Written Answers of 14 January 1991

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Shipbuilding
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the amount of merchant ship tonnage in British yards(a) under construction and (b) already ordered., in 1979 and at the latest available date.

  Mr. Leigh
  The information is as follows:

  Under construction

  thousand gross tonnes already ordered

  1979

  508

  264

  1 1990

  275

  387

  1 End of 3rd quarter.

  Source: Department of Trade and Industry.

  NATO Central Supplies Agency
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department's arrangements for housing the NATO central supplies agency have been completed; and what is the estimated cost of setting up, activating and operating the United Kingdom base for the central supplies agency.

  Mr. Leigh
  A site has been identified for the location of the eastern branch of the NATO Central Supplies Agency. this site is presently occupied by a civilian organisation which will give it up on short notice if it is required to house the CSA during crisis or war. Until the site is required to house the CSA, the peacetime occupier will bear the rental and maintenance costs. It is not possible to say at this time what the costs of setting up and operating the agency in crisis or war might be. The cost of operating the agency in such cirmcumstances would fall to NATO.

  Racing
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will order an investigation into whether the practices of large bookmaking companies include the rigging or fixing of odds on United Kingdom racecourses and tracks.

  Mr. Redwood
  The practice of "laying-off" of bets is not illegal under the gaming legislation. During its investigation of the Grand Metropolitan/William Hill merger in 1989, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission looked at the practice in this context. They found that there was little evidence that the bookmakers had acted other than defensively in laying-off bets, in order that the odds should reflect the weight of money placed off-course. It therefore concluded that the merger did not operate against the public interest. In the light of the Channel 4 programme "Dispatches" shown on 12 December, the Office of Fair Trading is considering whether any new issues are raised which warrant further action.

  Export Manual
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the most recent date on which his Department's export licence unit manual of instructions was revised, in particular in respect of the export of strategic materials and weaponry.

  Mr. Lilley
  The manual is amended on a continuous basis in the light of changing circumstances.

  Scotch Whisky
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government about the tax discrimination made by the Chilean Government against Scotch whisky.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Government are continuing to press for elimination of the tax discrimination against exports of Scotch whisky to Chile both on its bilateral contacts with the Chilean authorities and through the Commission of the European Communities.

  Departmental Annual Report
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps to expedite the publication of his Department's annual report under section 729 of the Companies Act 1985.

  Mr. Redwood
  The most recent report was published on 7 November 1990. The publication date is determined mainly by the time needed to compile the comprehensive statistical information contained in the report. It is always published as soon as possible after the material is available.

  Accountancy Firms
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy relating to accountancy firm mergers.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Government's policy on mergers in the accountancy profession is the same as for any other mergers. Each case is considered on its individual merits.

  Auditors
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any of Britain's top 300 companies are audited by firms criticised by his Department's inspectors.

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 26 October 1990 Official Report, column 330.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will propose legislation under which company auditors would be banned from recruiting directors of their client companies.

  Mr. Redwood
  I see no reason to do so. Ethical guidance issued by the professional accountancy bodies states that no one should take part in the audit of a company if he has, during the period on which the report is to be made or at any time in the two years prior to the first day of that period, been an officer, other than auditor,
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  or employee of that company. Under part II of the Companies Act 1989, recognised supervisory bodies are required to have adequate rules and practices as to professional integrity and independence.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will propose legislation under which shareholders would be given a copy of the auditors' letter of weakness.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. The value of a letter of weakness stems from the fact that it is a confidential communication from the auditors to the management of a company. It must be for management, in consultation with the auditors, to decide which third parties, if any, need to be aware of its contents.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the accountants criticised in the Euroflame report are still permitted to carry out company audits.

  Mr. Redwood
  Yes.

  Trading Standards Prosecutions
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many trading standards prosecutions were brought in 1990 by each local authority to whom such prosecutions are delegated, whether he is satisfied that similar standards of inspection and prosecution are being applied nationally; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  The table gives the numbers of prosecutions brought by local authority trading standards departments in Great Britain in the year 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990. This is the latest period for which such information is available. Each local weights and measures authority is responsible for enforcing trading standards legislation in its area. The local authority associations have set up the Local Authority Co-ordinating Body on Trading Standards whose functions include co-ordinating operational practice.

  Number of prosecutions under all consumer protection statutes brought by local authority trading standards departments 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990

  Authority

  Number of prosecutions

  Summary

  Indictment

  Total

  England:

  County Councils

  Avon

  95

  1

  96

  Bedfordshire

  78

  0

  78

  Berkshire

  63

  3

  66

  Buckinghamshire

  72

  0

  72

  Cambridgeshire

  141

  0

  141

  Cheshire

  168

  9

  177

  Cleveland

  75

  0

  75

  Cornwall

  49

  2

  51

  Cumbria

  34

  0

  34

  Derbyshire

  142

  0

  142

  Devon

  889

  1

  890

  Dorset

  58

  0

  58

  Durham

  63

  0

  63

  East Sussex

  38

  2

  40

  Essex

  320

  4

  324

  Hampshire

  167

  4

  171

  Hereford and Worcester

  76

  0

  76

  Hertfordshire

  33

  2

  35

  Humberside

  302

  12

  314

  Isle of Wight

  3

  0

  3

  354

  Authority

  Number of prosecutions

  Summary

  Indictment

  Total

  Kent

  531

  12

  543

  Lancashire

  231

  9

  240

  Leicestershire

  110

  1

  111

  Lincolnshire

  33

  0

  33

  Norfolk

  34

  1

  35

  North Yorkshire

  421

  4

  425

  Northamptonshire

  105

  0

  105

  Northumberland

  217

  1

  218

  Nottinghamshire

  134

  1

  135

  Oxfordshire

  144

  0

  144

  Shropshire

  251

  27

  278

  Somerset

  136

  2

  138

  Staffordshire

  39

  1

  40

  Suffolk

  13

  0

  13

  Surrey

  228

  0

  228

  Warwickshire

  137

  9

  146

  West Sussex

  85

  1

  86

  Wiltshire

  119

  0

  119

  Metropolitan District Councils

  Barnsley

  36

  0

  36

  Birmingham

  127

  64

  191

  Bolton

  29

  1

  30

  Bury

  0

  0

  0

  Coventry

  44

  1

  45

  Doncaster

  28

  1

  29

  Dudley

  33

  0

  33

  Gateshead

  15

  0

  15

  Knowsley

  37

  1

  38

  Liverpool

  77

  0

  77

  Manchester

  30

  0

  30

  Newcastle

  214

  2

  216

  North Tyneside

  42

  1

  43

  Oldham

  24

  2

  26

  Rochdale

  0

  0

  0

  Rotherham

  31

  0

  31

  Salford

  49

  0

  49

  Sandwell

  32

  0

  32

  Sefton

  41

  0

  41

  Sheffield

  61

  0

  61

  Solihull

  32

  1

  33

  South Tyneside

  25

  0

  25

  St. Helens

  49

  2

  51

  Stockport

  9

  0

  9

  Sunderland

  38

  0

  38

  Tameside

  10

  0

  10

  Trafford

  4

  1

  5

  Walsall

  97

  2

  99

  West Yorkshire1

  1,036

  11

  1,047

  Wigan

  7

  0

  7

  Wirral

  48

  0

  48

  Wolverhampton

  24

  0

  24

  London Boroughs

  Barking and Dagenham

  43

  0

  43

  Barnet

  39

  0

  39

  Bexley

  95

  0

  95

  Brent, Ealing and Harrow

  120

  4

  124

  Bromley

  34

  2

  36

  Camden

  4

  0

  4

  Corporation of London

  2

  0

  2

  Croydon

  84

  20

  104

  Enfield

  76

  2

  78

  Greenwich

  8

  0

  8

  Hackney

  16

  0

  16

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  14

  0

  14

  Haringey

  1

  0

  1

  Havering

  24

  0

  24

  Hillingdon

  15

  0

  15

  Hounslow

  20

  0

  20

  Kensington and Chelsea

  26

  0

  26

  Kingston

  21

  4

  25

  Lambeth

  24

  0

  24

  Lewisham

  3

  0

  3

  Merton

  6

  0

  6

  Newham

  7

  0

  7

  Redbridge

  29

  0

  29

  355

  Authority

  Number of prosecutions

  Summary

  Indictment

  Total

  Richmond upon Thames

  2

  0

  2

  Southwark

  29

  0

  29

  Waltham Forest

  44

  1

  45

  Wandsworth

  34

  0

  34

  Westminster

  41

  9

  50

  Scotland

  Regional and Island Councils

  Borders

  9

  0

  9

  Central

  64

  3

  67

  Dumfries and Galloway

  25

  0

  25

  Fife

  28

  0

  28

  Grampian

  22

  0

  22

  Highland

  1

  0

  1

  Lothian

  43

  0

  43

  Orkney

  0

  0

  0

  Shetland

  0

  0

  0

  Strathclyde

  67

  6

  73

  Tayside

  32

  0

  32

  Western Isles

  0

  0

  0

  Wales

  County Councils

  Clwyd

  143

  5

  148

  Dyfed

  43

  1

  44

  Gwent

  47

  1

  48

  Gwynedd

  22

  0

  22

  Mid Glamorgan

  126

  2

  128

  Powys

  30

  0

  30

  South Glamorgan

  27

  0

  27

  West Glamorgan

  18

  0

  18

  Notes—Details of prosecutions for Gloucestershire County Council, and the London Boroughs of Islington, Sutton and Tower Hamlets were not available.

  1The West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service is provided by a joint Committee of the Metropolitan Districts of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield.

  Car Clocking
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any proposals to reduce the danger of purchasers being defrauded by the practice of car clocking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  Clocking is a criminal offence under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968. Trading standards officers of local authorities have the appropriate powers to investigate cases and to prosecute offenders.

  Matrix Churchill
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the precise purpose for which the machine tools to be exported by Matrix Churchill were to be used according to form C5 filled in by the exporter.

  Mr. Lilley
  I believe that the hon. Member is referring to information requested at C6 of the export licence application form. It had been the practice of successive Governments not to discuss information concerning individual export licences.

  Levitt Group
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list the services which his Department has purchased from the Levitt Group.

  Mr. Redwood
  I am aware of none.
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  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will place a copy of the FIMBRA report on the Levitt Group in the Library.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. The report is a matter for FIMBRA.

  Sequestration
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the findings of the recent investigation into the operation of the scheme introduced by the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 whereby public funds are available for sequestration in Scotland; and what reform of the scheme is proposed.

  Mr. Redwood
  The policy evaluation is not yet complete.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for each year since inception, what was the number of sequestrations awarded under the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 where the total debts have not exceeded £2,000.

  Mr. Redwood
  Comprehensive statistics are not available but the accountant in bankruptcy estimates, on the basis of a sampling exercise, that the percentage of sequestrations awarded annually where the total debts did not exceed £2,000 were as follows:

  per cent.

  1986

  2·9

  1987

  1·2

  1988

  2·8

  1989

  6·9

  The figure for 1989 is based on the information available on the total debts when the sampling exercise was undertaken and is provisional.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in cases of voluntary sequestration or sequestration, pursuant to a trust deed under the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985, what monitoring is applied to identify the payer of the pre-sequestration expenses such as legal fees and out-lays in connection with the petition; and what steps are taken to establish whether these expenses are paid by the trustee subsequently appointed or by a partner of the trustee or anyone associated with the trustee.

  Mr. Redwood
  A trust deed is an entirely private arrangement between truster and trustee and is not subject to supervision by the court. There is no provision in the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 requiring or empowering the accountant in bankruptcy to identify the source of payment of pre-sequestration expenses.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the countries with whom he has had discussions about their export of uranium enrichment centrifuge or military sensitive equipment to Iraq.

  Mr. Lilley
  No. The export of such goods would require an export licence. The established practice is not to publish information about export licence applications.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the Export Credits Guarantee Department's portfolio management system.

  Mr. Lilley
  In his answer of 18 December 1989 to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Eastwood (Mr. Stewart), my predecessor announced that the Government had decided that ECGD should continue to provide export credit and financing support for United Kingdom project exports, but that, in order to reduce the costs of such support, radical new methods for the management of ECGD's political risk portfolio would be introduced.

  The Government continue to attach great importance to United Kingdom project and capital goods exports and to maintaining a viable and stable framework of ECGD support. However, the international debt crisis, and more recently the events in the Gulf, have shown the risks which are assumed by ECGD to be potentially very significant. Since the onset of the debt crisis ECGD has accumulated a deficit with the Exchequer of over £2·5 billion as a result of claims paid under its guarantees. This deficit has had to be financed by the taxpayer, and further substantial claims payments estimated at around £2·5 billion are expected over the next few years. It is important that future risks are underwritten on a prudent basis.

  Against this background, the ECGD has now introduced a portfolio management system—PMS—for its underwriting of project and capital goods exports. The purpose of PMS is to provide a more disciplined and prudent framework for taking decisions about ECGD support for such exports. PMS will allow Ministers better to weigh the national interest reasons for giving such support against the risks to the ECGD and the taxpayer that premium income will not be able to cover underwriting losses.

  With regard to PMS, the Government have now taken decisions on the availability of ECGD cover for a number of important overseas markets. It is not the ECGD's policy to disclose details of the amount of cover available for individual markets; exporters should contact the ECGD to ascertain the cover position in respect of contracts they are currently processing.

  Under PMS, the ECGD will also be introducing a new premium rating system for its guarantees in respect of project exports. The Government intend to press in international fora for other export credit agencies to charge more economic premium rates for export credit support, but, in the meantime, ECGD will be adopting new premium rates which will be matched more closely to risk. This will mean that rates for higher risk markets will rise, but there will be some reductions in the better risk markets. The new premium system will be introduced in 1991–92. Export contracts which are concluded in 1990–91 will attract premium rates under the current system. The ECGD will announce details of the new system in due course.

  Levitt Group
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all the companies in the Levitt Group, the regulatory body each company is a member of and the date of the last accounts of each company filed at Companies House.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 18 December 1990]: My information is as follows:

  Date of last accounts 1988

  The Levitt Group (Holdings) plc

  31 December

  The Levitt Group Ltd.—member of FIMBRA

  31 December

  R J Levitt Pension Consultants Ltd.

  31 December

  R J Levitt Insurance Consultants Ltd.

  31 December

  Devonshire House Ltd.

  31 December

  Levitt & Co Ltd.

  31 December

  Olympic Gold Financial Services Ltd.

  31 December

  The Levitt Group (Mortgage Services) Ltd.

  31 December

  The Levitt Group (Financial Services) Ltd.

  31 December

  The Mortgage Collection Ltd.

  31 December

  Devonshire General Insurance Consultants Ltd.

  31 December

  Deansway Developments Ltd.

  31 December

  Levitt Insurance Brokers Ltd.

  31 December

  Chambers & Newman Financial Services Ltd.

  31 December

  Chambers & Newman (European) Ltd.

  31 December

  Chambers, Newman & Walters Ltd.

  31 December

  Gyrobond Ltd.

  31 December

  Chambers & Newman (Holdings) Ltd.

  31 December

  Levitt Group (Nominees) Ltd.

  31 December

  Levitt Group (Leasing) Ltd.

  31 December

  Zohar Pictures Ltd.

  31 December

  Property Acumen plc

  31 December

  Knight, Ellis & Co Ltd.

  31 December

  The Levitt Group (Commercial Finance) Ltd.

  1—

  Newforce Properties Ltd.

  1—

  Faith Corporation Ltd

  2—

  Levitt Sports & Entertainment Ltd.

  2—

  The Levitt Group Investment Management Ltd.

  2—

  Levitt Securities Ltd.

  2—

  Christchurch Consultancy Management Services Ltd.

  2—

  Levitt Promotions Ltd.

  2—

  Levitt Financial Planning Ltd.

  2—

  Levitt Film, Finance & Insurance Services Ltd.

  2—

  CLP—Levitt Ltd.

  2—

  The Levitt Group (International Holdings) Ltd.

  2—

  Frank Maloney Promotions & Management Ltd.

  2—

  The Levitt Group Holdings Inc.

  3—

  The Levitt Group Inc.

  3—

  The Levitt Group Financial Services Inc

  3—

  Levitt (Ingeniene Financiere) S A

  3—

  The Levitt Group Ltd is a member of FIMBRA. Levitt Insurance Brokers Ltd. and Chambers & Newman Financial Services Ltd are members of IBRC.

  1 No accounts filed since incorporation

  2 Accounts not yet required

  3 Companies not registered in the United Kingdom

  Environmental Management Practice
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have taken place between his Department and the British Standards Institute over the development by the British Standards Institute of a new standard on environmental management practice in production industry.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 20 December 1990]: My officials have had general discussions with a number of

  359
  organisations, including the British Standards Institute, about possible approaches to encouraging improved standards of environmental management by companies.

  Cereal Exports
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice he will give Grain and Feed Trade Association members regarding the provision of credit facilities for United Kingdom cereal exports to non EC countries in the light of the recent Russian decision not to trade unless credit facilities are made available.

  Mr. Curry
  I have been asked to reply. In response to the credit needs of the Soviet Union, the European Council has agreed to introduce credit guarantees for Community exporters of food to that market. The details of the guarantees have yet to be worked out but they may be available to cereal exporters. For other non-EC markets, United Kingdom cereal exporters who need credit facilities may wish to seek them from banks or from the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

  ERM
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement setting out the arrangements for a realignment of sterling within the ERM; and if this is a decision which the United Kingdom can make alone.

  Mr. Maples
  Adjustments to central rates between ERM member currencies are subject to mutual agreement by a common procedure which comprises all countries participating in the ERM. Any member state wishing to propose a realignment may do so. If necessary, a conference of finance Ministers, and Central Bank governors is held to consider any proposed realignment. The United Kingdom has no intention of seeking a realignment of sterling within the ERM.

ENERGY

  National Power
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what representations he has had from the chairman of National Power regarding its future levels of capital investment and its preferred financing methods for that capital investment;

  (2) what consultations he has had with the chairman of National Power regarding the proposed debt level to be injected into its balance sheet; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what representations he has had from the chairman of National Power regarding the expected level of profits to be declared for the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Consultations with the chairman of National Power are confidential.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the number of applications for each of the 12 regional electricity companies that were made on(a) employee forms and (b) pensioner priority forms.
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  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The numbers of applications for shares in the 12 regional electricity companies made on(a) employee forms and (b) pensioner priority forms are as set out in the table. A number of employees were eligible for and applied under both the discount and priority offer and the free and matching offer.

  Number of applications on employee forms1

  Number of applications on pensioner forms

  Eastern Electricity

  13,350

  2,377

  East Midlands Electricity

  10,320

  1,560

  London Electricity

  8,707

  2,163

  Manweb

  7,173

  1,180

  Midlands Electricity

  10,524

  2,048

  Northern Electricity

  7,197

  1,052

  NORWEB

  11,197

  1,907

  SEEBOARD

  8,289

  1,981

  Southern Electric

  10,873

  2,287

  South Wales Electricity

  5,068

  1,007

  South Western Electricity

  8,030

  1,566

  Yorkshire Electricity

  9,748

  1,743

  1 Provisional figures.

  These figures exclude 10,639 applications from employees of NGC and EASL for collections of shares.

  Sulphur Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any plans to seek a further reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions during negotiations on the new European protocol.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The United Kingdom will play a positive part in the current discussions on the revision of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe protocol of sulphur dioxide emissions. All sources of sulphur dioxide emissions will be covered in the negotiations including those not already subject to separate ceilings. It is the Government's view that the new agreement should be based on the critical loads approach. It is too early to predict the outcome of these discussions.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Birmingham Pub Bombings
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Attorney-General when he expects a date to be set for the appeal of the Birmingham Six; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Attorney-General when he expects a date to be set for the appeal of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

  Ms. Short
  To ask the Attorney-General when he expects a date to be set for the appeal of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  I refer to my earlier answer to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin).

  Private Bailiffs
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received calling for the establishment of a complaints procedure against private bailiffs.

  The Attorney-General
  The National Consumer Council has recently published a report which recommends that the Lord Chancellor's Department should
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  advertise a central address and telephone number to receive complaints against private bailiffs. The Government are considering the recommendations of this report.

  Racist and Anti-Semitic Literature
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the prosecution of persons sending racist and anti-Semitic literature through the post.

  The Attorney-General
  Such people may commit offences under part III of the Public Order Act 1986, or under the Malicious Communications Act 1988. I am aware of 16 separate police investigations arising out of the distribution of allegedly anti-Semitic material through the post.

  CPS and Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Attorney-General how many vacancies for professionally qualified staff exist currently in(a) the Crown prosecution service and (b) the Serious Fraud Office; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown prosecution service currently has 366·5 vacancies for lawyers, within a total requirement for lawyers of 2,053. In the past 12 months the number of lawyers in post has increased from 1,580 to 1,686·5, an average net gain of 10·5 per month. There are no vacancies for lawyers or accountants in the Serious Fraud Office.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Vietnam
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will increase aid to Vietnam.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Government are providing financial support to British non-governmental organisations for projects in Vietnam. We have no immediate plans to begin a direct aid programme, but we are keeping this question under review.

  Zaire Rain Forests
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much support has been given to preserving the rain forests of Zaire(a) in the last year, (b) five years ago and (c) 10 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Our technical co-operation programme for Zaire is limited to training and assistance for English language teaching. But European Community commitments to forestry between 1987 and 1989 amounted to £10·7 million, and our share of these came to about £1·8 million.

  India
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding United Kingdom aid to India.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Aid to India continues to be the largest British bilateral aid programme amounting to over £500 million in the last five years.

  Sudan and Ethiopia
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what prospects Her Majesty's Government see of relieving the threat of famine in Sudan and Ethiopia.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what prospects the Overseas Development Administration sees of relieving the threat of famine for the people of Sudan and Ethiopia.

  Mrs. Chalker
  As I told the House on 19 December, effective relief machinery is in place in Ethiopia. Massawa port is open. Government and rebel groups are co-operating on relief. If this holds and the international community gives generously, we may be able to avert the worst effects of famine.

  The outlook for Sudan is very much worse. Given the scale of the crisis and the lack of Sudanese Government co-operation, it is hard to help, but we shall do what we can to alleviate hardship.

  Brazil
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made on bilateral aid agreements with Brazil on environmental matters.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have agreed four projects at a total cost to Her Majesty's Government of £4·6 million. All four are now under way. We expect to approve shortly a further four projects costing £4 million. A number of other project proposals are under discussion and awaiting the approval of the Brazilian authorities.

  Third World Debt
  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has put forward any proposals to the World Bank to reduce the burden of debt on third world countries.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Britain has taken the lead in international efforts to provide debt relief for the poorest and most heavily indebted countries. In Trinidad last September, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, put forward proposals for increasing the relief available under earlier schemes. He proposed a reduction of two thirds in the official bilateral debt of eligible countries, with the remainder rescheduled over 25 years.

