Written Answers of 14 June 1991

TRANSPORT

  Tyres
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations govern the manufacture of re-mould tyres used on commercial vehicles.

  Mr. Chope
  The Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1984 require all re-mould tyres to comply with British Standard BS AU 144b: 1977.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations govern the use of re-mould tyres fitted to commercial vehicles.

  Mr. Chope
  There are no regulations which refer specifically to the use of re-mould tyres, but all tyres are required by the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 to be suitable for the use to which a vehicle is put.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents involving commercial vehicles were attributable to defective re-mould tyres during the years 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Chope
  Statistics are not available for 1989 or 1990 on accidents attributable to failure of tyres on commercial vehicles. However, the Department is co-ordinating research into the incidence and causes of tyre failures among heavy goods vehicles on motorways.

  Supplementary Grants
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much transport supplementary grant was made available to West Sussex county council for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Chope
  Before 1985–86 transport supplementary grant was given for capital and current expenditure. Since then current expenditure has been subsumed in revenue support grant, so figures before 1985–86 are not comparable with later figures. Transport supplementary grant for the last 10 years has been:

  Settlement year

  £ million

  1982–83

  3·908

  1983–84

  3·475

  1984–85

  3·719

  1985–86

  3·241

  1986–87

  3·622

  1987–88

  3·089

  1988–89

  2·730

  1989–90

  1·526

  1990–91

  4·532

  1991–92

  4·126

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the Atkins report on the channel tunnel rail link and when he does so, if he will place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Freeman
  British Rail sent us a copy of the report yesterday. We shall study it alongside all the other material it has sent us. The report and other key documents will be published in due course when we are ready to announce our conclusion.

  DVLA Information Technology Directorate
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the future of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's information technology directorate.

  Mr. Chope
  I have recently reviewed the status of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's directorate of information technology, known as DVOIT (Drivers, Vehicles and Operators Information Technology). This is a separate unit within the agency, comprising some 500 staff, which provides IT support to DVLA and to a number of other customers within the Department of Transport.

  As a first step DVOIT will be established as a separate executive agency from next April. This will allow it to develop a more commercial style of operation and in particular to establish more formal contractual relationships with its customers. I hope this will pave the way for eventual privatisation in a few years' time.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Bromley and Kingston Education Authorities
  Mr. Sims
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to introduce amending legislation in the light of the recent High Court decision concerning Bromley and Kingston education authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend is aware of the recent court cases involving the school admissions policies of Bromley and Kingston education authorities. He will be looking at the pattern of school admissions this September before deciding whether legislation to amend the law on admissions would be appropriate.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the full-time and part-time public appointments for which his Department was responsible for each of the past five years together with the salary and the date when each appointment is due for renewal.

  Mr. Eggar
  Until June 1990 information on public appointments was not held centrally within the Department, but is available in "Public Bodies" which is published annually and gives details of all such appointments together with salary details. Current appointments together with salary details and the date when each appointment is due for renewal are as follows:
  675

  Name of body

  Appointment and date of renewal

  Salary

  Business and Technician Education Council

  Chairman and all 12 members in December 1992

  Chairman part-time £10,000

  Members part-time unpaid

  Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research

  Chairman in 1993

  All part-time unpaid

  3 members in 1991

  4 members in 1992

  3 members in 1993

  Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges

  Chairman in March 1994

  All part-time unpaid

  4 members in August 1991

  1 member in December 1991

  4 members in August 1992

  1 member in January 1993

  2 members in December 1993

  Education Assets Board

  Chairman and all 6 members in July 1992

  Chairman part-time £20,515

  Members £111 sessional fee

  National Council for Educational Technology

  Chairman in March 1994

  All part-time unpaid

  4 members in March 1992

  5 members in March 1993

  8 members in March 1994

  Council for National Academic Awards

  Chairman in April 1994

  Chairman part-time £6,000

  25 members in September 1991

  Members part-time unpaid

  Further Education Unit Board of Management

  Chairman in April 1993

  All part-time unpaid

  11 members in December 1991

  Advisory Board for the Research Councils1

  Chairman in March 1993

  Chairman full-time £65,575

  1 member in March 1992

  Members part-time £4,340 honorarium

  2 members in March 1993

  1 member in September 1993

  2 members in March 1994

  1 member in September 1995

  1 member in December 1995

  Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education

  Chairman in June 1993

  Chairman £19,000 part-time

  9 members in December 1991

  10 members in December 1992

  Members part-time unpaid

  Computer Board for Councils Universities and Research councils

  Chairman and all 10 members in 1991

  Chairman £4,100 honorarium

  Members part-time daily fee £65

  Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council

  Chairman in November 1991

  Chairman part-time £14,000

  13 members in March 1992

  Members part-time £2,300 honorarium

  School Examinations and Assessment Council

  Chairman and Chief2 Executive in August 1993

  Chief Executive £54,900 Members part-time unpaid

  5 members in August 1991

  5 members in August 1992

  2 members in August 1993

  1 member in August 1994

  Sports Council

  Chairman and Vice-chairman in May 1992

  Chairman part-time £17,362

  6 members in October 1991

  Members part-time unpaid

  1 member in November 1991

  1 member in December 1991

  1 member in November 1992

  1 member in December 1992

  2 members in March 1993

  1 member in May 1993

  United States/United Kingdom Educational Commission (Fulbright Commission)

  2 members in December 1991

  Members part-time unpaid

  1 member in December 1992

  2 members in December 1994

  676 677

  Name of body

  Appointment and date of renewal

  Salary

  Universities Funding Council

  Chairman in October 1991

  Chairman part-time £14,000

  8 members in March 1992

  4 members in March 1994

  Members part-time £2,300 honorarium

  Agricultural and Food Research Council

  Chairman in August 1995

  Chairman part-time £11,580

  Secretary in December 19953

  5 members in July 1991

  Secretary £61,920 full-time Members part-time £4,340 honorarium

  3 members in July 1992

  7 members in July 1994

  Economic and Social Research Council

  Chairman in September 1992

  Chairman full-time £59,020 Members part-time £4,340 honorarium

  4 members in July 1991

  5 members in July 1992

  5 members in July 1993

  5 members in July 1994

  Medical Research Council

  Chairman in September 1994

  Chairman part-time £5,790 Members part-time honorarium £4,340

  6 members in July 1991

  3 members in July 1992

  2 members in July 1993

  4 members in July 1994

  Natural Environment Research Council

  Chairman in September 1993

  Chairman full-time £59,020 Members part-time £4,340 honorarium

  6 members in July 1992

  3 members in July 1993

  6 members in July 1994

  National Curriculum Council

  2Chairman and Chief Executive in August 1995

  Chief Executive full-time £69,120

  Deputy Chairman in August 1991

  Deputy Chairman and Members part-time unpaid

  6 members in August 1991

  4 members in August 1992

  3 members in August 1993

  Science and Engineering Research Council

  Chairman in September 1995

  Chairman full-time £76,600

  2 members in July 1992

  Members part-time £4,240 —£5,790 honorarium

  8 members in July 1993

  4 members in July 1994

  4Inner London Staff Commission

  Chairman and 2 members in April 1993

  Chairman part-time minimum 5 day fee at £118 per day.

  Members part-time minimum 2·5 days at £102 per day.

  Yehudi Menuhin School Governing Body

  2 members in July 1991

  Unpaid

  Visiting Committee of Cranfield Institute of Technology

  Chairman in September 1991

  All part-time unpaid

  4 members in July 1991

  2 members in November 1992

  1 member in September 1993

  Visiting Committee of the Royal College of Art

  Chairman in June 1991

  All part-time unpaid

  1 member in June 1991

  1 member in July 1991

  1 member in June 1992

  2 members in November 1992

  1 member in March 1994

  The Staff College (FE) Staff College Governing Body

  Chairman in November 1991

  All part-time unpaid

  4 members in December 1991

  4 members in December 1992

  3 members in December 1993

  3 members in December 1994

  Visiting Committee of the Open University

  2 members in January 1992

  Part-time unpaid

  3 members in January 1993

  2 members in January 1994

  University Commissioners

  Chairman in July 1991

  Chairman part-time £383 daily fee

  4 members in July 1991

  Members part-time £198 daily fee

  678 679

  Name of body

  Appointment and date of renewal

  Salary

  Teaching as a Career Unit Board

  Chairman in March 1993

  All part-time unpaid

  Joint Secretaries in March 1993

  8 Members in March 1993

  School Management Task Force

  Leader in March 1992

  Leader and Members part-time paid5

  5 members in March 1992

  National Youth Agency Management Committee

  Chairman and 7 members in March 1994

  All part-time unpaid

  1 Includes the heads of the 5 research councils, who are also listed under their respective councils.

  2 The present chairman is also chief executive. The post of chairman is unpaid.

  3 The secretary of AFRC is also deputy chairman.

  4 The work of the commission will be concluded in April 1993.

  5 The Department makes a contribution towards salary costs.

  Schools (Budgetary Delegation)
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those local education authorities which, in the most recent year for which information is available(a) had introduced full budgetary delegation to (i) all primary schools and (ii) all secondary schools and (b) had introduced school funding (i) fully in accordance with their published formula, (ii) partly in accordance with the formula and partly in accordance with historical principles and (iii) only in accordance with historical principles.

  Mr. Fallon
  The following table lists those local education authorities whose primary or secondary schools have full delegated management as of 1 April 1991.

  With regard to formula funding, the vast majority of LEAs have taken advantage of the transitional arrangements which allow for the change from historic to pure formula funding to take place gradually in the period up to 1 April 1994.

  The detailed information on each LEA is not immediately available. I shall write to my hon. Friend.

  (1) Fully delegated budgets to primary schools by 1991–92

  Westminster

  Coventry

  Brent

  Solihull

  Harrow

  Bolton

  Hillingdon

  Bradford

  Merton

  Kent

  Richmond

  (2) Fully delegated budgets to secondary schools by 1991–92

  Westminster

  Bedfordshire

  Barking

  Berkshire

  Barnet

  Buckinghamshire

  Brent

  Cambridgeshire

  Bromley

  Cheshire

  Croydon

  Cornwall

  Ealing

  Cumbria

  Haringey

  Devon

  Harrow

  Dorset

  Hillingdon

  Durham

  Hounslow

  East Sussex

  Kingston

  Essex

  Merton

  Gloucestershire

  Redbridge

  Hampshire

  Richmond

  Humberside

  Sutton

  Isle of Wight

  Coventry

  Kent

  Knowsley

  Lancashire

  Sefton

  Lincolnshire

  Wirral

  North Yorkshire

  Bolton

  Nottinghamshire

  Manchester

  Oxfordshire

  Doncaster

  Somerset

  Sheffield

  Suffolk

  Bradford

  Surrey

  680

  Gateshead

  Warwickshire

  South Tyneside

  West Sussex

  Isles of Scilly

  Wiltshire

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list local education authorities from which a secondary school has(a) voted for and (b) achieved grant-maintained status showing what proportion of its secondary provision such schools represent.

  Mr. Eggar
  The table gives the number and proportion (in percentage terms) of secondary schools within a local education authority which have:(a) voted in favour of seeking grant-maintained status; (b) voted in favour of seeking grant-maintained status and been approved for GM status.

  (a)

  (b)

  Local education authority

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Hammersmith

  1

  10

  1

  10

  Kensington

  1

  20

  1

  20

  Southwark

  1

  6

  1

  6

  Tower Hamlets

  1

  7

  1

  7

  Wandsworth

  3

  25

  0

  —

  Barnet

  2

  9

  2

  9

  Brent

  3

  20

  1

  7

  Bromley

  7

  37

  1

  5

  Croydon

  1

  4

  0

  —

  Ealing

  6

  46

  0

  —

  Hillingdon

  10

  56

  4

  22

  Newham

  1

  7

  1

  7

  Sutton

  2

  14

  2

  14

  Waltham Forest

  1

  6

  1

  6

  Birmingham

  4

  5

  4

  5

  Dudley

  2

  8

  1

  4

  Sandwell

  1

  4

  1

  4

  Solihull

  1

  7

  0

  —

  Wolverhampton

  2

  10

  2

  10

  Bolton

  1

  6

  1

  6

  Liverpool

  1

  3

  1

  3

  Tameside

  1

  5

  1

  5

  Wigan

  1

  4

  0

  —

  Bradford

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Calderdale

  2

  12

  2

  12

  Kirkless

  2

  5

  2

  5

  Avon

  2

  3

  2

  3

  Bedfordshire

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Berkshire

  4

  7

  3

  5

  Buckinghamshire

  3

  7

  3

  7

  Cambridgeshire

  1

  2

  0

  —

  Cheshire

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Cumbria

  4

  9

  1

  2

  Derbyshire

  2

  3

  2

  3

  Devon

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Dorset

  5

  8

  2

  3

  Essex

  5

  5

  2

  2

  681

  (a)

  (b)

  Local education authority

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  Gloucestershire

  6

  14

  4

  9

  Hampshire

  3

  3

  2

  2

  Hertfordshire

  6

  6

  3

  4

  Kent

  22

  15

  5

  3

  Lancashire

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Leicestershire

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Lincolnshire

  12

  19

  7

  11

  Norfolk

  6

  11

  1

  2

  Northamptonshire

  5

  8

  3

  5

  Nottinghamshire

  1

  1

  0

  —

  Shropshire

  1

  3

  1

  3

  Somerset

  1

  3

  1

  3

  Surrey

  7

  12

  1

  2

  Warwickshire

  3

  8

  1

  3

  Wiltshire

  1

  2

  1

  2

  Total

  167

  85

  Notes:

  (1) Column (a) lists the total number of schools in an authority which have voted in favour of seeking grant-maintained (GM) status. Some of these schools have yet to publish proposals, others have published proposals which Ministers will be considering soon or which they have already either approved or rejected.

  (2) Column (b) lists the number of schools whose proposals have been approved. This includes schools which are already operating as GM schools and those which were approved for incorporation in September.

  School Premises
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in England do not meet the requirements laid down in the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981.

  Mr. Fallon
  This information is not held centrally. It is the duty of LEAs and others directly responsible for schools to ensure that school premises conform to the standards prescribed in the regulations.

  Higher Education (Salaries)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total number of teaching staff and the total salary bill, exclusive of the employers' insurance and superannuation contributions(a) for English universities, and (b) for polytechnics and colleges under the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council for 1984–85 and 1989–90.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  Information on the numbers of universities' teaching staff and salaries inclusive of employers' insurance and superannuation contributions is contained in the annual volume "University Statistics Volume Three—Finance" table 9 published by the universities' statistical record. The latest edition is for financial year 1988–89. Copies of this publication are in the Library.

