Written Answers of 1 July 1991

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Official Files
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Attorney-General what guidelines cover the circumstances in which official files held by Departments may be destroyed; and what changes have taken place in these guidelines in the last 20 years.

  The Attorney-General
  The framework within which records of Government Departments are selected for permanent preservation is that recommended in the report of the Grigg committee in 1954 (Cmd. 9163) and accepted by the Government in 1955. The Public Record Office issues guidelines to Departments on the procedures to be followed and on the general criteria for selection. These guidelines are kept under review by the Public Record Office and were last updated in 1983.

  Section 3(6) of the Public Records Act 1958 provides that records that have been rejected as not required for permanent preservation shall be destroyed unless the approval of the Lord Chancellor has been obtained for their disposal in some other way.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total Government expenditure on funding under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 for 1990–91, itemised by borough and district and identifying for each borough and district the amount of education expenditure for that financial year.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The following local authorities received grant, at the rate of 75 per cent. of salary costs, under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 in the financial year 1990–91.

  Precise figures for the amount of grant paid for education expenditure to each authority are not available. It is estimated, however, that education provision accounts for approximately 80 per cent. of total grant.

  ENGLAND

  £

  County Councils

  Avon

  899,403

  Bedfordshire

  2,462,492

  Berkshire

  1,648,953

  Buckinghamshire

  1,365,268

  Cambridgeshire

  1,161,520

  Cheshire

  23,539

  Cleveland

  643,796

  Derbyshire

  1,186,688

  Devon

  11,640

  Essex

  12,692

  Gloucestershire

  386,154

  2

  £

  Hampshire

  442,087

  Hereford & Worcester

  13,912

  Hertfordshire

  1,926,714

  Humberside

  208,176

  Kent

  298,059

  Lancashire

  5,476,253

  Leicestershire

  3,515,092

  Northamptonshire

  1,153,879

  North Yorkshire

  13,007

  Nottinghamshire

  1,989,788

  Oxfordshire

  904,018

  Shropshire

  73,303

  Staffordshire

  783,444

  Suffolk

  153,571

  Surrey

  96,172

  Warwickshire

  1,079,088

  West Sussex

  148,272

  Wiltshire

  212,224

  West Midlands FCDA

  73,486

  West Yorkshire FCDA

  111,294

  METROPOLITAN DISTRICTS

  Greater Manchester

  Bolton

  1,044,759

  Bury metropolitan borough council

  262,017

  Manchester city council

  2,341,572

  Oldham metropolitan borough council

  2,469,256

  Rochdale metropolitan borough council

  1,140,765

  Stockport metropolitan borough council

  29,037

  Tameside metropolitan borough council

  724,154

  Trafford metropolitan borough council

  298,489

  Merseyside

  Liverpool city council

  188,171

  South Yorkshire

  Doncaster metropolitan borough council

  17,856

  Rotherham metropolitan borough council

  291,825

  Sheffield metropolitan district council

  2,138,900

  Tyne and Wear

  Newcastle city council

  448,275

  North Tyneside metropolitan borough council

  35,909

  Sunderland borough council

  49,508

  West Midlands

  Birmingham city council

  5,546,014

  Coventry city council

  3,264,069

  Dudley metropolitan borough council

  1,027,900

  Sandwell metropolitan borough council

  1,795,748

  Walsall metropolitan borough council

  1,723,646

  Wolverhampton metropolitan borough council

  1,675,084

  West Yorkshire

  Bradford City metropolitan council

  6,516,031

  Calderdale metropolitan borough council

  878,222

  Kirklees metropolitan council

  2,456,441

  Leeds City council

  1,992,965

  Wakefield metropolitan district council

  159,907

  Non Metropolitan Districts

  Blackburn

  111,603

  Bristol City council

  52,787

  Derby City council

  43,301

  Gloucester City council

  10,798

  Gravesham borough council

  31,775

  Hyndburn borough council

  9,542

  Ipswich borough council

  7,545

  Leicester City council

  179,196

  Luton borough council

  42,744

  Middlesbrough borough council

  19,990

  Milton Keynes borough council

  14,514

  Nottingham City council

  144,387

  Oxford City council

  26,603

  Pendle borough council

  17,066

  Peterborough City council

  66,127

  Preston borough council

  4,456

  Reading borough council

  19,312

  3

  £

  Redditch borough council

  12,928

  Slough Corporation

  20,434

  Scunthorpe county council

  12,858

  Southampton City council

  65,434

  St. Albans district council

  18,744

  Wycombe district council

  38,956

  London Boroughs

  London Boroughs Grants Unit

  7,022

  Inner London

  Camden

  1,544,899

  City of London

  23,500

  Greenwich

  1,248,340

  Hackney

  4,299,227

  Hammersmith

  1.011,358

  ILEA

  19,308,052

  Islington

  1,727,799

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1,051,382

  Lambeth

  1,468,067

  Lewisham

  1,440,252

  Southwark

  2,302,159

  Tower Hamlets

  4,353,398

  Wandsworth

  2,117,834

  Westminster

  1,519,653

  Outer London

  Barking

  245,849

  Barnct

  1,202,176

  Bexley

  15,523

  Brent

  2,614,389

  Croydon

  1,384,268

  Ealing

  5,579,558

  Enfield

  535,477

  Haringey

  2,871,610

  Harrow

  755,346

  Havering

  29,798

  Hillingdon

  448,158

  Hounslow

  1,620,992

  Merton

  588,786

  Newham

  2,580,767

  Redbridge

  880,844

  Richmond

  74,879

  Sutton

  15,696

  Waltham Forest

  1,627,145

  Wales

  South Glamorgan City Council

  483,494

  Cardiff City Council

  22,692

  Colleges and Polytechnics

  London Institute

  42,152

  City of London Polytechnic

  66,238

  Huddersfield Polytechnic

  18,027

  Lancashire Polytechnic

  117,345

  Luton College of Further Education

  70,708

  Leeds Polytechnic

  19,494

  Teesside Polytechnic

  92,119

  Grant Maintained Schools

  94,905

  Total Expenditure

  135,482,981

  Note:

  (i) Some payments (eg ILEA) include late submitted claims and do not therefore relate solely to a local authorities expenditure for the single year in question.

  (ii) The table also shows the grant paid to 5 polytechnics, one College for Further Education and 4 Grant Maintained Schools who, by virtue of Section 211 of the Education Reform Act 1988, may claim section 11 grant direct.

  Civil Damages
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the total amount paid out by police authorities for civil damages since 1982.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Compensation paid out by police authorities for civil damages under section 48 (2) b of the Police Act 1964 is a matter for the police authority concerned and there is therefore no central record of the total amount paid out by police authorities.

  Wrongful Imprisonment
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to improve the machinery that exists for paying compensation to people who have been wrongly imprisoned and are subsequently released; and whether he has any plans to provide compensation to people whose close relatives are wrongly imprisoned.

  Mr. John Patten
  We have no plans at present to amend the existing arrangements under section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, or under the ex-gratia scheme, for the payment of compensation to those who have been imprisoned as a result of a wrongful conviction.

  Advertising Campaigns
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the topics of each television advertising campaign to be carried out by his Department and any other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  By the end of the current financial year, my Department expects to have spent£1 million on television advertising for fire safety and £2·2 million on television advertising for crime prevention.

  Non-television publicity campaigns costing more than £100,000 are:

  £

  Electoral Registration

  520,000

  Absent Voting

  650,000

  Civil Protection Magazine (Publication)

  100,000

  Police Recruitment: Graduate/Ethnic

  338,000

  Police: Special Constable Recruitment

  1,488,000

  Crime Prevention

  3,900,000

  Fire Prevention and Safety

  2,064,000

  Passports

  132,000

  Prison Service Recruitment

  1,036,000

THE ARTS

  Arts Funding (London)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he has made arrangements to meet representatives of the Association of London Authorities and London Boroughs Association to discuss arts funding in London.

  Mr. Renton
  I have made arrangements to meet the Association of London Authorities on 25 July. The London Boroughs Association has asked to explore the issues with my officials, and a meeting has been arranged for 8 July.

  Museums (Admission Charges)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what is his most recent assessment of the effects of admission charges to museums introduced in the past four years.

  Mr. Renton
  Those museums where admission charges have been introduced have reported that, after dropping initially, attendances have generally picked up, and in many cases, have returned to previous levels. Figures recorded before the introduction of admission charges cannot however be regarded as wholly reliable.

  Arts Provision (Wales)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will meet local authority leaders to discuss arts provision in Wales.

  Mr. Renton
  I have no plans to do so. However, I met the chairman and senior officers of the Welsh Arts Council in Cardiff recently, and they hold annual meetings with representatives of the local authorities in Wales.

  Arts Spending (London)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what is the average spending on the arts across London boroughs during the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  Local authority arts funding is discretionary and there is no central reporting requirement. I am afraid that the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Civil Service Morale
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what steps he is proposing to take to improve morale in the civil service.

  Mr. Renton
  Our aim is to have an efficient, effective and well-motivated civil service.

  Millions

  Taxpaying individuals with earnings subject to NIC above the UEL

  Taxpaying individuals with total earned income above the UEL

  Basic rate only

  Higher rate

  Total

  Basic rate only

  Higher rate

  Total

  Taxpayers aged under 65:

  Husbands

  1·4

  1·1

  2·5

  1·5

  1·1

  2·6

  Wives

  0·1

  0·1

  0·2

  0·1

  0·1

  0·7

  Single men

  0·3

  0·2

  0·5

  0·3

  0·2

  0·5

  Single women

  0·2

  0·0

  0·2

  0·2

  0·1

  0·3

  Taxpayers aged 65 and over

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·0

  0·1

  0·1

  Total

  2·0

  1·4

  3·4

  2·1

  1·6

  3·7

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate for 1991–92 the number of top rate taxpayers with(a) gross and (b) taxable incomes within the following income ranges (i) £23,700 to £27,700, (ii) £27,000 to £30,000, (iii) £30,000 to £35,000, (iv) £35,000 to £40,000, (v) £40,000 to £45,000, (vi) £45,000 to £50,000, (vii) £50,000 to £55,000, (viii) £55,000 to £60,000 and (ix) over £60,000.

  Community Institutions
  Mr. Moate
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what steps he is taking to increase the number of United Kingdom secondees to Community institutions.

  Mr. Renton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington).

PRIME MINISTER

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will meet Mr. Kenneth McGinley, chairman of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  No. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave my right hon. Friend the Member for Worthing (Mr. Higgins) on 18 April 1991 at column 568.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Taxpayers
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate for 1991–92 the number of basic rate and higher rate taxpayers with earned incomes above the national insurance contribution upper earnings limit, giving figures separately for(a) husbands, (b) wives, (c) single men and (d) single women and distinguishing between pensioners and non-pensioners.

  Mr. Maude
  The latest estimates in respect of 1991–92 are given in the table on two bases depending on the scope of earned income. The first basis compares the annual equivalent of the NIC upper earnings limit—UEL—with the total of earnings from employment and self-employment for those subject to NIC. The second basis compares the UEL with total earned income, including pensions and taxable benefits in kind, for all individuals.

  Mr. Maude
  Since mortgage interest is not to be deductible at the higher rate for 1991–92 it is appropriate to analyse higher rate taxpayers by range of income after deducting allowances and reliefs excluding mortgage interest.

  The latest estimates are as follows:
  7

  Total income for income tax purposes £ per year

  Number of higher rate taxpayers in 1991–92 Thousands

  23,700–27,700

  10

  27,700–30,000

  110

  30,000–35,000

  480

  35,000–40,000

  320

  40,000–45,000

  210

  45,000–50,000

  130

  50,000–55,000

  90

  55,000–60,000

  60

  Over 60,000

  290

  TOTAL

  1,700

  Total income less allowances and reliefs1 £ per year

  Number of higher rate taxpayers in 1991–92 Thousands

  23,700–27,700

  470

  27,700–30,000

  190

  30,000–35,000

  320

  35,00(M0,OOO

  190

  40,000–45,000

  120

  45,000–50,000

  80

  50,000–55,000

  60

  55,000–60,000

  50

  Over 60,000

  220

  TOTAL

  1,700

  1 Excluding mortgage interest.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of taxpayers in 1991–92 who have taxable incomes of less than £2,000, giving figures separately for single people, husbands and wives.

  Mr. Maude
  The latest estimates of taxpayers with taxable incomes in 1991–92 of less than £2,000 are as follows:

  Million

  Single people

  1·9

  Husbands

  1·2

  Wives

  1·6

  TOTAL

  4·7

  Taxable income is income subject to tax from all sources after deducting allowances and reliefs.

  Tax Allowances
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith), of 2 May,Official Report, column 301, if he will publish the figures on the same basis showing separately average allowances and reliefs claimed against tax due under (a) schedule E and (b) schedule D.

  Mr. Maude
  Taxpayers can be analysed according to whether they have a main source of income taxed under schedule E. Latest estimates for 1990–91 are as follows:
  8

  Taxpayers with a main source of income from employment or from an occupational pension

  Gross income £ per year

  Amount of tax reliefs and allowances set against income £

  0 to 5,000

  3,200

  5,000 to 10,000

  4,200

  10,000 to 15,000

  5,300

  15,000 to 20,000

  6,300

  20,000 to 25,000

  7,100

  25,000 to 30,000

  7,500

  30,000 to 40,000

  7,700

  40,000 to 50,000

  8,500

  over 50,000

  10,300

  Average

  5,200

  Other taxpayers

  Gross income £ per year

  Amount of tax reliefs and allowances set against income £

  0 to 5,000

  3,200

  5,000 to 10,000

  4,500

  10,000 to 15,000

  5,500

  15,000 to 20,000

  6,100

  20,000 to 25,000

  6,600

  25,000 to 30,000

  6,600

  30.000 to 40,000

  7,100

  40,000 to 50,000

  8,300

  over 50,000

  12,100

  Average

  5,300

  Income Tax
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the same basis as his answer of 3 May,Official Report, column 354, concerning the effect of an upper limit on all income tax allowances and reliefs, if he will estimate the net effect of these options, assuming that all reliefs and allowances are limited to the basic rate of income tax.

  Mr. Maude
  It is estimated that, at 1991–92 levels of income, restricting all allowances and reliefs to the basic rate of income tax would yield about £2·2 billion. The additional yield from introducing upper limits of £10,000, £15,000 and £20,000 would be about £450 million, £150 million and £100 million, respectively, in a full year. The estimates do not take account of any behavioural effects which might result from the changes.

  Lost Revenue
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated lost revenue to the Exchequer from employers not paying tax and national insurance contributions for(a) 1988, (b) 1989 and (c)

  Mr. Maude
  The amounts of PAYE tax and class I national insurance contributions remitted or written off as irrecoverable in the accounts years to the end of October were as follows—
  9

  PAYE (£ million)

  NIC Class 1 (£ million)

  1988

  130·7

  15·9

  1989

  122·9

  15·1

  19901

  107·1

  17·3

  1 Provisional.

  Public Information
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications the Public Records Office has received in each year since 1977 for the file T160/763/ F14755; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Public Records Office does not hold records of aplications for files which are not in its keeping.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 June,Official Report, column 313, what information he has on the means by which file T160/763/F14755 was destroyed.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Treasury records show only that the file was reviewed in 1977 and destroyed.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) employees and (b) self-employed people have earned income above the upper earnings limit for national insurance contributions, distinguishing between basic rate and higher rate taxpayers.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 27 June 1991]: Latest estimates for 1991–92 are as follows:

  Individual taxpayers aged under 65 with annual earnings1 above the UEL

  (millions)

  Main source of earnings of:

  Basic rate taxpayer

  Higher rate taxpayer

  Total

  Employment

  1·9

  1·1

  3·0

  Self-employment

  0·1

  0·3

  0·4

  Total

  2·0

  1·4

  3·4

  1 Earnings subject to NIC from employment and self-employment.

  The main source of earnings is as indicated in Inland Revenue administrative records for tax collection purposes. Taxpayers with substantial income from both sources are included in the "employment" category.

TRANSPORT

  Regional Airports
  Mr. Irvine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage the development of regional airports.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Our liberalisation policies, both in the European Community and in bilateral negotiations, are increasing the scope for regional air services and we are facilitating development at local authority airports by issuing credit approvals, particularly for the first phase of Manchester's second terminal.

  Railway Electrification
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy on investment approval for railway electrification.

  Mr. Freeman
  We welcome worthwhile proposals for investment, including electrification, from British Rail. Proposals naturally have to be good value for money and affordable.

  Freight Transport
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he plans to meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss the establishment of freight terminals for onward transport of freight to the channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The establishment of freight terminals for channel tunnel traffic is a commercial matter for British Rail, and does not require the Government's approval. British Rail keeps the Government fully informed of progress in preparing for the commencement of channel tunnel freight services.

  Bus Deregulation
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his present proposals are for the deregulation of buses in London.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government's proposals for the deregulation of buses in London were set out in the consultation paper "A Bus Strategy for London" issued in March. We have received more than 200 responses to that paper which are currently being assessed. An announcement on the Government's conclusions following the consultation exercise will be made shortly.

  British Rail
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what legislative changes he proposes following his recent speech on the future of British Rail; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  We shall be working with British Rail and the private sector to identify further practical measures to encourage rail freight that could be brought forward without legislation. Our plans to give new operators a right of access to British Rail track will need legislation in due course.

  London Channel Tunnel Group
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received a request to meet representatives of the London channel tunnel group; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  Yes. We are well aware of the support from this group of London boroughs for an easterly approach to Stratford for the rail link. My right hon. and learned Friend has told the group that he is not undertaking consultations himself, but that it will be for British Rail to consult once a preferred route is announced.

  Chelmsford-Liverpool Street Line
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss British Rail's investment plans on the Chelmsford to Liverpool Street line.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. and learned Friend has regular meetings with the chairman of British Rail at which they discuss a wide range of issues.

  Air Traffic Control
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he proposes to make any representations to his French counterpart on the operation of air traffic control on flights between London and Paris; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Industrial action by air traffic controllers in Paris has caused substantial delays to flights recently. The United Kingdom national air traffic services are in daily contact with their French counterparts to help relieve the situation. It is for the French authorities to resolve their own industrial relations problems.

  Road and Rail Expenditure
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much spending on road and rail increased(a) since 1979 and (b) between 1974 and 1979.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Since 1979 investment on road and rail in Great Britain has increased by about two thirds in real terms. Between 1974 and 1979, it fell by about a third in real terms.

  M4 (Deaths)
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatal injuries have been recorded on the M4 in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Chope
  The number of people killed each year on the M4 motorway during the seven years 1983 to 1989, the period for which figures are readily available, was respectively: 29, 19, 24, 39, 33, 28 and 24.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which country he proposes to take as a model for his proposals in railway privatisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  We believe that the privatisation of British Rail will be the model for other countries.

  Transport Delays
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the cost of transport delays due to congestion, roadworks or breakdowns during 1990.

  Mr. Rilkind
  We are taking a wide range of measures to deal with congestion, including substantial investment in public transport, roads and traffic management. There are no reliable estimates of the total costs of congestion, but they are clearly large.

  England-Scotland Road Links
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to improve road links between north-east England and Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department has a number of schemes in the current road programme which will improve links between north-east England and Scotland.

