Written Answers of 29 January 1991

TRANSPORT

  A1
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timescale is envisaged for the widening of the A1 between the north end of the motorway at Birtley and the south end of the Newcastle western bypass; and what areas of land and property will be affected.

  Mr. Chope
  The next key stage in the Department's preparation of the A1 Gateshead western bypass improvement is a public consultation which is currently planned to take place in 1992.

  The area of land and property affected is not yet known.

  East London Crossing
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be able to make a statement on the east London river crossing bridge.

  Mr. Chope
  The public inquiries into the design of the proposed bridge closed on 8 January. We are now awaiting the inspector's report. A decision will be announced as soon as the report has been received and considered.

  Hazardous Loads
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of accidents involving the rail transportation of hazardous and inflammable materials that have taken place within a 50 mile radius of Doncaster, for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Chope
  I regret that this information is not available in the form requested.

  Parking Schemes
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice his Department gives to local authorities about resident only parking schemes.

  Mr. Chope
  The most recent published guidance is in Department of Transport circular 6/86 and in the publication "Roads and Traffic in Urban Areas" of which the Department and the Institution of Highways and Transportation are joint sponsors. The former deals with specific changes made by the Road Traffic Regulation (Parking) Act 1986; the latter gives more general guidance on the sort of schemes which may be appropriate and the factors to be taken into account in deciding on them.

  Trains
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains operating or which it is planned to operate, in Scotland, were built(a) before 1950, (b) before 1956, (c) before 1960 and (d) before 1965.
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  Mr. McLoughlin
  Neither the Department of Transport nor Her Majesty's railway inspectorate holds comprehensive information on construction dates for railway rolling stock.

  Merchant Navy Reserve
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current strength of the Merchant Navy Reserve; and how many of its members are now on service in the Gulf.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Merchant Navy Reserve is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Transport, and I have been asked to reply.

  The current strength of the Reserve is 301. None of its members have been called out for service in the Gulf, but it is understood that one of them happens to be serving on a ship in the area.

  Airports
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has had with airport authorities generally, and Manchester in particular, in the light of events in the Gulf.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Ever since the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait the Department has kept in close touch with the industry, including airport representatives, about the development of contingency plans to enhance aviation security as appropriate in the light of events. The measures provided for in those plans in the event of hostilities breaking out were brought into effect on 17 Janaury at Manchester as at other United Kingdom airports.

  Consultations have also take place with representatives of various airports, including Manchester, about their handling Government charter flights connected with the emergency.

  Blackwater Valley Relief Road
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to provide the necessary funding for the completion of the Blackwater Valley relief road southern and central sections.

  Mr. Chope
  The Blackwater Valley route is being supported with transport supplementary grant and-or credit approvals as appropriate. That support will be maintained through to completion subject to satisfactory progress and the continued availability of funds. The allocation of supplementary credit approvals to Surrey county council in respect of the financial years 1990–91 and 1991–92 is being reviewed.

  Clapham Train Crash
  Mr. Higgins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to expedite the compensation due from British Rail to the widow of one of the constituents of the right hon. Member for Worthing whose husband was killed in the Clapham train crash; and if he will raise the matter when he next has a discussion with British Rail.

  Mr. Freeman
  Compensation is a matter for British Rail and ultimately the courts. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State has no powers to intervene in
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  individual cases, but will certainly discuss the general progress of claims when he next meets the chairman of British Rail.

  Coastguard
  Mr. Barry Field (Isle of Wight)
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has made any recent review of the role or functions of Her Majesty's coastguard.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  An internal review of the coastguard sector organisation and Auxiliary service has been carried out by the chief coastguard. The review has considered Her Majesty's coastguard's coastal commitments and has made recommendations covering:the definition of HM Coastguard's responsibilities;
  performance targets;
  the sector organisation and the sector officers' role;
  the availability and pay of auxiliary Coastguards;
  Coastguard vehicles and equipment requirements, training and property management.

  Government Departments and any interested bodies are currently being consulted and coastguard regional controllers will now be holding discussions with local interests and staff about the implications of these recommendations in each region. No decisions will be taken on the review's recommendations until the implications have been fully assessed. I am placing a copy of a summary of the review and its recommendations in the Library.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Alphachloralose
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any proposals to re-classify alphachloralose; and whether he intends to revoke the approval of phosgen for specific uses.

  Mr. Maclean
  From 1 March it will be illegal to use alphachloralose as a pesticide unless it is incorporated as an approved product. The Advisory Committee on Pesticides has also recommended that alphachloralose should be moved from part II to part I of the poisons list, thereby making it available only through retail pharmacies.

  I am not aware of phosgen, but the approval for sale and supply of phosdrin 24, a pesticide with active ingredient mevinphos, was revoked last September on the advice of the ACP. The storage and use of this product will be prohibited from September 1992.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total number of individual grant recipients in each environmentally sensitive area; what is the estimated total number of those eligible to receive grant in each environmentally sensitive area; and what is the total amount of grant paid out thus far under the scheme in each environmentally sensitive area.

  Mr. Curry
  The table shows the number of agreements with farmers in each ESA, together with the total sums payable under each scheme at 31 December 1990. Some farmers have a number of agreements. There are no reliable estimates of the number of farmers in each ESA.
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  ESA

  Number of agreements at 31 December 1990

  Total amounts payable up to 31 December 1990

  £

  Breckland

  139

  1,160,000

  Broads

  712

  5,650,000

  North Peak

  77

  1,890,000

  Pennine Dales

  290

  3,330,000

  Shropshire Borders

  215

  1,520,000

  Somerset Levels and Moors

  745

  2,840,000

  Suffolk River Valleys

  396

  2,300,000

  South Downs

  183

  1,560,000

  Test Valley

  20

  70,000

  West Penwith

  159

  1,260,000

  Total

  2,936

  21,580,000

  Crayfish
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when first his Department received advice from the Nature Conservancy Council about the danger to native crayfish stocks from the spread of crayfish plague by the introduction of American signal crayfish; and what action he has since taken in response to this.

  Mr. Curry
  Officials first received advice from the Nature Conservancy Council in 1977. Crayfish plague was officially confirmed in the United Kingdom in 1983, but it is probable the infection had already been present in our waters since the mid-1970s and that this was linked to the import of American signal crayfish. Such introductions preceded legislation to control, inter alia the import, keeping and release of non-native species of freshwater shellfish. Crayfish plague has now been detected in many of our river systems with crayfish populations. Our scientific advice is that eradication would be very difficult to accomplish. Nonetheless, we are continuing to discuss with the Nature Conservancy Council and the National Rivers Authority the feasibility of means of safeguarding native crayfish stocks in those areas at present free of crayfish plague. The Department is also funding scientific work on diagnostic methods.

  Beef Sector
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to help beef calf producers; and if he will make a statement regarding their future prospects.

  Mr. Curry
  In recognition of problems faced by beef calf producers, the Ministry has, as announced on 28 September 1990, increased suckler cow premium payments in the current year by £8 million, the rate of premium in less favoured areas is now at the maximum rate payable under EC rules and that for lowlands has been maintained at its current level despite an increase in the amount of eligible stock.

  "This Common Inheritance"
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking in discussions with the European Commission to honour the Government's commitment in "This Common Inheritance," paragraph 7.20.

  Mr. Curry
  My right hon. Friend the Minister will continue to urge the European Commission and
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  colleagues in the Agriculture Council to ensure that environmental considerations are fully integrated in agricultural support measures.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 29 January.

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

  Gulf War
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the current situation in the Gulf.

  The Prime Minister
  The allied air campaign is proceeding satisfactorily and continues to erode Iraq's military capability. The effectiveness of the campaign so far is amply demonstrated by the very few and unsuccessful deployments of the Iraqi air forces, but there is still some way to go before our aim of implementing United Nations Security Council resolutions can be achieved. We condemn Iraq's use of missiles in indiscriminate attacks against civilian populations in Israel and Saudi Arabia. We also deplore Iraq's wanton destruction of the environment of the middle east by deliberately pumping oil into the Gulf.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Prime Minister what co-ordination and consultation arrangements exist between allied Governments to ensure political control of the military forces engaged in the Gulf war.

  The Prime Minister
  The aims of the coalition forces are those laid down by the United Nations Security Council. Military forces in the coalition remain under the ultimate control of their national governments who are maintaining close contact with each other.

WALES

  Higher Education
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Assembly of Welsh County Councils regarding the impact of the loss of top-up powers on the quality and quantity of public sector higher education in Welsh colleges.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  We consult the Assembly of Welsh Counties and the Welsh joint education committee every year before deciding on the higher education quantum, the amount of local authority resources we consider is needed for the provision of higher education in the maintained institutions. The figure we proposed for 1991–92 has been agreed by the assembly and the WJEC. We have had no consultations on topping-up, which is a local matter determined by individual LEAs.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the Assembly of Welsh County Councils regarding the implications of the Price 448
  Waterhouse report on the future of public sector higher education in Welsh colleges; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  All Welsh LEAs have been consulted on the Price Waterhouse report both individually and collectively through the Wales advisory body for local authority higher education. An announcement on the recommendations of the report concerning the future status of the Polytechnic of Wales will be made shortly.

  Student Costs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his most up-to-date estimate of the amount spent per head per full-time equivalent student in public sector higher education in Welsh colleges in the(a) current and (b) next financial year.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The recurrent expenditure on higher education provision in Welsh local authority colleges is funded from three main sources. These are the higher education quantum determined annually by the Secretary of State and paid by LEAs from local authority resources, tuition fees paid through the mandatory awards system and "topping-up" payments paid by LEAs to their own colleges. The Department does not hold information on the level of topping-up payments, which are a local matter, but in some cases they are known to be significant. Recurrent expenditure at Trinity college Carmarthen, the only Welsh voluntary college, is funded by grant from the Welsh Office and tuition fees.

  The amount of recurrent funding per full-time equivalent home and EC student in public sector higher education in Wales from the higher education quantum, Welsh Office grant and tuition fees is estimated at £3,335 in 1990–91 and £3,738 in 1991–92. These figures take no account of topping-up payments to recurrent expenditure in the local authority colleges and funding for capital expenditure, but cover all public sector higher education in Wales. In this respect they differ from equivalent information regarding the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council sector, which does not take account of local authority higher education provision in England.

  Corlan Housing Association
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation regarding the references to the corporation in the HACAS report on the financial collapse of the Corlan housing association;

  (2) what consultations he has had with the chairman of Tai Cymru and the Cardiff Bay development corporation regarding their discussions immediately prior to the financial collapse of the Corlan housing association.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to t reply I gave on 28 January.

  South Glamorgan TEC
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what funds he has allocated to the South Glamorgan training and enterprise council for the current financial year.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Funding for TECs is provided by the Secretary of State of Employment. South Glamorgan TEC
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  has received £60,000 development funding this year and details of its operational budget for the remainder of the year are being finalised.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  School Expenditure, Harrow
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the per capita expenditure figures for primary and secondary schools in the London borough of Harrow, for the latest date available, of spending per pupil, and the relative figures at constant prices in 1979–80.

  Mr. Fallon
  Figures for nursery and primary schools are no longer collected separately. Harrow spent £465 per nursery and primary pupil in 1979–80 and £1,115 in 1988–89, the latest year for which figures are available. It spent £745 per secondary pupil in 1979–80 and £1,740 in 1988–89. At 1988–89 prices those figures are £880 and £1,115 respectively for nursery and primary schools, and £1,405 and £1,740 respectively for secondary schools.

  Student Costs (Wales)
  Mr. Geraint Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the unit costs per student for each of the university colleges in Wales for 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I refer the hon. Member to the 1990 volume of "University Management Statistics and Performance Indicators," produced by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and the Universities Funding Council, a copy of which is in the Library. This draws on 1988–89 data: detailed figures for university expenditure in 1989–90 are not yet available.

  Student Costs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his most up-to-date estimate of the amount spent per head per full-time equivalent—FTE—student in public sector higher education colleges in England in the(a) current and (b) next financial year.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. and learned Friend announced his plans for spending on higher education on 8 November 1990 and published projections for student numbers in higher education on the same date. Recurrent public funding per FTE student in Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council funded institutions underlying the plans is £4,137 in the financial year 1991–92. The latest estimate for such funding in the financial year 1990–91 is £4,018. Total expenditure per student will depend on a number of additional factors on which information is not yet available.

  Students
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many A-level entrants were(a) school students and (b) further education college students on the latest available figures.
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  Mr. Eggar
  For the academic year 1988–89, the total number of A-level examination entries, including AS examinations, taking two AS entries as equivalent to one A-level entry, was as shown.

  A-level examination entries (000s)

  School leavers

  424·42

  Students in further education establishments

  76·67

  Schools (Salaries)
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what principle a grant-maintained school will be funded where its relevant local education authority has opted out of the national determination of wages and conditions and established a salary rate higher than the national rate.

  Mr. Eggar
  It is not intended that the principles governing the calculation of annual maintenance grant for a grant-maintained school would change because its former maintaining local education authority had opted out in this way.

  Training Credits
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has made any assessment of the impact of the introduction of training credits for 16-year-olds upon the staying-on rate in full-time education.

  Mr. Eggar
  No assessment of the impact is possible in advance of the implementation of the pilot training credit schemes. The impact of the pilot schemes, including the impact on the staying-on rate in full-time education, will be the subject of careful monitoring by my right hon. and learned Friends the Secretaries of State for Employment and for Education and Science.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the grant-maintained schools that have agreed to recognise trade unions for the purpose of representing teachers on disciplinary and individual grievance matters.

  Mr. Eggar
  It is for the governing body of a grant-maintained school, as the employer, to decide whether it wishes to recognise teacher unions for the purpose of representing teachers on disciplinary and individual grievance matters. The Department does not collect information on this matter.

