Written Answers of 5 June 1991

EMPLOYMENT

  Redundancies
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to introduce further legislation to protect employees made redundant by closure of businesses.

  Mr. Forth
  Debts owing to employees whose employers have become insolvent may, within certain limits, be paid by my Department. In the case of statutory redundancy pay, the employee may he paid even where there is no formal insolvency. I have no plans at present for further measures.

  New Businesses
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many new businesses have been created in the past five years as a proportion of the number lost; what were the comparable figures for 1974 to 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  Between the end of 1984 and the end of 1989, there were an estimated 1,082,000 new registrations for VAT, 29 per cent. greater than the number of deregistrations. Between the end of 1974 and the end of 1979, there were an estimated 809,000 new registrations for VAT, 12 per cent. greater than the number of deregistrations.

TANSPORT

  Articulated Lorries
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will now bring in regulations which forbid the use of articulated lorries built before 1982 which do not have brake variable sensing units fitted on the trailers.

  Mr. Chope
  We are looking at the feasibility of requiring variable sensing units to be fitted to trailers built before 1982. This will involve balancing the technical and cost implications against the likely benefits.

ENVIRONMENT

  Construction Industry
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to assist the construction and building industry.

  Mr. Yeo
  Government policy is to bring inflation under control, to reduce interest rates accordingly and thus to enable the construction industry to take full advantage of market opportunities.
  230
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next plans to meet representatives of the construction industry to discuss the recession.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Secretary of State and his Ministers are engaged in a continuing round of discussions with representatives of the construction industry.

  Pollution Control
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the research conducted on behalf of his Department on the utility of tradeable permits in pollution control.

  Mr. Baldry
  This research, by the consultants London Economics Ltd., is still continuing.

  Kuwait Oil Fires
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has from the World Meteorological Organisation's global atmosphere watch about(a) pollution in the global atmosphere as a result of Kuwait oil fires and (b) the effects of Kuwait oil fires in (1) western China, (2) the Himalayas and (3) the Indian sub-continent.

  Mr. Trippier
  [holding answer 3 June 1991]: Only limited data are available at the World Meteorological Organisation in Geneva from this programme. Very small concentrations of soot particles have been detected in Mauna Loa, Hawaii, but there are no indications of significant atmospheric pollution on a global scale. Information on the specific regions mentioned is not available at present.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Chief Executives
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Minister for the Civil Service (1) how many of the 50 executive agency chief executives are Oxbridge graduates;

  (2) if he will list each executive agency, the chief executive and the subject of first degree possessed by him or her.

  Mr. Renton
  This information is not held centrally.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Goodwin Sands
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much aggregate was dredged from the Goodwin sands last year; and what were the comparable figures for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  In 1990 402,084 tonnes of aggregate was dredged from the Goodwin sands. Comparable information from 1980 is as follows:

  Year

  Quantity dredged

  1980

  Nil

  1981

  Nil

  1982

  Nil

  231

  Year

  Quantity dredged

  1983

  Nil

  1984

  599,200

  1985

  887,856

  1986

  253,361

  1987

  Nil

  1988

  2,716,789

  1989

  2,432,732

  1990

  402,084

  Inland Revenue (Cash Limit)
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any changes are proposed in the cash limit and running cost limit for 1991–92 for the Inland Revenue.

  Mr. Maude
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary revised estimate, the cash limit for class XVIII, vote 6 will be reduced by £24,857,000 from £1,568,465,000 to £1,543,608,000. There is no change in the Department's running cost limit. The change in the cash limit arises from an increase in the charges paid by the Department of Social Security to the Inland Revenue in respect of the costs of collecting national insurance contributions.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for each available year from 1978 the amount invested in improving the energy efficiency of the Treasury in(a) cash terms and (b) 1990–91 money terms.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 3 June 1991]: Expenditure on measures to improve energy efficiency are aggregated with maintenance costs and could only be separately identified at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the number of energy audits carried out in the Treasury in the past five years and for each audit a statement of its main conclusions.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 3 June 1991]: Two energy audits have been carried out in the Department in the last five years. The first, in 1987, concentrated on the lighting efficiency of Treasury buildings. Its main recommendations will be taken on board as part of a major rewiring exercise of the building starting in summer 1991. The second is currently being undertaken in the Great George street building, and its findings are not yet available.

DEFENCE

  Fishery Protection Vessels
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to order fishery protection vessels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Fishery protection is undertaken by a variety of ships including mine counter-measures vessels and offshore patrol vessels. We have no current plans to order new vessels specifically for this role, although we plan to place further orders for mine counter-measures vessels. The size and timing of orders has yet to be decided.
  232
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if public notice of a tender for a fishery protection vessel would need to be inserted in the European Community'sOfficial Journal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  There is no requirement to publish a public notice of a tender in the European Community'sOfficial Journal for those Royal Navy vessels which perform fishery protection duties.

  Royal Air Force
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. O'Neill) of 17 May,Official Report, column 304, what further changes to the Royal Air Force are planned under "Options for Change".

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Royal Air Force will shortly be implementing two further measures foreshadowed in the statement by my hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on "Options for Change" on 25 July at columns 470–73. First, there will be a small reduction in the number of Nimrod aircraft in service at RAF Kinloss and RAF St. Mawgan, from 1 July 1991. One aircraft will be withdrawn from service at RAF ST. Mawgan, and two from RAF Kinloss.

  Secondly, the Buccaneer operational conversion unit at RAF Lossiemouth will start to disband from 1 October 1991, with residual training requirements met by the Buccaneer squadrons themselves. This is the first step in the programme to replace the Buccaneer force at RAF Lossiemouth with Tornado aircraft equipped with Sea Eagle missiles for the anti-surface warfare role. These changes are not expected to result in any redundancies at the three stations.

  The Gulf (Women)
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women were deployed to the Gulf; and to which units they were attached.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  [holding answer 23 May 1991]: At the beginning of March 1991, nearly 1,100 service women were deployed in the Gulf. The ships and units in which they served were:

  HMS Battleaxe

  HMS Brilliant

  HMS Hecla

  HMS Herald

  RFA Argus

  HQ 1st Armoured Division and Signal Regiment

  HQ British Forces Middle East

  HQ 1st Armoured Brigade

  2nd Field Regiment Royal Artillery

  40th Field Regiment Royal Artillery

  32nd Heavy Regiment Royal Artillery

  39th Heavy Regiment Royal Artillery

  29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery

  12th Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery

  23rd Engineer Regiment

  54th Engineer Support and Ambulance Squadron

  14th Topographical Squadron Royal Engineers

  BFME Postal and Courier Service

  1st Coldstream Guards

  1st Royal Scots

  3rd Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

  1st Armoured Division Transport Regiment

  4th Armoured Division Transport Regiment

  27th Regiment Royal Corps of Transport

  1st Armoured Field Ambulance

  233

  5th Armoured Field Ambulance

  24th Field Ambulance Unit

  22nd Field Hospital

  32nd Field Hospital

  33rd Field Hospital

  205th General Hospital

  Medical Surgical Team "A"

  Medical Surgical Team "B"

  3rd Ordnance Battalion Group

  6th Ordnance Battalion Group

  174th Provost Company

  203rd Provost Company

  HQ Force Maintenance Area (Gulf)

  Field Records

  Air HQ Riyadh

  RAF Detachment A1 Jubayl

  RAF Detachment Dhahran

  RAF Detachment Khaledap

  RAF Detachment Muharraq

  RAF Detachment Quayssumah

  RAF Detachment Seeb

  Muharraq War Hospital

PRIME MINISTER

  White Papers (Costs)
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the total cost of the design, preparation, printing and distribution of the White Papers "Education and Training", Cm. 1536, volumes I and II and "Higher Education", Cm. 1541.

  The Prime Minister
  The total cost of the design and preparation of the White Papers "Education and Training", Cm 1536, volumes I and II, and "Higher Education", Cm 1541, was £51,000. This does not include the costs of printing, publishing and distribution, which are borne by HMSO, and which aims to recover its costs from sales revenue.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the total cost of the launch at the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre of the White Papers, "Education and Training" and "Higher Education", on 20 May, including the cost of the hire of the centre and other charges.

  The Prime Minister
  The total estimated cost of the launch at the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre for the White Papers "Education and Training" and "Higher Education", including the hire of the venue, will not exceed £48,000.

HEALTH

  Cardiac Resuscitation
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the general district hospitals and trusts that do not have a training officer for cardiac resuscitation employed to train both nurses and doctors on their staff.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not held centrally.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total amount spent by his Department in the 1990–91 financial year on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases; and if he will list each management or 234
  computer consultancy contract awarded by his Department in 1990–91, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm, the subject of the assignment and, if appropriate, the executive agency for whom the contract was carried out.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The estimated expenditure in the financial year 1990–91 on management and computer consultancy projects is 13·8 million. A list of consultancy firms and the projects they carried out in 1990–91 has been placed in the Library. None of the projects was carried out for an executive agency.

  Mental Health Hospitals
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those mental health hospitals which closed in 1990.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not available centrally.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Dogs
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have been brought in respect of powerful breeds of dog, including rottweilers, pit-bull terriers, the Tosa and dobermans, in respect of powers or offences under(a) section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, in respect of a dog owner's recklessness, (b) section 28 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847, (c) section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871, (d) section 1 of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, (e) the Animals Act 1971 and (f) the Dangerous Dogs Act 1989 since 1989.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The following information relates to offences in 1989, the latest year for which statistics are available, and covers all types of dog.

