Written Answers of 8 July 1991

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  School Terms
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to change the number of weeks children spend in school.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to alter existing arrangements which provide that schools—nursery classes and schools excepted—must meet for 380 half-day sessions in each school year.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will arrange for the examining boards to reschedule examinations so that children spend more of the summer term in school.

  Mr. Eggar
  The GCSE and GCE examination timetables are a matter for the examining bodies concerned. However, my right hon. and learned Friend has recently discussed the matter of the GCSE examination timetable with representatives of the joint council for the GCSE, and we understand that the timetable is likely to start a week later in 1992 than it did this year.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Education and Science how much of the school term remains unexpired after GCSE and A-level examinations have been completed: and what plans he has to ensure that the time is fully utilised.

  Mr. Eggar
  The dates of school terms are determined locally, while the dates of GCSE and GCE examinations vary according to both the examination boards' timetables and to the subjects taken by individual pupils.

  If pupils attending school after taking external examinations are not involved in courses required under the national curriculum, this time could with advantage be used constructively, for instance to secure careeers guidance or to gain work experience.

  As announced in the White Paper "Training and Education for the 21st Century"—Cmnd. 1536—the Government intend to legislate to abolish the present Easter and May school-leaving dates in favour of a single date at the end of the summer term.

  Examination Standards
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science What independent facilities exist to monitor examination standards since the inception of each current examination.

  Mr. Eggar
  The School Examinations and Assessment Council is responsible for approving all GCSE and GCE syllabuses and examinations as suitable to be offered in schools. In addition to the examining bodies' own extensive scrutiny arrangements, both SEAC and Her Majesty's inspectorate scrutinise the conduct of these 242
  examinations to ensure that standards remain appropriate and consistent between subjects and examining bodies and from year to year.

  Nursery Education
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the provision of each London borough for nursery education for each year since 1979 giving(a) the number of nursery schools and (b) the number of nursery classes with pupil numbers and participation rates.

  Mr. Eggar
  Tables detailing nursery provision in the maintained sector in each London borough for the period 1980 to 1990, the latest date for which information is available, are being placed in the Library. Information for 1979 and separate participation rates for nursery schools and nursery classes are not readily available.

  Tower Hamlets
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of children aged 16 to 18 years in Tower Hamlets remained in full-time education for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Eggar
  The proportion of young people in Tower Hamlets aged 16 and 17 at the start of the academic year who were in full-time education—excluding those attending independent and special schools—was 44 per cent. in 1989–90. Data are not available for earlier years, because Tower Hamlets is part of the Inner London education authority and data were collected only for ILEA in total.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the number and percentages of full-time students in Tower Hamlets by(a) primary school, (b) secondary school, (c) sixth-form centre, (d) sixth-form college, (e) colleges and polytechnics, (f) universities and (g) other educational establishments for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Fallon
  The numbers and percentages of pupils and students domiciled in Tower Hamlets who were in full-time education in the maintained sector in England in 1989–90 are given in the table. Information on people from Tower Hamlets attending independent schools and colleges or universities is not available. Figures for earlier years were collected from the Inner London education authority and cannot be disaggregated to borough level.

  Establishment

  Full-time pupils and students

  Percentage

  (a) Primary schools

  17,254

  57

  (b) Secondary schools

  10,486

  35

  (c) Sixth-form centres

  —

  —

  (d) Sixth-form colleges

  —

  —

  (e) Colleges and polytechnics

  1,752

  6

  (g) Other educational establishments

  895

  3

  Total

  30,387

  100

  Teacher Vacancies
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his most recent assessment of teacher vacancies in London listed by education authorities for(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools.

  Mr. Fallon
  The most recent figures available relate to January 1990, details of which are being placed in the Library. Vacancy figures for individual authorities for January 1991 have not yet been finalised and will be placed in the Library when confirmed.

  Examining Boards
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the extent of his powers vis-à-vis examining boards.

  Mr. Eggar
  The GCSE examining groups and GCE examining boards are independent bodies, but all courses of study leading to qualifications for pupils of compulsory school age are subject to the Secretary of State's approval, and their associated syllabuses are subject to the approval of his nominated body, the School Examinations and Assessment Council. As announced in the White Paper "Education and Training for the 21st Century" the Government intend to use their reserve powers to extend these controls on standards to courses for 16 to 18-year-olds.

  Teachers (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many applications for early retirement with enhancement have been approved and the costs met in part or in full by the teachers' superannuation fund in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Fallon
  During the year ending 31 March 1991, a total of 781 teachers aged 50 to 64 were awarded benefits under the teachers' superannuation regulations following premature retirement from educational establishments in Wales.

  Enhancement is a matter for employers, who are asked but not obliged to report details to the Department. Enhancement was reported in 560 cases, no enhancement was reported in 157 cases, and 64 cases were not reported.

  Environmental Education
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has taken any action based on proposals made in the report of the business meeting on environmental education to which he referred in his answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West,Official Report, 27 June, column 533.

  Mr. Fallon
  The report in question makes no specific proposals for action by the Department. It will, however, be brought to the attention of the committee which is being established to advise on the future development of environmental education within further and higher education.

ENERGY

  Electricity Generation
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consideration is being given to resolving the regulatory problems faced by on-site generators; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Regulatory issues are a matter for the Director General of Electricity Supply. I have however agreed to meet some members of the Combined Heat and Power Association to hear of their problems and ideas at first hand.

  Coal Industry Pay
  Mr. Eadie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, (1) what was the average wage from each area of the United Kingdom coal industry for(a) coalface-trained miners, (b) miners employed elsewhere underground and (c) surface workers in 1990–91;

  (2) what was the average incentive and bonus pay in 1990–91 in each United Kingdom colliery;

  (3) what was the average earnings for the year 1990–91 in each area of the United Kingdom coalfield.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Detailed information on average earnings, incentives and bonus pay is not kept by my Department. However, the two-year pay and benefits agreement introduced by British Coal in January this year puts mineworkers near the top of the industrial earnings league.

  Fissile Material
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, whether, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith),Official Report, 27 June, column 516, any nuclear material originally created in unsafeguarded reactors has been notified to the safeguards authorities as open to safeguards under INFCIRC-263.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There have been occasions when material originating from non-safeguarded reactors have been brought into safeguards. Such material has been notified to the safeguards authorities under INFCIRC 263.

  Plutonium Exports
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West,Official Report, 27 June, column 517, there have been any exports of plutonium to the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic in quantities of less than a few grammes in the past two years.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I cannot for reasons of commercial confidentiality disclose the precise amounts of plutonium exported to individual countries. However, total exports of plutonium to the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic and its predecessors over the last two years have not exceeded 1 gramme.

  IAEA Safeguards Budget
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment has been made of the increased demands on the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards budget of the decision by the Republic of South Africa to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  This question will be considered as part of the agency's budgetary process.

PRIME MINISTER

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister why he decided to require local authorities when setting their poll tax levels to cover the cost of unpaid poll tax bills; and if he has any plans to change this requirement.

  The Prime Minister
  As part of its budgetary process and in line with proper accounting practice, every local authority has to estimate the level of non-recoverable charges for the forthcoming year and then set a community charge which takes this into account. In this respect, the community charge is no different from the old domestic rating system.

  Government Bills
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy on recouping losses arising from the non-payment of Government bills from the subsequent payers of such bills.

  The Prime Minister
  Departments are advised in "Government Accounting", the Treasury's guide on accounting and financial procedures for Government Departments, that all reasonable action should be taken to effect recovery of losses.

  Health Care Corporation Ltd.
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Prime Minister what legal costs have been contributed by Her Majesty's Government either directly or indirectly towards the legal costs of either party in the case of Regina v. Elmridge Borough Council, ex parte Health Care Corporation Ltd. and another.

  The Prime Minister
  In civil cases the costs are a matter for the parties involved. There has been no Government involvement in this case.

  Holy Loch
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 17 June,Official Report, column 9, if he will make public those parts of the agreement between the United Kingdom and United States Governments to establish the United States Navy base at Holy Loch in 1960 which pertain to (a) civilian safety in the area; (b) the local community and (c) the local economy; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 17 June.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Part III Homes
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (I) whether residents of formal local authority part III homes, which are transferred to the private or voluntary sector between 25 June and when amending regulations regarding entitlement to income support take effect, will be eligible for higher levels of income support;

  (2) whether residents of former local authority part III homes which were transferred to the private or voluntary sector before 25 June are eligible for higher levels of income support;

  (3) whether residents of former local authority part III homes which are closed down are eligible for higher levels of income support.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Eligibility for income support is defined by regulations. Decisions regarding claims to benefit are made at a local level by independent adjudication officers who are provided with guidance on the interpretation of the regulations by the chief adjudication officer in the published adjudication officers' guide, a copy of which is in the Library.

  The chief adjudication officer has recently issued advice to adjudication officers to help them decide claims from residents of homes which are transferred from local authority ownership to the private or voluntary sector pending the amendment of the regulations.

  Where a local authority has accommodated a person under part III of the National Assistance Act 1948, responsibility for that person continues unless he no longer requires that accommodation. If a local authority home is closed the local authority would be under an obligation to find and pay for alternative accommodation for the residents.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policies on child benefit.

  Mr. Jack
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has confirmed on a number of occasions recently, child benefit is and will remain a strong element in the Government's policies for family support. Child benefit rose by £1 a week for the eldest eligible child in each family in April, and will rise by a further £1 a week for the eldest eligible child in each family in October, with an extra 25p a week for other children. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his Budget statement, the Government are committed to increasing the new rates of child benefit in line with the movement in the retail prices index each year, starting in April 1992. We will announce in the uprating statement the allocation of the individual amounts between the eldest eligible child and other children.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Firearms Certificates
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many certificates were valid in the Metropolitan police area for(a) firearms and (b) shotguns by division for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information is not available by division, but for the whole of the Metropolitan police area it is as follows:

  Certificates on issue at 31 December each year

  Firearms

  Shotguns

  1979

  9,504

  1—

  1980

  9,374

  28,990

  1981

  8,981

  29,528

  1982

  8,856

  28,504

  1983

  8,741

  29,747

  1984

  8,878

  30,293

  1985

  8,957

  237,147

  1986

  9,084

  41,814

  1987

  9,036

  44,299

  1988

  8,877

  45,835

  1989

  8,615

  43,436

  1990

  29,929

  42,362

  Notes

  1 Figures for shotgun certificates on issue on 31 December 1979 are not available.

  2 Computerisation of records of shotgun certificates in 1985 and firearm certificates in 1990 brought to light previous under-recording.

  Source: Annual Reports for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, 1979 to 1990.

  Emergency Planning
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his answer of 22 January,Official Report, column 168, if he will make a statement on the progress of the review of guidance to local authorities on emergency planning procedures.

  Mr. John Patten
  Mr. David Brook, the civil emergencies adviser, is preparing guidance on preparing for and responding to peacetime disasters. This guidance will be based on the lessons learnt from recent disasters and the experiences of those involved. It will complement the emergency procedures manuals prepared by the emergency services. The guidance will not be issued until all those agencies upon whose responsibilities it touches, including local authorities, have been consulted about its contents. This process is currently under way.

  Home Office guidance aimed solely at local authorities, currently contained in the "Emergency Planning Guide to Local Authorities", will be revised in the light of the outcome of the review of emergency planning announced on 16 October at column 769.

  Jury System Reform
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has plans to bring forward proposals for reform of the jury system.

  Mr. John Patten
  We do not rule out further reform of the jury system, but there are no present plans for legislation.

  Departmental Telephones
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bar telephones in his Department from connection to premium rate services.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  All office telephones in the headquarters buildings of the Department have a bar to restrict access to premium rate services. The same bar is being progressively introduced to the provincial offices and into prison establishments.