  Physical Education
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish the national curriculum working party report on physical education; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend is considering the interim report from the national curriculum working group on physical education. He expects to publish it shortly.

  Teaching (Political Bias)
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what evidence he has as to undue political bias and undue emphasis on values and opinions in the teaching of geography; and if he will place such evidence in the Library.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  In publishing the draft order for geography in the national curriculum, I made clear my reasons for departing from the recommendations of the National Curriculum Council. I recognise that geography lessons will sometimes deal with conflicting points of view on important geographical issues. The programmes of study which I published with the draft order refer to such issues. However, in setting out statutory statements of attainment against which pupils will be assessed, I believe that the emphasis should be on the knowledge and understanding of geography which inform people's views.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what evidence he has available of political and other bias in the teaching of(a) 20th century history and (b) current affairs; and if he will place such evidence in the Library.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Of the complaints of bias that I receive from parents, the major part relate to teaching or classroom discussion about current issues and recent events. That is to be expected, because such issues and events arouse the strongest feelings. I believe that the great majority of teachers handle such matters with sensitivity and care and with full regard to their legal duty to ensure a balanced presentation of opposing views on political issues. Nevertheless, there is a special difficulty in achieving balance when dealing with contemporary events and personalities.

  Special Educational Need
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Education and Science how many pupils with statements of special educational need are recorded by each local education authority on DES form SEN(2) for January 1990 as attending maintained special schools, non-maintained special schools and independent schools under arrangements made by the authority.

  Mr. Fallon
  This information was not collected for January 1990 on form SEN2. The Department has since revised form SEN2 in order that such information may be collected for January 1991 in respect of pupils for whom a statement was newly made in the previous year. I have arranged for the hon. Member to receive details in due course.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Liverpool Magistrates Court
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when work will begin on the rebuilding of Liverpool magistrates court.

  Mr. John Patten
  Subject to the satisfactory completion by the local authority of the various next steps in the planning process, it should be possible for building work on a new Liverpool magistrates court to begin in 1995–96.

  Deportation
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-Iraqi Arabic or Palestinians resident in Britain have been served with decisions to make a deportation order for national security reasons, on the grounds of being not conducive to the public good; from what areas of the United Kingdom they originated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Twelve non-Iraqi nationals have been advised of my right hon. Friend's decision to deport them on the grounds that their presence is not conducive to the public good for reasons of national security. The majority have lived in the south-east of the country. In one case, my right hon. Friend has decided to take no further action.

  Vehicle Clamping
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motor vehicles have been clamped in the Metropolitan police area in each of the past three years; and how many have been clamped for exceeding the time paid for in an authorised parking bay.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the numbers of vehicles clamped in the Metropolitan police area in the years 1987 to 1989 were respectively: 111,117 in 1987; 125,824 in 1988 and 149,663 in 1989. A figure for 1990 is not yet available. No information is available on the number clamped for exceeding the time paid for in an authorised parking bay.

  Iraqi Residents
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many residents of the United Kingdom, of Iraqi origin, have been arrested or detained in the last fortnight for national security reasons, on the grounds of being not conducive to the public good; from what areas of the United Kingdom they originated; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A total of 101 Iraqis have been detained since the beginning of the year. They came from all parts of the United Kingdom. Forty-two remain in detention under the Immigration Act and 35 military personnel are in military custody. Two are in the United Kingdom having been released from detention and 21 have left or have been deported. In one case my right hon. Friend decided to take no further action and the man has been released from detention.

  Police Searches
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Leicestershire on the number of searches of(a) private homes and (b) businesses that have taken place in Leicestershire over the past five years; and how many of these searches were undertaken without a warrant having been obtained.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There is no requirement under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 for police forces to produce statistics of searches of premises. The hon. Member should contact the chief constable of Leicestershire for the information available.
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  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the number of searches of(a) private homes and (b) businesses that have taken place in England and Wales over the past five years; and how many of those searches were undertaken without a warrant having been obtained.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Deportation Orders
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what right of appeal residents have when arrested or detained or notified of deportation orders; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Under the Immigration Act, there is no right of appeal to the appellate authorities against my right hon. Friend's intention to make a deportation order for reasons of national security. There is, however, a provision of the immigration rules to permit someone to appear before a panel of three independent advisers, chaired by a Lord Justice of Appeal, who will consider any representations made by the individual and, separately, the security case against the individual. All those made subject to this deportation action are advised of this right and many have chosen to exercise it.

  Vagrants
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to bring forward proposals to update the Justices of the Peace Act 1361 and in particular the section dealing with branding of vagrants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have no such plans. Neither branding nor vagrants are mentioned in the Justices of the Peace Act 1361.

  Ecclesiastic Courts Jurisdiction Act
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to bring forward proposals to up-date the Ecclesiastic Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  There are no plans to amend this Act.

  Motor Vehicles (Security)
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to persuade the motor vehicle manufacturers to improve the security devices on their vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  My right hon. Friend the then Home Secretary and I have discussed this issue with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and are considering a report from the society on the action taken by motor manufacturers to improve the security of their cars. The motor manufacturers have clearly taken some steps to improve the security of their cars, but much more remains to be done. The best way for further progress to be made is for car buyers to give as much attention to the security of their car as they do to its performance and looks.

  We give advice to car buyers on what to look for in our crime prevention publicity material and intend to publish a car theft index.
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  In addition, we will continue to support efforts to seek agreement in Europe to the adoption of the British standard on door-locks as an EC directive.

  Prison Service
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future location of the headquarters of the prison service.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  In January 1990 my predecessor announced that the headquarters of the prison service would be relocated to the midlands. Following a detailed evaluation of a number of options I have now authorised the opening of negotiations with developers for the construction of a new headquarters building for the prison service at St. Mary's wharf, Derby.

  If these negotiations are successful work on site could start later this year with the building being ready for occupation in late 1993 or early 1994. Some posts may move to temporary accommodation in Derby in advance of the general move.

  Final details have yet to be settled, but I estimate that around 1,900 posts will eventually be relocated to Derby, 1,500 of these from central London. At least 800 of the 1,900 posts will be filled by local recruitment.

  Everthorpe Remand Centre
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish rules establishing the return on capital and turnover which the prison department will be expected to make when submitting a tender for the management of Everthorpe remand centre.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [holding answer 25 January 1991]: If the prison service decides to tender for the contract for the management of Everthorpe remand centre we would not propose publishing the make-up of the tender, since this could prejudice or distort the competition for the contract.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  EC Funding
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those areas in Britain that currently benefit from(a) RESIDER, (b) RENAVAL and (c) RECHAR; how much money they receive from the European Community in regional aid; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  The qualifying areas for RESIDER and RENEVAL are as follows:RESIDER: The county of South Yorkshire and Scunthorpe travel-to-work area;
  RENAVAL: Plymouth travel-to-work area, the county of Tyne and Wear, and Middlesbrough and Langbaurgh districts of Cleveland, Wirral and Sefton districts of Merseyside, Kirkcaldy travel-to-work area and parts of Dunfermline and Alloa travel-to-work areas in Fife region, and Glasgow and Greenock travel-to-work areas in Strathclyde.
  The qualifying areas for RECHAR were listed in the Official Journal of the European Communities No. C177 of 18 July 1990.

  The RESIDER programme and two of the RENAVAL programmes are already current; they provide for 54 mecu of European regional development fund grant up to the

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  end of 1993. The RECHAR programmes and the remaining RENAVAL programmes are expected to provide for approximately 130 mecu of ERDF grant over the same period.

  Office Furniture
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many United Kingdom companies tendered for his Department's recent contract for office furniture.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department has awarded a number of contracts to different companies to supply furniture in recent months.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which company was awarded his Department's recent contract for office furniture.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department has awarded a number of contracts to different companies to supply furniture in recent months.

  Telecommunications Council
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Telecommunications Council on 14 December 1990.

  Mr. Redwood
  The main item for discussion was a communication from the Commission to the Council on the Commission's green paper on satellite communications —"Towards Europe-wide systems and services—Green Paper on a common approach in the field of Satellite communications in the European Community"—which was published on 20 November 1990. The Commission's proposals envisage wide-ranging liberalisation of the use of satellite terminal equipment on a Community-wide basis and equitable and non-discriminatory access to satellite capacity for all telecommunications service providers. The Council held an orientation debate in which the United Kingdom strongly supported the Commission's proposals.

  The Council also adopted a resolution on the final phase of the co-ordinated introduction of pan-European public digital mobile cellular communications in the Community—GSM—and a recommendation on the co-ordinated introduction of digital European cordless telecommunications—DECT. A common position was agreed on a proposal for a Council directive on the frequency bands to be reserved for DECT.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Diplomatic Immunity
  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total number of foreign diplomats within the United Kingdom accredited to embassies and consulates, respectively, showing within the total the numbers by status against each foreign embassy and consulate; and how many of the total are entitled to diplomatic immunity.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The total number of diplomatic staff accredited to foreign and commonwealth missions in the United Kingdom are:456

  Number

  a. Diplomatic agents

  2,382

  b. Members of Administrative and Technical Staff

  2,306

  c. Members of Service Staff

  393

  d. Consular officers accredited to subordinate consulates

  391

  All members of the staff of diplomatic missions in London who are not United Kingdom nationals nor permanently resident here enjoy a degree of diplomatic immunity under the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964. Those who are diplomatic agents enjoy personal inviolability including freedom from arrest or detention. They are immune from the criminal jurisdiction of the receiving state, and except in relation to certain private matters, from its civil and administrative jurisdiction. Members of the administrative and technical staff also enjoy personal inviolability and the same immunities except that their immunity from civil and administrative jurisdiction does not extend to acts performed outside the course of their duties. Members of the service staff have immunity only in respect of acts performed in the course of their duties. The immunity of consular officers is governed by the Consular Relations Act 1968.

  To list the number of staff at each embassy and consulate by status could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The London Diplomatic List, published biannually, lists diplomatic agents, by mission, accredited to foreign embassies; a copy is available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Sillars
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give, for each of the past five years to the nearest available date, the number of traffic and criminal offences, respectively, by foreign diplomats who were able to claim immunity, with the offences registered by embassy or consulate, and the action that was taken by Her Majesty's Government in the most serious cases.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our policy on diplomatic immunities and privileges is set out in the 1985 White Paper. In the most serious cases we require the withdrawal of the diplomat concerned. The figures requested for the past five years are shown in the table. Details of serious offences and unpaid parking fines are made annually to the House —the last one by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to my hon. Friends the Members for Gloucester (Mr. French) and Battersea (Mr. Bowis) on 26 April 1990, at columns 303–5.

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Traffic offences1

  (a) Drink/Driving

  24

  25

  28

  27

  24

  (b) Minor offences

  71

  86

  103

  75

  52

  Serious offences

  Includes (a) above

  41

  40

  44

  40

  33

  Parking

  Unpaid fines

  22,331

  14,437

  10,079

  7,831

  26,282

  Diplomats withdrawn at FCO request

  17

  18

  14

  14

  6

  1 Technically all traffic offences are "criminal" offences.

  2 Provisional to 31 October 1990—latest figures processed.

  Cambodia
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the number of Cambodians still suffering from injuries inflicted under the Khmer Rouge regime; and what steps he has taken and will take to bring Pol Pot and others before the world court under article 9 of the genocide convention.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There is no accurate information available on the number of Cambodians still suffering from injuries inflicted during the Pol Pot regime. Article IX of the genocide convention concerns disputes between states, not the prosecution of individuals. Only states may be parties in cases before the International Court of Justice, which has no criminal jurisdiction.

  Ascension Island
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on feral cats on Ascension island.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  There is no statistical evidence that feral cats presently represent a major problem on Ascension island, but the matter is under review. If it appears necessary, we shall take steps to reduce the feral cat population.

ENERGY

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has for a single national scale for the energy efficiency rating of domestic dwellings.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 7 December 1990 at columns 243–44.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has in accordance with section 47 of the Electricity Act 1989, on measures taken by the Director General of Electricity Supply in respect of combined heat and power and the extent of its outlined and planned use in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Office of Electricity Regulation, in consultation with the Energy Efficiency Office and representatives of industry, are in the process of compiling a database of CHP projects operating in Great Britain. This should give the Director General of Electricity Supply, Government and industry a good indication of how CHP is progressing.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Southern Sudan
  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 Sudan to allow the newly-formed Sudanese Council of Churches to operate famine relief in southern Sudan.
  458
  Mrs. Chalker
  We have made representations to the Government of Sudan, through the United Kingdom's chairmanship of the donor group in Khartoum, to allow non-government organisations to operate relief activities throughout Sudan to alleviate the present food crisis. We have not taken separate action regarding individual organisations.

  Jablonna Conference
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial contribution from public funds was made, and what other support from his Department was given, in respect of the conference at Jablonna, Poland, arranged through the Jagiellonian Foundation in October 1990; and who attended.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The know-how fund made a contribution of £8,000 towards the costs of the recent Jagiellonian foundation seminar held to discuss general questions of curriculum reform in the Polish educational context.

