Written Answers of 6 June 1991

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Landlord and Tenant Legislation
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Attorney-General whether the Government will implement the recommendations contained in the Law Commission's report on landlord and tenant distress for rent (Law Com. 194).

  The Attorney-General
  Having considered this report the Lord Chancellor has decided that it would be right to invite views on the conclusions reached by the Law Commission and in particular on the question whether, if the case for abolition is in general made out, the remedy of distress for rent should nevertheless be retained for business tenancies.

ENERGY

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received concerning his payments to stockbrokers for services rendered in the course of privatisation of the electricity supply industry of England and Wales.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Secretary of State has received one representation on the payment of selling commissions in respect of the regional electricity companies' share offers. The process of making the relevant payments is under way.

  Refuse-to-energy Plant
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what representations he has received to date about the proposed refuse-to-energy plant in Belvedere;

  (2) if he will institute a public inquiry to investigate the proposed refuse-to-energy plant in Belvedere.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend has directed Cory Environmental to advertise its application for his consent to construct a waste-fired power station at Belvedere and a period up to 6 June 1991 has been allowed in which objections from the public can be made to him. In addition the local planning authority has until 12 August 1991 by which to make its views on the application known to him.

  Until he has seen all such objections and has received the views of the local planning authority, it is too early to say whether a public inquiry will be necessary. However, if the local planning authority objects to the application there is a statutory obligation to call for a public inquiry to be held.

  To date, my Department has registered over 50 objections to the application.

  European Energy Council
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on issues discussed and decisions taken at the European Energy Council meeting in Brussels on 31 May.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The Council adopted the directive on transit of gas, concluding the package of proposals introduced by the Commission in July 1989 as a first step towards liberalising the Community's energy market. The United Kingdom fully supports that process and looks forward to the introduction of further measures by the Commission to increase competition and open markets in energy.

  In the field of energy efficiency, a political agreement was reached on the SAVE programme, which the Commission introduced at the Energy Council in October 1990. SAVE is intended to provide a framework for co-ordinating member states' own programmes of efficient energy use. The way is now clear, once the European Parliament has given its opinion, to adopt the decision.

  The Council also considered the Commission's proposals on oil crisis measures and contingency oil stocks. The Council recognised that the Community's existing provisions needed review, but did not agree that the Commission's proposals were appropriate, especially in relation to the International Energy Agency. The Commission will reconsider its proposals.

  The Council also briefly discussed the proposed European energy charter.

  "Energy, Looking to the Future"
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he published his pamphlet, "Energy, Looking to the Future"; how many copies have been printed; at what cost; and to whom the pamphlet is being distributed.

  Mr. Wakeham
  I published the pamphlet "Energy: Looking to the Future" on 1 May when it was announced via a Department of Energy press release. Initially 1,000 copies were printed at a cost of £1,238. Demand has been such that another 500 copies have been printed at a cost of £658. The pamphlet has been and continues to be distributed to energy and Lobby journalists and to interested parties in the United Kingdom and overseas.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Benefits and Allocations
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of people claiming(a) one-parent benefit and (b) the widowed mother's allowance who are taxpayers.

  Mr. Maude
  In 1991–92 it is estimated that 280,000 taxpayers will claim one-parent benefit and 35,000 taxpayers will claim widowed mother's allowance.

  Customs and Excise
  Mr. Sumberg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further progress has been made to enable Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to operate fully on next steps lines.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 13 February
  271
  the publication of a framework document for Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, and of the first three in the series of executive unit framework documents which describe the responsibilities, freedoms and accountabilities in individual units within the Department—Official Report, columns 480–81. Customs and Excise have now published framework documents for each of the remaining executive units, comprising:

  Accountant and Comptroller General's Office

  Belfast Collection

  Birmingham Collection

  Dover Collection

  East Anglia Collection

  Edinburgh Collection

  Enforcement Divison

  Glasgow Collection

  Information Technology Divisions

  Internal Audit Unit

  Investigation Division

  Leeds Collection

  Liverpool Collection

  London Airports Collection

  London Central Collection

  London North and West Collection

  London Port Collection

  London South Collection

  Northampton Collection

  Northern England Collection

  Reading Collection

  Solicitor's Office

  Southampton Collection

  Gas

  Electricity

  Liquid fuel

  '000 therms

  £'000

  '000 kWh

  £'000

  '000 litres

  £'000

  Consumption—1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991

  Government Offices, Great George Street, London SW1 (311,500 sq ft)

  204·0

  42·9

  3,375

  193·0

  42·4

  8·7

  Chessington Computer Centre, Surrey (86,600 sq ft)

  —

  —

  935

  42·6

  248·0

  27·0

  Riverwalk House, London SW1 (72,200 sq ft)

  68·1

  18·1

  1,328

  81·5

  —

  —

  Consumption-1 January 1989 to 31 December 1989

  Government Offices, Great George Street, London SW1 (331,500 sq ft)

  169·0

  41·6

  3,341

  189·6

  42·0

  4·4

  Chessington Computer Centre, Surrey (86,600 sq ft)

  1·0

  0·3

  935

  42·8

  97·0

  11·3

  Riverwalk House, London SW1 (72,200 sq ft)

  57·0

  14·8

  1,449

  79·0

  —

  —

  Note: All figures rounded.

  Figures for years before 1989 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Taxation
  Sir Ian Gilmour
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the extra yield in a full year if income tax were unified with national insurance contribution at a rate of 34 per cent. assuming(a) no change to higher rate income tax and (b) higher rate income tax at 49 per cent.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  [holding answer 4 June 1991]: At 1991–92 income levels, it is estimated that the net yield of increasing the basic rate of income tax to 34 per cent. and of abolishing national insurance contributions for employees and the self-employed would be about £0·8 billion. This yield would increase to about £3·8 billion if
  272

  South Wales and Borders Collection

  South West England Collection

  Tariff and Statistical Office

  Training Services Division

  Copies of each of the documents have been placed in the Library. This is an important step towards the full operation of Customs and Excise on next steps lines, and is accompanied by continuing progress on the action programme annexed to the framework document for the Department.

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

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 3 June 1991]: The hon. Member was given the consumption figures for 1989 in cash terms in the answer of my right hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Ryder) on 14 May 1990, in column 274. The information at 1990–91 prices, which covers major offices only, is as follows:

  the higher rate of income tax were increased to 49 per cent. These estimates ignore any behavioural effects which might result from such changes.

TRANSPORT

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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
  273
  of the consultancy firm, the subject of the assignment and, if appropriate, the executive agency for which the contract was carried out.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Expenditure in the financial year 1990–91 was £3·055 million. Contracts awarded were as follows:

  JMP Consulting

  Routine Maintenance Management System data capture device

  WS Atkins

  CHART/DEFLEC/CHAPS programme maintenance

  CACI Ltd

  NIS training

  EASAMS Ltd

  NIS maintenance

  TPA

  ARCADY/OSCADY programme maintenance

  TPA

  ROADWAY programme maintenance

  Wootton Jeffreys

  COBA9/QUADRO2 programme maintenance

  SIA Ltd

  NIS core data

  BIS Applied Systems Ltd

  NIS scheme monitoring

  CACI Ltd

  NIS IHMS2/3

  KPMG

  RMMS logical maintenance

  Mott MacDonald

  HRM maintenance

  Dunsmore Data and Information

  PANDEF programme development

  PA Consulting Services

  NIS distribution study

  PA Consulting Services

  NIS stage 1 + PIR

  LOGSYS

  QIS programme development

  P&P Corporate Sytems

  Consultancies on LANs

  Hoskyns/RAL

  Capacity planning at DVOIT

  SERCO Systems

  Automatic Core Traffic Census software conversion

  Wootton Jeffreys Consultants Ltd

  London Area Transport survey

  Pinpoint

  LATS Address Coding Office

  Quantime

  NTS tabulation

  Forvus

  NTS editing

  Quantime

  NTS parameterisation and patching

  DMR Group

  Aviation reservation consultancy

  Caltronic Systems

  Feasibility study

  Sapphire

  DataEase consultancy

  WordPerfect UK

  Review of agencies WP facilities

  SWK Pavement Engineering

  Pavement design

  PA Consulting Services

  Review of Project M

  PA Consulting Services

  Project management Seq 1

  PA Consulting Services

  PGT practice review

  WS Atkins

  Preparation of 7th edition of "Specification for Highway Works" and associated documents

  Howard Humphreys and Partners

  Highway construction details

  Andrew G. Blyth

  To establish suitable parameters for defining characteristics of craft of lightweight construction

  ARUP Economic Consultants

  International comparison of city environments

  Mindworks

  Call-off contract for business analysis support

  MSG Business Systems

  Software advice

  PA Consulting Services

  Support on "Choice" review

  Science and Engineering Research Council

  Office systems consultancy

  Comshare

  Fault analysis—Agency DSA

  KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock

  Updating the Management Account Model—Agency DSA

  KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock

  Writing new accounting procedures—Agency DSA

  Walker International

  Designing financial software—Agency DSA

  IBM

  Technical advice and support—Agency DVLA

  274

  Software AG

  Technical advice and support—Agency DVLA

  Compass Ltd

  Management consultancy or. computer operations—Agency DVLA

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  Management consultancy analysis and advice—Agency DVLA

  Presidium Ltd

  Technical advice and support—Agency DVLA

  KPMG Management Consulting

  Quality assurance review—Agency DVLA

  Price Waterhouse

  Middle Management development training—Agency DVLA

  AC Manning

  Stress seminars—Agency DVLA

  The Industrial Society

  Team briefing training—Agency DVLA

  Institute for International Research

  Customer service training—Agency DVLA

  Institute for International Research

  Customer service training—Agency DVLA

  Wyndham Leigh

  Sale of Marks—Agency DVLA

  Hinton and Higgs

  Health and Safety Review—Agency VIEA

  Oxford Development Group

  Support for leadership course and management development—Agency VIEA

  PA Consulting Group

  Leadership and specialist skills for corporate planning seminar—Agency VIEA

  Road Tax Evasion
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he plans any new initiatives to combat evasion of road tax; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  With the co-operation of the police, the Department has recently run successful campaigns against road tax evaders in the London and Strathclyde areas. In June, a regional blitz has been launched covering the north-east of England and more are planned during 1991. Such action is very effective both in deterring potential evaders and in catching offenders who have failed to heed the warnings given.

  Railway Crossings
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many accidents there have been involving motor vehicles at railway crossings with barriers(a) in Wales and (b) in Britain in each year since 1985–86;

  (2) how many accidents there have been involving motor vehicles at open railway crossings (a) in Wales and (b) in Britain in each year since 1985–86.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested in respect of Britain as a whole for the years 1985–89 is set out in the table. Details for 1990 are not yet available, but will be published in the Health and Safety Executive's annual report on railway safety later in the year. Separate information for Welsh crossings is not readily available.

  Crossings with barriers

  Year

  Number of accidents

  1985

  11

  1986

  10

  1987

  6

  1988

  8

  1989

  3

  275

  Open crossings (includes those with and without traffic signals)

  Year

  Number of accidents

  1985

  16

  1986

  11

  1987

  15

  1988

  20

  1989

  10

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the approximate capital cost and annual service costs for installing and running crossings with barriers.

  Mr. Freeman
  Installation costs range between £100,000 and £135,000, depending on the type of crossing. Annual running costs for crossings with automatic half barriers are about £12,000. Running costs for manually controlled crossings depend on the level of manning.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress being made in introducing barriers at open railway crossings.

  Mr. Freeman
  Following the accident at an automatic open crossing at Lockington in 1986, Professor P. F. Stott was appointed to carry out a review of safety at this type of crossing. He recommended that safety at some crossings might be improved either by providing half-barriers or by a reduction in the speed at which the train approaches the crossings.

  All proposed speed reductions at crossings have now been implemented. Under the Stott recommendations 126 crossings were to be converted to half-barriers. Of these, 38 crossings have been converted to standard automatic half-barrier protection and six have been converted to automatic barrier crossings locally monitored by the train driver.

  BR's target for completion of this work is late 1992. The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate is keeping the programme under review and regularly monitors progress.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway crossings are open crossings and how many have barriers(a) in Wales and (b) in Britain.

  Mr. Freeman
  The numbers of automatic open railway crossings and automatic crossings with barriers are as follows:

  auto open crossings

  auto barrier crossings

  (a) In Wales

  29

  10

  (b) In Britain

  190

  370

  Note:—(b) include (a)

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been killed in each year since 1985–86 in accidents involving(a) open railway crossings and (b) crossings with barriers.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information for 1985–89 is as follows; that for 1990 is not yet available.
  276

  Year

  Fatalities at crossings with barriers

  Fatalities at open crossings1

  1985

  3

  2

  1986

  5

  211

  1987

  2

  2

  1988

  2

  2

  1989

  —

  2

  1 Includes those with and without traffic signals.

  2 All fatalities in one accident at Lockington.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the approximate capital cost and annual service costs for installing and running open railway crossings.

  Mr. Freeman
  For automatic open level crossings the average installation cost is £73,000 and the annual running costs are about £12,000. Figures for open crossings with no lights are not readily available.

  Motor Cycle Licence
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current cost of a motor cycle licence; when it was last increased; and what was the cost before the increase.

  Mr. Chope
  The information requested is:

  Current £

  Previous £

  Motorcycles not over 150cc

  15

  10

  Over 150cc up to 250cc

  30

  20

  All other motorcycles

  50

  40

  The last increase was in 1985.

  Decca Navigation System
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has made a decision on extending the life of the Decca navigation system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. and learned Friend is considering a revised offer put forward by Racal Electronics plc to extend the life of the Decca navigator system into the next century. He expects to reach a decision shortly.

  Driving Licence Records
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will list the organisations which have shown reasonable cause as outlined in section 15(1) of the Road Vehicle (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 1971 to receive personal data from the DVLA; whether he has discussed the DVLA's disclosure procedures with the Data Protection Registrar; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chope
  Regulation 15 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 1971 requires the Secretary of State to provide, free of charge from the vehicle register, names and addresses of vehicle keepers to the police and local authorities for use in connection with an offence. The information must also be made available to others who can show reasonable cause for their inquiry. There is no list of organisations which have shown reasonable cause as each request is dealt with on its merits when it is received.
  277
  The advice of the Data Protection Registrar has been sought on a number of occasions about DVLA's disclosure procedures, most recently on 15 April 1991. He has expressed himself satisfied.

  Train Doors (Accidents)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss fatal accidents concerning train doors.

  Mr. Freeman
  After I have received the report of the study now being carried out by the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on what action is to be taken by the railways inspectorate following the examination of a door which revealed a fault in its slam-shut locking mechanism during an investigation into the death of a passenger who fell from the Birmingham to London InterCity train on 3 December 1990.

  Mr. Freeman
  At the coroner's inquest into this fatality at Carpenders park, an open verdict was returned. No evidence was available to show from which door, or in what circumstances, the deceased had fallen from the train. I understand that when BR examined the train later, a hinge on one door was found to be faulty, but not unsafe.

  The Health and Safety Commission announced on 3 May that Her Majesty's railway inspectorate, and other specialist resources within the Health and Safety Executive, will undertake an investigation into the pattern of falls from passenger trains and whether, or the extent to which, they could be attributable to the design of doors or locks. The results of the investigation, which is now under way, will be published.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission to discuss the inquiry into fatal falls from British Rail trains.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. and learned Friend has not met the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission to discuss the current investigation into train doors. He plans to meet Dr. Cullen shortly to discuss railway safety generally.

  Policy Proposals
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional resources he is making available to support his policy proposals on transport announced on 28 May.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Any additional resources needed for transport will be discussed in the public expenditure survey in the usual way.

  Dornoch Firth
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for the creation of a rail bridge across the Dornoch firth.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  None. It would be for British Rail to bring forward any such proposals.

  Orange Badge Scheme
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will now introduce regulations to revise the orange badge scheme for disabled drivers in conformity with the views of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee and other disabled person's organisations.

  Mr. Chope
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 21 March at column 212.

  Rail Electrification, Scotland
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to reply to correspondence from the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North regarding investment criteria governing rail electrification in Scotland.

  Mr. Freeman
  I replied to the hon. Member's letter on 3 June.

  Speedlink
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the annual volume of freight traffic to be transferred from rail to road if the closure of Speedlink is proceeded with.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail is still in consultation with customers about the alternative rail options for Speedlink traffic and it is not possible to estimate exactly how much freight traffic will transfer from rail to road when the Speedlink network closes on 8 July.

  I understand that British Rail expects to retain well over half the 3 million tonnes of domestic freight currently carried. Wagonload traffic lost to rail is likely to amount to some 1 per cent. of total rail freight.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will issue directions to British Rail that the Speedlink rail freight service should continue to operate.

  Mr. Freeman
  No. The Speedlink wagonload network has losses of well over £30 million a year on a turnover of £45 million. To compete with road, rail has to be efficient, competitive and commercial. British Rail plans to develop train load freight services rather than individual wagon services.

  Turbo-trains
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has discussed further orders of BREL network turbo trains for regional British Rail lines with the chairman of British Rail.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Six such vehicles have been ordered for the Oxford-Worcester service to complement the order for 59 vehicles for Paddington services, which my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State approved on 28 March. The chairman has made no further proposals on other routes.

  Track Gauge
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans for the introduction of continental gauge track for the carriage of freight between the United Kingdom and the continent.
  279
  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail has no such plans. Its commercial judgment is that low-platform wagons offer the most cost-effective means of conveying continental-size containers and swap bodies on the British rail network.

