full 1990–91 academic year while those to colleges of education and area boards are for the financial year ending 31 March 1991 and therefore cover only the first two terms of the academic year.

  Students
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East of the 8 February,Official Report, column 255, if he will indicate what financial provision is made by (1) his Department, (2) education and library boards and (3) the DHSS for the maintenance of students who do not get a placement for all; or part of their year out of higher education.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 26 February 1991]: The information requested is as follows:
  (1) Students who do not secure placements during their year out of higher education are entitled to seek top-up loans of up to £460 in a full year, depending on circumstances, from the Student Loans Company. Loans to students resident in Northern Ireland are funded by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland. The Department has also made provision for the establishment of access funds in the universities and colleges of education in Northern Ireland to enable them to provide additional support, at their discretion, for students in particularly difficult financial circumstances.
  (2) Education and library boards have also been allocated access funds by the Department to enable them to provide similar support for further education students aged 19 or over.
  (3) Income support and housing benefit are available to prescribed groups of students, in particular, lone parents, disabled people and student couples with dependent children.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Mobility Allowance
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will investigate the delay in the consideration by the Social Security Commissioners in the determination of the appeal submitted on 2 June 1990 regarding the decision and the basis of the decision by a medical appeal tribunal recommending the application for mobility allowance for a constituent of the late hon. Member for Neath (Mr. Coleman) residing in Ystalyfera.

  The Attorney-General
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Office of the Social Security Commissioners (OSSC) received an application for leave to appeal on
  604
  behalf of the claimant, now deceased, on 7 June 1990. On 22 June, the appellant was asked to submit to the OSSC, in keeping with the requirements of regulation 4 of the Social Security Commissioners Procedures Regulations 1987, a copy of the ruling signed by the chairman of the Medical Appeal Tribunal refusing or granting leave to appeal. On 27 June, a duplicate application for leave to appeal was received from the appellant's solicitors who were promptly informed of the need to supply the required document.

  The appellant's solicitors have been given a further opportunity to submit a copy of the tribunal chairman's ruling before a commissioner determines the application.

  Claimants
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in receipt of(a) attendance allowance and (b) severe disablement allowance are in receipt of one or more of (i) income support, (ii) housing benefit and (iii) community charge benefit.

  Mr Scott
  The information requested is as follows:

  number

  (i) The number of benefit units receiving income support1 with:

  Attendance Allowance

  262,000

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  156,000

  (ii) The number of benefit units receiving housing benefit2 with:

  Attendance Allowance

  76,500

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  9,500

  (iii) The information requested is not yet available for community charge benefit.

  1 Annual Statistical Enquiry May 1989—Data will include recipients of Housing Benefit (and Community Charge Rebate in Scotland).

  2 Housing Benefit Management Information System May 1989—Data includes Community charge Rebate in Scotland but excludes cases where Income Support is also in payment.

  Disability
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) claims, (b) requests for review and (c) late appeals have been received by the Department or by housing benefit or community charge benefit departments for the inclusion of severe disability premium in the assessment of income support, housing benefit or community charge benefit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a breakdown of his Department's estimated expenditure on the disability living allowance in(a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94 by estimated number of awards of (i) the lower rate mobility component, (ii) the lower rate care component, (iii) higher rate care component, (iv) middle rate care component and (e) higher rate mobility component.

  Mr. Scott
  The latest estimated expenditure and average numbers of recipients for the components of disability living allowance are in the following table.
  605
  Projections for the lower rate components are inevitably more uncertain than those for the components which correspond to the existing attendance allowance and mobility allowance schemes.

  Estimated expenditure

  Estimated average number of recipients

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1992–93

  1993–94

  £ million

  £ million

  000s

  000s

  Lower rate mobility component

  —

  100

  —

  150

  Lower rate care component

  —

  100

  —

  140

  Higher rate care component

  350

  400

  160

  170

  Middle rate care component

  350

  400

  235

  250

  Higher rate mobility component

  1,050

  1,200

  680

  710

  Notes:

  Expenditure estimates rounded to the nearest £50 million, caseload estimates to the nearest 5,000.

  The rate of build up of numbers and expenditure on the lower rates in the early months of the new benefit is necessarily extremely uncertain.

