Written Answers of 24 July 1991

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Public Record Office
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the Lord Chancellor's response to Dr. David Starkey's representations on the public opening as a tourist attraction of the Public Record Office in central London, after the move to Kew.

  The Attorney-General
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has not yet received any representations from Dr. David Starkey. Dr. Starkey has, however, requested a meeting with the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chancellor hopes that this can be arranged after the summer recess.

  Judges (Pensions)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Attorney-General what plans the Government have for changes in the pension arrangements for judges.

  The Attorney-General
  Last December, the Government issued a consultation paper proposing a number of changes to the judicial pension schemes. In the light of the responses to that paper, we have now decided to bring forward legislation at a convenient opportunity to establish a revised, unified pension scheme, which will apply to salaried judicial officers throughout the United Kingdom. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has today written to the Lord Chief Justice with details of the proposed revised scheme and copies of that letter are being sent to all those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who submitted comments on the consultation paper. A copy is also being placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The Secretary of State for Scotland is writing similarly to the Lord President of the Court of Session, and copies of his letter will be sent to all those in Scotland who commented on the consultation paper.

TRANSPORT

  Lead-free Petrol
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals his Department has to stimulate the use of lead-free petrol.

  Mr. Chope
  Regulations already in force—SI 198 No. 1522—require all spark-ignition cars first manufactured on or after 1 October 1990 to be capable of running on unleaded petrol. On 26 June the EC Council of Ministers adopted an amending directive requiring, among other things, that all spark-ignition cars first used on or after 31 December 1992 must be constructed so that they can run only on unleaded petrol. Regulations introducing the 550
  directive into United Kingdom law will be laid later this year. As a fiscal incentive to greater use of unleaded petrol, the Chancellor in his last Budget further increased the duty differential between it and leaded petrol.

  A13, Canning Town
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the traffic counts for(a) cars and (b) lorries on the A13 from Burdett road junction to the Canning Town flyover in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Chope
  The available estimates are as follows:

  Annual average daily flows

  1982

  1988

  All vehicles

  36,000

  45,000

  Cars and taxis

  23,000

  31,000

  Light goods vehicles

  3,300

  4,600

  Heavy goods vehicles1

  6,600

  6,300

  1 Goods vehicles with an unladen weight of 1·5 tonnes or more.

  These figures are based on 12-hour counts on a single day and are thus subject to sampling error.

  Noise Prevention
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what inquiries he is undertaking into the efficacy of new sound-baffling techniques now used in other EC countries.

  Mr. Chope
  Three avenues of inquiry are being followed. The Transport and Road Research Laboratory is investigating the acoustic performance of novel noise barriers. Consultants are preparing a design guide for new types of environmental barrier informed by an earlier extensive study of continental noise barriers. Officials from my Department are contributing to the development of a European standard on anti-noise devices including noise barriers.

  Taxis (Seat Belts)
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek information from other European Community countries on the regulations governing compulsory wearing of seat belts in the rear of taxis.

  Mr. Chope
  The draft European Community directive on the compulsory use of seat belts in vehicles of less than 3·5 tonnes, is currently under discussion. There is no exemption proposed in that directive in respect of the wearing of car seat belts by the occupants of taxis whether they are purpose built or non-purpose built. It appears, therefore, that all other European Community Countries are content that such regulations should be incorporated within their own domestic law.

  Transpennine Road Crossings
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current position on the consultant's report on transpennine road crossings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  We expect the final report soon. We shall make a statement once we have assessed its findings and recommendations.

  School Crossing Safety
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been carried out by his Department into the relative safety of pelican crossings and school crossing patrols, equipped where necessary with warning signs and amber flashing lights; if he will place copies of the supporting statistics in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Research on the safety of pelican and zebra crossings is underway and a report is expected later this year. No assessment has been made of the relative safety of school crossings but advice on their provision is contained in the Department's advice note TA 52/87.

  M11 Link Road
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 3 June,Official Report, column 55, whether he has had any further communications with the European Commission about the proposed M11 link road; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  No.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to undertake an environmental impact assessment of the proposed M11 link road; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department has already carried out an environmental impact assessment of the link road. The document was presented at the 1983 public inquiry into the need for the scheme and its line.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport into what category the proposed M11 link road falls.

  Mr. Chope
  The scheme to which the hon. Gentleman refers as the M11 link road is, to give it its full title, the A12 Hackney Wick to M11 link road and falls into the category of an all-purpose trunk road.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what Government funds have been made available to provide replacement housing for all those displaced by the proposed M11 link road; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  The Department of Transport has, over the years, purchased some 250 properties at full market value from people wishing to move from the area affected by this road scheme. The firm intention to go ahead with it has been known for a number of years, as have its likely housing implications. The Department of the Environment has taken these into account in making housing investment programme allocations to the housing authority most directly concerned, the London borough of Waltham Forest.

  Diesel Pollution
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 6701/90 on pollution from diesel engines to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions and (b) industry.

  Mr. Chope
  It is estimated that there will be no cost to the Exchequer either directly or via European institutions.552
  The draft directive proposes to introduce stricter emission limits in two stages—1992–93 and 1995–96—with the potential for a third in 1999. They will affect diesel-engined trucks and buses over 3·5 tonnes. If the strictest limits for stage II are adopted, and if they result in an overall 4 per cent. fuel penalty, fuel costs in the United Kingdom would rise by £70 million, pre-tax, per year. Increases in capital costs would range, typically, from £500 for a 7·5-tonne truck costing £14,000 to £2,000 for a 38-tonne truck costing £45,000. The overall vehicle fleet replacement cost might rise by £60 million per year. Applying stage I limits would cost considerably less.

  The cost of the implied reduction in the sulphur content of diesel fuel is uncertain but should not exceed 5p per gallon or £120 million a year for the 9 million tonnes of diesel consumed in the United Kingdom each year.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document Nos. 9228/88 and 10333/90 on seat belts to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions and (b) industry.

  Mr. Chope
  Discussion of this draft directive is continuing in Brussels and its final form has not yet been agreed. As currently drafted the directive would have only minor cost implications for the Exchequer, but there would be some extra costs for those manufacturers of vehicles covered by the directive who do not at present fit seat belts at all anchorage points, but who would need to do so from 1 January 1992.

  Ship Ownership and Registration
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the figures for(a) the total number of British-owned ships, (b) the number of British-registered ships and (c) the percentage of British-registered ships to British-owned ships for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Statistics of British-owned ships are not available before 1986.

  British1 owned and British1 registered ships2 : 1986–91

  Year3

  British owned

  British registered

  Percentage of British registered to British owned ships

  1986

  2,215

  2,121

  95·8

  1987

  2,321

  2,038

  87·8

  1988

  2,303

  2,010

  87·3

  1989

  2,187

  1,936

  88·5

  1990

  2,114

  1,863

  88·1

  1 United Kingdom mainland—including Northern Ireland but excluding the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

  2 Comprises vessels of 100 gross registered tons and above, including non-trading vessels.

  3 As at 31 December.

  Inland Waterways Freight
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many applications have been made for grants under section 36 of the Transport Act 1981; how many of these applications have been approved; what was the total budget available for the grants; and what was the total amount spent on these grants for each year from 1981.
  553
  Mr. Freeman
  The Government have awarded seven inland waterways freight facilities grants since 1981. There have also been a number of enquiries from industry which have not led to grant applications. There is no separate budget for section 36 grants: these and the grants for rail freight facilities available under section 8 of the Railways Act 1974 share a common budget, which is set at £3·8 million for 1991–92. The total number of section 36 grants awards is as follows:

  Number of grants

  Value of award (£)

  1983

  1

  369,340

  1984

  2

  920,575

  1985

  1

  26,950

  1986

  1

  63,494

  1990

  1

  20,000

  1991

  1

  402,832

  Total

  7

  1,803,831

  Network SouthEast
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received British Rail's final response to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on Network SouthEast.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have today placed a copy of British Rail's response in the Library of the House. In making its final response to the MMC report, BR has accepted all of the commission's 54 recommendations and has already fully implemented 24 of them. British Rail has set out the action it is taking, or intends to take, to achieve the remaining 30 recommendations. I welcome the steps BR has already taken in implementing these recommendations and will continue to monitor progress.

  Vehicle Inspectorate
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the vehicle inspectorate executive agency annual report for 1990–91 will be published.

  Mr. Chope
  The annual report has been published today. Copies are being placed in the House Library.

  Orange Badges
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Transport whether he is yet in a position to bring forward proposals for revising the orange badge scheme.

  Mr. Chope
  As I have explained in reply to previous questions, my aim has been to reach a better consensus among user groups before proceeding with any changes to the scheme. Following a recent meeting with representative organisations, that position has now been reached.

  I therefore propose to proceed with a package of measures, based largely on the Department's proposals circulated for comment last year. The main changes will be to introduce the new passport-style badge which, together with the new offence provision in the Road Traffic Bill, will be a major step in tackling abuse; automatic entitlement will be extended to those in receipt of mobility allowance and war pensioners' mobility supplement; eligibility will be extended to people with very severe upper limb disabilities who regularly drive a vehicle; and there will be an increase from two hours to three hours in the limit on yellow line waiting.
  554
  I am not proposing any change to the discretionary eligibility criterion, as was originally proposed, but I shall be writing to the local authorities, who operate the scheme, to request that they give greater emphasis to ensure that badges are issued only to those who are entitled to receive them.

  I intend to bring forward amending regulations as soon as possible in the autumn.

  Traffic Examiners
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any information on the average numbers of hours per week spent by traffic examiners at(a) weighbridges, (b) at the roadside undertaking checks and (c) other administrative duties; and if he is satisfied with the extent of enforcement activity by traffic examiners.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 22 July 1991]: Information is not collected at present in this particular format. It could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Traffic examiners have increased their enforcement activity significantly in the past five years and the merger with the vehicle inspectorate should build on this and enable the improvement to be taken forward.

  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many traffic examiners were in post in 1990–91; and what is the proposed number of posts for 1991–92.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 22 July 1991]: The average number of traffic examiners in post in 1990–91 was 216. The number currently in post is 201; recruitment is in hand to increase this is to a level of around 220 to meet current activity demands.

  Overloading
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from(a) trading standards officers and (b) the Association of Chief Police Officers regarding the changing of prosecution criteria for overloading offences.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 22 July 1991]: We have consulted widely among enforcement bodies about the revised guidelines which the Department's traffic examiners will apply in dealing with overloaded lorries. Trading standards officers and the police have indicated that they wish to retain full discretion in deciding when to prosecute for overloading, according to the circumstances detected and this is recognised in the Department's guidelines.

  Steam-driven Vehicles
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many steam-driven vehicles are registered for vehicle tax at the showmen's rate; if he will take steps to ensure that the right to draw three trailers under this arrangement is maintained; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer 23 July 1991]: Information on the number of steam-driven vehicles registered at the showman's rate is not readily available.

  Provided that the steam-driven vehicle is a locomotive, as defined in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use)

  555
  Regulations 1986, it may tow up to three trailers or four if one is used solely for the carriage of water, provided none of the trailers exceeds 7 m in length. I have no plans to change this arrangement.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Potholes
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many potholes there are at Woodford Green in the borough of Castlereagh; and what proposals he has for their elimination.

  Mr. Needham
  There are no potholes in Woodford Green. Parts of the road surface are showing signs of wear, but these do not present a hazard to traffic. The road will continue to be monitored and remedial action taken if required.

  Pollution Control
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the cases where fines have been imposed under the Pollution Control and Local Government (NI) Order 1978 (S.I., 1978, No. 1049) (Northern Ireland No. 19) article 8, subsection 3, since the order was introduced; and if he will make a statement as to whether the Government have any plans to increase the maximum fine of £400 for contravention of the conditions under which a disposal licence has been granted.

  Mr. Needham
  Records of prosecutions by district councils for contravention of a condition of a disposal licence are not held centrally. However, the information required will be sought from the councils and I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible. In fact, the current maximum fine under article 8(3) is £2,000. Consideration is being given to introducing legislation on the lines of part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which would provide for a maximum penalty of £20,000 or a term of imprisonment or both.

  Rural Housing
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what level of additional financial resources he will allocate to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in order to undertake all the requirements in relation to addressing rural unfitness as outlined in the policy statement entitled "The Way Ahead".

  Mr. Needham
  Careful consideration will be given to any proposals for additional funding which may arise from this important initiative. However, it is, in the first instance, a matter for the Housing Executive to consider the extent of any additional resources it requires.

  Education
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether the Department of Education will undertake an investigation of the professional, managerial and curricula viability of alternative strategies to the closure of small rural and urban schools;

  (2) whether the Department of Education will conduct a full review of the educational needs of rural
  556
  communities, in consultation with other departments, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the town and country planning service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  These issues are matters which I understand are presently the subject of consideration by Education Forum and have been included in a draft policy statement on rural schools which it has prepared. I also understand that Education Forum has referred the draft statement to its constituent organisations for consideration and may be seeking a meeting with my right hon. and noble Friend the Paymaster General to discuss the issues in due course.

  The Department of Education already liaises with the planning service and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive when determining the educational needs of any area.

  Blue-ear Pig Disease
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what consultations he has had with the Government of the Irish Republic regarding blue-ear pig disease; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what steps he has taken to prevent the transfer of blue-ear pig disease into Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hanley
  Following confirmation of blue-ear pig disease in Great Britain the Department of Agriculture issued immediate guidance to farmers and others on precautions to be taken to prevent the introduction of the disease into Northern Ireland. The thrust of the advice is that only essential visitors, vehicles and equipment should be allowed into pig units and that anyone intending to import pigs from Great Britain should seek veterinary guidance before so doing. The full guidance is contained in a press release of 14 June 1991, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  The Department of Agriculture has previously advised veterinary practitioners of the nature of the disease and its clinical signs and pathology.

  Senior veterinary and other officials of the Department of Agriculture have met with their opposite numbers from the Department of Agriculture and Food in Dublin to discuss the implications of the spread of the disease and determine a common approach, with European Community guidance, in order to minimise the potential introduction of the disease to the island of Ireland.

  Cruden Houses
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Cruden houses there are in Northern Ireland; how many have been built in the last 30 years; and if he will give details of where these houses were built and when.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 23 July 1991]: None.

  Waste Incinerator
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what formal and informal discussions have taken place between Government Departments, public agencies in Northern Ireland and any Government Departments and public agencies in the Republic of Ireland regarding a possible national waste incinerator.
  557
  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 17 July 1991]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies given to his questions on 29 January 1991, at column 471 and 12 February 1991, at column 413.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any routes have now been identified for the possible transportation of toxic waste to the Du Pont site at Maydown.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 17 July 1991]: There has been no change in the position since the reply given to the hon. Gentleman's question on 19 February 1991, at column 95.

  Total places

  Places occupied

  May 1989

  May 1990

  May 1991

  Department of Finance and Personnel

  8

  7

  3

  3

  Department of Agriculture

  20

  12

  9

  7

  Department of Economic Development

  25

  1

  6

  14

  Department of Education

  4

  1

  2

  2

  Department of Health and Social Services

  25

  13

  12

  13

  Department of the Environment

  20

  12

  4

  11

  Totals

  102

  56

  36

  50

  There are no specifically designated youth training places in the Northern Ireland Office, either currently or for earlier years.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the achievements of(a) his policies and (b) his Department and the Northern Ireland departments in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 22 July 1991]: The Government continue to place a high priority on helping small businesses through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and other measures, and through specific programmes of support and assistance.

  Government policy in relation to small businesses in Northern Ireland is administered by the Local Enterprise Development Unit which is funded by the Department of Economic Development. The table sets out a number of indicators comparing the results of LEDU's performance in 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  1989–90

  1990–91

  Jobs promoted

  5,944

  6,986

  Cost per job (£)

  4,344

  4,175

  LEDU percentage contribution to project costs

  31

  28

  Number of offers made

  1,122

  1,355

  Grant commitments (£ million)

  24·412

  25·680

  Youth Training
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list(a) the number of youth training places in his Department and the Northern Ireland Departments and (b) the number of places occupied in May for each of the years 1989, 1990 and the current year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 18 July 1991]: The information is as follows:

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those schools in which a vote has taken place on grant-maintained status showing the constituency in which each school is situated.

  Mr. Fallon
  The information requested by my hon. Friend is as follows.

  School

  Where situated

  Skegness Grammar School

  Lindsey East

  St. James' CE School Bolton

  Bolton South East

  Hendon School

  Hendon South

  The GS for Girls Wilmington

  Dartford

  Queen Elizabeth's GM Grammar School

  Lindsey East

  Baverstock Grant-Maintained School

  Hall Green

  The Kings School Grantham

  Grantham

  Old Swinford Hospital

  Halesowen and Stourbridge

  Heckmondwike Grammar School

  Batley and Spen

  Bankfield High School

  Halton

  Netherthorpe School

  Derbyshire North East

  Ribston Hall High School

  Gloucester

  Claremont High School

  Brent North

  Southfield School For Girls

  Kettering

  Guildford County School

  Guildford

  Rickmansworth School

  Hertfordshire South West

  Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School

  Kensington

  Watford Boys Grammar School

  Hertfordshire South West

  Stratford School

  Newham North West

  Francis Bacon School

  St. Albans

  Wilmington Grammar School For Boys

  Dartford

  North Halifax High School

  Halifax

  Crossley Heath School

  Halifax

  Wymondham College

  South Norfolk

  Pate's Grammar School

  Cheltenham

  Audenshaw High School

  Gorton

  Wilsons School

  Carshalton and Wallington

  Queensbury School

  Bedfordshire South West

  London Oratory School

  Fulham

  559

  School

  Where situated

  Queen Elizabeth's GM School For Boys

  Chipping Barnet

  Colyton Grammar School

  Honiton

  Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School

  Darwen and Rossendale

  Castle Hall Grant-Maintained School

  Dewsbury

  Small Heath School

  Small Heath

  St. Francis Xavier's College

  Garsten

  London Nautical School

  Southwark and Bermondsey

  Beechen Cliff School

  Bath

  Lancaster Royal Grammar School

  Lancaster

  Longfield High School

  Rutland and Melton

  Southlands School

  Reading East

  Marling School

  Stroud

  Stroud High School

  Stroud

  Bishopshalt School

  Uxbridge

  Wolverhampton High School For Girls

  Wolverhampton South West

  Adams' Grammar School

  Shropshire North

  Bridgewater Hall School

  Milton Keynes

  Brindley Hall School

  Milton Keynes

  Handsworth Grammar School For Boys

  Birmingham, Ladywood

  Carre's Grammar School

  Grantham

  Bournemouth Grammar School

  Bournemouth East

  The Maplesden Noakes School

  Gravesham

  Ecclesbourne School

  West Derbyshire

  The Cornwallis School

  Maidstone

  St. George's School

  Grantham

  Reading School

  Reading East

  Chalvedon School

  Basildon

  Bullers Wood School For Girls

  Chislehurst

  Lancaster Girls Grammar School

  Lancaster

  King Edward VI Grammar School

  East Lindsey

  Hardley Secondary School

  Romsey and Waterside

  Kingsley Park Middle School

  Northampton North

  Manor High School

  Harborough

  Newbold Grange High School

  Rugby and Kenilworth

  Oldfield School

  Bath

  Bingley Grammar School

  Shipley

  Westcliff High School for Boys

  Southend West

  Woodroffe School

  Dorset West

  St. Bartholomew's School

  Newbury

  St. George's CE School, Gravesend

  Northfleet and Gravesend

  Sexey's School

  Somerton and Frome

  Nonsuch High School for Girls

  Sutton and Cheam

  St. Augustine RC School

  Westbury

  Beaconsfield High School

  Beaconsfield

  Great Barr School

  Perry Barr

  Burgate School

  New Forest

  Kingswood School

  Corby

  Caistor School

  Gainsborough and Horncastle

  Thamesview School

  Gravesham/Gravesend

  Queensmead School

  Ruislip and Northwood

  Haydon School

  Ruislip and Northwood

  Homewood School

  Ashford

  Dartford Grammar School

  Dartford

  Kirkbie Kendal School

  Westmorland and Lonsdale

  Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

  Ribble Valley

  Moseley Park School

  Wolverhampton South East

  Newton CE School

  Ribble Valley

  Vyners School

  Uxbridge

  Bourne Primary School

  Stamford and Spalding

  Highams Park School

  Chingford

  Southlands Comprehensive School

  Folkestone—Hythe

  St. Helen's Primary School Bluntisham

  Huntingdon

  Langley Park Boys School

  Beckenham

  Coopers School, Chislehurst

  Chislehurst

  Collingwood School, Camberley

  Surrey North West

  Raines Foundation School

  Bethnal Green and Stepney

  560

  School

  Where situated

  Graveney School

  Tooting

  Moulton Primary School

  Daventry

  St. John the Baptist School, Woking

  Woking

  Watford Girls' Grammar School

  Hertfordshire South West

  Blessed Hugh More RC Secondary School

  Grantham

  Southpark High School

  Lincoln

  The Longlands School

  Halesowen and Stourbridge

  Simon Digby Comprehensive School

  Solihull

  Foster's Grammar School for Boys

  West Dorset

  Lord Digby's Grammar School for Girls

  West Dorset

  Highwood School

  Stroud

  Sir James Altham School

  Hertfordshire

  Castlemount School

  Dover

  Ramsden School for Girls

  Orpington

  Kettering Boy's School

  Kettering

  Hindley Park High School

  Wigan

  Swanscombe High School

  Dartford

  Walsingham School

  Battersea

  Harwood School

  Fulham

  Foster's Boys Grammar School

  West Dorset

  Lord Digby's Girls Grammar School

  West Dorset

  Cliffe Woods Middle School, Rochester

  Med way

  Edenbridge Middle School

  Sevenoaks

  Queen Elizabeth School

  Penrith and the Border

  Aylsford School

  Tunbridge and Malling

  Parmiters School

  South-West Hertfordshire

  The Down Primary School Bridgnorth

  Ludlow

  Kettleshulme CE Primary School

  Macclesfield

  Ellerdine Primary School

  The Wrekin

  Crossgates Primary School

  Rochdale

  Drayton Manor High School

  Ealing North

  Copland Community School, Wembley

  Brent East

  Greenway Comprehensive School

  Uxbridge

  Wold Newton Primary School

  Bridlington

  William Gladstone School

  Brent East

  Magdalen CE/Meth Primary School

  East Linsey

  St. Mary's R.C. Primary School

  North Hereford

  Appledore CE Primary School, Ashford

  Ashford

  St. Aidan's School, Carlisle

  Carlisle

  Northolt High School

  Harrow West

  Mellow Lane School

  Hayes and Harlington

  Townmead School

  Hayes and Harlington

  Arley Primary School, Northwich

  Tatton

  Sheppey School

  Faversham

  Arnewood School

  New Forest

  Budmouth School

  West Dorset

  Kelsey Park School

  Beckenham

  Oakwood Park Grammar School

  Maidstone

  The Plume School

  Colchester and Maldon

  Ravens Wood School

  Ravensbourne

  Wood End First School

  Harrow West

  Wood End Middle School

  Harrow West

  Northwood School

  Ruislip and Northwood

  Senacre High School

  Maidstone

  Send C of E First School

  Esher

  Manor County First School Byfleet

  Woking

  The Crypt School, Gloucester

  Stroud

  de Stafford School, Caterham

  East Surrey

  Greenford High School

  Ealing North

  Ellen Wilkinson School

  Acton

  561

  School

  Where situated

  Dartford Grammar School for Girls

  Dartford

  Desborough Comprehensive School

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  Yarborough High School

  Lincoln

  Gamlingay Village College (Middle School)

  Mid Bedfordshire

  Riddlesdown High School

  Croydon South

  Exhall School

  Stratford-on-Avon

  Glyn School, Epsom

  Epsom and Ewell

  Redgate Middle School, Hunstanton

  North West Norfolk

  Snodland CE Primary School

  Tunbridge and Malling

  King John Middle School

  Corby

  Hayes School

  Ravensbourne

  Wrotham School

  Tunbridge and Malling

  Simon Langton Boys' Grammar School

  Canterbury

  The Park School, Rayleigh

  Rochford

  Gordon's School

  Woking

  Hartshill School

  North Warwickshire

  Heathside Secondary School

  Chertsey and Walton

  Barnhill Comprehensive School

  Hayes and Harlington

  Heacham Middle School

  Norfolk North West

  Walford High School

  Ealing—North

  Brentside High School

  Ealing—Southall

  Ringwood Comprehensive School

  New Forest

  Cliffe Woods Primary School Rochester

  Med way

  Hayes Manor School

  Hayes and Harlington

  Turnham Junior School

  Deptford

  Burntwood School for Girls

  Tooting

  Elmbridge School

  Brentwood and Ongar

  Lincoln Christ's Hospital School

  Lincoln

  Newborough Primary School

  Peterborough

  Ravensdale Middle School

  Mansfield

  Hawkedale First School

  Spellthorne

  Oldborough Manor High, Maidstone

  Maidstone

  Loddon Middle School

  South Norfolk

  Hatchford Junior and Infant School

  Meriden

  The Skinner's School, Tunbridge Wells

  Tunbridge Wells

  Woolley CE First School

  Wakefield

  Stoneleigh First School

  Epsom and Ewell

  The Admiral's Middle School

  South West Norfolk

  South Holmwood CE First School

  Mole Valley

  Brookmead First and Middle School

  South West Bedfordshire

  Christ Church CE JMI School Chorleywood

  South West Hertfordshire

  Downham Market High School

  South West Norfolk

  Eden School

  Carlisle

  Norwich Road First School

  South West Norfolk

  Wortley CE J and I School

  Barnsley West and Penistone

  Cranbrook School

  Tunbridge Wells

  Belmont Primary School

  South Derbyshire

  North Rauceby School

  Grantham

  William Alvey Junior School, Sleaford

  Grantham

  Gresham Primary School

  North Norfolk

  Salterlee J and I School

  Halifax

  The Philip Morant School

  Colchester South and Maldon

  Borrow Wood Junior School

  Derby North

  Boyton County Primary School

  North Cornwall

  Deanefield School, Reading

  Reading West

  Newstead Wood School

  Orpington

  Langley Grammar School, Slough

  Slough

  Rainham Mark Grammar School

  Gillingham

  Elmwood County Primary School

  Rochford

  562

  School

  Where situated

  Crofton Junior School, Orpington

  Orpington

  Parkstone Grammar School, Poole

  South Dorset

  La Retraite School

  Streatham

  Epsom and Ewell High School

  Epsom and Ewell

  John Fisher School, Purley

  Croydon South

  Ethelburga JMI School

  Battersea

  Gartree School

  East Linsey

  Hassall Green Methodist Primary School

  Crewe and Nantwich

  Castle Hills School, Gainsborough

  Gainsborough and Horncastle

  Dereham Church First School

  Mid Norfolk

  Myton School, Warwick

  Warwick and Leamington

  Sale Grammar School for Boys

  Altrincham and Sale

  Chesterfield School

  Chesterfield

  Droylsden County High School

  Ashton-Under-Lyne

  Hadham Hall School

  Hertford and Stourtford

  Weald of Kent Grammar School

  Tunbridge and Malling

  Ruffwood School

  Knowsley North

  Eckington School

  North East Derbyshire

  St. Joseph's RC High School

  Halton

  Watford Girls Grammar School

  Watford

  Wade Deacon County School

  Halton

  Ravensbourne School for Girls

  Chislehurst

  Millais School

  Horsham

  Queen Elizabeth's Senior High School

  Heywood and Middleton

  Chichele School

  Wellingborough

  Siddal Moor High School

  Heywood and Middleton

  Gaynes School

  Upminster

  St. Helena School

  Chesterfield

  St. Gregory's RC High School

  Warrington South

  Sir Thomas Rich's School

  North Avon

  Preston Manor High School

  Brent North

  Armthorpe Comprehensive School

  Doncaster Central

  The Grammar School for Boys Wilmington

  Dartford

  Failsworth Upper School

  Oldham

  Ailwyn Community School

  Huntingdon

  Ripon Grammar School

  Skipton and Ripon

  Woodford County High

  Woodford and Wanstead

  Blackfield Middle School

  Romsey and Waterside

  Dearneside Comprehensive School

  Barnsley East

  Blackpool 6th Form College

  Blackpool North

  Hoo St. Werburgh Middle School

  Medway

  Kings School

  Winchester

  Grange School

  Halesowen and Stourbridge

  Alexandra High School

  West Bromwich West

  Manor High School, Oadby

  Harborough

  Morecambe High School

  Morecambe and Lunesdale

  Banbury School

  Banbury

  Blackthorn Middle School

  Northampton North

  Chestnut Grove School

  Battersea

  King Edward VI School

  Lindsey East

  Whickham School

  Blaydon

  St. Theresa's RC Secondary Girls School

  Lewisham East

  Ridgeway School

  Swindon

  Featherstone High School

  Southall

  Villiers High School

  Southall

  Weaverham High School

  Tatton

  Boothroyd Junior School

  Batley and Spen

  John Henry Newman School

  Stevenage

  King James 1st Comprehensive School

  Bishop Auckland

  South Farnborough County Infants

  Aldershot

  Waltham Toll Bar

  Brigg and Cleethorpes

  Silverdale School

  Sheffield Central

  St. Thomas More RC High School, Stoke

  Stoke on Trent South

  Booth Lower School

  Northampton North

  563

  School

  Where situated

  High Oakham Middle School

  Mansfield

  St. Paul's CE Primary School

  Chipping Barnet

  St. Peter's Primary School Tunbridge Wells

  Tunbridge Wells

  Sir Wilfred Martineau School

  Birmingham, Hodge Hill

  Warmbrook Junior School

  High Peak

  Tudor Grange School

  Solihull

  Windmill Ridge School

  Mansfield

  Nower Hill High School

  Harrow West

  Silverhill Primary School

  Derby South

  Neroche Primary School Ilminster

  Yeovil

  Parallel Processor Research
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he proposes to make an additional grant to the Science and Engineering Research Council in this and succeeding years to cover its contribution to the new parallel processor research programme.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I understand that the SERC has made provision for a contribution to this high power computing programme to be met from its existing grant in aid for 1991–92 and provision continues in its forward planning for 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  My right hon. and learned Friend will be announcing the sums available by way of grant in aid for the latter two years at the appropriate time, but it will be for the SERC to decide the detailed allocation of the grant available.

  Schools (Opting Out)
  Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, how many schools have chosen to opt out of local authority control.

  Mr. Eggar
  A total of 315 schools have held or are committed to holding ballots amongst parents on whether

  Net Institutional Expenditure1 Per Pupil, Cash

  1979–80

  1988–89

  Nursery and Primary Schools £

  Secondary Schools £

  Nursery and Primary Schools £

  Secondary Schools £

  Barking

  495

  715

  1,255

  1,970

  Barnet

  475

  690

  1,250

  1,820

  Bexley

  425

  630

  1,100

  1,685

  Brent

  595

  785

  1,375

  2,305

  Bromley

  435

  665

  1,165

  1,770

  Croydon

  455

  670

  1,180

  2,040

  Ealing

  555

  720

  1,385

  2,145

  Enfield

  425

  605

  1,110

  1,715

  Haringey

  605

  760

  n/a

  n/a

  Harrow

  465

  745

  1,115

  1,740

  Havering

  435

  675

  1,095

  1,860

  Hillingdon

  465

  670

  1,195

  1,870

  Hounslow

  500

  685

  1,270

  1,895

  Kingston-Upon-Thames

  455

  635

  1,175

  1,900

  Merton

  520

  660

  1,210

  1,660

  Newham

  580

  740

  1,360

  2,140

  Redbridge

  440

  680

  1,070

  1,735

  Richmond-Upon-Thames

  485

  635

  1,180

  1,640

  Sutton

  415

  605

  1,090

  1,630

  Waltham Forest

  495

  785

  1,250

  2,435

  ILEA

  720

  945

  1,605

  2,505

  Birmingham

  415

  615

  1,040

  1,640

  Coventry

  440

  630

  1,065

  1,940

  Dudley

  365

  545

  1,020

  1,840

  Sandwell

  440

  630

  1,175

  1,885

  Solihull

  385

  570

  1,040

  1,650

  564
  to apply for grant-maintained status. Of those who have already voted, 229 have voted in favour of applying for grant-maintained status.

  "Polytechnics in Tomorrow's Britain"
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to "Polytechnics in Tomorrow's Britain" to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 25 November to Friday 29 November 1991.

  Education Expenditure
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the amount spent per child in each of the local education authorities in England in the last year and in 1979; and what proportion came from central Government and from local government.

  Mr. Fallon
  The table shows school-based expenditure per pupil in each local education authority for 1979–80 and for 1988–89, the latest year for which information is available.

  Spending on education is financed by a number of sources, including rates and the community charge, Government revenue support grant and specific grants, and fees and charges for services. Rates, community charge and revenue support grant are made available to fund all of the local authority's services, and are not hypothecated between individual services. It is not therefore possible to identify how much of the spending per pupil is financed centrally or locally.
  565

  1979–80

  1988–89

  Nursery and Primary Schools £

  Secondary Schools £

  Nursery and Primary Schools £

  Secondary Schools £

  Walsall

  420

  600

  1,200

  1,885

  Wolverhampton

  470

  635

  1,190

  1,745

  Knowsley

  415

  640

  1,165

  1,990

  Liverpool

  475

  675

  1,150

  1,905

  St. Helens

  385

  605

  1,050

  1,710

  Sefton

  410

  590

  1,015

  1,600

  Wirral

  400

  580

  1,070

  1,755

  Bolton

  385

  575

  1,015

  1,635

  Bury

  415

  595

  1,080

  1,730

  Manchester

  520

  775

  n/a

  n/a

  Oldham

  405

  575

  1,125

  1,590

  Rochdale

  425

  650

  990

  1,700

  Salford

  410

  630

  1,085

  1,860

  Stockport

  380

  560

  1,035

  1,730

  Tameside

  410

  580

  1,115

  1,660

  Trafford

  400

  550

  1,050

  1,710

  Wigan

  395

  610

  1,025

  1,845

  Barnsley

  455

  620

  1,065

  1,645

  Doncaster

  460

  630

  1,175

  1,655

  Rotherham

  395

  570

  1,125

  1,635

  Sheffield

  465

  635

  1,230

  1,810

  Bradford

  460

  540

  1,160

  1,605

  Calderdale

  415

  575

  1,145

  1,665

  Kirklees

  395

  545

  1,110

  1,620

  Leeds

  480

  490

  1,155

  1,545

  Wakefield

  425

  540

  n/a

  n/a

  Gateshead

  465

  600

  1,180

  1,770

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  525

  695

  1,225

  1,870

  North Tyneside

  465

  610

  1,145

  1,780

  South Tyneside

  510

  650

  1,150

  1,825

  Sunderland

  445

  620

  1,005

  1,665

  Avon

  425

  580

  1,050

  1,630

  Bedfordshire

  475

  610

  1,115

  1,635

  Berkshire

  410

  595

  1,030

  1,570

  Buckinghamshire

  415

  630

  1,065

  1,715

  Cambridgeshire

  410

  600

  1,005

  1,480

  Cheshire

  410

  605

  960

  1,545

  Cleveland

  430

  610

  1,075

  1,770

  Cornwall

  375

  565

  1,010

  1,525

  Cumbria

  410

  590

  1,140

  1,685

  Derbyshire

  395

  565

  1,080

  1,755

  Devon

  390

  545

  975

  1,535

  Dorset

  405

  560

  1,020

  1,485

  Durham

  450

  575

  1,130

  1,575

  East Sussex

  415

  605

  1,025

  1,565

  Essex

  390

  585

  1,050

  1,635

  Gloucestershire

  405

  565

  1,010

  1,545

  Hampshire

  380

  565

  1,040

  1,580

  Hereford and Worcester

  385

  565

  1,000

  1,440

  Hertfordshire

  440

  650

  1,130

  1,745

  Humberside

  425

  575

  1,155

  1,690

  Isle of Wight

  425

  550

  1,055

  1,495

  Kent

  385

  570

  935

  1,475

  Lancashire

  375

  580

  985

  1,620

  Leicestershire

  400

  590

  1,085

  1,770

  Lincolnshire

  385

  580

  1,005

  1,475

  Norfolk

  410

  575

  1,070

  1,585

  North Yorkshire

  425

  595

  1,030

  1,595

  Northamptonshire

  380

  570

  1,005

  1,545

  Northumberland

  425

  580

  1,090

  1,630

  Nottinghamshire

  390

  585

  1,115

  1,745

  Oxfordshire

  430

  590

  1,125

  1,665

  Salop

  375

  580

  1,075

  1,695

  Somerset

  370

  530

  1,025

  1,570

  Staffordshire

  435

  600

  1,050

  1,610

  Suffolk

  420

  525

  1,020

  1,485

  Surrey

  415

  620

  1,050

  1,635

  Warwickshire

  385

  570

  1,025

  1,635

  West Sussex

  385

  555

  1,005

  1,530

  Wiltshire

  395

  565

  1,045

  1,555

  1 Excluding costs of school meals, home to school transport, central administration and financing costs of capital expenditure.

  n/a denotes that an expenditure return has not been received from the LEA.

  566

  Teachers
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the total number of teachers employed on a permanent basis in maintained schools in England in 1990–91 with comparable figures for each of the past 12 years.

  Mr. Fallon
  Figures for teachers employed on a permanent basis cannot be separately identified. The table gives the total number of teachers—full-time equivalents—employed for one month and more in local education authority maintained and grant-maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools 1979–91.

  Year (January)

  Numbers of Teachers (000's)

  1991

  1382·4

  1990

  385·7

  1989

  385·4

  1988

  389·5

  1987

  392·6

  1986

  392·1

  1985

  395·6

  1984

  401·8

  1983

  406·1

  Average class sizes, pupil: teacher ratios in maintained schools in inner London and teachers employed by the Inner London Education Authority 1985 to 1990

  Nursery, primary and secondary

  Primary1

  Secondary

  Teachers employed by ILEA (FTEs)

  Overall PTR2

  within school PTR3

  average class size4

  within school PTR

  average class size

  1990

  City

  n.a.

  n.a.

  17·40

  26·0

  —

  —

  Camden

  n.a.

  n.a.

  19·20

  24·4

  14·90

  20·7

  Greenwich

  n.a.

  n.a.

  19·70

  24·9

  15·80

  22·2

  Hackney

  n.a.

  n.a.

  18·30

  23·33

  14·15

  21·5

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  n.a.

  n.a.

  18·30

  23·2

  14·30

  19·5

  Islington

  n.a.

  n.a.

  18·50

  24·1

  16·45

  22·1

  Kensington and Chelsea

  n.a.

  n.a.

  18·50

  24·2

  13·65

  18·4

  Lambeth

  n.a.

  n.a.

  19·15

  24·2

  14·20

  20·7

  Lewisham

  n.a.

  n.a.

  19·60

  24·9

  14·70

  19·9

  Southwark

  n.a.

  n.a.

  19·95

  24·5

  15·60

  22·6

  Tower Hamlets

  n.a.

  n.a.

  18·10

  25·0

  14·05

  21·2

  Wandsworth

  n.a.

  n.a.

  17·95

  22·5

  14·35

  19·5

  Westminster

  n.a.

  n.a.

  17·25

  23·6

  14·20

  20·7

  ILEA

  1990

  18,524·9

  14·65

  18·80

  24·1

  14·75

  20·8

  1989

  18,295·4

  14·70

  18·30

  23·5

  14·40

  20·2

  1988

  20,0200

  13·50

  17·60

  22·3

  13·10

  19·0

  1987

  20,492·1

  13·30

  17·15

  22·1

  12·60

  18·4

  1986

  20,569·1

  13·40

  17·15

  21·8

  12·80

  18·6

  1985

  20,394·6

  13·75

  17·15

  20·6

  13·05

  18·4

  1 Excluding nursery.

  2 Based on all teachers employed by ILEA.

  3 Based on qualified teachers only in schools.

  4 Classes with one teacher.

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what expenditure on city technology colleges has been planned for the years 1991–92 to 1994–95; and how much in each year is committed to(a) running costs and (b) capital costs, or remains uncommitted.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  In financial year 1991–92 the planned expenditure on city technology colleges is £50·62 million. Of this, £23·93 million is for capital costs and £26·69 million for running costs.
  568

  Year (January)

  Numbers of Teachers (000's)

  1982

  412·1

  1981

  421·4

  1980

  430·3

  1979

  433·3

  1 Provisional

  Source: Form 618G

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table giving the estimated total number of teachers employed by each of the inner London boroughs, with an aggregate total, for the latest available date, and his estimate of the pupil:teacher ratio, and average class size for primary and secondary schools in each borough, with comparable figures for the former Inner London education authority for each of the preceding five years.

  Mr. Eggar
  The latest available information is for January 1990. The only information at that date for the inner London boroughs relates to teachers and classes within schools. The table shows the latest available information.

  The apportionment between capital and running costs in future years has yet to be determined. The planning figures are as follows:

  £ million

  1992–93

  47·53

  1993–94

  48·65

  1994–95

  49·86

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table giving his estimate of(a) pupil:teacher ratio and (b) average class sizes for (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in England, for 1990–91 and each of the past 12 years.

  Mr. Fallon
  Figures are given in the table. The "within school" pupil:teacher ratios and average class sizes are not yet available for 1991. The overall PTR for 1991 is provisional.