  Class 158 Trains
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the incidents involving potential safety risks reported to his Department since the introduction of class 158 trains; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Railways (Notice of Accidents) Order 1986 (SI 1986 No. 2187) categorises accident types and specifies the circumstances in which accidents should be reported. The following list shows all accidents, together with causes, involving class 158 trains since their introduction which have been reported to the Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate in accordance with the order. The details for 1991 should be regarded as provisional:

  21 January 1990

  Upper Leigh/Newton

  Unit struck animal on track

  24 November 1990

  Aberdeen (Clay Hills)

  Buffer collision in sidings

  24 November 1990

  Balloch

  Unit struck animal on track

  26 November 1990

  Falkirk High

  Small fire on DMU

  29 November 1990

  Portlethen

  Unit struck animal on track

  3 December 1990

  Edinburgh Waverley

  Coupling failure

  8 December 1990

  Glasgow Queen Street

  Coupling failure

  13 December 1990

  Cadder

  Unit struck trespasser—fatality

  Electricity KWh (millions)

  Gas Therms (millions)

  Liquid fuel Litres (thousands)

  Solid fuel Tonnes

  1985–86

  (a) £ thousands at cash prices

  1,832

  588

  624

  11

  (b) £ thousands at 1990–91 prices

  2,459

  789

  838

  15

  (c) Units of consumption

  39

  2

  3,599

  171

  1986–87

  (a) £ thousands at cash prices

  1,906

  616

  410

  12

  (b) £ thousands at 1990–91 prices

  2,472

  799

  532

  16

  (c) Units of consumption

  41

  2

  3,865

  187

  1987–88

  (a) £ thousands at cash prices

  1,773

  623

  138

  11

  (b) £ thousands at 1990–91 prices

  2,183

  767

  170

  14

  (c) Units of consumption

  39

  2

  1,440

  176

  1988–89

  (a) £ thousands at cash prices

  1,761

  496

  76

  6

  (b) £ thousands at 1990–91 prices

  2,018

  568

  87

  7

  (c) Units of consumption

  33

  2

  660

  108

  1989–90

  (a) £ thousands at cash prices

  1,865

  525

  81

  7

  (b) £ thousands at 1990–91 prices

  2,010

  566

  87

  8

  (c) Units of consumption

  35

  2

  701

  126

  280

  2 January 1991

  Inverness

  Unit struck animal on track

  31 January 1991

  Urmston

  Unit struck road vehicle (not at a level crossing)

  5 February 1991

  Aberdeen

  Derailment of empty coaching stock

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects direct passenger services to operate between Scotland and the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail awaits proposals from the manufacturers on the delivery and cost of trains for through day services between places north of London and the continent, and do not expect these trains to be ready before 1994. British Rail still plans to run through night services from the opening of the channel tunnel.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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 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. McLoughlin
  [holding answer Monday 3 June 1991]: Energy consumption figures for the Department of Transport are set out in the following table. These show that between 1985–86 and 1990–91 total annual expenditure at constant prices has been reduced by approximately £1·4 million. During this period the Department of Transport estate remained broadly constant in size. In 1990–91 the Department occupied 3·66 million sq ft of accommodation.
  281

  Electricity KWh (millions)

  Gas Therms (millions)

  Liquid fuel Litres (thousands)

  Solid fuel Tonnes

  1990–91

  (a) £ thousands at cash prices

  2,128

  426

  102

  0

  (b) £ thousands at 1990–91 prices

  2,128

  426

  102

  0

  (c) Units of consumption

  39

  1

  730

  0

  Notes:

  1. Separate Department of Transport statistics on energy consumption and expenditure are not available before 1985–86. Before then the Property Services Agency managed matters centrally.

  2. The breakdown by fuel for 1989–90 is estimated by applying the 1988–89 breakdown to the total expenditure for 1989–90.

  3. 1990–91 figures are based on estimated outturn.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION

  Comptroller and Auditor-General
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what was the total number of staff of the Comptroller and Auditor-General in 1961, 1970, 1980 and 1990; and how many were qualified accountants in each of those years.

  Sir Peter Hordern
  The number of staff employed by the Exchequer and Audit Department and its successor body, the National Audit Office, are shown below together with the numbers of qualified accountants. It should be noted that the role and responsibilities of the National Audit Office as set out in the National Audit Act 1983 are significantly enhanced from those of the Exchequer and Audit Department.

  Total staff

  Trained Accountants

  Qualified Accountants

  1961

  536

  364

  3

  1970

  585

  383

  5

  1980

  689

  398

  15

  1990

  911

  161

  278

  Before 1975, all recruits to the audit grades has to pass external examinations following a three-year training programme specially designed to meet the Department's needs but not leading to a recognised accountancy qualification. Since 1975, all audit staff recruits have been required either to possess a recognised accountancy qualification or to study for one.

  In addition, at 31 December 1990, 240 staff were at various stages of training towards a professional qualification.

PRIME MINISTER

  Military and Defence Contracts
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements exist between the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Trade and Industry for conducting trials for military and defence contracts for foreign sales.

  The Prime Minister
  In the case of technical or operational trials of defence equipment, arrangements for trials are normally made between the customer country and the United Kingdom company involved. On occasion, the Minister of Defence can assist in such trials on a repayment basis. If the conduct of a trial requires equipment to be taken overseas, the DTI would consider any application for an export licence in the normal way.

  Cabinet Structure
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will now list his Cabinet committees and sub-committees and specify any changes made in Cabinet organisation and committee structure since November 1990.

  The Prime Minister
  There continue to be four standing committees of the Cabinet: a defence and overseas policy committee and an economic affairs committee under my chairmanship; a home and social affairs committee under the chairmanship of my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Privy Seal; and a legislation committee under the chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council. Sub-committees of the standing committees will be continued or established as appropriate. Membership and terms of reference of the standing committees and their sub-committees will remain confidential.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what matters he discussed during his meeting with the President of Zimbabwe.

  The Prime Minister
  President Mugabe and I discussed the situation in South Africa and the prospects for the October Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting as well as developments in Zimbabwe, including the structural adjustment programme for Zimbabwean economy.

  Arms Control
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the middle east arms control and non-proliferation initiative announced by President Bush on 29 May; and whether Her Majesty's Government have made any response to the United States Government on the initiative.

  The Prime Minister
  We warmly welcome President Bush's imaginative initiative to combat proliferation and the unrestrained spread of conventional weapons in the middle east. We look forward to taking his proposals forward, together with our own ideas, at the forthcoming meeting of the five leading arms exporters in Paris, and thereafter at the London economic summit.

ENVIRONMENT

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount spent by his Department in the 1990–91 financial year on management
  283
  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 which the contract was carried out.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The total spent by my Department, excluding PSAS, on management and computer consultancies was £9·1 million.

  The contracts let were:

  Consultant and Project

  Action Based Learning

  Teamworking/leadership course

  Action Resource Centre

  Private Sector secondments to City Action Teams

  Allan Jones Associates

  Representations to Cheshire Structure Plan

  Allot and Lomax

  European Construction Code

  Almondhall Computer Staff

  Business Model: Planning Inspectorate

  BDO Binder Hamlyn

  Grant Redemption Fund

  BIS Applied Systems

  North Sea Database

  Blackwater Valley Training

  Stress Management

  Bradshaw, Buckton and Ton

  European Construction Codes

  Building Construction Information Service

  Tender price indices

  Centre for Transport Studies

  Review of transport [Building Research Establishment]

  Chapman Hendy

  Waltham Forest Housing Action Trust

  Computer People (St. Albans)

  Bookshop system [BRE]

  Comshare

  Local authority statistics

  Consultants in Environmental Sciences

  Cleaning agents; coastal discharges

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  PSA privatisation

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  Uniface

  Debenham, Tewson and Chinnocks

  Regents Park Zoo

  Denis Mills Associates

  BSI building code

  Denis Walker Associates

  Human resources development [Historic Royal Palaces Agency]

  Develin and Ptnrs

  Positive resource management [BRE]

  Edmond Shipway and Partners

  City grant monitoring

  Electoral Reform Society

  Hull shadow Housing Action Trust

  Elmcroft Consulting

  Accounting support: Property Holdings

  Elvendon Press

  Wood preservatives

  Ernst and Young

  Local authority and housing association management and maintenance grant

  Flint Neill Partners

  BSI building code

  Food Service Associates

  Office restaurant

  Hanlon Computer Systems

  Inter-departmental urban database

  Healey and Baker

  Disposal of New Town assets

  Hull City Council

  Housing Action Trust team

  ICL

  Estates database

  Imperial War Museum

  Staff inspection of the Royal Armouries

  Infodoc

  BSI building code

  Infologistix

  Translation service; software evaluation

  ISMA Consultants

  Computer risk analysis

  Jonathan Coates and Associates

  Time management course

  John Knapton Engineers

  BSI building code

  Kermon Management Consultants

  Network infrastructure project

  Kidson Impey

  Local authority waste disposal companies

  King's College, London

  Design improvement controlled experiment

  KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock

  Recruitment of professional staff to HMIP

  284

  KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock

  Review of Housing Corporation

  KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock

  Performance measurements

  KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock

  Management accounting systems [HRPA]

  Land and Urban Analysis

  Employment densities

  Logica

  Shellware: HMIP

  Logica

  Technical assurance: local authority statistics

  Management Development Consultants

  Financial training [BRE]

  MCP Management Consultants

  Organisation and staffing of QEII conference centre

  Mindworks

  Financial monitoring system

  MORI

  Barriers against uptake of unleaded petrol

  Mouncey and Partners

  IT strategy: Property Holdings

  Mouncey and Partners

  Systems analysis: HMIP

  NIFES Consultancy

  Energy Conservation [BRE]

  Orchard Partners

  BSI building code

  PA Consulting

  Royal Armouries investment appraisal

  PA Consulting

  Neighbourhood renewal manual

  PA Consulting

  Network infrastructure project

  PA Consulting

  Security review of INFORM system [BRE]

  Parker Bowers

  Teambuilding course

  PE International

  IT support to the Government Car Service

  Peter Peregrinus Ltd.

  Register of research

  Phronesis Consulting

  IT advice to senior management: Property Holdings

  PIC Services

  Southwark Housing Action Trust

  Price Waterhouse

  Performance measures

  Price Waterhouse

  Finance training

  Price Waterhouse

  Management accounting system

  Price Waterhouse

  English House Condition Survey

  Price Waterhouse

  Estates database

  Ray Hullcoop Associates

  BSI building code

  Rofe Kennard and Lapworth

  Technical audit of water companies

  Safe Neighbourhood Unit

  Estate Action

  Saxton Bamfylde

  Executive recruitment

  Shanklan Cox

  Rural recycling

  Signal UK

  Database archiving for Private Office

  Smith Associates

  Climate change parameters

  Softlab

  SSADM training: Planning Inspectorate

  Spicer and Oppenheim

  Management of INFORM [BRE]

  Technical Advisory Service Standards

  European Construction Code

  Touche Ross

  Accounting study: Property Holdings

  Touche Ross

  Interface study: Property Holdings

  Touche Ross

  IT accountancy: Planning Inspectorate

  Tropix Photography

  Estate Action photography

  Tuffin, Ferraby and Taylor

  Works and maintenance services [HRPA]

  Turner and Townsend

  City Grant monitoring

  University of Newcastle

  BSI building code

  VNG

  Conversion of local office systems: Property Holdings

  Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Board

  Certificate of Technical Competence

  Watson Hawksley

  Technical audits of water companies

  Women's Self-Defence Association

  Self defence for trainers

  World Systems

  Training for HMIP

  Worthy, K

  Management accounting system

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  W S Atkins

  Parliamentary works information management

  W S Atkins

  Fuel branch IT

  W S Atkins

  Specification for replacement computer systems: Property Holdings

  W S Atkins

  Business assurance: HMIP

  Rented Accommodation
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to encourage an increase in the availability of rented accommodation suitable for older people.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Housing Corporation is now the major provider of new subsidised housing for rent. Its capital programme is set to rise significantly—from £1·1 billion in 1990–91 to over £2 billion in 1993–94.

  Both the housing needs indicator, by which the Housing Corporation distributes resources to housing associations, and the generalised needs indicator, by which the annual local authority housing investment programme allocations are made, take into account the housing needs of the elderly.

  My Department has recently commissioned an independent study of the housing needs of the elderly, to help review the provision of subsidised specialised housing for elderly people.

  Disability
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports he has made, under section 7 of the Disabled Persons Act 1981, on improvements of access provision for people with disabilities, since the Act was first introduced.

  Mr. Yeo
  No such reports have been made.

  As an alternative to implementing section 6 of the Disabled Persons Act 1981, new building regulations were laid before Parliament on 2 April 1985. These became operational in August 1985. They required that new offices, shops, single-storey factories, educational and public buildings should be made accessible to disabled people.

  Further building regulations were laid before Parliament on 20 August 1987 recasting these requirements into functional form. At the same time, an approved document giving practical solutions for meeting the access requirements was published.

  Public consultation took place earlier this year on proposals to widen the application of access requirements to all storeys in new non-domestic buildings, to certain alterations and extensions, and to introduce provisions aimed at reducing risks to people with impaired sight and helping those with impaired hearing. The results of the consultation exercise are being considered by my Department and the Building Regulations Advisory Committee. It is proposed to lay regulations before Parliament later this year, which will aim further to improve access requirements for disabled people.

  Dogs
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next intends to meet representatives of the RSPCA to discuss a national registration scheme for dogs.
  286
  Mr. Baldry
  We have regular discussions with the Joint Advisory Committee on Pets in Society, which includes RSPCA representatives, on matters relating to responsible dog ownership and to the implementation of the package of dog control measures contained in the Environmental Protection Act 1990. We will introduce the dog control measures next year. They include a duty on local authorities to enforce the requirement that dogs wear a collar and identification tag when in a public place and to ensure that stray dogs are collected up. We believe that the measures will provide a practical and effective solution to the problems caused by irresponsible owners. We remain of the view that registration would be bureaucratic, expensive to operate and ineffective.

  Litter
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received any representations from British Rail about provisions for clearing litter under the Environmental Protection Act.

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department had a number of meetings to discuss the litter provisions with British Rail, during the passage of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 through Parliament. British Rail was represented on the advisory group which drew up the code of practice on litter and refuse. My Department was also in frequent con tact with British Rail during the formulation of the Litter (Statutory Undertakers) (Designation and Relevant Land) Order 1991, made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State under subsections (6) and (8) of section 86 of the Act.

  Noise
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies have been undertaken by his Department concerning the evaluation of nuisance caused by noise.

  Mr. Baldry
  During the past five years the following studies have formed part of my Department's environmental noise research programme:Survey of numbers and types of complaints made to environmental health officers about noise from domestic premises.
  Survey of types of noises heard by people in their homes.
  Survey of satisfaction with sound insulation in converted flats.

  Studies currently taking place within the programme are:
  Survey of levels of amplified music in dwellings.
  Survey of attitudes to noise.

  Proposed studies within the programme are surveys of disturbances caused by industrial noise, low frequency noise and transportation noise.

  Ivory
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his current policy on the ivory trade.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government remain fully committed to maintaining the current ban on commercial trade in ivory for as long as it is necessary to ensure the survival and recovery of elephant populations. We would not support any proposals to permit trade to recommence unless we were fully satisfied that the conditions for a resumption of trade, drawn up at the seventh conference of the parties to the convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES) had been met.

  Environmental Policy
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the preparation of the guidance to Departments on incorporation of environmental considerations in their policy-making process.

  Mr. Baldry
  The guide will be published later in the year.

  Housing (Elderly People)
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the housing needs of elderly people in the north-west.

  Mr. Yeo
  Both my Department and the Housing Corporation take account of regional needs in their distribution of resources to housing associations and local authorities.

  The housing needs indicator, on which the regional distribution of the Housing Corporation's capital funds is based, and the generalised needs index, which the Department uses in making housing investment programme allocations, are statistical indexes of relative housing need made up of a number of indicators, one of which is concerned with "elderly needs". These indexes are regularly reviewed.

  On a national basis, we have recently commissioned an independent study of the housing needs of elderly people to help review the provision of subsidised specialised housing for this group. This will provide representative estimates of unmet need on a regional basis.

  Environmental Grant Fund
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make an announcement on who will receive funding under the new environmental grant fund.

  Mr. Trippier
  Offers of funding totalling £650,000 have today been made to 36 voluntary organisations for projects which will help take forward the policies set out in our White Paper "This Common Inheritance".

  There was an overwhelming response to the new fund. I would like to thank all those who applied for getting this first year of the fund off to such a good start and wish those who were unsuccessful this time well for next year when a total of £1 million will be available.

  I am especially glad that the new fund is supporting innovative projects and groups new to environmental work, ranging from a Law Centres Federation project to promote awareness of environmental law, through work on environmental awareness among young people organised by the Girl Guides in the south-west, to a project from the Bat Conservation Trust to help Church authorities with the guests in their belfries.

  I am also pleased that we have been able to support projects throughout England, including ways of resolving disputes over domestic noise in Bristol; work with the handicapped in Staffordshire; community projects in east London; and environmental networks in the west midlands and Merseyside.

  A list of the groups which have been offered support is as follows:

  Age Concern

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  The Bat Conservation Trust

  The Bridle Gate Project

  Bristol Recycling Consortium

  British Dragonfly Society

  British Trust for Conservation Volunteers

  Community Land and Workspace Services

  Council for Environmental Education

  The Council for Occupational Standards and Qualifications in Environmental Conservation

  Council for the Protection of Rural England

  The Environment Council

  Farming and Wildlife Trust

  Forum for Initiatives in Reparation and Mediation

  Friends of the Earth

  The Garden History Society

  The Girl Guides Association (South West)

  Groundwork Foundation (South Leeds Groundwork Trust)

  Henry Doubleday Research Association

  The Institute of Business Ethics

  Kennet and Avon Canal Trust

  Law Centres Federation

  Marine Conservation Society

  Mersey Basin Campaign Voluntary Sector Network

  National Council for Voluntary Organisations

  Neighbourhood Energy Action

  Pedestrians' Association

  Recycling City Ltd.

  The Royal National Institute for the Deaf

  Royal Society for Nature Conservation

  Royal Society for the Preservation of Birds

  Tower Hamlets Environment Trust

  The Tree Council

  The Victorian Society

  Waste Watch

  West Midlands Environment Network

  Youth Clubs UK

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. Heseltine
  [holding answer 3 June 1991]: Information on my Department's investment in improving energy efficiency prior to 1989–90 is not available. Expenditure on energy efficiency measures for 1989–90 is estimated to have totalled £120,000 which in 1990–91 money terms is £130,000. Expenditure for 1990–91 is estimated to be £140,000. These figures exclude energy conservation work carried out by Property Holdings on behalf of other Government Departments.