  Prevention of Terrorism Act
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his replies to the hon. Member for Bow and Poplar (Ms. Gordon),Official Report, 24 June, column 355, on terrorism in Northern Ireland, if he will set out the reasons why the information requested is not available; and if he will make it his policy to ensure such information is made available in future.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The information is not available because police forces do not in general make information from custody records available to anyone but the suspect or his or her legal representative. However, a forthcoming study by the Home Office research and planning unit is likely to show that out of the 214 suspects who were detained in England and Wales between 22 March 1989 and 11 November 1990 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in connection with Northern Ireland terrorism, 95—45 per cent.—requested notification under section 56 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, and notification was delayed for over 36 hours in six cases; and that 103 —48 per cent.—requested access to legal advice under section 58 of the Act, which advice was delayed for over 36 hours in eight cases. Legal advice was delayed for the full 48 hours permitted by the Act in only one case. There were no cases in which notification under section 56 was delayed for 48 hours.

  Mr. King Obe Quoi
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to answer the letters of 23 February, 28 April and 17 May from the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, regarding Mr. King Obe Quoi and his family; what are the reasons for the delay in providing a reply; what is the usual time taken by his Department to reply to a Member about an urgent constituency case; what action he is taking to deal with such cases with greater expedition; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 4 July. The delay in replying is a direct result of the tenfold increase in the number of applications for asylum being received by the asylum division since 1988 and the heavy workload of subsequent inquiries from applicants and hon. Members which has been generated. The Home Office would normally expect to provide hon. Members with a reply within 16 days. However, exceptional difficulties prevail in the asylum division. On 26 April my right hon. Friend announced our intention to increase the number of staff in the asylum division from about 120 to more than 500. This process has begun and should in due course improve the division's ability to respond more quickly to hon. Members' inquiries.

  Migration
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in each of the last 25 years, or for as many years as he has information,(a) emigrated from Britain and (b) immigrated to Britain; and for each year what was the net position.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The available data on migration to and from the United Kingdom are the estimates produced by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys from the international passenger survey. This defines a migrant as a person leaving one country where he/she has been resident for more than a year with the intention of residing in a new country for a year or more. These data include British citizens and are on a different basis from the figures of people subject to immigration control accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom. Data for 1964—89 are given in table 2.1 of the 1974, 1979 and 1989 issues of the OPCS publication "International Migration", copies of which are in the Library. Corresponding data for the 12 months ending 30 September 1990 are given in the table.

  Migration to and from the United Kingdom in the 12 months ending SO September 1990

  Number of persons, in thousands1

  Inflow

  Outflow

  Net inflow

  All citizenships

  257

  219

  37

  British citizens

  107

  132

  -25

  Non-British citizens

  150

  88

  62

  1 Figures are provisional estimates, and have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Underground Facility, Drakelow
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has for the use of the underground facility at Drakelow in Wyre Forest; and what is the annual cost of maintaining this facility.

  Mr. John Patten
  The facility has been developed as an administrative centre for use in a possible emergency. Running costs for 1990–91 were £122,000.

  Criminal Records
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to have completed the process of the computerisation of the national collection of criminal records; and whether from that time it will be possible centrally to vet applications from individuals seeking to become licensed taxi drivers.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The police national computer holds information on the convictions of those whose first reportable offence occurred after 31 December 1980. This information is available on-line to police forces. Plans to computerise earlier records which are held on microfiche at the national identification bureau, New Scotland Yard, have not yet been finalised. Records of convictions for other offences are held by police forces.

  Criminal records have recently been the subject of a scrutiny which examined arrangements for, and the scope of, a fully computerised national criminal records system and the use of such a system for the purposes of vetting. The scrutiny recommendations are currently being
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  considered and no decisions have been made on a national criminal record system or the purposes for which it may be used.

  EC Frontier Controls
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 21 February,Official Report, column 215, to the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan), if he will make a further statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the Schengen agreement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I have nothing to add to the earlier answer to which the hon. Member refers in the question.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  IAEA Publications
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of the "Inventory of radioactive material entering the marine environment: Sea disposal of radioactive waste", document IAEA-TECDOC-588, published by the International Atomic Energy Agency in March.

  Mr. Curry
  We already have one.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the total number of confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy by county or region, in England, Scotland and Wales for the period 1 January to 30 June.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information, calculated by date of confirmation of disease, for the period I January to 30 June 1991, is as follows:

  Country, region and county

  Confirmed number of cases

  England

  Cleveland

  9

  Cumbria

  212

  Durham

  29

  Humberside

  37

  Northumberland

  40

  Tyne and Wear

  2

  Yorkshire North

  358

  Yorkshire South

  28

  Yorkshire West

  40

  Total: Northern region

  755

  Cheshire

  318

  Derbyshire

  156

  Hereford and Worcester

  155

  Lancashire

  242

  Leicestershire

  205

  Manchester

  17

  Merseyside

  3

  Nottinghamshire

  51

  Salop

  200

  Staffordshire

  147

  West Midlands

  4

  Warwickshire

  87

  Total: Midlands and Western region

  1,585

  251

  Country, region and county

  Confirmed number of cases

  Bedfordshire

  29

  Cambridge

  26

  Essex

  40

  Hertfordshire

  34

  Lincolnshire

  67

  Norfolk

  176

  Northants

  84

  Suffolk

  108

  Total: Eastern region

  564

  Berkshire

  45

  Buckinghamshire

  84

  Hampshire

  297

  Isle of Wight

  72

  Kent

  150

  London

  8

  Oxon

  111

  Surrey

  63

  Sussex East

  116

  Sussex West

  219

  Total: South East region

  1,165

  Avon

  201

  Cornwall

  683

  Devon

  1,061

  Dorset

  762

  Gloustershire

  219

  Somerset

  989

  Wiltshire

  568

  Total: South West region

  4,483

  England total

  8,552

  Wales

  Clwyd

  155

  Dyfed

  457

  Glamorgan Mid

  20

  Glamorgan South

  16

  Glamorgan West

  4

  Gwent

  59

  Gwynedd

  24

  Powys

  86

  Total: Wales

  821

  Scotland

  Borders

  26

  Central

  6

  Dumfries

  73

  Fife

  15

  Grampian

  53

  Highland

  16

  Lothian

  6

  Orkney

  2

  Shetland

  1

  Strathclyde

  75

  Tayside

  20

  Total: Scotland

  293

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the total numbers of confirmed cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy(a) in England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales up to 30 June.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information up to 30 June 1991 is as follows:252

  Number

  England

  28,024

  Scotland

  976

  Wales

  2,401

  Pesticides
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the pesticide active ingredients for which the agro-chemical companies are not submitting data for review, giving the year of their initial approval; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Agro-chemical companies have, so far, taken commercial decisions not to submit data for review in respect of 20 pesticide active ingredients:

  Active ingredient

  Date of first approval

  Aluminium Silicate

  1969

  Anthraquinone

  1962

  Barban

  1980

  Benzethonium Chloride

  Pre 1986

  Carbophenothion

  1966

  Chlorthiamid

  1962

  2, 4-DES

  1968

  Di-allate

  1978

  Ditalimfos

  1974

  Fenchlorphos

  1975

  Fenoprop

  1965

  Flamprop-methyl

  1980

  Fluoroacetamide

  1980

  Mevinphos

  1980

  Oxine Copper

  1961

  Quinonamid

  Pre 1979

  2, 4, 5-T

  1962

  Tar acids

  1970

  Thionazin

  1981

  Thiourea

  1983

  Approval for the advertisement, sale, supply, storage and use by the approval holders—and their agents—of pesticides based on these active ingredients was revoked on 1 March 1991. Since no safety concerns relating to approved uses of these pesticides have been identified, approval for up to two years has been given to allow stocks already on the market to be used or disposed of safely.

  Where necessary, action will be taken to revoke approvals for any products where reasonable steps are not taken to support continuing use.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Iraq (Nuclear Weapons)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now make a further statement in respect of his assessment of the current nuclear weapons potential of Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is clear that, prior to the Gulf conflict, Iraq was trying to develop a nuclear weapons programme. United Nations Security Council resolution 687 required Iraq to submit to the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency details of its nuclear weapons usable material.

  Iraq made two initial declarations, which gave some of the information required, but were deficient in some

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  respects. The IAEA, with the special commission set up in accordance with resolution 687, is working to verify these statements and to remove nuclear weapons usable material from Iraq.

  Kuwait (British Citizens)
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by the United Kingdom representative at the United Nations to ensure that compensation is paid to British civilians who were in Kuwait at the time of the Iraqi invasion; and when he expects the first payments to be made.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Kingdom representative at the United Nations is working actively with other members of the United Nations Security Council on arrangements for establishing a United Nations compensation commission and fund as envisaged in UNSCR 687 and UNSCR 692. The governing council of the commission is to be based in Geneva. It is not yet possible to indicate when the first payments will be made.

  Kurdistan
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours),Official Report, 24 June, column 349, on allied forces in Iraq, if he will seek to obtain the information requested.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No.

  Parliamentary Answers
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to supply a reason to Members on each occasion his Department is unable to provide a substantive answer to future questions.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  It is already our policy to do so.

  Lebanon
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to promote the implementation of United Nations resolution 425 concerning the withdrawal from southern Lebanon of the occupying Israeli army, following the recent activity of the Lebanese army in re-establishing government control in and around Sidon; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We strongly support the efforts of the Lebanese army to impose their control. Their success further strengthens international calls, which we have consistently supported, for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon in accordance with UNSCR 425. It is most important that neither the Israeli defence forces, nor their surrogates, do anything to impede the Lebanese army.

  Information Services
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 24 June,Official Report, column 350, how he determines whether the market information inquiry service and the overseas status report service are being run at a profit or loss.
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  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Provisional estimates of the cost of supplying the range of charged information services to exporters suggest that these services are heavily subsidised at present. Work is currently in hand to identify the costs involved in the Department of Trade and Industry in the United Kingdom and in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office overseas in providing individual services. Our aim, in the longer term, is for our pricing structure to evolve to a position where charges and costs are aligned as far as possible, consistent with continuing to provide a high quality service to serious United Kingdom exporters that they regard as good value for money.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Accountancy Bodies
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 23 May,Official Report, column 627, if he has any plans to propose legislation under which the bodies acting as recognised supervisory bodies will be required to publish the number of complaints which they receive against their members.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have no plans for such legislation. Under the Companies Act 1989, a recognised supervisory body must have effective arrangements for the investigation of companies against persons who are eligible under the body's rules to be appointed company auditor.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will propose legislation under which auditing firms could be required to explain audit failures to representatives of shareholders and creditors.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. Shareholders can already seek explanations of audit work at AGMs, and if they are unhappy can change the auditor. A company already has means of legal redress against negligent auditors.

  EC-EFTA Negotiations
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the expected timetable for the completion of the EC negotiations with the European Free Trade Association.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The European Council on 29 June endorsed the Community's commitment to work wilth EFTA to try and complete the negotiations on the European economic area this month, with the objective of enabling the agreement to enter into force on 1 January 1993.

  ICI
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to pay an official visit to the ICI factories at Pontypool, Penrhyndeudraeth and Barry.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have no present plans to visit these factories.

  Egypt
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the hon. Member for Uxbridge concerning unfair
  255
  competition in trade with Egypt resulting from subsidies provided by the United States of America via its bilateral aid programme; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My Department has received representations about alleged unfair competition from the United States of America in connection with a business contract in Egypt. We are looking into these allegations as a matter of urgency and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Insolvency Service has now achieved a full realisation of the cash and estate accounting records up to 31 March.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 4 July 1991]: No. The Insolvency Service now estimates that work on the cash and estate accounting records to 31 March 1991 will be completed by end of July 1991. However, flowing from the problems outlined by the Comptroller and Auditor-General in his report on the insolvency services account for 1989–90 relating to the old accounting systems and the transfer of estate records to the new system, a full reconciliation may not be achievable. I have asked the inspector general and chief executive of the Insolvency Service, who is the agency accounting officer for the account, to let the hon. Member have a further report at end-July. In the meantime, the inspector general is advising the Comptroller and Auditor-General of the position. The new system is succeeding in eliminating many of the problems apparent in the old.

  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is the average penalty imposed in the cases taken by the Insolvency Service; and if he will make a statement;

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 5 July 1991]: The Department of Trade and Industry prosecutes a variety of offences following investigations by the Insolvency Service. Such prosecutions comprise offences for which, on conviction, both custodial and non-custodial sentences are imposed. It is therefore not possible to calculate an average penalty.