  Pensions
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost at current rates of reducing the male qualifying age for receipt of the basic pension to 64 years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the percentages of people in receipt of state pensions for each category between 25 per cent. up to 100 per cent.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The numbers of people in receipt of state retirement pensions for each category between 25 per cent. up to 100 per cent. can be found in the DSS publication—retirement pension statistics "All Cases" for the period ending 31 March 1990, the latest period for which figures are available. A copy is in the Library.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security under what circumstances people may pay extra voluntary contributions to enhance their entitlement if they are on(a) basic pension entitlement and (b) reduced basic pension entitlement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  An individual who is not liable to pay contributions of another class and who cannot be awarded credits may pay voluntary contributions in respect of tax years before pension age for any year that is not a qualifying year for pension purposes. Since 6 April 1982, it has been possible to pay these contributions at any time up to the end of the sixth tax year following the one in which they were due. Payment of them will not normally increase the rate of pension for any period before the date on which they are paid. Payment of extra contributions cannot increase the rate of payment beyond that of the full basic standard rate.

  Maternity Pay
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of raising the social fund maternity payment to £250.

  Mr. Scott
  The estimated additional cost would be £28 million.

  Pregnancy
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of introducing a new premium for pregnant women on income support, housing benefit and community charge benefit equal to(a) £5, (b) £8 and (c) £10 a week.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The number of pregnant women on these benefits is not known.

  Loss of Benefit
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review the procedures in cases where invalidity and sickness benefit claimants are suffering hardship through loss of unemployment benefit or national insurance credits in the period following disallowance of invalidity or sickness benefit, but before they have been formally notified of such by the insurance officer and where in such cases claimants cannot satisfy the availability for work conditions or be deemed to satisfy it, during this period, in order to qualify for unemployment benefits or credits.

  Mr. Scott
  Decisions awarding or withdrawing benefit rest with the independent statutory authorities. Existing procedures already seek to avoid hardship caused by withdrawal of incapacity benefit. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind perhaps he might care to write to me about it.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the local social fund allocation priorities in each of the three social security offices serving Newcastle upon Tyne, identifying any change in these priorities since April 1989.

  Mr. Scott
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest available information relates to the areas covered by the four social security offices in Leicester. Information about the total adult population in this area is not available, and the figure for child benefit could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Number

  Income support1

  49,701

  Family credit2

  4,777

  Housing benefit3

  23,950

  607
  1 Data derived from 30 November 1990 count of cases in action, which include a number of cases where payment has ceased but other action is continuing.

  2 Number of families who, at the time their award was made, were living in the Leicester area. Data does not include Family Credit awards made after 22 February 1991.

  3Total number of people in receipt of Housing Benefit in the Leicester City Council area on 30 November 1990. The City Council boundary is not conterminous with the boundary of the area covered by the Department's local offices in Leicester.

  Local Offices, Hackney
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many(a) applications for budget loans, (b) refusals and (c) awards there were at Arcola street social security office in Hackney in 1989–90;

  (2) in 1989–90 how many (a) applications for budget loans, (b) refusals and (c) awards there were at Sylvester road social security office in Hackney;

  (3) how many (a) applications for crisis loans, (b) refusals and (c) awards there were at Sylvester road social security office in Hackney in 1989–90;

  (4) how many (a) applications for crisis loans, (b) refusals and (c) awards there were at Arcola street social security office in Hackney in 1989–90.

  Mr. Scott
  Details of social fund applications and awards are available in the Library.

  Poverty
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the impact of Government policies on the economic well-being of the poorest decile of the income distribution.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan) on 31 January at column 632.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether illness reducing the working week to below 24 hours is a reason for rejection of applications for family credit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  One of the statutory conditions for a successful claim to family credit is that either the claimant or partner (if any) must carry out activities in the course of their work for at least 24 hours in either the week of the claim or either of the two weeks immediately preceding that week. If, because of sickness, the person does not, in the opinion of the adjudication officer, satisfy this condition, the claim would be disallowed. People who are sick can claim income support.