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

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 3 June 1991]: A total of eight energy audits of offices and specialised sites in London and the regions carried out by external consultants have been initiated in my Department within the five-year period ending March 1990. Since then the Department's energy management unit has carried out five short in-house energy audits in specialised sites and three lighting surveys have been carried out in regional offices. The majority of recommendations resulting from both major and minor audits have recommended various no-cost or low-cost energy conservation measures. These have been, or are in the process of being, implemented where practicable.
  289
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. Heseltine
  [holding answer 3 June 1991]: My Department's energy management unit is staffed by four officials whose total effort on energy management represents an approximate total of 1·5 person years. An additional 0·4 person years is dedicated to energy management in the Building Research Establishment.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Nicaragua
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much grant aid has been provided for Nicaragua since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The available figures are:

  Year

  Total grant aid

  Disaster relief

  of which Technical cooperation

  United Kingdom's attributable share of EC aid

  1979

  236

  93

  142

  —

  1980

  1,757

  66

  61

  1,630

  1981

  1,201

  7

  84

  1,110

  1982

  1,139

  13

  36

  1,090

  1983

  1,114

  34

  30

  1,050

  1984

  2,549

  —

  9

  2,540

  1985

  2,196

  100

  16

  2,080

  1986

  1,286

  83

  3

  1,200

  1987

  1,780

  —

  —

  1,780

  1988

  2,740

  180

  —

  2,560

  1989

  61

  61

  —

  —

  In addition, grant expenditure under the joint funding scheme—available only by United Kingdom financial year—was:

  £thousand

  Up to 1985–86

  162

  1986–87

  24

  1987–88

  58

  1988–89

  39

  1989–90

  89

  1990–91

  223

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what intentions Her Majesty's Government have to aid the Nicaraguan Government in their attempt to strengthen the country's educational system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We are looking into the possibility of providing English language training.

  European Development Council
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed at the European Development Council on 27 May.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We discussed a number of important issues, including human rights, democracy and development and tropical forests. We adopted resolutions on 290
  non-governmental organisations and counterpart funds. We also reviewed the special programme of food aid to Africa, during which I announced an additional 60.000 tonnes of food aid for Africa at an estimated cost of £ 16·5 million. This was widely welcomed by my fellow Ministers and by the Commission.

  Biological Diversity
  Mr. Lester
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government has taken to fulfil the commitment given in the White Paper, "This Common Inheritance", in September 1990 to do more to conserve biological diversity in developing countries.

  Mrs. Chalker
  On 5 June—World Environment Day —I published "Biological Diversity and Developing Countries: Issues and Options", which summarises the ODA strategic studies announced in "This Common Inheritance". The document sets out a range of further measures which we will take. I have placed copies of the document in the Libraries.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Nicaragua
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government intend to re-establish the British Council in Managua, Nicaragua; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The British Council has no plans to open an office in Managua.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to improve diplomatic relations with the Nicaraguan Government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We enjoy close and friendly relations with the Government of Nicaragua. I received Sr. Enrique Dreyfus, the Nicaraguan Foreign Minister, when he visited the United Kingdom last December and we held further talks in March when I visited Nicaragua to attend the San Jose VII meeting of EC and central American Foreign Ministers. The visit also enabled me to visit some of the projects carried out under our bilateral aid programme.

  Somaliland
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government plans to establish diplomatic relations with the Somaliland Republic.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We have no plans to do so.

  PHARE Programme
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what moneys are being made available by the United Kingdom and channelled through the PHARE—Poland and Hungary Assistance for Economic Restructuring—programme for
  291
  the purpose of sending specialist advisers selected and approved by the west to provide information, advice and technical assistance to eastern European countries;

  (2) how much money is being devoted under the PHARE programme for direct use in the creation of an infrastructure to support the development of democracy.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The EC's PHARE programme committed some 500 mecu in 1990 and is worth 850 mecu in 1991 and 1 billion ecu in 1992. Our contribution is some 18 per cent., or approximately £63 million, £107 million and £126 million respectively. The PHARE programme promotes economic restructuring in the countries of central and eastern Europe thereby underpinning the newly created democracies. The programme includes the financing of western specialist advisers in these countries, and training in member states.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what restrictions the United Kingdom Government impose on the use of moneys under the PHARE programme in terms of the type of end use to which resources can be applied or as to locations from which services can be brought in.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The operation of the PHARE programme is governed by European Community regulations. The British Government are represented on a management committee which oversees disbursements and considers the Commission's proposals. The regulations stipulate that only EC member states and the countries of central and eastern Europe may tender to provide services for projects wholly financed by the PHARE programme.

  Algeria
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the status of the Algerian nuclear programme.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Algeria possesses one working nuclear research reactor which has been placed under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. We understand that with Chinese co-operation Algeria is building a second reactor at Ain Oussera. At a press conference on 29 April a spokesman for the Algerian Ministry of Scientific Research said that this second reactor was for research purposes and the production of radio-isotopes, and Algeria intended to submit it to IAEA inspection. Chinese spokesmen have publicly confirmed this. We welcome these assurances, and hope the Algerian Government will invite the IAEA to inspect the facility as soon as possible.

  Disarmament
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the most recent visit to the United Kingdom of Soviet military inspectors under the intermediate nuclear forces agreement verification protocols; and what has been the cost to date of implementation of the 1987 intermediate nuclear forces agreement in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The most recent visit to the United Kingdom by soviet inspectors under the intermediate nuclear forces treaty took place on 28 May 1991; RAF Greenham Common and RAF Molesworth were 292
  inspected. Treaty implementation costs in addition to the normal operating costs of the MOD are estimated to have been less than £40,000 since the treaty came into force.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation the United Kingdom had at the United Nations conference on disarmament issues; and whether his Department will be assisting in the distribution of material arising from the conference.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the United Nations conference on disarmament issues which took place in Kyoto, Japan from 27–30 May. A senior official of the Ministry of Defence attended, in a personal capacity. We have taken careful note of his report of the discussions at the conference. The public distribution of material arising out of the conference is a matter for the United Nations.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to provide help to Sierra Leone in dealing with intruders along its frontiers.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Sierra Leone Government have made a non-specific request for military aid to deal with intruders from Liberia to which we are responding.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will provide details of the Sierra Leone request for aid in dealing with Liberian intruders along its frontiers.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We are supplying a quantity of non-lethal defence equipment to the Sierra Leone army.

  Non-Government Organisations
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply of 23 May,Official Report, column 579, to the hon. Member for Newport. West on the meeting of 14 May with non-government organisations, if he will list the matters raised in rank order to the proportion of time spent on them, without making direct reference to those parties who initiated the discussions.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The discussions at this meeting were off the record. It would not be appropriate to specify how much time was devoted to each of the many topics raised.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Marina Services
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to refer Marina Services to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Secretary of State and I are concerned about the allegations we have heard of possible anti-competitive practices in marinas on the south coast. We have asked the Director General of Fair Trading to look into the allegations and see what the evidence shows. We are still considering this matter.

  The Secretary of State has powers to refer the supply of marina services to the Monopolies and Mergers

  293
  Commission and would use these powers if evidence emerged which justified a reference. Any evidence of monopoly abuse or anti-competitive practices to provide the basis for a reference should be brought to the attention of the Director General.

  Emergency Telephone Service
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps have been taken to ensure a comprehensive emergency telephone service under the Government's policy for telecommunications.

  Mr. Redwood
  All public telecommunications operators including BT, Mercury Communications and the two cellular operators, Cellnet and Racal-Vodafone, are obliged under their respective operating licences to provide an emergency call service to the public free of charge—the "999" service—enabling them to notify emergency organisations (police, fire and ambulance services) of' emergencies.

  Exit Strategies
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1)) further to his answer of 13 May,Official Report, column 39, on exit strategies, if he will list how much of the £1 million annually for the support of projects is for (a) salaries and (b) administration in each of the task forces;

  (2) if the £1 million is for capital projects or is minus the salaries, rent and administration of the task forces themselves.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 5 June 1991]: The quoted figure of about £1 million per annum refers to project expenditure alone; this may be capital expenditure, project running costs (including salaries and administration), or both.

  The task forces' own running costs of salaries, rent, administration and associated expenditure are not included.

  Textiles
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to include all children's clothing in legislation covering fire retardant materials in the same degree as presently covers furniture; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 5 June 1991]: No. It would not be reasonable for clothing to meet fire resistance requirements to the same degree applicable to the covers of upholstered furniture. Such fire resistant treatments are not suitable for most of the lightweight fabrics used in summerwear, and in the limited range of fabrics where it might be possible the comfort of the garment would be severely affected.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to extend existing regulations under consumer protection legislation to include shell suits and similar fashion wear in respect of fire resistant materials; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 5 June 1991]: We have no present plans to extend the scope of the Nightwear (Safety) Regulations to daywear garments for children. However,
  294
  section 10 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987, the general safety requirement, makes it an offence to supply consumer goods, including articles of clothing, that are not reasonably safe having regard to all the circumstances.

  My Department has recently advised the British Standards Institution of its support for the development of a flammability specification that could be applied to children's daywear garments. In the interim, the Department is supporting the enforcement authorities in their discussions with the clothing industry on a voluntary scheme for flammability labelling of childrenswear. We shall continue to monitor developments closely.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Higher Education
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many universities have applied to be renamed as polytechnics.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  None, yet.

  Veterinary Schools
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) when he expects the Universities Funding Council to announce a decision on capital grants to veterinary schools;

  (2) what representations he has received from veterinary schools for capital grants to develop the student facilities; and if he will discuss such grants with the Universities Funding Council.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The Universities Funding Council's capital allocations for 1991–92 were set out in circular letter 7/91, a copy of which is in the Library. My right hon. and learned Friend has not received any representations from veterinary schools on the allocations; nor would he expect to do so since, under the Education Reform Act 1988, it is for the UFC to determine the distribution of funding between individual institutions.

  Data Protection (Schools)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools there are in the United Kingdom; what proportion have computers used for administrative purposes; what steps he has taken to satisify himself about the propriety of personal data held by the governors, head teachers and parent teachers' associations on these computers; whether he has held meetings with local authority associations about the cost of registration of schools under the Data Protection Act; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  The number of schools in the United Kingdom is 34,958. Information is not available on the number of schools with computers used for administrative purposes. The control and use of personal data by data users is a matter for the office of the Data Protection Registrar. No meetings have so far been held with local authority associations specifically to discuss the cost of registration, but draft guidance for schools on data protection was circulated widely to the associations and others at the end of October 1990. Discussions are still taking place with the office of the Data Protection Registrar on the scope of registration by schools and guidance will be issued when these are complete.

  List 99
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science why the personal information associated with List 99 is not kept on computer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  The information held in relation to a decision by my right hon. and learned Friend to exclude a person from teaching or work with children or young persons on grounds of misconduct and add his or her name to List 99 could not easily be converted to a computer record.

  Further Education
  Mr. Orme
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many persons aged 19 years have followed non-advanced education courses in schools and colleges in the last five years.

  Mr. Eggar
  The number of full or part-time students aged 19 years in schools and on further education courses in publicly funded colleges is as follows:

  Thousands

  Schools

  Further education

  Total

  1985–86

  13

  89

  92

  1986–87

  3

  88

  90

  1987–88

  3

  83

  85

  Secondary Reorganisation proposals involving the establishment of Tertiary Colleges

  Proposal Date

  LEA

  Decision Made

  Decision Date

  13 July 1984

  Staffordshire

  Approved

  15 February 1985

  15 November 1984

  Gloucestershire

  Rejected

  24 March 1986

  30 November 1984(also Sixth Form College)

  Gloucestershire

  Rejected

  24 March 1986

  9 January 1985(also Sixth Form College)

  Wolverhampton

  Rejected

  25 November 1985

  22 April 1985

  Bury

  Approved

  15 April 1986

  6 September 1985

  Oxfordshire

  Approved

  17 September 1986

  30 September 1985

  Sunderland

  Approved1

  3 November 1986

  14 October 1985

  South Tyneside

  Approved

  9 October 1986

  24 October 1985

  Sheffield

  Approved1

  23 December 1986

  16 May 1986

  Essex

  Approved

  27 October 1987

  30 May 1986

  Avon

  Rejected

  27 January 1987

  23 October 1986

  Dudley

  Rejected

  5 August 1987

  22 January 1987

  ILEA

  Rejected

  27 November 1987

  23 January 1987

  Derbyshire

  Approved1

  30 November 1987

  5 March 1987

  Northamptonshire

  Approved

  3 December 1987

  23 September 1987

  Gloucestershire

  Rejected

  20 May 1988

  18 March 1988

  Shropshire

  Approved

  22 March 1989

  6 April 1988

  Cornwall

  Approved1

  25 May 1989

  13 April 1988

  Rochdale

  Approved1

  28 July 1989

  29 April 1988

  Essex

  Approved1

  23 October 1989

  29 April 1988

  Essex

  Approved1

  30 January 1990

  5 May 1988

  Wirral

  Rejected

  21 December 1988

  I June 1988

  Knowsley

  Approved1

  16 June 1989

  9 June 1988

  Sefton

  Approved1

  10 May 1989

  17 June 1988

  Derbyshire

  Approved1

  13 October 1989

  15 July 1988

  Derbyshire

  Approved

  25 August 1989

  7 April 1989

  Barnsley

  Approved1

  7 December 1989

  Secondary Reorganisation proposals involving the establishment of Sixth Form Colleges

  Proposal Date

  LEA

  Decision Made

  Decision Date

  5 April 1984

  Essex

  Approved

  4 April 1985

  10 September 1984

  Avon

  Rejected

  9 May 1986

  14 September 1984

  Waltham Forest

  Approved

  28 June 1985

  19 April 1985

  Cumbria

  Rejected

  25 February 1986

  30 January 1986

  Stockport

  Approved

  2 December 1986

  6 February 1986

  St Helens

  Approved

  22 October 1986

  24 April 1986

  Hampshire

  Approved

  6 November 1986

  29 October 1986

  Wirral

  Approved

  14 September 1987

  12 February 1987

  Cheshire

  Rejected

  19 January 1988

  296

  Schools

  Further education

  Total

  1988–89

  3

  82

  85

  1989–90

  3

  82

  86

  1 Includes adults in Special Schools.

  Notes:

  Numbers may not add to total because of rounding.

  Age is at 31 August at the start of the academic year.

  Adult Education Centres have been excluded.

  Schools Reorganisation
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of each proposal for a reorganisation or closure of schools involving the transfer of sixth form provision to(a) a sixth form college or (b) a further education or tertiary college, with name of area, and local education authority and colleges concerned, the approximate number of pupil/students involved, the decision of the Secretary of State, and date, for each year since 1979 for which data are available.

  Mr. Eggar
  The full information requested could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. Those proposals decided by the Secretary of State which involved the establishment of tertiary or sixth form colleges from 1984 onwards include the following:
  297

  Proposal Date

  LEA

  Decision Made

  Decision Date

  9 March 1987

  Shropshire

  Approved

  10 December 1987

  12 June 1987

  Merton

  1Approved

  11 July 1988

  18 June 1987

  Humberside

  Approved

  6 January 1988

  17 July 1987

  Lancashire

  Approved

  23 June 1988

  22 July 1987

  Hampshire

  1Approved

  23 May 1988

  18 September 1987

  Leeds

  Approved

  28 June 1988

  22 April 1988

  ILEA

  Approved

  15 February 1989

  27 May 1988

  Havering

  1Approved

  14 August 1989

  20 April 1989

  Newham

  1Approved

  26 April 1990

  1 May 1990

  Oldham

  1Approved

  3 December 1990

  1 Proposals approved with modification

  Students
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing the numbers and percentage of the total of students aged 16 to 18 years

  Full-time 16 to 18-year-olds

  Further education

  Sixth form colleges

  Other schools1

  Total

  Number (000)

  Percentage

  Number (000)

  Percentage

  Number (000)

  Percentage

  Number (000)

  Percentage

  1978–80

  237

  40·9

  48

  8·3

  294

  50·8

  579

  100

  1980–81

  228

  37·5

  54

  8·8

  327

  53·7

  609

  100

  1981–82

  262

  38·9

  60

  8·8

  353

  52·3

  675

  100

  1982–83

  294

  41·2

  64

  8·9

  355

  49·8

  712

  100

  1983–84

  279

  41·1

  62

  9·1

  338

  49·8

  679

  100

  1984–85

  271

  41·4

  61

  9·3

  323

  49·3

  656

  100

  1985–86

  274

  42·0

  64

  9·7

  315

  48·2

  652

  100

  1986–87

  272

  42·6

  63

  9·8

  304

  47·6

  639

  100

  1987–88

  282

  43·3

  62

  9·5

  308

  47·2

  652

  100

  1988–89

  282

  42·0

  70

  10·5

  319

  47·5

  671

  100

  1989–90

  302

  43·1

  74

  10·6

  324

  46·3

  699

  100

  1 The data for "other schools" are all 16 to 18-year-olds in schools (including special schools), whether or not they are in the sixth form. Data for sixth form students aged 16 to 18 are not available centrally.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the numbers of (a) full-time, (b) part-time and (c) full-time equivalent students in

  Higher education full-time and part-time students in Great Britain

  Thousands

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Universities

  Full-time

  292·7

  298·7

  300·2

  295·4

  291·7

  290·6

  295·5

  301·3

  305·4

  317·6

  334·5

  Part-time

  30·0

  32·0

  33·2

  33·5

  34·6

  36·0

  37·1

  39·4

  40·7

  44·5

  47·9

  Full-time equivalent

  303·2

  309·9

  311·8

  307·1

  303·8

  303·2

  308·5

  315·1

  319·6

  333·2

  351·3

  Polytechnics and colleges

  Full-time

  217·4

  221·7

  241·3

  257·7

  273·4

  282·7

  288·0

  294·7

  303·3

  308·7

  335·9

  Part-time

  168·1

  181·1

  185·8

  188·5

  195·3

  195·1

  210·0

  228·4

  232·7

  247·5

  259·4

  Full-time equivalent

  276·2

  284·5

  306·3

  323·7

  341·8

  351·0

  361·5

  374·6

  384·7

  395·3

  426·7

  All students

  Full-time

  510·1

  520·4

  541·5

  553·1

  565·1

  573·3

  583·5

  596·1

  608·7

  626·3

  670·4

  Part-time

  198·1

  213·1

  219·0

  222·0

  229·9

  231·1

  247·1

  267·8

  273·4

  292·0

  307·3

  Full-time equivalent

  579·4

  594·4

  618·1

  630·8

  645·6

  654·2

  670·0

  689·7

  704·3

  728·5

  778·0

  Sources: Universities Statistical Record.