  Every decision to prosecute is taken with legal advice and the lawyer will have regard to the code for Crown prosecutors issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions under section 10 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. That code, in addition to providing criteria as to the sufficiency of evidence, contains criteria concerning whether the public interest requires a prosecution. One of the criteria is the likely penalty, and it is stated that the prosecutor should carefully consider how best the public interest would be served where a nominal penalty is likely.

  Composite rate tax on building society interest

  All amounts in £ million

  Receipts in

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  IRS edition in:

  1985

  Not shown separately

  1986

  Not shown separately

  1987

  1,217

  1,425

  1,583

  1,550

  1,844

  2,608

  2,545

  —

  —

  —

  256
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last reviewed the code for Crown prosecutors regarding the Insolvency Service.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 5 July 1991]: Any revision of the code for Crown prosecutors is a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions under section 10 of The Prosecution of Offences Act 1985.

  The Insolvency Service has guidelines which, when read with the code for Crown prosecutors, gives more detailed guidance regarding the investigation of possible offences in insolvencies. These guidelines were reviewed by Ministers in June 1991.

  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the annual cost of the Insolvency Service in Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Official receivers' offices located in Yorkshire are at Leeds and Sheffield. The running cost budgets for this financial year 1991–92 for those offices are £884,000 and £468,000 respectively.

  The official receiver, Hull, and the official receiver, Stockton, also have responsibility in parts of Yorkshire. The running cost budgets for 1991–92 for those offices are £454,000 and £312,000 respectively.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Building Societies
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when it was decided to propose legislation to obtain additional tax from building societies for the financial year 1985–86; and when and how an estimate was published of the financial effect on total tax receipts and on the tax to be paid by societies;

  (2) what was the best estimate of the revenue effect at the time it was decided to propose legislation to obtain additional tax from building societies for the financial year 1985–86.

  Mr. Maples
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to him on 15 April, at columns 9–10, and 22 April, at columns 300–1. The 1986 legislation changing the way building societies account for tax on interest and dividends paid did not involve additional tax.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table of Inland Revenue statistics for each year since 1985, showing the schedule for composite rate tax on building society interest for each year since 1980–81.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 5 July 1991]: The information requested is shown in the table:
  257

  Receipts in

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1988

  1,217

  1,425

  1,583

  1,550

  1,844

  2,608

  2,539

  2,694

  —

  —

  1989

  1,217

  1,425

  1,583

  1,550

  1,844

  2,608

  2,539

  2,694

  2,686

  —

  1990

  1,217

  1,425

  1,583

  1,550

  1,844

  2,608

  2,539

  2,694

  2,678

  3,713

  Note: Receipts of tax subsequently repaid as the result of decisions by the courts are included.

  Public Expenditure
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish indices of Welsh, Scottish and United Kingdom planned total spending, excluding privatisation receipts and the reserve, since 1978–79, with 1978–79 = 100.

  Mr. Mellor
  Indices for identifiable planning total expenditure—excluding privatisation proceeds—in Wales, Scotland and the United Kingdom for the years 1985–86 to 1989–90 are set out in the table. The figures for the United Kingdom are based on the part of the planning total—about three quarters—which could be allocated to individual territories. The data on which the indices are based reflect the planning total outturn at the time when the data were collected for the 1990 territorial analysis of expenditure. Corresponding data for 1984–85 on a consistent basis could he provided only at disproportionate cost. Data for other years are not available.

  Wales

  Scotland

  United Kingdom

  1985–86

  100·0

  100·0

  100·0

  1986–87

  109·7

  106·4

  107·4

  1987–88

  117·6

  112·7

  113·7

  1988–89

  126·0

  118·3

  118·9

  1989–90

  133·4

  127·5

  127·6

  Horse Racing
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to prevent British companies making large investments in horse racing and bloodstock from writing down this investment to zero in one year for tax purposes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  It is not clear what sort of investment my hon. Friend has in mind. However, if he can provide further details I shall be glad to consider his question again.

  Customs and Excise
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the new forms of alternative working patterns introduced into Her Majesty's Customs and Excise since its reorganisation on next steps lines; and give a breakdown by grade of the number of staff taking up each new working pattern.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Customs and Excise have for some time used a variety of alternative working patterns, in particular part-time working, job sharing and fixed-term appointments, and will continue to do so following its reorganisation into executive units. I regret that detailed information on numbers and grades can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil service grade 6 officers there were in each year since 1979.
  258
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Figures for the number of civil servants by grade from 1984 to 1990 can be found in table 4 of "Civil Service Statistics". Copies of this publication are held in the Library. Figures for 1991 are not yet available.

  Unified grade 6 was created on 1 January 1984 as part of an expanded open structure by the assimilation of the senior principle grade and some equivalent grades. Published figures for the period prior to that date refer only to senior principal and since since 1984 further grades have been assimilated to UG6. Figures for UG6 on a consistent basis could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Telephones
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bar telephones in his Department from connection to premium rate services.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Telephones in my Department are already barred from connection to premium rate services.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the liquidation of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International.

  Mr. Maples
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral statement I made earlier today.

  Tax Assessments
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much assessed tax on income in 1989–90 had been assessed by 31 July 1990.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 5 July 1991]: The amount of tax assessed on income in 1989–90 by 31 July 1990 cannot be ascertained, as the Inland Revenue keeps records by reference to the collector's accounting year ending in October.

  P11D Forms
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many P11D forms were outstanding on the most recent date for which this information is available.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 5 July 1991]: There were 1·15 million P11D forms on hand on 13 June 1991. The bulk of these forms are received in the first part of the tax year and dealt with in a targeted programme finishing in December.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Horn of Africa
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made in ensuring aid arrives at the destination where needed in the Horn of Africa with the minimum of delay.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The established relief routes in northern Ethiopia continue to deliver food to those in need. In northern Sudan the relief routes are operational. Problems persist over the provision of food to southern Sudan and to those parts of Ethiopia still affected by conflict. However, new mechanisms, including air drops, are being introduced to deal with pockets of acute need.

  European Community Aid Policy
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average percentage of gross domestic product spent on overseas aid in other EC member states; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Figures are available only for those member countries of the European Community which are also members of the development assistance committee of the OECD. The overall average percentage of gross national product given in overseas aid by these seven countries, excluding the United Kingdom, was 0·56 per cent. in 1989.

  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what facilities exist to discuss overseas aid with EC counterparts; and what proposals are envisaged for the development of a single EC policy on aid.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I have regular meetings with my EC colleagues on all aspects of aid policy. I have just returned from an informal Development Council which met in the Netherlands over the weekend. A wide range of issues was discussed.

  Animal Conservation Schemes
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what animal conservation schemes are currently under consideration for financing by his Department.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Several possible projects are under consideration, in which animal conservation will be an important element. They include the following:Bangladesh: study of impact of flood control on aquatic ecology.
  Bhutan: management Plan for Jigme Dorji wildlife sanctuary.
  Brazil: conservation of flooded forest areas.
  India: wetlands conservation in Manipur valley.
  Indonesia: conservation adviser.
  Nigeria: development of Gashaka Gumpti game reserve.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what subjects were discussed during the Minister for Overseas Development's visit to Zimbabwe.
  260
  Mrs. Chalker
  I had separate meetings with His Excellency the President and a number of his senior Ministers. The subjects we covered included arrangements for the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting to be held in Harare, Zimbabwe's economic reform programme, our bilateral aid and other matters of mutual concern and interest to our two Governments.

  Farewell to the Third World-
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response his Department has made to the report by the export group for the construction industries "Farewell to the Third World", a copy of which has been sent to the Minister for Overseas Development.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Our response to the Export Group for the Construction Industries referred to the clear statement of ODA's strategy in the 1991 departmental report to Parliament (Cm. 1502), the importance of supporting economic reform in many developing countries, the good record of British contractors in gaining business from bilateral and multilateral aid, and the continued real-terms growth in the aid programme.

  Nicaragua
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what bilateral aid Her Majesty's Government have given to Nicaragua since President Violetta Chamorro took office.

  Mr. Chalker
  We started a bilateral technical co-operation programme in March 1990; this is now running at about £200,000 a year. We subsequently pledged £600,000 of grant aid as part of the international effort to help restore the Nicaraguan economy. Since Mrs. Chamorro took office we have made commitments totalling £260,033 for six new NGO projects in Nicaragua. Our largest financial contribution continues to be through the British share of European Community assistance to Nicaragua; there are no figures yet available on this for 1990.

  The Gulf (Medical Aid)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what United Kingdom medical aid is being given to Kuwait and Southern Iraq.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave on 17 June at column 32. We are keeping the situation under close review.

  Bangladesh
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the grants made by Her Majesty's Government to Bangladesh through the Bangladesh aid consortium since 1972 was devoted to programmes designed(a) to protect coastal areas from cyclone damage and (b) to prevent flooding within Bangladesh.

  Mrs. Chalker
  [holding answer 5 July 1991]: The Bangladesh aid group is a forum for discussion of

  261
  Bangladesh's development policies and financing requirements, at which donors indicate their aid intentions. It is not a mechanism for channelling aid, which is provided on a bilateral basis.

  British aid statistics do not separately identify the amounts spent over past years on cyclone or flood protection. Since the 1989 Bangladesh flood conference we have committed £4·5 million towards the cost of studies identified as part of the flood action plan. Under that plan work on cyclone protection is also being undertaken with finance from the European Community.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Attorney-General if he has any plans to meet the director of the Serious Fraud Office to discuss company crime; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  I shall next meet the director very soon, when we shall of course discuss commercial fraud among any other matters of departmental interest.

WALES

  Health Provision
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the chairman of the health authorities in Wales to discuss health provision in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I met health authority chairmen on 31 January and hope to do so again in the autumn.

  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will next be meeting the chairmen of the health authorities to discuss the future of the health service in west Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend hopes to do so in the autumn.

  Employment Statistics
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the change in the level of unemployment during the year to May 1991 in(a) Neath and (b) Wales as a whole.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The number of unemployed claimants in the Neath constituency and Wales increased by 731 and 29,043 respectively in the year to May 1991.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state the number of unemployed males and females in May 1989 and 1990 in Ogmore, Mid Glamorgan and the present recorded number.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The information requested is as follows:

  Ogmore constituency

  Mid Glamorgan

  1 South Wales

  May 1989

  Male

  2,045

  15,406

  47,679

  Female

  656

  4,992

  16,150

  May 1990

  Male

  1,801

  13,952

  41,929

  Female

  497

  3,784

  11,964

  262

  Ogmore constituency

  Mid Glamorgan

  1South Wales

  May 1991

  Male

  2,533

  19,620

  59,019

  Female

  621

  4,788

  14,630

  1 South Wales is defined here as Mid, South and West Glamorgan and Gwent.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many men and how many women, showing full and part-time separately, were in employment in January 1979 and the latest date for which figures are available, in Wales and Mid Glamorgan.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Employees in employment data below national level is available only in census of employment years. The following table therefore shows data for June 1978—the nearest to January 1979—and the latest available—September 1989—containing both Mid Glamorgan and Wales:

  Thousands

  Mid Glamorgan

  Wales

  June 1978

  Male full-time

  106·6

  587·9

  Male part-time

  3·3

  25·3

  Female full-time

  48·8

  249·6

  Female part-time

  27·5

  152·5

  September 1989

  Male full-time

  79·8

  484 5

  Male part-time

  4·1

  37·2

  Female full-time

  44·7

  255·2

  Female part-time

  36·4

  209·8

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the proportion of inward investment projects attracted to the United Kingdom which have resulted in jobs created in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Wales continues to attract very significant levels of inward investment from overseas. The recent announcement that Sony was to create 1,400 jobs at a new manufacturing facility at Bridgend and Northern Telecom etc. is further evidence that Wales is now one of the most attractive locations in Europe for internationally mobile investment.

  Secondary Schools
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent per pupil in secondary schools in Wales in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what was the comparable figure for 1978–79, at constant prices.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  In 1989–90 current expenditure per pupil in secondary schools in Wales was £1,817. The equivalent constant price figure for 1978–79 was £1,243.