  Over-60s Concession Cards
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his most up-to-date estimate of the date of implementation of the European Commission's May 1989 recommendation of the concession card for the over-60s;

  (2) when he next expects to discuss the implementation of the European Community over-60s card with his European counterparts; and when he anticipates its implementation;

  (3) what policy considerations have led to the postponement of the 1 January 1991 time limit contained
  608
  in the European Commission recommendation of May 1989 on the setting up of a European Community over-60s card.

  Mr. Jack
  The United Kingdom welcomes the proposal for an over-60s card. However, due to operational difficulties we, like other EC member states, are not in a position to reply finally to the Commission. We are particularly concerned at the suggested creation of an EC centralised record of concessions and officials will be seeking further discussions with their European counterparts to seek to resolve this and other problems.

  I shall be writing to MEPs about this matter in the near future and I will send the hon. Member a copy of the letter.

  Fraud
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases of alleged social security fraud were considered for civil legal proceedings in England, Scotland and Wales in the year 1989–90.

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

  Disability
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe on 21 January 1991,Official Report, column 613, he will clarify (a) the total number expected to qualify for the new lower rate of care component of disability living allowance and (b) the number and proportion of these who will need a special diet; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  We anticipate that around 240,000 people will be eligible for the new lower rate of the care component of the disability living allowance and that around 60,00 of these will be people who need a special diet.

  Severe Weather Payments
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to announce the number of successful applicants for cold weather payments in respect of the cold snap in the first two weeks of February.

  Mr. Scott
  These figures are collected on a calendar month basis. They will be placed in the Library when available.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the most up to date estimate of the number of claimants for cold weather payments in respect of the cold snap in the first two weeks of February.

  Mr. Scott
  This information is not available at present and estimates could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. When information for February becomes available it will be placed in the Library.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number and proportion of people with AIDS or AIDS-related
  609
  conditions who are in receipt of attendance allowance at (a) the higher rate and (b) the lower rate; if he will estimate the proportion of those receiving the higher rate who do so by virtue of the provisions relating to terminal illness; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Information is not available to estimate the number of attendance allowance recipients suffering from any particular illness or disability.

  People with AIDS or ARC can qualify for attendance allowance in the normal way if they satisfy the conditions for it. Since October 1990, those who suffer from a terminal illness, and whose death can reasonably be expected within six months, are treated as satisfying the conditions for the higher rate, and also as having satisfied the six-month qualifying period at the time of the claim.

  Independent Living Fund
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions he has had with the trustee of the independent living fund regarding the withdrawal of independent living fund assistance from all those aged over 74 years; and what representations he has received regarding withdrawal of the scheme.

  Mr. Scott
  Many representations on the restriction of awards from the independent living fund (ILF) were received following the trustees' decision in June 1990 to give priority to those applicants aged between 16 and 74 who were also in receipt of higher rate attendance allowance.

  Social Security Appeals Statistics Great Britain Supplementary Benefit Single Payments

  Year Ending

  31 December 1985

  31 December 1986

  31 December 1987

  31 December 1988

  31 December 1989

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Total number of appeals heard

  45,684

  54,184

  96,375

  103,383

  8,321

  Number decided in appellants favour

  Not attended

  1,982

  4

  2,521

  5

  3,989

  4

  6,679

  6

  626

  8

  Appellant only attended

  4,771

  10

  5,735

  11

  8,206

  9

  11,436

  11

  785

  9

  Appellant and representative attended

  4,368

  10

  4,647

  9

  7,313

  8

  10,672

  10

  1,402

  17

  National Insurance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much additional revenue would be generated by taking the high level ceiling off national insurance contributions.

  Mr. Jack
  If the upper earnings limit for employees' national insurance contributions were abolished, it is estimated that contribution yield would increase by some £2·5 billion a year. If the corresponding upper profits limit for self-employed people were also removed it is estimated that contribution income would increase by an additional £0·5 billion a year.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much income would be generated by levying national insurance contributions on unearned income.

  Mr. Jack
  If national insurance contributions were levied at the current employees' main percentage rate of 9
  610
  I met representatives of the trustees of the ILF on 6 February when they informed me that they had decided to remove from I March 1991 the restriction on awards to those aged 75 or over.

