Written Answers of 5 July 1991

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Women Prisoners
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken in response to the Women's National Commission report on women in prison; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  We have already announced changes in certain areas covered by the report. For example, the number of statutory visits to which sentenced inmates are entitled was increased to two each month on 17 June, and we have also announced our intention to make cardphones available in prisons holding unconvicted prisoners. We shall be responding shortly to the Women's National Commission on other issues covered by the report, and will arrange for a copy of our reply to be placed in the Library.

  Prisoners (Transfers)
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the offence a person has been convicted of is taken into account when a decision is taken to transfer or not to transfer a prisoner between England and Northern Ireland.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Yes. The criteria governing such transfers, announced by the then Home Secretary my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) on 23 June 1989 at column 263, include a proviso that a request may be refused if it is considered that the prisoner's crimes were so serious as to render him or her undeserving of any degree of public sympathy or to make it inappropriate that the prisoner should benefit from a substantial reduction in time left to serve, if that would be a consequence of transfer.

  Economic Migration
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contingency measures have been discussed or taken by him and his European colleagues with regard to possible substantial economic migration from the Soviet Union, the Balkans and Maghreb into the European Community.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend regularly discusses immigration matters with his European Community colleagues and reports regularly to the House. Trends in migration are closely monitored and there are arrangements for rapid consultation should the need arise.

  Derek Bentley
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete a review of the circumstances regarding the conviction and execution of Derek Bentley; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. John Patten
  The case is still tinder consideration. The review will be completed as soon as possible.

  United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish the names of the managing body of the UKIAS.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  UKIAS is a registered charity, controlled by a general council of representatives nominated by its member organisations. These member organisations consist of representative ethnic minority groups and other voluntary and statutory bodies. Responsibility for running the service is delegated to an executive committee elected by the general council. Full lists of member organisations and of the names of members of the general council and the executive committee are published each year in the organisation's annual report, the latest of which relates to 1989–90 and is available from the UKIAS head office, 190 Great Dover street, London SE1 4YB.

EMPLOYMENT

  Learning Difficulties
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many places planned specifically For adults with learning difficulties were available in each of the last five years; and how many are available in the present year.

  Mr. Jackson
  This information is not available.

  Small Companies
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will detail the main measures for assisting small companies which have been announced in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Forth
  The main measures have included a number of VAT easements such as increasing the registration threshold to £35,000; increasing the corporation tax threshold by 25 per cent. to £250,000; sponsoring a one-day enterprise workshop for all training and enterprise councils; giving training and enterprise councils a wide measure of flexibility on how they administer the enterprise allowance scheme; extending the enterprise initiative for a further three years and introducing three specific programmes to help small firms innovate, solve technical problems and introduce modern manufacturing systems.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many reported cases of BSE there have been in each of the past six months; how many cattle have been killed; and from what number of farms in England and Wales.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information for England and Wales is as follows:
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  Month

  Number of suspect cases of BSE reported

  Number slaughtered

  Number of farms .from which cattle slaughtered

  December 1990

  1,475

  1,407

  1,106

  January 1991

  2,242

  2,144

  1,660

  February 1991

  1,803

  1,703

  1,356

  March 1991

  2,210

  2,071

  1,649

  April 1991

  2,457

  2,237

  1,773

  May 1991

  1,936

  981

  824

  Birds
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number of imported wild-caught birds which were dead on arrival and which were subsequently submitted to the veterinary investigations centre for analysis to ascertain the cause of death from fowl pest, salmonella or psittacosis for each year since 1987.

  Mr. Maclean
  Data on the number of carcases of imported captive birds submitted to veterinary investigation centres for examination are set out in my reply of 26 June to the hon. Member for Glandford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley),Official Report, column 497. Such data do not, however, distinguish between wild-caught and captive-bred birds, nor do they differentiate between birds dying in transit or in quarantine.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number of different species of imported wild-caught birds which were confirmed as having died from fowl pest, salmonella or psittacosis in 1989.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information about the numbers of species of imported captive birds dying of specific causes is not collected in the precise form requested. Available data indicate that in 1989 at least 47 different species of imported birds were associated with salmonella infection, 11 species with Chlamydia psittaci infection, and at least 18 species died or were slaughtered as a result of fowl pest. It is not possible to differentiate between wild-caught and captive-bred birds.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Nursing Home Residents
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will estimate the number of new claimants of income support in residential and nursing homes each year since 1985;

  (2) if he will estimate the number of residents in residential and nursing homes who have ceased to claim income support each year since 1985.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information is held on the total number of income support recipients in residential care and nursing homes. It is not possible to distinguish between new and existing claimants, but the following table shows how total numbers have increased in each year since 1985.

  Number

  December 1985

  70,000

  February 1986

  90,000

  May 1987

  117,000

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  Number

  May 1988

  147,000

  May 1989

  176,000

  May 1990

  189,000

  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will estimate the number of residents in residential and nursing homes who will be in receipt of income support on 1 April 1993;

  (2) on what basis he is estimating the cost of payments of income support to residents in residential and nursing homes from 1 April 1993.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Information about expected numbers of income support claimants as well as expenditure is published in the Public Expenditure White Paper (Cm 1014). It has never been the practice to make separate forecasts about any individual group within the planning totals.

PRIME MINISTER

  National Identity Cards
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a further statement on the Government's policy towards issuing national identity cards to(a) immigrants and (b) all citizens.

  The Prime Minister
  As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary informed the House on 10 February 1989, the Government are not persuaded that a compulsory national identity card scheme should be introduced.

  In the Government's view the disadvantages of a policy of issuing national identity cards, notably the high financial cost, the risk of harming the relationship between police and public, and civil liberty objections, would outweigh its benefits.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will arrange for the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys to use the post code information held by the Benefits Agency to analyse child benefit to obtain and publish up-to-date information on the numbers of children in lone and two-parent households by area.