  Tied Aid
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors underlie the difference between the figure given by the Minister for Overseas Development, concerning the percentage of British aid that is tied,Official Report, 14 December, column 1298, and the figures for united British aid on table 32, page 220, of the OECD's 1990 report "Development and Co-operation".

  Mrs. Chalker
  The figure I gave in the House was based on gross public expenditure on overseas bilateral aid in 1989. The figure in the OECD report is based on new
  363
  commitments of bilateral official development assistance in 1988. The two figures thus relate to different years and to different measures of aid flows.

  Rihand Power Station
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the offer of aid and trade provision aid to support phase 2 of the Rihand power station in India has expired; and whether it will be renewed.

  Mrs. Chalker
  An offer of aid for stage II of the Rihand power station in India was made on 23 September 1988 subject to appraisal and approval of the project by the Overseas Development Administration. In subsequent exchanges with the Government of India, we have confirmed our interest and emphasised that approval of any aid funding would be subject to our satisfaction with the environmental, technical, financial and economic aspects of the project.

  Development Assistance
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will show, in table form(a) the level of United Kingdom official development assistance in 1979 and 1989, in current and in constant 1989 prices, (b) the size of the aid budget in 1979, and 1990, in current and in constant 1990 prices and (c) the total gross public expenditure on overseas aid in 1979 and 1989 in current and in constant 1989 prices in all cases showing the percentage change.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The information is as follows:

  1979 £ million

  1989 £ million

  Percentage change on 1979

  1. Net Official Development Assistance

  Current prices

  1,016

  1,578

  + 55·3

  Constant 1989 prices

  2,099

  1,578

  -24·8

  2. Net Aid Programme

  Current Prices

  825

  1,562

  + 89·3

  Constant 1989 prices

  1,705

  1,562

  - 8·4

  3. Gross Public Expenditure

  Current prices

  939

  1,788

  + 90·4

  Constant 1989 prices

  1,940

  1,788

  - 7·8

  Figures for 1990 are not yet available.

  Source: British Aid Statistics. An explanatory note on the definitions appears on pp v-ix of the 1990 edition.

  Brazilian Amazon
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid money or other support has been given to the Indian co-ordinating group, CIOCA, in the Brazilian Amazon.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We are not aware of the organisation referred to by the hon. Member.

  Aid Grants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many grants of less than £500,000 have been paid or allocated from the aid programme in 1989 and 1990; how many grants of less 364
  than £100,000 have been paid or allocated from the aid programme in 1989 and 1990; and how many of these have been for projects in the Amazon region.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Information is not available in the form requested by the hon. Lady. The relevant information that is readily available is as follows:

  Forty-nine new financial aid commitments of less than £500,000 were made in 1989—comparable information for 1990 is not yet available—of which 19 were less than £100,000. None was for the Amazon region. Technical co-operation projects and projects under the joint funding scheme are not included in these totals; but all technical co-operation projects in that region so far entered into during 1990 under the memorandum of understanding with the Brazilian Government are in excess of £500,000.

  European Investment Bank
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on guarantees on European investment bank lending entered into under the Lomé conventions and on the procedures for notifying Parliament of these guarantees.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I have today laid before the House a minute giving details of such guarantees, and the procedure for notifying Parliament of them in the future. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  ISIS and the Institut Laue-Langevin
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's contribution to(a) the ISIS particle accelerator and (b) the Institut Laue-Langevin at Grenoble.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  In the financial year 1990–91, the United Kingdom will contribute £10·4 million to ISIS, and £9·9 million to the Institut Laue-Langevin.

  Adult Relationships
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision is made within the core curriculum for preparation for marriage and adult relationships.

  Mr. Atkins
  Within the core curriculum, the national curriculum science order requires that pupils should know about the physical and emotional changes during adolescence and understand the need for responsible attitudes to sexual behaviour; the processes of human conception; and the factors necessary for the well-being of young children in the early stages of their development. More broadly, the National Curriculum Council has offered guidance to schools on the incorporation of such topics into the curriculum in its publications on cross-curricular themes: "Curriculum Guidance 5: Health Education" and "Curriculum Guidance 8: Education for Citizenship".

  Marriage Guidance
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to increase the tuition on marriage guidance counselling included in medical training courses.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The content of the undergraduate medical curriculum is a matter for individual institutions in the light of recommendations from the education committee of the General Medical Council.

  Bedfordshire Schools
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total amount of moneys that his Department is allocating to Bedfordshire county council for the maintenance and repair of school buildings for the year 1991–92; what is the amount allocated in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  Bedfordshire local education authority is to receive an annual capital guideline of £1·974 million in 1991–92, of which £1·833 million is related to schools, and an allocation of £0·6 million for projects at voluntary aided and special agreement schools. In the current year, Bedfordshire has received an ACG of £2·409 million—£2·309 million is related to schools—and an allocation for VA and SA schools of £15,000. The authority can also use capital receipts and other sources such of funding, including its revenue budget, to support capital expenditure. However, the Government do not allocate to LEAs separately identified recurrent funds for repairs and maintenance: it is for each authority, and, under local management, its schools, to determine what proportion of the total recurrent funds available to them to allocate for that purpose.

  Rural Schools Project
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the funding of the rural schools project.

  Mr. Fallon
  Since 1985 the Government have supported through education support grant expenditure totalling about £7·5 million on projects to improve the range and quality of the curriculum in rural schools in 14 local education authorities. In common with all education support grant programmes, support is limited to a finite period for these pilot projects. Support in 13 of the 14 local education authorities will have ceased by the end of the 1990–91 financial year. Because of a later start, support for Northumberland LEA will end in 1991–92. The programme is being evaluated by Leicester university with the aim of issuing to LEAs a report with recommendations by the end of this year.

  Soccer Commissioner
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to establish an independent soccer commissioner to oversee the workings of the existing football authorities.

  Mr. Atkins
  The administration of association football is a matter for the football authorities.

  Nottinghamshire County Council
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what additional(a) loan sanction and (b) grant has been granted to Nottinghamshire county council for education purposes for the next financial year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The annual capital guideline for education for Nottinghamshire in 1991–92 is £5·167 million. The authority's credit approval, which sets the limit for its borrowing for the year, is calculated for all services and is £15·891 million. The proposed revenue support grant for the charging authorities within the area of the authority for 1991–92 is £146·8 million. As this is paid in support of all services, it is not possible to specify how much supports education expenditure. In addition to this general support, over £7 million of Nottinghamshire's education expenditure is to be supported through specific grants from the programme of grants for education support and training.

  Youth Service
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science on the latest available figures, if he will set out for each local education authority(a) the level of expenditure on the youth service and (b) the standard spending assessment for the youth service.

  Mr. Atkins
  The latest year for which outturn expenditure is available is 1988–89. Table 1 shows the actual recurrent expenditure of each local education authority on youth and community services in 1988–89, with the exception of three authorities which failed to make a return. The standard spending assessment does not include a block of expenditure dedicated to the youth service alone, but makes allowance for this expenditure within the "other education services" block, which also allows for adult education. Table 2 shows the amount for each local education authority of the "other education services" block of the standard spending assessment for 1990–91.

  Table 1

  Expenditure by LEAs on the Youth Service, 1988–89

  LEA

  £ million

  Barking

  0·697

  Barnet

  0·966

  Bexley

  0·758

  Brent

  2·377

  Bromley

  0·894

  Croydon

  1·054

  Ealing

  1·804

  Enfield

  0·796

  Haringey

  n/a

  Harrow

  0·648

  Havering

  0·845

  Hillingdon

  1·018

  Hounslow

  0·737

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  0·580

  Merton

  0·459

  Newham

  1·104

  Redbridge

  1·078

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  0·514

  Sutton

  0·517

  Waltham Forest

  1·336

  ILEA

  35·377

  Birmingham

  4·396

  Coventry

  1·095

  Dudley

  0·983

  Sandwell

  0·736

  Solihull

  0·430

  367

  LEA

  £ million

  Walsall

  2·305

  Wolverhampton

  2·070

  Knowsley

  0·666

  Liverpool

  2·392

  St. Helens

  0·328

  Sefton

  0·843

  Wirral

  1·512

  Bolton

  1·057

  Bury

  0·916

  Manchester

  n/a

  Oldham

  0·683

  Rochdale

  1·453

  Salford

  0·538

  Stockport

  0·598

  Tameside

  1149

  Trafford

  0·677

  Wigan

  0·876

  Barnsley

  0·551

  Doncaster

  1·305

  Rotherham

  1·029

  Sheffield

  3·038

  Bradford

  3·127

  Calderdale

  1·103

  Kirklees

  1·426

  Leeds

  6·860

  Wakefield

  n/a

  Gateshead

  0·722

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  0·659

  North Tyneside

  0·585

  South Tyneside

  1·855

  Sunderland

  1·010

  Isles of Scilly

  0·002

  Avon

  5·269

  Bedfordshire

  1·131

  Berkshire

  2·185

  Buckinghamshire

  2·370

  Cambridgeshire

  1·780

  Cheshire

  2·005

  Cleveland

  2·629

  Cornwall

  0·787

  Cumbria

  1·333

  Derbyshire

  5·066

  Devon

  2·913

  Dorset

  1·722

  Durham

  1·263

  East Sussex

  1·089

  Essex

  4·026

  Gloucestershire

  2·147

  Hampshire

  3·230

  Hereford and Worcester

  1·201

  Hertfordshire

  2·782

  Humberside

  3·839

  Isle of Wight

  0·467

  Kent

  2·708

  Lancashire

  5·179

  Leicestershire

  2·946

  Lincolnshire

  1·096

  Norfolk

  1·870

  North Yorkshire

  1·587

  Northamptonshire

  1·706

  Northumberland

  0·681

  Nottinghamshire

  5·233

  Oxfordshire

  1·325

  Salop

  1·788

  Somerset

  2·478

  Staffordshire

  2·599

  Suffolk

  2·124

  Surrey

  2·420

  Warwickshire

  1·434

  West Sussex

  1·599

  Wiltshire

  1·480

  Note.—The figures are based on LEA Expenditure Returns to the Department of the Environment
  368

  Table 2

  Other Services Block of the Education Component of the 1990–91 Standard Spending Assessments

  LEA

  £ million

  City of London

  0·081

  Camden

  5·737

  Greenwich

  5·051

  Hackney

  7·525

  Hammersmith

  4·896

  Islington

  5·645

  Kensington

  4·208

  Lambeth

  9·294

  Lewisham

  6·459

  Southwark

  7·312

  Tower Hamlets

  6·320

  Wandsworth

  7·677

  Westminster

  5·846

  Barking

  2·793

  Barnet

  5·742

  Bexley

  3·023

  Brent

  7·786

  Bromley

  4·418

  Croydon

  6·183

  Ealing

  7·454

  Enfield

  5·112

  Haringey

  6·023

  Harrow

  3·445

  Havering

  2·980

  Hillingdon

  3·555

  Hounslow

  3·935

  Kingston

  2·054

  Merton

  3·124

  Newham

  6·101

  Redbridge

  4·061

  Richmond

  2·568

  Sutton

  2·399

  Waltham Forest

  5·496

  Birmingham

  24·201

  Coventry

  5·951

  Dudley

  4·201

  Sandwell

  6·065

  Solihull

  2·705

  Walsall

  4·689

  Wolverhampton

  5·809

  Knowsley

  3·441

  Liverpool

  11·000

  St. Helens

  2·639

  Sefton

  4·588

  Wirral

  6·073

  Bolton

  4·503

  Bury

  2·394

  Manchester

  11·484

  Oldham

  3·877

  Rochdale

  3·647

  Salford

  4·445

  Stockport

  3·773

  Tameside

  3·511

  Trafford

  3·298

  Wigan

  4·072

  Barnsley

  3·194

  Doncaster

  4·502

  Rotherham

  3·805

  Sheffield

  8·883

  Bradford

  9·371

  Calderdale

  3·130

  Kirklees

  6·288

  Leeds

  11·675

  Wakefield

  4·273

  Gateshead

  3·286

  Newcastle

  5·581

  North Tyne

  2·920

  South Tyne

  2·812

  Sunderland

  5·018

  Isles of Scilly

  0·027

  Avon

  13·037

  Bedfordshire

  8·013

  Berkshire

  10·220

  Buckinghamshire

  8·074

  Cambridge

  7·944

  369

  LEA

  £ million

  Cheshire

  12·028

  Cleveland

  9·988

  Cornwall

  5·937

  Cumbria

  5·899

  Derbyshire

  12·082

  Devon

  13·235

  Dorset

  7·965

  Duham

  8·862

  East Sussex

  9·899

  Essex

  19·474

  Gloucestershire

  6·533

  Hampshire

  20·356

  Hereford and Worcester

  7·989

  Hertfordshire

  12·388

  Humberside

  13·047

  Isle of Wight

  1·720

  Kent

  19·977

  Lancashire

  21·194

  Leicester

  12·975

  Lincolnshire

  7·439

  Norfolk

  9·222

  North Yorkshire

  8·129

  Northamptonshire

  7·333

  Northumberland

  3·497

  Nottinghamshire

  15·882

  Oxfordshire

  6·885

  Shropshire

  5·184

  Somerset

  5·148

  Staffordshire

  12·762

  Suffolk

  7·114

  Surrey

  12·038

  Warwickshire

  6·040

  West Sussex

  8·410

  Wiltshire

  6·643

  Grant-Maintained Schools
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has made any assessment of the likely administrative costs for individual local education authorities arising out of schools achieving grant-maintained status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  LEAs should be able to make savings on administration where schools become grant-maintained. The overall effect on the expenditure of the authority will depend on the extent to which they make such savings.

  Youth Work
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out, at 1990 prices, the level of support for voluntary organisations involved in youth work for 1987–88, 1988–89, 1089–90, and 1990–91.

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

  Department of Education and Science grants1 to voluntary youth organisations

  England

  £000s

  Financial Years

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Recurrent grants

  2,551·8

  2,350·0

  2,289·1

  2,301·0

  Capital grants

  976·3

  531·8

  397·2

  651·0

  Special grants2

  nil

  nil

  nil

  500·0

  Total

  3,528·1

  2,881·8

  2,686·3

  3,452·0

  1 In 1990 real terms, applying the GDP deflator as at November 1990.

  2 Interim funding of £500,000 per annum for 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 to the headquarters of London wide education voluntary organisations following the abolition of the ILEA.

  Iraqi Students
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students from Iraq attended postgraduate courses at British universities and colleges of higher education in each of the years 1981 to 1990 inclusive.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The number of students from Iraq enrolled on post-graduate courses at British higher education institutions between 1980–81 and 1989–90 are as follows:

  Academic year

  Universities

  Polytechnics/ Colleges of Higher Education

  Total

  1980–81

  1,225

  —

  —

  1981–82

  1,153

  45

  1,198

  1982–83

  1,277

  54

  1,331

  1983–84

  980

  38

  1,018

  1984–85

  716

  37

  753

  1985–86

  656

  42

  698

  1986–87

  900

  51

  951

  1987–88

  892

  50

  942

  1988–89

  673

  51

  724

  1989–90

  405

  133

  —

  1 England and Scotland.

  No figure is available for the number of students in polytechnics and colleges in 1980–81 and information is not available yet on the number in these institutions in Wales in 1989–90.

  Geography
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish for consultation the draft order with attainment targets and programmes of study for geography in the national curriculum.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have today published for consultation a draft order with an associated document setting out attainment targets and programmes of study for geography in the national curriculum for pupils aged five to 16, as I am required to do by section 20(5) of the Education Reform Act 1988. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  The draft order has been prepared following advice to me from the National Curriculum Council, in the light of its consultations on the proposals made by the former holder of my office and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. I am most grateful to the council for its advice.

  I have accepted the bulk of the council's recommendations for attainment targets and programmes of study as a basis for further consultation. The National Curriculum Council has recommended one major change to the structure of attainment targets in geography, reducing the total number of attainment targets from seven to five. I have accepted this change and believe that it will be helpful in reducing the assessment load on teachers.

  However, I consider that the attainment targets should emphasise more strongly knowledge and understanding of aspects of geography and put less emphasis on assessment of skills which, however desirable, are not particular to geography, and less emphasis on the assessment of pupils' exploration of attitudes and values. I also consider that,

  371
  for primary schools, the number of different places to be studied should be smaller than in the recommendations made to me. I have also made other minor changes to the Council's recommendations for attainment targets and programmes of study. Therefore, in accordance with section 20(5)(a)(ii) of the Education Reform Act 1988, I have published a statement of my reasons for departing from the council's advice. Copies have been placed in the Library, with the draft order.

  The draft order and documents do not provide for a short course for pupils at key stage 4 who are not taking a geography GCSE. The National Curriculum Council has advised me on this, but I have decided to consider this advice further, particularly with a view to securing maximum flexibility for schools in determining the nature of such short courses. However, it remains my intention that there should be provision within the national curriculum for pupils at key stage 4 to take short geography courses and I shall in due course bring forward a further draft order accordingly.

  The draft order for geography sets out a range of essential geographical skills; maintains the emphasis on pupils' knowledge and understanding about places which was a central feature of the proposals issued in June; and ensures that study of the environment remains central to the geography curriculum along with the study of physical and human geography.

  The period for consultation on the draft order will end on 15 February 1991. I intend to make the final order in March 1991 in good time for schools to begin teaching national curriculum geography to pupils aged five, seven and 11 from the following autumn. The draft order applies only to England. My right hon. Friend will be publishing separately for consultation a draft order for geography in Wales.

  History
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish for consultation the draft order with attainment targets and programmes of study for history in the national curriculum.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have today published for consultation a draft order with an associated document setting out attainment targets and programmes of study for history in the National Curriculum for pupils aged five to 16, as I am required to do by section 20(5) of the Education Reform Act 1988. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  The draft order has been prepared on the basis of advice from the National Curriculum Council following consultation on the proposals made in July by the former holder of my office. The council's advice on attainment targets and programmes of study responds to a number of proposals and requests made by my predecessor. En the light of that advice, the proposed number of attainment targets has been reduced from four to three. The programmes of study are now set out in a simpler format, and are less detailed and prescriptive. The proposed core course of study for pupils aged 14 to 16 has also been redesigned by the NCC, along the lines indicated by my predecessor.

  I have made certain further changes, as explained in the letter to those being consulted, to make it clear that the focus of study of this unit should be the first half of the
  372
  twentieth century. I believe that it is right to draw some distinction between the study of history and the study of current affairs.

  The curriculum requirements I am now proposing in this final stage of consultation will provide a sound basis for the acquisition of knowledge and understanding of British, European and world history. The attainment targets will ensure that knowledge, understanding and skills are rigorously assessed. The programmes of study will provide a clear framework of historical content to be taught while leaving teachers a degree of freedom in the design of schemes of work. I believe that this represents the successful outcome of a long period of consultation and public debate.

  The period of consultation on the draft order will end on 15 February 1991. I intend to make the final order in March 1991 in good time for the schools to begin teaching national curriculum history to pupils aged five, seven and 11 from the following autumn.

  The draft order applies only to England. My right hon. Friend will be publishing separately for consultation a draft order for history in Wales.

  Agricultural and Food Research Council
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the research establishments and projects respectively which have been granted moneys from the Agricultural and Food Research Council; and if he will list the amounts involved.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  [holding answer 20 December 1990]: The research institutes that have received grants from the AFRC to meet recurrent and capital expenditure in the year to 31 March 1991 are as follows, the amount of the grants also being shown:

  £'000

  Institute of Arable Crops Research

  11,235

  Institute of Animal Health

  15,711

  Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research

  12,382

  Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research

  10,512

  Horticulture Research International

  9,868

  Institute of Plant Science Research

  6,114

  Institute of Food Research

  16,249

  Institute of Engineering Research

  4,729

  The AFRC currently makes approximately 1,069 research grants to some 64 higher education institutions, totalling approximately £52 million, of which about £15 million is allocated per annum. Full details are given in a detailed print out which I am sending to the hon. Member. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Further information relating to projects undertaken in AFRC institutes and higher education institutions supported by AFRC is included in the AFRC handbook 1990, copies of which have also been placed in the Library.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Traffic Fines
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his intention to allow London borough councils to retain fine income from local road traffic offences to pay for improvements in road traffic schemes in their areas.
  373
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Revenue from fines for road traffic offences, like the revenue from other criminal penalties, is paid into the Consolidated Fund. However, the Road Traffic Bill provides that contravention of certain orders relating to parking places in London should no longer be a criminal offence and that local authorities should assume responsibility for enforcing these parking controls. Under the Bill, local authorities would retain income collected by way of penalty charges for infringements and would be able to use it for specified parking and traffic related purposes.

  Magistrates Courts (Staff)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to extend the remit of the Parliamentary Commission for Administration to include investigation of complaints against magistrates courts staff; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  I have not yet reached decisions on the future organisation of the service in the light of the report of the magistrates' courts scrutiny. It would not be sensible to consider the remit of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in relation to magistrates courts service staff separately from the broader organisation issues.

  Taylor Report
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has immediate plans to implement the Taylor report; and if he has discussed with the Football League and Football Association the effects arising from the non-implementation of the report.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Lord Justice Taylor's final report on the Hillsborough stadium disaster made 76 specific recommendations, the great majority of which have now been implemented by the responsible authorities.

  We have made it clear that the primary responsibility for the reduction of standing accommodation at football league grounds in accordance with the timetable proposed by Lord Justice Taylor rests with the clubs themselves. We have also indicated to the Football League and to the Football Association that we are prepared to accept variations from the interim timetable recommended by Lord Justice Taylor provided that there is realistic progress towards the dates by which the use of standing accommodation should be discontinued. We shall look to the Football Licensing Authority to advise us, in due course, whether progress towards all seated accommodation is satisfactory. The football authorities are well aware that enforcement powers are available, if it is not.

  Mr. R. Jerrard
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the entitlement of Mr. R. Jerrard of Warwick for a long service and good conduct medal as an inspector in the City of London police.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The royal warrant which instituted the long service and good conduct medal offers no scope for discretion to award the medal to anyone who has served less than 22 years police service.

  Overseas Electors
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, on Tuesday 18 December,Official Report, columns 102–3, if he will now give the total number of overseas electors included in the 1991–92 register published by individual electoral registration officers on 28 November, together with numbers for each constituency and for each region of Scotland and county in England and Wales.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Information on the number of overseas electors included in the draft electoral register is still being collated. We shall shortly make the figures known to the House.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of people in each of the 32 London boroughs who have been summonsed for the non-payment of the community charge.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information is not available centrally on the number of people in each London borough who have been summonsed for non-payment of the community charge. However, the table shows the number of summonses heard at magistrates courts in the London area from April to September 1990, the latest date for which the information is available.