  Quality Assessment Surveys
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the results of quality assessment package surveys undertaken both within his Department and by Gallup on behalf of his Department.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Copies of a summary of the results of the Department's 1989–90 internal survey of the quality of service in local offices were placed in the Library in September 1990. Copies of a summary of the results of the recently completed survey for 1990–91 will be published during the summer. Copies of the results of an independent survey of customer opinion carried out in 1990 for the Department by Research Surveys of Great Britain in 1990, will be placed in the Library shortly.

  Appeals
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of appeals made against the refusal of single payments reaching SBATs in each year since 1985; and what proportion were successful(a) where neither claimant nor representative attended, (b) where the claimant attended but was unrepresented and (c) where the claimant attended with a representative.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The success rate of single payment appeals decided by Social Security Appeal Tribunals (SSATs) are as shown in the table. There are as yet no statistics available for the year ending 31 December 1990.

  per cent. on all investment income, including that of pensioners, it is estimated that the extra amount collected in contributions would be some £3·6 billion. However, national insurance contributions are levied only on earnings from employment and this is consistent with the approach of the national insurance scheme since its establishment in 1948.

  Welfare Milk
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will outline the terms of the agreement by which his Department acts as an agent for the Department of Health for welfare milk; and if he will make a statement on the saving in this area this year.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 21 February 1991]: Following the division of the two Departments, arrangements were made for the Department to continue to provide administrative and other operational services

  611
  for which the Department of Health is then charged. Savings in the current financial year from changes to the reimbursement prices to the suppliers of liquid welfare milk are estimated at £7·9 million.

DEFENCE

  Sellafield
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bradford, South,Official Report, 31 January, column 567, what proportion of the costs of the long-term managment of radioactive waste from decommissioning the Windscale piles Nos. 1 and 2, B6 and B16 at Sellafield, will be met by his Department; and what is his current estimate of these costs in 1990 prices.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The Ministry of Defence is making a contribution of 91·5 per cent. towards the costs incurred in decommissioning the Windscale piles and associated chimneys. The long-term options for decommissioning and associated waste management are currently being examined. It is too early to say what the total cost will be.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any consultations with his United States counterpart, or with officers or officials from the Pentagon, about the legality of allied bombing of Iraqi nuclear facilities in advance of the bombing raids being conducted.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I am satisfied that the allied policy of attacking only targets which could pose a threat to allied forces and facilities which support Iraq's illegal occupation of Kuwait is entirely within international law. Discussions between my right hon. Friend and his United States counterpart, including on targeting, are confidential.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial contribution was made by his Department to the Meteorological Office to support its study of the ecological consequences of the Gulf war.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  In response to a question from the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn), my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces announced on 17 January 1991 at column 546 that a copy of preliminary study by the Meteorological Office into the environmental effects of burning Kuwaiti oil wells had been placed in the House Library. The cost of this study was £4,200. This fell to my Department as the Meteorological Office remains on Defence votes.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has asked the Meteorological Office to conduct a study of the atmospheric pollution effects of the firing of oil wells in Kuwait by Iraq on 21 and 22 February.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I placed a note by the Meteorological Office on the possible environmental impact of burning oil wells in Kuwait in the Library of the House on 17 January. The Meteorological Office is continuing to monitor the situation.

  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Her Majesty's Government, or one of its Gulf allies, last discussed military objectives in the Gulf with Israel.
  612
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 25 February, at columns 388–89.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the cause of the plume of soot and smoke from burning oil heading in the direction of the south and east from Iraq.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We are unable to identify the particular plume of soot and smoke emanating from Iraq to which the hon. Member refers. A considerable quantity of smoke is being produced by oil wellhead and other fires which have been deliberately started by Iraqi forces in Kuwait.

  Defence Exports
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick),Official Report, 24 January, column 359, he will set out the definition of lethal as used tn enforcing the defence export control policy concerning Iraq, to which he makes reference.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill) on 2 May 1990 at column 602.