  Heart Disease
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on progress in combating coronary heart disease in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  In May 1991 the Department published comprehensive and authoritative advice to the
  263
  NHS in Wales entitled "Protocol for Investment in Health Gain: Cardiovascular Diseases" which has been well received.

  In addition, the Heartbeat Wales programme, which is run by the Health Promotion Authority for Wales, continues to combat the high incidence of coronary heart disease in Wales. The authority has distributed advice to GPs and other health professionals on the management of blood cholesterol levels and is organising seminars to outline cholesterol guidelines. Preliminary evaluation of the first five years of the Heartbeat Wales programme shows encouraging trends with smoking and excess drinking decreasing and more people in Wales taking exercise.

  Residential Care Homes
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether residents in private nursing homes in Wales are eligible for free NHS services including chiropody and physiotherapy.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Under the Registered Homes Act 1984, the person responsible for a private nursing home is required to provide adequate support services such as physiotherapy. Consequently, health authorities would not normally provide such services to patients in such homes.

  The Government's policy on chiropody is that treatment should be available under the NHS, free to all who need it. However, it is for the individual health authority to decide the level of provision required in its area and detailed priorities within available resources.

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales from which organisations he has received representations so far concerning local government reform in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have received written or oral representations from the Assembly of Welsh Counties, the Council of Welsh Districts, the Wales Association of Community and Town Councils, members of the Conservative party, Plaid Cymru, and the Liberal Democrat party, a number of individual local authorities and councillors. I have also received a large number of letters from members of the public.

  European Co-operation
  Sir Anthony Meyer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to meet the authorities in Baden-Wiirttemburg, Rhone-Alpes, Catalonia and Lombardy during the coming six months to discuss economic co-operation.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My Department and the Welsh Development Agency are actively pursuing practical links with all these regions. I have already visited Rhone-Alpes and plan to visit Baden-Wurttemberg later this year. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State has visited Lombardy and plans to visit Catalonia later this year.

  Employment Initiatives
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new initiatives he plans to announce to help the unemployed.
  264
  Mr. David Hunt
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment recently announced a substantial package of additional measures to help unemployed people back into work. This includes expert advice and help in looking for a job, extra training and a new work experience programme—employment action. This new package, together with the wide range of programmes already in place, amounts to the most comprehensive range of measures we have ever had to help unemployed people back to work.

  A5 (Dualling)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the proposed dualling of the A5 across Ynys Môn.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Following the public consultation exercise last October we expect to make an early announcement of the preferred route for the dualling of the A5 across Ynys Mon. The preferred route for the Holyhead improvement was announced last November and design work is proceeding with ground investigation and topographical surveys due to begin shortly. The A5 schemes are included in the Roads in Wales programme.

  Engineering Qualifications
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of people currently training for a British national technical engineering qualification(a) in Mid Glamorgan and (b) in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  There were 505 students enrolled on Business and Technician Education Council engineering courses at higher education level in Mid Glamorgan in 1989–90, the last year for which figures are available. The corresponding figure for Wales was 2,516. At further education level the number of students enrolled was 558 for Mid Glamorgan and 3,497 for Wales.

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

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have received 188 written representations and a petition containing 35 signatures calling for the continuation of the Royal Welch Fusiliers in their present form. I have also received a number of personal representations.

  Departmental Telephones
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will bar telephones in his Department from connection to premium rate services.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Yes. It is my Department's practice to do so where it is technically feasible.

  Dioxins and Furans
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the maximum permissible levels and monitored levels of (a)

  265
  tetrachlorodibenzofuran, (b) tetrachlorodibenzodioxin, (c) pentachlorodibenzodioxin, (d) pentachlorodibenzofuran, (e) heptachlorodibenzofuran and (f) octachlorodibenzodioxin, respectively, in parts per million found in the Pontypool area; and what information he has regarding the risks of dioxins and furans to human health.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  We have engaged the services of the university of East Anglia to undertake an in-depth survey to establish the levels of contamination by PCBs and their degradation products, dibenzo-dioxins and furans, in the Panteg area of Pontypool. The results of that survey will be available in about 18 months and will be widely published on completion.

  We have also appointed Professor Lewis Roberts (former Wolfson professor of environmental risk assessment at the university of East Anglia) as our independent adviser for the survey. His role will be to advise us on the methodology and conduct of the survey and, at a later stage, to provide us with advice on its implications.

  We have available to us pollution paper No. 17, "Dioxins in the Environment", which is a report of an interdepartmental working group on dioxins and furans. The conclusion of the working group is that a number of adverse health effects have been noted following accidental and occupational exposure to these chemicals, most commonly chloracne. The committee noted that no deaths had been attributed to these chemicals.

  The Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) has not found any convincing evidence of a link between exposure to these chemicals and cancer, but recommend a continuing review of the work being undertaken in this field.

  Redundant Miners (Training)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the number of redundant British coal miners who have received training or retraining following redundancy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Government do not identify separately the number of redundant miners who have received training or retraining on Government training programmes. However, since it was set up in 1984 British Coal Enterprise has helped over 500 redundant miners to receive training and helped to create nearly 9,000 job opportunities in Wales.

SCOTLAND

  Appointees
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the annual cost of reimbursements and fees to each of his appointees to agencies, commissions and boards for each year since 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  Table 1 shows the annual remuneration at 1 July 1990 to my appointees in paid appointments. Table 2 provides the same information in respect of appointments made jointly with other Ministers. Information for previous years could be provided only at disproportionate 266
  cost. However, the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies" published each year since 1982 and available in the Library, lists the public bodies to which appointments are made, including the remuneration paid.

  Information on expenses paid to members of such bodies is not held centrally.

  Paid appointments for which the Secretary of State for Scotland is responsible as at 1 July 1990

  Table 1

  Annual salary as at 1 July 1990

  £

  ARGYLL AND CLYDE HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman

  16,005

  AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman

  13,415

  BORDERS HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman

  10,810

  CALEDONIAN MACBRAYNE

  Chairman

  15,000

  7 Members

  4,500

  CENTRAL SCOTLAND WOODLANDS LTD.

  Chairman

  Fee Paid

  COMMISSION FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY ACCOUNTS IN SCOTLAND

  Chairman

  7,939

  Deputy Chairman

  5,030

  6 Members

  2,500

  2 Members

  2,650

  COMMON SERVICES AGENCY FOR THE SCOTTISH HEALTH SERVICE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

  Chairman

  12,355

  COUNSEL TO SECRETARY OF STATE ON PRIVATE LEGISLATION PROCEDURE

  1 Member

  10,994

  1 Member

  7,568

  COUNTRYSIDE COMMISSION FOR SCOTLAND

  Chairman

  15,365

  Deputy Chairman

  6,422

  CROFTERS COMMISSION

  Chairman

  36,848

  6 Members

  9,393

  CUMBERNAULD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

  Chairman

  18,202

  Deputy Chairman

  7,804

  7 Members

  3,525

  1 Member

  3,735

  DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman

  10,810

  EAST KILBRIDE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

  Chairman

  18,202

  Deputy Chairman

  8,272

  5 Members

  3,525

  2 Members

  3,735

  FIFE HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman

  13,415

  FORTH VALLEY HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman

  13,415

  GLENROTHES DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

  Chairman

  18,202

  267

  Annual salary as at 1 July 1990

  £

  Deputy Chairman

  7,804

  8 Members

  3,525

  GRAMPIAN HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman

  18,250

  GREATER GLASGOW HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman

  22,730

  HIGHLAND AND ISLANDS DEVELOPMENT BOARD (replaced by Highlands and Islands Enterprise from 1 April 1991)

  Chairman

  56,540

  Deputy Chairman

  52,130

  1 Member

  46,695

  1 Member

  41,500

  3 Members

  8,123

  HIGHLAND HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman

  13,415

  HORSE RACING BETTING LEVY APPEAL TRIBUNAL FOR SCOTLAND

  2 Members

  109 per day

  IRVINE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

  Chairman

  18,202

  Deputy Chairman

  8,272

  7 Members

  3,735

  LANARKSHIRE HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman

  16,005

  LIVINGSTON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

  Chairman

  17,172

  Deputy Chairman

  8,272

  5 Members

  3,525

  2 Members

  3,735

  LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY COMMISSION FOR SCOTLAND

  Chairman

  4,691

  Vice Chairman

  11,122

  3 Members

  1,573

  LOTHIAN HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman

  20,490

  ORKNEY HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman

  6,510

  PRELIMINARY REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR LIFE SENTENCE PRISONERS

  3 Members

  varied daily fees paid

  RED DEER COMMISSION

  Chairman

  15,173

  RENT ASSESSMENT PANEL FOR SCOTLAND

  President

  12,471

  Vice President

  7,863

  SCOTTISH AGRICULTURAL WAGES BOARD

  Chairman

  137 per day

  3 Members

  87 per day

  SCOTTISH DENTAL PRACTICE BOARD

  Chairman

  33,991

  SCOTTISH DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (replaced by Scottish Enterprise from 1 April 1991)

  Chairman

  38,836

  Deputy Chairman

  19,665

  5 Members

  5,330

  268

  Annual salary as at 1 July 1990

  £

  SCOTTISH HOMES

  Chairman

  30,719

  Deputy Chairman

  13,957

  7 Members

  5,330

  SCOTTISH HYDRO-ELECTRIC PLC (no longer Secretary of State's appointments)

  Chairman

  39,750

  3 Members

  4,860

  3 Members

  60,000

  1 Member

  79,700

  SCOTTISH LEGAL AID BOARD

  Chairman

  17,170

  14 Members

  8,529

  SCOTTISH POWER PLC (no longer Secretary of State's appointments)

  Chairman

  66,900

  4 Members

  4,860

  1 Member

  66,000

  1 Member

  63,000

  1 Member

  57,000

  1 Member

  54,000

  SCOTTISH SEED POTATO DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

  Chairman

  7,110

  SCOTTISH TOURIST BOARD

  Chairman

  28,048

  5 Members

  5,330

  SCOTTISH TRANSPORT GROUP

  Chairman

  64,610

  Deputy Chairman

  12,922

  1 Member

  6.804

  3 Members

  5,184

  SHETLAND HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman

  6,510

  STATE HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

  Chairman

  11,955

  TAYSIDE HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman

  18,250

  WESTERN ISLES HEALTH BOARD

  Chairman

  6,510

  Paid appointments made jointly by Secretary of State for Scotland and other Ministers as at 1 July 1990

  Table 2

  Annual salary as at 1 July 1990

  £

  ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DISTINCTION AWARDS

  Chairman

  21,450

  Deputy Chairman

  7,900

  AGRICULTURAL TRAINING BOARD

  Chairman

  6,589

  Deputy Chairman

  6,041

  BRITISH WOOL MARKETING BOARD

  3 Members

  5,675

  CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARD

  269

  Annual salary as at 1 July 1990

  £

  Chairman

  22,650

  DIRECTOR GENERAL OF ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

  71,000

  FOOD FROM BRITAIN

  Chairman

  30,000

  Deputy Chairman

  4,290

  1 Member

  4,290

  9 Members

  1,895

  2 Members

  1,804

  HOME GROWN CEREALS AUTHORITY

  Chairman

  15,441

  Deputy Chairman

  5,330

  19 Members

  2,660

  HORTICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

  Chairman

  21,138

  Deputy Chairman

  3,830

  20 Members

  25 per day

  INTERVENTION BOARD FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE

  Chairman

  5,477

  MEAT AND LIVESTOCK COMMISSION

  Chairman

  45,453

  Deputy Chairman

  22,465

  1 Member

  10,840

  9 Members

  5,330

  NATIONAL RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION BOARD

  Chairman

  9,310

  12 Members

  66 per day

  SEA FISH INDUSTRY AUTHORITY

  Chairman

  25,490

  10 Members

  5,330

  UNITED KINGDOM SEEDS EXECUTIVE

  Chairman

  6,689

  4 Members

  6,689

  Enterprise Budgets
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the alterations made to the budgets of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise since the publication of "Meeting Scotland's Needs"; and what directions were given about the spending of those additional sums.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The alterations made to the budgets of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise which are subsequent to the determination of the figures published in "Serving Scotland's Needs"—Cm 1515—are set out in the tables.