  The Prime Minister
  This information cannot be obtained using child benefit records, as post codes necessary to allocate claims to local authority areas are not available for some 2 million, out of 6·7 million, payees. The objective could be achieved by other means only at disproportionate cost.

  Yugoslavia
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Prime Minister whether the initiative taken by the three EC Foreign Ministers who visited Yugoslavia on peace-keeping missions was undertaken at the request of the Heads of Government meeting; whether the decision to send them was unanimous; what were their terms of reference; to whom they were to report back; and whether the agreed policy precluded individual Heads of Government from expressing separate national views.

  The Prime Minister
  I and my EC colleagues decided at the European Council in Luxembourg on 28 June to send
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  the troika of EC Foreign Ministers to Belgrade and Zagreb to try to negotiate an agreement on the terms of a ceasefire which would allow negotiations between all the parties involved in the crisis in Yugoslavia. They reported back to us on the results of their mission on 29 June. The decision to send the troika was taken by consensus, as are all decisions in the field of foreign policy co-operation among the member states of the Community. The speed and unity of the Twelve's response reflected a convergence of national views on this subject. We shall, of course, continue to express our views bilaterally to the various Yugoslav parties.

  Hot Pursuit
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy on allowing police officers from other EC countries to enter the United Kingdom in hot pursuit of suspects.

  The Prime Minister
  There is currently no provision for police officers from other EC countries to enter the United Kingdom in pursuit of suspects.

  UK-US Relations
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on current United Kingdom relations with the United States of America in regard to(a) the future role of NATO, (b) the development of free trade and the GATT negotiations, (c) the strategic defence initiative, (d) the halting of nuclear weapons testing and (e) the future of Antarctica and the Antarctic treaty.

  The Prime Minister
  The United Kingdom and the United States are in full agreement with each other, and with the rest of the alliance, on NATO's future role as the cornerstone of European security. We are both committed to securing an open world trading system. We and the European Community are working closely with the United States in the GATT negotiations, which we all hope to conclude successfully by the end of the year.

  Lone-Parent Families
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make arrangements for the Department of the Environment to arrange with the Benefits Agency the means of obtaining up-to-date information on the numbers of children in lone-parent households by local authority area for the purpose of assessing standard spending.

  The Prime Minister
  The standard spending assessments include indicators based on the most up-to-date information which is reliable at a local authority level on numbers of children and numbers of persons living in lone parent households. It is not possible to obtain more recent information by using child benefit records because the necessary post codes are not available for some 2 million out of 6·7 million, payees. An analysis of child benefit payments will not, in any case, indentify all lone parent households since some parents in receipt of income support do not claim one parent benefit as there is no financial incentive to do so.

  Immigration and Frontier Controls
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library the papers on immigration and frontier controls used during the Luxembourg summit and by his press officer subsequently to brief journalists.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the honourable Gentleman to the statement I made in the House on 1 July, and the conclusions of the European Council which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Immigrants (Criminal Activity)
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Prime Minister what research has been undertaken into the incidence among the immigrant population, relative to the non-immigrant population, of criminal activity, in particular (i) drug trafficking and (ii) terrorism, and of contribution to racial tension.

  The Prime Minister
  I am not aware of any research of these specific matters.

ENVIRONMENT

  International Concert Hall, Manchester
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove of 27 June, if he will indicate from which budgets or vote subheads the funds made available for the International concert hall, Manchester, have come; and what plans he has for further funding.

  Mr. Portillo
  The funding so far approved for the concert hall, for feasibility studies, is from class VIII, vote 3, subhead D8 (Central Manchester Development Corporation). The Department will consider further funding on receipt of a full project submission from the development corporation.

  Sewage Sludge
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to compel the water companies to add fragrances to sewage sludge disposed of on land.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government have no plans to do so. A code of practice for agricultural use of sewage sludge was published in 1989 which contains guidance on effective odour control. Generally adequate treatment of the sludge or incorporation into the soil reduces any odour problems.

  Local Government Review
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he gives to the Local Government Boundary Commission in respect of the release of advance copies of its reports on local government structure and boundaries(a) to the press and (b) local Members of Parliament in the areas covered by the review.

  Mr. Key
  None.

  Aggregates
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to incorporate assumptions about increases in the cost of
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  mining activities to reflect the increased value placed on countryside preservation in the preparation of future forecasts of national demand for primary aggregates.

  Mr. Yeo
  Before new guidelines for primary aggregate provision are published the environmental costs will be carefully considered. A number of studies are in progress which will assist this task.

  Sheffield Development Corporation
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment further to his answer of 19 June,Official Report, column 183, how many jobs have been created by the Sheffield development corporation since its inception, excluding jobs at the Meadowhall development; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Portillo
  I refer the hon. Member to my written answer of 4 June, column 166. I also wrote to the hon. Member on 17 June on this subject.

  Local Government Boundary Commission
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the numbers of staff and annual costs of the Local Government Boundary Commission; the number of reports it issues each year; and the numbers and names of the reviews currently in progress.

  Mr. Key
  The commission has a staff of 36 and an annual running cost of approximately £770,000. In 1990–91 it issued 24 reports.

  The commission is currently carrying out statutory reviews of the 36 metropolitan districts, the 32 London boroughs, the City of London and the Inner and Middle Temples. In addition, it is completing the statutory reviews of the non-metropolitan counties with a review of the Suffolk/Cambridgeshire boundary and a second review of part of the North Yorkshire/Cleveland boundary. It also considers reviews of parishes carried out by district councils as and when these are submitted.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the material studies and conclusions from the Local Government Boundary Commission's final recommendation for the county of Humberside will be referred to the new review of the structure of local government.

  Mr. Key
  Decisions on the steps to be taken following the commission's report will be made after the statutory period for public comment.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the exact time and date when the Local Government Boundary Commission report was released(a) to the media, (b) to hon. Members and (c) to local authorities; and what advice he has given to the commission on releasing information to hon. Members to enable them to answer media questions.