  Data on polytechnics and colleges are not available in the requested form.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Bangladesh
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what have been the annual grants made to Bangladesh by the Bangladesh Aid Consortium in each year since 1972; what has been the United Kingdom's contribution within the same period; and what have been the sums devoted by the Bangladesh Aid Consortium to programmes designed (i) to protect coastal areas from cyclone damage and (ii) to pre vent flooding within Bangladesh.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Total net official development assistance to Bangladesh from all donors, and from the United Kingdom, is as follows:

  Total Net Official Development Assistance from all donors

  UK Net Bilateral Official Development Assistance

  £ million

  £ million

  1972

  89·45

  1972

  2·53

  1973

  171·98

  1973

  2·67

  1974

  208·09

  1974

  6·44

  1975

  430·47

  1975

  14·30

  1976

  288·49

  1976

  13·72

  1977

  334·41

  1977

  21·99

  1978

  501·06

  1978

  43·97

  1979

  533·61

  1979

  33·77

  1980

  512·96

  1980

  42·57

  1981

  494·45

  1981

  33·31

  1982

  766·20

  1982

  22·17

  1983

  691·51

  1983

  23·92

  1984

  898·30

  1984

  34·77

  1985

  888·37

  1985

  40·28

  1986

  992·11

  1986

  37·43

  1987

  998·12

  1987

  33·96

  1988

  893·85

  1988

  41·08

  1989

  1098·73

  1989

  51·96

  In the period 1972–81 the figures for the donor group include DAC donors and multilateral institutions. From 1982 the totals also include assistance from Arab donors.

  We do not maintain statistics on the sectoral breakdown of other donor countries' aid programmes and cannot therefore give details of financial support for cyclone protection and flood prevention.

  British Council
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries, and the towns or cities in these countries, where Overseas Development Administration work is sub-contracted to the British Council.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The ODA has engaged the British Council to act as its agent in providing certain services in 106 countries. These services are normally available in the main towns and cities of these countries, which are as follows:

  Algeria

  Liberia

  Angola

  Madagascar

  Anguilla

  Malawi

  Antigua and Barbuda

  Malaysia

  Bangladesh

  Maldives

  Barbados

  Mali

  Belize

  Malta

  Benin

  Mauritania

  Bhutan

  Mauritius

  683

  Bolivia

  Mexico

  Botswana

  Montserrat

  Brazil

  Morocco

  British Virgin Islands

  Mozambique

  Burkino Faso

  Namibia

  Burundi

  Nepal

  Cameroon

  Nicaragua

  Cape Verde

  Niger

  Central African Republic

  Nigeria

  Chad

  Oman

  Chile

  Pakistan

  China

  Panama

  Colombia

  Papua New Guinea

  Congo

  Paraguay

  Costa Rica

  Peru

  Cote d'lvoire

  Philippines

  Cyprus

  Republic of Yemen

  Djibouti

  Rwanda

  Dominica

  Senegal

  Dominican Republic

  Seychelles

  Equador

  Sierra Leone

  Egypt

  Solomon Islands

  El Salvador

  Somalia

  Ethiopia

  South Africa

  Falkland Islands

  Sri Lanka

  Fiji

  St. Helena and Tristan Da Cunha

  Gabon

  St. Kitts/Nevis

  Gambia

  St. Lucia

  Ghana

  St. Vincent

  Gibraltar

  Sudan

  Grenada

  Swaziland

  Guatemala

  Tanzania

  Guinea

  Thailand

  Guinea Bissau

  Togo

  Guyana

  Tonga

  Haiti

  Tunisia

  Honduras

  Turkey

  India

  Turks and Caicos Islands

  Indonesia

  Tuvalu

  Jamaica

  Uganda

  Jordan

  Vanuatu

  Kenya

  Zaire

  Kiribati

  Zambia

  Lesotho

  Zimbabwe

HEALTH

  Dental Health
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the water supply in England and Wales is now fluoridated artificially; and what is his policy for ensuring the optimum level of fluoridation in the interests of securing better dental health.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Some 12 per cent. of the population in England and Wales receive water where the fluoride content has been artificially increased. It is for health authorities to decide whether or not to ask water authorities to increase local fluoride levels. Where arrangements are made the Water (Fluoridation) Act 1985 requires that they should include provisions to ensure that, as far as reasonably practicable, the concentration of fluoride is maintained at 1 milligram per litre which is the optimal level for reducing dental caries.

  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy for improving the dental health of children in the ethnic minitory communities; what specific steps he is taking to ensure that children receive regular dental examinations and treatment and are encouraged to use toothpaste containing fluoride; what specific resources are being devoted by regional and district health authorities to implement any such programmes; and if he will make a statement.
  684
  Mr. Dorrell
  It is the responsibility of district health authorities to monitor the dental health of all age and ethnic groups in the population, to provide dental health education and preventive programmes and to screen the teeth of children in state-funded schools at least three times in each child's school life. Any advice on oral hygiene would include a description of the benefits of regular brushing of teeth and the use of toothpastes, the majority of which now contain fluoride.

  To meet these objectives district health authorities through the community dental services will need to monitor levels of dental health throughout the population, to identify special needs, to encourage the use of the general dental service and to provide a safety net service of treatment for those whose needs cannot be met in the general dental service.

  The resources devoted by any particular regional or district health authority to any programme will be a matter for the authority concerned; there will inevitably be variations between regions and districts reflecting the differences in the dental health of the population.

  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish in tabular form details of the average number of decayed, missing or filled permanent teeth in 12-year-old children in England in each district health authority.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The most recent dental caries prevalence surveys by health districts of 12-year-old children were carried out during 1988–89. Not all health districts were represented in the surveys, which were co-ordinated by the British Association for Community Dentistry (BASCD). The average number of decayed, missing or filled permanent teeth (DMFT) in each district surveyed is shown in the table.

  Table: Survey of 12-year-old children by health district 1988–89

  District

  DMFT

  Burnley et al

  3·09

  Tameside and Glossop

  2·73

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  2·70

  Salford

  2·69

  Oldham

  2·63

  Central Manchester

  2·60

  North Manchester

  2·49

  Blackburn et al

  2·21

  Lancaster

  2·16

  Pontefract

  2·14

  Liverpool

  2 14

  Wigan

  2·11

  Airedale

  2·09

  Bolton

  2·03

  Blackpool et al

  2·03

  Bury

  2·02

  Barnsley

  2·02

  Halton

  2·01

  South Sefton

  1·98

  York

  1·96

  Sheffield

  1·95

  Cornwall

  1·93

  Trafford

  1·92

  Leeds Eastern

  1·92

  Ealing

  1·88

  Preston

  1·87

  Exeter

  1·86

  South Cumbria

  1·82

  Bradford

  1·81

  South Tees

  1·80

  West Lancashire

  1·79

  Wirral

  1·77

  Rotherham

  1·77

  Chester

  1·77

  685

  District

  DMFT

  Leeds Western

  1·74

  South Manchester

  1·73

  North Staffordshire

  1·72

  Stockport

  1·71

  Sandwell

  1·71

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  1·71

  Walsall

  1·69

  Richmond and Twickenham

  1·69

  Wakefield

  1·65

  Plymouth

  1·64

  North Tees

  1·64

  Macclesfield

  1·64

  North Derbyshire

  1·62

  Chorley and South Ribble

  1·59

  Wolverhampton

  1·58

  Nottingham

  1·58

  Northumberland

  1·55

  Rochdale

  1·54

  East Cumbria

  1·53

  Swindon

  1·52

  Bassetlaw

  1·52

  Leicestershire

  1·52

  West Berkshire

  1·51

  Scarborough

  1·50

  Herefordshire

  1·48

  Hillingdon

  1·47

  Mid Staffordshire

  1·46

  Central Nottinghamshire

  1·43

  East Berkshire

  1·43

  Cheltenham and Gloucester

  1·42

  Basildon and Thurrock

  1·41

  Crewe

  1·40

  Mid Surrey

  1·40

  Torbay

  1·39

  Darlington

  1·39

  South Tyneside

  1·38

  East Yorkshire

  1·38

  Durham

  1·38

  South Derbyshire

  1·37

  South West Durham

  1·36

  North West Surrey

  1·35

  Winchester

  1·34

  Dudley

  1·34

  Somerset

  1·33

  West Cumbria

  1·32

  Tower Hamlets

  1·32

  North West Durham

  1·32

  Coventry

  1·32

  West Dorset

  1·31

  Hull

  1·31

  Sunderland

  1·30

  Aylesbury Vale

  1·29

  Avon

  1·29

  Harrow

  1·28

  Merton and Sutton

  1·28

  Huddersfield

  1·28

  Islington

  1·27

  Warrington

  1·26

  South Lincolnshire

  1·26

  North Tyneside

  1·25

  Bath

  1·25

  Wandsworth

  1·25

  East Surrey

  1·24

  Calderdale

  1·24

  North West Hertfordshire

  1·23

  Hampstead

  1·23

  Scunthorpe

  1·22

  Newcastle

  1·22

  Northampton

  1·21

  Medway

  1·20

  East Birmingham

  1·20

  Shropshire

  1·19

  South West Surrey

  1·19

  Newham

  1·19

  North Warwickshire

  1·19

  Kidderminster

  1·17

  East Dorset

  1·17

  Southampton

  1·16

  686

  District

  DMFT

  South East Staffordshire

  1·16

  Kettering

  1·16

  Worcester

  1·16

  South Bedfordshire

  1·15

  West Surrey and North East Hampshire

  1·14

  Bloomsbury

  1·13

  Salisbury

  1·11

  Milton Keynes

  1·11

  Central Birmingham

  1·11

  Portsmouth

  1·09

  Camberwell

  1·06

  North Lincolnshire

  1·06

  North Hertfordshire

  1·05

  Grimsby

  1·04

  West Birmingham

  1·03

  Wycombe

  1·01

  Barking et al

  1·01

  Isle of Wight

  0·99

  Northallerton

  0·98

  Croydon

  0·97

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  0·97

  South Warwickshire

  0·95

  North Birmingham

  0·94

  Harrogate

  0·94

  Solihull

  0·93

  Barnet

  0·93

  East Hertfordshire

  0·92

  Gateshead

  0·91

  South Birmingham

  0·89

  Rugby

  0·88

  West Essex

  0·82

  North Bedfordshire

  0·71

  Hartlepool

  0·71

  Training
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the amounts allocated in England by each regional health authority in 1991–92 for(a) the training of managers in the national health service, (b) postgraduate medical education and (c) continuing medical education.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  This information is not at present held centrally. Separate budgets for postgraduate and continuing medical education will operate for the first time this year.

  Adoption
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will review the current policies of social services departments regarding the upper age limits for prospective inter-country adoptive parents; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There is no policy which places an upper age limit on prospective adoptive parents.

  Age is one of many factors considered by social services departments in each case before making their recommendation about the suitability of people to become adoptive parents.

  Juvenile Offenders
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what security grading is given to establishments in England and Wales providing secure accommodation for juvenile offenders in care; and if he will publish details of those which have the highest rating;
  687
  (2) if he will publish in tabular form a list of establishments in England and Wales providing secure accommodation for juvenile offenders in care together with the number of beds in each establishment.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Secure accommodation provided by local authorities in community homes is for all children in care, both offenders and non-offenders. All such establishments are required to comply with the Department's design guidance in terms of safety and security.

  Secure accommodation by social service inspectorate regions 31 March 1991

  Regions

  Location

  Local authorities

  Number of places1

  Northern

  New Aycliffe (Royston House)

  Durham

  14M

  Aycliffe Special Unit

  Durham

  36M

  Netherton Park

  Northumberland

  5M

  Yorkshire and

  Kepples View

  Rotherham

  4M

  Humberside

  East Moor

  Leeds

  9B

  East Moor

  Leeds

  18B

  North Western

  Red Sands

  Cheshire

  6M

  Red Bank (Vardy House)

  Lancashire

  4B

  Red Bank Special Unit

  Lancashire

  26B

  Blackbrook House

  Liverpool

  5G

  Briars Hey (Orchard House)

  Lancashire

  8G

  Dyson Hall

  Liverpool

  8B

  Barton Moss (Park House)

  Salford

  7B

  West Midland

  Stoke House

  Coventry

  8M

  St. Johns

  Birmingham

  4M

  East Midlands

  Moorfield

  Derby

  2M

  Kesteven

  Lincoln

  4M

  Greenacres

  Derby

  5M

  Thames/Anglia

  Salters

  Cambridgeshire

  6G

  Woodside Young People's Centre

  Hertfordshire

  2M

  Thornbury House

  Oxfordshire

  3B

  Brookside

  Berkshire

  4M

  London

  Middlesex Lodge

  Hillingdon

  9G

  Little Heath Lodge

  Newham

  6B

  Orchard Lodge

  Southwark

  8B

  Frant Court

  Greenwich

  3G

  Stamford House

  Hammersmith

  16B

  Southern

  Landsdowne

  East Sussex

  5M

  Beechfield

  West Sussex

  6M

  Fairfield

  Hampshire

  3G

  Glen House

  Hampshire

  8B

  South Western

  Atkinson Unit

  Devon

  12M

  Kingswood

  Avon

  20B

  Note:

  1 G = Girls; B = Boys; M = Mixed Sex.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he can expect to receive a reply to his letter of 31 January to the Under-Secretary of State about proposed charges by the Public Health Laboratory Service.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Unfortunately the original correspondence went astray. I wrote to the hon. Member with a full reply including an apology for the delay yesterday.
  688
  Details of all local authority-provided secure units as at 31 March 1991 are given in the table.

  The same standards are applied administratively to the two youth treatment centres directly provided by the Department. The two youth treatment centres are at St. Charles, Brentwood (30 secure beds) and Glenthorne, Birmingham (30 secure beds).

  Information about secure accommodation in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Disabled Clothing Workshops
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he received the report on disabled clothing workshops from Ms. Sally Guttrie; and if he will make statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The report was received by the Department on 31 May. We expect to respond later in the summer.