  Scottish Enterprise

  Amount of adjustment (£ million)

  Date announced

  Activities supported1

  +9·1

  2 February 1991

  Enterprise

  Environment

  Employment Training

  Youth Training

  +13·6

  26 February 1991

  Employment Training

  +15·0

  10 May 1991

  Industrial and Environmental Renewal in Lanarkshire

  270

  Amount of adjustment (£ million)

  Date announced

  Activities supported1

  + 10·1

  19June1991

  Employment Training

  Employment Action

  +47·82

  1 No formal directions were given to Scottish Enterprise regarding the additional sums, which were however allocated in support of the functions listed.

  2 The total gross budget of Scottish Enterprise for 1991–92 is now £454.748 million.

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise

  Amount of adjustment (£ million)

  Date announced

  Activities supported1

  + 0·4

  —2

  Enterprise

  +1·75

  8 February 1991

  Employment Training

  Youth Training

  Enterprise Training

  Administration

  +1·4

  26 February 1991

  Employment Training

  +0·6

  19 June 1991

  Employment Training

  Employment Action

  +4·153

  1 No formal directions were given to Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding the additional sums, which were however allocated in support of the functions listed.

  2 Amounts allocated to Highlands and Islands Enterprise in respect of Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance and Agricultural Development Programme following publication of Serving Scotland's Needs.

  3 The total gross budget of Highlands and Islands Enterprise for 1991–92 is now £74·878 million.

  NHS Management
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a copy of the study commissioned by the Scottish management executive into the perception of health service staff on the contribution made by general management to the running of the national health service.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The management executive is charged with improving the performance of the NHS in Scotland in serving patients. This task is informed by users' and staffs' perceptions of the service. No formal reports exist.

  GP Budget-holding Practices
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the management fee for the pilot scheme, general practitioner budget-holding practices, of size(a) 3,000 to 6,000 and (b) 6,000 to 8,000.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The same administrative tasks are undertaken by all practices involved in fund holding, regardless of their list size. The standard management allowance will therefore be available to those practices that participate in the smaller list size pilot scheme. The standard management allowance currently stands at £16,500 during the preparatory period and £33,000 per annum when fund holding commences.

  Departmental Telephones
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will bar telephones in his Department from connection to premium rate services.

  Mr. Lang
  The vast majority of telephones in my Department are at present barred from connection to premium rate services. There are some telephones, however, which are connected to equipment which is not technically capable of individual call barring at present.

  AIDS
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the membership and terms of reference of the AIDS task force for Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I am pleased to announce that the following persons have agreed to serve on the task force, which I shall chair:

  Dr. G. E. Bath—Consultant in Public Health Medicine and AIDS Co-ordinator, Lothian Health Board.

  Dr. J. S. Berkeley—Consultant in Public Health Medicine and AIDS Co-ordinator, Grampian Health Board.

  Mr. J. Chant—Director of Social Work, Lothian Region Council.

  Mr. J. Christie—Deputy Director of Education, Tayside Regional Council.

  Professor F. Edwards, Director of Social Work, Strathclyde Regional Council.

  Dr. L. Gruer—Consultant in Public Health Medicine and AIDS Co-ordinator, Greater Glasgow Health Board.

  Dr. D. H. Kennedy—Consultant Physician, Greater Glasgow Health Board.

  Mr. A. M. Macpherson—Scottish Advisory Committee, National AIDS Trust.

  Mrs. M. Moore—Director, Scottish AIDS Monitor.

  Dr. K. A. M. Porter-Boveri—Consultant in Public Health Medicine and AIDS Co-ordinator, Tayside Health Board.

  Dr. J. R. Robertson—General Medical Practitioner, Muirhouse Medical Group, Edinburgh.

  Mrs. J. Roulston—Projects Manager, The Aberlour Child Care Trust.

  Dr. A. Tannahill—General Manager, Health Education Board for Scotland.

  Miss A. Thomson—Clinical Nurse Specialist, Greater Glasgow Health Board.

  The terms of reference of the task force are as follows: In the light of existing and emerging data on the incidence of HIV and AIDS in Scotland:

  —to review current activities to prevent the spread of the virus;

  —to consider what further practical measures might be taken; and

  —to access the effectiveness of the present arrangements for co-ordination of action at national and local level.

  I am confident that the task force, which will meet for the first time on 19 July, will make a significant contribution to our efforts to tackle the problem of HIV and AIDS in Scotland.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when, following the recent completion of the review into environmentally sensitive areas, he expects to be in a position to announce further designations of environmentally sensitive areas in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 5 July 1991]: My right hon. Friend's first priority has been to consult on proposals for development of existing environmentally
  272
  sensitive areas designated in 1987 and to evaluate those designated in 1988. He hopes to build on their achievements. There are no plans, currently, to designate new environmentally sensitive areas in Scotland. However, the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland and the Countryside Commission for Scotland have been asked for advice on priorities should further designations be decided in the future.

  Salmon Farming
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Scottish salmon farming industry is on the agenda at the forthcoming meeting of the Fisheries Council of the European Commission on 8 July; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 5 July 1991]: The Scottish salmon farming industry is not on the formal agenda for the Fisheries Council next week. However, United Kingdom Ministers will certainly be raising our concerns with the Commission and other Fisheries Ministers at that time.

  Training (Employment Contracts)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many youth training and employment training people had contracts of employment in December 1990 in Scotland; and how this was calculated.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 5 July]:I regret that this information is not available.

ENVIRONMENT

  Minister for London
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received seeking the appointment of a Minister for London within the Department.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Several.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Bellotti
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will use the information collected in the 1991 census in his calculations to determine standard spending assessments for local authorities in the financial year 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  Information from the 1991 census will be incorporated into standard spending assessments (SSAs) as soon as possible, allowing for proper consultation and discussion with local authority representatives. Information for individual local authorities will not be available until the summer of 1992.

  Greenwich Borough Council (Finance)
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the London borough of Greenwich about the calculation of the council's standard spending assessment; and what reply he has given.

  Mr. Key
  The London borough of Greenwich has made a number of representations on its standard spending
  273
  assessment and has on a number of occasions discussed these matters with local government Ministers. All the issues raised have received most careful consideration.

  Lone Parent Households
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how dated is the information for each local authority on the proportion of children in lone parent households used in assessing standard spending.

  Mr. Key
  The most up-to-date information, which is consistent and reliable at local authority level, is used

  Outstanding loan debt for London boroughs: 1983–84 to 1989–90

  £ million

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Barking and Dagenham

  90·796

  91·597

  94·641

  128·796

  130·475

  134·434

  116·499

  Barnet

  168·662

  167·530

  179·125

  203·094

  216·509

  213·112

  n·a·

  Bexley

  105·807

  111·556

  116·195

  136·309

  139·596

  124·624

  139·525

  Brent

  329·510

  347·212

  379·385

  n·a·

  444·069

  467·566

  462·458

  Bromley

  120·007

  119·202

  118·970

  167·851

  173·606

  151·918

  165·270

  Camden

  523·704

  558·684

  585·574

  658·361

  672·604

  676·274

  689·516

  City of London

  246·562

  245·621

  235·975

  232·952

  202·205

  68·045

  55·679

  Croydon

  142·412

  151·699

  148·270

  184·046

  185·054

  171·971

  170·512

  Ealing

  263·253

  274·688

  282·009

  301·698

  315·160

  n·a·

  n·a·

  Enfield

  192·764

  198·840

  203·839

  228·055

  242·652

  235·612

  252·900

  Greenwich

  337·785

  356·276

  376·920

  391·708

  410·791

  426·997

  469·118

  Hackney

  368·901

  400·131

  427·820

  n·a·

  n·a·

  n·a·

  n·a·

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  178·203

  227·770

  237·826

  316·313

  n·a·

  n·a·

  306·851

  Haringey

  391·505

  421·275

  458·089

  509·071

  n·a·

  n·a·

  n·a·

  Harrow

  107·549

  123·380

  133·241

  139·389

  180·165

  189·685

  200·719

  Havering

  114·815

  119·789

  128·366

  156·992

  164·144

  158·936

  169·607

  Hillingdon

  221·419

  228·911

  234·414

  257·343

  260·309

  251·866

  245·739

  Hounslow

  221·881

  232·752

  240·506

  267·551

  283·263

  304·448

  310·041

  Islington

  560·469

  n·a·

  619·434

  667·081

  685·998

  835·483

  842·117

  Kensington and Chelsea

  247·803

  252·758

  254·861

  293·992

  263·625

  263·173

  266·744

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  68·048

  73·113

  70·372

  78·655

  93·068

  95·157

  94·763

  Lambeth

  410·736

  528·882

  686·885

  n·a·

  n·a·

  n·a·

  n·a·

  Lewisham

  315·292

  337·081

  349·117

  451·500

  481·012

  484·707

  494·683

  Merton

  135·523

  144·982

  175·259

  183·851

  177·003

  198·865

  217·038

  Newham

  376·797

  372·853

  382·150

  n·a·

  507·068

  518·949

  546·055

  Redbridge

  115·537

  133·887

  111·487

  164·684

  157·495

  n·a·

  210·103

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  76·741

  82·331

  83·594

  105·173

  101·464

  n·a·

  108·314

  Southwark

  530·337

  550·306

  577·487

  783·297

  819·068

  n·a·

  n·a·

  Sutton

  86·107

  87·157

  86·742

  100·565

  99·652

  105·716

  113·585

  Tower Hamlets

  179·264

  184·188

  188·279

  517·865

  535·690

  587·418

  568·284

  Waltham Forest

  174·974

  182·655

  199·776

  223·417

  224·654

  n·a·

  n·a·

  Wandsworth

  321·192

  334·683

  346·155

  433·070

  459·064

  467·999

  492·421

  Westminster

  231·856

  234·179

  237·005

  295·546

  250·794

  n·a·

  n·a·

  n.a. Not available.

  Source: Returns to the Department.

  Community Charge
  Sir William Shelton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions govern the number of monthly instalments in which a local council may request their community charge must be paid.

  Mr. Portillo
  Our regulations provide that the charge is payable in 10 monthly instalments or, if less, the number of whole months remaining after the issue of the notice, less one. However, these regulations have recently been amended so that when a demand notice is issued in May the number of instalments offered may be 10 or nine. These provisions are contained in schedule 1 to the Community Charges (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1989 (S.I. 1989 No. 438) as amended by the Community Charges and Non-Domestic Rating (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 1991 (SI 1991 No. 1127).
  274
  throughout standard spending assessments. In the case of the proportion of children in lone parent households this is information from the 1981 census.

  London Boroughs (Loan Debt)
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the loan debt for each London borough for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Key
  The outstanding loan debt for each London borough for 1983–84 to 1989–90 is given in the table. The figures relate to outstanding loan debt as at the end of each financial year. Figures for earlier years are not available.

  Palace of Westminster (Buying Policy)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to require those placing orders for capital equipment including catering equipment, in all parts of the Palace of Westminster, to buy British wherever possible.

  Mr. Yeo
  Yes, while at the same time observing international agreements on tariffs and trade.

  Inner City Partnership Scheme (Hackney)
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the annual allocations to the area of the London borough of Hackney through the inner city partnership scheme since its inception, and the projects supported.
  275
  Mr. Key
  The annual allocations of urban programme resources to the London borough of Hackney, including the district health authority, are as follows:

  Year

  Final allocation (£ million)

  1979–80

  111·800

  1980–81

  115·400

  1981–82

  115·000

  1982–83

  12·100

  1983–84

  12·500

  1984–85

  13·000

  1985–86

  12·000

  1986–87

  11·600

  1987–88

  10·750

  1988–89

  9·660

  1989–90

  6·269

  1990–91

  6·000

  1991–92

  5·585

  1 These allocations were to the Hackney-Islington joint partnership and are not directly comparable with the subsequent allocations to Hackney.

  Individual projects started each year within the programme since 1985–86 are listed in annual reports available from the council.

  Meetings with Local Authorities
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the meetings held by himself and other Ministers from his Department with local authority representatives over the past six months in each case showing(a) the date, (b) venue, (c) subject areas discussed, (d) Ministers present and (e) local authorities and their political control.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Ministers meet regularly with local authorities on a wide range of subjects.

