Written Answers of 19 June 1991

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Consultancies
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines govern the maximum length of time that the same consultancy practice may be continuously employed by a Government Department.

  Mr. Mellor
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines there are governing the awarding of consultancy contracts on a cost-reimbursable basis.

  Mr. Mellor
  None, but advice on contracting with management consultants can be found within the Treasury's booklet, "Seeking Help from Management Consultants", and this includes at annex 7 a description of the salient points of such a contract.

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has had on the subject of fiscal measures to increase environmental protection in the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I have received a number of such representations.

  Money Laundering
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 13 May,Official Report, columns 23–24, if he has yet completed consultations with law enforcement agencies about which activities and professions should now have procedures tightened in order to combat money laundering; and what discussions have started with which relevant representative bodies.

  Mr. Maples
  We hope to complete consultations with law enforcement agencies shortly.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the interest rates in the United Kingdom for each quarter since October 1979.

  Mr. Maples
  The information requested is available in table 13.15 of "Financial Statistics".

  Inflation
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the inflation rate in the United Kingdom in each quarter since October 1979.

  Mr. Maples
  Following is the information:
  178

  Retail prices index—percentage increases on a year earlier.

  Year

  Quarter 1

  Quarter 2

  Quarter 3

  Quarter 4

  1979

  —

  —

  —

  17·3

  1980

  19·1

  21·5

  16·4

  15·3

  1981

  12·7

  11·7

  11·3

  11·9

  1982

  11·1

  9·4

  8·0

  6·2

  1983

  5·0

  3·8

  4·6

  5·1

  1984

  5·2

  5·1

  4·7

  4·8

  1985

  5·5

  7·0

  6·3

  5·5

  1986

  4·9

  2·8

  2·6

  3·4

  1987

  3·9

  4·2

  4·3

  4·1

  1988

  3·4

  4·3

  5·5

  6·5

  1989

  7·7

  8·2

  7·7

  7·6

  1990

  7·8

  9·7

  10·4

  10·0

  1991

  8·7

  —

  —

  —

  Heveningham Hall
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much inheritance-related tax has been received in respect of Heveningham hall.

  Mr. Maude
  The information requested about Heveningham hall is covered by the normal rules ensuring taxpayers' confidentiality.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, further to his answer of 2 May,Official Report, column 296, he will estimate the effect on Treasury revenues in 1991–92 and in a full year of introducing a higher rate band of income tax of 50 per cent. on taxable incomes over £36,705.

  Mr. Maude
  Compared with the income tax regime considered in the previous answer, the revenue yield at 1991–92 levels of income of introducing the rates of income tax shown in the table would be about £0·1 billion lower in 1991–92, and about £0·2 billion lower in a full year. In rounded terms the total yield, compared with the income tax regime for 1991–92 proposed in the Budget, would be about £1 billion in 1991–92 and about £2 billion in a full year. The estimates do not take account of the consequential effect on capital gains tax, nor do they allow for any behavioural effects that might result from such an increase.

  Taxable income (£)

  Rate per cent.

  1 to 23,700

  25

  23,701 to 36,705

  40

  Over 36,705

  50

  Taxable income is income subject to tax from all sources after deducting allowances and reliefs.

  VAT (Zero-rating)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on Treasury revenues in 1991–92 and in a full year of abolishing value-added tax zero-rating on all items except food, children's clothing, and domestic fuel and power.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Estimates of the revenue effect of abolishing zero-rating on all items of domestic expenditure other than food, children's clothing, and fuel and power are as follows:
  179

  £ billion

  1991–921

  3·7

  Full year 2

  5·2

  1 Assuming a 1 April change

  2 Assuming all receipts in 1991–92 reflect VAT at 17·5 per cent.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all items currently subject to the zero rate of value added tax.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Schedule 5 to the VAT Act 1983 applies the zero rate of VAT to a wide range of goods and services. The main areas covered are listed in table 4B.1 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" for 1991–92 which is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to the Exchequer of the increase in unemployment from May 1990 to May 1991 in terms of(a) increased social security payments and (b) reduced taxation receipts, both direct and indirect.

  Mr. Maude
  A rise of 100,000 in unemployment is estimated directly to add around £305 million to benefit expenditure in 1991–92—as shown in table 24 of the DSS departmental report, Cm. 1514. Estimates of the effects on tax receipts and public finances as a whole would depend on the assumptions made.

  Birds
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide an estimate of the number of birds which were illegally imported into the United Kingdom for each year since 1987.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Customs detected the following numbers of birds being illegally imported into the United Kingdom in contravention of the laws relating to the convention on the international trade in endangered species—CITES.

  Number

  1986–87

  209

  1987–88

  208

  1988–89

  380

  1989–90

  533

  1990–91

  243

  It is not possible to estimate how many illegal importations may have evaded Customs controls.

TRANSPORT

  London Transport
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will increase Government grant to London Transport in 1991–92.

  Mr. Rifkind
  Yes. I am pleased to announce that I am increasing London Transport's grant by £53 million and its external financing limit by £39·8 million. This will be charged to the reserve and will not, therefore, add to the level of planned public expenditure. The increase is 180
  additional to the £55 million extra grant for 1990–91 announced in February this year. I have approved it because of the current downturn in LT's property receipts and revenue. It will enable LT to repay borrowing it undertook in 1990–91 and to proceed with important investment in the underground and docklands light railway.

  British Rail
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about British Rail's external financing limit for 1991–92.

  Mr. Rifkind
  We have now completed discussions with the railways board about the serious financial situation that British Rail faces this year in the light of the downturn in the property market and its reduced forecasts of revenue. The Government have decided to increase British Rail's external financing limit for 1991–92 by £400 million, to a revised total of £1,522 million. This increase will be charged to the reserve, and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure. Last year BR's EFL was increased in-year by £102 million, and BR subsequently overshot the revised EFL by £316 million. I am not, however, requiring BR to meet that overshoot from this year's provision, as would normally be required. I have also today told the chairman of British Rail that I have approved his proposal to invest £127 million in 188 additional Networker vehicles for commuter services in south-east London and north Kent.

HEALTH

  Video Recordings
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. Dorrell
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Dentists
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of dentists in each family health service authority are offering a less than full NHS service.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Dentists are independent contractors who are free to accept or refuse patients as they see fit. However, having accepted a patient into an NHS continuing care or capitation arrangement, a dentist is required to offer all the care and treatment that is necessary to secure and maintain oral health.

  Immunology
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the locations of consultant immunologists in England.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Contracts for consultants are held by regional health authorities or, where appropriate, by teaching health districts. The table shows the locations of consultant immunologists, by regional health authority.
  181

  Number of consultant immunologists by regional and special health authority as at 30 September 1989

  Number

  Northern

  1

  Yorkshire

  2

  Trent

  4

  East Anglia

  2

  North West Thames

  5

  North East Thames

  4

  South East Thames

  5

  South West Thames

  1

  Wessex

  1

  Oxford

  1

  South Western

  2

  West Midlands

  5

  Mersey

  2

  North Western

  2

  Special Health Authorities

  3

  TOTAL

  40

  (Figures include permanent paid and honorary staff).

  Spectacles
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will increase the maximum help available to people who receive vouchers to cover the entire cost of spectacles.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Voucher values were increased overall by 6 per cent. from 1 April this year. The values of the most commonly prescribed vouchers A, B and D were increased by 7·2, 6·1 and 6·5 per cent. respectively.

  Nurses' Grading
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give a breakdown of the total number of nursing clinical grading appeals already heard in the Northern region and the numbers(a) upheld or (b) rejected.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The figures for nurse clinical grading regional appeals for staff employed in the Northern regional health authority area are as follows—up to 31 May 1991:

  Number

  Total number heard:

  77

  of which

  (a) upheld

  14

  (b) rejected

  8

  No national appeals have been heard to date. Information on local appeals is not collected centrally.

  Prescribing Incentive Schemes
  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received from family health services committees and doctors over the delay in being notified over the introduction of the prescribing incentive schemes; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when he intends to take action on the prescribing incentive schemes submitted by family health services committees; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) how many family health services committees were notified that the prescribing incentive schemes submitted for his consideration had been agreed by his Department before 1 April.
  182
  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have received several representations from family health services authorities concerning the approval of indicative prescribing incentive scheme applications. I shall be announcing shortly which incentive scheme applications have been approved.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he gives to general practices on the introduction of prescribing incentive schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  "Improving Prescribing", issued in June 1990, set out proposals for the operation of local, voluntary incentive schemes. Further guidance was included in NHS management letter EL(91)12, issued to family health services authorities and regional and district health authorities on 31 January 1991. Copies of "Improving Prescribing" and EL(91) 12 are available in the Library.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 3 June,Official Report, column 69, if he will list the main items of expenditure included in the £100,000 spent in 1990–91 on improving energy efficiency.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The main items of expenditure included are: dry lining of interior walls; 8-inch cork insulation as part of flat roof replacements; replacement of ill-fitting exterior doors.

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

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 3 June 1991]: For the years up to 1989–90 it is not possible to provide separate information for the Department of Health. However, some of the conclusions that emerged from audits carried out on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Security up to that time are as follows:

  1. Convert tungsten lighting to compact fluorescent.

  2. Change fluorescent tubes to high efficiency types.

  3. Adjust boiler controls to eliminate overheating during occupancy and unnecessary heating during silent hours.

  4. Maintain records of the utilities used.

  5. Remedy defects to windows and doors.

  6. Display "Energy Management" posters.

  In 1990–91 there were no energy audits carried out in the Department. It is hoped to carry out energy audits during 1991–92 on two buildings that will remain part of the Department's estate for the foreseeable future.

  Ambulance Paramedic Services
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in converting NHS training directorate ambulance aid and extended ambulance, paramedic training to national vocational qualifications status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Progress on the development of national vocational qualifications for ambulance staff is well advanced. Occupational standards for ambulance staff have been extensively tested throughout the NHS and in collaboration with the armed forces and the voluntary sector.
  183
  The proposed qualifications will be presented to the December meeting of the Care Sector Consortium, which is the lead industry body for health and social care, and on approval will go to the National Council for Vocational Qualifications for formal acceptance.

  It is expected that qualifications will be available from January 1992, and will be phased in over the following two years, replacing the existing NHS training directorate qualifications.

  A process for the conversion of existing NHS training directorate qualifications to NVQs is being determined and will be included in the December submission to Care Sector Consortium.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulance services in England operate motor cycle or other dedicated fast response paramedic services; what assessment has been made of the costs and benefit of such services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is not collected centrally, although we are aware that there are a number of fast response services operating around the country. It is for individual ambulance services to assess the costs and benefits of such services in the light of local circumstances.

  Helicopter Ambulances
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the cost and benefit of providing helicopter air ambulance facilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  A long-term, independent study of costs, performance and benefits of air ambulance services in London and Cornwall, funded by the Department, is under way. Any assessment will need to await the results of the study.

  Food Premises
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to lay the regulations on registration of food premises under the Food Safety Act 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We will make an announcement when we have fully considered the responses made during the consultation on the draft regulations.

  Child Care Inquiry, Staffordshire
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to obtain an independent evaluation of the role of the social services inspectorate in the events leading up to the Staffordshire child care inquiry.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 18 June 1991]: Children's homes are the responsibility of local authorities. It is their job to see that proper management and monitoring systems are in place.

  An independent inquiry has been undertaken by Mr. Allan Levy QC and Mrs. Barbara Kahan into the "pindown" experience and the protection of children in Staffordshire children's homes. They were quite satisfied that the social services inspectors who had visited homes in Staffordshire in 1987 as part of a general review on the development of family centres were not told about "pindown" and its workings.

WALES

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. David Hunt
  Information about the appointments for which I am responsible is set out in "Public Bodies" and "Public Appointments: A Handbook for Women's Organisations" copies of which are in the Library of the House.

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

  Mr. David Hunt
  The amounts spent on official hospitality are as follows:

  £

  1989–90

  38,397·87

  1990–91

  45,419·35

  1991 to date

  6,866·59

  School of Instrument Making and Repair
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 14 May,Official Report, column 79, to the hon. Member for Don Valley, (a) where the equipment and the present staff at the Welsh school of instrument making and repair will he relocated when it closes at the end of the current academic year and (b) what alternative arrangements have been made to continue these studies.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  These are matters for Mid Glamorgan county council, which administers the school, and for Ystrad Mynach college of further education.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 14 May,Official Report, column 79, to the hon. Member for Don Valley, if he will list the six representations he received, and any others to date, over the closure of the Welsh school of instrument making and repair, showing in his answer whether they were for or against the closure.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The representations received were all by or on behalf of individuals and therefore I cannot give further details. All expressed concern at the closure of the Welsh school of instrument making and repair.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by year for the past five years, and for the current academic year, the number of students taught at the Welsh school of instrument making and repair at Abertridwr; what nationality they were; and what was the student establishment recommended.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  This information is not readily available.

  Video Recordings
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. David Hunt
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Algae
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to improve the biological control of filamentous algae of the cladophora family in Welsh rivers, lakes and reservoirs.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  I understand that cladophora growth occurs from time to time when nutrient concentrations, flow and organic conditions are suitable. The National Rivers Authority will be addressing its possible control as part of its wider research into eutrophication.

  Special Needs Education
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff there are in each of the counties of Wales who teach pupils with special educational needs.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The number of full-time and part-time qualified teachers in special schools as at January 1990 is as follows:

  Number

  Clwyd

  120

  Dyfed

  47

  Gwent

  73

  Gwynedd

  50

  Mid Glamorgan

  104

  Powys

  28

  South Glamorgan

  131

  West Glamorgan

  48

  Information in respect of the number of staff in maintained primary and secondary schools who teach pupils with special educational needs is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many free-standing special educational needs schools there are in each of the counties of Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The number of maintained special schools as at January 1990 is given in the table:

  Number

  Clwyd

  11

  Dyfed

  5

  Gwent

  6

  Gwynedd

  6

  Mid Glamorgan

  10

  Powys

  4

  South Glamorgan

  15

  West Glamorgan

  5

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is his policy concerning special educational needs provision in Wales;

  (2) what policy initiatives he proposes concerning the special educational needs of pupils in Wales.
  186
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Education Act 1981 provides the framework for the provision of education for pupils with special educational needs. Local education authorities have the responsibility for securing that appropriate educational provision is made for such pupils. The Education Reform Act 1988, in particular the requirements of the national curriculum, ensures that pupils with special educational needs have an entitlement to the same curriculum as their peers.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to call an all-Wales conference on special educational needs provision in the schools of Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  There are no plans at present to do so.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many pupils with special educational needs there are in each of the local educational authorities in Wales.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The number of pupils with statements of special educational needs as at January 1990 is given in the table:

  Number

  Clwyd

  2,512

  Dyfed

  648

  Gwent

  1,978

  Gwynedd

  744

  Mid Glamorgan

  3,282

  Powys

  293

  South Glamorgan

  1,323

  West Glamorgan

  613

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy concerning the integration of special educational needs pupils into mainstream schools.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The Education Act 1981 provides that local education authorities shall place children with statements of special educational needs in ordinary schools, provided that parental views are taken into account, and that such placement is compatible with the child receiving the provision required, the provision of efficient education for his peers and the efficient use of resources.