  Further Education Statistical Record.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the total numbers of full-time equivalent students in higher education aged 18 to 21 years in each year since 1979; and what percentage of the same age group they represented.
  298
  in full-time education in (a) school sixth forms, (b) sixth form colleges and (c) further education, including tertiary, colleges for each year since 1979 for which data are available.

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested is as follows:

  (i) universities, (ii) polytechnics, (iii) other higher education institutions and (iv) (i) plus (ii) plus (iii), for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Information is given in the table:

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The information is given in the table:
  299

  Home undergraduate students on first year courses of higher education—aged under 21

  Academic years

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Full-time

  117·4

  123·3

  130·2

  136·4

  135·4

  137·9

  136·8

  136·6

  138·6

  141·2

  157·8

  Part-time

  29·6

  35·6

  36·7

  35·3

  33·6

  32·8

  33·0

  32·5

  34·4

  35·8

  35·9

  Full-time equivalent

  127·8

  135·8

  143·0

  148·8

  147·2

  149·4

  148·4

  148·0

  150·7

  153·8

  170·4

  As percentage of 18 and 19-year-old population

  14·6

  15·2

  15·6

  15·8

  15·6

  16·3

  16·6

  16·8

  17·4

  18·1

  20·2

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the proportion of (i) 16-year-olds, (ii) 17-year-olds, (iii) 18-year-olds and (iv) 16 to 18-year-olds in receipt of(a) full-time education, (b) full-time training, (c) (a) plus (b), (d) part-time training and (e) a full-time or part-time education or training, in each year since 1979.

  Percentage of population in:

  Age

  Full-time education(excluding YTS)

  YTS

  Full-time education YTS

  Part-time education

  Total full-time and part-time education and YTS

  16

  53

  22

  75

  11

  86

  17

  38

  20

  59

  11

  70

  18

  21

  2

  23

  16

  38

  16–18

  37

  14

  51

  13

  64

  Age as at 31 August at the start of the academic year.

  Columns may not add up to totals because of rounding.

  Examinations
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the number of entries to and passes in the advanced supplementary level and advanced level examinations for each year since the introduction of AS-level; and what percentage the number of entries to, and passes in AS-level was of the number of entries to and passes in A-level in the same years.

  Mr. Eggar
  The numbers of leavers attempting at least one AS examination as a proportion of those who attempted A-level examinations was 5·3 per cent. and for passes the proportion was 3·6 per cent.

  Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to collect data on the number of national vocational qualifications levels 2 and 3, or equivalent qualifications or ones of a similar standard obtained by 16 to 19-year-olds in all types of institution and training.

  Mr. Eggar
  We are undertaking a pilot survey, jointly with the Employment Department, of information held by the main bodies responsible for awarding vocational qualifications. The aim is to extend the survey to cover virtually all vocational qualifications. We will also be consulting shortly about proposals for FE colleges to publish their results and send copies to the Department.

  Recreation and Sports
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to promote training and educational opportunities in recreation and sports for ethnic minorities.
  300
  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested for the academic years 1978–79 to 1988–89 is given in the Department's statistical bulletins 2/87, 9/90, copies of which are in the Library (these show part-time education for 1979–80. 1981–82, 1983–84, 1987–88, 1988–89). Figures for 1989–90 will be published in a new statistical bulletin 13/91 shortly and are as follows:

  Mr. Atkins
  We have made physical education a foundation subject in the national curriculum for all pupils aged five to 16, including those from ethnic minorities. In addition, the Sports Council, which this Department funds, is chairing the Industry Lead Body for Sport and Recreation which is working to produce a structure of national vocational qualifications in the area of sport and recreation. These will be delivered on an equal opportunity basis.

  Schools Inspectorate
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn on 8 May 1991 at column 469, how long the thorough internal review of the structure and role of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools will take; whether and when its conclusions will be published; and whether there will be a period of public consultation before decisions on the review are made.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The internal review got under way immediately following my reply of 8 May 1991 at column 469 to the hon. Member. I have asked it to report at the beginning of July. I do not expect to publish the review itself which will take the form of confidential advice to Ministers. I shall wish to consider how to act on the conclusions of the review once I have received them.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will be inviting evidence from outside his Department in the course of the review of the structure and role of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools.
  301
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The review team will not formally invite or receive evidence. However, the team is seeking views from a wide range of people and bodies within the education world and beyond it.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the names, grades and posts of those conducting the internal review of the structure and role of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The internal review is being conducted by a team consisting of three officials in the Department and a member of the inspectorate. Their grades are as follows:

  Assistant Secretary—DES-team leader

  Staff Inspector—HMI

  Higher Executive Officer (Development)—DES

  Personal Secretary—DES

  Following normal practice, I do not intend to disclose the names of individual officials who are preparing advice for Ministers.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn on 8 May 1991, at column 469, whether, under any new arrangements for the inspection of the education service, it is his intention that the head of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools should continue to publish annual reports independent of, and unamended by, Ministers.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I would expect any inspectorate to be free to publish annual reports independent of and unamended by Ministers. I am looking to the review to offer advice on this and any other related matter if the team wishes but I have no complaints about the present arrangements for HMI so far as reporting is concerned.

  Government Scientists
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what involvement Government-employed scientists have had with the system for the analysis research and training programme operated by the international geosphere-biosphere programme of the International Council of Scientific Users.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  No Government-employed scientist has been involved with the international geospherebiosphere programme global change system analysis research and training (START) initiative, but a member of staff of the Natural Environment Research Council attended, in a personal capacity, the workshop in Bellagio, Italy at which the main objectives and the proposed implementation strategy of START were established.

HEALTH

  Cancer
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table indicating the death rate from cancer for the United Kingdom and for each of the other members of the European Community.

  Mr. Dorrell
  A table listing death rates from malignant neoplasms, all ages for members of the European Community follows. The most recent data available for Spain is 1985, and for Belgium 1986. Data for 1987 are the 302
  latest available for all other members, with the exception of the United Kingdom, which is 1989. 1987 data for the United Kingdom are however also provided for comparison purposes.

  Deaths from Malignant Neoplasms

  Country

  Year

  Rate per 1000 population

  Spain1

  1985

  1·72

  Belgium2

  1986

  2·24

  Denmark1

  1987

  2·87

  Federal Republic of Germany1

  1987

  2·73

  France1

  1987

  2·43

  Greece1

  1987

  1·86

  Ireland1

  1987

  1·95

  Italy1

  1987

  2·44

  Luxemborg1

  1987

  2·76

  Netherlands1

  1987

  2·39

  Portugal1

  1987

  1·64

  United Kingdom3

  1987

  2·80

  United Kingdom3

  1989

  2·51

  1 Source: Eurostat.

  2 Source: WHO Statistics Annual.

  3 Source: OPCS.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has had from City hospital, Nottingham regarding NHS trust status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  An application for NHS trust status from April 1992 has been received from the City hospital, Nottingham and is currently the subject of a three-month public consultation exercise conducted by Trent regional health authority.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations has he had from University hospital, Queens medical centre, Nottingham regarding NHS trust status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The University hospital, Queens medical centre, Nottingham expressed an interest in becoming an NHS trust from 1 April 1992. The unit subsequently decided to defer its application.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his policy on answering written parliamentary questions relating to NHS hospital trusts.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. and learned Friend the then Secretary of State gave the hon. Member for Rochdale (Sir C. Smith) on 30 October 1990 at column 445.

  Low Income
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will consider extending the valid period of certificates issued under the health benefits low-income scheme from six to 12 months;

  (2) if he will introduce a formal right of appeal for late claims for refunds of costs incurred for dental, optical and prescription charges.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer,Official Report, 22 May, column 530, if he will make a statement on the remit of the review of the health benefits low income scheme.
  303
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The review of the low income scheme will be wide-ranging. It will examine all aspects of the administration of the NHS low income scheme, particularly the amount of information intending claimants are asked to provide, the adequacy of existing forms, leaflets and publicity, and current procedures for assessing entitlement under the scheme. In addition, we shall examine current exemption arrangements, including the present six-month period for which certificates are valid, the time limits for obtaining refunds for charges incurred and the scope for improving existing review arrangements.

  As my earlier reply made clear we aim to produce proposals for change by the end of 1991.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has conducted to establish that glasses are available at a cost not exceeding the full value of vouchers issued under the low income scheme.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department undertakes surveys each autumn to monitor the effectiveness of the voucher scheme.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the health benefits low income scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently received a report from the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (NACAB) concerning the NHS low income scheme. This detailed report is most welcome and particularly timely in light of the Department's review of this scheme. As the review is taken forward officials will be discussing with NACAB the issues and recommendations which they have made.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will extend the period during which a person may apply for a refund of dental and optical charges under the health benefits low income scheme;

  (2) if his review of the health benefits low income scheme will examine the cost-effectiveness of replacing the health benefits low income scheme by transferring the costs to the national insurance contribution scheme.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the provision of leaflets and claim forms for the health benefits low income scheme in languages other than English.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Present arrangements already allow for refunds of most dental and optical charges to be made up to one month after payment of the charge and beyond that time if there is good cause for the claim being delayed. The review of the NHS low income scheme will provide a fresh opportunity for the question of time limits for refunds to be reconsidered.

  Government policy on NHS charges are based primarily on the principle that those who can afford to
  304
  make a contribution should do so, whilst those who have difficulty in paying the charges should be protected. There are no plans to change this policy.

  The provision of leaflets in languages other than English will be considered as part of a more general examination of the low income forms and leaflets.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will now reply to the letter sent to his Department on 9 April by the hon. Member for Gower regarding a constituent resident in Mumbles, Swansea.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State replied yesterday.

  HIV
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he has given to inquiries from legal representatives of patients who have been infected with HIV through national health service blood transfusions.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I have placed in the Library a copy of a reply which I have sent to Mr. Graham Ross of J. Keith Park and Co.

  General Practitioners
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners in Great Britain bought added years (old style) pension rights in 1975; how many of those general practitioners were under 43 years old in 1972; what were the figures for general practitioners aged under 44 years in steps of £500 based on average updated earnings to October 1972; and how many of the general practitioners are still paying for the added years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  In England and Wales, approximately 30,000 general medical and dental practitioners took advantage of the NHS pension schemes (old style) added years provisions. The majority of these have since retired with benefits from the scheme.

  Further information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information about parallel schemes in Northern Ireland and Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland and for Scotland.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to issue guidance to general practitioner fundholders on how they should respond to inquiries from hon. Members representing their area on matters of policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  There are no plans to do so. If an hon. Member has a concern about the activities of a GP fundholder I would suggest he raises it with the relevant family health services authority.

  Rabies
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list incidents of rabies in humans recorded in Britain in each year since 1970.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Cases reported were as follows:

  Number

  1975

  2

  1976

  1

  1977

  2

  1978

  1

  1981

  1

  1986

  1

  1987

  1

  1988

  2

  No cases were reported in the remaining 13 years between 1970 and 1990 inclusive.

  Health Benefits Scheme
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what obligation there is on opticians and dentists to provide information and advice on claiming under the health benefits low income scheme.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) Regulations 1986 require opticians to display prominently a notice showing possible entitlement to vouchers under the low income scheme. Dentists are required by their terms of service (set out in the National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1990) to display prominently a notice, indicating NHS charges which are payable under general dental services and entitlement to exemption from and remission of NHS charges.

  Mobility Needs
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the mobility needs of adults with arthritic and rheumatic diseases.

  Mr. Dorrell
  It is a matter for health authorities to assess the need for health care of their resident populations including help with mobility, and to make appropriate provision. Individual assessment is a matter for clinical judgment. Mobility allowance is also available, from the Department of Social Security, to assist with long-range mobility needs.

  Local Authority Service Provision
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what areas of local authority service provision for which he has responsibility payments are required to be made to individuals who are not employees(a) in the form of a grant or one-off payment and (b) on receipt of paid invoices.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There is no requirement on local authorities to make any such payments.

  Private Ambulance Services
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what conditions govern the issuing of operative licences to the proprietors of private ambulance services;
  306
  (2) if the applicants for licences to operate private ambulance services are vetted for details of previous criminal convictions.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Private ambulance services are not subject to any vetting or licensing procedures.

  Preventive Health Care
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to include sections on maternal, child and mental health in the imminent Green Paper on preventive health care.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The health of pregnant women, infants and children and mental health, together with suggested objectives and targets, is discussed in the Green Paper "Health of the Nation" which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State published on 4 June.

  Social Services
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision his Department has made to each county for social services(a) in 1991–92 and (b) the previous year.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Provision for the main part of personal social services revenue expenditure is determined through standard spending assessments. Figures [or the English counties for 1990–91 and 1991–92 are shown in the DOE standard spending assessment handbooks for 1990–91 and 1991–92 respectively, copies of which are in the Library.

  Nuclear Accidents
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many copies of his departmental report No. 39 on nuclear accident countermeasures have been printed; at what cost; and to whom copies have been distributed.

  Mr. Dorrell
  A total of 1,500 copies of this report were printed. The costs of printing and publishing were borne by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, which I understand aims to recover them from sales revenue.

  Copies have been distributed to: regional and district health authorities; family health services authorities; local authority county emergency planning officers; members of the United Kingdom working group on stable iodine prophylaxis; and Government Departments with responsibilities for nuclear emergency planning. A copy is also available in the Library.

  Disability
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of adults is visually impaired;

  (2) what percentage of the population has impaired hearing;

  (3) what percentage of disabled people is receiving 24-hour help.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information on the prevalence of different types of disability, and such information as is available centrally about the proportion of disabled people who receive 24-hour help, is given in the reports published in 1988–89 in the survey of disability carried out by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. Copies are available in the Library.
  307
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of adults are registered as disabled in Britain.

  Mr. Dorrell
  At 31 March 1990, approximately 3·2 per cent. of people aged 16 years and over were registered with local authority social services departments in England as being physically disabled. Equivalent figures relating to Wales and Scotland are a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will increase the number of residential care places in Britain.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Decisions about the amount of residential care provision required for people seeking public financial support must be based on the assessment by each social services authority of the needs of the population it serves.

  Moves made under our community care policy towards increasing the amount and range of day and domiciliary services enable a greater proportion of people to remain in their own homes.

  Social Work
  Mr. Orme
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many social worker posts remained unfilled in local authorities in England and Wales on the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not collected centrally. Estimates of the number of full-time vacancies among field workers will be included in the "Social Services Employment Survey", due to be published shortly by the Association of Directors of Social Services and the Local Government Management Board, a copy of which will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Orme
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the number of cases referred to local authority social services in England and Wales that remained unallocated on the most recent date for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not available centrally.

  Gross capital expenditure on refuse disposal 1984–85 to 1989–901

  District

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Alyn and Deeside

  71

  41

  33

  73

  81

  51

  Colwyn

  26

  38

  69

  2

  8

  0

  Delyn

  0

  0

  154

  341

  24

  5

  Glyndwr

  33

  16

  3

  64

  99

  83

  Rhuddlan

  46

  68

  0

  22

  28

  37

  Wrexham Maelor

  197

  170

  0

  100

  225

  116

  Carmarthen

  123

  14

  83

  25

  18

  31

  Ceredigion

  12

  29

  77

  57

  163

  315

  Dinefwr

  18

  25

  5

  0

  1

  53

  Llanelli

  9

  37

  24

  51

  52

  31

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  217

  404

  36

  20

  21

  36

  South Pembrokeshire

  82

  38

  125

  95

  28

  0

WALES

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate the projected investment costs forecast to be incurred in 1991–92 and 1992–93 for landfill sites by each listed waste disposal authority in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not available centrally. This is a matter for the waste disposal authorities.

  Teachers
  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of women head teachers in each local education authority in Wales in(a) primary schools in 1985 and 1990 and (b) secondary schools in 1985 and 1990.

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

  (a)Primary Schools

  1984–85

  1990–91

  Clwyd

  80

  77

  Dyfed

  114

  133

  Gwent

  110

  112

  Gwynedd

  42

  48

  Mid Glamorgan

  139

  153

  Powys

  33

  37

  South Glamorgan

  74

  75

  West Glamorgan

  64

  65

  Wales

  656

  700

  (b)Secondary Schools

  1984–85

  1990–91

  Clwyd

  0

  2

  Dyfed

  0

  0

  Gwent

  1

  4

  Gwynedd

  1

  1

  Mid Glamorgan

  3

  4

  Powys

  0

  0

  South Glamorgan

  2

  4

  West Glamorgan

  2

  1

  Wales

  9

  16

  Mr. Livsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state the amount of capital invested on landfill sites in Wales by each waste disposal authority in Wales since 1985.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Information on capital invested on landfill sites is not available centrally. However, the figures for capital spending on refuse disposal, which includes landfill, are given in the table.
  309

  District

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Blaenau Gwent

  95

  71

  91

  155

  11

  10

  Islwyn

  45

  56

  106

  24

  0

  43

  Monmouth

  218

  47

  201

  47

  44

  55

  Newport

  33

  129

  65

  184

  83

  615

  Torfaen

  86

  17

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Aberconwy

  40

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Arfon

  48

  164

  6

  4

  10

  9

  Dwyfor

  287

  1,052

  426

  68

  30

  32

  Meirionnydd

  59

  0

  73

  24

  109

  53

  Ynys Môn

  48

  727

  769

  402

  197

  38

  Cynon Valley

  94

  38

  26

  228

  90

  50

  Merthyr Tydfil

  0

  1

  105

  127

  1

  11

  Ogwr

  0

  44

  0

  16

  0

  0

  Rhondda

  71

  1,284

  2,365

  525

  192

  124

  Rhymney Valley

  56

  64

  132

  178

  344

  90

  Taff-Ely

  1

  73

  112

  205

  241

  577

  Brecknock

  21

  77

  15

  16

  32

  0

  Montgomeryshire

  7

  38

  47

  34

  84

  187

  Radnorshire

  67

  18

  9

  9

  90

  162

  Cardiff

  187

  399

  729

  166

  173

  65

  Vale of Glamorgan

  36

  17

  43

  4

  21

  0

  Lliw Valley

  15

  33

  32

  37

  13

  22

  Neath

  48

  152

  160

  170

  161

  74

  Port Talbot

  0

  11

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Swansea

  186

  259

  372

  474

  258

  490

  Total Wales

  2,581

  5,650

  6,492

  3,947

  2,932

  3,465

  1 Capital outturn returns were revised in 1986–87 and hence data for previous years are not strictly comparable.

  Disability
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the organisations representing disabled people in Wales which have contacted his Department; and on how many occasions since 1987 he has met each such organisation.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The Welsh Office maintains close contact with the major all-Wales organisations representing people with physical or sensory disabilities or mental handicaps.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and his ministerial colleagues meet such organisations from time to time. For example, my right hon. Friend formally opened the new regional headquarters of the Spastics Society in Cardiff on 16 January this year; and in June last year, my predecessor formally opened the new offices of the Wales Council for the Deaf.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the number of disabled people in Wales, by category; and if he will publish his latest estimate.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The latest available wide-ranging information on the incidence of physical and sensory disability is contained in the reports of the OPCS surveys published in 1988–89. These showed that 16·4 per cent. of adults and 3·1 per cent. of children in Wales have such disabilities, the proportions in the upper severity categories 6 to 10 being 6 per cent. of adults (the highest in the United Kingdom) and 2 per cent. of children (equal highest in the United Kingdom).