  Mr. Key
  The timing of the release of its reports is a matter for the commission. I have given no advice to it on the subject.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the total cost of the Local 222
  Government Boundary Commission's review of Humberside and the separate costs of each stage of the review.

  Mr. Key
  It is not possible to separate the costs of an individual review from the total costs of the Local Government Boundary Commission.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new instructions he gave to the Local Government Boundary Commission following his statement of 23 April,Official Report, column 901, concerning his preference for unitary authorities in respect of the review of the county of Humberside.

  Mr. Key
  None.

  Peat Bogs
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list(a) the sites of undisturbed raised peat bog in England, (b) the total hectarage of such sites, (c) the proportion designated sites of special scientific interest and (d) the proportion of those designated sites in the ownership of peat digging companies.

  Mr. Baldry
  The information requested is to be included in the national peatlands resource inventory currently being researched by the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland. Further detailed research is to take place over the coming months. I will arrange for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library when it is published.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are being made under part II of the Environmental Protection Act for waste disposal authorities to divest themselves of their waste disposal operations; whether he foresees an increasing role for the private sector in waste disposal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Waste disposal authorities are currently developing plans under the Environmental Protection Act to divest themselves of their disposal operations.

  At the time when public resources are under renewed pressure, it is vital that the private sector plays its full part. I shall now be making WDAs take action by issuing to them, where necessary, notices and directions to set up local authority waste disposal companies. LAWDCs are not the only way WDAs may divest themselves of their operations, but, if they wish to set them up, they must be viable. If not, WDAs will need to arrange for a joint venture or privatise their operations.

  Moreover, I intend to seek information from WDAs about the capital investment requirements for the new waste disposal operations in their areas from 1992–93 onwards, and how much of these requirements could be financed outside public expenditure. Higher standards in waste disposal are likely to require higher levels of capital investment over the next few years. But the amounts available for public sector expenditure in this field are inevitably limited. This will mean that LAWDCs will normally have to have private sector involvement if they wish to carry out appropriate capital investment. I shall be consulting the local authority associations about the details. I shall also be looking at further measures in due course.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  School Facilities
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provisions govern the consultations which local education authorities are obliged to undertake with governing bodies of schools over(a) use by outside organisations of unused portions of buildings which are otherwise in use as schools and (b) shared use of school facilities by outside organisations.

  Mr. Fallon
  Section 16 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 provides for the conduct of county, voluntary and maintained special schools to be under the direction of the governing body. Outside school hours, section 42 of the Act provides, in the case of county and maintained special schools, for the use of school premises to be under the control of the governing body, subject to any direction given by the local education authority. A similar provision for voluntary schools is contained in section 22 of the Education Act 1944.

  Nuclear Structure Facility
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what alternative provision will be made to replace postgraduate access to the nuclear structure facility at Daresbury for degree purposes.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Postgraduate students will have access to the nuclear structure facility until its closure in 1992–93. The Science and Engineering Research Council is currently reviewing how research and training in nuclear structurer physics should be pursued beyond this period.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what will be the anticipated cost of redundancy as a result of the closure of the nuclear structure facility at Daresbury;

  (2) what are the total estimated costs of the closure of the nuclear structure facility at Daresbury.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The SERC's current estimate of the cost of decommissioning and dismantling the nuclear structure facility is £2 million. In addition, there will be the costs of some redundancies which will not be known until nearer the anticipated date of closure in 1992–93.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the cost of the manpower involved in constructing the nuclear structure facility at Daresbury.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The element of manpower in the construction costs is not separately available and could be obtained by the Science and Engineering Research Council only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science between what dates the LINAC facility is planned to be used within the nuclear structure facility at Daresbury.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  No dates have been set by the Science and Engineering Research Council for the operation of the LINAC at its nuclear structure facility.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total cost at current prices of constructing the nuclear structure facility and its subsequent enhancements.
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  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I refer my hon. Friend to the replies that I gave him on 25 June 1991,Official Report, columns 39–40.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are SERC's plans for the linear accelerator at the nuclear structure facility at Daresbury laboratory in the light of the proposed closure of the laboratory.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I understand that no final decision has yet been taken by the SERC on the future of the LINAC accelerator.

  LINC Report
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will put a copy of the "Language in the National Curriculum" report, the LINC report, in the Library;

  (2) if he will give a breakdown of the cost of producing the LINC report.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave on 21 June 1991,Official Report, column 320, to the hon. Member for Durham, North-West (Ms. Armstrong). The precise cost of producing the LINC in-service training package is not separable from the Department's grant to be co-ordinator of the LINC programme. That is expected to be about £120,000, but it also covers costs involved in the central co-ordination of the training programme.

  East Birmingham Task Force
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what visits or other official engagements were undertaken by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science during his visit to the East Birmingham task force area on 1 May.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The programme included a meeting with the task force team and visits to Just for Starters Ltd., Jona Soya Seba Committee, the Parkview access centre, St. Matthews school and Nechells and Duddeston youth centre.

HEALTH

  Tower Hamlets
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of local government electors for Tower Hamlets for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1979

  110,611

  1980

  111,447

  1981

  111,156

  1982

  112,073

  1983

  113,859

  1984

  112,256

  1985

  112,036

  1986

  113,203

  1987

  115,472

  1988

  113,671

  1989

  113,743

  1990

  112,550

  1991

  105,922

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  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of(a) men aged 65 years and over and (b) women aged 60 years and over for each year since 1979 in Tower Hamlets.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The estimates of resident population requested for Tower Hamlets are given in the table.