  Average class sizes and pupil: teacher ratios in local authority maintained, and grant-maintained, schools in England 1979 to 1991 (January)

  Primary1

  Secondary

  Nursery, primary secondary

  PTR1

  class size4

  PTR

  class size

  PTR3

  1979

  23·10

  25·9

  16·75

  21·0

  18·95

  1980

  22·70

  25·4

  16·65

  20·9

  18·70

  1981

  22·60

  25·2

  16·60

  20·8

  18·55

  1982

  22·50

  25·1

  16·65

  20·7

  18·45

  1983

  22·30

  24·8

  16·50

  20·6

  18·15

  1984

  22·15

  24·7

  16·25

  20·4

  17·90

  1985

  22·20

  24·9

  16·15

  20·4

  17·75

  1986

  22·10

  25·5

  15·95

  20·3

  17·55

  1987

  21·90

  25·4

  15·65

  20·2

  17·30

  1988

  22·00

  25·4

  15·40

  19·9

  17·00

  1989

  21·95

  25·7

  15·30

  19·9

  17·00

  1990

  22·00

  25·9

  15·25

  20·0

  16·95

  1991

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  517·25

  1 Excluding nursery.

  2 Based on qualified teachers only in schools.

  3 Based on all teachers employed by LEAs.

  4 Classes with one teacher.

  5 Provisional.

  Assisted Places Schemes
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the inspections of schools which form part of the assisted places scheme carried out in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Fallon
  The inspection of independent schools by Her Majesty's inspectorate forms part of a planned programme under which all such schools are looked at over a period of about seven years. In the case of schools in the assisted places scheme, Her Majesty's inspectorate is also consulted prior to their admission into the scheme. Participating schools have to satisfy stringent criteria for admission and monitoring of their academic achievements is carried out on a regular basis.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list by each individual school which forms part of the assisted places scheme examination results by subject at GCSE and at A-level.

  Mr. Fallon
  Examination results by main subject at individual schools are not immediately available, but the last annual survey of assisted places schools' GCSE and A-level examination results for the academic year 1989–90, shows that, for that year, 90 per cent. of GCSE entries by assisted pupils resulted in grades A to C, with 45 per cent. achieving grade A and 33 per cent. achieving grade B. Ninety per cent. of A-level entries resulted in grades A to E, with nearly 29 per cent. achieving grade A and 25 per cent. achieving grade B.
  570
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those schools which have been refused inclusion in the assisted places scheme.

  Mr. Fallon
  Schools are selected for the assisted places scheme not only on the basis of a sound academic standard but also with regard to geographical location and the desirability of securing an equitable distribution of places between girls and boys.

  The table lists those schools that have, as yet, not been successful in gaining admission into the assisted places scheme for any of the above reasons.

  Assisted places scheme: schools which have applied for membership but which have been unsuccessful

  Abbotsholme, Uttoxeter

  Bedstone College, Bucknell

  Bentham, Lancaster

  Birkdale, Sheffield

  Box Hill, Dorking

  Claremont Fan Court, Surrey

  Clayesmore, Dorset

  Combe Bank, Sevenoaks

  Convent of the Holy Child Jesus, Birmingham

  Convent of Our Lady of Providence, Hampshire

  Convent of Our Lady, St. Leonards-on-Sea

  Croft House, Dorset

  Culcheth Hall, Atrincham

  Elmslie Girls, Fylde, Lancashire

  Fernhill Manor, New Milton

  Fulneck Boys, Pudsey

  Halliford, Surrey

  Heathfield School, Pinner

  Hollygirt, Nottingham

  Holy Trinity Convent, Bromley

  Huyton College, Liverpool

  Kelly College, Tavistock

  Kent College, Pembury

  Kings, Gloucester

  Lubavitch House, London N16

  Leicester High

  Menorah Grammar, London NW11

  Moira House, Eastbourne

  The Mount, London NW7

  Notre Dame Senior, Cobham

  Our Lady's Convent Senior, Abingdon

  Oswestry School

  Pierrepont, Farnham

  Presentation College, Reading

  Princethorpe College, Rugby

  Purcell (member of the Music and Ballet Scheme)

  Reading Blue Coat School

  Rickmansworth Masonic, Hertfordshire

  Rosemead, Littlehampton

  Royal Russell School, Croydon

  Royal Wolverhampton Grammar School

  St. Anne's, Windermere

  St. Brandons, Clevedon

  St. Columba's College, St. Albans

  St. Edmunds, Canterbury

  St. Edwards, Cheltenham

  St. Francis College, Letchworth

  St. George's, Ascot

  St. Hilda's, Whitby

  St. Martin's Solihull

  St. Mary's Convent, Folkestone

  St. Mary's Convent, Worcester

  St. Mary's, Shaftesbury

  St. Michael's, Oxted

  St. Nicholas, Fleet

  St. Teresa's Convent, Dorking

  St. Ursula's High, Bristol

  Sacred Heart, Tunbridge Wells

  Scaristck Hall, Lancashire

  Shandy Stage School

  Shebbear College, Devon

  Stella Maris Convent, Bideford

  Stonar School

  Stratford House, Bromley

  571

  Tattenhall School, Wolverhampton

  Upper Tooting High

  Wentworth Milton Mount

  Westonbirt, Tetbury

  Westwood House, Peterborough

  Running total 69 schools.

  Assisted places scheme—schools which have expressed an interest in joining the scheme but who have not yet been invited to apply for membership

  Micklefield School, Seaford, Sussex

  Shaw House School, Heaton, Bradford

  St. Joseph's School, Lincoln

  The Royal Naval School, Surrey

  Mount St. Mary's Convent School, Exeter

  Ockbrook School, Derby

  St. Mary's School, Buckinghamshire

  Sidcot School, Avon

  Highclaire School, Sutton Coldfield

  Edgbaston High School, Birmingham

  Northwood College, Middlesex

  St. Clair's, Oxford

  Bremond College, Coventry

  St. James' Independent School for Boys, London SW1

  The Dixie Girls School, Leicestershire

  Park School for Girls, Ilford

  Worth School, Crawley, Sussex

  Shiplake College, Henley-on-Thames

  Gads Hill School, Kent

  Dunottar, Reigate, Surrey

  St. Elphin's School, Matlock, Derbyshire

  Padworth College

  St. Dominic's Priory

  Moorhouse School

  The Abbey School/St. Augustine's College

  New Hall School

  Hallfield School

  The School of St. Clare, Penzance

  St. Dominic's School

  St. John's School, Billericay

  Redroofs Theatre School

  St. Mary's Convent School, Worcester

  Immanuel College, Hertfordshire

  St. Edmunds School, Kent

  Raphael School, Essex

  The Grammar School, Hull

  Kingswood College (telephone inquiry)

  Convent of the Sacred Heart School

  Our Ladies Convent High School (telephone inquiry)

  St. Augustine's Priory School, Ealing

  Kelly College

  Stanborough Secondary School, Watford

  Seventh Day Adventive Schools, Watford

  Sharmondean School, Buckingham (telephone inquiry)

  Running total 44 schools.

  Open University
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide figures for the cost of a qualifying graduate in a university or polytechnic in the United Kingdom, calculated by the same method as that which his Department used in its estimation of the cost of an Open university graduate in the Review of the Open University, page 67, paragraph 182.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Open university's calculated unit cost of a part-time honours graduate was some £12,000 in the calendar year 1989. Differences in the data available on universities and polytechnics rule out an identical calculation, but a broadly comparable average figure for a full-time graduate in the academic year 1988–89 was £17,200, which includes an element for the amortised capital cost.

  Education Authority Employees
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list, for each local education authority, the number of(a) teaching staff employed within the maintained sector, (b) non-teaching school-based employees and (c) administrators and other local education authority employees, for the latest available year.

  Mr. Fallon
  Information showing the number of teachers employed by each LEA in the nursery, primary and secondary schools sector is given in DES statistical bulletin 9/91 which is available in the Library.

  Tables provided by the Local Authority Conditions of Service Advisory Board showing the numbers of teaching and non-teaching staff (full-time and part-time) employed by each LEA (including special and further education) have been placed in the Library.

  No information is available separately on the numbers of non-teaching school-based employees. Information on certain categories of school-based employees was collected in January 1991, but is not yet available for publication.

  Foundation for Sport and the Arts
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to his answer of 18 April,Official Report, column 217, if he will list each of the sports organisations with which he has held meetings with regard to the Foundation for Sport and the Arts since that date, together with the dates on which such meetings took place.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have, since 18 April, had meetings with a wide variety of sports organisations. The subject of the Foundation for Sport and the Arts has been discussed at a number of these.

  Research Councils
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy on appointing hon. Members to the research councils; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Members of the research councils are chosen to provide a balance of expertise and experience across the total membership, both in the disciplines concerned and, more generally, in business and public life. Hon. Members with appropriate expertise or experience can be considered for appointment to the research council.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the hon. Members who have been appointed to the research councils since 1979.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The following is a list of hon. Members appointed to the research councils from 1 January 1980 to the present time:

  Agriculture and Food Research Council

  Mr. Tim Boswell, MP: November 1988 to July 1990;

  Mr. Roger Knapman, MP: January 1991, continuing.

  Medical Research Council

  Dr. B. Mawhinney, MP: June 1980 to June 1983;

  Sir David Crouch, MP: January 1984 to July 1987;

  573

  Mrs. V. Bottomley, MP: December 1987 to July 1938;

  Mr. R. Key, MP: November 1989 to October 1990;

  Miss Emma Nicholson, MP: February 1991, continuing.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn, 18 April,Official Report, column 216, on official visits, if he will list the official visits he has made since that date to schools, sixth-form colleges, further education colleges, universities, polytechnics and other educational establishments, with the dates, name of the establishment, its area and the purpose of the visits, in each case.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My visits since 18 April 1991 have been as follows:

  26 April: Nottingham Polytechnic

  1 May: Jewish Free School, Camden, Kingsway FE. College

  2 May: Nottingham University

  9 May: Chaucer Technical School, Canterbury High School

  17 May: St. Pauls C of E VA School, Hills Road 6th Form College, St. Ivo Secondary School, Huntingdon

  7 June: Rushcliffe School

  11 June: Bourne Primary School, Valley End CE Primary School

  14 June: Wye College (London University)

  19 June: Chestnut Grove Secondary School

  21 June: Harry Carlton Secondary School and Djanogly CTC, Nottingham

  24 June: Westminster School

  26 June: Liverpool Polytechnic

  2 July: Sheffield Polytechnic

  16 July: The Arnewood School, New Milton

  19 July: Bretton Hall College of HE

  Teacher Appraisal
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on school teacher appraisal.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  My hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have today laid regulations before Parliament to require the appraisal of all school teachers in England and Wales. The first teachers will be appraised from this September.

  Appraisal will help teachers improve their professional skills and develop their full potential. It will encourage better planning and delivery of the curriculum. For individual teachers, it will lead to greater confidence and improve morale. The best teachers will receive the support, praise and recognition they deserve. All teachers will be helped to improve their performance.

  The regulations put in place a simple and straightforward appraisal process. The process will include observation by a senior colleague of the teacher's work in the classroom. The teacher being appraised will then discuss with that senior colleague the teacher's performance and professional development and they will set targets for the teacher's future progress. There will be a follow-up meeting in the second year of the appraisal cycle.

  I have consulted representatives of the teachers and of the employers on the details of the regulations and on the circular which accompanies them. As a result, the regulations contain extra safeguards for individual teachers should appraisers wish to collect information from other teachers at the school, or from governors or parents.
  574
  The regulations entitle the chairman of governors to see the appraisal statement of the head and the targets set for teachers at the school. The chairman will be expected to treat these as confidential.

  There will be no automatic link between appraisal and performance and promotion or pay. However, I believe that head teachers should take into account information from appraisals in advising governors on decisions on promotions and pay.

  Higher Education Funding Councils
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements he is making to prepare for the higher education funding councils.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The present chairmen of the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council and the Universities Funding Council were appointed for a three-year term ending on 31 October this year. The chairman of the Universities Funding Council, Lord Chilver, indicated at the time of his appointment that he would not want to serve a second term of office. I have decided to appoint Sir Ron Dearing from 1 November this year as chairman of both the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council and the Universities Funding Council.

  I am writing today to both the present chairmen inviting the councils to draw up by the end of October a joint plan of work to prepare for establishing the new English higher education funding council. The full text of my letter is available in the Library.

  Environmental Education
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the committee to make recommendations on the future development of environmental provision within further and higher education will be established; and what will be its terms of reference.

  Mr. Fallon
  [pursuant to his reply, 16 May 1991, c. 219–20]: The terms of reference of this committee will be:
  In the light of available evidence on the levels and main forms of environmental knowledge, skills and awareness which the workforce will need in order to respond to the current and anticipated requirements of the economy and society for greater environmental responsibility

  (a) to assess the main strengths and weaknesses of current environmental provision (excluding research) in further and higher education in England and Wales, taking account of the treatment of environmental issues within the generality of scientific, technological and vocational course curricula as well as the provision of courses which are principally concerned with specific aspects of environmental management or with environmental issues more generally; and

  (b) to recommend priorities for the future development of environmental further and higher education (as defined in (a) above), with particular reference to

  (i) the respective roles of initial education and vocational continuing education and training concerned with the updating of knowledge and skills

  (ii) the relative priority to be accorded to the different strands of provision identified in (a) above,

  (iii) the most effective and practicable means of strengthening the treatment of environmental issues (where relevant) within vocational courses which are not themselves specifically environmental in focus

  (iv) the role of interdisciplinary courses in Environmental Science or Environmental Studies.

  The recommendations at (b) should be directed, as appropriate, to further and higher education institutions,

  575
  examining and validating bodies, professional institutions, and other bodies with significant influence on the content of curricula within further and higher education.

  The committee will start work in the autumn, and will be asked to present its report within 12 months. Its chairman will be Professor Peter Toyne, rector of the Liverpool polytechnic. I will write to the hon. Member setting out the committee's membership when this is finalised, and will arrange for a copy of my letter to be placed in the Library.

ENERGY

  Coal Mining
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the names and addresses of coal mines operating in England and Wales, noting the number of miners employed in each; and whether they are in the public or private sector.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The British Coal Corporation is responsible for its own operational mines, and is the licensing authority under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946. The information requested is therefore a matter for the corporation.

  British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I meet Sir Christopher Harding frequently and most recently on 22 July. Sir Christopher told me some months ago that he would like to give up the chairmanship at the end of his second term of office next year. I have decided that his successor will be John Guinness, currently permanent secretary at the Department of Energy. I should like to pay tribute to Sir Christopher's very real contribution to BNFL and the United Kingdom nuclear industry over his five years in office and to wish him well for the future.

  Energy Research
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his reply of 26 April,Official Report, column 614, what was the annual expenditure in each year since 1979 of his Department in R and D on (a) nuclear fusion, (b) nuclear fission, (c) cleaner coal combustion technologies, (d) solar photovoltaics, (e) electrical energy storage and (f) wind powered generation.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  In order to make a meaningful comparison between the various technologies, due account should be taken of the total level of public sector expenditure—for example, over £500 million was spent in the public sector over the last decade on R and D on coal utilisation technologies. Comparable figures are not readily available for the other technologies mentioned, and I shall write to the hon. Member when more information has been obtained.

  EC Directives
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No.576
  10445/90 on the oil supply situation to (a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The Commission has been asked to reconsider its proposals in the light of the views of member states including the United Kingdom. Detailed costing of the proposals as they stand would not therefore be worth while.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 9791/90 on hot-water boilers to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government have not at this stage estimated the costs of implementation to the Exchequer because the draft is still under discussion and it is anticipated that there will be changes to the draft before there is further progress. On(b) and (c), I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 17 July 1991, at column 163, to his recent question on this topic.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 9025/90 on nuclear fusion research to the Exchequer(a) directly and (b) channelled via the European institutions.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  If implemented in its present form, the Government estimate that the net cost of this programme to the Exchequer could be some £65 million to £70 million, with a further £15 million channelled via the Joint European torus project at Culham.

  In practice, the actual United Kingdom contribution to the EC budget for individual programmes will depend not only on the level of expenditure, but on the level and timing of payments, and the relative shares of the programme.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 10149/90 on energy efficiency to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  European Commission document No. 10149/90 is a communication to the Energy Council on specific action for vigorous energy efficiency—SAVE—accompanied by a proposal for a Council decision on the promotion of energy efficiency in the Community.

  It was agreed by the Council of Energy Ministers on 31 May that, subject to the approval of the European Parliament, the decision would have three main components: expenditure by the EC on measures listed in article 2 of the draft decision; various draft directives on energy efficiency—each to be considered separately—and an advisory committee of officials from member states.

  The costs of implementing the SAVE decision will be met by the European Commission whose five-year schedule of estimated commitments and expenditure is as follows:

  577

  Million ecu

  Commitments

  Payments

  1991

  4·5

  3

  1992

  6·5

  6

  1993

  8

  8

  1994

  8

  9

  1995

  8

  9

  TOTAL

  35

  35

  Thirty-five million ecu is approximately £24·5 million.

  In principle, the United Kingdom public expenditure cost is likely to be about 18 per cent. of these figures. In practice the actual United Kingdom contribution to the EC budget for individual programmes will depend not only on the level of expenditure, but on the level and timing of payments, and the relative shares of the programme.

  Home Insulation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give his most up-to-date estimate of the number of households in England and Wales, whose properties have been draught-proofed or otherwise insulated under the home energy efficiency scheme in each quarterly or six monthly period since its inception.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  During the first six months of operation, claims were received in respect of some 70,000 insulation jobs under the home energy efficiency scheme. Of these, some 58,000 jobs in respect of 49,000 households were in England and Wales.

PRIME MINISTER

  Non-natural Disasters
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a list of the non-natural disasters involving injury or loss of life in the United Kingdom since 1961.

  The Prime Minister
  The information is not available centrally.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Medical Service
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given in the light of the Woolf inquiry report into the reorganisation of the prison service to integrate the prison medical service in the national health service.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  We are committed to securing real and lasting improvements in the quality of patient care for the prison population. A recent efficiency scrutiny of the prison medical service provides an opportunity to bring this about. The scrutiny report found that the PMS should move closer to the national health service, but that it should remain managed as part of the prison service as a whole. We have accepted this finding, which is in keeping with a number of earlier studies of medical services in prison. Follow-up work to the scrutiny is well in hand and a consultation exercise about to begin will help determine the means of moving closer to the NHS.

  Crime Prevention
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will meet the independent television companies to discuss the report from his Department on the fear of crime and the screening of crime prevention and detection programmes.

  Mr. John Patten
  The report on the fear of crime, which was produced by a working group chaired by Mr. Michael Grade, was drawn to the attention of the chairman of the Independent Broadcasting Authority which later commissioned a research report on crime reconstruction programmes. This suggested that although such programmes may increase the level of fear, their value in assisting the police is widely recognised. There are signs, which the Government welcome, that the programme makers have taken account of the messages in these reports.

  Begging
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policies Her Majesty's Government are proposing to combat the problem of begging.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The police already have adequate powers to deal with begging and the problems associated with it. No new measures are proposed to deal with the problem.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will establish a test project in the Harwood area of Bolton involving all the relevant local authorities and services, together with parents, to identify potential young offenders with the aim of developing a strategy for reducing the incidence of youth crime;

  (2) how many projects are currently, or will shortly be in operation, as part of the Government's campaign to reduce the youth crime rate; and if he will list them by area and specification.

  Mr. John Patten
  There are many local initiatives which can contribute to preventing offending, including police schemes for activities for school children during the holidays and projects for reducing offending by young people, some of them funded through the probation service and the Government's safer cities programme. My right hon. Friend is exploring what more can be done further to develop policies for reducing the number of crimes committed by young people.

  Sexual Offences
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans Her Majesty's Government have to introduce a programme to reduce the incidence of sexual offences.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Criminal Justice Bill strengthens the courts' powers to protect the public from sexual offenders. Courts will be able to impose a custodial sentence, or a longer one than is justified by the seriousness of the offence, upon a sexual offender who poses a risk of serious harm to the public. They will also be able to order longer and more intensive supervision for sex offenders
  579
  following their release from custody or when they are sentenced to probation. On 7 June we announced our plans to introduce structured treatment for sex offenders in prison.

  Terrorism
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans Her Majesty's Government have to reduce the incidence of terrorism.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Her Majesty's Government are fully committed to tackling terrorism, and we regard it as essential that the police should have the resources and powers they need in carrying out this difficult task. The Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 provides a legislative framework and the annual report on the operation of the Act helps us to keep under constant consideration whether the powers contained within it are suitable and adequate. The Government are also committed to working to combat terrorism, in co-operation with other countries, both bilaterally and multilaterally, for example through the Trevi group in Europe.

  Civil Defence Grant
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total amount of civil defence grant for(a) staff costs, (b) building work, (c) equipment costs and (d) other costs received by each London borough for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Probation Hostels
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what difficulties are experienced by probation hostels in obtaining rent from residents as a result of the ineligibility of 17-year-olds to receive income support; and what action he intends to take to resolve this problem.

  Mr. John Patten
  Some probation hostels have reported difficulties in obtaining rent from 17-year-olds. We are considering this matter further with relevant other Government Departments.

  Admissions to the United Kingdom of BDTCs and BN(O)s from Hong Kong

  Number

  Admission category

  1990

  1991

  1st quarter

  2nd quarter

  3rd quarter

  4th quarter

  Year

  1st quarter1

  Visitors

  —ordinary

  6,000

  10,400

  17,700

  6,900

  40,900

  4,900

  —business

  1,430

  1,650

  1,590

  1,270

  5,940

  1,100

  Students

  430

  310

  6,830-

  860

  8,430

  500

  Husbands and fiances2

  10

  20

  20

  20

  70

  10

  Wives and fiancees2

  40

  50

  50

  40

  160

  40

  Parents and grand-parents2

  ..

  ..

  10

  3—

  ..

  10

  Children2

  20

  30

  130

  30

  210

  40

  .. Not available

  1 Provisional figures.

  2 Seeking, or accepted for, settlement in the United Kingdom.

  3 Five or fewer.

  Immigration
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) husbands, (b) wives and (c) dependent children have been refused (i) extension

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for British citizenship made under the provisions of the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990 have been(a) granted and (b) refused, under each class and category of the scheme; and when he expects all the applications made before 28 February to have been decided.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  As at 23 July 1991, the numbers of applicants recommended by the governor to the Secretary of State and registered as British citizens under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990 were as follows:

  Number

  Sensitive Service class

  158

  Entrepreneurs' class

  12

  Dependants of the above

  278

  Total

  448

  None of those recommended by the Governor has been refused registration.

  The Hong Kong Government estimate that the majority of recommendations will have been made to the Secretary of State by around the middle of 1993. Final decisions on registration will be taken as quickly after recommendation as resources allow.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) British nationals and (b) holders of certificates of identity from Hong Kong have been admitted to the United Kingdom in each quarter since January 1990 as (a) persons of independent means, (b) self-employed persons, (c) business people, (d) visitors, (e) students, (f) husbands and fiances, (g) wives and financeées and (h) other dependent relatives.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The available information for British dependent territories citizens and British nationals (overseas) from Hong Kong is given in the table. Figures on admissions of holders of certificates of identity from Hong Kong are not available.

  of stay and (ii) settlement in the United Kingdom on the grounds that he is not satisfied that they can be maintained and accommodated without recourse to public funds in each quarter since January 1990.
  581
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The available information relating to after-entry cases is given in the table. Information on dependent children is not readily available.

  Refusals, on grounds of maintenance and accommodation, of after-entry applications by husbands and wives

  Number of persons

  Refusals to grant probationary year on grounds of:

  Refusals1

  Accommodation

  Maintenance

  Maintenance and accommodation

  1990

  Quarter 1

  Husbands

  1

  —

  —

  3

  Wives

  —

  —

  1

  4

  Quarter 2

  Husbands

  3

  1

  2

  8

  Wives

  —

  1

  —

  8

  Quarter 3

  Husbands

  3

  1

  1

  8

  Wives

  —

  1

  —

  5

  Quarter 4

  Husbands

  1

  —

  —

  7

  Wives

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1991

  Quarter 1

  Husbands

  —

  3

  —

  7

  Wives

  —

  —

  —

  7

  1 Refusals of settlement after probationary year on general considerations, including recourse to public funds.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken by his Department to investigate cases referred from overseas posts in order to assess whether the maintenance and accommodation requirements of the immigration rules have been met.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information is not available in the form requested. The estimated average time taken by the immigration service to deal with all categories of cases deferred by entry clearance officers during the past 12 months was about 61 days.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications from over-age re-applicants from the Indian subcontinent seeking to join a sponsor settled in the United Kingdom have been(a) made, (b) deferred, (c) refused and (d) granted in each year since 1986 and the first quarter of 1991; and how many such re-applicants in each category had undergone successful DNA tests.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The available information is that a total of 570 applications from over-age re-applicants in the Indian sub-continent to join parents in the United Kingdom have been decided under the terms of the concession announced by my right hon. Friend the then Home Secretary on 14 June 1989 at columns 461–62. All these cases involved over-age re-applicants who have established relationships by means of DNA evidence but do not qualify for admission under the immigration rules. Entry clearance has been authorised in 116 of these cases and refused in 454.
  582
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many wives and dependant children applying for entry clearance in the Indian subcontinent in each quarter since January 1990 were refused(a) on first application and (b) on second or subsequent application.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Quarterly information up to the end of 1990 on the total numbers of wives and children in the Indian subcontinent refused entry clearance to the United Kingdom is published in table 18 of Cm. 1571 "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom, 1990", a copy of which is in the Library. In the first quarter of 1991, 166 wives and 171 children were initially refused entry clearance. Separate information on first-time applicants and re-applicants is not available centrally.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were waiting for special quota vouchers in(a) India and (b) east Africa in (i) May 1990 and (ii) December 1990; when those issued with vouchers on those dates had applied; how many vouchers were issued in (1) India and (2) east Africa in (A) 1990 and (B) the first quarter of 1991; when those applying now can expect to receive vouchers; and how many applicants there were for vouchers in (v) India and (w) east Africa in (x) 1990 and (y) the first half of 1991.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information which is currently available is given in the tables.
  583

  Table 1: Persons applying for a special voucher for entry to the United Kingdom

  Number of persons

  Applications newly received1

  Vouchers issued

  Applications awaiting a decision at end of quarter

  1990

  1991 1st quarter

  1990

  1991 1st quarter

  1990 2nd quarter

  1990 4th quarter

  India

  360

  90

  600

  220

  950

  790

  Kenya

  270

  50

  250

  50

  560

  570

  Tanzania

  30

  +

  20

  +

  70

  70

  Malawi

  10

  +

  10

  +

  +

  +

  Zambia

  40

  +

  40

  10

  20

  10

  Elsewhere

  10

  +

  10

  +

  +

  10

  Total2

  720

  150

  920

  290

  1,600

  1,400

  + Five or fewer.

  1 Including applications subsequently withdrawn or lapsed.

  2 Total may differ from sum of countries due to rounding.

  Table 2: Waiting times for persons applying for a special voucher

  Months

  Waiting time to main interview for:

  Persons interviewed at end of quarter

  1 Persons applying at end of quarter

  Quarter 2 1990

  Quarter 4 1990

  Quarter 1 1991

  Quarter 1 1991

  India2

  32

  24

  20

  20

  Kenya

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  Tanzania

  1½

  1

  1

  1

  Malawi3

  —

  ¼

  ¼

  ¼

  Zambia

  1

  1

  1

  l

  1 Data relate to expected waiting time.

  2 Data relate to non-priority applicants. Priority applicants (ie widows with a child in the United Kingdom, heads of household aged 65 or over, and special compassionate cases) are interviewed within three months.

  3 Within a week.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of(a) Jamaica, (b) Turkey, (c) Morocco, (d) the United States of America, (e) Australia, (f) Malaysia, (g) Hong Kong, (h) Guyana, (i) Trinidad, (j) Colombia, (k) Algeria, (l) Canada and

  Passenger admissions and persons refused leave to enter and removed, for selected nationalities.

  Number

  1st quarter 1990

  2nd quarter 1990

  3rd quarter 1990

  4th quarter 1990

  Year 1990

  1st quarter 1991

  Admissions

  Refused and removed

  Admissions

  Refused and removed

  Admissions

  Refused and removed

  Admissions

  Refused and removed

  Admissions

  Refused and removed

  Admissions1

  Refused and removed

  Jamaica

  5,600

  160

  7,870

  140

  10,700

  135

  6,280

  145

  30,500

  580

  4,700

  102

  Turkey

  17,100

  82

  17,900

  71

  25,800

  120

  18,700

  116

  79,500

  389

  13,700

  80

  Morocco

  4,620

  353

  3,420

  102

  7,090

  112

  3,780

  67

  18,900

  634

  2,700

  36

  USA

  510,000

  313

  872,000

  321

  944,000

  345

  514,000

  340

  2,840,000

  1,319

  339,000

  286

  Australia

  80,900

  45

  150,000

  58

  170,000

  52

  102,000

  64

  504,000

  219

  70,700

  74

  Malaysia

  13,900

  107

  21,700

  256

  27,500

  235

  17,500

  260

  80,500

  858

  11,100

  126

  Hong Kong

  15,300

  40

  18,300

  75

  34,800

  68

  13,500

  78

  81,900

  261

  14,000

  35

  (BDTCs & BN(O)s)

  Guyana

  1,090

  15

  1,510

  11

  2,370

  8

  1,210

  23

  6,180

  57

  1,000

  13

  Trinidad & Tobago

  3,360

  32

  4,890

  31

  6,760

  37

  3,810

  31

  18,800

  131

  3,000

  27

  Colombia

  3,340

  130

  6,020

  265

  6,400

  177

  4,300

  178

  20,000

  750

  3,400

  103

  Algeria

  4,950

  748

  4,070

  81

  7,500

  84

  3,670

  65

  20,200

  978

  2,100

  47

  Canada

  98,800

  21

  199,000

  20

  224,000

  36

  110,000

  37

  632,000

  114

  75,500

  21

  Ghana

  7,900

  110

  8,940

  118

  12,600

  123

  9,250

  128

  38,700

  479

  7,500

  128

  1 Provisional figures.

  Visa Applications
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for(a) single entry and (b) multiple entry visit visas were (i) received, (ii) granted and (iii) refused at each post in the Indian subcontinent, Ghana, Nigeria and Jamaica in each quarter
  584
  (m) Ghana were (i) granted and (ii) refused permission to enter the United Kingdom at ports of entry in each quarter since January 1990 to the latest available date.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is given in the table.

  of 1990 and the first quarter of 1991; and what was the delay between application and interview for those whose applications were felt to need a second or long interview at each of the above posts in (1) June 1990, (2) January 1991 and (3) June 1991 or the nearest available date.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information on applications in Jamaica for a visit entry clearance, and separate
  585
  information on applications in the other countries for

  Table 1: Persons applying for a visit visa to the United Kingdom

  Number of persons

  Applications

  Newly received1

  Granted

  Of which: granted on appeal

  Refused initially

  Dhaka

  1990

  1st quarter

  2,260

  1,500

  —

  620

  2nd quarter

  3,420

  2,600

  20

  700

  3rd quarter

  3,380

  2,420

  —

  820

  4th quarter

  2,200

  1,510

  20

  570

  Year

  11,260

  8,020

  50

  2,720

  1991

  1st quarter

  1,700

  1,230

  3—

  400

  New Delhi

  1990

  1st quarter

  8,980

  6,990

  40

  1,420

  2nd quarter

  19,740

  16,390

  40

  2,520

  3rd quarter

  13,560

  10,240

  20

  2,340

  4th quarter

  8,370

  5,760

  20

  1,230

  Year

  50,650

  39,380

  110

  7,510

  1991

  1st quarter

  7,360

  5,620

  20

  600

  Bombay

  1990

  1st quarter

  7,990

  7,420

  20

  800

  2nd quarter

  18,490

  16,510

  20

  1,840

  3rd quarter

  10,300

  9,070

  40

  1,400

  4th quarter

  5,910

  4,930

  20

  920

  Year

  42,700

  37,920

  100

  4,970

  1991

  1st quarter

  6,710

  5,410

  30

  1,140

  Calcutta

  1990

  1st quarter

  1,160

  1,110

  3—

  30

  2nd quarter

  3,130

  3,070

  —

  50

  3rd quarter

  2,360

  2,330

  —

  30

  4th quarter

  920

  900

  3—

  30

  Year

  7,570

  7,410

  3—

  150

  1991

  1st quarter

  980

  920

  3—

  40

  Madras

  1990

  1st quarter

  1,930

  1,900

  3—

  40

  2nd quarter

  4,170

  4,120

  3—

  40

  3rd quarter

  2,890

  2,850

  3—

  40

  4th quarter

  1,320

  1,280

  3—

  30

  Year

  10,310

  10,140

  1991

  1st quarter

  1,540

  1,490

  3—

  50

  Islamabad

  1990

  1st quarter

  7,770

  5,100

  70

  1,440

  2nd quarter

  13,370

  9,980

  50

  2,970

  3rd quarter

  12,300

  8,980

  70

  2,720

  4th quarter

  9,750

  7,320

  60

  2,950

  Year

  43,190

  31,380

  240

  10,080

  586
  single entry and multiple entry visit visas, are not available centrally. The other information requested is given in the tables.
  587

  Applications

  Newly received1

  Granted

  Of which: granted on appeal

  Refused initially

  1991

  1st quarter

  6,930

  4,610

  60

  2,040

  Karachi

  1990

  1st quarter

  4,510

  3,690

  10

  680

  2nd quarter

  10,670

  9,340

  3—

  750

  3rd quarter

  8,710

  7,310

  10

  970

  4th quarter

  4,860

  4,150

  10

  710

  Year

  28,750

  24,490

  40

  3,110

  1991

  1st quarter

  2,720

  2,510

  3—

  250

  Accra

  1990

  1st quarter

  2,790

  2,190

  10

  600

  2nd quarter

  4,070

  3,310

  3—

  810

  3rd quarter

  5,960

  4,450

  10

  1,200

  4th quarter

  4,040

  2,850

  3—

  600

  Year

  16,860

  12,800

  20

  3,210

  1991

  1st quarter

  3,280

  2,320

  3

  520

  Lagos

  1990

  1st quarter

  10,380

  7,190

  3—

  1,910

  2nd quarter

  12,500

  9,220

  —

  2,390

  3rd quarter

  17,190

  15,620

  —

  2,520

  4th quarter

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Year

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  1991

  1st quarter

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Kaduna

  1990

  1st quarter

  1,650

  1,360

  —

  310

  2nd quarter

  1,770

  1,390

  —

  330

  3rd quarter

  2,620

  1,860

  —

  440

  4th quarter

  2,100

  1,550

  —

  360

  Year

  8,140

  6,150

  —

  1,450

  1991

  1st quarter

  1,320

  1,070

  —

  170

  1 Including applications subsequently withdrawn.

  2— Not available.

  3— Five or fewer.

  Table 2: Waiting time for persons applying for a visit visa who required a lengthy interview

  Number of days waiting time for person interviewed at end of period

  Post

  June 1990

  January 1991

  May 1991

  Dhaka

  —

  —

  —

  New Delhi

  —

  —

  —

  Bombay

  —

  —

  3

  Calcutta

  —

  —

  —

  Madras

  —

  —

  —

  Islamabad

  10

  1

  6

  Karachi

  —

  —

  —

  Accra

  3

  21

  92

  Lagos

  4

  n.a.

  n.a.

  Kaduna

  —

  81

  82

  588
  — Same day.

  1 At end of December 1990.

  1 At end of March 1991.

  n.a. Not available.

  Naturalisation and Registration
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his best estimate as to how many applications for(a) adult registration with entitlement, (b) naturalisation and (c) registration of minors his Department (i) will receive and (ii) expects to grant in 1991–92.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information is not available for estimates in the form requested. We estimate that in the financial year 1991–92 we will receive the following applications:
  589

  Numbers

  Registration of adults

  5,500

  Registration of minors

  11,000

  Naturalisation

  23,000

  In the same period we expect to grant about 17,000 registrations of all kinds and about 47,000 naturalisations.

  Citizenship
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for British citizenship under section 4(5) of the British Nationality Act 1981 have been(a) made, (b) granted and (c) refused, in each year since 1983 and to the latest convenient date in 1991; and how many of those granted have been on the grounds of service in the armed forces.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information is not readily available in the exact form requested and could be provided in such a way only at disproportionate cost. As at 17 July 1991, the total number of applications received since 1 January 1983 and their disposal is as follows:

  Servicemen

  Others

  Total

  Received

  61

  554

  615

  Granted

  59

  13

  72

  Refused

  —

  532

  532

  Withdrawn

  1

  1

  2

  Still under consideration

  1

  8

  9

  Note: The numbers in the first column are former sevicemen in Hong Kong as described in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, East (Mr. Moynihan) on 23 April 1986 at columns 147–48.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for entry clearance from(a) wives, (b) husbands, (c) fiancés and (d) fiancées in each British post in all countries apart from those of the Indian sub-continent were (i) granted and (ii) refused in each quarter since January 1990; how many such applications in each category at each post and in each quarter were refused (1) wholly and (2) partly because of the primary purpose rule; what was the refusal rate at each post; and what percentage of those refusals were (x) wholly and (y) partly on primary purpose grounds.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The only information requested which is available centrally is that on applications granted and refused in Hong Kong and is given in the following table.

  Applications in Hong Kong for entry clearance to the United Kingdom

  Number of persons

  Applications

  Granted1

  Refused initially

  Wives

  1990 1st quarter

  60

  3—

  2nd quarter

  60

  3—

  3rd quarter

  70

  3—

  4th quarter

  30

  —

  1991 1st quarter

  50

  3—

  Husbands, fiancés2

  1990 1st quarter

  20

  3—

  2nd quarter

  40

  3—

  3rd quarter

  30

  —

  4th quarter

  20

  —

  590

  Applications

  Granted1

  Refused initially

  1991 1st quarter

  20

  3—

  Fiancées

  1990 1st quarter

  10

  —

  2nd quarter

  10

  —

  3rd quarter

  10

  3—

  4th quarter

  10

  3—

  1991 1st quarter

  3—

  3—

  1 Granted initially or on appeal.

  2 Data for husbands and fiancés separately are not available.

  3 Five or fewer.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for entry clearance as working holidaymakers have been(a) received, (b) granted and (c) refused in (i) India, (ii) Bangladesh, (iii) Australia, (iv) Ghana, (v) Nigeria and (vi) Canada during 1990 and 1991.

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

  Data Protection
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 8460/90 on data protection to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  We are considering how best to estimate direct costs to the Exchequer, to industry and to British consumers of implementation of the draft directive. The Commission has estimated that the costs of two committees established under the directive would be £39,136 per annum from 1993. I cannot yet say what the whole cost to the Exchequer might be.

  In practice the actual United Kingdom contribution to the EC budget for individual programmes will depend not only on the level of expenditure, but the level and timing of payments, and the relative shares of the programme.

  Escapees
  Sir Michael MacNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many escaped prisoners or persons being held on remand are currently being sought by the police.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  A revised system of collecting information on incidents in prison establishments was introduced in June 1988.

  Based on the information available, a total of 297 prisoners, both convicted and on remand, who escaped between 1 June 1988 and 22 July 1991 remain unlawfully at large, and are being sought by police.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the replacement of routine animal toxicity testing; and how long he expects the LD50 test to remain in use.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The development of alternatives to the use of living animals in toxicity testing is a continuing
  591
  process. Considerable progress has been made in topical toxicity testing. In systemic tests, especially in the areas of genotoxicity and some reproductive toxicity, in vitro pre-screening tests are increasingly being introduced. However, it has to be recognised that the validation of alternatives, and the acceptance of these by international regulatory bodies, is a lengthy process.

  Encouraging moves have been made to replace the need for formal LD50 testing for certain, but not all, regulatory purposes. A British initiative has led to the development of an alternative to the LD50 test which uses fixed doses and does not depend upon lethality as an end point. Work is continuing to ensure that the validity of the fixed-dose procedure is recognised by international regulatory bodies. The use of the LD50 test may, however, remain necessary for certain types of toxicity testing, for some time.

  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funds for alternative research and validation the Government are providing in support of the objectives of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 28 November 1990 to the question from the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) at columns 416–17 and to my reply of 3 June 1991 to the question from the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) at column 71.

  During the current financial year, the Home Office is making £215,000 available to fund research into the reduction, refinement or replacement of the use of living animals in scientific procedures.

  Jury System
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to review the jury system.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, South (Mr. Butler) on 8 July at column 249.

  Division 1

  Division 2

  Division 3

  Division 4

  Total

  Attendance

  1990–91

  8,605,006

  6,279,173

  2,521,497

  1,621,714

  19,027,390

  1989–90

  7,878,132

  6,842,661

  2,789,315

  1,850,086

  19,360,194

  Increase/decrease (per cent.)

  + 9

  –8

  –10

  –12

  —2

  Arrests

  1990–91

  1,747

  1,710

  411

  251

  4,119

  1989–90

  1,857

  2,203

  1,151

  734

  5,945

  Increase/decrease (per cent.)

  -6

  -22

  -64

  -66

  -31

  Ejections

  1990–91

  2,822

  1,713

  296

  239

  5,070

  1989–90

  3,318

  2,707

  574

  374

  6,973

  Increase/decrease (per cent.)

  –15

  –37

  –48

  –36

  27

  These figures indicate that, while in 1990–91 attendances remained broadly at the same level as the previous year, the numbers of arrests and ejections fell by 31 and 27 per cent. respectively. This represents a most welcome fall in the level of trouble at football matches. The additional information requested by the hon. Member is voluminous. I shall write to him with it shortly.