  Prosecutions

  Convictions

  Cautions

  Town Police Clauses Act 1847

  93

  60

  71

  Dogs Act 1871 and Dangerous Dogs Act 1898

  967

  166

  1,112

  Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953

  466

  395

  66

  No statistics are available for civil cases concerning dogs brought under the Animals Act 1971, or for offences specifically relating to attacks involving dogs under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

  Remand
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many convicted criminals are known to have committed additional crimes while on remand pending trial in the latest year for which figures are available;

  (2) how many people remanded on bail are known to have committed offences while so remanded, in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. John Patten
  I regret that the information requested is not available. However, Home Office
  235
  statistical bulletin 30/90, "Reasons for refusing unconditional bail, January to February 1989", estimates that 19 per cent. of those remanded in custody had previously reoffended on bail. A copy of this bulletin is in the Library.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent attempt by French demonstrators to enter England through the channel tunnel; what measures were taken to resist this incursion; and what measures are to be taken to restrict access to the channel tunnel to authorised persons only.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  On the night of 16 May, an organised group of men gained unauthorised access to the channel tunnel in an apparent attempt to walk to the United Kingdom. They turned back at the ventilation fan station, where the way had been blocked by TML, the construction contractors. They used no violence and caused no damage. On leaving the tunnel at the French end, they were interviewed by French police but not detained. The French and United Kingdom authorities were in close contact throughout the incident.

  The access control arrangements for the United Kingdom and French terminals have been approved by the channel tunnel intergovernmental commission as appropriate to the tunnel's current status as a private construction site. All security arrangements relating to the tunnel are subject to the approval of the United Kingdom and French Governments and are kept under review.

  Crime Statistics
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list statistics for each year from 1980 to 1990 showing;(a) the number of persons aged 18 to 25 years convicted of theft, (b) the number of persons aged 16 to 17 years convicted of theft, (c) the number of persons aged 18 to 25 years convicted of soliciting, (d) the number of persons aged 16 to 17 years convicted of soliciting, (e) the number of persons aged 18 to 25 years convicted of begging and (f) the number of persons aged 16 to 17 years convicted of begging.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information for the years 1980, 1983, 1986 and 1989 is given in the following table. To produce further information for the other years requested would involve disproportionate cost.

  Number of persons convicted of theft, soliciting and begging by age group for the years 1980, 1983, 1986 and 1989 England and Wales

  Age groups

  1980

  1983

  1986

  1989

  Theft

  16–17

  30,266

  27,721

  22,609

  11,888

  18–25

  70,165

  73,411

  66,648

  49,496

  Soliciting

  16–17

  18

  3

  11

  15

  18–25

  242

  164

  152

  122

  Begging

  16–17

  10

  25

  2

  60

  18–201

  32

  43

  38

  214

  1 For the summary offence of begging it is not required to record the age of the offender if over the age of 21.

  Dogs
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of(a) pit bull terriers and (b) rottweilers in Wales.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Estimates have been given to us that there are up to 10,000 pit bull terriers and about 100,000 rottweilers in Great Britain. We have no estimates for Wales.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Lords Amendments
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to conduct the trial to cover the proposals in the second report of the Procedure Committee for Session 1990–91 to deal with the documents required for Commons consideration of amendments from the Lords to Bills when they are considered by the House.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Following the successful completion of a non-operational trial by the Public Bill Office, I intend to initiate an operational trial using the Criminal Justice Bill when it returns from the Lords. The arrangements involve the production of a conflated paper containing Lords amendments and Commons notices on white paper on the day of consideration within the criteria and cut-off time set out in paragraphs 26 and 28 to 32 of the report. I hope that all Members will co-operate in this trial and that they will pass their comments to the Public Bill Office, so that a full assessment of the trial may be made.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Research Councils
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list, for each research council, for the latest available year(a) the amount of money allocated to each research council and spent in Wales and (b) the proportion of public money allocated to each research council that was spent in Wales.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  In 1990–91, the research council's expenditure in Wales from the science budget and the proportion as a percentage of the total were as follows:

  Expenditure in Wales derived from the science budget(£ million)

  Percentage of science budget to council

  AFRC

  2·6

  2·9

  ESRC

  0·6

  1·6

  MRC1

  1·1

  0·6

  NERC

  10·9

  8·1

  SERC

  6·7

  1·5

  1 1989–90 figures.

  Details of research council expenditure in Wales from all sources of public money are not available.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has given any indication to the Advisory Board for the Research Councils of his view of the future and the future use of its flexibility margin.
  237
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. and learned Friend announced to the House on 22 May 1991 at column 500 his acceptance of the ABRC's advice on the allocation of the flexibility margin.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has received any representations on the ethical standards of the Science and Engineering Research Council.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has received a number of representations about the review by the Science and Engineering Research Council of its forward programme. I am not aware of any which refer to the council's ethical standards.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he plans to review the future of the Science and Engineering Research Council.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to review the future of the Science and Engineering Research Council.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to lay before the House the new student loans regulations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Education (Student Loans) Regulations 1991 were laid today to come into force on 1 August. They are modelled closely on the current regulations. They employ the new loan rates announced on 22 May at columns 499–500 and include improvements introduced in the light of experience over the past year. The regulations will ensure that the scheme continues to operate efficiently and to the advantage of all borrowers.

  Quangos
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the individual appointments excluding casual vacancies he is scheduled to make to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations in(a) 1991 and (b) 1992, indicating in each case the title of the post, the salary if any and the duration of the appointment.

  Mr. Eggar
  [pursuant to the reply, 7 May 1991, column 392–396]: Contrary to the information given in my earlier answer, the chairman of the National Council for Educational Technology is unpaid. Eight, rather than nine, new appointments were made in 1991.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Industrial Strategy
  Ms. Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's industrial strategy.

  Mr. Lilley
  I gave a comprehensive statement of the Government's industrial policy in my speech to the Institute of Directors in Birmingham on 30 April. A copy of the speech has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Cammell Laird
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken or plans to take to avert the closure of Cammell Laird shipyard.

  Mr. Leigh
  The future of Cammell Laird is a matter For the commercial judgment of VSEL, its parent company. It is actively seeking a buyer for the yard and the Government will continue to do all they can to assist VSEL's efforts.

  GATT
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the general agreement on tariffs and trade negotiations.

  Mr. Lilley
  A successful conclusion to the GATT Uruguay round negotiations remains a top priority for the United Kingdom. Now that the United States Administration has obtained an extension of its fast-track negotiating mandate, we hope that all parties will redouble their efforts to bring the talks to a successful conclusion no later than the end of the year.

  Recession
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet representatives of the north-west regional Confederation of British Industry to discuss the recession in industry.

  Mr. Lilley
  I have no present plans to meet representatives of the NW regional CBI, although my officials do so regularly. I met the presidential committee of the CBI on 24 April and the CBI's national president on 15 May.

  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has recently received from British industry about the recession.

  Mr. Lilley
  I continue to receive representations from British industry supporting the Government's determination to defeat inflation, thereby creating the conditions for a resumption of sustainable economic growth.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any proposals to privatise further industries.

  Mr. Redwood
  Bills before Parliament will enable privatisation of the British Technology Group and the Insurance Services business of the ECGD. I intend to privatise the National Engineering Laboratory, but have set no timetable.

  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the number of companies that have been returned to the private sector since 1979.

  Mr. Redwood
  The privatisations undertaken by my Department were listed in the answer I gave to the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mr. Grocott) on 20 December 1990 at column 340.

  Car Industry
  Mr. Oppenheim
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on prospects for the car industry.

  Mr. Leigh
  The current success in export markets has enabled the United Kingdom car industry to maintain production despite the downturn in the domestic market. Medium and long-term prospects for the United Kingdom car industry are excellent, with annual production likely to reach 2 million units by the mid to late 1990s.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the increase in British car production that is expected to follow the investments being made in this country by Japanese car companies.

  Mr. Leigh
  The investment projects currently being undertaken in the United Kingdom by Nissan, Toyota and Honda will bring at least 500,000 units of new production capacity to the United Kingdom by the mid to late 1990s.

  Trading Standards
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet the Local Authorities Committee on Trading Standards to discuss consumer contracts.

  Mr. Leigh
  Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have current plans to meet with the Local Authorities Committee on Trading Standards.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet the Local Authorities Committee on Trading Standards to discuss product safety.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have met trading standards officers and members of their representative organisations on several occasions at which product safety was one of the issues discussed. Also, officials of my Department have regular contact with the Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Trading Standards Officers to discuss product safety.

  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next intends to meet the Local Authorities Committee on Trading Standards to discuss product safety.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have met trading standards officers and members of their representative organisations on several occasions at which product safety was one of the issues discussed. Also, officials of my Department have regular contact with the Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Trading Standards and individual trading standards officers to discuss product safety.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Franks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the level of inward investment into Cumbria.

  Mr. Leigh
  In recent years, the main source of inward investment into Cumbria has been through developments by existing companies in the area. However, in conjunction with INWARD, the North West regional 240
  development organisation, we are working closely with local agencies to ensure that Cumbria's attractions are presented effectively to new potential inward investors.

  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on Britain's recent record in attracting inward investment from the Federal Republic of Germany.

  Mr. Leigh
  According to the Federal Ministry of Economics in Bonn, German direct investment in the United Kingdom at the end of 1989 totalled DM 16·5 billion, an increase of 320 per cent. since 1983. Despite growing international competition, particularly from the former GDR, outward investment figures for the first six months of last year published by the Institut de deutschen Wirtschaft indicate that 1990 will be a record year for the United Kingdom in attracting investment from Germany.

  Square D
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the takeover of Square D by the French firm Schneider.

  Mr. Redwood
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's main consideration in deciding whether or not to refer a merger to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission for investigation remains its effect on competition as it affects the United Kingdom consumer. In addition, as my right hon. Friend announced on 26 July 1990, in deciding whether to make such a reference he will in future pay particularly close attention to the degree of state control, if any, of the acquiring company. It would not be appropriate to comment further on the acquisition by Schneider SA of the Square D company in advance of my right hon. Friend's announcement of his decision on whether to refer this merger to the Commission or not. My right hon. Friend will take all relevant considerations into account when reaching his decision.

  Aerospace
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with the major companies in the aerospace industry about current problems facing the industry.

  Mr. Leigh
  The Secretary of State met British Aerospace in December and Rolls-Royce in March.

  Manufacturing Output
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to boost manufacturing output.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Manufacturing output will be helped by our policies of fostering and extending the competitive environment, encouraging innovation and controlling inflation.