  River Dee
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases there have been of unauthorised discharges into the River Dee in the last 10 years, giving details of the source of the discharge and the quantities involved.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This is a matter for the National Rivers Authority.

  Waste Disposal, Newport
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the public inquiry to be made into Browning Ferris's application to construct and operate a waste disposal unit in Newport, Gwent, will take place.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  There are two appeals which will be heard jointly on 1 October 1991 in the council chamber, civic centre, Newport.
  187
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from individuals and organisations concerning the application from Browning Ferris to construct a waste disposal unit at Newport, Gwent.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  There are four representations, one of which is a petition of 19 signatures.

  Waste Exports
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much controlled waste is exported from Clwyd to(a) English counties and (b) Welsh counties.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not available.

  Landfill Sites
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many formal compliance notices have been issued by waste disposal authorities to landfill waste site operators in Wales during the past five years, with details of why they were issued and the names of the site operators concerned;

  (2) how many unauthorised emissions of leachate have taken place in Wales from landfill sites to the environment in the last five years, with details of where these have taken place and the names of the site owners responsible.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  This information is not held centrally and I refer the hon. Gentleman to the waste disposal authorities.

  Children Act 1989
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total sum for implementation of the Children Act 1989 which is allowed for within Government grant to local authorities in Wales(a) via specific grants and (b) via the element included in standard spending assessment in the present financial year.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Specific grant to local authorities in 1991–92 for implementation of the Children Act is £240,000. Standard spending assessments, supported through revenue support grant, are not hypothecated to particular items.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has anything to add by way of a correction to the oral answer to the right hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Foot) on 29 April,Official Report, column 3, about NHS expenditure.

  Mr. David Hunt
  [holding answer 14 June 1991]: The figure I used was £615 million. The mistake was made in the Official Report, and it will be corrected in the Bound Volume in due course.

PRIME MINISTER

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has for the future management of the links between the Department of Education and Science, the Treasury and individual grant-maintained schools; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have at present no plans to change the existing funding arrangements for grant-maintained schools. They will keep those arrangements under review as the number of grant-maintained schools increases.

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will give energy consumption figures for 1990–91 for the 76 per cent. of Cabinet Office holdings referred to in the answer of 6 June 1990,Official Report, column 613, for electricity in kilowatt hours, for gas in therms and for liquid fuel in litres.

  The Prime Minister
  The 1990–91 energy consumption figures for the 76 per cent. of Cabinet Office holdings referred to in the answer of 6 June 1990, at column 613, are as follows:

  Electricity 3,641,991 kilowatt hours

  Gas 36,164 therms

  Liquid Fuel 504,244 litres

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General 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.

  The Attorney-General
  The public appointments for which the Attorney-General has had responsibility during the last five years are for the appointment of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Director of the Serious Fraud Office, the Director and deputy Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland as well as the Crown Solicitor for Northern Ireland. The salary and date of renewal of each appointment are listed in the table.

  Appointment

  Salary

  Date for renewal

  Director of Public Prosecutions

  Grade 1

  Normal date for retirement i.e. 1995

  Director of Serious Fraud Office

  Grade 2 post1

  By agreement 1993

  Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland

  Grade 1A

  Normal date for retirement i.e. 2011

  Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland

  Grade 3 post1

  Normal date for retirement i.e. 2013

  Crown Solicitor for Northern Ireland

  Grade 2 post1

  Normal date for retirement i.e. 1992

  1 With individually negotiated salary.

  Video Recordings
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the titles of the video recordings purchased by his office and the Lord Chancellor's Department during the financial years 1990–91 and 1991–92 to date.

  The Attorney-General
  The legal secretariat to the Law Officers has purchased no video recordings for the Lord Chancellor's Department during the financial year 1990–91 or in the financial year 1991–92 to date.

  Hospitality Fund
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the expenditure covered by his office and the Lord Chancellor's Department's hospitality fund for the financial years(a) 1989–90, (b) 1990–91 and (c) 1991–92 to date.

  The Attorney-General
  The amounts expended by the legal secretariat to the Law Officers were as follows:

  £

  (a)1989–90

  4,389

  (b)1990–91

  3,625

  (c)1991–92 to date

  557

  West London County Court

  Population in Boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea

  Mortgage possession actions entered

  Mortgage possession orders made

  Number

  Percentage of Population

  Number

  Percentage of Population

  1986

  288,000

  189

  0·07

  116

  0·04

  1987

  284,000

  256

  0·09

  146

  0·05

  1988

  275,000

  290

  0·11

  133

  0·05

  1989

  279,000

  484

  0·17

  189

  0·07

  1990

  n·a·

  789

  n.a.

  571

  n.a.

  Westminster County Court

  Population in City of Westminster Borough

  Mortgage possession actions entered

  Mortgage possession orders made

  Number

  Percentage of Population

  Number

  Percentage of Population

  1986

  176,000

  10

  0·01

  14

  0·01

  1987

  173,000

  4

  —

  11

  0·02

  1988

  170,000

  46

  0·03

  62

  004

  1989

  173,000

  111

  0·06

  54

  0·03

  1990

  n·a·

  266

  n.a.

  102

  n.a.

ENVIRONMENT

  Business Rates (Appeals)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals have been lodged by the South Yorkshire valuation and community charge tribunal in respect of the uniform business rate for 1990–91; and how many have been received to date for the current financial year.

  Mr. Key
  The South Yorkshire valuation and community charge tribunal received about 13,200 appeals against entries in the 1990 non-domestic rating lists by the end of May 1991. Of these, 12,500 were received in 1990–91 and 700 were received in the first two months of this financial year.
  190
  The amounts expended by the Lord Chancellor's Department were as follows:

  £

  (a) 1989–90

  18,886·00

  (b) 1990–91

  19,022·93

  (c) 1991–92 to 21 May 1991

  929·04

  Mortgage Repossessions
  Mr. Martin Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General, how many court actions related to mortgage repossessions there were in(a) Hammersmith and Chelsea and (b) Westminster county courts in each year since 1986; and what percentage of the population this represents.

  The Attorney-General
  The number of mortgage actions for possession entered and orders made for possession in(a) West London and (b) Westminster county courts in each year since 1986 and the percentage of the population in the boroughs of (a) Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea (b) City of Westminster for the years 1986 to 1989, the most recent year available, are shown in the table.

  Community Charge Appeals
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals have been lodged by the South Yorkshire valuation and community charge tribunal in respect of the community charge for 1990–91; and how many have been received to date for the current financial year.

  Mr. Key
  The South Yorkshire valuation and community charge tribunal has received to date 139 appeals about the community charge. Of these, 117 were received in 1990–91 and 22 have been received so far this financial year.

  Public Conveniences
  Mr. Grist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what policy guidance is given by his Department to local authorities regarding the provision of public conveniences.
  191
  Mr. Key
  None.

  Mr. Grist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many and what representations his Department has received in the last 12 months regarding the provision of public conveniences.

  Mr. Key
  Apart from my hon. Friend himself, one other hon. Member has written about a constituent's concern at the closure of public conveniences in his area. Three members of the public and two interested organisations have also written about the level of provision of public conveniences.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what circumstances an individual could receive a revised poll tax bill for 1991–92 higher than one for 1991–92 received before the announcement of the general reduction scheme and the changes to the community charge reduction scheme in March; how many people he estimates to have received higher bills; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The community charge reduction scheme as it was amended in March 1991 requires local authorities to calculate reductions based on residence on 31 March 1991. This enables people who moved or became 18 during 1990–91 to qualify for the scheme. It also means that where the number of adults in a household is less than it was on 31 March 1990, account is taken of the lower household liability. No information is available on the numbers of households for which this was a consideration.

  St. Andrews Gardens, Liverpool
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the Bullring, St. Andrews gardens, Liverpool; what talks he has had about its future; if he will meet tenants' representatives to discuss the conditions in which they are living; and whether he will agree to visit this tenement block.

  Mr. Yeo
  The future of the council houses at the Bullring, St. Andrews gardens, Liverpool, the condition of the living accommodation there and the need to meet and consult tenants' representatives are all matters for Liverpool city council. It is responsible for the management and maintenance of its stock.

  I have had no discussions about the future of the Bullring although a number of initiatives which are under way, particularly the city challenge invitation to the city, will involve some discussion with the Government later in the autumn. I understand that the city challenge area being considered by the city would include St. Andrews gardens.

  I have no plans to visit Liverpool in the near future.

  Emissions
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many civil service personnel have been involved in considering the report into evaluation of nitrogen oxide abatement technologies for large combustion plants; what is the current total of staff hours devoted to consideration of the report; and if he will make a statement.
  192
  Mr. Baldry
  For the purposes of part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the technology for the control of emissions of nitrogen oxides from large combustion plant is currently being reviewed by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. The report to which the hon. Member refers is being taken into account in that review. It is not possible to provide a separate estimate of the number of staff hours devoted to the report.

  "This Common Inheritance"
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the objectives set out in the White Paper "This Common Inheritance"—Cm. 1200—have so far been achieved.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 26 March this year detailing the major initiatives taken in the six months since the publication of the environment White Paper, "This Common Inheritance".

  Since then we have continued to work hard at implementing commitments, taking the tally of initiatives so far to well over 100. Among the main achievements of the past three months have been the announcement of new planning controls over farm and forestry buildings and over the demolition of houses; the launch of a campaign of conservation awareness for farmers; announcements of future policy on environmentally sensitive areas; first offers of funding for a wide range of environmental projects by voluntary organisations under the new environmental grant fund; the first meetings of new discussion fora with business and the voluntary sector; the publication of an environmental directory for business; the report of the working group on tourism and the environment; consultation of local waste management plans for recycling; the launch of a new grant scheme for the renovation of cathedrals; and the application of substantial sections of the Environmental Protection Act on 1 April 1991.

  Publicity Budget (Ethnic Publications)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what budget his Department has for advertising in ethnic newspapers or magazines, the services and responsibilities of his Department; and what amount of money has been spent on this publicity in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Heseltine
  For the most part my Department informs the public about its services and responsibilities through an extensive range of explanatory leaflets and booklets rather than through advertising. Where a need has been identified, many of these publications are translated into languages other than English.

  My Department has no specific budget for advertising in ethnic newspapers or magazines. Between 1985–86 and 1988–89 no expenditure was incurred on such advertising. In 1989–90, £21,758 was spent on advertising in the ethnic press to promote awareness of the explanatory leaflets on the community charge and the community charge benefits scheme.

  Landfill Sites
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many instances there have been of pollution of water courses and drinking water supplies by leachate from landfill waste sites in England, during the past five years, with details of the extent and source of pollution, and the names of the site owners responsible.

  Mr. Baldry
  The National Rivers Authority is responsible for monitoring water pollution. Detailed information of the nature requested is not held centrally, but details obtained from the authority's monitoring programme are entered in the public registers kept at each of its regional offices.

  Environmental Protection
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultation he has had since his appointment on the subject of economic measures to increase environmental protection.

  Mr. Heseltine
  There is widespread debate in the United Kingdom and internationally about the use of economic measures to supplement regulation as a means of protecting the environment. My Department continues to be closely involved. The Government's approach to these matters was described in chapter 1 and annex A of the White Paper "This Common Inheritance"—Cm 1200—published last September.

  Protection of Habitats
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for the Environment what action his Department is taking to implement the EC directive on the protection of habitats and species.

  Mr. Baldry
  The habitats directive has not yet been adopted by the Council. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 will provide the framework for United Kingdom compliance with the directive when adopted.

  Pollution Incidents, Canvey Island
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent pollution incidents Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has investigated at the Shell Haven industrial plant at Canvey Island on 6 May.

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has been informed by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution that it did not make any pollution incident investigations at the Shell Haven industrial plant at Canvey Island on 6 May 1991.

  Hedgerows
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will increase the powers of local authorities to protect hedgerows of high amenity or wildlife value.

  Mr. Baldry
  In our White Paper "This Common Inheritance" we announced our intention to give local planning authorities powers to protect important hedgerows in their areas. A consultation paper issued in December gave further details. Responses to that paper 194
  have raised a number of key issues, and we are giving these careful consideration. It would therefore be premature to take action on this matter in the present Planning and Compensation Bill. My aim is to ensure that any scheme commands the widest possible agreement and will be fair and practicable.

  Rural Development Commission
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the level of Government grant to the Rural Development Commission for(a) each of the last five financial years and (b) the current financial year.

  Mr. Baldry
  This information is included in figure 23 of the "Department of the Environment's Annual Report 1991" —Cm 1508—a copy of which was put in the Library of the House on 13 February 1991.

  Children Act 1989
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total sum for implementation of the Children Act 1989 which is allowed for within Government grant to local authorities in England(a) via specific grants and (b) via the element included in standard spending assessment in the present financial year.

  Mr. Key
  The specific grant to local authorities in England in 1991–92 for social services training includes an element for training for the implementation of the Children Act 1989. Standard spending assessments are not disaggregated into identifiable amounts for individual functions.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what formula has been used to determine the element within standard spending assessment for local authorities in England for the costs of implementing the Children Act 1989 in the current financial year.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 18 June 1991]: Standard spending assessments are not disaggregated into identifiable amounts for individual functions. The methodology for calculating the "Social Services for Children" sub-block of the personal social services SSA is set out in the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England) and the Revenue Support Grant Distribution (Amendment) Report (England), which are available in the Library.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has given any remit to Nirex to undertake research or exploratory drillings connected with the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  No such remit has been given. United Kingdom Nirex Ltd. does not have responsibility for high-level radioactive waste.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the written answer of the right hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. King) on 16 December 1981,Official Report, columns 171–2, still represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the long-term option for disposing of high-level radioactive waste.
  195
  Mr. Baldry
  Government policy for high level radioactive waste is set out in the 1982 White Paper, "Radioactive Waste Management"—Cmnd 8607.