  Thousands

  Mid year

  Men aged 65 and over

  Women aged 60 and over

  1979

  9·0

  17·3

  1980

  8·9

  17·4

  1981

  8·8

  17·1

  1982

  8·8

  17·2

  1983

  8·5

  17·1

  1984

  8·4

  16·9

  1985

  8·5

  16·8

  1986

  8·7

  16·7

  1987

  8·8

  16·5

  1988

  8·7

  16·2

  1989

  8·7

  15·9

  NHS Trusts
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance he has issued to health authority trust funds about inappropriate investment;

  (2) what information he has on the incidence of health authority trust funds investing in tobacco companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Trustee Investment Act 1961 gives the basic powers for investing in particular securities. We have not issued any specific guidance. Information about investment by health authority trust funds in any particular security is not held centrally.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals have been closed in each year since 1974.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not available centrally.

  RU486
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what trials the drug RU486 has undergone; and for how long a period.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Mifepristone (RU486) has been used by over 100,000 women worldwide and by more than 80,000 women in France.

  Permission to perform clinical trials in the United Kingdom under the Medicines (Exemption from Licences) (Clinical Trials) Order 1981, S.I. No. 164, was granted in December 1986. These trials have been carried out in 15 centres, with approximately 1,500 women taking part.

  Health Promotion
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the role of health visitors in health promotion and health education in the community and their role in providing advice to people in their own homes and in the context of their own lifestyles and family circumstances;

  (2) what appropriate qualifications he supports for nurses undertaking health advice and health promotion work in the community.
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  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 2 July 1991]: All health professionals have a responsibility to promote positive health in their work with patients and clients and their families and carers.

  Health visitors are uniquely placed as a profession to make a significant contribution in health promotion and education and disease prevention. The Government's new strategy for health puts an even stronger emphasis on improving health. Health visitors provide advice systematically and opportunistically to people in their own homes as well as other places.

  Nurses in possession of a health visitor or district nurse qualification are especially equipped with skills in health promotion and disease prevention. Other nurses who have been suitably educated and trained for their roles in the community are also able to fulfil these functions.

  Health Visitors
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sponsored places for health visiting students there have been in each of the past 10 years; and what steps he is taking to ensure that health visiting training is adequately funded and that there is sufficient sponsorship of students.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 2 July 1991]: The number of sponsored places is not collected centrally. Details of the number of student health visitors and those entering training can however be found in "The NHS Workforce in England 1991", a copy of which is in the Library. It is for health authorities to determine their own manpower plans, including training needs. Regional health authorities have, however, been advised that post-registration professional training, including health visitor training, should, for the time being, be funded from a separate and protected regional budget, and they have been asked to identify current investment in such training.

  Disability Manifesto
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy towards the recommendations of the "Disability Manifesto: An Agenda for the 1990s", a copy of which has been sent to him, which relate to his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 3 July 1991]; In his reply to a similar question from the right hon. Member, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister set out on 4 July at column 184 the aim underlying the policies of the Government towards people with disabilities.

  In order to achieve the aim of enabling people with disabilities to take a full part in the life of the community, we are continuously reviewing and improving the provision of a broad spectrum of services for disabled people.

  We agree with the authors of the manifesto that access to information is essential to enable people with disabilities to make reasoned choices.

  In March I announced the establishment of the national disability information project, which has a budget of £3 million over three years, to fund pilot projects to identify good practice in the collection and dissemination of information at a local level to disabled people and their carers.

  Guidance on the implementation of the community care reforms and the Children Act 1989, which will be

  227
  implemented in October, draws attention to the need for service providers to produce information in formats which are appropriate for people with a sensory disability.

  The Department grant-aids the production of Braille and has provided financial support for a variety of initiatives concerned with the development of sign languages and other communication techniques, including the production of information about the NHS reforms in Braille and sign language formats.

  We agree that the prevention of disability and improved rehabilitation services are important goals. An advisory group on rehabilitation was set up earlier this year to advise on developments in NHS rehabilitation which would improve the range of services available to people with disabilities, and help them to lead as full a life as possible.

  In May we announced a central initiative to improve rehabilitation services for people with brain injury. We will be supporting the development of a number of centres around the country which can act as models to the rest of the NHS, and carrying out an evaluation of the services they provide.

  Between 1987–89, the Department contributed £800,000 towards a new rehabilitation centre for people who are deaf and blind with additional handicaps. In April 1990, the Department introduced new procedure for certifying people as blind or partially sighted.

  In 1990, the Department launched two new initiatives under which it will make available nearly £3 million to the NHS for a cochlear implant programme and 12 pilot projects aimed at improving hearing aid services.

  We will shortly publish the results of a review of continence services, including the recommendations for action to promote a good quality service throughout the country.

  In June, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State made a statement at Mencap's annual conference on the future developments of services for people with learning disabilities. We have recently issued for consultation a draft local authority circular on social care for people with learning disabilities, and a parallel draft health circular on the role of the NHS in providing health care for this client group.

  Considerable additional resources have already been committed to personal social services, including services for people with disabilities, where spending has increased by 53 per cent. in real terms since 1978–79.

  When the new arrangements for community care are fully implemented in April 1993 local authorities will be required to assess the needs of people with disabilities and to provide the appropriate services that will best meet those needs. We make it clear in our guidance that users of the service and their carers should be involved as closely as possible in decisions about what services should be provided to them individually and that voluntary organisations representing users and carers be consulted in the preparation of community care plans.

  One of the key objectives of the Government's proposals is to ensure that service providers make practical support for carers a high priority. The introduction of a complaints procedure open to all service users and their carers is a major step forward. It is part of the progress being made towards making services responsive to users' needs and it will encourage the drive for better quality services.
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  In addition, this year we are spending over £2,300,000 on grants to voluntary bodies in the disability field.

  Internationally, the Government are actively participating in the European Community's HELIOS programme which aims to promote the integration into the community of both adults and children with disabilities.

  We maintain an active role in the Council of Europe as members of the committee on rehabilitation.

  We support the United Nations world programme of action concerning disabled persons and in particular the UN global project designed to mark the end of the UN decade of disabled persons 1983–92.