  Flying Pay
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if RAF aircrew who have been posted as missing in action since the start of hostilities in the Gulf are still receiving flying pay;

  (2) whether, when aircrew in the RAF are posted as missing in action, they continue to receive flying pay.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The entitlement of missing personnel to receive pay is suspended until their status is confirmed. In the meantime an allowance equal to the total pay and allowances, including flying pay, in issue at the date they become missing is payable to their own account, or to their dependants, as appropriate. These arrangements have applied during the Gulf conflict.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the conditions under which flying pay is paid to aircrew in the Royal Air Force.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  These are set out in the Queen's regulations for the Royal Air Force, paragraphs 2681 to 2684, inclusive, a copy of which is held in the Library of the House.

  Search-and-Rescue Operations
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the bases from which search-and-rescue operations are conducted by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force; and what are the type of aircraft deployed at each base and the number of hours each aircraft has flown.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information is provided in the following tables. The flying hours for individual aircraft are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Total search and rescue flying hours have instead been provided for individual RAF and RN SAR bases for the past three years.
  613

  RN/RAF SAR helicopter assets at February 1991

  Base

  Aircraft

  RAF Lossiemouth

  2 Sea King

  RAF Leuchars

  1 Wessex1

  RAF Boulmer

  2 Sea King

  RAF Leconfield

  2 Sea King

  RAF Coltishall

  2 Wessex

  RAF Manston

  2 Sea King

  RNAS Portland

  1 Sea King2

  RNAS Culdrose

  1 Sea King2

  RAF Chivenor

  1 Wessex1

  RAF Brawdy

  2 Sea King

  RAF Valley

  2 Wessex

  RNAS Prestwick

  1 Sea King2

  1 A second (reserve) Wessex is stationed at both Chivenor and Leuchars to ensure continuous aircraft availability.

  2 Back-up aircraft are available from the RNAS squadron resources to ensure continuous aircraft availability.

  SAR flying hours

  Base

  1988

  1989

  1990

  RAF Lossiemouth

  394

  386

  409

  RAF Leuchars

  304

  263

  221

  RAF Boulmer

  303

  230

  263

  RAF Leconfield

  183

  223

  259

  RAF Coltishall

  153

  134

  131

  RAF Manston

  159

  173

  219

  RNAS Portland

  100

  115

  120

  RNAS Culdrose

  223

  297

  301

  RAF Chivenor

  213

  246

  176

  RAF Brawdy

  266

  266

  323

  RAF Valley

  288

  340

  271

  RNAS Prestwick

  267

  250

  301

  WE177 Nuclear Bomb
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects to announce a decision about the choice of a tactical air-to-surface missile to replace the WE177 free-fall nuclear bomb.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 22 November 1990 at column 207.

  Dubai Defence Exhibition
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will be represented at the Dubai '91 Aerospace and Defence Exhibition planned for November.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Yes.

  Bristol Channel (Bombs)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what exercises relating to the jettisoning of bombs over the Bristol channel have been planned or operated since 20 February; whether any bombs or practice equipment are involved; what is the size and location of the exercise area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No such exercises have taken place or been planned.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Inland Revenue
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the size of the Inland Revenue in(a) 1979 and (b) the most recent date available.

  Mr. Mellor
  At 1 April 1979, the Inland Revenue had 84,645 permanent staff in post. At 1 January 1991, the number had reduced to 66,020.

  Manufacturing Output
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what date manufacturing output was last at the level it is at the current time.

  Mr. Mellor
  In the second quarter of 1988.

  Public Spending
  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the CBI about the public spending total for 1993–94.

  Mr. Mellor
  None.

  Earnings
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in the real take-home pay of a married man with two children on male average earnings between 1979 and 1991.

  Mr. Maples
  A married man with two children on average male earnings has enjoyed an increase in real net income of 31 per cent. or £58 per week since 1978–79.

  Business Taxation
  Mr. Ashby
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average level of corporate profitability after corporation tax in(a) 1974 to 1979 and (b) 1979 to 1991.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  Company profitability, as measured by the net rate of return on capital employed, averaged 6·1 per cent. between 1974 and 1979 and 8·6 per cent. from 1979 to 1989.

  Post-tax data, and data for 1990 and 1991, are unavailable.

  Oil Prices
  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates the total increase in tax accruing to the Exchequer has been as a result of oil prices since the start of the Gulf crisis.