  Football
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in full the countries other than Italy and Scotland with which his Department has agreed procedures for corresponding offences under section 22 of the Football Spectators Act 1990; and if he will make a statement on the progress of talks regarding the extension of the Football Spectators Act to offences committed(a) in Sweden and (b) in any other country.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Agreements establishing corresponding offences under section 22 of the Football Spectators Act 1989 currently exist only in respect of Italy and Scotland. The Government believe that the establishment of corresponding offences in other countries would be of benefit both to us and to them. We are therefore in the process of seeking to negotiate agreements with a number of countries, including Sweden, although differences in legal systems often make the negotiations complex.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the 92 Football League clubs together with the total season's attendance at (A) matches played in the Football League and (B) matches played in the FA cup, Rumbelows' cup, ZDS cup and Leyland DAF cup competitions, with the total numbers of(a) arrests and (b) ejections at each category of such matches and the numbers of (i) arrests, (ii) ejections, and (iii) arrests plus ejections as a percentage of the total attendance at each category of such matches, accurate to four decimal places for each of the seasons 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91; and if he will make a statement on attendance rates and arrest rates at each category of such matches.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The aggregate figures for attendances, arrests and ejections for each division in the Football League in the last two seasons are contained in the following table:

  Immigration (Carriers' Liability)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 18 July, if he will break down the outstanding £14·851 million immigration fines between carriers registered in(a) Europe, (b) Asia, (c) the United States and Canada and (d) elsewhere.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Records of charges made under the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 do not show carriers' place of registration.
  593
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many notices have been issued to each airline under the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 in each quarter since January 1990; how much money has accrued as a result; and how many such notices have been contested by each airline.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It is not the practice to disclose information on the record of individual airlines under the Act. The total number of notices issued to carriers—airlines and sea operators—in each quarter since January 1990 was as follows:

  Quarter ending

  Number of notices

  31 March 1990

  1,912

  30 June 1990

  2,603

  30 September 1990

  3,656

  31 December 1990

  3,351

  31 March 1991

  2,843

  30 June 1991

  2,759

  A total of £8·017 million was received during this period, and representations were made by carriers in 4,967 cases.

  Deportation
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many decisions to make a deportation order, by nationality of the potential deportee, where there is only a right of appeal as provided under section 5 of the Immigration Act 1988, have been made in each quarter since 1 August 1988; and on what basis these decisions have been made.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The total numbers of decisions to deport affected by the provisions of section 5 of the Immigration Act 1988 in each of the quarters since 1 August 1988 are shown in the table. All these decisions were made under section 3(5)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971, which provides that a person who is not a British citizen shall be liable to deportation if, having only a limited leave to enter or remain, he does not observe a condition attached to the leave or remains beyond the time limited by the leave. Information about the nationality of those affected could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1 January to 31 March

  —

  856

  688

  727

  1 April to 30 June

  —

  658

  644

  759

  1 July to 30 September

  1285

  829

  634

  —

  1 October to 31 December

  692

  729

  744

  —

  1 From 1 August.

  Deportation
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received from hon. Members during(a) each quarter of 1990 and (b) the first quarter of 1991 to delay the removal of passengers refused entry at British ports of entry; and, for both periods, how many representations resulted in (i) the delay of the passenger's removal for up to a week, (ii) the delay of the passenger's removal for more than a week and (iii) the reversal of the immigration officer's decision.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  This information is not collected centrally.
  594
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's current policy on enforcing deportation decisions against genuine students who have been found to be working in breach of their conditions of entry; whether he will publish his instructions to staff about this; what criteria he uses to assess whether a person is a genuine student; and whether he will list the colleges which he would not recognise as providing courses of study for overseas students acceptable under the immigration rules.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Any overseas student who wishes to work during his free time or vacations may do so by obtaining permission from the Department of Employment. Each case in which a student is found working without such permission is considered on its individual merits. As required by the immigration rules, all relevant factors are taken into account before deciding whether deportation is the right course. As a general rule, it is not our practice to remove genuine students under deportation powers unless their offences are serious and persistent. A genuine student in this sense is one who meets the requirements of the immigration rules for the grant of leave to enter or remain as a student. This approach is reflected in staff instructions. There are no plans for these to be published.

  The Immigration and Nationality Department keeps records of information which has come to light about individual colleges, and account is taken of this by staff when dealing with applications from students. Staff are made aware of what information is available by means of internal notices which are part of staff instructions and are not published.

  Naturalisation
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outstanding applications for naturalisation as a British citizen are(a) less than one year old, (b) between one and two years old and (c) more than two years old.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  On 22 July 1991 the number of outstanding applications for naturalisation was as follows:

  Number

  Less than 12 months old

  12,193

  More than 12 months but less than 24 months old

  16,757

  More than 24 months old

  23,997

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for entry clearance in order to seek asylum in the United Kingdom were(a) received and (b) granted, by country, during 1990 and the first quarter of 1991.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Gipsy Encampments
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to introduce legislation to tighten up the police's powers concerning the control of gipsy encampments.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Trespass is essentially a matter for the civil law. However, section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986
  595
  gives the police powers to deal with aggravated trespass. In announcing his conclusions following a review of this section, Official Report, Vol. 191, column 487, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary said that the Government had no plans to change the law. But we have issued guidance to the police on its application; a copy is in the Library.

  Designation under the Caravan Sites Act 1968 gives local authorities the means to seek quick-acting powers to move on gipsy caravans parked other than on official sites.

  Gipsies, like everyone else, are subject to the normal criminal law.

  Police, Rochdale
  Sir Cyril Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest published figures for crime reporting and detection in the Rochdale police area.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is not collected centrally for the Rochdale police division. I understand from the chief constable of Greater Manchester that in the first quarter of 1991 there were 6,861 recorded crimes of which 2,312 were detected.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate has been made of how many jobs would be created by a national lottery.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It seems likely that a national lottery would create new jobs, but no estimate has been made. This is one of the matters included in the Government's further consideration of the arguments for and against allowing one or more privately run lotteries on a national scale.

  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received concerning a national lottery.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In the 12 months to 30 June 1991, we received letters from 28 hon. Members or Peers, and 158 from members of the public or organisations, 19 of which were from the same person, the majority of which advocated a national lottery.

  Community Service Orders
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community service orders were made and in how many cases breach proceedings were instigated(a) in the last year before national standards were introduced and (b) in the last year for which figures are available; and in each of these years what was the number and percentage of breach proceedings that resulted in a custodial sentence.

  Mr. John Patten
  The information requested is published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin (7/91) (Tables 1, 8), a copy of which is in the Library.

  Sexual Offences Bill, Isle of Man
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 26 April,Official Report, column 560, if he will give further details of the nature of the comments made by his Department to the Isle of Man Government regarding drafts of the Isle of Man Sexual Offences Bill.
  596
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My reply on 26 April to a question from the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) explained the policy of Her Majesty's Government in relation to reform of the Isle of Man's law on homosexuality.

  As I indicated in my reply on 16 July to questions from my hon. Friend, drafts of the current Isle of Man Sexual Offences Bill which the Island Government sent to the Home Office included clauses providing for the necessary reform. Comments on the drafts sent by the Home Office to the Island Attorney General did not concern those clauses. Those comments, on clauses 1(4), 3, 4(3), 7(2)(c),12(3), 25, 34(2) and 36(2) of the Bill, drew attention to potentially comparable provisions of United Kingdom law and their interpretation, and gave advice on recommendations of the Criminal Law Revision Committee in its 15th (1984) Report on Sexual Offences.

  Winston Silcott
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of new evidence submitted to the Home Office on 13 July in regard to the conviction of Winston Silcott for the murder of PC Keith Blakelock in 1985, he will consider referring the conviction of Silcott to the Court of Appeal.

  Mr. John Patten
  The representations, which were received in the Home Office on 15 July, are now being considered by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. He will reach a decision as soon as possible.

  UK Charity Lotteries Ltd.
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Advertising Standards Authority and the Gaming Board about advertisements published by UK Charity Lotteries Ltd.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We and the Gaming Board have been concerned that some aspects of UK Charity Lotteries Ltd.'s advertising campaign do not satisfy the requirements of the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976. The board has referred this matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions, whose advice is awaited. We have not received representations from the Advertising Standards Authority.

  Prisons
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the outcome of his further review of the prison estate.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I announced on 19 December last year the outcome of a review of the prison service estate which had been conducted in 1990. I said then that there would be a further review in the light of the projections of the prison population which would be available in early 1991. Revised projections were published on 21 May and a copy is in the Library.

  The further review has now reached its consultative stage. It has taken into account:

  the new projections;

  the opening between April this year and 1993 of 10 new local prisons and remand centres; and

  the accelerated programme to end slopping out by the end of 1994, which I announced on 25 February.

  597
  I also asked the prison service to have regard to the relevant proposals in the report of Lord Justice Woolf and Judge Stephen Tumim on the prison disturbances in April 1990 (Cm. 1456), in particular the removal of unsuitable prisons from the estate and the development of a prison or cluster of prisons which would serve most of the needs of a community. The proposals for the prison estate arising from this review are consistent with the approach suggested by Woolf. Planning is founded on geographical clusters of establishments and my proposals are aimed at improving the balance of accommodation in each of the main areas of population.

  All the following proposals will be subject to full consultation with staff and other interests.

  At this stage 15 establishments could be affected by proposed changes in their role as follows:

  Establishment

  Role

  HMYOI Castington

  To be retained as a young offender institution.

  HMYOI Deerbolt

  Establishment of a juvenile unit within existing buildings (in 1992–93).

  HMP Nottingham

  To be retained as a training establishment.

  HMYOI Lancaster Farms

  To be used as a remand centre as well as a young offender institution (in 1992–93).

  HMP Risley

  To be used as both a local and training prison as new accommodation comes into use.

  HMP Leeds

  To be used as both a training and a local prison as new accommodation comes into use.

  HMP Stafford

  To postpone part conversion to local prison to 1995–96.

  HMP Gloucester

  To convert from local prison to a remand centre (in 1992–93).

  HMYOI Eastwood Park

  To close as a young offender institution (in 1992–93) and re-open as a female establishment (in 1993–94).

  HMYOI Hollesley Bay Colony

  To convert to part adult use (in 1992–93).

  HMP Bedford

  To convert partly to a remand centre (in 1992–93).

  HMP Reading

  To convert to a remand centre (in 1992–93).

  HMP Elmley

  To open as part local and part category C training prison (in 1991–92).

  HMP Coldingley

  To convert from a category B to a category C training prison (in 1992–93).

  HMYOI Guys Marsh

  To convert partly to a remand centre (in 1992–93).

  It is also proposed that the following establishments should close, mainly because the quality of their living accommodation renders them unsuitable for continued prison service use:

  HMYOI Kirklevington Grange

  HMYOI Werrington

  HMYOI Hewell Grange

  HMYOI Finnamore Wood Camp

  HMRC Pucklechurch

  HMP Oxford

  HMP Aldington

  These closures would take place in 1992–93, except for that of HMRC Pucklechurch which would close in 1993–94. In addition some units at HMP Drake Hall, HMP Highpoint and HMP Norwich would also close.

  Making the best use of the estate is, of course, a. matter of continuing concern and activity, for example adjusting
  598
  catchment areas for prisons which serve the courts. In the light of this I may want to make further proposals for changing the use of the estate in due course.

  I am seeking the views of staff, boards of visitors and the trade unions on these proposals and have placed in the Library copies of a background note to them.

  When these consultations are complete. I shall make a further announcement.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will request the Governor of the Bank of England to report to the House in due course on all matters related to the closure of BCCI.

  Mr. Maples
  The Governor appeared before the Treasury and Civil Service Committee on Tuesday 23 July.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what lists of accredited or approved banking or related institutions, issued by his Department or by the Bank of England, the BCCI was included, before its collapse; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maples
  The BCCI was authorised to take deposits under the Banking Act 1987 and therefore included in any list of such institutions, such as the list which the Bank of England is required to publish under section 17 of the Banking Act.

  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure the publication of the September 1990 Price Waterhouse report on BCCI commissioned by the College of Regulators; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  No. Any reports commissioned by the College of Regulators would be covered by the provisions of the Banking Act which prevents disclosure except in exceptional circumstances. The audit reports which the Bank of England received on BCCI will, however, be available to the inquiry under Lord Justice Bingham which was announced to the House in my statement of Friday 19 July, at columns 715–29, and details of which were given in my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's statement of Monday 22 July, at columns 757–64.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was learned from the Bank of England's inquiries into Barlow Clowes about the use made by Barlow Clowes of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International and about the proprieties of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International's role in that case.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 19 July 1991]: Nothing. The Bank's inquiries into Barlow Clowes were focused on that organisation's United Kingdom activities and in particular whether it was in breach of the 1979 Banking Act. The Bank's direct interest ended in October 1985 with the grant to Barlow Clowes of a prevention of fraud (investment) licence following reorganisation of the business.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the funding of the inquiry into the affairs of BCCI.
  599
  Mr. Maples
  Parliamentary approval to this new service will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the HM Treasury vote (class XVIII vote 1). Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £500,000 will be met by repayable advances from the contingencies fund.

  Donations to charities subject to tax relief

  Covenants1

  Donations under the payroll giving scheme

  Transfers to charities on death2

  Single donations from companies1 3

  Gift aid1 3

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  1976–77

  Not available

  —

  50

  —

  —

  1977–78

  Not available

  —

  50

  —

  —

  1978–79

  140

  —

  78

  —

  —

  1979–80

  180

  —

  94

  —

  —

  1980–81

  200

  —

  67

  —

  —

  1981–82

  250

  —

  92

  —

  —

  1982–83

  300

  —

  135

  —

  —

  1983–84

  350

  —

  202

  —

  —

  1984–85

  400

  —

  231

  —

  —

  1985–86

  450

  —

  302

  —

  —

  1986–87

  500

  —

  326

  4

  —

  1987–88

  650

  1

  4330

  9

  —

  1988–89

  700

  3·5

  4340

  21

  —

  1989–90

  725

  7

  4380

  28

  —

  1990–91

  4825

  410

  4380

  417

  443

  1 Includes tax repayments to charities by Inland Revenue.

  2 Covers estates above the capital transfer tax/inheritance tax threshold. For transfers made before 15 March 1983 and on or within one year of death, the amount of transfer qualifying for relief was limited; amounts in excess of the limits are excluded from the figures.

  3 Single donations from companies are included under gift aid from October 1990.

  4 Provisional.

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy on the taxation of benefits paid for by, or provided out of, insurance or pension-related policies for long-term care.

  Mr. Maude
  Insurance or pension-related policies providing long-term health care benefits are only just beginning to become available in the United Kingdom. These policies may take a number of forms. The appropriate tax treatment of the benefits payable under those policies will depend on the precise form the policy takes.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Donald Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims by do-it-yourself house builders for refunds of value added tax under the provisions of Customs and Excise Notice No. 719 were met in whole or in part during the years ended 31 December 1989 and 31 December 1990.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  A total of 9,585 claims were paid by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in 1989 and 9,886 in 1990.

  EC Directives
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 8162/90 on procurement procedures to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions and (b) industry.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  European Community document No. 8162/90 has been overtaken by the

  Charities (Tax Relief)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of charitable donations for which tax relief was given in each of the last 15 years.

  Mr. Maude
  The available information is as follows:

  Commission's modified proposal, 6925/91, and subsequent discussions in the Council. The proposal is for a directive—the remedies directive—to ensure compliance with the procurement procedures applicable to the utilities in the energy, telecommunications, transport and water sectors under Council directive 90/531/EEC. Both directives are to be brought into effect in most member states by 1 January 1993. In the form in which it is likely to be adopted the remedies directive will involve the same basic system as Council directive 89/665/EEC, the parallel provision for ensuring compliance with the supplies and works directives by the public bodies to which they apply. Suppliers and contractors harmed by a breach of Community procurement law, or the national rules which implement it, will be able to seek remedies from the courts. It is too soon to estimate the likely number of cases and thus to estimate the costs to the court system. There will be some administrative costs in providing information to the Commission about alleged breaches and in establishing an attestation system under which the utilities may voluntarily subject their procurement procedures and practices to independent examination and certification. There may also be minor administrative costs in forwarding to the Commission applications for the use of a voluntary conciliation procedure. There will be additional costs to the Commission in monitoring compliance with the underlying procurement directive and the Commission has now estimated that the expenses of advisory committee discussions on the present proposal will be of the order of £13,000 a year. There would be additional costs for the European Court of Justice if an increased number of references to it under article 177/EEC resulted from the directive. Costs to the utilities will depend on the number of cases taken to court and can be avoided by compliance with the underlying procurement directive. The Council's rejection of a Commission

  601
  proposal for compulsory attestation has removed a significant potential cost for the utilities. Last minute amendments to the provisions for the conciliation procedure as an alternative to litigation will put the costs on the parties concerned.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the percentage of civil service jobs located in Scotland as a percentage of the total number of civil servant jobs in Great Britain in 1979, 1985 and the latest available date for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The percentages are as follows:

  Percentage of all civil servants employed in Scotland

  Percentage

  1979

  9·7

  1985

  10·4

  1990

  9·8

  Note: 1990 is the latest year for which figures are available.

  Source: Civil Service Statistics.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the units and the Government Departments of which they formed part which moved to Scotland as part of the relocation of civil service jobs, the number of jobs involved in each case and the site in Scotland to which they moved, between 1979 and the latest date for which figures are available;

  Department

  Number of posts

  Location

  Department of Social Security: work transferred from London social security offices

  510

  Glasgow

  Inland Revenue: new TOBBI office

  43

  Glenrothes

  Inland Revenue: PAYE work

  40

  Edinburgh

  40

  Glasgow

  25

  Livingston

  Inland Revenue: Operations division—specialist tax work

  10

  Glasgow

  Home Office (Passport Office)

  88

  Glasgow

  Ministry of Defence (Contracts branch)

  70

  Glasgow

  Overseas Development Administration: including statistics, staff training and personnel work

  53

  East Kilbride

  Cabinet Office: Civil Service Occupational Health Service

  22

  Edinburgh

  Office of Electricity Regulation: local offices

  18

  Edinburgh

  4

  Perth

  Department of Trade and Industry: Insolvency Service posts

  5

  Edinburgh

  TOTAL

  928

  Altogether, at least 2,890 posts have been located or relocated to Scotland since April 1979, which represents over 13 per cent. of total posts located or relocated away from the South-east. A broad annual breakdown for these posts is as follows:

  Number

  1979

  0

  1980

  0

  1981

  425

  1982

  170

  602
  (2) if he will give the total number of civil service jobs relocated between 1979 and the latest date for which figures are available and the percentage of these which moved to Scotland;

  (3) if he will list the number of civil service jobs re-located from other parts of the United Kingdom to Scotland in each year since 1979.

  Mrs. Gillian Shepherd
  Prior to the introduction of current relocation policy in March 1988, it is estimated that Departments moved a total of some 12,000 posts out of the south-east, about half under the Government's centrally directed dispersal programme and half at departments' own initiative. Comprehensive data on posts which were located or relocated at departments' own initiative are not held centrally, but the Inland Revenue opened a new office in Cumbernauld in 1987 with 32 posts. Relocations to Scotland under the dispersal programme were as follows:

  Department

  Number of posts

  Location

  MOD: including pay and records offices; Directorate of Contract; Defence Certification Authority etc

  1,330

  Glasgow

  ODA (including Overseas Manpower Services, Pensions and Account departments, etc); Crown Agents Pensions Division

  600

  East Kilbride

  Since March 1988, nearly 9,300 further posts have been located or relocated outside the south-east by Government Departments. Of these, the following related to Scotland:

  Number

  1983

  190

  1984

  75

  1985

  1,070

  1986

  0

  1987

  30

  1988

  110

  1989

  305

  1990

  440

  1991

  75

  603
  Further locations and relocations to Scotland are now planned by departments which will involve more than 1,500 extra posts. These include further posts for the Inland Revenue TOBBI office at Glenrothes; new TOBBI offices at Falkirk and Dundee; a new PAYE office at East Kilbride; a new DSS Child Support Agency office for Falkirk and new Health and Safety Executive oil safety directorate posts for Aberdeen.

  Football Pools
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the sums received by the Exchequer from football pools betting duty for each year since 1979–80 and as a total over the same period.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Receipts from pool betting duty were as follows:

  £ million

  1979–80

  136·1

  1980–81

  157·0

  1981–82

  176·0

  1982–83

  199·3

  1983–84

  204·9

  1984–85

  218·0

  1985–86

  235·3

  1986–87

  254·2

  1987–88

  277·0

  1988–89

  279·0

  1989–90

  303·8

  1990–91

  303·9

  2,744·5

  Duty-free Shopping
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the future of duty-free shopping for travellers within the European Community.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Government have carefully considered all the evidence received from industries likely to be affected by abolition of the current duty-free arrangements in the light of the European Commission's position that duty-free should cease for intra-EC traffic as part of the dismantling of fiscal frontiers at the end of 1992. The Government feel that there is no case for indefinite retention of duty-frees once the single market has been established, but that a substantial transition period would be helpful to give affected industries time to reorganise and seek alternative sources of revenue. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be arguing for such a transition in forthcoming negotiations in Brussels.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue will commence the valuation of domestic properties in preparation for the introduction of the council tax; and how their costs will be financed.

  Mr. Maples
  Subject to the enactment of the Local Government Finance and Valuation Bill the preparatory work on the valuation of domestic properties will begin in 604
  August 1991. This preparatory work will be put in hand by the Inland Revenue Valuation Office on behalf of the Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office and will include the direction of the work in Scotland for the Scottish Office.

  Parliamentary approval for this new expenditure will be sought in supplementary estimates for the "Revenue support grant, payments of non-domestic rates, Valuation Office rating services etc., England Vote"—class VIII vote 9—the "Revenue support grant, Community charge reduction scheme grant and payments of national non-domestic rates, Wales Vote"—class XVI vote 10—the "Rate rebate grants transitional relief and community charge reduction grants, Scotland Vote"—class XV vote 22—and the "Inland Revenue administration Vote"—class XVIII vote 6.

  Pending that approval urgent expenditure by the Inland Revenue estimated at £61 million will be met by repayable advances from the contingencies fund.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is making a separate announcement about the arrangements in Scotland.

  Civil Service Pay
  Sir John Farr
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on civil service pay.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  It is important that pay systems in the public sector should make a regular and direct link between a person's contribution to the standards of service provided and his or her reward. The Government have a direct responsibility as employer for over 550,000 civil servants. I would therefore like to explain how I see the pay systems in the civil service developing. Pay has an important part to play in raising the quality and improving the responsiveness of public services—a key theme in the citizens charter.

  For most staff in the civil service other than those covered by the Top Salaries Review Body, pay is negotiated between the Treasurey and the recognised trade unions, mainly on the basis of pay agreements concluded over the past few years. The existence of such pay agreements, and their provision for negotiation of annual settlements on the basis of the interquartile range of private sector pay settlements, has provided useful stability in settling civil service pay. The agreements have also provided an important assurance to staff that pay will be determined fairly and within a clear and transparent framework, linked to their performance and career development. The Government continue to attach importance to these principles.

  But any organisation must be able to adapt to changing needs. The Government now want to introduce more flexible pay regimes for the civil service, both nationally and locally.

  The new pay system must meet the needs and objectives of departments and agencies; they must be demonstrably beneficial to the citizen, fair to the employee and linked to the delivery of high-quality public services; and they must be affordable. This means developing pay structures which reward good performance and penalise bad.

  Progress has already been made in providing for pay flexibility, and further progress can be made in pursuing greater delegation, within the existing agreements. But the Government have concluded that the agreements as they

  605
  stand do not provide a framework that is fully capable of meeting the needs of the 1990s. It has informed the unions that it wishes to negotiate changes to them.

  I therefore propose to introduce three new elements into civil service pay structures. The first is to put in place a range of forms of performance-related pay in order to achieve a closer link between performance and reward both for individuals and for groups of staff. This will be an important means of securing the objective of improving the quality of public services, which is at the heart of the citizens charter programme. Over time, performance will come to determine a larger proportion of the pay bill without performance pay becoming a disguised way of providing unacceptably high increases in the pay bill.

  The second is further to enable responsibility for pay bargaining to be delegated to civil service departments or agencies, to allow them wider discretion in relation to their pay and grading regimes. Alternative pay and grading structures will be approved where they are expected to produce value-for-money benefits greater than through centrally controlled negotiation.

  The third is to give an option to those departments and agencies for which such extensive discretion is not appropriate to negotiate for themselves flexibilities of their own within the total of the overall central pay settlement agreed by the Treasury.

  The Government believe that in appropriate cases greater delegation of pay and grading arrangements can secure better value for money from the pay bill, increasing productivity and providing better services to the citizen as taxpayer. This will be a key consideration when the Treasury approves delegated pay and grading systems and increased flexibilities. The Government also believe that in the public sector, as in the private sector, there should be transparency about pay costs, including the effects of delegation. Those departments and agencies which do not at present do so will in future publish figures for the pay bill and for employment in the latest financial year in departmental reports or in agency accounts as companies are already obliged to do by the 1985 Companies Act.

  The work which the Civil Service does is of the highest importance for the prosperity of the nation and the welfare of its citizens. The proposals I have announced today will secure for the civil service future pay arrangements which suit the widely differing nature of its work, while enabling links to be maintained where these are useful. They will establish a proper relationship between pay and performance throughout the service. They will continue to allow informed collective bargaining; secure the confidence of the public in the system and of staff that their pay will be determined fairly; and enable the Government to ensure that a higher standard of service is delivered to the citizen while reconciling their responsibilities for the control of public expenditure with their responsibilities as an employer.

  Tax Reliefs
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) of 7 February,Official Report, columns 203–4, if he will publish a table taking account of the changes announced in the 1991 Budget showing the
  606
  revised costs in 1991–92 of (a) personal allowance, (b) married couples allowance, (c) age allowance, (d) mortgage interest relief, (e) relief on contributions to personal pensions, (f) relief on employees' contributions to occupational pension schemes and (g) relief on contributions to health insurance schemes, and where applicable, the direct revenue yields in a full year at 1991–92 levels of income from restricting income tax allowances and reliefs to the basic rate.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 22 July 1991]: The latest estimates of the direct revenue costs for 1991–92 are as follows. Each relief has been costed separately; the combined cost of more than one cannot, therefore, be calculated by summing the figures.

  £ million

  Personal allowance

  26,500

  Married couple's allowance

  5,300

  Age-related allowances1

  700

  Mortgage interest relief2

  6,250

  Relief on contributions to personal pensions3

  1,300

  Relief on employee's contributions to occupational pension schemes

  2,300

  Relief on contributions to health insurance schemes

  60

  The estimated direct revenue yields in a full year at 1991–92 levels of income from restricting the following income tax allowances and reliefs to the basic rate are:

  £ million

  Personal allowance

  970

  Married couple's allowance

  340

  Age-related allowances1

  Nil

  Mortgage interest relief2

  n.a.

  Relief on contributions to personal pensions3

  4150

  Relief on employee's contributions to occupational pension schemes

  250

  Relief on contributions to health insurance schemes

  10

  1 The higher levels of the age-related personal and married couple's allowances given to those aged 65 and over subject to the income limit.

  2 Based on the assumption that currently announced interest rates remain at these levels for the remainder of 1991–92.

  3 Including relief for retirement annuity premia and free standing additional voluntary contributions.

  4 This estimate is subject to a wide margin of error.

  n.a.—Not applicable.

  The direct revenue yield from restricting all reliefs and allowances to the basic rate is likely to be of the order of £2,200 million, somewhat more than the sums of the yields from restricting the reliefs and allowances separately; this is due to the cumulative effect of bringing more people into higher rate tax. No account has been taken of possible behavioural change resulting from such a restriction.

  Taxation
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the answer given to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 29 July 1988,Official Report, columns 735–36, giving figures for 1989–90, 1990–91 and his latest forecast for the current financial year as a full year basis; and if he will show the amount raised by value added tax, separately, for each financial year since 1978–79 and his latest forecast for the current financial year as a full year basis.
  607
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 22 July 1991]: The information is as follows. The forecasts are consistent

  Personal income taxes

  National insurance contributions

  Capital taxes

  Corporate taxes1

  Rates and community charge

  Value added tax

  Other central Government expenditure taxes

  £ billion

  £ billion

  £ billion

  £ billion

  £ billion

  £ billion

  £ billion

  1978–79

  19·1

  10·2

  0·8

  4·4

  5·8

  5·2

  13·0

  1979–80

  21·1

  12·0

  1·0

  6·7

  6·8

  9·7

  15·6

  1980–81

  24·9

  14·4

  1·2

  7·9

  8·7

  11·5

  17·4

  1981–82

  29·2

  16·5

  1·7

  10·5

  10·7

  12·6

  21·1

  1982–83

  30·5

  18·7

  1·5

  12·8

  12·1

  13·9

  21·2

  1983–84

  31·7

  21·3

  1·7

  13·8

  12·3

  15·7

  22·4

  1984–85

  33·3

  22·7

  1·9

  17·7

  12·9

  17·6

  23·0

  1985–86

  35·8

  24·7

  2·2

  18·6

  13·9

  19·8

  24·1

  1986–87

  38·1

  26·7

  2·6

  15·1

  15·7

  22·2

  26·6

  1987–88

  41·4

  29·5

  2·9

  18·8

  17·1

  24·8

  28·4

  1988–89

  43·7

  32·8

  4·1

  20·0

  19·2

  28·2

  29·9

  1989–90

  49·5

  33·4

  4·0

  22·4

  20·8

  30·2

  31·3

  1990–91

  56·2

  35·4

  4·2

  22·3

  24·0

  31·7

  32·4

  21991–92

  60·1

  37·2

  3·6

  19·1

  21·3

  37·6

  35·2

  1 Corporation tax (including advance corporation tax but excluding corporation tax on capital gains), petroleum revenue tax, oil royalties, IBA levy and supplementary petroleum duty.

  2 Forecast.

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the answer given to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) of 29 July 1988,Official Report, column 736, and give figures for 1989–90 and 1990–91 and forecast 1991–92, taking account of the changes announced in the 1991 Budget, with poll tax and uniform business rate shown separately as appropriate.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 22 July 1991]: The figures requested are set out in the table. Reliable estimates of indirect tax payments cannot be made outside the range of three quarters to one and a half times average earnings. As in the answer given to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby, local authority taxes are excluded.

  Taxes as a percentage of gross earnings for a one earner couple with two children:

  Proportion of average male earnings Per cent.

  £ per week

  Income tax and NICs, less child benefit Per cent.

  Indirect taxes Per cent.

  1988–89

  300

  768·90

  30·3

  —

  100

  256·30

  20·7

  12·7

  60

  153·78

  11·8

  —

  45

  115·34

  4·4

  —

  1989–90

  300

  839·70

  30·5

  —

  100

  279·90

  20·8

  12·2

  60

  167·94

  11·9

  —

  45

  125·96

  4·6

  —

  1990–91

  300

  921·30

  31·1

  —

  100

  307·10

  20·8

  11·9

  60

  184·26

  12·1

  —

  45

  138·20

  4·7

  —

  1991–92

  300

  999·60

  30·8

  —

  100

  333·20

  20·8

  12·6

  60

  199·92

  12·1

  —

  45

  149·94

  4·7

  —

  608
  with the 1991 "Financial Statement and Budget Report". All figures are on an accruals basis as in the national income and expenditure accounts.

  ECU Bonds
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total value of bonds denominated in European currency units which have been issued during 1991 by(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the rest of the European Community; and what were the figures for the whole of 1990.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 23 July 1991]: No bonds were issued in European currency units by the United Kingdom in 1990. The amount issued to date in 1991 is 2·75 billion ecu. Corresponding figures for sovereign country bonds denominated in ecu and issued via the international Eurobond market for the rest of the European Community are approximately 3·3 billion ecu and 4·15 billion ecu respectively.

  Young People (Incomes)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table ensuring his best estimate of the number of young people aged under 25 years with gross weekly incomes(a) up to £30, (b) £30 to £40, (c) £40 to £50, (d) £50 to £60, (e) £60 to £70, (f) £70 to £80, (g) £80 to £90, (h) £90 to £100, (i) £100 to £120, (j) £120 to £140, (k) £140 to £160, (l) £160 to £180, (m) £180 to £200, (n) £200 to £250, (o) £250 to £300, (p) £300 to £350, (q) £350 to £400, (r) £400 to £450 and (s) over £450 distinguishing between single people and couples.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 22 July 1991]: Available estimates from the survey of personal incomes are shown in the table. It covers those with earned income over £2,600 in 1988–89 and is confined to men and single women. The sample available is too small to permit a distinction to be made by marital status, or subdivision by income range of those with earned income over £15,600. Some of the men and women included in the table would have been earning for only part of the year.
  609

  Total earned income for 1988–89 (lower limit) £

  Numbers of men and single women under 25 Thousands

  2,600

  270

  3,120

  320

  3,640

  270

  4,160

  300

  4,680

  300

  5,200

  630

  6,240

  440

  7,280

  390

  8,320

  360

  9,360

  250

  10,400

  330

  13,000

  90

  115,600

  70

  1 And over.

  The precise age of one in eight of those under 65 and with earned income over £2,600 in 1988–89 is not known. It has been assumed that the proportion under 25 in each earned income band is the same as that where age is known.

  Business Expansion Scheme
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of business expansion scheme expenditure has been allocated or is programmed for each year from 1988–89 to 1992–93.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 23 July 1991]: The latest estimates of the cost of income tax relief for the business expansion scheme are as follows:

  £ million

  1988–89

  150

  1989–90

  175

  1990–91

  1120

  1 Provisional estimates.

  Costs in 1991–92 and 1992–93 will depend on amounts raised in those years.

  Banks
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy in respect of current discussions within the European Community as to whether branches of banks whose head office is in another country should be subject to control by the host country or the home country.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 23 July 1991]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Redcar (Ms. Mowlam) on 17 July, Official Report, column 190.

  Foundation for Sport and the Arts
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer further to his answer of 15 July,Official Report, column 44, if he will make it his policy to place in the Library a copy of the trust deed setting up the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, schedules of decisions taken at each meeting of the Sport and Arts Foundation, and a copy of the auditor's annual report on the foundation, once each is published.
  610
  Mr. Mellor
  As my answer of 15 July at column 44 made clear, the auditors' annual report on the foundation will be submitted to the Minister for Sport, not to the Treasury. I understand, however, from my hon. Friend, that he does intend to place a copy in the Library. Whether of not the trust deed should be deposited in the Library and the exact form in which the trustees' decisions will be recorded and made public are, of course, matters which can be decided only once the foundation is formally established.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress towards establishing the Foundation for Sport and the Arts.

  Mr. Mellor
  Good progress has been achieved in establishing the Foundation for Sport and the Arts. All three members of the Pools Promoters Association—Littlewoods, Vernons and Zetters—have announced their participation; clauses have been adopted in the Finance Bill to give effect to the reduction in pool betting duty proposed in the Chancellor's Budget speech; the promoters will soon be announcing the names of the chairman and trustees; and the foundation will begin to receive an income next month, following the start of the 1991–92 football season.

  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton) of 17 June,Official Report, column 9, whether the trustees to the Foundation for Sport and the Arts have been appointed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Mellor
  I understand that the members of the Pools Promoters Association are close to completing the task of selecting trustees for the Foundation for Sport and the Arts and that they will be making an announcement shortly.

  Project Funding
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines he has given to the United Kingdom representative to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as to what environmental impact criteria should be applied when considering applications for project funding.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I have been asked to reply.

  The agreement establishing the bank stipulated that it would adopt environmentally sound operational procedures and environmental assessment is intended to be an integral part of the project cycle and decision making progress. We have urged the bank to adopt EC standards wherever possible and the bank will promote adoption of the environmental principles of the European Community delineated in the Treaty of Rome as amended by the Single European Act in 1987. For regional projects, the principles of the UN/ECE convention on environmental impact assessment will apply where they are appropriate. The United Kingdom representative will be guided also by the Overseas Development Administration (ODA) manual on environmental assessment.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the accountability of TECs to Parliament.

  Mr. Jackson
  Training and enterprise councils are accountable to the Department through a contract which provides a framework for their activities and provides a clear statement of the management information which they must supply to enable their performance to be monitored against the agreed targets in their corporate and business plans.

  TECs are, in addition, obliged to prepare summaries of their corporate and business plans and annual reports and I have arranged for copies of these documents to be deposited in the House of Commons Library as they become available.

  I have also written to all Members of Parliament to encourage them to take an interest in and support their local training and enterprise council; and to take up directly matters which are within the day-to-day responsibility of TECs.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the published and unpublished research reports that have been completed on behalf of his Department concerning the subject of health and safety hazards in the non-ferrous metals industry.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department does not hold a consolidated list of research reports completed on its behalf. However, 45 such reports, issued since 1985, have been identified from various sources as relevant to the health and safety hazards in the non-ferrous metals industry and I am sending the hon. Member the list of titles of those reports.

  Earnings
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the number and percentage of full-time workers earning less than £120 per week, giving the information for(a) women and (b) men for (i) manual, (ii) non-manual and (iii) all workers, including overtime pay and excluding overtime pay, in (a) Wales, (b) each Welsh county and (c) Great Britain as a whole.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information available from the 1990 New Earnings Survey is shown in the following tables. The results from the April 1991 survey will be published this November.

  April 1990

  Full time manual employees on adult rates with weekly earnings excluding overtime less than £120—pay for the survey pay period not affected by absence

  Number in the sample

  Percentage of total

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Wales

  182

  182

  38·6

  8·7

  Clwyd-West

  1—

  8

  1—

  10·0

  Clwyd-East

  30

  17

  46·9

  6·6

  Clwyd

  42

  25

  47·2

  7·4

  Dyfed2

  1—

  16

  1—

  13·0

  612

  Number in the sample

  Percentage of total

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Gwent

  38

  32

  45·8

  8·0

  Gwynedd

  1—

  22

  1—

  14·2

  Mid Glamorgan

  28

  22

  28·6

  6·5

  Powys

  1—

  5

  1—

  6·4

  South Glamorgan

  17

  26

  27·4

  9·0

  West Glamorgan3

  20

  34

  34·5

  9·0

  Great Britain

  3,372

  2,815

  37·1

  6·8

  Source: New Earnings Survey.

  1 —denotes sampling error too large or numbers too small for reliable estimate.

  2 Excluding Llanelli.

  3 Including Llanelli.

  April 1990

  Full time non-manual employees on adult rates with weekly earnings excluding overtime less than £120—pay for the survey pay period not affected by absence

  Number in the sample

  Percentage of total

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Wales

  230

  50

  16·9

  3·3

  Clwyd-West

  1—

  3

  1—

  5·3

  Clwyd-East

  16

  2

  15·7

  1·4

  Clwyd

  31

  5

  17·9

  2·5

  Dyfed2

  29

  3

  23·8

  2·7

  Gwent

  28

  12

  16·1

  5·7

  Gwynedd

  18

  7

  18·9

  6·2

  Mid Glamorgan

  36

  5

  15·5

  2·6

  Powys

  1—

  1

  1—

  2·3

  South Glamorgan

  41

  8

  13·6

  2·0

  West Glamorgan3

  40

  9

  18·3

  3·8

  Great Britain

  3,850

  1,025

  11·1

  2·5

  Source: New Earnings Survey.

  1 —denotes sampling error too large or numbers too small for reliable estimate.

  2 Excluding Llanelli.

  3 Including Llanelli.

  April 1990

  Full time employees on adult rates with weekly earnings excluding overtime less than £120—pay for the survey pay period not affected by absence

  Number in the sample

  Percentage of total

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Wales

  412

  232

  22·5

  6·5

  Clwyd-West

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Clwyd-East

  46

  19

  27·7

  4·8

  Clwyd

  73

  30

  27·9

  5·6

  Dyfed2

  46

  19

  30·7

  8·2

  Gwent

  66

  44

  25·7

  7·2

  Gwynedd

  26

  29

  21·1

  10·9

  Mid Glamorgan

  64

  27

  19·4

  5·1

  Powys

  19

  6

  26·0

  5·0

  South Glamorgan

  58

  34

  15·9

  5·0

  West Glamorgan3

  60

  43

  21·7

  7·0

  Great Britain

  7,222

  3,840

  16·5

  4·6

  Source: New Earnings Survey.

  1 — denotes sampling error too large or numbers too small for reliable estimate.

  2 Excluding Llanelli.

  3 Including Llanelli.

  April 1990

  Full time manual employees on adult rates with weekly earnings including overtime less than £120—pay for the survey pay period not affected by absence

  Number in the sample

  Percentage of total

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Wales

  162

  129

  34·3

  6·2

  Clwyd—West

  1—

  6

  1—

  7·5

  Clwyd-East

  26

  15

  40·6

  5·9

  Clwyd

  38

  21

  42·7

  6·2

  Dyfed2

  1—

  11

  1—

  8·9

  613

  Number in the sample

  Percentage of total

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Gwent

  34

  22

  41·0

  5·5

  Gwynedd

  1—

  19

  1—

  12·3

  Mid Glamorgan

  26

  14

  26·5

  4·1

  Powys

  1—

  5

  1—

  6·4

  South Glamorgan

  17

  17

  27·4

  5·9

  West Glamorgan3

  15

  20

  25·9

  5·3

  Great Britain

  3,002

  1,900

  33·0

  4·6

  Source: New Earnings Survey.

  1 — denotes sampling error too large or numbers too small for reliable estimate.

  2 Excluding Llanelli.

  3 Including Llanelli.

  April 1990

  Full time non-manual employees on adult rates with weekly earnings including overtime less than £120—pay for the survey pay period not affected by absence

  Number in the sample

  Percentage of total

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Wales

  216

  45

  15·8

  3·0

  Clwyd-West

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Clwyd-East

  16

  2

  15·7

  1·4

  Clwyd

  29

  5

  16·8

  2·5

  Dyfed2

  28

  2

  23·0

  1·8

  Gwent

  26

  11

  14·9

  5·2

  Gwynedd

  18

  6

  18·9

  5·4

  Mid Glamorgan

  34

  5

  14·7

  2·6

  Powys

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  South Glamorgan

  37

  7

  12·3

  1·8

  West Glamorgan3

  37

  8

  17·0

  3·4

  Great Britain

  3,548

  879

  10·3

  2·1

  Source: New Earnings Survey.