  Birds
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken to determine the origin of birds offered for sale in the United Kingdom for which no exemption has been granted to permit sale under the convention on international trade in endangered species.

  Mr. Baldry
  Under EC regulation 3626/82, which implements the convention on international trade in endangered species, only birds of certain species require sales exemptions. My Department monitors sales of these birds and investigates any apparent infringements.

  Water Services
  Mr. Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received the report of the Director General of Water Services for 1990.

  Mr. Baldry
  I am pleased to announce that the director general has prepared his report for 1990 and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Sheffield Development Corporation
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 4 June,Official Report, column 166, with regard to Sheffield urban development corporation, if he will make a statement on the part played by Sheffield development corporation in the establishment of the Meadowhall shopping complex and the jobs created there.

  Mr. Portillo
  [holding answer 18 June 1991]: At the inception of Sheffield development corporation in June 1988, development of the Meadowhall complex was already under way. I expect Meadowhall, in common with other commercial enterprises in the area, to benefit from the commitment to regeneration evidenced by the urban development corporation.

  Energy Management
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answers of 5 June 1990,Official Report, column 483, and 6 June 1991, Official Report, column 287, when his Department ceased to have a dedicated energy manager; and what other duties are carried out by the officials in the energy management unit.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 18 June 1991]: Since September 1990 the work of my Department's energy management unit has been broadened to include other associated environmental issues as part of a policy of developing departmental practice which preserves and enhances the environment. Energy conservation remains a key element of the unit's work and the success of the unit is demonstrated by the reduction in departmental energy consumption reported in my reply to the hon. Member of 12 June 1991.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ask for an investigation by the National Rivers Authority, following the refusal of Dutch harbour authorities to allow a ship to empty ballast water taken aboard from the River Humber because of high levels of pollution identified in the water content.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 18 June 1991]: The National Rivers Authority carries out extensive and regular monitoring of the Humber estuary's water and sediment which shows that in general the estuary meets European environmental quality standards on heavy metals. I have, however, brought the hon. Member's concern to the attention of the authority and have asked it to respond to him direct.

  Dredging
  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his practice to refuse any more dredging orders off the Essex coast where there is evidence of potential damage to fish.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 17 June 1991]: The decision to grant a licence for the extraction of marine sand and gravel rests with the Crown Estate after consultation with those whose interests may be affected by the proposed dredging. My Department is responsible for co-ordinating these consultations and formulating the Government view. Each proposal is considered on its merits and I carefully examine all potential environmental impacts including fisheries before deciding whether or not to grant a favourable Government view. On the basis of a favourable Government view the Crown Estate will decide whether to issue a licence to dredge and will lay down appropriate conditions to protect marine and coastal interests.

  Land Use
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to co-ordinate and refine land use and economic activity classifications used by the Central Statistical Office, the Ordnance Survey, the Valuation Office, Her Majesty's Land Registry and his Department, respectively, since the report "Handling Geographic Information", prepared under the chairmanship of Lord Chorley.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 13 June 1991]: No specific steps have been taken to co-ordinate and refine land use and economic activity classifications, but the following closely related initiatives are under way.

  In line with the Government's response to the report "Handling Geographic Information", all the bodies mentioned are represented on the inter-departmental working group on the tradeable information initiative established to facilitate the wider availability of Government-held spatially referenced data.

  The national land use classification—NLUC—published in 1975, is commended by my Department for adoption in any process of compiling land use data. The categories used in my Department's land use change statistics—LUCS—are based on the NLUC, modified to take account of what it is feasible to record from Ordnance

  197
  Survey maps. None of the other bodies uses a land use classification, except the Ordnance Survey in its work for my Department on the LUCS.

  The economic activity classification used by the Central Statistical Office and my Department is the standard industrial classification. Member states of the European Community are required under regulation 3037/90 to adopt a new economic activity classification by 1993. None of the other bodies uses an economic activity classification.

  Nuclear Materials
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what methods are known to Her Majesty's Government to carry out the destruction of nuclear materials as is set out in clause 6(4) in the Radioactive Material (Road Transport) Bill.

  Mr. Chope
  I have been asked to reply.

  The method of destruction/disposal would be a matter for the courts to decide at the time and would depend on the nature and quantity of the material involved. While in most cases orders would be for the disposal of the radioactive material to a licensed facility, in very unusual circumstances a destruction order could be made. This would not necessarily require the destruction of the radioactive material but of the instrument or machinery which contains it in order to facilitate the safe disposal of the radioactive material. The courts would be able to seek advice from any number of organisations, including the Department of the Environment, the Health and Safety Executive, the National Radiological Protection Board and the Department of Transport, on the appropriate disposal methods.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Haberdashers' Aske's CTC
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice has been given by his Department to the Haberdashers' Aske's city technology college on the steps it would be appropriate to take to comply with the requirement in its funding agreement that the intake of pupils should be representative in all respects of the community in the area in which the college is situated.

  Mr. Eggar
  It is for the college to ensure that all requirements of the funding agreement, including those relating to admissions, are met. Advice is available as necessary.

  Publicity Budget (Ethnic Publications)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what budget his Department has for advertising in ethnic newspapers or magazines the services and responsibilities of his Department; and what amount of money has been spent on this publicity in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Department does not have a specific budget for advertising in the ethnic press and has not spent any funds on this activity in each of the last five years. However, it will shortly be advertising in the ethnic press two publications "How is your child doing at school?" and 198
  "Your child's report" which are available in eight ethnic languages. The Department has also published, in the last five years, other leaflets and guides in ethnic languages.

  Further and Higher Education
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent estimate has been made of the number of students in England who give up courses in further and higher education colleges due to financial difficulties.

  Mr. Eggar
  This information is not available for further and higher education generally. A survey of all polytechnics and colleges in England identified only 0.2 per cent. of first degree students who did not continue their studies from the first to second year because of financial reasons.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of schools which have now achieved grant-maintained status; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  A total of 200 schools have now voted in favour of seeking grant-maintained status. We have approved 88 and rejected 13. Fifty-four schools have published proposals which will soon come to us for decision. Forty-five schools are currently committed to publish proposals following parental ballots in favour of seeking grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the addresses of all schools which have achieved grant-maintained status, listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) of 12 June,Official Report, column 532–36.

  Mr. Eggar
  I shall write to my hon. Friend. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  Church Schools
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the additional public funding Church schools would receive if they were all grant maintained, over and above what they are currently receiving.

  Mr. Eggar
  It is not possible to give a specific figure. Church schools which become grant maintained are eligible to receive a one-off transitional grant, various special purpose grants and a formula capital allocation. Some of these replace benefits or services which LEA-maintained schools are eligible to receive in another way. Such schools are also to be eligible to bid for 100 per cent. funding of named capital building projects. The amount received will depend on whether the bid is successful.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many church schools have applied for grant-maintained status; and how many have received it.

  Mr. Eggar
  To date, 14 Church schools have applied for grant-maintained status. Of these, we have approved eight, rejected one and have yet to decide the remaining five.

  Special Needs
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action is being taken by his Department to ensure that local education authorities are assessing all children in their areas with special educational needs and are issuing formal statements describing their specific requirements.

  Mr. Fallon
  It is for LEAs to decide on the provision to be made for children in their areas with special educational needs. Parents have rights of appeal and complaint under the Education Act 1981 and the Education Act 1944 respectively. These provide safeguards against any avoidance by LEAs of their statutory obligations.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to the answer of 3 June,Official Report, column 17, whether any funds were invested in improving energy efficiency in 1990–91, apart from double glazing at Waterloo.

  Mr. Atkins
  A small amount—under £1,000—was spent in the 1990–91 financial year on roof insulation in one of our Darlington offices.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Performing Rights Society
  Sir Eldon Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has on the time and cost involved for music users in appealing to the Copyright Tribunal agency in respect of tariffs imposed on them by the Performing Rights Society.

  Mr. Leigh
  The basic fee for an application to the Copyright Tribunal to settle a dispute with a copyright licensing body such as the Performing Rights Society is £30. The overall cost will depend on several factors including the level of any legal representation the applicant may choose to employ and the degree to which the application is successful. In appropriate cases, the tribunal may direct the licensing body to repay charges already paid under a new tariff and to pay the applicant's costs.

  Road Surfacing Industry
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will institute an inquiry into allegations of price-fixing in the road surfacing industry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Any alleged price-fixing in the road surfacing industry is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading. Any evidence of possible anti-competitive agreements should be put to the director general.

  Latin America
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy in the GATT round of negotiations in helping the countries of Latin America and promoting policies conducive to ameliorating rain forest problems.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The countries of Latin America, like other members of the GATT, would benefit from the 200
  improved market access for their products and the strengthening of the world trading system which would result from a successful conclusion to the Uruguay round of trade negotiations. The negotiations are not directly concerned with ameliorating rain-forest problems, but the GATT does allow the introduction of trade measures for conservation purposes, as long as these are not simply disguised restrictions on trade.

  Radio Equipment
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consider the need for radio amateurs to have to present equipment for type approval.

  Mr. Redwood
  Type approval is not considered appropriate for the amateur service as, in essence, it is to do with experimentation, self-training in communication and technical investigation. To require amateur equipment to be type approved would be unreasonably expensive and could stifle development.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Radiocommunications Agency will acquire a computerised and up-to-date database for type approval records.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Radiocommunications Agency, formerly the radiocommunications division of the DTI, has operated a computerised database for land mobile type approval records since 1983.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what circumstances account for the issue by the Radiocommunications Agency of a fact sheet on 16 May 1991, Ref. LPD/1/15, "All Parties Interested in Radio Car Alarms", quoting incorrect type approvals for vehicle security; how many letters he received pointing out the errors in the previous fact sheet; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Radiocommunications Agency has had a continuing publicity campaign to discourage the sale, installation and use of radio security alarms for vehicles which are not approved to the Department's performance specification.

  The latest in a series of letters to the trade dated 16 May 1991, covering a list of type approved equipment, was issued because the previous letter on the subject dated 1 February 1990 needed to be brought up to date. The Department has no record of letters pointing out errors in the lists attached to the 1 February letter. Regrettably, however, some errors have come to light in the revised lists attached to the 16 May 1991 letter. The agency intends to reissue the lists shortly in a clearer form.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Radiocommunications Agency expects to reply to the faxes from Scope Marketing (Communications UK) Ltd., Totnes, of 25 April, 1, 14, 20 and 28 May.

  Mr. Redwood
  Replies to the faxes from Scope Marketing (Communications UK) Ltd. were sent on 16 May, 21 May and 7 June.

  Telecommunications Council
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Telecommunications Council on 3 June.
  201
  Mr. Redwood
  The main item for discussion was the European Commission's plans for applying multiplexed analogue components standards to direct broadcasting by satellite. The discussion, on the basis of an oral report by the Commission, revealed wide differences of view between those member states which wish to impose MAC standards quickly and with few exceptions, and those including most particularly the United Kingdom, who would wish to let the market decide whether existing PAL transmissions should be replaced. The United Kingdom expressed dismay at the Commission's initial proposals which would force broadcasters to act in a way that may not be consistent with their commercial judgment and would risk cutting growth in demand for satellite TV by imposing unnecessary costs on consumers. The Commission is now reflecting on the discussion and is expected to issue its final proposals very soon.

  The otherwise relatively light agenda included an interim report from the Commission on the response to its green paper on satellite communications, and a report on progress towards publication of a green paper on postal services in Europe. The Commission also presented its proposal for harmonising the international telephony access code.

  A final decision was taken to adopt a directive on the frequency bands to be reserved for digital European cordless telecommunications—DECT—and a recommendation on the co-ordinated introduction of DECT in the Community. In view of the outstanding budgetary concerns on the part of some member states, including the United Kingdom, the adoption of the proposed Council decision establishing the second phase of the TEDIS programme—trade electronics data interchange systems —was deferred.

  Mental Nursing Homes
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the names and addresses of all those mental nursing homes registered to take detained patients together with the names of the registering authority.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have been asked to reply.

  A list of mental nursing homes reported by district health authorities as being registered under section 23 of the Registered Homes Act 1984 to receive patients liable to be detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the names and district health authorities of all mental nursing homes or other establishments which are not hospitals where detained patients have been cared for during the past three years under contractual arrangements with health authorities.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have been asked to reply.

  This information is not collected centrally.

  Knitwear and Textiles
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations he has received from the industry about imports of category 13 (knickers and briefs) from China, category 12 (socks) from Indonesia and category 68 (knitted babywear) from Thailand;

  (2) if he will give details of the movements in the levels of imports between 1989 and 1990 into the United
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  Kingdom of category 13 (knickers and briefs) from China, category 12 (socks) from Indonesia and category 68 (knitted babywear) from Thailand; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 18 June 1991]: Import figures are given in the table. My Department has received, and is considering, representations from the Knitting Industries' Federation Ltd. —KIF—calling for a repeat of the action taken in 1989 to ban imports of category 13 products originating in China and entering the United Kingdom on free circulation from other member states. Consultations with importing and retailing interests show these to be either opposed to or doubtful about the case for such a ban, in the absence of more precise information.

  The KIF has also asked for safeguard action under the multi-fibre arrangements to be invoked against direct imports of category 12 products from Indonesia and category 68 products from Thailand.

  My Department is considering the case for an application to the European Commission for a further ban on free circulation imports of category 13 products originating in China. The key criterion laid down by the Commission in such cases is whether the imports in question give rise to economic difficulties. My officials are studying some further information on this point recently supplied by the KIF.

  In respect of category 12 products, United Kingdom production—of mainly higher-value items—has remained stable and exports have moved back to high levels. On category 68 products, United Kingdom production, exports and consumption are rising. Therefore, the MFA criterion for safeguard action for these products has not been met and my officials have informed the KIF accordingly.

  Country and Product

  Imports (including Imports in free circulation)

  1990

  1989

  China

  Knickers, briefs etc. (MFA Category 13)

  81·7 million pieces

  51·2 million pieces

  Indonesia

  Socks etc. (MFA Category 12)

  12·2 million pairs

  12·5 million pairs

  Thailand

  Babies' Clothing (MFA Category 68)

  1,573 tonnes

  1,229 tonnes

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Video Recordings
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The following video recordings have been purchased by the training branches of this Department:

  1990–91 Financial Year

  Quality—The Only Way

  Making Customer Service Happen

  An Inside Job

  The Happy Accident

  Smart Moves

  203

  Body Language

  Through a Hundred Pair of Eyes

  A Class Divided

  Using the Telephone

  Approaching Debt

  Can You Spare a Moment?