  On the A1 north of Morpeth there are dual carriageway proposals at Brownleside and Marshall Meadows to the Scottish border.

  Improvements to the A66 and A69 which link with the west coast routes to Scotland are also planned. These are at Temple Sowerby, Stainburn to Great Clifton and Stainmore to Banksgate on the A66 and the Haltwhistle on the A69.

  Work on a dualling scheme between Bowes and the Durham/Cumbria boundary on the A66 is due to be completed by autumn 1992 and the A69 Brampton bypass was opened on 18 April 1991.

  The preferred route for the extension of M6 Carlisle to near the border with Scotland was announced on 13 June 1991. Together with proposals by the Scottish Office, it will complete a motorway link to Glasgow.

  All of these schemes have made, or will make a significant contribution to improving road links between the north-east and Scotland.

  European Air Services
  Mr. Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the liberalisation of European air services in the last six months.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The EC Transport Council in March agreed a proposal introducing a mechanism to enable swift action to be taken in cases of predatory practices by airlines. This is a vital ingredient of the single market. Two other EC regulations have also now taken effect: one which further liberalises arrangements for Community air cargo services, and one which sets minimum levels of denied boarding compensation for passengers. We now await the Commission's proposals for the final stage of liberalisation, which we understand will be put forward shortly.

  Casualty Rates
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the rates and trends of European countries' road deaths and serious injuries since the beginning of 1987.

  Mr. Chope
  The definition of serious injury varies considerably between different countries. It is therefore not possible to make meaningful comparisons. The table gives information on road deaths in European Community countries taken from the United Nations Economic Council for Europe—ECE—publication "Statistics of road traffic accidents in Europe" for 1987, 1988 and 1989. The standard international definition of a fatality is where death occurs within 30 days of a road accident. Figures for those countries which use a different definition have been adjusted according to scaling factors used by the ECE.
  13

  Road deaths and rates of road deaths: EC countries 1987–89

  Source: UN/ECE publication 'Statistics of road traffic accidents in Europe'.

  Number Killed1

  Scaling Factor

  Scaled Number Killed

  Population (thousands)

  Traffic (million veh kms)

  Rate per 100,000 Population

  Rate per 100 million vehicle kms

  1987:

  United Kingdom

  5,339

  1·00

  5,339

  56,930

  ֵ

  9·4

  ֵ

  Great Britain

  5,125

  1·00

  5,125

  55,355

  356,2001

  9·3

  1·4

  Belgium

  1,922

  1·00

  1,922

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  Denmark

  698

  1·00

  698

  5,125

  ֵ

  13·6

  ֵ

  France

  9,855

  1·09

  10·742

  55,510

  ֵ

  19·4

  ֵ

  Germany (West)

  7,967

  1·00

  7,967

  61,077

  401,000

  13·0

  2·0

  Greece

  1,502

  1·12

  1,682

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  Ireland

  462

  1·00

  462

  3,543

  ֵ

  13·0

  ֵ

  Italy

  6,784

  1·07

  7,259

  ֵ

  313,655

  ֵ

  2·3

  Luxembourg

  68

  1·00

  68

  370

  ֵ

  18·4

  ֵ

  Netherlands

  1,485

  1·00

  1,485

  14,614

  87,960

  10·2

  1·7

  Portugal

  2,296

  1·30

  2,985

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  Spain

  5,858

  1·30

  7,615

  38,832

  92,48 52

  19·6

  ֵ

  1988:

  United Kingdom

  5,230

  1·00

  5,230

  57,065

  ֵ

  9·2

  ֵ

  Great Britain

  5,052

  1·00

  5,052

  55,487

  380,9001

  9·1

  1·3

  Belgium

  1,967

  1·00

  1,967

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  Denmark

  713

  1·00

  713

  5,129

  ֵ

  13·9

  ֵ

  France

  10,548

  1·09

  11,497

  55,750

  ֵ

  20·6

  ֵ

  Germany (West)

  8,213

  1·00

  8,213

  61,715

  427,400

  13·3

  1·9

  Greece

  1,511

  1·12

  1,692

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  Ireland

  463

  1·00

  463

  3,538

  ֵ

  13·1

  ֵ

  Italy

  6,939

  1·07

  7,425

  57,505

  331,800

  12·9

  2·2

  Luxembourg

  84

  1·00

  84

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  Netherlands

  1,366

  1·00

  1,366

  14,714

  93,762

  9·3

  1·5

  Portugal

  2,534

  1·30

  3,294

  10,305

  ֵ

  32·0

  ֵ

  Spain

  6,348

  1·30

  8,252

  39,078

  99,1592

  21·1

  ֵ

  1989:

  United Kingdom

  5,554

  1·00

  5,554

  57,236

  ֵ

  9·7

  ֵ

  Great Britain

  5,373

  1·00

  55,653

  407,8001

  9·7

  1·3

  Belgium

  1,993

  1·00

  1,993

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  Denmark

  670

  1·00

  670

  5,130

  ֵ

  13·1

  ֵ

  France

  10,528

  1·09

  11,476

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  Germany (West)

  7,995

  1·00

  7,995

  16,434

  438,500

  48·6

  1·8

  Greece

  1,699

  112

  1,903

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  Ireland

  460

  1·00

  460

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  ֵ

  Italy

  6,410

  1·07

  6,859

  57,575

  ֵ

  11·9

  ֵ

  Luxembourg

  67

  1·00

  67

  378

  ֵ

  17·7

  ֵ

  Netherlands

  1,456

  1·00

  1,456

  14,804

  95,489

  9·8

  1·5

  . Portugal

  2,375

  1·30

  3,088

  10,337

  ֵ

  29·9

  ֵ

  Spain

  7,188

  1·30

  9,344

  38,925

  105,0001

  24·0

  ֵ

  1 Traffic data for Great Britain has been revised since the publication of the ECE bulletin. Data is taken from 'Road Accidents Great Britain 1989'.

  2 Traffic on state roads only.

  ֵDenotes data not available.

  Children in Cars
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current rear seat occupancy rate by children in cars in traffic.

  Mr. Chope
  Observations from a Transport and Road Research Laboratory survey of seat belt wearing carried out in April indicate that 10 per cent. of cars contain rear seat passengers under the age of 14 years.

  Transport 2000 Seminar
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will be represented at the seminar, "Transport; Roads for Development or Exploitation," organised by Transport 2000 at Westminster Central hall on 13 July.

  Mr. Chope
  No.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of his plans to monitor the effectiveness of compulsory rear seat belt wearing for adults which comes into effect on 1 July.

  Mr. Chope
  The roadside surveys of seat belt wearing carried out at six-monthly intervals by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory will monitor the change in wearing rates following introduction of the new law. In addition, the quarterly analysis by my Department of data from the road accident report forms completed by the police will reveal how effective the new law has been in reducing the number and severity of casualties among rear seat passengers.

  Motor Cyclists
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further advice he will give to motor cyclists following the publication of "Your Driving Test and Driving".

  Mr. Chope
  I am pleased to announce that the Driving Standards Agency has produced an official reference book for motor cycle riders which will be published today. It covers a wide variety of subjects including all aspects of riding technique with particular emphasis on defensive riding, equipment, legal requirements, details of compulsory basic training, the motor cycle test and basic maintenance. The book will cost £6·95 and will be available from HMSO agents and high street bookstores. I am placing copies in the Library.

  Buses (London)
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many buses are currently being operated in the Greater London area; what the figures were 10 and 15 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  London Transport tells me that, excluding Green Line routes, there are currently 4,910 buses in the Greater London area operated by London Buses Ltd. or under agreement with, or under contract to, London Transport. The figures for 10 and 15 years ago were 5,094 and 5,611 respectively. The figure of 4,910 does not include buses operated under London local service licences.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the study, "The Hex Connection: Some Problems and Hazards Associated with the Transportation of Uranium Hexafluoride", by Dr. Miles Goldstick, published by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, in April.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  This publication is currently on order.

  Transport Act 1985
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has conducted a recent survey on the effect of the Transport Act 1985 on off-peak and Sunday services.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There has been no recent survey of off-peak and Sunday services.

  London Transport (MMC Report)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on London Transport.

  Mr. Freeman
  None. I have however received one letter supporting an article which appeared in the Financial Times of 6 June about the MMC report, which called for more investment in the underground.

  Road Signs
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those counties in England for which there are no motorway or trunk road signs to their principal towns.

  Mr. Chope
  The Isle of Wight is unique among English counties in this respect.

  Fuel Efficiency
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been undertaken by his Department to evaluate the effectiveness of corporate average fuel efficiency standards for motor vehicle manufacturers; and if he will introduce such standards in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 24 June 1991]: The Department has examined the impact of the United States corporate average fuel efficiency scheme. Although the scheme has improved overall fuel economy within the vehicle fleet in the United States of America, it is generally acknowledged to be a regulatory measure made necessary by the very low gasoline prices in the United States of America.

  The Government are working with the EC to ensure that if any measures are taken to regulate fuel economy, they are sensible and effective.

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the European Commission about the environmental impact of the east London river crossing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 27 June 1991]: My right hon. and learned Friend has had no discussions with the European Commission about the east London river crossing. An official response to a letter from the Commission about the scheme was sent in December 1989.

  Red Routes
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the nearest proposed red route to Leyton and Leytonstone.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 27 June 1991]: The priority red route network will be based largely on the primary route network in London, as indicated in the discussion document "Traffic in London". Copies of this document were placed in the Library in December 1989.

  It is likely therefore that the nearest routes to Leyton and Leytonstone will be the A106 and A 11, but decisions will be taken only after consultation in accordance with the provisions of the Road Traffic Bill.

  Pontypool-Newport Line
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investment proposals he has received from British Rail to improve services on the Pontypool to Newport line.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  British Rail has not proposed any investment for the Pontypool to Newport line.

  Networker Express Trains
  Mr. Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress there has been towards approving investment in the new Networker express rolling stock for the Kent coast services of British Rail.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Investment priorities are a matter for British Rail. It has recently submitted a strategy document for this rolling stock to my Department. My officials are discussing it with the board. More work needs to be done by BR before a formal investment case can be presented.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Auditing Firms
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the functions of the recognised supervisory bodies to be created under the Companies Act 1989 in respect of disciplining(a) auditing firms and (b) individual partners in auditing firms.

  Mr. Redwood
  Under paragraph 10(1) of Schedule 11 to the Act, a recognised supervisory body must have inter alia adequate arrangements and resources for the effective enforcement of compliance with its rules. This could entail disciplinary action against individual partners as well as against the audit firm itself.

  Supervisory Bodies
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the names of the bodies to which complaints may be made about the behaviour and conduct of the recognised supervisory bodies.

  Mr. Redwood
  Complaints should be made to the body itself. Paragraph 12 of schedule 11 to the Companies Act 1989 requires a recognised supervisory body for company auditors to have effective arrangements for the investigation of complaints against the body in respect of matters arising out of its functions as a supervisory body. I would expect such arrangements to include independent or lay involvement in the investigation.

  In addition, under the Act the Secretary of State will have a continuing role in ensuring that recognised supervisory bodies satisfy the criteria for recognition, and he would therefore have an interest in complaints about their behaviour and conduct.

  Financial Reporting Review Panel
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will propose legislation, specifying the time limit within which the financial reporting review panel will be required to respond to a complaint.

  Mr. Redwood
  It was one of the preconditions for authorising the financial reporting review panel under section 245C of the Companies Act 1985 for the purposes of section 245B of the Act that the panel appeared to my right hon. Friend to have satisfactory procedures for receiving and investigating complaints. The panel's procedures were published on 27 June and a copy has been placed in the library.

  Accountancy Practices
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to introduce regulations under which all the members of the accountancy profession would have equal access to information relating to the Auditing Standards Board.

  Mr. Redwood
  It is for the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies and the Auditing Practices Board, as appropriate, to determine their policy on access to information about the board.

  Catering
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will meet the Federation of Catering Equipment Suppliers.

  Mr. Leigh
  I would consider sympathetically any such request.

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases the Insolvency Service has investigated in Yorkshire in the last 12 months for which statistics are kept; for what reasons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Although statistics are not kept on a county basis, all cases except summary administrations are inquired into by official receivers of the Insolvency Service and where the circumstances of the insolvency require are subject to further investigation. As a result of those investigations, during the year ended 31 March 1991, official receivers covering the Yorkshire area, which would also include parts of adjoining counties, submitted 209 reports alleging either the commission of possible criminal offences or recommending application be made for the disqualification of directors whose conduct appears to make them unfit to be concerned in the management of limited companies. As at 30 June 1991, there were 191 cases under investigation by those official receivers.

  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many officials in the Yorkshire offices of the Insolvency Service are qualified in(a) law and (b) accountancy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The latest figures available show that 29 officials in the Yorkshire offices of the Insolvency Service have studied for accountancy or allied qualifications. Of these, three are fully qualified, one will shortly be sitting her final examinations and others are still studying. None of these officers has a law degree and such legal expertise as is required is provided by the solicitors division of the Department of Trade and Industry.

  Gold and Silver
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the effect of the single European market in respect of consumer protection on the purchase of items made from gold and silver.

  Mr. Leigh
  There are no proposals at present to introduce a Communitywide system of marking precious metals so the completion of the single European market
  19
  will not in itself have any effect on the legislation currently in force in the United Kingdom and the other member states in this area. It will, however, be necessary at some stage to establish a common regime for precious metals in the European Community. The Government have made it clear that they regard the compulsory marking of articles of precious metals as essential to protect both purchasers and the trade and that the United Kingdom hallmarking system is the best means of ensuring this.

  Medicines
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of representations from the manufacturers of generic medicines on the issue of supplementary protection certificates for medicinal products were in favour of the European Commission's proposals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  The representations received from the manufacturers of generic medicines have covered a range of views. None has given unqualified support to the Commission's proposal; indeed, some have not favoured any supplementary protection. Most, however, have recognised the case for some supplementary protection, but have advocated a shorter period or have suggested other provisions to offset the effect of supplementary protection on generics manufacturers.

  Whitbread (Tenancy Agreements)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what moves he is making to collect evidence on the way in which Whitbread is using notices to quit to enforce tenancy agreements with licensed victuallers.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Secretary of State has made it clear that the issuing of notices to quit is not necessarily to comply with the beer orders. He has met Whitbread to urge the company to keep the number of notices to quit to an absolute minimum. The renegotiation of tenancy agreements is of course a commercial matter between the landlords and their tenants. However Whitbread has been asked to keep my Department informed of progress, including about the number of notices it sends to tenants.

  Premium Rate Phone Services
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Office of Telecommunications about the establishment of a compensation scheme in respect of recorded premium telephone services.

  Mr. Redwood
  The issue of compensation schemes in respect of premium rate telephone services was considered by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in 1989. Its report recommended that such a scheme should be introduced for chatlines. This scheme is now in operation and also includes other live services. It was not recommended that it should include recorded services. I have not held any recent discussions with OFTEL about extending the scheme in this way.

  Advertising Campaigns
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the topics of each television advertising campaign to be carried out by his Department and any other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Department has no immediate plans for further television advertising. In the current financial year publicity activities in support of the following elements of departmental programmes are expected to cost more than £100,000:

  Enterprise Initiative

  Single European Market

  Export Promotion

  Innovation, Research and Development

  Managing into the 90s

  Manufacturing Practice

  Information Technology

  Consumer Affairs

  Business and the Environment

  Inner Cities

  The Queen's Awards for Export and Technology

  UK Space Interests

  Deregulation

  Inward Investment (Overseas Publicity)

  Staff Recruitment

  This list excludes expenditure on the day-to-day marketing of services by the Department's executive agencies.

  Multi-fibre Arrangement
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in the footwear and textile and related industries liable to be lost if the multi-fibre arrangement were abolished.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Professor Silberston's independent study for my Department, published in October 1989, estimated that an immediate rather than phased ending of the multi-fibre arrangement could lead to between 16,500 and 33,000 job losses in the United Kingdom textiles and clothing industry, with the lower estimate being the more realistic figure. The study also estimated that the MFA cost United Kingdom consumers £980 million a year at 1988 prices. With minor exceptions, the multi-fibre arrangement does not cover footwear products.

  ECGD Insurance Services Group
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the proposed privatisation of the short-term business of the Export Credits Guarantee Department currently operated by the Insurance Services Group.

  Mr. Lilley
  Preparatory work for the privatisation has been taking place for some time. Parliament has been informed of progress as the sale of this business is subject to the completion of the passage of the Export and Investment Guarantees Bill through both Houses of Parliament.

  An invitation to tender was issued in early March and I have now completed a thorough review of the responses. I have paid particular attention to the bidders' commitment to, and understanding of, the business, the financial robustness of the proposals, the future business plans and the likely acceptability of the bidder to customers and to staff, as well as to price. In the light of

  21
  this review, I have selected NCM as the preferred purchaser of the business. This selection is, of course, subject to contract and there will now be a period of detailed negotiations between the Government and the company.

  I am confident that the proposed transfer of the business to the private sector will provide United Kingdom exporters with access to a more comprehensive and efficient service than will be possible from within a public sector environment. The Government will continue to provide support for the business through the proposed reinsurance arrangements with the new company, including the "national interest facility" which will continue, subject to satisfactory financial performance, for as long as the Government consider it essential to meet the reasonable needs of exporters.

  Simpler Trade Procedures Board
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the operation of his Department's Simpler Trade Procedures Board and its electronic data interchange facility since it was established.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 25 June 1991]: The Simpler Trade Procedures Board (SITPRO) is a non-departmental public body supported by my Department. SITPRO's main objectives are the elimination of unnecessary procedural barriers to international trade and the provision of impartial advice to British exporters on procedural aspects of exporting. SITPRO is a world leader in the development of international standards for electronic data interchange.

  Czech and Slovak Federal Republic
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what current initiatives are under way sponsored by his Department to increase trade and enterprise in and with the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 27 June 1991]: Overseas trade services staff in the United Kingdom and Prague provide a range of services to encourage trade with and enterprise in Czechoslovakia. A DTI official is on secondment to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to help administer the know-how fund's schemes to assist longer-term investments in eligible countries, including Czechoslovakia.

  Food Imports
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the United Kingdom's trade deficit with the rest of the EEC can be attributed to food imports.

  Mr. Curry
  I have been asked to reply.

  The United Kingdom's net visible trade deficit with the European Community was £10·8 billion in 1990. The visible trade deficit in respect of food, feed and drink was £4·4 billion. It would be wrong to conclude from such figures that 41 per cent. of the deficit could be attributed to food: because some sectors have positive balances, the sum of the deficits will add to more than 100 per cent. Thus the deficit on machinery was 43 per cent., that on motor vehicles was 50 per cent. and that on miscellaneous goods was 27 per cent.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Bangladesh
  Mr. Miscampbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid has been given to Bangladesh in the last six months.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The most recent figures available for British aid to Bangladesh are for the financial year 1989–90 when £52·8 million was disbursed. Within the last six months, our assistance has also included an additional £11·85 million to help the Bangladesh people cope with the effects of the recent cyclone.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Mercenaries
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he proposes to ratify the United Nations international convention against the recruitment, use, financing and training of mercenaries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We did not sign the convention and therefore do not propose to ratify it. Implementation of the convention would require primary legislation. Following the consideration of the whole question by the Diplock committee, we decided not to introduce legislation on mercenaries. We still do not consider that the need for such legislation has been established.