  Disabled People (Housing)
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he takes to ensure that council tenants are receiving equal treatment under the disabled facilities grant system; and what is the tenure breakdown of disabled facilities grant approvals.

  Mr. Yeo
  Council tenants may apply for disabled facilities grants on the same terms as owner occupiers and private-sector tenants, and the local authority must approve or refuse an application within six months of the date it is made. Information on the tenure breakdown of disabled facilities grant approvals is not yet available.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will consider adjusting regulations surrounding the test of resources for disabled facilities grants to enable the test to be applied solely to the disabled person for whom the adaptation is required;

  (2) if he will consider adjusting the regulations surrounding the test of resources for disabled facilities grants to enable mortgage responsibilities to be taken into account.

  Mr. Yeo
  We have received a number of representations from local authorities, grant applicants and others on these matters and will be considering them as part of our review of the house renovation grant system later this year.
  276
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans his Department has for helping home improvement agencies extend the service previously provided to elderly people to younger disabled people.

  Mr. Yeo
  Under the new arrangements for funding home improvement agencies introduced on 1 April 1991, such agencies are being encouraged to help all those in need including younger disabled people.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he is taking to ensure all new houses are accessible to disabled people.

  Mr. Yeo
  We have done much in recent years to widen the field of organisations providing housing for the disabled, especially within the housing association movement. The Housing Corporation now requires all new build and, if possible, rehabilitation schemes to be built to mobility standards wherever practicable. We have also supported initiatives to encourage private-sector housebuilders to make it a priority that all new housing is built to be accessible to disabled people, to `visitability' standard.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the figures of the fourth quarter on disabled facilities grant approvals and payments.

  Mr. Yeo
  This information is published in table 2.19 of "Housing and Construction Statistics: Great Britain, December Quarter 1990, Part A copy of the table has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans his Department has to meet the accommodation needs of carers of disabled people living independently in the community.

  Mr. Yeo
  Currently, it is for local authorities and individual housing associations to decide whether to take account of carers' needs when allocating tenancies to disabled people. However, from 1 April 1993, or sooner if local authorities are able, social services departments will be obliged to take account of carers' needs when assessing the needs of disabled people as part of the community care planning process.

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has plans to consult organisations of and for disabled people in the forthcoming review of the disabled facilities grant system.

  Mr. Yeo
  Yes. Officials plan to meet a range of disability organisations shortly to discuss the operation of the new grants system. They will also be inviting written comments from disability groups with an interest in the review.

  International Atomic Energy Agency Publications
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will obtain for his Departmental library a copy of "Low Level Waste Disposal: An Evaluation of Reports Comparing Ocean and Land Based Disposal Options", Document IAEA TECDOC-562, published by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1990.

  Mr. Baldry
  Yes.

  Departmental Telephones
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bar telephones in his Department from connection to premium rate services.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Where telephone exchange equipment allows, all telephones in central DOE, including Property Holdings, have already been barred from connection to premium rate services.

  Samuel Thomas Antonelli
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the activities of Samuel Thomas Antonelli and his company; and what action he has taken.

  Mr. Yeo
  We have had 39 representations from hon. Members and a few from leaseholders themselves since January 1988. The representations allege harassment and intimidation in various forms against leaseholders of properties whose freeholds are owned by the companies. The existing statutory framework is intended to protect leaseholders against abuse. Their rights under statute have been explained to them. We nevertheless intend to review the present position to see if any further action is necessary.

  Quayside Developments
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money has been spent so far by the Tyne and Wear urban development corporation on progressing(a) the Newcastle Quayside development in east Newcastle and (b) the Royal Quays development in North Shields.

  Mr. Key
  To 30 June 1991, £5·547 million had been spent by the Tyne and Wear development corporation at east Quayside, and £9·944 million at Royal Quays.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to revise the regulations governing fees for planning applications.

  Mr. Yeo
  My right hon. Friend has today issued a consultation paper seeking views on several proposals to amend the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications) Regulations 1989 (as amended). The paper covers three categories of proposal:

  (a) amendments to the regulations which the Government undertook to make during the passage through Parliament of the Planning and Compensation Bill. These would remove the present 75 per cent. fee concession for a planning application which duplicates another submitted by the same applicant, and would double the fee for the deemed application which may accompany an enforcement appeal;

  (b) small amendments to resolve practical difficulties which have come to light in operating the present regulations; and

  (c) an invitation to consultees to suggest ways in which the present regulations might be
  278
  simplified, possibly by restricting the scope of some of the existing concessions and exemptions from the fees.

  The paper also refers to the Government's intention to propose a general increase in application fees. The requisite regulations would be laid before Parliament in the autumn and, if approved, could come into effect in January 1992.

  Separate but parallel consultation is being carried out by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Pollution Control
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further consideration he has given to arrangements for pollution control.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The White Paper, "This Common Inheritance", Cm 1200, last year proposed a number of steps aimed at co-ordinating more closely the pollution control activities in England and Wales of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and the National Rivers Authority. The Government have decided that the time is now right to go further by bringing together the related functions of HMIP and the NRA to create a new environment agency. As foreshadowed in "This Common Inheritance", the agency would also have responsibility for regulating the handling and disposal of waste—currently a local authority responsibility. The creation of this agency will be a major step forward. The agency will be a non-departmental public body with a board appointed by the Government. It will provide more effective pollution control through greater integration of the staff involved; produce a single body which will be simpler and easier for industry to deal with; and ensure that arrangements for enforcing pollution control remain strong and independent and are seen to be so. It will have responsibility for monitoring the state of air and water, as well as regulating waste disposal, making proposals to Government on standards and regulating emissions and discharges to achieve the standards set by Government. The new agency will not affect the present division of work between the pollution control agencies and the Health and Safety Commission/Executive. Primary legislation to set up the new body will be required. The development of detailed proposals will require close co-operation between my own and other Government Departments and the other interests involved. I am asking Lord Crickhowell, the chairman of the NRA, Dr. David Slater, chief executive of HMIP and the leaders of the local authority associations to work closely together and I shall make a further announcement shortly on arrangements for taking forward this work. I shall be issuing later in the year a consultation document setting out our proposals more fully. Meanwhile, the agencies involved will continue their existing work with the full backing and support of the Government.

  Planning and Compensation Bill
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to advise local authorities of the provisions of the Planning and Compensation Bill; and on what date he expects the Bill to come into force.
  279
  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 4 July 1991]: My right hon. Friend expects to make an order under clause 67 of the Planning and Compensation Bill appointing a day about two months after the date of Royal Assent on which many of the provisions of the Bill come into force. Different days will be appointed for those provisions which require subordinate legislation to be made before they can be operative. My Department will be issuing a general circular to local authorities before the first appointed day and further circulars and planning policy guidance notes will be issued as the provisions of the Bill are brought into force over the next year or so. My Department will invite comments on drafts of this guidance where appropriate.

  Bass Site (Preston Brook)
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance Bass at Preston Brook received from new town development corporations to locate, expand or restructure on the site.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 4 July 1991]: The former new town development corporation at Runcorn leased a 98-acre site to Bass in 1971. Subsequently some smaller associated sites were also leased to the company. In 1985 Bass purchased the freehold reversion of the site. Apart from certain infrastructure works carried out by the corporation in the normal course of opening up areas for development, I am not aware of any other assistance provided to Bass by the development corporation. I understand, however, that Bass received a regional development grant from the Department of Trade and Industry for its development at Runcorn.

HEALTH

  European Private Patients Group
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of the European Private Patients Group in marketing NHS services in other European countries.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The European Private Patients Group presently consists of about 30 NHS hospitals across the country. The group is in the process of carrying out a feasibility study to see if the sale of NHS private patient facilities to other European countries is a viable opportunity, and the results should be available in the autumn.

  If this venture goes ahead, the group plans to utilise spare capacity in NHS private patient wards and the consultants concerned would treat European private patients in their own time—that is, at times other than when they are contracted to work for the NHS. Profits from the scheme would be available to help fund NHS waiting list initiatives or other developments in local NHS services.

  Natal Costs
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the costs of having a baby in a national health service hospital, ante-natal care, delivery costs and post-natal care.
  280
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In 1989–90, the latest year for which figures are available, the average total cost per birth in the national health service was £1,170.

  Medical Confidentiality
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take early steps to ensure that medical details relating to named patients are not disclosed in hospital invoices; and if he will propose legislation to make illegal breaches of confidentiality to or by accounts staff.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Medical details are encoded and means are being investigated for encrypting names in exchanges of data by computer and, in the longer term, eliminating the use of a name altogether. Strict procedures are already in place to protect confidentiality of personal health information by NHS staff and a breach of these is a disciplinary offence. Further legislation is unnecessary.

  NHS Reforms
  Sir David Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all programmes currently under way designed to evaluate the national health service reforms introduced in April.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The NHS management executive is undertaking an extensive programme of development work on the health service reforms. Its aim is to assess the effectiveness of alternative approaches to realising the full benefits of the reforms, to develop and disseminate good practice, and to identify any areas where action may be necessary to ensure that the desired effects of the reforms are achieved.

  The Department has established a joint NHS review committee with the general medical services committee. This committee will undertake a joint evaluation of the general practitioner fundholding scheme and provide a means for the profession to put forward views on its future development.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what areas of local authority service provision for which he is responsible local authorities are empowered to make payments to individuals who are not employees(a) in the form of a grant or one-off payment and (b) on receipt of paid invoices.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In the area of child care, local authorities have a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1980 to promote the welfare of children by diminishing the need to receive children into care or to bring them before a juvenile court. The assistance given under this Act is normally in the form of services, but, in exceptional circumstances, may be in cash.

  RU486
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he granted a licence to the manufacturers of RU486 for sale and use of the drug in the United Kingdom; and if he will publish the conditions attached to the licence.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The licence for mifepristone (RU486) was granted on 1 July 1991 as a prescription-only medicine with the following clinical indication:
  281
  Medical alternative to surgical termination of intra-uterine pregnancy of up to 63 days gestation based on the first day of the last menstrual period and/or ultrasound scan.

  Its use is restricted to NHS hospitals and places approved by the Secretary of State under section 1(3) of the Abortion Act 1967.

  I have today placed copies of the company's data sheet in the Library.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what consideration has been given by Her Majesty's Government to the provision of full funding for the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology.

  Mr. MacGregor
  [holding answer 27 June 1991]: At a meeting on 26 March the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) acknowledged the need for improved scientific and technological advice to be made available to Members and gave instructions for questionnaires to be issued to all individual Members, and to select committees, in order to estabilish the extent of demand for services of the kind offered by Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology—POST.

  Replies to these questionnaires are now being examined, and in the light of these the Committee will consider whether to proceed towards more detailed proposals for the funding of POST and, if so, what further information and evidence may be required to support such proposals.

  Any recommendation from the Services Committee for the provision of substantial public funding for POST will of course need to be submitted to the House.

DEFENCE

  HMS Onslaught
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the decommissioned submarine HMS Onslaught was disposed of; to whom; and for what purpose.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  HMS Onslaught was paid off from the active fleet at the end of December 1990. Invitations to tender have since been issued to prospective purchasers, but no decision concerning her final disposal has yet been taken.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence he has of tanks and other military equipment deteriorating as a consequence of inadequate maintenance or protection while awaiting sea transport from Saudi Arabia.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None. The condition of tanks and other equipment returning from the Gulf was consistent with their having been used on an operation in a harsh desert environment, but the great majority were fully operational.

  HMS Endurance
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how long the structural survey to be carried out on HMS Endurance will take; and when the proposed structural survey on HMS Endurance is due to begin;

  (2) when the last structural survey was carried out on HMS Endurance; and what were the results;

  (3) for what reason the structural survey of HMS Endurance was not begun at an earlier stage of her current period in port.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  HMS Endurance is now 35 years old and is not built to the standards which would be required in a new ship for operation in ice. HMS Endurance has been subject to periodic structural surveys, but following the collision with an iceberg in 1989, which holed the ship and caused other structural damage, a system of full annual structural surveys was instituted. The last structural survey was carried out in 1990, following which the condition of the ship was judged acceptable for deployment to the Antarctic for the 1990–91 austral summer season. HMS Endurance returned from this deployment on 31 May and, following a period of leave and ship preparation, entered dock on 26 June. The 1991 structural survey commenced as planned on 1 July and initial results should be available within the next few weeks. The results of the survey will be considered in conjunction with the results now available of a metallurgical analysis of plate removed when the ship was repaired following the 1989 collision.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what vessel is planned to replace HMS Endurance on ice patrol in the South Atlantic should the proposed structural survey prove her unsound.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  HMS Endurance is the only Royal Navy ship of suitable design for the ice patrol task. No decision has been taken on her replacement.