  The Importance of Mistakes

  Managing Learning (Parts I and II)

  Change (Parts I and II)

  Prescription For Complaint

  Awkward Customers

  If Looks Could Kill

  The Unorganised Manager (Parts I and II)

  Decisions, Decisions

  Do You Think You Can Manage?

  Telephone Behaviour

  Tell My Wife I Won't Be Home for Dinner

  When Letters Work

  Oh What a Lovely Report

  Who, Me, Make a Presentation

  First in VHS Pal

  Everything is Negotiable

  The Manager and the Law (Parts I and II)

  The Deaf Manager

  Managing Time

  1991–92 (To date) Financial Year

  The Art of Negotiating

  The Trouble with Training

  The Helping Hand

  Other video recordings may well have been purchased locally within the Department, but that information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Local Offices
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for the future of the Thames South, Southwark, Kennington, Peckham, Camberwell and Dartford offices of his Department.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The administration of social security offices is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Income Support
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the population of London's adults were receiving income support(a) in 1980, (b) in 1985, (c) in 1990 and (d) at the last date for which figures are available.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief

  Number of heads of benefits units facing marginal deduction rates by range (in thousands)

  Per cent.

  1985–86

  Per cent.

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  100+

  70

  100+

  0

  0

  0

  0

  90+

  130

  90–99+

  45

  45

  45

  50

  80+

  290

  80–89+

  300

  165

  190

  145

  70+

  290

  70–79+

  170

  205

  160

  195

  60+

  450

  60–69+

  *

  5

  5

  5

  50+

  680

  50–59+

  0

  5

  0

  0

  40+

  n/a

  40–49+

  70

  35

  270

  20

  Notes:

  1. Figures are based on pooled family expenditure survey data. Those for 1985–86 are cumulative and those for 1991–92 are estimated.

  2. Calculated for benefit units in receipt of income related benefits where at least one partner works 24 hours per week or more.

  3.* represents a figure of less than 2,500.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the marginal withdrawal rate out of 204
  executive of the Benefits Agency. I understand from him that the information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals claimed for income support in 1988 and each succeeding year as a result of being refused unemployment benefit.

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is not available. However, the numbers of people refused unemployment benefit to whom income support was in payment on particular days are shown in the table1.

  Unemployed claimants not receiving unemployment benefit

  Income support in payment

  12 May 1988

  1,254,415

  10 November 1988

  1,065,932

  11 May 1989

  997,044

  9 November 1989

  918,934

  10 May 1990

  914,273

  8 November 1990

  969,316

  1 Information from "Unemployment Benefit (UB) Statistics, Half Yearly Analysis of Unemployed Claimants".

  National Insurance Contributions
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of people in 1991–92 who pay national insurance contributions on earnings above the lower earnings limit but who are not liable to income tax.

  Mr. Jack
  Based on information from the family expenditure survey 1989, it is estimated that in 1991–92 some 0.4 million non-tax payers in the United Kingdom will have earnings above the lower earnings limit for national insurance contributions.

  Marginal Withdrawal Rates
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) tax units and (b) individuals had a marginal withdrawal rate of (i) 50 to 59 per cent., (ii) 60 to 69 per cent., (iii) 70 to 79 per cent., (iv) 80 to 89 per cent., (v) 90 to 99 per cent. and (vi) over 100 per cent. in each year since 1985–86; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  Such information as is available is contained in the table. Figures for 1985–86 are not available in the form requested. Information for 1986–87 and 1987–88 is not available.

  gross income in 1990–91 for those in work, paying tax and

  205
  national insurance contributions and claiming rent and community charge rebates; and how many people there were in such households.

  Mr. Jack
  The marginal deduction rate in 1990–91 for those in work, paying tax and national insurance contributions and in receipt of rent rebate and community charge benefit is 87 per cent. This assumes national insurance contributions are paid at the contracted-in rate. Estimates of the number of people in households subject to marginal deduction rates in 1990–91 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) tax units and (b) persons, including children, in the households affected face a marginal withdrawal rate of tax and benefit of over 70 per cent.; and if he will state the estimated income ranges over which marginal withdrawal rates of (i) 70 to 79 per cent., (ii) 80 to 89 per cent. and (iii) 90 to 99 per cent. apply in 1990–91.

  Mr. Jack
  Information is not available in the form requested. In 1990–91 there were 395,000 heads of benefit units receiving income-related benefits where at least one partner worked more than 24 hours a week with marginal deduction rates of 70 per cent. or over.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the cost to the Exchequer per 100,000 unemployed in terms of social security payments.

  Mr. Jack
  A variation of 100,000 in the number unemployed incurs an estimated additional expenditure of £305 million in social security benefits available to unemployed people in 1991–92.

  Source: Cm 1515. Social Security, The Government's Expenditure Plans 1991–92 to 1993–94.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Horses
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how his Ministry differentiates between horses used for recreation and those kept for the horsemeat trade.

  Mr. Maclean
  No such differentiation is made. In this country any horse can be slaughtered for the horsemeat trade providing it is slaughtered in accordance with the requirements of public health legislation.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what facilities exist in the United Kingdom for the slaughter of equines for human consumption; and if he has any proposals to improve them.

  Mr. Maclean
  There are currently four EC-approved slaughterhouses, and six slaughterhouses operating under domestic legislation, which are approved for the slaughter of equines in the United Kingdom. It is for the operators of the domestic plants to take commercial decisions on whether to upgrade to meet the single market rules which will apply after 1992.

  New Forest
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the annual cost to the Forestry Commission for supervising hunting in the New Forest; and how many letters and petitions in favour of ending hunting in the New Forest the Forestry Commission has received in the last five years.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Forestry Commission does not keep a separate record of the cost of supervising hunting in the New Forest as the staff concerned cover a wide range of duties of which supervising hunting forms only a small part. However, the Commission's best estimate is that the costs last year, including staff and vehicle costs, were in the region of £11,000. In the last five years the Commission has received one petition and about 50 letters objecting to hunting in the New Forest.

  Wild Birds
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what responsibilities his Department has for (i) conservation, (ii) transport and (iii) welfare of imported wild birds.

  Mr. Maclean
  My Department has no conservation responsibilities in respect of imported wild birds. During transport, the welfare of birds imported into this country is protected by the provisions of the Transit of Animals (General) Order 1973 which also imposes a general duty of care on those involved in the transport of all animals including birds.

  The order is enforced by local authorities. Their inspectors can call on the assistance of the state veterinary service whenever welfare or health problems arise. Every commercial consignment of birds imported into this country is inspected on arrival with particular regard to welfare conditions.

  Video Recordings
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. Maclean
  Various parts of the Department, such as staff training, welfare and the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service, purchase specialist video programmes from time to time. However, these purchases are made independently. There is no central purchasing point, and no central records are kept.

  Bananas
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received regarding the continuation of Commonwealth preference for bananas; what is the current state of negotiations within the EC on bananas; what is the position of the United Kingdom Government in these discussions; if he will give consideration to the need to protect the interest of Commonwealth banana growers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  We have received representations about the preferential arrangements applying to United Kingdom imports of bananas from a wide variety of interests including our traditional suppliers in the Caribbean.
  207
  The European Commission is currently considering arrangements to apply to bananas in the single European market post-1992, but has not yet come forward with proposals. The United Kingdom Government will seek to ensure that new arrangements fulfil our commitments to Commonwealth Caribbean suppliers, and take account of consumer interests, the need for budgetary restraint, trade policy considerations and the competition and efficiency objectives of the single market initiative.

  Oil Seed Rape
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had from beekeepers about the present scale of oil seed rape production or its present methods of cultivation.

  Mr. Maclean
  There is a good market for oil seed rape honey, and the information available to me indicates clearly that this source is consequently valued by beekeepers.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 3 June,Official Report, column 42, when he expects the 1990–91 energy consumption figures to be available.

  Mr. Curry
  The energy consumption figures for the 1990–91 financial year should be available within about a month. I will write to the hon. Member with the details as soon as it has been possible to gather the information together from all the various Ministry establishments concerned.

  Blue-Ear Disease
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many pig weaners have been removed out of the farms restricted due to blue-ear disease; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  No weaners have been moved off restricted farms.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many pig buyers from(a) Holland and (b) Germany visited farms which are currently under restriction in the last three months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  On 25 April 1991, a party from the eastern part of Germany visited two of the premises now under restrictions imposed under precautions for dealing with blue-eared pig disease. The visitors, seven Germans and a Dutchman, had not been in contact with any pigs for at least a week prior to the visit and very strict hygiene standards were applied on their arrival, including a shower and changes of inner and outer clothing. In view of the precautions taken and the absence of the disease in the eastern part of Germany, this visit has been discounted as the origin of infection of blue-ear pig disease.

  Wine
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made towards setting up a quality wine scheme for English and Welsh wine producers under European Community rules.
  208
  Mr. Curry
  During the recent price-fixing round in Brussels, we secured a formal Council statement that reads:"In the context of wine sector reform the Commission will study the possibilities of including interspecific varieties in the list of varieties deemed suitable for production of quality wine per specified region".

  I expect English and Welsh wine producers to welcome this, as interspecific varieties of vines, or "hybrids", emerged as their predominant concern during a recent consultation exercise on quality wine. Clearly we now have a commitment to follow this point up firmly in subsequent Brussels discussion, which may take some time. Meanwhile, however, I have decided to launch a pilot quality wine scheme for operation as from the 1991 vintage this autumn, with a view to full operation as of the 1992 vintage.

ENERGY

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his most up-to-date estimate of the total number of households which applied for shares in the privatisation of(a) the regional electricity distribution companies, (b) the generating companies and (c) both.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  It will not be possible to give a figure for the number of households from which applications were received, since the applications do not record the composition of the household to which an applicant belongs.

  Trawsfynydd Nuclear Power Station
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the cost of running Trawsfynydd nuclear power station in 1990–91.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  This is a commercial matter for Nuclear Electric.

  Electricity Pylons
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his policy in respect of siting electricity pylons in areas of high population density.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Siting of electricity pylons is, in the first instance, a matter for the licence holder concerned. However, the majority of overhead line developments require the consent of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy, and he takes all relevant factors, including the extent of any residential development, fully into account before reaching his decision.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his assessment of the effect of the war in the Gulf on oil inputs into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The United Kingdom was able to acquire adequate supplies of oil despite the disruptions caused by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

  Thermonuclear Reactor Project
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the progress of the discussions on the international thermonuclear experimental reactor project, and the steps to be taken to move to the engineering design phase of the collaboration, between Euratom, the United States of America, Japan and the USSR.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Negotiations on behalf of the Community are being conducted by the Commission. So far there have been two plenary rounds of discussions aimed at deciding whether the collaboration should proceed to an engineering design activity—EDA—phase. The last of these took place in Tokyo in April; a third round is scheduled for Washington in July. Consideration is focusing on the technology content of the project and on the choice of site. Three of the partners in the collaboration, Japan, the United States of America, and Euratom, have proposed sites for the location of EDA, and these bids are currently being evaluated.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the future funding arrangements for the home energy efficiency scheme.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Parliament has voted some £27 million for the Energy Efficiency Office in support of energy efficiency in low-income households in the current financial year, of which approximately £26 million is expected to be used to fund the home energy efficiency scheme. Funding in future years will be settled and announced under the usual arrangements for public expenditure.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Latin America
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what study he has made of the United States framework for dealing with Latin America for the development of overall packages to Latin America in relation to science and technology.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We are aware of no such framework. Congress is presently considering a Bill which, if enacted, would promote co-operation between the United States and Latin America in science and technology. We are aware of its provisions.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards using the Commonwealth Development Corporation as a pump-primer for investment in Latin America.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Commonwealth Development Corporation has an important role to play in stimulating wider investment in those countries in Latin America and elsewhere in which it operates.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policy he has for helping to expand the Inter-American Development Corporation.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The United Kingdom is a shareholder in the Inter-American development bank—IADB—but is 210
  not a member of the Inter-American Investment Corporation. We play a full part in the activities of the IADB and contribute to its fund for special operations.

  Brazil
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Brazil on bio-medical research.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No such discussions have taken place. ODA funds are provided for higher education links between Brazil and the United Kingdom. These include some areas of medical and health-related research.

  Aid Recipients
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria for good government he uses in determining appropriate recipients of aid.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The criteria for good government include sound economic and social policies, competent, open and accountable institutions and respect for human rights and the rule of law.

  Central America
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy for extending Commonwealth Development Corporation work in(a) Costa Rica, (b) Ecuador, (c) Nicaragua and (d) Honduras.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Commonwealth Development Corporation already provides assistance to Costa Rica, Ecuador and Honduras. Approval for the corporation to operate in Nicaragua was given in March this year, and the CDC is currently investigating a number of investment opportunities there. In pursuing all such opportunities the CDC seeks to increase the proportion of new commitments in the private sector.

  Aid Programme
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any comprehensive survey of British attitudes towards overseas aid and development has been carried out since "Attitudes to Overseas Aid" published by HMSO in 1978; and whether he will make it his policy to commission another such survey.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Questions on the public's attitude to aid are included in the annual FCO opinion poll. We also receive information from polls conducted by non-government organisations. We will continue to use both these methods to gauge public opinion of the aid programme.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have entered, or been reinstated, in the aid programme since 1979; and why.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Since 1979 the following countries have entered the aid programme:

  Central African Republic

  Equitorial Guinea
  211
  Guinea
  Recognition of their classification as least-developed countries.

  China
  To support improvements in Sino-British relations, increasing Chinese interests in links with western countries and systems and in recognition of China's place among the world's 50 poorest countries.

  Comoros

  Israel

  Mongolia

  Sao Tome
  Aid limited to minor gifts under the heads of mission schemes to non-governmental or voluntary bodies.

  Congo

  Gabon
  English language teaching programmes designed to strengthen British political and commercial links with west Africa.

  The following countries have been reinstated into the aid programme since 1979:

  Cambodia Humanitarian aid.
  Cuba

  Surinam
  Aid limited to minor gifts under the heads of mission schemes to non-governmental or voluntary bodies.

  Iran

  Iraq
  Emergency aid to Iraqi refugees.