  Mile End Hospital
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations he has had about the proposed use of wards in the Mile End hospital by a private drug company; and if he will ensure that no decision will be made before the current consultation on the future of the hospital has been completed.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Any decision will be a matter for the trust; the trust has given an assurance that under no circumstances would it undertake any agreement which would prejudice its services to patients.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what date NHS trusts were required to submit their business plans to the NHS management executive; and how many trusts submitted their plans by the date.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [pursuant to his reply, 11 June 1991, c. 490]: I regret that the number of business plans quoted as having been submitted to the NHS management executive by 8 March 1991 was incorrect. Four NHS trusts submitted their plans by this date and a further nine by 11 March.

PRIME MENISTER

  Japanese Cars
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will oppose the views expressed in the European Parliament that Japanese marque cars should be subject to a quota whether imported into the European Community or manufactured within its borders; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Cars manufactured in the European Community are European whatever the nationality of the manufacturer. I strongly oppose any attempt to restrict the circulation of such cars within the Community, for example, by incorporating them in a single quota with imports from Japan as suggested in the European Parliament debate. The Government's position on this question has been made quite clear to the EC Commission.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of(a) males and (b) females who are serving sentences on conviction of murder under the age of (i) 14 years, (ii) 16 years and (iii) 18 years in England and Wales.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The numbers of young people in those age groups serving sentences for murder on 31 May this year were as follows:

  Males

  Females

  Aged under 14

  0

  0

  Aged under 16

  1

  0

  Aged under 18

  14

  0

  1 Excluding the one under 16

  Hospitality
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the expenditure by his Department's hospitality fund for the financial year(a) 1989–90, (b) 1990–91 and (c) 1991–92 to date.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Following is the information about my Department's expenditure on hospitality:

  Year

  £

  1989–90

  28,630

  1990–91

  229,447

  11991–92

  6,665

  1 To 12 June.

  2 Provisional figure.

  Bail
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make an estimate of the number of offences committed in the Metropolitan police area during the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available by persons after they have been released on bail either by the courts or by the police.

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

  Interpol
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what constraints the Data Protection Act 1984 imposes on information about convictions sustained by British citizens being passed to Interpol; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The police national computer is subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act. Under these provisions, information on convictions held on the PNC may be disclosed to member countries of Interpol for policing purposes.

  Refugees
  Mr. Wells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for political refugee status there have been in each year and from which countries of birth since 1980; how many were admitted in each year; how many rejected and how many left the country; and how long it took to process each application on average.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Information on asylum applications and decisions, by nationality, is contained in tables 2–5 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 22/90 "Refugee Statistics, United Kingdom 1989", and in the provisional estimates for 1990 provided to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on 22 April. Copies of both these documents are in the Library of the House. The 1990 estimates are likely to understate because of delays in recording. Information on the average length of time between the receipt of an application and the decision, for total decisions in each of the years 1983–90, is given in the
  691
  table. A reliable analysis of this information by nationality, and corresponding data for 1980–82, are not available.

  Estimated average length of time between the receipt of an application for refugee status or asylum, and the decision, for cases decided in the years 1983–90.1

  Years in which decision made

  Months

  1983

  6

  1984

  8—

  1985

  12—

  1986

  14

  1987

  14

  1988

  17

  1989

  12

  21990

  12

  1 Excludes south-east Asian refugees given settlement on arrival.

  2 Provisional.

  Prisoners (Northern Ireland Conflict)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the figures for each year since 1980 of the numbers of prisoners convicted in England and Wales for offences arising out of the Northern Ireland conflict.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of prisoners serving sentences in Britain for offences arising out of the Northern Ireland conflict.

  Table A

  Permanent transfers to Northern Ireland1

  Number Requests

  Number Transferred

  Number Refused

  Withdrawn

  Outstanding

  Others2

  1985

  35

  3

  23

  2

  —

  —

  1986

  17

  2

  17

  1

  —

  —

  1987

  7

  3

  5

  1

  —

  —

  1988

  56

  6

  33

  1

  —

  2

  1989

  55

  15

  40

  3

  —

  1

  1990

  59

  3

  36

  6

  24

  2

  1991 (to 31 May)

  31

  —

  18

  2

  11

  —

  Totals

  260

  32

  172

  16

  35

  5

  Table B

  Permanent transfers to Northern Ireland1

  Number Requests

  Number Transferred

  Number Refused

  Withdrawn

  Outstanding

  Others2

  1985

  11

  1

  7

  1

  —

  —

  1986

  4

  1

  3

  1

  —

  —

  1987

  6

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  1988

  19

  7

  7

  2

  —

  —

  1989

  18

  2

  15

  —

  —

  2

  1990

  26

  12

  6

  —

  11

  2

  1991 (to 31 May)

  11

  —

  2

  —

  9

  —

  Totals

  95

  25

  42

  4

  20

  4

  1 Requests made in any given year may have been decided in a later year.

  2 Includes requests where inmates have been released on appeal or on parole etc. before a decision was reached on the transfer request.

  Table C

  Number of requests referred to the Northern Ireland Office3

  Permanent transfer

  Temporary transfer

  1980

  2

  2

  1981

  6

  2

  1982

  1

  2

  1983

  6

  4

  692
  Mrs. Rumbold
  Readily available information on the number of prisoners in England and Wales whose offences were related to terrorism in the quoted context is limited to those classified as category A. Thirty-eight such prisoners were in custody on 7 June 1991.

  Prisoners (Transfers)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what has been the number of requests by prisoners for permanent transfer to Northern Ireland and the outcome of these requests in each year since 1985; and whether these requests came from loyalists, republicans or prisoners whose offences were unconnected to the Northern Ireland conflict;

  (2) what are the figures for each year since 1985 of the number of requests by prisoners for transfer to Northern Ireland for accumulated visits and the outcome of these requests; and whether these requests came from loyalists, republicans or prisoners whose offences were unconnected to the Northern Ireland conflict;

  (3) what are the figures of the number of requests by prisoners for transfer to Northern Ireland which he notified to the Northern Ireland Office in each year since 1980 broken down on the basis of permanent and temporary transfers.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Information is not kept on the political background of inmates seeking transfers to Northern Ireland. The other information requested is given in the tables.

  Permanent transfer

  Temporary transfer

  1984

  3

  3

  1985

  6

  6

  1986

  2

  —

  1987

  14

  6

  1988

  17

  10

  1989

  24

  2

  693

  Permanent transfer

  Temporary transfer

  1990

  28

  11

  1991 (to 31 May)

  12

  8

  3 Referrals made in any given year may include requests made in previous years.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether requests by prisoners from Northern Ireland for permanent transfer are initially processed by the prison governor and may be rejected at this stage;

  (2) whether requests by prisoners from Northern Ireland for temporary transfer to take advantage of accumulated visits are initially processed by the prison governor and may be rejected at this stage.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No. All such requests are referred to prison service headquarters for consideration.

  Trespass
  Mr. Aspinwall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision exists for compensating landowners who incur costs in obtaining repossession orders against trespassers.

  Mr. John Patten
  It is open to a landowner who incurs costs in obtaining a repossession order against a trespasser to apply to the court for an order for costs against the trespasser.

  Mr. Aspinwall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Avon and Somerset constabulary on enforcing section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986 to deal with unlawful occupation of land by travellers.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  It is entirely an operational matter for the police to decide, in the light of all the circumstances, whether or not to exercise the powers available to them under section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986.

  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 22 May at columns 487–88 that guidance on the use of section 39 had been issued to the police. A copy is available in the Library.

  Mr. Aspinwall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about trespassers at Charmy Down, near Bath and other sites in the area.

  Mr. John Patten
  None.

  Mr. Aspinwall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the adequacy of funding for police forces to apply section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The basis on which police forces are funded is set out in the Police Act 1964. There are no special provisions for funding police action under section 39 of the Public Order Act 1986.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he received representations from the Welsh Language Board on the difficulties 694
  experienced by the family of the late Mrs. Mair Irene Davies in having the inquest proceedings conducted in Welsh; on what date he sent a substantive reply; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Representations from the Welsh Language Board about the inquest into the death of Mrs. Mair Irene Davies were first received on 31 October 1990. Following consultations with the coroner concerned, a substantive reply was sent on 28 January 1991. Further correspondence from the board was received on 6 February, which was again passed on to the coroner concerned for comments. We hope to reply shortly.

  Animal Experiments
  Dame Janet Fookes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what review he has undertaken of the provisions affecting the number of non–human primates used as laboratory animals which are kept in single cages in isolation from their fellows; and whether there are any proposals to phase out such housing;

  (2) how many project licences have been granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 which would necessitate the keeping of primates in isolation;

  (3) what information is collected on the number of designated places under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 involving the use of larger primates in the United Kingdom which provide any kind of environmental enrichment; and what proportion of the total this number represents.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [holding answer 6 June 1991]: Statistics on the housing of non-human primates are not routinely collected centrally, although the Home Office inspectorate carried out a special survey of large non-human holding facilities in 1988. A further review of establishments using larger primates is planned for next year and one of its aims will be to examine progress made in improving facilities since the 1988 review.

  The special needs of non-human primates are recognised in the Home Office "Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals used in Scientific Procedures", HC107, published in 1989, which was based closely upon guidelines drawn up by the Royal Society and the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. Paragraphs 3.43 to 3.59 of the code set out the general considerations which should be taken into account for housing non-human primates. Chapter 5 of the code gives details of the recommended cage dimensions for non-human primates.

  As the code makes clear, non-human primates should be housed so that they have the opportunity for social interaction. Single housing, which may allow animals such interaction through seeing and hearing one another but without physical contact, is not the preferred option but may be necessary in some cases for animal welfare or scientific reasons. We are aware of no current project licences which require the housing of non-human primates in isolation away from the sight and sound of other animals of the same species.

  Since the code was published there has been a marked improvement in the standard of facilities for non-human primates in designated establishments. There has also been an encouraging increase in awareness within establishments of the desirability of providing environmental enrichment. Home Office inspectors continue to pay

  695
  particular attention to the way in which non-human primates are housed and cared for. They will continue to monitor the progress being made by establishments in upgrading their non-human primate facilities to the standards set out in the code and encourage the provision of environmental enrichment.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefit Booklets
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review his Department's benefit booklets to ensure that if receipt of a benefit is dependent on entitlement to another benefit this is made explicit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  It is the Department's policy to make this interdependance clear whenever possible in our leaflets. However, leaflets cannot cover every possible combination of circumstances without loss of clarity.

  We will of course continue to check new or revised editions of leaflets to ensure that they explain the connection between benefits. If the hon. Member has a particular booklet in mind, I would be happy to look at it.

  Pensions
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the reasons for rounding the retirement pension to the nearest 5p and the war disablement pension to the nearest 10p.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Rounding is done for administrative simplicity. In any one year an individual beneficiary may gain or lose very marginally, but even this effect will tend to balance out in the longer term. Disablement awards are expressed in mutliples of 10 per cent. Rounding the 100 per cent. pension to 10p ensures that individual awards are whole numbers of pence.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the amount by which the retirement pension has been rounded up or down in each year from November 1979 to April 1991.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is provided in the table. Figures relate to the single rate of basic retirement pension. Roundings are in pence rounded to one place of decimals.

  Uprating Date

  Amount of Rounding

  November 1979

  down 0·3p

  November 1980

  up 0·6p

  November 1981

  up 0·7p

  November 1982

  down 0·6p

  November 1983

  down 1·5p

  November 1984

  up 1·3p

  November 1985

  down 0·6p

  July 1986

  down 2·1p

  April 1987

  down 1·3p

  April 1988

  down 0·9p

  April 1989

  up 2·2p

  April 1990

  down 1·3p

  April 1991

  down 1·2p

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average weekly income for(a) single pensioners, (b) pensioner couples and (c) all
  696
  pensioners, for 1988 and for 1990; and what was the cash and percentage change in income (i) 1979–1988 and (ii) since 1988.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is not currently available. The most recent data available from the "Family Expenditure Survey" show that in 1987 the average net weekly income for single pensioners was £75·10 and for pensioner couples was £140·70. Single pensioners' net weekly income increased by 30 per cent. in real terms between 1979 and 1987 and for pensioner couples the increase was 31 per cent.

  Water Metering
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has as to the effect of the water metering trials on people on benefit and on low-income households.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The water metering trials are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. I understand that the final report upon them will not be available until their completion at the end of 1993. Nevertheless, some information will become available in 1992, as a result of the survey into the impact of water metering announced by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Environment and Countryside on 30 April.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he has any plans to make an additional winter payment to all pensioners throughout the winter months from October to March;

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that elderly people can meet the costs for heating their homes;

  (3) whether he has sought the views of pensioner forums and other pensioner organisations in making his review of the cold weather payments;

  (4) what plans he has to raise the current £6 per week cold weather payment;

  (5) whether he will extend entitlement to cold weather payments to all pensioners, including those with incomes above the income support level; and whether he will change the cold weather payment system to make automatic payments without any need to claim;

  (6) if he will express the value of the cold weather payment as a percentage of its real terms value when the payments were first introduced;

  (7) what representations he has received on the current level of cold weather payments;

  (8) if he will extend entitlement to cold weather payments to all pensioners, including those with incomes above the income support level;

  (9) if he will change the cold weather payment system to make automatic payments without any need to claim.

  Mr. Scott
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him earlier today. I have received representations from a number of organisations, including Age Concern. There was no standard amount payable for extreme cold weather when payments were first introduced.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Social Security what progress he is making in his review of the cold weather payments system.
  697
  Mr. Scott
  Following my review of the cold weather payments scheme, I now propose some significant enhancements to the scheme.

  The cold weather payments scheme provides additional payments to help vulnerable people with their extra costs of heating in periods of very cold weather and we have already introduced significant improvements to the scheme including a standard payment on a regulated basis; raising the trigger temperature from - 1·5°C to 0°C for all regions, and for any consecutive seven days; extending entitlement to households on income support with a child under five or a person over 60 or a disabled person; doubling of the capital limit for the elderly from £500 to £1,000; and increasing the weekly payment from £5 to £6.

  These major improvements have increased the numbers eligible to 2·2 million and have also increased the cash amount and the frequency with which it becomes payable.

  The substantial improvements I am now proposing are as follows:

  First, we will abolish the present special capital rule governing eligibility for these payments. The £1,000 limit for those over 60 (£500 for others) will be abolished. All will be covered by the £3,000 rule which applies generally for income support. We estimate that the numbers eligible will, as a result of this measure, rise from about 2·2 million to about 2·6 million.