  No other support was given by my Department. No complete record is available of the names of all those who attended, but among those who did so were:
  Dr. Leo Katzen, Department of Economics, Leicester University;
  David J. Levy, Department of Sociology, Middlesex Polytechnic;
  Professor Roger Scruton, Birkbeck College, London;
  Dr. John Marks, Director, Education Research Trust;
  Ken Connelly, retired headmaster;
  Professor Anthony O'Hear, Philosophy, Bradford University;
  Dr. Geoffrey Partington, Department of Education, Flinders University of Southern Australia;
  Professor David Cooper, Philosophy, Durham University;
  President of Philosophy of Education Society;
  Dr. Brian Davies, School of Education, University College, Cardiff;
  Dr. Andrew King, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Leicester University;
  Susan Wright, Department of Education, North London Polytechnic;
  Dr. Lawrence Norcross, retired headmaster;
  Stuart Sexton, Headmaster;
  Liz Lightfoot, Education correspondent, Mail on Sunday;
  Marek Matraszek, Jagiellonian Trust, Oxford;
  Professor Anthony Flew, Reading University, Philosophy Educational Theorist;
  Professor Richard Lynn, University of Ulster, Educational Psychologist;
  Chris Coldman, Mathematics teacher, London;
  Wiktor Kulerski, Minister of Education;
  Dr. Andrzej Pachocinski, Department of Education, Warsaw University;
  Dr. Wawrzyniec Konarski, Department of Education, Warsaw University;
  Dr. Milowit Kuninski, Department of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University, Krakow:
  Dr. Anton Kaminski, Department of Sociology, Warsaw University, and advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs;
  Dr. Stefania Szscurkowska, Ministry of Education;
  Iwona Langer-Kowalewska, Secondary school headmistress, Gdansk;
  Magdalena Pilch, Secondary School Headmistress, Warsaw;
  Dr. Witold Karczewski, Pan, Warsaw;
  together with school teachers from several parts of the country, and occasional visitors from the social and political science and education departments in the university.
  Dr. Nicolae Sacalis, from the Department of pedagogy at Bucharest University.
  Professor Wayne Shute, department of education at Brigham Young University, Salt Lake City;
  came as an independent observer.

  Third-World Students
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many students from Third-world countries are currently studying in this country on(a) Her Majesty's Government's bursaries, (b) their own resources and (c) other sources of finance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  In the current financial year over 21,000 students from developing countries are receiving help from United Kingdom Government support schemes for study and training in this country. A total of 45,000 full time students from developing countries enrolled in October 1988 for further and higher education courses in this country for the academic year 1988–89, the latest year for which such a figure is available. This would include some of those here under United Kingdom Government support schemes as well as those here under their own resources and other sources of finance; these categories are not separately identifiable. The two figures quoted are compiled from different sources and in different ways and are not comparable.

  Project/Programme

  Description/Aims

  Teff Research

  Collaborative research to improve varieties of Teff

  Rainfall Monitoring

  Rainfall and crop development estimation and monitoring system

  Sidamo Rangelands

  Improved food security for ten local communities in South Sidamo; managed by CARE

  Koisha Rural Development

  Increase food production and strengthen rural economy in Koisha region of Sidamo; managed by SOS-Sahel

  Land Use—Western Hararghe

  Introduce sustainable system of land use for 17,000 families in Western Hararghe; managed by CARE

  Dairy Goat Project

  Increase rural incomes by improving the productivity of dairy goats managed by women; managed by FARM Africa

  Farmers' Research Project

  Assist NGOs working with communities in North Omo region to contribute more effectively to farmers' agricultural research; managed by FARM Africa

  Projects funded under the joint funding scheme

  Action Aid (Small Scale seed production)

  Develop economically viable and sustainable small scale seed enterprises

  Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (Rural Development)

  To increase productive capacity of land

  OXFAM (Delanta Agriculture)

  To promote post drought agricultural rehabilitation and prevent environmental degradation of the land

  OXFAM (Hararghe Agricultural)

  Construct a new seed store and to replace seed stocks lost in the drought

  Tear Fund (Cattle Project, Durami)

  To introduce the Borena breed bloodstock into the fresian/local bloodstock to increase milk yields and help improve disease resistance

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many tonnes of food aid have been delivered to Ethiopia since the Food and Agriculture Organisation appeal of 13 December 1990(a) from Her Majesty's Government and (b) in total.

  Mrs. Chalker
  A total of 19,000 tonnes of United Kingdom food aid, provided through the World Food Programme, is being delivered at Assab this week. Between 28 and 31 December 1990 some 20,467 tonnes of food aid from other donors were delivered at Assab. A total of 42,000 tonnes is expected, but not confirmed, in January.

  These figures do not include cross border food aid figures for Ethiopia. The total figure for cross-border

  Ethiopia and Sudan (Famine)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he first received warnings of the current famine in Ethiopia and Sudan.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Initial indications from international agencies of possible food shortages were received on September 13—Sudan—and 14—Ethiopia. Confirmed reports arrived in mid-December.

  Ethiopia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all assistance given for agricultural rehabilitation and restocking of seeds, tools and cattle in Ethiopia since the 1989–90 food shortage.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Relevant projects supported since the 1989–90 food shortage are:

  operations for December/January is estimated at 30,000 to 35,000 tonnes for Eritrea. Comparable figures are not available for Tigray.

  Famine Relief
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all allocations of famine relief made to African countries in 1990 and 1991, with the date on which the allocation was made and stating whether or not the supplies have arrived for (i) aid from the Overseas Development Administration and (ii) aid from the European Community.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The information is as follows:
  461

  United Kingdom Food Aid committed in 1990

  Country

  Tonnage

  Estimated cost £million

  Ethiopia

  53,836

  8·230

  Mozambique

  15,000

  1·740

  Sudan

  10,550

  2·807

  Tanzania

  2,065

  0·201

  Zaire

  3,725

  0·446

  Other United Kingdom emergency relief in 1990

  Month

  Country

  £ million

  January

  Uganda

  0·03

  February

  Liberia

  0·392

  March

  Rwanda

  0·05

  April

  Sudan

  3·0

  April

  Ethiopia

  5·0

  June

  Sudan

  0·033

  June

  Sierra Leone

  0·067

  July

  Angola

  0·5

  August

  Mozambique

  3·5

  August

  Sierra Leone

  0·084

  September

  Ghana

  0·034

  October

  Ethiopia

  0·5

  December

  Ethiopia

  2·5

  December

  Sudan

  1·2

  December

  Angola

  0·5

  The hon. Lady will recall from my statement to the House on 19 December 1990 the most recent emergency aid package worth £7·2 million which is now being allocated to British non-governmental organisations and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. In addition, I have today announced a further £8·75 million package of famine relief for Ethiopia: It comprises
  35,000 tonnes of food aid for 1991 worth some £6·5 million.
  £2 million in non-food assistance to enable the food to be delivered.
  £250,000 to UNHCR for Somali refugees in Ethiopia.

  This new food aid includes an immediate shipment of 10,000 tonnes of food sent into the recently reopened port of Massawa. It has not been possible in the time available to give details of the dates on which the shipments arrived at their destination.

  It has also not been possible in the time available to obtain full details of emergency aid provided by the European Community for African countries affected by the famine. However, in the case of Ethiopia normal and emergency food aid provided by the Community in 1990 amounted to some 115 mecu of £80 million, of which the United Kingdom share was some £18 million. Most of this food had been delivered by October 1990.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what improvements have been made in the famine early warning systems, and delivery mechanisms of relief aid used by the ODA since the 1984–85 famine.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We continue to rely upon the reports of the Food and Agriculture Organisation's global information and early warning system, supplemented by special reports from both the World Food Programme and international and British relief agencies. These reports draw on information from national warning systems, to which the European Community contributes. The quality of these has improved substantially since 1984–85. The 462
  recent WFP crop assessment missions to Ethiopia and Sudan played a crucial role in the planning of our current relief activities.

  In 1984–85 air drops were necessary to reach those in need in Ethiopia. We now have three established land routes for delivering relief supplies—the southern line, the northern line through the recently re-opened port of Massawa and cross-border from Sudan.

  The regular meetings on the Horn of Africa I hold with British NGOs have also helped both the ODA and the NGOs in planning our emergency relief operations.

  These improvements have helped enable us to take early and speedy action in response to the threatened famine in Ethiopia and elsewhere in Africa.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Inflation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change in inflation has been from July 1983 to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maples
  The annual rate of inflation, as measured by the retail prices index, was 4·2 per cent. for the 12 months to July 1983 compared with 9·3 per cent. for December 1990. Over the period from July 1983 to December 1990 the index has increased by 52·3 per cent., an annual rate of increase of 5·8 per cent. on average.

  Consumer Debt
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the level of outstanding consumer debt; and what it was in real terms in 1982.

  Mr. Maples
  The level of outstanding consumer debt at the end of the third quarter 1990 was £49·6 billion. Due to changes in coverage, comparable figures are not available for 1982. Those which are available are in the September 1982 issue of Business Monitor SDM6 "Credit business of finance houses and other specialist consumer credit grantors". This publication is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Charities
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is proposed that charities should become liable to charge value added tax on the production and sale of books, magazines and other printed matter as part of the European proposals for value added tax harmonisation; and whether it is proposed that charities would be able to reclaim value added tax paid for(a) the purchase and (b) the production of books, magazines and other printed matter.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Commission's most recent proposals, in May 1989, on the VAT rate structure in the single market were not entirely clear as to what might continue to be zero rated. Subsequent European Community discussions have advanced matters little. The United Kingdom has, however, stressed that we must retain the ability to apply a zero rate to those supplies that are currently treated in this way. These, of course, include the production and sale by charities of books, magazines and some other printed matter. As any Community legislation in this area requires unanimity, the United Kingdom's position is protected.
  463
  There have been no proposals to alter the rules in respect of VAT reclaimable on purchases and production of books, and so on.

  Home Carers
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the practice followed in other member states of the European Community with respect to the charging of value added tax on the supply and delivery of goods and services to home carers.

  Mrs Gillian Shephard
  Comprehensive information would be disproportionately expensive to obtain. However, the provisions of the EC sixth VAT directive are clear on the charging of tax on the supply and delivery of goods and services, whether to home carers or others. I have no reason to believe that other member states' practices are not in conformity with EC law. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind, perhaps he will write to me.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 18 December 1990, what representations he has made to the EC Commission regarding the constraints of EC value added tax law with respect to the delivery of services and goods to home carers.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The United Kingdom is bound by the EC sixth directive, to which all the member states gave their assent in 1977. The Government are not in a position to challenge its legal requirements.

  Credit Cards
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many credit cards are in circulation in the United Kingdom; what was the comparable level in 1980; what are the comparable figures on a per capita basis in other European Community countries.

  Mr. Maples
  The only data available are from bank issuers of Mastercard and Visa. These show that at the end

  Proposed date of publication (1991)

  Supplement to the Autumn Statement

  Friday 1 February

  Department of Social Security

  Friday 1 February

  Ministry of Defence

  Tuesday 5 February

  Department of Employment

  Tuesday 5 February

  Home Office (including Charity Commission)

  Tuesday 5 February

  Cabinet Office

  Thursday 7 February

  Chancellor of the Exchequer's Departments and Net Payments to EC Institutions

  Thursday 7 February

  Energy

  Thursday 7 February

  Department of Transport

  Thursday 7 February

  Department of Health and Office of Population Censuses and Surveys

  Thursday 7 February

  Department of Education and Science

  Monday 11 February

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Intervention Board and Forestry Commission

  Tuesday 12 February

  Trade and Industry

  Tuesday 12 February

  Environment

  Wednesday 13 February

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office (including ODA)

  Wednesday 13 February

  Office of Arts and Libraries

  Wednesday 13 February

  Legal Departments

  Thursday 14 February

  Scotland

  Thursday 14 February

  Wales

  Friday 15 February

  Northern Ireland

  Friday 15 February

  Note: Copies will be available from the Vote Office.
  464
  of 1989 there were 28·6 million such cards issued in the United Kingdom. The comparable figure at the end of 1980 was 11·7 million. Data for other countries could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Bingo Duty
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much bingo duty(a) yielded to the Exchequer and (b) cost to collect in the financial year ended 31 March 1990.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  In the year ended 31 march 1990, bingo duty yielded £66 million; no separate cost of collecting bingo duty is available; the cost of collecting all the exise duties on betting and gaming, totalling £976 million, was £4·03 million.

  Personal Debt
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the present outstanding personal debts on(a) bank credit cards, (b) retail accounts, (c) loans on personal accounts, (d) specialist credit and (e) finance house loans.

  Mr. Maples
  At the end of the third quarter 1990 the amounts outstanding were

  £ billion

  (a) Bank credit cards

  7·6

  (b) Retail accounts

  2·3

  (c) Bank loans on personal accounts

  17·0

  (d) Finance houses and other specialist credit grantors

  20·7

  Departmental Reports
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the 1991 departmental reports to be published.

  Mr. Mellor
  The proposed dates for publication of 1991 departmental reports and the supplement to the autumn statement are as follows:

  EC Personnel (Compensation)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will raise with the European Court of Auditors the recent EC decision to pay £4,500,000 in compensation to 150 EC personnel; and if he will make a statement on the implications for the United Kingdom contribution to the EC.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 25 January 1991]: The Government have noted with concern the observations in the European Court of Auditors' recent report on the 1989 EC budget in connection with redundancy payments to temporary staff at the joint research centre—JRC. The estimated cost to the United Kingdom of these payments is some £300,000 after abatement. The Government recognise that costs are frequently incurred when any organisation is restructured, but will want to ensure that measures taken to correct staff imbalances at the JRC do not result in unwarranted expenditure and that they will have the intended effect. The Government will therefore aim to pursue this issue in forthcoming Council discussions on the European Court of Auditors' report and in the review of the JRC planned for later this year.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Housing
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) unoccupied housing executive houses there are, (b) priority applicants are on the waiting list, (c) transfers are listed and (d) housing executive houses have been sold in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990, in Newtownabbey borough council area.

  Mr. Needham
  These are matters for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and I am advised by its chief executive that the information requested in respect of the Newtownabbey borough council district is as follows:

  (a) At 31 December 1990 there were 44 unoccupied Housing Executive dwellings available for letting.

  (b) The number of priority applicants on the waiting list at 31 December 1990 was 93.

  (c) The number of applicants on the waiting list for transfer to the district at 31 December 1990 was 970.