  EC Council of Ministers
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community's Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The Fisheries Council will meet on 8 July and Ministers will discuss the 10th, 11th and 12th amendments to the conservation regulations and control methods in the North West Atlantic Fisheries Organisation regulatory area. Ministers may also discuss North sea and Celtic sea herring and Norwegian sand eels.

  The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 8 July to conduct a multilateral surveillance of the economies of member states. Ministers may consider the formal adoption of the Commission's annual economic report and discuss further the investment services directive. Ministers may discuss European investment bank lending outside the Community with a view to examining the possibility of extending European invesment bank operations to other countries and regions and adopt a Council statement on the Commission's report on European Community fraud.

  The Agriculture Council will meet on 15 and 16 July and Ministers will discuss the agricultural aspects of the GATT Uruguay round and food quality. Ministers may also discuss the welfare of animals during transport and reform of the common agricultural policy.
  23
  The Internal Market Council will meet on 22 July and Ministers may consider the Dutch presidency's proposed directive on sweeteners in foodstuffs, and three related proposals on the rational use of medicines. Ministers might also discuss the draft regulation to provide for a European company statute, and the second Diplomas Directive.

  The Budget Council will meet on 25 July to consider the 1992 preliminary draft budget submitted by the Commission.

  The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 29 and 30 July. Ministers are likely to discuss follow-up to the European Council on 28 and 29 June. Ministers may review the state of negotiations of association agreements with Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia and the question of European Community assistance to the Soviet Union. Ministers will discuss the European Community investment partners facility, an instrument designed to promote joint ventures in developing countries. The revision of the Commission's mandate for the negotiations between the European Community and Gulf Co-operation Council on a free trade agreement may be considered. Ministers will review progress in the EC/EFTA negotiations on a European economic area and may also examine EC/Turkey relations. There may also be a ministerial session on the intergovernmental conference on political union on 29 or 30 July.

  The Gulf (Disappearances)
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 13 June,Official Report, column 635–36, what information he has received on the disappearance of the British TV journalist Rosanna Della Casa and on the deaths of Nick Della Casa and Charles Maxwell in the Turkish-Iraqi border region, from (a) Turkish authorities, (b) Iraqi authorities and (c) the commission to investigate the incident; and if he will make this information available to their next of kin.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have received the full co-operation of the Turkish authorities in our inquiries into the disappearance of Mrs. Rosanna della Casa and the deaths of Mr. Nicholas della Casa and Mr. Charles Maxwell. The Iraqi authorities have also said that they will co-operate. Investigations are continuing with the assistance of Scotland Yard. Next-of-kin are being kept informed at every stage.

  "The Gulf Between Us: The Gulf War and Beyond"
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to obtain for his departmental library a copy of the study, "The Gulf Between Us: The Gulf War and Beyond", edited by Victoria Brittain.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Not at present. It will be ordered if it is required.

  Arms Control Yearbook
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the 1991 "Yearbook on Arms Control and Environmental Agreements (Verification Report)" edited by J. B. Poole.
  24
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Yes.

  National Union of Mineworkers
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking in respect of the unauthorised release of information from Government communications headquarters or its outstations on the financial affairs of the National Union of Mineworkers.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 7 June, at column 367.

  Guyana
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government are sending official observers from the United Kingdom to observe the elections in Guyana in October; what support(a) the United Nations and (b) the Commonwealth are giving in the conduct of the elections; and what contribution Her Majesty's Government are making towards the costs of such assistance.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Government of Guyana have indicated that they will allow only official election observers from the Carter centre and the Commonwealth secretariat.

  We have agreed to make a substantial contribution towards the costs of the Commonwealth observer mission, in line with the established formula governing contributions from Commonwealth member states to the Commonwealth secretariat's activities.

  I have no information that the United Nations will play a role during the elections in Guyana.

  A date for the elections has not yet been announced.

  Advertising Campaigns
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the topics of each television advertising campaign to be carried out by his Department and any other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no plans to carry out a paid TV advertising campaign. The only domestic publicity campaign costing more than £100,000 that it will carry out is a continuing series of leaflets for British travellers explaining consular services abroad and giving general travel advice. The budget for this campaign in the present financial year is £200,000. Existing TV and radio publicity on the same theme is broadcast free as public service announcements and the FCO has no plans to produce new material at home.

  The FCO has budgeted £12·4 million in the present financial year for publicity of various kinds overseas to promote Britain and in support of British Government policies.

  Liaison Group of Anti-Apartheid Movements
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's response to the memorandum of the
  25
  Liaison Group of Anti-Apartheid Movements of 10 June to the President of the Council of Ministers; and if Her Majesty's Government will support its being discussed at the Luxembourg summit.

  Mrs. Chalker
  EC Heads of Government discussed South Africa at Luxembourg as the right hon. Member will he aware. They welcomed the important progress made in South Africa towards the abolition of apartheid. They did not agree with the liaison group's recommendation that the EC should suspend its decision to lift some sanctions against South Africa.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Footpaths and Bridleways
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley of 4 June,Official Report, column 196, if he will make it his practice to keep central records of the number of public footpaths and public bridleways that have been created or closed to the general public.

  Mr. Needham
  Under the Access to the Countryside (NI) Order 1983 it is the responsibility of each district council to compile and preserve maps and other records of public rights of way in its district. It is not my intention to have the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland duplicate those records.

  Maydown Incinerator
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he intends that the hazardous waste incinerator proposed for Maydown, County Londonderry will he no risk to the community or the environment.

  Mr. Needham
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave on 26 June 1991,Official Report, column 488.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further regulations he intends to introduce with respect to the control of substances hazardous to health in the proposed incinerator at Maydown, County Londonderry.

  Mr. Needham
  If the proposed incinerator came into operation, it would become subject to the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 and health and safety regulations made under the order. At present, the Department of Economic Development does not intend to introduce health and safety regulations with specific respect to the proposed facility.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research he has undertaken to determine whether the waste presently earmarked for incineration in the proposed plant at Maydown, Co. Londonderry, could be recycled by the producers of such waste.

  Mr. Needham
  The extent to which waste can be minimised and recycled will be central in the consideration by any company of the feasibility of an incinerator. High temperature incineration—without doubt, the most costly solution—will be considered only when it is clearly the only appropriate technology for disposal.
  26
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what evaluation of the site of the proposed incinerator at Maydown will be, or has been, undertaken by(a) his Department and (b) other and independent bodies, to determine where in Northern Ireland any emissions would deposit in a wind speed of zero, five, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 mph blowing from the south to north west points of the compass.

  Mr. Needham
  If it decides to proceed with this proposal, Du Pont (UK) Ltd. would be obliged to submit a planning application which would be treated as a major application under article 22 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1972. The submission of an environmental statement with this application would be mandatory under the terms of EC directive 337/85 and the Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1989. As part of this environmental statement, the company would be required to carry out detailed mathematical modelling of the incinerator's emissions—a wide range of wind speeds would be used —and their impact on all compass points would be assessed. The company's submission would be critically examined by the alkali and radiochemical inspectorate of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. The Department has no information about the evaluation of this site by other and independent bodies.

  Waste Incinerators
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration he has given to building an incinerator which could deal with non-hazardous and non-toxic waste as well as with hazardous waste.

  Mr. Needham
  There are significant differences in the requirements for the combustion and destruction of these wastes.

  Chemical Waste
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the percentage of chemical waste produced by (1) Du Pont and (2) the rest of Northern Ireland which could be rendered safe by a digestion process.

  Mr. Needham
  Chemical waste produced by Du Pont and other similar industries in Northern Ireland is, by its nature, not digestible by any known process. The only possible methods of disposal are in hazardous waste landfill or by high temperature incineration.

  Harbour Improvements
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to improve the harbours at Church Bay, Rathlin and at Ballycastle, and to promote a better ferry service.

  Mr. Needham
  The Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) has taken the following steps to improve the ferry service between Ballycastle and Rathlin:

  (a) Negotiations are under way with the ferry operators regarding the provison of an annual subsidy to ensure the continuance of the serviceand for a grant toward the improvement of the ferries, particularly as regards passenger safety and comfort.

  27

  (b) Work is being carried out this year to improve acces s to Rathlin Harbour. Taking into account investigations at Ballycastle Harbour total expenditure this year will be over £300,000.

  (c) Plans to provide safe berthing at Ballycastle and to deepen the harbour at, and channel to, Rathlin Harbour have been agreed with the Moyle District Council which owns the harbours. These works have been estimated at almost £4 million and, subject to the availability of finance, are schedule for completion in 1993.

  These actions will secure the ferry service in the short term and will allow the introduction of a modern service. The form of such a service has not yet been decided.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give for each available year from 1978, the energy consumption, broken down by fuel, of the

  Electricity

  Oil

  Gas

  Area sq ft million

  1983–84

  Consumption

  25·5 million Kwh

  4·25 million litres

  72 Kth

  Cash prices

  £1,140,000

  £680,000

  £58,000

  1990–91 prices

  £1,537,359

  £717,053

  £70,931

  1984–85

  Consumption

  27·2 million Kwh

  4·65 million litres

  79 Kth

  Cash prices

  £1,065,000

  £684,000

  £58,000

  1990–91 prices

  £1,408,056

  £667,843

  £69,540

  1985–86

  Consumption

  29·6 million Kwh

  4·83 million litres

  61 Kth

  Cash prices

  £1,443,000

  £863,000

  £51,000

  1990–91 prices

  £1,834,437

  £851,126

  £59,262

  1986–87

  Consumption

  36·5 million Kwh

  5·21 million litres

  36 Kth

  Cash prices

  £1,518,000

  £534,000

  £36,000

  2·87

  1990–91 prices

  £1,929,783

  £658,321

  £41,491

  1987–88

  Consumption

  33·8 million Kwh

  5·14 million litres

  47 Kth

  Cash prices

  £1,563,000

  £437,000

  £33,000

  2·92

  1990–91 prices

  £1,986,991

  £579,284

  £40,035

  1988–89

  Consumption

  33·6 million Kwh

  5·63 million litres

  8 Kth

  Cash prices

  £1,611,000

  £396,000

  £3,000

  2·92

  1990–91 prices

  £1,878,910

  £514,642

  £3,162

  1989–90

  Consumption

  33·18 million Kwh

  5·2 million litres

  25 Kth

  Cash prices

  £1,622,000

  £469,000

  £11,000

  2·96

  1990–91 prices

  £1,767,980

  £534,660

  £11,550

  1990–91

  Consumption

  Not yet available

  Cash prices (including VAT)

  £1,857,000

  £588,000

  —

  3·22

  1990–91 prices

  £1,857,000

  £588,000

  —

  Oil and electricity were subject to VAT from 1 July 1990.

WALES

  Rural Affairs Department
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received advocating the setting up of a rural affairs department in the Welsh Office; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  No statistics are kept of representations on this subject, but I am aware of a small number of representations over recent years.
  28
  buildings occupied by his Department, expressing the figures in (a) cash terms, (b) 1990–91 money terms and (c) units of consumption for electricity in kilowatt hours, gas in therms, liquid fuel in litres and solid fuel in tonnes; and if he will give the square footage of accommodation to which these figures relate.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 3 June 1991]: The energy information requested for the years prior to 1983–84 and the square footage information prior to 1986–87 is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. From 1983–84 onwards, the energy consumption and costs for the Northern Ireland Government office estate, broken down by fuel together with the square footage of accommodation to which it relates, is as follows:—

  Because of the multi-functional nature of my right hon. Friend's responsibilities, the Welsh Office is well placed to take an overview of different policies as they affect rural affairs. There is also a great deal of collaboration between the various parts of the Welsh Office and between the Department and other agencies and bodies concerned with rural affairs.

  Teachers
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales ( I ) if he will publish a table showing the number of teacher vacancies and vacancies as a percentage of teachers in post in Wales(a) by grade and (b) by main teaching subject in each year from 1986;

  (2) if he will publish a value showing (a) the number of teacher vacancies and (b) vacancies as a percentage of teachers in post in each county in Wales during each year from 1986;

  The number of unfilled teacher vacancies and teacher vacancies as a proportion of full-time teaching posts Primary schools

  Clwvd

  Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Wales

  1988

  Number of vacancies

  8

  6

  52

  1

  69

  6

  2

  0

  144

  Percentage of full-time teachers

  0·56

  0·39

  2·97

  0·10

  2·64

  1·10

  0·13

  0·00

  1·20

  1989

  Number of vacancies

  17

  4

  46

  8

  90

  5

  11

  0

  181

  Percentage of full-time teachers

  1·18

  0·25

  2·58

  0·81

  3·56

  0·94

  0·70

  0·00

  1·50

  1990

  Number of vacancies

  31

  3

  33

  26

  81

  10

  3

  0

  187

  Percentage of full-time teachers

  2·14

  0·18

  1·83

  2·64

  3·27

  1·81

  0·18

  0·00

  1·53

  1991

  Number of vacancies

  5

  8

  81

  21

  108

  5

  16

  28

  272

  Percentage of full-time teachers

  0·34

  0·48

  4·50

  2·17

  4·12

  0·93

  0·98

  1·69

  2·20

  Secondary Schools

  Year

  Clwyd

  Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Wales

  1986

  Number of vacancies

  3

  20

  26

  13

  41

  0

  6

  72

  181

  Percentage of FT teachers

  0·16

  1·25

  1·18

  1·02

  1·47

  0·00

  0·34

  4·01

  1·30

  1987

  Number of vacancies

  2

  8

  3

  9

  34

  0

  0

  13

  69

  Percentage of FT teachers

  0·11

  0·50

  0·14

  0·72

  1·26

  0·00

  0·00

  0·75

  0·51

  1988

  Number of vacancies

  2

  4

  25

  11

  32

  11

  1

  5

  91

  Percentage of FT teachers

  0·11

  026

  1·23

  0·92

  1·21

  1·96

  0·06

  0·29

  0·69

  1989

  Number of vacancies

  9

  3

  15

  16

  35

  11

  4

  12

  105

  Percentage of FT teachers

  0·52

  0·20

  0·77

  1·36

  1·35

  1·94

  0·25

  0·72

  0·82

  1990

  Number of vacancies

  11

  11

  46

  22

  38

  10

  10

  11

  159

  Percentage of FT teachers

  0·64

  0·72

  2·46

  1·92

  1·62

  1·77

  0·60

  0·68

  1·28

  1991

  Number of vacancies

  14

  12

  11

  20

  69

  9

  7

  17

  159

  Percentage of FT teachers

  0·84

  0·78

  0·60

  1·83

  2·92

  1·63

  0·42

  1·07

  1·30

  Unfilled teacher vacancies and teacher vacancies as a proportion of full-time teachers in secondary schools by subject taught

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Subject

  Number

  Proportion of posts Per cent.

  Number

  Proportion of posts Per cent.

  Number

  Proportion of posts Per cent.

  Number

  Proportion of posts Per cent.

  Number

  Proportion of posts Per cent.

  Number

  Proportion of posts Per cent.

  Mathematics

  21

  1·31

  7

  0·45

  6

  0·40

  8

  0·54

  18

  1·25

  15

  1·06

  Computer studies

  7

  2·90

  5

  2·13

  3

  1·32

  1

  0·45

  2

  0·93

  1

  0·47

  Chemistry

  4

  0·96

  2

  0·50

  0

  0·00

  3

  0·79

  4

  1·08

  5

  1·37

  Physics

  7

  1·58

  4

  0·93

  3

  0·72

  6

  1·48

  3

  0·76

  5

  1·29

  Biology

  2

  0·39

  1

  0·20

  4

  0·82

  2

  0·42

  1

  0·22

  2

  0·44

  Other Science

  6

  0·86

  3

  0·44

  7

  1·06

  4

  0·62

  8

  1·29

  12

  1·96

  French

  11

  1·57

  4

  0·59

  5

  0·76

  13

  2·02

  8

  1·28

  12

  1·95

  30
  (3) if he will publish the results of his Department's latest survey into teacher vacancies in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The latest survey on teacher vacancies was carried out in January 1991. The results are included in the following tables which show the number of teacher vacancies in all schools and the number of vacancies by subject in secondary schools between 1986 and 1991. Comparable information for the primary sector is not available for 1986 and 1987. Details of teacher vacancies by subject in primary schools and by grade are not held centrally.
  31

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Subject

  Number

  Proportion of posts Per cent.

  Number

  Proportion of posts Per cent.

  Number

  Proportion of posts Per cent.

  Number

  Proportion of posts Per cent.

  Number

  Proportion of posts Per cent.

  Number

  Proportion of posts Per cent.

  German

  0

  0·00

  0

  0·00

  1

  0·71

  0

  0·00

  0

  0·00

  2

  1·51

  French/German

  1

  0·00

  1

  0·00

  1

  0·00

  0

  0·00

  5

  0·00

  3

  0·00

  Spanish

  0

  0·00

  1

  3·79

  0

  0·00

  0

  0·00

  0

  0·00

  0

  0·00

  Welsh

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22

  0·00

  Other Languages1

  8

  n.a.

  2

  n.a.

  7

  n.a.

  6

  n.a.

  16

  n.a.

  6

  n.a.

  English

  15

  1·06

  10

  0·73

  14

  1·05

  12

  0·92

  27

  2·13

  8

  0·64

  Drama

  4

  3·95

  2

  2·04

  1

  1·05

  1

  1·07

  1

  1·11

  1

  1·12

  History

  10

  1·44

  1

  0·15

  1

  0·15

  4

  0·62

  7

  1·13

  1

  0·16

  Social Studies

  5

  3·51

  0

  0·00

  1

  0·74

  2

  1·53

  0

  0·00

  0

  0·00

  Geography

  13

  1·74

  4

  0·55

  3

  0·43

  4

  0·58

  6

  0·90

  7

  1·06

  Religious Education

  4

  0·85

  1

  0·22

  0

  0·00

  1

  0·23

  4

  0·95

  3

  0·72

  CDT

  16

  2·00

  1

  0·13

  7

  0·93

  7

  0·95

  7

  0·98

  5

  0·71

  Commerce/Business

  5

  1·68

  5

  1·74

  3

  1·07

  2

  0·73

  7

  2·64

  0

  0·00

  Art/Light Craft

  4

  0·62

  1

  0·16

  4

  0·66

  1

  0·17

  2

  0·35

  3

  0·53

  Home Economics/N'work

  8

  1·03

  2

  0·27

  4

  0·55

  4

  0·56

  1

  0·14

  7

  1·02

  Music

  5

  1·19

  3

  0·73

  2

  0·50

  2

  0·52

  6

  1·60

  11

  2·97

  Physical Education

  11

  1·26

  3

  0·35

  3

  0·36

  3

  0·20

  6

  0·77

  7

  0·91

  Remedial

  11

  2·02

  6

  1·14

  5

  0·97

  1

  0·20

  11

  2·27

  5

  1·04

  Careers

  0

  0·00

  0

  0·00

  0

  0·00

  0

  0·00

  0

  0·00

  0

  0·00

  Other main subjects

  1

  0·22

  0

  0·00

  1

  0·23

  5

  1·17

  1

  0·24

  2

  0·49

  Combined subjects

  2

  22·97

  0

  0·00

  1

  12·18

  2

  24·98

  0

  0·00

  0

  0·00

  Sub total

  181

  —

  69

  —

  87

  —

  94

  —

  151

  —

  117

  —

  Head vacancies3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  4

  —

  2

  —

  4

  —

  Deputy Head vacancies2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  7

  —

  6

  —

  10

  —

  Total vacancies

  181

  —

  69

  —

  91

  —

  105

  —

  159

  —

  131

  —

  1 Prior to 1991 the number of vacancies for teachers taking Welsh was included with those vacancies for teachers taking other languages. LEAs also reported teacher vacancies for teachers required to teach two languages in this category.