  Secondly, in future, payments will be made automatically to all those who are eligible. The abolition of the special capital rule will enable us to do that. Subject to consultation with the Social Security Advisory Committee, I shall lay regulations abolishing the need for people to make a separate claim. The information already available about people on income support will identify those eligible, and they will then be paid automatically.

  Thirdly, I propose to assure eligible people that if very cold weather arrives, they can turn up their heating. The Meteorological Office can now supply daily a forecast for each of the weather stations which we use which will indicate, with sufficient accuracy, the likely average temperature over the next seven days. Accordingly I propose to introduce a new regulation to provide for payments to be made for a seven-day period if the forecast for the local weather station shows that the temperature is likely to average 0°C or below.

  This will be an enhancement, not a replacement, of the existing scheme. If there is no such forecast, but nevertheless 0°C or below is subsequently recorded for a seven-day period, payments will still be made.

  Finally, I propose to make regulations further refining the ways in which the weather stations are linked to individual areas, details of which will be announced before the recess.

  Corresponding changes will also be proposed for cold weather payments in Northern Ireland.

  Community Care Grants
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total community care grants paid for(a) the north Tees area and (b) the south Tees area in (i) 1990–91 and (ii) 1991–92; what is the percentage change in each case; and what undertakings he has given on the minimum levels of increase in these grants.
  698
  Mr. Scott
  Expenditure on community care grants in 1990–91 was £435,998 in north Tees and £760,975 in south Tees. Expenditure in 1991–92 will not be known until the year is over.

  Notes explaining the basis on which social fund allocations were made for each year from 1988–89 to 1991–92 have been placed in the Library.

  Income Support
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research he has commissioned into the adequacy of income support to meet the basic living costs when deductions are being made.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We have commissioned no such research, but there are limits on deductions for arrears and some deductions are to cover current expenditure.

  Community Charge Benefit
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will show the effects of reducing the community charge benefit taper to(a) 12·5 per cent., (b) 10 per cent., (c) 8 per cent., (d) 6 per cent., and (e) 5 per cent., by showing for each of these tapers the cost. at 1990–91 prices of paying community charge benefit to each of the following categories of income units, showing for each category how many income units he estimates would receive community charge benefit (i) all income units, (ii) single people over pensionable age, (iii) pensioner couples, (iv) single people with dependent children, (v) single people without dependent children, (vi) a married or cohabiting couple without dependent children, (vii) a married or cohabiting couple with dependent children, and (viii) any income units not included in the categories above.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 13 June 1991]: The information requested is in the tables.

  Estimated community charge benefit caseload and expenditure with various levels of the community charge benefit taper (1991–92 benefit levels with expenditure estimates revalued to 1990–91 prices)

  Total cost £ million

  Caseload number

  15 per cent. benefit taper

  Single pensioners

  360

  2,160,000

  Pensioner couples

  220

  870,000

  Lone parents

  140

  740,000

  Single, no children

  290

  1,700,000

  Couple, no children

  70

  270,000

  Couple with children

  180

  540,000

  TOTAL

  1,260

  6,270,000

  12·5 per cent. benefit taper

  Single pensioners

  380

  2,180,000

  Pensioner couples

  240

  900,000

  Lone parents

  140

  740,000

  Single, no children

  300

  1,710,000

  Couple, no children

  80

  270,000

  Couple with children

  190

  560,000

  TOTAL

  1,330

  6,360,000

  10 per cent benefit taper

  Single pensioners

  390

  2,220,000

  Pensioner couples

  270

  950,000

  Lone parents

  140

  750,000

  Single no children

  310

  1,740,000

  Couple no children

  80

  290,000

  699

  Total cost £ million

  Caseload number

  Couple with children

  200

  600,000

  Total

  1,410

  6,550,000

  8 per cent benefit taper

  Single pensioners

  410

  2,270,000

  Pensioner couples

  300

  1,010,000

  Lone parents

  150

  770,000

  Single no children

  320

  1,800,000

  Couple no children

  90

  310,000

  Couple with children

  230

  670,000

  Total

  1,490

  6,830,000

  6 per cent. benefit taper

  Single pensioners

  430

  2,340,000

  Pensioner couples

  330

  1,090,000

  Lone parents

  150

  800,000

  Single no children

  340

  1,920,000

  Couple no children

  100

  360,000

  Couple with children

  270

  840,000

  Total

  1,630

  7,350,000

  5 per cent. benefit taper

  Single pensioners

  440

  2,380,000

  Pensioner couples

  360

  1,150,000

  Lone parents

  160

  810,000

  Single no children

  360

  2,050,000

  Couple no children

  120

  410,000

  Couple with children

  310

  1,000,000

  Total

  1,750

  7,800,000

  Notes:

  (1) Information is derived from benefit levels on a 1991–92 basis but expenditure estimates have been revalued to 1990–91 prices.

  Estimates also take account of the Community Charge Reductions scheme for 1991–92 and the general reduction of £140 in Community Charge levels.

  Source:

  Modelled using data drawn from the 1986/7/8 Family Expenditure Surveys.

  The definition of "pensioner" is in line with that used by the income related benefits.

  Caseload figures include benefit units, and count benefit cases for couples as one.

  Retired People
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest year-on-year estimate for the number of people who are retired before the state retirement age as a result of invalidity.

  Mr. Scott
  [holding answer 6 June 1991]: Information is not available on the number of people who retire early on grounds of invalidity.

  However, the table shows the number of people receiving invalidity benefit on 31 March 1990 who at the time were within five years of state retirement age.

  Age

  Men thousands

  Age

  Women thousands

  60

  43·2

  55

  12·1

  61

  49·2

  56

  13·5

  62

  50·7

  57

  13·8

  63

  56·9

  58

  13·8

  64

  66·2

  59

  14·2

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the full-time and part-time public appointments for which his Department was responsible for each of the past five years together with the salary and the date when each appointment is due for renewal.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Details of the public appointments for which my Department is responsible together with salary details and when these appointments are due for renewal are contained in the publications "Public Bodies" and "Public Appointments: a Handbook for Women's Organisations" which are published annually. Copies of both publications are in the Library of the House of Commons.

  Government Employees (Sickness)
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many days were lost through sickness among central Government employees in the last year for which figures are available; and what is the number of statutory sick days allowed in each sector.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The most recent figures available are for 1989 when about 4·7 million days were lost due to sickness absence in the non-industrial civil service, (accounting for about 4 per cent. of days available in the year). The statutory sick pay (SSP) scheme extends to Government employees. SSP is payable for up to 28 weeks for a period of incapacity for work.

  VAT
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that zero rating of children's clothes and footwear remains as a permanent feature of VAT harmonisation in the European Community.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The Goverment are pledged to retain zero-rating for children's clothing and footwear. In discussions with the European Commission and other member states the Government have made it clear that they could not accept any proposal which would restrict our ability to retain current zero-rated items. The United Kingdom's position is ultimately safeguarded, in that changes to EC tax law require the unanimous agreement of member states.

  Duty-Free Allowances
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his estimate of the impact on revenue from taxes and duties on the sale of(a) alcoholic drinks, (b) tobacco products, (c) perfumery and (d) other taxable or dutiable items from the ending of duty-free allowances for travellers between member states of the European Community;

  (2) what is his estimate of the revenue forgone by the Treasury as a result of the sale of duty-free (a) alcoholic drinks, (b) tobacco products, (c) perfumery and (d) other taxable or dutiable items for travellers between the United Kingdom and (i) other member states of the European Community and (ii) elsewhere.
  701
  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 13 June 1991]: Reliable estimates cannot be provided because there is no detailed information on the amount of duty free goods brought into the United Kingdom.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he has had with the Governor of the Bank of England concerning the provision of information to the United States federal prosecution authorities regarding documents covering the Bank of Credit and Commerce International.

  Mr. Maples
  [holding answer 13 June 1991]: My right hon. Friend meets the governor regularly and they discuss a wide range of subjects.

WALES

  Hostel Deficit Grant
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the total number of units of accommodation provided for from hostel deficit grant in each of the past five years;

  (2) what was the amount of hostel deficit grant paid to housing associations in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The number of special needs units and the amount of hostel deficit grant provided towards operating costs in each of the last five years is given in the following table:

  Bedspaces

  £

  1986–87

  133

  32,227

  1987–88

  163

  54,324

  1988–89

  203

  94,996

  1989–90

  485

  338,497

  1990–91

  569

  754,080

  Special needs management allowance replaced hostel deficit grant for 234 bedspaces special needs schemes beginning operation in 1990–91 at a cost of £945,180.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many court summonses were issued by Welsh local authorities in relation to poll tax payments in 1990–91.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The number of court summonses for non-payment of community charge in Wales to 31 March 1991 was 297,019.

  Mr. Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average percentage of the total of the poll tax bills collected by Welsh local authorities for the last financial year.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Local authorities in Wales currently estimate that, in respect of community charges for 1990–91, they will collect 94 per cent. of the full amount due.

  School Premises
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in Wales do not meet the requirements laid down in the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981.
  702
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is not held centrally. It is the duty of LEAs and others directly responsible for schools to ensure that school premises conform to the standards prescribed in the regulations.

  Housing Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his parliamentary replies of 23 May,Official Report, column 571, and 6 June, Official Report, column 311, whether the earlier contracts awarded to Miss C. Lesley Andrews and Aldbourne Associates were won subsequent to competitive tender after open advertisement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  No.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many housing consultancy contracts have been awarded to Aldbourne Associates Ltd. by(a) competitive tendering and (b) fixed fee; and if he will list the appropriate financial years and financial commitments for such contracts.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  None: I take it that the lion. Gentleman uses the term "fixed fee" to denote a contract under which the payments made will in all circumstances conform to the total established for the contract at the outset.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for-Wales pursuant to his parliamentary answer of 6 June,Official Report, column 311, (1) if the housing consultancy contract with Miss C. Lesley Andrews was renegotiated when Aldbourne Associates Ltd. took over responsibility for it;

  (2) when Aldbourne Associates Ltd. took over responsibility for the housing consultancy contract given initially to Miss C. Lesley Andrews.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The contracts were not taken over in the sense the questions imply. The initial contract was made with Miss Andrews trading under her own name. The 1985 contract was made with Aldbourne Associates, under which name she then traded and on whose behalf she signed. The 1988 and 1989 contracts were made with Miss Andrews trading as Aldbourne Associates, and the 1990 and 1991 contracts with Miss Andrews trading as Aldbourne Associates Ltd. Negotiations have preceded the making of each contract.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his parliamentary replies of 23 May,Official Report, column 571, and 6 June, Official Report, column 311, if he will list the full business name and address of Aldbourne Associates.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The full business name and address of Aldbourne Associates is as follows:

  Aldbourne Associates Ltd.

  Ulmus

  Ogbourne St. George Road

  Aldbourne

  Wiltshire SN8 2LD

  Nebulisers
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue guidelines to Welsh health authorities on the supply of nebulisers on prescription or on loan from hospital dispensaries to patients discharged from hospital after treatment for chest diseases.
  703
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to issue such guidelines. Although nebulising equipment is not available on the NHS on the prescription of a general practitioner, it may be prescribed under the NHS by a hospital consultant if he or she considers it to be clinically necessary for the patient. Nebulisers are normally provided on loan free of charge for as long as is considered necessary.

  Further Education
  Mr. Grist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which six colleges of further education failed to respond to the questionnaire sent by Her Majesty's inspectors in connection with their survey of communication skills, numeracy and information technology in further education.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  There are a number of reasons why certain colleges did not respond and I shall write to my hon. Friend.

EMPLOYMENT

  Video Recordings
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the titles of the video recordings purchased by his Department during the financial years 1990–91 and 1991–92 to date.

  Mr. Jackson
  No central record of videos purchased by the Department is held. This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Hospitality
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the expenditure covered by his Department's hospitality fund for the financial years(a) 1989–90, (b) 1990–91 and (c) 1991–92 to date.

  Mr. Jackson
  The total expenditure by the Department of Employment on official hospitality was £97,000 in 1989–90 and £100,000 in 1990–91. The amount spent in 1991–92 will be reported to Parliament in the usual way.

  Sick Building Syndrome
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, further to his answer of 22 May,Official Report, column 502, when he expects the Health and Safety Executive to make a decision regarding a possible epidemiological study on sick building syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  In accordance with its annual planning cycle, the Health and Safety Executive will reach a decision in the autumn on whether to fund an epidemiological study on sick building syndrome.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Private Residential and Nursing Homes
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many patients(a) in total and (b) from hospitals and homes owned by the Eastern and
  704
  Southern health and social services boards were referred to private residential and nursing homes in each of the past five years;

  (2) what hospitals and other institutions within the national health service referred patients to private residential and nursing homes in the Eastern and Southern health and social services boards in each year since 1 April 1985.

  Mr. Hanley
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Fergal Carraher
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the grounds for refusing access to the autopsy report on Mr. Fergal Carraher by the representatives of the Carraher family.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Under the Coroners (Practice and Procedures) Rules (NI) 1963, the decision whether and, if so, when to make available to properly interested persons a report of a post-mortem examination of the body of a person whose death has been reported to a coroner, is entirely a matter for the coroner concerned. He is an independent judicial officer.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Set-aside Land
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what animals it is permissible to graze on set-aside land; and whether such animals may be sold for slaughter for human consumption;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the grazing of horses on set-aside land.

  Mr. Curry
  The grazed fallow option of the set-aside scheme allows for agricultural animals, defined as cattle, sheep, goats, deer and horses, to be grazed on set-aside land, subject to certain conditions. Agricultural animals can be grazed under the non-agricultural use option, provided they do not form part of an agricultural production process.

  GATT and Export Refunds
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had recently with the European Commission on GATT and export refunds; and when he will be resuming these negotiations.

  Mr. Curry
  The Council of Ministers regularly takes stock of the GATT agriculture negotiations with the Commission, most recently at the Council meeting on 20–25 May. The Commission negotiates on behalf of the Community in the negotiations which are still proceeding.

  Food and Agriculture (Trade Balance)
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whom he has consulted so far in his review of the United Kingdom balance of trade in food and agriculture.

  Mr. Curry
  I have spoken to a wide range of individuals and organisations in the agriculture and horticulture, food and drink manufacturing, food retailing and consumer fields.