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Agriculturalists

  9

  8

  8

  8

  9

  9

  9

  8

  10

  Social advisers

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Other technical staff

  18

  20

  21

  20

  20

  20

  21

  20

  20

  Staff on contract to the ODA funded by the Aid Programme:

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Agriculturalists

  n/a

  n/a

  136

  161

  137

  183

  188

  184

  154

  Environmental specialists

  na/

  n/a

  29

  44

  52

  61

  73

  78

  75

  Social advisers

  n/a

  n/a

  131

  141

  145

  147

  146

  146

  125

  Other technical staff

  n/a

  n/a

  1,138

  1,093

  1,061

  1,191

  1,127

  1,264

  1,115

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Overseas Development Administration's policy regarding the responsibility of Overseas Development Administration staff working overseas to liaise with non-governmental organisations in those countries; and whether any staff are posted with the specific responsibility of liaising with local non-governmental organsiations.

  Mrs. Chalker
  We encourage our staff working overseas to get to know, and co-operate with, other agencies operating in the countries concerned, including both local and United Kingdom-based NGOs. At present there are two ODA posts, one in Bangladesh and one in Pakistan, with a specific remit to liaise directly with local NGOs.
  212
  Nicaragua
  Bilateral aid reinstated in April 1990 to mark return to democracy. Previously only disaster relief and minor gifts under the heads of mission schemes.

  Vietnam
  Assistance through British NGOs for the reintegration of boat people and for general development assistance.

  Turkey
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what grounds Turkey qualifies as a recipient of bilateral aid.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Turkey is classified as a developing country by the development assistance committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

  Development Issues
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, for each year since 1975, the number of Overseas Development Administration professional staff based overseas in development divisions, in embassies and elsewhere, showing how many of these are environmental specialists, agriculturalists, social advisers and other technical staff.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Information in the form requested is not available before 1983. Details of ODA permanent staff based overseas are as follows:

  New Aid Projects
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts are being made to increase the amount of time spent by Overseas Development Administration staff overseas in identifying new aid projects, particularly poverty projects, in Africa.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Poverty alleviation is a major objective for the aid programme and a significant proportion of staff time in headquarters and overseas is already devoted to identifying, appraising and monitoring projects and programmes which contribute to this. New staff appointments also reflect this emphasis. For example, a new social development adviser post has recently been created in headquarters to help deal with Africa. Overseas, an additional economist has been appointed to the British development division in southern Africa specifically to work in the health and education sectors.

  Project Costs
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Overseas Development Administration's policy regarding the financing of recurrent costs of projects.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Recurrent costs are met, where possible, from the budget of the local agency undertaking the project or programme which our aid is helping to finance. However, in certain circumstances, we are ready to consider financing recurrent costs through the aid programme. In making judgments we would consider whether there is a genuine shortage of local funds, whether recurrent costs and revenues have been carefully considered and whether sectoral policies are appropriate; also whether the nature of the proposal, for example if it has a pilot or demonstration purpose, presented special justification for contributions to local costs.

  NGO Grants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many indigenous non-governmental organisations in developing countries receive grants from the Overseas Development Administration.

  Mrs. Chalker
  This information is not centrally available. Many developing country NGOs receive grants for specific projects from United Kingdom heads of missions through the gifts schemes and small project schemes which they administer for ODA. In addition, grants to British NGOs through the ODA's joint funding scheme are often destined for projects designed and implemented in conjunction with indigenous NGOs, and sometimes spread across a number of countries.

  Technical Co-operation
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether technical cooperation has ever been given to assist a developing country to assess the poverty impact of its own policies.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The Overseas Development Administration is providing technical co-operation funds to the Government of Mozambique to employ a social policy adviser to help analyse poverty incidence and advise on poverty policies. In Kenya and Bangladesh, technical co-operation funds are paying for consultants to work with the Governments to analyse poverty incidence and to suggest options for aid assistance.

  Social Development Advisers
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many social development advisers there are in the Overseas Development Administration in the United Kingdom; how many are overseas; and in which country.

  Mrs. Chalker
  There are four full-time social development advisers and one assistant adviser in the United Kingdom. There is one full-time adviser in Thailand and one part time adviser in Barbados. In addition Her Majesty's Government fund 125 social advisers—this includes those in medical health, community development and social welfare—under the aid programme in 29 countries.

  Aid Projects
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of Overseas Development Administration projects that have been evaluated have been successfully operating more than two years after completion of the aid contract and withdrawal of Overseas Development Administration financing.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Evaluation of a project normally takes place after sufficient time has elapsed to permit an assessment of operational success. The timing depends upon the nature of the project, and on occasion may be less than two years after completion. An analysis of 79 projects evaluated between 1980 and 1989 showed that 43 of them 56·2 per cent. by value—were rated successful or highly successful. A further 23–31 per cent. by value—were rated partially successful and the remainder—12·8 per cent. by value—were rated unsuccessful. This analysis is contained in the report "Lessons from Evaluation 1980–1989" which is available in the House of Commons Library.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Video Recordings
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. Kenneth Baker
  The Department does not keep central records of all video recordings purchased. Some records are kept of video recordings bought for training purposes. I will send the list to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library.

  Police Training
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimates he has made of the effect on operational police strengths arising from the detachment of police officers for retraining following the passage of(a) the Road Traffic Bill and (b) the Criminal Justice Bill;

  (2) if he will make an estimate of the manpower costs involved in retraining police officers necessitated by the passage of (a) the Road Traffic Bill and (b) the Criminal Justice Bill.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  My right hon. Friend expects that any retraining of police officers as a consequence of the legislation will be on a limited scale and will not affect operational policing.

  Wolds Remand Prison
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the remand contracts unit of the prison department is undertaking an in-house costing for Wolds remand prison; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Yes, with other parts of the Home Office.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimate of the annual running costs of the new Wolds remand prison.
  215
  Mrs. Rumbold
  A costing for use in comparison with tenders is being prepared.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the companies which have tendered for the Wolds remand prison contract have put in tenders in excess of the in-house costing of the prison department.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  No tenders for the operation of Wolds remand prison have yet been received. Companies are required to submit their tenders by 19 July.

  Extradition
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the persons who have been extradited for terrorist offences since 1980(a) from Great Britain to the Republic of Ireland and (b) from the Republic of Ireland to Great Britain, giving the year in which the extradition occurred and indicating the outcome in each case.

  Mr. John Patten
  There have been no extraditions for terrorist offences from Great Britain to the Republic of Ireland. One person, Desmond Ellis, was returned from the Republic of Ireland in 1990. His case is pending.

  Prison Officers' Accommodation
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present quantity of prison officers' accommodation at each of the London prisons available for letting to serving prison officers.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of quarters available for serving prison officers at each of the London prisons as at 1 April 1991, the latest date for which information is available, is as follows:

  Number

  Vacant

  Belmarsh

  6

  3

  Brixton

  223

  18

  Holloway

  145

  1

  Pentonville

  104

  5

  Wandsworth

  161

  7

  Wormwood Scrubs

  208

  3

  Under the new conditions of service introduced by "fresh start" in 1987, prison officers are no longer quarters entitled. They occupy quarters on service tenancies and are allowed to purchase under a discount sale scheme, subject to availability and eligibility.

  E1 Salvador
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Scotland Yard visit to EI Salvador.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The Scotland Yard team went to El Salvador at the request of President Cristiani to advise on the investigation into the murder of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter. Their report has now been passed to the Government of El Salvador.

  Cable Television (Scotland)
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the cable television industry in Scotland.
  216
  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A total of 14 cable franchises have been awarded in Scotland. Work on laying cable in the Aberdeen franchise area is complete, a substantial amount of cable now exists in Glasgow; and work has began in Dundee. All but the two earliest franchises were awarded by the Cable Authority, whose final report and accounts were laid before the House on 12 June.

  Arctic Foxes
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to eliminate the keeping of wild arctic foxes in captivity for fur breeding purposes.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply.

  We have no plans to do so.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Vietnamese Boat People
  Sir Peter Blaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the United States Administration regarding the comprehensive programme of action for the return to Vietnam of illegal immigrants to Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he has received from the Government of Hong Kong about the projected numbers of Vietnamese boat people coming to Hong Kong during the remainder of 1991; and what action he proposes.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 18 June to my hon. Friend the Member for Leominster (Mr. Temple-Morris).

  To ease the pressure on Hong Kong, we are pursuing as a matter of urgency with Vietnam, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organisation of Migration the establishment of an internationally managed centre on territory provided by Vietnam for those asylum seekers who are determined not to be refugees and have not taken advantage of the existing voluntary return programme.

  Burma
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make further representations to the Government of Burma concerning the transfer of power from the military junta to the National League of Democracy.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We will continue to make our views known whenever it is appropriate to do so.

  European Safeguards Research and Development Association
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department was represented at the annual meeting of the European Safeguards Research and Development Association held recently in Avignon; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  An official of the Department of Energy attended this symposium. The official proceedings of the symposium should be published within three months. It will be possible to obtain copies from the ESARDA symposium secretariat at the joint research centre, Ispra, Italy.

  Vietnam
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 10 June,Official Report, column 413, what steps he has taken to validate the statement of the Vietnamese Government that people are not persecuted for their religious beliefs.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our embassy in Hanoi is in regular contact with the Vietnamese authorities, in particular the Government Board for Religious Affairs, and raises with them specific cases of alleged human rights abuses, including religious persecution.

  Football
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the behaviour of England football supporters in Kusadasi on the occasion of last month's England v. Turkey match.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  About 800 English supporters travelled to Turkey for the senior and under-21 international football matches. Following incidents in Kusadasi on 1 May 1991, 22 were arrested and appeared in court the same day. Eleven were released. The others were fined for causing damage to property and released on 3 May 1991 after the fines had been paid. British consular staff visited all those arrested and received full co-operation from the Turkish authorities.

  Environmental Research Vessel
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what area of British waters the Soviet environmental research ship Akademik Boris Petrov was banned from entering; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  An application was received from the Soviet embassy for permission to conduct research in Scottish waters from Leith around to Port Glasgow. Such permission was not granted.

  Fishing Rights (South Atlantic)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of his discussions with European partners on fishing rights off the coast of British dependent territories, including Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Discussions with European partners on a fisheries agreement covering United Kingdom 218
  dependent territories have not yet started. We are examining, with the dependent territories, the possible components of such an agreement.

  E1 Salvador
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests he has had from El Salvador for help with improving its judicial system.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No specific request for such help has been received from the government of El Salvador. During the annual San Jose meeting of EC and Central American Foreign Ministers, however, held in Managua in March this year, my hon. Friend the Minister of State and our EC colleagues agreed to develop programmes aimed in particular at improving the administrative and legal machinery in Central American countries, designed to ensure that human rights are fully guaranteed. A committee of European and Central American experts is to be entrusted with the task of working out how these programmes are implemented.

  Brazil
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Brazilian Government to seek the transfer of forthcoming trials in the cases of Expedito Ribeiro de Sousa and Jose and Paulo Canuto to the state capital to reduce the risk of interference with jurors and witnesses.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  It would not be appropriate for us to express a view on this matter.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Brazilian Government about the continuing violence against rural workers in the region of Rio Maria and Xinguara in the state of Para.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We are in regular touch with the Brazilian authorities regarding a range of human rights issues, including the position of rural workers.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will send a diplomatic representative to observe the trials in connection with the murders of trade union officials Expedito Ribeiro de Sousa and Jose and Paulo Canuto in the Brazilian state of Para.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Our embassy in Brasilia will be monitoring the trials.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 3 June,Official Report, column 49, if he will give such information as is available without disproportionate cost, in the form of his answers of 30 April 1990, Official Report, column 405 and 10 May 1990, Official Report, column 205.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Further to my answer of 3 June,Official Report, column 49, the only figures that can be provided without disproportionate cost are those for total energy consumption and expenditure in Foreign and Commonwealth Office buildings in the financial year 1990–91. These are as follows:
  219

  Consumption

  Expenditure£

  (i) Electricity

  18,106,000kwh

  1,135,429

  (ii) Gas

  409,000therms

  155,633

  (iii) Fuel Oil

  1,450,350litres

  247,838

  Figures for ODA energy consumption and expenditure are not readily available. I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Peacekeeping Operations
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contributions the United Kingdom is making towards United Nations peacekeeping operations in the Gulf and western Sahara.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  At present we plan to contribute a total of £8·55 million made up as follows:

  £ million

  United Nations Iraq/Kuwait Observer Mission (UNIKOM)

  2·1

  United Nations Special Commission Iraq

  1·0

  United Nations Observer Mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO)

  5·45

  Total

  8·55

  Parliamentary approval for these new services will be sought in the winter supplementary estimate for "Foreign and Commonwealth Office: other external relations", vote —class II, vote 2. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £8·55 million will be met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.

  Latin America
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he is having with Latin American Governments on the pace of decision-making of the judicial system in commercial law.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Among the priorities of our increased aid programme for Latin America is support for good government, which includes inter alia improvements in the judicial process. Bilateral investment promotion and protection agreements are signed or under negotiation with several Latin American countries. We also continue to work with Latin American and other Governments in the United Nations Commission of International Trade Law on the co-ordination of international trade law.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he is having with Latin American Governments on optimum technical or research co-operation between the European Economic Community and the United Kingdom and Latin America.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Co-operation in the field of science and technology was discussed earlier this year at the meetings between the European Community and the countries of Central America and the Rio group. I represented the United Kingdom. Consultation continues in the framework of the communities co-operation agreements with those countries.

  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
  [pursuant to his reply, 14 June 1991, c. 726]: The Chinese authorities have now told us that the story was unfounded and the couple have not been executed.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Water and Sewerage Installations
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the standard costs of mains water and sewerage installation in the constituency of South Down since 1 April 1980 to 31 March 1991; and what are the current standard costs.

  Mr. Needham
  The details of the standard unit cost yardsticks for water and sewerage are:

  Effective date

  Water £

  Sewerage £

  1 April 1980

  2,000

  1,500

  1 April 1981

  2,250

  1,950

  1 April 1982

  2,400

  2,050

  1 September 1983

  2,600

  2,200

  1 April 1984

  2,700

  2,200

  1 September 1985

  2,900

  2,300

  Planning Permissions
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many planning permissions have been(a) approved and (b) refused in each year since 1980 in areas of outstanding natural beauty in the constituency of South Down.