  Number of community charge summonses heard at magistrates courts in the London area April-September 1990

  Magistrates court

  Summonses

  City of London

  Guildhall justice room

  76

  Inner London

  Hampstead

  1,500

  Horseferry Road

  2,962

  South Western

  1,671

  Thames

  3,070

  Outer London

  Barking

  33

  Barnet/Hendon

  86

  Bromley

  7,187

  Croydon

  14,212

  Ealing/Acton

  590

  Enfield

  3,764

  Havering

  12

  Feltham/Brentford

  209

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  7,679

  Wimbledon

  422

  Stratford/West Ham

  6,600

  Redbridge

  575

  Sutton

  8,533

  Waltham Forest

  853

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of people who have been sentenced to a period of imprisonment by courts covering the Greater London area who have been summonsed for the non-payment of their community charge.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information for 1990 is not yet available.

  Police Training
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training has been given by United Kingdom police officers to police officers in the Punjab region of India in the last five years to date; what training has been received by police officers from the Punjab in the United Kingdom over the same period; what was the nature of such training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There is no central record of any training having been given by United Kingdom police officers to police officers in India in the last five years.

  Central records, which do not distinguish between officers from the Punjab and those from other parts of India, show that the following visits were made by Indian police officers to the United Kingdom for training purposes over this period.

  1986
  One officer visited the Metropolitan Police to discuss its organisation and structure.

  1987
  One officer visited the Metropolitan Police to discuss training.
  Two officers visited the Metropolitan Police, Ashford Police Training Centre and the Police Staff College, Bramshill.
  One officer was attached to the Metropolitan Police and the Police Staff College to study training management.

  1988
  One officer visited the Metropolitan Police and the Police Staff College to discuss training.
  One officer visited the Metropolitan Police to discuss the day-to-day operation of a police station.
  One officer visited the Home Office, Metropolitan and West Midlands Police to discuss counter-terrorism.
  One officer visited the Metropolitan Police to discuss the ability of the police to handle new problems.

  1989
  Two officers undertook a training attachment with the Police Staff College, and the West Yorkshire and Metropolitan Police forces.
  Four officers visited the Metropolitan Police CID Training School at Hendon.
  Two officers visited the Metropolitan Police to discuss VIP security.
  Four officers undertook a Criminal Records Computerisation Course at Merseyside and subsequent attachment to the Police National Computer Organisation.
  One officer visited the Police Staff College, Metropolitan Police, Lancashire Constabulary, Kent Constabulary and West Yorkshire Police to discuss recruitment, training, promotion, computers, drugs and terrorism.
  One officer visited the Metropolitan Police to discuss training methods and courses.

  1990
  One officer visited the Metropolitan Police to discuss the ways in which the police assist the courts.
  One officer visited the Metropolitan Police and Ashford Police Training Centre to discuss anti-terrorist and general police training.
  One officer attended the Overseas Command Course, Police Staff College, Bramshill.

  In addition, in each of the last five years, 10 officers from the Indian police service have attended a specially designed overseas command course at West Yorkshire police force training school.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training has been given by United Kingdom police officers to police officers in Sri Lanka in the last five years to date; what training has been received by Sri Lankan police officers in the United Kingdom over the same period; what was the nature of such training; and if he will make a statement.
  376
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There is no central record of any training having been given by United Kingdom police officers to police officers in Sri Lanka in the last five years, although a detective inspector from the Metropolitan police went to Sri Lanka in 1987 for a short advisory visit.

  Central records show that the following visits were made by Sri Lankan police officers to the United Kingdom for training purposes over this period.

  1986
  Two officers attended the Overseas Command Course at the Police Staff College, Bramshill.

  1987
  None.

  1988
  One officer visited the Metropolitan Police to discuss drugs and new methods of fighting crime.
  One officer attended a traffic management course with Lancashire Constabulary and the Metropolitan Police.
  Two officers were attached to the Metropolitan Police to discuss VIP security.

  1989
  One officer visited the Home Office to discuss the right to silence.
  One officer visited the Police Staff College, Bramshill, to discuss police training.
  One officer visited the Metropolitan Police to discuss taxi licensing.
  Two officers visited the Home Office, Metropolitan and Essex Police forces to discuss computers in police work.
  Two officers attended the Overseas Command Course, Police Staff College, Bramshill.

  1990
  One officer attended a VIP Security Course at Lancashire Constabulary.
  One officer attended the Overseas Command Course, Police Staff College, Bramshill.

  Wandsworth Prison
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he now proposes to take to improve the facilities for women prison officers who are now working at Wandsworth prison; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  A number of toilets and showers have been designated for the use of female staff only. Current redevelopment will also permit the incorporation of dedicated female toilets, showers and changing rooms in the reception area and hospital wing in spring 1991. Additional facilities for women staff will come into use in 1992 when the current refurbishment of D wing is complete. All of these developments have been agreed following consultations at HM prison Wandsworth.

  Police Medals
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in the past 10 years failed to qualify for long service and good conduct medals because their official retirement date fell within two weeks of the qualifying period; and how many exceptions have been granted.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Immigration
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's position on immigration, visas and asylum being determined by a European union, following the agreement at the European Council that the issue be considered; and when these issues will be considered by an intergovernmental conference.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The conclusion of the European Council was that consideration should be given to whether and how activities currently conducted in an intergovernmental framework could be"brought within the ambit of the Union".
  Immigration, visas and asylum were cited as examples of matters which might be considered for such treatment.

  This part of the European Council's conclusions is clearly distinguished from the part relating to possible extensions of Community competence. We do not believe, and it is not envisaged, that immigration, visas and asylum matters should be brought within the Treaty of Rome.

  The intergovernmental conference on political union is now under way and the Government will play a full part in the discussions. It is not yet clear at what stage particular individual items will be considered.

  Television Licence Fee
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will announce the findings of the independent consultancy on the level of the television licence fee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Following a recommendation of the Peacock committee in 1986 (Cmnd. 9824), for the three years April 1988 to April 1990 the television licence fee was increased annually in line with changes in the retail prices index. My right hon. Friend, Lord Waddington announced on 11 October 1990 that he had appointed Price Waterhouse as independent consultants to help set the level of the fee from April 1991 onwards. They were asked to assess how future increases in the fee could be set below the level of inflation measured by the RPI, and the consequences of a range of formulas for such increases, while maintaining the BBC's "cornerstone" role in British broadcasting.

  Price Waterhouse reported to me in mid December, and the management summary of its report is being published today by HMSO. The remainder will not be released since it contains commercially sensitive material.

  The consultants concluded that, while maintaining the present level of service, the BBC would be able to make financial improvements totalling £203 million over the five years from 1991 to 1996. These comprise £72 million in extra revenue and £131 million in savings. In addition, the BBC is required to make savings of £180 million to finance its expected future deficit. The Price Waterhouse report has been discussed with the consultants and the BBC and I am satisfied that improvements of this order are achievable. I therefore believe that, in the interests of licence fee payers, who require a licence if they wish to watch a public television service, the fee should now be held below the level of the RPI increase.

  Price Waterhouse suggested two ways of doing this, both with the same net effect over five years. I have decided that its proposal to set the April 1991 increase at 3 per cent. below RPI, with annual increases at RPI over the
  378
  subsequent four years is the better of the two methods. I intend, however, to reassess the position in three years' time, taking the opportunity to review the BBC's progress in achieving efficiency gains and further developing alternative sources of revenue. Price Waterhouse has also made some further suggestions to me about the operation of the licence fee, and I will also consider within the same time scale whether they should be implemented. The longer-term future of the licence fee as the principal means of financing the BBC will be considered as part of the review of the present charter which will be necessary before its expiry in December 1996.

  The licence fee increase each April has been calculated on the basis of the annual increase in RPI in the 12 months up to the preceding September, in the same way as increases in pensions and other state benefits. The RPI figure for September 1990 was 10·9 per cent., and applying an RPI-3 per cent. factor of 7·9 per cent. to the unrounded 1990 figures leads to new fees from 1 April 1991 of £77 for a colour licence and £25·50 for a monochrome licence. The necessary regulations will be laid before the House in due course.

THE ARTS

  Welsh National Opera
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will list the sums of money from all sources which he is making available directly from his Department or in conjunction with others to the Welsh National Opera in the present financial year; what was the comparable figure in 1989–90; and if he will list the projected figures for 1991–92 and subsequent years insofar as firm or tentative projections have been made.

  Mr. Renton
  The Welsh National Opera is funded jointly by the Arts Council of Great Britain and the Welsh Arts Council. The information requested is as follows:

  £'000s

  ACGB

  WAC

  1989–90

  2,669

  1,791

  1990–91

  2,935

  1,972

  1991–92

  13,100

  2,130

  1 Provisional allocation.

  Levels of funding for future years have yet to be determined.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what discussions have taken place between his officials and the Welsh National Opera about finances; what differences have arisen over the financial contribution of the Government to the Welsh National Opera; and what differences still remain.

  Mr. Renton
  The funding of the Welsh National Opera is a matter for the Arts Council of Great Britain and the Welsh Arts Council. The chairman of the ACGB met the chairman and members of the board of the WNO on 8 January to discuss the company's current financial position. I understand that the meeting was helpful and constructive. Further detailed discussions are being arranged between the two funding bodies and the company, with the intention of achieving a mutually acceptable outcome. I very much welcome this positive development.

PRIME MINISTER

  Hereditary Baronetcy Awards
  Mr. Rees
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy with regard to the considerations which he takes into account before making any recommendation for the award of a hereditary baronetcy; when this policy last changed; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  It was the policy of my predecessor to consider recommending hereditary honours in exceptional cases. I propose to follow a similar practice.

  European Community
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what treaty amendments are being considered for submission to the European Community.

  The Prime Minister
  The Conclusions of the Rome European Councils on 27 and 28 October and on 14 and 15 December listed a number of areas where treaty revision would be considered in the context of the intergovernmental conferences on political union and EMU.

  Rural Housing
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will visit the Montgomery constituency to receive representations concerning housing for young people in rural areas.

  The Prime Minister
  I have no present plans to visit Montgomeryshire. Close partnership between local authorities, housing associations and the private sector is essential in securing appropriate housing for young people, as for others, in rural areas. Housing for Wales is giving strong assistance by devoting 25 per cent. of its programme to rural areas; its survey of housing and young people in rural Wales will help to target future investment.

  Export Licences
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he has any plans to change the procedure for applying for export licences where there is a defence implication; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Gateshead, East (Ms. Quin) by my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade on 29 November 1990 at columns 1060–61.

  Publicity and Advertising
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Prime Minister, further to his reply on 17 December,Official Report, column 15, if he will publish the guidance given to departmental Ministers regarding the use of publicity and advertising paid for by public funds.

  The Prime Minister
  The conventions on Government publicity and advertising have already been published. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy on 28 June 1990 to my hon. Friend the Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Arbuthnot) at column 311.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Community
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what distinctions are drawn in policy between defence and security in the context of negotiations on extending the competence of the EC.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Twelve already discuss some aspects of security within the framework of European political co-operation. As part of the process of closer foreign policy co-ordination among the Twelve, we see scope to develop this further, but would not support the extension of Community competence into this area. Defence itself—the planning, organisation, command, control and commitment of military forces—is one aspect of broader security policy. We believe that NATO should remain the main forum for consultation on defence matters affecting the alliance as a whole. Closer European co-operation on defence could be achieved by strengthening the Western European Union.

  Khmer Rouge
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will propose in the United Nations Security Council a ban on the movement of arms and logistic support to the Khmer Rouge by whatever route; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  United Nations Security Council resolution 668 of 20 September 1990 endorsed the framework for a comprehensive political settlement of the Cambodia conflict, an integral element of which is the cessation of outside military assistance to all Cambodian parties.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will call on the Chinese Government to end their support for the Khmer Rouge; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 17 December to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd).

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will halt all British support in whatever form, direct or indirect, to the Khmer Rouge and its allies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) of 17 December. We have never given and will never give support of any kind to the Khmer Rouge.

  Iraq
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Iraqi diplomats have left the United Kingdom at the request of Her Majesty's Government; and on what dates in each of the past three years.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The following members of Iraqi embassy staff have been requested by Her Majesty's Government to leave the United Kingdom.
  381
  1988: Four—one on 30 September 1988

  —three on 29 October 1988.

  1989: None.

  1990: 11—Six on 17 September 1990

  —four on 19 September 1990

  —one on 10 November 1990

  1991: 9—3 January 1991.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British diplomats have left Iraq at the request of the Iraqi authorities; and on what dates in each of the past three years.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Seven members of the British embassy in Baghdad have been declared persona non grata in the past three years; four in October 1988, two in September 1990 and one in November 1990.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of Her Majesty's diplomatic corps are currently accredited to the British embassy in Baghdad.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have recalled our ambassador in Baghdad and the remaining members of his staff for consultations.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representatives of the Government of Iraq are currently accredited to the embassy of Iraq in London.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Fifteen diplomatic agents; twelve administrative and technical staff; five service staff.

  Cambodia
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support the Government of Thailand in their efforts to make peace with the Cambodian Government and to remove Khmer Rouge bases from Thai soil; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We support all constructive efforts to achieve peace in Cambodia. Thailand has played a helpful part in recent efforts to establish a functioning Supreme National Council and remains a key regional player in the search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cambodian conflict.

  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom will now deal with the Government of Hun Sen as the legitimate Government of Cambodia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In my reply to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd), of 17 December, I reaffirmed our willingness to talk to representatives of the Hun Sen regime to urge them to co-operate in restoring peace to Cambodia on the basis of the five's framework. Accordingly, on 22 December the head of the south-east Asian Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office met a Cambodian Vice-Minister, Mr. Uch Kiman, in Paris. This meeting did not constitute formal dealings with the Hun Sen regime as the legitimate Government of Cambodia.

  Corfu Channel Incident
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are currently being taken to settle outstanding financial questions relating to the Corfu channel incident of 1946.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  British and Albanian officials met in Geneva on 18 and 19 December to discuss outstanding bilateral issues.

  Albania
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are currently being taken to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Socialist Republic of Albania.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  British and Albanian officials met in Geneva on 18 and 19 December to discuss outstanding bilateral issues, including the restoration of diplomatic relations.

  Mr. Tariq Aziz
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons he has opposed the visit of Tariq Aziz to meet EEC representatives in Rome.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 4 December the Foreign Minister of the European Community invited the Iraqi Foreign Minister to meet the presidency following his meeting with the United States Secretary of State. This invitation has been renewed several times, most recently after the EPC ministerial meeting in Luxembourg on 4 January, but has been declined by the Iraqi Government.

  E1 Salvador
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to encourage the Government of E1 Salvador to accept the United Nations peace proposal.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We have frequently made clear to all sides in E1 Salvador the importance we and the international community attach to a successful outcome of the peace talks under the auspices of the United Nations. We condemn the renewed offensive by the FMLN at the end of last year.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library copies of maps delineating the precise border, with all co-ordinates, which existed between Iraq and Kuwait after each significant alteration since their establishment in international law; and if he will place a copy of each relevant treaty, agreement or draft agreement to which the United Kingdom was a party which is relevant to the establishment of that border.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Extracts from the Anglo-Turkish convention of 1913, and copies of letters by the Prime Minister of Iraq and the Sheikh of Kuwait in 1932 confirming recognition of the Iraq-Kuwait frontiers, are being placed in the Library of the House. A map attached to the 1913 convention may be examined at the Public Records Office.
  383
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what preparations have been made by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for the eventuality of war in the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I am replying in the absence of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, who is chairman of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

  The answer is none. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is responsible for commemorating and caring for the graves of those who died while serving in the armed forces of the Commonwealth during the first and second world wars.

  Romanian Orphans
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the voluntary organisations known to be providing aid to Romanian orphans and the amount of aid, if known; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We do not have details of all British voluntary aid to Romanian children, but we are aware of a number of the organisation concerned. I shall write to my hon. Friend with a list. We have no information about the amount of aid. We fully support all efforts to improve conditions for children in Romania.

  Kashmir
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action his Department is taking to ensure that India respects the human rights of people who are now living in the Indian occupied area of Kashmir before any aid allocation to India is considered; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The importance we attach to "good government" when considering our aid programme is well known. While we support the Indian Government's efforts to deal with the serious challenge from terrorist violence in Kashmir, we have regularly made clear to them our concern that human rights must be respected.

  European Community Ombudsman
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the views of Her Majesty's Government on the concept of a Community ombudsman to protect the rights of citizens in the EC, following the agreement of the European Council that the matter should be examined, and on the matters which will be considered in relation to the particular problems in some member states.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Suggestions have been made by other member states for establishing a European Community ombudsman. These will be discussed in the intergovernmental conference. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said in the debate on 11 June last year, we will examine this idea sympathetically, on condition that it does not duplicate or overlap with member states' existing arrangements and provides a service of value to the individual citizen without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Matrix Churchill
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the results of the investigation by Customs and Excise into licences granted to Matrix Churchill for sales of machine tools to Iraq; and if he will place a copy of the results, when completed, in the Library.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Investigation of possible export licensing offences is a matter for the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, acting in their independent law enforcement capacity. They carry out their inquiries thoroughly and expeditiously. It would not be appropriate for information relating to an investigation to be made public other than in the course of court proceedings.

  EC Support Framework
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the 1990 allocation of the Community support framework for operational programmes 3 and 4 from the Commission of the European Community was received by his Department; and if it is currently attracting interest payments.

  Mr. Maude
  The United Kingdom's contribution to the Community budget is paid into a Community account held in the United Kingdom, from which payments to the United Kingdom are also usually made. For the structural funds' objective 3 and 4 programmes, EC payments to the United Kingdom follow the pattern of our other budget receipts. On authorisation by the Commission from time to time, the sums are withdrawn from the Community's account in the United Kingdom and paid to the sponsor department for onward transmission to end recipients. Payments for objective 3 and 4 programmes have therefore been made by the Treasury when authorised by the Commission; and subsequently by Departments when they have been vetted. The United Kingdom derives the benefit from any balance on the Community's account which the Commission has not authorised to be paid for any particular purpose.

  Expatriates (Middle East)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the position of British expatriates presently working in the middle east in the event of any forceable repatriation of such individuals with respect to the conditions pertaining to their exemption from British taxation for the period of their repatriation in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maude
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 18 December 1990, at column 111.

  VAT
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what vehicle of decision making within the EEC is to be used to complete proceedings to achieve approximation of the VAT system and excise duties within the EEC to satisfy the requirements of a true internal market; and for what reasons Her Majesty's Government agreed that the proceedings should be completed in the near future.
  385
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The vehicle within the EC for deciding the arrangements for the operation of the VAT and excise systems after 1992 is the EC's Economic and Financial Affairs Council—ECOFIN—acting unanimously on proposals from the Commission.

  Following extensive consultations with representatives of British industry, on 12 December 1990 the United Kingdom lifted its reserve on an outline agreement for the VAT control system to operate after 1992. Also, at ECOFIN on 17 December agreement was reached on the general principles which will form the basis of the system for excise controls after 1992. These have cleared the way for discussions on the details of the systems, early agreement on which is essential for businesses and tax administrations to have sufficient time to plan and implement technical changes.

  The Government believe that the framework arrangements on the VAT and excise technical systems meet the requirement to remove fiscal frontiers by 1 January 1993, which is a key part of completing the single market. The Government remain of the view that centrally determined tax approximation is neither necessary nor desirable and that market forces can bring about such convergence of indirect tax rates as is necessary.

  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how long it takes the Customs and Excise to process VAT registered trade importation packages from overseas; what is the normal expected delay before passing valuable goods packages to the Post Office, and what is the process in the case of VAT-exempt goods of more than 100 years old.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  All packages imported through the post remain under the control of the Post Office and are presented by them to customs for clearance. Clearance times vary according to the nature and origin of the contents and the quality of accompanying information. Importers are notified of the arrival of all goods exceeding £2,000 in value, or £1,300 in the case of Datapost packages, and they are required to submit a formal entry. On receipt of that entry by customs, clearance is normally effected without delay. Where relief from customs duty and VAT is claimed in respect of goods of any value over 100 years old a separate declaration by the importer is necessary. Subsequent action will depend upon the nature of the declaration made and supporting evidence produced.

  Local Authority Borrowing
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the economic implications of central Government control of local authority capital borrowing.

  Mr. Mellor
  Central Government control over local authority borrowing for capital purposes forms an important part of the overall system of public expenditure control, and is therefore essential to the economic health of the country. This control also reduces the risk that community chargepayers may face excessive debt interest payments and that an excessive burden of debt may prevent local authorities from maintaining adequate and efficient services.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the effective upper and lower limits which sterling is permitted to move to by comparison with the deutschemark within the ERM; and if he will publish a table showing the movement of sterling since joining the ERM.

  Mr. Maples
  Sterling's upper and lower limits in the ERM against the deutschemark are DM 3·132 and DM 2·778 respectively. Sterling's effective upper and lower limits against the deutschemark are determined by the need for sterling to remain within its bilateral limits against all other ERM currencies simultaneously. The effective upper limit against the deutschemark is the rate at which sterling would reach its upper limit against the weakest ERM currency. The effective lower limit is determined by sterling's position against the strongest currency in the system. The effective limits vary over time in line with the movements of exchange rates within the system.

  Sterling's movements against the deutschemark since its entry to the ERM are as follows:

  Average exchange rate week commencing

  DM/£

  1990

  October 8

  3·013

  15

  2·963

  22

  2·955

  29

  2·950

  November 5

  2·933

  12

  2·901

  19

  2·911

  26

  2·925

  December 3

  2·894

  10

  2·872

  17

  2·872

  24

  2·884

  1991

  January 12

  2·909

  7

  2·9205

  1 Week commencing Wednesday 2 January.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider withdrawing sterling from the ERM; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maples
  No.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

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

  Mr. Gummer
  Together with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the Scottish Office, Lord Strathclyde, I attended the Council of Fisheries Ministers in Brussels on 19 and 20 December 1990.

  Once again, after a considerable struggle, we obtained recognition of our Hague preference for all the stocks

  387
  where it was relevant and secured flexibility to take both an increased quantity of western mackerel east of 4 west and an extension to the area in which it may be taken.

  We also secured increases in the United Kingdom quotas proposed by the Commission for 26 of the 49 stocks of interest to our fleet. As a result we now have increases in 13 quotas compared to 1990 with 21 quotas remaining the same. The increases in the cod and haddock quota proposals in the North sea, for whiting and cod in the Irish sea and for a number of plaice and sole quotas in the channel and the south-west will be particularly welcome to the industry. We have however sought to avoid any increases which would not be in accordance with conservation needs.