  Parcels Service
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the privatisation of Royal Mail Parcels and Operation Danill.

  Mr. Leigh
  We have no present plans to privatise Royal Mail Parcelforce.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total amount spent by his Department in the 1990–91 financial year on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases; and if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by his Department in 1990–91, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm, the subject of the assignment and, if appropriate, the executive agency for whom the contract was carried out.

  Mr. Leigh
  My Department's expenditure on consultants engaged in the financial year 1990–91 is estimated to be £5,576,000 of which £3,492,000 is for consultancy contracts excluding hardware and software purchases. These figures do not include expenditure by DTI executive agencies, information on which is not held centrally. The chief executives of the agencies have been asked to reply direct to the hon. Gentleman with the relevant information. Copies of their answers will be placed in the House of Commons Library. The following lists the management or computer consultancy contracts awarded for the financial year 1990–91:

  Firm

  Subject of Assignment

  A T and T Islet Ltd

  Inside UK Enterprise

  Derwent Business Systems

  Aircraft engines emissions study

  General technology systems limited

  Support to BNSC limited

  Communications Studies and Planning Limited

  BNSC directory of UK space capabilities '91

  Business Briefings Limited

  Electronic component seminar

  Touche Ross

  Support DTI in international environmental negotiations study

  PA Consulting Group

  Study of washing machines: Drafting spec for ECO labelling

  Children's Research Unit

  Children and Fireworks research

  Association for Consumer research

  Survey on trader awareness of misleading prices regime

  CIMTECH

  Companies House imaging project

  Price Waterhouse

  Development of Companies House's commercial accounting systems

  NERA

  Enquiry into standards of cross media promotion

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloittes

  Local Government regulation of business

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloittes

  Revision of managing into the 90s newsletter

  Text Matters

  Managing into the 90s: Recasting of purchasing and supply booklets

  PA Consulting

  Successful Purchaser/Suppliers relationships studies portfolio

  Segal Quince Wickstead

  Integrated graduate degree pilot study

  BHRA

  New approach study collaborative technology

  ACWI

  Woodworking machinery manufacturing industry

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  Financial viability of the management charter initiative

  Peat Marwick McLintock

  Engineering and technology programme pilot study

  Eadie Baxter

  Evaluation of DTI support on aeroengine noise reduction research

  242

  Grant Thornton

  Evaluation of outward mission and overseas seminar scheme

  Segal Quince and Wickstead

  Single market campaign: interim evaluation

  Oxford Economic Forecasting

  Estimating import equations for the IMS model

  Oxford Economic Research Associates Limited

  Sub-contracting study

  Segal Quince Wickstead

  Regional enterprise grants evaluation

  St. John's Innovation Centre Ltd.

  Managing into the 90s programme evaluation

  Aspects International

  Waste prevention demonstration chart

  London Business School

  Large trade publication consultancy study

  Tillinghast

  Implementation of business review and information

  Ernst and Young

  Training needs analysis for insurance division

  P-E International

  Consultant for data communications network audit

  Dataquest Europe Limited

  Electronics components—market structure

  Ernst and Young

  Electronics components purchasing policies

  Ernst and Young

  Yorkshire and Humberside Development Association

  Alan Fox Project Development

  Consultancy support to local organisations (St. Mary's)

  Alan Fox Project Development

  Consultancy support to local organisations (Weavers)

  Alan Fox Project Development

  Consultancy support to local organisations (Oxford house)

  Compass Partnership

  Consultancy support to local organisations (St. Hilda's)

  Compass Partnership

  Consultancy support to local organisations (Byl)

  MBM Consulting

  Consultancy support to local organisations (Language Line)

  Community Economy

  Consultancy support to local organisations (Bridge project)

  Community Economy

  Consultancy support to local organisations (East London Small Business Centre)

  D. Howard Green and Associates

  Task force supply of business development finance study

  Manchester Polytechnic Centre for Employment Research

  Skill and labour market survey

  Ernst and Young

  Business director for Yorkshire and Humberside

  Ernst and Young

  Development Association Investment in the UK market survey 1990–91

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloittes

  Research into knock-on effects of inward investment

  Peat Marwick McLintock

  Monitoring Cornish tin mines carnon

  Peat Marwick McLintock

  English unit—future watch

  Pieda

  England fact file

  KMPG Peat Marwick McLintock

  Perception of England

  Graham Bannock and Partners

  Small firms affected by the single market

  Price Waterhouse

  Introduction of a quality system to meet BS5750

  IFS (Conferences) Ltd.

  Inside United Kingdom enterprise

  Welding Institute

  Eureka awareness in adhesive field

  Hay Management Consultants

  Communications audit within the insolvency service

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloittee

  Efficiency/effectiveness of proposed accounting systems

  Tillinghast

  Insurance division IT strategy study

  243

  National Computing Centre (NCC)

  Key international OSI standards

  Data Dictionary Systems Limited

  International standards for data dictionaries

  J. Westgate (Consultants) Limited

  Development of management standards

  SEMA Group UK Limited

  OSI upper layer standards development

  Chris Makemson Consultants Limited

  Development of virtual terminal standards

  SEMA Group plc

  OSI management standards development

  T. William Associates Limited

  Reference model of data management

  Medical Technology Consultants Europe Limited

  United Kingdom testing and certification requirements for medical devices

  PSC International Limited

  Production of practical and technical guides

  Security and Standards Consultancy Limited

  EDI messaging security standards

  STC Technology

  20th European solid state research—ESSDERC '90

  P-Four Consultancy Ltd.

  Open systems technology transfer module (OSTT)

  Architecture Projects Management (APM) Ltd

  ODP workshops and publications

  British Informatics Society Ltd

  Tickit recommendations: Advice and assistance

  Eosys Ltd

  OSI Implementor group secretariat work

  National Computing Centre

  Appraisal and monitoring of eureka project

  National Computing Centre

  Open systems standards development and support programmes

  I William Olle Associates

  Administration of data base standards

  Technology Appraisals Ltd

  Open systems wall chart: Production and distribution

  Technology Appraisals Ltd

  Production of OSI products

  SD-Scicon UK Limited

  Expert systems case studies and guidelines programme

  Reynolds and Johnson Limited

  OSTT case studies/case analyses

  Mackintosh Generics Limited

  Eureka feasibility study on flat panel displays

  Michael Shortland Associates

  Microelectronic devices: Major markets and products

  KPMG Peat Marwick Mclintock

  Open distributed processing

  BIS Mackintosh Limited

  Customised version of European GAAS capability study

  Michael Shortland Associates

  HCI awareness programme: Programme launch

  Systems Concepts

  HCI programme: Reference booklets standards

  Design Council

  HCI programme: Reference booklets—consultants

  R M Consulting

  HCI programme: Writing of reference booklets—tools

  Logica Space and Defence Systems Limited

  Evaluation training course at NPL

  DNA Consultancy Services

  Advanced sensors technology programme evaluation

  Rutherford Appleton laboratory

  High performance interfaces/protocols

  P-Four

  HCI programme: Case studies

  KPMG Peat Marwick Mclintock

  Developing brochure material

  Logica Limited

  Eureka collaborative R and D meeting: Paris

  SEMA Group Systems Limited

  Network support for industrial researchers

  AEA Industrial Technology

  Network management standards development

  Touche Ross

  Speech and natural language consultancy

  BIS Mackintosh Limited

  The technical and commer companies

  244

  Michael Shortland Associates

  HCI awareness programme: All flyer and information pack

  ADA Language UK Limited

  Contribution to ADA conference '90

  St. John's Innovation Centre

  OSTT: Monitoring and evaluation

  Grant Thornton

  Working out a computer strategy

  Eosys Limited

  OSI Implementor groups secretariat

  British Telecom

  Assessment of AERE standards work for OSI management

  Reigate manual writers

  Eureka project EU130 consultancy study

  Salford Software Services

  OSI directory services

  Dataquest Europe Limited

  Publication of the Electronics components study

  Dataquest Europe Limited

  Analyses of the electronic components database

  Tallis Consultancy

  Telecommunications study

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  Internal scrutiny of FBP: Survey of chambers of commerce trade association etc.

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  Information system strategy study for ITD

  Metron Technology

  Plexus (X2S/Oslan) training/evaluation

  BIS Applied Systems

  Regional offices information strategy study

  Julia Schofield Consultants Limited

  Evaluation of voice activated technology

  Electronic Facilities Design

  Regional offices information systems strategy study

  Computer Sciences Company

  SAMIS requirement review

  BIS Applied Systems

  Office systems strategy study

  EOSYS Limited

  Network consultancy for Kingsgate House

  Task Force Pro Libra

  Classification of revised skills and services

  Quo-Tec Limited

  Materials Technology in the United Kingdom (Eureka promotion)

  Welding Institute

  Surface engineering United Kingdom/Finland

  Intelligent Applications Limited

  Advance tech/support of maintenance for machine tools

  P-E International

  Information systems strategy study for manufacturing technology (MT) division

  W S Atkins

  Eureka: Energy efficiency in electrical machines

  Quo-Tec Ltd.

  Link programme: high temperature-high performance materials

  Quatex-consultancy

  UK participants of a Eureka Anglo-Spanish event

  ISVR Consultancy Services

  Study on new EC noise directives

  British Textile Technology Group

  Critique of garment colouration study

  BMT Defence Services Limited

  Christchurch Bay tower maintenance

  Advanced Robotics Research Limited

  Advanced robotics safety seminar

  Optimat Limited

  Materials technology audit in Scotland

  Douglas Westwood Associates

  DTI-Department of Energy study: R and D in subsea electronics

  PERA

  Overseas practice in the coordination of advanced manufacturing technology

  IT Focus

  Monograph on the export CIM-OSA

  Metra Martech Limited

  New products study MT division

  Association of Chamber of Commerce

  Study on setting up Chambernet

  245

  Leeds University Industrial Services Ltd.