  The latest available figures show that in 1989–90 there were 10,406 people in Wales known to have serious mental handicaps.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what policies he has initiated since 1987 to assist people with disabilities in Wales.
  310
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  On 8 May 1990 the Welsh Office issued a circular giving comprehensive guidance to health and local authorities on good practice in the development and delivery of services for people with physical and/or sensory disabilities. Authorities are expected to have regard to that advice in preparing their local strategies for health and their social care plans, which in Wales are being jointly prepared by all the statutory and voluntary agencies concerned.

  We have introduced this year a new grant scheme, unique to Wales, to promote the development of more flexible forms of community care for elderly people and for people with physical or sensory disabilities.

  The all-Wales mental handicap strategy has been in place since March 1983. We are currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the strategy and propose shortly to publish for consultation our provisional conclusions on the framework for service development from April 1993.

  Deafness
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to take in order to ensure a greater supply of teachers of the deaf in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  We are seeking to increase the number of teachers in Wales who are qualified to meet the educational needs of deaf pupils through a programme of in-service training. Over f100,000 has been approved by my Department for this purpose this year through the grants for education support and training programme.

  More generally, the recently introduced criteria for the approval of initial teachers training courses requires that, on completion of their course, students should have developed the capacity to identify pupils with special educational needs or with learning difficulties and to understand the ways in which the potential of such pupils can be developed.
  311
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he proposes to help deaf children in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The Children Act 1989, to be implemented on 14 October 1991, lays a general duty on local social services authorities to promote the welfare of children who are in need by providing an appropriate range and level of services. Section 17 of the Act defines children in need so as to include deaf children. By virtue of schedule 2 to the Act, services to such children should be designed to minimise the effect of their disability and give them the opportunity to lead lives which are as normal as possible. Guidance on these provisions is contained in chapter 2 of the publication "The Children Act 1989: Guidance and Regulations—Volume 2 Family Support, Day Care and Educational Provision for Young Children" (HMSO 1991), a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Further guidance is in preparation which will give advice to local authorities on the discharge of their duty to children with disabilities.

  Speech Therapy
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what plans he has to increase the number of speech therapists in Wales;

  (2) how many speech therapy posts in Wales are currently unfilled.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Information on the current number of unfilled speech therapy posts in Wales is not held centrally. However, the results of the 1990 annual manpower resource planning (MRP) exercise carried out by Welsh district health authorities indicated a shortage of 27 speech therapists across Wales as at September 1989.

  The extent and location of training provision for speech therapy in Wales is being considered along with that for other health care professions in the light of the manpower resource planning results and the new arrangements to be introduced for the planning and funding of certain pre-registration education and training at the all-Wales level.

  In the short term, speech therapy shortages are being addressed by my Department through the sponsorship of students. As a result of Welsh Office funding in 1990 and 1991 an additional 10 speech therapy students are being sponsored by Welsh health authorities on the understanding that they work for at least two years in Wales on completion of their training.

  Health Boards
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the annual remuneration of(a) health authority chairman and (b) health board members in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Health authority chairmen are remunerated at different rates. These are currently as follows:Band 1—£17,610 per annum
  Applicable to Clwyd, Gwent, Mid Glamorgan and South Glamorgan and West Glamorgan Health Authorities.
  Band 2—£15,659 per annum
  Applicable to East Dyfed and Gwynedd Health Authorities.
  Band 3—£13,812 per annum
  312
  Applicable to Pembrokeshire and Powys Health Authorities.
  All non-executive health authority members receive remuneration of £5,000 per annum. Executive members receive their appropriate NHS salaries.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what criteria he has adopted for appointment to health boards in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Members are appointed on the strength of the skills and experience they can bring to an authority's work.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those hospitals whose managements he has written to, or spoken to, about acquisition of hospital trust status.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The director of the national health service in Wales has written to all managers of health service units explaining Ministers' view that although national health service trusts are seen as the natural organisational model for hospitals and other units providing health care, the decision on whether to seek self-governing status is a matter for individual units, taking account of local circumstances and enthusiasm.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which hospitals in Wales are eligible for hospital trust status.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Any hospital or other health service unit actively providing patient care may apply to become a national health service trust. This would include hospitals, community-based services (whether alone or together with hospitals) and ambulance services.

  Health Service Grading
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many nurses there are in each health authority area in Wales with regrading appeals outstanding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The numbers of regrading appeals outstanding at the three different levels are as shown in the following table:

  Outstanding appeals at:

  Health authority

  District level

  Regional (all-Wales) level

  National (negotiating council) level

  Clwyd

  75

  117

  11

  East Dyfed

  229

  66

  5

  Gwent

  282

  287

  2

  Gwynedd

  —

  166

  36

  Mid Glamorgan

  616

  206

  —

  Pembrokeshire

  —

  55

  —

  Powys

  —

  161

  2

  South Glamorgan

  310

  181

  17

  West Glamorgan

  —

  103

  22

  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies given to the hon. Member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye (Mr. Kennedy) on 26 March 1991, and to the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Wardell) on 28 March 1991.

  Aldbourne Associates
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 23 May,Official Report, column 571, what is the total value of the housing consultancy work given to Aldbourne Associates on (a) the priority estates project and (b) housing options for Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information for the years prior to 1989–90 cannot, within the time available, be provided in the form requested. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman in due course.

  It is not possible to attribute every payment made to Aldbourne Associates in 1989–90. 1990–91 and 1991–92 precisely to PEP or to HOW. Since its launch in January 1990, housing options Wales has subsumed the priority estates project programme. It is estimated that payments totalling approximately £98,000 can reasonably be attributed to elements of HOW that are distinct from previous work on PEP. The residue of the sums referred to in the previous answer includes payments made in respect of PEP, and of the Department's alternatives for social housing (ASH) programme (also now subsumed within HOW). Payments readily attributable to ASH for these years total some £27,000.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 23 May,Official Report, column 571, whether Aldbourne Associates' contract was awarded subsequent to an open tender.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  No.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 23 May,Official Report, column 571, when Aldbourne Associate's main contract was awarded; what length of time it was scheduled to cover; and what subsequent ancillary contracts were awarded.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The initial contract (with Miss C. Lesley Andrews, rather than with Aldbourne Associates Ltd.) was made in September 1983, in respect of work to be completed by 31 March 1986. Before the end of that period, the Department embarked upon the second phase of its PEP programme; a new contract was therefore made in November 1985, in respect of work to be completed by 31 March 1988. Subsequently, contracts were made in March 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991 extending the application of the main work in line with the development of the Department's priority estates project, alternatives for social housing and housing options for Wales programmes.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each visit he has made to(a) sixth form colleges, (b) further education colleges, (c) university colleges and (d) polytechnics, in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts: My right hon. Friend has visited the following colleges:

  College

  Date

  (a)

  None

  —

  (b)

  Pembrokeshire College

  22 May 1990

  Bangor Normal College

  20 May 1991

  Pencoed College

  22 May 1991

  314

  College

  Date

  (a)

  University College of North Wales

  30 July 1990

  University College of Wales, Aberystwyth

  12 November 1990

  University of Wales, College of Cardiff

  11 February 1991

  University College Swansea

  17 April 1991

  (d)

  Polytechnic of Wales

  7 May 1991

  Sports Council for Wales
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) when he last met the chairman of the Sports Council for Wales;

  (2) when he proposes to visit the headquarters of the Sports Council for Wales;

  (3) how many times he has visited the headquarters of the Sports Council for Wales.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have visited the national sports centre for Wales once, on 25 February, when I last met the chairman of the Sports Council for Wales. No further visit has been arranged.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for extra financing of the Sports Council for Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to provide extra financing for the Sports Council for Wales in addition to the generous grant-in-aid settlement announced in my reply to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 28 February 1991.

  Teachers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which teacher unions he has met.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I met representatives of the NAS/UWT (Wales) on 7 September 1990. We are always prepared to consider requests from the teachers' unions for meetings to discuss educational issues in Wales.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he will take to improve the morale of teachers in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 28 November 1990. Our intention to establish a pay review body for teachers will enhance the status of the profession and improve morale further.

  Standard Assessment Tests
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to meet the teacher unions to discuss the standard assessment tests.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on Tuesday 4 June.

  Health Service Waiting Lists
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the chairman of the South Glamorgan health authority regarding the best means of reducing waiting lists in ophthalmology and general surgery.
  315
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I last met the chairman and consultants from South Glamorgan health authority on 24 May to discuss current waiting time issues, including those affecting ophthalmology, and ways of tackling them.

  Rail Services
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will reconsider the contents of his letter of 31 March, addressed to Mr. J. Lazarus, county planning officer of Gwynedd county council, concerning the economic impact of the proposed reduction in British Rail's through services between Holyhead and Euston next autumn.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  My letter did not refer to the economic impact of rail services to Holyhead. It did, however, draw attention to improvements to the number of journey opportunities, journey times and rolling stock which British Rail intend to bring to these services.

  Social Services
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what provision his Department has made to each county council for social services in(a) 1991–92 and (b) the previous year.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Revenue support grant (RSG) for each county council in Wales is paid in support of services generally and is not hypothecated.

  The level of total standard spending (TSS) allowed for in the local government finance settlement for 1990–91 and 1991–92 is given in the following table. Also shown are the notional amounts provided for personal social services; it is however for local authorities to determine how resources should be allocated to particular services.

  Year

  Total Standard Spending £ million

  Personal Social Services £ million

  1990–91

  2,114·5

  186·8

  1991–92

  2,433·1

  224·0

  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what, at 1992 prices, was the total spending on health and personal social services in each year since 1978–79; what is the average percentage increase since May 1979; and what are the equivalent capital provisions within these annual figures.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information, on the new planning total basis, is estimated to be as follows:

  £ million at 1991–92 prices

  Total net public expenditure on health and personal social services

  of which: Capital

  1978–79

  1,082

  70

  1979–80

  1,085

  62

  1980–81

  1,177

  66

  1981–82

  1,225

  80

  1982–83

  1,257

  83

  1983–84

  1,274

  84

  1984–85

  1,313

  89

  1985–86

  1,327

  85

  1986–87

  1,381

  90

  316

  Total net public expenditure on health and personal social services

  of which: Capital

  1987–88

  1,456

  88

  1988–89

  1,506

  78

  1989–90

  1,537

  101

  1990–91

  1,615

  118

  The percentage increase for total net spending between 1978–79 and 1990–91 was over 49 per cent. in real terms (about 275 per cent. in cash). During this period, the annual average percentage increase was a little over 4 per cent. in real terms (23 per cent. in cash).

  Health Service Waiting Lists
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many meetings with consultant ophthalmologists and general surgeons regarding initiatives to reduce the appropriate waiting list he has conducted during each month since January 1991.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I met general surgeons at Prince Charles, Morriston, University hospital of Wales, and the Royal Gwent hospitals and consultant ophthalmologists at the University hospital of Wales and Singleton hospital at a series of meetings on 24 and 29 May to discuss waiting list problems. In addition I have discussed the matter when visiting other hospitals over the past six months.

  Anaesthetic Services
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures are being taken by the Welsh Office to make provision for additional hospital-based general anaesthetic services for tooth extraction in Wales in the light of the Poswillo report.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Consultation upon the Poswillo report is continuing. The outcome will be announced in due course.

  Education
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost of the booklet, "How is Your Child Getting on at School"; and by what means it is being distributed.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Total production costs of the bilingual version of the booklet issued in Wales were £27,600.

  Free copies were distributed through the Central Office of Information to all primary schools, main post offices and libraries.

EMPLOYMENT

  Earnings (Doncaster)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the maximum and minimum basic rates of pay recorded in the Doncaster area of the Employment Service from advertised posts in(a) the manufacturing sector and (b) the service sector for (i) full-time and (ii) part-time work, showing figures for (1) men and (2) women for the latest date he has available.
  317
  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested is not available, but figures on average earnings in April 1990 in South Yorkshire metropolitan county, for full-time men and women workers, are published in part E of the 1990 new earnings survey report, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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 which the contract was carried out.

  Mr. Jackson
  The amount spent by my Department in 1990–91 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases, was £10·8 million.

  The following firms were awarded consultancy contracts by the Department of Employment Group during 1990–91:

  Consultant

  Subject

  A. C. Mole

  The Field System—supply of accountant

  Astra

  The Field System—supply of trainers

  BPD

  The Field System—supply of system tester

  Calibre

  The Field System—supply of trainer

  CCTA

  The Field System—supply of technical staff

  CMG

  The Field System—supply of system tester

  Computer People

  The Field System—supply of system tester

  Coopers

  The Field System—supply of accountant

  CSS

  The Field System—technical assurance

  Digital Ltd.

  The Field System—installation work, project management and communications development

  Digitus

  The Field System—system testing

  DMBS

  The Field System—system testing

  England

  The Field System—BACS support

  Ernst and Young

  The Field System—supply of accountants

  Executor

  The Field System—system testing

  Franklin

  The Field System—system testing

  Future Dimensions

  The Field System—training

  Hunterskill

  The Field System—system testing and administration

  KPMG

  The Field System—supply of accountant

  Look Systems

  The Field System—training

  Lorien Ltd.

  The Field System—system testing

  Marcol

  The Field System—system testing

  Newton

  The Field System—training

  Novatek

  The Field System—systems implementation

  318

  P-E International

  The Field System—applications development

  Pactum

  The Field System—system testing

  Price Waterhouse

  The Field System—accountancy

  SBS

  The Field System—applications development, system testing

  SEMA

  The Field System—system testing

  Taber Midas

  The Field System—training

  Trident

  The Field System—system testing

  Unicorn

  The Field System—training

  World Systems

  The Field System—applications development

  Yale Consultants

  The Field System—system testing, analysis and development

  Ingres

  Supply of trainer for technical training services and quality assurance

  Pogoda

  Programming services

  SBS

  Systems testing

  Instruction Set

  Quality assurance and conversion programming for Information Services branch

  Kernel

  Systems administration

  Science Systems

  Software development

  Tempest

  Conversion work on YTS system

  Abbotts

  Support for TOPS mini-computer system

  Aegis Group

  Communications research

  Anderson Consulting

  Feasibility study on the use of Data Image protection technology including definition of requirements

  BIS Applied Systems

  Video consultancy facilities—Post implementation review

  BIS Applied Systems

  Government data networks security

  BIS Applied Systems

  Study on the introduction of the quality programme and subsequent work on the programme

  BIS Applied Systems

  Post implementation review—strategy view future

  BT

  Telephone services consultancy

  Coopers and Lybrand

  Work on Integration project

  CCTA

  Support agreement

  DBI Associates

  CRAMM report

  DBI Associates

  Contingency planning review

  DCE Inf Mgt.

  Software evaluation

  Dataflex

  Systems development for Information Services branch

  Ernst and Young

  Project control, evaluation reporting and reorganisation report for Information Services branch

  Ernst and Young

  Business analysis and evaluation report for TA Directors' Information System (TADIS)

  Ernst and Young

  Work on integration project

  Expertech Ltd.

  Superannuation expert system

  Husat

  Needs analysis

  Inference Europe

  Needs analysis

  ICL

  Quickbuild consultancy

  J and G Ltd.

  Human Factors Awareness report

  KPMG

  Evaluation report for Information Services branch

  Kernel

  Hot-line system support for Information Services branch

  Kermon It. Mgt.

  Scoping study for EDHQ

  Kermon It. Mgt.

  Information systems strategy

  Lalcrest Ltd.

  Function point analysis

  Logica

  Study of Project Support Office

  Logica

  Rapport support

  319

  NCC

  New introduction to Data Processing course

  Olivetti

  Local area network connectivity report for Information Services branch

  Omricon

  System development for printing and stationery system

  PA Consulting

  Project Management and reorganisation

  PA Consulting

  Work on integration project and information systems strategy

  Selven Ltd.