  (d) The number of Housing Executive dwellings sold is as follows:

  Houses sold

  1987

  165

  1988

  200

  1989

  201

  1990

  165

  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) unoccupied housing executive houses there are, (b) priority applicants are on the waiting list, (c) transfer requests are listed and (d) housing executive houses have been sold in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990 in Antrim borough council area.

  Mr. Needham
  These are matters for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and I am advised by its chief executive that the information requested in respect of the Antrim borough council district is as follows:

  a. At 31 December 1990 there were 37 unoccupied Housing Executive dwellings available for letting.

  b. The number of priority applicants on the waiting list at 31 December 1990 was 58.

  466

  c. The number of applicants on the waiting list for transfer to the district at 31 December 1990 was 551.

  d. The number of Housing Executive dwellings sold is as follows:

  Houses sold

  1987

  129

  1988

  125

  1989

  174

  1990

  239

  Killead Bypass
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the completion date for the Killead bypass.

  Mr. Needham
  Killead bypass is expected to be completed in autumn 1992.

  Roads, Newtownards
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to remove the mound of earth at the lower end of Hollymount crescent, Newtownards; what action has been taken against the rats at this location; and if planning permission has been granted for development at this location.

  Mr. Needham
  Outline planning permission was granted for residential development at the Hollymount crescent site on 2 March 1971. On the detailed plans approved in 1975 the area in question was shown as open space. The Department of the Environment (NI) has attempted without success to trace the owner of the land with a view to seeking his co-operation in having an environmental improvement scheme carried out at this location. The problem of rodent infestation is a matter for Ards borough council.

  Local Enterprise Development Unit
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many LEDU-assisted firms went into liquidation or ceased trading in 1988, 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Needham
  This information is available only in respect of firms that were LEDU clients at the time they went into liquidation or ceased trading. The numbers of such firms in the years stated are detailed in the table.

  Year

  Number of Liquidations

  Number ceasing to trade

  Total

  1988

  16

  15

  31

  1989

  15

  11

  26

  1990

  17

  8

  25

  Local Authorities
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members there are in each of the 26 local authorities; and what was the total amount of allowances and expenses paid to these members by each of the local authorities in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is set out in the table.
  467

  Local Authority

  Number of Members

  Total amount of allowances and expenses paid to members by local authorities in each of the last five years

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1. Antrim

  19

  10,004

  6,976

  13,917

  21,235

  120,051

  2. Ards

  20

  17,029

  11,237

  16,127

  128,564

  145,000

  3. Armagh

  22

  14,835

  2,531

  12,962

  22,796

  127,007

  4. Ballymena

  23

  14,597

  7,887

  18,203

  27,152

  30,958

  5. Ballymoney

  16

  7,498

  4,933

  10,320

  12,571

  120,771

  6. Banbridge

  15

  10,337

  4,245

  14,970

  20,926

  17,727

  7. Belfast

  51

  55,861

  34,387

  53,721

  104,544

  186,459

  8. Carrickfergus

  15

  13,249

  6,050

  18,987

  134,832

  141,012

  9. Castlereagh

  21

  19,317

  11,830

  19,124

  35,540

  39,153

  10. Coleraine

  21

  12,668

  6,450

  14,620

  16,877

  22,510

  11. Cookstown

  16

  5,327

  2,780

  3,198

  5,401

  8,857

  12. Craigavon

  26

  18,961

  8,116

  8,723

  45,433

  44,358

  13. Derry

  30

  26,441

  31,050

  32,923

  42,279

  45,477

  14, Down

  23

  21,537

  16,842

  27,430

  33,092

  135,464

  15. Dungannon

  22

  11,060

  9,314

  12,564

  19,489

  24,301

  16. Fermanagh

  23

  23,843

  20,748

  17,362

  20,994

  28,308

  17. Lame

  15

  9,978

  5,694

  11,063

  13,167

  113,294

  18. Limavady

  15

  11,778

  5,172

  13,460

  18,640

  121,731

  19. Lisburn

  28

  26,751

  11,675

  33,598

  52,053

  59,345

  20. Magherafelt

  15

  4,149

  5,232

  7,350

  7,058

  11,256

  21. Moyle

  15

  8,620

  8,970

  11,820

  12,719

  118,978

  22. Newry and Mourne

  30

  54,266

  57,123

  48,405

  62,282

  171,804

  23. Newtownabbey

  25

  24,220

  10,182

  27,360

  46,125

  156,094

  24. North Down

  24

  18,486

  17,819

  24,010

  42,729

  135,351

  25. Omagh

  21

  19,834

  19,007

  27,354

  32,548

  1133,172

  26. Strabane

  15

  31,615

  20,344

  22,976

  27,845

  138,258

  Totals

  566

  492,261

  346,594

  522,547

  806,891

  896,697

  1 Estimates.

  Women Doctors
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the recent announcement about women doctors and their careers will be applied to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  The report of the joint working party on "Women Doctors and Their Careers" was issued by the Department of Health (London) on 22 January 1991. The report's recommendations have been drawn up in terms suitable for application in England only, but the Department of Health and Social Security for Northern Ireland will consider these and the action necessary in the light of needs in Northern Ireland.

  Toxic Waste Incinerator
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what public safety and environmental impact assessment criteria and procedures would be invoked by the Government in respect of a proposal to site a toxic waste incinerator in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 28 January 1991]: The effect of a proposal to site a toxic waste incinerator in Northern Ireland on public safety would be examined by the Department of Economic Development's health and safety inspectorate which enforces the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order 1978. The order requires every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not exposed to risks to their health and safety. Regulations prevent the granting of planning permission to proposals of this type unless environmental information has first been considered. Schedule 1(8) of the Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations (NI) 1989 applies and any planning
  468
  application for such an incinerator must be accompanied by an environmental statement. These statements are available for public information.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on planning applications made by Du Pont regarding waste incineration at Maydown.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 28 January 1991]: The only planning application made by Du Pont at Maydown for a waste incinerator was submitted on the 10 October 1990 for the
  "installation of a solid waste burner"
  the purpose of which is to incinerate only lycra waste from the existing plant. Schedule 1(8) of the Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations (NI) 1989 applies to this application and the company have been asked to submit an environmental statement for consideration with the planning application.

  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any Government Department or public agency has had discussions with Du Pont about the establishment of a toxic waste incinerator at its Maydown complex.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 28 January 1991]: In October 1990, Du Pont (NI) Ltd. advised the Industrial Development Board, the Department of Economic Development, and the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland of a proposal to establish a hazardous waste incinerator on its site at Maydown, Co. Londonderry. In December 1990, the company confirmed in writing that an evaluation of the project was under way. Officials from the Department involved will be available for consultations with the company as appropriate.
  469
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions have taken place with Republic of Ireland Government departments or public agencies regarding possible siting for a toxic waste incinerator.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 28 January 1991]: In November 1990, correspondence from the appropriate Minister in the Republic of Ireland indicated that the Republic of Ireland government was a at an advanced stage in its consideration of a central hazardous waste incinerator to service Irish industry, that it had become aware that Du Pont (UK) Ltd. was considering the provision of such a facility on its site at Maydown, Co. Londonderry and sought the views of the Northern Ireland authorities.

  The response indicated that Du Pont (UK) Ltd. was engaged in the necessary studies of all the implications of such a facility.

  Informal discussion of the matter between officials has been in accord with the correspondence.

ENVIRONMENT

  Empty Housing
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of empty properties owned by(a) local authorities and (b) housing associations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The available information for April 1990 for England is in the table

  Vacant dwellings(thousands)

  Local authority1

  99·2

  Housing association2

  19·7

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

  2 Derived from housing association returns to the Housing Corporation for March 1990. Includes 12,700 dwellings, mainly purchased from the private sector, which require rehabilitation work before being suitable for occupation.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what new initiatives he is taking to tackle the problem of homelessness in(a) South Yorkshire and (b) Doncaster;

  (2) what new and additional finance is being made available to help (a) local authorities and (b) voluntary organisations to tackle the problem of homelessness in (i) South Yorkshire generally and (ii) Doncaster.

  Mr. Yeo
  Housing investment programme allocations to South Yorkshire authorities for 1991–92 total £56·574 million, of which Doncaster's share is £7·950 million. When these allocations were determined, the levels of homelessness experienced were taken into account, both through generalised needs index indicators and in the distribution of resources not allocated through the GNI. In addition, Doncaster MBC's proposal to provide an additional hostel for the homeless was taken specifically into account. Our two main national homelessness 470
  initiatives, involving expenditure of £396 million, are targeted on the areas of greatest need in London and the south-east. In the longer term, we will consider extension to other areas.

  Sheffield and Barnsley's urban programme submissions, which include schemes directed at the homeless, are under consideration now. Neither Doncaster nor Rotherham have included such schemes in their urban programme submissions.

  Applications from voluntary organisations assisting the homeless for funding in 1991–92 under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 are also currently being considered.

  Unused Sites, Thamesdown
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the unused sites owned by public bodies within the borough of Thamesdown, together with their owners and sizes in hectares, as detailed in the land register.

  Mr. Yeo
  In 1989 individual public sector owners were asked to keep their own registers of their unused and underused land. Since then up-to-date information has ceased to be available from my right hon. Friend's register. Information on sites on owners' registers as at 31 March 1990 is available from individual owners for their holdings and from district or London borough councils for sites within their areas for which owners have deposited information.

  English Heritage
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what has been English Heritage's total education budget for each of the last three years for which figures are available;

  (2) how many school children are estimated to have used English Heritage properties in each of the last three years for which figures are available;

  (3) what has been English Heritage's budget for educational publications, including audio-visual productions, in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

  Sir George Young
  These are matters for English Heritage.

  Heveningham Hall, Suffolk
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to whom Heveningham hall in Suffolk was sold.

  Sir George Young
  I.D. Investment Development AG.

  Refuse-derived Fuel
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the arguments his Department put forward during negotiations on the derogation agreement with the European Community for the use and development of refuse-derived fuel.

  Mr. Baldry
  During the negotiations in the European Community of the draft directives on municipal waste incineration, the United Kingdom sought derogation for refuse-derived fuel in view of the considerable investment and research being undertaken in the United Kingdom to
  471
  develop RDG as an economic alternative fuel in the interests of recycling, the securing of energy from waste, and the development of waste disposal options.

  Crayfish
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations his Department has received from the Nature Conservancy Council since 1982 recommending the listing of American signal crayfish under schedule 9 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  My Department has received a number of representations from the Nature Conservancy Council about this subject in recent years. In October 1990, the council formally recommended that the American signal crayfish should be added to schedule 9 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. My Department is currently considering this recommendation and undertaking the consultation required under section 26 of the 1981 Act.

  Nine Elms Coldstore
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his consent has been sought by the Covent Garden market authority for the demolition of the Nine Elms coldstore and for alternative proposals for the site.

  Mr. Yeo
  No.

  City Grant, Bradford
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce a decision on the application for £5 million city grant by 3Ds Ltd.; and how many applications are anticipated for the west end scheme in Bradford.

  Mr. Key
  The proposal for the first phase in the development of Bradford west end is under consideration. Discussions were held earlier this month with 3D Ltd. and further details have been requested from the developer. Once all information has been provided, the Department will be able to undertake a full appraisal of the scheme. No details are available for the likely number of any future applications arising from the proposal.

  Genetically Modified Organisms
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on efforts to secure international agreement on the environmental safety of genetically modified organisms.

  Mr. Baldry
  The White Paper on the environment, "Our Common Inheritance", recognised that the safe development of biotechnology based on genetically modified organisms—GMOs—requires the agreement of satisfactory environmental safeguards, both nationally and internationally. Good progress has been made to date. In particular, the United Kingdom Government played an influential role in the adoption last year of two European Communities directives on GMOs and has made provision in part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for implementation of their environmental requirements.

  The United Kingdom is actively participating in work to secure wider international agreement on the safety of GMOs. An opportunity for further significant progress is
  472
  provided by the United Nations conference on environment and development to be held in Brazil in 1992—UNCED 1992. As part of the preparations for the conference, the UK Government have responded positively to a Netherlands proposal for a UN approach on biotechnology safety and are developing that proposal further in collaboration with their Dutch counterparts. The proposal aims to encourage the effective risk assessment and management of GMO activities worldwide through the development of international guidelines based on the exchange of information and expertise. The Government see this as a positive contribution to preparations for UNCED 1992 and hope that other countries will support the UK and the Netherlands in seeking to make this initiative a success.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources will be available for local authorities under the urban programme in 1991–92; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I am pleased to announce initial urban programme resource allocations for 1991–92 totalling over £264 million. The resources will be allocated to the 57 urban programme partnership and programme authorities in England. The money will be used to support a wide range of projects aimed at stimulating enterprise and the development of local economies, improving the environmental quality of inner-city areas particularly through greening, and improving the quality of life in inner-city areas.

  The urban programme has achieved a great deal over many years. I now want to build on that success. Our aim is to promote vital and self-reliant communities. The key, I believe, is to target resources effectively on those areas of particular need. I also want to encourage the partnerships that local authorities are developing with other local interests: local business, voluntary bodies, and of course the people in the inner city areas.

  The resources I am now making available will allow local authorities to extend this good practice already well established in many areas.

  A list of the allocations to individual authorities for 1991–92 is set out in the table.