  Manufacturing message service users guide

  P-E International

  Manufacturing intelligence programme information

  Strategic Projects Group

  SPG matrix modelling process to UK textile machinery

  Manchester University Prest

  Microwave aspects of new NMS programme for electrical science

  Scientific Generics Limited

  Study the validity of analytical measurement

  PERA

  AMT implementations study

  La Creative

  Literature and panels for ceramic industry seminar

  Promotor International

  Cermaics industry seminar telecheck mailing

  Promotor International

  Ceramics industry seminar planning/operation

  AT and T Istel Industry Systems

  Market assessment on open systems in manufacturing

  Crown Business Communications

  Strategy roadshow launch

  Meeting Deadlines Limited

  Improving the maintenance of machine tools

  ERA Technology

  Materials opportunity review

  Robert Keown Associates

  Surface engineering in manufacturing industry

  BMT Defence Services Limited

  Christchurch Bay Tower disposal

  ERA Technology

  Traceable calibrations—electromagnetic compatability directive

  Scientific Generics Limited

  The NMS for length

  Segal Quince Wicksteed Limited

  Performance of north west manufacturing industry

  City and Corporate Counsel Limited

  Opportunity Japan Campaign: Phase 3 survey

  KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock

  Overseas trade information systems study (OTISS)

  Palmlave Limited

  Provide training in the use of botis systems and export data branch

  Commercial Transfer Limited

  Removal of patent office stationery store to Wales

  Almondhall

  IT project planner

  Business Focus

  Market analysis survey—pats

  Price Waterhouse

  Accountancy consultancy for the patent office

  Transmark Worldwide

  Solid state interlocking railway signalling system study

  Ralph H. Pickering Associates

  Supplement skill resources of PEP4C

  Seagull Safety Limited

  Market targetting consultancy

  Glyced Project Management Limited

  Hong Kong port/airport development scheme (PADS)

  W S Atkins International

  Land reclamation feasibility study—Moscow

  Industrial Training Services Limited

  Training and development review within DTI

  Industrial Training Services Limited

  Review of training at NEL

  Industrial Training Services Limited

  Competent approach to performance

  Northern Race Training Unit

  Equal opportunities training

  British Telecom International

  Marine radio equipment

  Logica

  Satcos ADP software maintenance

  Smith Associates Limited

  Modelling of very large antennas phase 1

  Radio Frequency Investigation Limited

  IDMA transmission structures interfering potential

  Roke Manor Research

  Mobile system evaluation development project

  British Aerospace (Space Systems)

  Satellite HDTV at 25 GHZ study

  Satconsult Limited

  Satellite on board processing study

  Regis Systems Limited

  Slightly inclined GEO stationary orbits (SIGO)

  246

  Microwave and Antenna Systems

  Harmonic performance of citizen's band antennas

  Satconsult Limited

  Spectral efficency of code division multiple access techniques

  Regis Systems Limited

  Very small aperture antennas Phase II study

  Regis Systems Limited

  Inter-satellite links study

  PA Consulting Group

  Visiting engineers scheme

  Water Research Centre

  Environment innovation programme

  Institute of Manpower Studies

  Career patterns and progress of former teaching company associates

  Segal Quince Wicksteed

  Link review and analysis of procedures

  Leadenhall Associates

  EUREKA—Famos workshops in Portugal and Norway

  Robert Keown Associates

  Surface engineering assignment

  Manchester University Prest

  Advertisements as indicators

  David Rigby Associates

  Garment colouration and consumer choice

  Intermatrix Limited

  Signposting Japanese technology

  Knowledge Research

  DTI working party on the film industry

  National Computing Centre Limited

  Fintech consultancy 25 June 1990

  Fair Trading
  Mr. Lee
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in any future restatement of his Department's objectives, he will include a statement of his policy to work for fair trading conditions world wide and for strengthened General Agreement on Tarriffs and Trade rules and disciplines, as well as for trade liberalisation.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently published revised departmental objectives. These include the objective of working for trade liberalisation worldwide. The Government's top priority in this field at present is the early successful conclusion of the GATT Uruguay round of trade negotiations. This will produce a strengthened framework of rules and disciplines for international trade and fairer and more open trading conditions for all participants.

  Textiles
  Mr. Lee
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been received from the United Kingdom textile and clothing industries about subsidies by the French Government to the VEV group of textile companies; and if he will press the European Commission to investigate subsidies of French textile companies.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I have received representations about these alleged subsidies from representatives of the industry. The European Commission has been made aware of the United Kingdom's interest in seeing this matter properly investigated.

  Mr. John Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next plans to meet representatives of the textile and clothing industry to discuss the effect of the recession.

  Mr. Leigh
  I have no present plans to do so.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to improve the
  247
  speed of action possible by trading standards officers in banning the sale of imported children's clothing which proves on testing to be a fire hazard; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  Trading standards officers already have powers under section 14 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 to issue suspension notices immediately prohibiting for up to six months the supply of goods where they have reasonable grounds for suspecting that they contravene any safety provision.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current status of the multi-fibre arrangement, the Government's position on it, and other measures that the Government are taking to protect the British textiles industry from unfair competition.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 3 June 1991]: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Lee) on 4 June at column 170. The question of unfair competition is being addressed in the substantive textiles negotiations.

  Debt Collecting Agencies
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what obligations debt collecting agencies are under to ensure that the information upon which they act is accurate and true; and what responsibilities are held by companies employing debt collecting agencies on their behalf.

  Mr. Leigh
  Debt collecting is a licenseable activity under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. The licensing system is administered by the Director General of Fair Trading and he has the power to refuse or revoke a licence if he believes that a business is not fit to engage in the activities covered by the licence. In reaching his decision, he will take account of any business practices which appear to him to be deceitful or oppressive or otherwise unfair or improper, whether unlawful or not. I will ask the director general to write to the hon. Member.

  EC Funding (Cleveland)
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which projects involving European Community funding in the Cleveland county area since 1987 have involved additionality costs to the United Kingdom Exchequer.

  Mr. Leigh
  In setting the Government's public expenditure programmes, account is taken of expected receipts from the European Community. This enables the programmes to be larger than they otherwise would be.

  London Underground Ltd.
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on London Underground Ltd. will be published.

  Mr. Lilley
  The report is published today. The Commission were asked to conduct a wide ranging inquiry into the efficiency and costs of and the service provided by London Underground Ltd. The Commission recognizes 248
  that there are serious constraints on the ability of London Underground to improve efficiency and quality of service. The underground is an old system, which suffers from many years of neglect of its basic infrastructure. The Commission gives due credit to London Underground management for achievements in many areas, notably in the field of safety. However, they conclude that the efficiency with which London Underground uses its present resources still leaves much to be desired.

  The report concludes that there is significant scope for improving efficiency and reducing costs, without affecting safety or service standards. The Commission recognises the need for LUL to have a stable investment programme funded partly by the Government and partly by improvements in efficiency but also takes the view that there will have to be an enhanced contribution from real increases in fares. They recognise there has been substantial investment in recent years.

  Reflecting the breadth of the inquiry, the Commission has made over 100 recommendations aimed at assisting LUL to improve its performance, giving particular priority collectively to six matters: control of cash against the external financing limit set by the Government management information systems; utilisation of manpower; fares policy and levels; management of investment programme and projects; and renewal and maintenance of the network. In these and other areas, the Commission has set target dates for the implementation of their recommendations.

  LUL will be producing a preliminary response to the Commission's findings within three to four months, in the light of which my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Transport will make a statement.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the number of dedicated energy managers in his Department and the number of person-years devoted to energy management in the latest year.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 3 June 1991]: Thirty-one members of staff are designated energy managers as part of their duties. The Department devoted approximately four man years to energy mangement in 1990–91.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give for each available year from 1978 the amount invested in improving the energy efficiency of his Department in(a) cash terms and (b) 1990–91 money terms.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 3 June 1991]: Until recently, responsibility for such investment has been divided between the Property Services Agency and the Department, with the result that this information for past years could only be assembled at disproportionate cost. In 1989–90, £236,000 (£221,000 in 1990–91 terms) was spent on the installation and replacement of equipment and fabric in projects which had a significant energy saving content in their specification. Figures have not yet been fully compiled for 1990–91 but will be rather higher.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give for each available year from 1978, the energy consumption, broken down by fuel, of the buildings occupied by his Department, expressing the
  249
  figures in (a) cash terms, (b) 1990–91 money terms and (c) units of consumption for electricity in kilowatt hours, gas in therms, liquid fuel in litres and solid fuel in tonnes; and if he will give the square footage of accommodation to which these figures relate.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 3 June 1991]: I am sorry that information is not available in the form requested.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the number of energy audits carried out in his Department in the last five years and for each audit a statement of its main conclusions.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 3 June 1991]: One full energy audit has recently been carried out which indicated potential saving of over £20,000 a year for a capital outlay of £45,000. Measures are in hand to implement the recommendations.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the Christmas bonus payable to senior citizens in 1972 in(a) cash terms and (b) at 1991 prices.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Christmas bonus payable to senior citizens in 1972 in cash terms was £10, and which at April 1991 prices would be worth £59·17. The cost at this rate would be about £700 million.

  Contributions Agency
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of the total staff of the Contributions Agency are on secondment from Government Departments.

  Mr. Jack
  The Contributions Agency, along with other DSS executive agencies, is a part of the DSS. Accordingly it is staffed by departmental civil servants.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amount spent by his Department in the 1990–91 financial year on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases; and if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by his Department in 1990–91, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm, the subject of the assignment and, if appropriate, the executive agency for whom the contract was carried out.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The total expenditure on management and computer consultancy contracts in the financial year 1990–91, excluding software and hardware purchases, is £69·75 million.

  Details of the individual contracts awarded in the 1990–91 financial year are given in the table.

  Consultancy firm

  Subject and agency

  Addenbrookes hospital, Cambridge

  HQ Relocation

  Admiral Management Services Ltd.

  Quality Management System Pilot Project—Agency ITSA

  ACE Datasystems Ltd.