  Guardsman Hicks
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the weekly income announced to the House on 1 July,Official Report, column 45, received by Guardsman Hicks, would have been paid to him as a result of his service and his unemployment, regardless of the injuries he sustained on the Batus firing range on 7 July 1989.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  About 16 per cent.

  Defence Cuts
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the projected cash savings in the defence budget for 1992–93 and 1993–94 which will be achieved as a result of his projected cuts in the strength of the British armed forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The cash plans for defence announced last autumn are being reviewed in this year's public expenditure survey in the light of the development of our plans for the restructuring of the armed forces. The level of funding required in 1992–93 and the two following years will be announced in the autumn statement.

  Transportation of Explosive Materials
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has now reached a decision on whether future transportation of explosive materials to Ministry of Defence establishments will be by road rather than by rail.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The policy regarding the movement of explosive materials to Ministry of Defence establishments will not change. Where practicable and cost effective, movement of explosive materials by rail is the preferred option. However, there will still be a degree of movement of explosives by road when these criteria are not met.

  Departmental Telephones
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bar telephones in his Department from connection to premium rate services.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  My Department has already taken technical and procedural measures to bar access to these services.

  Royal Navy Equipment Exhibition
  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the companies exhibiting products or services at the Royal Navy equipment exhibition being held in Portsmouth in September.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It is our practice not to provide such a list until the exhibition catalogue is published.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many visitors are expected at the Royal Navy equipment exhibition in Portsmouth from 1 to 6 September.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Based on previous attendances, we would expect a total of around 20,000 visitors.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of organising the Royal Navy equipment exhibition being held in Portsmouth from 1 to 6 September, including the salaries of the military personnel.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  All additional costs incurred in relation to the exhibition will be recovered from participating companies.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel will be on duty during the Royal Navy equipment exhibition in Portsmouth in September.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  One hundred and seventy-seven military personnel will be on duty during the Royal Navy equipment exhibition.

  Mr. Harry Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who will be opening the Royal Navy equipment exhibition in September.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  This has not yet been decided.

  HMS Challenger
  Mr. Douglas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the bids received for HMS Challenger; and when he expects the vessel to be sold.
  284
  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  It is not the practice of this Department to disclose details of bids which were submitted in commercial confidentiality. Marketing of HMS Challenger continues and it would be premature to give a date by which final sale may be expected.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research he has carried out on the comparative stringency of the controls on(a) toxic waste and (b) hazardous waste incinerators in (i) Northern Ireland, (ii) the rest of the United Kingdom, (iii) the other countries of the European Community, (iv) Canada and (v) the United States of America.

  Mr. Needham
  Published research information from around the world is, of course, available to the Government on incineration practices and controls and officials have visited facilities in other countries. Controls over waste incineration exercised in Northern Ireland must comply with the policy and standards of the United Kingdom which are governed by the requirements of the European Community.

  Environmental Audit
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for which plants he intends to have an independent environmental audit carried out in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  Environmental audits are to allow a company to examine its performance in terms of emissions to atmosphere, discharges to sewer and in the production and disposal of waste. There are no proposals for the Government to require independent audits of this nature.

  Coronary Heart Care
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will make it his policy to allocate resources to coronary heart medicine according to the extent of the problem; and if he will make a statement.

  (2) what measures will be adopted to reduce the waiting list in respect of operations for coronary heart care in each of the health and social services boards.

  Mr. Hanley
  Cardiac surgery is, and will continue to be, a priority for the health and personal social services in Northern Ireland. The Government are well aware of the extent of heart disease in Northern Ireland and are committed to reducing the time that those requiring heart surgery have to wait for an operation. Over the past two years, significant additional resources of £300,000 have been invested to increase the level of operations. A capital scheme costing £1·5 million to extend the cardiac recovery area at the Royal Victoria hospital is due to be completed in October. This will permit the appointment of a fourth cardiac surgeon and supporting team and I recently announced that, as part of the development in regional medical services this year, a further £300,000 would be made available to meet the costs involved.

  In the longer term, the Government are committed to working to reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease in Northern Ireland through health education and

  285
  promotion and several years ago launched the "Change of Heart" campaign. This 10-year programme is now being carried forward throughout the Province by the four health and social services boards.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have died as a result of heart problems in each of the health and social services boards in each of the last five years who were on a waiting list for a coronary heart operation.

  Mr. Hanley
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are currently waiting for operations in respect of coronary heart care in each of the health and social services boards.

  Mr. Hanley
  All patients in Northern Ireland waiting for cardiac operations are included in a single cardiac surgery waiting list at the Royal Victoria hospital which provides the service for the whole of Northern Ireland. Separate waiting lists are not therefore maintained for each board. At 31 March 1991, the number of patients on the waiting list was 869.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current waiting time for operations in respect of coronary heart care in each of the health and social services boards.

  Mr. Hanley
  All patients in Northern Ireland waiting for operations for coronary heart care are included in a single cardiac surgery waiting list at the Royal Victoria hospital which provides the service for the whole of Northern Ireland. Separate waiting lists are not therefore maintained for each board. At 31 March 1991, the number of patients on the waiting list by waiting time was:

  Months

  Number

  0–2

  111

  3–5

  90

  6–8

  44

  9–11

  53

  12–23

  162

  24+

  409

  Total

  869

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many reported cases of BSE there have been in each of the last six months; how many cattle have been killed; and from what number of farms in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is as follows:

  Month

  Reported "Suspect" Cases

  Cattle Killed

  Number

  Farms

  January

  23

  21

  20

  February

  21

  17

  17

  March

  13

  18

  18

  April

  15

  8

  8

  May

  18

  12

  11

  June

  22

  14

  14

  Totals

  112

  90

  88

  286
  In Northern Ireland there are some 1·5 million cattle in 26,000 herds.

  Historic Monuments and Buildings
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the historic monuments and buildings which are registered by the historic monuments and buildings branch of the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland; indicating in each case whether they are(a) listed buildings, (b) owned and maintained by a public body, (c) otherwise protected or (d) unprotected.

  Mr. Needham
  As there are currently more than 7,800 buildings listed and 1,100 monuments scheduled by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, including 170 in the Department's care, it is not practical to provide the information as requested. However, the lists of buildings and monuments are open for inspection by the public at the offices of the historic monuments and buildings branch of the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland in Hill street, Belfast. All listed buildings are afforded a degree of protection by the Planning (NI) Order 1972 and scheduled monuments by the Historic Monuments Act (NI) 1971. Information on current ownership of listed buildings or monuments is not held in every case by the Department.

  Strangford Lough
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the membership of the proposed executive committee and advisory committee for the management of Strangford lough will be subject to consultation with the Government of the Republic of Ireland in accordance with the provisions of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

  Mr. Needham
  No. Committees of this kind are not the subject of consultation with the Government of the Republic of Ireland under the provisions of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

TRANSPORT

  Stockport Bypass
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received representations from Stockport metropolitan borough council urging delay in the construction of the A6(M) Stockport north-south bypass.

  Mr. Chope
  No.

  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his current timetable for the building of the A6(M) Stockport north-south bypass.

  Mr. Chope
  A start has been made on the diversion of some statutory undertakers apparatus. Subject to the satisfactory clearance of the remaining statutory procedures, work on the main contract should start in the spring 1993.

  Motoring Offences
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will institute a system for recording the type and make of vehicles involved in motoring offences and road accidents and publish them periodically; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  We published earlier this year the first of a new statistical series showing casualty rates by make and model of car—"Transport Statistics Report—Car and Driver: Injury Accident and Casualty Rates, Great Britain 1989", HMSO, May 1991. We have no plans to extend this to recording offences by vehicle make and model.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made concerning the compulsory fitting of speed governors to heavy goods vehicles.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Stevens) on 4 July at column 174.

  Bypasses
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the provision of bypasses.

  Mr. Chope
  Bypasses are an important part of our commitment to civilising road transport. We know that they make a significant contribution to improving the quality of life in our towns and villages.

  I am pleased to announce that we propose to add to the roads programme a further 15 schemes which are new or extended bypasses or related improvements, and three scheme identification studies, at a total cost of £85 million. The package includes new bypasses for Christleton and Waverton near Chester, Turvey in Bedfordshire, Kilkhampton in Cornwall, and Bishop Burton in Yorkshire. Other components are improved bypasses for Ilminster in Somerset, Guestling Thorn and Icklesham in East Sussex, Woofferton in Shropshire and Skeffington in Leicestershire. Studies will consider alternatives to the A40 through Cheltenham, and the possibility of relief for the A45 through the south of Coventry and for the A663 Broadway in Manchester.

  The bypass programme has made a major contribution to improving urban conditions over many years. One hundred and three trunk road bypasses have been built in England since 1979 and over 170 are planned. Twenty-one are now under construction, with a further 19 due to start this financial year. In addition, since 1986–87, a total of 191 local authority bypasses supported by transport supplementary grant have been completed, 64 are under construction, and 30 more are due to start this financial year.

  Bypasses in themselves achieve great environmental benefits by redirecting traffic to more suitable routes. A new bypass can have a much bigger impact on the quality of the local environment if complementary measures are implemented at the same time which take advantage of the fresh opportunities which arise if through traffic is removed or significantly reduced.
  288
  These opportunities can include the introduction of traffic calming measures, improved provision for pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users, landscaping and environmental enhancements.

  Last year in the enviroment White Paper we announced our intention to set up demonstration projects in a number of towns to link the provision of a trunk road bypass with measures in the bypassed towns. I am pleased to announce that the towns selected for the demonstration projects are:

  Berkhamsted

  Dalton-in-Furness

  Market Harborough

  Petersfield

  Wadebridge

  Whitchurch

  Local authorities responded enthusiastically to an invitation to nominate towns for the project, and it has not been easy to choose just six from the many interesting possibilities put forward. But the towns selected offer a good range of issues and opportunities, and in each case the local authorities already have proposals to build on the contribution being made by the trunk road bypass.

  The bypass demonstration project will explore the possibilities in these towns, together with the local authorities, the Civic Trust and community interests. It will show what can be achieved in specific locations, and provide new ideas and useful guidance for the many local authorities whose towns will benefit from bypasses over the next few years.

  Road Accidents
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the road accident fatality rates for Great Britain, other EC countries, the United States of America, Canada and Japan.

  Mr. Chope
  The fatality rates expressed as the number of fatalities per 100,000 population in 1988 are published in "Road Accidents Great Britain" and are set out in the following table.

  Fatality rate per 100,000 population, selected countries: 1988

  Country

  Rate

  Great Britain

  9

  Belgium

  20

  Denmark

  14

  France

  21

  West Germany

  13

  Greece

  17

  Ireland

  113

  Italy

  13

  Luxembourg

  23

  Netherlands

  9

  Portugal

  33

  Spain

  21

  Canada

  116

  Japan

  11

  USA

  19

  1 1987 figure.

  Comparable fatality rates expressed as the number of fatalities per billion vehicle kilometres depend upon the availability of estimates of traffic in individual countries. Not all countries make direct estimates of road traffic, nor are the published estimates on a consistent basis. However, the Netherlands Road Safety Research Institute has recently published the following estimates:

  289

  Fatality rate per billion vehicle km, selected countries: 1988

  Country

  Rate

  Great Britain

  13

  Belgium

  36

  Denmark

  20

  France

  29

  West Germany

  19

  Greece

  72

  Ireland

  21

  Italy

  126

  Luxembourg

  28

  Netherlands

  15

  Portugal

  106

  Spain

  83

  Canada

  15

  Japan

  23

  USA

  15

  1 1986 figure.