  2 Separately identified figures for heads and deputy heads were collected for the first time in 1988 possibly resulting in undercounting in earlier years. But to the extent that they were recorded prior to 1988 they will have been allocated to a teaching subject, slightly inflating the number of vacancies in individual subjects relative to their 1988 value.

  Notes:

  1. Vacancies are recorded for full-time permanent appointments or full-time appointments of at least one term's duration which an authority intends to fill or to which it has unsuccessfully attempted to make such an appointment.

  2. The number of teachers is provided by LEAs on the form 618G and relates to all teachers working full-time. The number of teaching posts has been estimated by applying the proportion of teachers in each subject obtained from the 1989 Secondary School Staffing Survey to the number of full-time teachers in post in each year.

  Policy Reviews
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to publish the results, or a report thereof, of his quinquennial review of the work of the Welsh Development Agency, the Development Board for Rural Wales and the Land Authority for Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The conclusions of the reviews will be published and these will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Trading Standards
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his proposals for the future of the organisation of the trading standards service in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The organisation of the trading standards service will be a matter for consideration in the context of any decision to restructure local government in Wales.

  Craft Industry
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of how public funding provided in 1990–91 to aid the craft industry in Wales via the Welsh Development Agency, the Development Board for Rural 32
  Wales and the Wales Craft Council was spent; how many businesses benefited directly therefrom; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The financial year 1990–91 was the final year of the three-year Craft Initiative. Details of how public funding provided to aid the craft industry in Wales was spent during the initiative, and the number of businesses that benefited in that period, were provided in the evaluation of the initiative. A copy of this has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the changes in the incidence of unemployment in(a) Wales and (b) the area covered by the valleys programme in each of the past 30 months for which figures are available.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information is contained in the following table:

  Unemployment in the programme for the Valleys area and Wales

  Valleys

  Wales

  Total

  Absolute monthly change

  Total

  Absolute monthly change

  1988

  November

  30,354

  —

  115,768

  —

  December

  30,292

  -62

  114,533

  -1,235

  33

  Valleys

  Wales

  Total

  Absolute monthly change

  Total

  Absolute monthly change

  1989

  January

  30,963

  671

  116,245

  1,712

  February

  29,812

  -1,151

  112,044

  -4,201

  March

  29,095

  -717

  107,696

  -4,348

  April

  28,543

  -552

  103,188

  -4,508

  May

  27,411

  -1,132

  97,818

  -5,370

  June

  26,279

  -1,132

  92,804

  -5,014

  July

  26,291

  12

  93,272

  468

  August

  25,714

  -577

  91,113

  -2,159

  September

  25,928

  214

  90,594

  -519

  October

  24,091

  -1,837

  86,514

  -4,080

  November

  23,296

  -795

  85,658

  -856

  December

  23,677

  381

  87,161

  1,503

  1990

  January

  24,764

  1,087

  90,349

  3,188

  February

  24,183

  -581

  88,851

  -1,498

  March

  23,797

  -386

  86,638

  -2,213

  April

  23,474

  -323

  84,557

  -2,081

  May

  22,922

  -522

  81,194

  -3,363

  June

  22,417

  -505

  79,103

  -2,091

  July

  23,146

  729

  83,202

  4,099

  August

  23,330

  184

  84,609

  1,407

  September

  23,647

  317

  85,858

  1,249

  October

  23,411

  -236

  86,030

  172

  November

  24,052

  641

  89,923

  3,893

  December

  25,559

  1,507

  95,662

  5,739

  1991

  January

  27,077

  1,518

  101,452

  5,790

  February

  27,746

  669

  104,889

  3,437

  March

  28,995

  1,249

  108,049

  3,160

  April

  30,309

  1,314

  110,504

  2,455

  May

  30,274

  -35

  110,237

  -267

  Source: Employment Department.

  Standard Assessment Tasks
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all those who have made representations concerning the implementation of standard assessment tasks; and whether he intends to revise them following their representations.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  As at 27 June the following representations had been received.

  Number of Representations

  Teachers

  10

  School governing bodies

  15

  Parents

  18

  Teacher associations and unions

  3

  1 Plus 1 petition containing 58 signatures.

  Many of the correspondents provide constructive comment on the assessment arrangements and these have

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  11989

  11990

  Clwyd

  Alyn and Deeside

  4

  2

  4

  3

  8

  8

  9

  7

  5

  11

  Colwyn

  9

  8

  8

  15

  14

  9

  6

  5

  10

  9

  Delyn

  3

  2

  4

  5

  3

  2

  5

  10

  12

  10

  Glyndwr

  3

  2

  4

  5

  7

  5

  5

  6

  4

  9

  Rhuddlan

  6

  6

  10

  13

  13

  12

  9

  10

  11

  12

  Wrexham

  7

  9

  8

  8

  11

  10

  10

  14

  8

  13

  34
  been forwarded to the School Examinations and Assessment Council, which is currently undertaking a wide-ranging evaluation of this year's exercise.

  Employment Action Team
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the employment action scheme will begin in Wales; and in what travel-to-work areas the scheme will be implemented.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  "Employment Action" is due to be introduced in the autumn. All training and enterprise councils will shortly be invited to enter into negotiations with the Employment Department about the scale and nature of local provision.

  Royal Welch Fusiliers
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the future of the Royal Welch Fusiliers; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  We have received 59 written representations calling for the continuation of the Royal Welch Fusiliers in their present form. We have also received a number of personal representations.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was raised by local authorities in Wales in 1990–91 using their discretionary powers to raise £5 per head of adult population, in areas where there is a single tier of principal local authority, and £2£50 per head of adult population, in areas where there are two administrative tiers; and if he has made any assumptions for the likely yield under this power for 1991–92.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Local Authority Usable Receipts
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate for local authority usable receipts in 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Local authorities estimate that at 1 April 1991 they had £40 million of usable accumulated capital receipts. In addition, they forecast that the usable part of receipts received in 1991–92 will be £34 million. No equivalent figures are available for later periods.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many planning applications, rejected by local authorities, that were subsequently approved by Welsh Office inspectors on appeal, there were in each Welsh planning area in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information is as follows:
  35

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  11989

  11990

  Dyfed

  Carmathen

  6

  1

  8

  3

  3

  5

  4

  9

  7

  19

  Ceredigion

  5

  5

  2

  1

  8

  8

  7

  8

  11

  10

  Dinefwr

  2

  1

  1

  2

  6

  6

  2

  3

  5

  10

  Llanelli

  9

  2

  5

  4

  7

  3

  9

  9

  9

  15

  Preseli

  1

  0

  3

  3

  4

  2

  2

  5

  1

  2

  South Pembrokeshire

  7

  3

  6

  4

  4

  5

  3

  2

  6

  12

  Gwent

  Blaenau Gwent

  3

  1

  1

  2

  4

  2

  1

  3

  6

  7

  Islwyn

  3

  1

  1

  5

  6

  6

  6

  5

  6

  7

  Monmouth

  16

  17

  10

  9

  14

  12

  12

  12

  18

  28

  Newport

  4

  7

  7

  6

  10

  12

  8

  6

  10

  25

  Torfaen

  4

  4

  3

  7

  10

  11

  6

  7

  6

  13

  Gwynedd

  Aberconwy

  4

  6

  10

  5

  14

  15

  6

  14

  12

  25

  Arfon

  5

  4

  2

  4

  9

  8

  7

  3

  2

  4

  Dwyfor

  6

  6

  5

  5

  6

  3

  9

  9

  13

  16

  Meirionydd

  5

  5

  6

  4

  3

  9

  1

  4

  0

  0

  Ynys Mon

  15

  17

  12

  10

  11

  17

  23

  17

  18

  27

  Mid Glamorgan

  Cynon Valley

  1

  5

  1

  4

  2

  3

  3

  3

  7

  4

  Merthyr Tydfil

  1

  7

  2

  2

  1

  5

  4

  4

  4

  3

  Ogwr

  13

  4

  8

  9

  3

  5

  6

  8

  14

  22

  Rhondda

  4

  5

  4

  1

  3

  7

  0

  5

  7

  12

  Rhymney Valley

  4

  5

  4

  5

  3

  1

  4

  7

  5

  5

  Taff Ely

  9

  6

  7

  7

  8

  13

  6

  10

  10

  23

  Powys

  Brecknock

  1

  1

  7

  6

  6

  9

  6

  6

  3

  3

  Montgomery

  3

  5

  2

  6

  1

  3

  2

  5

  5

  9

  Radnor

  2

  2

  0

  0

  3

  4

  1

  4

  0

  4

  South Glamorgan

  Cardiff

  15

  10

  22

  18

  31

  20

  21

  21

  36

  41

  Vale of Glamorgan

  24

  20

  17

  15

  13

  22

  21

  21

  32

  27

  West Glamorgan

  Port Talbot (Formely Afan)

  2

  4

  2

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  4

  4

  Lliw Valley

  6

  4

  11

  8

  7

  10

  6

  5

  4

  9

  Neath

  2

  4

  4

  2

  2

  2

  5

  3

  5

  7

  Swansea

  22

  14

  23

  19

  23

  23

  10

  21

  30

  32

  1 Excludes appeals within National Parks.

  National parks

  1989

  1990

  Snowdonia

  9

  7

  Brecon Beacons

  4

  8

  Pembrokeshire Coast

  6

  4

  Advertising Campaigns
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the topics of each television advertising campaign to be carried out by his Department and any other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000.
  36
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Welsh Office does not plan to run any television advertising campaigns.

  The Department will run three publicity campaigns in 1991–92 costing more than £100,000:

  Enterprise Wales

  Road Safety

  Drug and Alcohol Misuse

ENERGY

  Electricity Act
  Sir Barney Hayhoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects codes of practice to be published and complaints procedures to be established as required by the Electricity Act 1989; and what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the Director General of Electricity Supply has discharged his duties with respect to consumer protection arrangements envisaged in that Act.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I understand from the Office of Electricity Regulation that most of the regional electricity companies' codes of practice and procedures have now been approved by the Director General of Electricity Supply, and that the remainder should reach that stage shortly. I meet the director general regularly to discuss all aspects of the regulation of the electricity industry and am confident that he is discharging his duties effectively. Consumers will benefit directly from the challenging standards of performance on customer service set by the director general which come into force today. These important initiatives are a practical example of improvements in service to customers of the kind which are at the heart of the citizens' charter proposals.

  Wave Energy
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to remove the responsibility for developing a United Kingdom wave energy programme from the Atomic Energy Authority.

  Mr. Moynihan
  No. Responsibility rests with my Department for the general research development and demonstration programme for renewable energy technologies; this includes wave energy. The energy technology support unit, based at the Harwell laboratory of the Atomic Energy Authority, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the programme and reports directly to my Department on the performance of its work.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the average length of time taken to process a claim by a network installer under the Government's home energy efficiency scheme; and what is the accepted performance target for such work.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  A proportion of cases are subject to technical monitoring and payment is only made once work has been found to reach the required standards. My Department's contract with the Energy Action Grants Agency—EAGA—requires it for at least 90 per cent. of all cases to approve valid claims or reject incorrect claims for grant money made by a network installer under the home energy efficiency scheme within 15 working days of receipt. The EAGA is currently meeting this target.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he has taken to ensure that arrangements under the home energy efficiency scheme are satisfactory and that adequate resources are being made available for both network installers and contractors to undertake their work.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Initial experience in operating the scheme has confirmed that it meets a real need and is 38
  being well received. The changes to HEES that I recently announced will further promote standards and protect clients. I am satisfied that the funding available is adequate to treat some 200,000 homes in the current financial year.

  Non-fossil Fuel Obligation
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the cash value of the non-fossil fuel obligation in the year to date in terms of the additional payment to Nuclear Electric for the cost of generation and the remainder of the non-fossil fuel obligation.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Details of premium payments made by the regional electricity companies to specific generators contracted within the non-fossil fuel obligation—NFFO—are commercially confidential. However, the Director General of Electricity Supply has announced that in 1990–91 receipts from the fossil fuel levy, available for financing NFFO qualifying arrangements, amounted to £1,175 million.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the total megawatt capacity of bids for entrance in the second tranche of the non-fossil fuel obligation; and how these are split between the categories of renewable energies that he is considering.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I regret that I am unable to give the information requested, because to do so might prejudice the operation of the competitive tendering procedure that has been adopted by the Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency Ltd. for selecting the projects to be contracted under the proposed Renewables Order 1991.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any proposals for disaggregating the nuclear from the non-nuclear segments of the non-fossil fuel obligation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  For practical reasons, and to reflect the Government's policy of introducing additional tranches of renewables capacity during the 1990s, the non-fossil fuel obligations in respect of nuclear and renewables have been made under separate orders. However, my right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce separate levies for nuclear and renewables, which would be cumbersome and inefficient.

  Sizewell B
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what advance payments of nuclear levy have been made to Nuclear Electric in respect of the Sizewell B nuclear power station during its construction phase;

  (2) what arrangements he has made for the payment of nuclear levy in respect of Sizewell B (a) before it is fuelled, (b) during its phasing-in period and (c) in operation at full capacity; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Details of premium payments made by the Regional Electricity Companies to specific generators contracted within the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation, including Nuclear Electrict plc, are commercially confidential.

  Non-fossil Fuel Levy
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he has to review the 1998 terminal date for the application of the non-fossil fuel levy, or any subsection of it.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend and I are confident that the regional electricity companies have the flexibilities they need to offer generators acceptable contracts under the proposed Renewables Order 1991. My Department's forthcoming renewables review will provide an opportunity to consider the longer-term implications.

  Advertising Campaigns
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the topics of each television advertising campaign to be carried out by his Department and any other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000.

  Mr. Wakeham
  My Department has a continuing programme of publicity to promote energy efficiency, including a joint campaign with the Department of the Environment on the environment and home energy efficiency, the United Kingdom offshore supplies industry and renewable sources of energy. None of these campaigns will involve television advertising in the current year.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Daresbury Laboratory
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the investment in total in current values to set up and establish the nuclear structure facility at Daresbury as an operating centre.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The final capital cost of the nuclear structure facility was £13·6 million at 1980 price levels. This corresponds to £26·3 million at current prices.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to(a) the capital costs, (b) the setting-up costs, (c) the commissioning costs and (d) the back-up costs of the LINAC facility at Daresbury laboratory.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The equipment forming the LINAC facility was transferred from the university of Oxford and installed at Daresbury laboratory at a cost of £1,235,000. Associated work to set up beam lines and new laboratories cost a further £880,000. The contribution by Daresbury laboratory's own staff in installing and setting up the facility cannot be separately disaggregated.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will construct a table showing the capital investments in the nuclear structure facility at Daresbury, the year of those investments and the originally expected usable lifetimes of the major items involved.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The capital cost of the original nuclear structure facility was £13·6 million at 1980 prices. A programme of enhancements has been carried out since then and contained within the annual NSF operating budget which has varied within the range of £5·5 million to £6·6 million. The superconducting linear accelerator (LINAC) was transferred and installed at the NSF in 1990 at a capital cost of £1·2 million.
  40
  Although the NSF could be sustained in operation with the necessary maintenance for a further 10 years or so, SERC's 1989 corporate plan envisaged a change of scientific direction in this field from the mid-1990s. The NSF was expected to sustain a high quality programme of nuclear structure research at least until then.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the expected usable lifetime of the LINAC at Daresbury laboratory; and when it was first used.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Following transfer of the equipment from Oxford university to the nuclear structure facility, the LINAC was inaugurated in November 1990.

  Although the LINAC facility could be sustained in operation with increasing maintenance costs for 10 years or so, SERC's 1989 corporate plan envisaged a change of scientific direction in the field of nuclear structure physics from the mid to late 1990s. The LINAC facility was expected to sustain a high quality performance at least until then.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to how the SERC intends to put into action its plans to maintain the nuclear structure facility at the forefront of low-energy, nuclear physics worldwide as outlined in "The Laboratories in the 1990s".

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to him on 25 June 1991,Official Report, column 444.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the LINAC at Daresbury laboratory was inaugurated; and by whom.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The superconducting linear accelerator (LINAC) was inaugurated on 26 November 1990 by SERC's chairman, Sir Mark Richmond.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what evaluation of the quality of the work emerging from the use of the LINAC at Daresbury laboratory SERC intends to undertake; and whether such evaluation will be published.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I understand that the SERC has no plans to conduct such a study.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the capital asset value of the nuclear structure facility at Daresbury.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  As a unique scientific facility with a single use, the nuclear structure facility has no meaningful commercial or market value.

  "The Laboratories in the 1990s"
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the report "The Laboratories in the 1990s" by SERC was submitted to him.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Department saw the report that went to the SERC council in July 1990 and received the published version in June this year.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to how the SERC
  41
  intends to put into action its plans for other laboratories to build on its international roles as outlined in "The Laboratories in the 1990s".

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Information on the SERC's plans is contained in its coroporate plans and other material made available to the Department.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date the SERC report "The Laboratories in the 1990s" was generally distributed; and what its costs of publication were.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The cost to SERC of publishing the report was £2,682. It was distributed by it earlier this month.

  Scientific Research
  Sir Gerard Vaughan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the expenditure in each of the last five years, from his departmental vote on the dual funding system for scientific research; and what is the provision for this in the current year.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Under the dual support system for funding scientific research, universities receive funds from the Department's vote both through institutional funding from UFC and specific project grants from the research councils.

  Funding from the UFC in support of research council projects is not separately identified in the UFC's allocations to universities. The estimated total UFC funding spent on scientific research over the period 1986–87 to 1989–90 was:

  £million

  1986–87

  655

  1987–88

  695

  1988–89

  725

  1989–90

  785

  Estimates for 1990–91 and 1991–92 taking account of outturn data on university spending are not yet available. However, the Government's plans provided for a year-on-year increase of some 10 per cent. in the total available public funding for universities through UFC recurrent grant and publicly funded tuition fees in each year. Within their overall allocations, it is for individual institutions to determine their spending on teaching and different types of research.

  Actual spending by research councils on grants for research in universities and other bodies was as follows. The figures include grants for research in polytechnics and other higher education institutions, expenditure on interdisciplinary research centres and a small number of grants to other bodies which are outside the dual support system.