  In addition, we secured a very useful quota swap arrangement with the Netherlands so obtaining all the Dutch quotas in area VII as well as some North sea herring and sole.

  Given the state of the North sea and west of Scotland cod and haddock stocks it was essential to take action to reduce effort. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea had made clear that, by themselves, TACs and quotas could not be relied upon to achieve this. Accordingly the Council agreed to an eight-day tie-up rule for vessels which have taken significant quantities of these stocks. I was disappointed that we could not secure an arrangement which would allow fishermen the alternative of using more selective gear. I put on record at the Council that I would be pursuing this and I received a helpful response from the Commissioner.

  We fought for improved technical conservation measures. We made it clear that we were prepared to agree to an increase in mesh size in the North sea and west of Scotland to 100mm diamond with a 90mm square mesh panel. We regret that, because some member states did not want their fishermen to be affected, the Council could not agree to this. However, we secured agreement that the Council must return to this issue in the near future and in order to provide further evidence to the other member states we will be commissioning more research on the use of different mesh sizes and square mesh panels, together with further research on whiting.

  We are encouraged by such experience as we already have where practical fishermen have put square mesh panels into practice and have liked the result. This is exactly the kind of conservation measure which ought to be put into practice along with TACs and which the Council has failed to adopt. We shall now be consulting with our industry about introducing unilaterally a 90mm square mesh panel. This will be important in protecting the 1990 year class of haddock.

  Amendments to EC regulation 4028/86 on fisheries structures were agreed which include the extension of grant aid to boats less than 9 metres and measures to encourage EC boats to fish in third country waters. Changes were made at the Council meeting to the proposed rates of grant for these measures to reflect the overcapacity in the EC fleet.

  On autonomous tariff quotas a balanced package was achieved which should assist the processors including a tariff suspension at 10 per cent. for hake and alaska pollack fillet blocks.

  Overall, although I regret that the Council could not agree on technical conservation measures I consider that
  388
  we have secured a package which is consistent with conservation of the stocks and which should benefit catchers, processors and consumers.

  Cod
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what would be the implications for likely cod landings at Lowestoft in 1991 of invoking the Hague preference for cod.

  Mr. Curry
  The Hague preference has not been invoked for North sea cod.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the allocation of cod quotas from the middle to end of December; and what distributions were made between Scottish and English fisheries and between sector and non-sector.

  Mr. Curry
  There are four United Kingdom cod fisheries. Fishing for North sea cod by all licensed United Kingdom fishing vessels was suspended on Saturday 15 December 1990, following exhaustion of the licensed fleet's share of the United Kingdom quota. Fishing by unlicensed under 10 m vessels continued in this fishery until the end of the month. Fishing for west of Scotland cod by all United Kingdom fishing vessels was prohibited on 5 December 1990, following exhaustion of the entire United Kingdom quota. The Irish sea cod fishery remained open for the whole of December, both to those English and Northern Irish producer organisations with sectoral allocations, and to all other vessels with the necessary licence subject to a 2 tonnes per vessel per month catch restriction. The channel cod fishery, in which there were no sectoral allocations in 1990, also remained open to all appropriately licensed vessels throughout December, subject to a 5 tonnes per vessel per month catch restriction.

  Fishing Quotas
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what redress he expects to make in 1991 to English fishermen who fished within quota for 1990; and what sanctions against those who overfished in 1990 he plans to take.

  Mr. Curry
  Arrangements for penalties and compensation to apply to overfishing in 1990 have already been agreed with the industry. Under these arrangements, where a group exceeded its allocation in 1990, the overfish will not be included in track records when calculating the 1991 allocation. Where that overfish led to the United Kingdom quota being exceeded, and other groups being disadvantaged by the early closure of a fishery, the overfish will be deducted from the offending group's 1991 allocation. This deduction will then be used to compensate groups prejudiced by the overfishing, after taking account of those groups' likely uptake had the fishery not been closed.

  North Sea Sole
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's role in collection of data which led to the closure of the North sea sole fishery in November.
  389
  Mr. Curry
  The closure of the North sea sole fishery in November 1990 was due to a combination of factors. They included increased effort in the fishery, an increase in the size of fish caught as a result of earlier conservation measures, and increased landings abroad as well as a delay in some landing data appearing on Departments' central computers.

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

  Mr. Gummer
  Yes.

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information his Department has of undersized cod, plaice and sole being landed and sold at fishing ports in the Netherlands.

  Mr. Curry
  The enforcement of EC fisheries regulations in the Netherlands is a matter for the Dutch authorities. The EC Commission's inspectorate monitors enforcement arrangements in member states, but I have no information about the landing and sale of undersized fish in the Netherlands.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on how his Department informs fishing organisations, companies and individuals on sudden unexpected changes in the fishing regime around United Kingdom ports in general, and Lowestoft in particular.

  Mr. Curry
  Changes to fisheries management measures are publicised by means of a news release issued to the trade press, and at the same time Fisheries Departments write to national and local fishing organisations. Local fisheries officers also make every effort to inform fishermen in their area individually. Variations to fishing licences are issued by local port offices as soon as possible after the announcement.

  Small Family Farms
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and food if he will make a statement on his assessment of the implication for the future of the small family farm of the GATT discussions.

  Mr. Curry
  The Community offer on agricultural reform remains under negotiation in the GATT round. It is premature to forecast the final agreement or its impact. The Commission has given an undertaking to make proposals for changes in agricultural support, consistent with a GATT agreement, aimed at ensuring a viable future for Community farmers.

  Sheep Farmers (Subsidies)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any proposals to decouple subsidies to sheep farmers from farm production; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Support to sheep farmers in the United Kingdom is provided primarily through the EC sheep 390
  regime and the system of hill livestock compensatory allowances, which are also governed by EC regulations. Any proposals fundamentally to change the basis on which this support is granted would, therefore, be a matter for the European Commission.

  Cereals
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he intends to take to ensure that S.I. (1975) No. 655, the Measurement of Cereals for Import and Export Purposes Regulations 1975, is conformed to by the intervention board.

  Mr. Curry
  The Measurement of Cereals for Import and Export Purposes Regulations 1975 (S.I. 1975 No. 655) lay down certain provisions in relation to trade in cereals between the United Kingdom and other member states of the European Community. The intervetion board does not engage in intra-Community trade in cereals and the regulations are not considered relevant to its operations.

  Food Aid
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the expected impact of the food aid programme for the Soviet Union agreed at the European Council on 15 December 1990, on planned EC spending on agriculture.

  Mr. Curry
  The European Council agreed to supply 250 million ecu—£174 million—of food aid to the USSR. This will be funded from the underspend in the 1990 European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund guarantee budget. No decision has been made on the type and quantities of food involved and it is not yet possible to assess any other effects on Community agricultural expenditure.

  Farming Incomes
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on trends in farming incomes.

  Mr. Curry
  Forecasts of farm incomes in 1990 will be published in "Agriculture in the United Kingdom" later this month.

  Salmonella
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what conclusions he has reached in his review of the Government's policy on the control of salmonella.

  Mr. Gummer
  In 1989 the Government introduced a comprehensive programme for tackling the problem of salmonella in poultry and eggs. This programme has been effective in reducing potential sources of infection and will be maintained. I have made it clear, however, that the detailed form of control would be kept under careful review in the light of developing knowledge and experience. This has been done, taking into account the views of the Department of Health and the public health laboratory service.

  The Government measures are aimed at reducing infection throughout the production chain, from the supply of feedingstuffs to the production of healthy breeding stock and controls on laying flocks. This

  391
  integrated approach is the best means of minimising the risk of infection in all types of poultry flocks and will continue.

  The measures on feedingstuffs include statutory controls on the production of animal protein, which require regular sampling of feed and reprocessing if any salmonella is found. Rigorous controls are also applied to imports of animal protein. In addition the feed industry operate codes of practice aimed at ensuring that their products are free of salmonella.

  The programme for controlling salmonella in breeding flocks concentrates in particular on monitoring of progeny through the hatcheries and the slaughter of infected breeding stock, both in the egg production and poultry meat sectors, in order to minimise the risk of transmission of infection to production flocks. Through the application of these measures to date 35 broiler breeder flocks and five layer breeder flocks have been compulsorily slaughtered with payment of compensation. These arrangements will continue unchanged.

  In relation to commercial flocks producing eggs for human consumption, I have reviewed carefully information from the state veterinary service and the public health laboratory service on the incidence of infection and trends in human food poisoning. It is clear that a continued distinction needs to be drawn between the many different types of salmonella. From the start the Government measures have concentrated on two particular types which had been considered a potential risk to human health, while retaining the flexibility to alter the coverage of the programme in the light of further evidence on the risk from different types of salmonella.

  One of these types, salmonella enteritidis, was responsible for the increase in human food poisoning cases which led to the introduction of the Government measures. Data from laboratory testing indicate that the incidence of salmonella enteritidis in the commercial laying sector has subsequently dropped significantly. However, salmonella enteritidis remains a significant cause of human food poisoning. I have therefore concluded that it remains essential to maintain the compulsory slaughter programme for all laying flocks which are infected with salmonella enteritidis. The other type which has hitherto been treated in the same way is salmonella typhimurium. In the light of further scientific data I have concluded that the arrangements for dealing with this type in relation to laying flocks should be modified. The Chief Medical Officer agrees with this view.

  Evidence from the public health laboratory service indicates that the number of cases of salmonella typhimurium food poisoning in humans has fallen significantly over the last year and the number of outbreaks of salmonella typhimurium food poisoning linked to eggs is now extremely low. Unlike salmonella enteritidis, this type is not predominantly associated with poultry but is frequently found in the environment and in other animal species. When it does occur in poultry which are being reared for egg production, it is predominantly a disease of young birds—pullets—rather than adult birds. Infection in pullet flocks presents no direct risk to public health, as the birds are not producing eggs. Young birds can be treated and my officials will give advice to flock owners on appropriate treatment arrangements. The automatic slaughter policy for laying flocks infected with salmonella typhimurium will be discontinued but the arrangements for monitoring and reporting of infection
  392
  will continue. Salmonella typhimurium will therefore be placed in the same category as all types of salmonella, other than salmonella enteritidis, where existing measures will continue to be taken where necessary to protect public health.

  The Government have published today the second part of the report of the Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food. Among the committee's conclusions is a recommendation that the topic of salmonella in eggs should be considered by the new advisory committee and steering group on the microbiological safety of food. The Government have agreed in their response that the issue of salmonella in eggs needs to be kept under close review and will be examining a number of issues which remain to be resolved. One of these issues, on which research is currently under way, is the pasteurisation of eggs from infected flocks. European Community proposals on the control of salmonella enteritidis are expected to include this treatment, as part of an alternative method of control involving the safe disposal of products from infected flocks rather than compulsory slaughter.

  The salmonella control measures as a whole will be assessed further in the light of progress in the European Community discussions. It remains the Government's firm objective to secure Communitywide measures on salmonella which ensure that consumers are protected, whether consuming home produced or imported products, and that producers throughout the Community operate to the same high standards as in this country.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions poultry farms which have had flocks slaughtered due to salmonella infection have been reinfected, with consequent flock slaughter(a) once and (b) more than once.

  Mr. Maclean
  There have been eight instances where poultry have been compulsorily slaughtered, following previous compulsory slaughter on the same farm. In only two of these cases was the same strain of salmonella involved on both occasions. There have been no instances of slaughter being required more than twice on the same premises.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 29 November,Official Report, column 485, if he will make a statement on the negotiations for the adoption of comprehensive Community rules setting higher welfare standards for animals during all stages of transport.

  Mr. Maclean
  A Council working group meeting to discuss the Commission's proposals was held in February 1990 but there have been no subsequent negotiations.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensions
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, pursuant to his answer of 12 December,Official Report, columns 427–28, on the value of the state earnings-related pension, he will give figures for each year from 1999 to 2029 on the same basis.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information is given in the table. It is important to note that calculations of this nature can
  393
  provide only a hypothetical view of the distant future based, as they are, on unchanged assumptions about economic variables and policies.

  The weekly amounts of additional pension payable on retirement on 6 April in the stated year are as follows:

  Year of retirement

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  1999

  38·50

  94·25

  134·25

  2000

  40·90

  99·60

  140·80

  2001

  43·20

  104·95

  147·30

  2002

  45·60

  110·50

  154·10

  2003

  4820

  11635

  161·15

  2004

  50·90

  122·45

  168·40

  2005

  53·80

  128·85

  175·95

  2006

  56·60

  135·25

  183·60

  2007

  59·55

  141·95

  191·45

  2008

  6270

  148·95

  199·65

  2009

  66·00

  156·20

  208·10

  2010

  70·40

  166·20

  219·75

  2011

  75·10

  176·85

  232·20

  2012

  80·25

  188·25

  245·40

  2013

  85·60

  200·10

  259·25

  2014

  91·35

  212·80

  274·05

  2015

  97·60

  226·30

  289·75

  2016

  104·35

  240·65

  306·50

  2017

  111·40

  255·75

  324·05

  2018

  118·80

  27165

  342·55

  2019

  12705

  288·75

  362·45

  2020

  135·50

  306·55

  383·15

  2021

  144·80

  325·75

  405·45

  2022

  154·65

  345·95

  428·90

  2023

  165·05

  367·30

  453·65

  2024

  176·30

  390·00

  480·00

  2025

  188·20

  414·00

  507·75

  2026

  201·05

  439·55

  537·35

  2027

  214·65

  466·55

  568·55

  2028

  227·90

  491·95

  594·30

  2029

  241·80

  518·15

  62120

  (a) A person on half average earnings.

  (b) A person on average earnings.

  (c) A person earning at or above the upper earnings limit.

  Notes: From 1990 onwards 5 per cent. prices and 6.5 per cent. earnings growth is assumed. Average earnings are those for all full-time workers on adult rates in all industries and services, excluding those affected by absence.

  Disability Allowance
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the rate of disability allowance for each of the last 10 years and indicate when it is next due for review.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I understand the right hon. Member's question was intended to refer to the disability premium which was introduced in the income support and reformed housing benefit schemes in April 1988, in the community charge rebate scheme in April 1989 in Scotland, and in the community charge benefit scheme from April 1990. In common with other premiums, the disability premium is reviewed each year as part of the annual benefit uprating exercise. The rates of the premium, including the proposed rates for April 1991, are as follows:

  April 1988 £

  April 1989 £

  April 1990 £

  1April 1991 £

  Rate for a single person

  13·05

  13·70

  15·40

  16·65

  Rate for couples

  18·60

  19·50

  22·10

  23·90

  1 Proposed.

  394
  Since April 1990 the disabled child premium has been payable for each disabled child at the same rate as the disability premium for a single adult.

  Children
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of children in Scotland dependent on supplementary benefit or income support in(a) 1979 and (b)

  Miss Widdecombe
  The number of children under 16 years in families on supplementary benefit in 1979 was 109,000. The number of children under 16 years in families on income support in 1989 was 223,000.

  Source: Annual Statistical Enquiries for 1979 and 1989.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give details of the number of sufferers from myalgic encephalomyelitis who have applied for(a) mobility allowance, (b) attendance allowance and (c) sickness benefits and have been refused because their illness is not recognised by the Department of Social Security in Scotland.

  Mr. Scott
  No myalegic encephalomyelitis sufferers in Scotland have been refused mobility allowance, attendance allowance or sickness benefits on the ground that their illness is not recognised.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has had from sufferers of myalgic encephalomyelitis seeking his assistance in obtaining state benefits; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  A number of representations have been made by, and on behalf of, people suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis about the general difficulties they face. We understand their concerns and continue to consider them sympathetically.

  Care Homes (Residents' Leave)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate he has made of the number of claimants in care homes who have lost benefit during leave periods through the incorrect interpretation of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulation, schedule 7 and paragraph 7(1)(a);

  (2) when he intends to issue new guidelines to adjudication officers with regard to their interpretation of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations, schedule 7, paragraph 7(1)(a) concerning benefit payments to care home residents during leave periods.

  Miss Widdecombe
  No such estimate has been made. The regulation is clear in its intention and it is for the independent adjudication officer to determine the correct application in each case. We are looking at the implications of this regulation for people in certain circumstances in residential care and nursing homes.

  Income Support
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review the level of income support from April 1991 to ensure it does not fall below the rate of inflation; and if he will make a statement.
  395
  Miss Widdecombe
  It has been reviewed. In his uprating statement of 24 October last year my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, announced that income-related benefits, including income support, would rise by 8.1 per cent. from next April.

  The uprating is based, as usual, on the RPI less housing costs. This is because, for those receiving income support, help with rent is available through housing benefit and help with mortgage interest is available separately within the income support scheme.

  Fostering
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his Department's payment to a local authority for children aged under five years in a foster home.

  Mr. Jack
  The Department makes no such payment. The maintenance of these children is covered by boarding out allowances paid by local authorities, which are met from the revenue support grant.

  Coventry Cyrenians
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will propose changes to income support and social fund legislation following the cases raised with him by the letter from the Coventry Cyrenians, dated 14 December; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  No. We are satisfied that current social security policy for homeless young people is correct. A copy of my reply to the Coventry Cyrenians has been sent to the hon. Member.

  Benefit Expenditure
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the reduction from 97 per cent. to 95 per cent. of grant for housing benefit and poll tax benefit is still to be implemented; what will be the savings to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The basic rate of direct subsidy for housing benefit and community charge benefit will be reduced from 97 per cent. to 95 per cent. from April 1991. Although this will result in a reduction in direct subsidy of some £86 million, the effect of this reduction was fully taken into account in drawing up the proposed local government financial settlements for 1991–92.

  Claimants, Warwickshire
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest figures for Coventry and Warwickshire for how many people are dependent on(a) income support, (b) family credit and (c) housing benefit; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information is not available to show the number of people dependent on income support, family credit and housing benefit and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The latest available information for the number of claims to these benefits in Coventry and Warwickshire is as follows:

  Coventry

  Warwickshire

  Income support1

  33,453

  25,368

  Family Credit2

  1,522

  3,331

  Housing Benefit3

  22,992

  23,357

  396

  1 Derived from 30 November 1990 count of 100 per cent. of cases in action which include a number where payment had ceased but other action was continuing.

  2 Number of families receiving Family Credit who, at the time their award was made, were living in Coventry or Warwickshire. These figures do not include awards made after 28 December 1990.

  3 Number of people receiving Housing Benefit on 31 August 1990.

TRANSPORT

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial application British Rail has made for the provision of passenger and cargo facilities in Liverpool to ensure direct access to the channel tunnel rail system.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail proposes to have a terminal on Merseyside for international freight services. Passengers between Liverpool and the continent will need to change in London or at Crewe.

  Mr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has met the chairman of British Rail to discuss rail links between Scotland and the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. and learned Friend last met Sir Bob Reid on 12 December when a number of issues, including channel tunnel services running north of London, were discussed.

  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the environmental aspects of the proposed high-speed rail link.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail intends to publish a full environmental statement for its final preferred route, taking into account the representations received in the course of public consultations.

  Transport Policy
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what role he envisages for the railway within transport policy.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail's network is an important part of the transport system in this country. It will benefit from our policy of aiming to improve all forms of transport. Railways can make their contribution to a safer, more efficient and less environmentally damaging transport system. They will do this by providing a service that people choose to use on the grounds of convenience and cost.

  Midland Main Line
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last discussed the midland main line with the chairman of British Rail; whether he discussed possible improvements to the Leicester to St. Pancras section; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I welcome the improved service which British Rail now offers on the midland main line, and I am keeping in touch with British Rail about plans for possible further improvements.

  Road Safety
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the Government intend to take additional measures to improve existing road and rail access to the channel tunnel from Wales and the west of England.

  Mr. Freeman
  The national roads programme includes major schemes to improve access from Wales and the west of England to the tunnel and channel ports. British Rail has announced investment of over £1·4 billion in tunnel-related improvements for freight and passenger services.

  London Underground
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of London Underground track are currently in use for passenger services north of the River Thames, and how many are in use south of the River Thames.

  Mr. Freeman
  London Underground has 438 miles of track north of the Thames and 33 miles south of the Thames that are currently in use for passenger services.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether London Underground has sought any additional funding to cover the projected shortfall of £52 million in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  London Transport has requested additional funding this year. We are considering its request.

  Public Transport (Hackney)
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to visit Hackney to discuss public transport.

  Mr. Freeman
  I discussed public transport matters with representatives of the London borough of Hackney when I visited Tower Hamlets on 27 September. I have no plans to visit Hackney at present; if the hon. Member has a specific concern, perhaps she could write to me.

  London Regional Transport
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the chairman of London Regional Transport to discuss performance targets.

  Mr. Freeman
  I meet the chairman of London Transport regularly to discuss a variety of issues, including performance targets.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in his consideration of the appointment of a chairman of London Regional Transport, he takes into account his ability to be financially competent and to manage senior staff to ensure their financial competence.

  Mr. Freeman
  Yes; my right hon. and learned Friend would take account of these and many other relevant factors.

  Bathgate Station
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his predecessor's official visit to Bathgate railway station in November.
  398
  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. Friend was impressed by the success of the Edinburgh-Bathgate line since its re-opening to passenger services.

  Dial-a-Ride
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he intends to respond to representations about the reorganisation of Dial-a-Ride in London.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am still considering representations received from my hon. Friend and others. I expect to give my hon. Friend a written answer shortly.

  Rail Services (South-East)
  Mr. Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss extending the passenger service to towns in the south-east that are not yet linked into Network SouthEast; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is a matter for British Rail to come forward with proposals for opening lines where there is a commercial case. I understand that Network SouthEast is currently consulting interested parties about various proposals for public transport in the Luton-Dunstable corridor.

  Transport Supplementary Grant
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the criteria for payment of transport supplementary grant for road development.

  Mr. Chope
  The criteria for payment of transport supplementary grant to local highway authorities in support of their capital expenditure on highways and the regulation of traffic are set out in a local authority circular No. 1/90, a copy of which is in the Library. TSG in 1991–92 will be 17 per cent. higher than in 1990–91, and in addition £45 million TSG will be made available for work on bridges making a total of £318 million.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the transport supplementary grant settlement for Essex in the last two years.

  Mr. Chope
  Essex received £5·1 million net transport supplementary grant in 1989–90 and £6·7 million in 1990–91. In 1991–92 it will receive £6·4 million.

  Parking (London)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has had any recent discussions on the problems of parking in London.

  Mr. Chope
  Yes.

  Airline Security
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent steps have been taken by his Department to tighten airline security in respect of the continuing dangers posed to British interests by the crisis in the middle east.