  Fees paid project

  Silkglade

  System support for Information services

  Strand

  Local Area Network support

  Xentec

  Consultancy on data capture and system support for Information Services branch

  Yale Data

  Software Identification

  Yale Data

  International Passenger Survey—Filetab

  Yale Data

  Public Expenditure Survey system study

  451 Computers

  Applications support for EDHQ systems

  Computer Management Group

  Project Management System (PMS)—project design and development

  Parachute

  As above

  Pert Master International

  As above

  Novatek

  As above

  Electronic Facilities Design Ltd

  General support for procurement section

  DBI Associates

  Single Terminal Access Project (testing)

  Electronic Facilities Design Ltd

  Single Terminal Access Project (draft performance model)

  EOSYS

  Single Terminal Access Project (operational requirement study)

  Andersons

  Employment Service Payments system development

  LOGICA

  Business testing

  CSE

  Data network requirement

  SEMA

  Advice on introduction of Ingres and Restart

  Class Ltd

  Provision of SSADM expertise to IT study teams

  AMTEC

  Hardware strategy support

  AMTEC

  Accounting system study

  PA Consulting

  Voice Telecomms strategy

  Donaldsons

  Computerising conditions survey reports

  Sergeant, Minton and Lennon

  Communications programme project manager

  Andersons

  Training delivery consultant

  PSA

  Prioritising conditions survey reports

  Calder Ashby

  Revision to conditions survey agreement

  EECS and Partners

  Development and provision of seminar on climatic change

  Ewbank Preece

  Evaluation of ES property maintenance practise

  Ewbank Preece

  Preparation of national contract and maintenance specifications

  Donaldsons

  Analysis of regional conditions surveys and production of maintenance reports

  Ewbank Preece

  Analysis of regional consultants tenders

  Fairhursts

  Provision of a building contract procurement of policy document

  320

  EECS and Partners

  Provision of energy survey brief for tender pack/advice on energy management and conservation matters

  Sutherland Consultancy Group

  Marketing advice/brief on "Jobcentre" name

  Kinsley Lord

  Assistance with implementation of Change Management Programme

  NML Presentations Ltd

  Advice on 2nd national ES conference

  Kinsley Lord

  Advice on diagnostic and planning phase of Change Management Programme

  AR International

  Pay Study

  Mr M Gubby

  Study of Head Office communications with the field

  McDonald Gordon and Co.

  Haven Products assignment—production efficiency review

  R Mitchell Associates

  Reviews of SEPACS account forms

  Prism consultancy

  Total Quality Management

  Ray Charlton

  Design and delivery of workshop on Total Quality Management

  Open College

  Identification of gaps in open learning provision against management development framework

  Sheppard Moscow

  Management of change workshop

  Walton Churchill

  Interviewing and selection training

  Sue Hepworth Consultants

  Staff travel audit

  Ex-offenders (Training)
  Mr. Leighton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what were the levels of expenditure on employment training for ex-offenders for each year since the inception of employment training;

  (2) whether expenditure on employment training for ex-offenders has increased since the launch of Training and Enterprise Councils.

  Mr. Jackson
  Trainees do not have to say whether they are ex-offenders so there is no reliable information on their involvement in ET.

  Earnings
  Mr. Ken Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide the latest information available showing the level of average earnings for(a) manual and (b) non-manual males and females in full-time employment in (i) the county of Lancashire, and (b) England as a whole.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested can be found in tables 108, 109, 111 and 112 of part E of the 1990 new earnings survey report, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Employment Credit Schemes
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make the results of the Government's market research into the viability of employment credit schemes, and the pilot action credit scheme, available to the training and enterprise councils; and which training and enterprise councils are planning to adopt a form of such schemes in each area.

  Mr. Jackson
  The results of the market research carried out on behalf of the Employment Service were published
  321
  in July 1990 under the title "Action Credit: Survey of Clients", and a copy was placed in the Library of the House. The results of the pilot action credit scheme will be published shortly. They will be made available to TECs through Employment Department regional offices. No central record is kept of the extent to which TECs are planning such schemes, but it is understood that few TECs currently have such plans.

  Health and Safety Inspectors
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many health and safety inspectors are currently employed wholly or mainly in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  On 1 May 1991 the Health and Safety Executive employed 55 health and safety inspectors working mainly or wholly in Wales.

  Early Retirement
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate for the number of people over the age of 55 years who have retired early due to redundancy.

  Mr. Jackson
  Reliable estimates are not available.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  EC Legislation
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he has any further plans to review the arrangements for considering EC legislation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The Government are committed to carrying out a full review of the new scrutiny procedures at the end of this parliamentary Session. In addition, as I have made clear on a number of occasions, most recently on 29 April, I keep the arrangements constantly under review, and I am presently considering whether to bring forward any proposals in the short term to deal with points that have arisen from the operation of the European Standing Committees.

  Recycled Paper
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what percentage of publications printed by HMSO on behalf of the House of Commons appear on recycled paper; and what plans there are to increase this percentage.

  Mr. MacGregor
  No publications printed by HMSO on behalf of the House of Commons are produced on recycled paper at present. Much of the material concerned is of archival significance and when the question was considered by the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee during the last Session, it concurred with the advice given by HMSO that recycled paper was currently unsuitable for use in producing parliamentary publications, largely due to the poor archival qualities of the paper. However, the matter is being kept under review and I have asked the Sub-Committee to look again at the proposal that the Vote bundle be printed on recycled paper.

SCOTLAND

  Infant Mortality
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the infant mortality rate in(a) each Scottish constituency, (b) each health board area, and (c) each postal district, in the last available year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Provisional figures show that there were 510 infant deaths in Scotland in 1990, giving an infant mortality rate of 7·7 deaths per 1,000 live births. This continues the long-term downward trend. At this level, care must be taken in comparing rates for different areas.

  Rates for the 15 health board areas are given below: those based on fewer than 10 deaths are marked with an asterisk.

  Rates for the 72 parliamentary constituencies and the 438 postal districts are not given because comparison at this area level could be misleading.

  Infant Death Rates, Scotland 1990 (Provisional)

  Health Board Areas

  Number

  Borders

  10·7

  Forth Valley

  8·1

  Dumfries and Galloway

  *5·0

  Fife

  7·2

  Grampian

  6·8

  Highland

  8·5

  Lothian

  7·9

  Tayside

  9·1

  Orkney

  *7·4

  Shetland

  *0·0

  Western Isles

  *8·7

  Argyll and Clyde

  10·1

  Ayrshire and Arran

  6·4

  Greater Glasgow

  7·3

  Lanarkshire

  7·4

  Justices of the Peace
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many justices of the peace in Scotland are(a) men and (b) women; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is set out in the table.

  I am advised on the appointment of justices of the peace for each district and islands area by advisory committees. The committees have all been given guidance to the effect that it is desirable that the area of selection be wide and the choice comprehensive, so that commissions of the peace may include both men and women and be broadly representative of all sections of the community which they serve.

  Justices of the peace in Scotland as at 1 May 1991

  Men

  Women

  Total

  Justices appointed by the Secretary of State

  2,893

  745

  3,638

  Ex officio justices nominated by local authorities

  235

  59

  294

  Justices by virtue of having held office as a magistrate immediately before 16 May 1975

  418

  44

  462

  All justices

  3,546

  848

  4,394

  Hospital Services (East Lothian)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultation took place between Lothian health board and the Scottish ambulance service about the implications of closures of hospital services in East Lothian on the workload of the ambulance service before those wards and units were closed; and if he will make a statement on the measures being taken to meet that workload in terms of manpower, equipment and finance.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Scottish ambulance service was consulted by the health board as part of the public consultation of interested parties from 29 May to 30 July 1990.

  In order to meet the additional workload and to improve the service, including a reduction in single manning, 14 additional staff were employed in the East Lothian area at a cost of £286,000. No extra vehicles and equipment were required.

  Cottage Hospitals
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for the last five years for which figures are available, the bed occupancy rate of Meigle cottage hospital.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  In-patient bed occupancy rate at Meigle cottage hospital years ending 30 September

  Year

  Occupancy Per cent.

  1986

  81·8

  1987

  74·5

  1988

  82·6

  1989

  81·0

  1990

  83·4

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on Government policy concerning cottage hospitals in general, and Meigle cottage hospital in particular.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is primarily the responsibility of health boards to determine the extent and level of services they provide in the light of local circumstances and priorities. Proposals for the future of Meigle cottage hospital are currently being considered by Tayside health board.

  Legionnaire's Disease
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many isolates of legionella species have been found in the water supply of Greater Glasgow health board premises in the last year; which hospitals have been affected; and what steps have been taken.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Since June 1990 one species of Legionellaceae, namely, Legionella Pneumophila sero-group 1, has been found in the water systems within Greater Glasgow health board's premises.

  During 1990 the Glasgow royal infirmary and the Glasgow Western infirmary both recorded cases of Legionnaire's disease. There are currently no outbreaks in Greater Glasgow area.
  324
  Greater Glasgow health board has an ongoing programme of water systems disinfection, maintenance and upgrading and are researching the proliferation of legionellae bacterium in water distribution systems. Over the past two years £250,000 has been spent on these measures and an allocation of £500,000 has been made for 1991–92.

  Health Boards (Regrading)
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each health board the number of regraded medical physics technicians, pharmacy technicians and medical photographers who have appealed against their new grade; and how many of these appeals have been heard.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on appeals lodged with health boards against their implementation of a new pay and grading structure for various groups of technicians and the length of time it has taken to process them is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many, both in absolute and percentage terms, of physiological measurement technicians, cardiology, were upgraded during the recent restructuring exercise in(a) Greater Glasgow health board and (b) all other health boards.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The agreement concluded by the Professional and Technical Staffs B Whitley council in September 1989 related to a new pay and grading structure for various groups of technicians, including physiological measurement technicians and cardiographers. Information is not held centrally on the grades of staff prior and subsequent to implementation of the agreement and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In the financial sense, all staff received an increase on assimilation to the pay spine, which was one of the features of the agreement.

  Further Education
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the amount of access funds allocated to each college of further education in Scotland for 1990–91 and the amount paid out to date.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The allocations to the individual colleges of further education are listed in the table. All the sums concerned have been paid to the education authorities with the exception of that allocated to Shetland Islands council. It has only recently accepted the requirements for participation in the access funds and has yet to indicate the extent of its commitments for the remainder of the 1990–91 session.

  Further Education Colleges

  £

  Borders

  Borders College of Further Education

  10,255

  Central

  Clackmannan College of Further Education

  15,803

  Falkirk College of Technology

  27,645

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Dumfries and Galloway College of Technology

  15,669

  325

  Further Education Colleges

  £

  The Barony College

  2,148

  Fife

  Elmwood Agricultural and Technical College

  6,097

  Fife College of Technology

  41,304

  Glenrothes and Buckhaven Technical College

  12,294

  Lauder College

  7,593

  Grampian

  Aberdeen College of Commerce

  36,019

  Aberdeen Technical College

  10,841

  Banff and Buchan College of Further Education

  15,715

  Clinterty Agricultural College

  3,457

  Highland

  Inverness College of Further and Higher Education

  28,097

  Moray College of Further Education

  28,754

  Thurso Technical College

  5,448

  Lothian

  Jewel and Esk Valley College

  27,471

  Oatridge Agricultural College

  2,043

  Stevenson College

  32,237

  Telford College of Further Education

  43,516

  West Lothian College of Further Education

  12,336

  Orkney

  Stromness Nautical College

  471

  Shetland

  Shetland College of Further Education

  2,200

  Strathclyde

  Anniesland College

  11,200

  Ayr College

  28,059

  Barmulloch College

  8,957

  Bell College of Technology

  53,325

  Cambuslang College

  13,446

  Cardonald College

  45,088

  Central College of Commerce

  25,575

  Clydebank College

  57,807

  Coatbridge College

  20,828

  Cumbernauld College

  15,471

  Glasgow College of Building and Printing

  39,696

  Glasgow College of Food Technology

  22,498

  Glasgow College of Nautical Studies

  14,742

  James Watt College

  25,973

  John Wheatley College

  13,305

  Kilmarnock College

  24,121

  Langside College

  42,781

  Motherwell College

  29,209

  Reid Kerr College

  32,445

  Springburn College

  9,481

  Stow College

  20,056

  Tayside

  Angus College of Further Education

  12,009

  Dundee College of Further Education

  76,009

  Perth College of Further Education

  23,808

  Western Isles

  Lews Castle College

  6,214

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Beef
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he gave approval for the re-boxing of intervention beef at Ulster Cold Stores for the Goodman Group; what information he has on the re-boxing of beef at Ulster Cold Stores; and if he will make a statement.
  326
  Mr. Hanley
  The re-boxing of intervention beef at the Ulster Cold Stores was approved by the Intervention Board executive agency. Approved re-boxing at that location commenced in November 1986 and continues up to the present. All approved re-boxing up to 5 August 1990 was supervised by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland and since then by the Livestock Marketing Commission for Northern Ireland as agents of the agency.

  The procedural rules relating to the Department of Agriculture Northern Ireland/Livestock Marketing Commission supervision of re-packing/reboxing operations require the following conditions to be met:
  the beef must remain in the frozen state throughout the re-packing;
  the beef must not be mixed or re-packed with nonintervention beef;
  only boxes of the same cut can be cut and re-boxed together; mixing of cuts is not allowed;
  replacement of boxes must be marked with the net weight; cut name; number of cuts; and the original number;
  the correct tare of new boxes and any wrap must be obtained and the net weight of the contents recorded.

  Housing
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to reduce the age at which houses may qualify for improvement or repair grants.

  Mr. Needham
  As part of a forthcoming draft housing order, the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland is considering changes to the house renovation grants scheme comparable to those recently introduced in England and Wales under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

  These changes provide for all dwellings over 10 years old to qualify for renovation grant aid: dwellings requiring provision for or adaptations to meet the needs of a disabled person are exempt from this criterion.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to change the year specified within the regulations of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's home improvement and repair grant schemes as the threshold year for entry to the grant scheme.

  Mr. Needham
  Within the terms of the present legislation, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive exercises its discretion to target the availability of grant-aid towards those persons and properties most in need. In doing so, it has, in certain instances, restricted the availability of grant-aid to properties built before certain specified dates.

  However, as part of the forthcoming housing order, the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland is considering changes to the house renovation grants scheme comparable to those recently introduced in England and Wales under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

  These changes would provide for all dwellings over 10 years old to qualify for renovation grant aid: dwellings where works are required to meet the needs of a disabled person are exempt from this criterion.

  General Practitioners
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many general practitioners bought added years (old style) pension rights in 1975; how many
  327
  of these general practitioners were under 43 years old in 1972; what were the figures for general practitioners aged under 44 years in steps of £500 as based on average updated earnings to October 1972; and how many of the general practitioners are still paying for the added years.

  Mr. Hanley
  Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Ulster Talks (Chairman)
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the names of the possible candidates for the position of independent chairman of strand 2 of the Ulster talks who have been suggested by the Irish Government and rejected by Her Majesty's Government;

  (2) if he will list the names of the possible candidates for the position of independent chairman of strand 2 of the Ulster talks who have been suggested by Her Majesty's Government and rejected by the Irish Government.

  Mr. Brooke
  I would not regard it as helpful to disclose details surrounding the appointment of the chairman. To do so would also be a breach of confidentiality.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  War Pensioners
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, by location, his Department's war pensioners offices; and if he will make a statement on each one's future.

  Mr. Jack
  War pensioners' welfare offices are located as follows:

  Scotland—Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow

  North East—Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, Middlesbrough

  North West—Preston, Bootle, Manchester

  Midlands—Birmingham, Nottingham

  Wales—Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham

  South West—Bristol, Newton Abbot

  London, North—Euston, High Wycombe, Norwich

  London, South—Balham, Basingstoke, Brighton, Portsmouth, Tunbridge Wells

  Northern Ireland—Belfast

  Republic of Ireland—Dublin, Cork

  A report last year of a routine management inspection of the war pensions welfare service made several recommendations about the location of war pensioners' welfare offices. No decisions have been taken on the recommendations. The welfare service has been incorporated into the new war pensions directorate which is considering whether offices are in the right places to deliver the most efficient service to war pensioners. Any proposals for change which may emerge will be discussed fully with the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions and local war pensions committees will have an opportunity to comment. The interests of war pensioners and war widows will be safeguarded and we shall ensure that the effectiveness of the welfare service is fully maintained.

  Benefit Scale Rates
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the supplementary benefit-income support scale rate for(a) a single adult and (b) a
  328
  married couple each year since 1970, the level of national average earnings for each of these years, and the single and married scale rates as a percentage of national average earnings for each of these years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is contained in tables 5.6(a), 5.6(b), 5.11(b), 5.11(c), 6.4(a) and 6.5(a) of, "Abstract of Statistics Index of Retail Prices, Average Earnings, Social Security Benefits and Contributions", published by the Department of Social Security, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  National Insurance Contributions (Earnings Limit)
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the current numbers and the average number for 1991–92 of individuals with earned income above the upper earnings limit for national insurance contributions.

  Mr. Jack
  Following the recent rise in the upper earnings limit, it is estimated that just under 3 million employees currently have earnings above this level. It is also estimated that during 1991–92 an average of 3·1 million employees will have earnings above the upper earnings limit. In addition, about 0·5 million self-employed people will earn above the upper profits limit.

  Pensions
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his policy regarding index-linking private pensions in the near future.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Contracted-out occupational pension schemes and appropriate personal pension schemes are already under a statutory obligation annually to increase guaranteed minimum pensions accruing in respect of contracted-out employment from 6 April 1988, or pensions or annuities deriving from protected rights, in line with increases in the retail prices index to a maximum of 3 per cent. Guaranteed minimum pensions in respect of contracted-out employments before 6 April 1988, and any excess over 3 per cent. thereafter, are indexed by the state earnings-related pension scheme in line with the retail prices index.

  The Social Security Act 1990 includes a provision which will require occupational pension schemes to provide annual increases in the rate of salary-related pensions (other than guaranteed minimum pensions) accruing in respect of pensionable service from an appointed day. The increase will be linked to increases in the retail prices index to a maximum of 5 per cent. a year. In addition, schemes which have a surplus of assets over liabilities will he required to make comparable increases in respect of service before that day. No final decision has been made as to when this provision will come into effect.

  National Insurance (Company Cars)
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, further to the answer to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle), 1 May,Official Report, column 254, whether his estimate includes the effect of changes proposed in the 1991 Budget for national insurance contributions on company cars and fuel.

  Mr. Jack
  The figure of £750 million given to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) includes an amount
  329
  of £610 million which is attributable to the extension of employers' national insurance contributions to company cars and fuel, announced in the 1991 Budget.