  £ thousands

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  AFRC

  6,875

  7,618

  9,080

  15,001

  ESRC

  12,652

  14,205

  15,502

  18,950

  MRC

  35,164

  38,073

  44,512

  46,742

  NERC

  4,664

  6,924

  6,794

  8,624

  SERC

  99,507

  121,811

  123,010

  151,384

  Total

  158,862

  188,631

  198,898

  240,701

  42
  Source: Annual Appropriation Accounts.

  Estimated total grants in 1990–91 and 1991–92 on the same basis are as follows:

  £thousands

  1990–91

  1991–92

  AFRC

  15,679

  16,172

  ESRC

  21,378

  24,117

  MRC

  57,050

  59,067

  NERC

  12,237

  11,394

  SERC

  168,167

  168,330

  Total

  275,167

  279,330

  Source: Supply Estimates 1991–92.

  Teachers
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the average numbers of teaching staff in(a) nursery and primary schools, (b) middle schools and (c) secondary schools for each size of school, according to the group sizes defined in the "School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document".

  Mr. Fallon
  A table showing the average numbers of teachers in maintained schools in England by group size follows. The group sizes shown are those introduced with effect from 1 January 1991.

  Average numbers of full—time equivalent qualified teachers in maintained nursery, primary, middle and secondary schools in England by group size

  January 1990

  Maintained School

  Average number

  Nursery and Primary

  Group 1

  4·3

  Group 2

  10·4

  Group 3

  17·6

  Group 4

  26·8

  Group 5

  —

  Group 6

  —

  Middle

  Group I

  7·9

  Group 2

  13·1

  Group 3

  21·4

  Group 4

  35·0

  Group 5

  —

  Group 6

  —

  Secondary

  Group 1

  —

  Group 2

  14·8

  Group 3

  25·3

  Group 4

  37·4

  Group 5

  56·1

  Group 6

  80·5

  Schools
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the numbers of(a) nursery and primary schools, (b) middle schools and (c) secondary schools in each region by size, according to the group sizes defined in the "School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document".

  Mr. Fallon
  A table showing the numbers of maintained schools in each region in England according to group size follows. The group sizes shown are those introduced with effect from 1 January 1991.
  43

  Numbers of maintained nursery, primary, middle and secondary schools in England by region and group size January 1990

  North

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  North West

  East Midlands

  West Midlands

  East Anglia

  Greater London

  Other South East

  South West

  England

  Nursery and Primary

  Group 1

  565

  750

  780

  141

  661

  456

  235

  1,442

  1,024

  6,660

  Group 2

  767

  1,137

  1,759

  930

  1,229

  370

  1,586

  2,181

  936

  10,895

  Group 3

  111

  154

  242

  129

  230

  54

  278

  281

  103

  1,582

  Group 4

  —

  2

  5

  1

  6

  —

  1

  1

  1

  17

  Group 5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Group 6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Middle

  Group 1

  3

  25

  —

  —

  8

  3

  2

  7

  3

  51

  Group 2

  40

  167

  1

  15

  73

  52

  44

  261

  23

  676

  Group 3

  26

  69

  6

  20

  42

  42

  17

  103

  26

  351

  Group 4

  —

  2

  —

  5

  —

  2

  —

  3

  3

  15

  Group 5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Group 6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Secondary

  Group 1

  Group 2

  4

  2

  7

  6

  2

  —

  1

  2

  9

  33

  Group 3

  9

  17

  21

  49

  22

  9

  11

  17

  14

  169

  Group 4

  59

  94

  144

  108

  131

  52

  120

  200

  94

  1,002

  Group 5

  138

  171

  267

  136

  218

  58

  277

  447

  167

  1,879

  Group 6

  23

  60

  60

  35

  37

  21

  25

  75

  34

  370

  Student Loans
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it his policy to place in the Library each month the number of student loans outstanding and the total value of the amount owed.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I am informed by the Student Loans Company Ltd. that, at 31 May 1991, 136,516 loans were outstanding. The total value of the amount owed was £54,109,897. Figures as at the end of June and each succeeding calendar month will be placed in the Library as soon as they are available.

  Training
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students there are in(a) non-vocational and (b) leisure-related classes, who have been given work release by employers to attend those classes for training purposes.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The number of students in PCFC institutions and further education colleges, excluding adult education centres, in England who were released by employers to attend identified non-vocational and leisure related classes was some 400 in 1989–90.

  Advertising Campaigns
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the topics of each television advertising campaign to be carried out by his Department and any other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend launched a teacher recruitment campaign this morning which will include advertising on television.

  Other publicity campaigns costing more than £100,000 which are intended to be carried out in the current financial year are:
  — a campaign to provide parents with information about changes in the education system; and
  44
  — the professional, industrial and commercial updating (PICKUP) programme which continues to support and encourage colleges, polytechnics and universities to improve and increase their provision to meet the training needs of employers and their employees.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Sitting Flours
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answers of 25 March,Official Report, column 607–8, what proposals he had for reviewing the hours of sitting of the House.

  Mr. McGregor
  I refer the hon. Member to the announcement I made to the House on Thursday 27 June at col. 1161.

HEALTH

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the total number of beds available to the national health service for the treatment of mental illness in 1980 and in 1990.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In 1989–90, the latest year for which information is available centrally, there were 59,290 average daily available mental illness beds in national health service hospitals in England, compared with 87,396 in 1980.

  The numbers of mentally ill patients staying in hospital for long periods has been falling since the mid-1970s. This is true not only for England but for most other developed countries. Over the last 30 years it has become clear from research that less reliance need be placed on in-patient care and better results can be achieved using more day-patient and community care. Additionally the advent of the major tranquillisers in the mid-1950s enabled many patients who previously needed long-term in-patient care to benefit from care on an out-patient basis.
  45
  This has been reflected in the steady improvement in community-based services for mentally ill people in the past 10 years. Gross spending on hospital and community health services for mentally ill people increased by 27 per cent. in real terms between 1979–80 and 1989–90 to £1,661·7 million. Gross spending on local authority social services for the mentally ill has increased substantially and will be further increased by the mental illness specific grant which came into effect on 1 April 1991. The number of community psychiatric nurses has more than trebled from 1,083 in 1981 to 3,380 in 1989.

  The number of mental illness day hospital places in England increased from 15,300 in 1981 to over 19,000 in 1988. Total provision of day centre places for mentally ill people, including places in mixed centres and those made available to local authorities by voluntary bodies, rose from 7,600 in 1981 to 10,400 places in 1988.

  Pharmaceutical Industry
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the British position where the European Commission's proposal for a Council regulation aimed at improving the protection of innovation in the pharmaceutical industry is concerned.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Industry and Consumer Affairs gave my hon. Friend the Member for York (Mr. Gregory) on 15 April at columns 32–33. We will continue to take part constructively in the discussions with other member states to reach an acceptable outcome.

  Health Authority Spending
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the spending per head of population served by Warrington district health authority in the latest available year; and what is the figure on the most nearly comparable basis for(a) England and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Figures for spending per head of resident population for 1989–90, the latest year available, are shown in the table:

  Revenue expenditure per head of resident population—hospital and community health services (HCHS)1

  £

  Warrington District Health Authority

  305

  England-average for all district health authorities

  271

  United Kingdom

  285

  1 Includes hospital, community health, patient transport (i.e. ambulance) blood transfusion and other services.

  Sources

  (a) 1989–90 annual accounts of district health authorities in England and those of the analogous health authorities and boards in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland—as submitted to the central health departments in each country.

  (b) Mid-year estimates of populations—1989 (Office of Population Censuses and Surveys).

  Notes to the Table

  1. Expenditure by regional health authorities, special health authorities and all capital expenditure on HCHS is excluded. Expenditure on family health services (which cannot be strictly attributed to particular districts) and expenditure on personal social services (which in Northern Ireland is accounted for by Health and Social Services Boards) is also excluded.

  46

  2. Comparisons between the figures are influenced by a number of factors including:

  (a) people travel across district boundaries for treatment and resource allocations reflect the pattern of service provision locally;

  (b) the population figures used make no allowance for people resident in particular districts who receive treatment in others or for differences in morbidity and the age/sex structure of particular populations.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the(a) in-patient and (b) out-patient waiting lists were in (i) England, (ii) the Mersey regional health authority and (iii) Warrington district health authority in 1979 and at the latest available date.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The information requested on in-patients is given in the table. Out-patient waiting list information is not collected centrally. It is the time individual patients wait that matters, not the total numbers on the list. Numbers waiting more than one year for in-patient treatment have fallen by 7 per cent. in England since 1979. In Mersey they have fallen by 73 per cent. and in Warrington by 97 per cent. in the same period.

  Numbers treated have increased since 1979. In 1989–90 in the order of 38 per cent. more in-patients were treated than in 1979 in England as a whole, 40 per cent. more were treated in Mersey region and 65 per cent. more in Warrington health authority.

  Numbers on in-patient waiting list 1979 and 1989–90

  England

  Mersey RHA

  Warrington DHA

  March 19791

  752,422

  41,103

  3,360

  September 19901

  705,706

  29,609

  1,756

  1 Figures exclude self-deferred cases.

  Source:

  SM 12; 1979 SBH 203 return.

  1990 KH06, KH07, KHO7A returns.

  Medical Consultations
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients paid for initial consultations for medical problems for each year from 1985 to date, both as a number and a percentage; and how many received further treatment from the NHS.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Student Nurses
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by regional health authority for the last 12 months, the number of national health service student nurses(a) who have graduated as registered general nurses and (b) the number still unemployed.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information on the number of student nurses graduating from training in the last 12 months and not yet employed in the NHS is not collected centrally.

  The numbers completing first level training in each region during the year ended 31 March 1991 are shown in the table:
  47

  Region

  Number

  Northern

  1,215

  Yorkshire

  1,284

  Trent

  1,667

  East Anglian

  604

  North West Thames

  1,227

  North East Thames

  1,882

  South East Thames

  1,303

  South West Thames

  1,028

  Wessex

  1,000

  Oxford

  646

  South Western

  954

  West Midlands

  1,747

  Mersey

  1,019

  North Western

  1,652

  Source: English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress of the HIV/AIDS team inquiry at Leeds general infirmary.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We are not aware of such an inquiry taking place.

  Grants
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the voluntary organisations that have received grants, and the level of grant received, up to the present date under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 within the current financial period 1991–92.

  Mr. Dorrell
  To date, approval has been given for the payment in 1991–92 under the section 64 general scheme of grants totalling £12,337,844. Details are shown in the table.

  Grants approved to voluntary organisations in 1991–92 Under Section 64 General Scheme

  Organisation

  £

  Access Committee (England)

  135,000

  Action for Dyphasic Adults

  29,172

  Action for Victims of Medical Accidents

  20,000

  Action on Smoking and Health

  241,500

  Adfam

  18,375

  Age Concern

  267,000

  Aid for Children with Tracheostomies

  5,278

  Aids Ahead

  40,000

  Aids and Housing Project

  29,000

  Aids Care Education and Training (ACET)

  150,000

  Alcohol Concern

  583,000

  Alzheimers Disease Society

  130,000

  Amarant Trust

  13,000

  Amnesia Association

  8,000

  Arthritis Care

  15,000

  Association for Stammerers

  15,000

  Association for the Psychiatric Study of Adolescents

  40,000

  Association of Disabled Professionals

  3,000

  Association of Professions for Mentally Handicapped

  5,000

  Association of Residential Care

  20,000

  Babylife Support Systems (BLISS)

  11,000

  Barnardos

  65,000

  Black HIV/Aids Network (BAHN)

  40,000

  Bobath Centre

  20,000

  Body Positive

  40,000

  Breakthrough Trust

  40,000

  Breast Care and Mastectomy Association of Great Britain

  31,900

  British Association for Services to the Elderly

  12,000

  48

  Organisation

  £

  British Association for Study and Prevention of ChildAbuse (BASPCAN)

  27,500

  British Association of Cancer United Patients (BACUP)

  11,000

  British Association of the Hard of Hearing

  60,000

  British Council of Organisations of Disabled People

  30,000

  British Institute of Industrial Therapy

  25,000

  British Institute of Mental Handicap

  35,000

  British Kidney Patient Association

  25,000

  British Organ Donor Society

  5,000

  Brook Advisory Centres

  65,000

  Cancer Help Centre

  25,000

  Cancer Relief Macmillan Fund

  20,250

  Cancerlink

  11,000

  Care and Repair Ltd.

  37,743

  Carers National Association

  97,500

  Catholic Child Welfare Council

  2,500

  Catholic Marriage Advisory Council

  42,200

  Centre for Accessible Environment

  70,000

  Chest Heart and Stroke Association

  71,891

  Child Care

  216,500

  Child Poverty Action Group

  18,000

  Child Psychotherapy Trust

  15,000

  Childline

  82,200

  Childrens Legal Centre

  45,000

  Childrens Society

  66,500

  Chinese Health Information Centre

  19,500

  Community Hygiene Concern

  10,000

  Community Network

  10,000

  Compassionate Friends

  10,000

  Contact

  32,000

  Contact a Family

  90,000

  Coronary Prevention Group

  87,500

  Cot Death Society

  5,000

  Council for Advancement of Communication with Deaf People

  50,000

  Crohns in Childhood Research Association

  5,000

  Crossroads Care Attendant Schemes

  130,000

  Cruse

  114,000

  Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust

  20,000

  Dark Horse Venture

  5,000

  Dial UK

  45,000

  Disability Alliance

  25,000

  Disabled Housing Trust

  17,000

  Disabled Living Centres Council

  20,000

  Disabled Living Foundation

  337,000

  Disabled Living Services Manchester

  9,000

  Disablement Income Group

  37,000

  Downs Syndrome Association

  15,000

  Dystonia Society

  9,916

  Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association (DEBRA)

  11.000

  East London Asian Counselling

  24,000

  Eating Disorders Association

  29,000

  Elizabeth Fitzroy Homes

  25,000

  Endometriosis Society

  10,000

  Enuresis Resource and Information Centre

  10,000

  Exploring Parenthood

  14,000

  Extend

  25.000

  Family Heart Association

  25,000

  Family Planning Association

  130,000

  Family Policy Studies Centre

  140,000

  Family Rights Group

  36,000

  Family Service Units

  240,000

  Family Welfare Association

  106,000

  Foundation for Conductive Education

  36,147

  Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths

  25,000

  Foundation for Womens Health Research and Development (FORWARD)

  20,000

  Friends for the Young Deaf

  10.000

  Frontliners

  50,000

  Genetic Interest Group

  12,000

  Gingerbread

  78,000

  49

  Organisation

  £

  Globe Centre

  29,000

  Good Practices in Mental Health

  80,000

  Guillain-Barre Syndrome Support Group

  10,000

  Haemophilia Society

  20,000

  Headway

  40,000

  Heartline Association

  5,000

  Herpes Association

  15,000

  Holiday Care Service

  15,000

  Home Farm Trust

  20,000

  Home Start Consultancy

  100,000

  Homes for Homeless People

  48,000

  Horticultural Therapy

  58,100

  Housing Campaign for Single Homeless (Char)

  36,500

  Hypogammaglobulinaemia Society

  8,000

  Impact Foundation

  20,000

  In Touch

  3,000

  Institute for the Study of Drug Dependence

  119,500

  Institute of Transcultural Health Care

  22,000

  International Social Service

  50,000

  Iris Fund

  2,500

  Joint Committee on Mobility for the Disabled

  1,100

  Jubilee Sailing Trust

  20,000

  Kids

  20,000

  Kids Clubs Network

  90,000

  Kings Fund Centre for Health Services Development

  28,000

  Leisure Link

  15,000

  Leonard Cheshire Foundation

  75,000

  London Chinese Health Resource Centre

  30,000

  L'Arche Ltd

  12,000

  Macfarlane Trust

  155,000

  Mainliners Ltd

  40,000

  Manic Depression Fellowship

  7,500

  Marfan Association

  4,000

  Marie Curie Memorial Foundation

  20,000

  Maternity Alliance

  37,000

  Menieres Society

  7,500

  Mental After Care Association

  50,000

  Mental Health Foundation

  295,000

  Mental Health Media Council

  30,000

  Migraine Trust

  5,000

  Miscarriage Association

  15,000

  Mobility Information Service

  8,000

  Motor Neurone Disease Association

  20,000

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association

  10,000

  NAFSIYAT

  15,000

  National Association of Children with Congenital Abnormalities of Lower Limbs

  5,000

  National Association for Maternal and Child Welfare

  15,000

  National Association for Mental Health (MIND)

  496,260

  National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO)

  270,000

  National Association for the Limbless Disabled

  22,500

  National Association for the Relief of Pagets Disease

  5,000

  National Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital

  90,000

  National Association of Family Based Respite Care

  15,000

  National Association of Leagues of Hospital Friends

  22,000

  National Asthma Campaign

  15,000

  National Childbirth Trust

  12,000

  National Childminding Association

  125,000

  National Childrens Bureau

  115,000

  National Citizen Advocacy

  15,000

  National Community Health Resource

  55,000

  National Council for One Parent Families

  150,000

  National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)

  125,000

  National Counselling and Welfare Service for Sick Doctors

  2,300

  National Federation of Kidney Patients

  12,500

  National Information for Parents of Prematures (NIPPERS)

  10,000

  National Information Forum

  16,000

  50

  Organisation

  £

  National Institute for Social Work

  155,000

  National Joint Emergency Committee (Red Cross/St. John Ambulance)

  25,000

  National Meningitis Trust

  15,000

  National Organisation for Counselling Adoptees and Parents (NORCAP)

  8,000

  National Osteoporosis Society

  20,000

  National Playbus Association

  54,000

  National Schizophrenia Fellowship

  138,000

  National Self Help Support Centre

  40,000

  National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children

  150,000

  National Society of Non Smokers (QUIT)

  42,500

  National Stepfamily Association

  20,000

  National Toy Libraries Association

  55,000

  National Youth Agency

  69,000

  Neurofibromatosis Association (LINK)

  5,000

  New Horizons Trust

  10,000

  New Parent Infant Network (NEWPIN)

  32,500

  North Regional Association for the Blind

  71,768

  Northern Schizophrenia Fellowship

  27,500

  Outset

  25,000

  Overseas Doctors Association

  17,000

  Pain Relief Foundation

  8,500

  Parent to Parent Information on Adoption Service

  6,500

  Parentline Opus

  40,000

  Parents Against Injustice (PAIN)

  35,000

  Parents for Children

  30,000

  Parkinson Disease Society

  22,000

  Partially Sighted Society

  10,000

  Patients Association

  20,000

  Phobic Action

  20,000

  Phobics Society

  7,500

  Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied

  30.000

  Positively Women

  40.000

  Prader Willi Syndrome Association (UK)

  5.000

  Pre-Schooi Playgroups Association

  570,000

  Prince of Wales Advisory Group on Disability

  75,000

  Queen Elizabeth Foundation for the Disabled

  36,000

  Rainer Foundation

  26,700

  Rape Counselling and Research Project

  20,000

  Research Trust for Metabolic Diseases

  5,000

  Restricted Growth Association

  7,000

  Richmond Fellowship

  97,000

  Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR)

  225,000

  Royal National Institute for the Deaf

  100,810

  Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA)

  15,000

  Samaritans

  155,000

  Save the Children Fund

  30,000

  Schizophrenia A National Emergency (SANE)

  50,000

  Scoliosis Association United Kingdom

  2,000

  Sense (NADBRH)

  30,000

  Sequal

  25,000

  Sexual and Personal Relationships of People with a Disability

  36,000

  Sickle Cell Society

  35,000

  Skills for People

  11,000

  Society for Mucopolysaccharide Diseases

  5,000

  South Regional Association for the Blind

  132,084

  Standing Committee on Sexual Abuse of Children (SCOSAC)

  20,000

  Standing Conference Ethnic Minority Senior Citizen (SCEMSC)

  15,000

  Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association

  8,000

  Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society

  27,000

  Support After Termination for Abnormality (STFA)

  10,000

  Tay Sachs and Allied Diseases Association

  4,000

  Tibbie Trust

  1,500

  Toxoplasmosis Trust

  10,000

  Tracheo Oesophageal Fistula Support (TOFS)

  2,500

  Tripscope

  4,000

  51

  Organisation

  £

  Tuberous Sclerosis Association

  2,000

  Turning Point

  110,000

  Twins and Multiple Births Association

  10,000

  United Kingdom Thalassaemia Society

  28,000

  United Response

  20,000

  Values into Action

  20,000

  Vision Aid

  15,000

  Vocal

  15,000

  Voice for the Child in Care

  7,500

  Voluntary Council for Handicapped Children

  60,000

  Voluntary Organisations Liaison Committee for Under Fives (VOLCUF)

  36,000

  Walsingham Community Homes

  10,000

  Wessex Rehabilitation Association

  5,000

  Westminster Pastoral Foundation

  50,000

  Widows Advisory Trust

  18,000

  Winged Fellowship Trust

  15,000

  Womens Aid Federation

  8,000

  Womens Aid Federation (England)

  136,650

  Womens Health Concern

  20,000

  Womens National Cancer Control Campaign

  30,000

  Womens Therapy Centre

  15,000

  Working Mothers Association

  35,000

  Young Minds

  10,000

  Residential Care Homes
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of beds provided in residential care for elderly people in(a) local authority residential care homes, (b) private residential care homes and (c) independent nursing homes, by district health authority.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The number of nursing home beds by each district health authority is contained in "Private Hospitals Homes and Clinics Registered under Section 23 of the Registered Homes Act 1984". The number of residential care places for elderly and younger physically handicapped people by local authority is contained in "RA/89/2 Residential Accommodation for Elderly and for Young Physically Handicapped People: All Residents in Local Authority, Voluntary and Private Homes Year ending 31 March 1989 England". Copies of both these publications are in the Library.