  Mr. Rifkind
  All practical and possible steps are being taken through British airlines and the Governments of
  399
  countries to which they fly, to tighten aviation security. We and other Governments have developed contingency plans for further measures in the event of hostilities. Aviation security is at an unprecedentedly high level. It would not be in the public interest to reveal details.

  Vehicle Exhaust Pollution
  Mr. Alex Cathie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any proposals to reduce the level of vehicle exhaust pollution in London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Our proposals to reduce vehicle exhaust pollution are not specific to London. We have participated actively in discussions within the EC about controls on vehicle emissions. I am pleased to say that following a decision in the EC Environment Council on 20 December 1990, strict new emission standards will apply to all new petrol driven cars from 31 December 1992 and as a result such cars will have to be fitted with catalytic convertors. We are now pressing for strict standards for gaseous and particulate emissions from goods vehicles and buses. In 1991, for the first time, we also propose to include an emissions check in the annual MOT test. Duty differentials in favour of unleaded petrol are encouraging its widespread use and it now accounts for almost 40 per cent. of all petrol sold in this country.

  British Rail
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy in respect of the requirement for British Rail to publish an annual corporate plan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  There is no requirement for British Rail to publish an annual corporate plan. I understand that the chairman of British Rail aims to publish a longer term strategy document for the railway later this year.

  Railway Accidents
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he published the report into the railway accident at Walton on the Naze in 1987; whether the contents of that report have been taken into account in respect of any later incidents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The railway inspectorate has not yet completed its report on the Walton on the Naze accident, partly because the inspecting officer was involved as an assessor to Sir Anthony Hidden's investigation into the Clapham junction accident, but it has already ensured that the lessons learned have been put into practice. The report will be published at the earliest opportunity.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what requirements are made by his railway inspectorate concerning provision of hydraulic buffer stops or sand drags at frequently used terminal platforms.

  Mr. Freeman
  Her Majesty's railway inspectorate, which is now part of the Health and Safety Executive, has no requirement for railway operators to provide particular types of buffer stops at terminal stations. Buffer stops are generally designed to minimise injury to train passengers and damage to railway vehicles where impact is slight. If 400
  impact is made with greater force, the buffer stop should prevent a train overrunning onto the station concourse. I am advised that it would not be practicable to specify the impact loading that individual sets of buffer stops should withstand since most stations are used by a variety of rolling stock with different characteristics.

  EC Regulations
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons Her Majesty's Government agreed at the European Council on 15 December 1990, that the Commission proposals on excise duties on fuel, taxes, tolls, etc., should be resolved by the Council on 30 June 1991; and if he will make a statement summarising the proposals submitted by the Commission on these matters.

  Mr. Chope
  These issues have been identified as among those to be addressed before completion of the internal market in 1992. The Commission proposals for the charging of transport infrastructure costs to heavy vehicles will be the subject of an explanatory memorandum to be laid before the House in the usual way.

  Drivers (Health)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what medical advice is available to him on the health of drivers and motorcycle riders and on those in charge of the various forms of public transport for which he is responsible.

  Mr. Chope
  [pursuant to his reply, 17 December 1990 c. 125]: The health of railway employees is a matter for individual railway operators.

  The statutory responsibility for the safety regulations of United Kingdom civil aviation rests with the Civil Aviation Authority. This includes the medical standards for the issue of appropriate flight crew and air traffic controller licences.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Occupational Health Services
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements exist for the provision of an occupational health service for employees within his Department, stating(a) how many staff are employed to provide occupational health services, (b) how many of those staff are qualified nurses and (c) how many employees work in his Department in total.

  Mr. Hanley
  For its home civil servants, the Northern Ireland Office has access to the services of the Civil Service occupational health service which employs some 100 fully qualified occupational health professionals and operates via a network of regional offices throughout the United Kingdom.

  An occupational health service was established within the Northern Ireland Civil Service in 1988. Its primary responsibility is the occupational health care of all civil servants. At present there are three doctor posts, one nurse post and four administrative posts providing the occupational health services.

  There are just under 28,600 employees in the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments combined.

  Rural Development
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why he has decided not to publish the report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Rural Development which will soon be completed.

  Mr. Hanley
  The report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Rural Development will provide advice to Ministers on ways in which the delivery of the Government's social and economic policies in the most deprived rural areas of Northern Ireland might be improved. It would not be appropriate to publish internal advice of this nature.

  However, I acknowledge the continuing interest of the hon. Gentleman and others in the work of the Committee and on receipt of its report I will be considering whether and in what form more detailed information about its work and conclusions might be released.

  Moyle Hospital
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the length of waiting lists for patients seeking admission to Moyle hospital, Larne; and what is the average figure for similar hospital provision within Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number on Waiting List at 30 September 1990

  Specialty

  Moyle

  Average of similar Hospital Provision

  General Surgery

  148

  138

  Ear, Nose and Throat

  142

  1

  Gynaecology

  36

  120

  1 Specialty not provided.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his Department's assessment of the cost-effectiveness of basic acute specialty provision for patients admitted to Moyle hospital, Larne.

  Mr. Hanley
  No such assessment has been made by the Department of Health and Social Services since this is a matter for the Northern health and social services board.

  Acute Hospital Beds
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many acute hospital beds pro rata to its population each health board in Northern Ireland provides; and whether he will take steps to remove any inequality of provision.

  Mr. Hanley
  The figures requested are as follows:

  HSS Board

  Available Acute Beds per 1,000 population (1989–90)

  Eastern

  5·1

  Northern

  2·5

  Southern

  2·8

  Western

  2·7

  The high level of provision in the Eastern board area reflects the inclusion of beds for regional medical services there. All hospitals often provide care to patients outside own board areas.

  Health Policies (East Antrim)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he will take to ensure that the Northern health and social services board implements the policies of Her Majesty's Government for the 1990s at Moyle hospital, Larne, and for the east Antrim area.

  Mr. Hanley
  Under the Government's proposals set out in "Working for Patients" responsibility for the provision of services to the population of Larne, and the East Antrim area falls to the Northern health and social services board. Implementation of the Government's policies by the Northern board will continue to be monitored through the annual accountability review process.

  Housing Executive (Garages)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the garages owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive at the rear of Wellington avenue, Larne, have tenants; and what assessment has been made of the effect the present rent level charged by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for garages on incentives to car-owning tenants of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive properties to use garage space available.

  Mr. Needham
  The chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has advised me that there are 19 garages owned by the Executive at the rear of Wellington avenue, Larne, seven of which are rented. The Executive has given consideration to the rent levels for garages and is satisfied that they are appropriate. No incentives are offered to Housing Executive tenants in respect of the rental of available garage space.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many garages are in the ownership of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in Northern Ireland; and for how many garages the Northern Ireland Housing Executive receives rental payments.

  Mr. Needham
  The chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has advised me that the Executive owns 11,283 garages and rental payments are received for 7,185 of these garages.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many garages have been demolished by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Needham
  The chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has advised me that the number of garages demolished in each of the last three years is as follows:

  Number

  1987–88

  118

  1988–89

  77

  1989–90

  135

  Primary School Pupils
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of primary school pupils in each education and library board area over the last ten years.
  403
  Dr. Mawhinney
  The numbers are as follows:

  Year

  Belfast

  Western

  North-Eastern

  South-Eastern

  Southern

  1981

  31,708

  36,113

  44,336

  35,559

  41,862

  1982

  30,491

  35,609

  42,645

  34,882

  41,111

  1983

  29,200

  35,165

  41,389

  34,010

  40,481

  1984

  28,825

  35,015

  40,725

  34,183

  40,310

  1985

  28,461

  35,194

  40,085

  34,509

  40,425

  1986

  28,509

  35,254

  39,788

  34,672

  40,519

  1987

  28,690

  35,512

  39,517

  34,954

  40,844

  1988

  29,158

  35,541

  39,390

  34,935

  41,098

  1989

  29,411

  35,979

  39,491

  35,290

  41,562

  1990

  29,988

  36,212

  39,687

  35,516

  41,877

  School Inspectors
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many school inspectors have been employed by the Department of Education in each of the last five years; and what has been the cost of employing each of these inspectors in each of the last five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Number of inspectors

  Total cost £

  1986–87

  53

  2,004,822

  1987–88

  57

  2,448,024

  1988–89

  57

  2,432,807

  Education and Library Boards' Administration Expenditure

  Year

  Belfast £000s

  North-Eastern £000s

  South-Eastern £000s

  Southern £000s

  Western £000s

  Total £000s

  1985–86

  4,328

  3,796

  3,580

  3,574

  3,427

  18,705

  1986–87

  4,609

  4,207

  3,928

  3,968

  3,709

  10,421

  1987–88

  4,994

  4,606

  4,360

  4,509

  4,118

  22,587

  1988–89

  5,237

  5,294

  4,839

  5,460

  4,735

  25,565

  1989–90

  5,898

  6,056

  5,651

  6,250

  5,445

  29,300

  Tobacco Industry
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of employed persons in the tobacco industry in the Province (i) at the latest date and (ii) five years ago.

  Mr. Needham
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

  Housing
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of housing executive properties (a) demolished and (b) replaced in each of the polling wards in Belfast for each year including and since 1979.
  Mr. Needham
  This is a matter for the chairman of the Housing Executive who has informed me that the information is not available in the form requested and could only be compiled at disproportionate cost.

  Pupil Costs
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the unit cost per pupil for each secondary school in each education and library board area.
  404

  Year

  Number of inspectors

  Total cost £

  1989–90

  57

  2,646,122

  1990–91

  60

  12,987,429

  1 Estimated

  Education and Library Boards (Administration)
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on administration by each of the five education and library boards in each of the last five years.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Red Foxes
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the Royal Ulster Constabulary require those engaged in the shooting of red foxes for control purposes to do so with .22 rimfire rifles.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The chief constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has informed me that he does not require the use of .22 rimfire rifles for the shooting of red foxes.

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he intends to offer financial compensation to sheep farmers and game preservers for depredations by red foxes.

  Mr. Hanley
  There are no grounds for claiming compensation for loses due to a natural predator such as a fox.

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who is responsible for firearms policy in Northern Ireland in relation to rimfire and centrefire rifles suitable for vermin destruction; and what is that policy in relation to requests for .22 centrefire rifles for fox control.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Responsibility for firearms licensing policy rests with the chief constable of the Royal Ulster
  405
  Constabulary but, as appeals under the firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 are to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, the chief constable consults him from time to time on aspects of firearms policy.

  As part of that policy, the chief constable would not normally authorise the use of .22 centrefire rifles for fox control.

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland upon what expert evidence and research his policy in respect of the firearms to be used for controlling red foxes is based; and what representations he has had on this subject.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The policy on firearms for controlling red foxes has developed over many years. From time to time expert advice has been sought from the Northern Ireland Departments of Agriculture and Environment as well as from the chief constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Most recently representations have been received from the British Association for Shooting and Conservation and the Joint Shooting Committee of Northern Ireland.

  Fishing Quotas
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he will take to protect the fishing industry in Northern Ireland in connection with proposals being considered by the European Community involving the imposition of quotas on cod and whiting.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Commission's proposals for 1991 total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas were considered at the Fisheries Council held on 19 and 20 December. Ministerial colleagues from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Scottish Office represented the United Kingdom at Council and were fully briefed, by a senior Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland official who accompanied them, on the importance of Irish sea cod and whiting (and other important stocks) to the Northern Ireland fishing industry. At Council they were successful in achieving increases in the Commission's original proposals from 6,000 tonnes to 10,000 tonnes in the cod TAC and from 6,400 tonnes to 10,000 tonnes in the whiting TAC which gave the United Kingdom 1991 quotas of 3,355 tonnes for cod and 3,865 tonnes for whiting. In addition quota swaps of 410 tonnes of cod and 320 tonnes of whiting from other member states have been agreed. This outcome represents a reasonable balance between the more immediate requirements of fishermen and the need to conserve stocks in the longer term interests of the industry.

  School Traffic Patrols
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the vacancies for school traffic patrols in Northern Ireland, by education board.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 20 December 1991]: The numbers of vacancies at 1 December 1990 for school traffic patrols in Northern Ireland, by education board were as follows:

  Number

  Belfast Education and Library Board

  4

  North-Eastern Education and Library Board

  2

  South-Eastern Education and Library Board

  1

  406

  Number

  Southern Education and Library Board

  0

  Western Education and Library Board

  4

EMPLOYMENT

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether training and enterprise councils are public bodies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) are private companies operating under a performance contract with my Department. A network of 82 TECs in England and Wales is now in place, with 46 TECs already operational and the remainder in development. The full network will be operational in the summer, some two years ahead of schedule.

  EC Support Framework
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the full amount of assistance received from the Commission of the European Community for the 1990 allocation support framework for operational programmes 3 and 4.

  Mr. Forth
  The full amount of assistance approved to date by the European Commission for operational programmes under objectives 3 and 4 in 1990 is £229,229,551. Under the fund's rules, the Commission actually releases the money in the three stages.

  The first advance of £114.6 million was received last October. My Department applied for the second advance at the earliest opportunity allowed by the fund, and payment from the Commission is expected by the end of January. My Department will similarly submit the final claim as quickly as possible.

  Association of Accounting Technicians
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the work of the Association of Accounting Technicians to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Howard
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the Authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 28 January 1991 to 1 February 1991.

  European Social Charter
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for what reasons Her Majesty's Government agreed at the European Council on 15 December 1990, to press ahead more actively with the action programme for the implementation of the social charter; and if he will make a statement summerising the proposals of this action programme.

  Mr. Forth
  The conclusions of the European Council on 15 December 1990 on the social action programme apply in particular to health and safety. The Council took the
  407
  view that proposals on health and safety at work should be adopted without delay. The Government fully support this view. We have always made clear that we were prepared to accept the health and safety aspects of the social action programme.

  As to the other proposals in the social action programme, the European Council asked that in speeding up proceedings, the Community should start with the matters on which rapid progress was possible. The Council set out quite clearly that they should meet the three criteria of creating and developing employment, respect for the principle of subsidiarity and respect for the diversity of tradition and custom across the Community.

  The United Kingdom has consistently advocated these principles during negotiations on the social action programme and will support proposals which satisfy these criteria.

  The European Commission's social action programme covers a wide range of proposals in the labour and social field. The proposals were summarised in the explanatory memoranda submitted by the Department of Employment on 6 January 1990 and 15 March 1990 (numbers 9978–89 and 9778–89).

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

  Mr. Jackson
  Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service Executive Agency are the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.

HEALTH

  Abortion
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the percentage for the latest year available for the number of certificates concerning abortions lodged late with his Department in breach of the regulations governing the Abortion Act 1967; and if he will give the percentage of these cases in which his Department: took action, broken down by the form of action taken.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In 1989, 54 per cent. of the notification forms (HSA4) sent to the chief medical officer for abortions performed in England and Wales were received more than seven days after the date of termination. The great majority of notifications are received within 28 days. Follow up action was taken by letter in respect of 150 notifications (0.15 per cent.) where no reasonable explanation for the delay was received. We shall continue to remind doctors about the time limit and the penalty for failure to comply with it.

  Marriage Guidance
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy on the employment of counsellors in group general practices to deal with marriage guidance.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Employment of such staff by practices is a matter for GPs themselves to decide in the light of the needs of their patients and of the circumstances of their practices.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give a list of regional health authorities showing how many patients in each had been waiting(a) for one year and (b) for two years for operations.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested is given in the table. For England as a whole the number of in-patients waiting over a year for operations has fallen by 17,086 (9 per cent.) and for those waiting over two years by 10,737 (14 per cent.) in the 12 months to March 1990. Since March 1979 the number of patients treated has increased by 24·9 per cent.

  Waiting list for in-patient surgical acute treatment at 31 March 1990—England

  RHA

  Total1

  Over 1 year

  Over 2 year

  Northern

  31,912

  6,931

  2,536

  Yorkshire

  41,898

  7,827

  2,667

  Trent

  50,216

  10,440

  3,386

  East Anglian

  29,967

  7,587

  2,960

  North West Thames

  40,701

  11,876

  5,339

  North East Thames

  60,146

  21,146

  10,404

  South East Thames

  53,551

  17,196

  8,320

  South West Thames

  34,827

  11,610

  4,244

  Wessex

  37,645

  9,450

  3,591

  Oxford

  29,325

  8,457

  3,107

  South Western

  43,666

  11,838

  4,398

  West Midlands

  61,883

  16,264

  6,507

  Mersey

  22,605

  2,329

  16

  North Western

  57,321

  19,718

  5,485

  Special HAs

  7,389

  1,891

  590

  England (total)

  603,052

  164,560

  63,550

  Source: KHO6, KHO7, KHO7A.

  1 Figures relate to those waiting less self-deferred cases.

  Hearing Aids
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the waiting times for hearing aids in the Trent regional health authority; and what steps are being taken to substantially reduce the waiting time for those seeking hearing aids.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information about waiting times is not held centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to write to Sir Michael Carlisle, the chairman of Trent regional health authority for this information. My hon. Friend will welcome the Department's commitment to fund 12 pilot projects aimed at reducing waiting times for hearing aid services. Two hospitals in the Trent region are participating in this initiative. Also, Leicestershire health authority has received £50,000 from the waiting list fund in 1990–91 specifically for hearing aid services. This is expected to treat an additional 1,000 outpatients.

  Fostering
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will order an inquiry into the circumstances of a coloured child removed from white foster parents by Lancashire county council; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will review the guidelines for transracial adoptions, so as to avoid the removal of children from foster parents of different racial origin to their children; and if he will make a statement.
  409
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  All directors of social services in England on 29 January 1990 received guidance on the issues of race and culture in the placement of children for fostering and adoption. It makes clear that usually placements with a family of similar ethnic origin and religion will be most likely to meet a child's needs and safeguard his or her welfare. In some cases, however, placement with a family of a different ethnic origin may be the best choice for a particular child. All factors relevant to a child's welfare should be considered when decisions are made. Copies of the guidance (CI(90)2), which is still current, have been placed in the Library.

  The social services inspectorate has made inquiries into the case in question. It has been assured that in reaching its decision to remove the child and place him for adoption with another white family, Lancashire county council gave first consideration to the child's welfare. The ethnic origins of the child were considered but were not the principal reason for the removal.

  Benzodiazepines
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are estimated to be taking benzodiazepines on a long-term basis.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There are no such estimates held centrally.

  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he has carried out any research into the efficiency and comparative cost of Temazepam Planpak, in aiding the withdrawal of patients from benzodiazepines;

  (2) what withdrawal strategies are referred to by the Advisory Committee on National Health Service Drugs in its reference to all clinical needs in respect of withdrawal from benzodiazepines being able to be met equally effectively and at less cost by standard products in the contect of less rigid, individually structured withdrawal programmes.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department has not funded research into the use of Temazepam Planpak, but is aware that some research has been carried out. Guidance on benzodiazepine withdrawal strategies is provided in part 4·1 of the British National Formulary. A suggested protocol for patients unable to reduce dosage using their existing drug is to transfer to diazepam, and then to reduce dosage gradually. Diazepam is available in low-dosage tablets, and allows withdrawal to be tailored flexibly to the needs of individual patients. It is also significantly less expensive than Temazepam Planpak.

  Temazepam
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the general availability of a gel-filled form of tablets and on their producers.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to temazepam gel-filled capsules, which are marketed by several different pharmaceutical companies. Temazepam is also available in tablet form. As medicines, all marketed forms of temazepam require licences under the Medicines Act 1968. Manufacturers of temazepam capsules and tablets have provided sufficient information to the Medicines Control Agency to satisfy the provisions of the Act.
  410
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what were the reasons behind the Advisory Committee on National Health Service Drugs refusal to allow any increase in price to recover the costs incurred in the development of Temazepam gel-filled capsules for the prevention of drug abuse; and why they have proposed that the benefit of brand-name prescribing should not be available to their originator;

  (2) what is his policy on financial recognition of the cost of research and development by the pharmaceutical industry of products in categories covered by the limited list.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  One of the principles underlying the operation of the selected list scheme since its introduction in 1985 has been that, in order to achieve maximum economy, the drugs retained for NHS prescription should where possible be specified and prescribed by a non-proprietary name. The recent recommendation of the Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs that temazepam capsules should not be prescribable by the relatively new proprietary name Gelthix, but only by the non-proprietary name, is in accordance with this principle.

  Interleukin II
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether all patients receiving chemotherapy cancer treatment at a self-governing trust hospital or a directly managed hospital, will have the drug Interleukin II available to them it if is prescribed by the senior medical doctor in charge of their treatment.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Interleukin II is not licensed under the Medicines Act for general use in this country but, at a doctor's discretion may be recommended on a specific named patient basis or for a patient as part of a clinical trial.

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent his Department collects and collates statistics from local authority social services departments covering child abuse cases referred to them, including such detail as mode of referral and nature of abuse; whether he has plans to institute the compilation and production of such statistics; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information collected centrally about child abuse relates to the number of children and young persons on child protection registers and the number of names added to and removed from the registers. The most recent information relates to the year ending 31 March 1990. This is published in the provisional feedback "Children and Young Persons on Child Protection Registers England 1990" and is available in the Library.

  Information is not collected centrally about the number of child abuse case referrals and there are no plans to institute collection of such statistics.

  Breast Cancer
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will break down the total numbers of deaths caused by breast cancer in England and Wales for each
  411
  year since 1979 into ages 16 to 24 years, 25 to 34 years, 35 to 44 years, 45 to 54 years, 55 to 64 years, and 65 years and over.

  Year and Sex

  All ages

  15–24

  25–34

  35–44

  45–54

  55–64

  65+

  1979

  Males1

  83

  —

  1

  4

  12

  20

  46

  Females1

  12,091

  2

  161

  653

  1,812

  2,799

  6,664

  1980

  Males

  78

  —

  —

  —

  6

  19

  53

  Females

  12,167

  2

  136

  679

  1,873

  2,802

  6,675

  1981

  Males

  84

  —

  —

  3

  8

  10

  63

  Females

  12,513

  3

  158

  679

  1,863

  2,886

  6,924

  1982

  Males

  87

  —

  —

  1

  7

  20

  59

  Females

  12,405

  6

  142

  694

  1,841

  2,862

  6,860

  1983

  Males

  87

  —

  1

  1

  4

  19

  62

  Females

  12,672

  3

  127

  688

  1,783

  2,948

  7,123

  1984

  Males

  99

  —

  —

  5

  7

  21

  66

  Females

  13,310

  6

  143

  708

  1,779

  3,010

  7,664

  1985

  Males

  79

  —

  —

  1

  7

  10

  61

  Females

  13,513

  5

  126

  722

  1,669

  3,073

  7,918

  1986

  Males

  105

  1

  —

  4

  4

  28

  68

  Females

  13,641

  6

  136

  742

  1,792

  2,866

  8,099

  1987

  Males

  89

  —

  —

  5

  2

  15

  67

  Females

  13,751

  3

  148

  715

  1,724

  2,838

  8,323

  1988

  Males

  73

  —

  —

  1

  3

  13

  56

  Females

  13,723

  5

  141

  816

  1,684

  2,726

  8,351

  1989

  Males

  76

  —

  —

  —

  10

  10

  56

  Females

  14,008

  5

  137

  817

  1,742

  2,690

  8,617

  1 International Classification of Disease Code 9th revision.

  174 malignant neoplasm of female breast.