  These major programmes, taken together with a range of other initiatives, illustrate the level of commitment to improving services for disabled people. We will continue to build on them in the future.

WALES

  Urban Development Corporation
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the budget of each urban development corporation to cover the provision for training in each of the years 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Cardiff Bay development corporation's expenditure on the provision of training was £17,300 in 1989–90 and £124,500 in 1990–91. The budget for training and social grants in 1991–92 is £399,000, of which it is estimated that £120,000 will be spent on training.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of the capital provided in the budget for all the urban development corporations for the provision of housing for the years 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Cardiff Bay development corporation does not have a budget for the provision of housing. The value of land given to housing associations within the urban development area in 1989–90 and 1990–91 was:

  £

  1989–90

  Nil

  1990–91

  3,275,000

  It is estimated that land valued at £66,000 will be donated for housing association use in 1991–92.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of houses provided by each of the urban development corporations for each year of operation to 31 March.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Cardiff Bay development corporation does not directly provide housing. The number of housing units built within the urban development area was:

  Units

  1987–88

  206

  1988–89

  198

  1989–90

  249

  1990–91

  115

  The development corporation's strategy proposes 6,000 new homes, of which a quarter will be for social housing.

  HIV
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people have been diagnosed as HIV positive in each health authority in Wales for each of the past 36 months.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  For reasons of confidentiality and in line with the AIDS (Control) Act, numbers between one and nine inclusive are given as "less than 10". The figures requested are all less than 10.

  Transit Itinerants Site, Gresford
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to require an environmental assessment regarding the transit itinerants site at Gresford.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Under the terms of the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environment Effects) Regulations 1988 environmental assessment is not required for gipsy sites.

  Learning Difficulties
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many places planned specifically for adults with learning difficulties were available in Wales in each of the last five years; and how many are available in the present year.

  Amounts of compensation paid by financial year Criminal damage

  Year damage sustained

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  1973–74

  91,976

  85,120

  38,357

  0

  500

  0

  7,381

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1974–75

  66,594

  73,919

  27,632

  128,862

  250

  0

  0

  0

  0

  248,872

  113,799

  0

  0

  1975–76

  28,015

  49,056

  43,689

  0

  5,504

  0

  2,496

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1976–77

  486,793

  541,862

  341,529

  173,140

  137,255

  21,156

  0

  0

  0

  4,000

  0

  0

  0

  1977–78

  470,539

  267,472

  36,490

  2,605

  55,652

  12,328

  5,203

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1978–79

  194,527

  734,385

  344,232

  28,485

  27,559

  16,600

  20,546

  23,400

  3,354

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1979–80

  0

  1,006,610

  749,813

  372,396

  180,642

  44,081

  195,260

  173,553

  26,348

  0

  2,197

  0

  0

  1980–81

  0

  0

  820,886

  475,951

  557,772

  244.617

  29,393

  3,434

  3,890

  0

  0

  0

  10,000

  1981–82

  0

  0

  0

  1,480,629

  1,236,601

  437,946

  135,314

  90,852

  53,801

  248,872

  113,799

  0

  0

  1982–83

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1,281,162

  621,326

  231,432

  153,116

  81,578

  2,291

  7,000

  0

  10,000

  1983–84

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  546,311

  599,498

  174,984

  9,461

  14,167

  295

  740

  0

  1984–85

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  208,834

  635,755

  143,909

  107,313

  33,442

  0

  0

  1985–86

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  418,675

  690,881

  271,807

  47,374

  58,997

  28,727

  1986–87

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  43,395

  98,871

  26,584

  22,921

  301

  1987–88

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  334,006

  303,246

  102,921

  14,948

  1988–89

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  20,192

  451,761

  153,295

  1989–90

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  370.134

  116,642

  1990–91

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4,825

  Totals

  1,338,444

  2,758,424

  2,403,108

  2,664,068

  3,482,897

  1,944,365

  1,435,357

  1,673,769

  1,056,617

  1,081,327

  556,129

  1,007,474

  338,739

  Amounts exclude costs and fees incurred by applicants.

  Amounts of compensation paid by financial year Criminal injury

  Year injury sustained

  1978–79 (part year)

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  1977–78

  13,579

  25,750

  33,000

  25,000

  5,000

  5,000

  54,400

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5,000

  1978–79

  5,232

  3,229

  19,250

  9,600

  34,400

  5,000

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1979–80

  0

  7,469

  10,375

  64,284

  50,250

  4,800

  26,500

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1980–81

  0

  0

  12,000

  58,500

  8,800

  55,600

  193,000

  0

  9,000

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1981–82

  0

  0

  0

  38,200

  160,603

  205,910

  157,598

  350,000

  39,000

  0

  3,250

  0

  0

  1982–83

  0

  0

  0

  0

  22,100

  74,483

  91,880

  165,884

  45,000

  2,750

  23,500

  0

  0

  1983–84

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  64,400

  70,516

  165,728

  102,415

  411,550

  27,550

  4,517

  0

  1984–85

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  9,350

  210,087

  198,510

  21,027

  45,134

  73,500

  4,250

  1985–86

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  600

  22,416

  68,302

  121,575

  3,500

  103,573

  230
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  This information is not available.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hospitals have been closed in each year since 1974.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I shall write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Terrorism (Londonderry)
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show for each year, or if more convenient financial year, since 1968 to the latest available date(a) the sums claimed for (i) criminal damage and (ii) criminal injury, resulting from terrorist activity in Londonderry city, and the sums paid in each such year, relating as far as possible the sums to the year in which the damage or injury was inflicted.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Such information as is available is contained in the tables.
  231

  Year injury sustained

  1978–79 (part year) £

  1979–80 £

  1980–81 £

  1981–82 £

  1982–83 £

  1983–84 £

  1984–85 £

  1985–86 £

  1986–87 £

  1987–88 £

  1988–89 £

  1989–90 £

  1990–91 £

  1986–87

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  12,000

  62,063

  512,722

  169,447

  56,574

  1987–88

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5,000

  81,999

  99,973

  61.661

  1988–89

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  61,929

  144,352

  1989–90

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2,000

  54,762

  1990–91

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  TOTALS

  18,811

  36,448

  74,625

  195,584

  261,153

  415,193

  603,244

  912,299

  426,341

  590,692

  815,680

  414,866

  430,172

  Amounts exclude costs and fees incurred by applicants.