  Mental Handicap
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department makes each year of the likely changes in numbers by region of children needing health services who are born mentally handicapped; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Responsibility for assessing the likely health service needs of the local population including children with learning disabilities (mental handicap) rests with individual district health authorities. The Department is, however, currently funding a research project led by Professor Alberman of the London hospital medical school to predict the incidence and prevalence of severe learning disability. It is hoped that this will lead to guidance which will assist authorities in the planning of local health, social and educational services over the next 30 years.
  52
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what weight is given in determining levels of funding to health authorities to the numbers of people moving into and out of an area in each year who are mentally handicapped adults and children; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Regional health authority allocations are calculated by means of a weighted capitation formula which takes as its starting point the region's projected resident population for the year of allocation. The latest available figures, provided by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, are used in the formula. The projections data are based on the 1981 census and represent OPCS's estimate of population changes since then, together with assumptions for future mortality, fertility and migration. No specific allowance is made for the number of mentally handicapped people moving into and out of an area in each year.

  Abortion
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many legal abortions have taken place in each of the 17 health districts in Yorkshire in each year from 1980 onwards; and on what grounds these abortions were granted.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Full information is available only at disproportionate cost. Readily available data for residents of the districts are given in the tables.

  Legal abortions Area of usual residence 1980–82

  Health districts in Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  Area of usual residence

  1980

  1981

  1982

  Yorkshire

  7,574

  7,472

  7,600

  Hull

  607

  552

  606

  Beverley

  283

  312

  394

  Grimsby

  276

  297

  329

  Scunthorpe

  401

  376

  350

  Northallerton

  164

  177

  201

  York

  472

  432

  502

  Scarborough

  304

  315

  295

  Harrogate

  228

  259

  213

  Bradford

  730

  736

  707

  Airedale

  341

  328

  295

  Calderdale

  383

  361

  383

  Huddersfield

  466

  464

  452

  Dewsbury

  336

  300

  330

  Western (Leeds)

  961

  881

  937

  Eastern (Leeds)

  920

  974

  897

  Western (Wakefield)

  361

  325

  342

  Eastern (Pontefract)

  341

  383

  367

  Legal abortions Area of usual residence 1983–86

  Districts Health authorities in Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  Area of usual residence

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Yorkshire

  7,461

  7,834

  8,087

  8,517

  Hull

  659

  728

  763

  833

  East Yorkshire

  224

  289

  314

  337

  Grimsby

  335

  309

  416

  432

  Scunthorpe

  388

  352

  396

  383

  Northallerton

  200

  214

  201

  202

  York

  484

  487

  496

  560

  Scarborough

  273

  258

  310

  291

  Harrogate

  214

  236

  227

  285

  Bradford

  723

  816

  857

  859

  53

  Area of usual residence

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  Airedale

  324

  334

  333

  244

  Calderdale

  373

  436

  450

  458

  Huddersfield

  528

  545

  553

  590

  Dewsbury

  345

  372

  388

  388

  Leeds Western

  909

  1,009

  920

  1,027

  Leeds Eastern

  803

  804

  776

  852

  Wakefield

  333

  306

  332

  368

  Pontefract

  346

  339

  355

  408

  Legal abortions Area of usual residence 1987–90

  Districts Health authorities in Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

  Area of usual residence

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Yorkshire

  9,128

  9,567

  9,944

  110,221

  Hull

  859

  939

  1,001

  11,054

  East Yorkshire

  394

  422

  427

  1419

  Grimsby

  510

  495

  560

  1541

  Scunthorpe

  397

  466

  496

  1472

  Northallerton

  210

  248

  226

  1210

  York

  581

  626

  636

  1733

  Scarborough

  332

  326

  344

  1313

  Harrogate

  215

  155

  338

  1360

  Bradford

  902

  937

  933

  1918

  Airedale

  312

  376

  339

  1356

  Calderdale

  481

  558

  594

  1504

  Huddersfield

  598

  666

  676

  1669

  Dewsbury

  400

  461

  461

  1483

  Leeds Western

  1,101

  1,120

  1,118

  11,209

  Leeds Eastern

  946

  960

  963

  11,053

  Wakefield

  432

  393

  373

  1432

  Pontefract

  458

  419

  459

  1495

  1 Provisional

  Advertising Campaigns
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the topics of each television advertising campaign to be carried out by his Department and any other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Proposed publicity campaigns for 1991–92 costing more than £100,000 are as follows:

  Help with NHS Treatment Costs.

  Health Advice for Travellers.

  Organ Donation.

  Blood Donor Recruitment.

  Keep Keep Well.

  Information for Disabled People, advisors and carers.

  Children's Act.

  Community Care.

  AIDS.

  Drug misuse.

  Women's Health.

  Nursing.

  NHS Careers.

  'The Health of the Nation' Green Paper.

  Other campaigns may be included during the year.

  Decisions have yet to be taken on the use of television advertising.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people had been waiting for more than a year for an operation in East Birmingham district on(a) 31 December 1989, and (b) 31 March 1991.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [pursuant to the reply, 20 June, column 302]: I regret that there was an error in my previous reply. The number of people waiting for over a year for in-patient operations in East Birmingham district at 30 September 1990 should read 247.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Review
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the distribution of his consultation document on the future of local government.

  Mr. Key
  Copies of the consultation paper "The Structure of Local Government in England" were sent to all principal local authorities, local authority associations, Members of Parliament and major national organisations with an interest in local government and to other organisations and individuals on request.

  Waste Management
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to provide up-to-date waste management guidance on the implementation of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Trippier
  My Department is actively engaged in revising and developing its waste management papers series. This was stated in the White Paper "This Common Inheritance".

  Publication of these papers started in 1976 to provide authoritative technical guidance and codes of practice on waste handling and disposal methods. They are recognised by waste management practitioners and regulators as standards of good practice and are respected throughout the industry. We intend to build on this foundation to provide comprehensive backing for the high and consistent standards of waste management to be introduced under the Environmental Protection Act. Following public consultation, we have today published a new waste management paper (No.28) on the recycling of waste.

  Our proposed programme for further work on waste management papers is as follows:

  WMP

  Subject

  Consultation

  Issue of final document

  28

  Recycling

  out

  July 1991

  27

  Landfill gas

  July 1991

  October 1991

  1

  Evaluation of Options

  October 1991

  January 1992

  3

  Waste Disposal Plans

  February 1992

  June 1992

  4

  Waste Licensing

  May 1992

  December 1992

  25

  Clinical Waste

  August 1992

  December 1992

  26(A)

  Landfill Completion

  June 1992

  December 1992

  23

  Special Waste

  July 1992

  January 1993

  6

  PCBs

  September 1992

  March 1993

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what weight is given in determining grant levels to local authorities each year to the numbers of people moving into a council area for(a) all people, (b) school age children, (c) mentally handicapped adults and (d) mentally handicapped children; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The amount of revenue support grant received by each authority depends on its standard spending assessment—the Government's view of the appropriate amount of revenue expenditure for each local authority. The SSAs are based on a number of indicators including resident population, population aged under 18 56
  years and school pupils and students. Full details are given in the "Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England)" which is in the Library. No separate account is taken of the numbers of people who move between authorities each year, but the information used is the most up to date available on a consistent basis for all authorities.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by what formula he accounts for revenue funding in each year for local authorities who have rising numbers of children and adults suffering mental handicap; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  Revenue funding in respect of social services provided by local authorities for children and adults suffering mental handicap is based on the children's social services and the other social services standard spending assessments. Details of these formulae are given in he "Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England)" which is in the Library.

  3Ds Ltd.
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 24 June,Official Report, column 394, on 3Ds Ltd., if he will list the shareholders referred to; and what examination he proposes to make of the suitability of 3Ds Ltd. as a recipient of a city grant.

  Mr. Key
  The shareholders of 3Ds Ltd. are Brian Peace, Paul Malkin and Old Court Ltd. If a full appraisal of the proposed development is undertaken, the Department will need to satisfy itself that 3Ds Ltd. has the experience, expertise and capacity to carry out and complete the project.

  Industrial Discharges
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has concerning the average levels of polychlorinated biphenyl in industrial discharges in the Rossendale and Darwen constituency; what is the highest level of measured discharge of polychlorinated biphenyl; and what is the maximum permitted discharge level.

  Mr. Trippier
  There are no consented discharges to water of polychlorinated biphenyls in the Rossendale and Darwen constituency.

  Civil and Marine Ltd.
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment has been made of the environmental impact of the proposed gravel extraction from the Thames estuary by Civil and Marine Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The decision to grant a licence for the extraction of marine sand and gravel rests with the Crown estate after consultation with those whose interests may be affected by the proposed dredging. My Department is responsible for co-ordinating these consultations and formulating the Government view. I understand that the Crown estate is at present considering the proposal made by Civil and Marine Ltd. and will take full account of all the environmental issues before any request for a Government view may be made.

  Urban Programme
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a table showing, separately for each year of the last five financial years, the allocation of resources to each urban programme authority and the level of spending achieved by each authority.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 27 June 1991]: The total amounts of (a) urban programme expenditure allocated to local authorities in England and (b) expenditure outturn achieved by those authorities, for each year from 1986–87 to 1990–91, were as follows:

  (a) Total allocation £million

  (b) Total outturn £million

  1986–87

  228·84

  220·42

  1987–88

  260·10

  234·59

  1988–89

  245·69

  226·58

  1989–90

  237·40

  229·57

  11990–91

  245·52

  227·79

  1 The figures for 1990–91 arc necessarily provisional at this stage.

  These figures do not include top slices for special initiatives or district health authority allocations and outturns.

  I enclose tables showing details for all the authorities. Copies of these tables will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Pentachlorophenol
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he possesses concerning the current rates of discharge of the pesticide pentachlorophenol to the environment; and what are the primary sources of these discharges.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 27 June 1991]: Results of monitoring for pentachlorophenol are compiled by the National Rivers Authority and returned annually by my Department to the European Commission. These results are also held on the National Rivers Authority's public

  1991–92 area protection grant and 1990–91 equivalent by authority with political control

  Local authority and political control

  1990–91 safety net receipt and low RV grant £ million

  1991–92 area protection grant £ million

  1990–91 safety net receipt and low RV grant £ adult

  1991–92 area protection grant £ adult

  Greater London

  Greenwich (Labour)

  32·955

  29·423

  212

  187

  Hammersmith and Fulham (Labour)

  13·148

  10·307

  111

  86

  Lambeth (Labour)

  4·723

  0·410

  27

  2

  Lewisham (Labour)

  25·091

  20·325

  147

  122

  Southwark (Labour)

  26·352

  22·289

  160

  135

  Tower Hamlets (Social·Liberal Democrat)

  18·966

  17·171

  168

  143

  Wandsworth (Conservative)

  24·031

  18·084

  116

  91

  Barking and Dagenham (Labour)

  11·678

  9·015

  107

  82

  Bexley (Conservative)

  1·197

  —

  7

  —

  Havering (no overall control)

  0·934

  —

  5

  —

  Hillingdon (Conservative)

  7·361

  2·994

  42

  17

  58
  registers. Discharges containing pentachlorophenol occur mainly in the north-west and Yorkshire National Rivers Authority regions where pentachlorophenol has been applied as a rot-proofing agent in cloth used by textile finishing companies.

  Aggregates
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to publicise (i) the availability of the document "Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England and Wales: Review of MPG6" and (ii) the fact that his Department will take into account the views of interested parties on this document when revising mineral plan guidance note 6.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 17 June 1991]: Following the reply which I gave on 7 May, Official Report, column 401, about this report my Department issued a press release to announce its publication. This has received extensive media coverage. The report has also been made available to a number of interested organisations and individuals. We have made it clear in both the press release and report that we welcome the views of all interested parties on the forecasts. These will be taken into account in the preparation of the revised draft guidelines.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will show for each local authority(a) the gain or loss in area protection grant in million pounds and pounds per adult comparing 1990–91 with 1991–92 and (b) political control, for the current financial year.

  Mr. Portillo
  Area protection grant was not paid before 1991–92. However, it subsumes the safety net and the low rateable value areas grant which operated in 1990–91 and is payable to some of those areas which received help from both those sources, or through the safety net alone, in that year. The amount of area protection grant paid to any area is equal to the amount which it received in 1990–91 from these two sources less £25 per charge payer. Details are as follows:
  59

  1991–92 area protection grant and 1990–91 equivalent by authority with political control

  Local authority and political control

  1990–91 safety net receipt and low RVgrant £ million

  1991–92 area protection grant £ million

  1990–91 safety net receipt and low RV grant £ adult

  1991–92 area protection grant £ adult

  Greater Manchester

  Bury (Labour)

  0–829

  —

  6

  —

  Oldham (Labour)

  2·582

  —

  16

  —

  Rochdale (Labour)

  11·438

  70·63

  72

  47

  Tamesidc (Labour)

  9·269

  4·735

  54

  29

  Wigan (Labour)

  15·949

  10·069

  69

  44

  Merseyside

  St Helens (Labour)

  2·931

  —

  22

  —

  South Yorkshire

  Barnsley (Labour)

  25·120

  21·008

  150

  125

  Doncaster (Labour)

  22·956

  17·501

  105

  80

  Rotherham (Labour)

  22·704

  16·816

  113

  88

  Sheffield (Labour)

  44·876

  32·202

  107

  82

  Tyne and Wear

  Galeshead (Labour)

  13·439

  9·489

  86

  61

  Newcastle upon Tyne (Labour)

  4·165

  —

  21

  —

  North Tyneside (Labour)

  6·202

  2·365

  41

  16

  South Tyneside (Labour)

  8·608

  5·638

  72

  47

  Sunderland (Labour)

  14·002

  8·755

  65

  40

  West Yorkshire

  Bradford (Labour)

  17·861

  9·772

  55

  30

  Calderdalc (Labour)

  23·342

  19·751

  163

  138

  Kirklees (Labour)

  36·851

  29·886

  132

  107

  Leeds (Labour)

  7·356

  —

  14

  —

  Wakefield (Labour)

  26·617

  20·216

  111

  86

  1991–92 area protection grant and 1990–91 equivalent by authority with political control

  Local authority and political control

  1990–91 safety net receipt and low RV grant£ million

  1991–92 area protection grant £ million

  1990–91 safety net receipt and low RV grant £ adult

  1991–92 area protection grant £ adult

  Avon

  Bristol (Labour)

  6·644

  —

  23

  —

  Cleveland

  Hartlcpool (Labour)

  3·824

  2183

  57

  32

  Langbaurgh-on-Tees (Labour)

  3·560

  0·778

  32

  7

  Middlesbrough (Labour)

  4·077

  1·502

  40

  15

  Cornwall

  Kerrier (no overall control)

  0·745

  —

  11

  —

  Penwith (no overall control)

  0·145

  —

  3

  —

  Cwnhria

  Allerdale (Labour)

  8·185

  5·894

  106

  81

  Barrow-in-Furness (no overall control)

  7·814

  6·323

  136

  111

  Carlisle (Labour)

  3·472

  1·491

  44

  19

  Copeland (Labour)

  6·350

  4·924

  116

  91

  Eden (Independent)

  2·353

  1·483

  67

  42

  South Lakeland (no overall control)

  1·935

  —

  24

  —

  Derbyshire

  Amber Valley (Labour)

  5·052

  2·850

  58

  33

  Bolsover (Labour)

  7·244

  5·836

  133

  108

  Chesterfield (Labour)

  5·392

  3·409

  70

  45

  Derbyshire Dales (Conservative)

  0·775

  —

  14

  —

  Erewash (Labour)

  4·312

  2·179

  51

  26

  High Peak (no overall control)

  3·823

  2·263

  60

  35

  North East Derbyshire (Labour)

  4·665

  2·781

  62

  37

  South Derbyshire (Labour)

  0·865

  —

  16

  —

  Devon

  Mid Devon (Independent)

  0·739

  —

  16

  —

  North Devon (Social-Liberal Democrat)

  1·364

  —

  22

  —

  Torbay (Social-Liberal Democrat)

  1·224

  —

  13

  —

  Torridge (Independent)

  2·559

  1·562

  65

  40

  60 61

  Local authority and political control

  1990–91 safety net receipt and low RV grant £ million

  1991–92 area protection grant £ million

  1990–91 safety net receipt and low RV grant £ adult

  1991–92 area protection grant £ adult

  West Devon (Independent)

  0·052

  —

  2

  —

  Dorset

  Weymouth and Portland (no overall control)

  0·.012

  —

  0

  —

  1991–92 area protection grant and 1990–91 equivalent by authority with political control

  Local authority and political control

  1990–91 safety net receipt and low RV grant £ million

  1991–92 area protection grant £ million

  1990–91 safety net receipt and low RV grant £ adult

  1991–92 area protection grant £ adult

  Durham

  Chester-le-Street (Labour)