  Mr. Mellor
  Other things being equal, the oil price rise would increase Government revenues by about £1 billion, spread between this financial year and next. However, North sea revenues in 1990–91 are now forecast to be lower than envisaged in the 1990 FSBR, because of lower than anticipated production and higher than anticipated expenditure by the oil companies on development, safety and maintenance.

  North Sea Oil
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the value of North sea oil revenues to the United Kingdom Exchequer for the current and coming year.
  615
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  In the 1990 autumn statement Government revenues from the North sea in 1990–91 were forecast to be £2·7 billion. A provisional estimate for 1990–91 and a forecast for 1991–92 will be published at Budget time.

  Growth
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the real growth in the British economy since 1979; and what was the comparable figure for the previous five-year period.

  Mr. Mellor
  Based on preliminary estimates for the fourth quarter of 1990, GDP increased by a total of 25 per cent. between 1979 and 1990. Between 1974 and 1979, output rose by a total of 10½ per cent.

  European Monetary System
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next proposes to have discussions with the European Council of Ministers about European monetary matters.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The next meeting of the Council of Finance Ministers is scheduled for 25 March.

  Manufacturing Productivity
  Mr. John Carlisle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average annual change in manufacturing productivity between 1974 and 1979 and 1979 to 1989.

  Mr. Mellor
  The average growth in manufacturing productivity between 1974 and 1979 was 1·1 per cent. Between 1979 and 1989 it was 4·1 per cent.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost in 1991–92 and in a full year, assuming full indexation of tax allowances and bands, of introducing a lower basic rate of income tax of 15 per cent. on(a) the first £1,500, (b) the first £2,500 and (c) the first £5,000 of taxable income; and how much the current basic rate of income tax of 25 per cent. would have to increase to ensure that there was no net loss to the Exchequer.

  Mr. Maude
  The direct revenue costs in a full year at 1991–92 income levels are estimated to be(a) £3·7 billion, (b) £5·9 billion and (c) £10·5 billion.

  Increases in the basic rate of income tax to 27 per cent., 29 per cent. and 35 per cent., respectively, would have approximately offsetting direct revenue yields.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of people paying tax in each year since 1978–79.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: Information is in table 1·5 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1990." More recent estimates for the latest years are:

  Numbers of individuals paying income tax

  Year

  Thousands

  1988–89

  25,100

  1989–901

  25,800

  1990–911

  26,500

  616
  1 Provisional.

  Vehicle Imports
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps have been taken by his Department to minimise the number of customs documents, cash deposits and guarantees for the temporary import of tourist and commercial vehicles.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The temporary import of tourist vehicles and driver-accompanied commercial vehicles does not usually require customs documents, cash deposits or guarantees. The United Kingdom is participating in the preparation of Community legislation to allow the temporary import of most other commercial vehicles without customs documents or security.

  Cleaners
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cleaners have been directly employed by the civil service in each year since 1979; and, of those, how many have been employed on a(a) part-time and (b) full-time basis.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Numbers of cleaners directly employed in the civil service for the years 1979 to 1987 are as follows:

  Year

  Numbers of directly employed cleaners

  Part-time

  Full-time

  1979

  5,240

  944

  1980

  5,253

  799

  1981

  5,146

  754

  1982

  5,745

  647

  1983

  3,819

  497

  1984

  3,337

  500

  1985

  2,931

  443

  1986

  2,540

  384

  1987

  2,320

  359

  Note: On 1 January 1988 the cleaner grade became part of the support grade group (along with messengers, paper keepers, office keepers etc.). Cleaners can no longer be separately identified.

  This information has been extracted from the annual publication "Civil Service Statistics" for the appropriate years, copies of which have been placed in the statistical section of the House of Commons Library.

  Creditors
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in securing agreement on the Trinidad terms among all major creditors; and when he expects implementation of the terms to take place.

  Mr. Maples
  Since the Trinidad terms initiative was launched in September 1990, the Paris club has been reviewing its procedures for dealing with the debt of the poorest, highly indebted countries. The Paris club operates by consensus, and we must therefore agree a treatment which is acceptable to all creditors. The British delegation continues to argue the case for the Trinidad proposals, and I hope that an agreement containing the most important elements of them will be reached in due course.