  Rural Action Programmes
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on rural action programmes which contribute to overcoming isolation and poverty.

  Mr. Hanley
  Given the rural nature of much of Northern Ireland most Departments and statutory agencies administer programmes which help to a greater or lesser degree in meeting social and economic need in rural areas.

  A particular example is the community regeneration and improvement special programme, jointly funded by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland and the International Fund for Ireland, which provides assistance to community groups and district councils undertaking projects to achieve local economic regeneration in villages and smaller towns in areas of particular disadvantage.

  In order to assist those local groups developing plans to tackle social and economic need in the most deprived rural areas of the Province, and to optimise the impact of the Government's social and economic programmes in the more remote areas, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State accepted recently the recommendations of the Interdepartmental Committee on Rural Development. He appointed me the Minister responsible and accordingly I am at present engaged in setting up a Rural Development Council outside Government to act as an advice and resource centre for rural community groups. An executive chairman has already been appointed. Within the Department of Agriculture a rural development division has been established which will support a small team of area co-ordinators to co-ordinate the local delivery of statutory programmes and services and to provide integrated statutory responses to local development plans.

  It is hoped that these structures will be fully in place by the autumn of this year.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of, and levels of, any potential catalytic metals in the structure or in the containment drums for waste incinerated at the proposed incinerator at Maydown, Londonderry.

  Mr. Needham
  Such details are not yet available. If the proposed incinerator comes into operation the types of waste are likely to be organic chemicals and non-metal bearing. The drums are likely to be of carbon steel which presents no environmental risk.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what studies are available to him of 232
  technologies for the disposal of the types of toxic waste it is proposed to incinerate at the Maydown, Londonderry site.

  Mr. Needham
  The assessment of any proposal to incinerate waste would include the study of comparative and alternative facilities. Officials in the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland are, of course, aware of such studies in other parts of the world.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish details of the specifications of the type of incinerator which is being proposed of Maydown, Londonderry.

  Mr. Needham
  Such details will emerge only after the completion of the feasibilty study and could be made available only when a formal application is made by Du Pont (UK) Ltd.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Du Pont company on the possibility of shipping the toxic and hazardous wastes produced by the company in Northern Ireland to the Du Pont incinerator in the United States of America.

  Mr. Needham
  The United Kingdom Government are anxious to cease the export of waste out of their territory and there is a presumption in favour of national self-sufficiency in the provision of hazardous facilities.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with any companies about the construction of chemical or other plants in Northern Ireland which would produce the type of material the proposed incinerator at Maydown, Londonderry could burn; and what assessment he has made of the expected amount of such materials to be produced in Northern Ireland in the next four years.

  Mr. Needham
  None.

  Further Education
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the document entitled "Further Education in Northern Ireland-The Road Ahead" launched on 25 June will be available in the Vote Office.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This document was not required to be laid and was not, therefore, placed in the Vote Office. However, it has been available in the Library since 26 June. In addition, copies were sent on the day of publication to Northern Ireland Members of Parliament at their home addresses.

  Student Grants
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the maximum level of grant aid available to students at third level education, pursuing degree courses, and staying in lodgings;

  (2) what period of time is the student grant designed to cover.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The maximum maintenance grant for a student living away from home during term time is £2,265: for those living in London this rises to £2,845. These rates of grant cover the normal period of 213 days –178 days in the case of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge-during which a student is expected to be in attendance at a course, together with the Christmas and Easter vactions. Tuition fees are also paid: the current year amount is £1,675.

  A student who is required to attend a course for longer than the normal period is eligible for a supplementary maintenance grant for each week or part week of the further period. For a student residing in the London area the weekly rate is £63·15: elsewhere in the United Kingdom it is £47·30.

  Capital expenditure by local authorities on schools at 1989–90 prices

  £ thousands

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–8 i

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Borders

  646

  1,108

  1,774

  1,424

  928

  970

  1,199

  1,325

  1,055

  1,087

  1,128

  1,591

  Central

  8,208

  6.550

  4,606

  3,741

  2,004

  1,474

  1,422

  1,753

  2,863

  3,198

  4,651

  4,992

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2,444

  3,028

  2,666

  2,579

  2,948

  3,312

  3,120

  3,068

  2,531

  750

  1,767

  1,809

  Fife

  7,239

  4,599

  4,244

  3,821

  3,364

  2,353

  3,784

  5,336

  5,525

  2,374

  5,056

  5,815

  Grampian

  16,775

  13,733

  14,682

  18,252

  12,393

  8,969

  7,624

  10,273

  9,548

  2,585

  3,626

  3,914

  Highland

  6,935

  4,667

  4,450

  4,953

  4,062

  2,276

  1,073

  1,644

  1,354

  2,881

  3,888

  3,902

  Lothian

  21,055

  15,541

  14,790

  10,938

  11,555

  8,139

  7,803

  7,638

  4,493

  9,267

  8,327

  11,568

  Strathclyde

  54,418

  34,699

  32,241

  36,291

  27,452

  27,220

  26,226

  25,002

  20,816

  22,532

  26,484

  26,476

  Tayside

  5,390

  4,471

  2,922

  2,782

  2,892

  2,000

  2,776

  3,427

  2,422

  3,734

  3,835

  3,520

  Orkney

  974

  311

  161

  931

  1,750

  1,238

  1,646

  1,508

  1,099

  1,119

  1,092

  990

  Shetland

  4,142

  5,831

  5,245

  5,497

  3,913

  3,460

  2,402

  1,314

  604

  614

  988

  723

  Western Isles

  951

  973

  1,062

  2,199

  2,365

  1,265

  1,266

  1,480

  3,906

  4,425

  2,336

  1,584

  Scotland

  129,177

  95,511

  88,843

  93,408

  75,626

  62,676

  60,341

  63,768

  56,216

  54,566

  63,178

  66,884

  Notes: The figures includes expenditure on nursery, primary, secondary and special schools.