  1 — denotes sampling error too large or numbers too small for reliable estimate.

  2 Excluding Llanelli.

  3 Including Llanelli.

  April 1990

  Full time employees on adult rates with weekly earnings including overtime less than £120—pay for the survey pay period not affected by absence

  Number in the sample

  Percentage of total

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Wales

  378

  174

  20·6

  4·8

  Clwyd-West

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Clwyd-East

  42

  17

  25·3

  4·3

  Clwyd

  67

  26

  25·6

  4·9

  Workers checked and found underpaid 1988 to 1990

  Wales

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Checked

  Underpaid

  Checked

  Underpaid

  Checked

  Underpaid

  Aerated waters

  0

  0

  11

  0

  0

  0

  Clothing manufacture

  461

  71

  255

  2

  29

  2

  Boot and shoe repairing

  0

  0

  2

  1

  0

  0

  Button manufacturing

  0

  0

  36

  0

  0

  0

  Coffin furniture and cerement making

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cotton waste reclamation

  11

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Flax and hemp

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Fur

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  General waste materials reclamation

  10

  1

  5

  0

  29

  1

  Hairdressing undertakings

  263

  18

  240

  29

  466

  30

  Hat, cap and millinery

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Lace finishing

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Laundry

  21

  0

  56

  1

  1

  1

  Linen and cotten handkerchief

  66

  41

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Made-up textiles

  0

  0

  0

  0

  7

  0

  Ostrich and fancy feather

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Perambulator and invalid carriage

  0

  0

  162

  0

  0

  0

  614

  Number in the sample

  Percentage of total

  Women

  Men

  Women

  Men

  Dyfed2

  43

  13

  28·7

  5·6

  Gwent

  60

  33

  23·3

  5·4

  Gwynedd

  26

  25

  21·1

  9·4

  Mid Glamorgan

  60

  19

  18·2

  3·6

  Powys

  16

  6

  21·9

  5·0

  South Glamorgan

  54

  24

  14·8

  3·5

  West Glamorgan3

  52

  28

  18·8

  4·6

  Great Britain

  6,550

  2,779

  15·0

  3·4

  Source: New Earnings Survey.

  1 — denotes sampling error too large or numbers too small for reliable estimate.

  2 Excluding Llanelli.

  3 Including Llanelli.

  Offshore Safety Inspectorate
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what the Health and Safety Executive is doing to make up for the loss in other divisions of staff transferred to the Offshore Safety Division; and what is the consequential loss of staff years of experience among those inspectorates that have had staff seconded.

  Mr. Forth
  Since 1 April 1991, 10 staff with a total of 128 years experience in the Health and Safety Executive have been seconded to the offshore safety division from other parts of HSE. Staff movements on this limited scale are normal in an organisation with nearly 4,000 staff and any resulting vacancies will be filled using standard HSE recruitment methods.

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers in each wages council industry in England, Wales and in each Welsh county have had their individual pay and conditions checked by the wages councils in each of the last three years; and in how many cases underpayments were discovered.

  Mr. Forth
  The figures for England and Wales are given in the following tables. Statistics are not kept for counties.
  615

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Checked

  Underpaid

  Checked

  Underpaid

  Checked

  Underpaid

  Retail bespoke tailoring

  1

  1

  1

  0

  5

  0

  Rope, twine and net

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Sack and bag

  0

  0

  5

  0

  2

  0

  Toy manufacturing

  144

  0

  0

  0

  76

  0

  Retail non-food trades

  2,598

  239

  1,130

  123

  2,705

  205

  Retail food and allied trades

  1,311

  248

  1,749

  260

  2068

  379

  Licensed non-residential

  1,355

  156

  1,165

  112

  957

  79

  Licensed residential and licensed restaurant

  1,813

  63

  1,112

  112

  1,768

  162

  Unlicensed place of refreshment

  304

  58

  586

  69

  634

  127

  Totals

  8,358

  897

  6,515

  709

  8,747

  986

  Workers checked and found underpaid 1988 to 1990

  England

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Checked

  Underpaid

  Checked

  Underpaid

  Checked

  Underpaid

  Aerated waters

  2,719

  12

  338

  1

  278

  0

  Clothing manufacture

  11,615

  381

  7,870

  348

  8,747

  282

  Boot and shoe repairing

  733

  19

  467

  11

  79

  12

  Button manufacturing

  163

  0

  97

  1

  33

  1

  Coffin furniture and cerement making

  42

  0

  11

  0

  38

  1

  Cotton waste reclamation

  43

  0

  25

  0

  0

  0

  Flax and hemp

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Fur

  216

  2

  42

  2

  13

  0

  General waste materials reclamation

  1,350

  9

  682

  7

  648

  5

  Hairdressing undertakings

  6,551

  363

  7,331

  338

  6,902

  322

  Hat, cap and millinery

  651

  0

  320

  0

  301

  2

  Lace finishing

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Laundry

  3,876

  37

  2,977

  29

  591

  13

  Linen and cotten handkerchief

  338

  8

  707

  8

  64

  2

  Made-up textiles

  448

  1

  249

  17

  418

  19

  Ostrich and fancy feather

  33

  0

  123

  0

  23

  0

  Perambulator and invalid carriage

  139

  0

  101

  0

  0

  0

  Retail bespoke tailoring

  144

  6

  121

  6

  34

  3

  Rope, twine and net

  299

  0

  1,190

  0

  148

  0

  Sack and bag

  150

  0

  43

  0

  107

  1

  Toy manufacturing

  439

  4

  606

  14

  568

  2

  Retail non-food trades

  86,977

  1,363

  64,208

  1,524

  49,245

  1,434

  Retail food and allied trades

  117,567

  3,473

  105,267

  3,797

  47,368

  4,133

  Licensed non-residential

  25,839

  1,918

  37,235

  1,656

  35,686

  1,227

  Licensed residential and licensed restaurant

  24,574

  618

  36,069

  835

  37,049

  650

  Unlicensed place of refreshment

  7,455

  653

  24,016

  510

  44,730

  572

  Totals

  292,361

  8,867

  290,095

  9,104

  233,070

  8,681

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the closure of the Health and Safety Executive office in Cambridge and the relocation of its staff to Luton; if he will list(a) those areas that the office was responsible for, (b) the industrial sectors that the inspectors there were predominately concerned with, and (c) indicate the impact on inspector travelling time and the rate and ability of inspectors to respond to incidents in these areas from relocation to Luton.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Executive decided to close its local office in Cambridge to streamline its activities and enable the best use to be made of available resources. In making this decision, full account was taken of the need to maintain an efficient and effective service in Cambridgeshire.
  616
  For some years, inspection work in the area has been shared between staff located in the HSE area office in Luton and those based in the local office in Cambridge. Inspectors based in the Cambridge office had specific inspection responsibility for the print industry and Ministry of Defence premises in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire and for general manufacturing industries, agriculture, forestry and fishing industries and local and national government premises in Cambridgeshire.

  Inspection work in other industries in Cambridgeshire—including for example construction, ceramics, woodworking, motor vehicle manufacture and chemical manufacture—has been carried out by inspectors based in Luton.

  Inspectors already travelling from Luton to make inspection visits in Cambridgeshire have not experienced any operational difficulties. The closure of the Cambridge

  617
  office will provide a greater degree of flexibility both to respond to incidents and enable the targeting of inspection activity where it is most needed.

  As there will be no reduction in the numbers of inspectors working in and around Cambridge a drop in inspection levels is not anticipated.

  Offshore Safety Inspectors
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff years will be taken up by the training of all new Offshore Safety Division inspectors.

  Mr. Forth
  The amount of training given will depend on the number of inspectors recruited and their background and experience.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what the Health and Safety Executive has done to recruit Offshore Safety Division specialist staff; how many vacancies currently exist; and how many applications have been received.

  Mr. Forth
  The Health and Safety Executive is currently undertaking a series of recruitment campaigns. The initial competition, which was first advertised on 14 March 1991, had 533 applicants. The second round of the campaign is now under way. Advertisements started on 17 June 1991 and the closing date is 2 August 1991. To date 500 applications have been received.

  The intention is to increase the specialist staff in the division over the next three years; the first target set is for 143 specialist staff by 1 April 1992.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many Health and Safety Executive staff have been transferred(a) temporarily or (b) permanently to the Offshore Safety Division; from which inspectorates these staff were taken; and how long the temporary staff have been seconded for.

  Mr. Forth
  Ten Health and Safety Executive staff are currently working in the offshore safety division from their parent division:

  3 Mines Inspectors

  2 Specialist Inspectors from the Technology Division

  1 Nuclear Inspector

  1 Agricultural Inspector (as Training Manager)

  2 Factory Inspectors

  1 Senior Employment Nursing Adviser

  Each individual's period of attachment is under review and as yet no decision has been made on duration or whether the move will become permanent.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the incidences of(a) squamous cell cancer and (b) emphysema, occurring (i) in the non-ferrous metals industry and (ii) among workers who have been exposed to the fumes produced by degassing tablets used in aluminium gravity die-casting.

  Mr. Forth
  Cancers of the lung, which may include squamous cell cancer, have been associated to varying degrees of certainty with occupational exposure to several substances present in the non-ferrous foundry industry and it is known that cadmium fume can cause emphysema.
  618
  There is no evidence of a specific risk to humans of either condition arising from the fumes produced by degassing tablets used in the aluminium gravity die casting industry.

  Earnings
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the number and average gross weekly earnings, excluding overtime, of men and women employed(a) for 35 hours, (b) between 24 and 34 hours, (c) 16 to 23 hours, (d) between 8 and 15 hours and (e) fewer than 8 hours per week for the categories (i) manual and (ii) non-manual in (1) Wales, (2) each Welsh county and (3) Great Britain as a whole.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested is not available.

  Safety Representatives
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what he is doing to promote(a) the use of, (b) the training of and (c) the effectiveness of safety representatives in the workplace.

  Mr. Forth
  The Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 provide extensive legal rights to safety representatives, including the right to paid time off work to receive training. It is for the safety representatives and the unions to decide whether and how to exercise these rights. The effectiveness of the regulations is kept under review by the Health and Safety Commission. I will consider any proposals that the commission may decide to put to me.

  Works Permits
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether a decision has yet been made on a special annual quota for 1991 of work permits for workers from the dependent territories.

  Mr. Howard
  It has been decided that there should be a quota for 1991 of 170 permits for use by dependent territories, with a maximum of 125 for Hong Kong.

  We have also taken the opportunity to review the longer-term position of the special dependent territories work permit quota. Our conclusion is that it is now anomalous and inconsistent with our immigration control, in that it grants permits for jobs with skill levels below those required under the general work permit scheme. With increasing pressures on immigration worldwide, it is important that our rules are consistent.

  The quota scheme was never intended to continue indefinitely and has now served its purpose. Accordingly, the Government have decided that the quota should end. However, in order that dependent territories should have time to adjust to this, the quota will be phased out gradually as set out in the table.

  Citizens from dependent territories will still be covered by the work permit scheme, which allows non-EC nationals to be employed here if they have high-level skills that are in short supply, are participating in an intra-company move or meet other important labour market needs. They will also be eligible for consideration for permits under my Department's training and work experience scheme.
  619

  Dependent territories special work permit quota: phasing out over four years beginning 1991

  Total

  Maximum for Hong Kong

  Others

  1991

  170

  125

  45

  1992

  140

  100

  40

  1993

  110

  75

  35

  1994

  80

  50

  30

  1995

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  EC Directives
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 4466/91 on European works council to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, and (b) industry.

  Mr. Forth
  It is not possible to make precise estimates, but responses to the Department's consultation document confirm the Government's view that the costs could be considerable and that the European Commission's calculations of the likely costs to industry under-estimate those costs because they do not take account of all the necessary factors.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document Nos. 8073/90, 8792/90, 4112/91 and 8075/90 on community social charter measures to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

  Mr. Forth
  It is estimated that the cost to employers, in the private and public sectors, of general application of directive 8073 control of working time would be at least £2·5 billion per annum. It is estimated that the cost to employers of implementing the health and safety, maternity pay and right to return provisions of directives 8792/90 and 4112/91—protection of pregnant women at work—would in total be £500 to £650 million initially. Detailed estimates for directive 8075/90—health and safety on construction sites—are being prepared.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 9908/90 on equal opportunities for men and women to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

  Mr. Forth
  European Document No. 9908/90 is not a draft directive but sets out the European Commission's third medium-term action programme on equal opportunities for women and men, which runs from 1991–1995. The programme was endorsed by a resolution of the Council of Ministers on 22 May.

  The extent to which employers will be faced with extra costs will depend on the precise nature and timing of measures to be brought forward under the programme.

  It is not possible at this stage to make an overall estimate of direct potential costs to the Exchequer. In practice, the actual United Kingdom contribution to the EC budget for individual programmes will depend not
  620
  only on the level of expenditure, but also on the level and timing of payments, and the relative national shares of the programmes.

  EC Social Action Programme
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is his estimate of the cost of implementation of the European Community social action programme in its present form to(a) the Exchequer and (b) British industry;

  (2) what is his latest estimate of the effect on employment of implementation of the European Community social action programme in its present form;

  (3) what is his latest estimate of the effects on jobs of the implementation of the European Community's social charter in its present proposed form.

  Mr. Forth
  Only half the European Commission's proposals under the social action programme have been published so far. It is not possible, therefore, to estimate the effect of the programme as a whole on industrial or Exchequer costs.

  However, it is already estimated that the implementation of the proposed directives on working time, part-time work and pregnant women would alone add £3·5 billion initially to United Kingdom employers' costs.

  The Commission's proposals would damage the international competitiveness of British and Community industry, would have a substantial adverse effect on employment and would reduce the adaptability of the labour market.

  The social charter, signed by the other 11 member states, was a political declaration and has no legally binding effect. The charter has, however, had the undesirable effect, predicted at the time by the Government, of encouraging the Commission to produce damaging proposals under its social action programme.

  Special Needs
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether TEC-funded projects for young people with learning disabilities are subject to the NVQ level 1 output tests.

  Mr. Jackson
  Where the careers service endorsement specifies that training aimed at national vocational qualification level 2 is not appropriate for a young person with special needs, and an individual training plan leading to NVQ level 1 is agreed, the TEC may claim appropriate output-related funding for the achievement of that NVQ.

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish figures showing how many employees have gross weekly earnings, including and excluding overtime payments, below £185 per week and between £125 and £184·99; and if he will give the information for(a) women and (b) men and for (1) manual and (2) non-manual workers in (i) Wales, (ii) Scotland and (ii) England.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information available from the April 1990 New Earnings Survey is shown in the following tables. The results from the April 1991 survey will be published in November.
  621

  Full-time employees on adult rates—pay not affected by absence during the survey pay period April 1990

  Earning below £180 per week

  Earning below £190 per week

  Earning between £120 and £180 per week

  Numbers in sample

  per cent.

  Numbers in sample

  per cent.

  Numbers in sample

  per cent.

  EXCLUDING OVERTIME

  Scotland

  Manual men

  1,978

  50·1

  2,250

  57·0

  1,655

  41·9

  Non-manual men

  563

  16·3

  656

  19·0

  435

  12·6

  Manual women

  855

  89·7

  890

  93·4

  427

  44·8

  Non-manual women

  1,791

  55·1

  1,921

  59·1

  1,281

  39·4

  Wales

  Manual men

  1,017

  48·5

  1,167

  55·7

  835

  39·8

  Non-manual men

  276

  18·5

  318

  21·3

  226

  15·1

  Manual women

  416

  88·1

  426

  90·3

  234

  49·6

  Non-manual women

  767

  56·3

  829

  60·8

  537

  39·4

  England

  Manual men

  15,084

  42·4

  17,553

  49·4

  12,774

  35·9

  Non-manual men

  4,705

  13·0

  5,520

  15·3

  3,858

  10·7

  Manual women

  6,473

  84·4

  6,718

  87·6

  3,711

  48·4

  Non-manual women

  13,423

  44·8

  14,817

  49·5

  10,313

  34·5

  INCLUDING OVERTIME

  Scotland

  Manual men

  1,302

  33·0

  1,514

  38·3

  1,079

  27·3

  Non-manual men

  494

  14·3

  579

  16·8

  388

  11·2

  Manual women

  785

  82·4

  825

  86·6

  411

  43·1

  Non-manual women

  1,706

  52·4

  1,845

  56·7

  1,228

  37·7

  Wales

  Manual men

  692

  33·0

  802

  38·2

  563

  26·8

  Non-manual men

  245

  16·4

  282

  18·9

  200

  13·4

  Manual women

  384

  81·4

  405

  85·8

  222

  47·0

  Non-manual women

  739

  54·2

  800

  58·7

  523

  38·4

  England

  Manual men

  9,560

  26·9

  11,379

  32·0

  8,012

  22·5

  Non-manual men

  4,097

  11·4

  4,844

  13·4

  3,369

  9·3

  Manual women

  6,008

  78·3

  6,293

  82·1

  3,542

  46·2

  Non-manual women

  12,819

  42·8

  14,207

  47·5

  9,965

  33·3

  Source: New Earnings Survey.

  Employment Service
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the annual report of the Employment Service for 1990–91 will be published.

  Mr. Jackson
  The chief executive of the Employment Service has submitted his annual report for 1990–91 to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State and copies have been lodged in the Libraries of the House today.

  Picketing
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he plans to publish a revised statutory code of practice on picketing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  Having consulted the independent Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, I have prepared a draft revised code of practice on picketing. I have published the draft revised code today, for public consultation over the next three months.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Civil Service Management
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on delegation of responsibilities for management in the civil service.

  Mr. Renton
  Much has already been achieved through the next steps initiative and in other ways to delegate responsibility for management in the civil service. The Government are continuing to encourage and develop this process within the existing legal framework regulating the terms and conditions of employment of civil servants.

  Past transfers of functions relating to the management of the civil service have, however, had the effect of artificially inhibiting the ability of the Treasury and the Minister for the Civil Service to delegate their current responsibilities as fully and flexibly as they would wish. The Government therefore propose, at a convenient opportunity, to introduce legislation to facilitate such delegation by administrative action under the Order in Council.

THE ARTS

  Items in Lieu of Tax
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if there have been any items accepted in lieu of tax or allocated since an announcement was last made on the subject to the House.

  Mr. Renton
  Since my announcement on 29 April 1991, at column 7, I am pleased to inform the House that a portrait by Augustus John of Lady Ottoline Morrell has been accepted in lieu of £105,000 tax. I am also pleased to announce the formal acceptance of the Stathemberg dinner service and a Louis XV bas d'armoire, the acceptance in principle for which I announced to the House on 19 December 1990, at column 175. This offer was made possible by a call on the reserve and satisfied £1,393,610 tax. No decision has yet been taken on the allocation of the Augustus John portrait, the dinner service or the bas d'armoire.

  I have also decided to allocate a collection of private and Post Office stamps of Great Britain, accepted in 1990–91, to the British Library. Finally, I would like to inform the House of a further payment of £13,763·72 which has been made to the Inland Revenue. This is in relation to a painting by Rubens, accepted in 1989–90 and announced to the House on 9 May 1989 at column 357. The total tax satisfied by the acceptance of this painting was therefore £183,616·20.

  Arts in London
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Minister for the Arts if he has any plans to hold discussions with the leaders of the London borough councils concerning the promotion of the arts in London; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 22 July 1991]: I shall be meeting representatives of the Association of London Authorities on 25 July. I have extended a similar invitation to the London Boroughs' Association.

  Foundation for Sport and the Arts
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Minister for the Arts, further to his answer of 18 April,Official Report, column 232, if he will list in full the organisations with which ministers or officials in his Department have held meetings since 18 April with regard to establishing the Foundation for Sport and the Arts and the further meetings that are planned, together with the dates on which such meetings have taken, or will take, place.

  Mr. Renton
  I have held a number of meetings at which the subject of the foundation has been discussed. At this stage I have no specific plans for any future meetings.

WALES

  Furnished Rented Accommodation
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of furnished rented accommodation is occupied by people under the age of 25 years in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Information from the Welsh inter-censal survey 1986 shows that 60 per cent. of people 624
  in furnished rented accommodation were aged under 25; the corresponding figure for partly furnished rented accommodation was 47 per cent.

  Housing Renovation Grants
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total home renovation grant budget in each district and city council in Wales; and what proportion is met by the Welsh Office in each instance.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  For 1991–92 no budgetary allocations apply or have been made by the Department for mandatory home renovation grants at the level of individual districts. At the all-Wales level £77 million has been earmarked for mandatory grants and grant-related assistance, including grants approved under the House Act 1985 prior to June 1990, further resources will be made available if necessary. A further £10 million has been made available for expenditure on discretionary grants and allocated as detailed in the table. Support is provided in major part by direct capital grant: the remainder is funded from borrowing sanctioned by credit approval.

  Discretionary renovation grant SCA allocation

  District

  £000

  Aberconwy

  158

  Alyn and Deeside

  157

  Arfon

  233

  Blaenau Gwent

  433

  Brecknock

  166

  Cardiff

  949

  Carmarthen

  202

  Ceredigion

  248

  Colwyn

  137

  Cynon Valley

  522

  Delyn

  143

  Dinefwr

  189

  Dwyfor

  186

  Glyndwr

  125

  Islwyn

  180

  Llanelli

  335

  Lliw Valley

  263

  Meirionnydd

  108

  Merthyr

  210

  Monmouth

  290

  Montgomeryshire

  242

  Neath

  181

  Newport

  312

  Ogwr

  351

  Port Talbot

  204

  Preseli

  327

  Radnor

  119

  Rhondda

  548

  Rhuddlan

  164

  Rhymney Valley

  373

  South Pembrokeshire

  116

  Swansea

  571

  Taff Ely

  229

  Torfaen

  213

  Vale of Glamorgan

  314

  Wrexham Maelor

  298

  Ynys Mon

  203

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications were made to each district and city council in Wales for housing renovation grants; how many applications were given financial assistance; and what percentage of applications made were successful in each council area between 1985 and 1990.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The numbers of applications, approvals and completions are given in the table.
  625
  Calculations of the percentage of applications that were

  Renovation grants activity by district 1985–1990

  Applications1

  Approvals

  Completions2

  Aberconwy

  1,231

  1,204

  1,108

  Alyn and Deeside

  1,165

  1,262

  1,012

  Arfon

  2,542

  3,142

  2,614

  Blaenau Gwent

  4,033

  3,708

  3,690

  Brecknock

  1,230

  1,600

  1,624

  Cardiff

  20,114

  18,347

  17,003

  Carmarthen

  2,940

  3,076

  2,640

  Ceredigion

  1,840

  1,956

  1,877

  Colwyn

  1,998

  2,092

  1,606

  Cynon Valley

  8,317

  7,569

  6,032

  Delyn

  840

  1,099

  1,062

  Dinefwr

  901

  1,212

  1,063

  Dwyfor

  861

  1,117

  994

  Glyndwr

  1,210

  1,199

  1,090

  Islwyn

  6,886

  8,292

  7,810

  Llanelli

  4,909

  5,260

  4,296

  Lliw Valley

  3,836

  4,122

  3,071

  Meirionnydd

  535

  715

  1,267

  Merthyr Tydfil

  2,169

  4,008

  3,679

  Monmouth

  2,172

  1,396

  1,563

  Montgomeryshire

  1,006

  1,372

  1,134

  Neath

  2,405

  3,707

  3,504

  Newport

  4,956

  3,892

  3,712

  Ogwr

  4,842

  6,014

  5,687

  Port Talbot

  2,814

  2,913

  2,595

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  4,682

  3,648

  2,712

  Radnorshire

  646

  887

  814

  Rhondda

  9,687

  8,313

  10,365

  Rhuddlan

  543

  430

  358

  Rhymney Valley

  4,451

  5,547

  5,103

  South Pembrokeshire

  2,891

  2,561

  2,390

  Swansea

  9,446

  7,686

  7,918

  Taff-Ely

  3,451

  3,832

  3,183

  Torfaen

  2,230

  2,291

  2,216

  Vale of Glamorgan

  2,597

  3,255

  2,918

  Wrexham Maelor

  592

  499

  501

  Ynys Mon

  1,004

  1,388

  1,491

  Wales

  127,972

  130,611

  121,702

  1This figure does not contain the number of applications for the last two quarters of 1990 as this information is not collected centrally under the new grants system.

  2 A completion is defined as on application which has been approved and on which a final payment of grant has been made.

  Children
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the percentages of dependent children in Wales living in households with incomes below 50 per cent. of the average in 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1989; and if he will publish the percentage figures according to children in households of(a) full-time workers, (b) single parents, (c) the unemployed, (d) sick or disabled households and (e) all categories.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Reliable information in the form requested is not centrally available for Wales. Some details of dependent children living in households with incomes below 50 per cent. of the average, based on several years' results from the family expenditure survey, were published for Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and regions of England in April 1990 in a study Commissioned by the House of Commons Social Services Committee. This study was carried out by the Institute for Fiscal Studies and titled "Households and families below average income: a regional analysis 1980–85": a copy is in the Library of the House.
  626
  successful cannot be made from aggregated data provided by local authorities because of inherent time lags between application, approval and completion stage.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he has any plans to increase the number of dentists employed in the community dental service in Wales;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to ensure that there will be no reductions in the number of dental practitioners employed in the community dental service in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Manpower levels in the community dental service are for local district health authorities to determine, taking into account the advice issued by the Department in its circular WHC(89)28 "The Future Development of the Community Dental Services".

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on which dates he met representatives of the community dental service in Wales in the last 12 months; and what items were on the agenda.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend has not met representatives of the community dental service in Wales in the last 12 months. I met the Welsh dental sub-committee of the British Dental Association in May.
  627
  The Department's chief dental officer regularly meets health authority directors of dental public health/chief administrative dental officers and agreement has been reached on the contents of their annual reports for assessment of need. Consideration is currently being given to health gain indicators and performance indicators for community clinical dental services.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many health authorities in Wales include a community dental service that currently provides domiciliary treatment for elderly people employing state-of-the-art dental equipment.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  All health authorities in Wales provide a community dental service which is able to provide domiciliary treatment for elderly people employing state of the art dental equipment. A total of £126,000 was made available earlier this year by the Welsh Office to district health authorities for the purchase of equipment for the treatment of patients with special needs including age-related infirmity.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will initiate a scheme for free dental examinations for all elderly people in Wales to screen for oral cancer.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  We are awaiting the report of a Welsh dental committee working party of oro-facial cancer which was set up in the spring of this year and is due to report in the autumn. Its recommendations will be considered in due course.

  We are also making £60,000 of supplementary funding available to the Health Promotion Authority for Wales over two years to carry out a project intended to raise knowledge and awareness among primary health care professionals concerning early detection of oral cancers and encouraging the general public to take preventive measures.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will limit the provision of domiciliary dental services for the elderly to the community dental service.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  No. To do so would infringe a patient's right to seek treatment with the clinician of their choice.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what studies have been undertaken to examine the possible existence of a casual link between malnutrition in the elderly population of Wales and badly fitting dentures.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Details of studies such as this are not maintained centrally by Health Departments.

  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report for the latest available date for each health authority area in Wales the percentage of residents of private registered nursing homes who have an annual dental screening visit from the community dental service.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  These figures are not held centrally.

  Treasury Allocation Formula
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing how much new money was made available to the Welsh Office in each of the past five years on the basis of the allocation formula used by the Treasury; what was that formula; and what effect the formula had against the calculation on the basis of the latest estimate of the population of Wales to that of England; and what is his estimate of the effect on the difference between these formulae for allocation.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Unfit Accommodation
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of young people under 25 years of age in Wales living in bedsit accommodation which is considered substandard or unfit for habitation.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not available.

  Electricity Supply
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the United Kingdom electricity supply originates in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  It is estimated that, in 1989, 8 per cent. of the electricity generated in the United Kingdom and supplied to the public distribution system—less amounts used on works—originated in Wales.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by county area how many tonnes of(a) sulphur dioxide, (b) nitrogen oxides and (c) particulate carbon, were discharged into the atmosphere in Wales during the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him on 23 July by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Household Sizes
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of households in Wales contained(a) people living alone, (b) a couple with no children, (c) a couple with dependent children, (d) a couple with non-dependent children and (e) other households in the years 1961, 1971, 1981 and 1989.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Available data from the 10 per cent. analyses in the 1961, 1971 and 1981 census reports are given in the following table, together with that from the 1986 Welsh inter-censal survey. There are no equivalent data for 1989. Care should be taken in interpretation as the definition of households and the classification in respect of children—dependent and non-dependent—has varied.
  629

  Percentage of all households

  1961

  1971

  1981

  1986

  (a) One person household

  8·8

  16·6

  20·4

  21·1

  (b) Married couple without children or others

  20·9

  23·4

  23·6

  124·1

  (c) and (d) Married couple only with children Of which:

  48·4

  40·3

  37·7

  n/a

  dependent children only

  n/a

  32·6

  24·4

  26·2

  dependent and non-dependent children

  n/a

  n/a

  5·6

  non-dependent children only

  n/a

  n/a

  7·7

  n/a

  (e) Other households

  21·9

  27·4

  18·2

  27·8

  1 For 1986 a two adult household i.e. not necessarily a married couple.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the 10 largest ethnic minority groupings in Wales and the estimated numbers within each grouping.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Estimates of the numbers in selected ethnic groups, based on the labour force sample survey, have been published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys at page 26 of "Population Trends No. 63, Spring 1991", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. More definite counts will, over the course of the next year, be published, county by county, as part of the 1991 census results.

  Lone-Parent Families
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the proportion of lone-parent families to all families with dependent children in Wales in 1971, 1987 and 1990.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Information from the labour force survey, which samples some 3,000 households in Wales, is given in the table for 1987 and 1990; equivalent data for 1971 are not available.

  Percentage of families with children under 16 headed by a lone parent

  Per cent.

  1987

  14·6

  1990

  14·9

  1961

  1971

  1981

  1989

  1990

  (a) All live births

  44,923

  43,056

  35,842

  38,019

  38,866

  (b) Percentage of live births to females 16–191

  n/a

  12·1

  9·4

  9·6

  9·6

  (c) Number of live births outside marriage

  1,834

  3,068

  4,022

  10,718

  11,400

  (d) Live births per 1,000 population

  17·0

  15·7

  12·7

  13·2

  13·5

  (e) Live births per 1,000 females aged 15–44

  89·3

  85·1.

  63·1

  62·4

  63·8

  Source: OPCS and Welsh Office.

  1 Equipment figure for 15 to 19-year-olds not available for each year.

  Cardiff Bay Barrage
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his best estimate of the length of time required for the additional investigatory work into the groundwater consequences of the proposed Cardiff Bay barrage, referred to in his letter dated 8 July to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I understand that the report of Hydrotechnica's work on groundwater will be available

  Family Incomes
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures for(a) the average resources of families in general, (b) the average resources of a family with a disabled child, in Wales broken down into averages for (i) single parent families, (ii) parents married with one child, (iii) parents married with other dependent children and (iv) all families.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Information at a Great Britain level is given in report 5 of OPCS surveys of disability in Great Britain, entitled "The financial circumstances of families with disabled children living in private households", which is available from the Library of the House.

  The sample of children in Wales identified in the survey as having a disability was too small to allow reliable estimates.

  Birth Statistics
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing(a) the latest available total of live births in Wales, (b) the percentage of mothers between the ages of 15 and 19 years, (c) the latest available figures of births outside marriage, (d) the rate of births per 1,000 population and (e) the latest fertility rates, and corresponding figures for 1961, 1971, 1981, and 1989.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Available data in respect of live births to residents of Wales are shown in the table:

  close to the original deadline of the end of July. As I mentioned in my letter of 8 July, some further monitoring work is under way but I would not want to take a firm view on the length of time for this before having seen the Hydrotechnica report.

  Bishop of Llandaff High School
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to announce his conclusions on the Bishop of Llandaff high school appeal.
  631
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My right hon. Friend's decision was conveyed in a letter to the school governors dated 18 July. A copy of the letter was sent to the hon. Gentleman on the same day.

  Trawsfynydd Lake
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Ministry's investigations into the radioactive content of the sediment properties of Trawsfynydd lake will include an assessment of the radiological consequences to groups of members of the public; and when he expects the results of the investigations will be published.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The results of the additional monitoring of sediments of Trawsfynydd lake, which the fisheries radiological inspectorate—FRI—is carrying out on behalf of my right hon. Friend, are expected to be published later this year, and will include a radiological assessment. Meanwhile, the results of FRI's routine monitoring include sediment data and are published, together with a radiological assessment of the current situation, in FRI's annual reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  History Teaching
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to publish the statutory amendment order for history in the national curriculum.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have today laid before the House, a statutory amendment order to revise study units 18 and 27 in the programme of study for key stage 3 contained in the Education (National Curriculum) (Attainment Targets and Programmes of Study in History) (Wales) Order 1991 —SI 1991/752. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table, otherwise comparable to that provided for England in the answer to the hon. Member for Birkenhead, (Mr. Field),Official Report, 17 April, columns 184–85, showing (a) reductions in 1991–92 in community charge in Wales by successive increments of £10 from £0 to £140, for (i) chargepayers and (ii) pensioners and (b) average community charge less community charge reduction scheme less community charge benefit, both before and after the £140 budget reduction in gross community charge, on a basis consistent with his answer of 3 June, Official Report, columns 19–20.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 11 July 1991]: It is estimated that in 1991–92 the average community charge in Wales, after the community charge reduction scheme and community charge benefit, would have been £192 before the Community Charges (General Reduction) Act 1991 and will in the event be £78. Beyond this, I am unable to add to the reply I gave on 3 June, at columns 19–20.

  British Steel
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the chairman of British Steel on employment in Welsh plants.
  632
  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 23 July 1991]: British Steel keeps me fully informed of developments at its Welsh plants and is in close touch with my officials. I have corresponded with Sir Robert Scholey on this question.

  I have today visited the British Steel plant at Port Talbot where I had the opportunity to discuss this issue among many other matters. I am naturally anxious to maximise employment throughout the Welsh economy, including the steel industry, however employment levels in Welsh plants are a matter for the commercial judgment of British Steel.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  UN Arms Export Register
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in securing international support for a United Nations arms exports register.

  Mr. Hurd
  Our initiative for a UN register has received wide support. The European Council on 28–29 June decided that the Twelve should put to the next UN General Assembly a joint resolution proposing a register. Leaders at the London economic summit affirmed their commitment to the early adoption of such a register. At their meeting in Paris on 8–9 July the five permanent members of the Security Council also endorsed this approach. So this is going well.

  Tibet
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of the Peoples' Republic of China about the situation in Tibet.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We take every opportunity to remind the Chinese authorities of our concern over reports of human rights abuses in Tibet and indeed throughout China. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State emphasised this to the Chinese Foreign Minister and General Secretary on his visit to China in April. The Chinese Government are in no doubt of the strong feelings in Britain about the situation in Tibet.

  Turkey
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Turkey.

  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Foreign Minister of Turkey; and what matters were discussed.

  Mr. Hurd
  I visited Turkey from 22–23 July at the invitation of the Turkish Government. I wanted to consolidate our bilateral relations with Turkey by establishing a dialogue with my new Turkish colleague, Safa Giray. I also called on President Ozal, and The Prime Minister, Mesut Yilmaz, and had illuminating talks with both.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's relations with Yugoslavia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom is playing its full part in monitoring the ceasefire agreed on 8 July. Only the peoples of Yugoslavia themselves can decide the future of their country. But we stand ready to do whatever we can to help, co-operating closely with our EC and western partners.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals have been made by the European Community monitoring team to extend their monitoring of the situation in Yugoslavia to the republics of Croatia and Bosnia and Hercegovina; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Under the terms at the ceasefire agreed between the European Community Troika and Yugoslavia representatives at Brioni on 8 July EC monitors are already operating in Croatia. We have no plans at present to extend the remit to include Bosnia-Hercegovina.

  European Foreign Policies
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next proposes to have discussions with his European Community partners concerning the development of common European foreign policies.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The Dutch Presidency has yet to set the agenda for the ministerial meetings of the inter-governmental conference on political union in the second half of this year.

  We expect however that Ministers of the Twelve will next consider the question of a common foreign and security policy in the early autumn.

  Eastern Europe
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he is making to increase United Kingdom representation in former Warsaw pact countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Numbers of staff at British embassies in former Warsaw pact countries have been increased slightly in 1991 following the considerable increases in 1990. Staff needs in the Soviet Union will be reviewed later this year.

  South Africa
  Sir George Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his visit to South Africa.

  Mr. Hurd
  I heard, at first hand, from a wide variety of political leaders of South Africa's remarkable progress towards non-racial democracy. I encouraged all parties to move quickly to constitutional talks, to agree measures to tackle the violence in the townships and to address the inequalities which remain in South African society.
  634
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his recent visit to South Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  My right hon. Friend heard, at first hand, from a wide variety of political leaders of South Africa's remarkable progress towards non-racial democracy. He encouraged all parties to move quickly to constitutional talks, to agree measures to tackle the violence in the townships and to address the inequalities which remain in South African society.

  Mr. Ted Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek a report of the visit by the delegation of five parliamentarians from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to South Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association delegation which visited South Africa from 8 to 16 July will present a formal report at the CPA's annual congress in September.

  Bophuthatswana
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications he or any of his Ministers have had with Bophuthatswana over the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  None.

  Caribbean
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives he has proposed to increase co-operation between Her Majesty's Government and the Caribbean.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We already co-operate closely with both independent Caribbean countries and our dependent territories in the region, through our aid programme and by assisting in regional security and drug interdiction. Official visits are frequently exchanged. I myself visited several Caribbean countries in December 1990 and April 1991.

  Antarctica
  Mr Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in securing international agreement on protecting the environment in Antarctica.

  Mr. Dickens
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in securing international agreement on protecting the environment in Antarctica.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The third session of the XIth special consultative meeting of Antartica treaty parties ended in Madrid on 23 June, with general acceptance of the text of an environmental protocol to the Antarctic treaty and of four annexes dealing with marine pollution, waste disposal, conservation of wildlife and environmental impact assessment.

  The way is now clear for the parties to hold a final session in Madrid, before October, to sign the Final Act of

  635
  the special consultative meeting and to open the protocol for signature. We warmly welcome this outcome and look forward to increased environmental protection in Antarctica.

  Saudi Arabia
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have made any representations to the Saudi authorities about human rights violations in Saudi Arabia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We discuss human rights issues regularly with the Saudi Arabian authorities. They have consistently denied allegations of human rights violations in Saudi Arabia.

  Burma
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards relations with Burma.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We maintain diplomatic relations with Burma. But we deplore the failure of the Burmese military authorities to respond to the people's clearly expressed wish for democratic government, and are appalled by reports of their continuing disregard for human rights.

  Mr. Haynes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Vietnam on the question of Vietnamese asylum seekers in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  To ease the pressure on Hong Kong, we are urgently pursuing with Vietnam, UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration the establishment of an internationally managed centre on territory provided by Vietnam for those asylum seekers who are determined not to be refugees and have not taken advantage of the existing voluntary return programme.

  Sir Peter Blaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest position regarding the problem of Vietnamese migrants in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The number of Vietnamese migrants in Hong Kong continues to increase. The population in camps now stands at over 61,000; the highest level since 1979. We are urgently pursuing with Vietnam, UNHCR and IOM the establishment of an internationally managed centre on territory provided by Vietnam for those asylum seekers who are determined not to be refugees and have not taken advantage of the existing voluntary return programme.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British dependent territories citizens from Hong Kong have(a) applied for and (b) been granted the status of British national (overseas) in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The status of British National (overseas) came into being on 1 July 1987. Statistics (provided by the Hong Kong Government) are as follows:636

  Year

  Applications Received

  Completed

  11987

  18,336

  16,275

  1988

  31,916

  30,222

  1989

  53,222

  49,519

  1990

  80,213

  78,265

  21991

  51,903

  51,123

  1(From 1 July).

  2(Up to 13 July).

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for naturalisation as British dependent territories citizens on the basis of a connection with Hong Kong have been(a) received, (b) granted and (c) refused for each year since 1989 and to the nearest available date.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  According to Hong Kong Government statistics, the number of applications for naturalisation as British dependent territories citizens on the basis of a connection with Hong Kong were:

  Period

  Received

  Approved

  Refused

  1989

  3,098

  1,098

  73

  1990

  12,543

  1,699

  95

  11991

  5,995

  4,330

  129

  1(Up to 30 June).

  Cambodia
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed Cambodia with the American Secretary of State.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Cambodia with the American Secretary of State during the G7 economic summit on 15 to 17 July.

  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government has made to governments of other countries on the situation in Cambodia.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We regularly discuss the situation in Cambodia at both ministerial and senior official level with the other permanent members of the UN Security Council, participants in the Paris conference on Cambodia, and other interested Governments including our EC partners.

  Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the progress in expanding the CSCE process to include guarantees of democratic political rights.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Copenhagen meeting of the CSCE conference on the human dimension, held in June 1990, agreed a wide-ranging set of commitments to democratic political rights including free and fair elections and respect for the rule of law. The next meeting of the conference, to be held in Moscow in September will review the implementation of those commitments and seek to take the process forward.

  Israel
  Sir Robert Rhodes James
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to make an official visit to Israel.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I visited Israel in May. My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to go himself. He met the Israeli Foreign Minister in London on 18 July.

  Lebanon
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the hostages in Lebanon.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We continue to make every effort to secure the release of the hostages. My recent visit to Lebanon and Syria was a further opportunity to work for this objective. We remain in close touch with all parties we believe may be able to help achieve the hostages' release and will continue to do so.