  Urban Programme Allocations 1991–92

  £ million

  Newcastle/Gateshead

  17·096

  Hartlepool

  2·012

  Langbaurgh

  2·059

  Middlesborough

  5·450

  North Tyneside

  3·560

  South Tyneside

  5·025

  Stockton

  1·669

  Sunderland

  5·332

  Manchester/Salford

  21·749

  Blackburn

  4·010

  Bolton

  4·010

  Burnley

  2·173

  Oldham

  3·965

  Preston

  2·461

  Rochdale

  3·975

  Wigan

  2·722

  Liverpool

  19·115

  Halton

  1·537

  Knowsley

  4·177

  St. Helens

  1·882

  473

  £ million

  Sefton

  1·742

  Wirral

  3·713

  Birmingham

  23·535

  Coventry

  4·772

  Dudley

  1·637

  Sandwell

  4·776

  Walsall

  1·763

  Wolverhampton

  5·398

  The Wrekin

  1·009

  Derby

  1·312

  Leicester

  4·990

  Nottingham

  5·350

  Barnsley

  1·832

  Bradford

  4·711

  Doncaster

  2·000

  Hull

  5·120

  Kirklees

  1·136

  Leeds

  5·490

  Rotherham

  2·000

  Sheffield

  6·182

  Hackney

  5·585

  Islington

  9·240

  Lambeth

  9·084

  Brent

  2·680

  Greenwich

  1·536

  Hammersmith/Fulham

  2·625

  Haringey

  2·865

  Kensington/Chelsea

  1·860

  Lewisham

  2·584

  Newham

  3·061

  Southwark

  2·816

  Tower Hamlets

  4·910

  Wandsworth

  3·180

  Bristol

  1·715

  Plymouth

  1·380

  Outward Bound Funding

  Through Local Authorities

  0·270

  Special Regional Initiatives

  3·400

  Combined Heat and Power
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that his technical guidance accompanying the introduction of integrated pollution control will recognise and promote the environmental and economic benefits of combined heat and power.

  Mr. Trippier
  The chief inspector's technical guidance will focus on the requirements for authorisation under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. However, in seeking to establish the best practicable means not entailing excessive cost for preventing, minimising or rendering harmless polluting substances, and the best practicable environmental option to protect the environment as a whole, the guidance might identify the need to include conditions in an authorisation which an operator could in fact meet by the use of combined heat and power.

HEALTH

  Under-fives
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give details of(a) the secretariat and (b) the annual budget of the inter-departmental consultative group for under-fives.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The secretariat of this group, which I chair, is found from administrative staff in the Department's community services division. There is no separate budget allocation for the work of this group. The group last met on 25 September 1990 when the main subject discussed was the Children Act 1989 and the draft guidance on day care services. The group's next meeting is arranged for 13 March, when it is intended to discuss quality systems for child care providers and consultants, and day care services on Crown premises.

  Maternity Units (Security)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what requests he has had for support for the initiative taken by the Royal College of Midwives to improve the security of maternity units and hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  None, but we are aware that the general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives wrote to the chairmen of all district health authorities on 13 December 1990 asking them to review the security system for their maternity services.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will make available resources to improve security for mothers, babies and midwives in maternity units and hospitals.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department is providing funding to the National Association of Health Authorities and Trusts to update the NHS security manual which is the main source of practical guidance to health authorities on security matters.

  It is for health authorities to decide how to use the funds already allocated to them in the light of local needs and priorities. The cost and efficiency of security arrangements within any particular hospital or unit are matters for the relevant health authority and its general managers.

  Iran-Iraq War
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Iraqi casualties from the Iran-Iraq war were treated in British hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not available centrally.

  St. Thomas's Hospital, London
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the ownership of the vacant buildings on the site of the old St. Thomas's hospital; how long they have been empty; and what plans exist for their future.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The site of the old St. Thomas's hospital in St. Thomas's street, London SE1 is no longer in the ownership of the NHS.

  Calorie Intakes
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the Health Education Authority's recommended daily calorie intake from food for(a) an adult, (b) a child 16 to 17 years, (c) a child 11 to 15 years, (d) a child six to 10 years, (e) a child three to five years and (f) a child up to two years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Health Education Authority has not made any recommendations on daily calorie intakes. Advice on daily energy requirements is provided by the chief medical officer's independent Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy—COMA. Current advice —for males and females in different age bands from those requested—is contained in the COMA report "Recommended Daily Amounts of Food Energy and Nutrients for Groups of People in the United Kingdom" published in 1979. Copies are available in the Library. COMA is nearing completion of a re-assessment of the evidence and publication of an updated report is expected later this year.

  Nuclear Power Station, Dungeness
  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to institute a full medical survey into the possible public health implications in respect of radiation levels as a result of the operation of the nuclear power station at Dungeness; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In its third report to the Government, copies of which are in the Library, the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment—COMARE—stated that investigations of the incidence of childhood cancer in the vicinity of nuclear installations would be difficult to interpret until the results of studies of the distribution of childhood cancer incidence on a nationwide basis become available. The committee will then be asked to participate in a review of the evidence relating to the incidence of childhood cancer around nuclear installations. If the hon. Member has any information that he feels may be relevant, perhaps he would write to me.

  Old People's Homes
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the privatisation of old people's homes in Leicestershire.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have received no such representations.

  Consultation
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that community health councils are fully consulted by district health authorities and hospital trusts before NHS contracts are awarded; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  District health authorities are responsible for placing contracts with providers, including NHS trusts. They will be expected to seek the views of all interested parties including community health councils, on their overall contracting plans.
  476
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if community health councils will continue to be fully consulted before the disposal, change of use or closure of health authority and hospital trust premises and resources; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  A district health authority considering a proposal involving the closure or change of use of a health building which it manages will be required to consult the relevant community health council and other interested parties about the proposal. Ministers will continue to make decisions on contested closures. NHS trusts have no duty to consult community health councils on how they manage their premises and resources.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if community health councils will retain the right to attend health authority or hospital trust meetings, including the confidential parts of such meetings after 1 April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Community health council representatives will have the right to attend district health authority and NHS trust board meetings that are open to the public. As previously, it remains for a health authority to decide which of their discussions that are closed to the general public the community health council representative may attend. NHS trust boards will be free to extend similar invitations to their local community health council if they wish.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what safeguards he has considered to ensure that the regional health authority role in funding community health councils and as the employer of community health council staff does not undermine the independence and impartiality of community health councils.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Such safeguards have not proved necessary in the 16 years that community health councils have existed. We have no evidence to suggest they are necessary now.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken to improve the community health council role of monitoring quality assurance in all health service provision; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Government have put quality at the top of the agenda for all National Health Service staff and managers. Health authorities have been urged to test the quality of their services through consumer surveys and by other means. The views of community health councils will be important and if a particular community health council has special expertise there is no reason why its health authority should not commission it to undertake such surveys.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if community health council representatives will have a right to speak at health authority or hospital trust meetings after 1 April.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Government's primary objective is that district health authorities should secure full, effective and early consultation with community health councils; the manner in which they do so is largely
  477
  for the authority's decision. National Health Service trust boards will decide for themselves whether to involve their community health councils in meetings.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the level of his Department's financial support for the work of the Association of Community Health Councils, for each of the last five years; and what the level of support will be in the next financial year.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department has provided funding as follows:

  Year

  Grant(£)

  1986–87

  40,000

  1987–88

  50,000

  1988–89

  50,000

  1989–90

  50,000

  1990–91

  50,000

  The level of funding for 1991–92 has yet to be decided.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will directly grant aid to community health councils.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There are no plans to alter the funding arrangements of community health councils. Each CHC will continue to be funded by the regional health authority which covers its district.

  Incinerators
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has carried out into the effects on human health of substances emitted from waste disposal incinerators.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment on 21 January at columns 97–98. The Government are currently funding the small area health statistics unit at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to investigate possible links between pollution from waste incinerators and ill health in the local community.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role he envisages for community health councils in respect of the work of general practitioners who become budget holders.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The responsibility of ensuring that adequate patient care is provided will rest with the family health service authority and the regional health authority. The patient will give the GP direct feedback about the service being provided. Patients will still be able to complain to a service committee whether a GP is a fund holder or not. No special role is envisaged for community health councils in respect of the work of GPs who become budget holders.

  NHS Funding
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding for health services was provided in each year since 1985(a) nationally and (b) to the Doncaster health area.
  478
  Mr. Dorrell
  The table shows total spending by Doncaster health authority from 1985–86 to 1989–90—the latest year for which information is available—and total NHS spending for the same years.

  Gross total expenditure

  NHS England

  Doncaster Health Authority (£ million)

  1985–86

  14,923

  48,842

  1986–87

  16,060

  53,520

  1987–88

  17,659

  60,197

  1988–89

  19,606

  68,670

  1989–90

  21,139

  73,298

  Notes:

  The source for the Doncaster spending figure is the annual accounts of Doncaster health authority. The figures in the table include the cost of capital schemes borne by the district and those borne in the accounts of Trent regional health authority for the district.

  HIV
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how long a person claiming payments, as a haemophiliac infected with HIV through NHS treatment, must wait before receiving full payment of the moneys awarded;

  (2) if he will take steps to ensure that haemophiliac payment claims relating to HIV contamination are dealt with quickly and in full; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The detailed provisions of the proposed settlement are under discussion with lawyers representing the plaintiffs. Payments will be made as quickly as possible once a settlement has been reached and agreed by the courts.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has received concerning mosquitoes and other biting insects as vectors for HIV and other blood-transmitted conditions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There is no evidence that mosquitoes and other biting insects act as biological vectors of HIV or blood-borne hepatitis viruses.

  Cholesterol Tests
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of tests for high cholesterol blood counts carried out, and the corresponding number of such tests requested, for each health authority, for the latest available year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Hospital Costs
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current average cost of(a) building a hospital and (b) running a hospital for one year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The average capital cost of a 300-bed district general hospital designed in accordance with principles recommended by the Department would be about £32·5 million at current prices. The running cost of such a hospital would be about £15 million per annum.

  Kidney Transplants
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the numbers of people waiting, by region, for kidney transplants and the trends in transplants and available treatment for those awaiting a donor kidney.

  Mrs. Bottomley
  The table gives the number of people waiting for kidney transplants by region as at 18 January 1991. The number of cadaveric kidney transplants performed in the United Kingdom has risen from 849 in 1978 to 1,732 in 1989; an increase of 104 per cent. The most common forms of treatment available for those awaiting a transplant are haemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. The number of renal patients receiving such treatment has risen from 2,947 in 1978 to 7,751 in 1988; an increase of 163 per cent.

  Number

  Northern

  229

  Yorkshire

  187

  Devon

  321

  East Anglia

  321

  North West Thames

  207

  North East Thames

  419

  South West Thames

  292

  South East Thames

  78

  Western

  100

  Oxford

  81

  South Western

  220

  West Midlands

  397

  Mersey

  96

  North Western

  281

  Wales

  96

  Scotland

  436

  Northern Ireland

  76

  TOTAL

  3,620

  Source: United Kingdom Transplant Service.

  Heart Attacks
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many men had heart attacks for each of the last three years for which figures are available aged(a) 20 to 30 years, (b) 31 to 40, (c) 41 to 50, (d) 51 to 60 and (e) 61 to 70 years.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information is not available in the form requested. The table gives, by age, the number of deaths of men caused by acute myocardial infarction in the last three years for which figures are available.

  Age

  1987

  1988

  1989

  20–29

  20

  27

  27

  30–39

  307

  294

  246

  40–49

  1,744

  1,600

  1,441

  50–59

  6,163

  5,451

  4,861

  60–69

  14,454

  13,984

  12,955

  Source: Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  Dental Service
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of dental examinations in each of the last 12 quarters.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information on the number of dental examinations scheduled for payment under the general dental services in England and Wales in each of the last 12 quarters is provided in the table:480

  General Dental Services: Number of Examinations Scheduled for Payment (including Trauma) by quarter for England and Wales

  Quarter ending

  Number of treatments

  March 1988

  7,530,040

  June 1988

  7,433,470

  September 1988

  7,948,830

  December 1988

  8,292,230

  March 1989

  7,948,220

  June 1989

  7,793,040

  September 1989

  7,378,850

  December 1989

  7,449,590

  March 1990

  7,084,060

  June 1990

  7,738,310

  September 1990

  7,390,200

  December 1990

  Not available

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the costs of the general dental service came from patients' charges in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The proportion of gross costs of the general dental service in England met from patient charges is given in the table:

  Charge income as a proportion of gross cost

  Per cent.

  1985–86

  29·8

  1986–87

  29·9

  1987–88

  29·4

  1988–89

  30·7

  1989–90

  38·7

  New NHS Facilities
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will specify by district the new national health service facilities which are planned to be opened after 1 April.

  Mr. Dorrell
  According to information held centrally, 96 schemes each costing over £1 million are due for completion between 1 April 1991 and 31 March 1992. A list of these has been placed in the Library. The Department does not routinely collect information on smaller schemes or hold details of health authorities' plans for the opening of new facilities.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will announce NHS trusts' external financing limits for 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The external financing limits for 1991–92 for all NHS trusts which will become operational on 1 April 1991, excluding that for the Northern Devon healthcare trust which will be announced later, are set out in the table. These limits do not include provision for medical audit and resource management developments in trusts which will be added subsequently.

  Capital expenditure by NHS trusts forms part of the public expenditure provision in the health programme. The NHS and Community Care Act 1990, however, provides no power for the Department to fund NHS trusts directly or to give them cash limits. Trusts can only obtain funding from the income they receive from purchasers or from borrowing. An annual external financing limit—EFL—controls access by NHS trusts to external finance in all

  481
  its forms. The EFL is a net financing concept measured by new loans taken out by the NHS Trust less loans repaid, plus or minus changes in deposits. The NHS Management Executive will monitor each NHS trust regularly to see that the EFL is not exceeded.