  175 malignant neoplasm of male breast.

  Hospitals
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines he has issued to general practitioners about the degree of freedom they have to refer patients to whichever hospital they, or their patient, choose, whether the hospital is directly managed or a national health service trust.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  GPs will have the same freedom as now to refer patients to the hospital of their choice for the appropriate treatment. A key advantage of the NHS reforms will be improved arrangements to give practical effect to this freedom.

  "Contracts for Health Services: Operational Principles"—a copy of which is in the Library—provides guidance to health authorities. It emphasises the need to consult GPs on their preferred patterns of referral.
  412
  Mr. Dorrell
  The number of deaths from underlying cause of breast cancer by sex in each of the age groups 15–24, 25–34, 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, and 65 + in England and Wales from 1979 to 1989 is as follows:

  AIDS
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his written reply of 12 December,Official Report, columns 364–65, to the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman), when he will publish further details of the proposed settlement of the dispute between the Government and people with haemophilia who were infected with the AIDS virus by contaminated blood products supplied by the national health service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The detailed provisions of the proposed settlement are under discussion with the lawyers representing the plaintiffs. It would be inappropriate to publish further details until all plaintiffs and the court have had an opportunity to consider the full terms of the settlement and to approve them.

  Neurosciences
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what he knew to be the cost of moving neurosciences from Shooters hill to Denmark hill when he announced approval for the proposal in 1989.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave him on 27 November 1990 at c.363.

  Chiropractic
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to the experience of Denmark in the provision of chiropractic within its national health service; and if he will make it his policy to include this discipline in the national health service.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We are aware that in Denmark chiropractic is available under the state health scheme. However, all medical treatment under the NHS must, by law, be given or presented by a registered medical practitioner or by certain state registered professions who practice in their own right. There are no plans to change that long established principle.

  NHS Staff (Conscription)
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has as to the number of NHS staff, broken down into doctors, nurses, ancillary staff, etc., who would be liable were the call-up of reserve forces to become compulsory; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mylograms
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate, region by region, the number of patients who were given a mylogram procedure with the use of myodil contrast medium, and who have subsequently requested from their district health authority full details and confirmation that the myodil contrast medium was administered; how many of the total number of those requesting information and confirmation have been provided with the information as requested; and how many requests are outstanding.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to advise district health authorities that they should allow no more than three months when dealing with individual requests from patients seeking confirmation that they were subjected to a myodil contrast medium.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We have not issued any guidelines as to the timescale within which health authorities should process requests for access to personal medical records. We have, however, encouraged them to deal with such requests as quickly as possible.

  Management Consultants
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for each district health authority, Scottish health authority, regional health authority and England as a whole the amount spent on management consultants' fees during each of the last three years.
  414
  Mr. Dorrell
  The employment of management consultants is a matter for individual health authorities in England and information on any expenditure incurred is not collected centrally.

  Questions concerning Scottish health authorities are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Soviet Union
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any proposals to assist the USSR to overcome the current shortage of anti-cancer drugs.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The United Kingdom has not received any specific requests for unilateral aid from the USSR, but is participating in the programme of European Community humanitarian aid to the USSR agreed at the European Council in December 1990. This aid will include medical supplies and some 250 tonnes have been despatched. We do not have details of the contents of these consignments.

  Food Safety
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when part 11 of the report of the Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food will be published.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Sir Mark Richmond submitted part II of his Committee's report to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Health, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. It is being published today.

  In this, the final part, the Committee has examined arrangements in Scotland and Northern Ireland for red meat production, milk and milk products, fish and shellfish, transport, retailing and wholesaling, catering, the consumer and the home, education and training, and research. Part II together with part I, surveys authoritatively a wide range of microbiological safety issues and recommends technical, scientific, legal and educational measures to reduce the risk of microbiological food poisoning. In this context my colleagues and I welcome the report as a useful and constructive document. It makes many useful recommendations which we shall follow up in a positive way; and as with part I of the Committee's report, we trust that others to whom the recommendations are addressed, in particular the food industry and environmental health authorities, will similarly examine it to see how the level of food safety in this country can be further improved. We shall certainly draw it to the attention of interested bodies.

  As with part I of the Committee's report, the Government have decided to publish its immediate response to the Committee's recommendations. This is set out in a paper which is being put into the Libraries.

  The Government and I are most grateful to the Committee for the hard work it has put into producing both parts of the report.

  The report is addressed to the Secretary of State for Health, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Secretary of State for Wales and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Nurses
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the average number of nurses employed by Norwich health authority who attended training courses in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available;

  (2) what was the average number of (a) holidays and (b) sickness days taken by nurses employed by Norwich health authority, in each of the years 1961, 1971, 1981 and 1989.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to contact Mr. Michael Falcon the chairman of Norwich health authority for details.

  Adoption
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will announce the date when he will issue the discussion paper on the review of inter-country adoption law; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We intend to issue the discussion paper on inter-country adoption, which will be a paper in the Adoption Law Review series, by Easter.

  Junior Doctors
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what he expects the effect on the recently negotiated reduction in junior doctors' hours of the call-up for Gulf or other military service of reserve medical personnel to be; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The agreement on junior doctors' hours sets out a programme of action to be implemented over the next year and beyond. It is not therefore anticipated that the call-up for military service of reserve medical personnel will have a measurable effect on this programme.

  Disabled People
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria, relating to people with disabilities, will be used in the formula for calculating payments made to social service authorities for services under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 20 December 1990]: A major element of Government grants to local authorities is the revenue support grant, which is distributed using standard spending assessments (SSAs). These take account of each authority's social, demographic and economic characteristics, and the functions for which it is responsible. However, revenue support grant is unhypothecated and it is for local authorities to determine their own priori ties.

  Separate components are included in the personal social services SSA for services to people over 65 years old, to children, and to clients aged under 65 including mentally ill, mentally handicapped and physically handicapped people. Details of the criteria involved are given in "Standard Spending Assessments, Background and Underlying Methodology" published by the Department of the Environment in 1990 and available in
  416
  the Library. When data from the 1991 census become available the use of a new indicator relating to long standing illness or disabilities will be considered.

  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which National Health Service trusts he intends to establish; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [pursuant to his reply, 4 December 1990, c. 77–82]: I am pleased to announce that I have agreed that a further 12 units who have expressed interest in trust status can proceed to work up applications to become trusts on 1 April 1992. This brings the total number of units working on second wave trust status to 123. The 12 units are:

  Kendal Hospitals Unit

  Eastbourne Acute Services

  Parkside Community Services

  Staffordshire Ambulance Services

  Waltham Forest Health Services

  Frenchay Acute and Community Services

  Southmead Acute and Community Services

  Royal United Hospital Bath

  East Berkshire Mental Handicap UE0

  Dudley Priority Unit

  Liverpool Community, Mental Illness and Mental Handicap Services

  Mersey Metropolitan Ambulance Service

  Acute Beds
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all those National Health Service general hospitals by district and region which have less than 400 acute beds, giving the actual number of beds in each case.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 4 December 1990]: I am arranging for the table containing available information to be placed in the Library. It is not possible from central returns to identify district general hospitals separately. The tables provided list hospitals with over 50 and less than 400 beds excluding those hospitals where more than 50 per cent. of the total beds are maternity beds or beds in units of the young disabled.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all the National Health Service hospitals, by region and district, which provide accident and emergency services, together with, in each case(a) the number of acute beds in the hospital, (b) the total number of beds in the hospital and (c) a list of those services normally found in a district general hospital which are not available in that particular hospital.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 4 December 1990]: I am arranging for the table containing available information to be placed in the Library. The accident and emergency facilities concerned will range from simple first aid stations to departments providing the full range of accident and emergency services. No central record is held of the services available in each hospital.

SCOTLAND

  Community Care
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department will meet the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations to discuss availability of funding for voluntary organisations involved in community care and other matters; and if he will make a statement.
  417
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Officials met representatives of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations on 15 November 1990 to discuss the role of the voluntary sector in the provision of community care services and a further meeting will be held in January 1991. Officials are always happy to meet the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations on matters of concern to voluntary organisations. As far as funding is concerned, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 15 October 1990.

  Pensioners' Electricity Charges
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Scottish Old Age Pensioners' Association for the abolition of electricity standing charges for pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Representations are received annually from the Scottish Old Age Pensioners Association on a range of topics, including the abolition of 418
  electricity standing charges. Electricity prices are determined by the public electricity suppliers, subject to the conditions on price control set out in the licences issued to them under the Electricity Act 1989. Compliance by the public electricity suppliers with those conditions and all other conditions of their licences is overseen by the Director General of Electricity Supply.

  Health Board Chairmen
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the chairmen of each health board in Scotland including their political affiliations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 26 January 1989 to the hon. Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Galbraith) at columns 718–19, which contains as much information as is held centrally about the political affiliations of health board chairmen.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those European countries which have a lower rate of inflation than Scotland; and if he will give details of the interest rates in each of the countries listed.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  There is no official retail prices index (RPI) for Scotland. The table lists those European Community member states which in November 1990 had a lower inflation rate than the United Kingdom's 9·7 per cent. together with their respective average November 1990 short-term interest rates.

  EC member state

  Inflation1

  Interest rates2

  Denmark

  2·2

  n/a

  Ireland

  2·7

  n/a

  Netherlands

  2·8

  8·7

  West Germany

  3·0

  8·8

  France

  3·6

  10·0

  Belgium

  4·0

  9·0

  Luxembourg

  4·5

  n/a

  Italy

  6·5

  12·6

  Spain

  6·7

  14·1

  1 Percentage change on a year earlier.

  2 Nominal three-month inter-bank rates.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what funding he proposes to give the M E Association and the M E Action Campaign organisations, to assist them in assisting Scottish sufferers of this illness.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The M E Association is receiving grant assistance of £14,668 towards its core headquarters running costs in the current year. Its application for funding in the financial year 1991–92 is still under consideration. I have received no application for funding from the M E Action Campaign organisations.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet with representatives of the M E Association and the M E Action Campaign to discuss how best to assist sufferers in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My officials are in contact with the M E Association as part of the arrangements for monitoring grant aid awarded under section 10(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.

  Fishing
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sanction he expects to enforce against those Scottish fishermen who exceeded their quota in any species during 1990.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As part of the normal arrangements for distributing internally the United Kingdom's quotas it has been agreed with the United Kingdom industry that those groups disadvantaged as a result of any other group exceeding its quota in one year will be compensated in the subsequent year with correspondingly increased quotas. These arrangements will apply to all groups which are disadvantaged irrespective of where they are based in the United Kingdom. If an individual fisherman exceeds his monthly quota then, in cases where the quota in question is 420
  managed by Fisheries Departments, a report would be made to the procurator fiscal with a view to prosecution in the courts; if the quota is managed by a producer organisation, the fisherman is subject to the discipline procedures of the organisation.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions he has exercised his powers under section 1(8) of the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976; and how, following the making of a protection order, he monitors its operation to ensure the improvement of, or the giving or availability of access of, fishings under a protection order in comparison with the proposals submitted to him in terms of section 1(3)(a) of the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My right hon. Friend has no powers under section 1(8) of the 1976 Act. Responsibility for all public prosecution in Scotland rests with the Lord Advocate.

  Proposers of protection orders are encouraged to set up liaison committees. Regular reports on the operation of the protection orders are sought from each liaison committee. In addition, my right hon. Friend takes into account the views of the Consultative Committee on Freshwater Fisheries and complaints or other comments by angling clubs, associations and members of the public.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his policy of monitoring fish landings at Scottish ports and inquiring into allegations of misreporting concerning Scottish fishing vessels during 1990.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Landings at each of 20 major fishing ports in Scotland are monitored daily by staff of the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department. Landings at other ports are monitored periodically. Confirmation of reported areas of fishing activity is sought by comparing log book entries with surveillance data provided by fishery protection vessels and aircraft. All suspected cases of misreporting are investigated thoroughly and where sufficient evidence is available, cases are submitted to the prosecuting authorities.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each year since inception all those protection orders made under the provisions of the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976; and the body which the Secretary of State has consulted under section 1(3)(b) of the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976 in the case of each such protection order made.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:1976–79: None.
  1980: The Rivers Tweed and Eye Protection Order 1980 (renewed in 1983, 1986 and 1988).
  1981: None.
  1982: The Upper Spey and Associated Waters Protection Order 1982 (renewed in 1985 and 1988).
  1983: The River Tummel Catchment Area Protection Order 1983 (renewed in 1986 and 1988).
  The River Lunan Catchment Area Protection Order 1983 (renewed in 1986 and 1988).
  1984 and 1985: None.
  1986: The River Tay Catchment Area Protection Order 1986 (renewed in 1990).

  421
  1988: The West Strathclyde Protection Order 1988.
  1989: None.
  1990: The River Earn Catchment Area Protection Order 1990.
  The River Don Catchment Area (Part) Protection Order 1990.

  My right hon. Friend has appointed a Consultative Committee on Freshwater Fisheries which is consulted under section 1(3)(b) of the 1976 Act on proposals for, and other matters relating to, protection orders.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will review the question of access to salmon fishings in Scotland; and whether he will include a comparative study of access to fishing in Scotland with other countries such as the Republic of Ireland and France with respect to European Community law.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government have no plans to review the question of access to salmon fishings in Scotland.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all those protection orders which have been varied or revoked by the Secretary of State under section 1(10) of the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  None.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will identify the destination of all payments made by the Secretary of State under section 5 of the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No such payments have been made.

  Fishing (Protection Orders)
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all those proposals for a protection order under the provisions of the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976 presently under consideration by the Secretary of State.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Two proposals are presently under consideration, one for Loch Awe, Loch Avich and the River Avich and the other for Loch Morar and the River Morar.

  Net Capital Expenditure in Scotland (£ million)

  Year

  Chemicals

  Man-made Fibres

  Textiles

  Leather

  Footwear and Clothing

  Motor Vehicles

  1979

  n.a.

  n.a.

  21·7

  1·0

  9·1

  17·2

  1980

  n.a.

  n.a.

  15·4

  0·9

  9·2

  16·9

  1981

  n.a.

  n.a.

  12·3

  0·6

  8·1

  7·4

  1982

  n.a.

  n.a.

  13·4

  0·3

  7·0

  10·6

  1983

  n.a.

  n.a.

  13·2

  0·6

  9·1

  6·8

  1984

  n.a.

  n.a.

  18·0

  1·0

  10·2

  3·7

  1985

  n.a.

  n.a.

  29·8

  1·2

  14·2

  14·6

  1986

  n.a.

  n.a.

  30·7

  0·8

  10·5

  9·0

  1987

  n.a.

  n.a.

  31·8

  1·3

  13·8

  2·9

  19881

  n.a.

  n.a.

  33·9

  3·2

  18·0

  8·2

  Source: Annual census of production.

  1 The definition of net capital expenditure changed between 1987 and 1988. Up to 1987, contributors were asked to include annual payments for assets acquired on a financial leasing basis. From 1988, they were asked to include the total value of such assets as capital expenditure during the year in which they were acquired. This change is estimated to have increased total net capital expenditure for the United Kingdom as a whole by up to 7 per cent.

  Figures are not available for demand or capacity.

  Acute Medical Services
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he expects to announce his decision on the Lanarkshire health board's proposals to eliminate acute medical services in Clydesdale constituency; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is the projected figure for closure of acute medical services for each year from 1991 to 1994 in each health board area in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Health boards are responsible for drawing up strategic plans for all services, including acute services. These plans may contain proposals for closures as well as for new capital investment. As strategy reviews are undertaken on a continuing basis by individual boards, it is not possible to give a full indication of new acute services developments and any consequent closures for the years 1991–1994. Lanarkshire health board is currently preparing an approval in principle submission for its acute services proposals. When this is received, I shall consider all aspects of the proposals, including the representations made by the hon. Member.

  Industrial Investment
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the percentage increase in investment each year in Scotland since 1979 in real terms in(a) chemicals, (b) man-made fibres, (c) textiles, (d) clothing, (e) footwear and (f) motor vehicle manufacturing; to what extent this has resulted in an increase in capacity; what has been the increase in the demand for such goods; and whether he will publish in each case the increase in capacity since 1979, the increase in output as a percentage of 1979 and the figures for import penetration from the EEC and the rest of the world now and in 1979.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Net capital expenditure at current prices is available from the annual census of production. The figures are set out in the table.
  423
  Output figures in real terms are published regularly in indexed form. The following table gives an index of production series for the sectors required, at published level, scaled to 1979 = 100.

  Index of industrial output in Scotland (1979 = 100)

  Chemicals and man-made fibres

  Textiles,leather, footwear and clothing

  Motor vehicles

  1979

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  1980

  91·1

  89·1

  100·9

  1981

  88·1

  83·2

  83·3

  1982

  88·9

  77·1

  81·6

  1983

  96·6

  78·0

  95·7

  1984

  97·6

  86·3

  110·9

  1985

  100·8

  95·8

  113·4

  1986

  104·8

  92·6

  125·9

  1987

  102·4

  98·2

  143·8

  1988

  103·9

  102·7

  160·7

  1989

  105·1

  99·6

  173·8

  Source: Index of industrial production and construction—Scotland.

  Figures for import penetration are unavailable.

  Health Board Managers
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the salaries paid to each of the Scottish health boards' managers; their projected salary increase for next year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The salary ranges for Scottish Health Board General Managers effective from 1 September 1990 are set out in the table. Progression up the range is dependent on individual performance. No decisions on the salary ranges from 1 September 1991 have yet been taken.

  Health board

  Range

  Argyll and Clyde

  £46,660 to £60,650

  Ayrshire and Arran

  £45,570 to £59,240

  Borders

  £42,750 to £55,570

  CSA

  £45,570 to £59,240

  Dumfries and Galloway

  £42,750 to £55,570

  Fife

  £45,570 to £59,240

  Forth Valley

  £45,570 to £59,240

  Grampian

  £47,200 to £61,360

  Greater Glasgow

  £53,710 to £69,820

  Highland

  £45,570 to £59,240

  Lanarkshire

  £46,660 to £60,650

  Lothian

  £51,270 to £66,650

  Orkney

  £33,640 to £43,730

  Shetland

  £33,640 to £43,730

  Tayside

  £47,200 to £61,360

  Western Isles

  £33,640 to £43,730

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the change in(a) the number of employees in employment and (b) the number of employees in employment in manufacturing in Scotland between June 1979 and June 1990; and what the changes are in percentage terms.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The number of employees in employment in Scotland fell by 102,000 between June 1979 and June 1990, a decrease of 5 per cent. The number of manufacturing employees in employment in Scotland fell by 180,000 between June 1979 and June 1990, a decrease 424
  of 30 per cent. Although the number of employees in employment in Scotland fell between 1979 and 1990, other components of the labour force have grown, notably self-employed which have increased by 87,000. At over 2·3 million, the civilian work force in Scotland is at its highest ever level.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the numbers of unemployed in Scotland in December 1979 and 1989.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The seasonally adjusted series of unemployment provides the only figures that are comparable over the time period requested. In December 1989, the seasonally adjusted level of unemployed claimants in Scotland was 211,200 compared with 141,500 in December 1979.

  General Practice
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give the numbers both in absolute and percentage terms of general practitioners in Greater Glasgow health board who have a negative balance in their practice profile;

  (2) if he will give the current expenditure by Greater Glasgow health board on reimbursement of general practitioners for ancillary staff and the projected expenditure following the introduction of practice profiles;

  (3) if he will give the basis on which the practice profile is calculated in determining staff reimbursement cost for general practitioners in the Greater Glasgow health board.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Greater Glasgow health board's allocation for the financial year ending 31 March 1991 in respect of general practitioners' ancillary staff is £7,073,000. The board has indicated in returns to the management executive that it has spent £3,610,180 to October, the latest month for which figures are available. The distrubution of these funds to individual practices, and the management of the ancillary staff scheme, are matters for Greater Glasgow health board, within the terms of the state of fees and allowances.

  Asthma
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations his Department has received from Action Asthma about its work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have obtained a copy of the Action Asthma press information pack which launched the national asthma survey on 3 September 1990. I shall be interested to learn of the outcome of the survey in due course.

  Cardiac Surgery
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many open heart operations have been undertaken this year in Scotland; how many people are on waiting lists waiting for open heart operations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A total of 2,969 cardiac procedures were undertaken in Scotland between 1 October 1989 and 30 September 1990. There were 1,268 people in Scotland waiting for cardiac operations at 30
  425
  September 1990. Cardiac surgery services have been systematically expanded by the Government over recent years. Since central funding began in 1983, the number of cardiac operations performed in Scotland has increased from 1,717 to 2,518 by March 1990. This year an extra £467,000 has been provided to Greater Glasgow health board under the waiting list fund initiative to enable an additional 80 procedures to be undertaken.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all categories of people who are exempt from the community charge in Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The categories of persons exempted from the personal community charge in Scotland are set out in schedule lA to the Abolition of Domestic Rates Etc. (Scotland) Act 1987, as amended.

  Migration
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the net civilian outmigration from Scotland in the 12 months ending June.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is not yet available. It is planned that it will be published, together with the registrar-general's 1990 mid-year population estimates for Scotland, at the end of April 1991.

  Hill Farmers
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hill farmers there are in Scotland on a county by county basis for the latest available date.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department does not collect information directly on the numbers of hill farmers in Scotland but does collect data on the numbers of holdings within the less favoured areas, which include the main hill areas. The holdings information, including an estimate for minor holdings, at June 1990 is as shown in the table.

  Estimated number of holdings within less favoured areas

  Region

  Estimated number

  Borders

  1,200

  Central

  1,080

  Dumfries and Galloway

  3,580

  Fife

  150

  Grampian

  5,100

  Highland

  8,670

  Lothian

  420

  Strathclyde

  6,350

  Tayside

  1,270

  Orkney

  2,170

  Shetland

  2,650

  Western Isles

  5,970

  Schools
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out the level of expenditure on books and equipment per child in Scotland in constant prices, in each year since 1978–79.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information available is given in the table, which has been compiled from local 426
  authority financial returns. Expenditure on equipment was not separately identified in these returns until 1982–83. There has been some variation from year to year in recording expenditure under the respective headings and the figures for expenditure on books may include some expenditure on equipment and vice versa.