  G7 Summit
  Mr. Moate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the outcome of the G7 summit in London last week.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement that my right hon. Friend The Prime Minister made to the House on Friday 19 July.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions Her Majesty's Government has had with the Government of Indonesia on human rights; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have repeatedly drawn our concerns about human rights to the attention of the Indonesian Government. My noble Friend, the Minister of State, raised the issue during his recent visit to Indonesia in April; and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State did so with his Indonesian counterpart in Luxembourg in May.

  Exit Visas
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Soviet Government about the failure to grant exit visas to Mikhail and Yeugenia Leviant and Lev Kunin of Moscow, and Alexander Kreyman and Ella and Vladimir Kodess of Leningrad, to join their children in Israel.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have made representations several times about the cases of Lev Kunin and Ella and Vladimir Kodess. Their details were included on a list of refusenik cases brought to the attention of the Soviet authorities during President Gorbachev's visit last week.

  We can certainly raise the cases of Mikhail and Yeugenia Leviant and Alexander Kreyman, but in order to make our representations most effective we shall need further details.

  Sri Lanka
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what other action apart from freezing aid of £13 million Her Majesty's Government is taking over the continued violations of human rights in Sri Lanka.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As stated by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development in her written reply on 9 July to my hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich (Mr. Bowden), a £3 million offer of programme aid has been withdrawn because of Sri Lanka's poor human rights record. There is no freeze of £13 million aid.

  We believe that the Sri Lankan Government's decision to expel our high Commissioner in Colombo was motivated by a desire to stifle our criticism of Sri Lanka's human rights record. In response to this action we have cancelled high level visits, further restricted arms sales and delayed consideration of major new aid commitments. We will review these policies once a new high Commissioner is in place.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimates he has of the number of Tamils killed in the north and east of the country through bombing by the Sri Lankans; and what sources of information he has on the rate of deaths caused by military action in Sri Lanka.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There are no reliable estimates of deaths caused by bombing. The latest official Sri Lankan figures for numbers killed in action between June 1990 and May 1991 are as follows:

  Number

  Civilians

  877

  Armed forces, police

  1,295

  LTTE

  3,933

  The figure for civilian casualties does not distinguish between those caused by the armed forces and those by the terrorists. There are no reliable figures from alternative sources.

  Croatia
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken by the European Community to negotiate the withdrawal of military forces from the republic of Croatia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We and our EC partners have restated our readiness, if asked, to assist in negotiations towards a peaceful settlement of the Yugoslav crisis. However, it is for all Yugoslav parties to decide on future military arrangements for their country.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek a meeting between the European Community leaders or their representatives with the leaders of the republic of Croatia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The European Community Presidency has now sent a senior ambassador to Yugoslavia to discuss with the federal authorities and the leaders of all republics the prospects for negotiations and the role which the Twelve might play in them.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long a person applying for entry clearance for settlement at the British post in(a) Manila, (b) Accra, (c) Lagos, (d) Kingston, (d) Nicosia, (f) Cairo, (g) Ankara, (h) Istanbul, (i) Rabat, (j) Tunis and (k) Algiers on 31 March or the latest convenient date could expect to wait for (i) interview, (ii) referral of the case to the Home Office and the requested information being received by the post, (iii) decisions, and (iv) an explanatory statement prepared by the post in the event of an appeal against a refusal to be despatched to the immigration appellate authorities in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As at 18 July the information required at (i), (ii) and (iv) is as follows.

  The information at (iii) is not available. Times vary according to the circumstances of individul cases. Many decisions are made on the same day as interview.

  Post

  (i)

  (ii)

  (iv)

  Manila

  10 weeks

  3 months

  3 months

  Accra

  5 days

  2 months

  3 months

  Lagos

  1 day

  3 months

  3 months

  Kingston

  6 weeks

  2–4 months

  3 months

  Nicosia

  1 day

  Depends on complexity of case

  3 months

  Cairo

  1 day

  3 months

  1 month

  Ankara

  1–3 days

  3 months

  3 months

  Istanbul

  3–5 days

  3 months

  3 months

  Rabat

  10 days

  Depends on complexity of case

  3 months

  Tunis

  2 days

  Depends on complexity of case

  3 months

  Algiers

  1 day

  3 months

  3 months

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many explanatory statements related to entry clearance appeals were awaiting typing at each post in the Indian sub-continent in Manila, Lagos and Accra on the latest available date; how many staff are employed, both full-time and part-time, to type statements; and when he expects any backlogs to be cleared.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The information requested is given in the following table (as at 18 July):

  (a) Number of explanatory statements awaiting typing.

  (b) Staff whose duties include typing explanatory statements (staff also employed on other typing duties shown in brackets).

  Post

  (a)

  (b)

  Islamabad

  23

  12

  Karachi

  20

  (2)

  Dhaka

  39

  5

  New Delhi

  21

  4

  Bombay

  70

  1 and (7)

  Madras

  3

  1

  Calcutta

  12

  (1)

  Manila

  14

  2

  Lagos

  38

  3

  Accra

  25

  1

  The preparation and processing of appeal statements is a rolling process and the figures in column (a) do not represent backlogs.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long a person applying 640
  for entry clearance on 31 March or the latest convenient date at each post in the Indian sub-continent could expect to wait, in each queue, for (a) first interview, (b) referral of the case to the Home Office and the requested information being received by the post, (c) decision after first interview and (d) for the explanatory statement prepared by the post in the case of appeal against any refusal to be dispatched to the immigration appellate authorities in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  (a) As at 18 July 1991 the estimated waiting times for interviews (in months) were:

  Settlement—Post

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Islamabad

  3

  4

  6

  10

  Karachi

  3

  3

  4

  6

  Dhaka

  3

  5

  6

  11

  New Delhi

  1

  4

  7

  10

  Bombay

  0

  5

  10

  11

  Madras

  1·5

  1·5

  1·5

  1·5

  Calcutta (days)

  10

  10

  10

  10

  Settlement queues are organised as follows:

  Q1. Persons with a claim to the right of abode, dependent relatives over 70 years, special compassionate cases.

  Q2. All spouses and all children under 18 years.

  Q3. Fiance(e)s and others applying for the first time.

  Q4. Re-applicants.

  Visitors

  (a) Due to seasonal high demand, applicants for visit visas in Islamabad requiring a full interview can expect to wait up to 5–7 days. Elsewhere they are dealt with within 24 hours.

  (b) If referred to the Home Office, enquiries concerning applications from any of the posts in the Indian Sub-Continent may take from 1–12 months depending on individual circumstances.

  (c) Decisions after first interview are taken within 24 hours in the majority of cases in Indian Sub-Continent posts.

  (d) Despatch times of explanatory statements are (at 18 July):

  Settlement weeks

  Non-Settlement weeks

  Islamabad

  12

  4

  Karachi

  12

  4

  Dhaka

  12

  11

  New Delhi

  12

  4

  Bombay

  8

  8

  Madras

  12

  8

  Calcutta

  4–8

  4

  Immigration Applicants
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the present waiting times to first interview for all categories of applicant in each country and at each post in the Indian sub-continent.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The estimated present waiting times to first interview (in months) are:

  Settlement

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Islamabad

  3

  4

  6

  10

  Karachi

  3

  3

  4

  6

  Dhaka

  3

  5

  6

  11

  New Delhi

  1

  4

  7

  10

  Bombay

  0

  5

  10

  11

  Madras

  1·5

  1·5

  1·5

  1·5

  Calcutta (days)

  10

  10

  10

  10

  641
  Visitors

  Due to seasonal high demand applicants for visit visas in Islamabad requiring a full interview can expect to wait for between 5 to 7 days. Elsewhere they are dealt with on day of application.

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) men, (b) women and (c) children were waiting in each queue at each post in the Indian sub-continent on 31 March.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Information on the estimated number of applicants in each queue is given in the table. Separate information on men, women and children in all queues is not available centrally.

  Estimated numbers of applicants in the Indian Sub-Continent on 31 March 1991 awaiting their first interview for entry to the United Kingdom

  Number of Persons

  Category1

  Post

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Dhaka

  618

  937

  124

  628

  New Delhi

  Nil

  88

  23

  63

  Bombay

  76

  175

  390

  141

  Calcutta

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Madras

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  38

  Islamabad

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Karachi

  22

  97

  30

  4

  Total ISC

  716

  1,297

  778

  874

  n/a not available.

  1 Queue 1. Persons with a claim to the right of abode. Dependent relatives over 70-years-old. Special compassionate cases.

  Queue 2. All spouses and all children over 18 years.

  Queue 3. Fiance(é)s and others applying for the first time for settlement.

  Queue 4. Reapplicants.

  Human Rights
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the areas on which Her Majesty's Government are currently disbursing funds in support of its foreign policy on human rights.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Human rights are taken into account when allocating aid to developing countries. Certain of the positive measures on good government in the aid programme are designed to increase respect for human rights and the rule of law. Specific measures from this and other programmes include legal assistance, electoral assistance, inward visits, assistance to the media and seminars both abroad and in the United Kingdom.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether seismic surveys are currently being conducted in international waters beyond the 12-mile territorial limit of the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr Garel-Jones
  I am not aware of any seismic surveys currently being conducted in Falkland Islands territorial waters, in waters lying above the continental shelf or in adjacent international waters.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to implement his Department's current proposals relating to the Falkland Islands and off-shore minerals and hydrocarbon extraction.
  642
  Mr. Garel-Jones
  This Department has not itself drawn up such proposals. However various Government Departments have been considering draft minerals legislation submitted for approval by the Falkland Islands Government. This process is continuing and we hope to conclude it before long.

  Mr. Ramesh Kumar
  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to write to the hon. Member for Hendon, North with the reply he undertook to give in his written answer given on 10 June,Official Report, column 416.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I wrote to my hon. Friend on 23 July.

  Central America
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the United Kingdom is making towards United Nations peacekeeping operations in central America.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Kingdom's assessed contribution towards the United Nations human rights verification unit in El Salvador (ONUSAL) is estimated to be £800,000. Parliamentary approval for this new service will be sought in the winter supplementary estimate for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Other external relations vote (class II, vote 2). Pending that approval urgent expenditure will be met by a repayable advance estimated at £500,000 from the contingencies fund.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We enjoy close and cordial relations with Nigeria.

SCOTLAND

  Manufacturing Employment
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were employed in manufacturing in Scotland in June 1979 and at the latest available date.

  Mr Allan Stewart
  In June 1979 there were 604,000 employees in employment in manufacturing industries in Scotland. In March 1991, the latest date for which information is available, there were an estimated 388,000 employees in employment in manufacturing industries in Scotland. In the same period, the number of employees in employment in other industries increased by 69,000, and the number self employed is estimated to have increased by 75,000 in the 11 years since June 1979.

  Education (Placing Requests)
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what powers are available to a regional council education authority to enable it to refuse to make available to
  643
  councillors the names of persons who have had placing requests for their children rejected by the council under regulation 13 of the Education (Appeal Committee Procedures) (Scotland) Regulations 1982.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The 1982 regulations lay down how the procedures of an appeal committee are to be determined by an education authority. In more general terms, section 50F of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, prescribes the rights of access to documents for members of local authorities. Schedule 7A to the 1973 Act as inserted by the 1985 Act specifies the type of information which is exempt and therefore not required to be open to inspection by members. This includes information relating to the education of any particular child and information relating to any particular applicant for, or recipient of, any service provided by the authority. Interpretation of all of these provisions is, of course, a matter for the authority concerned.

  Glasgow Eastern Area Renewal
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the performance of the public and private sector management structures set up to replace the GEAR project in the east end of Glasgow; and what plans he has to alter the structure.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The post-GEAR management arrangements established that the co-ordination of social, residential and community related initiatives would be the responsibility of Glasgow district council and Strathclyde regional council through the east area management committee—a joint committee of both councils—supported by the east area support unit and that private and public sector support for the continuing economic development of the area would be organised through the east end executive.

  It is these bodies who should monitor performance, and consider any need for structural change.

  Coal Mines
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the names and addresses of coal mines operating in Scotland, noting the number of miners employed in each; and whether they are in the public or private sector.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  This is a matter for the British Coal Corporation which is responsible for its own operational mines. The corporation is the licensing authority for private sector mines under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946.

  Income Distribution
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what statistical data are available concerning income distribution in Scotland by decile groups and changes in their net income over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Analyses for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and regions of England, by decile group below median household incomes, for the periods 1980–82 and 1983–85, are given in the publication "Households and Families Below Average Income: A Regional Analysis 644
  1980–85". This study was Commissioned from the Institute for Fiscal Studies by the House of Commons Social Services Committee. The publication is available from the Library.

  It is not possible to provide further analyses of income distributions in Scotland by decile groups, except at disproportionate cost.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Tony Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many men in March were calculated to be in part-time work and included in the work force in employment in Scotland figures;

  (2) what were the numbers in full-time work in Scotland, male and female, included in the work force in employment figures for every March since 1983.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The table gives the available information on the number of men and women employees in employment in Scotland at March of each year since 1983. There are no estimates available of the number of self-employed in Scotland who work part-time.

  (Thousands)

  Men1

  Women Full-time

  Women Part-time

  At March

  1983

  1,054·9

  495·2

  329·1

  1984

  1,040·2

  499·2

  340·5

  1985

  1,038·7

  502·1

  349·1

  1986

  1,018·8

  497·4

  351·4

  1987

  996·1

  495·4

  358·3

  1988

  1,012·8

  514·1

  369·7

  1989

  1,015·7

  535·2

  395·8

  1990

  1,026·7

  534·4

  395·1

  1991

  1,020·9

  523·3

  411·9

  Source: Employment Department quarterly estimates of employees in employment.

  1 Separate figures for male employees in employment working full-time and part-time are available only from the Census of Employment. Available figures are:

  (Thousands)

  September 1984

  September 1987

  September 1989

  Male full-time

  992·0

  939·4

  957·9

  Male part-time

  60·7

  70·2

  76·1

  Source: Censuses of Employment.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the calculation of the number of people who had two jobs as employees included in the work force in employment in Scotland figures in March.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Precise information on the number of people who had two jobs as employees, included in the civilian work force in employment estimates is not available.

  It is estimated from the labour force survey in spring 1990 that 50,000 people in Scotland held a second job as an employee at that time. This is the latest date for which an estimate is available.

  Railways
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional funding has been sought by ScotRail towards the cost of reopening the railway stations at St. Andrews and Tayport; and if he will make a statement.
  645
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has received no request from ScotRail for funding for the reopening of the railway stations at St. Andrews and Tayport. This would, however, be a matter for British Rail and the Department of Transport in the first instance.

  Mental Hospitals
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the commitment to close all major psychiatric and mental handicap hospitals by the year 2000 applies to Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There is no such commitment in Scotland. The Government's broad policy aim is to develop services which enable the mentally disordered to live in the community as far as possible. It is recognised, however, that there will be people who will still require continuous care and treatment in hospital and that there is a need to retain the mental hospital, albeit in a slimmed-down form, for the foreseeable future.

  Foresterhill Hospital
  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with Grampian health board, and with the sponsors of the Foresterhill hospital's trust application regarding future management of the medical unit at the National Hyperbaric Centre.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No discussions have taken place about this. Any change to the arrangements for medical services at the national hyperbaric centre has no connection with the issue of trust status for Foresterhill. The review of arrangements was instigated well before trust status was first mooted for the Foresterhill site, and had been handled by officials at Grampian health board's headquarters, not by managers at Foresterhill.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with Grampian health board, with the sponsors of the Foreserhill hospital's trust application, and with the university of Aberdeen, regarding the future disposition of the lands on the Foreserhill site which are jointly owned by the health board and the university; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The disposition of land is in the first instance a matter for discussion and agreement amongst those directly involved, in this case Grampian health board, the university of Aberdeen, and the trust applicants, the Foresterhill hospital's unit. These discussions are ongoing. To date, therefore, my officials have had no material discussions with any of the interested parties about the disposition of that land on the Foresterhill site that is jointly owned with the university of Aberdeen.

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the sponsors of the Foresterhill hospital's unit trust application and with Grampian health board regarding the detailed financial plans and projections for the proposed national health service trust.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My officials have discussed the relevant financial details with the sponsors of the Foresterhill Hospitals Unit Trust and with Grampian health board. These discussions are still continuing and will cover all financial aspects of the proposal.

  National Health Service Finance
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provisions he has made for capital investment in the national health service in Scotland in each of the financial years 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95; and what funds will be allocated to each health board area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The table lists the capital allocations for each health board for 1991–92 and the provisional allocations for 1992–93 and 1993–94. No allocations have yet been made for 1994–95.

  £000s

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Argyll and Clyde

  11,385

  15,000

  10,550

  Ayr and Arran

  13,480

  4,500

  9,200

  Borders

  1,299

  1,300

  1,300

  Dumfries and Galloway

  3,231

  2,150

  4,000

  Fife

  32,616

  21,515

  11,315

  Forth Valley

  4,813

  3,353

  3,353

  Grampian

  17,752

  17,872

  16,872

  Greater Glasgow

  26,489

  14,350

  19,750

  Highland

  4,662

  4,100

  5,000

  Lanarkshire

  17,565

  4,100

  5,000

  Lothian

  21,321

  18,500

  18,100

  Orkney

  444

  235

  285

  Shetland

  1,632

  1,750

  850

  Tayside

  15,643

  9,930

  18,030

  Western Isles

  13,446

  6,345

  1,395

  Mr. Doran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the projected external financing limit for Grampian health board for each of the financial years 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95.

  Mr Michael Forsyth
  Health board's resources and expenditure are not governed by external financing limits. Provision for capital expenditure by boards is made via annual capital allocations based on board's forecast expenditure plans.

  Football
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each Scottish League club together with the total season's attendance at(A) matches played in the Football League and (B) matches played in the Scottish cup and Skol cup competitions, with the total numbers of (a) arrests and (b) ejections at each category of such matches and the numbers of (i) arrests, (ii) ejections and (iii) arrests plus ejections as a percentage of the total attendance at each category of such matches, accurate to four decimal places for each of the seasons 1987–88, 1989–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91; and if he will make a statement on attendance rates and arrest rates at each category of such matches.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Local Authorities
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the number of people employed by regional and district and islands authority councils in Scotland; and if he will break figures down by authority, department and grade, for the last five years available.
  647
  Mr. Allan Stewart
  Quarterly figures for local authority staffing have been published jointly by the Scottish Office and the Covention of Scottish Local Authorities since 1976 and are available in the Library. These give numbers of staff by authority and the total number of staff in each service catergory. A detailed breakdown by department and grade is not available centrally.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give details of the staff salary costs incurred by regional and district and islands authority councils in Scotland; and if he will break figures down by authority, department and by employee's grade for the last five years available;

  (2) if he will give details of the total running costs of regional and district and island authority councils in Scotland, excluding salary costs; and if he will break this figure down by authority and by department in each of the last five years available;

  (3) if he will give details of the total running costs of regional and district and islands authority councils in Scotland, including salary costs; and if he will break this figure down by authority and by department in each of the last five years available.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the valuation of properties in Scotland for the purposes of the council tax.

  Mr. Lang
  Subject to the enhancement of the Local Government Finance and Valuation Bill, the valuation exercise in Scotland will be carried out by the local assessors acting under the direction of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. A new grant is to be paid to local authorities in respect of expenses incurred in the financial

  Organisation

  Project

  Amount (£)

  Centre for Environmental Interpretation

  Training in the presentation of heritage sites in the Western Isles

  4,000

  Council for Scottish Archaeology

  Adopt-a-Monument scheme

  2,000

  Environment Centre

  Establishment of demonstration wildlife garden in Edinburgh school

  2,000

  Heartland Radio Project

  Setting up of Heartland Radio

  1,500

  Keep Scotland Beautiful

  Establishment of Clyde Pryde river project

  1,500

  Lothian and Edinburgh Environmental Partnership

  Small Business Paper Recycling

  3,000

  Scottish Association of Agriculture

  Scottish Schools Challenge competition

  3,000

  Scottish Wildlife Trust

  Full-time volunteering project

  5,000

  Sustrans

  Providing safer access to Clyde Walkway at Rutherglen Bridge

  5,000

  Touchstone

  Touchstone Project: environmental maze accessible to disabled

  4,750

  Uist/Barra Amenity Group

  Western Isles/Shetland recycling project

  2,000

  Woodland Trust

  Natural woodland regeneration programme, Uig Woods, Isle of Skye

  500

  Disability Manifesto
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy towards the recommendations of the "Disability Manifesto: An Agenda for the 1990s", a copy of which has been sent to him, which relate to his Department; and if he will make a statement.
  648
  years 1991–92 and 1992–93 in carrying out this task. Local authorities will be paid grant on the basis of applications submitted to the Department in accordance with arrangements to be agreed between them and the Department. Parliamentary approval of this new expenditure will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the relevant vote—class XV, vote 22. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure, estimated at about £5 million, will be met by repayable advances from the contingencies fund.

  Special Environmental Grants
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement concerning the fund being held in reserve under the special grants (environmental) programme to support suitable projects which will further the aims of the Government's White Paper "This Common Inheritance."

  Mr. Lang
  I am pleased to announce that £34,250 has now been offered to 12 voluntary bodies in Scotland to help them carry out projects designed to enhance the quality of Scotland's environment and to increase popular understanding, awareness and enjoyment of it. Among the projects to be supported include a project to provide safer access for cyclists and pedestrains to the Clyde walkway at Rutherglen bridge, recycling schemes in Edinburgh and the Western Isles, and a project to improve access to the countryside by disabled people in highlands. Full details are contained in the table.

  A further £239,250 has already been allocated this year to assist voluntary bodies with their core administrative costs, thus helping them to carry out environmental conservation, improvement or educational work in Scotland. A total of £1,500 remains in reserve. This is the first year that a specific amount has been set aside for small projects under the special grants (environmental) programme, and I look forward to seeing the results.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 3 July 1991]: The Government's policies for people in Scotland with disabilities accord with the aims set out by my right hon. Friend The Prime Minister on 4 July at column 184.

  The new arrangements for community care which will be fully implemented in 1993 seek to improve the quality of life for disabled people. Local authorities will be required to assess their needs and produce individual care packages, taking account of the views of the disabled

  649
  people concerned and their carers. Our guidance to authorities suggests that they should provide information on their services and on the assessment procedures in braille. Voluntary organisations representing disabled people and their carers will be consulted on the preparation of community care plans.

  The recent introduction of a complaints procedure to users of social work services is part of the progress being made to make the services more responsive to users' needs.

  The Government acknowledge the relatively low level of existing provision in the community for people with mental health problems and have introduced the mental illness specific grant scheme to assist local authorities to develop new community-based services. Grant of £2·1 million will support local authorities expenditure of £3 million. In addition over £250,000 will be made available for capital expenditure to voluntary organisations in this field. We are also giving grants of around £1 million toward the running costs of voluntary organisations for disabled people.

  We agree with the authors of the manifesto that dissemination of information is important to disabled people and are actively involved with Disability Scotland in establishing a base for "Handynet" as part of the European Community's HELIOS programme.

  The recently announced community care bridging finance scheme is designed to benefit people who need long-term care and support. A total of £15 million has been made available to health boards to help them meet the double-running costs incurred where building up community support facilities and continuing to provide adequate levels of institutional care.

  A total of £500,000 per annum has been allocated towards a service for the rehabilitation of the traumatic brain injured and funding of £200,000 per annum for three years to establish a cochlear implant programme.

  We have set up a working group of the National Medical Advisory Committee to evaluate the present and future provision of rehabilitation services in Scotland.

  Substantial resources continue to be made available to local authorities and other housing agencies for special needs housing along with appropriate guidance on the level of provision. The range of housing suitable for people with disabilities rose from 3,139 in 1979 to 19,560 in 1990. We recognise that access to buildings is vital for the quality of life of disabled people and local authorities must employ an access officer. Extended access for disabled people to the upper floors of all new buildings except dwellings will he the subject of public consultation later this year.

  Government support for sport is mainly channelled through the Scottish Sports Council which is committed to a philosophy of sport for all. Developing opportunities for people with disabilities to take part in sport will be central to a conference being held by the council later this year.

  We remain committed to reviewing and improving services for people with disabilities throughout Scotland.

  Caledonian Pine Forest
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 22 May,Official Report, column 524, if the Forestry Commission offered the 250 acres of Caledonian pine forest in the Affric-Cannich Hills, site of special scientific interest, to a nature conservation or heritage organisation prior to disposal.
  650
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This area is still under Forestry Commission management and is likely to remain so for the time being.

  Student Support
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he is now taking in order to provide financial support to students, following the ending of their entitlement to welfare benefits.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [pursuant to his reply 15 July 1991]: I very much regret that my earlier reply to the hon. Member was inaccurate in one respect. For eligible students who still wish to take out a student loan for session 1990–91, it is their completed loan agreement form which must reach the Student Loans Company Ltd by 31 July.

  The full test of the reply should have read as follows:
  We are already providing such support through student loans and access funds. Loans and grants together provided an increase of 25 per cent. in the resources available to students in session 1990–91 and the loan element more than compensated the average student claimant for the loss of benefits. The average student's likely entitlement to benefits was estimated to be about £327, whereas the average full year loan rate for session 1990–91 is £420. Eligible students who have not already done so can still apply for a loan for 1990–91 provided their completed loan agreement reaches the Student Loans Company Ltd by 31 July.
  For session 1991–92 the overall provision for student maintenance has been increased by a further 6 per cent. on average, giving a loan facility of £580 for students living away from the parental home.
  In addition to student loans, discretionary assistance may be available in cases of need through the access funds which are administered by the individual academic institutions.

ENVIRONMENT

  Construction Training
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many construction trainees from Poplar baths went on to be employed by Olympia and York;

  (2) how many construction trainees from the Tower Hamlets construction training centre went on to be employed by Olympia and York.

  Mr. Key
  I understand that so far 248 trainees at the centre have successfuly completed courses and 277 trainees have gained employment. A total of 141 went to work at Olympia and York's Canary Wharf site.

  London Docklands Development Corporation
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list any amounts allocated on programmes to the London Dockalnds development corporation for housing purposes or supporting infrastructures in the form of grants or subsidies for each of the years 1984–85 to 1992–93;

  (2) if he will list any amounts allocated on programmes to the London Docklands development corporation for housing purposes or supporting infrastructures in the form of grants or subsidies for each of the years 1984–85 to 1992–93 have not yet been determined.
  651
  Mr. Key
  The table lists the grant allocation to corporations for direct expenditure on housing and provision of infrastructure. The allocations for 1992–93 have not yet been determined.

  Grant in aid spent by UDCs (excluding receipts)

  (£ million)

  Housing

  Provision of services (gas, electricty, etc.)

  Roads and transport (including Docklands light railway)

  1984–851

  —

  5

  20

  1985–86

  —

  10

  21

  1986–87

  —

  16

  24

  1987–88

  —

  18

  39

  1988–89

  45

  38

  72

  1989–90

  69

  34

  121

  1990–91

  33

  23

  261

  1991–92

  14

  8

  278

  1LDDC only.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate in the case of each urban development corporation and the London Docklands development corporation when they are expected to have fully completed their programmes expenditure on work of physical development or redevelopment.

  Mr. Key
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 10 July,Official Report, column 935, and the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minster for Local Government and Inner Cities on 11 March, Offical Report, column 368.

  Landscape Conservation
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what specific steps the Government have taken to encourage landscape conservation and improvement and to encourage the provision of opportunities for recreation since September 1990.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Last month, the Government announced the designation of the Blackdown Hills as the 39th Area of outstanding natural beauty—Official Report, column 494—and the Countryside Commission launched its countryside stewardship scheme under which farmers and landowners will be offered payments to conserve traditional English landscapes, enhance wildlife habitats and provide additional public access. In addition, five new groundwork trusts have been established to undertake environmental improvements.

  Pollution Control
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contributions the Government have made to the scientific study of man-made chemicals which deplete the ozone layer and to the evaluation of alternative chemicals, since September 1990; and what progress has been made.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The fourth report of the stratospheric ozone review group, which provides advice to the Government on the science of ozone depletion, was published this month. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library, and am sending the hon. Member a652
  copy. The Government actively participate in the Montreal protocol's scientific assessment, co-chairs its technology and economics assessment, and has provided $100,000 for developing country participation. This process is expected to lead to a further strengthening of the protocol in 1992.

  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in the development of an integrated EC system of pollution control based on the model provided within the Environmental Protection Bill.

  Mr. Hesseltine
  I am pleased to say that a first meeting of national experts was held in Brussels in May to discuss Commission proposals for an EC system of integrated pollution control which would largely mirror the system introduced in part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and implemented with effect from 1 April this year. Further discussion, on the basis of a draft directive, is expected to take place in early autumn.

  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new measures the Government have proposed to ensure the stronger monitoring of member states' compliance with, and proper implementaion of, EC environmental obligations.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The Government attach great importance to these matters and have consistently encouraged the European Commission to take an active role in ensuring that member states fully comply with their environmental obligations. We have pressed the Commission to publish regular statistics on member states' compliance records. We have advocated new proposals to set up a standardised system of reporting by member states on the implementation of existing directives. We have stongly supported other measures which should help to make available more information on compliance with EC legislation, including a directive on public access to environmental information and the creation of the European Environment Agency.

  More generally, the Government have called on both the Commission and the European Parliament to produce regular reports on the implementation of EC legislation in all areas, and have submitted proposals to the intergovernmental conference of political union for the European Court of Justice to impose financial sanctions on member states who persistently fail to meet their obligations.

  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken since September 1990 to extend and improve monitoring arrangements of emissions to air outdoors; and what has been done to make the results widely available.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, a wide range of industrial processes in England and Wales will require authorisation either by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, under the new system of integrated pollution control, or by local authorities, under new air pollution control arrangements. Operators will be required as a condition of authorisation to monitor their releases in order to demonstrate compliance with specified numerical limits; HMIP will be establishing monitoring programmes to check on operators' measurements. Information obtained from these monitoring arrangements will be placed on public registers held by HMIP and local authorities.

  Business (Environmental Considerations)
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what specific ways the Government have encouraged business to take environmental considerations into account when operating since September 1990.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Since the publication of the White Paper "This Common Inheritance" in September 1990, the Government have taken a wide range of specific measures to encourge business to take environmental considerations into account, most notably the introduction of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which provides a strong regulatory framework for industry to play its part in protecting and enhancing the environment.

  Air Quality
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions the Government have had within the European Community on improving standards of air quality monitoring; and what progress has been made.

  Mr. Heseltine
  My Department takes part in regular discussions with the European Commission and our Community partners on progress in implementing existing air quality directives and prospects for further Community initiatives in this area, including the further development of air quality monitoring within the Community.

  The Commission has recently published a draft directive, owing much to United Kingdom practice, on guidelines and monitoring arrangements for ground level ozone. The first phase of the planned expansion of the United Kingdon air quality monitoring network, announced in the White Paper "This Common Inheritance", will be implemented in January 1992.

  Environment Debate
  Sir Hugh Rossi
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement in response to those points raised by right hon. and hon. Members in the debate on the United Kingdom environment on 12 July to which he was unable to respond in the course of the debate.

  Mr. Trippier
  A number of points were raised in the debate, and I welcome this opportunity of responding to them.

  Several questions were raised on the proposed environment agency. As I indicated, we shall be issuing a consultation document later this year which will set out our proposals in more detail, but I confirm that it is presently our intention to transfer responsibility for waste regulation from local government to the new agency. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is considering the position in Northern Ireland.

  Several points were raised about recent reports from the Environment Select Committee. The Government have accepted almost all of the recommendations of the report on contaminated land. The Law Commission rejected the proposal to overturn caveat emptor, and suggested instead that the buyer should be well informed. The duty placed on local authorities to compile and maintain registers of land which may be contaminated is in line with this decision. The role of the interdepartmental committee on the
  654
  redevelopment of contaminated land is now restricted to ensuring liaison and facilitating input from other Departments.

  Similarly we accepted most of the recommendations of the report on toxic waste. The Government are continuing to seek ways of improving statistics on waste. British Coal has been required to seek alternative means of disposal for colliery waste to enable dumping on beaches to be phased out by 1995, and at sea by 1997. We are considering the implications of the various draft EC directives dealing with the liability for waste producers as they are negotiated within the Community, and will be consulting fully on appropriate United Kingdom stances.

  Turning to the report on the pollution of beaches, the Government understand the importance of eutrophication. The evidence, including international studies, shows that there is a problem at a small number of locations, but measures have been taken to reduce nutrient inputs to coastal waters, and research initiated to establish whether nutrient inputs from the United Kingdom contribute to eutrophication.

  As for sewage sludge, it is for the water companies to evaluate the technology required to meet their needs, including sewage sludge technology. My Department has instigated a general review of sewage disposal options and the results have been made available to water companies and others. The role of the proposed environment agency in this area is a matter for further consideration.

  The Department's spending on environmental research has increased by 46 per cent. since 1987–88.

  The Department already includes outside experts in discussions on environmental policy with the EC Commission, and will continue to do so where appropriate.

  Energy efficiency is a key part of the Government's strategy to reduce CO2 emissions to combat global warming. There will be a new joint DOE/Energy Efficiency Office campaign to promote energy efficiency in the home in the autumn. The budget for the EEO has been increased substantially this year to over £40 million to provide for the introduction of the home energy efficiency scheme for low-income households.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has chaired two ministerial meetings this year on the implementation of environmental policy and considerable progress has also been made through correspondence and through official discussions. The Prime Minister will chair a further meeting of Ministers later this month.

  As the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) explained to the House on 19 June, it is our intention to deliver the White Paper commitment on hedgerows. We shall be making a statement on our proposals shortly.

  My staff are actively investigating the situation in Germany with regard to the ban on the import of consumer products containing PCP and the enforcement of that ban. I am also seeking clarification as to any legal action taken or proposed by the European Commission. The ninth amendment to the marketing and use directive —91/173/EEC—is due to be implemented from 1 July 1992 and includes controls on the use of PCP.

  In April 1988 sales of unleaded petrol accounted for 0·4 per cent. of the United Kingdom market. Since then consumption of unleaded has increased considerably and currently accounts for over 40 per cent. of total petrol

  655
  sales. A comparison of provisional unleaded petrol sales figures for 1990 in EC countries shows that United Kingdom sales of 34 per cent. were greater than Belgium —33 per cent., France—30 per cent., Luxembourg—30 per cent., Eire—20 per cent. and substantially higher than Italy—5 per cent., Spain—1 per cent., Greece—2 per cent. and Portugal where sales were negligible. Only in the former West Germany—80 per cent., Denmark—60 per cent. and the Netherlands—48 per cent. were unleaded market shares greater.

  The Government have acted quickly over the problem of dioxins in milk in Bolsover. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has already started a programme of research into this problem and, in addition, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, this Department and MAAF are discussing joint monitoring arrangements. The results of this monitoring will be published, and a public inquiry would add nothing to the present response.

  All of the duties and powers relating to litter in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 are now in force. The provisions enabling local authorities to introduce fixed penalty schemes were brought into force in February. Private citizens have had the right to apply for "litter abatement orders" from a magistrates court since April. This power has already been invoked successfully against Liverpool city council.

  The Government recognise that diesel car emissions are becoming cleaner, but further improvements are desirable for both diesel and petrol cars. There are already financial attractions in running a diesel car, particularly for high mileage users.

  Emission levels from petrol-engined vehicles will be checked at the compulsory annual tests from 1 November this year. Vehicles will fail the test if they emit more than the prescribed levels of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons in the case of vehicles registered after 1 August 1975; and if they emit avoidable smoke in the case of other vehicles. This new in service check will help to reduce the emission of gases which contribute to global warming, and it should also help to improve local air quality. In due course the prescribed emission standards will be made more severe so as to cater for modern engines which are designed to emit much lower levels of pollutants: these stricter standards will have been introduced by the beginning of 1996, which is when large numbers of catalyst-equipped vehicles will be old enough to come into the compulsory testing regime.

  The Government received a letter from the EC Commission in March about environmental assessment on the proposed Compton to Bar End section of the M3, and a response was sent in May. There has been no correspondence with the Commission on the east London river crossing since October 1989.

  Planning Guidance
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress the Government have made since September 1990 in their review of national planning policy guidance.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Since September 1990 we have issued planning policy guidance on archaeology and on affordable housing, and draft guidance on sport and recreation, advertisement control, redundant hospital sites in the green belts, sites of special scientific interest and travelling showpeople. We are finalising guidance on land 656
  for housing and on the countryside. We are about to issue draft guidance on enforcement, and are preparing consultation drafts of revised or new guidance on general policy and principles; industrial and commercial development and small firms; simplified planning zones; telecommunications; development plans and regional planning guidance; coastal policy; listed buildings and conservation areas; nature conservation; noise; planning, pollution control and waste management; renewable energy; and tourism. We will be pressing ahead with this work now the Planning Compensation Bill has completed its passage through Parliament.

  We are about to issue draft minerals planning guidance on interim development orders. We are preparing consultation drafts on cement and on the treatment of disused mine openings.

  We issued regional planning guidance for East Anglia this month. We are preparing a consultation draft of revised guidance for the south-east. In most other regions groups of local authorities are making good progress in preparing advice for the Secretary of State as a basis for draft guidance.

  Council Houses, Tower Hamlets
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total number of council housing units in Tower Hamlets for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Yeo
  Local authorities report the numbers of their own dwellings, and estimates of those owned by other public sector landlords, in their annual housing investment programme returns (HIPI). The available information is as follows:

  Year

  Tower Hamlets borough council1

  Other public sector2

  Total public sector2

  1979

  18,194

  29,579

  47,773

  1980

  18,200

  30,700

  48,900

  1981

  18,394

  31,460

  49,854

  1982

  19,446

  31,600

  51,046

  1983

  19,241

  31,075

  50,316

  1984

  19,044

  30,926

  49,970

  1985

  18,671

  31,021

  49,692

  1986

  48,700

  667

  49,367

  1987

  48,611

  539

  49,150

  1988

  47,646

  529

  48,175

  1989

  46,277

  523

  46,800

  1990

  43,583

  397

  43,980

  1 Excludes a small number of dwellings located outside the borough.

  2 Prior to 1986, GLC-owned dwellings within Tower Hamlets are included under "Other Public Sector". This category also contains a small number of dwellings owned by other boroughs, government departments and other public sector agencies.

  Riding Schools
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received regarding the impact of the national non-domestic rate on riding schools in Essex.

  Mr. Key
  We have received a number of representations on the impact of non-domestic rates on riding schools. As far as I am aware, however, there have been none on the impact in Essex.

  Integrated Pollution Control
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the guidance notes on integrated pollution control issued since the Environmental Protection Act 1990 came into force.

  Mr. Baldry
  Comprehensive guidance was published on 28 February 1991 in "Integrated Pollution Control: A Practical Guide" which included a timetable for the issuing of chief inspector's guidance notes. Five industry sector guidance notes have been prepared: IPR 1: Fuel and Power, IPR 2: Metal, IPR 3: Mineral, IPR 4: Chemical IPR 5: Waste Disposal. Four have been published recently and IPR 4 is at the HMSO printers. The first process note IPR 1/1 "Combustion Processes for Large Boilers and Furnaces" has already been published and preparations are well advanced on the notes for the next tranche of processes coming under integrated pollution control.

  Food Labelling
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he intends to give to examination of the health effects of product use when evaluating the packaging of a product for qualification for an eco-label.

  Mr. Baldry
  Eco-labels will primarily be awarded on environmental grounds. There are well established health and safety regulations in place which ensure that consumers are informed about products and their packaging that are potentially damaging to health. If a product had a demonstrably detrimental effect on human health, it is unlikely that it would meet the criteria for the award of the eco-label.

  Housing Management Grants
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the amount of grant paid and the number of organisations grant-aided under section 16 of the Housing and Planning Act 1986 for each financial year since enactment, including the amount available in the current financial year.

  Mr. Yeo
  The information requested is shown in the following table. Figures for all the recipients of grant in 1991–92 are not yet available.

  Section 16 Grants 1986–92: Total paid and number of recipients

  Financial Year

  Grants paid £'000

  Voted Provision £'000

  Recipients

  1986–87

  427

  —

  5

  1987–88

  1,624

  —

  27

  1988–89

  3,030

  —

  33

  1989–90

  3,826

  —

  39

  1990–91

  4,967

  —

  63

  1991–92

  —

  7,100

  —

  Community Charge
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many times, since the original introduction of the community charge, senior officials of his Department have refused to meet senior officials of county councils, following their request for such a meeting.
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  Mr. Portillo
  Ministers have made it clear that we are willing to receive delegations from local authorities to discuss their representations and in particular any new evidence which they may wish to bring forward. Officials meet the local authority associations on a regular basis to discuss all aspects of local government finance. They do not generally meet representatives of individual authorities other than to clarify points of technical detail.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give consideration to an immediate extension of borrowing limits for expenditure for those local authorities involved in losses through the BCCI closure.

  Mr. Key
  If a local authority makes an application to my Department for a direction to increase its aggregate credit limit, we will consider it.

  Right to Buy
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how long it takes on average for his Department to decide whether a particular house is exempt from the right to buy because it was built for occupation by people of pensionable age; and what steps are being taken to speed up procedures.

  Mr. Yeo
  Decisions taken so far have averaged about eight months. More staff have been allocated to this work in order to speed up decisions.

  Gypsy Sites
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many fixed sites for gipsy encampments have been agreed with county councils; and what discussions he has had with Berkshire about designating such a site.

  Mr. George Young
  The Caravan Sites Act 1968 places a duty on county councils, metropolitan districts and London boroughs to provide sites. At 1 January 1991, a total of 221 local authority sites providing 3,644 pitches were in place in shire counties in England. I understand that Berkshire county council is investigating a number of possible sites and that a meeting between county officers and officials of my Department has been arranged for September.

  EC Directives
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document Nos. 4084/91 and 4548/91 to the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions.