  Outturn figures have been converted to 1989–90 prices using the GDP deflator.

  Mental Illness Grant
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the amount sought for the mental illness specific grant in 1991–92 by each regional and islands authority in Scotland and the amount actually paid out to date.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The amounts sought and grant offered are as follows:

  Region

  Amount sought £

  Grant offered £

  Borders

  75,000

  75,000

  Central

  105,000

  92,372

  Dumfries and Galloway

  85,000

  85,400

  Fife

  131,806

  131,806

  Grampian

  240,000

  190,426

  Highland

  107,100

  79,800

TRANSPORT

  British Rail
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to require the chairman of British Rail to publish the environmental impact study which was made on the line from Peckham via Brixton and Clapham to Waterloo.

  Mr. Freeman
  No environmental statement was necessary for the works at Waterloo and at Stewart's lane, which were authorised by the Channel Tunnel Act 1987. British Rail agreed with nearby residents to undertake measures to mitigate noise.

SCOTLAND

  Schools
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of capital expenditure on schools in(a) each regional authority in Scotland and (b) Scotland in total, in each year since 1978–79, in constant prices.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information given in the following table has been compiled from local authority financial returns. The fall in expenditure in real terms during the period reflects a substantial and progressive decline in pupil numbers which has reduced the requirement for new school building.

  Region

  Amount sought £

  Grant offered £

  Lothian

  279,844

  279,844

  Strathclyde

  851,697

  736,197

  Tayside

  170,792

  148,512

  Orkney Island

  35,000

  35,000

  Shetland

  39,900

  39,900

  Western Isles

  50,000

  50,000

  Totals

  2,171,139

  1,944,257

  Nothing has been paid out to date because the grant is payable three monthly in arrears.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospitals have been closed in each year since 1974.
  235
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not held centrally for the period 1974–1979. However, from 1979 to June 1991 51 hospitals have been closed in Scotland. During the same period, 74 major new hospitals have been opened.

  Fife Social Work Department
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate when he expects to receive and publish the report by Sheriff Kearney into the social work department of Fife regional council.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As I said in my reply of 23 April to the hon. Member, the chairman of the inquiry into child care policies in Fife has finished hearing evidence from the parties concerned and my right hon. Friend hopes to receive the report in the near future. As soon as he has the report he shall make a decision about publication.

  Crofting
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the provision of housing assistance for fishermen through the crofting building grants and loans scheme.

  Mr. Lang
  The primary purpose of the crofting building grants and loans scheme (CBGLS) is to provide assistance to those who intend to live on and cultivate crofts, since crofting tenure does not allow the croft house to he used as security for a commercial loan. However, under the powers available through the Congested Districts (Scotland) Act 1897, the scheme has also been used to provide assistance to tenants of fishermen's holdings created in Lewis following the first world war and to fishermen feuars in the former crofting counties who have been able to demonstrate a secure title to a house site. In practice, however, only a relatively small proportion of loans and grants under the scheme have been made to applicants in these categories.

  Over the years, the provision of special housing assistance to certain categories of fishermen through the scheme has become increasingly anomalous since the individuals do not face the same barriers as crofters in obtaining other forms of housing finance. In the light of these considerations and the announcement in April 1990 about the criteria for assistance under the scheme, I have decided that in future housing assistance will not be available to fishermen who do not otherwise qualify as crofters or to the occupants of the Lewis fishermen's holdings. However, to avoid any undue hardship those fishermen who at the date of this announcement have title to a house site and are currently eligible to apply will have a period of three years from the date of this announcement to bring forward an application for assistance.

  All applications received during this period will be considered on their merits in the light of the existing eligibility criteria for the scheme.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Computer Misuse Act 1990
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the convictions under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.
  236
  Mr. Leigh
  To date, there has been one conviction under the Computer Misuse Act 1990. The defendant was convicted of two offences under section 2 of the Act at Bow street magistrates court, London, and was sentenced to pay a fine of £450 for each offence.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to make an announcement on United Kingdom attendance at the forthcoming CSCE conference on the human dimension in Moscow; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hurd
  We plan to send a delegation to the Moscow CSCE conference on the human dimension, subject to developments in the Soviet Union between now and September. Participation in the conference would enable us to press for further improvements over those human rights issues which cause us concern.

  Lockerbie
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will raise with the Government of Syria the alleged involvement of Syrian terrorists, before their arrest, in the Lockerbie plane bombing; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he has sought to raise with the Government of Libya the alleged involvement of Libyan nationals or residents in the Lockerbie bombing.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The investigation into the Lockerbie disaster is being pursued by the Dumfries and Galloway constabulary, under the direction of my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office stands ready to assist the constabulary in any way it requires in pursuit of international aspects of the investigation.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) who authorised the senior official of his office to make statements about the Lockerbie bomb link reported in The Sunday Times of 30 June;

  (2) who authorised the spokesman from his office to make the statements on Libya attributed to that official on BBC radio and BBC television news on 28 June; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The line taken by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesmen in response to media inquiries has consistently been that they cannot comment on a continuing police investigation.

  United Nations Secretary-General
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which members of the Government met the United Nations Secretary-General on his visit to the United Kingdom on 30 June; and what was discussed.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I called on the Secretary-General on 29 June and discussed subjects of current international interest including the situation in Iraq.