  NHS trust

  External financing limit £000's

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  2,151

  Norfolk Ambulances

  921

  Broadgreen Hospital

  -408

  Chester and Halton Community

  -200

  Crewe Acute

  -1,208

  R.A.C.T.U. Liverpool

  376

  Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital

  -1,028

  Royal Liverpool Hospital

  -257

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  1,425

  Wirral Hospital

  -2,369

  London Hospital Group

  -7,373

  North Middlesex Hospital

  -1,992

  Royal Free Hampstead

  -857

  Royal National Orthopaedic

  -718

  Royal National N T and E

  137

  Southend District

  -1,894

  Freeman Hospital

  -1,124

  Newcastle Mental Health

  -1,146

  Northumbria Ambulance

  293

  Central Manchester H and C

  6,809

  Christie Hospital

  351

  Central Middlesex Hospital

  -4,390

  Hillingdon Hospital

  -2,410

  Mount Vernon Hospital

  -1,116

  North Herts. Acute and Community

  -2,291

  Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre

  -812

  Guy's and Lewisham Hospitals

  8,586

  Bristol United Healthcare

  -1,161

  Cornwall Community

  -814

  Cornwall Mental Handicap

  -324

  East Gloucestershire

  -908

  East Somerset

  -1,601

  South Devon Health Care

  -1,348

  West Somerset Acute and Community

  -2,320

  Weston Health

  3,725

  Croydon Community

  -125

  Croydon Mental Handicap

  -1,151

  Kingston Hospital

  -1,428

  Mid Surrey General Unit

  -1,361

  South West Surrey Acute

  -2,913

  North West Surrey M.H.U.

  -763

  St. Helier and Sutton

  2,693

  Doncaster Royal and Montagu

  -1,666

  Lincolnshire Ambulance

  84

  Northern General Sheffield

  7,515

  Royal National Rheumatic

  165

  West Dorset Community

  -451

  West Dorset General

  -1,861

  West Dorset Mental Health

  -268

  Mid Staffs Community

  265

  Mid Staffs Mental Health

  -662

  Rugby District

  8,054

  Walsall Acute

  -2,487

  Bradford Acute

  11,476

  Leeds General Infirmary

  243

  St. James's University

  3,473

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners, Canada
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of British pensioners residing in Canada are in receipt of a full British state pension.
  482
  Mr. Jack
  We estimate that about 10 per cent. of British pensioners in Canada are receiving the same rate of pension as if they were in the United Kingdom. In addition, a large number of British pensioners who went to live in Canada during their working lives are receiving less than the full (100 per cent.) rate of pension because they stopped paying contributions when they left the United Kingdom and therefore their national insurance records are deficient.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state what the level of child benefit would be in April 1991 if it had been uprated in line with inflation since 1987.

  Mr. Jack
  The rate would be £9·55 a week for each child.

  "Children Come First"
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in the Official Report his reply to the submission of Church Action on Poverty on the proposals in "Children Come First".

  Mr. Jack
  The submission from Church Action on Poverty has been acknowledged. So far, some 250 submissions have been received and it is not proposed to respond to each one in detail. We are grateful for all views expressed on the White Paper "Children Come First", they will be taken fully into account in finalising the policy and preparing legislation to give effect to our proposals.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about the compliance costs of the provisions in the Statutory Sick Pay Bill.

  Mr. Jack
  As at 25 January 1991, a total of 184 written representations, mainly from right hon. and hon. Members on behalf of employers and their organisations, had been received on the provisions contained in the Statutory Sick Pay Bill.

  Community Charge Benefit
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated cost of community charge benefit and transitional protection during 1990–91 and 1991–92; and what was the cost of rate rebates in each year since 1980, at current and at 1990 prices.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The estimated expenditure on community charge benefit for 1990–91 is £2·25 billion. The estimate for 1991–92 is just over £2 billion, this takes account of estimated expenditure on the community charge transitional relief and reduction schemes for 1990–91 and 1991–92 of £384 million and £1,852 million respectively.

  The information requested on rate rebate expenditure is listed in the table. Before 1982–83 assistance with housing costs was through the supplementary benefit scheme administered by the Department, and the rebate and allowance scheme run by the Department of the Environment. Housing benefit was introduced for some

  483
  supplementary benefit claimants from November 1982 with full implementation for all claimants following from April 1983.

  The data for the years prior to 1982–83 are based on the rent rebate and allowance and rate rebate schemes only. The data for 1982–83 combine information from both the old and the new schemes.

  Current prices £ million

  1990–91 prices £ million

  1980–81

  270

  494

  1981–82

  390

  651

  1982–83

  560

  873

  1983–84

  1,220

  1,817

  1984–85

  1,354

  1,919

  1985–86

  1,479

  1,988

  1986–87

  1,635

  2,125

  1987–88

  1,714

  2,113

  1988–89

  1,373

  1,577

  1989–90

  1,261

  1,362

  Notes:

  1. In 1988–89 maximum rates rebate was reduced from 100 per cent. to 80 per cent.

  2. Rates were replaced by community charge in 1989–90 in Scotland.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will publish the details of the poll tax benefit caseload, at the latest convenient date, for(a) Coventry, (b) Warwickshire and (c) each standard region;

  (2) if he is now in a position to give a substantive answer to the question from the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East, on poll tax benefit, to which a holding answer was given on Thursday 13 December 1990, written question 44.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 13 December 1990]: The latest available information, counting couples as one claim, and based on benefit caseload processed by 31 August 1990 is in the table.

  Caseload

  Coventry

  42,511

  Warwickshire

  45,864

  Standard Regions

  North (including Cumbria)

  499,000

  Yorks and Humberside

  658,000

  East Midlands

  486,000

  East Anglia

  223,000

  London

  675,000

  South East (excluding London)

  933,000

  South West

  466,000

  West Midlands

  664,000

  North West (excluding Cumbria)

  963,000

  Wales

  381,000

  Scotland

  778,000

  Source: Community Charge Benefit and Housing Benefit Management Information System quarterly stock count of claims at 31 August 1990.

  The August 1990 figures are likely to underestimate the current position because some authorities still had a number of unprocessed claims at that time.

  Pensioners
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update the answer given to the then hon. Member for Kensington on 14 July 1987,Official Report,
  484
  column 451, showing the number of pensioners with gross weekly incomes other than the state basic pension of up to £5, £5 to £10, £10 to £15, £15 to £20, £20 to £30, £30 to £40, £40 to £50, £50 to £60, £60 to £70, £70 to £80, £80 to £90, £90 to £100, £100 to £110, £110 to £120, £120 to £130, £130 to £140, £140 to £150, £150 to £200, £250 to £300, £300 to £400, £400 to £500 and over £500, distinguishing between single and married pensioners.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Numbers (000s)

  Married

  Single

  Up to £5

  130

  610

  £5 to £10

  110

  360

  £10 to £15

  120

  450

  £15 to £20

  150

  480

  £20 to £30

  330

  990

  £30 to £40

  230

  450

  £40 to £50

  180

  220

  £50 to £60

  130

  160

  £60 to £70

  120

  110

  £70 to £80

  110

  80

  £80 to £90

  120

  100

  £90 to £100

  70

  80

  £100 to £110

  50

  60

  £110 to £130

  110

  70

  £130 to £150

  100

  50

  £150 to £200

  120

  70

  £200 and over

  280

  120

  Note: The figures show respectively thousands of pensioner married couples and single pensioners. The income bands have been aggregated in some cases to provide a statistically adequate sample.

  Source: Family Expenditure Survey 1987.

  Sickness Benefit
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the claim of Mr. K O (Ref. RM 173P/C0999/71/83/3) for sickness benefit and the reasons for the delays in this case.

  Mr. Jack
  The office of determination of contribution questions now has the information required to give a decision. A notice of that decision, given on behalf of the Secretary of State by an authorised officer of the Department, will be sent to Mr. O's solicitor, together with an explanatory covering letter, within the next few days. Any delay was due to the complexity of the case and the need thoroughly to investigate Mr. O's national insurance and benefits position over a period of 21 years.

  Social Fund Loans
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of converting all outstanding social fund loans into grants.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 21 January 1991]: The cost of converting all social fund loans outstanding on 31 December 1990 into grants would be £137 million.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated full year revenue effect in 1990–91 and 1991–92 of(a) abolishing the upper earnings limit for employees' national insurance contributions, (b) allowing personal allowances against such contributions and (c) (a) and (b) together.
  485
  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 21 January 1991]: The revenue effects of the measures described are estimated to be as follows:

  National insurance contribution revenue effect

  1990–91 £ billion

  1991–92 £ billion

  (a)

  +2·5

  +2·5

  (b)

  -1·5

  -1·5

  (c)

  +1·0

  +1·0

  The estimates assume a contribution-free band of employees' earnings up to a lower earnings limit equivalent to a single person's income tax allowance and a 9 per cent. contribution rate on earnings above that limit.

SCOTLAND

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what specific measures his Department has taken to promote energy efficiency; what further measures his Department intends to take to promote energy efficiency; and by what amount and what percentage of its total energy bill his Department's energy bill has been reduced over the past year.

  Mr. Lang
  A wide range of positive measures, including energy surveys of buildings and the active promotion of good housekeeping practices, has been, and will continue to be, undertaken. Very useful savings have been secured in recent years by positive management related to the setting of realistic but demanding targets. Because of changes in Departmental responsibility and limits on the data available it is not possible to give precise figures on a satisfactory basis for year on year comparisons of total expenditure.

  Expenditure
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give, for each year since 1974–75(a) the total national health service expenditure and (b) the capital expenditure, in Scotland, giving the figures at constant prices.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is set out in the following table:

  (a) Total National Health Service Expenditure in Scotland

  £ million cash

  Adjusted by the GDP deflator to 1990–91 prices

  1974–75

  458

  2,079

  1975–76

  603

  2,181

  1976–77

  685

  2,182

  1977–78

  777

  2,177

  1978–79

  893

  2,257

  1979–80

  1,064

  2,304

  1980–81

  1,343

  2,458

  1981–82

  1,531

  2,555

  1982–83

  1,660

  2,587

  1983–84

  1,773

  2,640

  1984–85

  1,901

  2,695

  1985–86

  2,015

  2,709

  1986–87

  2,144

  2,787

  1987–88

  2,328

  2,870

  486

  £ million cash

  Adjusted by the GDP deflator to 1990–91 prices

  1988–89

  2,591

  2,977

  1989–90

  2,819

  3,045

  11990–91

  3,102

  3,102

  1 Provision

  (b) Total Capital Expenditure on the National Health Service in Scotland

  £ million cash

  Adjusted by the GDP deflator to 1990–91 prices

  1974–75

  33

  150

  1975–76

  42

  152

  1976–77

  41

  131

  1977–78

  42

  118

  1978–79

  56

  142

  1979–80

  66

  143

  1980–81

  67

  174

  1981–82

  95

  159

  1982–83

  104

  162

  1983–84

  108

  161

  1984–85

  118

  167

  1985–86

  132

  177

  1986–87

  116

  150

  1987–88

  120

  148

  1988–89

  131

  150

  1989–90

  174

  188

  1990–911

  205

  205

  1 Provision includes f16 million for value added tax following the ending of exemption from value added tax of NHS capital expenditure.

  Health Service
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of Scottish gross domestic product has been allocated to the health service in Scotland in each year since 1978.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Total national health service expenditure in Scotland as a percentage of Scottish gross domestic product is set out in the following table for the years for which information on Scottish GDP is available:

  Per cent.

  1978–79

  6·8

  1979–80

  7·1

  1980–81

  7·9

  1981–82

  8·2

  1982–83

  8·1

  1983–84

  8·0

  1984–85

  8·1

  1985–86

  7·9

  1986–87

  7·7

  1987–88

  7·7

  1988–89

  7·7

  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each health board the amount spent on advertising for each of the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information available from health boards' annual accounts about advertising costs is shown in the table:
  487

  Health board

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Argyll and Clyde

  102,687

  90,722

  108,859

  Ayrshire and Arran

  71,459

  98,574

  103,198

  Borders

  36,331

  49,516

  36,727

  Dumfries and Galloway

  25,950

  24,141

  32,639

  Fife

  99,243

  65,989

  132,734

  Forth Valley

  50,248

  48,293

  93,632

  Grampian

  88,909

  126,015

  160,409

  Greater Glasgow

  153,086

  227,574

  616,149

  Highland

  49,565

  45,111

  95,380

  Lanarkshire

  55,872

  68,742

  102,528

  Lothian

  140,231

  160,636

  321,733

  Orkney

  1,848

  3,559

  1,990

  Shetland

  7,102

  12,065

  25,862

  Tayside

  79,968

  83,774

  126,956

  Western Isles

  21,956

  18,282

  21,664

  Total

  984,455

  1,122,993

  1,980,460

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total amount of environmentally sensitive area-related grant paid out in each of the environmentally sensitive areas since their inception; what is the total number of individual grant recipients in each environmentally sensitive area; and what is the estimated total number of eligible individuals in each environmentally sensitive area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is as follows:

  Area

  Estimated number of eligible Farmers/Crofters

  Total number of individual grant recipients

  Total amount of ESA payments made

  Breadalbane

  150

  96

  567,378·77

  Loch Lomond

  80

  35

  132,028·70

  Stewartry

  285

  127

  640,854·63

  Whitlaw and Eildon

  65

  17

  66,257·80

  The Machair of the Uists, Benbecula, Barra and Vatersay

  660

  419

  278,593·46

  Highlands and Islands Development Board
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the total budget available to the Highlands and Islands Development Board in the current financial year, broken down into constituent areas.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The information requested is not available.

  Training
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about new training measures in Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Apart from the training credits pilot, which will become operational under the management of Grampian Enterprise Limited on 1 April 1991,488
  there are no new national training measures to be introduced in Scotland in 1991–92. However, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and local enterprise companies will become fully operational on 1 April 1991 and will have full responsibility for administration of the Government's training programmes in Scotland.