  Staff Suggestions Unit Consultancy

  250

  Andersen Consulting

  Employment Services—Agency ITSA

  Andersen Consulting

  Common Benefit Architecture—Agency ITSA

  Andersen Consulting

  Training Project—Agency ITSA

  Andersen Consulting

  Contributions Unit Development

  Anita Ram

  Selected International Comparisons of Household Incomes

  Applied Systems Engineering

  Single Terminal Access Project Productisation—Agency ITSA

  Applied Systems Engineering

  Virtual Machine Environment—Auditor Production Development—Agency ITSA

  Arthur D. Allwright Associates

  Purchasing Consultancy

  Baddeley Associates Ltd.

  Communicating the Operational Strategy (Phase I)

  Baddeley Associates Ltd.

  Communicating the Operational Strategy (Phase II)

  Baddeley Associates Ltd.

  Code and Instruction Review

  Baddeley Associates Ltd.

  Social Fund Communications

  Baddeley Associates Ltd.

  Communication Project for Benefits Agency (BAMT)

  Baddeley Associates Ltd.

  Communication Skills Course for Service Development Teams

  Baddeley Associates Ltd.

  Working With Small Groups Workshop Project

  Baddeley Associates Ltd.

  Headquarters Review Team—Consultancy Support

  Ben Williams Consultants

  Customer Service Training—Agency ITSA

  Cavendish Tricorne

  Local Factors Model

  Cavendish Tricorne

  Local Pay Additions

  Cavendish Tricorne

  Performance Related Pay

  Cavendish Tricorne

  Overbearing Model

  Cavendish Tricorne

  Integrated Pay and Personnel Project

  Cavendish Tricorne

  War Pensions

  Cavendish Tricorne

  Contributions Unit Development (Human Resource Planning)

  Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency

  Departmental Information Systems Strategy Scoping Study

  Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency

  Financial Information Strategy Project (Annual Review)

  Childcare

  Childcare Arrangements at DSS Longbenton

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  Agencies Systems Planning

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  Training Seminar for Leaders

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  Creation of the Purchasing and Supply Manual

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  Procurement Management Information System

  Computer Sciences Company Ltd.

  ITSA Security Training—Agency ITSA

  Computer Sciences Company Ltd.

  ITSA Security—Developments Systems and Infrastructure Projects—Agency ITSA

  Computer Sciences Company Ltd.

  Security Standards Software Support—Agency ITSA

  Computer Sciences Company Ltd.

  Support for Single Terminal Access Project

  Computer Sciences Company Ltd.

  Terminal Management System Development—Agency ITSA

  Comshare Limited

  Executive Information System—Software Support

  Crantex Limited

  Emergency Support for Infrastructure Support and Design Group—Agency ITSA

  Crantex Limited

  Health Service On-Line Project—Agency ITSA

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  Dameimage Limited

  Analytical Services Statistical Information System (Assist) Project Audit

  Dameimage Limited

  Assist Project—User Assurance Co-ordinator

  Dameimage Limited

  Assist Project—Technical Assurance Co-ordinator

  Daniel Doherty Associates

  Gender discrimination project

  David Sheppard and Associates

  Contributions unit agency launch project

  DEGW Limited

  Space standards consultancy

  DPS Consultancy Limited

  Retirement counselling courses

  Dun and Bradstreet Software Services

  Introduction of accountancy framework system—Agency ITSA

  Dun and Bradstreet International

  Purchasing consultancy

  Easams Limited

  Delivery of system to receipt, record and account for valuables—Agency ITSA

  Easams Limited

  Support for strategy operations architecture project

  Electronic Data Systems Ltd.

  Writing procedures for project control services—Agency ITSA

  Enator

  Integrated complementing system

  Enator

  Integrated monitoring system

  Enator

  Performance integrated monitoring for managers system

  Enator

  OPSTRAT implementation

  Equalities Associates

  Equal opportunities seminars (Central)

  Equalities Associates

  Equal opportunities seminars (Midlands region)

  Ernst and Young

  Integrated complementing system

  Ernst and Young

  Integrated complementing system—further work

  Ernst and Young

  Integrated complementing system development

  Ernst and Young

  Departmental information systems strategy scoping study (headquarters units)

  Ernst and Young

  Departmental information systems strategy impact analysis

  Ernst and Young

  Self investment by pensions schemes

  Facilita Software Development Limited

  Integrated terminal test system—Agency ITSA

  Furniture Industry Research Association

  Purchasing consultancy (furniture research)

  Hadley Hunter

  Overpayments Recovery

  Hadley Hunter

  Lone Parent Support

  Handley Walker

  Post Office Counters—Fee Negotiations

  Handley Walker

  Purchasing of Welfare Milk

  Hoskyns Group Plc

  Child Support Agency—Project Managers—Agency ITSA Workbench

  Hoskyns Group Plc

  Contingency Planning—Agency ITSA

  Hoskyns Group Plc

  Integrated Personnel and Payroll Project—Agency ITSA

  Hoskyns Group Plc

  Viability of the Mailsort System—Agency ITSA

  HMG Consulting Limited

  Departmental Management Board Reporting System

  HMG Consulting Limited

  Executive Information Systems—Agency ITSA

  Industrial Motivations Ltd

  Make a Difference Campaign

  I-Net Communications Limited

  Review of Strategy Data Communications—Agency ITSA Network

  International Computers Limited (UK)

  Adjudication Support Prototype—Agency ITSA

  252

  INLI—Institute for a New Leadership Initiative

  Equal Opportunities Training Development

  Institute of Manpower Studies

  Manpower Planning Workshop

  Institute of Manpower Studies

  Manpower Planning Project

  Kentec Mailing Consultants

  Mailing Consultancy

  Level-7 Limited

  Naming and Addressing Requirements for—Agency ITSA the Single Terminal Access Project

  Level-7 Limited

  X-400 Project—Agency ITSA

  Lloyd Northover

  Corporate Image for DSS Property

  Logica UK Ltd

  Integrated Monitoring System

  Logica UK Ltd

  Integrated Monitoring System (For Integrated Complementing System)

  London Economics

  Self Investment by Pensions Schemes

  Mass Observation

  Relocation Assessment

  Market and Opinion Research International

  HQ Relocation Project

  Meena Goyal

  Housing and Community Charge Benefits Project Work

  MFT Computers Systems Ltd.

  Business Unit Information Centre Project—Agency ITSA

  Mr. J. M. Bankier

  Study on Whole Person Concept

  Mr. G. Beaven

  Non-Executive Director of Management Board

  Mr. M. Lee

  Principles of Pension Trusteeship

  Mr. J. Mesher

  Statement on the Principles of Trusteeship

  Mr. N. Parry

  HQ Relocation Project

  Mr. M. Tyler

  Integrated Complementing System

  Nationwide Anglia Relocation

  Headquarters Relocation Projects Relocation Presentation at OCAO

  Neville R. H. Way, Procurement and Supply Consultant

  Review of the Purchasing and Supply Manual and Training Needs Analysis

  PA Consulting Group

  Rewards Strategy—Agency ITSA

  PA Consulting Group

  Feasibility Study into the Computer System for the Proposed Child Support Agency—Agency ITSA

  PA Consulting Group

  Child Support Agency— Planning Support to User Teams—Agency ITSA

  PA Consulting Group

  Review and Development of Standards in ITSA Security —Agency ITSA

  PA Consulting Group

  Enhancement of the MMD—BMD Database (Nottingham Staff Resource Unit)

  PA Consulting Group

  Management Reviews

  PA Consulting Group

  Review of the DSS Central Office Management

  Pathfinder

  Develop and Assist in the Implementation of IT Security in the Departmental Network Systems—Agency ITSA

  Pathfinder

  ITSA Security—PC Security Audit—Agency ITSA

  253

  P-E Inbucon

  Survey of Local Authorities—Follow up to the Community Charge Benefit Monitoring Exercise

  Peat Marwick McLintock

  Contributions Unit Development (Customer Survey—Employers)

  Peat Marwick McLintock

  Counselling for Staff Leaving under the Voluntary Redundancy Scheme (Outplacement Scheme)

  Peat Marwick McLintock

  Head of Training for the Benefits Agency (Selection and Recruitment)

  Peat Marwick McLintock

  Debt Recovery Monitoring System

  Perspective Technica

  Quality Management Systems—Agency ITSA

  Peter Hyde Management and Training Consultant

  Benefits Agency Planning Seminar

  Porter Gittins Limited

  Child Care Project for DSS in Coventry

  Praxis Systems Plc

  Integrated Terminal Test System Support and Maintenance—Agency ITSA

  Price Waterhouse

  Administrative Resource Management System (Unit Costs and Budgeting)

  Price Waterhouse

  Integrated Complementing System (Development)

  Price Waterhouse

  Contributions Unit Development (Human Resources Personnel Strategy Project)

  Price Waterhouse

  Research into Costs in Residential Care and Nursing Homes

  Price Waterhouse

  Selection of Recruitment of Benefit Agency Finance Director

  Price Waterhouse

  Departmental Management Board Reporting System

  Price Waterhouse

  Executive Information System Feasibility Study

  Price Waterhouse

  Public Expenditure Survey Forecasting—Agency ITSA

  Price Waterhouse

  Review of Manpower Forecasting System—Agency ITSA

  Professor Steven Haberman

  Self Investment by Pensions Schemes

  Property Holdings

  HQ Relocation Project

  Protocol International

  Customer Services Section User Liaison—Agency ITSA

  Public Arts

  HQ Relocation Project

  Purchasing Index (UK) Ltd

  Purchasing Consultancy

  Research Support and Marketing

  Contract Data Preparation

  Robin Verney Associates Ltd

  Telecommunications Training—Agency ITSA

  SAS Software Limited

  Support for Integrated Database Model

  SCOPEC International

  Enhancements to the Resource Management Systems—Agency ITSA

  SEMA Group

  Administrative Resource Management Systems—Agency ITSA

  SEMA Group

  Development of Local Office Project Social Fund Computer System—Agency ITSA

  SEMA Group

  Feasibility Study into the Future Processing of Social Fund Claims—Agency ITSA

  SEMA Group

  Local Office Project—Social Fund Full Study—Agency ITSA

  254

  SEMA Group

  Local Office Micro Project—Social Fund—Agency ITSA

  SEMA Group

  Social Fund: IT User Development

  SEMA Group

  Study on Computer Development of North Fylde Central Office Future Organisation

  SEMA Group

  Social Fund Support

  SERCO Limited

  Purchasing Consultancy

  SIA Ltd.