  Expenditure per pupil on text and library books and on educational tools, equipment and materials adjusted to 1989–90 prices using the GDP deflator

  Year

  Books (£)

  Equipment (£)

  1978–79

  14·14

  n/a

  1979–80

  14·44

  n/a

  1980–81

  12·37

  n/a

  1981–82

  12·22

  n/a

  1982–83

  12·03

  24·90

  1983–84

  15·13

  21·92

  1984–85

  14·98

  24·92

  1985–86

  13·55

  23·11

  1986–87

  16·01

  24·47

  1987–88

  12·16

  29·82

  1988–89

  15·07

  30·91

  West Lothian Hospital
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects phase II of the West Lothian district general hospital to be completed; and if he will list the medical services which will be provided in it.

  Mr. Lang
  The building work of phase II of the West Lothian district general hospital will be completed by this summer and will be commissioned ready for patient use by
  April 1992.

  Present plans are to provide the following medical services:

  General surgery

  Orthopaedic surgery ENT surgery

  General medicine

  Paediatric medicine

  Gynaecology

  Obstetrics

  Special care baby unit

  Intensive therapy unit

  Coronary care unit

  Plastic surgery and burns unit

  Geriatric assessment

  Geriatric long stay

  Acute psychiatry

  Psychogeriatric

  General practitioner unit

  Young chronic sick unit

  Sandeels
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in identifying the cause of poor recruitment of sandeels in research into the Shetland sandeel population; and what evidence there is that this is due to natural factors operating in the first few months of life.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Since poor recruitment to the Shetland sandeel population first occurred during a period of high spawning stock, it cannot be attributed to low egg production and must be the result of natural factors operating in the first few months of life. A research programme has been initiated to investigate the factors affecting the mortality and dispersal of larval and 0-group sandeels and the results of the first phase are currently being analysed.
  427
  The seas around Shetland are known to comprise part of an hydrographic system which can greatly influence the larval dynamics for those fish species where adequate studies have been made—for example, herring. Studies have suggested that sandeel larval abundance in that area can be affected by changing hydrographic circumstances. In addition, studies in the north-west Atlantic suggest that where stocks of pelagic predators such as herring and mackerel were reduced then there was a congruent increase in the abundance of larval sandeels. Conversely, in the north-east Atlantic herring numbers have increased dramatically in the last decade. Herring are capable of being voracious predators of sandeel larvae and the overlapping distribution of the two stocks around Shetland may be relevant to sandeel recruitment dynamics.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how the distribution and abundance of 0-group, 1-group and breeding age sandeels in those areas of Shetland that have been studied in 1990, including Fair Isle, compare with surveys from previous years as revealed by research trawls; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Trawl survey data from fishing grounds around Shetland, including Fair Isle, can be used to give an indication of the relative abundance of 0-group, 1-group and breeding age (2+ group) sandeels. These data are summarised in the table.

  Mean numbers of sandeel caught per 30-minute survey haul from grounds off Shetland, 1984 to 1990

  Year

  Age

  0

  1

  2+

  1984

  891,898

  47,592

  48,198

  1985

  202,826

  78,055

  76,784

  1986

  683,044

  56,653

  36,878

  1987

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1988

  141,457

  1,421

  39,868

  1989

  863,181

  9,283

  11,974

  1990

  90,148

  30,118

  8,851

  1 No survey in 1987.

  Preliminary analysis of the distribution of sandeels between the fishing grounds suggests that the distribution of 0-group fish in August 1990 was similar to that in preceding years and that the distribution of 0-group fish has changed little since the start of the surveys in 1984. Similarly, the distribution of 1-group fish is comparable to that in preceding years. The analysis suggests that the distribution of breeding age (2+) fish varies from year to year with little correlation in their distribution between years.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the main predators of 0, 1 and 2 group sandeels, respectively, in Shetland water; and what evidence Her Majesty's Government have for any changes in predation levels in the last 10 years.

  Deaths from Breast Cancer 1979–89, Males (1CD 91 175) and Female (ICD 91 174)

  Age

  15–24

  25–34

  35–44

  45–54

  55–64

  65+

  Total

  1979

  Male

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  7

  7

  Female

  0

  17

  73

  217

  261

  608

  1,176

  1980

  Male

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  Female

  0

  14

  104

  195

  299

  602

  1,214

  428
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The main predators on these sandeels are seabirds, seals and fish. The limited data available on changes between years do not allow firm conclusions to be made.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest estimates for the level of recruitment for the Shetland sandeel stock for each year from 1984; what estimates were available for the same year in June 1988 and June 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Levels of recruitment to the Shetland sandeel stock since 1984, as estimated by assessments made in the years 1988–90, are as follows:

  Recruitment to Shetland sandeel stock, 1984–89 expressed as millions of 0-group on 1 July.

  Assessment

  0-group recruits in year

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1984

  29,188

  27,065

  21,212

  1985

  21,343

  29,573

  19,473

  1986

  19,451

  48,955

  24,924

  1987

  2,196

  2,258

  3,550

  1988

  20,750

  1,273

  6,440

  1989

  —

  1—

  25,327

  1990

  —

  —

  1—

  1 No estimate possible due to closure of fishery in second half of year.

  The assessments made in 1989 and 1990 used an improved method of analysis. In 1989 and possibly also in 1990, fishing was concentrated in areas where the older fish predominate, thus changing the exploitation pattern and disrupting the assessment. Also, and in recent years assessment has been inhibited by low fishing mortality in the Shetland sandeel stock.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what would be the current size of the Shetland sandeel spawning stock, according to current stock assessment models, had there been no fishing mortality since 1982.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There is a very wide number of possible models which might be used to predict spawning stock biomass in the absence of fishing mortality. A simple model which assumes recruitment in the absence of fishing is the same as that estimated to have occurred since 1982 predicts a spawning stock biomass for ages 2–5 of 23,600 tonnes in 1990.

  Breast Cancer
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will break down the total numbers of deaths caused by breast cancer for each year since 1979 into ages 16 to 25 years, 25 to 34 years, 35 to 44 years, 45 to 54 years, 55 to 64 years, and 65 years and over.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as follows:
  429

  Age

  15–24

  25–34

  35–44

  45–54

  55–64

  65+

  Total

  1981

  Male

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  6

  7

  Female

  0

  13

  63

  200

  268

  631

  1,175

  1982

  Male

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  7

  8

  Female

  0

  14

  69

  215

  294

  636

  1,228

  1983

  Male

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  8

  9

  Female

  0

  8

  81

  192

  293

  688

  1,262

  1984

  Male

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  5

  6

  Female

  0

  12

  76

  193

  301

  660

  1,242

  1985

  Male

  0

  0

  1

  0

  4

  7

  12

  Female

  1

  11

  80

  187

  267

  706

  1,252

  1986

  Male

  0

  1

  1

  1

  3

  7

  13

  Female

  1

  9

  66

  203

  292

  742

  1,313

  1987

  Male

  0

  0

  1

  2

  0

  8

  11

  Female

  0

  12

  67

  163

  287

  705

  1,234

  1988

  Male

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  6

  7

  Female

  0

  12

  76

  165

  253

  756

  1,261

  1989

  Male

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1

  4

  7

  Female

  0

  10

  78

  200

  298

  770

  1,356

  1 International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision.

  Telephone Taping
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Lord Advocate has received any requests for an inquiry into the illegal taping of a telephone conversation of the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) during May or June 1987.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has received no such requests.

  Training
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the numbers of people leaving employment training having completed (i) up to four weeks, (ii) four to 12 weeks, (iii) 12 to 26 weeks, (iv)

  Actual length of stay

  Up to 4 weeks per cent.

  Over 4 weeks up to 3 months per cent.

  Over 3 months up to 6 months per cent.

  Over 6 months up to 9 months per cent.

  Over 9 months up to 12 months per cent.

  Over 12 months per cent.

  January to March 1990

  Renfrew, Dumbarton and Argyll

  14

  24

  23

  11

  23

  4

  Lothian and Borders

  12

  20

  21

  11

  31

  5

  Lanarkshire

  15

  24

  19

  9

  27

  4

  Highlands and Islands

  8

  28

  30

  7

  21

  6

  Grampian and Tayside

  17

  25

  26

  7

  21

  4

  Glasgow City

  14

  22

  19

  10

  30

  5

  Central and Fife

  13

  22

  19

  8

  36

  3

  Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway

  11

  20

  21

  9

  33

  5

  April to June 1990

  Renfrew, Dumbarton and Argyll

  16

  29

  19

  13

  21

  2

  Lothian and Borders

  13

  31

  17

  10

  24

  4

  Lanarkshire

  13

  26

  18

  10

  27

  5

  Highlands and Islands

  7

  37

  28

  8

  12

  8

  Grampian and Tayside

  12

  34

  25

  12

  12

  3

  Glasgow City

  13

  30

  18

  12

  23

  4

  Central and Fife

  13

  24

  20

  13

  28

  2

  Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway

  12

  28

  16

  10

  29

  4

  430
  26 to 38 weeks, (v) 38 to 52 weeks and (vi) over 52 weeks' training in each month from January, for each of the Training Agency areas covering (a) Renfrew, Dumbarton and Argyll, (b) Lothian and Borders,(c) Lanarkshire, (d) Highlands and Islands,(e) Grampian and Tayside, (f) Glasgow City, (g) Central and Fife and (h) Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 14 December 1990]: The information is not available in the form requested. Information about leavers is obtained through a survey and returns from leavers are incomplete. This survey provides data on a quarterly basis as set out below about the percentages of people leaving employment training. In considering the information it is important to bear in mind that entering permanent employment is a major reason for people ceasing to participate in employment training.
  431

  Up to 4 weeks per cent.

  Over 4 weeks up to 3 months per cent.

  Over 3 months up to 6 months per cent.

  Over 6 months up to 9 months per cent.

  Over 9 months up to 12 months per cent.

  Over 12 months per cent.

  July to September 1990

  Renfrew, Dumbarton and Argyll

  10

  24

  23

  12

  26

  4

  Lothian and Borders

  13

  24

  22

  12

  27

  3

  Lanarkshire

  14

  21

  20

  12

  30

  3

  Highlands and Islands

  8

  31

  31

  8

  20

  1

  Grampian and Tayside

  12

  25

  27

  12

  21

  3

  Glasgow City

  13

  25

  23

  10

  25

  3

  Central and Fife

  13

  28

  20

  13

  24

  1

  Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway

  11

  21

  24

  11

  32

  3

  Health Service
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what honorarium is given to each member of the health boards; and how many meetings each board holds per annum.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 14 December 1990]: Regarding an honorarium for health board members, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on Friday 6 July to the hon. Member for Tayside, North ("Mr. Walker) at column 733. Each health board meets as often as it finds necessary to conduct its business, but procedural regulations require meetings to be held not less than once every three months. Members are also involved in meetings of committees and working parties and they serve on a variety of appeal panels.

WALES

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what conclusion he has reached on the expression of interest received from Pembrokeshire district health authority for national health service trust status.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have invited the health authority to proceed to work up and submit an application to become a trust on the basis set out in its expression of interest.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to publish for consultation the draft orders with attainment targets and programmes of study for history and geography in the national curriculum.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have published today for consultation draft orders with associated documents setting out attainment targets and programmes of study for history and geography in the national curriculum as

  Table 1

  Advertising and promotion expenditure: 1989–90

  £000

  Television

  Press

  Other

  Total

  Agriculture

  —

  4

  344

  348

  Education

  —

  —

  147

  147

  Health

  53

  3

  299

  355

  Industry, Employment, etc

  —

  50

  201

  251

  Transport

  4

  123

  101

  228

  Community charge

  —

  123

  327

  450

  432
  required by section 21(3) of the Education Reform Act 1988. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Advertising
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) further to his answer to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Fisher) on 11 December,Official Report, columns 332–33, if he will list against each Department and area of responsibility within his Department (a) the expenditure relevant to that department or responsibility in respect of press advertising, (b) the expenditure for television advertising and (c) the figure for other advertising and promotion;

  (2) whether he will publish tables showing the amount spent in each of the last five years by his Department on (a) advertising in the press, (b) advertising on television and radio and (c) other advertising and promotions in respect of (1) health; (2) education, (3) agriculture, (4) the Valleys initiative, (5) employment and economic issues, (6) promotion of tourism and (7) environmental issues;

  (3) if he will list the 10 most expensive items of expenditure within each of the headings of press advertising, television advertising and other advertising and promotion by his Department in each of the last three years;

  (4) if he will list the publicity campaigns that have been undertaken by his Department in each of the last three years and the sums spent on each in respect of (a) press advertising, (b) television advertising and (c) other forms of advertising and promotion on each.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answers 17–20 December 1990]: A detailed breakdown of expenditure by the Welsh Office on advertising and promotion in 1989–90 is set out in table 1.

  Table 2 provides comparable information in respect of the 10 most expensive items/campaigns undertaken in that year.

  Equivalent breakdowns for the years prior to 1989–90 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  433

  Television

  Press

  Other

  Total

  CADW

  —

  30

  133

  163

  Other

  —

  21

  206

  227

  Total

  57

  354

  1,758

  2,169

  Table 2

  Major advertising and promotion items/campaigns:1989–90

  £000

  Television

  Press

  Other

  Total

  Community charge

  —

  123

  327

  450

  Festival of food and farming

  —

  4

  275

  279

  Misuse of drugs

  53

  1

  77

  131

  National curriculum

  —

  —

  103

  103

  Enterprise Wales

  —

  16

  53

  69

  Health exhibition

  —

  —

  64

  64

  Drink drive

  4

  —

  53

  57

  Farm conservation grant

  —

  —

  43

  43

  Urdd Eisteddfod

  —

  —

  40

  40

  National Health Service forum

  —

  —

  35

  35

  Village Schools
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the local management of primary schools, with particular reference to the future management and continuation of small village schools in rural Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Local management of schools was introduced for the benefit of all schools. The arrangements enable the local education authorities to take account of disproportionately high costs faced by small schools where they consider it appropriate to do so. Accordingly, rural schools need face no greater threat to their existence under LMS than they did from previous funding arrangements.

  As regards the future management of small schools, we have recently consulted LEAs and others about extending delegation of responsibility for managing their budget share to all primary schools by 1 April 1994.

  Rural Housing
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any proposals to increase the provision of housing for young people in rural Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Gentleman today.

  Alcohol Misuse
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what sums of money within his Department's budgets for(a) press advertising, (b) television, (c) radio and (d) other activities of promotion and publicity have been related to tackling the problem of alcohol misuse in each of the last five years and in the present financial year; what percentage this constitutes of the finances available under each heading; and what percentage the total for each year represents of his Department's total publicity budget for that year.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Funding is made available from the Welsh Office to a number of agencies and organisations for the promotion of sensible drinking habits. It is not possible centrally to identify separate publicity activities.

  Cardiff Bay
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the latest estimated cost of the Cardiff bay barrage, including the initial design and consultancy costs and the costs to his Department of the Bill and its subsequent passage through the House;

  (2) what are the latest figures for public loans, grants and subsidies to the Cardiff Bay development corporation from the beginning of the project to its completion.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The latest estimates of the cost of the development strategy for Cardiff bay, including the proposed barrage, were contained in the letter of 13 December 1990 from my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr. Rowlands), a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  The costs of the Cardiff Bay Barrage Bill have been met by Cardiff Bay development corporation and no significant additional costs have been incurred by my Department.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the number of new jobs which will be created by the works currently being undertaken by the Cardiff Bay development corporation; and if he will list these new jobs by category of employment;

  (2) what is the estimated number of new jobs which will result from the works currently being undertaken by the Cardiff Bay development corporation (a) if a barrage is constructed and (b) if a barrage is not constructed; and if he will list the jobs, by category of employment, which will be created if a barrage is constructed.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The works currently being undertaken by Cardiff Bay development corporation are aimed primarily at bringing land forward for development by the private sector, whose projects will create employment. It is therefore not meaningful to link the creation of permanent jobs with specific activities of the corporation.

  The economic appraisal of the development strategy estimated that the following numbers of jobs would be created after 15 to 20 years:
  435

  Type of development

  with barrage

  without barrage

  B1 (Use class B1)

  18,050

  7,950

  Industrial

  1,050

  1,850

  Retail

  3,900

  2,850

  Leisure

  2,350

  450

  25,350

  13,100

  Job Losses

  500

  400

  Total

  24,850

  12,700

  In addition, it is estimated that the following indirect jobs, that is those created through the supply of goods and services to the newly developed areas as well as induced jobs, those arising through the spending of those newly employed in the area and as a result of the indirect employment, would be created.

  Direct (net)

  Indirect

  Total

  With barrage

  24,850

  7,450

  32,300

  Without barrage

  12,700

  3,800

  16,500

  River Taff (Sewage Discharges)
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated tonnage of raw sewage and partly treated sewage released into the River Taff and its tributaries by sewage treatment plants in 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90; and what is the projected tonnage for 1990–91.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not available. I understand that most of the raw or partially treated sewage discharged into the River Taff is from emergency or storm sewer overflows. The operation of such overflows and volumns discharged vary according to weather conditions. The consented volumes of discharges and the results of sampling of controlled waters undertaken by the National Rivers Authority are entered on to public registers maintained by the authority.

  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are to be taken to stop the flow of raw effluent into the River Taff and its tributaries from sewage treatment plants working in that catchment area.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This is a matter for the National Rivers Authority and those discharging the effluent. I have asked the NRA to write to the hon. Gentleman on this matter.

  Funerals
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will bring forward legislation to amend the Town and Country Planning (Use Clauses) Order, S.I. (1987), No. 764, so as to exclude chapels of rest, mortuaries and funeral parlours from the category of "Director of Funerals" in class A1.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This matter was considered as part of the review which preceded the 1987 order and it was decided to make no change.

  NHS Employees
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 13 December,Official Report, column 508, he
  436
  will place in the Library a copy of the advice to employees on their duty to avoid any conflict of interest between their responsibilities as national health service employees and their private and commercial interests, or a full summary of guidance that has been given to employees, which employees are expected to observe pending the publication of any fresh and authoritative advice by his Department.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Advice given to staff is essentially a matter for individual health authorities as employers.

  Existing departmental guidance which is of long standing is limited to a statement of principle as regards the expected conduct of staff in connection with the acceptance of gifts and hospitality and the pursuit of private transactions with contractors and other suppliers of goods to the NHS. The new central guidance now being prepared will update and expand upon those principles and will set out general rules to be followed in circumstances where the private interests of employees may conflict with their public duties or where the suspicion of such a conflict may arise.

  Welsh National Opera
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the sums of money from all sources which he is making available directly from his Department or in conjunction with others to the Welsh National Opera in the present financial year; what were the comparable figures in 1989–90; and if he will list the projected figures for 1991–92 and subsequent years insofar as firm or tentative projections have been made;

  (2) what discussions have taken place between Welsh Office Ministers, or officials and the Welsh National Opera on finances; what differences have arisen over the financial contribution of Government to the Welsh National Opera; and what differences still remain;

  (3) if he will make a full statement on financial arrangements for the Welsh National Opera in the present financial year and in 1991 and future financial years.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Welsh National Opera company is funded jointly by the Arts Council of Great Britain and the Welsh Arts Council, which is itself a committee of the Arts Council of Great Britain and is funded by them. The Arts Council of Great Britain is funded by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him today by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts about the financial position of the Welsh National Opera company.

  We have received representations both from representatives of the Welsh National Opera company direct and from others on its behalf about the implications of the Arts Council of Great Britain's decision not to give the company a grant from the enhancement fund in 1991–92. We are informed that further discussions are planned between the company and the Arts Council of Great Britain. We welcome this and hope for a satisfactory outcome.

  Health Service
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will order an investigation into Powys health authority's recent inability to find money to buy wardrobes for long stay patients on ward D at Bronllys.
  437
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  No. This is a matter for Powys health authority, which advises that the residents on Defynnog ward have individual wardrobes.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what changes he intends to make to the level of finances he will give to health authorities in Wales and the way the cash is distributed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend is considering the changes needed to bring the distribution of resources to health authorities in Wales in line with the new arrangements introduced by the NHS and Community Care Act 1990. The service was consulted on proposals for capital funding last year and consideration is now being given to the detail of their implementation. A consultation paper on options for a new revenue formula was issued last week and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  The level of funding required by health authorities in Wales is determined each year in the context of public expenditure plans and my right hon. Friend will be making an announcement in due course on the allocations to health authorities for the next financial year.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the increase of £183 million in expenditure on the national health service in Wales, announced in his Department's press release of 12 December, includes the £11 million to be found from cuts and income generation schemes which he refers to in the same press release.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I am most grateful to the hon. Gentleman for the opportunity to clarify the position.

  The expected £11 million from cost improvements and income generation is in addition to the £183 million increase in Welsh Health Spending announced in December last year. The NHS in Wales will therefore benefit from both the record cash increase and the internally generated funds in its continuing drive to put the interests of patients first and deliver the highest possible standard of care.

  It is, or course, wrong and misleading to refer to genuine efficiency savings as cuts.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for the last three financial years, the current financial year and the next financial year(a) the forecast of health service inflation which was being made by his Department when the announcement of provision for each of the above years was made, (b) the actual level of health service inflation for each year for which it is known and his latest estimate for 1990–91, (c) the forecast of general inflation made by the Government and at the nearest available date to the announcement referred to in (a) above and (d) the actual level of general inflation for each of the years for which it is known and his latest estimate for 1990–91.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  When notifying health authorities of their cash allocations each year, the Department informs authorities of the forecast level of general inflation which has been given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his autumn statement. For the years 1987–88 to 1990–91 these forecasts were:
  438

  Per cent.

  1987–88

  3·75

  1988–89

  4·5

  1989–90

  5·0

  1990–91

  5·0

  Authorities are also advised that they should make prudent provision for pay and price rises within the cash allocation which they receive. While the announcement of allocations for 1991–92 has yet to be made, the forecast level of general inflation next year, as announced by the Chancellor in his autumn statement is 6 per cent.

  The cash increases provided to health authorities at the start of the year exceeded the Chancellor's forecasts. In addition, authorities have received, during the course of each financial year, additional recurrent funding to meet the excess cost (over and above the level of forecast inflation) of review bodies' pay awards (for doctors, dentists, nurses and midwives and for the professions allied to medicine). In 1988–89, authorities also receive additional recurring funds to meet the cost of the clinical nurses regrading review.