  The local enterprise companies, in preparing their businees plans, have been encouraged to adopt an innovative approach to the provision of training in their areas; and it is clear from the business plans which I have seen that they have risen to this challenge and have developed many interesting new approaches to deal with training needs in their area. Decisions on development of these ideas into operational concepts have yet to be taken by Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and individual local enterprise companies, in the light of the resources available to them and their own priorities.

  Gulf Casualties
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to make additional funds available to health boards to ensure that hospital operations postponed because of the Gulf crisis can be carried out within a reasonable time; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Health boards have been promised that the full cost of treating Gulf casualties will be met. The resources available to them for treatment of their catchment population will continue to be available for that purpose.

  Student Costs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his most up-to-date estimate of the amount spent per head per full-time equivalent student in public sector Scottish higher education colleges in(a) this financial year and (b) next financial year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I estimate that £4,150 of Government funding per full-time equivalent student was provided to the Scottish grant-aided colleges of higher education in 1990–91, including recurrent grant-in-aid and tuition fees paid through the student awards system but excluding grants for capital expenditure and maintenance awards. The figure for 1991–92 is not available since grant-in-aid funding for that year has not yet been announced.

  Penal Institutions (Governors)
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish by institution the salary scales of the governors of penal institutions in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information, by institution on the complement and grades of governors and the salary scales appropriate to each grade is set out in the table.
  489

  Establishment

  Governor 1

  Governor 2

  Governor 3

  Governor 4

  Governor 5

  Aberdeen

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Barlinnie

  1

  1

  —

  5

  10

  Barlinnie SU

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Castle Huntly

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  Cornton Vale

  —

  1

  —

  2

  4

  Dumfries

  —

  —

  1

  1

  3

  Dungavel

  —

  —

  1

  1

  2

  Edinburgh

  1

  —

  1

  3

  7

  Friarton

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Glenochil

  1

  —

  1

  4

  9

  Greenock

  —

  —

  1

  1

  3

  Inverness

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  Longriggend

  —

  —

  1

  1

  2

  Low Moss

  —

  —

  1

  —

  3

  Noranside

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  Penninghame

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Perth

  —

  1

  1

  3

  8

  Peterhead

  —

  1

  1

  3

  5

  Polmont

  —

  1

  —

  2

  6

  Shotts

  1

  —

  1

  4

  5

  Shotts AU

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  Salary Scale

  39,747

  35,891

  30,857

  min 24,560 max 26,449

  min 22,514 max 23,930

  Performance point 41,147

  Performance point 37,041

  Performance point 31,757

  Performance point 27,199

  Performance point 24,530

  Prison Service
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the grades and salary scales applicable to the prison service in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Unified grades

  Salary £

  Governor 1

  39,747

  141,147

  Governor 2

  35,891

  137,041

  Governor 3

  30,857

  131,757

  Governor 4

  24,560

  25,505

  26,449

  127,199

  Governor 5

  22,514

  22,859

  23,930

  124,530

  Principal Officer

  17,760

  18,162

  18,736

  Senior Officer

  17,015

  Officer

  12,424

  12,768

  13,170

  13,572

  13,975

  14,490

  15,293

  12 year point

  15,580

  15 year point

  15,924

  Steward 1

  26,449

  490

  Unified grades

  Salary £

  127,199

  Steward 2

  24,560

  125,310

  Chief Clerk Officer

  22,859

  23,930

  124,530

  Principal Clerk Officer

  17,015

  17,358

  17,702

  18,046

  18,388

  18,736

  Clerk Officer

  13,105

  13,572

  13,975

  14,490

  15,293

  12 year point

  15,580

  15 year point

  15,924

  Higher Instructional Officer

  14,552

  14,851

  15,468

  Instructional Officer

  13,145

  13,415

  13,691

  114,259

  114,851

  115,468

  Trainee typists

  Age 16

  4,121

  17

  4,561

  18

  5,400

  19

  5,778

  15,977

  16,182

  491

  Unified grades

  Salary £

  Typist

  5,977

  6,395

  6,843

  7,322

  7,834

  18,104

  18,383

  Personal Secretary

  7,834

  8,383

  8,969

  9,598

  19,928

  110,270

  Trainee Telephonist

  7,049

  7,747

  Telephonist

  8,345

  8,575

  8,862

  Messenger

  Age 16

  4,438

  17

  4,891

  18

  6,098

  19

  6,447

  20

  6,791

  7,021

  7,309

  7,654

  7,942

  Stores Officer Grade B

  13,262

  13,821

  14,381

  14,956

  15,553

  16,176

  16,822

  117,496

  118,194

  118,925

  119,681

  Stores Officer Grade C

  10,466

  11,026

  11,586

  12,143

  12,704

  13,262

  13,821

  14,381

  114,956

  115,553

  116,176

  116,822

  Stores Officer Grade D

  9,348

  9,907

  10,466

  11,026

  11,586

  12,143

  12,704

  113,262

  113,821

  114,381

  114,956

  Senior Medical Officer

  32,551

  492

  Unified grades

  Salary £

  33,970

  35,451

  36,997

  138,610

  140,116

  141,681

  143,307

  Medical Officer (full time)

  24,997

  26,121

  27,299

  29,809

  32,551

  33,970

  135,451

  136,997

  138,610

  Part-time Medical Officer Basic annual rate per hour

  7·80

  Chaplin

  13,262

  Weekly pay £

  Storeperson

  154·50

  Tradesman

  164·17

  Senior Storeman/woman

  144·47

  Storeman/woman

  139·45

  Civilian Driver (HGV) Band 8

  139·45

  Civilian Driver (HGV) Band 6

  136·94

  Civilian Driver (Vehicle up to 2 tons)

  134·43

  Sewage Attendant

  134·43

  Stoker (Grade C)

  134·43

  Stoker/Boilerman

  131·93

  Storekeeper Assistant

  131·93

  Labourer and Watchman

  129·42

  Hourly rate

  Watchman/Porter

  3·318

  Weekend Watchman (casual)

  3·318

  Temporary Female Assistants (casual)

  4·513

  1 Performance points.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prison officers(a) joined and (b) left the prison service in each of the last five years for which information is available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is as follows. The statistics for those leaving the Scottish prison service includes retirals, resignations and dismissals. The larger number of staff recruited in 1988 reflects the increase in manpower required to implement the "fresh start" initiative of eliminating overtime.

  (a) Joined

  (b) Left

  1986

  275

  160

  1987

  286

  141

  1988

  406

  184

  1989

  130

  192

  1990

  194

  74

  493
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by institution the establishment of all penal institutions in Scotland and the current vacancies, and at which grades in each case.

  Establishment

  Basic Grade (Discipline)

  Senior Officer (Discipline)

  Principal Officer (Discipline)

  Governor Grades

  Specialists1

  Complement

  Vacancies

  Complement

  Vacancies

  Complement

  Vacancies

  Complement

  Vacancies

  Complement

  Vacancies

  Aberdeen

  70

  5

  10

  —

  4

  —

  3

  —

  26

  1

  Barlinnie

  303

  12

  27

  —

  32

  —

  17

  —

  136

  1

  Barlinnie SU

  11

  —

  2

  —

  2

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Castle Huntly

  29

  —

  5

  —

  2

  —

  3

  1

  30

  2

  Cornton Vale

  111

  5

  18

  —

  10

  —

  7

  —

  44

  1

  Dumfries

  73

  —

  7

  —

  4

  —

  5

  1

  33

  —

  Dungavel

  26

  —

  5

  —

  2

  —

  4

  —

  29

  —

  Edinburgh

  209

  7

  29

  —

  24

  —

  12

  —

  100

  7

  Friarton

  28

  1

  3

  —

  2

  1

  1

  —

  18

  1

  Glenochil

  232

  13

  34

  —

  22

  —

  15

  —

  100

  3

  Greenock

  81

  5

  13

  —

  6

  —

  5

  —

  38

  4

  Inverness

  58

  —

  9

  1

  2

  —

  3

  —

  17

  1

  Longriggend

  93

  1

  18

  1

  6

  —

  4

  —

  28

  —

  Low Moss

  66

  1

  10

  —

  4

  —

  4

  —

  41

  —

  Noranside

  27

  1

  4

  —

  2

  —

  3

  1

  27

  3

  Penninghame

  13

  1

  2

  —

  2

  —

  1

  —

  17

  1

  Perth

  198

  —

  24

  —

  16

  —

  13

  —

  98

  6

  Peterhead

  202

  7

  24

  1

  16

  3

  10

  —

  55

  7

  Polmont

  130

  —

  23

  —

  23

  —

  9

  —

  52

  2

  Shotts

  209

  10

  16

  1

  16

  1

  11

  —

  94

  5

  Shotts AU

  17

  —

  3

  —

  2

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  1 Including: Caterers, Works, PEIs, Nurses, Clerks, Instructors,

  Skye Bridge
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will initiate a study of the causeway/barrage proposal put forward by Mr. Peter Findlay, as an alternative to the proposed Skye bridge.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Both the Scottish Office and the Department of Energy are already aware of Mr. Findlay's proposals. Decisions on investment in additional electricity generating capacity are for the industry to take in the light of its own assessment of present and future needs, having regard to the quantity and diversity of plant already on the system as well as the economic viability of potential new developments. I will not therefore be initiating a study into any possible alternative to the bridge. The plans for the construction of the Skye bridge will not be delayed or put in abeyance as a consequence of Mr. Findlay's proposals.

  Gartcosh
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet the Scottish Development Agency to discuss the future development of the former British Steel Corporation site at Gartcosh; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has no current plans for a meeting on this matter. The Scottish Development Agency has sold part of the site for redevelopment, and potential uses for the remainder are being discussed with interested parties.

  Land Compensation
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many owner occupiers and how many tenants received compensation due to displacement of their houses, under the Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1973, for each year since 1979.
  494
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information, by institution, is as follows. The complement figures are as at 1 April 1990 and the vacancy profile is as at January 1991.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 25 January 1991]: Information on the numbers of owner occupiers and tenants who received compensation for the compulsory purchase of their houses is not held centrally. Details are however available on the numbers of home loss payments and disturbance payments made under the Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1973. The figures are:

  Financial year

  Number of home loss payments

  Number of disturbance payments

  1979–80

  1,645

  2,034

  1980–81

  396

  928

  1981–82

  337

  192

  1982–83

  291

  673

  1983–84

  119

  342

  1984–85

  136

  2

  1985–86

  102

  3

  1986–87

  34

  45

  1987–88

  119

  64

  1988–89

  130

  150

  Nature Conservancy Council
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the staffing complement of the new Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland includes an education officer or adviser; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 January 1991]: The allocation of duties to staff is a matter for the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland. The promotion of education and advice on conservation is a key task for the new body.

  Steel Industry (Lanarkshire)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many jobs have been lost in the steel industry in Lanarkshire since 1974; and how many people are still employed in the steel industry in Lanarkshire.
  495
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 28 January 1991]: The net loss in employment in the steel industry in Lanarkshire between 1974 and 1989 is almost 10,000 jobs. Of this figure, just under half were lost due to closures and just over half due to contractions. The provisional employment figure for mid 1989 was 5,600.

  Environmental Education
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to seek the advice of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds concerning the development and implementation of environmental education in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 January 1991]: The views of the RSPB and other voluntary environmental bodies operating in Scotland on environmental education are of considerable importance to the development of a national strategy for environmental education in Scotland. This is the task of a working group, established by my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) in September 1990, which I know is currently consulting the RSPB and other such organisations in Scotland.

EMPLOYMENT

  Pre-entry Closed Shop
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers he estimates will be affected by the provisions contained in the Employment Act 1990 to outlaw the pre-entry closed shop.

  Mr. Howard
  In 1989 there were some 1·3 million people working in pre-entry closed shops. As a result of the Employment Act 1990, pre-entry closed shops can no longer be lawfully established or maintained. That can be only of benefit to all employees and to all those seeking work.

  Tourism
  Sir Robert McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the effect on investment in tourism projects in England of the termination of section 4 grants.

  Mr. Jackson
  My Department commissioned consultants to look into projects which had been affected by the suspension of section 4 funding in England. The main finding was that, at the time the research was carried out, most of these projects had already gone ahead.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any proposals to alter the funding of training and enterprise councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  I have agreed a number of changes in the way training and enterprise councils will be funded from April 1991. These changes, which have been warmly welcomed by the TECs, will result in TECs having more freedom to deploy their resources more effectively. May I add how very much I am looking forward to launching the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC this Friday.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to increase employment opportunities for disabled persons.

  Mr. Jackson
  My Department provides a wide range of services and schemes specifically designed to help people with disabilities. Following an extensive consultation exercise my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State is presently considering how to make the Department's services more effective for people with disabilities.

  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many submissions he has received in response to the consultative document "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities".

  Mr. Jackson
  By 21 January my Department had received 353 replies.

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

  Mr. Howard
  The work force in employment in the United Kingdom stood at 25,365,000 in June 1979 and at 27,336,000 in June 1990—an increase of just under 2 million over the period.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to alter the methods used to count the number of unemployed.

  Mr. Jackson
  The monthly unemployment figures will continue to be based on the claimant unemployed. These figures are supplemented by annual labour force survey information on the international definition. From 1992 the latter will be available on a quarterly basis.

  Dr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide the seasonally adjusted unemployment figures for each month of 1990, by district, in Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Mr. Jackson
  Seasonally adjusted unemployment figures are not available below regional level. Unadjusted figures for the local authority districts in Yorkshire and Humberside are available on the NOMIS database in the House of Commons Library.

  Training Schemes
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the total numbers of people on training schemes and not registered as unemployed for the latest available date.

  Mr. Jackson
  There are about 200,000 people on employment training and 350,000 on youth training. None of these people is registered as unemployed.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently on courses under the employment training and youth training schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  There are about 200,000 people on employment training and 350,000 on youth training. I am pleased that so many people are taking advantage of the Government's significant investment in training.