  Evaluation of Computer Aided Personal Interviewing

  Stuart McKeckie Limited

  Service Development Team (Southern Territories)

  Symonds Facilities Management Plc

  Headquarters Relocation Projects (Facilities Management)

  Telecommuting Management Consultants

  Telecommuting Scoping Study—Agency ITSA

  Telecomputing Plc

  National Health Service Superannuation

  The Harry Mitchell College

  Administrative Resource Management System (Work Measurement Pilot Exercise)

  The Pre-Retirement Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  Introduction to Pre-Retirement Education

  TOP-IX Ltd.

  Administrative Resource Management System (Work Measurement Pilot Exercise)

  Touche Ross

  Feasibility Study into Hardware and Software Requirements for the Strategy Operations Architecture Project—Agency ITSA

  Touche Ross

  Lone Parent Study and Survey

  Touche Ross

  Lone Parenthood Consultancy

  Touche Ross

  War Pensions

  Touche Ross

  Administrative Resource Management System (Complementing)

  Touche Ross

  Integrated Complementing System (Maintenance)

  Touche Ross

  Management and Finance Information Systems for the Benefits Agency

  Touche Ross

  Management and Finance Information Systems for the Contributions Unit

  Touche Ross

  Asset Management in DSS

  Touche Ross

  Performance Indicators for Resettlement Units—Agency RA

  Triad Special Systems Ltd.

  Quality Assurance Package

  Trident Quest Pty

  Combined Services Architecture—Agency ITSA

  Tri-Globe Communications Ltd.

  Development of Network Operations Control Section—Agency ITSA

  Ulec Services Limited

  Clarke House Building Management and Maintenance—Agency ITSA

  University College London

  Psychologist for the Forms Design Unit

  Warwick University

  National Insurance Contributions Yield

  Whitegates Estate Agents

  Headquarters Relocation Projects

  World Systems plc

  Feasibility Study into the DRS 6000 Report Produced by ITSA-Procurement—Agency ITSA

  World Systems plc

  DRS 6000 Development—Agency ITSA

  WS Atkins

  Provision of Telecoms within DSS Headquarters—Agency ITSA

  WS Atkins

  Quality Management Group Support—Agency ITSA

  255
  Where no Executive Agency is shown, the consultancy work was undertaken for sections of the Department of Social Security which had not attained Agency status by the end of the period in question.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Royal Victoria Hospital
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions have taken place with trades unions about the status of the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast.

  Mr. Hanley
  Before it was submitted, sponsors of the Royal Group of Hospitals' application for HSS trust status met trade unions on many occasions.

  Trades unions are among the bodies invited, as part of the public consultation, to comment on the application.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans his Department has to mark World No Tobacco Day on 31 May; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Department had no specific plans for marking World No Tobacco Day. Northern Ireland Departments adopted a formal policy on smoking in 1987. The introduction of a non-smoking policy is being actively pursued in the Northern Ireland Office.

  Road Improvement Schemes
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what minor road improvement schemes have been carried out in the Downpatrick and Craigavon divisions between 1 March 1985 and 31 March in the current year.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is as follows:

  Downpatrick

  Scheme

  Description

  A22 in Lisbane Village

  Widening and reconstruction of existing carriageway

  Hillsborough Old Road, Stage 1, Lisburn

  Footway provision and carriageway widening

  Old Grand Jury Road, Saintfield

  Footway provision and junction improvement

  Cow Lane, Castlewellan

  Carriageway improvements

  Croft Road, Holywood

  Footway provision and carriageway widening

  Duncans Road, Stage 1, Lisburn

  Road widening and footway provision

  Bryansford Road, Newcastle

  Footway provision

  A24 south of Ballynahinch in townland of Ballymaglave

  Carriageway widening and sight distance improvements

  Duncans Road, Stage 2, Lisburn

  Footway provision

  Blaris Road, Sprucefield

  Footway provision and junction improvement

  Whinney Hill, Holywood

  Footway provision and carriageway widening

  Church Road, Holywood

  Sight distance improvements and carriageway widening

  Ballycrochan Road, Bangor

  Carriageway widening and footway provision

  Bridge Street, Comber, Stage 1

  Street reconstruction

  Killyleagh Streets

  Reconstruction of Catherine Street and Cross Street

  Circular Road, Castlewellan

  Carriageway improvements and footway provision

  256

  Ballyskeagh Road, Lambeg, Stage 2

  Sight distance improvements and carriageway realignment

  Bridge Street, Comber, Stage 2

  Street reconstruction

  Talbot Street/William Street, Newtownards

  Junction improvement

  Vianstown Road, Downpatrick

  Sight distance improvements and carriageway reconstruction

  Hillsborough Old Road, Stage 2, Lisburn

  Footway provision and carriageway widening

  Ballystockart Road, Comber, Stage 1

  Carriageway widening and reconstruction

  Downpatrick/Ardglass Road, Stage 1

  Carriageway widening and sight distance improvements

  Ballystockart Road, Comber, Stage 2

  Carriageway widening and reconstruction

  Seahill Road/Bangor Road junction, Cultra

  Junction improvement

  Downpatrick to Ardglass Road, Stage 2

  Carriageway widening and sight distance improvements

  Old Holywood Road at Redburn Country Park

  Sight distance improvements and carriageway widening

  Belsize Road, Lisburn

  Footway and roundabout provision

  Saintfield Road Roundabout, Lisburn

  Junction improvements

  Dunover Road, Ballywalter

  Footway provision and carriageway realignment

  Craigavon

  Scheme

  Description

  A28 Drumgollif, Caledon Armagh

  Realignment/widening

  A29 Tullygoonigan, Moy, Armagh

  Junction improvement

  B131 Legacorry, Richhill

  Bridge reconstruction and realignment

  B10 Lisnasliggan, Rathfriland

  Realignment/widening

  B10 Rathfriland Road, Banbridge

  Widening

  A26 Smiths Hill, Banbridge

  Junction improvement and realignment

  Huntly Road, Lenderg, Banbridge

  Realignment/widening

  New Link, Dromore

  New road to replace Castle Street

  A3 Magheralin

  Realignment/widening

  Charles Street Portadown

  Realignment/widening

  Greencastle Street Kilkeel

  Junction improvement

  A25 Orchard Bar, Rathfriland

  Realignment/widening

  Mill Road, Kilkeel

  Realignment/widening

  Newtown Road Rostrevor 2

  Realignment/widening

  Francis Street, Newry

  Reconstruction/widening

  Ballyholland Road, Newry

  Road widening

  B30 Cregganduff 2, Crossmaglen

  Realignment/widening

  B133 McKnights Hill, Bessbrook

  Junction improvement widening

  B2 Gilpinstown, Lurgan

  Realignment/widening

  Canal Bridge, Newry

  Bridge reconstruction widening

  A25 Camlough 2, Newry

  Junction improvement widening

  A27 Aughlish, Scarva

  Junction improvement widening

  B77 Vinecash, Loughgall, Portadown

  Junction improvement realignment

  A26 Currys Turn, Waringstown

  Junction improvement realignment

  B3 Corcreeny, Lurgan

  Realignment/widening

  B3 Pound Road, Newry

  Reconstruction/widening

  B30 Campbells Bridge, Crossmaglen

  Realignment/widening

  B31 Ballymoran, Armagh

  Realignment/widening

  B3 Dunlarg, Keady

  Realignment/widening

  Inn Road, Dollingstown

  Road widening

  Derrylileagh, Maghery, Portadown

  Realignment/widening

  A2 Killowen 3(2), Rostrevor

  Realignment/widening

  Clonallen Road I, Warrenpoint

  Road widening

  Callan Bridge, Armagh

  New Footbridge

  257

  A26 Lawrencetown, Banbridge

  Realignment widening

  Barban Hill, Dromore 1

  Road widening

  Ballymoney Hill, Banbridge

  Road widening

  A4 Dungannon Road 1, Portadown

  Verge widening

  Clonallen Road 2, Warrenpoint

  Road widening

  A51 Marlacoo, Markethill

  Realignment/widening

  A50 Ballievy, Banbridge

  Sight line improvement

  Old Newry Road, Banbridge

  Road widening

  Barban Hill, Dromore 2

  Road widening

  A2 Killowen 1B, Rostrevor

  Realignment/widening

  A3 Lisglyn, Armagh

  Road widening

  Education (Access Funds)
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many students are currently receiving access funds from each education board in Northern Ireland;

  (2) what was the total amount of access funds allocated to each education board in Northern Ireland;

  (3) how many students were refused access funding by each education board in Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is:

  Board

  No. of students in receipt of access funding

  Access Funds allocated (1990–91 financial year) £

  No. of students refused access funding

  Belfast

  67

  29,000

  10

  Southern

  73

  29,000

  33

  South-Eastern

  33

  29,000

  8

  North-Eastern

  36

  29,000

  2

  Western

  129

  28,000

  67

WALES

  School Tests (Moderators)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for the training and appointment of moderators for school tests at(a) seven and (b) 11 years-old.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for the training and appointment of moderators for school tests at(a) seven and (b) 11 years-old.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Moderation is part of the national curriculum assessment arrangements which, for seven and 11-year-olds, is the responsibility of the individual local education authorities.

  Each LEA, supported by total grant approved expenditure of £2·2 million in 1991–92, is required to develop assessment implementation plans which cover the administrative and training arrangements for moderation. The School Examinations and Assessment Council has provided detailed guidance on moderation which will be updated later this year for use in the 1992 arrangements.