  Pensioners' Expenditure
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the estimated annual expenditure at current prices of pensioners in the Deeside area on(a) heating, (b) lighting and (c) travel in (i) 1980, (ii) 1985 and (iii) the last year for which figures are available.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the gross and net budgets of the social fund for each of the local offices in Wales for

  Caseload (including backdated awards) as at end of month

  Number of family credit awards current at end of month1

  Self-employed

  Employees

  Total

  August 1990

  281,414

  48,140

  276,500

  324,640

  September 1990

  282,019

  48,080

  278,540

  326,620

  October 1990

  280,744

  47,860

  278,600

  326,460

  November 1990

  293,343

  —

  —

  2324,000

  December 1990

  284,429

  —

  —

  2317,000

  January 1991

  281,250

  —

  —

  2315,000

  February 1991

  288,924

  —

  —

  2322,000

  March 1991

  294,202

  —

  —

  3—

  April 1991

  292,752

  —

  —

  3—

  May 1991

  300,096

  —

  —

  3—

  1 A breakdown between employees and self-employed is not available.

  2 Provisional total: no breakdown between employees and self-employed at this stage.

  3 Meaningful figures not yet available because of claims not yet decided.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families with the main earner(a) employed and (b) self-employed, were receiving family credit of (a) under £10, (b) £10 to £19·99, (c) £20 to £29·99, (d) £30 to £39·99, (e) £40 to £49·99, (f) £50 to £59·99 and (g) £60 or more, at the latest date for which information is available.

  Mr. Jack
  At 31 October 1990, the latest date for which this information is available, the breakdown of the families receiving family credit was as follows:

  Weekly amount of Family Credit

  Main earner self-employed

  Main earner employed

  Under £10

  3,120

  47,920

  £10 to £19·99

  4,820

  59,460

  £20 to £29·99

  5,820

  53,700

  £30 to £39·99

  5,680

  45,880

  £40 to £49·99

  8,760

  35,960

  £50 to £59·99

  10,280

  20,240

  £60 or more

  9,380

  15,440

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for family credit have been refused since April 1988; and what proportion of new claims in each of the months April and May 1991 was unsuccessful.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures he is taking to improve the level of service to family credit claimants.
  330
  each year since 1988–89, under the headings of (a) crisis loans, (b) budgeting loans and (c) community care grants, showing the change in real terms since 1988–89 in each case.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the public information office.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will bring up to date the information regarding family credit awards and case load given in his reply on 25 April,Official Report, columns 541–44.

  Mr. Jack
  The information now available, for August 1990 and subsequent months, is as follows:

  Mr. Jack
  The administration of family credit is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the public information office.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recent representations he has received concerning income support levels and residential care.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Several representations have been received recently both from individuals and representative bodies.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to meet representatives from the National Care Homes Association to discuss funding arrangements for care in residential and nursing homes.

  Miss Widdecombe
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has agreed to speak at the National Care Homes Association's annual conference on 31 October. He has no plans to meet representatives before that.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what have been the percentage increases in each year since 1988 for the housing benefit non-dependant deductions.
  331
  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is in the table.

  Amount of deduction

  Percentage increase

  1988

  Rent Rebates/Allowances

  Higher rate

  8·20

  —

  Lower rate

  3·45

  —

  Rate rebates

  3·00

  —

  1989

  Rent Rebates/Allowances

  Higher rate

  9·15

  11·6

  Lower rate

  3·85

  11·6

  Rate rebates

  3·35

  11·7

  1990

  Rent Rebates/Allowances

  Higher rate

  10·85

  18·6

  Lower rate

  4·55

  18·2

  1991

  Rent Rebates/Allowances

  Higher rate

  13·50

  24·4

  Lower rate

  5·70

  25·3

  Notes:

  Non-dependant deductions are uprated by reference to the retail prices index for housing.

  Variations in the percentage increases are due to rounding.

  Child Support Bill
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the benefit savings to be made if the income support of absent parents is to be reduced by virtue of clause 39(2) of the Child Support Bill.

  Mr. Jack
  Clause 39(2) of the Child Support Bill provides for a power to seek a contribution to maintenance from absent parents on income support by deduction from their income support to reinforce the message that they have the same responsibility as other parents. But those who are sick or disabled, or who are claiming income support for dependent children will be zero-rated. The long-term reduction in benefit expenditure from applying the deduction to those who are fit and able to work is provisionally estimated at approximately £9 million at 1990–91 prices.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received on clause 22 of the Child Support Bill.

  Mr. Jack
  On initial publication of the White Paper, "Children Come First", we received some 250 written representations of which 56 contained specific responses on our proposals to reduce the caring parent benefit which were reflected in the Bill's original clause 22. Since the introduction of the Child Support Bill we have received about 20 letters on clause 22, some occasioned by representations to Members of Parliament from bodies who had also responded at the time of the White Paper publication.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate has been made of the administrative cost of applying deductions from income support by virtue of clause 35(2) of the Child Support Bill.
  332
  Mr. Jack
  The long-term administrative cost of all deductions from income support arising as a result of the Child Support Bill is provisionally estimated at about £4 million at 1990–91 prices.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations he has had on clause 22 of the Child Support Bill.

  Mr. Jack
  We sought the views of organisations and members of the public on all aspects of the proposals set out in the White Paper "Children Come First", including the measures set out in the former clause 22. We have received many letters on this subject. In addition to representation by means of letter we were pleased to meet some of the principle organisations representing lone parents, when, as part of our wider consultations on the Bill we discussed both the current clause 6 and the former clause 22.

  Disability
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he has taken to advertise benefits available to disabled people.

  Mr. Scott
  Since January 1990 we are taking the following steps to advertise benefits available to disabled people:

  i. Regular local radio and regional TV broadcasts involving our team of regional information officers.

  ii. Displays and mobile advice units in communities across the country, which include talks to carers and disabled people, visits to hospitals, day centres and other similar organisations.

  iii. National press campaigns advertising changes to disability benefits aimed at specialist carers and people with disabilities.

  iv. A specialist press, mail-out and press editorial campaign to announce changes to attendance allowance.

  v. A publicity campaign on mobility allowance directed at carers and advisers of people who are both deaf and blind. This consists of direct mailings supported by free editorial coverage in press and radio.

  vi. A campaign to announce a new telephone advice and information service for people with disabilities. As part of this service, for those people with impaired vision or who are blind we are providing letters and forms in Braille and large print.

  Special telecommunications facilities are available for those people with hearing difficulties. This advertising campaign is currently being run in southern England and is due to be run nationwide at the end of June.

  Students
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will consider allowing payment of income support to students during the coming summer vacation who are unable to obtain temporary employment; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Financial support for students throughout the year, including the summer vacation, is provided through the educational maintenance system. But certain students such as those who are disabled, lone parents, and student couples with children, may qualify for income support during the summer vacation. We have no plans to extend this concession.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what advice his Department gives to students who
  333
  apply for benefit for the period during the summer vacation because there is no temporary work available; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Full-time students are no longer entitled to unemployment benefit. With the exception of certain vulnerable groups, they are similarly unable to qualify for income support and housing benefit. Financial support throughout the year, including the summer vacation, is provided through the educational maintenance system.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what benefit a student can obtain during the summer vacation who cannot obtain temporary employment; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  With the exception of unemployment benefit, income support and housing benefit, the normal range of social security benefits is available to full-time students who satisfy the appropriate qualifying conditions. Full-time students in certain vulnerable groups, including lone parents, student couples with dependent children and disabled students also retain eligibility to income support and housing benefit. Partners of students may also qualify for these benefits on behalf of the couple.

  Appeal Tribunals
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will publish in the Official Report such information as is available for the latest period for which it is available regarding the number of sittings of social security appeal tribunals in each region at which no presenting officer appeared.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 26 April 1991 at column 602.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Pensioners (Television Licences)
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will meet pensioner representatives to discuss free television licences for pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Giving free licences to all pensioners, including those who are well able to pay the fee, would cost £470 million a year, and would mean that everyone else would have to pay £116 for their colour licence. We have no plans to change the present arrangements and a meeting would serve no useful purpose.

  Refugees
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were given refugee status in each of the past two years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Around 3,000 people, including associated dependants, were recognised as refugees in 1989 in the United Kingdom. For 1990 the provisional figure recorded at present is about 1,600, but this is likely to understate because of delays in recording.

  Community Service Orders
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress being made with community service orders.

  Mr. John Patten
  National standards on the supervision of community service orders were introduced two years ago, on 1 April 1989. As intended, they have been effective in achieving tighter and more consistent management of this work by probation services. My Department is now circulating to probation services an analysis of the first year's operation of the standards.

  Police Authorities
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to modify the structure and control of police authorities.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I have no plans to modify the structure and control of police authorities. The Government remain committed to the tripartite structure of our policing system and the value of local involvement. There are developments that we need in providing support to the police service and enhancing the delivery of policing as a local service, but these can be achieved using the flexibility of the Police Act 1964. This is the message I will be giving to the Association of Chief Police Officers in a speech tonight.

  Prison Service
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on industrial relations within the prison service.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  There are currently 43 local disputes registered under the disputes procedure agreed between the POA and prison service management. The level of disputes is a matter of concern, particularly when it results in industrial action leading to prisoners being held in police cells.

  Following a POA ballot last June in favour of industrial action but not strike action on issues of staffing and safety, there has been a series of meetings with the POA to resolve the dispute which have not yet been successful.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will next meet the Prison Reform Trust to discuss implementation of the recommendations of the Woolf report.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend will next month be addressing a conference organised by the Prison Reform Trust. We shall listen with interest to all representations made about the future direction of the prison service while preparing the forthcoming White Paper.

  Obscenity Law
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to amend the law on obscenity.

  Mr. John Patten
  If suitable proposals are put forward which appear likely to command wide support, we will of course consider supporting them.

  Constitutional Arrangements
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the constitutional machinery of Government; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have no such plans. We believe that our present constitutional arrangements serve their respective purposes well.

  Television Franchise Applications
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to meet the chairman of the Independent Television Commission to discuss the franchise applications.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  No. It is for the Independent Television Commission, acting independently of Government, to assess the applications for Channel 3 licences.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to meet the Shopping Hours Reform Council to discuss Sunday trading.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I met representatives of the Shopping Hours Reform Council yesterday. The meeting was one in the extensive programme of separate discussions which I am holding with bodies representing retailers and other interests, to assist in the possible development of acceptable proposals for the reform of the Sunday trading law.

  Prisons, Yorkshire
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to make an official visit to Yorkshire to inspect prisons.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  My right hon. Friend's current programme of visits to prisons does not include any in Yorkshire, but I visited HM prison Leeds in April and am planning to visit HM prison Askham Grange in July. I will also be opening HM prison Moorland, near Doncaster, in October.

  Sex Offenders
  Mr. Andy Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that imprisoned sex offenders have access to appropriate counselling services.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Although many prison establishments already undertake individual counselling and group therapy with sex offenders, the current provision is largely unco-ordinated.

  The Criminal Justice Bill places particular emphasis on tackling offending behaviour. My right hon. Friend hopes to announce shortly details of a structured programme for sex offenders in prison.

  Iraqi Citizens
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to change the rules for admission of Iraqi citizens to the United Kingdom.
  336
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend did so on 12 April. Applications by Iraqi nationals now fall to be considered against normal immigration criteria.

  Prison Service (Properties)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the constituencies in the United Kingdom that contain domestic properties owned by the prison service and the number of properties in each constituency.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Racial Attacks
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints of attacks with a racial motive have been reported in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  National figures for racially motivated incidents are collected annually; 6,459 incidents were reported to police forces in England and Wales in 1990.

  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken by his Department to eliminate racial attacks.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Home Office has issued a series of guidelines to all police forces on responding effectively and as a priority to racial attacks. Good practice in preventing attacks, supporting victims and dealing with perpetrators is spread and monitored, in co-operation with Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary. We are co-ordinating the work of all responsible agencies in providing further guidance, information and evaluation on national and local initiatives. Broader policies on equal opportunities, quality of service and police training are designed to take full account of the problem of racial attacks.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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 which the contract was carried out.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The Home Office spent approximately £4,503,000 on management and computer consultancies, excluding hardware and software purchases, in the 1990–91 financial year. Details of the management and computer consultancies awarded, none of which was carried out for an executive agency, are as follows:

  Supplier

  Description

  Capita Group Ltd. (The)

  Consultancy support for performance measurement training

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  Magistrates Courts Agency: Costing of the start up and running

  337

  Sallmans Int Prop Cons

  Appointment of project coordinator

  Mr B Webb

  Research into crime on London Underground Limited

  Touche Ross

  Review of catering service at fire service college

  Jones Lang Wooton

  City search

  A R Brannon

  Appointment of consultant to conduct an enquiry

  A Langdown

  Appointment of fire consultant

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  Review of paperwork

  Collingwood Court and Association

  Market research for Hull safer cities project

  Capita Group Ltd. (The)

  Project coordinator for study of CICB

  DEGW

  Prison service headquarters: Space consultancy

  Vista Communications

  Prison service communications audit

  PE International

  Review of British visitors passport and standard passport

  Mr. P. Hyde

  Design and conduct of a seminar for senior management

  Charles Baker City Ltd.

  Provision of public relations support for the sale of national transcommunications

  Price Waterhouse

  Study into television licence fee

  J. Burrows

  Best practice in commercial crime prevention

  Ernst and Young

  Validation of IT strategy

  Handley-Walker Group

  Preparation of draft specification for market-testing of S and T warehousing and distribution activities

  PA Consultants

  Area manager training

  Michael Associates

  Research into CCTV

  Prof. R. V. Clarke

  Thievability index

  Ernst and Young

  Court escort area survey

  Price Waterhouse

  Police activity sampling

  Saville and Holdsworth Ltd.

  Revision of police initial recruitment test

  Touche Ross

  Preparation of financial model

  H. D. Associates

  Re-organisation

  Neville Clark Ltd.

  Quality systems

  P. Hannant

  Advice on police aviation

  KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock

  Review of common police services

  Management Exchange Limited (THE)

  Feasibility study on police training needs

  Admiral

  Technical assurance

  Radius

  Software conversion

  S-Com

  Software production

  Whitworth

  Fire cover model technical manual

  Oracle

  File tracking testing

  LOGICA

  Lunar house LAN design

  DOWTY

  Fire brigade communications

  Hans Grafte

  SSADM consultancy

  ZENTECH

  MIS system consultancy

  Strand

  COMMS infrastructure

  INTAC

  Video conferencing consultancy

  PA Consulting Group

  INCIS project manager

  Winway

  LIDS 2 technical manager

  Oracle

  Oracle consultancy

  Oracle

  Financial management system consultancy

  Hoskyns

  LIDS post implementation review

  Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte

  MIS consultancy

  DBI Associates

  Business case guide

  Oracle

  Oracle consultancy

  VNG Nationwide

  Oracle consultancy

  Hoskyns Group

  NCRS project

  DBI Associates

  PROMIS strategy review

  Rede Group

  Quality consultancy

  DBI Associates

  Prince consultancy

  338

  CCMS

  Charging system consultancy

  Hoskyns Group

  UNIX capacity management

  CSC

  INCIS technical architect

  Grafton

  INCIS technical designer

  Grafton

  INCIS systems analysis

  Admiral

  Technical author

  Admiral

  AFMIS risk analysis

  Software AG

  Technical manager

  Winway Systems

  ITS technical management

  Grafton

  Application software consultancy

  Siemens Nixdorf

  Siemens software consultancy

  RMIS

  Probation study

  Bell Software

  Database administration support

  Ernst and Young

  Promis/spits strategy

  Paradis

  Packaging of algorithms

  CSC

  CDA Manager

  Metier

  Artemis support

  Kermon

  Mass project support

  DBI Associates

  Technical author

  CSS

  CICB Study

  Kermon

  Technical Manager

  Hoskyns Group

  Unix Policy Review

  Kermon

  IEU Software Consultancy

  VNG Nationwide

  Oracle Consultancy

  Hoskyns Group

  Review of projects

  Recognition research

  AFR Neural Networks Consultancy

  Kermon

  IT strategy

  Kermon

  Procurement support

  Winway

  ITS Risk Analysis

  Glossa

  AFR Investigation Work

  OFICE

  Prison comms study

  ENE

  Survey of Prison lans

  T. J. Knewett

  IT requirements for Probation Service

  Kermon

  Prepare IT strategy for Probation Service

  Cooper, Lybrand and Deloitte

  Review of Microb

  Mourney Partners

  IT strategy for training

  Price Waterhouse

  Advice on fallout modelling computer programmes

  Hunting Engineering

  Modifying Protfac code

  Prisons (Assaults)
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the procedures under which allegations into serious assault in prisons are investigated; and whether such allegations are automatically referred to the police.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  If a prisoner is suspected of a serious offence against the law, including assault, the governor has discretion to refer the matter to the police for investigation. The internal disciplinary code includes charges that may amount to a criminal offence, however, and it is normal, therefore, for behaviour that might amount to a relatively minor criminal offence to be investigated and dealt with internally.

  Allegations against staff are investigated, and governors may, on prison service headquarters' advice, refer such allegations to the police for investigation if there is evidence that a criminal offence may have been committed. Evidence that a serious assault had occurred would invariably be referred to the police.

  Street Lighting and Crime
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the research by Southampton university, funded by the Home Office, into the effect of street lighting on crime in Wandsworth
  339
  Mr. John Patten
  We hope to publish the results of this research as a Home Office crime prevention unit paper within the next few months.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Mudd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne may expect a reply to correspondence originating from Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Mayne, of Chywarthen, Tarrandean Lane, Perranwell Station, Truro, transferred to his Department on 27 March from the Department of the Environment under their reference K/PSO/5781/91.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A reply was sent to my hon. Friend on 29 May.

  Violent Crime
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the incidence of violent crime in the United Kingdom; and what information he has on the incidence of violent crime in other countries of the EC and in the United States of America.

  Mr. John Patten
  There were about 250,000 violent crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales in 1990, about 6 per cent. of all recorded crime.