  Small Shops
  Mr. Janman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the employment and economic implications for small shops of the proposals to amend the European Commission's working time directive to make Sundays and weekends compulsory rest days.

  Mr. Forth
  The European Commission has told the European Parliament that in view of different traditions and practices they do not recommend that weekly rest days should be harmonised across the Community. The United Kingdom Government believe a blanket prohibition of Sunday or weekend working would be extremely damaging to the interests of consumers and employers generally.

  Anthony Coombs
  25. Mr. To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will announce current progress on the operation of training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Howard
  Excellent progress is being made in setting up training and enterprise councils. All 82 TECs in England and Wales are now in place, with 46 fully operational. By summer, the full network will be fully operational, almost two years ahead of schedule.

  Long-term Unemployment
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he is taking to help the long-term unemployed back into work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  Long-term unemployment is at its lowest level for eight years and the number of claimants unemployed for a year or more has fallen by 849,000 since April 1986. We are helping long-term unemployed people get back into work through an extensive range of employment and training measures. These are kept under regular review and in November I announced that next year my Department will provide up to 100,000 additional opportunities for long-term unemployed people through programmes such as job club and the job interview guarantee.

  Computer Personnel, London
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has concerning the number of unfilled vacancies for computer personnel in Greater London.

  Mr. Jackson
  In Greater London in December 1990 there was one vacancy for computer personnel, which had been notified to a jobcentre. There may be many more advertised elsewhere.

  Employment Contracts
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what statutory provisions regulate the amount of notice employers must give before changing an employee's contract of employment without any discussions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  In general, the terms and conditions contained in a contract of employment and changes to 498
  them are a matter for the parties to the contract and are not governed by legislation. Changes to contractual terms can only be made with the consent of both parties unless the contract of employment contains a term allowing the employer to make unilateral changes. An employer may give notice to terminate an existing contract and offer employment on new terms and conditions. In that case the employee will be entitled to the minimum notice laid down by statute or contractual notice, whichever is greater.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Grylls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the organisations he consulted on the effect on small and medium sized firms of the new proposals on the reimbursement of statutory sick pay.

  Mr. Forth
  Consultation on the Statutory Sick Pay Bill is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security. However, I have welcomed the opportunity to discuss this issue with small firms representative organisations and I have received a number of representations from them on the proposals. I have conveyed their views to the Secretary of State for Social Security and will continue to keep in touch with him on this important issue.

  Decency Threshold
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has received from the Council of Europe to establish a decency threshold for low paid work; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  No such proposals have been received. Pay is a matter for negotiators to determine in the light of their particular circumstances.

  Unemployment, Lambeth
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary State for Employment how many people are currently registered as unemployed in the SW2 and SW9 postal districts of Lambeth.

  Mr. Jackson
  In December 1990 the numbers of unemployed claimants, not seasonally adjusted, in Lambeth SW2 and SW9 were 3,183 and 3,189 respectively.

  Low Pay
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary State for Employment what is Her Majesty's Government's policy for dealing with low pay for women in part-time employment.

  Mr. Forth
  Pay for women in part-time employment, as for other workers, is a matter for negotiators themselves to determine in the light of their particular circumstances.

  Working Conditions
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary State for Employment how he intends to improve health protection and working conditions in the workplace.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Commission's plan of work for 1990–91 and beyond sets out the priorities of the commission and executive for this and the next two years. These priorities will be rolled forward into the commission's plan for work for 1991–92 and beyond.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the total amount of industrial tribunal applications received in England and Wales during(a) 1989 and (b) 1990; what was the number which actually proceeded to hearing; and what was the average lapse of time between receipt of application and hearing taking place.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 28 January 1991]: The information requested is recorded in financial years only and is as follows:

  Registered Applications

  Year ended 31 March 1990

  31,356

  Period 1 April 1990 to 31 December 1990

  27,698

  Cases heard

  Year ended 31 March 1990

  9,093

  Period 1 April 1990 to 31 December 1990

  7,018

  The information recorded by industrial tribunals does not make it possible to calculate the average time between the receipt of applications and hearing.

  However, the following table shows how long registered applications take to come to hearing.

  Percentage of cases coming to hearing in less than:

  Year ended 31 March 1990 per cent.

  1 April 1990 to 31 December per cent.

  6 weeks

  5

  3

  8 weeks

  20

  12

  10 weeks

  38

  27

  12 weeks

  52

  44

  16 weeks

  73

  65

  20 weeks

  82

  80

  26 weeks

  92

  90

  Some two thirds of all registered applications do not come to hearing. They are withdrawn or settled prior to hearing.

  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the total number of industrial tribunal applications received in Scotland during(a) 1989 and (b) 1990; what was the number which actually proceeded to hearing; and what was the average lapse of time between receipt of application and hearing taking place.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 28 January 1991]: The information requested is recorded in financial years only and is as follows:

  Registered Applications

  Year ended 31 March 1990

  : — 3,341

  Period 1 April 1990 to 31 December 1990

  : — 3,095

  Cases heard

  Year ended 31 March 1990

  : — 1,288

  Period 1 April 1990 to 31 December 1990

  : — 1,218

  The information recorded by industrial tribunals does not make it possible to calculate the average time between the receipt of applications and hearing.

  However, the following table shows how long registered applications take to come to hearing.
  500

  Percentage of cases coming to hearing in less than:

  Year ended 31 March 1990 per cent.

  1 April 1990 to 31 December per cent.

  6 weeks

  1

  0

  8 weeks

  4

  13

  10 weeks

  20

  31

  12 weeks

  43

  48

  16 weeks

  72

  69

  20 weeks

  85

  83

  26 weeks

  91

  88

  Some two-thirds of all registered applications do not come to hearing. They are withdrawn or settled prior to hearing.

  Part-time and Temporary Workers
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley (Mr. Bevan) of 20 December 1990,Official Report, column 315, what concerns the British Government had about proposals from the European Community for directives under articles 100 and 100A of the treaty designed to regulate the rights and benefits available to part-time and temporary workers.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 28 January 1991]: The directives would unnecessarily increase directly the cost of employing part-time and temporary workers and they would add to the burden of regulations on employers. The Government believe that the response of employers to such increased costs and regulation would be to reduce the number of people employed and that the directives would therefore have the perverse effect of reducing total employment and increasing unemployment.

  In addition, one of these directives has been proposed by the European Commission under the wrong article of the treaty of Rome. Article 100a of the treaty explicitly excludes matters relating to the
  "rights and interests of employed persons".

DEFENCE

  Service Personnel
  Sir Peter Hordern
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed in the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force; and how many are non-combatant.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There were 303,003 service personnel employed in the armed forces as at 30 September 1990, including 12,677 non-combatants. The numbers employed in each service, together with the numbers of non-combatants are shown in the table.

  Total personnel

  Non-combatants1

  Royal Navy

  54,859

  2,462

  Royal Marines

  7,474

  Army

  151,764

  7,218

  Royal Air Force

  88,906

  2,997

  1 Medical and dental personnel, as well as chaplains, are regarded as non-combatants. Musicians have also been included in the figures for non-combatants, given that they generally have medical roles.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on which weapons being used by Iraq against allied forces were supplied by(a) the USSR, (b) Great Britain, (c) the United States of America, (d) France and (e) Germany; and whether he will consider an embargo on all arms sales from the United Kingdom and recommend the United Nations to call for an international cessation of arms sales.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It has been the policy of this and previous Administrations not to comment on such matters relating to other sovereign states or on specific United Kingdom exports to other countries. As to the rest of the hon. Member's question regarding possible United Kingdom and international cessation of arms sales under UN auspices, I can confirm that there are no such plans.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will enumerate by nationality the merchant seamen now serving on ships chartered by Her Majesty's Government for use in the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  This information is not held centrally in the form requested, but I understand that British, German, Belgian, Danish, Filipino, Spanish, Dutch, Italian and Greek seamen are employed on merchant ships chartered by Her Majesty's Government for use in the Gulf.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, by numbers of vessels, the countries in which merchant ships chartered by Her Majesty's Government for use in the Gulf are registered.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is as follows:

  Country of registration

  Number of vessels

  United Kingdom

  7

  Norway

  11

  Antigua

  7

  Spain

  2

  Italy

  1

  Belgium

  1

  Denmark

  26

  Cyprus

  16

  Bahamas

  6

  Greece

  2

  St. Vincent

  1

  Honduras

  1

  Holland

  22

  Germany

  7

  Panama

  5

  Finland

  2

  Iceland

  1

  Sweden

  6

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many merchant vessels have been chartered by Her Majesty's Government for use in the Gulf; and how many are registered in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The total number of merchant vessels chartered by Her Majesty's Government for use in the Gulf, as at 25 January 1991, is 123, of which seven were registered in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of whether any escape of nuclear material has occurred following the reported destruction of Iraq's nuclear facilities.
  502
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It has been reported that damage has been caused to the buildings housing Iraq's two operational nuclear reactors as a result of allied air activity. The design and construction of both reactors is well known; they are small reactors and their cores are surrounded by water below ground level. We assess that any significant radioactive contamination resulting from damage would be confined to the Tuwaitha nuclear research centre.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take immediate action to ensure that the public are made fully aware of the arrangements made to allow parcels to be sent to the service men in the Gulf; and if he will ensure that accurate information is given to the relevant charitable organisations and the media.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Detailed information on forces concessionary rates for sending parcels to service personnel in the Gulf has been published through official, welfare and media channels.

  Within BAOR, from where the majority of personnel deployed, the information has been publicised through forces radio, television and newspapers as well as information sheets at forces post offices and through discussions with wives' clubs.

  Within the United Kingdom, similar information has been provided through unit families officers and welfare services, Post Office posters, TV statements and press releases by both the royal mail and the Ministry of Defence. A further MOD press release is in hand. In addition a royal mail parcelforce hotline has been established specifically to deal with inquiries from members of the public.

  Homosexuality (Services)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men and women in the year 1990 were (i) administratively discharged and (ii) dismissed from the(a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force as a result of their homosexuality or homosexual behaviour; of those discharged or dismissed, how many faced (x) no formal charges, (y) summary discipline and (z) courts martial; how many of those who faced summary discipline or courts martial were (1) fined, and (2) sentenced to custodial imprisonment; and what were the fines and lengths of imprisonment imposed in each individual case.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member.

  Browning Automatic Pistol
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to replace the standard issue Browning automatic pistol used by British forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are no plans to replace the standard Browning automatic pistol on general issue to British forces.

  HMS Sandpiper and HMS Petrel
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to dispose of HMS Sandpiper and HMS Petrel.
  503
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  HMS Sandpiper and HMS Petrel were paid off on 31 December 1990. No decision has yet been made concerning their final disposal.

  Tornados
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current replacement cost for the total number of Tornado planes lost in the Gulf both during hostilities and during training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The question of replacing Tornados lost so far will be considered in the light of total losses sustained in the Gulf.

  Desert Boots
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when British soldiers were first deployed to the Gulf; when appropriate desert boots were supplied to British soldiers; when all soldiers in the Gulf requiring desert boots will be supplied with them; where the desert boots now being supplied to British forces were made; and at what total cost of manufacture and supply;

  (2) what complaints he has received from British forces in the Gulf about their boots issued at the time of deployment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The first significant deployment of ground troops to the Gulf followed my right hon. Friend's announcement on 14 September 1990. A report from 7 Armoured Brigade at the end of October 1990 indicated that some individuals were experiencing discomfort with their combat boots because of the heat and steps were at once taken to procure desert boots. Following trials, the first orders were placed in November 504
  1990. Issues of desert boots have already been made and it is intended that all troops requiring desert combat boots will have at least one pair by mid-March. All desert boots for our forces have been ordered from United Kingdom manufacturers. The cost of these boots is a matter of commercial confidentiality.

  RN Detention Quarters
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is proposed to transfer the functions of the Royal Navy detention quarters at Portsmouth to the combined Army and Royal Air Force facilities in Colchester.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The future of the Royal Navy detention quarters at Portsmouth is under consideration, but no decisions have yet been made.

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are taken to ensure that his officials and scientific advisers are using the most up-to-date medical and scientific knowledge to study the relationship between radiation exposure and subsequent illness for nuclear test veterans.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer 22 January 1991]: The National Radiological Protection Board and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund are accepted authorities in the fields of radiological protection and epidemiology. The methodology they used in the first test veterans study, which will also be used for the follow-up study, was subject to review by other experts in the field of epidemiology and no criticism was made by them.

  VICTIMS OF CRIME, NORTHERN IRELAND: REVIEW OF NEEDS
  VICTIMS OF CRIME, NORTHERN IRELAND: REVIEW OF NEEDS
  COMPANIES' OVERSEAS PROJECTS: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
  COMPANIES' OVERSEAS PROJECTS: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
  DIOCESE OF GUILDFORD (EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENTS): FOUNDATIONS
  DIOCESE OF GUILDFORD (EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENTS): FOUNDATIONS
  DIOCESE OFGUILDFORD (EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENTS) ORDER: SALES OF PROPERTY
  DIOCESE OFGUILDFORD (EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENTS) ORDER: SALES OF PROPERTY
  WILDLIFE CONVENTIONS: CROWN DEPENDENCY RATIFICATIONS
  WILDLIFE CONVENTIONS: CROWN DEPENDENCY RATIFICATIONS
  GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS
  GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS
  URBAN PROGRAMME: RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS
  URBAN PROGRAMME: RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS
  PART-TIME AND TEMPORARY WORK: RESPONSE TO ECC REPORT
  PART-TIME AND TEMPORARY WORK: RESPONSE TO ECC REPORT
  CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION, NORTHERN IRELAND
  CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION, NORTHERN IRELAND