  Radioactivity
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table indicating levels of Strontium 90 detected in rainfall in Wales in each year since 1961; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Monitoring of Strontium-90 in rainfall has been conducted on a regular basis at only two sites in Wales. The available information is given in the table.
  258

  Annual Deposition of Strontium-90 from Rainfall1 Megabecquerels per square kilometer

  Milford Haven2

  Bridgend3

  1961

  91

  4

  1962

  350

  4

  1963

  770

  4

  1964

  430

  4

  1965

  180

  4

  1966

  110

  4

  1967

  45

  4

  1968

  46

  4

  1969

  31

  4

  1970

  44

  4

  1971

  52

  4

  1972

  4

  4

  1973

  4

  4

  1974

  4

  4

  1975

  4

  8·1

  1976

  4

  9·7

  1977

  4

  15·4

  1978

  4

  12·3

  1979

  4

  15·7

  1980

  4

  5·6

  1981

  4

  20·3

  1982

  4

  4·2

  1983

  4

  5

  1984

  <5

  5

  1985

  <3

  5

  1986

  2·2

  5

  1987

  <2

  5

  1988

  <2

  5

  1989

  4

  5

  1990

  4

  5

  1 Levels reached a peak in the early 1960s following nuclear weapons tests in 1961 and 1962. 1981 levels were increased by fallout from Chinese atomic weapons tests in October 1980.

  2 Source: Atomic Energy Authority Technology.

  3 Source: National Radiological Protection Board.

  4 Not available.

  5 Nil or below limits of detection.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Morgan
  to ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has any proposals to issue guidelines to general practitioner fund-holders and to hospitals regarding preferential placing on hospitals waiting lists for general practitioner fund-holder's patients.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I do not propose to issue guidance at present.

  Road Safety
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state how many people have been killed as a result of road accidents in Wales in each of the past 10 years, and what is the total to date this year.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is given in the table:

  Persons killed as a result of road accidents in Wales

  Number

  1981

  275

  1982

  300

  1983

  245

  1984

  250

  1985

  245

  259

  Number

  1986

  235

  1987

  220

  1988

  226

  1989

  231

  11990

  248

  121991

  12

  1 Provisional

  2 1991 data from all police authority areas are only available centrally to end of January.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he proposes to take any further measures to improve road safety in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  We are continually seeking to improve road safety. For example, we are currently encouraging the use of rear seat belts which will be compulsory as from 1 July.

  Roads
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects(a) to invite tenders for the construction work on the A465 Glynneath-Aberdulais improvement and (b) construction work to start on the A465 Glynneath-Aberdulais improvement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The 1991 supplement to "Roads in Wales: Progress and Plans for the 1990s" shows the scheme as scheduled to start before April 1994. It is not possible to give a firmer indication of timing at this stage.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to improve valley road links to the motorway system.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Responsibility for improving these roads rests with the respective local highway authorities. A number of major improvement schemes are receiving transport grant support from the Department and information is given in the Welsh Office departmental report published in February.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the north-south road links in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I have received a number of representations. The Government's policy is to upgrade the A483 and A470 by means of selective improvements. Details of planned schemes are set out in "Roads in Wales: Progress and Plans for the 1990s" published in 1989, and the supplement published in February 1991.

  The discretionary capital allocations, notified to each health authority in Wales at the start of each financial year in the period 1985–86 to 1991–92 were as follows:

  £ million 1985–86 prices

  Health authority

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Clwyd

  2·697

  3·458

  3·747

  4·218

  5·555

  4·670

  6·023

  East Dyfed

  1·209

  1·550

  1·679

  1·891

  1·580

  2·384

  3·075

  Gwent

  2·823

  3·619

  3·922

  4·415

  5·871

  4·600

  5·933

  Gwynedd

  0·991

  1·270

  1·376

  1·550

  1·399

  1·272

  1·640

  Mid Glamorgan

  3·089

  3·960

  4·292

  4·831

  5·759

  5·991

  7·727

  Pembrokeshire

  0·573

  0·735

  0·796

  0·896

  1·577

  1·464

  1·888

  Powys

  0·584

  0·750

  0·811

  0·914

  1·277

  0·828

  1·068

  South Glamorgan

  1·482

  1·900

  2·059

  2·317

  2·870

  5·905

  7·616

  Smoking
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he has taken to discourage tobacco smoking in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  In Wales the campaign against smoking is carried out on many fronts. In 1987 the Government established a special authority, the Health Promotion Authority for Wales (HPAW), to promote better health in the Principality. The authority has taken on the work of Heartbeat Wales in promoting programmes to stop smoking and to stop people from ever starting.

  HPAW in association with other organisations has mounted a number of national and local campaigns including National No Smoking Day in Wales, the recent launch of a passive no smoking leaflet, two mobile life education centres which feature the effect smoking has on the body and which are currently touring primary schools in Wales, and initiatives for employers, public transport operators and the retail and catering trade to provide no smoking areas. Moreover, HPAW, ASH-in-Wales (which has Government support) and Tenovus are jointly funding the forthcoming Smokebusters Cymru project, partly through additional exchequer funding made available for the project.

  Recently the Department produced protocols for investment in health gain in the areas of cancer and cardiovascular diseases which acknowledge the health gain benefits of discouraging smoking. These protocols are aimed mainly at district health authorities (DHAs) and family health service authorities (FHSAs) to assist them to develop their local strategies for health. These strategies will cover local approaches to tackling heart disease, strokes, cancers, etc. and include a section on health promotion and influencing lifestyle factors detrimental to good health one of which is the incidence of smoking. Furthermore, many DHAs in Wales have a declared policy on non-smoking on NHS premises and whose health promotion units run anti-smoking programmes at local level. In the development of patient care GPs have been obliged by their terms of service to provide health promotion advice to their patients. GPs who organise and provide advice through health promotion clinics including anti-smoking clinics may be entitled to a special compensation fee.

  Health Authority Funding
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the capital allocation to each of the health authorities in Wales for each year since 1985, at 1985 prices.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information is given in the table.
  261

  Health authority

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  West Glamorgan

  2·692

  3·452

  3·741

  4·211

  5·409

  6·005

  7·744

  Total

  16·140

  20·695

  22·423

  25·243

  31·298

  33·120

  42·714

  Dog Bites
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) children under 16 years and (b) adults have been treated under the national health service for bites by dogs in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not held centrally.

  Development Board for Rural Wales
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the future of the housing stock of the Development Board for Rural Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I shall be consulting shortly upon draft regulations to govern the disposal of Development Board for Rural Wales housing stock.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Development Board for Rural Wales houses there are; and in what towns and villages they are situated.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The Development Board currently owns 1,259 dwellings located as follows:

  Location

  Newtown

  1,186

  Llandrindod Wells

  20

  Tywyn

  26

  Bala

  10

  Dolgellau

  7

  Abercrave, Ystradgynlais

  10

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Development Board for Rural Wales houses have been sold in each of the past 10 years; and what was the total income from house sales in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Number of dwellings

  Income (£000s)1

  1981

  12

  144

  1982

  20

  230

  1983

  27

  352

  1984

  9

  111

  1985

  11

  130

  1986

  21

  250

  1987

  35

  491

  1988

  47

  710

  1989

  58

  1,075

  1990

  69

  1,339

  Source: Development Board for Rural Wales sales returns.

  1 Income figures are totals of the selling prices of disposed dwellings and as such no account is taken of mortgages granted by the Board on any of these dwellings: 6 such mortgages were granted over the period.

  I am sure that the hon. Gentleman, like me, welcomes the extension of home ownership that these sales represent.
  262
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Development Board for Rural Wales houses have been involved in the rents to mortgages scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The Board has received 105 formal applications and has completed sales of 23 dwellings. This represents almost 3 per cent. of the board's eligible stock and is as successful as the initial take-up under our right to buy policy.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consult the tenants of Development Board for Rural Wales houses before he permits a change of status of such houses.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The draft regulations will include provision for tenants to express their wishes.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which Development Board for Rural Wales housing stock is earmarked for housing association status.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  It will be for the board to formulate its proposals in the light of regulations to be made in due course. I shall in no way prejudge my response to such proposals.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) trade unionists, (b) lawyers, (c) women, (d) men and (e) business men have been appointed to training and enterprise councils in Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  At May 1991, board members of the TECs in Wales included(a) three trade unionists, (b) one lawyer, (c) nine women, (d) 87 men and (e) 68 business men.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to enable road and rail traffic to have better access to the channel tunnel rail link.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The provision of rail links is a matter for British Rail, which published its plans for channel tunnel services in December 1989 as required by section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987. British Rail is now working up its proposals. Planned road improvements are set out in "Roads in Wales: Progress and Plans for the 1990s', and the 1991 supplement. Further major schemes to improve communications in north-east Clwyd and south-east Wales were announced on 14 May.

SCOTLAND

  Broadleaved Forest
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what area of Britain's broadleaved forest is at present productive for timber; and what percentage of the United Kingdom's hardwood timber needs this satisfies.
  263
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There are 811,000 hectares of broadleaved woodland in Britain, of which 615,000 hectares are classed as productive for timber. Some 23 per cent. of our total hardwood timber consumption is at present met by broadleaves grown in this country.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how the management of Britain's broadleaved forest is being directed towards achieving a reduction in imports of socially and ecologically sensitive tropical hardwoods.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Government's broadleaves policy is successfully encouraging an increase in the area of broadleaved forest in Britain. In addition, the Government will be making management grants available from April 1992 under the Forestry Commission's woodland grant scheme to encourage the improved management of existing woodlands. Taken together, these measures can be expected to lead in due course to a significant increase in the total production of timber from Britain's broadleaved forests. However, hardwood timber grown in Britain currently meets only a quarter of total consumption, and direct substitution of certain tropical hardwoods by domestic timber supplies may not always be feasible because of the different qualities of timber involved.