  Animal Deaths
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number and species of animals deaths suspected to be caused by pesticides for each available year since 1979; and what proportion of the deaths were suspected to be caused by(a) deliberate abuse of pesticides, (b) illegal poison of baits, (c) legitimate use of pesticides and (d) other causes.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information from 1985 onwards is contained in published reports on "Investigations of Suspected Poisoning of Animals by Pesticides in Great Britain," copies of which are placed in the Library of the House. The report for 1990 will be issued very shortly.

  Veterinary Products
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average length of time taken to test and approve a veterinary compound for use on livestock; and what was the time taken for the most recently licensed sheep dip compound.

  Mr. Maclean
  Following its establishment as a next steps agency in April 1990, one of the veterinary medicines directorate's published 1991 targets is for 100 per cent. of assessments to be completed within 120 days clock time—that is, excluding time when an application is referred back to the applicant for further information—of acceptance.

  The most recently licensed sheep dip compound was approved in 1988 and its assessment took 498 days clock time to complete.

  New Forest
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food whether the Forestry Commission intends to pay the council tax contributions of its employees, the New Forest keepers.

  Mr. Curry
  The Forestry Commission will follow guidance that the Treasury will be issuing to Government Departments generally on this matter when the tax is implemented.

  Pesticides
  Mr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the dates of commencement of the review of pesticide active ingredients for all those that are currently under review.

  Mr. Gummer
  The dates when the reviews started of the pesticide active ingredients currently under review are detailed as follows.

  Pesticide active ingredient

  Date of review

  Alachlor

  January 1990

  Atrazine

  November 1990

  Benomyl

  December 1989

  Bromoxynil

  November 1989

  Captan

  March 1988

  Carbendazim

  December 1989

  Chlorothalonil

  April 1990

  Demeton-S-methyl

  June 1989

  Demeton-S-methyl-sulphone

  June 1989

  Diazinon

  April 1991

  Dichlorvos

  February 1990

  706

  Pesticide active ingredient

  Date of review

  Dithiocarbamates:

  Ferbam

  April 1991

  Mancozeb

  Maneb

  Nabam

  Propineb

  Thiram

  Zineb

  Zineb-ethylene-thiuram-disulphide adduct

  Ziram

  Dinocap

  January 1990

  Ioxynil

  November 1990

  Isoproturon

  November 1990

  Lindane

  March 1989

  Linuron

  November 1989

  Methyl bromide

  May 1988

  Monolinuron

  November 1990

  Oxydemeton-methyl

  June 1989

  Simazine

  November 1990

  Synthetic Pyrethroids:

  Cypermethrin

  April 1989

  Deltamethrin

  Permethrin

  8 post-1981 compounds

  Thiophanate methyl

  December 1989

  Thiabendazole

  December 1989

  Tecnazene

  February 1989

  2-Aminobutane

  August 1990

  2,4,D

  November 1989

  Vinclozolin

  April 1991

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all the pesticide active ingredients which he has decided not to review; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The pesticide active ingredients which are not yet subject to routine review by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides are those which have been approved from 1981 onwards.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answers to the hon. Member for South Shields of 6 June,Official Report, columns 340–43, if he will make a statement on the reasons for including some pesticide active ingredients in the list for having had the reviews completed and also on a list of those currently under review.

  Mr. Gummer
  The list of pesticide active ingredients in my previous answer was annotated with "P" for partial and "F" for full reviews. Those pesticides for which a partial review has been concluded, but which are nevertheless due for full review, still appear as "under review".

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 6 June,Official Report, columns 340–43, concerning the review of active ingredients of pesticides; if he will give the dates when the review of each pesticide listed was completed.

  Mr. Gummer
  The dates when the reviews were completed of the active ingredients listed in the answer given to the hon. Member for South Shields on 6 June,Official Report, columns 340–43, are detailed as follows:

  Active ingredient

  Date of review

  TBTO1

  May 1990

  Alphachloralose1

  March 1991

  Secanol1

  March 1991

  707

  Active ingredient

  Date of review

  Vinclozolin1

  March 1991

  Diazinon

  April 1991

  Ioxynil

  May 1991

  Bromoxynil

  May 1991

  2-Aminobutane1

  November 1990

  Maneb

  April 1991

  Mancozeb

  April 1991

  Nabam

  April 1991

  Zineb

  April 1991

  Aineb-ethylene-thiuram disulphide adduct

  April 1991

  1 Partial review only.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many pesticide active ingredients were awaiting review in June, for each year since 1986.

  Mr. Gummer
  The information requested cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost.

  Blue-ear Disease
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under what circumstances he would issue licences for the movement of pigs which have been subject to movement restrictions due to blue-ear disease; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Torridge and Devon, West (Miss Nicholson) on 13 June 1991.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licences he has issued for the movement of pigs, giving the locations, date and number of pigs affected in each case from farms which have been subject to movement restrictions due to blue-ear disease; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Up to the 14 June 735 movement licences have been issued. The rest of the information is not held centrally.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish the names of the farms which have been subject to movement restrictions as a result of blue-ear disease; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  It is not normal practice to release this information.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many pigs out of the total infected with blue-ear disease have died as a result of the infection; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The nature of the disease means that it is impossible to be precise about the number of deaths. One of the symptoms of the infection is an increase in the number of still births and abortions but the number of deaths among adult animals is very small.

  Sweeteners
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the sweeteners approved for consumption in the United Kingdom, giving the acceptable level of daily intake; and if he will make a statement on the role of the Committee on the Toxicity of Foodstuffs in such approvals and the criteria used in such approvals.
  708
  Mr. Maclean
  Under the Sweeteners in Food Regulations 1983, as amended, the following sweeteners have been approved for use; the intense sweeteners Acesulfame K, Aspartame, Saccharin and Thaumatin; and the bulk sweeteners hydrogenated glucose syrup, Isomalt, Mannitol, Sorbitol, Xylitol and Lactitol. All have been cleared for need by the Food Advisory Committee and for safety by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT), which has allocated an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0–5 mg per k bodyweight per day for saccharin. The COT takes account of all available toxicological evidence from the manufacturers of the additives and elsewhere including any evidence that some people may suffer adverse reactions from eating a particular substance. The criteria for this are set out in the guidelines for the testing of chemicals for toxicity produced by the committee and published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. A copy is in the Library. Similar guidelines have been produced for mutagenicity and carcinogenicity testing.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about the views of other European Community countries and the European Community Scientific Committee for Food on the acceptability of cyclamate and neohesperidine as sweeteners; what advice he has received from the Committee on the Toxicity of Foodstuffs on these; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  On cyclamate, France, Greece and the United Kingdom have reserved their position pending discussion of a further review of the safety data by the Scientific Committee for Food which the United Kingdom requested as a result of advice from the Committee on Toxicity. No objections have been raised to the inclusion of neohesperidine in the draft directive of sweeteners.

  Fish Farming
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much funding is allocated for research and development in fish farming for 1991–92; how much was allocated for each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Expenditure on research and development in fish-farming by this Department and the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department under the joint Fish Cultivation Commission is as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1980–81

  12·3

  1981–82

  12·5

  1982–83

  2·6

  1983–84

  2·6

  1984–85

  2·6

  1985–86

  2·5

  1986–87

  2·8

  1987–88

  2·9

  1988–89

  2·9

  1989–90

  2·7

  1990–91

  23·0

  1 Estimate.

  2 Provisional.

  The exact allocation for 1991–92 has still to be finalised but it is expected to be similar to that for 1990–91.
  709
  The figures relate to both in-house and external projects, including those dealing with the investigation and control of fish and shellfish diseases. A figure for 1979–1980 is not readily available.

  Salmon (Antibiotics)
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance his Ministry is giving to United Kingdom salmon farmers to purchase antibiotics; and if he will made a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  No assistance is being given by the Ministry to the purchase of antibiotics by United Kingdom salmon farmers.

  Pharmaceutical Products
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all pharmaceutical products for use in agriculture and aquaculture known to be used by EC countries but banned in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  There are reports from some member states of the illegal use of certain hormonal growth-promoting substances which are banned throughout the Community. In the United Kingdom, there are no bans on any other pharmaceutical products for use in agriculture and aquaculture. Decisions on whether they should be licensed or not are based on an assessment of the scientific criteria of safety, quality and efficacy laid down in the Medicines Act 1968.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the costs of product certification for new pharmaceutical products for use in agriculture and aquaculture in pounds sterling for each member state in the EC; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is set out in the table. This is based on information circulated by the EC Commission in November 1990 to provide an approximate estimate of the fees payable in each member state. The pounds sterling rates have been converted from ecus at the rate prevailing on 30 November 1990.

  Fees payable for authorisation of veterinary medicinal products in EC member states: 1990–91

  Country

  Product with new active ingredient(£)

  Product with established active ingredient (£)

  Belgium

  1,079

  1,079

  Denmark

  1,915

  1,915

  Germany

  8,202

  2,563

  Greece

  204

  204

  Spain

  8

  8

  France

  155

  155

  Ireland

  1,468

  296

  Italy

  525

  525

  Luxembourg

  49

  49

  Netherlands

  834

  303

  Portugal

  310

  310

  United Kingdom

  12,000

  3,000

  Fish Fanning (Medicines)
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action is being taken in response to the British Veterinary Association recommendations 710
  concerning a simplified scheme of licensing for medicines used in fish farming; if he will introduce a generic licensing scheme for animal medicines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  A simplified scheme for the licensing of veterinary medicines in general, not just for fish, where limited claims for use are made, was introduced in February 1990. Two simplified licences have subsequently been granted, one of which was for an antibiotic for use in fish.

  Veterinary generics may also be licensed if an applicant can demonstrate bioequivalence to a product which is off patent and has been fully licensed in accordance with directive 81/851 for 10 years. Because the directive did not come into effect until 1983 there are currently no such products, although their number will increase rapidly over the next decade.

  Canthaxanthin
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussion he has held with representatives of the World Health Organisation regarding the use of canthaxanthin in commercially produced eggs.

  Mr. Maclean
  None. But I am aware that the monograph published recently by the FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives takes a similar position to the independent scientific committees which have advised the United Kingdom Government.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to provide funds for the development of alternatives to use of canthaxanthin in food and animal feedstuffs.

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand that acceptable alternatives to the use of canthaxanthin in food and animal feedstuffs are already available.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received regarding the use of canthaxanthin in commercially produced eggs.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have received a small number of representations on the use of canthaxanthin in commercially produced eggs from egg producers, trade associations and colour manufacturers. Most were in response to the formal consultation on the Food Advisory Committee's report on the review of colours in food regulations.

  Sow and Penk Internal Drainage District
  Mr. Cormack
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what factors he will take into account when making his decision on the re-establishment of an independent board for the Sow and Penk internal drainage district; and when he expects to make an announcement.

  Mr. Curry
  We expect to consider the views expressed by the National Rivers Authority and the representations made to the Department about the proposed reconstitution of the Sow and Penk internal drainage board and to reach a decision shortly; we will inform those concerned as soon as possible.

  River Catchment Management
  Mr. Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now initiate discussions between his Department and the National Rivers Authority about the steps required to implement the recommendations of the Salmon Advisory Committee on integrated river catchment management in England and Wales, with particular reference to the creation of riparian buffer zones for the protection of fish stocks, as a part of his forthcoming review of the countryside premium scheme.

  Mr. Curry
  The Department is already in contact with the National Rivers Authority about aspects of the latest report and recommendations of the Salmon Advisory Committee. As my colleagues and I said on the day of publication, this wide-ranging report clearly warrants careful consideration both within and outside the fisheries departments. We are already considering a number of ways of improving and maintaining wildlife habitats and the committee's views will be taken into account during the forthcoming reviews of the countryside premium scheme, the extensification schemes, the environmentally sensitive area schemes and in the revision of the code of good agricultural practice for the protection of water.

SCOTLAND

  Milk Marketing Board
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the future of the milk marketing board in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is for the three milk marketing boards in Scotland to decide on the way forward for their industry. I welcome the current debate on the possibility of change to a co-operative structure which will, I am sure, provide the best means of meeting the challenges ahead and will be in the best interests of all sides of the dairy industry and of consumers.

  Child Abuse
  Mrs. Irene Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the percentage increase of child abuse cases for the last available five years in the constituency of Paisley, North; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Local information about cases of child abuse referred to social work departments is not collected centrally.

  Agricultural Advisory Services
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the budget for the agricultural advisory services in Scotland in each year since 1974, in real terms; and if he will make a statement on his plans for the service.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The college budget for the agricultural advisory services in Scotland since 1974, expressed in real terms, is as indicated in the table. It is intended that support for advice which contains elements of public good will continue, but will be kept subject to periodic review. For other kinds of advice, the level of public funding is planned to decrease progressively, as the industry increases the contribution towards the cost of the services from which it derives direct benefit.
  712

  SAC—Advisory Services

  College budget 1974–75 to 1991–92 expressed in real terms against 1974–75 baseline

  £ million

  AFD grant

  Commercial income

  Total

  1974–75

  1·221

  0·073

  1·294

  1975–76

  1·248

  0059

  1·307

  1976–77

  1·377

  0·066

  1·443

  1977–78

  1·443

  0·081

  1·524

  1978–79

  1·559

  0·065

  1·624

  1979–80

  1·537

  0·115

  1·652

  1980–81

  1·585

  0·149

  1·734

  1981–82

  1·929

  0·206

  2·135

  1982–83

  2·077

  0·221

  2·298

  1983–84

  2·144

  0·236

  2·380

  1984–85

  2·126

  0·224

  2·350

  1985–86

  2·189

  0·207

  2·396

  1986–87

  2·162

  0·222

  2·384

  1987–88

  1·878

  0·430

  2·308

  1988–89

  1·646

  0·508

  2·154

  1989–90

  1·508

  0·612

  2·120

  1990–91

  1·442

  10·651

  2·093

  1991–92

  1·356

  10·707

  2·063

  1 Estimate—Assumes 15 per cent. annual growth (in cash terms) over 1989–90 figure.

  Dental Health
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in tabular form details of the average number of decayed, missing or filled permanent teeth in 12-year-old children in Scotland in each health board area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The report of the 1988–89 survey of 12-year-old children, published in June 1990 as part of the Scottish health boards' dental epidemiological programme provides details of the average number of decayed, missing or filled teeth in 12-year-old children, and this is as follows:

  Health Board

  Average Number per 12 year old Child

  Decayed

  Missing

  Filled

  Total

  Argyll and Clyde

  0·51

  0·27

  1·49

  2·27

  Ayrshire and Arran

  0·25

  0·15

  1·99

  2·39

  Borders

  0·33

  0·04

  1·32

  1·69

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0·42

  0·24

  1·35

  2·01

  Fife

  0·43

  0·23

  1·61

  2·27

  Forth Valley

  0·33

  0·32

  1·69

  2·34

  Grampian

  0·39

  0·23

  1·38

  2·00

  Greater Glasgow

  0·58

  0·34

  1·70

  2·62

  Highland

  0·37

  0·17

  1·26

  1·80

  Lanarkshire

  0·46

  0·31

  2·21

  2·98

  Lothian

  0·22

  0·11

  1·01

  1·34

  Orkney

  0·06

  0·32

  1·34

  1·72

  Shetland

  0·07

  0·07

  2·40

  2·54

  Tayside

  0·27

  0·23

  1·64

  2·14

  Western Isles

  0·51

  0·44

  2·18

  3·13

  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the water supply in Scotland is now fluoridated artificially; and what is his policy for ensuring the optimum level of fluoridation in the interests of securing better dental health.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  At present there is no artificial fluoridation of water supplies in Scotland, but I shall shortly be issuing guidance to health boards and water authorities, encouraging the introduction of fluoridation schemes. The improvement of dental and oral health is among our health priorities in Scotland as set out in
  713
  "Health Education in Scotland: A National Policy Statement" which I published on 25 March. Our target is that by the year 2000, 60 per cent. of five-year-old school entrants should neither have cavities nor have had fillings or extractions and that of adults in the 45 to 54 years age group, less than 10 per cent. should be edentulous. Fluoridation of the water supply will facilitate the attainment of these targets.