  Speedlink
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what services will be commencing on 8 July to replace Speedlink.

  Mr. Freeman
  From 8 July British Rail will be running 125 trains a day to replace the Speedlink wagonload and related trainload services. Tigerail will be running freight train services from Cornwall and from Hampshire to Scotland and British Rail will commence a container service from north-east Scotland to Glasgow on a trial basis. About 70 per cent. of the domestic Speedlink traffic has been retained on rail. British Rail will also be running dedicated services to the Dover train ferry from all principal industrial locations in Britain for European traffic. Eighty-five per cent. of existing train ferry traffic has been retained to encourage and build up European business prior to the opening of the channel tunnel. I very much welcome this achievement.

  Cycle Lanes (London)
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further progress has been made in implementing his policy of creating 1,000 miles of cycle lanes in London; and what is his policy regarding the creation of cycle lanes through royal parks.

  Mr. Chope
  Following the seminar hosted by my Department last November, a group of cycling officers from the London boroughs has been set up and continues to meet regularly with the object of co-ordinating the provision of cycle facilities in London.

  The London planning advisory committee has endorsed the results of consultation with the boroughs on the 1,000-mile network and that information is being used to produce the maps of the network which will be ready for distribution to boroughs in the autumn.

  I am discussing the provision for cyclists in the royal parks with my noble Friend the Minister of State, Department of the Environment.

  Explosive Materials
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional safety precautions he intends to take to ensure the safe transport by road of explosive materials to Ministry of Defence bases.
  290
  Mr. Chope
  The transport by road of explosive materials is subject to the Road Traffic (Carriage of Explosives) Regulations 1989 with which the MOD must comply. I have no plans to require additional precautions.

  Transport Single Market
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to hasten the creation of a single market in transport in the European Community.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The creation of a single market in transport is a key objective for the Government. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and my hon. Friend the Minister for Roads and Traffic attended the EC Transport Council in Luxembourg on 21 and 22 June and secured agreement to a directive on the development of Community railways which will allow access by individual rail companies to other member states' railway systems for the purpose of combined transport operations. In addition my right hon. Friend stressed the pressing need to fulfil the legal requirement to liberalise international road passenger transport, while my hon. Friend emphasised that progress had to be made on liberalising maritime cabotage.

  The June Transport Council is but a recent example of the many meetings in which the Government have pressed our Community partners for more rapid movement in establishing a genuine single market in transport. The Luxembourg European Council on 20 June made a new series of commitments to liberalisation in the various transport modes.

  London Buses
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations have been received on access and provision for disabled people in response to the consultation paper "A Bus Strategy for London".

  Mr. Freeman
  The consultation paper, "A Bus Strategy for London" did not deal specifically with the provision of bus services for disabled people. Nevertheless, a number of those who responded to the paper—including the hon. Lady—commented on this point. Their views have been fully taken into account. A statement on the conclusions reached following the consultation exercise will be made shortly.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he plans to meet representatives of the Greater London Association of Disabled People to discuss the implications of bus deregulation for people with disabilities.

  Mr. Freeman
  I should be pleased to meet representatives of the Greater London Association for Disabiled People to discuss their views on access to public transport for disabled people.

  Energy Efficiency
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy in respect of the recommendations in paragraph 130 of the third report of the Select Committee on Energy on Energy Efficiency, HC91.
  291
  Mr. McLoughlin
  A response to the Select Committee on Energy's recommendations on energy efficiency has been sent to the Committee. I understand that it will be published shortly.

  Nuclear Waste (Accidents)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the incidents reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency under the auspices of the 1972 convention on the prevention of marine pollution by dumping of wastes and other matter, concerning accidents at sea involving radioactive materials(a) involved nuclear materials originating in the United Kingdom, (b) involved nuclear materials destined for the United Kingdom and (c) took place in or near to United Kingdom territorial waters; and if he will obtain a copy for his Department library of the IAEA report on these matters.

  Mr. Mcloughlin
  None of the incidents reported, concerning accidents during transport at sea, involved nuclear materials originating from or destined for the United Kingdom or took place in or near United Kingdom territorial waters. Several incidents have been reported, however, involving sealed radioactive sources, details of which have not yet been incorporated into the IAEA database. The Department has a draft copy of the IAEA report on these matters.

  Newhaven-Dieppe Ferry Service
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will discuss with his French counterpart the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry service;

  (2) what steps he is taking to secure the resumption and long-term future of the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry service.

  Mr. Mcloughlin
  The Newhaven-Dieppe ferry service has been suspended because of an industrial dispute between French seamen and the Sealink ferry company. Commercial negotiations are under way to resolve the dispute and the French authorities have appointed a mediator. It would not be appropriate for Her Majesty's Government to seek to become involved at this stage. We are, however, monitoring the situation closely.

  Ships (Specifications)
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British-registered ships are built to STAB 90 specifications.

  Mr. Mcloughlin
  The information is not available at the moment in the form requested. The damage stability characteristics of all United Kingdom roll on/roll off passenger ferries are being urgently assessed in accordance with procedures adopted by the International Maritime Organisation in May. The level of their compliance with STAB 90—SOLAS 90—specifications will be available when that exercise is complete.

  Port Inspections
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the number of port state control inspections over the past 10 years, the percentage of inspections as a total of vessels using British ports in each year, and the number and percentage of ferries inspected using British ports in each year.
  292
  Mr. McLoughlin
  The number of foreign ships given port state inspections at United Kingdom ports from 1983 to 1990, and the numbers of inspections as a percentage of the numbers of foreign ships using United Kingdom ports in those years were:

  Year

  Numbers

  Per cent.

  1983

  2,557

  40

  1984

  2,529

  39

  1985

  2,532

  39

  1986

  2,439

  32

  1987

  2,250

  35

  1988

  1,839

  30

  1989

  1,692

  127

  1990

  2,118

  134

  1 Based on the 1988 figure for ships visiting, which is the latest available.

  Figures for earlier years are not available.

  The number of inspections of foreign-registered roll on/roll off passenger ferries at United Kingdom ports from 1988 to 1990 were:

  Year

  Number

  1988

  136

  1989

  134

  1990

  82

  Most foreign ferries were inspected twice in each of the three years and the numbers of inspections consequently exceed the numbers of such ferries available for inspection at our ports. The number of foreign ferries using United Kingdom ports varies considerably during the year. At March 1990, a total of 49 such vessels were operating. Figures for earlier years are not available.

  Air Services (Gibraltar)
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his present policy relating to the liberalisation of air services to and from Gibraltar.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 5 July 1991]: The United Kingdom has been at the forefront of moves to liberalise air services arrangements in the European Community. It has been agreed within the Community that Gibraltar airport will be able to benefit from the EC liberalisation packages when the Gibraltar airport agreement is implemented.

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Training
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are employed in Tower Hamlets on employment training schemes or other schemes operated through the training and enterprise council network.

  Mr. Jackson
  The table shows numbers of people employed on the main training programmes operated by the London East TEC, of which Tower Hamlets forms part.

  LETEC—participants on TEC operated schemes at 24 May 1991

  Number

  Employment training

  3,153

  Youth training

  4,052

  Enterprise allowance scheme

  782

  293
  Note: LETEC covers Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Havering, Barking and Newham.

  Chemicals Haulage
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the grades of officers involved in the recent north-west roadside check of lorries carrying chemicals; and whether this activity is part of the job descriptions of all the officers so employed on that day.

  Mr. Forth
  The following grades of staff in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were involved in the Chemcheck North West exercise on 26 June:

  Band B inspector

  Band D inspector

  Band E inspector

  Band F inspector

  Higher professional technical officer

  Administrative officer

  One of HSE's main objectives is to promote and secure compliance with relevant health and safety legislation and this extends to and includes the legislation that applies to the transport of hazardous substances or goods by road. All staff in HSE's field operations division are responsible for ensuring that this main objective is met and contribute either directly or indirectly by a variety of means including the inspection of work activities, enforcement, giving advice and information and the provision of clerical support. However, their job descriptions do not include specific reference to undertaking roadside checks on lorries carrying chemicals.

  Labour Statistics
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in Tower Hamlets in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Jackson
  Employment estimates for local authority districts are available only from the censuses of employment taken in 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1989. Data for Tower Hamlets are given in the table below. The estimates relate only to employees in employment; they exclude the self-employed and also members of Her Majesty's forces.

  Employees in employment in Tower Hamlets

  September each year

  Numbers (000s)

  1981

  84·3

  1984

  81·1

  1987

  96·3

  1989

  104·0

  Employment Schemes (Hackney)
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the annual allocations to the area of the London borough of Hackney through his Department's special employment and inner cities schemes since their inception, and the projects supported.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Employment Department's programmes are not allocated to its regions on the basis of local authority boundaries, and it is not therefore possible to provide the information requested. All Employment Department programmes are available in urban programme areas, including Hackney.

  Pregnant Workers
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress was made on the draft directive on the protection of pregnant workers at the Council of Ministers' meeting on 24 and 25 June; what were the voting figures on the directive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Lady to the reply that my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State gave on 4 July to my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Mr. Powell).

  Youth Training
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the companies formerly members of the national training providers unit which have withdrawn from the provision of youth training.

  Mr. Jackson
  The following companies which formerly contracted through my Department's TECs and national providers unit have withdrawn from the provision of youth training: ASDA Stores Ltd, B and Q plc., Dairy Crest Ltd., Habitat Designs Ltd., Newey and Eyre Ltd., Whitbread and Co. plc (Hotel and Catering), Wolsley Centres Ltd., and Woolworths plc. This represents only a small percentage (5 per cent.) of those national organisations currently delivering youth training through local contracts with training and enterprise councils.

  Employment Statistics, Congleton
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) men and (b) women are currently unemployed in Congleton; and what percentage these figures represent of the local work force.

  Mr. Jackson
  In May 1991 the number of unemployed claimants, not seasonally adjusted, in the Congleton parliamentary constituency was 1,403 males and 654 females.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) men and (b) women have been employed in Congleton in each of the past 12 years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Jackson
  Employment estimates for parliamentary constituencies are available only from the censuses of employment taken in 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1989. Data for the Congleton constituency are given in the table below. The estimates relate only to employees in employment; they exclude the self-employed and members of Her Majesty's forces.

  Employees in employment in Congleton

  Numbers (thousands)

  September each year

  Males

  Females

  All

  1981

  n.a.

  n.a.

  27·7

  1984

  15·3

  11·8

  27·1

  1987

  17·3

  13·2

  30·5

  1989

  17·8

  14·2

  32·0

  n.a. = Separate estimates for males and females are not available for 1981.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by what percentage and by what numbers unemployment in Congleton has risen over the past 12-month period.
  295
  Mr. Jackson
  In the parliamentary constituency of Congleton, unemployment, not seasonally adjusted, increased by 769 or 59·7 per cent. in the 12 months to May 1991.

  Training for Disabled People
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the training of disabled people.

  Mr. Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 11 June at column 776 to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke).

  Industry Training Organisations
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in the work of industry training organisations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The White Paper, "Employment for the 1990s" (Cmd 540), set out the roles that were expected of 296
  industry training organisations (ITOs) in the national training framework. It also announced that there was to be a review of progress in each industry sector.

  The results of this independent review are now available. I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library. The findings point to the level of performance having generally improved since the last review in 1987. There was evidence of greater commitment within sectors to the key tasks of ITOs, particularly to the development of occupational standards that underpin national vocational qualifications and their Scottish equivalents. The researchers took the view that the training system continues to need a network of effective industry training organisations in order to operate, and the Government are happy to endorse that conclusion. We shall be examining the detailed recommendations made in the report to see how we can help in improving the effectiveness of these independent organisations.

  The Government welcome this endorsement of our approach to sector-based training of removing the compulsion and bureaucracy of the statutory system and replacing it with voluntary arrangements.

  SOVIET WARSHIP CONSTRUCTION
  SOVIET WARSHIP CONSTRUCTION
  "WILHEMINA J": REPORT ON SINKING
  "WILHEMINA J": REPORT ON SINKING
  OPENCAST COAL MINING
  OPENCAST COAL MINING
  ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
  ENVIRONMENT AGENCY