  County

  Property

  Year sold

  Purchaser

  England

  Bedfordshire

  Marston Thrift

  1987

  Bedfordshire county council

  Buckinghamshire

  Hog and Hollowhill

  1987

  Buckinghamshire county council

  Cumbria

  Pool Bank

  1988

  Nature Conservancy Council

  North Yorkshire

  Little Beck Wood

  1986

  Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

  North Yorkshire

  Stapleton Park

  1986

  Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

  Northumberland

  Biddlestone Lot 1

  1986

  P. Burgess

  Northumberland

  Briarwood Banks

  1988

  Northumberland Wildlife Trust

  Warwickshire

  Knavenhill and Boundary

  1988

  Mr. Hodgkinson

  West Sussex

  Kings Park Plaist

  1988

  Southern Water

  Wales

  Dyfed

  Panteg, Pencelli, Pontbren

  1988

  Dyfed Wildlife Trust

  Dyfed

  Coed Rheidol

  1990

  Nature Conservancy Council

  Scotland

  Borders

  Pease Dean

  1988

  Scottish Wildlife Trust

  Borders

  Gamescleugh (pt)

  1989

  Mr. and Mrs. Watson

  Highland

  Beinn Eighe

  1989

  Nature Conservancy Council

  Highland

  Glenspean

  1988

  A. E. Reader and others

  Highland

  Loch Insch Plantations

  1989

  Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

  Strathclyde

  Tiroran/Scobull

  1989

  D. M. Holman

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all lands owned by the Forestry Commission which have been notified as SSSIs.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A list of the 393 areas of Forestry Commission land notified as SSSIs has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all land in England and Wales which was owned by the Forestry Commission and has been sold; and if he will show in his answer the name of the purchaser.

  Dogs
  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what information he has on the number of dogs in Scotland;

  (2) if he will estimate how many (a) rottweilers and (b) pit bull terriers there are in Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many dogs have been destroyed under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 in each of the past five years; and of these how many were(a) rottweilers and (b) pit bull terriers.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  This information is not held centrally.

  Forestry Commission (Land)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to whom the Forestry Commission has disposed of any land notified as a site of special scientific interest since 1986.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Forestry Commission sold 36 areas of land containing sites of special scientific interest in the period from 1 April to 31 March 1991. Permission from the purchasers to divulge their names has been given in respect of 17 of these areas, details of which are given in the following table:

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 14 March 1991,Official Report, column 691. A list of the areas of forest land sold by the Forestry Commission in the period from 27 July 1981 to 31 December 1990 has now been placed in the Library. It includes the names of those purchasers who have given their consent to such information being made public.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all land in England and Wales which was owned by the Forestry Commission and has been sold, for which local authorities have been able to enter into an access agreement.
  265
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No such agreements have been entered into pending the introduction of the procedures outlined by my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) in the answer he gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) on 21 November 1990,Official Report, columns 164–6. The Forestry Commission has prepared draft guidelines setting out the details of these procedures which are currently the subject of consultation with a wide range of public and private bodies concerned with public access to the countryside, forestry and land management. The new arrangements will be introduced as soon as these consultations have been concluded.

  Speech Therapists
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of unfilled speech therapy posts in Greater Glasgow health board for the Southern general hospital, the Western infirmary and Gartnavel hospitals, the Victoria infirmary, the Royal infirmary and Stobhill hospital.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There is one full-time speech therapist vacancy at Gartnavel general hospital and one full-time vacancy at the Southern general hospital. Both posts were advertised on 30 May.

  Forestry
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to produce a new set of objectives for forestry policy in England and Wales, covering(a) environmental needs (b) public enjoyment and (c) timber products.

  Cause of death

  Species

  Number

  Trauma

  Disease

  Starvation

  Poisoned

  Unknown

  Barn owl

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Buzzard

  34

  4

  5

  4

  13

  8

  Eagle

  6

  —

  —

  1

  4

  1

  Goshawk

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Hen harrier

  2

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Kestrel

  12

  3

  —

  3

  —

  6

  Merlin

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Peregrine falcon

  4

  —

  1

  2

  —

  —

  Red kite

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Sparrow hawk

  17

  8

  1

  2

  —

  6

  Tawny owl

  4

  3

  —

  —

  1

  Total

  85

  20

  7

  12

  19

  27

  Health Board Contracts
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the contracts for hospital and health board services awarded so far under the competitive tendering process by Ayrshire and Arran health board, including successful tenderer and value of contract.

  Hospital Unit

  Service Type

  Contractor

  Previous cost £000s

  Tender value £000s

  Crosshouse

  Catering

  In-house

  813

  779

  Crosshouse

  Domestic

  In-house

  808

  765

  Ayrshire Central

  Catering

  In-house

  525

  516

  Ayrshire Central

  Domestic

  In-house

  430

  401

  Head Office

  Hotel

  In-house

  38

  34

  North Clinics and Health Centres

  Hotel

  In-house

  56

  55

  Kirklandside

  Hotel

  In-house

  411

  401

  Ballochmyle/Holmhead

  Hotel

  In-house

  1,286

  1,142

  266
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The objectives of the Government's forestry policy have evolved in recent years to reflect the increasingly diverse role perceived for forestry in Britain, with a greater emphasis being placed on social and environmental benefits as well as on timber production. There are no plans to produce a new set of objectives at this stage.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he plans to control the commercial afforestation of hilly areas in England and Wales.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Forestry Commission's consultations with local authorities and other statutory bodies in relation to grant-aid applications act as an effective control over new planting schemes. The consultation procedures have been strengthened by the introduction of arrangements whereby the Forestry Commission may require grant applicants to carry out an environmental assessment of new planting proposals where these are likely to have significant effects on the environment. In addition, the Forestry Commission continues to operate a presumption against the large-scale planting of predominantly coniferous species in the English uplands. Taken together, these measures represent an effective system of regulating planting in the uplands.

  Birds of Prey
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number, species and cause of death of birds of prey discovered in 1990.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information is as shown in the following table:

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Contracts awarded in the Ayrshire and Arran health board area are expected to release savings of over £2·5 million. These savings release resources for reinvestment in direct patient care.

  The information is as follows:
  267

  Hospital Unit

  Service Type

  Contractor

  Previous cost £000s

  Tender value £000s

  Ailsa

  Hotel

  In-house

  1,474

  1,399

  Ayrshire Central/Ravenspark

  Hotel

  In-house

  1,013

  947

  Biggart/Thornyflat

  Hotel

  In-house

  599

  537

  Davidson Cottage

  Hotel

  In-house

  111

  100

  Crosshouse

  Hotel

  In-house

  777

  692

  South Clinics and Health Centres/Maybole Hospital

  Hotel

  In-house

  51

  43

  Arrol Park Resource Centre

  Hotel

  Mediguard

  new service

  359

  All Board

  Vehicle maintenance

  In-house

  136

  121

  All board

  Painting

  1

  309

  195

  2

  170

  114

  3—

  196

  168

  1 Moss Painting

  2 Baxter/Gillespie

  3 Baxter/Gillespie

  Note: In this context "hotel" means a combined contract including cleaning, portering, security and telephonists.

  Sports Grounds (Safety)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any proposals, in relation to section 15A of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975, to introduce mandatory, all-seating facilities to football stadia and other sports grounds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The grounds of 31 Scottish football clubs and the national rugby stadium at Murrayfield are designated under the 1975 Act. The Scottish football authorities have set up the Scottish stadia committee to monitor the progress made by the owners of designated football grounds and the committee will be reporting progress annually to my right hon. Friend. The Scottish Office Education Department circular number 10/1991 of 28 March 1991 made it clear that, should progress on a voluntary basis be inadequate, we would consider seeking statutory enforcement powers.

  Caledonian MacBrayne
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance has been given in each of the past five years by the European Community to Caledonian MacBrayne to operate essential public passenger ferry services between the mainland and the islands and among the islands; what sums are to be provided by the European Community for this purpose in 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The financial assistance provided to Caledonian MacBrayne by the European regional development fund through grants towards new ships, piers and shore terminals for essential ferry services over the past five years is as follows:—

  Year

  £ million

  1986–87

  1·45

  1987–88

  1·79

  1988–89

  2·19

  1989–90

  2·69

  1990–91

  3·35

  It is not possible to predict the amounts for the years 1991–92 to 1993–94 as Caledonian MacBrayne, like other bodies, will require to make applications in respect of
  268
  proposed capital expenditure. Such applications will be considered on their merits by a programme monitoring Committee which includes representatives of central and local government, the European Community and other organisations. However, grants from the European regional development fund will cease to be available in their present form in 1993. No guarantee can, therefore, be given that individuals applications which may be approved in principle will receive grant.

  Licensing Legislation
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines he has issued to local authorities about the changes in licensing legislation brought about by the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office Home and Health Department issued a circular to local authorities, licensing boards and other interested parties on 12 December 1990 explaining the changes to be made to liquor licensing law by part III of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990, which came into force on 1 January 1991. A copy of the circular has been placed in the Library.

  Lothian Regional Council
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet hon. Members representing Lothian constituencies to discuss Lothian regional council's financial problems.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 17 May 1991]: I met representatives of Lothian regional council on Friday 17 May to hear their representations against my proposed reduction of £50 in their personal community charge.

  I remain satisfied that Lothian's planned expenditure for 1991–92 is "excessive and unreasonable". However, since the financial year is well under way, I have indicated my willingness not to pursue capping action if the council agrees to reduce its charge by £37, the equivalent of a £18·5 million cut in expenditure.

  In view of this meeting, during which council representatives raised a number of financial problems, I see no need for a further meeting with hon. Members.

  ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA: POLICY
  ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA: POLICY
  STANSTED EXPRESS RAIL SERVICE
  STANSTED EXPRESS RAIL SERVICE
  MARINE INSURANCE INDUSTRY: REGULATION
  MARINE INSURANCE INDUSTRY: REGULATION
  ROAD SPEED LIMITS
  ROAD SPEED LIMITS
  RURAL SUB-POST OFFICES
  RURAL SUB-POST OFFICES
  SMALL BUSINESSES: POLICY
  SMALL BUSINESSES: POLICY
  GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE 1979–1990
  GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE 1979–1990