  Expo 92
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to his answer on 28 June,Official Report, column 568, if he will make it his policy to include in the overall exhibition theme at the British pavilion at Expo 92 in Seville the appropriate use of Gibraltarian expertise and appropriate exhibits from Gibraltar.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  As I have made clear in previous answers our policy is to select exhibits for the British pavilion at Expo 92 on the basis of their relevance to the theme "Original Britain" rather than their place of origin.

DEFENCE

  Injured Grenadiers
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many witnesses were called by the board of inquiry investigating the Grenadier accident at Batus, Canada on 7 July 1989, to give evidence as to the proper execution of safety procedures and of safety briefings to Grenadier Guardsmen Adrian Hicks, John Ray and Sean Povey.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None. The board of inquiry was able to reach conclusions based on written evidence without conducting interviews.

  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, at the proposed meeting between his Department and the legal representatives of the injured guardsmen, he will make it his policy to disclose the full content of the board of inquiry report and to accede to a request to reopen the board of inquiry.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  It is not the practice to release the proceedings of boards of inquiry to outside parties, but officials will, of course, make every effort to answer any questions about the circumstances of the accident at Batus that the solicitors representing the three Guardsmen may put. If a request is made at the meeting to re-open the board of inquiry we shall consider this on its merits and in the light of other means of obtaining any necessary information.

  Infantry, Northern Ireland
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a further statement on his plans to deploy additional infantry battalions to Northern Ireland;

  (2) what restraint is placed by current Army manning levels on his ability to provide extra infantry battalions for deployment in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Army's commitments in Northern Ireland are accorded the highest priority. Force levels in Northern Ireland are kept under constant review and will continue to be adjusted as and when it is judged necessary to do so.

  The Gulf
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what approximate proportion of Tornado strikes against enemy airfields in the Gulf war were made by GR1 238
  aircraft linked to Buccaneers equipped to Pavespike laser designators; what proportion were made after thermal imaging airborne laser designator equipment became available; and which of these two systems achieved the best overall results in the targeting of Paveway II bombs.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  About 40 per cent. of Tornado GR1 and Buccaneer attacks against Iraqi airfields used the Pavespike designation system to target laser-guided bombs, and nearly 30 per cent. used TIALD. The performance of the two targeting systems is still being evaluated.

  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what use was made in the Gulf by RAF Tornados of the air-launched anti-radar missile and thermal imaging airborne laser designator pods; and if he has completed his evaluation of their effectiveness.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Some RAF Tornado GR1s were equipped with ALARM missiles which had been brought into service several months early. Two TIALD pods were diverted from the current development programme to be used in the Gulf. We are continuing to study all aspects of the Gulf campaign.

  Regional Office, Bristol
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has for constructing new regional office premises for sections of his Department in the Bristol area; over what period construction will take place; at what estimated cost; and if he will make a statement on the reason for this development.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  MOD's only current proposal for new office development in the Bristol area is that for procurement executive staff, announced on 27 March 1990. In view of the local planning difficulties that have arisen over our proposals for Keynsham, which have delayed the project by a year, we have recently completed a review of possible alternative locations in the Bristol area and elsewhere; the results are now being assessed.

  Service Personnel (Injuries)
  Mr. Miscampbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to take out insurance cover by his Department against the risk of injury while on service duties.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply to the hon. Member for Motherwell, North (Dr. Reid) on 27 June at column 550 of the Official Report. The extent to which current arrangements are satisfactory is under review.

  Regiments (Recruitment)
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the regiments whose potential recruiting was reduced by his policy of recruitment capping in 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Recruiting was not capped in 1988–89 or in 1989–90. In 1990–91, the recruit intake was limited to 16,000. In consequence, recruit allocations to all arms and services throughout the Army were reduced.

  Z-Berths
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the criteria for designating a Z-berth; what provisions for civilian safety and evacuation exist at Z-berth sites; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Individual Z-berths are designated on the basis of operational and safety considerations. Safety arrangements include a public safety scheme, prepared after discussion with the local authorities and civil emergency services, which sets out detailed arrangements for the site in question.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) those countries whose vessels are currently permitted to visit United Kingdom Z-berth sites and (b) what vessels are currently permitted to visit United Kingdom Z-berth sites; what visits he envisages in the future to Holy Loch; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Nuclear powered warships from the United States and French navies in addition to the Royal Navy may be permitted to visit United Kingdom Z-berths. No specific visits to the Holy Loch are planned following the withdrawal of the US facilities there, although occasional future visits by nuclear powered submarines are possible.

  International Military Services
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the export activities of International Military Services within Iraq.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  International Military Services has at all times complied with Government policy and export licence regulations in conducting business in Iraq as elsewhere.
  240
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation or contact he has had with W. S. Atkins and Partners or any people associated with W. S. Atkins and Partners regarding the future of International Military Services.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  None.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what information his Department has about the engagement of employees of International Military Services on defence-related projects or contracts in Iraq after May 1988;

  (2) what information his Department has about the engagement of employees of W. S. Atkins and Partners on defence-related construction projects in Iraq after May 1988.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It is not our normal practice to comment on the activities of employees of particular firms, except where there is evidence that Government policy has been breached.

  Defence Arms Control Unit
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work is currently being undertaken by the defence arms control unit.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer 4 July 1991]: The defence arms control unit is currently engaged in a wide range of arms control activity, including assisting in the development of United Kingdom and NATO positions on the future of conventional arms control in Europe and negotiations on a chemical weapons convention, and in preparations for the forthcoming biological weapons convention review conference.

  CONSERVATION: PROPOSED DIRECTIVE
  CONSERVATION: PROPOSED DIRECTIVE
  SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT OFFICES: WORKLOAD
  SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT OFFICES: WORKLOAD
  SPACE STATION FREEDOM PROGRAMME
  SPACE STATION FREEDOM PROGRAMME
  ADVISORY GROUP ON REHABILITATION
  ADVISORY GROUP ON REHABILITATION