  1·793

  0·725

  43

  18

  Darlington (Labour)

  1·827

  —

  24

  —

  Derwentside (Labour)

  7·451

  5·720

  112

  87

  Durham (Labour)

  2·004

  0·460

  32

  7

  Easington (Labour)

  8·594

  6·574

  114

  89

  Sedgefield (Labour)

  7·957

  6·245

  117

  92

  Teesdale (Independent)

  1·242

  0·738

  65

  40

  Wear Valley (Social-Liberal Democrat)

  6·112

  4·837

  125

  100

  Gloucestershire

  Forest of Dean (Labour)

  0·044

  —

  1

  —

  Humberside

  Boothferry (Conservative)

  4·318

  3·021

  87

  62

  Cleethorpes (no overall control)

  2·388

  1·127

  46

  21

  East Yorkshire (no overall control)

  5·127

  3·391

  78

  53

  Glanford (no overall control)

  1·274

  —

  23

  —

  Great Grimsby (Labour)

  3·033

  1·374

  46

  21

  Holderness (Independent)

  1·341

  0·315

  33

  8

  Kingston upon Hull (Labour)

  18·861

  14·384

  99

  74

  Scunthorpe (Labour)

  2·954

  1·860

  65

  40

  Kent

  Dartford (Conservative)

  0·553

  —

  9

  —

  Lancashire

  Blackburn (Labour)

  4·895

  2·618

  52

  27

  Blackpool (Labour)

  4·079

  1·118

  35

  10

  Burnley (Labour)

  6·895

  5·074

  101

  76

  Hyndburn (Labour)

  5·190

  3·701

  89

  64

  Lancaster (no overall control)

  1·594

  —

  17

  —

  Pendle (Labour)

  6·655

  5·097

  106

  81

  Ribble Valley (Conservative)

  0·505

  —

  13

  —

  Rossendale (Labour)

  4·430

  3·188

  91

  66

  South Ribble (Conservative)

  1·057

  —

  14

  —

  Leicestershire

  Leicester (Labour)

  4·871

  —

  24

  —

  Lincolnshire

  Lincoln (Labour)

  0·621

  —

  10

  —

  1991–92 area protection grant and 1990–91 equivalent by authority with political overall control

  Local authority and political control

  1990–91 safety net receipt and low RV grant £ million

  1991–92 area protection grant £ million

  1990–91 safety net receipt and low RV grant £ adult

  1991–92 area protection grant £ adult

  Norfolk

  Great Yarmouth (Labour)

  0·598

  —

  9

  —

  Northumberland

  Alnwick (Social-Liberal Democrats)

  1·099

  0·533

  48

  23

  Berwick-upon-Tweed (no overall control)

  1·421

  0·911

  70

  45

  Blyth Valley (Labour)

  3·952

  2·494

  67

  42

  Tynedale (no overall control)

  0·952

  —

  22

  —

  Wansbeck (Labour)

  5·919

  4·752

  127

  102

  62 63

  Local authority and political control

  1990–91 safety net receipt and low RV grant £ million

  1991–92 area protection grant £ million

  1990–91 safety net receipt and low RV grant £ adult

  1991–92 area protection grant £ adult

  North Yorkshire

  Craven (no overall control)

  2·007

  0·970

  50

  25

  Hambleton (no overall control)

  0·328

  —

  6

  —

  Richmondshire (Independent)

  0·565

  —

  16

  —

  Ryedale (no overall control)

  2·079

  0·328

  30

  5

  Scarborough (no overall control)

  4·663

  2·658

  57

  32

  Selby (no overall control)

  2·109

  0·437

  32

  7

  York (Labour)

  5·432

  3·486

  69

  44

  Nottinghamshire

  Ashfield (Labour)

  4·888

  2·837

  59

  34

  Bassetlaw (Labour)

  1·527

  —

  19

  —

  Mansfield (Labour)

  3·754

  1 737

  48

  23

  Shropshire

  Oswestry (Independent)

  0·608

  —

  24

  —

  Staffordshire

  Newcastle-under-Lyme (Labour)

  1·032

  —

  11

  —

  Staffordshire Moorlands (Independent)

  0·535

  —

  7

  —

  Stoke-on-Trent (Labour)

  6·327

  1·115

  33

  8

  Warwickshire

  Nuneaton and Bedworth (Labour)

  0·152

  —

  2

  —

  Wiltshire

  Thamesdown (Labour)

  0·232

  —

  2

  —

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Incomes
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the percentage change in income during the period 1979 to 1987(a) before and (b) after housing costs, of each percentage group from the households below average incomes data, published in July 1990.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is in the table:

  Real Percentage Rise in Each Decile's Median Income 1979–1987

  Decile

  Before Housing Costs

  After Housing Costs

  1

  8·5

  0·1

  2

  6·8

  2·4

  3

  8·6

  2·8

  4

  1·6

  7·9

  5

  13·1

  11·9

  6

  16·0

  15·4

  7

  16·7

  17·5

  8

  19·3

  21·4

  9

  25·7

  25·0

  10

  38·8

  40·3

  The income measures used are the same in all respects to those published in Tables A and D of Annex 1 to HBAI 1981–1987.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many cases were helped by local war pensions committees over the last five years; and at what cost;

  (2) whether he has any plans to increase resources available to local war pensions committees.
  64
  Miss Widdecombe
  The numbers of cases relating to war pensions and allowances which were heard by local war pensions committees over the last five years is as follows:

  1986 — 289

  1987 — 240

  1988 — 356

  1989 — 251

  1990 — 247

  In addition, members of the committees and their associated voluntary workers undertook a number of welfare visits to war pensioners in their own homes.

  Information on the cost of war pensions committees is not available. Expenditure on the committees is met from the overall budget for the war pensioners welfare service and is not recorded separately. We have no current plans to increase the resources available to war pensions committees.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the current budget available to the section of his Department which administers the war pensioners' welfare service; and what increases are planned for the next two years;

  (2) whether he has any plans to extend the scope and expand the services provided by the war pensioners' welfare service.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The budget available for the administration of the war pensioners' welfare service for 1991–92 is £3.7 million. Budgets for the following two years have not yet been decided.

  The war pensioners' welfare service is available to all war disablement pensioners and war widows, and its services are kept under regular review. The war pensions directorate, which is responsible for delivering those services, is currently in the process of consulting ex-service

  65
  organisations about them. We shall review the services provided by the welfare service in the light of those consultations.

  Adjudication Regulations
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review or amend regulation 72 of the Social Security Benefit (Adjudication) Regulations 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We recently referred a proposed draft amendment to regulation 72 to the Social Security Advisory Committee. The committee has reported its findings, which we are currently considering.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the lowest level of war disablement pension paid to those suffering from asbestosis;

  (2) how many war disablement pensions have been and are being paid because of asbestosis arising from exposure to asbestos dust while in the forces; and how many of the asbestosis pensioners have died.

  Miss Widdecombe
  War disablement pensions are awarded where the degree of disablement due to service in the armed forces ranges from 20 to 100 per cent.; if less than 20 per cent. a gratuity may be awarded. These provisions apply to all disabilities.

  Information regarding war pensions awarded as a result of exposure to asbestos is not available.

  Benefits
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what forecast of the percentage take-up of widows' benefits has been used when estimating expenditure on these benefits for 1991–92.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The planned level of expenditure on widows' benefits shown in table 1 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1991–92 to 1993–94, Social Security" (Cm. 1514), was based on the figures available in the autumn of 1990 on the number of recipients, the composition of their families and the level of awards, and on the trends in those figures and the effects of uprating. It was not based on any explicit view of future take-up, but, implicitly, on the established trend.

  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what forecast of the percentage take-up of disability working allowance has been used when estimating expenditure on this benefit in 1991–92.

  Mr. Scott
  Disability working allowance will not be introduced until April 1992.

  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what forecast of the percentage take-up of invalid care allowance has been used when estimating expenditure on this benefit in 1991–92.

  Mr. Scott
  The planned level of expenditure on invalid care allowance shown in table 1 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1991–92 to 1993–94, Social Security" (Cm. 1514), was based on the figures available in the autumn of 1990 on the number of recipients, the 66
  circumstances in which they are caring, the level of awards and changes in other benefits which affect entitlement, and on the trends in those figures and the effects of uprating. It was not based on any explicit view of future take-up, but, implicitly, on the established trend.

  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what forecast of the percentage take-up of family income supplement has been used when estimating expenditure on this benefit in 1991–92.

  Mr. Jack
  Family income supplement was replaced by family credit in April 1988. The planned level of expenditure on family credit shown in table 1 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1991–92 to 1993–94, Social Security" (Cm. 1514), was based on the figures available in the autumn of 1990 on the number of recipients, the composition of their families and the level of awards, and on the trends in those figures and the effects of uprating. It was not based on any explicit view of future take-up, but, implicitly, on the established trend.

  Mobility Allowance
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he intends to take following the ruling of the European Court of Justice on Roger Newton's entitlement to mobility allowance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  Mr. Newton's case will be referred back to the social security commissioner for determination in the light of the European Court's judgment. We are considering what other steps need to be taken to give effect to the court's judgment.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of people living in other European Community countries who will be entitled to reinstatement of mobility allowance following the decision of the European Court of Justice; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  We are considering the full implications of this judgment. We estimate that fewer than 100 people each year lose their mobility allowance when they move to live in another EC member state.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the ruling of the European Court of Justice in the case of Roger Newton applies to benefits other than mobility allowance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  We are studying the full text of the judgment to consider its wider implications for non-contributory disability benefits.

  Advertising Campaigns
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the topics of each television advertising campaign to be carried out by his Department and any other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department currently has no firm plans for television advertising. A publicity campaign connected with the Disability Living Allowance and
  67
  Disability Working Allowance Act is likely to involve expenditure in excess of £100,000 but firm media plans have not yet been concluded. We have not given approval for any other publicity campaigns with this level of expenditure.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received concerning the Disabled Persons (Services, Representation and Consultation) Act 1986 since March 1991; and how many have objected to the non-implementation of sections 1, 2 and 3 and the delaying of section 7.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have been asked to reply.

  Between 1 March 1991 and 26 June 1991 we received 212 letters concerning our decision not to implement sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Disabled Persons Act, two of which also referred to section 7. One letter was also received on the matter of section 7 only. The Act was also the subject of seven parliamentary questions during this period.

  Young People (Benefits)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of increasing the personal allowance for young people under the age of 25 years who are in receipt of(a) community charge benefit and (b) housing benefit to £39·65 for 1991–92.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 27 June 1991]: The latest estimates suggest that these measures would cost (a) £25 million, and (b) £25 million in Great Britain in 1991–92.

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

SCOTLAND

  Pensions
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the date of the announcement that public service pensioners had been underpaid due to an error in calculating the retail prices index; what was the amount of money due to national health service pensioners on that date in Scotland; what was the amount of money paid by his Department into the national health service pensioners trust and the date on which it was paid; and by how much that amount was adjusted for inflation.

  Mr. Lang
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply to his questions given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health on 28 June.

  William Wallace Heritage Centre
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what requests he has received for funding of a William Wallace heritage centre at Elderslie; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am not aware of having received any request for funding for a William Wallace heritage centre at Elderslie. I would be willing to consider such a request.

  Judicial Appointments
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received concerning the creation of a judicial appointments committee in relation to the selection and appointment of judges and sheriffs; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None. The present arrangements are kept under review to ensure that in respect of each vacancy the best-fitted candidate is appointed.

  Police (Civil Damages)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the total amount of money paid out by police authorities for civil damages since 1980.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not collected centrally and cannot quickly be obtained.

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Training
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employment training trainees(a) acquired full-time employment, (b) gained vocational qualifications, (c) failed to complete the training plan and (d) entered self-employment, expressed as a percentage since ET's inception.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested is given in the table. Information is not available for the periods prior to July 1989 and is not yet available beyond December 1990. Many of those not completing their agreed training leave to enter jobs, self-employment or full-time education.

  Employment Training Trainee outcomes: July1989—December 1990

  Percentage of all leavers

  In full-time employment 3 months after leaving

  24

  In self-employment 3 months after leaving

  5

  Obtained a qualification or credit towards one

  24

  Did not complete training agreed with training provider

  54

  Source: ET national follow-up survey.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the report of his Department's survey of trainees on employment training was completed; and when it was made available to hon. Members.

  Mr. Jackson
  The survey of trainees on Employment Training is not yet complete.

  TUC (Training)
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the level of departmental funding of the Trades Union Congress for educational purposes; what criteria determines the continuity of that funding; which section of his Department is responsible for vetting materials used on TUC training or education courses which use departmental funding; and if he will make a statement.
  69
  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State has offered the TUC a trade union education and training grant of £1·734 million for 1991–92. The continuity of such funding is dependent on a satisfactory annual review of expenditure of the grant and on the overriding need to control public expenditure. Monitoring the expenditure of the grant to ensure that it satisfies the terms and conditions of the relevant memorandum of arrangements is carried out jointly by officials of the Department of Employment and the TUC with the assistance of Her Majesty's inspectorate.

  Skill Centres
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps have been taken to monitor the use by the TICC (Lakin Consortium) of the £2·1 million transfer fee paid to it as part of the sale of four skill centres; and how much has been spent on the acquisition of non-training companies.

  Mr. Jackson
  Under the terms of the sale of the skills training agency there is no continued business relationship between my Department and any of the purchasers. TICC Ltd. is a private company and my Department has no responsibility for its business activities.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list any changes in(a) the numbers of staff, (b) the volume of training and (c) staff terms and conditions resulting from the transfer of four skill centres to TICC (Lakin Consortium).

  Mr. Jackson
  The four skill centres purchased by TICC Ltd. are now in the private sector and issues relating to staff numbers, volumes of training and changes of staff terms and conditions are matters for the company and its staff.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what monitoring he is undertaking of any proposals by TICC (Lakin Consortium) relating to(a) closure of any of the four skill centres, (b) the purchase of non-training companies, (c) reductions in staffing levels and (d) the honouring of contracts agreed with the civil service before the transfer of the four centres; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  TICC Ltd. is a private company and the four skill centres purchased by TICC Ltd. are now in the private sector. Any issues relating to the future business plans of TICC Ltd. or its staff numbers, are matters for the company and its staff.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list any conditions attached to the payment of £2·1 million to TICC Ltd. as part of the transfer of Ipswich, Cumbria, East Lancashire and St. Helens skill centres; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The payment of £2·1 million to TICC Ltd. was the negative consideration agreed after negotiation between my Department and the company and reflects the overall value that could be attached to the business at the time. No conditions were attached by either party to the sale.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether TICC (Lakin Consortium) was 70
  included in the submissions excluded from being allowed to tender for the skill centres; and on what grounds such decisions were made.

  Mr. Jackson
  At no point in the sale process were TICC Ltd. excluded from the tendering process. Bids were excluded only if they failed to meet the Government's six sale objectives, and TICC Ltd. met these at all stages of the sale.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps were taken to assess(a) the competence of the TICC (Lakin Consortium) to manage the four skill centres transferred to it and (b) the previous record of TICC in providing training.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Lakin Consortium (now TICC Ltd.) was formed with the intention of placing a bid for part of the skills training agency network. Thorough checks were undertaken by my Department's sale advisers into the background of the consortium members, the financial viability of the new company and its future plans for the training business. These were satisfactory and the bid placed by TICC Ltd. fully met the Government's six sale objectives.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the financial and training record changes which occurred between the initial submissions from TICC (Lakin Consortium) being rejected and his subsequently agreeing to the transfer of four skill centres to this consortium.

  Mr. Jackson
  TICC's original bid included a number of skill centres for which other bids were put forward. In the context of all the bids put forward, these provided a better match with the Government's sale objectives, so TICC's bid was rejected. The company subsequently submitted a bid for four of the skill centres which remained unsold at the end of the original sale period.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the staff terms and conditions agreed by the Government at the time of transfer of four skill centres to the TICC; and what steps he is taking to ensure compliance by TICC with the contract terms agreed.

  Mr. Jackson
  The general terms and conditions of former civil servants who transferred to the private sector were protected by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 so that on privatisation previous conditions still applied. Special arrangements were made to secure the transfer of pension rights which are outside the scope of the regulations. The terms and conditions of TICC's employees are now a matter between them and the company.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list any conditions attached to the payment of £800,000 to Training Businesses Ltd. as part of the transfer of Lambeth's skill centre; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The payment of £800,000 to the Training Business Ltd. was the negative consideration agreed after negotiations between my Department and the company and reflects the overall value that could be attached to the business at the time. No conditions were attached by either party to the sale.
  71
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assurances were given to the skill centres about future levels of employment training funding prior to their transfer being concluded.

  Mr. Jackson
  No guarantees of Employment Training income have been given to any purchaser of skill centres for the current or subsequent years.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was(a) the number of staff dealing with unemployment benefit claims in each of the standard regions, (b) the number of unemployed people claiming benefit in each of the standard regions and (c) the staff-to-claimant ratio in each of the standard regions, as at 1 March 1990 and 1 May 1991.

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

  Detached Duty Workers
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of detached duty workers recruited and the numbers now operating in the south-east, south-west, London, East Anglia and east midlands dealing with unemployed people claiming benefit; what were the standard regions from which the detached workers were recruited; and what are(a) the total and (b) the additional costs of employing them including travel, overnight allowances, salaries and any other premium payments, for each month between 7 December 1990 to 31 May 1991.

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

  Electricity Contracting Industry
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the official letter to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Wantage (Mr. Jackson), dated 10 June, sent by the director of the Electrical Contractors Association, detailing the response by training enterprise

  Duration

  Title

  Location

  1 January 1986 to 31 May 1988

  Development of analytical methods for the analysis of dioxins in biological materials

  University of East Anglia

  1 October 1987 to 30 September 1988

  Production of affinity columns for dioxin analysis

  University of East Anglia

  1 January 1988 to 30 June 1989

  Production and characterisation of antibodies against dioxins use in their analysis

  AFRC Institute of Food Research Norwich

  1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991

  Evaluation of affinity columns for dioxin analysis

  MAFF Food Science Laboratory

  1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991

  Participation in WHO inter-laboratory study on methods for dioxin analysis in human milk and blood

  MAFF Food Science Laboratory

  1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991

  Development of methods of dioxin analysis in support of EC BCR certification of reference materials

  MAFF Food Science Laboratory

  72
  councils to future apprentice training in the electrical contracting industry; and what action he intends to take regarding the problems described in that letter.

  Mr. Jackson
  All 82 training enterprise councils in England and Wales have offered a youth training (YT) contract to Job Training Ltd. (JTL) which is the managing agency set up by the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) in conjunction with the Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union. JTL has signed, or is in the process of signing contracts with 80 of the TECs. The company has decided not to contract for places in the Dorset and Somerset TEC areas.

  I replied on 28 June to the letter dated 10 June from the director of the Electrical Contractors Association. All problems described in that letter have been addressed.

  Advertising Campaigns
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the topics of each television advertising campaign to be carried out by his Department and any other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000.