  Mr. Needham
  Information before 1987 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information since 1987 is:

  Year

  Approved

  Refused

  1987

  278

  23

  1988

  336

  34

  1989

  350

  64

  1990

  301

  57

  1991 to date

  181

  38

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many planning permissions have been(a) approved and (b) refused in each year since 1980 in areas of special scientific interest—ASSIs—in the constituency of South Down.

  Mr. Needham
  Two ASSIs lie partly in the South Down constituency. These were declared in 1988 and 1989. Since then, no planning applications have been received in respect of sites within the ASSIs in that constituency.

  Security Statistics
  Mr. Carttiss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the security statistics for 1990 are now available, together with details of persons charged with terrorist type offences and convictions for scheduled offences for the year.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Yes. Security statistics for 1990 are as follows. Statistics for earlier years can be obtained from the Library.

  Statistics on Security (January-December 1990)

  Part I—Statistics of Terrorist Activity

  Number

  Shooting Incidents

  396

  Explosions

  167

  Bombs Neutralised

  120

  Weight of Explosives in Kgs1

  5,392

  Explosions Neutralised

  15,328

  Armed Robberies

  438

  Malicious Fires

  333

  Amount Stolen

  £1,728,685

  Deaths:

  Civilian

  49

  Army/UDR (8 Army/7 UDR)

  15

  RUC/RUC'R' (7 RUC/5 RUC'R')

  12

  Injuries:

  Civilian

  478

  Army/UDR (190 Army/24 UDR)

  214

  RUC/RUC'R' (165 RUC/49 RUC'R')

  214

  1 Estimated weight only.

  Part II—statistics of security forces' activity Dwellings searched

  Army

  RUC

  Occupied

  673

  —

  Unoccupied

  191

  —

  Derelict

  195

  —

  Convictions and sentences for scheduled offences

  Sentence(January to December 1990)

  Offence

  Number convicted 1990

  Non-custodial sentence

  Young offenders centre training schools

  Less than 5 years

  5 years and less than 7 years

  7 years and less than 10 years

  10 years and less than 15 years

  15 years and less than 20 years

  20 years and over

  Detained SOS

  Life

  Murder

  8

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  7

  Attempted murder

  10

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  5

  3

  1

  0

  0

  Aid and abet murder

  7

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  7

  Conspiracy to murder

  6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  3

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Manslaughter

  4

  0

  1

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Common assault

  3

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Assault occasioning actual bodily harm

  18

  12

  2

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Wounding or grevious bodily harm with intent

  23

  5

  4

  5

  1

  4

  1

  3

  0

  0

  0

  Wounding or grevious bodily harm

  14

  9

  3

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kidnapping or false imprisonment

  3

  1

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rape

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Arson

  16

  6

  5

  2

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  222

  Army

  RUC

  Total

  1,059

  3,568

  Note: Searches of dwellings frequently involve both the Army and RUC and are registered in their respective records. The totals therefore should not be aggregated and are shown separately to avoid an element of double counting.

  Finds

  Number

  Weapons

  223

  Ammunition (rounds)

  22,452

  Explosives (kgs)

  1,968

  Persons charged with terrorist-type offences

  Number

  Murder

  18

  Attempted murder

  62

  Firearms offences

  115

  Explosives offences

  22

  Theft Act

  31

  Other

  132

  Total

  380

  Part III—convictions and sentences for scheduled offences Notes on the tables:

  1. The offence classifications are based on those used by the Crown Court in their annual return.

  2. The tables relate to persons convicted at the Belfast Crown Court. This covers all scheduled offences tried on indictment.

  3. Some jury trials arc included in cases where the Attorney General certified out of the scheduled mode of trial, ie non-terrorist serious offences.

  4. Where a person has been convicted of more than one offence only the most serious or that which received the longest sentence is recorded in the statistics.
  223

  Convictions and sentences for scheduled offences

  Sentence(January to December 1990)

  Offence

  Number convicted 1990

  Non-custodial sentence

  Young offenders centre training schools

  Less than 5 years

  5 years and less than 7 years

  7 years and less than 10 years

  10 years and less than 15 years

  15 years and less than 20 years

  20 years and over

  Detained SOS

  Life

  Petrol bomb offences

  27

  25

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Threats to damage property

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hijacking

  28

  19

  6

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Robbery

  114

  45

  15

  32

  12

  4

  3

  3

  0

  0

  0

  Burglary

  9

  2

  2

  1

  2

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Blackmail

  5

  1

  0

  3

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Membership

  6

  2

  1

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Unlawful collection of information

  8

  3

  1

  3

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Witholding information

  15

  13

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Contributing towards terrorism

  3

  1

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Possession of information useful to terrorists

  5

  3

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Making property available

  8

  8

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Riot

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bomb hoax

  3

  0

  1

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Impeding apprehension

  4

  0

  0

  1

  0

  2

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Conspiring to prevent the course of justice

  2

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Breach of suspended sentence

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Carrying firearm with intent

  6

  3

  0

  2

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Possession of firearm in suspicious circumstances

  12

  6

  2

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Possession of firearms with intent

  47

  12

  5

  3

  8

  6

  10

  3

  0

  0

  0

  Possession of prohibited weapon

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Causing explosion

  5

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  2

  0

  0

  Possession of explosives with intent

  16

  2

  0

  2

  3

  3

  4

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  440

  184

  51

  80

  35

  24

  28

  19

  4

  1

  14

  Animal Carcases
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has monitored, by council area, the incidence of illegal dumping of fallen animals which has had to be dealt with by individual councils; and what are the statistics for each of the past eight months in each council area.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 18 June 1991]: District councils are being asked for the information requested and I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
  224
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases have been prosecuted or have prosecutions pending in relation to the illegal dumping of fallen animals during each of the past eight months.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 18 June 1991: Records of prosecutions by district councils for the illegal dumping of fallen animals are not held centrally. However, information on such dumping including information on

  225
  prosecutions is being sought from district councils and I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

SCOTLAND

  Labour Statistics
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were in employment in Scotland in 1979; and how many are now.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  In December 1990, the latest date for which information is available, there were 2·27 million in the Scottish civilian work force, some 20,000 more than in December 1979.

  Scottish Homes
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with Scottish Homes about the transfer of its housing stock.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We have issued guidance to Scottish Homes regarding the disposal of its housing stock and proposals which have the agreement of tenants are subject to my approval. No proposals have yet been submitted for approval.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what funding arrangements he has made to enable Scottish Homes to meet its target of 300 new units of special needs accommodation as part of its second strategic plan.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Scottish Homes finances special needs accommodation provided by housing associations from within its traditional rented programme, which in 1990–91 was approximately £149 million.

  Plant Closures, Leith
  Mr. Ron Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from trade unions, local councils and community groups about the closure of Caledonia Mills and Scottish Agricultural Industries in Leith; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend has received no representations about Caledonia Mills. The hon. Gentleman will recall that one trade union representative attended the meeting I had with him on 20 March 1991 about Scottish Agricultural Industries—SAI No other such representations have been received about SAI.

  Lanarkshire Health Services
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve the provision of general hospital services within the Lanarkshire health board area.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  On Friday, 7 June my right hon. Friend endorsed Lanarkshire health board's proposal in its acute services strategy to build a new 615-bed district general hospital in Wishaw at a cost of over £70 million to serve the Motherwell and Clydesdale area. The other component of the board's acute services strategy is to 226
  provide a new district general hospital to serve the Hamilton and East Kilbride districts by either redeveloping the existing Hairmyres hospital site or by building a new district general hospital at Blantyre.

  I visited Lanarkshire on Monday 17 June to see for myself the sites involved and to hear at first hand the various arguments in favour of each of the options. I shall make a further announcement as soon as possible.

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has had about the constitutional arrangements between Scotland and Westminster; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  In the past six months representations received about constitutional issues have comprised 246 letters or postcards and one petition. The petition and 14 of the letters and postcards were in favour of devolution; 222 were against devolution; and 10 were in favour of separation.

  Financial Services
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are currently employed in the financial services sector in Scotland.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  In December 1990, the latest date for which an estimate is available, there were 184,400 employees employed in the banking, finance, insurance, business services and leasing industries in Scotland. This is some 50 per cent. higher than the number employed in the sector in 1979.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications have been submitted for self-governing trust status for hospitals and other national health service units.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Applications have been submitted by the South Ayrshire group of hospitals and by the Royal Scottish national hospital. A third application, from Foresterhill, is expected shortly.

  Tourism
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of overseas visitors to Scotland this year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  It is not possible at this early stage of the season to provide an accurate estimate. The Scottish tourist board expects a downturn in visitor numbers from north America but expects this to be offset by a continued increase in visitors from the EC and Japan.

  Lanarkshire Working Party
  Dr. Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the report of the Lanarkshire working party; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart:
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Tayside, North (Mr. Walker) on 7 June, at columns 379–82.

  University Students
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest figures for full-time university students in Scotland; and what is the proportion of women students.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In 1989–90, the latest year available, there were 52,353 full-time students attending Scottish universities; of these, 44 per cent. were women.

  Training
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to meet the chairmen of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to discuss training provision in their respective areas.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  My right hon. Friend, my noble Friend and I have frequent opportunities to meet the chairmen of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and to discuss a wide range of subjects, including training provision.

  Primary Schools (Highlands)
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on future plans for primary schools in the highlands.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The provision of primary school education in the highlands is a matter for Highland regional council as education authority.

  Health Staff Morale
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairmen of Scottish health boards to discuss staff morale; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I last met health board chairmen on 3 May 1991.

  West Coast Fishermen
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received on the condition of the west coast fishing industry.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  A number of representations have been received about the conservation of fish stocks on the west coast, particularly concerning access and the need to reduce pressure on nephrop stocks.

  North Sea Oil
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many official speeches he has made this year on development of North sea oil and gas reserves.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  None. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I take every opportunity however to promote the importance of the North sea oil and gas industry in the course of discussions with organisations and individuals, and through press articles and interviews with the media.

  Heart Bypass Operations
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the waiting times in Scotland for heart bypass operations; and what steps he is taking to reduce the waiting time.
  228
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In the year to 31 March 1991 a total of 1,515 patients received heart bypass operations. The mean waiting time was six months. I have already announced that I expect to increase funding for open heart surgery, which includes heart bypass operations, to around £19·8 million in 1991–92.

  Preventive Medicine
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for promoting preventive medicine in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The importance the Government attach to preventive medicine was reflected in our White Paper "Promoting Better Health"—Cmnd 249—published in November 1987. This stressed the need to shift the emphasis in primary care from the treatment of illness to the promotion of health and the prevention of disease. The new GP contract, which was introduced in April 1990, furthered this approach by actively encouraging immunisation and screening programmes and the provision of health promotion clinics. The benefits are already apparent and the attainment of targets has been impressive.

  A related review of health education in Scotland which I commissioned in 1989 culminated on 25 March this year when I published the document "Health Education in Scotland: A National Policy Statement", copies of which have been placed in the Library. This statement reflects the importance which the Government place on the promotion of good health and identifies priorities and sets targets for the improvement of health in Scotland. It also describes the role of the new Health Education Board for Scotland and sets out the framework within which it will work together with health boards, local authorities, voluntary organisations, employers, the media and individuals, to secure the health improvements we seek. In addition, I expect to take further initiatives which will be announced in due course.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of total United Kingdom inward investment was made in Scotland in 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  According to the figures recorded by the Invest in Britain Bureau, in 1990 Scotland attracted 11·5 per cent. of the total number of inward investment projects coming to the United Kingdom, and 36 per cent. of planned new jobs.

  Adult Education
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy toward the protection of adult basic education units in the Lothian region from the effects of charge-capping.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  It was entirely for Lothian regional council itself to decide which of its services should be affected as a result of the redetermination of its personal community charge for 1991–92 and to what extent.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the operation of the community charge reduction scheme.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The scheme has backdated effect in Scotland to 1 April 1990, although different rules apply in the financial years 1990–91 and 1991–92. A number of local authorities have already issued revised bills, taking account of reductions under the scheme in respect of both years, and most others expect to complete this task by the summer.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the amount of community charge payable by each eligible adult in a household of one, two, three, four or five adults where one, two or no adults have been exempted due to severe mental handicap in 1991–92 after the community charge reduction scheme has been applied, for each level of assumed rates in £50 bands from £150 to £500, in £100 bands from £500 to £1,500, £1,750 and £2,000, where in each case the community charge is set at each £10 increment between £140 and £600.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment on 12 June.

  Local Authority Finance
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current loan debt of Scottish local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The estimated outstanding debt on each local authority's housing revenue account at 31 March 1991 is as follows:

  £ million

  Berwickshire

  10·7

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  14·1

  Roxburgh

  43·2

  Tweeddale

  3·7

  Clackmannan

  30·1

  Falkirk

  103·0

  Stirling

  50·7

  Annandale and Eskdale

  35·2

  Nithsdale

  32·6

  Stewartry

  15·7

  Wigtown

  23·2

  Dunfermline

  59·7

  Kirkcaldy

  83·4

  North East Fife

  27·3

  Aberdeen

  172·1

  Banff and Buchan

  58·3

  Gordon

  62·0

  Kincardine and Deeside

  34·1

  Moray

  55·1

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  8·4

  Caithness

  27·0

  Inverness

  48·5

  Lochaber

  32·8

  Nairn

  8·5

  Ross and Cromarty

  60·5

  Skye and Lochalsh

  14·1

  Sutherland

  17·2

  East Lothian

  50·9

  Edinburgh

  226·9

  Midlothian

  21·7

  West Lothian

  65·9

  Argyll and Bute

  50·4

  230

  £ million

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  8·8

  Clydebank

  40·1

  Clydesdale

  20·6

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  15·4

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  26·6

  Cunninghame

  70·5

  Dumbarton

  39·9

  East Kilbride

  4·6

  Eastwood

  5·9

  Glasgow

  976·1

  Hamilton

  75·2

  Inverclyde

  82·4

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  46·2

  Kyle and Carrick

  62·0

  Monklands

  102·4

  Motherwell

  110·4

  Renfrew

  120·9

  Strathkelvin

  40·8

  Angus

  36·5

  Dundee

  125·5

  Perth and Kinross

  49·2

  Orkney Islands

  10·8

  Shetland Islands

  49·2

  Western Isles

  40·2

  Note: All figures are provisional.

  Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the priority areas for the commissioning of research work by the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland as identified by the Science Research and Development Board.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The commissioning of research work by the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland is a matter for the body itself.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the membership of the science research and development board for the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland, and their research experience.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The membership of the science research and development board for the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland is decided by the council. The present members, together with their research experience, are listed in the table.