  A recent international crime survey showed that in 1988 the risk of being the victim of violent crime in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland was lower than in most western European countries—for example, Belgium. Within western Europe, risks were highest in Finland, the Netherlands and West Germany. The risk in the USA was the highest of all countries surveyed. The results of the survey are in "Experiences of Crime across the World: Key findings from the 1989 International Crime Survey", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Curtis Howard
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date in 1990 Mr. Curtis Howard, an American citizen, was deported from the United Kingdom; what entry was made in his passport at that time; when and where he is believed to have entered the United Kingdom this year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Mr. Curtis Howard was removed from the United Kingdom to the United States of America as an illegal entrant on 5 July 1990 and his passport was endorsed to show this. Police inquiries into his more recent movements are continuing, but I understand that Mr. Howard did not gain entry in his true identity.

  Disability
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the head of programming at the BBC to discuss subtitles for the deaf.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend meets representatives of the BBC from time to time to discuss a range of broadcasting issues. However, programming and subtitling are matters for them to determine, within their public service responsibilities.
  340
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has taken to ensure that all polling booths are accessible to disabled people.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  I assume that the hon. Gentleman means polling stations rather than polling booths. As he is aware, district and London borough councils in England and Wales have a statutory obligation to place polling stations in buildings which are accessible to disabled people, wherever this is practicable. My officials last wrote to councils in December 1989 to remind them of their duty in this respect and will do so again shortly.

  Police Records
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of the planned NCIS computer network for intelligence on major crime.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The requirements of the computer system for the national criminal intelligence service have not yet been finalised. Until the specification for the system has been agreed, it is not possible to say what the cost is likely to be.

  Women (European Community)
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who represented the United Kingdom at the Informal Council on the Conditions of Women in the EC member states held in Luxemboug on 13 May; what was discussed; what priorities were put forward for action; and whether there are plans for a further meeting.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [holding answer 3 June 1991]: I attended the informal meeting of Women's Ministers in Luxembourg on 13 May in my capacity as chairman of the ministerial group on women's issues. We discussed the implementation of the third medium term (1991–95) Community action programme on equal opportunities for women and men and child care provision in the member states.

  The meeting endorsed the overall objective of the Commission's third action programme and there was an exchange of views on child care provision. It is up to each presidency to decide whether to call an informal meeting of Ministers.

  Dangerous Dogs
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dog owners have been(a) fined and (b) imprisoned because of attacks by their dogs; what was the average fine or prison sentence in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [holding answer 23 Mar 1991]: The latest figures in respect of offences under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847, the Dogs Act 1871 and the Dangerous Dogs Act 1989 are as follows:

  Number fined

  Average fine £

  Number imprisoned

  1985

  124

  33

  —

  1986

  112

  41

  —

  1987

  104

  43

  —

  1988

  104

  38

  —

  1989

  134

  51

  —

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reports of dog attacks he
  341
  has received in each of the last five years; how many (a) children and (b) adults were injured, seriously injured and killed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [holding answer 23 May 1991]: The Home Office is not routinely informed of attacks by dogs and no statistics about them are collected centrally.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Whales
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what efforts the British Government have made to prevent other nations from hunting whales for commercial reasons.

  Mr. Curry
  At the recent meeting of the International Whaling Commission the United Kingdom continued to play a leading role in ensuring that the moratorium on commercial whaling was upheld. Further, requests for catch quotas by Iceland and Japan were turned down, resolutions were passed against the research whaling plans of Japan and the USSR and ensuring a follow-up to a report on the status of small cetacean populations. At the United Kingdom's suggestion a special review will be undertaken on the humaneness of whale killing methods, an issue about which we are particularly concerned.

  Ivermectin
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what monitoring is undertaken to detect traces of ivermectin in farmed salmon on sale in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  Ivermectin is not licensed for use in fish in the United Kingdom and, to date, no monitoring has been conducted to detect residues in ivermectin in the edible tissues of farmed salmon on sale in the United Kingdom. However, surveillance for residues in farmed fish is currently being stepped up and testing for ivermectin will be included within the scope of the new arrangements.

  Pig Disease
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he intends to introduce a compulsory slaughter policy with compensation for herds affected, or suspected of being affected by blue ear pig disease;

  (2) whether he will ban all live pig imports from countries where blue ear pig disease has been confirmed;

  (3) what steps he is taking to protect the United Kingdom pig industry from blue ear pig disease.

  Mr. Maclean
  Until the causative agent is identified, there is no way of knowing if slaughtering herds would be an effective means of controlling the disease. Commission decision 91/237/EEC of 25 April prohibits exports of pigs for breeding or production from infected farms and municipalities in those member states where the disease has been confirmed. No live pigs are being imported from affected countries. There are no approved foot and mouth disease quarantine premises for pigs and there has been no trade interest in such imports.

  Artificial Sweeteners
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he intends to take to protect the United Kingdom's crisp and snack industry from adverse affects of the proposed EC directive on artificial sweeteners.

  Mr. Maclean
  We are continuing to press for the inclusion of these products in the proposed directive.

  Pesticides
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the pesticide active ingredients which are currently(a) under review and (b) awaiting review, indicating whether each one is due for a full or partial review; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information set out below relates to pesticide active ingredients which are(a) currently tinder review and (b) awaiting review. Although an indication of full or partial review has been given for these active ingredients listed at (a), it is not possible at this stage to indicate the nature of the reviews that will be undertaken in respect of the pesticides detailed at (b). A decision on the extent of these reviews will be made once approval holders have submitted details of all data held in support of products based on the active ingredients.

  (a) Active ingredients first approved before 1981 and currently under review

  Alachlor—Full

  Atrazine—Full

  Benomyl—Partial

  Bromoxynil—Full

  Captan—Partial

  Carbendazim—Partial

  Chlorothalonil—Partial

  Demeton-S-methyl—Full

  Demeton-S-methyl-sulphone—Full

  Diazinon—Full

  Dichlorvos—Full

  Dithiocarbamates:

  Ferbam—Full

  Mancozeb—Full

  Maneb—Full

  Nabam—Full

  Propineb—Full

  Thiram—Full

  Zineb—Full

  Zineb-ethylene-thiuram disulphide adduct—Full

  Ziram—Full

  Dinocap—Full

  Ioxynil—Full

  Isoproturon—Full

  Lindane—Full

  Linuron—Full

  Methyl bromide—Partial

  Monolinuron—Full

  Oxydemeton-methyl—Full

  Simazine—Full

  Synthetic Pyrethroids:

  Cypermethrin—Partial

  Deltamethrin—Partial

  Permethrin—Partial

  8 post-1981 compounds—Partial

  Thiophanate methyl—Partial

  Thiabendazole—Partial

  Tecnazene—Full

  2-Aminobutane—Partial

  2,4,D—Full

  Vinclozolin—Partial

  Chlorfenvinphos—Full

  Dimethoate—Full

  +Omethoate*—Full

  +Formothion*—Full

  343

  Malathion—Full

  Mecoprop—Full

  +Mecoprop-p*—Full

  Phorate—Full

  Triazophos—Full

  (b) Active Ingredients awaiting review

  Category 1 (top priority)

  Azinphos-methyl

  Dichlorophen + DB (2,4-)

  Dichlorprop

  Diquat

  Fentin acetate

  Fentin hydroxide

  MCPA + MCPB*

  Metaldehyde

  Methiocarb

  Nicotine

  Paraquat

  Pirimicarb

  Pirimiphos-methyl +Pirimiphos-ethyl*

  Sodium Cyanide

  Zinc Phosphide +Aluminium phosphide*

  PRIORITY LISTS: CATEGORIES 2 TO 3
  If at any time areas of particular concern about active ingredients in the categories are identified, priorities will be reassed and an immediate partial or full review may be undertaken.

  Category 2

  Aldicarb

  Alphachloralose

  Ammonium sulphamate

  Benazolin

  Carbaryl

  Chloroethylphosphonic acid

  Chlorpropham

  Chlorpyriphos

  Chlorpyriphos-methyl

  Copper Hydroxide

  Copper Oxychloride

  Copper Sulphate

  Copper-complex-Bordeaux mixture

  Cresylic Acid

  Dicamba

  Dichlofluanid

  Disulfoton

  Endosulfan

  Formaldehyde

  Iprodione

  Maleic Hydrazide

  Methomyl

  Pentachlorophenol

  TCA

  Tetradifon

  Tri-allate

  Trichlorfon

  Trifluralin

  Vamidothion

  Category 3

  Aluminium sulphate

  Ammonium carbonate

  Ammonium sulphate

  Bitumen

  Bromophos

  Bupirimate

  Butoxycarboxim

  Carbofuran

  Chloridazon

  Chlorotoluron

  Chloroxuron

  Copper ammonium carbonate

  Coumatetralyl

  Dalapon

  Desmetryne

  Dichlobenil

  Diocofol

  Dithianon

  Diuron

  344

  Dodine

  Etrimfos

  Fatty acids

  Fenitrothion

  Ferric sulphate

  Ferrous sulphate

  Glyphosate

  Heptenophos

  Imazalil

  Indol-3-ylacetic acid

  Indol-3-ylbutyric acid

  Lenacil

  Mephostolan

  Metalaxyl

  Naled

  Pepper

  Phenols

  Prometryn

  Propiconazole

  Propyzamide

  Pyrazophos

  Pyrethrins-pyrethrum

  Quinomethionate

  Rotenone

  Sodium chlorate

  Sodium hydrogen carbonate

  Sodium tetraborate

  Sulphur

  Tar oils

  TBA (2,3,6-)

  Terbutryn

  Tetramethrin

  Thiometon

  Triadimefon

  Triforine

  Category 4

  Amitrole

  Ammonium hydroxide

  Benzalkonium chloride

  Bioresmethrin

  Bone oil

  Boric acid

  Brodifacoum

  Bromacil

  Carbetamide

  Chlorbufam

  Chlorophacinone

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields on 11 December 1990, if he will list all the pesticide active ingredients he(a) received, (b) approved and (c) rejected in 1990 and to date in 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested is set out below in respect of applications for pesticides submitted to this Ministry for approval by the six Departments responsible. Applications for which the Health and Safety Executive is not primarily responsible—non-agricultural pesticides—are not included.

  1990

  1991

  (a) Received

  7

  3

  (names are commercial in confidence)

  (b) (i) Approved

  6

  2

  (provisional level)

  deltamethrin fenoxyprop-ethyl cycloxydim PP321 fenpropathrin fenvalerate

  teflubenzuron gluphosinate-ammonium

  (ii) Approved

  1

  (experimental permit)

  oryzalin

  345

  1990

  1991

  (iii) Decisions deferred pending further data

  5

  1

  (names are commercial in confidence)

  (c) Rejected

  1

  —

  ethalfluralin

  (d) Withdrawn

  4

  1

  (names are commercial in confidence)

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields on 16 January 1990, if he will list the active ingredients which have had their reviews concluded by the advisory committee on pesticides according to the categories(a) approval withdrawn, (b) use restricted and (c) use continues unchanged following their review since 16 January 1990, indicating if they were full or partial reviews; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) Approvals withdrawn

  P TBTO (some approvals)

  P Alphalchloralose—commodity substance approvals

  P Secanol—commodity substance approvals

  (b) Use restricted or other

  P Vinclozolin

  amendments to approvals

  F Diazinon

  F Toxynil

  F Bromoxynil

  P 2-aminobutane

  (c) Use continues unchanged

  F Maneb

  F Mancozeb

  F Nabam

  F Zineb

  F Zineb-ethylene-thiuram disulphide adduct

  Note: P=partial.

  F=full.

  Marine Environment
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies have been undertaken by his Department into the levels of(a) mercury pollution, (b) plutonium pollution and (c) polychlorinated biphenyl pollution in the Irish sea and their uptake by fish, dolphins and molluscs living in the region.

  Mr. Curry
  The results of the Department's monitoring of non-radioactive and radioactive contaminants, including mercury, plutonium and polychlorinated biphenyls, in fish and molluscs are regularly published in the aquatic environment monitoring reports (AEMR), copies of which are available in the Library of the House. AEMR No. 26, due to be published shortly, will describe work undertaken in 1988 and 1989. In addition to results on contaminants in fish and shellfish, it will contain a section summarising work on contaminants in marine mammals, including dolphins.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment has been made by his Department of the biogenic sulphur loading in the atmosphere arising from emissions from nutrient-enriched plankton in the North sea.

  Mr. Curry
  Dimethyl sulfide is believed to arise in surface water from the natural biochemistry of certain 346
  species of marine algae. We do not monitor specifically for sulfide loading. However, we have an annual nutrient monitoring programme in the North sea, and there is no evidence for enhanced algal production from nutrients of manmade origin in the open North sea.

  Rabies
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what additional steps will be taken to prevent an escalation in incidents of rabies following the completion of the channel tunnel.

  Mr. Maclean
  Eurotunnel has implemented measures agreed with the Department to prevent the possible entry of rabies-susceptible animals while the tunnel is built. The state veterinary service and the Department's wildlife scientists have been fully involved in devising the measures to be used once the tunnel is operational. These have yet to be finalised, but will include the use of sealed trains, physical barriers and grids, and the continuous use of baited traps in the tunnel and terminal areas, together with vigorous cleaning and inspection procedures.

  The planned control measures will ensure that the channel tunnel presents no greater rabies risk than other forms of cross-channel transport.

  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many quarantined animals have developed rabies in each year since 1970.

  Mr. Maclean
  Two animals developed rabies in quarantine in this period, one in 1983 and the other in 1990. None developed the disease after release from quarantine.

  Sheep Dip
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many non-organophosphorous compounds for the treatment of sheeps' coats are awaiting licence approval; how long they have been awaiting approval; and when he expects to make a decision on any of these preparations.

  Mr. Maclean
  Two applications for product licences in respect of non-organophosphorous compounds for sheep treatment were submitted to the veterinary medicines directorate in January 1990 and August 1990 respectively. Licences are issued under the Medicines Act only once a product has been demonstrated to be safe, of sound quality, and effective. We are unable to say when decisions on determining these applications will be taken.

DEFENCE

  Tanks
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to the possible leasing of Leopard tanks by the British Army.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  As Leopard 2 (improved) is a contender for Chieftain replacement, discussion on what may or may not be part of any particular offer would breach commercial confidentiality.

  German Equipment
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when in the last six months discussions have taken place with his German counterparts regarding the possible use by British forces of German equipment.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  My right hon. Friend has had a number of discussions with Dr. Stoltenberg in the last six months, concerning a wide range of issues.

  Meteorological Office
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the specific performance targets set for the Meteorological Office following on from the initial targets he announced in 1990.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  At column 444 on 2 April 1990, my right hon. Friend set out the initial targets set for the Meteorological Office. The performance achieved against these targets will be reported in the agency's annual report and accounts which will be available in the summer.

  Following on from these initial targets I have set further specific and demanding targets for the period 1991–96. These are:
  To improve efficiency by an average of 3 per cent. per annum.
  To achieve a 50 per cent. increase in uptake of meteorological services, as measured by revenue generated from commercial services to the public, industry and commerce (excluding the Civil Aviation Authority).
  To achieve a 170 per cent. increase in the gross contribution of commercial services revenue to offsetting core costs and overheads.
  To reduce by 15 per cent. cumulatively the standard error of 48-hour forecasts of mid-tropospheric pressure fields over the North Atlantic and North West Europe.
  To achieve high standards of quality and demonstrate a level of customer satisfaction with the services and products delivered. Quantified targets will be set annually for each major customer group.
  To provide authoritative advice on climate change issues to Ministers nationally, and internationally through the auspices of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

  Central Television (Libel Actions)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contact there has been between officials of his Department and Messrs de Normann and Mackenzie Geidt regarding their libel actions against Central Television.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As a date has been set for a hearing it would not be appropriate to comment.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, further to his letter to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South of 23 May, he will give the name and title of the official with whom Mr. Mackenzie Geidt had an informed discussion in October 1989 following his return from Vietnam.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Strategic Objectives
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are his precise global strategic objectives; and what exact manning levels for the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force he is proposing in order to meet those objectives.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The strategic environment in which the Government set defence policy and take decisions on the defence programme is set out each year in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates" (SDE) which includes manpower statistics for the three services. As stated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the House on 30 April, we hope to publish SDE 91 before the summer recess.

  Iraq (Nuclear Material)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent reports he has had from the International Atomic Energy Agency about Iraq's assurances on the amount of fissionable material(a) safely sealed and (b) destroyed during allied bombing; and what proposals Her Majesty's Government have to monitor radiation in the Tuwaitha area.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  [holding answer 3 June 1991]: I have been asked to reply.

  An IAEA team visited Iraq from 14–22 May to begin verification of Iraq's statements to the UN of its nuclear holdings. The IAEA has not made public the findings of its initial inspection. A confidential report will be submitted to the agency's board of governors, of which the United Kingdom is a member. Further inspections which may include the monitoring of radiation in the Tuwaitha area will be necessary to fulfil all the requirements of UNSCR 687.

  The Gulf (Pollution)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research is being carried out into the effect of hydrocarbons released by oil fires on the cells of animals' bodies in Kuwait.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 3 June 1991]: I have been asked to reply.

  I am not aware of research on this particular topic but as I have already indicated to the hon. Member (Official Report, 28 March, column 458 and 17 April, column 183) a comprehensive assessment of environmental damage caused by the conflict is now being carried out by the United Nations Environment Programme.

  Antares (Sinking)
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish the results of the Royal Navy inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the fishing vessel Antares.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have placed a summary of the main findings of the Royal Navy board of inquiry report into this tragic accident in the Library of the House today.

  FURTHER EDUCATION: FUNDING
  FURTHER EDUCATION: FUNDING
  EDUCATION AND TRAINING: YOUNG PEOPLE
  EDUCATION AND TRAINING: YOUNG PEOPLE
  EDUCATION AND TRAINING: REGIONAL BOUNDARIES
  EDUCATION AND TRAINING: REGIONAL BOUNDARIES
  SIXTH FORM COLLEGES: FUTURE STATUS
  SIXTH FORM COLLEGES: FUTURE STATUS
  ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDING
  ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDING
  KUWAIT: DEPLOYMENT OF 21 EOD SQUADRON
  KUWAIT: DEPLOYMENT OF 21 EOD SQUADRON
  "LANDLORD AND TENANT, DISTRESS FOR RENT"
  "LANDLORD AND TENANT, DISTRESS FOR RENT"
  CHANNEL TUNNEL: RAIL SERVICES
  CHANNEL TUNNEL: RAIL SERVICES