  Hospital Waste
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the standards of waste incinerators in Scotland's national health service hospitals.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The standards of clinical waste incinerators in the national health service in Scotland are expected to comply with current pollution control legislation.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether waste from hospitals in Scotland is entering water supplies.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As far as I am aware no hospital waste enters potable water supplies in Scotland.

  Health Service Employees
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nurses, doctors and others involved in treatment are employed in Sottish hospitals; and how many officials not involved in treatment are employed by health boards and on site to run those hospitals.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The locations at which staff are based can be identified but it cannot be determined how many of them provide treatment in the hospitals and how many provide treatment in the community using the hospital as a base. Equally staff not providing treatment may be based in hospitals but work in support of those involved in treatment in the community.

  As at 30 September 1990 there were 141,888 employed in the NHS in Scotland. This equates to 118,025·2 whole-time equivalent staff of whom 82,721·4 were involved in treatment and 35,303·8 were support staff. The latter category includes administrative and clerical, catering, laundry, domestic, portering, maintenance and works staff.

  Prisoners (Northern Ireland Conflict)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what are the figures for each year since 1980 of the numbers of prisoners convicted in Scotland for offences arising out of the Northern Ireland conflict;

  (2) what is the total number of prisoners serving sentences in Scotland for offences arising out of the Northern Ireland conflict.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Prisoners (Transfers)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the number of requests by prisoners for transfer to Northern Ireland and the 714
  outcome of these requests in each year since 1985; and whether these requests came from loyalists, republicans or prisoners whose offences were unconnected to the Northern Ireland conflict.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is as follows:

  Outcome

  Number of requests

  Agreed

  Not agreed

  Request withdrawn by prisoner

  1985

  3

  2

  1

  —

  1986

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1987

  3

  —

  3

  —

  1988

  2

  1

  1

  —

  1989

  1

  —

  1

  —

  1990

  5

  2

  2

  1

  Prisoners are not classified by reference to the political or other motivation of their offences.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether requests by prisoners for permanent transfer from Northern Ireland are processed by the prison governor and may be rejected at this stage.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the figures for each year since 1985 of the number of requests by prisoners for transfer to Northern Ireland for accumulated visits; if he will give the outcome of these requests; and whether these requests came from loyalists, republicans or prisoners whose offences were unconnected to the Northern Ireland conflict.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is as follows:

  Number of requests

  Outcome

  Agreed

  Not agreed

  1985

  1

  —

  1

  1986

  —

  —

  —

  1987

  —

  —

  —

  1988

  1

  1

  —

  1989

  —

  —

  —

  1990

  1

  —

  1

  Prisoners are not classified by reference to the political or other motivation of their offences.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether requests by prisoners from Northern Ireland for temporary transfer to take advantage of accumulated visits are initially processed by the prison governor and may be rejected at this stage.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Defence Industries
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the benefits to the United Kingdom of the European Community Perifra programme on defence industry diversification.
  715
  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 13 June 1991]: The Government have applied to the Commission for grant of £4 million from the Perifra initiative. The initiative includes, but is not confined to, the purpose indicated by the hon. Member.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Birmingham Pub Bombings
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Attorney-General when he expects the Director of Public Prosecutions to reach a decision regarding possible action against police officers involved in the Birmingham pub bombings case.

  The Attorney-General
  The Devon and Cornwall police are carrying out further inquiries at the request of the Director of Public Prosecutions, who will not be in a position to make a decision on what action, if any, should be taken until after he has considered the report on these inquiries.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Attorney-General what was the total cost to public funds of fees paid(a) to Crown counsel and (b) to counsel for the appellants for their services in relation to the appeal of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

  The Attorney-General
  Records of the amounts paid to counsel in respect of the 1976 application for leave to appeal are no longer available. For the 1987 appeal a total of £222,484 was paid to the three Crown counsel and a total of £546,084 was paid to counsel for the appellants. No figures are yet available for the 1991 appeal.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Attorney-General what has been the total cost to public funds of(a) the trial of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings (b) each of their appeals in 1976, 1987 and 1991 and (c) their civil action against the West Midlands and Lancashire police forces.

  The Attorney-General
  The cost of the original trial at the Crown court at Lancaster in 1975 amounted to £237,683, in respect of fees paid to both prosecution and defence lawyers and witness expenses.

  The cost of the 1976 application for leave to appeal was approximately £7,361 excluding Crown costs, records of which are no longer available. The costs of the 1987 appeal total £1,084,557. Complete figures are not at present available for the 1991 appeal.

  Figures for the civil actions are no longer available.

  Civil Legal Aid
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Attorney-General what was the number of successful applicants for civil legal aid and total spending on civil legal aid for each year since 1979.

  The Attorney-General
  The number of individuals obtaining civil legal aid and total spending are detailed in tables published in legal aid annual reports (to 1988–89) and the Legal Aid Board annual report for 1989–90, copies of which are held in the library. The number of successful applicants for civil (non-matrimonial) legal aid for the year 1990–91 was 159,729. Total spending on civil (non-matrimonial) legal aid for this period was £191,157,000.

  Small Claims Courts
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Attorney-General in how many cases coming before the small claims courts in the last year were(a) both parties represented by solicitors, (b) one party represented by solicitors and (c) neither party represented by solicitors.

  The Attorney-General
  The information requested is not collected.

  Lloyd's Syndicates
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Attorney-General if he has received any progress report from the Serious Fraud Office on the investigation into Lloyd's syndicates announced by the hon. Member for Warwicksire, North (Mr. Maude) on 25 March.

  The Attorney-General
  The Serious Fraud Office has today issued a press notice in the following terms:"As indicated by the Minister for Corporate Affairs in the House of Commons on the 25th March 1991, the Serious Fraud Office has been examining a matter at Lloyd's to see whether there is a case that it should take on.
  The SFO has decided, in the light of its initial enquiries, that no further investigation is warranted."

ENVIRONMENT

  East Quayside Development
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will obtain transcripts of the Tyne Tees TV and BBC North interviews with the chief executive of the Tyne and Wear urban development corporation on 18 February relating to contracts for the East Quayside development.

  Mr. Key
  I have no plans to do so.

  Environmental Protection Act
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to monitor the implementation of relevant sections of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  Implementation of part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 will be monitored primarily through the Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution/local authority liaison committee (IPLA), which was established in December 1989 and which will in future meet three times a year, and by means of the regular statistical returns that local authorities have been asked to make.

  Section 68 of the Act will require my right hon. Friend to keep under review the discharge by waste regulation authorities of their functions under part II. That review will be undertaken by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution which will carry out regular audits of waste regulation authorities' performance. Section 67 of the Act will also require waste regulation authorities to publish annual reports on the discharge of their functions.

  To monitor the implementation of part IV, my Department is planning an annual survey, in selected parts of the country, to assess levels of street cleanliness. We also intend to set up a database of information on the implementation of part IV by local authorities, based on regular data collected by the Tidy Britain Group.
  717
  Section 143 of the Act concerns registers of land which may be contaminated. The Government intend to require local authorities to open section 143 registers to the public in April 1993. We will ask authorities at that time to provide a summary of the information held on the registers.

  The Government will be discussing with the local authority associations both the need for and the practicality of monitoring the implementation of sections 149–151 relating to control of stray dogs and enforcement of collar and tag identification.

  The operation of regulations under section 152 of the Act to ban the burning of all crop residues; to permit exemptions to the ban and to control permitted burning will be monitored by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  Housing Associations
  Ms. Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many housing associations registered with the Housing Corporation serve the area covered by the Hackney, North and Stoke Newington constituency; what are their names; how many tenants they have; how many units they manage; and what level of overall financial support they receive from the Housing Corporation;

  (2) how many housing associations registered with the Housing Corporation which serve the area covered by the Hackney, North and Stoke Newington constituency are black and ethnic minority associations; what are their names; how many tenants they have; how many units they manage; and what level of overall financial support they receive from the Housing Corporation.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Housing Corporation has responsibility for keeping a statutory register of housing associations and allocating public funds to them. In this capacity, the corporation holds most of the information sought by the hon. Member. However, the information is classed according to local authority areas, rather than parliamentary constituencies. I have therefore asked the corporation to write to the hon. Member with information relating to the London borough of Hackney. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Library.

  Mobile Homes
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has completed his mobile homes research; when he expects to publish its conclusions; and how.

  Sir George Young
  The report on the first stage of the research, a postal survey of local authorities entitled "Mobile Homes in England and Wales", was published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in March. The researchers at Birmingham university are now concluding their work on the main physical and social survey of mobile home sites. We expect to publish a final report later this year.

  Gas Control Projects
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount available to local authorities via supplementary credit approvals for gas control projects; and if he will list the applications received from local authorities for those credit approvals.
  718
  Mr. Baldry
  A total of £28 million supplementary credit approvals (SCAs) have been set aside for remedial gas control projects at closed landfill sites in the financial year 1991–92. The following applications from local authorities for SCAs have been received so far:

  Authority

  Bid £

  South Bedfordshire DC

  12,465

  Buckinghamshire CC

  20,000

  South Buckinghamshire DC

  6,180

  Cambridgeshire CC

  272,000

  Cheshire CC

  1,300,000

  Chester City

  1,575

  Cornwall CC

  814,000

  Cumbria CC

  123,000

  Derbyshire CC

  307,435

  Devon CC

  106,000

  East Devon DC

  30,000

  Torbay BC

  39,700

  Dorset CC

  715,000

  Durham CC

  407,000

  Basildon DC

  200,000

  Hampshire CC

  167,000

  Eastleigh BC

  3,000

  New Forest DC

  1,555

  Hereford and Worcester CC

  4,500

  Hertfordshire CC

  356,000

  Three Rivers DC

  112,400

  Humberside CC

  26,500

  East Yorkshire BC

  12,000

  Scunthorpe BC

  80,000

  Tonbridge and Mailing BC

  4,550

  Lancashire CC

  435,000

  Leicestershire CC

  409,000

  Blaby DC

  235,000

  Hinckley and Bosworth BC

  118,000

  Leicester City

  230,000

  Northamptonshire CC

  1,382,287

  Northampton BC

  322,500

  North Yorkshire CC

  399,050

  Nottingham City

  78,000

  Rushcliffe BC

  31,500

  Oxfordshire CC

  493,000

  Vale of White Horse DC

  95,000

  Shropshire CC

  359,300

  South Shropshire DC

  205,000

  Somerset CC

  460,000

  Suffolk CC

  618,282

  Guildford BC

  55,000

  Nuneaton and Bedford BC

  35,000

  West Sussex CC

  491,000

  Mid Sussex DC

  20,000

  West Wiltshire DC

  18,000

  Hillingdon LB

  1,000,000

  Hounslow LB

  69,202

  Bexley LB

  2,272,103

  Greater Manchester WDA

  142,000

  Bury MBC

  318,000

  Oldham MBC

  183,000

  Rochdale MBC

  60,000

  Stockport MBC

  133,420

  Wigan MBC

  165,000

  Merseyside WDA

  665,000

  Barnsley MBC

  173,300

  Doncaster MBC

  82,300

  Rotherham MBC

  249,000

  Sheffield City

  97,500

  Gateshead MBC

  116,000

  Birmingham City

  81,000

  Coventry City

  700,000

  Dudley MBC

  974,731

  Sandwell MBC

  1,606,400

  Solihull MBC

  470,000

  Walsall MBC

  1,805,660

  Wolverhampton MBC

  671,000

  Total

  23,646,395

  Petroleum Coke
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what restrictions have been placed on the use of petroleum coke in areas covered by the Smoke Control Act; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Only fuel authorised by regulations made by the Secretary of State under section 34(1) of the Clean Air Act 1956 may be used or supplied in smoke control areas unless it is burnt on an appliance exempted for that purpose by regulations under section 11(4). Existing regulations do not provide for the use of petroleum coke or exempt an appliance for its use. Regulations, due to come into force on 1 July this year, will permit the use of one product which is a blend of petroleum coke and coal. Enforcement of the provisions of the Act to prevent the use or supply of unauthorised fuel rests with local authorities.

  Orimulsion
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have been held with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution about the use of orimulsion in Richborough and Ince power stations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Proposals by PowerGen to burn the fuel orimulsion at Richborough and Ince power stations were discussed in considerable detail with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to ensure that releases of pollutants to the atmosphere were kept within limits approved by the inspectorate. In both cases the requirements laid down by the inspectorate have been set out in registration certificates which have been placed on public registers. These registers are available for inspection by any member of the general public at the relevant HMIP and local authority offices.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what housing consultancy contracts his Department has with Aldbourne Associates Ltd.; in what year they were awarded; what is their value; and whether they were awarded by open competition.

  Mr. Tim Yeo
  The Department has no housing consultancy contracts with Aldbourne Associates Ltd.