  Mr. Baldry
  These documents contain proposed regulations to establish new Community funds for supporting actions relating to respectively the protection of northern coastal waters—NORSPA—and the protection of the environment generally—LIFE. For the former, we expect the council to decide that the amounts of money necessary for the funds would be 6·5 million ecu, approximately £4·5 million, for 1991 and 10 million ecu, approximately £7 million, for 1992. For the latter, the
  659
  Community's 1991 budget allocated 30 million ecu, approximately £21 million, although in the absence of an agreed regulation this is now unlikely to be spent in the current year.

  The United Kingdom's contribution through the Community's budget would be around 17 per cent. before abatement. It is not possible to estimate at this stage what proportion of these funds would be likely to be received by United Kingdom projects or interests.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document Nos. 8149/88, 9204/89, 5807/90 and 4684/91 on habitats of wild flora and fauna to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

  Mr. Baldry
  The extent of designations likely to be required under the proposed habitats directive is currently being assessed. However, special areas of conservation will be identified from our network of sites of special scientific interest. In certain circumstances assistance towards the costs of conservation projects could be obtained under the ACNAT regulation which has a budget of 25 mecu—£17·4 million—for each of the next two years. The United Kingdom contribution to ACNAT will depend on both the level and timing of payments and the relative shares of the programme. No significant additional cost to British industry and the consumer has been identified.

  Sleeping Rough
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for providing accommodation for single homeless people sleeping rough outside London, in response to the preliminary findings of the 1991 census.

  Mr. Yeo
  My Department's single homelessness initiative has made a very encouraging start in dealing with the problems of rough sleepers in central London. Taking this and the census figures into account, we are considering the possibility of extending the initiative outside central London.

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications from the two recent schemes for voluntary early retirement or severance within the Property Services Agency have been turned down.

  Mr. Yeo
  The total number of non-industrial staff VER applications that have been turned down to date is 385.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff, excluding natural wastage, the Property Services Agency has declared surplus for the financial year 1991–92.

  Mr. Yeo
  In order to achieve its business planning projections, PSA Services currently has a target reduction of 2,500 posts in 1991–92. We expect some 700 of these to be achieved by natural wastage.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff the Property Services Agency anticipates transferring to other Government Departments in the financial year 1991–92.
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  Mr. Yeo
  PSA Services hopes to transfer some 800 staff to other Government Departments in the financial year 1991–92.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on supporting the principle of staff within the Property Services Agency being subjected to compulsory redundancies where volunteers exist.

  Mr. Yeo
  The policy of PSA Services is to achieve as many as possible of the necessary staff reductions through voluntary means and to keep compulsory redundancies to the minimum. Some compulsory redundancies will be inevitable however even where volunteers exist; for example if any of the volunteers are key personnel who cannot be released or are in a grade and discipline for which PSA Services has a long-term need.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many private sector agency staff are employed within the Property Services Agency.

  Mr. Yeo
  PSA Services currently employes 304 private sector agency staff.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) pursuant to his oral answer of 10 July,Official Report, column 950, if it is his intention to give the redundancy pay dowry to which he referred to the purchasers of PSA Services;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 10 July, Official Report, column 949, whether he has any plans to use dowries other than the ones linked to redundancy payments, in cash or in kind, to enable the sale of any part of the PSA.

  Sir George Young
  When the PSA Services businesses are privatised, the new owners will take over assets, particularly in the form of the expertise of staff and the contracts on which they are engaged, and liabilities, particularly in the form of contractual obligations to those staff. If the value of the contingent redundancy liabilities taken on by the purchaser exceeds the value of the assets acquired, the purchaser will require a "dowry". A trust-fund is unlikely to be the most appropriate mechanism for providing such a dowry.

  Mr. Patrick Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of Property Services Agency Services.

  Mr. Heseltine
  We remain committed to transferring the activities currently carried out by the PSA Services —PSAS—businesses to the private sector. Following consideration of the reports from my Department's advisers, Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte, we have reached the following conclusions on the options for the different PSAS businesses.

  PSA International—PSAI—is not saleable as a separate organisation. We will therefore consult its clients, in particular the Ministry of Defence, about how best to phase out their reliance on PSAI and to complete the work currently underway.

  Building Management is being reorganised into five regional businesses. We plan to appoint a contractor manager to carry through the restructuring and preparations necessary to make the businesses ready for sale. Providing satisfactory progress is made and the subject to market sentiment, we aim to offer the regional businesses for sale towards the end of next year.
  661
  Again subject to progress and market sentiment, we propose to offer PSA Projects for sale early next year. The necessary financial information is being drawn together to determine the best form of sale or sales.

  Eco-labelling
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 4717/91 on eco-labelling to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

  Mr Baldry
  The precise cost of administering a European Community scheme of eco-labelling in the United Kingdom cannot be calculated until the final form of the scheme is agreed. Provisionally, we estimate that expenditure might initially be in the order of £1 million per year, which over time would be increasingly offset by income.

  It is not possible to identify separately the costs channeled via the European institutions of implementing the scheme. In practice the actual United Kingdom contribution to the EC budget for individual programmes will depend not only on the level of expenditure, but also on the level and timing of payments, and the relative share of the programme.

  It is not practicable to estimate the direct costs, if any, of an eco-labelling scheme to industry or consumers. The scheme will be voluntary and it will, therefore, be a commercial and market judgment for industry whether to apply for labels.

  Green Belt
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the number of inquiries held in each of the last five years to determine planning applications for use of leisure plots created within green belt zoning; how many inquiries reported in favour of the local authority; and how many in favour of the appellant.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Secretary of State may call in planning applications for his own decision and arrange inquiries. No applications concerning the use of leisure plots within green belts have been called in within the last five years.

  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce legislation to curtail the practice of selling green belt land as leisure plots, thus creating opportunity for the settlement of temporary homes in the green belt; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  No. There is already judicial authority that the creation of leisure plots from former agricultural land is a "material" change of use, requiring planning permission. Local planning authorities have adequate enforcement powers to remedy such uses in breach of planning control.

  The provisions in part I of the Planning and Compensation Bill will strengthen authorities' ability to take effective enforcement action. The maximum penalty, on summary conviction of an enforcement notice or stop notice offence is to be increased from £2,000 to £20,000.
  662
  This should help to make the enforcement provisions even more effective in preventing the use of Green Belt land for leisure purposes.

  We announced on 11 June, Official Report, columns 482–85, that we would be withdrawing all agricultural permitted development rights from all farm holdings of less than 5 hectares, and from agricultural areas of less than 1 hectare on larger holdings, and introducing new controls over the siting of farm buildings. This should provide more effective control over development associated with the fragmentation of holdings.

  Sir Peter Morrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 18 July,Official Report, column 241, if he will list the sources of the information on approved green belts in 1979 and 1989 published in "This Common Inheritance"; and if he will send copies of this information to the right hon. Member for the City of Chester.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 23 July 1991]: The 1989 information was derived from surveys of development plans, which show green belt boundaries. I am sending my right hon. Friend a copy of the compilation, which includes the area of green belt by county. We believe that the 1979 information was compiled in a similar way.

  Housing Associations
  Mr Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations took place between his Department and the Bank of England prior to the directive by the Bank to banks in the United Kingdom to increase the risk factor attributed to secured loans to housing associations to 50 per cent.; and how much the directive will add to the borrowing costs of housing associations.

  Mr. Yeo
  I understand that no such directive has been issued.

  Capital adequacy requirements were issued by the Bank of England in a notice sent to all banks in October 1988. The notice identified certain lending to housing associations as an activity attracting a concessionary weighting of 50 per cent in the ratio of capital against assets. A further notice was issued in December 1990 clarifying and slightly widening the circumstances in which lending to housing associations could qualify for this concessionary weighting.

  Waste Carriers
  Mr. Knapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made on plans to require the registration of waste carriers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  On 13 December 1990, the Government issued for consultation a draft of the regulations necessary to implement the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989. We have considered the responses to that consultation exercise and have now laid before Parliament the Controlled Waste (Registration of Carriers and Seizure of Vehicles) Regulations 1991, which will take effect from 14 October.

  The regulations are a vital step in the Government's programme of action to deter fly-tipping, to ensure that those responsible for this crime are called to account, and to improve standards in the management and disposal of

  663
  waste. The registration of waste carriers is also the first step in the implementation of the duty of care which we intend to bring fully into force by April 1992. Guidance on the 1989 Act and the regulations is provided in DOE circular 11/91.

  The main effect of the regulations is to require anyone who transports waste in the course of his business, or in any other way for profit, to be registered. It will be an offence to do so without being registered. The police will have powers to stop and search vehicles carrying waste on the road and to require the carrier to produce his certificate of registration. Steps are being taken to ensure that carriers are aware of the need to register.

  Waste regulation authorities will have power to refuse or revoke registration where the carrier, or someone connected with his business, has been convicted of a "prescribed offence" and the authority consider it is undesirable that he should be registered. There will be a right of appeal to the Secretary of State. Each waste regulation authority will be required to maintain a register of carriers. The register will be open to inspection free of charge by members of the public.

  The regulations also set out the procedures under which a waste regulation authority can apply to the court for a warrant to seize a vehicle believed to have been used for fly-tipping where the identity of the owner has proven to be a problem.

  Planning Applications
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table indicating the percentage of planning applications decided within eight weeks by each local planning authority.

  Mr. Yeo
  I have arranged for the required information to be placed in the Library.

  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce the arrangements for bringing into force the provisions of clause 10 of the Planning and Compensation Bill, enabling local planning authorities to grant certificates of lawful use or development.

  Mr. Yeo
  We have now considered the response to the consultation paper of 8 January about the proposed certificate of lawful use or development.

  We intend to bring the provisions of clause 10 into force one year after the Planning and Compensation Bill receives Royal Assent. This will enable local planning authorities to prepare thoroughly for the introduction of the new system of lawful development certificates. They will also be able to consider possible enforcement action against currently unauthorised development which will become lawful when the new "immunity" rules, in clause 4 of the Bill, are simultaneously brought into force.

  My right hon. Friend proposes to enable local planning authorities to charge a fee for their administration costs of processing and deciding lawful development certificate applications. He intends to prescribe a national fee scale, linked to the planning application fees for which the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications) Regulations 1989—(SI 1989/193, as amended)—provide, as follows:
  (1) applications under new section 191 of the 1990 Act for existing use or development
  664
  Fee payable: an equivalent amount to the planning application fee for the development to which the application under section 191 relates.
  (2) applications under new section 192 of the 1990 Act for proposed use or development
  Fee payable: 50 per cent. of the equivalent planning application fee for the use of land to which the application relates.

  We propose to bring the other main enforcement provisions in part I of the Bill into force approximately four months after Royal Assent.

  Building Regulations
  Sir Hugh Rossi
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete his review of part B of the Building Regulations 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  The review of part B of the Building Regulations 1985 relating to the fire safety of buildings has now been completed. The purpose has been to review and where necessary enhance the current provisions in the light of changes in building form and fire protection technology without compromising existing levels of fire safety. I would like to thank all those who commented on the consultation proposals issed in March of last year, and these comments have been fully and carefully considered.

  There is clearly a broad measure of agreement on many of the proposals on which we consulted including those relating to part B1—means of escape—and B5—access and facilities for the fire service. Most of the modifications that we are now making to the original proposals are of a detailed technical nature although additional provisions have been included in part B5 relating to smoke and heat venting from basements.

  The proposals relating to part B3—Internal Fire Spread—have proved more controversial. It remains our view that the existing provisions are insufficiently flexible to provided satisfactory solutions to the fire safety problems posed by some new building types. We consider that in certain situations developers should be encouraged to make use of active fire protection measures such as sprinkler and smoke management systems to complement the traditional forms of structural fire precautions. One of the concerns expressed has been about ongoing maintenance, and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is considering how the problem of achieving continuing control and maintenance of active fire protection measures can best be achieved.

  We have also concluded that it would be appropriate to permit some reduction in existing levels of passive fire resistance, particularly in situations where sprinklers are used. Some of those levels have historically related more to property protection than to the life safety considerations which are the primary concern of the Building Regulations. At the same time, we recognise that some of the fire resistance levels proposed in the consultation paper may not have taken sufficient account of possible risks to firefighters, and these have now been increased. However, it remains our view that fire resistance requirements in excess of two hours cannot be justified on life safety grounds.

  The approved documents are now being edited together with those relating to the other parts of the regulations currently under review. They should be ready for publication by the end of October. The intention is that the

  665
  changes to the regulations themselves will be laid before Parliament at the same time, and the new requirements and guidance are likely to come into operation next spring.

  The changes which are now being made have the support of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee, and of its fire advisory panel, both of which include a wide range of relevant expertise among their membership. They have been discussed with a number of those who submitted comments, particularly the fire service representative bodies, and they also have the support of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. Both my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland are in broad support of our proposals and will move in the same direction when the opportunity arises. On the basis of the expert advice that I have received, I am satisfied that standards of life safety are being maintained. Indeed, in certain respects, they are being significantly enhanced.

  Unauthorised Development
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue policy guidance to local planning authorities about the taking of effective enforcement action against unauthorised development.

  Sir George Young
  During debates on the enforcement provisions of the Planning and Compensation Bill, we promised to give local planning authorities new policy guidance about effective use of their powers to enforce planning control when those provisions are enacted. My Department and the Welsh Office are today sending to consultees a draft planning policy guidance note—PPG —about enforcement.

  The draft PPG emphasises the importance of using the new and improved enforcement powers provided by the Bill. It points out the significance of the greatly increased maximum summary penalties for enforcement offences. It suggests the criteria which planning authorities should bear in mind when considering whether to take formal enforcement action against a breach of planning control, and it discusses some of the circumstances in which difficult decisions about enforcement action will need to be taken, for example where the future of a small business could be put at risk by requiring it to re-locate or substantially change existing working practices.

  We are consulting about the draft guidance now so that the finalised PPG can be ready for issue when the enforcement provisions in the Bill have been approved by Parliament and are brought into force, later this year. We shall welcome comments on it.

  House Improvement Grants
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the provisions of part VIII of the local Government and Housing Act 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  The new renovation grant system introduced by part VIII of the 1989 Act has been in operation for just over a year. I have therefore decided that it would be timely to review how well it is working.

  The review will have three main objectives:

  1. To review the operation of all aspects of the house renovation grant system (and the test of resources in particular) provided by part VIII of the Local Government
  666
  and Housing Act 1989, to assess how far it is meeting its objectives and to identify possible obstacles (for example lack of availability of resources) to achieving them.

  2. To consider what changes are desirable to address problems and anomalies identified, and to facilitate the effective operation of the grant system having regard to resource implications.

  3. To make recommendations for amendments to secondary legislation and Departmental guidance to implement proposed changes, and to identify where changes to primary legislation may be desirable.

  Written comments on the operation of the new grants system should he submitted to the Department (Room N12/05, 2 Marsham street) by 30 September 1991.

  Structure Plans
  Sir Peter Morrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 18 July,Official Report, col. 241, when he decided, when reviewing structure plans, not to take into account necessary development in villages and rural areas.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 23 July 1991]: There has been no such decision, nor could there be under planning law. The Secretary of State's policy remains as currently set out in planning policy guidance note 15. Structure plans must ensure that the scale of provision for development is realistic for the county as a whole, and in terms of its distribution within the county, and be consistent with national and regional policy.

  Sir Peter Morrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment pursuant to his answer of 18 July,Official Report, column 241, (1) if he will publish the statistics which are available on his decisions on panel recommendations in connection with structure plans proposals;

  (2) if he will make it his practice to collect comprehensive statistics on his decisions on panel recommendations in connection with structure plans proposals.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 23 July 1991]: In each case, the panel report and a statement of the Secretary of State's proposed modifications, with reasons, are published. We keep the degree of modification under scrutiny. The proposed modifications vary in importance and in whether they can be presented quantitatively. For these reasons, no statistical analysis is available, and it would be difficult to draw sound conclusions from any statistical survey.

  Departmental Documents
  Sir Peter Morrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what documents were given to Cheshire county council in March, April and May by his Department; and what they contained.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 23 July 1991]: In connection with the Cheshire replacement structure plan the following documents were shown to officers of Cheshire county council on 10 May 1991:

  1. the draft list of proposed modifications and policies;

  2. the draft supporting Statement of reasons;

  3. the Panel Report.

  These were provided on an "in confidence" basis in order to obtain their comments on the drafting of the proposed modifications to avoid factual errors or inconsistencies.

  Local Plans
  Sir Peter Morrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 18 July,Official Report, column 241, (1) when he decided to remove prime responsibility from local authorities for the formulation of detailed proposals in local plans for their areas;

  (2) if he will list the factors on which he based his decision to change his policy in relation to development plans from that of giving priority to district and county councils.

  Mr. Yeo
  There has been no such change in policy. Under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, local planning authorities have the primary responsibility for the preparation of development plans; but that Act also sets out the powers through which the Secretary of State may intervene in that process. In particular, until the Planning and Compensation Bill provisions on development plans are commenced, the Secretary of State has the final responsibility for approving structure plans. Our policy is to use these powers of intervention only when necessary, for example to secure consistency with national or regional strategic guidance.

  Roads
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provision there is for(a) members of the public and (b) local highways authorities to comment on roads promoted by urban development corporations.

  Mr. Key
  Urban development corporations are local planning authorities for their areas and are subject to the same statutory requirements on consultation as other planning authorities. In London, under the general regulations of 1976, London Docklands development corporation is also required to consult the London boroughs on all its own development proposals.

  Long Grass
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what responsibilities local authorities have to relieve the nuisance caused by long grass being cut and left in situ on roadside verges by council employees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  I have been asked to reply.

  Grass on roadside verges is cut by highway authorities for safety purposes. If the grass has grown very long, particularly in an urban situation, good practice guidance is that the cut grass should be removed.

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

  Mr. Key
  [pursuant to his answer, 4 July 1991, c. 180.]: The information is shown in the table.

  UDC

  1989–90 £000

  1990–91 £000

  1991–92 £000

  Black Country

  150

  400

  900

  Bristol

  nil

  nil

  nil

  Central Manchester

  7

  35

  71

  668

  UDC

  1989–90 £000

  1990–91 £000

  1991–92 £000

  Leeds

  4

  15

  15

  London Docklands

  2,400

  3,300

  2,200

  Merseyside

  315

  315

  260

  Sheffield

  58

  67

  100

  Teesside

  148

  100

  200

  Trafford Park

  22

  184

  446

  Tyne and Wear

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Food Safety Act 1990
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will reword the guidelines to regulations in the Food Safety Act 1990 so as to remove their existing ambiguity.

  Mr. Dorell
  I have been asked to reply. We are currently considering a number of comments on the draft code of practice on food hygiene inspections. It will be published in due course.

  Environmental Training
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, what funds have been received by the United Kingdom under the European Community's regional development fund in support of programmes to make environmental improvement and to develop environmental information and training.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have been asked to reply.

  Comprehensive information on receipts from the European regional development fund (ERDF) for these purposes is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, ERDF allocations have been made within the United Kingdom's community support frameworks under objective 1, 2 and 5b of the structural funds as follows, at 1989 prices.

  £ million

  Objective 1

  (Priority 1—improvement of social and physical environment)

  35 (1989–93)

  Objective 2

  (Priority 4—improving the image of the region)

  57 (1989–91)

  Objective 5b

  (Priority 1—diversification of the rural economy)

  2 (1989–91)

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Elderly Men
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of the State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of men aged 60 to 64 years who will have paid insufficient national insurance contributions by the age of 65 years to be entitled to a pension; and if he will estimate the average waiting time for men between ceasing to be economically active and becoming entitled to a state retirement pension.

  Miss Widdecombe
  This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received on the number of elderly people who qualify for income support following receipt of attendance allowance yet fail to claim.

  Mr. Scott
  Representations have been received from Notting Hill Housing Association and Hertfordshire county council social services department on a range of issues relating to the backdating of claims for income support where entitlement depends upon attendance allowance being awarded.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has to revise leaflet DS668 in order to inform elderly people that they may qualify for income support when they receive attendance allowance.

  Mr Scott
  The administration of attendance allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Benefits, London
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of people claiming(a) income support and (b) family credit at each office in London for the last two years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The administration of income support and family credit is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Pensions
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the percentage of current gross average earnings that the state pension represents in the United Kingdom; and what comparable information he has for other EC countries.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In Great Britain the basic rate retirement pension for a single person, at April 1990 rates, represented 17·8 per cent. of average gross weekly earnings1. This basic rate retirement pension does not include SERPS, nor does it include the occupational pension that over half all pensioners received in 1988; in addition, nearly three quarters of pensioners received incomes from savings.

  It is difficult to make direct comparisons with other EC state pension schemes because they are mostly earnings related. As a result, pensions are a reflection of individual earnings rather than the general level of earnings.

  Information on the different EC pension schemes can be found in "Social Protection in The Member States of The Community" published by the European Commission, a copy of which can be found in the Library.

  For separate figures on Northern Ireland I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
  1 Based on approximate average gross weekly earnings of all full time employees on adult rates—All industries and services in Great Britain and based on the New Earnings Survey and the Average Earnings Index (April 1990), earnings figures on this basis are not yet available for April 1991.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which leaflets and claim forms for social security benefits are available in the Welsh language; what percentage of social security offices employ Welsh-speaking counter staff and other officials who deal with the public; and what steps are being taken to improve services, information and advice in the Welsh language.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The service provided for Welsh-speaking customers is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information office.

  Bridge House Resettlement Unit
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what were his reasons for the closure of Bridge House resettlement unit; and why it was closed on that particular date.

  (2) whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy concerning the provision of alternative direct access accommodation to replace Bridge House resettlement unit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the letter of 23 July 1991 from the chief executive of the Resettlement Agency to my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington (Mr. Fishburn), a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on provision for homeless single people in Kensington and Chelsea(a) before and (b) after the closure of Bridge House resettlement unit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Resettlement Agency, which is an agency within the Department of Social Security, operates 19 resettlement units nationally which provide temporary board and lodging for single homeless people with an unsettled way of life with a view to helping them resettle. Six of the agency's units are in London. A seventh, Bridge house in Notting Hill, was closed earlier this year on health and safety grounds. At the time of its closure the unit was operating 95 bed spaces. When the unit closed a total of 101 extra bed spaces were created in the remaining London units and Sittingbourne.

  General responsibility for homeless people is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the annual cost of extending the lower rate of the mobility component of the disability living allowance to people who become disabled(a) aged between 65 and 70 years, (b) aged between 70 and 75 years, (c) aged between 75 and 80 years and (d) to all people who become disabled after the age of 65 years (all people).

  Mr. Scott
  The estimated costs are:(a) £20 million; (b) £40 million; (c) £60 million; (d) £100 million. Costs for (a) (b) and (c) are assumed to be cumlative. All estimates are necessarily subject to large margins of uncertainty.
  671
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of extending(a) the lower rate and (b) the higher rate of mobility component of the disability living allowance to children under five years.

  Mr. Scott
  The number of potential beneficiaries from a reduction in the lower age limit for the DLA mobility components cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty. Our tentative estimates are(a) £10 million; (b) £25 million.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what would be the cost of paying the lower rate of the care component of the disability living allowance at(a) £10, (b) £15 and (c) £20 per week;

  (2) what would be the cost of paying the lower rate of the mobility component of the disability living allowance at (a) £10, (b) £15 and (c) £20 per week.

  Mr. Scott
  The approximate cost by 1993–94 of introducing the lower rates of disability living allowance at £10 would be about £120 million for each component, including consequential expenditure on other benefits. Each additional £5 would increase the cost of each DLA component by around £40 million.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of raising the level of the lower rate of mobility component of the disability living allowance to the level of the higher rate.

  Mr. Scott
  It is estimated that the additional cost would be in the order of £150 million by 1993–94.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the annual cost of making the lower rate care component of the disability living allowance available to people aged(a) between 65 and 70 years, (b) between 65 and 75 years, (c) between 65 and 80 years and (d) all people over the age of 65 years.

  Mr. Scott
  The estimated costs are:(a) £25 million; (b) £55 million; (c) £95 million; (d) £165 million. All estimates are necessarily subject to large margins of uncertainty.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of raising the age limit for first claiming mobility allowance by(a) one year, (b) two years and (c) three years.

  Mr. Scott
  I will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the annual cost of extending the higher rate of the mobility component of the disability living allowance to people who became disabled(a) between 65 and 70, (b) between 65 and 75, (c) between 75 and 80 and (d) to all people who become disabled after the age of 65.

  Mr. Scott
  For an estimate of the cost of(d) I refer the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 17 December 1990 at columns 86–87. I will write to the hon. Member on the other points as soon as the information is available.

  Severe Disablement Allowance
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of increasing the level of severe disablement allowance to that of invalidity benefit.
  672
  Mr. Scott
  We estimate that the gross cost of increasing the basic rate of severe disablement allowance to the basic rate of invalidity benefit would be about £270 million a year; the net cost would be about £120 million a year.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment his Department has made of the cost of extending the two-year linking rule to all people coming off invalidity benefit to take up work.

  Mr. Scott
  It would not be possible to produce a reliable estimate of the number of those coming off invalidity benefit to take up work, but we estimate that the cost of extending the linking rule from eight weeks to two years for all IVB recipients is around £30 million.

  Benefits Agency
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what training Benefit Agency strategic planning teams with district management units are to receive before they draw up their strategic plans.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The training of Benefits Agency management is a matter for Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Sri Lanka
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the freezing of the £13 million aid package to Sri Lanka following the expulsion of the British High Commissioner.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Her Majesty's Government's position, which has been explained to the Sri Lankan Government, is that we have withdrawn a conditional offer of £3 million of balance of payments assistance as an expression of our concern about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. The possibility of any major new aid commitments will be considered in the light of Sri Lankan Government policies and practices including the position on human rights. The reference to a £13 million aid freeze in the press was based on a misunderstood briefing.

  Certain existing aid financed activities are continuing. These are mainly in the fields of education and training, local government strengthening, relief and rehabilitation programmes through NGOs, forestry and urban road rehabilitation. Their estimated cost to the British aid programme will be about £10 million this year.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial, military, cultural and economic aid is given to Sri Lanka, apart from the recently frozen £13 million package.

  Mrs. Chalker
  British bilateral development aid to Sri Lanka was £23·5 million in 1989 the latest year for which detailed figures are available. This was made up of financial aid totalling £15·331 million, and technical co-operation totalling £8·222 million. No cultural aid or other economic aid is given. The figures are expected to
  673
  have been substantially less in 1990, partly because of the security situation. Our aid is focused on natural resources, power, roads, education and relief and rehabilitation.

  Specific details of military assistance are normally confidential between the countries concerned. Members of the Sri Lankan armed forces have, however, attended a number of courses in the United Kingdom given by the three services. We hope this training will instil the discipline and high professional and ethical standards of our own forces.

  Population Activities
  Mrs. Clywd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much and what percentage of the Overseas Development Administration's budget is spent on population activities for the current year and each year since 1979.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The figures are as follows:

  Population expenditure (£ million)

  Percentage of net aid programme

  1979

  9,186

  1·1

  1980

  7,589

  1·0

  1981

  6,468

  0·7

  1982

  9,951

  1·1

  1983

  12,373

  1·2

  1984

  12,333

  1·1

  1985

  15,509

  1·4

  1986

  15,151

  1·3

  1987

  15,899

  1·4

  1988

  16,710

  1·1

  1989

  17,298

  1·1

  For 1990, though detailed figures are not yet available, it is estimated that we spent about £24 million.

  Many other United Kingdom aid activities—especially women's health and education programmes—indirectly influence the rate of population growth in developing countries.

  Kenya
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much of the £50 million of direct assistance towards projects promoting good government will be spent in Kenya.

  NHS Staff in post at 30 September 1990 and population estimates mid-1990 Whole-time equivalents1

  Thousands

  Regions

  Speech Therapists

  Occupational Therapists

  Clinical Psychologists

  Physiotherapists

  Population estimates mid-1990

  Qualified

  Helpers

  Total

  Qualified

  Helpers

  Total

  Qualified

  Helpers

  Total

  Qualified

  Helpers

  Total

  North West Thames

  251

  1

  253

  326

  151

  477

  147

  —

  147

  647

  95

  743

  3,499

  North East Thames

  257

  13

  270

  390

  303

  692

  201

  —

  201

  760

  145

  906

  3,803

  South East Thames

  240

  9

  249

  327

  130

  457

  198

  —

  198

  712

  151

  862

  3,658

  South West Thames

  198

  6

  203

  309

  230

  539

  139

  —

  139

  599

  96

  695

  2,979

  London post-graduate special health authorities

  25

  —

  25

  61

  1

  62

  26

  —

  26

  125

  1

  126

  —

  Source: Department of Health (SMI3) annual census of NHS non medical manpower.

  Notes:

  1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest whole-time equivalent.
  674
  Mrs. Chalker
  The £50 million, which I aim to have committed over the next year, has not been broken down on a country basis. We are already supporting such activities in Kenya at a cost this year to the aid programme of about £3 million. I would expect to do more in Kenya as a result of this initiative.

  ACP Debt
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 4345/91 on debt from African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions.

  Mrs. Chalker
  It is estimated that the full cost to the United Kingdom in terms of repayments forgone if the proposals contained in the Commission's draft communication to the Council No. 4345/91 are agreed would be around £48 million over the period of the seventh European development fund (1991 to 1995). This represents the United Kingdom share of repayments made to the European investment bank, which are credited by it to the member states, in respect of risk capital investments and special loans in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries which were financed from the European development funds to which we have contributed.

  The proposals are under discussion in the Council of Ministers.

HEALTH

  Therapy Services
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of(a) speech therapists, (b) physiotherapists, (c) occupational therapists and (d) clinical psychologists in post for each health district in London together with the population of the areas covered.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The precise information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information for the four Thames regions and the special health authorities is given in the table.

  Waiting Lists, Tower Hamlets
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the in-patient waiting lists for Tower Hamlets health authority for each year since 1979 together with the percentage of those waiting for longer than 12 months.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Provisional figures for March 1991 indicate that the number of people waiting for in-patient treatment in Tower Hamlets fell by 12 per cent. in the previous six months and by 22 per cent. since March 1979; the number waiting over a year fell by 43 per cent. and 29 per cent. respectively. Between March 1979 and September 1990, the number of in-patients treated in Tower Hamlets increased by about 14 per cent.

  Tower Hamlets district health authority Waiting list showing percentage waiting over 12 months

  Total inpatient waiting list1

  Percentage of patients waiting over 12 months

  March 1979

  5,930

  29·8

  September 1979

  5,641

  31·4

  September 1980

  5,579

  42·1

  September 1981

  5,226

  38·5

  September 1982

  6,003

  32·9

  September 1983

  5,880

  35·5

  September 1984

  5,771

  34·1

  September 1985

  6,324

  36·7

  September 1986

  7,021

  43·4

  September 1987

  5,764

  43·0

  September 1988

  5,272

  42·0

  September 1989

  5,400

  43·0

  September 1990

  5,251

  43·0

  March 1991

  4,631

  228·0

  Source: SM12, SBH203, KHO6, KH07, KHO7A returns, except for March 1991.

  1 Excludes self-deferred cases—those patients who have refused an offer of admission.

  2 Provisional figures.

  Social Services Departments
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Manchester, Withington, (Mr. Bradley)Official Report, 11 July, columns 419–21, on payments by social services departments, if he will give the equivalent information for 1986–87,1987–88 and estimated figures for 1989–90 and the current year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The latest year for which this information is available is 1988–89. The information for 1986–87 and 1987–88 is given in the table.

  Local authority contributions to voluntary organisations

  £000

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Metropolitan Borough Councils

  Bolton

  32

  74

  Bury

  134

  142

  Manchester

  0

  0

  Oldham

  31

  6

  Rochdale

  751

  542

  Salford

  0

  138

  Stockport

  162

  118

  Tameside

  199

  163

  Trafford

  0

  0

  Wigan

  162

  145

  Knowsley

  373

  379

  Liverpool

  813

  697

  St. Helens

  0

  0

  676

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Sefton

  40

  34

  Wirral

  757

  620

  Barnsley

  38

  9

  Doncaster

  1—

  199

  Rotherham

  1—

  1—

  Sheffield

  1,325

  1—

  Gateshead

  358

  284

  Newcastle

  1,335

  1,353

  North Tyneside

  123

  52

  South Tyneside

  0

  15

  Sunderland

  61

  278

  Birmingham

  4,409

  4,320

  Coventry

  443

  1,071

  Dudley

  289

  346

  Sandwell

  43

  142

  Solihull

  109

  161

  Walsall

  109

  112

  Wolverhampton

  649

  1,008

  Bradford

  392

  542

  Calderdale

  88

  135

  Kirklees

  211

  341

  Leeds

  914

  966

  Wakefield

  157

  0

  Inner London Boroughs

  City of London

  164

  1—

  Camden

  0

  575

  Greenwich

  1—

  0

  Hackney

  1—

  1—

  Hammersmith

  0

  1—

  Islington

  2,760

  3,140

  Kensington

  1,135

  1,517

  Lambeth

  1—

  0

  Lewisham

  1,662

  1,960

  Southwark

  1,588

  2,851

  Tower Hamlets

  0

  0

  Wandsworth

  145

  157

  Westminster

  0

  2,931

  Outer London Boroughs

  Barking

  122

  0

  Barnet

  481

  649

  Bexley

  247

  0

  Brent

  2,067

  2,130

  Bromley

  487

  511

  Croydon

  0

  0

  Ealing

  16

  1—

  Enfield

  120

  63

  Haringey

  1,904

  1—

  Harrow

  34

  65

  Havering

  15

  25

  Hillingdon

  128

  235

  Hounslow

  359

  0

  Kingston

  198

  503

  Merton

  0

  6

  Newham

  1—

  520

  Redbridge

  1

  1

  Richmond

  69

  0

  Sutton

  181

  230

  Waltham Forest

  505

  0

  Shire Counties

  Isle of Scilly

  0

  1

  Avon

  1,163

  1,144

  Bedfordshire

  187

  207

  Berkshire

  185

  1—

  Buckinghamshire

  1,248

  1,500

  Cambridgeshire

  524

  858

  Cheshire

  558

  662

  Cleveland

  0

  0

  Cornwall

  96

  64

  Cumbria

  278

  334

  Derbyshire

  19

  773

  Devon

  0

  522

  Dorset

  6

  0

  Durham

  113

  139

  East Sussex

  477

  694

  Essex

  853

  0

  677

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Gloucestershire

  2

  492

  Hampshire

  1,237

  1,375

  Hereford and Worcester

  84

  146

  Hertfordshire

  0

  0

  Humberside

  283

  0

  Isle of Wight

  49

  51

  Kent

  2,826

  0

  Lancashire

  363

  434

  Leicestershire

  1,532

  1,887

  Lincolnshire

  212

  85

  Norfolk

  985

  1,198

  Northamptonshire

  1,474

  1,470

  Northumberland

  64

  21

  North Yorkshire

  421

  417

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  1,838

  Oxfordshire

  370

  427

  Shropshire

  134

  48

  Somerset

  0

  0

  Staffordshire

  145

  144

  Suffolk

  524

  212

  Surrey

  34

  46

  Warwickshire

  585

  668

  West Sussex

  212

  253

  Wiltshire

  151

  1,293

  Source: Local authority revenue outturn forms.

  1 Completed forms not received.

  Sight Tests
  Mr. Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what would be the cost of abolishing charges for sight tests for persons aged over 60 years both gross and net of the cost of administering collection of charges for national health service sight tests and the cost of administering the low income scheme.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The gross cost of abolishing sight test fees for all people over 60 would be in the order of £25 million. This is calculated using the current general ophthalmic service sight test fee. There is no centrally held information on the cost of administering the sight test element of the low income scheme or on NHS sight tests.

  Young Patients
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue new guidelines to district health authorities prohibiting the admission of children and adolescent people to adult wards in national health service hospitals, particularly psychiatric wards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  On 22 July 1991 we published a good practice guide "the Welfare of Children and Young People in Hospital," a copy of which is available in the Library. It re-emphasises the need to treat children and adolescents, including those requiring psychiatric care, in discrete accommodation separate from adults.

  GPs (Target Payments)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the criteria for target payments to general practitioners so that such payments are made only if a deep pelvic examination is carried out at the same time as a cervical smear.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The target payments are intended to maximise the number of women patients of the relevant age groups being screened for cervical cancer.678
  There are no plans to include other examinations, which are a matter of the doctor's clinical judgment, in the target payment arrangements.

  Food Poisoning
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the annual incidence of food poisoning directly related to the consumption of fresh meat since the introduction of mandatory meat inspection.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The figures for the annual incidence of outbreaks of bacterial food poisoning and salmonellosis in England and Wales reported to the PHLS communicable disease surveillance centre for 1984 to 1988 (the most recent years available) are in the table.

  Earlier data are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Vehicle of infection in outbreaks of bacterial food poisoning1 and salmonellosis reported by laboratories, MOsEH and EHOs in England and Wales to communicable disease surveillance centre 1984 to 1988

  Year

  Food vehicle

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Chicken

  24

  22

  25

  28

  22

  Turkey

  21

  16

  10

  17

  14

  Poultry

  —

  1

  2

  2

  —

  Beef

  27

  11

  11

  11

  9

  Pork/ham

  11

  9

  22

  6

  13

  Lamb/mutton

  1

  5

  2

  1

  1

  Rabbit

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Mixed and other meats, pies, sausages

  50

  33

  29

  31

  20

  Gravy/sauces

  3

  1

  —

  1

  2

  Milk/cream

  20

  10

  7

  2

  4

  Eggs

  —

  5

  4

  8

  36

  Pasta dishes

  —

  —

  6

  1

  —

  Rice

  4

  3

  5

  5

  4

  Shellfish/fish

  7

  2

  2

  5

  3

  Other mixed foods

  30

  26

  11

  24

  32

  Not known

  441

  322

  380

  363

  381

  TOTAL

  639

  467

  516

  505

  541

  1 Bacillus sp, Clostridium perfringens and Staphylococcus aureus.

  Wisdom Teeth Extractions
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received(a) over the cost to the national health service and (b) alleging discrimination against dentists, as a result of the number of wisdom teeth extractions carried out in hospital; and whether he has any proposals to enable more such operations to be carried out in general practice or in out-patient clinics.

  Mr. Dorrell
  One such representation has been received. The hospital dental service provides consultant treatment and advice in cases of special difficulty including those referred by general dental practitioners and general medical practitioners. Whether any particular condition should be so referred is a matter for the judgment of the clinicians concerned.

  As part of the postgraduate training initiative which the Department funds, a video on the subject of minor oral surgery in general practice has been supplied to all general dental practices during July 1991. The video encourages dentists to undertake the removal of uncomplicated wisdom teeth in their own practices.

  Cost Rent Scheme
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's advice on the differential investment under the cost rent scheme for(a) health centres and (b) general practitioner practices; and if he will make a statement as to what plans he has to bring them both on to an equal footing.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The purpose of the cost rent scheme is to offer financial assistance to GPs willing to invest in building new surgery premises or substantially altering existing premises to bring them up to an equivalent standard. Health centres are owned by health authorities who are responsible for their maintenance.

  GPs occupy health centres under licence and it is a condition of their occupancy that they should not make structural alterations to the premises. The cost rent scheme does not therefore apply to GPs in health centres except that GPs who elect to buy the health centre from the health authority may be eligible for cost rent if the premises need substantial alteration.

  In September 1990 regional health authorities became accountable for family health services authorities including the cash limited funds for cost rent schemes and responsibility for taking an integrated approach to improvements in facilities for primary health care.

  Arthroplasty
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the relative costs of arthroplasty of hip or knee in(a) South Cleveland general hospital and (b) Middlesbrough general hospital; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is not collected centrally. Detailed price information for these procedures has been produced as part of the hospitals' tariffs for GP fund holders and the hon. Member may wish to write to Mrs. Audrey Collins the chairman of South Tees health authority, for details.

  Health Authority Mergers
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those district health authorities which have merged since 1 April.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The mergers that have taken place are listed in the table. These came into effect on 1 April.

  District health authorities prior to 1 April 1991

  District health authorities from 1 April 1991

  Central Birmingham

  South Birmingham

  South Birmingham

  Leeds Eastern

  Leeds

  Leeds Western

  North Warwickshire

  North East Warwickshire

  Rugby

  Medical Records (Transfers)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is undertaking to ensure that the transfer of medical records between practices nationally is carried out as an efficient and speedy service.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In the guidance issued by the Department (circular HC (FP) (89) 20), a copy of which is available in 680
  the Library, family health services authorities (FHSAs) were asked to review the functioning of their registration departments to ensure that all unnecessary delays in the transfer of records were avoided. FHSA's were also asked to encourage GPs to co-operate in arrangements for the transfer of medical records and to monitor their own as well as GPs performance in transferring records.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the annual income from prescription charges in the latest year for which figures are available; and whether he will estimate the extra annual income from extending charges to all over retirement age except for those categories of exemption which currently apply to people under retirement age.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  In 1989–90 the income from prescription charges, including pre-payment certificates, in England was £190 million. It is estimated that this charge income would have been broadly double if charges had been paid by people over retirement age who were not otherwise exempt.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide an increase in the funding of the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales following the autumn review; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Funding for 1991–92 has been finalised, and the amount for subsequent years will be reviewed later this year.

  Equal Opportunities
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to introduce into the national health service anti-discrimination and equal opportunities legislation specifically for people with disabilities.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Health authorities, who are equal opportunities employers, accept the same responsibilities as other employers under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts. Through endorsement of the employment services code of good practice on the employment of disabled people, and encouragement of direct links between NHS personnel managers and the Department of Employment's employment service, the Department has made clear to health authorities the importance which we attach to equal opportunities in employment for people with disabilities. The introduction of new legislation would be a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

  Health Centres
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will increase his Department's investment in national health service health centres.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Investment in health centres is for decision by individual health authorities taking into account the availability of other sources of finance for GP premises, the views of the local practitioners and other priorities.