  Implementation of any newly agreed package would be on a case-by-case basis for those countries which were poor, highly indebted, and following a strong IMF-agreed economic adjustment programme.

  Pay and File
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can announce the starting date for Pay and File.

  Mr. Maude
  On present plans, Pay and File will start on 1 October 1993 and the new rules will apply to accounting periods ending on or after that day. Companies and their advisers should therefore plan to be able to meet the requirements of Pay and File from that date. To help them to do so the Inland Revenue are today publishing an introductory guide. They are also publishing a consultative paper on tax returns under the new system.

  A final decision on the starting date will be taken nearer the time, but an early announcement would be made if the date for planning purposes were to be deferred.

  ERM
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will initiate a review of sterling's participation in the ERM; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  No. I am confident that sterling's participation in the ERM will help to secure a lasting reduction in inflation.

  Inflation
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his forecasts for the rate of inflation over the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the prospects for inflation.

  Mr. Maples
  The autumn statement forecast is for a sharp fall in all-items RPI inflation to 5½ per cent. by the fourth quarter of this year. My right hon. Friend will publish a new forecast with the Budget.

  Composite Rate Tax
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people will pay more tax in 1991–92 as a result of the ending of the composite rate of tax; and what is the average amount more that they will pay.

  Mr. Maude
  [ holding answer 25 February 1991]: The effect of the composite rate system in 1991–92, had it continued (and assuming a basic rate of 25 per cent.), would have been broadly to transfer £1 billion of the tax liabilities of about 20 million taxpayers, an average of £50, on to about 14 million non-taxpayers, whose interest would have borne an average of £70 tax that they could not reclaim. The result of ending composite rate tax will be to place tax liabilities on bank and building society interest where they properly belong. Taxpayers may in practice reduce these liabilities by taking advantage of a tax-exempt special savings account (TESSA).

  Company Cars
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the extra revenue that would be received if company cars were taxed to their full value.

  Mr. Maude
  [ holding answer 25 February 1991]: The benefit of the private use of a company car is taxed by reference to fixed scale charges. But the value of private use to any particular employee depends on a wide range of factors. Information about these is not available, so it is not possible to provide an estimate of the aggregate extent to which the private use of company cars is undertaxed.

  Mortgage Tax Relief
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the mortgage tax relief ceiling was last adjusted; from what figure to what figure; and if he will publish his estimate of what the ceiling would be if inflation were taken into account.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 25 February 1991]: The limit on mortgage interest relief has been set at £30,000 for each year since 1983–84. In 1982–83 it was £25,000. If the 1983–84 limit had been increased in line with the retail prices index it would be £43,000 for 1990–91.

  Profit-related Pay
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to the Exchequer in each year of the profit-related pay scheme.

  Mr. Maude
  [ holding answer 25 February 1991]: The information is as follows:

  Estimated cost of income tax relief £ million

  1987–88

  1—

  1988–89

  10

  1989–90

  15

  1990–91

  25

  1—negligible

  Costs are expected to increase in future.

  Depreciation Allowances
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost in 1991–92 and 1992–93 of indexing depreciation allowances, using the price indices for plant, machinery and buildings that are currently used to construct the national accounts data.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 26 February 1991: The full effect would build up over a number of years and would depend upon future levels of investment and asset prices. The calculations required to produce the estimates requested are extensive and would involve disproportionate cost.

  INTEGRATED POLLUTION CONTROL: GUIDANCE
  INTEGRATED POLLUTION CONTROL: GUIDANCE
  IRONBRIDGE
  IRONBRIDGE
  TONBRIDGE AND MALLING BOROUGH COUNCIL: GOVERNMENT DIRECTION
  TONBRIDGE AND MALLING BOROUGH COUNCIL: GOVERNMENT DIRECTION
  PRISONERS: GUIDANCE ON CALCULATING HOLDING CHARGES
  PRISONERS: GUIDANCE ON CALCULATING HOLDING CHARGES
  PRISONERS HELD IN CUSTODY: STATISTICS
  PRISONERS HELD IN CUSTODY: STATISTICS
  KASHMIR
  KASHMIR
  LITHUANIA AND RIGHTS OF MINORITIES
  LITHUANIA AND RIGHTS OF MINORITIES