  Professor George M. Dunnet—Zoologist

  Professor John A. Raven—Biological sciences

  Terrestrial and life sciences

  Dr. Douglas Malcolm—Woodlands/forestry

  Professor Paul Racey—Vertebrate ecology

  Mr. Mark Young—Invertebrates

  Dr. John Miles—Upland ecology

  Professor Robert Crawford—Plant ecology/taxonomy

  Dr. Patricia Monaghan—Ornithology

  Marine and freshwater sciences

  Professor Alasdair McIntyre—Marine science

  Dr. Peter Maitland—Freshwater ecology

  Earth Sciences

  Profesor Geoffrey Boulton—Geology and geophysics

  Professor David Sugden—Geomorphology

  Landuse, survey and data management

  Professor Jeff T. Maxwell—Agriculture/landuse/soils

  Dr. Donald Davidson—Monitoring/survey/remote sensing

  Professor R. Cormack—Data handling/statistics

  Ms. Caroline Wickham-Jones—Archaeology

  Housing
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were registered on local authority and Scottish Homes waiting lists in each year since 1980; what proportion were existing tenants requesting a transfer; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Reliable information is not available centrally.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total revenue gathered by the sale of(a) local authority and (b) Scottish Homes houses to sitting tenants in each year since 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Receipts from the sale of local authority and Scottish Homes/SSHA houses since 1980 are shown in the table. Total receipts to local authorities amount to £1·557 billion and to Scottish Homes/SSHA £0·354 billion, a grand total of £1·911 billion.

  £ million

  Year

  Local Authority

  Year

  SSHA/ Scottish Homes

  1980

  18·6

  1979–80

  0·4

  1981

  52·5

  1980–81

  15·7

  1982

  91·1

  1981–82

  17·5

  1983

  115·6

  1982–83

  19·3

  1984

  116·4

  1983–84

  23·3

  1985

  109·1

  1984–85

  35·4

  1986

  107·9

  1985–86

  25·2

  1987

  140·7

  1986–87

  22·4

  1988

  225·3

  1987–88

  46·2

  1989

  296·9

  1988–89

  78·1

  1990

  283·0

  1989–90

  70·2

  Notes:

  1. The information on local authority receipts relate to calendar years and that on SSHA/Scottish Homes receipts to years ending 31 March.

  2. Local authority returns for 1990 are incomplete.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the average weekly rental charge for(a) local authority and (b) Scottish Homes houses in each year since 1980; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what is the average increase in the weekly rental charges in (a) local authority and (b) Scottish Homes houses in each year since 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Local authorities

  SSHA /Scottish homes

  Standard rent £

  Rent increase over previous year £

  Standard rent £

  Rent increase over previous year £

  1980–81

  5·66

  0·74

  7·21

  1·78

  1981–82

  7·69

  2·03

  9·15

  1·94

  1982–83

  9·02

  1·33

  11·26

  2·11

  1983–84

  9·86

  0·84

  11·96

  0·70

  1984–85

  10·46

  0·60

  13·06

  1·10

  1985–86

  11·55

  1·09

  14·23

  1·17

  1986–87

  12·99

  1·44

  15·79

  1·56

  1987–88

  14·58

  1·59

  17·28

  1·49

  1988–89

  16·29

  1·71

  19·02

  1·74

  1989–90

  18·80

  2·51

  20·65

  1·63

  232

  Year

  Local authorities

  SSHA /Scottish homes

  Standard rent £

  Rent increase over previous year £

  Standard rent £

  Rent increase over previous year £

  1990–91

  20·89

  2·09

  23·35

  2·70

  1991–92

  23·24

  2·35

  26·51

  3·16

  Notes:

  1. Average rents for Scottish Local Authorities are based on the estimated position as at 30 September in each year. The data for 1991–92 are provisional.

  2. Average rents for the SSHA arc based on the position as at 30 September for the years 1980–81 to 1981–82, as at 30 June for 1982–83, and as at 1 April for subsequent years. Average rents for Scottish Homes are based on the position, as at 1 April for both 1990–91 and 1991–92.

  Fish Farming
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to review the role of the Crown Estate as a quasi-planning authority in marine fish farming.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government have accepted the view of the Select Committee on Agriculture that the system of regulation of the marine fish farming industry should develop in an evolutionary manner. The Scottish Office is currently preparing revised guidance on the location and siting of marine fish farms in consultation with the Crown Estate and other relevant interests. This guidance will examine carefully the environmental impact of marine fish farms and will set out clearly the parameters within which the industry should develop in the future.

  Landfill Sites
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many unauthorised emissions of leachate have taken place from landfill waste sites to the environment in Scotland over the last five years; and if he will provide details of where they have taken place and the names of the site owners;

  (2) how many formal compliance notices have been issued by waste disposal authorities to landfill waste site operators in Scotland, together with details of why these notices were served and the names of the site operators concerned.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not held centrally. I refer the hon. Member to the river purification authorities and the district and island councils, which have statutory responsibility for these matters.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases there have been of pollution of water courses and drinking water supplies by leachate from landfill waste sites in Scotland during the past five years, with details of the extent and source of pollution and the names of the site owners responsible.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  River purification authorities are responsible for investigating any incidents of water pollution by leachate. Information on incidents is contained in their annual reports, copies of which are held in the Library.

  Public drinking water supplies in Scotland are unlikely to be affected by leachate from landfill sites and no reports

  233
  of such incidents have been received since 21 December 1990 when the water authorities were first required formally to report significant failures of drinking water quality in public supplies. Prior to that date, comprehensive information about incidents of this nature was not held centrally.

  Prisoners (Transfers)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the figures on 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.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 14 June 1991]: The information available is as follows:

  Number of requests

  Number notified to NIO

  Permanent

  Temporary

  Permanent

  Temporary

  1980

  n/a

  n/a

  7

  2

  1981

  n/a

  n/a

  1

  2

  1982

  n/a

  n/a

  1

  1

  1983

  n/a

  n/a

  2

  —

  1984

  n/a

  n/a

  1

  —

  1985

  2

  1

  2

  1

  1986

  1

  —

  1

  —

  1987

  3

  —

  3

  —

  1988

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1989

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1990

  4

  1

  2

  —

  n/a Not available

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

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 14 June 1991]: None.

DEFENCE

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. Alan Clark
  I refer the hon. Member to "Public Bodies 1990" issued by the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service in December 1990; pages 12 to 14 list Ministry of Defence appointments and their remuneration. Further relevant information on salaries and the duration of appointments is included in "Public Appointments: A Handbook of Women's Organisations", pages 31 to 37, published by the Women's National Commission. Copies of these publications are available in the Library.

  Video Recordings
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. Kenneth Carlisle
  The production of a complete list of the titles of video recordings purchased by the Department could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. It is estimated, however, that the total number of titles purchased since the beginning of 1990 is some 2,000.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the contravention by a jet military aircraft flying at less than 1,000 ft over the village of Thurnscoe, South Yorkshire at approximately 1130 hours on 3 June, of the low flying transit area;

  (2) if he will make a statement in respect of the pair of military jet aircraft that flew at less than 1,000 ft between the villages of Clayton and Hooton Pagnell, South Yorkshire at approximately 1655 hours on 22 May;

  (3) if he will make a statement in respect of a low-flying military jet aircraft entering a prohibited low-flying transit area over Clayton, South Yorkshire on 9 June at approximately (a) 1509 hours and (b) 1617 hours.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  If the hon. Member would care to write to me with further details I should be happy to consider them.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the aims and objectives of the low flying exercise Trident Eagle held in May; what types and numbers of aircraft were involved; how many complaints were received in respect of noise and low flying, and from what locations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Exercise Trident Eagle was an aviation battlegroup exercise undertaken by 9 Army Air Corps Regiment designed to practise airmobile operations and procedures. The numbers and types of aircraft which took part in the exercise were as follows:

  Seven Gazelle

  12 Lynx

  Two Puma

  Seven complaints were received in all, from the following locations:

  Horncastle, Lincolnshire

  Louth, Lincolnshire (two)

  Rothwell, Lincolnshire

  Wragby, Lincolnshire

  Benniworth, Lincolnshire

  Dunnington, North Yorkshire

  Hospitality Fund
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. Archie Hamilton
  The amount spent on official hospitality by the Ministry of Defence in 1989–90 totalled some £3·7 million, in 1990–91 £3·9 million, and in 1991–92, to 31 May, £0·4 million. These figures include expenditure incurred by the Ministry of Defence itself, by formations
  235
  and establishments of the armed forces at home and abroad, and by individual officers occupying command and international appointments for which entertainment allowances are payable.

  Air Misses
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was(a) the height and (b) the risk category of the APHAZ that occurred on 4 July 1989, reported by a controller when a Tornado infringed the Humberside airport zone; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The three aircraft involved were flying at heights of between approximately 1,500 and 2,000 ft, and the incident was assessed as category C—no risk of collision.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was(a) the height and (b) the risk category of the air miss on 27 November 1989, involving an SA365 helicopter and two A 10s holding for Donna Nook range area; what were the findings of the joint airmiss working group; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The aircraft involved were flying at heights of between approximately 2,000 and 2,500 ft, and the air miss was assessed as category C—no risk of collision. The joint airmiss working group concluded that one of the A10 pilots flew sufficiently close to the helicopter to cause its pilot concern for the safety of his aircraft.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was(a) the height and (b) the risk category of the air miss in August, 1988 involving a Cherokee and some A10s near the Cowden range; what were the findings of the joint airmiss working group; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The aircraft involved were flying at a height of approximately 2,500 ft and the air miss was assessed as category C—no risk of collision. The joint airmiss working group concluded that the Cherokee pilot had inadvertently penetrated the Cowden weapons range danger area.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was(a) the height and (b) the risk category of the air miss on 22 November 1989 involving an S76 helicopter and a USAF F111 in the Rough gas field area; what were the findings of the joint airmiss working group; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The aircraft involved were flying at heights of between approximately 700 and 1,000 ft, and the air miss was assessed as category B—possible risk of collision. The joint airmiss working group concluded that the cause of the air miss was the failure of the F111 pilot to see the helicopter in time to give adequate way, compounded by the failure of the helicopter pilot to fly at the recommended level.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was(a) the height and (b) the risk category of the APHAZ reported by a controller on 15 August 1989 when a Tornado aircraft infringed the Humberside airport zone; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The aircraft involved were flying at a height of approximately 700 ft, and the incident was assessed category C—no risk of collision.
  236
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was(a) the height and (b) the risk category of the air miss on 10 May 1989, involving a foreign F16 and a S76 helicopter in the West Sole gas field area; what were the findings of the joint air miss working group; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The aircraft involved were flying at a height of approximately 200 ft, and the air miss was assessed as category C—no risk of collision. The joint airmiss working group concluded that elements of the military aircraft formation had made an unauthorised penetration of the West Sole helicopter protection zone.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was(a) the height and (b) the risk category of the air miss on 13 June 1990, involving a Bell 212 helicopter and a Tornado aircraft 25 miles east of the Humber estuary; what were the findings of the joint air miss working group; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The aircraft involved were flying at a height of approximately 1,000 ft and the air miss was assessed category C—no risk of collision. The joint airmiss working group concluded that there had been a conflict of flightpaths.

  Balanitis
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel suffered from balanitis during Operation Desert Storm; and how many had circumcision operations.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The incidence of balanitis was no higher than would normally be expected. No circumcisions for sand balanitis were performed or are now required.

  Army Manpower
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a table showing(a) the nominal manpower establishment, (b) the actual manpower strength, (c) the percentage of nominal establishment achieved, (d) the number of recruits becoming available each year, and (e) the rate of retention of recruits and trained soldiers for each regiment and division in the British Army.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Members for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) and for Wallsend (Mr. Garrett) of 4 June,Official Report, column 143, how he proposes to make the decisions as to where and how manpower reductions in the Army will be imposed following the consultation process within the Army; and how he intends to reconcile conflicting interests within the Army and ensure a fair hearing for all interests.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We have asked the Army to bring forward proposals on how to achieve the restructuring set out by the Secretary of State in his answer of 4 June. Consultation will be widespread, including all regimental colonels and colonels commandant. I am confident that all interests will have a fair hearing and that the regimental system will show that it can adapt to change.

  Main Battle Tanks
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he expects to place an order for the replacement of Chieftain tanks before the summer recess; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  As I told the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 4 June 1991,Official Report, columns 142–43, it is our intention to make a further announcement before the end of this month.

  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the engine performance of Challenger 2 tanks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  As I told the hon. Member for Tyne Bridge (Mr. Clelland) on 24 April 1991 Official Report, columns 486–87, my Department is making a full assessment of the Challenger 2; this includes its automotive performance.

  RMP Training Barracks
  Mr. Nelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the future of the Royal Military Police training barracks at Chichester.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We are currently studying the most cost-effective means of meeting the RMP's future training requirement. I shall keep my hon. Friend informed.

  Mr. Nelson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of trainees who passed through the Royal Military Police Rousillon barracks in Chichester in 1990; and what numbers he anticipates entering training courses there in 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  In 1990–91, a total of 388 trainees entered the Royal Military Police training centre, Rousillon barracks, Chichester. Of these, 272 successfully completed their training. However, reflecting the RMP's healthy manning situation, only 150 are expected to enter training courses in 1991–92. It will be several months before recruit allocations are made for 1992–93.

  Ministry Bases (Contaminated Land)
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been agreed for the environmental clean-up and remedial work on contaminated land at Ministry of Defence-owned bases vacated or to be vacated by United States forces.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Falkirk, West (Mr. Canavan) on 21 January,Official Report, column 53.

  The Gulf
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Defence what consideration has been given to the eligibility for the general services medal of medical units from NATO countries which were attached to the British service units during the Gulf war.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Her Majesty the Queen has approved the award of a medal to recognise compaign 238
  service in the Gulf. However, decisions have still to be reached concerning the qualifying conditions for the medal, including the eligibility of non-British forces.

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 3 June,Official Report, column 131, what information he has available on energy consumption in the civil estate (a) for 1989–90 along the lines of the information given in his answer of 10 May 1990, Official Report, columns 213–14 and (b) for 1990 along the lines of the information given in his answer of 30 April 1990, Official Report, column 429.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The expenditure on energy consumption in the civil estate for financial year 1989–90, broken down by fuel, is as follows:

  Thousands

  Source

  £

  Liquid Fuel

  455

  Electricity

  3,849

  Gas

  478

  Solid Fuel

  0

  Utilities

  430

  5,212

  Figures relating to the consumption of energy are not readily available. My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write to the hon. Member.