  Opticians
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will change the relevant regulations so that opticians providing a service under the national health service are obliged to ensure that each patient is offered at least one pair of spectacles at a cost within the value of the NHS voucher.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Buying spectacles is a private transaction between the optician and his patient and it is not appropriate for the Government to intervene. The majority of retailers sell spectacles within the voucher values.

  Clinical Waste
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue the necessary regulations so that the disposal of clinical waste from patients' homes is not charged to the patient; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Local authorities who are asked to make arrangements to collect clinical waste from patients' homes are entitled to levy a charge for collection on the person requesting the collection. Normally this will be the health authority rather than the patient.

  In deciding whether to levy charges, collection authorities have been asked to weigh the benefits of doing so against the public health risks that may result from occupiers making alternative arrangements in order to avoid charges.

  Beverley Lewis
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action has been taken in the last 12 months by the social services inspectorate in pursuance of the recommendations contained in the report of Gloucestershire social services into the death of Beverley Lewis,

  (2) what action has been taken by his Department in the last 12 months in pursuance of the recommendations contained in the report of Gloucester health authority into the death of Beverley Lewis.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In the last 12 months the Department's social services inspectorate has carried out an inspection of services for multiply-disabled people in Gloucestershire. The report on this inspection, which will be published in due course, is intended to link up the lessons to be learned from the death of Beverley Lewis with the Government's proposals for improvements in community care services. The report should provide pointers for further practice and development within the local departments and voluntary agencies. Following consultation between the Department and the Law Commission on the coroners comments, the Commission is now examining the issues involved in the context of its wider investigation into the adequacy of legal and other procedures for decision-making on behalf of mentally incapacitated adults.

  Dentists
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received over(a) decreasing real incomes to national health service dentists and (b) the number of dentists leaving the national health service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department has received a number of representations, including letters and telephone calls, about these issues. In addition, officials have attended meetings with the General Dental Services Committee of the British Dental Association, and several family health services authorities and local dental committees.

  Between 1978–79 and 1988–89, dentists' income increased by about 40 per cent. in real terms. In 1991–92 the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body recommended a higher increase (11 per cent.) for dentists than for most other groups.

  Between 1 October 1990 and 30 April 1991 there was a net decrease of 123 (about 0·7 per cent.) in the number of entries of family health services authority dental lists. It is not known how much national health service work the dentists who have left had done previously.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his practice to publish hospital waiting lists; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We currently collect and publish information on waiting lists and times in districts within which treatment is provided, rather than by individual hospitals. Since April 1991 we have also been collecting figures by district of residence. Both sets of figures will be collated within the Department for up to two years to ensure continuity of data.

  Thereafter we propose to collect centrally only the residence-based figures, in order to monitor purchasing health authorities' effectiveness in securing early treatment for their residents.

  We shall bring forward, in the patients charter, proposals for the publication of waiting time information by hospital and individual consultant, which some regions already do. This will be a considerable step forward for the NHS in providing relevant and up-to-date information for patients and their GPs.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish figures for both the last quarter of the financial year 1990–91 and the first quarter of the current financial year 1991–92, indicating the average length of waiting time for the following hospital operations(a) hip replacement, (b) cataracts, (c) ear, nose and throat, (d) knee joints and (e) other orthopaedic operations.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Waiting time information on specific operations is not collected centrally. Information at 31 March 1990 and latest published information at 30 September 1990 for those waiting for in-patient treatment in the specialties of ENT, trauma and orthopaedics and ophthalmology is given in the table.

  The percentage of patients waiting more than one year is the generally accepted measure of waiting time.

  Information at 31 March 1991 will not be available until later in the year.
  683

  In-patient waiting lists—31 March 1991 and 30 September 1990—England

  Total waiting1

  Waiting over 1 year

  Percentage over 1 year

  March 1990

  September 1990

  March 1990

  September 1990

  March 1990

  September 1990

  ENT

  105,941

  102,770

  22,294

  20,678

  20

  19

  Trauma and orthopaedics

  135,075

  132,276

  38,253

  37,691

  27

  27

  Ophthalmology

  77,571

  81,727

  13,586

  14,310

  17

  17

  Source: KHO6, KHO7, KHO7A.

  1 Excludes self-deferred cases—those patients who have refused an offer of admission.

  Community Pharmacists
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to amend the terms of service for chemists to include an obligation that medicines dispensed by community pharmacists should be correctly labelled with the name of the medicine and the dosage instructions directed by the prescribing doctor or dentist.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Correct labelling of medicines by community pharmacists is covered by The Medicines (Labelling) Regulations 1976.

  Nurseries
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many new health authority nurseries have opened during the past 12 months; and what proportion is currently registered;

  (2) what proportion of health authorities and trusts provide subsidies for nursery places for their employees.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally at present.

  We anticipate that some information will be available by the autumn, and will arrange for details to be placed in the Library.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what extra resources will be made available to local authorities to register and inspect nurseries as required by the Children Act 1989.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael) on 20 June at column 300.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to monitor the effects of the changes in staff-child ratios in nurseries introduced by the Children Act 1989.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Local authority social services departments will monitor the functioning of individual day nurseries as part of their regulatory function under the Children Act 1989.

  The Department will review the advice on day care staff: child ratios and space standards issued in volume 2 of the Children Act guidance and regulations series when it has been in operation for two years.

  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new nurseries have been established during the past 12 months on Crown property.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Information in the form requested is not available centrally. There are currently 17 civil service nurseries, of which 15 have been opened since 1 July 1990.

  Provisional statistics on day nurseries collected by the Department on children's day care facilities published
  684
  annually estimate that in March 1990 there were 60 day nurseries which were exempt from the requirement to register under existing legislation (a net increase of nine over the previous 12 months). The majority of that figure are likely to be on crown premises.

  Playgroups
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what extra funds will be made available for those playgroups and out-of-school schemes for school-age children which presently fall short of the criteria for registration, as required by the Children Act 1989, to enable them to meet the criteria.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The funding of playgroups and out-of-school clubs is a matter for those running them. The Department gives a total of £660,000 grant aid to the Pre School Playgroups Association and Kids Clubs Network to help them support local services.

  Playgroups are currently registered under the Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act, 1948. They are required to re-register under the Children Act 1989 within 12 months of the Act coming into force on 14 October 1991. Guidance in volume 2 of the Children Act 1989 guidance and regulations series says that local authorities should not refuse to re-register facilities because they fall below the standards recommended, but should allow them a specified time—normally not more than one year to reach them.

  It is for local authorities to decide in the light of each out of school scheme what specific requirements to impose and in so doing they must have regard to the general guidance on this issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

  Child Minders
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what decisions he has made regarding fees for registration under part X of the Children Act 1989.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  No final decisions have been taken about the level of fees to be charged by local authority social services departments for the registration and inspection of childminders and providers of day care for children under the age of 8.

  The Department intends to consult relevant national organisations.

  Hospital Buildings
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average age of hospital buildings.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not held centrally.

  NHS Spectacle Vouchers
  Mr. Nelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he proposes to increase the values of NHS spectacle vouchers to take account of the recent VAT changes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have made regulations to increase NHS spectacle voucher values to take account of the recent increase in the rate of VAT to 17·5 per cent., which is applicable to the retail margin of finished spectacles. These new values will take effect from 1 August this year.

  Voucher Type

  Current value (£)

  New value (£)

  A

  19·30

  19·70

  B

  30·50

  31·15

  C

  48·00

  49·00

  D

  37·00

  37·80

  E

  61·00

  62·30

  F

  102·00

  104·20

  Hospital Eye Service:

  G

  102·00

  104·20

  H

  32·15

  32·80

  Supplements:

  Prisms:

  Single Vision

  4·10

  4·20

  Bifocal

  5·10

  5·20

  Tints:

  Single Vision

  2·05

  2·10

  Bifocal

  2·55

  2·60

  Complex Lenses:

  Single Vision

  3·60

  3·70

  Bifocal

  19·25

  19·70

  Small Frame Supplement:

  35·20

  36·00

  Abortion
  Sir Patrick Duffy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give a breakdown of the total number of abortions under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967, in the Sheffield health authority area(a) by the ground on which

  Number of notifications of abortions performed under the abortion act 1967 to resident of Sheffield district health authority by age group from 1984 to 1990

  Year

  Age Group

  Under 16

  16–19

  20–24

  25–34

  35–44

  45 +

  Unknown

  1984

  50

  368

  401

  386

  186

  7

  0

  1985

  48

  416

  403

  386

  148

  1

  0

  1986

  46

  370

  486

  425

  154

  3

  2

  1987

  43

  363

  501

  446

  129

  2

  1

  1988

  42

  382

  501

  450

  122

  9

  1

  1989

  35

  349

  485

  483

  148

  3

  0

  1990

  31

  338

  511

  500

  131

  2

  0

  Number of notifications of abortions performed under the abortion act 1967 to resident of Sheffield district health authority by category of premises

  Year

  Home RHA

  Other RHA

  NHS

  Non NHS

  NHS

  Non NHS

  1984

  763

  603

  1

  31

  1985

  806

  570

  0

  26

  1986

  832

  614

  0

  40

  1987

  813

  626

  1

  43

  1988

  899

  560

  2

  46

  1989

  886

  571

  3

  43

  1990

  831

  641

  6

  35

  686
  they were performed, (b) according to age groups, (c) how many were repeat abortions, and (d) how many were notified (i) in the private sector, and (ii) in the public or national health service sector, for each of the last seven years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested could be provided in the form specified only at disproportionate cost.

  The information that is readily available by area of residence is given in the tables.

  Information about legal terminations by area of termination is not available due to reasons of confidentiality.

  Number of notifications of abortions performed under the Abortion Act 1967 to residents of Sheffield district health authority by the ground on which they were performed for the years 1988 to 1990

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Statutory grounds

  Total

  1,507

  1,503

  1,513

  1 (with any other)

  1

  3

  3

  2 (alone)

  1,333

  1,262

  1,333

  3 (with or without 2)

  158

  226

  162

  4 (alone)

  11

  11

  11

  4 (with any other except 1 excluding 4 alone)

  4

  1

  4

  5 or 6

  0

  0

  0

  Ground 1 the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated.

  Ground 2 the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated.

  Ground 3 the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk or injury to the physical or mental health of any existing children in the family of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated.

  Ground 4 there is substantial risk that if the child were born it would differ from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped.

  Ground 5 to save the life of the pregnant woman, or

  Ground 6 to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 10146/90 on labelling of cigars and cigarettes to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The costs to the Exchequer will be small. Implementation will be carried out by existing staff and absorbed within existing resources. The industry estimates the total cost of initial implementation to be of the order of £450,000–£500,000 and further manufacturing costs of
  687
  £100,000 each year thereafter. It will be a matter for the industry to determine how much of this cost is passed on to the consumer.

  Medical Products
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 6033/90 on medical products to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Morris) on 16 July at column 139. The net cost would fall on the Exchequer; it would not affect the European Community budget nor the level of patient payments in the NHS. The transfer of sales from generic to research-based companies would be greater than the net cost to the taxpayer.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will update the figures for hospitals wholly or partly closed in the manner of his reply of 6 June 1990,Official Report, column 629.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is no longer routinely collected centrally as changes in the use of buildings is not a good measure of services to patients provided by the NHS.

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, pursuant to the answer given on 17 July,Official Report, column 194, he will publish the breakdown of the figures upon which his Department has based its estimate for the annual running costs of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has a range of statutory responsibilities and functions which were placed on it by Parliament. In order for the Human Fertilisation Embryology Authority to carry out these duties it has been estimated that its first full year running costs (1992–93) will be approximately £1·17 million. The major items of cost are expected to be:

  £

  Staff costs

  456,000

  Accommodation

  171,000

  Meetings of the authority, licensing committee and other committees

  136,000

  Inspection visits (to infertility treatment and research centres)

  158,000

  Information register (computer costs)

  42,000

  Stationery, printing, telephone and postage

  57,000

  Other costs (legal and accountancy advice, training, equipment, conferences, capital costs, etc.)

  150,000

  Food Poisoning
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the changes in the reporting system for food poisoning that have been introduced this year.
  688
  Mr. Dorrell
  The format of the joint public health laboratory service/state veterinary service publication "Update on Salmonella Infection" was redesigned earlier this year to make it clearer and more informative. The data on human salmonellosis now show annual comparisons as well as indicating the type of outbreak, the place of distribution of suspect foods, and the suspect foods in outbreaks reported to the communicable disease surveillance centre.

  Disability Working Allowance
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what would be the cost of extending to disability working allowance claimants entitlements to remission of health, prescription and related charges.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The estimated cost would be about £3 million.

  Hearing Therapists
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when a request was made to the national health service training agency to assess the competence and training needs of hearing therapists; when a response was received from the agency or from the NHS management executive; and how long it was between the first approach and the response.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 23 July 1991]: On 17 April 1989 the National Health Service Training Authority (NHSTA) put a proposal before the British Society of Hearing Therapists (BSHT) for the development of competence-based qualifications. This was rejected by BSHT on the basis that NHSTA's proposal was to extend the existing work with audiology technicians to include hearing therapists rather than treat them as a separate group.

  Extensive discussions have taken place between the BSHT and NHS training directorate (as was the NHS Training Agency) during the intervening time.

  A request was received by the NHS training directorate in March 1991 for formal consideration of a proposal for the inclusion of training of hearing therapists in the 1991–92 work programme.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Coalite Chemical (Emissions)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken to prevent emissions of dioxins and furans from Coalite Chemicals in Derbyshire.

  Mr. Baldry
  I have been asked to reply.

  Coalite Chemicals Ltd., Bolsover, is a registered works under the Alkali Etc. Works Regulation Act 1906 and the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974. Emissions to air are subject to regulation by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. The inspectorate has initiated a programme to assess potential emission sources of dioxins-furans from the works.

  Spirits and Wines
  Mr. Raffan
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much of the United Kingdom's wine imports come from the European Community.

  Mr. Curry
  A total of 93 per cent. of the value of United Kingdom imports of wine in 1990 came from other EC countries.

  Mr. Raffan
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the relative contributions to the United Kingdom's balance of trade of spirits and wine.

  Mr. Curry
  In 1990 the United Kingdom's crude trade surplus in spirits was valued at £1,679 million and the crude deficit in wine at £951 million.

  Less-favoured Areas
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to review less-favoured area payments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Headage rates payable uner the hill livestock compensatory allowances scheme will be reviewed in the normal way during the annual autumn review of the economic conditions in the hills and uplands.

  Farmers (Early Retirement)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on proposals by the European Commission for early retirement for farmers; and whether he has any plans to top up the basic EC payments.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government are examining the European Commission proposals on early retirement for farmers, which are part of a much wider package of proposals for the reform of the common agricultural policy, to assess their appropriateness to United Kingdom circumstances.

  Milk, Derbyshire
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the dioxins and furans found in the milk from farms in Derbyshire whose milk was withdrawn.

  Mr. Maclean
  The milk from the farms in Derbyshire whose milk was withdrawn was analysed for seven dioxins and 10 furans. These are listed in the paper "Surveillance of British Foods for PCDDs and PCDFs" which was placed in the Library in July 1990.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that the polluter pays in the case of the milk unfit for consumption in Derbyshire due to dioxin contamination.

  Mr. Maclean
  Civil redress has to be pursued by those who have suffered the losses. We shall however, be publishing in full the results of our detailed research programme in this area.

  Oil Seed Rape
  Mr. Andrew Welsh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number and content of research projects sponsored by his Department on oil seed rape.
  690
  Mr. Curry
  The information requested is as follows:

  Strategic research relating to

  Number of projects

  Cost in 1991–92 £'000

  Molecular genetics and propagation

  3

  126

  Plant nutrition

  2

  191

  Crop management and plant physiology

  9

  1,159

  Field diseases

  5

  398

  Field pests

  6

  591

  Weed control

  2

  43

  Safe storage

  4

  149

  Total

  31

  2,657

  Pollution (Harwell)
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on pollution from chlorinated hydrocarbons discharged from the Atomic Energy Research Establisment at Harwell, in regard to threats to agricultural land.

  Mr. Curry
  The presence of chlorinated hydrocarbons in water abstracted form a borehole near the Atomic Energy Research Establisment at Harwell is being investigated by relevant bodies including the National Rivers Authority. The threat of pollution to agricultural land will be assessed in the light of the results of these investigations.

  Blue-ear Disease
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has as yet identified the means whereby blue-ear disease in pigs gained entry to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  No. Investigations as to the means by which the disease was introduced are continuing.

  EC Directives
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 5491/91 on the milk levy to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

  Mr. Curry
  Draft document 5491/91 is the proposal on which Council regulation (EEC) 1639/91 of 13 June is based. This provides for the allocation of additional milk quota to producers who received a limited allocation in 1989 having previously taken part in the non-marketing of milk or dairy herd conversion schemes (so-called SLOM producers), and for further former producers to receive new quota allocations on a similar basis. The proposal was that no new quota should be created for this purpose and that member states should be required to meet claims from within their existing quota resources.

  As part of the price-fixing agreement, however, the Council agreed that member states should share the balance of the quota held in the Community reserve for SLOM producers in proportion to the amounts already allocated to them under the previous SLOM distribution and that quota which would otherwise have been returned to the Community reserve, for example because of

  691
  non-uptake, should be retained in national reserves. The result of these decisions is that almost 98,000 tonnes of quota has been issued for the first time, of which the United Kingdom has received 31,000 tonnes. The amounts retained in national reserves by other member states are not known; the United Kingdom figure is about 28,000 tonnes.

  The cost of the disposal of the 59,000 tonnes of additional milk, if it were sold into intervention as butter and skimmed milk powder, would be about £12·5 million in 1992–93. This expenditure would be funded by the EC, and there would, therefore, be an impact on the net contribution to the Community budget. The Exchequer contribution to the EC budget is towards the budget as a whole and not towards any particular element. Neither industry nor consumers will bear additional costs as a result of the measures but United Kingdom producers will have the benefit of an additional 59,000 tonnes of quota with consequent benefit to processors.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 5518/91 on veterinary checks to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

  Mr. Maclean
  A directive concerning veterinary checks on animals entering the European Community from third countries (originally proposed in Commission document 5518/91) was adopted at the July Agriculture Council with an implementation date of 1 July 1992.

  Implementation is not expected to involve direct cost to the Exchequer; the directive requires that the costs of the necessary veterinary checks be borne by importers or their agents.

  As far as indirect cost to the Exchequer is concerned, the directive enables member states to seek Community funding if, for example, they experience difficulties in providing the necessary inspection facilities. At this stage, in the absence of any indication from member states of the extent to which Community funding might be requested, it is not possible to make any assessment of what the eventual indirect cost might be.

  We await proposals from the Commission on the level of the "health tax" to be applied to imports in order to cover the costs of the veterinary checks to be carried out. It is not therefore possible to quantify the likely impact on either industry or the consumer.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 7214/90 on protection of animals during transport to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

  Mr. Maclean
  These proposals are still under negotiation therefore it is not possible to provide an estimate of their cost.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 8745/90 on sweeteners in food to 692
  (a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

  Mr. Maclean
  It is now clear that the draft directive on sweeteners in food will not be implemented on the basis of the proposals in document 8745/90 but on a series of revised proposals on which discussions are continuing. We have therefore made no estimate of what would have been the cost of implementing the proposals in document 8745/90.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 10541/90 on the common fisheries policy to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

  Mr. Curry
  Document No. 10541/90 is a communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament drawn up to stimulate debate before the mid-term review of the common fisheries policy to help the Commission in framing the report it is required to produce by the end of 1991. The communication highlights a number of areas for consideration but contains no specific proposals that can be costed.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 7057/90 on the research programme in agriculture to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions and (b) industry.

  Mr. Curry
  When the EC's decision on the agricultural and agro-industrial research programme is implemented later this year it will offer grants of up to 50 per cent. of the cost of a wide range of precompetitive research. Implementing the decision will impose no costs on industry or directly on the Exchequer, although the Department will incur some costs in making the programme known to United Kingdom researchers and in participating in the selection of proposals for grant aid. The Exchequer contribution to the EC budget is towards the budget as a whole and not towards any particular element.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document Nos. 10749/90 and 10837/90 on origin of foods to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

  Mr. Curry
  We oppose the adoption of these proposals in their present form, and are supported in this by a number of other member states. Negotiations are continuing in Brussels, and I am not in a position at this stage to estimate the costs of implementation. The Government's general view is that the costs of such designation schemes should be borne by those producers or manufacturers who benefit from them.

  Dioxins
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of United Kingdom milk comes from areas with levels of dioxins above 0·1 nanogrammes/kilogram.

  Mr. Maclean
  The surveillance data are sufficient for the purpose of assessing the safety of the milk supply but not the provision of any meaningful statistical analysis of the kind envisaged.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the animal foodstuffs which have been tested as part of his Department's food surveillance programme for dioxins.

  Mr. Maclean
  Assuming that the hon. Member refers to products of animal origin, in addition to milk, a considerable number of animal foodstuffs have been analysed for dioxins including several species of fish, meat and meat products, poultry and eggs. Results of the surveillance programme will be published in a food surveillance paper which is in the course of preparation.

  Fowl Infection
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are usually taken by his Ministry to prohibit a company trading in fowl after the discovery of infection in the trading company's stock.

  Mr. Maclean
  Under the Government's salmonella control programme laying flocks of domestic fowl infected with Salmonella enteritidis and breeding flocks of domestic fowl infected with Salmonella enteritidis or Salmonella typhimurium are placed under movement restrictions and are compulsorily slaughtered with compensation.

  These controls can apply to other species if there is a public health risk from the sale of eggs for human consumption.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the additional cost to the average family of four of the CAP.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Sir E. Griffiths) on 5 December 1990 at column 141.

  The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has now updated to 1990 its estimates of transfers from consumers and taxpayers resulting from agricultural policies in the European Community as a whole. On the basis used for the previous answer, these transfers were equivalent to £17·50 per week per family of four in that year. The increase from the figure off£14 for 1989 given in the previous answer is largely due to reductions in world prices. As I have emphasised on a number of occasions, and as the OECD has made clear, the estimate takes no account of the effect that removal of farm support would have on world prices, and other variables, and thus gives no indication of the extent to which taxpayers and consumers might be better off if current policies were removed. A family of four would benefit by considerably less than £17·55 per week if all agricultural support were removed.

  Farmers
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the total number of part-time farmers in each country in the EC.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested is given in the table for 1987 (except where stated), which is the latest available year.

  Number of part-time farmers

  Total (thousands)

  Belgium

  32

  Denmark

  134

  FR Germany

  386

  Greece

  863

  Spain

  1,183

  France

  388

  Ireland

  119

  Italy

  2,399

  Luxembourg

  2

  Netherlands

  33

  Portugal

  440

  United Kingdom

  86

  1 1985

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the total number of farmers in each country of the EC, giving the proportion of the numbers of farmers within the total population of each country.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested is given for 1987, which is the latest available year.

  Total number of farmers1 (thousands)

  Proportion of farmers within the total civilian working population (Per cent.)

  Belgium

  92

  2·2

  Denmark

  85

  3·0

  FR Germany

  690

  2·5

  Greece

  953

  24·5

  Spain

  1,601

  11·2

  France

  921

  3·9

  Ireland

  210

  16·2

  Italy

  2,750

  11·7

  Luxembourg

  4

  2·5

  Netherlands

  129

  2·2

  Portugal

  619

  13·6

  United Kingdom

  220

  0·8

  EC12

  8,272

  5·9

  1 Excludes partners and directors.

  Source: Eurostat.

  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the cost of the implementation of the latest MacSharry proposals for the reform of the CAP to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) the farming industry and (c) the British consumer.

  Mr. Curry
  The European Commission's proposals for the reform of the common agricultural policy are long and complex and require considerable technical clarification. The Government have not completed their assessment of the costs and benefits of implementing them.

  Census Data
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the agricultural census data on a parish basis from each of the last 10 years are accessible by the general public at the Public Records Office; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Agricultural census data for England aggregated to parish level are available for public inspection at the Public Records Office for data up to and including 1987. Data for 1988 have been sent to the PRO and will be available for inspection shortly.

  Following a technical review which showed that parish aggregates may indirectly disclose detailed data, no further parish level material has been prepared. Research continues, with the aid of specialist consultants, to determine the best alternative methods for aggregation of agricultural census data for small areas, for public dissemination. When available, methods will be applied retrospectively to 1989.

  Agricultural Land Losses
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many hectares of agricultural land have been lost to development for each decade since 1960;

  (2) how many hectares of agricultural land have been lost to development in each county since 1961.

  Mr. Gummer
  The agricultural census records show that in the periods 1961–1970, 1971–1980, 1981–1986 the average estimated net area of farmland transferred to urban and industrial development (including mineral workings) each year in England was 14,000, 12,700 and 5,300 hectares respectively. More recent data in this series are not available because the census data on this issue have proved increasingly unreliable. However, since 1985 a new source of information on changes in land use has been developed, using information recorded by the Ordnance Survey in the course of map revision on the new and previous use of land. The Department of the Environment publishes annually, starting in 1986, statistics on land use change in England in its statistical bulletin series, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Information by county is not available in the form requested.

  Regional Offices
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the counties which are covered by each of his(a) regional and (b) divisional offices; and how many farms are within the catchment area of each of these offices.

  Mr. Gummer
  The counties covered by each of my regional and divisional offices and the number of agricultural holdings within the catchment area of each office are listed in the table:

  Regional and divisional office

  Counties

  Number of holdings

  Bristol (South Western region)

  Exeter

  Devon

  10,789

  Gloucester

  Avon, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire

  8,624

  Taunton

  Dorset, Somerset

  9,030

  696

  Regional and divisional office

  Counties

  Number of holdings

  Truro

  Cornwall

  7,091

  Cambridge (Eastern region)

  Chelmsford

  Essex, Greater London (part), Hertfordshire

  5,211

  Huntingdon

  Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire

  6,986

  Lincoln

  Lincolnshire

  5,992

  Norwich

  Norfolk, Suffolk

  8,676

  Leeds (Northern Region)

  (Beverley

  Humberside, North Yorkshire (part), South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire

  9,142

  Carlisle

  Cumbria

  6,382

  Newcastle

  Cleveland, Durham, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  5,243

  Northallerton

  North Yorkshire (part)

  7,640

  Reading (South East region)

  Guildford

  Greater London (part), Isle of Wight, Surrey, West Sussex

  8,182

  Maidstone

  East Sussex, Greater London (part), Kent

  6,622

  Oxford

  Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire

  5,005

  Wolverhampton (Midlands and Western region)

  Crewe

  Cheshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire

  13,886

  Nottingham

  Derbyshire, Humberside, Leicestershire

  8,583

  Preston

  Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside

  7,878

  Worcester

  Hereford and Worcester, Warwickshire, West Midlands

  9,690

  Note: Number of holdings from June 1990 census.

DEFENCE

  Medical and Welfare Officers
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of full-time medical officers and full-time trained welfare officers for each regiment in the Army.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are 208 primary care medical officers' posts in the regular Army, and 179 medical officers were in post on 30 June 1991. A further 13 posts are filled by civilian medical practitioners and 16 posts are currently vacant.

  The Army does not employ full-time trained welfare officers; but the commanding officer of each unit is responsible for the welfare of the men and women under his command. The unit families officer has particular responsibility for the welfare of families.

  Ulster Defence Regiment
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the full-time and part-time strength of the Ulster Defence Regiment; and how many full-time medical officers and full-time trained welfare officers are attached to the regiment.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  On 1 July 1991 there were 2,994 full-time and 3,501 part-time members of the Ulster Defence Regiment. Although each Ulster Defence
  697
  Regiment battalion has one part-time medical officer on its establishment, only two of the nine posts are currently filled. Each Ulster Defence Regiment battalion has one part-time welfare officer, although they also have other duties. There is also a regimental welfare officer.

  Written Answers
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many parliamentary questions for written answer have been answered by his Department so far in the current Session, and in the comparable period for the last Session; and if he will publish a table of how many answers(a) do not give the information requested because of (i) disproportionate cost of (ii) other reasons, (b) give an undertaking to write to the hon. Member who asked the question and (c) were referred for answer to the chief executive of a next steps agency.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information required is a matter of public record.

  Commercial Confidentiality
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors he takes into account before deciding that information requested by an hon. Member cannot be provided on the ground of commercial confidentiality.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Information is withheld on these grounds if it has been disclosed to my Department by a company on a confidential basis, or is the subject of a confidential agreement between the Ministry of Defence and a company.

  Trident
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, (1) further to paragraph 319 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates", how many warheads the United States Trident D5 missile is assumed to have for counting purposes under the terms of the draft START treaty;

  (2) further to paragraph 319 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates", how many warheads the United States Trident D5 missile is assumed to have for counting purposes under the terms of the draft START treaty.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The detailed provisions of the proposed START treaty remain under discussion between the United States and Soviet Union.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to an accident during the loading of warheads onto a missile as a credible scenario for detonation of the third stage propellant of the Trident II missile.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Government are satisfied with the safety of the Trident nuclear missile system. We concur with the assessment of the United States authorities that the detonation of the third stage of the Trident II missile, during the handling of missiles and warheads, is not a credible accident scenario, and that it therefore may properly and safely be disregarded.

  Equipment Holdings
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to table 6 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates", what reductions in the level of United 698
  Kingdom equipment holdings have been announced by his Department subsequent to his statement on "Options for Change"; and if he will list them.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Since my right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary's statement last July, there has been only one announcement affecting CFE-declared equipment numbers—that by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement on 21 June regarding the replacement of Chieftain main battle tanks (Official Report, columns 606–08).

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to table 4 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates", what reductions in United Kingdom equipment holdings already announced were required in order to comply with the ceilings imposed by the CFE treaty.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The necessary reductions will be completed within 40 months of the treaty's coming into force, as specified in the treaty.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to table 4 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates", what is the percentage reduction in total holdings of the United Kingdom's treaty-limited equipment required under the conventional forces in Europe treaty.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In accordance with the table, the United Kingdom has a liability to reduce its holdings of tanks by 15·3 per cent., and its armoured combat vehicles by 0·5 per cent. The United Kingdom ceiling for artillery pieces matches the declaration. For all other equipments (i.e. combat aircraft and attack helicopters), current holdings are below the ceilings.

  Nuclear missile Launchers
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to figure 4 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates", how many of the(a) Frog, (b) SS-21 and (c) Scud, Soviet sub-strategic nuclear missile launchers are deployed in areas from which they can hit targets in western Europe.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The continuing restructuring of Soviet forces and the continuing withdrawal of elements of these from eastern Europe complicate the assessment of the current deployment status of these launchers. However, the mobility of these systems means that large numbers of them could rapidly be brought within range of the NATO area.

  Cyprus
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards the continued deployment of two infantry battalions to Cyprus.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There are no plans to change the current level of our commitment to Cyprus.

  British Army of The Rhine
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, (1) further to paragraph 412 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates", which units of the BAOR are to be withdrawn from Germany; and where they are currently deployed;
  699
  (2) further to paragraph 412 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates", when the planned reduction in the size of BAOR will begin; and when it will be completed.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made to the House yesterday afternoon concerning the restructuring of the Army.

  Contracts (German Companies)
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts his Department has placed with German companies in the last year, and if he will list the names of the contractors, the amount of the contracts, and the specification of the contracts.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It is not our normal policy to give details of the companies with whom we do business; nor to disclose the value or specification of our contracts.

  Homosexuality
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to paragraph 5, page 57 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates", what procedures are in place to deal with complaints of harassment of homosexuals within the armed forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All complaints of harassment of any nature would be dealt with under normal administrative or disciplinary procedures and, if substantiated, appropriate action would be taken against the offender. Homosexual behaviour is itself an offence under service law.

  Tornados
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of Royal Air Force training for Tornados to deliver 1,000 lb bombs is conducted at medium level.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  RAF Tornado GR1 aircrew conduct about 5 per cent. of their weapons training practising the delivery of 1,000 lb bombs at medium level.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to table 6 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates", how many Tornado aircraft deployed in Germany will be removed under his proposal to reduce the number of Tornado squadrons from seven to four.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Table 6 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates" gave a snapshot of, inter alia, the number of Tornado aircraft allotted to units in Germany on 19 November 1990. Fifty-two of the aircraft were Tornado GR1/1a aircraft from the four Tornado squadrons currently at RAF Laarbruch, of which three are to be disbanded and the fourth is to be re-deployed to RAF Marham.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) further to paragraph 406 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates", how many Tornado aircraft will be involved in the reduction of three squadrons;

  (2) further to paragraph 406 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates", how many of the Tornados from the disbanded squadrons (a) will be re-assigned to other squadrons, (b) scrapped and (c) held in storage.
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  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As a result of the disbandment of three squadrons currently based in Germany, the total establishment of the RAF Tornado interdiction/strike force, including reserves, will be reduced by 39 aircraft. The surplus aircraft will be either held in storage or re-used as fleet management requirements dictate. There are no plans to scrap any of these aircraft.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 216 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates", how many of the five Tornados lost in combat whilst delivering 1,000lb bombs were conducting operations in concert with Tornados delivering JP-233 bombs.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  One.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to paragraph 216 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates", what was the level at which the two Tornados were flying that were lost to direct enemy fire.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The two aircraft lost to direct enemy fire were conducting loft-attacks with 1,000lb bombs.

  Armed Forces Manpower
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to figure 3 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimate", what is the balance of total armed forces manpower between NATO and the USSR in the ATTU —Atlantic to the Urals—region.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  NATO armed forces manpower based in the Atlantic to the Urals region currently totals around 3 million, while the equivalent Soviet figure is estimated at approximately 2·3 million.

  Combat Aircraft
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to table 4 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates", what plans his Department has to increase the number of Royal Air Force combat aircraft up to the level permitted under the conventional forces in Europe ceilings.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None.

  Nuclear Weapons (Testing)
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the security implications for the United Kingdom of the continued testing of nuclear weapons by other states.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Continued nuclear testing by the nuclear weapons states helps them to maintain and modernise their forces. Where appropriate, relevant technological developments in this and other areas are taken into account in the defence programme.

  Nuclear-capable Aircraft
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, further to figure 4 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates", what are the reasons for Fishbed and Flogger aircraft no longer being included in the categories of nuclear-capable aircraft.
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  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Fishbed was excluded because this type was no longer considered to remain in the inventory of Soviet nuclear capable aircraft covered by this figure by the end of 1990.

  Flogger is included in the total shown, but the aircraft was inadvertently omitted from the list of Soviet aircraft types in the key.

  Nerve Agents
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantities of nerve agents of the types GB and GF were imported into the United Kingdom in 1991 to date.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  A vapour sample from the United Nations Special Commission's first chemical weapons inspection in Iraq was imported for analysis for the Commission by the chemical and biological defence establishment, Porton Down, in June 1991. Results of the analysis carried out on the sample were consistent with the United Nations press statement that nerve agents GB and GF were present at the Muthanna establishment in Iraq. We are aware of no further relevant imports.

  Aircraft Accidents
  Mr. Knowles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide details of the accidents involving Royal Navy Sea King and Royal Air Force Phantom aircraft which gave rise to the accident rates for those types for 1990 provided in Table 5.8 of volume 2 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1991"; and why these details are not provided in table 5.9 of that volume.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Unfortunately, due to a clerical error, there are three omissions from table 5.9

  Date

  Aircraft

  Parent service

  30 April 1990

  Phantom

  RAF

  8 May 1990

  Sea King

  RN

  7 December 1990

  Wessex

  RAF

  None of the above caused any deaths or serious injuries. These three accidents were also omitted from the figures on "Number of Accidents" in table 5.8

  Royal Fleet Auxiliary
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has completed his review of the present arrangements for running the Royal Fleet Auxiliary; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bristol, East (Mr. Sayeed) on 15 July,Official Report, column 98.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the reason for low flights by three aircraft over south Cardiff at 11.45 am on Saturday 13 July.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Military low-flying training is not normally carried out at weekends and public holidays. The aircraft referred to may, however, have been aircraft of the Red Arrows who took off from Cardiff airport in transit to a flying display elsewhere at about the same time mentioned.
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  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the causes of the increase in flights at low level over the urban areas of Cardiff south and Penarth during recent months.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Military aircraft carrying out low-flying training are instructed not to overfly major urban conurbations such as Cardiff at low level although aircraft may transit some areas of the Cardiff, South and Penarth constituency at levels above 1,000 ft and, as elsewhere, the amount of activity may vary from time to time as a result of weather and other considerations.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there has been any change in regulations governing low-flying aircraft in south Wales in the past four years.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The regulations governing the United Kingdom system, including south Wales, are under continuous review and are updated regularly.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made to the lateral boundaries of the highlands restricted area since its establishment; and whether any further such changes are under consideration.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No changes have been made to the lateral boundaries of the Highlands restricted area since its establishment but all aspects of the United Kingdom low-flying system are kept under continuous review.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any changes to the boundaries of the tactical training areas have been considered by the military low-flying management group since the beginning of 1989.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  There have been no changes to the boundaries of the tactical training areas in the period concerned.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the nature and purpose of the low-flying exercise held in the Forest of Dean/Vale of Berkeley area, commencing on 20 May; how many and what types of aircraft took part; and what measures were applied to ensure that participating pilots did not infringe the Stroud gap transit area, the Nympsfield gliding site, the Slimbridge bird sanctuary, and the avoidance areas around the Oldbury and Berkeley nuclear power stations.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No low-flying training exercises took place in the Forest of Dean/Vale of Berkeley area on the date concerned. An exercise was held by Bristol university air squadron from 20 to 24 May, in the area concerned, which was subject to relevant United Kingdom low-flying regulations and for which an airspace co-ordination notice was issued by the national air traffic services.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what lateral and vertical distances military pilots are instructed to avoid the village of Penrhyndeudraeth.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  It is not our practice to release detailed information on flying restrictions in individual areas. Military fast jet aircraft are instructed to avoid flying at low level over the centre of major conurbations
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  and built up areas but it is not practicable to guarantee to avoid smaller communities such as Penrhyndeudraeth although aircrew will avoid populated areas wherever possible.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-flying exercises were conducted which involved low flying over north Wales between(a) 15 July 1990 to 15 January 1991, (b) 16 January to 28 February and (c) 1 March to 31 May.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  There were no low-flying training exercises conducted over north Wales between the dates specified, although routine low-flying training would have taken place in the area throughout the period.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-flying exercises(a) under 100 ft or (b) under 250 ft were conducted by United Kingdom forces in each week of the hostilities in the Gulf.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Low-flying training in the United Kingdom under 250 ft by fixed-wing military aircraft is restricted to the three tactical training areas where aircraft are allowed to fly down to a minimum separation distance of 100 ft. Available central records for usage of the areas concerned in January and February 1991 were given in the written answer to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 15 July 1991 at column 94.

  Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the estimate given to the House by the Armed Forces Minister on 18 March 1987, in Standing Committee C, that implementation of the Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act 1987 would give rise, after 10 years, to an annual cost of £13 million, has been borne out by experience; what has been the cost in each year for 1987–88 to date; and what factors account for any differences between the actual figures and the ministerial estimate.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information required to answer the question is not immediately available. My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member.

  Royal Naval Reserve
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether decisions have been taken regarding the future of the Royal Navy's reserve forces; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Now that we have decided on the size of and shape of our regular forces, we have examined more closely our requirements for Naval reserves having taken due account of our experience of Operation Granby.

  The key roles of the volunteer reserves will remain unchanged; but detailed consideration of the unit and branch structure of the (RNR) has resulted in a decision to reduce their current manpower level of 5,900 by 1,200; and the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service (RNXS) is similarly to reduce its current manpower level of 2,850 by 150.

  As to the future of the RNR and RNXS, a tri-service study team has been established to examine the mix of regular and reserve forces. Its aim will be to develop a
  704
  defence-wide manpower structure for the period 1995 onwards matched to forecast tasks, reduced readiness requirements and extended warning and preparation time. This will provide a foundation to develop a more streamlined Naval reserves capable of meeting their future objectives in a cost-effective manner.

  Redundancies
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for defence what plans he has for handling redundancy in the services and among Ministry of Defence United Kingdom-based civil servants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer my hon. Friend to Britain's Army for the 90s (cm 1595) which has been published today. Details of Army redundancies are set out in paragraphs 39 to 42.

  As to redundancies in the other two services, the Royal Navy judges that there may be a measure of redundancy among officers and ratings, mainly at more senior levels. Subject to further assessment of the numbers involved, it is hoped to achieve these by voluntary redundancy, some late in 1992–93, with the majority subsequently. Some compulsory redundancies might be necessary to complete the programme.

  No decisions have yet been taken about RAF redundancies, but it is considered that redundancies among airmen are unlikely, with the possible exception of a small number of senior non-Commissioned officers in a few trades. In the case of RAF officers, some measure of redundancy at squadron leader level and above may be necessary over the period to the mid-1990s, but it is hoped to keep this to a minimum. The terms and conditions of RN and RAF redundancy will be the same as those for the Army.

  On current plans about 20,000 United Kingdom-based civil service posts will be reduced over the period 1991–92 to 1996–97. To the greatest extent possible, this reduction will be achieved by natural wastage, early retirement and redeployment. However, there will inevitably be some redundancies, particularly among industrial and non-mobile staff. Numbers will to some extent depend upon which establishments are closed and on the timing. Redundancies will be handled under the MOD redundancy agreement. Redundancy compensation is paid under the principal civil service payment scheme.

  Rolls-Royce, Leavesden
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the sale of a site at Leavesden to Rolls-Royce.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer 22 July 1991]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement I made on 14 May at column 140.