  Renaval
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money has been spent by way of the European Community's Renaval programme in(a) the Plymouth area and (b) north-east England; what kind of projects received sums of money in each of the two localities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  No ERDF grant has yet been paid to participants in the Renaval programmes in Plymouth nor the north-east of England due to their recent approval. However, within the programmes so far one project to the value of £1·6 million has been approved under the Plymouth programme for the development of industrial land. In north-east England eight projects have been approved to the value of £2·4 million. These are related to the development of land and industrial premises, and improving the environment and image of the area.

  Shopping Centre, Trafford
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the Department of Transport and the Department of the Environment has the ultimate responsibility for deciding the planning application for a regional shopping centre in Trafford, announced by him in July 1989 and confirmed in May 1991 as the preferred choice; with which Government Department interested parties should negotiate; and when a final decision is expected to be given.

  Mr. Yeo
  A decision on the planning application for the Trafford centre will be taken by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment who is currently considering representations about the centre's implications for the M63. He will inform parties of the results of his consideration as soon as possible. I cannot forecast when a final decision may be given.

  Arrangements for any works which may need to be made to the motorway are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

  Sewage Works
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has concerning the progress of water company improvements for sewage treatment works; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  The latest figures available from the National Rivers Authority demonstrate further improvements in the operational performance of sewage treatment works. In 1990 the proportion of works complying with their current consents, including the time-limited consents granted in 1989–90 in connection with the water industry's current £1·2 billion improvement programme, was 92 per cent. Time-limited consent conditions are superseded by long-term performance measures as the improvements work through. The authority believes that the proportion of works which already meet these long-term measures has risen from 77 per cent. in 1986, and 83 per cent. in 1988, to some 88 per cent. in 1990. The water industry's enhanced investment programme is therefore making good progress. The Director General of Water Services is continuing to monitor the programme.

  Drinking Water
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by water company area(a) the date by which he expects the drinking water standards set in the EC drinking water quality directive to be met and (b) the number of people currently supplied from non-complying sources.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 13 June 1991]: The current programme of improvements is incorporated in undertakings under section 20 of the Water Act 1989 and in conditions attached to authorisations under regulation 4 of the Water Quality Regulations, all of which are in the Library. Most breaches of the standards will have been remedied by the end of 1995. Statistics of the number of people currently supplied from non-complying sources are not readily available. All public water supplies already comply with the great majority of the standards in the EC drinking water directive.

  Housing Renovation Grants
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring in legislation to remove the means test from housing renovation grants for the disabled.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 13 June 1991]: By applying a test of resources it is possible to ensure that public expenditure is directed towards those people who are in greatest need. There are no plans for legislative changes at present. The new arrangements for house renovation and disabled facilities grants introduced last year will be reviewed later this year. We will consider the need for changes in the light of this review.

  Housing Benefits Regulations
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what level of subsidy payments made under schedule 1(F) of the Housing Benefits General Regulations 1987, (SI, 1987, No. 1971) are to be paid to the local authority; how many payments have been made to the landlord; and what is the average payment over the last four years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I have been asked to reply.

  Authorities are not required to identify separately to this Department payments of housing benefit which are eligible for subsidy under the provisions of paragraph 1(f) of part I of schedule 1 to the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987.

  Water Fluoridation
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the statutory provisions for establishing the authority responsible for deciding if the water supply should be fluoridated artifically as a dental health measure; and if he will publish in tabular form a list of water companies, showing which of them do and do not add fluoride.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Water (Fluoridation) Act 1985 provides that at the request of a health authority a water undertaker may increase the fluoride content of the water supplied by it to a specified area.

  Table 1 lists the water companies in England. Table 2 lists companies with which it is known that arrangements have been made to increase the fluoride content of the water supplied by them.

  Water Fluoridation
    TABLE 1

      WATER COMPANIES
      Water Service Companies

      Anglian Water Services Limited

      North West Water Limited

      Northumbrian Water Limited

      Severn Trent Water Limited

      South West Water Services Limited

      Southern Water Services Limited

      Thames Water Utilities Limited

      Wessex Water Services Limited

      Yorkshire Water Services Limited

      Statutory Water Companies

      Bournemouth and District Water Company

      Bristol Waterworks Company

      Cambridge Water Company

      Chester Waterworks Company

      Cholderton and District Water Company

      Colne Valley Water Company

      East Anglian Water Company

      Eastbourne Water Company

      East Surrey Water Company

      East Worcestershire Waterworks Company

      Essex Water Company

      Folkestone and District Water Company

      Hartlepools Water Company

      Lee Valley Water Company

      Mid Kent Water Company

      Mid Southern Water Company

      Mid Sussex Water Company

      Newcastle and Gateshead Water Company

      North Surrey Water Company

      Portsmouth Water Company

      Rickmansworth Water Company

      South Staffordshire Water Company

      Sunderland and South Shields Water Company

      Sutton and District Water Company

      Tendring Hundred Water Company

      West Hampshire Water Company

      West Kent Water Company

      York Waterworks Company

    TABLE 2

      WATER COMPANIES WITH WHOM ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO INCREASE THE FLUORIDE LEVELS OF WATER SUPPLIED BY THEM
      Water Service Companies

      Anglian Water Services Limited

      North West Water Limited

      Northumbrian Water Limited

      Severn Trent Water Limited

      Thames Water Utilities Limited

      Statutory Water Companies

      Colne Valley Water Company

      East Worcestershire Water Company

      Newcastle and Gateshead Water Company

      South Staffordshire Water Company

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the full-time and part-time public appointments for which his Department was responsible for each of the past five years together with the salary and the date when each appointment is due for renewal.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The most recent information available for public appointments for which the diplomatic and aid wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are responsible is contained in the table. Information on appointments for each of the past five years is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I also refer the hon. Member to "Public Bodies", a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.
  723

  Public body

  Number of appointments

  Full/Part time

  Salary

  Renewal date

  Government Hospitality Fund Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine

  5

  Part-time

  Nil

  Various dates between March 1992 and May 1995

  Imperial War Museum (Board of Trustees)

  2

  Part-time

  Nil

  1991 and 1993

  British Council Board

  2

  Part-time

  Nil

  Indefinite

  Imperial College of Science and Technology (Governing Body)

  1

  Part-time

  Nil

  Permanent

  Great Britain China Centre

  1

  Part-time

  Nil

  Permanent

  Great Britain East Europe Centre

  1

  Part-time

  Nil

  Permanent

  Great Britain USSR Association

  1

  Part-time

  Nil

  Permanent Observer Status

  Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

  10

  Part-time

  Nil

  Various dates between 1991 and 1994

  Universities China Committee

  1

  Part-time

  Nil

  Permanent

  School of Oriental and African Studies (Governing Body)

  2

  Part-time

  Nil

  1995

  Advisory Board to the Wilson Chair of International Politics: University College of Wales, Aberystwyth

  1

  Part-Time

  Nil

  November 1992

  Irish Pensions Appeals Tribunal

  2

  Part-Time

  Per diem Expenses

  Permanent

  Commonwealth Institute: Chairman of the Scottish Committee

  1

  Part-Time

  Nil

  November 1992

  Commonwealth Institute: Director General

  1

  Full-Time

  Salary by Negotiation between the public body and individuals concerned

  September 1991

  Commonwealth Institute: Chairman of Board of Governors

  1

  Part-Time

  Not salaried, incumbent paid honorarium

  January 1993

  Commonwealth Institute: Vice Chairman of Board of Governors

  1

  Part-Time

  Nil

  May 1992

  Commonwealth Institute: Member of Board of Governors

  12

  Part-Time

  Nil

  Various dates between June 1991 and May 1994

  Sightsavers

  2

  Part-Time

  Nil

  April 1992

  Commonwealth Foundation

  1

  Part-time

  Nil

  February 1993

  Diplomatic Service Appeals Boards

  8

  Part-time

  Per diem expenses

  Various dates between July 1992 and January 1994

  Wilton Park Academic Council

  18

  Part-time

  Nil

  Various dates between 1992 and 1993

  Anglo-Irish Encounter

  2

  Part-time

  Nil

  Indefinite

  Lloyd Foundation

  1

  Part-time

  Nil

  Permanent (ex officio)

  Economic and Social Committee for Overseas Research

  18

  Part-time

  Nil

  Various dates in 1991 and 1992

  Commonwealth Scholarship Commission

  15

  Part-time

  Nil

  Various dates between July 1991 and August 1993

  Bureau of Hygiene and Tropical Diseases

  6

  Part-time

  Nil

  Indefinite

  724 725

  Public body

  Number of appointments

  Full/Part time

  Salary

  Renewal date

  Overseas Service Pension Scheme

  4

  Part-time

  Per diem expenses

  Indefinite

  Indian Family Pension Scheme

  8

  Part-time

  Per diem expenses

  Indefinite

  Commonwealth Development Corporation

  7

  Part-time

  Salaries by negotiation

  Various dates in 1991 and 1992

  Crown Agents

  8

  1 full-time 7 part-time

  Salaries by negotiation

  Various dates in 1991 and 1992

  Institute of Development Studies

  22

  Part-time

  Per diem expenses

  1992

  Hospitality
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the expenditure covered by his Department's hospitality fund for the financial year(a) 1989–90, (b) 1990–91 and (c) 1991–92 to date.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Expenditure by both wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on hospitality for the financial year 1989–90 was £6,428,000. The provisional outturn for 1990–91 is £6,358,000 and the spend to date for 1991–92 is £900,000.

  These figures include the grant in aid to the Government hospitality fund, which meets the costs of ministerial entertainment and guest of Government visits for all Government Departments, the cost of other official entertainment by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and diplomatic missions overseas.

  Video Recordings
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the titles of the video recordings purchased by his Department during the financial year 1990–91 and 1991–92 to date.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The following recordings were purchased, either for internal training purposes or for use by posts overseas in support of their information or commercial objectives:

  Financial year 1990–91

  Trooping the Colour

  Bank of England

  Physics Means Business

  The New London

  Kingdom of the Seas

  You can't do it all

  The Dreaded Appraisal

  Can You Spare a Moment

  Stress

  This is Going to Hurt Me More Than it Hurts You

  Budgeting

  I'll be in Touch

  Oh What the Hell (parts 1 and 2)

  Decisions, Decisions

  Where There's a Will

  Speak for Yourself

  CCTV Training (series of 8)

  Lets be Fair

  Viruses on Personal Computers

  Financial year 1991–92 to date

  On the Waterfront

  Development through Science

  Sue Lawley interviews the Prime Minister

  726

  90 Glorious Years

  Earth in Balance

  The Energy Alternative

  In Public in Private

  An Inside Job

  Britain and the European Community

  Vietnamese Refugees
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the discussions between the United Kingdom, United States of America and Hong Kong Governments on the Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the press release of 5 June entitled "Vietnamese asylum seekers", copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese boat people detained in the camps in Hong Kong are under the age of 18 years.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Because of the way statistics are collected, no exact figures are readily available on the numbers of Vietnamese boat people in camps in Hong Kong under 18 years of age. However, I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to his question of 10 June 1991 at column 412.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the amount spent on maintaining the detention centres for boat people in Hong Kong, together with the sum for providing food for detainees for the last year in which figures are available.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  From 1979 to 1991, Her Majesty's Government, the Hong Kong Government and the UNHCR spent approximately £343 million on maintaining those in the detention centres in Hong Kong. The cost of food for the financial year 1989–90 was £8·14 million.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has of the number of deaths of Vietnamese boat people during their journey to Hong Kong.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Neither the Hong Kong Government nor UNHCR has any reliable estimate of the number of Vietnamese migrants who have died travelling to Hong Kong.
  727
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which voluntary agencies run education programmes in detention centres in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Save the Children, International Social Service and Caritas.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many well baby clinics are operated in Hong Kong detention centres; and by which agencies.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Each of the 10 detention centres has a well baby clinic, operated by Save the Children and Medecins Sans Frontieres.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the criteria used for determining political refugee status in the screening process used for Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The criterion used is that contained in the 1951 United Nations convention and the 1967 protocol relating to the status of refugees which states that a person is a refugee if he has a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion and who, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of his country of nationality.

  Screening procedures in Hong Kong were evolved in co-operation with UNHCR which monitors their application.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to China regarding the treatment of boat people travelling to Hong Kong.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have on a number of occasions asked the Chinese Government to treat all undocumented Vietnamese found illegally in China in accordance with the comprehensive plan of action.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will call for a report on why Lee Bun and her husband were refused asylum in Hong Kong; and what information he has over their fate after they had returned to China.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Hong Kong Government have informed us that Li Bin and her husband, Li Qing-Ming, entered Hong Kong illegally on 2 September 1989. They did not seek asylum. They first came into contact with the Hong Kong authorities on 6 December when they were arrested, trying to buy forged Thai passports. They had in their possession US$77,000 and HK$28,000 in cash. The couple subsequently claimed that they had been involved in the political protests in China from April to June 1989 and feared that they would be persecuted if returned to China. This claim was carefully examined by Hong Kong Government officials.

  As stated in court it appeared that there were material shortcomings and suspected fabrications in their account, particularly in Mr. Li's account of his alleged medical qualifications and experience, the couple's alleged involvement in the student movement and protests, and
  728
  their failure to account adequately for the large sums of money in their possession. The Lis went through the whole legal appeals procedure in Hong Kong and following the dismissal of the couple's case by the immigration tribunal, the High Court and the Court of Appeal, they returned voluntarily to China in July 1990.

  We have no information on the couple after their return to China. The Hong Kong Government have asked the Chinese authorities for information on them.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of his Department on repatriation of orphaned children.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The policy agreed with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is that no child will be repatriated to Vietnam unless he/she has a family to return to.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many returnees have been contacted by the British embassy in Hanoi.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The British embassy in Hanoi makes regular visits to areas where significant numbers of migrants have returned from Hong Kong but does not maintain precise details of numbers of returnees seen. Since December 1989, 11 such visits have been made. Many of the 51 returnees sent back on 12 December 1989 have been contacted more than once.

  Soviet Research Vessels
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what general information he has on the technical capabilities of the Soviet research vessel Akademik Boris Petrov in British waters.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We understand that this vessel is equipped for the detection of radioactivity levels.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what security considerations apply to visits by Soviet research vessels to British waters.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Each application is considered on its merits in relation to the proposed programme of research and the nature of our security interests in the area concerned.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with his Soviet counterpart regarding the visit of the Soviet research vessel Akademik Boris Petrov to British waters.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  None. An application was received from the Soviet embassy and dealt with by this Department in the normal way.