  Information relating to the actual level of pay and price inflation experienced by Welsh health authorities is not available centrally. This will vary from authority to authority depending on the proportion and composition of their spending on pay and non pay expenditure. However, information is compiled by the Department of Health on the actual overall level of inflation experienced within hospital and community health services' expenditure in England and for the period 1987–88 to 1989–90 the figures were:

  Per cent

  1987–88

  8·5

  1988–89

  10·5

  1989–90

  7·3

  An equivalent figure for 1990–91 is not yet available.

  The information requested on the actual level of general inflation in the years 1987–88 to 1989–90, together with the latest estimated for 1990–91, is as follows:

  Per cent

  1987–88

  5·45

  1988–89

  7·30

  1989–90

  6·37

  11990–91

  8·00

  1 estimate

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for the last three financial years, the current financial year and the next financial year (1) the total amount of direct Welsh Office funds, not including cost savings or income generation, allocated to each district health authority in Wales and for each special health authority in Wales and (2) the total expenditure authorised by his Department for each district health authority and special health authority in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information requested regarding the total allocations (ie revenue and capital) made to each district health authority in Wales and to the two special health authorities in the period 1987–88 to 1990–91 is provided in the table. Allocations to health authorities and to the two special health authorities for 1991–92 will be announced later this month.
  439
  Health authorities have a statutory responsibility to contain their cash expenditure within their notified cash allocations. In the event that an authority's cash spending exceeds its attributable resources, the resultant overspending is retrospectively legitimised by an increase in

  Total Allocation

  £ million

  District Health Authority

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  11990–91

  Clwyd

  97·045

  108·964

  115·684

  124·004

  East Dyfed

  59·335

  67·269

  77·402

  84·958

  Gwent

  117·356

  129·822

  138·893

  146·224

  Gwynedd

  59·288

  64·496

  68·264

  72·364

  Mid Glamorgan

  136·042

  151·923

  161·917

  174·168

  Pembrokeshire

  22·498

  25·906

  29·046

  30·929

  Powys

  27·243

  29·992

  32·569

  35·035

  South Glamorgan

  155·953

  173·657

  188·941

  207·851

  West Glamorgan

  102·820

  115·949

  123·696

  130·814

  Welsh Health Common Services Authority

  28·052

  26·494

  28·448

  26·597

  Health Promotion Authority for Wales

  1·218

  1·838

  2·303

  22·257

  1 Notified allocation as at 9 January.

  2 A further allocation of up to £0·3 million is available to the Health Promotion Authority for Wales, against which they may submit bids for specific developments in 1990–91.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list showing what proportion of the money spent(a) by the Welsh Office itself and (b) by each health authority in Wales on training for members of the new health authority boards went on food and accommodation.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  As indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Livsey) on 5 December 1990 at column 151 two events have been held at the all-Wales level. The costs of these have in the main been met by the Welsh Health Common Services Authority on behalf of the health service in Wales. Details are as follows:

  Total cost £

  Food/accommodation £

  October briefing event

  124,128

  17,511

  November event

  16,655

  10,055

  1 Excludes accommodation costs of delegates met by individual health authorities.

  The Department does not keep records of training costs incurred at the local level by health authorities.

  Programme for the valleys: Expenditure June 1988 to March 1993 (£ million)

  1988–89 outturn

  1989–90 outturn

  1990–91 estimated outturn

  1991–92/1992–93 provision

  Urban programme

  11·95

  16

  18·5

  41·5

  Urban development/urban investment grants1

  2·6

  (5·2)

  7·2

  (7·2)

  6·48

  10

  Regional industrial grants1

  28·875

  (39·8)

  16·1

  (38·0)

  26·9

  42·5

  Welsh Development Agency

  Factories

  20·73

  22·5

  28·5

  50

  Land reclamation

  11·9

  15·5

  18·5

  40

  Environmental

  0·78

  0·6

  1·5

  3

  Urban Renewal Unit

  0·7

  1·57

  3·278

  5·25

  Investment

  2·236

  2·41

  2·6

  —

  Business development

  0·72

  1

  1·2

  3·1

  Corporate planning/research

  0·1

  0·1

  0·05

  —

  440
  allocation to cover the overspend. The overspending is recovered in the subsequent financial year when a reduction, equivalent to the level of the previous years' overspend, is made to the allocation of the authority concerned.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the amount that Powys health authority is spending on new flagpoles; and if he will order an investigation.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Powys health authority advises that there are no plans to purchase new flagpoles.

  Valleys Initiative
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will list those projects which constitute the £800 million to be spent under the valleys initiative, indicating(a) what proportion of that sum will fall directly on his Department's vote and (b) the amount of money to be spent on each project in each year covered by the £800 million total.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Provision for the programme for the valleys area over the five years from June 1988 to March 1993 is about £800 million. It covers a wide variety of programmes and it is not possible to list the individual projects except at disproportionate cost.

  A breakdown of outturn for 1988–89 to 1990–91 and of provision for 1991–93 for the different categories of expenditure is shown in the following table.

  Seventy per cent. of the £781·709 million falls within my Department's vote.
  441

  1988–89 outturn

  1989–90 outturn

  1990–91 estimated outturn

  1991–92/1992–93 provision

  Roads

  11·1

  11·73

  16·5

  42

  Training agency

  48·6

  49·67

  45·68

  90

  Total

  140·291

  144·38

  169·688

  327·35

  Overall total

  £781·709

  1 These programmes are demand led. Funds available for 1988–89 and 1989–90 are shown in brackets.

  Small Firms Counselling Service
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the future of the small firms counselling service in(a) the county of Clwyd and (b) Wales; and how many small firms counsellors there are in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Responsibility for the small firms service will transfer to the Training and Enterprise councils in Wales on 1 April. The service in Clwyd will be the responsibility of the North East Wales and North West Wales TECs. There are currently 40 small firms counsellors in Wales.

ENVIRONMENT

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money local authorities have used from the proceeds of council housing sales to repay Government debt.

  Mr. Yeo
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government propose any further assistance to Ealing in respect of short-term leases relating to homeless people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Department's decisions on housing revenue account subsidy in 1991–92 were announced on 19 December. We propose to make available additional subsidy of up to £25 million in 1991–92 towards the costs of renewal and replacement of existing short term leases. £2,082,375 of this would be for Ealing.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusions he has reached about future grant arrangements for special needs provision by housing associations.

  Sir Charles Irving
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effect on the provision of move-on housing in rented buildings of the recently announced revenue support from new special needs schemes in other than housing action group-funded buildings; what particular consideration he has given to the implications for people with special needs requiring accommodation to live independently in the community; and if he will make a statement.
  442
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he intends to make a statement on the future funding of hostels providing special needs accommodation;

  (2) if he will review his decision to exclude health authority, Department of Social Security, Home Office and other externally funded projects from entitlement to hostel deficit grant and special needs management allowance.

  Sir George Young
  New capital and revenue grant arrangements are to be introduced from April 1991 on the basis of proposals prepared by a joint working party comprising representatives of the Department, the Housing Corporation and the National Federation of Housing Associations. The effect will be to establish a clearer and more cost-effective framework for the future funding of special needs provision by housing associations. The arrangements will, however, need to be kept under review in the light of developments on community care.

  A new flat-rate special needs management allowance (SNMA) will replace the present hostel deficit grant (HDG) for new schemes from April 1991. Schemes already in receipt of HDG and eligible for SNMA will be transferred to SNMA by steps over a period of five years starting from April 1992.

  The SNMA rate for 1991–92 will be £2,000 per bedspace (1989–90 prices, to be revalued to 1991–92 prices). The allowance will be available for special needs provision in self-contained as well as shared accommodation.

  On the capital side, special needs schemes will from April 1991 be brought within the fixed housing association grant (HAG) arrangements which already apply to general needs schemes but will be eligible for grant at 100 per cent. of approved cost.

  The Housing Corporation will be carrying out formal consultations on a new determination under the Housing Act 1988 to bring SNMA into effect from this April. It will at the same time prepare and consult on detailed guidance for associations both on SNMA and on the changes in the capital grant arrangements.

  I have also considered whether SNMA should be subject to the same restrictions on eligibility as were announced for HDG by my hon. Friend, the Member for Worcestershire, South (Mr. Spicer) when he was Minister for Housing and Planning on 8 November at columns 14–15. I have concluded that these restrictions, in particular to schemes capital funded through the corporation, must in the main continue but that, subject to the availability of resources, the corporation should be able to consider for SNMA certain categories of schemes which do not require HAG. These are schemes capital funded by a charitable organisation, leased schemes and

  443
  schemes using existing housing association accommodation no longer required for general needs. In supporting such schemes the corporation will need to ensure that its SNMA commitments are contained within provision for current and future years. It will also wish to satisfy itself that the scheme meets the priorities established for its approved development programme and is not tied to meeting the requirements of another organisation through, for example, exclusive nomination rights.

  Associations which had applications for HDG budget approval awaiting decision by the corporation at the time of the 8 November announcement will be able to re-submit under the new SNMA arrangements any of those schemes which they consider meet the SNMA eligibility criteria.

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the arrangements for notice and the actual notice given by the last chairman of the London Docklands development corporation prior to his resignation; and how much severance pay and pension entitlement he received.

  Mr. Key
  Chairmen and members of public bodies are public appointees and are not normally required to give notice if they resign.

  The previous chairman of the LDDC, Sir Christopher Benson, did not resign but completed his appointment in the normal way.

  It is not Government policy to disclose the individual pension arrangements for members of public bodies.

  Severe Weather Payments
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance the Government are giving Nottinghamshire county council to meet additional expenditure incurred following the bad weather; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  We currently have no information to suggest that Nottinghamshire county council incurred costs greater than those which it could be expected to meet as part of its normal responsibilities for coping with winter weather. But we will consider any request for assistance made by Nottinghamshire or any other local authority.

  Rates Defaulters
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has as to the level of summonses issued for defaulters on(a) domestic and (b) industrial and commercial rates at the latest convenient date to December 1989.

  Mr. Key
  From information collected by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy we estimate that 1·4 million summonses were issued by rating authorities in England in 1989–90. No information is available on the split between domestic and non-domestic ratepayers.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of people living in bed and breakfast accommodation who were the responsibility of the London borough of Wandsworth on 14 December.
  444
  Mr. Yeo
  Local authorities have a statutory duty to secure accommodation for households who have been found to be homeless, or threatened with homelessness, under part III of the Housing Act 1985. Information is reported quarterly to the Department. The latest available figures for the number of homeless households in bed and breakfast accommodation are for the end of September 1990. The reported figures, including those for the London borough of Wandsworth, appear in table 7 of "Households found accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the third quarter 1990. Supplementary Tables". A copy is in the Library.

  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will issue advice to local housing authorities on the way in which the provisions of part XII of the Housing Act 1985 should be exercised having regard to homelessness outside London;

  (2) if he will make it his policy not to exercise his powers under sections 322 to 326, inclusive, of the Public Health Act 1936 to enforce the provisions of part XII of the Housing Act 1985 where a local authority, in response to applications for short-term night shelter by charities and churches, was choosing not to exercise these powers;

  (3) if he will make it his policy not to exercise his powers under sections 322 to 326, inclusive, of the Public Health Act 1936 to enforce the provisions of part XII of the Housing Act 1985 where a local authority, in response to applications for short-term night shelters by charities and churches, is sensitively choosing not to exercise these powers.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Department's advice to local authorities on the use of their powers under part XII of the Housing Act 1985 is contained in DOE circular 12/86. My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to revise that advice or to exercise his powers under sections 322 to 326 of the Public Health Act 1936.

  Humber Estuary
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to designate the Humber estuary a Ramsar site and a special protection site under the European Community directive.

  Mr. Baldry
  I cannot forecast when the Humber estuary will be designated. As is the case with a number of sites currently being considered by Government, officials are seeking to identify apparent problems or conflicts of interest that need to be examined, in the light of the scientific evidence put forward by the Nature Conservancy Council.

  Community Charge (Wandsworth)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what future financial help for the year 1991–92 will be given to the London borough of Wandsworth in assisting the authority towards its community charge.

  Mr. Key
  Under our proposed settlement for 1991–92 Wandsworth will receive revenue support grant, payments from the national non-domestic rate pool, inner London education grant and area protection grant totalling nearly £1,200 per adult compared with an inner London average for 1991–92 of £1,392.

  Housing Investment Figures
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he issued the latest housing investment programme figures; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

  Sir George Young
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 December 1990 to the hon. Member for Stockport (Mr. Favell) at col. 463–64.

  Housing (Wandsworth)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present number of either flats or houses belonging to the London Borough of Wandsworth which were empty on the 14 December.

  Mr. Yeo
  The latest available information on empty council dwellings relates to 1 April 1990 and was provided by the London borough of Wandsworth in their April 1990 housing investment programme return (HIP1), a copy of which is in the Library.

  Rental Accommodation
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's policy towards the building by local authorities of rental accommodation.

  Sir George Young
  It is for local authorities to determine their own priorities for housing capital expenditure within the resources available. However, we have encouraged them to concentrate on the improvement of their own stock and on assistance to private owners with grants. The Government's policy is that housing associations should be the main providers of new subsidised homes for rent, with local authorities fulfilling a mainly enabling role.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the privatisations with which his Department has been involved since 1979, indicating in each case the date of the sale, the proceeds of the sale and the estimated current value of the company.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 14 December 1990]: My Department was involved with the privatisation of the water and sewerage companies in England and Wales. The sale took place in 1989. The estimated net proceeds will be £3,454 million. The estimated current value of the partly paid shares in the companies is £5·7 billion.

  Refuse-derived Fuel
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how the Government intend to encourage the development and use of refuse-derived fuel.

  Mr. Moynihan
  I have been asked to reply.

  Municipal and industrial refuse are major potential sources of energy and my Department's policy is to encourage the use of waste as a fuel wherever it is economically viable and environmentally acceptable. My Department is undertaking a substantial programme of research and development aimed at overcoming the difficulties associated with the handling, storing and
  446
  burning of refuse-derived fuel (RDF). At present there are 12 current RDF R and D projects with a total contract value of £1·3 million. In addition the non-fossil fuel obligation will help the RDF industry to enter the market for electricity generation; there were two such projects included in the initial tranche of the NFFO.

  Arrangements for the second tranche were announced on 19 December. It will be brought forward in 1991 and it is the Government's intention to include in that tranche a separate band reserved for municipal and general industrial waste incineration projects, which will include refuse-derived fuel.

  Gipsy Site
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what undertakings he gave to the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare about informing him of the date and place of the local inquiry into the application by Avon county council for a gipsy caravan site at Box Bush lane, Hewish, Weston-super-Mare; when he notified objectors and others of these facts; when he expects to inform the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare of these facts; and what steps he will take to ensure that ministerial undertakings are adhered to in the future.

  Sir George Young
  On 4 December 1989 my hon. Friend, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, undertook to inform the hon. Member of the date of the inquiry. Objectors and others who made representations were notified on 30 November 1990. It is regretted that my hon. Friend was not notified at the same time. He was notified on 20 December 1990 when details of the inquiry were included in a letter responding to points he raised on 13 November 1990 about the need for an inquiry into the proposals.

  Landfill Sites
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what recent assessment he has made of the extent of pesticide and other chemical contamination of groundwater sources as a result of the operation of dilute and disperse landfill sites; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what plans he has to conduct a survey of all dilute and disperse waste sites; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department is currently conducting a survey of the effect of landfill sites on groundwater quality in England and Wales. The survey will include the type of site to which the hon. Member refers.

  Sulphur Dioxide
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the Iiasa data on sulphur dioxide emissions provided to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

  Mr. Baldry
  The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) recently published projections of future sulphur dioxide emissions through to the year 2000 as part of their acid rain project. Projections of energy demand and fuel use need to take into account a range of factors which are subject to constant change and are difficult to predict. The IIASA projections have not
  447
  taken into account for example the recent changes of policy in some eastern European countries and the European Community's large combustion plants directive.

  Water Companies
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his answer on 18 December,Official Report, column 116, what notice water companies will be required to take of any guidelines produced by the Director of Water Services following the current consultative process and what sanctions are available (a) to him, (b) to the Director of Water Services and (c) to consumers if the guidelines and criteria are disregarded.

  Mr. Baldry
  Water companies have powers to fix charges and make charges schemes under sections 75 and 76 of the Water Act 1989. Although each company has discretion about how it structures its charges, it is required by condition E of its instrument of appointment (licence)"to ensure that no undue preference is shown to, and that there is no undue discrimination against, any class of customers or potential customers".

  It is the responsibility of the Director General of Water Services to ensure that each company complies with the conditions of its licence.

  The Secretaries of State for the Environment and Wales and the director general have duties under section 7(3) to ensure that the interests of all customers are protected. It is the duty of the director general to keep under review matters relating to the carrying out of their functions by water companies. However, the Secretaries of State may give general directions indicating the considerations to which the director general should have regard in determining the order of priority in which matters are to be brought under review.

  Following the consultation, the director general will draw up general guidelines for companies to consider in drawing up their charges and charging schemes. These guidelines are likely to cover both issues on which the director general has legal powers and other, broader issues on which the consultation paper has given customers an opportunity to contribute to a public debate about future policy.

  Should a company fix charges or make charges schemes which appear to the director general to contravene its licence conditions, he can take enforcement action under section 20 of the Act. If he considers that any actions of the company operate against the public interest, he may refer the matter to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, so that it can consider modifications to the conditions of the company's licence.

  Enforcement of licence conditions is a matter for the director general. However, an individual customer may seek judicial review if he thinks that the director general has failed to take appropriate action. Finally a customer may challenge a company in the courts if he considers a charge levied by the company has not been properly determined by reference to a charges scheme.

DEFENCE

  Nuclear Radiation (Compensation)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 15 November,Official Report, column 194, if he will make a statement on his conclusions about a no-fault compensation scheme for service-related personnel who have been exposed to nuclear radiation.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Officials have now largely concluded their studies into this matter. I hope to make a statement in the near future.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessments and simulations there have been of the effect upon the environment of Saddam Hussein's threat to blow up Kuwaiti oil installations in the event of war; and if he will put the results in the Library.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has commissioned any research on the ecological effects of a war in the Gulf; and which sources of information already available he has used on this issue.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Decommissioning
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to announce decommissioning of HMS Valiant, HMS Courageous, HMS Swiftsure and HMS Sovereign.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend announced on 25 July at column 471 that we intend to maintain a submarine fleet of about 16 boats in the future, of which around three-quarters would be nuclear powered. Following the decisions to decommission Warspite, Churchill and Conqueror, we are considering the further steps needed to achieve the revised force level. Decisions will be announced as they are taken.

  Glen Garry Transmitter
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the full cost of development of the experimental extremely low frequency transmitter to be built at Glen Garry, to date.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  It is not our policy to release details of expenditure on specific research programmes.

  HMS Resolution
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if HMS Resolution is to undergo a fourth refit.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Electoral Registration
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the electoral registration percentage for service men in each of the last three years in the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force; and what is the cost of running the three district electoral register offices for each of the services.
  449
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The electoral registration percentage for service men in each of the last three years is as follows:

  1988 per cent.

  1989 per cent.

  1990 per cent.

  Royal Navy1

  —

  —

  75

  Army

  63·5

  64

  65

  Royal Air Force

  42·0

  48

  53

  1 It is not possible though it is believed to give an accurate that for both years figure for 1988 and 1989, it was around 75 per cent.

  The estimated running costs of the electoral registration offices in 1990–91 are as follows:

  £

  Royal Navy

  15,350

  Army

  29,700

  Royal Air Force

  26,000

  Loch Lochy Listening Post
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has reconsidered his intention to establish an extremely low frequency listening post on Sron A'Choire Ghairbh beside Loch Lochy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Houghton and Washington (Mr. Boyes) on 19 February 1990 at column 573.

  Iraq (Weapons)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the defence implications for United Kingdom service men of (1) the involvement of scientists and engineers employed by Man Technologie of West Germany in assisting Iraq in developing centrifuges for enriching uranium to military grade;

  (2) the sale by the French-based company Gachot to Iraq of militarily sensitive valves and vacuum pumps;

  (3) uranium sales by Portugal to Iraq;
  450
  (4) the sale to Iraq by Leybold-Meraus of Cologne of valves which can be used in the manufacture of a uranium enrichment centrifuge capable of making weapons grade highly enriched uranium; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We continue to assess that Iraq is not currently capable of constructing a nuclear explosive device, notwithstanding recent allegations regarding imports of various materials and items of equipment.

  NATO Operations and Plans
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all NATO operations and plans designed for internal security purposes in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) other NATO countries.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on operational matters of this nature. NATO does not, however, have a role in internal security matters.

  HMS Dreadnought
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to take a final decision in respect of the disposal of HMS Dreadnought.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I have nothing to add to my answer to the hon. Member of 13 December 1990,Official Report, column 505.

  Northern Ireland
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider providing financial compensation for Ministry of Defence employees working in Northern Ireland similar to that provided for civilians working in a temporary capacity at Ministry of Defence locations in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Ministry of Defence civilian staff based temporarily in Northern Ireland receive allowances designed to reimburse the additional costs incurred as a result of living away from their normal place of residence. It would not be appropriate to make similar payments to staff permanently resident in Northern Ireland who do not have similar financial commitments.

  BOVINE SOMATOTROPIN IN MILK
  BOVINE SOMATOTROPIN IN MILK
  LESS FAVOURED AREAS: EXTENSION
  LESS FAVOURED AREAS: EXTENSION
  BOVINE OFFAL: EXPORT CONTROL
  BOVINE OFFAL: EXPORT CONTROL
  SALMONELLA IN IMPORTED EGGS
  SALMONELLA IN IMPORTED EGGS
  SALMONELLA: CONTROL
  SALMONELLA: CONTROL
  MEDICAL SCHOOLS: MANAGEMENT AND FINANCING
  MEDICAL SCHOOLS: MANAGEMENT AND FINANCING
  YOUTH TRAINING GUARANTEE LIAISON OFFICERS
  YOUTH TRAINING GUARANTEE LIAISON OFFICERS
  OFFENDERS: EMPLOYMENT TRAINING
  OFFENDERS: EMPLOYMENT TRAINING
  PUPILS OVER 16 IN SCHOOLS: EDUCATIONAL MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE SPENDING
  PUPILS OVER 16 IN SCHOOLS: EDUCATIONAL MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE SPENDING
  PUPILS OVER 16 IN SCHOOLS: STATISTICS
  PUPILS OVER 16 IN SCHOOLS: STATISTICS
  GCSE: NEW GRADING SYSTEM
  GCSE: NEW GRADING SYSTEM
  UN POPULATION FUND: UK CONTRIBUTION
  UN POPULATION FUND: UK CONTRIBUTION
  MR. MORDECHAI VANUNU
  MR. MORDECHAI VANUNU