  Friendly Fire Incidents
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the results of his investigations into friendly fire incidents involving British troops in the Gulf.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  There were four incidents during the Gulf conflict in which British soldiers were killed or injured by friendly forces. Nine soldiers were killed and 16
  705
  injured in these incidents. The board of inquiry into the incident when nine soldiers were killed and 11 injured in two Warrior vehicles belonging to the 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Battle Group (3 RRF) has now reported. It has been the practice of successive Governments not to publish reports of this kind, but I wish to give as full an account as possible of the board's findings.

  On 26 February 1991, 3 RRF had fought their way through a number of enemy positions in southern Iraq. After a brief but intense sandstorm during the early part of the advance, the weather had improved to give clear skies and good visibility by about 1500 hours local time, when C Company 3RRF, with some 37 Warrior and Engineer vehicles, was reorganising. The terrain in the area was flat and featureless apart from some Iraqi defensive positions and abandoned vehicles and equipment. During the reorganisation, Royal Engineers prepared to destroy nearby Iraqi artillery pieces. When the demolition charges were about to be blown, C Company commander instructed his men to re-enter their vehicles, close hatches and move away from the gun emplacements.

  8 Platoon had been stationary and out of their vehicles for about 15 minutes before this order was given. As they started to comply, one Warrior, callsign 22, exploded. Another Warrior, callsign 23, immediately manoeuvred in front of callsign 22, and some crew members had just begun to move the casualties to the first aid post when callsign 23 also exploded. A-10 aircraft were seen in the area at the time of the explosions, but at first mines were suspected.

  Earlier during the day, two successive flights of United States Air Force (USAF) aircraft were tasked by Headquarters 1st (British) Armoured Division to attack Iraqi armour at grid reference PT6857. Subsequently, a further flight of two USAF A-10 aircraft reported for tasking to the British assistant divisional air liaison officer (DALO). His intention was that these aircraft should attack the same target as the two previous flights but there is a conflict of evidence over whether a grid reference for the target was passed from the assistant DALO to the A-10s. The target location was over 20 km to the east of C Company 3 RRF's position at 1500 hours.

  The A-10 pilots identified what they thought was the target area from a physical description given them by a departing USAF F-16 of the previous flight, and shortly afterwards saw what they thought were about 50 Iraqi T54/55 tanks and support vehicles heading north. The pilots had been told that there were no friendly forces within 10 km of their target, and these vehicles were closer than that to the point they had identified as their target. The lead aircraft made two passes, at 15,000 and 8,000 ft, to observe the vehicles with binoculars, but saw no friendly markings. Both aircraft then fired one infra-red Maverick missile from a height of about 9,000 ft, each destroying one of the vehicles, before reporting the engagement to the assistant DALO and leaving the area.

  The pilots' report of 50 Iraqi vehicles differed so dramatically from earlier descriptions of the target that the assistant DALO asked them to confirm the location. The flight leader reported that the attack had taken place at grid reference PT 418518. The assistant DALO immediately realised that this position was more then 20 km from the intended target and corresponded with the location of 3 RRF. He then called up a reconnaissance
  706
  flight over the area, which reported that fluorescent air recognition panels could be seen from 6,000 ft and the type of vehicles could be identified from 14,000 ft.

  The board of inquiry found that 8 Platoon, C Company 3 RRF were on operations as ordered. The board also found that the air planning procedures allowing a distance of more than 15 km between the target for any air attack and friendly forces had been followed and should have been sufficient to ensure the successful and safe conduct of operations. The board further concluded that air control at corps and divisional level which provided tasking information to the A-10s was in accordance with established procedures.

  The board found that 8 Platoon's vehicles were displaying correct inverted V recognition symbols and fluorescent panels. The board noted that some of the panels could have been partially obscured by open hatches or equipment, and that while a reconnaissance flight observed the panels at 6,000 ft, this was below the operating height of the A-10s. The board could not make any finding as to whether the pilots should have seen the identification panels at their operating height.

  The board concluded that no blame or responsibility for the incident could be attributed to 3 RRF.

  The board noted that there was a conflict of evidence between the statements of the witnesses from headquarters 1st (British) Armoured Division and those of the A-10 pilots. The assistant DALO stated that he passed the target grid reference but the A-10 pilots deny receiving this. There was no evidence to suggest that the two previous missions had attacked anything but the correct targets. On the evidence presented, the board found that no blame or responsibility should be attached to the assistant DALO.

  The pilots stated that, notwithstanding the absence of a grid reference, they attacked on the basis of information passed to them by the previous flight and of their positive identification of the targets as enemy vehicles. The board noted that a USAF reconnaissance flight shortly after the Warriors were attacked was able to identify the types of vehicles from 14,000 ft. On the basis of the evidence before it, the board was unable to establish why the attacked Warrior vehicles were misidentified by the A-10 pilots as enemy T54/55 tanks, particularly in view of their previous identification runs at 8,000 and 15,000 ft. In forwarding the board's findings, the joint commander has drawn attention to the way in which aspect, weather and light conditions can critically affect a pilot's ability to identify the detail of objects on the ground.

  The board did not establish whether the USAF personnel involved were at fault. It was clearly established that the USAF A-10s delivered the missiles, but the board could not establish precisely why they attacked the wrong target.

  The board remarked that it was clear that all United Kingdom and USAF personnel involved were striving to achieve their individual tasks to the best of their abilities in a fast-moving battle. The board thought it inevitable that, at some stage, difficulties may arise when individuals are under such pressure. On 26 February 1991 difficulties arose in relation to the location and identification of the target, and the board concluded that only the clearest of standard operating procedures and sophisticated identification systems will help to prevent such tragedies in the future.

  The board recommended that a study be initiated to identify a suitable air recognition system for future use,

  707
  confirmed the importance of standard operating procedures for the control of aircraft in offensive air support operations and recommended that they must always include instructions that a grid reference or a latitude and longitude is specifically included in mission briefs and that this is always acknowledged by pilots.

  The Government—and the United States Administration—wish to express their deepest sympathy and condolences to the relatives of those who died in this tragic incident.

  During the conflict there were a further three incidents involving friendly fire in which British service men were injured.

  The first of these occurred shortly after 1100 local time on 26 February. An officer attached to 1 Staffords received shrapnel wounds when a Warrior vehicle was attacked by a Challenger tank of the Scots Dragoon Guards. Personnel from 1 Staffords were guarding prisoners of war when a Challenger tank from the Scots Dragoon Guards began to engage nearby Iraqi armoured vehicles, which later turned out to be abandoned. The tank mistakenly fired on the vehicles of 1 Staffords, hitting the Warrior, before moving off. Visibility at the time was reduced by a dust storm to about 400 m. All the Staffords' vehicles were marked with the inverted V device and carried fluorescent orange panels. The four personnel in the Warrior were unharmed, but shrapnel injured an officer who had dismounted from another vehicle. Once the mistake was realised, the Scots Dragoon Guards returned to the scene and evacuated the officer to hospital.

  Another incident occurred shortly before 1100 local time on 27 February. Two personnel from the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars (QRIH) were injured when their Scorpion armoured reconnaissance vehicles were fired on by US M1 Abrams tanks. Both Scorpions were carrying the black inverted V device and visibility was good. United Kingdom and US forces had their own areas of operations and the QRIH reconnaissance section was about 2 km within its area. They had stopped to take the surrender of Iraqi troops, when one Scorpion was hit in the front by a round from a US M1 tank, firing from about 1500 m to the north. The driver escaped without injury, but a soldier walking alongside received shrapnel wounds. The other Scorpion came under tank and machine gun fire, and the soldier manning the turret-mounted machine gun also received shrapnel wounds. When the US personnel realised their mistake they assisted with the treatment of the injured British soldiers and their evacuation to hospital.

  The third incident also occurred on 27 February. At about 1445 local time, two soldiers from 10 Air Defence Battery, Royal Artillery received burns when two Spartan armoured vehicles from which they had dismounted were engaged by Challenger tanks from 14/20 Hussars with thermal sights beyond the range of unaided visibility (about 1500 m). In these conditions, it was not possible to identify the inverted V device carried by the vehicles. The rearmost vehicle was hit and burst into flames. The other vehicle was also damaged in the ensuing fire. The Spartan destroyed was empty and was being towed after breaking down. The Spartans had become detached from a convoy of 7th Armoured Brigade vehicles which had been delayed in getting clear of the area because of the difficult terrain.

  Sea Harrier Accident (Wentwood)
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has now received the report of the board of inquiry following the accident involving a Royal Navy Sea Harrier in the Wentwood area of Gwent on 10 May.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  No. Once the board of inquiry's report has been fully completed and considered a summary of its findings will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Anthony Pordage
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason Mr. Anthony Pordage of 77 Trinity avenue, Mildenhall, has been barred from further entry to RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell.

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

  Helicopters
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his decision to award prime contractor status for the Merlin helicopter project.

  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce his decision on the number of launch production EH101 helicopters his Department expects to purchase; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  We are evaluating two bids for the Prime contract to complete development of the EH101 Merlin helicopter and to produce the first batch of aircraft for the Royal Navy. We aim to reach a decision as soon as possible.

  Defence Export Sales Organisation
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the cost to public funds of the Defence Export Sales Organisation for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The DESO operates at no net cost to public funds. Over the last five years revenue for chargeable services has exceeded operating costs.

  NATO Aircraft
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the range requirement for NATO dual capable aircraft can be met by air-to-air refuelling as well as by a stand-off missile.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  Both considerations are relevant separately and in combination.

  ACE Mobile Force
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on plans to expand NATO's ACE mobile force into an immediate reaction force.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 14 June to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill) at column 735.

  Missiles
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart concerning the acquisition by the United Kingdom of the United States tri-service standoff attack missile for either conventional or nuclear missions or both.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  None.

  Rapid Reaction Corps
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the budget of the NATO Rapid Reaction Corps planning staff.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The detailed arrangements for the multi-national NATO reaction force planning staff, including the level of funding, are still being developed in NATO.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Vehicle Emissions
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether there is a business plan and research outline for the United Kingdom Vehicle Emissions Consortium; how much his Department expects to spend in 1991–92; and what the expected output of results from the consortium is for 1991–92.

  Mr. Leigh
  The United Kingdom Engine Emissions Consortium comprises a group of United Kingdom vehicle engine and component manufacturers and fuel additive suppliers conducting a three-year programme for pre-competitive, collaborative research into engine emission technologies related, in the main, to petrol and diesel engines. The programme focuses on reducing emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, particulates and nitrogen oxides.

  Perkins Technology Ltd. of Peterborough acts as central co-ordinator of the administrative and financial arrangements related to the programme. The details of these arrangements are set out in a hub agreement between Perkins Technology Ltd. and the other collaborators. Each project has set objectives and technical targets. My Department expects to pay grant totalling about £773,000 in support of the consortium's work in financial year 1991–92.

  The programme is due to end on 31 May 1992. It aims to advance the competitive position of the consortium members by putting them at the forefront of vehicle technologies.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the reasons for the rise in provision for central and miscellaneous services outlined in table A of Cm. 1504; and what part publicity costs play in this rise.

  Mr. Lilley
  The increase in central and miscellaneous services shown in table A of Cm. 1504 derives from several alterations since 1985–86 in the Department's vote structure and the progressive inclusion within this category of all the Department's gross running costs. Prior 710
  to 1990–91 running costs for general industrial research and development, international trade, standards, space and regulation of trade were borne elsewhere on the vote. Central publicity costs did not form part of this programme until 1990–91 and the decrease between voted central publicity provision from that year to this financial year is 28 per cent.

  Environmental Schemes
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the approval guidelines and timetables for his Department's environmental schemes ETIS and DEMOS; what is the number of applications so far received and the number of approvals, by location, within the standard regions; and what is the budget allocation for 1991–92 by his Department and the sums so far committed.

  Mr. Leigh
  The approval guidelines for ETIS and DEMOS are set out in the promotional material published by the Department for each scheme. ETIS, jointly managed by DTI and DOE, is primarily a collaborative research programme aimed at developing environmental technology to improve industry's competitive position or to contribute to the development of higher regulatory standards. Projects are assessed with particular reference to their degree of innovation, their technical feasibility, their pre-competitive nature and the likelihood of them going ahead without support.

  Parallel Processor Research Programme
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the sources of the funds for the parallel processor research programme and, in the case of contributions from the Government, from which budget head in the Department's annual plan the funds are drawn; over how many years the research programme is expected to run; and how many institutions of higher education in the north of England sought to participate in the programme.

  Mr. Leigh
  The parallel applications programme is a four-year collaborative research and development programme with a total value of £34 million. £13 million of Government support will be offered, of which £9 million will come from my Department and £4 million from the Science and Engineering Research Council. My Department's contribution will be drawn from funds allocated to support industrial innovation.

  Seventeen academic institutions, or consortia of academic institutions, submitted outline proposals for the programme, of which five were from the north of England. Of nine institutions or consortia shortlisted, there was one from the north of England, although this was not one of the four centres finally selected.

  Auditors
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will launch an independent investigation into the impact of non-auditing services on auditor independence.

  Mr. Redwood
  I see no reason for doing so. Under schedule 11 to the Companies Act 1989, the recognised supervisory bodies must have adequate rules and practices
  711
  to ensure that company audit work is conducted with integrity and independence. Moreover, the Government propose to make use of the powers in section 121 of the Companies Act 1989 to require disclosure of fees paid to auditing firms and their associates in respect of non-audit work.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will propose legislation under which each audit report would state the matters for which auditors accept responsibility.

  Mr. Redwood
  No. The matter on which company auditors are required to report are set out in the Companies Act 1985.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will propose legislation under which auditors would owe a duty of care to all institutionalised investors.

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 26 October,Official Report, column 329.

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for trade and industry what regulatory measures exist, and through which agencies, to safeguard consumers' interests in the benefits provided by, and the marketing measures for, insurance and pension-related policies for long-term care; and whether he has referred any of these matters to the attention of the Director General of Fair Trading for his consideration.

  Mr. Redwood
  United Kingdom insurance companies underwriting such policies are subject to the normal prudential supervision of the Department of Trade and Industry. The benefits provided are a commercial matter for the companies concerned. Any long-term care contract arranged by an employer on behalf of its employees is separate from any pension arrangements. The marketing of long-term insurance contracts is covered by the rules of LAUTRO, the Life Assurance and Unit Trust Regulatory Organisation.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Bank of Credit and Commerce International auditors have been criticised by(a) the joint disciplinary scheme or (b) Department of Trade and Industry inspectors since 1979.

  Mr. Redwood
  There have been criticisms of Price Waterhouse in the period since 1979, both by the joint disciplinary scheme and in reports by inspectors appointed under the Companies Act. In neither case were the criticisms in relation to its audit of Bank of Credit and Commerce International.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to publish the criteria used to assess applications for export licences and information about licences applied for and issued to British arms exporters.
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  Mr. Sainsbury
  The seven criteria used by EC member states in implementing national controls over arms exports were published in a declaration following the European Council meeting at Luxembourg on 28–29 June this year. The Council's communiqué containing the annex about arms control was placed in the Library on 1 July.

  Post Office Closures
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices and sub-post offices were closed in each year from 1980 to 1990; and what circumstances are taken as the reasons to close post offices.

  Mr. Leigh
  The net number of Crown and sub-post office closures in each year from 1980–81 to 1989–90, inclusive, are set out in the table:

  Year

  Sub-offices

  Crown offices

  Total

  1980–81

  162

  2

  164

  1981–82

  62

  8

  70

  1982–83

  98

  6

  104

  1983–84

  235

  8

  243

  1984–85

  389

  6

  395

  1985–86

  314

  44

  358

  1986–87

  88

  6

  94

  1987–88

  136

  4

  140

  1988–89

  35

  6

  41

  1989–90

  5

  154

  159

  Decisions on the type and level of post office provision available in particular areas are on operations matter for the Post Office Board. The Government have made clear on a number of occasions our commitment to the maintenance of a network of offices adequate to enable the Post Office to fulfil its statutory duty to have regard to economy and efficiency, and to the social, commercial and industrial needs of the United Kingdom. We are satisfied that in managing its network of post offices, including those in rural areas, the Post Office is fully meeting these obligations.

  Recycling
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much recycled glass, metal, paper and plastic was used in manufacturing industry in each year from 1980 to 1990; and what measures his Department is implementing to encourage the increase of recycling.

  Mr. Leigh
  The information is as follows:

  Amount of scrap used in the manufacturing process (thousands of tonnes):

  Year

  Glass1

  Ferrous Metal2

  Aluminium

  Paper

  Plastic

  1980

  55

  n.a.

  142

  2,009

  n.a.

  1981

  n.a.

  8,220

  130

  1,932

  n.a.

  1982

  110

  7,460

  133

  1,854

  n.a.

  1983

  n.a.

  7,700

  144

  1,827

  n.a.

  1984

  161

  7,030

  137

  2,003

  n.a.

  1985

  215

  6,757

  122

  2,067

  n.a.

  1986

  228

  6,410

  110

  2,147

  n.a.

  1987

  233

  6,835

  111

  2,306

  n.a.

  1988

  264

  7,466

  100

  2,454

  n.a.

  1989

  308

  7,669

  104

  2,578

  0·15/0·16

  1990

  372

  7,190

  114

  2,847

  0·20

  1 Used in container glass manufacturing.

  2 Scrap used in steel production.

  Source: Warren Spring Laboratory.
  713
  High recycling levels can be encouraged by the increased consumption of recyclable and recycled materials by industry and, indeed, by Government. My Department takes the lead on a number of initiatives to aid this process. For example, the purchase of recycled paper and board products currently accounts for some 66 per cent. of my Department's headquarters total stationery spend. We also provide financial assistance to business to develop projects which seek to recycle unavoidable waste, via two schemes: ETIS—environmental technology innovation scheme—a joint Department of Trade and Industry/Department of the Environment scheme aimed at encouraging innovation and improved environmental standards; and DEMOS, the DTI environmental options scheme, which is designed to promote spread of best environmental practice among companies. Both schemes have a particular focus on recycling, including recycling of manufacturing waste.

  New Cars (Distribution)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration he is giving to regulation of the United Kingdom distribution system for new cars, in the light of the single market.

  Mr. Redwood
  On 9 May 1990 the Director General of Fair Trading made references to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the supply of new motor cars and motor car parts. They have been asked to report by 31 October 1991. The Government will consider carefully any recommendations made.

  Completion of the single market will not affect directly the distribution system for new cars. European Commission regulation 123/85 on the application of article 85(3) of the EC treaty to certain categories of motor vehicle distribution and servicing agreements applies to the distribution system for new cars in the United Kingdom and other member states of the European Community.

  Insolvency
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information is held on the number of cases in which firms in financial difficulties have been considered by administrators under the Insolvency Act 1986; in how many such cases the consideration has resulted in the company concerned carrying on in business; and in how many the company has gone into liquidation.

  Mr. Redwood
  Administrators under the Insolvency Act 1986 have been appointed to 735 companies in England and Wales during the period 1 January 1987 to 31 March 1991.

  Information on the results of those administrations is not available. However, I am aware that academic research is currently under way which, when complete, will show empirical data.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the fees charged by administrators considering the cases of companies in financial difficulties, under the Insolvency Act 1986.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department collects no such information. The remuneration of an administrator is fixed either by the creditors' committee or by the creditors 714
  generally, as a percentage of the value of assets dealt with, or on a time spent basis. If they fail to do so the court may fix the remuneration and adjudicate on any dispute.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the quality of service performance indicators adopted by Companies House, the Insolvency Service, the laboratory of the Government chemist, the national engineering laboratory, the national physical laboratory, the national weights and measures laboratory, the Patent Office, the Radiocommunications Agency and the Warren Spring laboratory since their establishment as executive agencies; and if he will identify separately those quality of service performance indicators already operative prior to agency status in each case.

  Mr. Lilley
  Chief executives and other managers in agencies will set and monitor their own internal management targets for performance, including quality of service measures. However, a distinctive feature of next steps has been the setting by Ministers, and a formal announcement, of targets for agencies, and publication of details of their subsequent performance.

  For details of these ministerial targets for individual agencies I refer the hon. Member to the lists of targets in the eighth report of the Treasury and Civil Service Committee in the 1989–90 Session (HC-481). Since then further quality of service targets have been announced for the Insolvency Service, 29 April 1991, Official Report, col. 153; Companies House—9 May, Official Report, col. 559; and the National Weights and Measures Laboratory-16 May, Official Report, col. 245.

  The hon. Member may wish to know that a further consolidated list of current targets will be published shortly as part of the evidence given to the Treasury and Civil Service Committee's recent inquiry into next steps.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent on events and publicity surrounding the launch as executive agencies of Companies House, the Insolvency Service, the laboratory of the Government chemist, the national engineering laboratory, the national physical laboratory, the national weights and measures laboratory, the Patent Office, the Radiocommunications Agency and the Warren Spring laboratory; and whether the cost was borne by the parent department or the new agency.

  Mr. Lilley
  The launch of each agency was an operational matter for the chief executive. I have therefore asked each chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is the maximum salary payable to the chief executives and the length of time of the chief executives' contracts of Companies House, the Insolvency Service, the laboratory of the Government chemist, the national engineering laboratory, the national physical laboratory, the national weights and measures laboratory, the Patent Office, the Radiocommunications Agency and the Warren Spring laboratory;

  (2) if he will list the new forms of alternative working patterns introduced in Companies house, the Insolvency Service, the laboratory of the Government chemist, the national engineering laboratory, the national physical laboratory, the national weights and measures laboratory,

  715
  the Patent Office, the Radiocommunications Agency and the Warren Spring laboratory along with a break-down by grade of the numbers of staff taking up each new working pattern.

  Mr. Lilley
  This is an operational matter for the chief executive. I have therefore asked each chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff were in post on the date Companies house, the Insolvency Service, the laboratory of the Government chemist, the national engineering laboratory, the national physical laboratory, the national weights and measures laboratory, the Patent Office, the Radiocommunications Agency and the Warren Spring laboratory were established as executive agencies; and how many staff are in post now.

  Mr. Lilley
  The numbers of staff in post for each executive agency both in the month of launch and for this month are listed in the table.

  Agency

  Staff in post1

  Staff in post2

  Companies House

  1,042·5

  1,070·0

  Insolvency Service

  1,368·0

  1,493·5

  Laboratory of the Government Chemist

  316·0

  348·5

  National Engineering Laboratory

  426·0

  388·5

  National Physical Laboratory

  820·0

  829·5

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory

  43·0

  47·5

  Patent Office

  1,161·0

  1,115·0

  Radiocommunications

  461·0

  509·5

  Warren Spring Laboratory

  293·0

  310·5

  These numbers represent permanent staff with part-timers counted as half. Casuals are excluded.

  1 Taken at the start of the month of launch.

  21 July 1991.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what group bonus schemes are in operation in Companies house, the insolvency service, the laboratory of the Government chemist, the national engineering laboratory, the national physical laboratory, the national weights and measures laboratory, the Patent Office, the Radiocommunications Agency and the Warren Spring laboratory; and what was the cash amount per person awarded in the last year for which figures are available, and the conditions attached to the awards.

  Mr. Lilley
  Within DTI group bonus schemes are currently in operation at Companies House, laboratory of the Government chemist and Radiocommunications Agency. The chief executive will write to the hon. Member with the detailed information he is seeking.

  Takeovers
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 6459/90 on takeovers to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions and (b) industry.
  716
  Mr. Redwood
  Document No. 6459/90 is a communication from the Commission to the Council dated 10 May 1990 on obstacles to takeovers in the Community, outlining measures which the Commission proposed to bring forward to reduce barriers to takeovers. The Commission has subsequently brought forward proposals to amend the proposed fifth and thirteenth company law directives, and the second company law directive. The Government are keen to see measures to level the EC playing field on takeovers. No EC impact assessment has been received for these proposals which are being discussed in Council workings groups. Their precise economic impact will depend on the timing and form of their implementation in member states.

  Consumer Contracts
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest estimate of the cost of the implementation of European Community draft directive document No. 8597/90 on unfair terms in consumer contracts to(a) the Exchequer (i) directly and (ii) channelled via the European institutions, (b) industry and (c) the British consumer.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department is considering this further in consultation with interested parties and a compliance cost assessment will be published in due course.

  EC Standards
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will discuss with the British Standards Institute steps which may be taken to maintain access to hard copy material, rather than microfiche, in respect of material held about EC standards;

  (2) if he will take steps to ensure that there is adequate public access to EC standards, following the closure of the British Standards Institute library and their termination of arrangements for the loan of such material.

  Mr. Leigh
  The charges and conditions for the supply or loan of standards are matters for the British Standards Institution, which is an independent, non-profit distributing body established by royal charter. I am, however, advised that the relevant facts are as follows.

  British, European, international and foreign standards may be purchased by post or in person from the BSI sales department at Milton Keynes. Stocks of British standards are also held for over-the-counter sale at other BSI offices and some chambers of commerce, as well as at over 60 regional booksellers.

  For many years, BSI has offered to public libraries and others a complete set of British standards documents and an updating service to ensure that these are maintained. When re-examining the cost of providing its various servicers, BSI established that the subscription for this service was equivalent to about 5 per cent. of the cover price of the British standards provided and was uneconomic. Consequently, BSI announced annual, phased increases in the subscription rate to £2,500 in 1990–91 and £6,000 in 1993–94. Details of the charges for the forward years were given to help public libraries plan their budgets. Even after these admittedly substantial increases, the cost to a library of maintaining a complete set of standards will remain only a small fraction of the cover price of the standards supplied, which BSI estimates as being in excess of £35,000.
  717
  BSI's purpose in offering this service to public libraries is to make reference sets of British standards available for inspection by local industry, educational establishments and members of the public. However, it came to BSI's attention that a small, but significant minority of libraries had started to lend their copies of standards, a practice which had never been BSI's intention or policy. BSI therefore wrote to libraries pointing out that standards which are supplied on subscription terms may be used only for reference purposes, and must not be loaned to inquirers.

  Another aspect of access is photocopying. BSI has assembled statistical evidence, which, in its view, demonstrates that sales of British standards have been substantially reduced by photocopying without BSI's written permission. BSI has not sanctioned photocopying of standards beyond the "fair dealing" exceptions of the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988. Public libraries have therefore been asked to adhere to the provisions of that Act and to ensure that photocopying is allowed only where it is genuinely for research purposes.

  BSI also offers a loan service for a range of non-British standards, for a minimal charge. BSI curtailed a part of this service from 1 January 1991 since it was operating at a considerable loss. However, BSI has since had discussions with the Library Association, ASLIB and LINC, and I understand that a full service may be reinstated in the near future, but at an increased price to cover BSI's costs.

  The BSI library at Milton Keynes has not closed.

  Internal Market Council
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the outcome of the Internal Market Council on 22 July.

  Mr. Leigh
  I attended the Internal Market Council on 22 July, the first of the Dutch presidency. In the absence of texts being available in all the official languages, political agreement was reached on three directives covering medicinal products for human use and a fourth on pharmaceutical advertising. Major progress was made on a proposed sweeteners directive. The second phase of a Community programme to promote the development of trade electronic data interchange systems—TEDIS—was agreed, as was the size and duration of a budget for a separate programme—IMPACT 2—covering the information services market.

  On medicinal products political agreement was reached on three proposals covering labelling and leaflets, legal

  £ million

  Region

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Government expenditure on regional preferential assistance to industry at current prices1

  Northern

  158·8

  147·8

  151·6

  176·6

  158·5

  129·0

  122·6

  94·6

  136·4

  109·6

  134·6

  117·3

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  37·4

  32·1

  52·9

  61·6

  52·9

  35·6

  42·5

  35·4

  41·4

  39·0

  50·5

  32·5

  East Midlands3

  3·4

  4·1

  4·7

  8·6

  13·6

  16·9

  10·2

  8·3

  10·5

  9·4

  8·8

  9·5

  South West

  9·6

  10·3

  12·6

  14·8

  16·4

  11·9

  14·2

  12·0

  22·7

  14·9

  14·8

  10·7

  West Midlands4

  0·2

  0·1

  0·1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6·4

  10·0

  19·5

  26·6

  20·0

  North West

  6114·1

  689·4

  6137·5

  6173·8

  6123·8

  6103·1

  6103·9

  85·9

  128·6

  79·2

  82·6

  74·5

  England2

  323·5

  283·8

  359·2

  435·4

  365·2

  296·5

  293·4

  242·6

  349·6

  271·6

  317·9

  264·5

  Government expenditure on regional preferential assistance to industry at 1989–90 prices1 5

  Northern

  371·9

  296·8

  256·9

  273·0

  228·7

  177·9

  161·1

  117·8

  164·1

  125·3

  143·2

  117·3

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  87·6

  64·5

  89·3

  95·2

  76·3

  49·1

  55·8

  44·1

  49·8

  44·6

  53·7

  32·5

  East Midlands3

  8·0

  8·2

  8·0

  13·3

  19·6

  23·3

  13·4

  10·3

  12·6

  10·7

  9·4

  9·5

  South West

  22·5

  20·7

  21·4

  22·9

  23·7

  16·4

  18·7

  14·9

  27·3

  17·0

  15·7

  10·7

  West Midlands4

  0·5

  0·2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8·0

  12·0

  22·3

  28·3

  20·0

  718
  status and wholesale distribution of medicines. The labelling and leaflet directive will improve the information given to patients about medicinal products by harmonising requirements in all member states. By now setting the compliance date to 1 January 1994, industry will be able to meet the new requirements within a reasonable timescale. The wholesale distribution directive safeguards the fundamental interests both of United Kingdom wholesalers and their customers by allowing sensible procedures for tracing product sales. On pharmaceutical advertising to both the general public and professionals, political agreement was reached which met all outstanding United Kingdom concerns.

  Significant progress was made on the proposed sweeteners directive. The United Kingdom achieved a successful outcome on cyclamates with agreement that scientific evidence must be available before the directive is implemented. We also achieved agreement on 30 per cent. as the definition of reduced energy level products. The proposed directive also ensures that the more exotic flavoured crisps can continue to be produced and consumed. The Council was not, however, able to resolve how best to provide for the continued practice of traditional manufacture of German beers while at the same time ensuring free circulation of goods and right of establishment. Further consideration will be needed before the proposal returns to the Council.

  The TEDIS programme was agreed with a three-year budget of 25 million ecu; and there was agreement that the IMPACT 2 programme should extend for four years at a funding level of 16 million ecu per year. Failure to resolve some other outstanding, mainly technical, issues meant that final agreement was not, however, possible at the Council on IMPACT 2.

  Regional Assistance
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table showing expenditure on regional preferential assistance to industry in each standard region in England for each year from 1974 to the latest year for which figures are available in cash and constant prices.

  Mr. Leigh
  Information on regional preferential assistance has been collated only since 1978–79. Following are tables showing the amounts of regional preferential assistance in each standard region in England from 1978–79 to 1989–90—the latest year available-expressed in current prices and 1989–90 prices.
  719

  Region

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  North West

  6267·2

  6179·5

  6233·1

  6268·6

  6178·6

  6142·2

  136·5

  107·0

  154·8

  90·5

  87·9

  74·5

  England2

  757·6

  569·9

  608·8

  673·0

  527·0

  409·0

  385·5

  302·1

  420·7

  310·4

  338·2

  264·5

  1 All figures are gross and include payments to Nationalised Industries.

  2 The totals do not always equal the sum of the component parts because of rounding.

  3 Includes some minor expenditure in West Midlands in respect of Oswestry TTWA which ceased to be an Assisted Area in 1982–83.

  4 Certain TTWAs in the West Midlands were designated as Assisted Areas on 29 November 1984.

  5 Expenditure on a 1989–90 price basis for each year is calculated by applying the appropriate deflator to expenditure at current prices.

  6 Includes expenditure in Cumbria, otherwise shown within the totals for Northern Region.

  The items included in the expenditure are Regional Development Grants, Regional Selective Assistance and Regional Enterprise Grants; expenditure on Land and Factories by the English Industrial Estates Corporation.

  Package Travel Directive
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to publish the Government's proposals for implementing the EC package travel directive.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have today issued a consultation document, setting out our proposals for legislation to implement the EC package travel directive. We plan tough new legislation which will give much greater protection to package holidaymakers and should ensure that we never again see holidaymakers stranded abroad when their tour company fails.

  Our proposed new legislation would lay down minimum standards for the way that package holidaymakers are to be treated by the travel organiser and travel agent. In particular, the legislation would:

  set out the information to be included in brochures, and other information which must be supplied to the consumer before the start of the holiday;

  define the circumstances in which changes may or may not be made to the particulars in the brochure;

  lay down the matters which must be included in the contract between the holidaymaker and the travel organiser;

  regulate the making of surcharges so that no price increases may be made within 20 days before the departure;

  place the sole liability for the holiday on the organiser and require him and the travel agent to deal promptly with complaints.

  These requirements would be backed up by a combination of new criminal offences and civil liabilities.

  European Community directive 90/314/EEC on package travel, package holidays and package tours has to be implemented by all member states by 31 December 1992.

  Article 7 of the directive requires holiday firms to provide evidence of security to repay money and to repatriate consumers in the event of insolvency. We propose to implement this requirement by setting up a new licensing system for package travel organisers, with a requirement for them to be bonded, and for a national back-up fund to be established.

  I am anxious, however, that the proposed new licensing system should not put unnecessary burdens on small businesses or those, such as youth clubs and the Church, who are involved in organising trips, outings and other activities.

  If an organiser neither takes prepayments nor offers packages where the question of repatriation would arise, he would not need a licence. People who organise packages only occasionally would also be exempt. Also someone
  720
  who makes arrangements at the specific request of the members of a club, for instance, would be unlikely to be covered by the directive.

  I do not think therefore that these proposals are likely to cause any significant difficulties in practice.

  Professionals (Clients' Money)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what regulation exists with regard to the handling of client money by members of the Law Society, estate agents, mortgage brokers, accountants and members of the Investment Brokers Registration Council; and whether he proposes to make changes in such regulations.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 18 July 1991]: The main provisions affecting the handling of client money by members of the Law Society are those of the Solicitors' Accounts Rules 1986, made by the Law Society under the Solicitors Act 1974. There are no plans to amend these.

  The Estate Agents (Accounts) Regulations 1981, made under the Estate Agents Act 1979, regulate the handling of client money by estate agents. No changes are proposed.

  Persons authorised to carry on investment business under the Financial Services Act 1986 are subject to regulations made under it by the Securities and Investments Board and/or to the rules of the regulatory bodies recognised under the FSA, in respect of client money for FSA-regulated investment business. I understand the SIB intends to introduce revised regulations later this year.

  There are no statutory rules governing the handling of client money by mortgage brokers in their capacity as such. But many mortgage brokers are subject to the FSA regulations because they also conduct regulated investment business.

  There are no statutory rules governing the handling of client money by accountants in their capacity as such. However, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales is introducing rules for its members' general business which will come into force next year. They will be closely modelled on those made under the FSA which already apply, in respect of such business, to accountants carrying on FSA-regulated investment business.

  I assume that the hon. Member refers to the Insurance Brokers Registration Council. The council has rules governing the handling of client money by registered brokers. Amendments are in the first instance a matter for the council, although the rules are subject to approval by order under the Insurance Brokers (Registration) Act 1977. Registered brokers authorised by the council to

  721
  conduct investment business under the FSA are not permitted to handle client money connected with such business.

  Dog and Cat Skins
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will introduce legislation to outlaw trading in dog and cat skins within the United Kingdom;

  (b) if he will seek from Yorkshire television, a video of their evidence on dog and cat skin trading within the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 18 July 1991]: No.

  Premium-rate Telephone Services
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to deal with the problem of premium-rate telephone services aimed at children.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 23 July 1991]: The regulation of premium-rate telephone services is primarily a matter for the Director General of Telecommunications, Sir Bryan Carsberg. He has taken strong action to control these services and has indicated that he will continue to keep their operation under review.

  These services are subject to codes of practice, administered by the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services, which contain specific provisions designed to protect young people. These have recently been further tightened and include provisions to restrict the content of communications aimed at children and young people, provisions concerning promotional material aimed at or intended to be readily accessible to them, and requirements that such material, and the communications themselves, must include warnings about the high cost of premium-rate services.

  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to give wider publicity for the facility available to bar telephones from dialling premium-rate services.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 23 July 1991]: This is essentially a matter for BT, which is responsible for making the facility available. The Director General of Telecommunications, Sir Bryan Carsberg, who has responsibility for the regulation of premium-rate services, welcomed the introduction of the facility in a press release on 28 January. He is encouraging BT to take action to make the public aware that call-barring is available free of charge to those of its customers connected to digital local exchanges.

  Clothing (Flammability Standards)
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made by the European Commission on the matter of standards relating to the flammability of clothing, other than nightwear.
  722
  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 23 July 1991]:There are no proposals by the European Commission for limits on the flammability of clothing.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether the Bank of Credit and Commerce International or any of its subsidiaries obtained interim authorisation to continue operating an investment or other business under the terms of the Financial Services Act 1986; whether such businesses were subsequently admitted to membership of any of the self-regulatory organisations; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) whether the Bank of Credit and Commerce International or any of its subsidiaries were authorised to operate any investment or other business in the United Kingdom under the terms of the Financial Services Act 1986.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 23 July 1991]: I understand that the Bank of Credit and Commerce SA applied for membership of IMRO under the FSA, but was never granted full membership.

  Aberdeen Shipbuilders
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the report by the company Cork Gully Ltd. on the conduct of the company Aberdeen Shipbuilders Ltd. consequent upon Aberdeen Shipbuilders going into receivership.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 23 July 1991]: Any report by an insolvency practitioner made pursuant to the Company Director Disqualification Act 1986 is a privileged document as between the person submitting the report and the Secretary of State and therefore cannot be published.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he received from the company Cork Gully Ltd. a report on the conduct of the company Aberdeen Shipbuilders Ltd. consequent on Aberdeen Shipbuilders Ltd. going into receivership; what action his Department intends to take.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 23 July 1991]: Aberdeen Shipbuilders Ltd. was the parent company of the Hall Russell Group which comprised Hall Russell Ltd. and Hall Russell Offshore Ltd. Aberdeen Shipbuilders Ltd. did not itself go into receivership, being dormant when the other two group companies failed in November/December 1988. It is not now listed on the Registry at Companies house, Edinburgh.

  In the course of administering the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 the disqualification unit of my Department did receive and investigate reports on the conduct of the directors submitted by the insolvency practitioners dealing with the receiverships of Hall Russell Ltd. and Hall Russell Offshore Ltd. Legal advice was taken, but it was considered that there was no case to answer.

  JUDICIAL PENSION SCHEMES
  JUDICIAL PENSION SCHEMES
  CRIMINAL CODE PROPOSALS
  CRIMINAL CODE PROPOSALS
  "GOVERNMENT WARNING"—USE IN ADVERTISEMENTS
  "GOVERNMENT WARNING"—USE IN ADVERTISEMENTS
  CAPTIVE BIRDS
  CAPTIVE BIRDS
  FARM WOODLAND SCHEME: REVIEW
  FARM WOODLAND SCHEME: REVIEW
  VETERINARY INVESTIGATION SERVICE: CORNWALL
  VETERINARY INVESTIGATION SERVICE: CORNWALL
  MAFF SERVICES
  MAFF SERVICES
  PRISON SERVICE ESTATE: PROPOSALS
  PRISON SERVICE ESTATE: PROPOSALS
  TREASURY: STAFF
  TREASURY: STAFF
  ZERO INFLATION
  ZERO INFLATION
  ORANGE BADGE SCHEME
  ORANGE BADGE SCHEME
  CONFLICTS AND CASUALTIES: FIGURES
  CONFLICTS AND CASUALTIES: FIGURES
  BANGLADESH EMERGENCY: RFA DEPLOYMENT
  BANGLADESH EMERGENCY: RFA DEPLOYMENT
  NORTHERN IRAQ EMERGENCY: DEPLOYMENT OF HM FORCES
  NORTHERN IRAQ EMERGENCY: DEPLOYMENT OF HM FORCES
  OVERSEAS DISASTER RELIEF: CHARGES
  OVERSEAS DISASTER RELIEF: CHARGES
  MOD ASSISTANCE: COST BASIS
  MOD ASSISTANCE: COST BASIS
  SERVICE PERSONNEL: ADDITIONAL DEPLOYMENT COST BASIS
  SERVICE PERSONNEL: ADDITIONAL DEPLOYMENT COST BASIS
  21 EOD SQUADRON AND ROYAL ORDNANCE PLC
  21 EOD SQUADRON AND ROYAL ORDNANCE PLC
  MOD CONTRACTS
  MOD CONTRACTS
  KUWAIT: ROYAL ORDNANCE ASSISTANCE
  KUWAIT: ROYAL ORDNANCE ASSISTANCE
  SERVICEMEN: INJURY COMPENSATION ADVICE
  SERVICEMEN: INJURY COMPENSATION ADVICE
  SERVICEMEN: INSURANCE COVER
  SERVICEMEN: INSURANCE COVER
  EPILEPSY SURGERY CENTRE: PROPOSAL
  EPILEPSY SURGERY CENTRE: PROPOSAL
  PSITTACOSIS
  PSITTACOSIS
  PRISONERS HELD IN POLICE AND COURT CELLS
  PRISONERS HELD IN POLICE AND COURT CELLS
  CHARITABLE RESOURCES: EFFECTIVE USE
  CHARITABLE RESOURCES: EFFECTIVE USE
  HALFORD EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES CASE
  HALFORD EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES CASE
  PRISON STAFF: HIV
  PRISON STAFF: HIV
  PRISONERS: HIV and AIDS
  PRISONERS: HIV and AIDS
  FOREIGN DOMESTIC WORKERS: PROTECTION FROM EXPLOITATION
  FOREIGN DOMESTIC WORKERS: PROTECTION FROM EXPLOITATION