DEFENCE

  Low Flying
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to carry out a review of the high incidence of low-flying helicopter activity in the constituency of South Down.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  There are currently no plans to carry out a review of low-flying helicopter activity in the
  729
  South Down area. Flights by military helicopters are carried out for operational reasons, in order to support the RUC in the fight against terrorism. Helicopters are an essential element of the security forces' effort to counter the terrorist threat, which in South Down resulted in the murder of seven soldiers between 1989 and 1990. Helicopters may need to fly low for operational or weather reasons. I regret the inconvenience that this may cause some of the hon. Member's constituents but I can assure him that the amount of flying is kept to a minimum consistent with operational needs.

  Military Contracts
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the deciding factor in awarding the contract to Steyr of Austria for small arms;

  (2) if he will list the weapons included in the contract awarded by his Department to the Steyr company of Austria.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The MOD has no current contract with Steyr of Austria for the supply of small arms.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the percentage of British military contracts awarded to foreign companies in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The percentage by value of contracts placed with companies located overseas during 1990–91 was approximately 6 per cent. These figures exclude expenditure related to collaborative projects and contracts placed locally overseas. Figures for 1991–92 are not yet available.

  International Military Service
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with British Aerospace about the future of IMS.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  None.

  International Signal Corporation
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department provided to the management of Ferranti plc relating to the activities of International Signal Corporation prior to its acquisition by Ferranti plc.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The Ministry of Defence was informed of the impending acquisition which was a matter for the commercial judgment of the companies involved.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department provided to the management of Ferranti plc relating to the activities of International Signal Corporation after its acquisition by Ferranti plc.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  MOD officials had communication with the then chairman and chief executive of Ferranti 730
  from the summer of 1988. The nature of the communications are confidential to the Department and the company.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what communications he had with his United States counterpart relating to the activities of International Signal Corporation prior to its acquisition by Ferranti plc.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  None.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what communications he had with his United States counterpart relating to the activities of International Signal Corporation after its acquisition by Ferranti plc.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  None.

  Army Manpower
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide the latest available figures on the total numbers of regular service personnel in each of the different ranks of the British Army.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The latest available figures, as at 31 March 1991, for the strength of the regular Army by rank are set out in the table.

  Army

  Ranks strengths

  Number

  Officers

  Lieutenant General and above

  20

  Major General

  62

  Brigadier

  240

  Colonel

  649

  Lieutenant Colonel

  1,949

  Major

  5,330

  Captain

  5,220

  Subalterns1

  3,410

  Officer Designate

  629

  Total Officers

  17,509

  Soldiers

  Warrant Officer I

  2,272

  Warrant Officer II

  5,963

  Staff Sergeant

  7,970

  Sergeant

  14,750

  Corporal

  22,588

  Lance Corporal

  23,120

  Private1

  48,463

  Junior Soldiers

  5,004

  Total Soldiers

  130,130

  TOTAL OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS

  147,639

  1 Includes basic trainees; excludes Brigade of Gurkhas.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the average rate of recruitment and outflow in(a) the armoured regiments and (b) the infantry regiments in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The average rate of recruitment and outflow is set out in the table:
  731

  Officers

  Recruits

  Outflow

  Average per year

  Rate

  Average per year

  Rate

  Household Cavalry

  13

  9·1

  15

  10·5

  Royal Armoured Corps

  80

  7·1

  99

  8·7

  Infantry

  202

  6·3

  251

  7·8

  1. Rate is per 100 trained officers.

  2. Infantry figures exclude Parachute Regiment.

  3. Excludes intakes from other ranks.

  Soldiers

  Recruits

  Outflow

  Average per year

  Rate

  Average per year

  Rate

  Household Cavalry

  174

  11·7

  212

  14·2

  Royal Armoured Corps

  961

  11·1

  1,034

  11·9

  Infantry

  5,447

  15·2

  6,136

  17·1

  1. Recruits exclude rejoined reservists.

  2. Rate is per 100 soldiers and juniors.

  3. Infantry figures exclude Parachute Regiment.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for defence what has been the average rate of recruitment and outflow in(a) the Household Cavalry, (b) the Royal Armoured Corps, (c) the Guards Division, (d) the Scottish Division,

  Officers

  Recruits

  Outflow

  Average per year

  Rate

  Average per year

  Rate

  Household Cavalry

  13

  9·1

  15

  10·5

  Royal Armoured Corps

  80

  7·1

  99

  8·7

  Guards Division

  34

  7·2

  45

  9·6

  Scottish Division

  29

  6·1

  34

  7·1

  Queen's Division

  38

  6·1

  52

  8·3

  King's Division

  34

  5·8

  40

  6·8

  Prince of Wales's Division

  42

  6·4

  44

  6·8

  Light Division

  25

  6·1

  36

  8·7

  1. Rate is per 100 trained officers.

  2. Excludes intakes from other ranks.

  Soldiers

  Recruits

  Outflow

  Average per year

  Rate

  Average per year

  Rate

  Household Cavalry

  174

  11·7

  212

  14·2

  Royal Armoured Corps

  961

  11·1

  1,034

  11·9

  Guards Division

  991

  16·0

  1,095

  17·6

  Scottish Division

  724

  13·4

  803

  14·9

  Queen's Division

  1,112

  16·6

  1,281

  19·1

  King's Division

  915

  14·9

  1,020

  16·7

  Prince of Wales's Division

  999

  14·7

  1,123

  16·5

  Light Division

  706

  15·2

  814

  17·6

  1. Recruits exclude rejoined reservists.

  2. Rate is per 100 soldiers and juniors.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide the latest available figures on the total numbers of regular service personnel in each of the different ranks in(a) the Household Cavalry, (b) the Royal Armoured Corps, (c) the Guards Division, (d) the
  732
  (e) the Queen's Division, (f) the King's Division, (g) the Prince of Wales's Division and (h) the Light Division in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The average rate of recruitment and outflow is set out in the table:

  Scottish Division, (e) the Queen's Division, (f) the King's Division, (g) the Prince of Wales's Division and (h) the Light Division.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The latest available figures, as at 31 March 1991, for the strength of the regular Army by rank in each of the divisions are set out in the table:
  733

  Ranks strengths

  Household Cavalry

  RAC

  Guards

  Scots

  Queens

  Kings

  PoW

  Light

  Officers

  Lieutenant General and above

  —

  4

  1

  3

  —

  1

  2

  4

  Major General

  1

  6

  7

  3

  2

  4

  2

  3

  Brigadier

  4

  22

  9

  9

  9

  7

  11

  12

  Colonel

  6

  42

  18

  12

  30

  23

  23

  16

  Lieutenant Colonel

  10

  125

  55

  60

  74

  69

  78

  53

  Major

  32

  328

  114

  151

  197

  189

  215

  121

  Captain

  50

  322

  163

  140

  173

  187

  193

  114

  Subalterns1

  63

  355

  147

  141

  157

  156

  178

  107

  Total Officers

  166

  1,204

  514

  519

  642

  636

  702

  430

  Soldiers

  Warrant Officer I

  9

  80

  43

  40

  41

  42

  48

  29

  Warrant Officer II

  37

  275

  185

  152

  198

  185

  194

  142

  Staff Sergeant

  46

  341

  242

  197

  255

  238

  256

  179

  Sergeant

  123

  813

  461

  393

  493

  429

  500

  361

  Corporal

  197

  1,502

  808

  693

  863

  806

  862

  604

  Lance Corporal

  185

  1,502

  901

  751

  929

  877

  954

  618

  Private1

  631

  3,459

  2,695

  2,522

  2,548

  2,750

  3,011

  1,823

  Junior Soldiers

  54

  200

  234

  197

  227

  216

  203

  159

  Total Soldiers

  1,282

  8,172

  5,569

  4,945

  5,554

  5,543

  6,028

  3,915

  Total Officers and Soldiers

  1,448

  9,376

  6,083

  5,464

  6,196

  6,179

  6,730

  4,345

  1 Includes basic trainees

  2 Staff Officers shown in late arm corps.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will provide the latest available figures on the average rate of recruitment and outflow over the last 10 years, giving details for each individual infantry, armoured, artillery and engineer regiment named in the Army list;

  (2) if he will provide the currently available figures on the total numbers of regular service personnel in each of the different ranks, giving details for each individual infantry, armoured, artillery and engineer regiment named in the Army list.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member.

  Army Running Costs
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what are the approximate average annual running costs of(a) the Household Cavalry, (b) the Royal Armoured Corps, (c) the Guards Division, (d) the Scottish Division, (e) the Queen's Division, (f) the King's Division, (g) the Prince of Wales's Division and (h) the Light Division;

  (2) if he will provide the latest available figures on the approximate average annual running costs of each individual infantry, armoured, artillery and engineer regiment named in the Army list.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Information regarding the running costs of individual units, divisions or corps is not held centrally and could be provided only with disproportionate time and effort.

  NATO Forces
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what British contribution will be made to the reaction force planning staff at SHAPE.
  734
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Respective national contributions to the multinational reaction forces planning staff will be the subject of discussion within the alliance.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what role the RAF will have in(a) the new NATO rapid reaction force, (b) the new NATO main defence forces and (c) the new NATO augmentation forces;

  (2) what will be the approximate size of (a) the new NATO rapid reaction force, (b) the new NATO main defence forces and (c) the new NATO augmentation forces;

  (3) what British forces will be committed to (a) the new NATO rapid reaction force, (b) the new NATO main defence forces and (c) the new NATO augmentation forces.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Detailed discussions are continuing on NATO's new force structures.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements will be made for funding the new NATO rapid reaction force.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The detailed arrangements for rapid reaction forces are still being developed in NATO. As far as the United Kingdom is concerned, our contribution will be funded from the defence budget agreed in the public expenditure survey.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the Allied Command Europe mobile force will have in the new NATO rapid reaction force.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  NATO's new force structures will include both immediate and rapid reaction forces. The Allied Command Europe mobile force will form part of the immediate reaction forces. Details are still under discussion.

  Armed Forces (Redundancies)
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations have taken place with the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmens' Families Association regarding possible redundancies from the armed services.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We are in daily contact with the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association on a wide range of issues, including the implications of "Options for Change". Where redundancies from the armed forces are required and are relevant to the work of the Soldiers', Sailors and Airmen's Families Association we will of course discuss the implications with it.

  Operation Granby
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional maintenance costs have been incurred for British military equipment that was used during Operation Granby.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Detailed information on the additional maintenance costs for equipment resulting from use on Operation Granby is still being gathered.

  RAF Reserves
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the number and type of ex-RAF pilots who have joined(a) the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and (b) the RAF Volunteer Reserve.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Ten ex-RAF pilots are currently serving in the RAF volunteer reserve forces: numbers and specialisations are as follows:

  Royal Auxiliary Air Force

  3 Nimrod MR

  1 Hunter/Hawk

  1 Andover

  RAF Volunteer Reserve

  1 Harrier

  1 Lightning

  1 Chipmunk

  1 Devon

  1 Vulcan

  Nuclear Warheads
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account is taken of the International Atomic Energy Agency Safety Series No. 6 Regulations 1985, as amended in 1990, in the safety procedures drawn up by Her Majesty's Government to cover the land, sea and air transport, respectively, of nuclear warheads.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In formulating safety procedures for nuclear warhead transport, full account is taken of national and international civil regulations on transport of radioactive materials, where relevant.

  Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act 1987
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the number of claims settled by his Department and the value of compensation award in each of the past 10 years for which figures are available; what was the average value of claims settled at constant prices(a) prior to the repeal of the Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act 1987, (b) during ex-gratia period and (c) post
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  repeal; and what estimates of the total annual payments post-repeal were made by Ministers during the passage of the Act through Parliament.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Invalidity Pensions
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current total annual pension paid to(a) a private and (b) a sergeant, with five years' service, invalided out of the services in 1945 with (i) 30 per cent. disability, (ii) 60 per cent. disability and (iii) 100 per cent. disability, respectively.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I have been asked to reply.

  The table shows the current rates of war disability pension paid by the Department of Social Security.

  Percentage disability Per cent.

  Private weekly pension £

  Annual equivalent £

  Sergeant weekly pension £

  Annual equivalent £

  30

  25·47

  1,328·00

  25·57

  1,333·22

  60

  50·94

  2,656·00

  51·14

  2,666·44

  100

  84·90

  4,426·69

  85·24

  4,444·41

  In addition, there is a range of supplementary allowances which may be payable under the war pension scheme depending upon the circumstances of the individual case; such as unemployability supplement or allowance for lowered standard of occupation, constant attendance allowance, mobility supplement, age allowance, clothing allowance.

ENERGY

  Coal Privatisation
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what fees are to be paid to N. M. Rothschild in its capacity as adviser on the privatisation of British Coal.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Fees paid to Government advisers are commercially confidential. Total expenditure on coal privatisation will be reported to Parliament in the usual way through the publication of departmental estimates and the annual appropriation accounts.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what type of consultation is proposed with employees' organisations before firm plans are laid for the privatisation of British Coal.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No decisions about the form or timing of privatisation will be taken until after the election, when all interested parties, including employees and their representatives, will have an opportunity to express their views.

  Sizewell B Power Station
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, further to his answer of 28 January,Official Report, column 424, if he will make a further statement on the computer software system chosen for Sizewell B nuclear power station.
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  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Following a comprehensive review of the difficulties encountered by Cegelec's P20 software system, Nuclear Electric has announced the award of a contract to Westinghouse who will provide a replacement software system for Sizewell B. The Westinghouse equipment is tried and tested, and is already used in PWRs in Europe and the United States of America.

  Nuclear Electric has told us that they are confident that this action will keep the project on course for completion on the existing timetable.

  Nuclear Installations (Security)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, further to the answer to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) on 7 June,Official Report, columns 383–84, concerning the apprehension of two demonstrators at Sellafield, if he will now hold an inquiry into the practicality of fail-safe security at nuclear installations; and if he will publish the results.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Security at all civil nuclear installations is kept under continuous review. It would not be in the public interest if the results of any inquiry into security were to be published.

  EC LEGISLATION: COMPLIANCE
  EC LEGISLATION: COMPLIANCE
  SOUTH AFRICA: SPORTING LINKS
  SOUTH AFRICA: SPORTING LINKS
  CAYMAN ISLANDS CONSTITUTION: REPORT
  CAYMAN ISLANDS CONSTITUTION: REPORT
  ERITREA
  ERITREA