  Mr. Jackson
  Publicity campaigns costing more than £100,000 planned at this stage by the Department during the remainder of this financial year are press advertising for career development loans in the summer, and in support of the national training awards winners announcement in November.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Dioxins
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the research funded or commissioned by his Department in the past 10 years regarding dioxins in foodstuffs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  A list of the research in question is given in the table. The aim of this work has been to develop reliable analytical methods for the measurement of low levels of dioxins in food. The best of the procedures that have been identified so far have recently been used to survey the levels of dioxins entering the food chain in urban and rural food production areas. Some preliminary results from this work were described in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Hind) on 26 June,Official Report, col. 500.
  73

  Duration

  Title

  Location

  1 March 1991 to 1 September 1991

  Development of immunoaffinity columns for dioxin analysis

  Biocode Ltd.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's policy in respect of testing milk for dioxins.

  Mr. Maclean
  Milk is a good medium for checking on the presence of airborne contaminants in the food chain and is, therefore, being used to build up a picture of dioxin levels in various rural and urban food production areas. Some preliminary results from this work were described in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancashire West, (Mr. Hind) on 26 June,Official Report, column 500.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the farms which supplied milk within 0·1 picogramme of his Department's safety level for dioxins.

  Mr. Maclean
  Some preliminary results from a study of dioxin levels in milk from urban and rural areas were described in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancashire West, (Mr. Hind) on 26 June,Official Report, column 500. It is not the normal practice, however, to name businesses from which samples have been taken for surveillance purposes.

  Blue-ear Disease
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the man hours spent in(a) the field and (b) the laboratory each month since 1 March on blue-ear disease in pigs at the Lincoln veterinary investigation centre; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The man hours spent in(a) the field and (b) the laboratory on blue-eared pig disease by staff at the Lincoln veterinary investigation centre since 1 March are:

  Month

  (a) In the field

  (b) In the laboratory

  March

  0

  5

  April

  0

  10

  May

  207

  132

  June1

  219

  144

  1 to 21 June 1991.

  Sheep Dips
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received(a) from the National Farmers Union, (b) from hon. Members and (c) from individual farmers on the health and environmental consequences of the use of organo-phosphorus sheep dips; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have received a number of representations from hon. Members, individual farmers and others on the health and environmental consequences of the use of organo-phosphorous sheep dips. I have nothing further to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Devon, North (Mr. Speller) on 20 June(Official Report, column 449).

  Pigs
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 24 June,Official Report, column 383, whether he intends to impose restrictions on the holdings in the counties listed that had received pigs from infected holdings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Restrictions have already been placed on holdings which have received pigs from premises with suspected or confirmed cases of blue-eared pig disease within a 56-day period prior to the day that suspicion of disease was reported.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of restrictions imposed on premises with suspected or confirmed cases of blue-ear disease in the past 72 hours; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Two suspect cases were reported and three cases confirmed within the 72 hours prior to midday on 28 June 1991. The suspect cases involve premises already under restriction, having received pigs from infected premises. One of the suspect cases is in the parish of Paull (Humberside), within the restricted zone; the other is in the parish of Saxilby with Ingleby (Lincolnshire) and is very close to the Humberside restricted zone which has now been extended to include this case. The confirmed cases are in the parishes of Beeford (Humberside), Burneston (Humberside) and Shelton (Norfolk). There are at present a total of 14 confirmed and 10 suspected cases.

  Veterinary Investigation Centres
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Ministry has yet received planning permission for the new veterinary investigation centres at Bury St. Edmunds and Warwickshire; at what stage his plans are for constructing the new centres; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Outline planning permission was granted by St. Edmundsbury borough council for a new veterinary investigation centre at Bury St. Edmunds on 18 February 1991. The plans for constructing the new centre are now at sketch plan stage. The building is on programme to be completed in mid-1993. For the new centre at Warwickshire a site has been identified on Ministry of Agriculture-owned land at Luddington and an outline planning application was submitted to Stratford-upon-Avon district council at the beginning of June, under the Department of the Environment circular 18/14. The plans for constructing this centre are also at sketch plan stage and the design is on programme for completion of the building in mid-1993.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the percentage of the total United Kingdom statutory salmonella work carried out at the veterinary investigation centre in Lincoln for each year since 1986; and if he will make a statement.
  75
  Mr. Gummer
  It is not possible to provide the information requested for the years prior to 1990. In the period 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991, 3·6 per cent. of the total statutory salmonella work in Great Britain was carried out in the Lincoln veterinary investigation centre.

  Milk, Derbyshire
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will conduct a full investigation into the source of the dioxin contamination which is affecting milk in farms in Derbyshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I am setting in hand a programme of further work in this area which is designed to throw light on the ways in which dioxins have come to be found in milk. This will include examinations of soil and grass. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will also be carrying out investigations. The results of the surveillance work will be published.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will name the farms in Derbyshire which have contamination of dioxin in milk above recommended levels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Having received their agreement, I have passed the names and addresses of the two farmers concerned to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) but, as I have explained to him, they have indicated that they do not wish their names to be generally publicised.

  Publicity Campaigns
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the topics of each television advertising campaign to be carried out by his Department and any other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000.

  Mr. Curry
  MAFF has no plans to carry out television advertising campaigns. A touring exhibition is currently taking consumer information on a wide range of food safety and environmental issues to major shopping centres and agricultural shows; and plans are in hand to revise the Department's range of publications on food.

  Tri-service episodes of bedded sickness of 48 hours or snore due to training injuries (including deaths)

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Aircraft accidents

  38

  35

  31

  40

  38

  Motor vehicle accidents

  33

  41

  51

  33

  16

  Other land transport accidents

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Water transport accidents

  2

  2

  1

  4

  0

  Guns, explosives etc. accidents

  24

  22

  18

  17

  7

  Machinery, tools etc. accidents

  184

  170

  167

  113

  82

  Toxic and burning agents's accidents

  21

  17

  20

  26

  24

  Environmental factor accidents

  137

  202

  172

  105

  83

  Fall or jump etc. accidents

  519

  403

  428

  359

  332

  Other accidents

  149

  151

  183

  178

  126

  TOTAL

  1,107

  1,044

  1,071

  876

  708

  Note: Records of minor injuries which may have required medical attention are not held centrally and are only recorded in the individual personal medical files.

  Thames Gravel
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment has been made of the impact of the proposed extraction of gravel from the Thames estuary on(a) juvenile fish stocks, (b) cockles and (c) whiteweed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The proposal envisages the removal of a layer of silt material in order to extract aggregate from beneath it. In the Ministry's view this extraction process could create a plume of silt in the water column, which would be damaging to important commercial fisheries in the area.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the fishing industry on the proposed extraction of gravel from the Thames estuary by Civil and Marine Ltd.

  Mr. Curry
  I have received a number of representations objecting to the extraction of gravel from this area. I understand that in the light of consultations the company is not pursuing its application for a licence for experimental dredging.

DEFENCE

  Army Act
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what powers he has under the Army Act to reconvene a hoard of inquiry with revised terms of reference.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Secretary of State for Defence has no direct powers under the Army Act 1955 to convene any board of inquiry. If it is necessary for a particular matter to be investigated by a board of inquiry, it will be convened by the relevant military authorities under the rules laid down in section 135 of the Army Act.

  Training Exercises (Injuries)
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for the last five years the number and type of injuries received by on-duty service personnel taking part in training exercises.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The following table lists, by category, the total numbers by type of injuries received by all service personnel, including Gurkhas, on duty training exercises which required confinement to bed for a period of 48 hours or more, for each of the last five years.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) in each of the last 10 years what has been the cost of removing asbestos;

  (2) in how many Ministry of Defence establishments asbestos has been removed; and in how many establishments it is awaiting removal;

  (3) how many claims for compensation there have been against the Ministry because of exposure to asbestos dust since 1961; how many (a) have been rejected, (b) are being negotiated and (c) have been successful; and, for those successful what compensation was paid.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Thurleigh Airfield
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has for the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Research Agency to use the airfield at Thurleigh for non-flying purposes;

  (2) what will he the role of the Ministry of Defence towards development on the Thurleigh airfield during the transfer of facilities to Boscombe Down and Farnborough up to about 1993;

  (3) how he proposes to reconcile a maximum return to Her Majesty's Government on the disposal of land and assets at Thurleigh with the need to safeguard existing residents against loss of amenity and environmental despoliation;

  (4) what instructions he has given his consultants covering the next phase of consultations with local authorities and other interested parties over the use of the airfield at Thurleigh;

  (5) whether he proposes to agree planning use of the airfield at Thurleigh with Bedfordshire county council prior to the conclusion of any sale to prospective purchasers of the land;

  (6) if he will ensure that before any sale of the airfield at Thurleigh he will insist on an evironmental assessment being undertaken to cover the future use of the site;

  (7) whether he is prepared to compensate local residents against loss of amenity due to excessive noise in the event of a substantial increase in aircraft use of the airfield at Thurleigh;

  (8) if he will consider the disposal of the airfield at Thurleigh within a broad regional and national framework.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Following my announcement on 9 May concerning the collocation of research and experimental flying at Boscombe Down, detailed work has been set in hand to assess the options for disposal of the surplus airfields at Bedford and Farnborough.

  A specialist consultancy firm has been retained to assist in this phase and it will be continuing its discussions with local planning authorities and other interested parties with a view to submitting recommendations on the planning and marketing strategies to be adopted for the effective disposal of the airfield sites.

  As stated in my earlier announcement, our preliminary assessment is that Thurleigh airfield, Bedford could have potential as a commercial non-passenger airfield. It would be our intention to avoid a fragmented disposal of the site,
  78
  if this were possible, and to offer it for sale in its entirety—save for a small MOD enclave which we envisage will be retained to house a simulator facility. Any proposals for other uses by either the MOD or the Defence Research Agency will need to be considered against the need to make the most cost-effective use of the defence estate, while at the same time maximising the return to the defence budget from the sale of surplus land.

  In disposing of Thurleigh, it is our intention to agree a development brief with the local authorities concerned, prior to effecting the disposal of the site. This use of the planning machinery will ensure that any relevant regional and national factors are taken into account in so far as they relate to the disposal of the airfield. In addition, this will allow the maximum return to the MOD consistent with legitimate local requirements. We are considering the preparations of an environmental impact assessment once our future disposal plans are clearer. The environmental impact arising from further development of the airfield, after disposal by the MOD, and any question of compensation that may arise would, of course, he for a new owner of the airfield to resolve.

  The MOD will consider all proposals for development of Thurleigh airfield in the period leading up to disposal on their merits, subject to their not prejudicing the longer-term disposal strategy.

  Iraq
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) of 20 June,Official Report, columns 314–15, whether any members of the armed services are serving in Iraq.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I can confirm that the answer I gave on 20 June at columns 314–15 did not include the members of the armed forces deployed to northern Iraq as a temporary measure to provide humanitarian assistance to Kurdish refugees. Members of the Royal Marines continue to operate in the areas providing reassurance and security to the Kurds.

  Service Men Overseas
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond)Official Report, 20 June, columns 314–15, if he will set out (a) the number of members of the armed services who are currently serving in each of the countries listed in the 1991 columns and (b) the reasons for their deployment in each country listed.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The latest detailed information available for deployment of United Kingdom manpower overseas, was at 30 June 1990, without incurring disproportionate cost, is as follows:

  Number

  Federal Republic of Germany (stationed forces)

  61,109

  Elsewhere in continental Europe (stationed forces)

  7,281

  Gibraltar (garrison)

  1,835

  Cyprus (garrison and UNFICYP)

  4,776

  Elsewhere in Mediterranean, Near East and Gulf

  21,267

  Hong Kong (garrison)

  2,118

  Elsewhere in Far East

  453

  Other locations (including Falklands and Belize garrisons)

  8,357

  Notes:
  79
  1. The figures include personnel on loan to countries in the areas shown and personnel at sea in each area. Defence attaches and advisers and their staffs are included under "other locations". The figure for the Federal Republic of Germany includes personnel serving in Northern Ireland on emergency tours of duty but remaining under the command of the Commander-in-Chief BAOR. The figures exclude non-United Kingdom manpower, including Gurkhas and locally engaged personnel.

  2. Around 1,200 personnel are currently serving in Iraq and some 340 in Kuwait. Loan service personnel are employed on a variety of military assistance tasks for the following overseas governments (as at 31 March 1991):

  Antigua

  Australia

  Bahrain

  Bangladesh

  Barbadoes

  Belize

  Bermuda

  Brunei

  Colombia

  Dominica

  Gambia

  Ghana

  Grenada

  Hong Kong

  Jordan

  Kenya

  Lesotho

  Malaysia

  Mauritius

  Namibia

  New Zealand

  Oman

  Date

  Aircraft

  Location

  Fatalities

  12 February 1982

  RAF Harrier

  8 nautical miles South of Corwen

  1

  22 April 1982

  RAF Jet Provost

  Nant-y-Moch Reservoir

  0

  13 May 1982

  RAF Hunter

  2 nautical miles North West of Claerwen Reservoir

  0

  5 August 1982

  RAF Hunter

  4 nautical miles North West of Carmarthen

  0

  20 April 1983

  RAF Gazelle

  2 nautical miles North East of Snowdon

  2

  17 June 1986

  WGAF Tornado

  Near Claerwen

  2

  24 July 1986

  USAF Phantom

  St. Bride's Bay

  2

  24 June 1987

  RAF Jaguar

  3 miles South East of Builth Wells

  1

  26 August 1987

  RAF Phantom

  8 nautical miles South of Aberystwyth

  2

  6 February 1990

  USAF A10

  Capel-y-ffin

  1

  9 May 1990

  RAF Hawk

  2 KM North West of RAF Valley

  0

  10 May 1991

  RN Sea Harrier

  Near RAF Caerwent

  0

  Land Holdings (Scotland)
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the amount of land owned or leased by the Ministry in Scotland on a regional basis.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 1 April 1991, the total area, in hectares, of land and foreshore owned or leased by the Ministry of Defence in Scotland by region was:

  Hectares

  Highland

  5,210

  Strathclyde

  5,200

  Dumfries and Galloway

  4,209

  Grampian

  2,207

  Tayside

  1,454

  Western Isles

  1,339

  Fife

  1,328

  Lothian

  1,160

  Central

  80

  Shetland Islands

  46

  Orkney Islands

  5

  Borders

  —

  80

  Qatar

  Saudi Arabia

  Singapore

  St. Lucia

  St. Vincent

  Swaziland

  Turks and Caicos Islands

  United Arab Emirates

  Details of tasks and numbers of loan service personnel are normally confidential between Her Majesty's Government and the Government concerned.

  "Panorama"
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the BBC "Panorama" programme on weapons development and arms sales, broadcast on 24 June.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  My Department has a copy of this programme.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the crashes and fatalities that have occurred in Wales involving low-flying military aircraft in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Between 1 January 1981 and 27 June 1991 there were the following aircraft accidents involving low-flying military aircraft in Wales:

  All areas of leased land included in the totals are subject to leases of three years or more: those of shorter duration are regarded as temporary and not recorded centrally.

  Vacant Property
  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all those MOD properties in the Plymouth area, including Caradon, that are vacant at present; what is the length of time that they have been unoccupied; and what are his intentions for these properties.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 31 March 1991, the latest date for which figures are available, 486 married quarters and seven Ministry of Defence civilian properties in the Plymouth area, including Caradon, were vacant. Of the married quarters 435 had been vacant for less than a year, 15 had been vacant for between one and two years and 36 had been vacant for over two years. The seven civilian properties had all been vacant for over six months. In addition, 130 dwellings were in the process of being sold. It is our policy to dispose of all housing which is surplus to our long-term requirements. However, not all empty
  81
  properties are surplus to requirements; many are either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work or modernisation and some are already allotted to service families who are due to move in shortly.

  Injured Grenadiers
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 25 June to the hon. Member for Bristol, East (Mr. Sayeed), what action had been taken, or will be taken, to prevent the recurrence of the accident in July 1989 to the Grenadier Guardsmen, Hicks, Povey and Ray; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are comprehensive arrangements for ensuring the safety of soldiers during live-firing exercises. The board of inquiry into this tragic accident considered that"no amount of procedures, order, practices or briefings could have prevented the accident"
  and that
  "the accident represents one of the dangers associated with training with live ammunition on any training range".

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to ensure that the pension arrangements of Guardsman Hicks will be adequate for his housing, transport facilities and other capital needs.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 June 1991]: Mr. Hicks is receiving a pension under the armed forces pension scheme and a war disablement pension at the 100 per cent. rate, plus clothing allowance and mobility supplement; the latter is to help specifically with the extra cost of getting about. In addition, constant attendance allowance and comforts allowance have been awarded. I understand that he is also receiving unemployment benefit. These payments total over £260 tax-free per week. He has also received lump sum payments under the armed forces pension scheme totalling £6,501·69.

  Stump Socks
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many special socks have been provided to Guardsmen Povey, Hicks and Ray; and if he will make it his policy to supply such special socks free on demand.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 24 June 1991]: Further to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence on 24 June, supplies of stump socks are available from individual health authorities on request. 1 am pleased to say that the men in question have used this service fully.

  Advertising Campaigns
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the topics of each television advertising campaign to be carried out by his Department and any other publicity campaign costing more than £100,000.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence has carried out or is planning to carry out television advertising and other publicity campaigns costing more than £100,000 on the following topics in the year ending 31 March 1992:

  Royal Navy

  Production of a television recruitment advertising and television advertising campaign.

  Army

  Production of a television/cinema recruiting advertisement and television/cinema advertising campaign.

  Territorial Army

  1. A combined TV/Press recruitment campaign highlighting the range of weekend activities in the Territorial Army.

  2. A press campaign to recruit specialist personnel.

  Tri-Service

  1. Press campaign to thank employers for releasing Volunteer Reserve Forces personnel for service during the Gulf crisis.

  2. Campaign to increase public awareness of Volunteer Reserve Forces and employers' support for them.

  ECGD: PRIVATISATION
  ECGD: PRIVATISATION
  WHITCHURCH JUNIOR SCHOOL
  WHITCHURCH JUNIOR SCHOOL
  PRISONS: INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
  PRISONS: INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
  PRISONER PLACES: EFFECT OF INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
  PRISONER PLACES: EFFECT OF INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
  PRISONS: REFUSAL TO ADMIT PRISONERS
  PRISONS: REFUSAL TO ADMIT PRISONERS
  PRISONERS UNDER INTERMITTENT SUPERVISION
  PRISONERS UNDER INTERMITTENT SUPERVISION
  WANDSWORTH: HEALTH VISITORS
  WANDSWORTH: HEALTH VISITORS
  WANDSWORTH: ABORTIONS
  WANDSWORTH: ABORTIONS
  WANDSWORTH: SCHOOL NURSES
  WANDSWORTH: SCHOOL NURSES
  WANDSWORTH: CHILD MORTALITY
  WANDSWORTH: CHILD MORTALITY
  MENTAL ILLNESS STATISTICS
  MENTAL ILLNESS STATISTICS
  ROYAL ORDNANCE PLC: MILITARY ASSISTANCE, KUWAIT
  ROYAL ORDNANCE PLC: MILITARY ASSISTANCE, KUWAIT
  GULF WAR CASUALTIES
  GULF WAR CASUALTIES
  NORTHERN IRELAND: UK SUBVENTION
  NORTHERN IRELAND: UK SUBVENTION