  The Gulf (Friendly Fire)
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects to receive the findings of the board of inquiry into the friendly fire incident in the Gulf war.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The board of inquiry will submit its report once its investigations are complete.

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Training
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether a lone parent with children below school age is eligible for employment training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Lone parents in receipt of income support on order books for at least 26 weeks are eligible to join the ET programme, provided that in each case the youngest child at the time of entry is in statutory full-time education. Lone parents who meet other eligibility conditions for ET can enter regardless of the age of their youngest child. Eligibility conditions are kept under regular review.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current arrangements and funding for employment training for ex-offenders.

  Mr. Jackson
  Ex-offenders fall within the normal eligibility rules for employment training and their time spent in custody or on remand counts towards the six months unemployment eligibility condition. No special funding is provided for ex-offenders as a group.
  239
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the qualifications in the north-east area that were achieved by clients for each year of employment training since its inception.

  Mr. Jackson
  The table gives the type of qualification or credit towards a qualification obtained by people who left employment training in the northern region between July 1989 and December 1990. Information prior to this period is not available.

  Type of qualifications or credits towards qualifications gained by leavers in northern region July 1989 to December 1990

  Qualification/Credit

  July 1989 to March 1990 per cent.

  April 1990 to December 1990 per cent.

  City and Guilds

  51

  48

  RSA

  25

  27

  Pitmans

  5

  7

  Scotvec

  ֵ

  ֵ

  BTEC-TEC

  2

  4

  GCSE

  2

  2

  London Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  ֵ

  1

  Other

  27

  26

  ֵ =less than 0·5 per cent.

  The base used for calculating percentages is the number of trainees gaining qualifications or credits. Percentages do not total 100 because trainees may obtain more than one type of qualification or credit.

  Source: ET Follow up survey.

  Manufacturing Employment
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of people employed in manufacturing industries in 1970, 1980 and 1990.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is shown in the table.

  Employees in manufacturing in United Kingdom

  Thousands

  June 1970

  8,339

  June 1980

  6,937

  June 1990

  5,151

  Training
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many people over 25 years and under 50 years were unemployed and not on the employment training scheme in 1989–90 and 1990–91; and what is his latest estimate of the number of people over 25 and under 50 years who are currently unemployed and not on the employment training schemes or other training schemes being operated through the training and enterprise council and local enterprise company network;

  (2) how many under-25s were unemployed and not on the employment training scheme in 1989–90 and 1990–91; and what is his latest estimate of the number of under-25s currently unemployed and not on the employment training schemes or other training schemes being operated through the TEC and LEC network.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information requested can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the House of Commons Library. Those on job-related Government schemes are included in the employment estimates and are, therefore, not counted in the unemployment figures.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the funding block 3 budget 240
  allocation to all training and enterprise councils in England and Wales and to all local enterprise companies in Scotland for 1991–92.

  Mr. Jackson
  Funding block 3 budgets for 1991–92 for each of the 75 operational TECs in England and Wales are set out in the table.

  Responsibility for answering that part of the question which relates to the Scottish local enterprise companies lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  £ million

  Funding block 3 £ million

  South East

  Essex

  3·320

  Hampshire

  2·667

  Heart of England

  1·200

  Hertfordshire

  2·385

  Isle of Wight

  ·515

  Kent

  3·150

  Milton Keynes and North Buckinghamshire

  ·711

  Surrey

  1·679

  Sussex

  3·380

  Thames Valley Enterprise

  1·870

  London

  AZTEC

  1·430

  LETEC

  2·70

  SOLOTEC

  1·940

  STTEC

  2·793

  South West

  Avon

  3·491

  Devon and Cornwall

  6·070

  Dorset

  3·921

  Gloucester

  1·600

  Somerset

  1·530

  Wiltshire

  1·540

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  4 110

  Central England

  1·360

  Coventry

  2·590

  Dudley

  1·006

  Hereford and Worcester

  1·167

  Sandwell

  1·013

  Shropshire

  1·492

  Staffordshire

  2·900

  Walsall

  ·890

  Wolverhampton

  1·028

  East Midlands and Anglia

  Leicester

  2·853

  Northamptonshire

  1·522

  Lincolnshire

  1·878

  Greater Nottingham

  2·078

  North Nottinghamshire

  1·456

  South Derbyshire

  1·908

  North Derbyshire

  1·154

  Norfolk/Waverney

  2·163

  Suffolk

  1·315

  Bedfordshire

  ·985

  GP TEC

  ·601

  CAMBSTEC

  ·709

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Leeds

  2·273

  North Yorkshire

  2·048

  Bradford

  1·670

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  2·056

  Wakefield

  1·054

  Barnsley and Doncaster

  2·165

  Sheffield

  2·492

  Rotherham

  ·985

  241

  Funding block 3 · million

  Humberside

  3·168

  North West

  Bolton/Bury

  1·665

  CEWTEC

  2·443

  Cumbria

  1·596

  ELTEC

  1·759

  LAWTEC

  2·764

  Manchester

  4·506

  METROTEC

  1·043

  Oldham

  ·795

  QUALITEC

  ·608

  Rochdale

  ·775

  South and East Cheshire

  1·088

  Stockport HP

  1·520

  Northern

  Teesside

  2·521

  Tyneside

  3·820

  Wearside

  1·413

  Durham

  2·716

  Northumberland

  1·475

  Wales

  Gwent

  1·655

  North East Wales

  1·384

  North West Wales

  1·631

  Mid Glamorgan

  1·719

  Powys

  ·590

  South Glamorgan

  1·461

  West Wales

  3·490

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many persons aged 16 years were in receipt of the £29·50 a week training allowance in 1989–90 and 1990–91; and how many are currently in receipt of this level of training allowance;

  (2) how many persons aged 17 years were in receipt of the £35 a week training allowance in 1989–90 and 1990–91; and how many are currently in receipt of this level of training allowance;

  (3) how much was spent in training allowances for persons aged 16 and 17 years, respectively, in 1989–90 and 1990–91; and how much money has been allocated to the training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies, for training allowances for persons aged 16 and 17 years respectively, in 1991–92.

  Mr. Jackson
  Information on numbers of 16 and 17-year-old youth training—YT—trainees who receive minimum allowances of £29·50 and £35 per week respectively is not available. The Exchequer contribution towards trainee allowances cannot be separately identified because employers also contribute and a proportion of trainees are employed and receive wages. Expenditure on YT, including minimum allowances in allocations to training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies in 1991–92, will be some £844 million.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total budget in 1988–89 and 1989–90 for those programmes which are now the responsibility of training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies and are funded by the funding block 3 budget allocations.
  242
  Mr. Jackson
  Expenditure in 1988–89 and 1989–90 on programmes which are broadly comparable to those now operated by training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies with block 3 funding, was as follows:

  £ million

  1988–89

  250

  1989–90

  209

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which of the programmes his Department ran directly before the establishment of the training and enterprise councils in England and Wales and the local enterprise companies in Scotland, are now run by training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies and funded by the funding block 3 budget allocations.

  Mr. Jackson
  Block 3 broadly corresponds to business growth training and the enterprise allowance scheme which were previously run by my Department's area offices. Training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies have however been given a flexible remit to undertake business and enterprise activities in their area using this funding block.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he has taken to encourage businesses to provide training opportunities for employees aged 16 to 19 years in 1991; and what measures he is currently undertaking in that direction.

  Mr. Jackson
  The Government have put in place a wide range of measures to encourage businesses to train their 16 to 19-year-old employees. Youth training encourages employers to offer high quality training. Training credits are being offered on a pilot basis to further encourage young people moving into employment to train. The Government are supporting compacts in urban programme areas and similar areas in Scotland and Wales, under which local employers guarantee young people a job with training, or training leading to a job, in return for their working towards agreed goals. A new standard— investors in people—is being introduced to promote employer commitment to developing their employees, including young people.

  Building on these measures, the comprehensive proposals in the recent White Paper "Education and Training for the 21st Century" are designed to further increase training opportunities for young people, particularly through the nationwide extension of training credits, the expansion of the compacts approach, and improvements to the qualifications system.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many people aged over 25 years and under 50 years were on the employment training scheme in 1989–90 and 1990–91; and what is his latest estimate for the numbers of people aged over 25 years and under 50 years currently enrolled in the employment training schemes through the TEC and LEC network;

  (2) how many under-25s were on the employment training scheme in 1989–90 and 1990–91; and what is his latest estimate for the numbers of under-25s currently enrolled on the employment training schemes through the TEC and LEC network.

  Mr. Jackson
  Information about entrants to employment training in the age groups requested for 1989–90 and
  243
  the latest available for 1990–91 is given in table 1. Information for those TECs operational during the period April-November 1990, the latest dates for which information is available, is given in table 2.

  Table 1

  Employment training Entrants by age group 1989–90 and April-November 1990

  Great Britain

  Age group

  1989– Per cent

  April-November 1990 Per cent

  18–24

  36

  35

  25–50

  58

  60

  51 and over

  6

  5

  Table 2

  Employment training Entrants by age group April-November 1990

  TECs

  Age group

  April-November 1990 Per cent

  18–24

  36

  25–50

  58

  51 and over

  5

  Source: ET Management Information System and ET starts database.

  Departmental Programmes
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) when and how widely full details of the United Kingdom operational programme for the now initiative will be made available to prospective applicants;

  (2) when and how widely full details of the United Kingdom operational programme for the horizon programme will be made available to prospective applicants;

  (3) when and how widely full details of the United Kingdom operational programme for the Euroform programme will be made available to prospective applicants.

  Mr. Jackson
  [holding answer 18 June 1991]: The numerous organisations that have registered an interest in these initiatives will all be sent the necessary details of the operational programme, including guidelines, procedures and timetable, and invited to apply.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) when applications for funding are to be invited for the now initiative; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) when applications for funding are to be invited for the Euroform programme; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) when applications for funding are to be invited for the horizon programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Individual project applications will be invited following consultation with the European Commission on our operational programme. This is expected to be in the autumn.

  Regulations
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many regulations made by him or his predecessors have been repealed in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. My Department is responsible for repealing and replacing several regulations each year concerning matters such as fee levels and compensation limits as well as looking at unnecessarily burdensome or outdated legislation.

  We are firmly committed to reducing the burdens on business, which is reflected in my Department's aim of supporting economic growth by promoting a competitive, efficient and flexible labour market. We have made great progress in this area. In 1989 for example we abolished the national dock labour scheme, thereby eliminating restrictive working practices in the docks. The Employment Act 1989 removed a number of unnecessary measures which served as constraints on employment, in particular inappropriate barriers to the employment of women and young people. The Employment Act 1990 outlawed the pre-entry closed shop.

  The Health and Safety Executive continues to replace over-detailed and inflexible health and safety legislation with more modern and comprehensive provisions. A prime example is the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 which replaced some 350 individual regulations with an up-to-date framework of regulation for the protection of employee health.

  All new legislative proposals, including those from the European Commission, will continue to be assessed for their impact on business and we shall ensure that burdens on business are minimised where possible.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many individuals were disqualified from unemployment benefit for the maximum 26 weeks under section 20 of the Social Security Act 1975 in each of the last five years(a) in Wales as a whole and (b) in each county or district in Wales.

  Mr. Jackson
  Questions on operational matters in the Employment Service executive agency are the responsibility of Mike Fogden, the agency's chief executive, to whom I have referred this question for reply.

  Job Clubs
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much was spent in 1989–90 and 1990–91 on job clubs; and how much is planned to be spent on job clubs in 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Jackson
  I have been advised by officials in the Employment Service that in the year 1989–90 expenditure on job clubs, excluding marketing of the programme, totalled £24·4 million. In 1990–91 expenditure was £25 million.

  Current planned expenditure for 1991–92, excluding marketing, is £27·5 million. The level of expenditure for 1992–93 is the subject of the current public expenditure survey negotiations with Her Majesty's Treasury.
  245
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to reduce the requirement that people who are eligible to join a job club have to have been out of work for six months or more unless they are disabled or have been on employment training; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  Job clubs are aimed at long-term unemployed people and others at a disadvantage in the labour market and I have no plans to alter existing eligibility requirements. In addition to the categories referred to by the hon. Member, eligibility rules have been relaxed to facilitate access for ex-offenders, who can count time spent in custody as unemployment; ex-regular members of HM forces; and people leaving youth training without a job to go to.

  As part of a new package of measures to help unemployed people which I announced on 20 March, the Employment Service will shortly be launching a new programme of short job search seminars. These will be available to people who have been out of work for 13 weeks or more. The seminars will include guidance on where and how to look for work, based on materials used in job clubs.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many job clubs there were in 1989–90 and 1990–91; and if he has any estimates for the number of job clubs for 1991–92 and 1992–93.
  246
  Mr. Jackson
  I have been advised by officials in the Employment Service that the number of job clubs open at the end of the 1989–90 year was 1,010. The number of job clubs open at the end of 1990–91 was 943.

  There is no set target for the number of job clubs in 1991–92. We have asked the Employment Service to make 156,000 places available on the programme, an increase of 15,000 over the number helped in 1990–91. It is expected that the Employment Service will open a small number of additional job clubs in order to reach this number of places.

  No figure is available for 1992–93. This will be agreed between myself and the chief executive of the Employment Service at a later stage during negotiations on the annual performance agreement for 1992–93.

  Work Permits
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment under what circumstances non-EC nationals would receive a work permit to work in the United Kingdom for less than one month; and how many such permits have been issued in the last year.

  Mr. Jackson
  Any application for a work permit for a period of less than one month will be approved if the application satisfies the criteria of the work permit scheme. The number of permits issued for less than a month in the 12 months since 17 June 1990 is 3,590.

  MAURITANIA: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
  MAURITANIA: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
  THE BALTIC REPUBLICS: EC POLICY
  THE BALTIC REPUBLICS: EC POLICY
  THE HATTON-ROCKALL AREA: TALKS
  THE HATTON-ROCKALL AREA: TALKS
  KOREA: TRADE POLICY
  KOREA: TRADE POLICY
  DIRECTORS' REMUNERATION
  DIRECTORS' REMUNERATION
  POSTAGE STAMPS: COMMEMORATIVE ISSUES
  POSTAGE STAMPS: COMMEMORATIVE ISSUES
  UNIVERSITY LECTURERS: STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS
  UNIVERSITY LECTURERS: STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS