Written Answers of 20 June 1991

PRIME MINISTER

  Bananas
  Mr. John P. Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he has received any representations about the absence of a decision by the European Council of Ministers on trade arrangements for bananas after 1992; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will seek an agreement with his European counterparts at the Luxembourg summit on trade arrangements for bananas after 1992 which guarantees the price and existing access of eastern Caribbean bananas;

  (3) what steps he intends to take to honour the commitment made in 1987 to guarantee the supply of eastern Caribbean bananas to the United Kingdom after 1992;

  (4) if he will raise the question of the European Commission's delay in reaching decisions on the Banana protocol under the Lomé convention at the forthcoming Luxembourg summit.

  The Prime Minister
  The European Commission is considering arrangements to apply to bananas in the single European market post-1992. The Government will seek to ensure that new arrangements fulfil our commitments to Commonwealth Caribbean suppliers. We shall also take account of consumers interests, the need for budgetary restraint, trade policy considerations and the competition and efficiency objectives of the single market initiative. I have discussed the issue with the Prime Ministers of Dominica and Jamaica and am very alive to their economic needs.

  Officials are in touch with the Commission, who are aware of the need to make proposals as soon as possible. In the absence of these proposals it would be premature to raise the issue at the Luxembourg European Council.

  Council of Europe
  Mr. Ward
  To ask the Prime Minister if he has made any changes to the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the 43rd session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

  The Prime Minister
  I have appointed my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) from the Government Benches to be a representative on the delegation to the 43rd session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in succession to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Morris). I have also appointed my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, West (Sir A. Durant) as a substitute delegate.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Wormwood Scrubs (Escape)
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Attorney-General whether he intends to ask the police to investigate the alleged involvement of the Rev. John Papworth, and Mrs. Anne Randle in the escape of George Blake from Wormwood Scrubs prison; and if he will make a statement.

  The Solicitor-General
  The police have already completed an investigation, but it failed to reveal sufficient evidence to justify the institution of proceedings against the Rev. John Papworth or Mrs. Anne Randle for any offence.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Gerry Steinberg
  To ask the Attorney-General in what percentage of cases the Legal Aid Board pays an assisted person's costs or fees.

  The Attorney-General
  The Legal Aid Board pays an assisted person's legal costs in all legally-aided cases. These are offset by any contribution due from the assisted person under the rules for financial eligibility for legal aid. In a successful civil action, costs may also be offset by any costs recovered from the other side and, where necessary, out of property recovered in the action.

  Shootings, Northern Ireland
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) what recommendation assistant chief constable Sampson made with regard to the prosecution of Royal Ulster Constabulary officers in connection with the shootings of Eugene Torman, Sean Burns and Gervaise McKerr on 11 November 1982;

  (2) what recommendation assistant chief constable Sampson made with regard to the prosecution of Royal Ulster Constabulary officers in connection with the shootings of Roddy Carroll and Seamus Grew on 12 December 1982;

  (3) what recommendation assistant chief constable Sampson made with regard to the prosecution of Royal Ulster Constabulary officers in relation to the shooting of Michael Tighe in November 1982;

  (4) what recommendation assistant chief constable Sampson made with regard to the prosecution of MI5 officers in connection with the shooting of Michael Tighe in November 1982.

  The Attorney-General
  As is the usual practice with police reports covering criminal investigations, the report by Mr. Colin Sampson has not been published and any recommendations he may have made accordingly remain confidential. I have nothing to add to the statement which I made to the House on 25 January 1988.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Public Order Act
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the Public Order Act seeking more effective powers to prevent provocative racist marches; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  We have carefully considered the Commissioner's reported remarks. At present we are not persuaded that the Public Order Act requires amendment. We shall continue to keep the legislation and its operation under review.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what licences have been issued for the animal procedures carried out on behalf of Kraft General Foods on the effects of the ingestion of coffee; and what steps have been taken to establish such procedures are in accord with practices licensed in the United Kingdom under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986;

  (2) what licences have been issued for animal procedures carried out on behalf of Nestle on the effects of the ingestion of large volumes of coffee; and what steps have been taken to ensure such procedures are in accord with practices licensed in the United Kingdom under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  We are not aware of any work of this nature being carried out in this country.

  (ii) Change in recorded crime (Northumbria)

  Year

  Recorded crime3

  Percentage change from previous year

  Recorded crime4

  Percentage change from previous year

  Crime cleared up

  Percentage change from previous year

  1986

  164,889

  157,665

  63,651

  +4%

  +5%

  +13%

  1987

  172,057

  164,956

  71,875

  -7%

  -7%

  -6%

  1988

  160,768

  153,108

  67,728

  +13%

  +12%

  —

  1989

  181,629

  171,733

  67,880

  +12%

  +11%

  +13%

  1990

  203,825

  190,248

  76,654

  3 Including all criminal damage.

  4 Excluding offences of 'other criminal damage' valued at £20 or less.

  Visa Applications
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of visa applications that have been refused in each of the last three years from(a) Pakistan, (b) India, (c) Bangladesh and (d) Sri Lanka.

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

  Applications for entry clearance for settlement or temporary purposes refused initially1

  Number of persons

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Bangladesh

  3,520

  4,270

  4,540

  India

  7,860

  9,380

  15,470

  Pakistan

  10,980

  12,320

  16,530

  Sri Lanka

  810

  710

  1,050

  1 Some applications refused initially are granted subsequently on appeal

  Advertising
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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.

  Policing, Northumberland
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what increase has been made to the number of police officers and civilian auxiliaries for Northumberland over each of the past five years, and what has been the increase or decrease in crimes reported, detected and cleared up over that period.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The information requested is set out in the tables:

  (i) Northumbria Police establishment and civilian strength

  Year 31 December

  Police establishment

  Civilian staff strength

  1986

  3,378

  1,101

  1987

  3,453

  1,115

  1988

  3,483

  1,116

  1989

  3,514

  1,157

  1990

  3,552

  1,202

  1991

  13,586

  21,226

  1 With effect from 1 October 1991.

  2 Strength as at 31 March 1991.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The Home Office does not set a specific ethnic publications advertising budget. Each case is considered on its merits in conjunction with advertising agencies and the Central Office of Information. The total for the current financial year will not, therefore, be known until year-end.

  Figures for the past five years, inclusive of VAT, are:

  £

  1986–87

  11,400

  1987–88

  64,600

  1988–89

  40,300

  1989–90

  30,200

  1990–91

  34,100

  Sexual Offences
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men were sentenced in 1989 to terms of custody, in prisons or young offenders institutions for sexual offences; and how many of these were sentenced for homosexual buggery, soliciting, indecency and procuring where there was either explicit consent by the parties concerned or an absence of coercion, threats or intimidation.

  Mr. John Patten
  Information requested is given in the table. Data as to whether consent was given or there was
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  an absence of coercion, threats or intimidation by the offender is available centrally only where lack of consent is an element of the offence.

  Number of males sentenced to immediate imprisonment for certain sexual offences—1989

  England and Wales

  Immediate Custody

  Offence

  Young Offender Institution

  Unsuspended and Partly Suspended Sentence of Imprisonment

  All Sexual Offences

  223

  2,137

  Buggery with consent

  —

  10

  Buggery without consent

  11

  167

  Soliciting by a man1

  1

  5

  Indecency between males

  3

  20

  Procuring of males

  —

  3

  1 Data does not distinguish as to whether males or females have been solicited or importuned by male offenders.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether men imprisoned for consenting homosexual behaviour will be required to undergo the Government's proposed programme of treatment and supervision of sex offenders.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Subject to the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act 1967 and the general criminal law, a homosexual act in private is not an offence provided that the parties consent thereto and have attained the age of 21 years. In the structured programmes to be introduced in certain prisons, priority will be given to those offenders who are likely to represent the greatest risk to the community on release.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the main routes by which asylum seekers from Zaire, Angola, Sri Lanka, Palestine, Uganda, Ghana, Turkey, Somalia, Zambia and Ethiopia come to the United Kingdom; and what are the intermediate stopover points en route.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The available information relates to passengers who apply for asylum on arrival in the United Kingdom. Among those who arrived in the first quarter of 1991 and whose point of embarkation or transit is known, more than 50 arrivals of the approximate total of 3,000 are recorded as having come from each of the following:

  Addis Ababa

  Bombay

  Brussels

  Calais

  Colombo

  Delhi

  Dhaka

  Entebbe

  Istanbul

  Lagos

  Larnaca

  Moscow

  Muscat

  Nairobi

  Paris

  Rome

  Sofia

  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals made a further 252
  application for asylum in the United Kingdom after having the first application refused, in each year since 1988.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Reliable information is not available. Further applications are not included in the figures for new asylum applications.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give(a) the spending on energy efficiency in 1989–90 and 1990–91, (b) the number of dedicated energy managers and the number of person years devoted to energy management in 1989–90 and 1990–91 and (c) the number of energy audits completed in the last five years, all in relation to the 21 buildings for which energy consumption figures were given in the answers of 30 April 1990, Official Report, columns 399–402.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The information in relation to the 21 buildings for which energy consumption figures were given in the answers of 30 April 1990,Official Report, columns 399–402 is as follows:

  (a) I am not able to provide this information as responsibility for expenditure on energy efficiency for this part of the Home Office rested with property holdings at the Department of the Environment for the periods referred to.

  (b) There was one dedicated energy manager in 1989–90 and one in 1990–91. The number of person years for both periods was 1·1.

  (c) Seven energy audits were completed in the last five years.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 3 June,Official Report, columns 77–78, what information is available on spending by his Department on energy efficiency outside the prison service estate.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Pursuant to the answer of 3 June,Official Report, columns 77–78, the energy management team have only recently taken over responsibility from the property holdings for these buildings. Although surveys have been carried out there has to date been no significant investment in energy management. Bids for such expenditure are currently being considered.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can now provide 1990–91 figures for the energy spending and the energy consumption for each of the 21 buildings for which 1989–90 information was published in the answers of 30 April 1990,Official Report, columns 399–402.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The energy spending and energy consumption for each of the 21 buildings listed in the answers of 30 April 1990,Official Report, columns 399–402 are as follows:

  Building

  Cost

  Consumption KW hours

  Abell House

  119,802

  4,268,974

  Branston

  403,084

  39,212,806

  Cleland House

  100,322

  3,306,880

  Clive House

  67,923

  2,519,786

  Corby

  15,530

  443,219

  Cowley

  9,677

  492,893

  Dunkeswell1

  0

  0

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  Building

  Cost

  Consumption KW hours

  Easingwold

  29,131

  1,653,504

  Fire Service College

  290,000

  18,540,159

  Harmondsworth

  69,350

  3,710,101

  Horseferry House

  79,479

  3,132,230

  Horsham

  10,919

  374,4444

  Inverness

  6,984

  156,524

  Langhurst

  9,376

  263,196

  Leeds

  31,400

  1,999,029

  Lunar House

  187,548

  9,148,240

  Olympia House

  20,979

  1,184,635

  Queen Anne's Gate

  377,377

  13,283,831

  Sandridge

  37,981

  1,913,691

  Steventon

  42,857

  2,034,932

  Woking1

  6,408

  378,437

  All costs calculated using average figures.

  1 Building closed

  Police
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to obtain from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis a copy of the document on the meeting which took place recently to discuss the police response to political changes.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand the document referred to in the question is an internal management document belonging to the Metropolitan police service. It served as an annotated agenda for the Commissioner's conference. This is an annual event where the top 140 managers in the Metropolitan police service review the performance of the service and plan for the future.

  Telephone Tapping
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any proposals to amend the legislation governing telephone tapping; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  I have no intention to amend the legislation.

  Redwood Publishing Limited
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the acquisition by BBC Enterprise of Redwood Publishing Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I am not aware of any representations made to us concerning the BBC's acquisition of Redwood Publishing Limited. The Monopolies and Mergers Commission is considering the effects on the market of television broadcasters, including the BBC, promoting their own magazines and other goods.

  Immigration
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer,Official Report, 3 June, column 81, what was the nature of the matters which led to the dismissal and suspension of officials; how many officials were dismissed and suspended in (a) the Passport Agency and (b) the immigration and nationality department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Of the eight dismissals, five involved staff working in the Immigration and Nationality 254
  Department and related to abuse of position, refusal to work where posted and three instances of unauthorised absence. The three staff working in the passport agency were dismissed for failure to observe working procedures, following a criminal conviciton and custodial sentence and unauthorised absence.

  Of the eight suspensions, five involved staff working in the immigration and nationality department or the immigration service. Two of these related to cases resulting in dismissal (abuse of position and refusal to attend work); two involved failure to observe working procedures and one offensive behaviour.

  The three passport agency cases involved two of those resulting in dismissal (failure to observe procedures and the criminal conviction) and the other a financial irregularity.

  Citizenship Applications
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Mr. Fereidoun Sadeghilakhtaki applied for British citizenship (H.O. Ref: 51 10/12/87); when a decision is to be taken on his application; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Mr. Sadeghilakhtaki applied for British citizenship in December 1987. Inquiries on the case started in October 1989. Our request to Mr. Sadeghilakhtaki for his passport, marriage certificate and other evidence received no response. An inquiry from the Bradford citizens advice bureau in May this year about the case indicated that Mr. Sadeghilakhtaki had moved to a different address. We are now asking again to see the necessary documentation, and a decision on the case should be possible as soon as we have received and examined this evidence.

  Immigration Ministers' Meeting
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the meetings of Trevi and European Community Immigration Ministers in Luxembourg on 13 and 14 June.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The meeting of Ministers concerned with immigration was the tenth in the series of meetings held towards the end of each presidency since 1986.

  Discussion at the Immigration Ministers' meeting focused on the draft external frontiers convention. Ministers welcomed the progress made in negotiations under the Luxembourg Presidency and concentrated on outstanding issues. The external frontiers convention, the provisions of which are described in more detail later, provides for agreed standards of immigration control over third country nationals at the external frontiers of the European Community, supported by a computerised list of those who are inadmissible. It contains provisions relating to visas, including the mutual recognition by other member states of visas issued for short visits by one member state. In addition it provides for travel without visas between EC member states by third country nationals lawfully resident in an EC country in circumstances in which they would otherwise require visas. The convention further envisages the harmonisation of the visa policies of EC member states in due course. Difficulties arose over provisions in the draft convention

  255
  for the controls to be exercised at airports within the European Community. Discussion of the draft convention continues.

  The meeting of Trevi Ministers endorsed various further measures to strengthen practical police cooperation developed during the Luxembourg Presidency, in particular with regard to posting of liaison officers within and outside the EC; co-operation on police training; continued work on the creation of a European drugs intelligence unit and the establishment of a European police information system to combat serious crime. Detailed work on the establishment of a permanent secretariat for Trevi, which was led by the United Kingdom, was fully considered and a decision on the location will be taken during the Dutch Presidency.

  Draft convention of the member states of the European Communities on the crossing of their external borders Summary of provisions
  Article 1: defines the terms used in the convention.
  Articles 2–5: outline the general nature of controls to be applied at the external frontiers of the European Community.
  Article 6: establishes the system for the application of controls at airports.
  Article 7: sets out the conditions of entry to member states in respect of short stays.
  Article 8: enables non-EC nationals who are lawfully resident in the European Community, to make a short visit or transit another member state without having to obtain a visa.
  Article 9: Confirms that admission for stays in excess of three months is subject to national legislation.
  Articles 10–13: provide for the establishment of a computerised common list of inadmissible and non-EC nationals and lay down principles for the treatment of non-EC nationals who do not meet the criteria for entry. Article 14: requires member states to adopt carriers' liability provisions.
  Articles 15 and 16: provide for the removal of illegal entrants and overstayers.
  Article 17: confirms the member states' commitment to establish a harmonised visa policy.
  Articles 18–25: provide for member states to mutually recognise each others short stay visas and, in the longer term, for the introduction of a uniform visa valid for travel throughout the European Community.
  Article 26: establishes an executive committee which will interpret the provisions of the convention and oversee their implementation.
  Article 27: confirms that the application of the convention is subject to the provisions of the United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees and to the provisions of the treaty establishing the European Economic Community and related instruments.
  Article 28: deals with the territorial application of the convention.
  Article 29: prohibits reservations.
  Articles 30–33: are concerned with the procedural arrangements to come into effect following signature and ratification of the convention.

  Independent Television
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans too change the ITV levy rates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The mixed levy on advertising revenue and profits is intended in the 1990–92 ITV contract extension period to yield broadly the same revenue, other things being equal, as would have arisen if the pre-1986 profits-based structure still applied.

  Meeting this objective depends on accurate forecasting of advertising revenue. In practice this has been lower, and thus the levy yield has so far been higher than was
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  expected. But it is not clear for how long present trends will persist, and the Government are committed to avoiding further under-recoveries of levy. I therefore plan to re-examine the position in the autumn. If any changes to the levy rates are justified they would be introduced by early 1992.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Aid
  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Overseas Development Administration gives aid to countries not helped by(a) the United States of America and (b) the World bank.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The following countries received development assistance (gross oda) from the United Kingdom, but not from the United States of America in 1989:

  Algeria

  Anguilla

  Antigua and Barbuda

  Bahamas

  Barbados

  Bermuda

  Cayman Islands

  Chile

  China

  Congo

  Dominica

  Grenada

  Hong Kong

  Kiribati

  Laos

  Malaysia

  Mauritius

  Montserrat

  Nicaragua

  St. Lucia

  Surinam

  Tonga

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Turks annd Caicos

  Tuvalu

  Uruguay

  Vanuatu

  Virgin Islands

  Countries receiving development assistance from the United Kingdom in 1989 which do not receive World bank loans or credits, either because they are not members of the institution or because they have satisfactory access to other sources of finance, are:

  Antigua and Barbuda

  Bahamas

  Bermuda

  Hong Kong

  Israel

  Singapore

  Tuvalu

  Mr. Ashley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in rank and order, according to their gross national product per head, the countries to which the Overseas Development Administration gives aid; and if he will give the amount of aid given to each country for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Chalker
  I refer the hon. Member to table 25 of "British Aid Statistics 1985–1989", a copy of which is in the Library of the House, which lists in order of GNP per head, gross British bilateral aid expenditure for each country in receipt of our aid.

  Kurdish People
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Overseas Development Administration personnel and relief workers sponsored by Overseas Development Administration were in Iraq, Iran, or Turkey on(a) 6 June, (b) 13 June and (c) 20 June; and how many are planned to be there on 27 June.

  Mrs. Chalker
  The numbers of people deployed by the ODA in Iran, Iraq and Turkey on the dates in question were(a) 92, (b) 88 and (c)
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  We are consulting with the United Nations agencies on future requirements.

  Charging Authority Area

  Demands and Precepts Collection Fund per adult1

  External Support to Charging Authorities' Collections Fund per adult2

  Specific Grants to Charging Authorities General Fund per adult3

  £

  £

  £

  Camden

  1,621

  1,376

  112

  Greenwich

  1,550

  1,358

  n/a

  Hackney

  2,134

  1,892

  n/a

  Hammersmith

  1,574

  1,388

  111

  Islington

  1,771

  1,490

  142

  Kensington

  1,311

  1,140

  74

  Lambeth

  2,008

  1,669

  n/a

  Lewisham

  1,517

  1,382

  n/a

  Southwark

  1,672

  1,542

  n/a

  Tower Hamlets

  2,087

  1,992

  168

  Wandsworth

  1,417

  1,324

  39

  Westminster

  1,552

  1,547

  51

  1 The total demand made by the charging authority on the collection fund plus the precepts on the fund made by the precepting authorities, i.e. the Metropolitan police and the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority. It thus represents the expenditure by all tiers of authorities financed by the collection fund. This expenditure does not include expenditure covered by specific grants.

  2 The sum of revenue support grant, contributions from the non-domestic rate pool, special grants and community charge grant.

  3 Specific grants in aggregate external finance, community charge reduction scheme grant and community charge benefit. Specific grants to precepting authorities, i.e. Metropolitan police and London Fire and Civil Defence Authority amount to £141 per head.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the total receipts from sales of council-owned properties in each local authority in Great Britain since the introduction of the right to buy and the numbers of houses and flats which have been sold.

  Mr. Yeo
  A table showing available information on total sales for each English local authority since 1979–80, and those under right to buy, was placed in the Library on 18 April 1991 Official Report, column 227. Corresponding information on the total receipts from sales for each local authority is not readily available.

  I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales for information about Scottish and Welsh authorities.

  Local Government Finance
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the financial adjustment fixed by each charging local authority in England for 1991–92 to be paid by each charge payer as a result of the failure, anticipated or actual, of all charge payers to pay charges lawfully demanded; and what were the comparable figures for 1990–91.

  Mr. Key
  I am arranging for the available information to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the level of Government grant per community charge payer for 1990–91 in(a) Doncaster and (b) Kensington and Chelsea.

ENVIRONMENT

  Inner London (Expenditure)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current(a) level of budget expenditure per adult in each inner London borough and (b) level of external support per adult in each such borough.

  Mr. Key
  The available information is as follows:

  Mr. Key
  Government grants in 1990–91, consisting of revenue support grant, special grants, specific grants in aggregate external finance, community charge benefit grant and transitional relief grant, paid per head of relevant population to Doncaster metropolitan council and to the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea are £338 and £960 respectively.

  Rating Assessments
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against the 1990 rating assessments in the Bournemouth area are outstanding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  On 17 June, there were 2,649 outstanding appeals against the 1990 rating list assessments in the area covered by Bournemouth borough council and a further 143 proposals to alter the rating list had been received by the valuation office.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many properties sold under the right to buy on the Phythian Street estate, Liverpool, are being compulsorily acquired for the purpose of demolition; whether this is in accord with the wishes of tenants; what are the costs involved; how much of the costs will be met locally and how much nationally; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The remodelling of the Phythian Road estate may necessitate some demolitions to create a traditional layout, to allow for proper circulation within the estate and to provide vehicular access to all properties.
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  Four properties have been sold under the right-to-buy legislation from the 645 on the estate. None is being compulsorily acquired. It is Liverpool city council's intention to acquire by agreement and the costs of acquisition will be at full market price and will therefore vary according to that valuation. The costs will be part of the overall scheme costs for the project which is funded jointly by the Department's estate action programme and the city council's own capital programme.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many families with dependent children were accepted as homeless in Blyth Valley in 1990.

  Mr. Yeo
  According to the quarterly returns made to the Department by Blyth Valley borough council for 1990, 279 households were accepted under the homelessness legislation and had a priority need for accommodation because there were dependent children.

  Aggregates Working Parties
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to include representatives of the environmental and amenity organisations in membership of the regional aggregates working parties; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The regional aggregates working parties provide technical advice on the issues which concern the supply and demand for primary aggregates. The local authority representatives ensure that the Secretary of State is fully appraised of the environmental aspects of aggregates provision. However, I do of course welcome the views of amenity or environmental groups about the demand forecasts and the environmental implications. Their comments will be very carefully considered in the preparation of the new draft guidelines on the provision for aggregates to replace mineral plan guidance note 6. This will be the subject of a full public consultation exercise in due course.

  Green Show, Birmingham
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution his Department made to the Green Show, held between 23 and 27 May at the national exhibition centre in Birmingham.

  Mr. Baldry
  My hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and the Countryside visited the Green Show on Thursday 23 May, and participated in a Blue Peter programme live broadcast on the environment. The Department's leaflet "Wake Up—to What You Can Do for the Environment" was distributed to visitors from the Blue Peter stand. A number of organisations which are grant aided by the Department participated in the show.

  Toxic Emissions
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what attempts are made to monitor and log fugitive toxic emissions to the atmosphere or water sources from industrial operations in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  By its nature source monitoring of fugitive emissions is difficult to undertake. The regulatory 260
  authorities therefore place greater reliance on the application by industry of appropriate safeguards in plant design and process operation to minimise fugitive emissions and on early rectification of any abnormal situations.

  The National Rivers Authority regularly monitors for a wide range of substances including those consented for discharge to surface waters. Results are entered on public registers held by each NRA region. Some monitoring of air quality is undertaken by local authority environmental health departments.

  Housing, Northumberland
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the Government's allocation to Blyth Valley local authority for expenditure on improvement grants of private sector housing in real terms in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Yeo
  The Government have not made specific allocations to local authorities for expenditure on improvement grants. However, the amounts of Exchequer contribution given by the Department to Blyth Valley borough council towards its expenditure on home improvement grants for the financial years 1981–82 to 1989–90, at current values, is as follows. Information is not available for years prior to 1981–82.

  Year

  £

  1981–82

  590,483

  1982–83

  661,459

  1983–84

  810,791

  1984–85

  851,060

  1985–86

  822,668

  1986–87

  820,752

  1987–88

  797,711

  1988–89

  762,608

  1989–90

  739,348

  Improvement grants were replaced by a new system of renovation grants on 1 July 1990.

  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the total levels of new houses completed in each year from 1970 to 1979 and in 1989 in Northumberland.

  Mr. Yeo
  The available information about the numbers of housebuilding completions by local authority area in 1989 is in table 1(b) of "Local Housing Statistics: England and Wales", No. 97 (April 1991). In the case of Northumberland county totals are not shown because of non-response to the regular housebuilding returns by one authority. The Department's current estimate of new housebuilding completions in Northumberland in 1989 is 1,500 dwellings.

  The publication also lists on page iv the volume numbers in which Northumberland totals for the earlier years can be found. Copies are in the Library.

  Lower Grange, Bradford
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department agreed with Wimpey the sale price of properties at Lower Grange in Bradford at the time city grant assistance for the development was agreed; whether his Department issued advice to the developers over what action they should take
  261
  to safeguard against speculation over the purchase of such property, including prohibition on early re-sale; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The appraisal of the application for city grant involved the Department's assessment of the likely open market prices of the houses. It is not the Department's practice to issue advice to developers about speculation by purchasers but conditions of grant specify that the houses will be sold at the best prices reasonably obtainable on the open market and that not more than one house is sold by the developer to each purchaser. There is no prohibition on early resale.

  Terrapins
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ban the importation of terrapins into the United Kingdom on animal welfare grounds.

  Mr. Baldry
  I am satisfied that the existing import controls are generally adequate, but with our EC partners, we shall be considering some changes to procedures for monitoring imports of certain terrapin species.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many terrapins have been imported into the United Kingdom in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Baldry
  I shall write to the hon. Member.

  Sports and Leisure Facilities
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made on the issuing of the circular/guidelines on the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering for the management of local authority sports and leisure facilities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  Department of the Environment circular 9/91 on the subject was issued on 29 May.

  Haringey Council
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what use he intends to make of his sanction powers under part 1 of the Local Government Act 1988 in relation to Haringey council.

  Mr. Key
  On 12 December 1990, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, served a notice under section 13 of the Local Government Act 1988 on Haringey council, setting out his view that in 1989–90 the authority had failed to meet the specified financial objective in carrying out building cleaning.

  My right hon. Friend has now considered the response which the authority has made to the section 13 notice, and which has acknowledged the failure to meet the specified financial objective in 1989–90. The authority has indicated that it has decided to put the work out to tender again, with a start date for the new contracts on 1 January 1992.

  My right hon. Friend has concluded that the scale of the deficit incurred in 1989–90 and the need to ensure that the performance of this work is placed on a firm financial basis as soon as possible make it appropriate for him to make further use of his sanction powers. He has therefore today made a direction under section 14 of the 1988 Act, requiring the authority to complete a re-tendering exercise for the work by 1 January 1992.

  International Environment Day
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution was made by his Department to International Environment Day on 5 June.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 14 June 1991]: The Department works constantly to protect and improve the national and international environment. On the day in question my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was in the United States to discuss environmental issues; my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside addressed the Association of County Councils' environment seminar, announced the Blue Flag awards for 1991, and attended a Tidy Britain Group conference on protection of the coastline; and I visited the London ecology centre.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Government considers that Dounreay is a potential site for the underground storage of high level radioactive waste.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have been asked to reply.

  No work to identify potential sites for disposal of high-level waste has yet commenced. Government policy is that high-level waste should be stored safely for at least 50 years to allow its heat and radioactivity to decay.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Burma
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Burma concerning the house arrest of the General Secretary of the National League of Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  We have frequently urged the Burmese military authorities (the SLORC) to put an end to violations of human rights, in particular the detention of members of the National League for Democracy who won over 85 per cent. of votes cast in democratic elections held in Burma on 27 May 1990. The Secretary of State wrote to the chairman of the SLORC on 6 July 1990, and statements were made on 7 September 1990 and 28 May 1991. The Secretary of State also made a statement at the EC/ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting in Luxembourg on 30 June. We were also associated with an 18-nation demarche on 21 September last year, and with EC statements on 4 January and 27 May 1991.

  European Community Offices
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his private office have served in the European Community or Commission offices in Brussels.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  None. The Private Secretary, one of the two assistant Private Secretaries, and other members of the Foreign Secretary's private office have served in European Community capitals. The other assistant Private Secretary has worked on European Community matters in London.

  Mongolia
  Mr. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any kind of assistance is being given to the new Mongolian democracy.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  There are no plans to introduce a specific aid programme for Mongolia, but we are making available at least £155,000 in other forms of assistance during the financial year 1991–92. This funding includes a cultural exchange programme, an English language teaching scheme, as well as provision for sponsored visits to the United Kingdom, scholarships for Mongolians to study in the United Kingdom, and specific bilateral aid projects.

  Western Sahara
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance Her Majesty's Government are giving to facilitate the proposed referendum in the western Sahara through(a) the United Nations, (b) the Polisario Front and (c) other ways.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have remained impartial in this dispute, preferring to support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General to find a just solution. We and other members of the Security Council approved the Secretary-General's referendum plan on 29 April. We shall be paying our full assessed share of the costs of the operation and are considering a request to provide military observers.

  Immigration
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what are the reasons for the delay in issuing entry clearance in respect of Mr. Musafar Hussain (Shah) of Pakistan who wishes to visit Mr. Khalid Hussain Shah of 158 St. James Road, Blackburn since the determination by the adjudicator on 7 March 1990 to allow issue of the entry clearance and the refusal of the immigration appeal tribunal on 19 June 1990 to give leave to appeal to the immigration authorities;

  (2) if he will set out in detail what steps his Department took following the discovery that a copy of the determination of the adjudicator in the matter of the appeal of Mr. Musafar Hussain (Shah) of Pakistan had been sent to the High Commission Islamabad but had not been received by them.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  As the hon. Member will be aware from the letter I wrote to him on 12 February 1991, I asked the Home Office to arrange for another copy of the adjudicator's determination to be sent to the High Commission in Islamabad. I have just learned that this second copy was never received. I very much regret this further unfortunate delay, in view of which the Home Office has instructed the High Commission to issue a visit visa to Mr. Hussain immediately.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that decisions of the appellate authorities to allow issue of entry clearance are promptly complied with by entry clearance officers in British posts abroad.
  264
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  In the majority of cases when an adjudicator allows an appeal, entry clearances are issued as a matter of course. These Procedures are periodically reviewed.

  Regrettably, given the very large number of cases handled, delays do sometimes occur and when such problems have been identified clear guidance has been issued. Both the Foreign Office and the Home Office are satisfied that the present guidelines are being followed and that significant improvements in the handling of the vast majority of allowed appeal cases have been achieved. We will continue to monitor these procedures closely.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he proposes to give compensation where the issue of entry clearance certificates is unreasonably delayed by his Department or British posts abroad.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  It is not Her Majesty's Government's practice to pay compensation in entry clearance cases.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of visas granted and the number of refusals, arising from interviews undertaken in Islamabad for entry into Britain on 4, 11, 18, 20 and 27 April.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  On 18, 20 and 27 April, the British High Commission in Islamabad was closed, 18 April being a religious holiday, 20 and 27 April falling on a Saturday.

  The number of visas issued and refused on 4 April and 11 April were as follows:

  Number

  4 April

  Issued

  134

  Refused

  29

  11 April

  Issued

  139

  Refused

  52

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to review the cold weather payments system in order to ensure that it is paid as part of benefit on an ongoing basis during the winter months.

  Mr. Hanley
  Following the cold spell last February, the Government have reviewed the operation of the cold weather payments scheme and major improvements are proposed for next winter. First, the capital rule affecting eligibility is to be abolished. Secondly, payments will be made automatically to eligible people without the need for a separate claim. Thirdly, payments will be made for a seven-day period whenever the Met Office forecasts temperatures averaging 0°C or below. If there is no such forecast but subsequently 0°C or below is recorded for a seven-day period, payments will still be made.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The readily available information about the full and part-time appointments for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible is given in "Public Bodies" and "Public Appointments: A Handbook for Women's Organisations". Copies are available in the Library.

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

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:

  £

  (a)1989–90

  355,085

  (b)1990–91

  426,380

  (c)1991–92 (to date)

  81,716

  Mink Farms
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many licensed mink factory farms there are in Northern Ireland; and if he will publish the names of the parliamentary constituencies in which they are located.

  Mr. Hanley
  There is one licensed mink farm in Northern Ireland, in the South Down parliamentary constituency.

  Livestock Density
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the Northern Ireland stocking levels for cattle, sheep and pigs; and what stocking density per hectare this represents for cattle and sheep.

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 18 June 1991]: At June 1990 the numbers of cattle, sheep and pigs on Northern Ireland farms were:

  Number

  Cattle and calves

  1,506,000

  Sheep and lambs

  2,505,000

  Pigs

  590,000

  Using appropriate factors to calculate grazing livestock units, the overall stocking density of grazing livestock in Northern Ireland is 1·3 cow equivalents per hectare of grass, forage crops and rough grazing.

  Animal Carcases
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the numbers of fallen animals which have been disposed of by rendering for each month since that facility was reinstated by Lisburn By-Products.
  266
  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 18 June 1991]: The table shows the monthly intake of fallen animals by Lisburn By-Products.

  Month ending

  30 April 1991

  31 May 1991

  1 June to 7 June 1991

  Large Bovines

  15

  18

  3

  Bullocks

  1

  1

  —

  Calves

  19

  6

  3

  Pigs

  20

  4

  3

  Sows

  7

  11

  1

  Sheep

  9

  2

  3

  Lambs

  3

  2

  —

  Foals

  1

  —

  2

  Horses

  1

  —

  1

  Ponies

  —

  1

  1

  Total

  76

  45

  17

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Uruguay Round
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about progress being made on the reform of the common agricultural policy to meet the requirements of the Uruguay round of GATT negotiations.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Commission is known to be working on new proposals for CAP reform. Although the determination of Agriculture Ministers to reform the CAP is a welcome spur to a GATT agreement, such reform is wholly separate from the GATT and will be unlikely to be completed until after the GATT round.

  Sheep Worrying
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the number of agricultural livestock killed or injured by sheep worrying in the last 12 months for which figures or estimates are available; and what have been the financial implications for support to farmers.

  Mr. Curry
  Figures on livestock worrying are not held centrally, but it is estimated that up to 10,000 animals are killed or injured by dogs in England and Wales each year. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food provides support through a continuing publicity campaign aimed at educating dog owners about the horrors of livestock worrying.

  Rabies
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made to ensure the retention of British border controls against rabies.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Community measures adopted so far allow for the retention of post-import quarantine for dogs, cats and other rabies-susceptible animals.

  The Government's objective is to ensure that there is no increased risk of rabies being introduced into this country after 1992.

  Whaling
  Sir Patrick Duffy
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the failure of the International Whaling Commission to bring to an end commercial whaling.

  Mr. Gummer
  I have received many letters expressing concern about the possible resumption of commercial whaling. I am pleased that at its meeting this year the International Whaling Commission has maintained the moratorium on commercial whaling.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the British Veterinary Association to discuss the control of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have not met representatives of the British Veterinary Association recently to discuss this issue but my officials are in close and regular contact.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will ask the Tyrrell Committee to look at the safety of burying carcases of BSE affected cattle in landfill tips; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The Tyrrell committee has considered the survival of the scrapie agent in the soil, and has made no recommendation that landfill sites should not be used. The committee will continue to have this issue in mind in the future consideration of the scientific evidence on spongiform encephalopathies.

  Common Agricultural Policy Reform
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next intends to meet the Agriculture Ministers to discuss the reform of the common agricultural policy.

  Mr. Gummer
  Agriculture Ministers are next due to meet on 26 June, but no substantive discussion of common agricultural policy reform is likely until the Commission puts forward new proposals.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next plans to meet the National Farmers Union to discuss reforms to the common agricultural policy.

  Mr. Gummer
  I meet representatives from the National Farmers Union at frequent intervals to discuss agricultural isues, including reform of the common agricultural policy.

  Farmers
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the progress of the Government's policy to help farmers to diversify their sources of income.

  Mr. Curry
  The Government encourage diversification through advice and financial assistance. More than £5 million has been paid in grants. Surveys have shown 42 per cent. of farms in England have diversified.

  Common Agricultural Policy (Costs)
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the European Community on the costs of the common agricultural policy.

  Mr. Curry
  The cost of the common agricultural policy was a major consideration at the recent Agriculture Council which agreed the 1991 price fixing package.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to reduce the level of use of pesticides in agriculture.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government's policy is that the use of pesticides should be limited to the minimum necessary for the effective control of pests compatible with the protection of human health and the environment.

  This Department spends over £20 million per year on research into pests and pesticides, particularly aimed at reduced usage.

  The tonnage of pesticides used in England and Wales has dropped by 18 per cent. since 1979.

  Animal Transportation
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received this year to date about the transportation abroad of animals, particularly horses and ponies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government continue to receive a large number of representations on this subject.

  In the Community negotiations we are pressing for the continuation of controls which prevent the export of horses for slaughter.

  State Veterinary Service
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the levels of staffing in the state veterinary service.

  Mr. Maclean
  The number of staff in the state veterinary service is constantly monitored and is maintained at a level commensurate with its responsibilities.

  Arctic Foxes
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which parliamentary constituencies in England Arctic fox factory farms are located.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information on premises where Arctic foxes are kept is not collected.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate, port by port, of the number of fishing vessels(a) over 400 hp and (b) below 400 hp.

  Mr. Curry
  The information requested is somewhat unwieldy. In view of this I am writing to the hon. Member.

  Sugar
  Mr. Illsey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made to the European Commission regarding the overproduction of sugar within the Community.

  Mr. Curry
  We have consistently pressed for measures to discourage overproduction of sugar within the Community, and will continue to do so.

  Mink Farms
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licensed mink factory farms there are in England; and if he will publish the names of the parliamentary constituencies in which they are located.

  Mr. Maclean
  As of April 1991 there were 26 licenced mink farms in England. Information on their locations is not published.

  Nitrogen
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to review his policies on controlling the use of nitrogen; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Rules concerning the quantity and timing of nitrogen fertiliser applications will in due course be introduced in nitrate vulnerable zones, in line with the provisions of the nitrate directive agreed at the Environment Council on 14 June.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives from Parents for Safe Food to discuss food safety and quality; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Food safety and quality are discussed three times a year at meetings I hold with the leaders of 15 consumer groups, and at meetings of the Consumer panel chaired by my hon. Friend, the Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean), Parliamentary Secretary in my Department as well as at several ad hoc meetings with consumer representatives. Dr. Tim Lang of Parents for Safe Food was present at a meeting with me on 25 April. We have also corresponded with this organisation and last July I offered it a meeting with officials to discuss its pesticides charter which it has not yet taken up.

  Lincoln Veterinary Investigation Centre
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the United Kingdom pig production population was within the catchment area of the Lincoln veterinary investigation centre; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Based on the June 1990 agricultural census (which excludes minor holdings) the pig population within the catchment area of the Lincoln veterinary investigation centre represents some 131/2 per cent. of the United Kingdom total.
  270
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of cases of salmonella that have been considered by the Lincoln veterinary investigation centre for each year since 1986; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The number of incidents of salmonella reported to the Lincoln veterinary investigation centre under the Zoonoses Order 1975 and, since 1 March 1989, under the Zoonoses Order 1989 in each year since 1986 were as follows:

  Salmonella incidents reported

  Year

  Number

  1986

  57

  1987

  50

  1988

  88

  1989

  445

  1990

  461

  1991

  192

  Note: Figures for 1991 are for the period I January to 18 June 1991.

  Ewe Premium Supplement
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the value to sheep farmers within less favoured areas of the increase in ewe premium supplement agreed at the recent CAP price fixing settlement.

  Mr. Curry
  The increase in the settlement to the annual ewe premium of around £1·19 per eligible breeding ewe is estimated to provide an additional £15 million in support payments to sheep farmers in the less favoured areas in 1992.

  Nitrate-sensitive Areas
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the final uptake for the pilot nitrate-sensitive areas scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I am pleased to announce that, by the closing date of 31 May 1991, applications to join the pilot nitrate-sensitive areas scheme had been received for 87 per cent. of the agricultural land in the NSAs. Eighty per cent. of farmers in the NSAs have applied to join. Details for each NSA are given in the table.

  This excellent level of uptake for the pilot nitrate-sensitive areas scheme shows that farmers acknowledge the problem of nitrate leaching into our water sources and, by joining the scheme, that they want to do something about it. Once more Britain leads Europe in environmental policies.

  We now have the means to reduce nitrate leaching in the areas concerned. We will also increase our understanding of the nitrate problem through our intensive monitoring of the effectiveness of different measures. This will be important prior to the introduction of wider measures in due course as a result of the implementation of the EC nitrate directive agreed on 13–14 June in Luxembourg.
  271

  NSA applications: 1 June 1990 to 31 May 1991

  Area

  Estimated total agricultural land (Ha)

  In basic scheme

  In premium scheme

  Farmers

  Ha

  As percentage of land

  Ha

  As percentage of land

  In NSA

  Applied for basic

  As percentage of number in NSA

  Ogbourne St. George

  984

  712

  72·4

  107

  10·8

  10

  8

  80·0

  Kilham

  756

  286

  37·9

  0

  0·0

  15

  10

  66·6

  Egford

  427

  220

  51·5

  42

  9·8

  13

  6

  46·2

  Old Chalford

  621

  578

  93·1

  165

  26·6

  12

  10

  83·3

  Wellings

  523

  323

  61·8

  9

  1·7

  24

  14

  58·3

  Tom Hill

  570

  469

  82·3

  19

  3·3

  25

  17

  68·0

  Wildmoor

  723

  685

  94·7

  14

  1·9

  38

  33

  86·8

  Boughton

  1,652

  1,627

  98·5

  16

  1·0

  21

  20

  95·2

  Sleaford

  2,876

  2,876

  100·0

  944

  32·8

  23

  23

  100·0

  Branston Booths

  1,592

  1,586

  99·6

  209

  13·1

  22

  21

  95·5

  Total all NSAs

  10,724

  9,362

  87·3

  1,525

  14·2

  203

  162

  79·8

EMPLOYMENT

  "Enterprise in Action"
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the cost of producing his Department's booklet "Enterprise in Action".

  Mr. Forth
  The cost of producing the booklet "Small Firms in Britain 1991—Enterprise in Action" was £17,500. Supplies of the booklet are available from HMSO bookshops at £4 each.

  Youth Training, Greenwich
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are waiting for youth training places in Greenwich for catering and construction skills.

  Mr. Jackson
  South London training and enterprise council (TEC) is responsible for the operation of youth training in the Greenwich area. The TEC advise that there are three people waiting to enter catering training places and 44 waiting to enter training places in a range of construction based occupations.

  Enterprise Allowance Scheme
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the amounts available each week for the enterprise allowance scheme for the last eight years up to and including the current year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  The amount available to participants in the enterprise allowance scheme has remained the same for the last eight years at £40 weekly for up to 52 weeks. However in the financial year 1991–92, training and enterprise councils (TECs), and local enterprise companies (LECs) in Scotland, have the flexibility to pay regular amounts of between £20 and £90 weekly for between 26 and 66 weeks. This flexibility will help TECs and LECs to further improve the quality and survival rate of businesses supported by the scheme.

  Earnings
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing for adult male manual workers on full-time rates in (i) manufacturing and (ii) non-manufacturing(a) the total number of employees together with their median hourly earnings, and the number earning less than (b) 50 per cent. and (c) two-thirds the median hourly earnings of all full-time adult male workers on full-time rates.

  Mr. Jackson
  The available information closest to that requested is published in the "New Earnings Survey 1990" part A (table 1) and part C (tables 70 and 74). A copy of these reports is in the Library.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the number of full-time adult (i) male and (ii) female employees in the (iii) clothing and (iv) textiles industries together with the estimated number in each case earning less than(a) half and (b) two thirds median hourly earnings of all full-time adult male and female workers, respectively.

  Mr. Jackson
  The available information closest to that requested is published in the "New Earnings Survey 1990" part A (table 1) and part C (tables 70 and 72). A copy of these reports is in the Library.

  EC Initiatives
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give details of the United Kingdom co-ordinator for the "Now" initiative;

  (2) if he will give details of the United Kingdom co-ordinator for the "Horizon" programme;

  (3) if he will give details of the United Kingdom co-ordinator for the Euroform programme.

  Mr. Jackson
  Officials at this Department are currently holding talks with a range of organisations about the possibility of taking on the co-ordinating role.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the individuals disqualified from unemployment benefit in each county or district in Wales under section 20 of the Social Security Act 1975 in
  273
  each of the last five years were disqualified (a) for six weeks or less, (b) for more than six weeks but under 13 weeks, (c) for 13 to 20 weeks and (d) for over 20 weeks.

  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.

  International Labour Conference
  Mr. Robert Hayward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for publishing the White Paper on the instruments adopted at the 77th session of the international labour conference 1990.

  Mr. Howard
  I have today published the White Paper entitled "International Labour Conference".

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Esher (Mr. Taylor) of 7 June,Official Report, column 356, if he will publish the calculations produced and the methodology used by his officials which resulted in the estimates given concerning employment effects of the introduction of a national minimum wage.

  Mr. Forth
  [holding answer 17 June 1991]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to a note that was placed in the House of Commons Library on 2 February 1990. The note is called "Estimating the Effect of a National Minimum Wage", and it provides a detailed explanation of the method used, and the steps in the calculations.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Family Credit
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to ensure that clearance times for family credit are not affected by the introduction of the measures in the Child Support Bill.

  Mr. Jack
  Full account of the need to process family credit claims as quickly as possible will be taken when the provisions of the Child Support Bill have been approved by Parliament and the detailed procedures arising from it are then formulated.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each quarter since April 1990 the number of social fund applicants in the Doncaster area who have been refused loans because of local social fund budget restraints.

  Mr. Scott
  The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

  Local Offices, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how much of the work at his Department's offices in the Doncaster area has been transferred to other offices in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what proposals he has to alter the disposition of social security benefit claims in the Doncaster area.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The transfer of work and handling of benefit claims within the Doncaster area are matters 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.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently receiving family credit in the areas covered by his offices for the Doncaster area; and how many people were receiving family credit in the same areas(a) 12 months and (b) 24 months ago.

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

  Students (Income Support)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many students in England and Wales qualify for income support during college and university vacations.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is not available.

  Pension Books
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what date he anticipates the completion of the transfer of responsibility for the issuing of retirement pension books to central pensions from local Benefits Agency offices.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Retirement pension books have always been issued centrally. The books were generally issued by the benefits directorate in Newcastle but with the implementation of the computerised system, responsibility will transfer to area computer centres. This transfer will be completed by 15 July 1991.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will issue new guidelines to the Benefits Agency to hold stocks of, and distribute, retirement pension books up until the completion of the transfer of responsibility for the payment of retirement pension to central pensions from the local Benefits Agency offices.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Local offices do not hold stocks of retirement pension order books. These were generally issued by the benefits directorate in Newcastle but, with the implementation of the computerised system, responsibility is being transferred to area computer centres. The computerisation programme is scheduled for completion by 15 July 1991, by which time the centres will issue all such order books.

  Benefit Notifications
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will issue guidelines to the Benefits Agency concerning the deadline for the introduction of computer-generated benefit notifications.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The phased implementation of the Department's operational strategy computer systems will be completed this month on schedule. Benefit notifications will then be issued by automated means for the great majority of claims for benefits administered by the Benefits Agency.

  Prisoners (Retirement Pensions)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if prison inmates who are over the official state retirement age are allowed to be paid their pensions while serving a prison sentence.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Prison inmates are disqualified from receiving state retirement pension while serving a prison sentence.

  Care Home Fees
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many appeals were made against a refusal of income support towards care home fees following an adjudication officer's decision that the capital value of the claimant's property cannot be disregarded after 26 weeks; and what were the results of the appeals.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on how many occasions during the last financial year his Department disregarded the capital value of property owned by care home residents who had been in receipt of income support payments towards their fees for more than 26 weeks.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The administration of income support is a matter for Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. I understand from him that the information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidelines govern the circumstances in which representatives of his Department communicate with the owners of managers of private care homes with regard to the financial circumstances of residents in receipt of income support towards care home fees.

  Miss Widdecombe
  It is not possible to specify every such circumstance. Two instances when departmental representatives can communicate directly with mangers or owners of private care homes are when the manager or owner of the home is the income support customer's appointee or if an income support customer has given consent for specific information to be collected from the manager or owner of the home.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 14 June,Official Report, column 697, what is his most up-to-date estimate
  276
  of the numbers of households which (a) claimed, (b) were granted, (c) were refused and (d) still have claims pending for special cold weather payments for February; and if he will estimate how many would have been paid if his new automatic arrangements for payment had been in force in February.

  Mr. Scott
  It is not possible to provide estimated figures for February, but complete figures for the winter period will be placed in the Library when they are available. If automatic arrangements had been in force in February, there would have been about 2·6 million payments for each week of cold weather.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will give for each available year from 1978 the amount invested in improving the energy efficiency of his Department in(a) cash terms and (b) 1990–91 money terms;

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

  (3) if he will give the number of energy audits carried out in his Department in the last five years and for each audit a statement of its main conclusions.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 3 June 1991]: The Department is committed to supporting the Government's initiative aimed at reducing energy consumption on the civil estate by 15 per cent. over the next five years. In addition to the two technically qualified energy managers, energy liaison officers have been appointed in the Department's agencies, and within each of the major operational units at Newcastle and Fylde benefit directorates and in the territories supporting the district offices of the benefits agencies. They have been trained in the mechanisms for assessing building performance and have been given an operational appraisal of the characteristics of heating and lighting systems to enable opportunities for improvement to be identified. Performance measures have also recently been introduced which will assist in setting and monitoring the agreed overall departmental target of 3 per cent. saving in energy consumption in the 1991–92 financial year.

  An allocation of £562,000 has been made for energy efficiency initiatives in the financial year 1991–92. This is in addition to sums which will be spent as an integral pan of building refurbishment and new construction projects. Particular attention is being given to boiler replacement and improvements to lighting using high-frequency, low-energy fluorescent and ultra-sonic controls.

  The figures in the table show the amount invested in improving the energy efficiency in the Department since 1987–88. Information is not available separately for the Departments of Health and Social Security prior to 1989–90. Further investment was made by the Property Services Agency but the amount cannot be identified separately from the agency's overall expenditure on energy

  277
  efficiency. Figures have not yet been finalised for 1990–91 but it is estimated that the amount in cash terms will be approximately £140,000.

  Year

  Cash terms £

  1990–91 money terms £

  1987–88

  54,000

  166,501

  1988–89

  65,000

  174,490

  1989–90

  133,000

  2143,308

  Year

  £ million Cash terms

  £ million 1990–91 Money terms

  Therms million

  Kwh million

  Litres million

  Tonnes

  Area sq. ft million

  1985–86

  11·76

  15·75

  13·34

  1l0

  9·50

  7,314

  15·93

  1986–87

  9·68

  12·55

  8·5

  110

  9·05

  8,230

  16·25

  1987–88

  9·80

  12·07

  8·4

  130

  9·05

  7,077

  16·79

  1988–89

  9·95

  11·40

  7·8

  130

  4·60

  4,250

  17·33

  1989–90

  9·87

  10·63

  7·6

  145

  3·94

  4·201

  114·75

  1 DSS only

  The 16 energy audits carried out between 1986–87 and 1988–89 in the DH/DSS buildings and in 14 DSS buildings in 1989–90 have concentrated on the least efficient offices. In addition to the initiatives mentioned which address some of the conclusions we are considering others such as the installation of water meters and water flow controls, remedying defects to window frames, maintaining records of the utilities and displaying "Energy Management" posters for publicity.

  Consultancy Fees
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total fee paid by his Department(a) to Arthur Andersen Consulting and (b) all other consultants in the last financial year for which figures are available; what was the charging basis on which (a) and (b) were paid; and what was the number of hours worked by consultants for (a) and (b).

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 13 June 1991]: In the financial year 1990–91, the total fees paid for management and computer consultancy, including VAT and expenses amounted to £69·75 million. Approximately 90 per cent. of the fees were based on the number of hours or days worked. Most of the remaining 10 per cent. of fees were attibutable to fixed price contracts. The total number of hours worked by consultants could be obtained only at disproportionate cost as such information is not collected centrally. Separate information has not been given for Andersen Consulting as to do so could constitute a breach of commercial confidentiality, and perhaps harm the competitive process for contracts thus making it more difficult to secure value for money.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security of total fees paid in the last financial year for which figures are available what proportion of them were accounted for by work subject to(a) open tender, (b) closed tender and (c) non-tender.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 13 June 1991]: The proportion of fees paid to management and computer consultants in the financial year 1990–91 as the result of a competitive tender, for which a number of firms are invited to bid, was 25 per cent. The remainder of the fees represented work contracted following single tendering. In all cases of single tender, a tender is received and
  278

  1 Joint DH and DSS Investment.

  2 DSS alone.

  The following table shows the Department's energy consumption in both cash and 1990–91 money terms for each year from 1985–86 together with the square footage of accommodation to which these figures relate. Information is only available for DH/DSS jointly for the period 1985–86 to 1988–89 but for 1989–90 figures relate to the DSS.

  evaluated. In making the decision as to which firm is to be invited to tender, extensive use is made of the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency index of computer consultants and the Treasury index of management consultants. The information from these two indexes is supplemented by information gathered directly as a result of the Department's own use of consultants.

  Pensioners
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was (i) the percentage and (ii) the cash increase in real terms in the incomes of pensioners in(a) the top and bottom quintile groups and (b) the top and bottom decile groups of pensioner households for each year since 1983.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 14 June 1991]: The available information is set out in the table. The figures are based on median equivalised net household incomes at 1987 prices taken from the family expenditure survey. The most recent data available are for 1987. Estimates based on 1984 and 1986 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Statistically reliable figures cannot be provided for decile groups.

  Changes in the median equivalised net household incomes of given groups of pensioners

  Percentage change

  Highest quintile group

  Lowest quintile group

  1979–81

  4

  7

  1981–83

  3

  4

  1983–85

  8

  1

  1985–87

  6

  1

  1979–87

  25

  15

  Cash change at 1987 prices

  Highest quintile group £

  Lowest quintile group £

  1979–81

  7·00

  4·70

  1981–83

  6·00

  3·10

  1983–85

  15·00

  0·90

  1985–87

  12·70

  0·90

  1979–87

  40·70

  9·60

  279
  Note: Income is equivalised and presented per married couple equivalent.

  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of(a) the top and bottom quintile groups and (b) the top and bottom decile groups of income distribution were pensioners in each year since 1983.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 14 June 1991]: Such information as is available is in the table. Figures could be obtained for 1984 and 1986 only at disproportionate cost. The figures given are taken from the family expenditure survey and are based on equivalised household income, before housing costs. 1987 is the last year for which information in the form requested is available.

  Pensioners shown as proportions of the specified income distribution groups

  1979

  1981

  1983

  1985

  1987

  Top quintile group per cent.

  7

  8

  8

  9

  8

  Bottom quintile group per cent.

  35

  26

  22

  24

  25

  Top decile group per cent.

  7

  8

  9

  8

  8

  Bottom decile group per cent.

  29

  15

  13

  15

  17

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the particular consequences for pensioners of the proposals in the Budget of his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  Mr. Maude
  I have been asked to reply.

  The only Budget proposals specific to pensioners were the indexation of the income tax personal and married couple's allowances for those aged 65 and over, and the indexation of the income limit for age-related allowances. This was worth about £2·70 a week for a married man aged 65 and over, paying basic rate tax. The effect of the Budget as a whole depends on the circumstances of individual pensioners.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  "This Common Inheritance"
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what advice and funding is given by his Department to residents of the Duchy of Lancaster to encourage the achievement of the objectives in "This Common Inheritance", Cm 1200; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Chris Patten
  The Duchy of Lancaster is working in a practical way towards achieving the objectives stated in "This Common Inheritance".

  In agriculture, where the Duchy owns about 35,000 acres of agricultural land let to tenant farmers, the main problem encountered is that of pollution control. The Duchy actively encourages tenant farmers to consider with the Duchy proposals for remedying the problem: the onus is on the farmer and he receives the grants available. The Duchy provides professional assistance and helps with funding where the solution entails fixed equipment. The expenditure by the Duchy runs into many thousands of pounds.

  The Duchy encourages the improvement of the countryside by the planting of trees and the enhancement
  280
  of hedgerows. Free provision of trees and hedgerow whips is made to tenant farmers. There are some 2,500 acres of woodland in hand. When trees are felled replanting takes place with species which are appropriate for the neighbourhood. When compatible with other uses the Duchy opens woodland areas to the public for recreation purposes.

  When land in the ownership of the Duchy becomes available for development the Duchy seeks to take the lead in promoting proposals in discussion with the local authorities.

  For the most part monuments in the ownership of the Duchy of Lancaster have been taken into guardianship by other authorities: a few do remain in the Duchy's direct ownership and have been the subject of an extensive programme of consolidation and archaeological investigations. These works will secure the fabric of the ruins for another generation.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Telephone Tapping
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will undertake consultations about establishing a Select Committee charged with responsibility for monitoring the procedures used by Government in telephone tapping; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  No. This function is carried out by the Commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985, whose annual report is laid before Parliament.

SCOTLAND

  Expenditure
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 14 May,Official Report, column 143–44, if he will provide an estimate of expenditure for 1978–79 on the new planning total basis in 1989–90 prices, indicating major changes in responsibility over the period.

  Mr. Lang
  Figures for 1978–79, at 1988–89 prices, adjusted to the new planning total basis on readily available information were given by my right hon. and learned Friend, now the Secretary of State for Transport, in his answer of 30 October 1990 to the hon. Member. As explained, they must be treated as approximate figures only. The table shows these figures expressed in 1989–90 prices using the current GDP deflators at market prices adjusted to remove the distortion caused by the abolition of domestic rates.

  £ million

  Cash

  1989–90 prices

  Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  74

  173

  Industry, Energy, Trade and Employment

  77

  180

  Tourism

  4

  9

  Transport

  56

  131

  Housing

  271

  634

  Other Environmental Services

  21

  49

  Law, Order and Protective Services

  42

  98

  Education

  122

  286

  281

  Cash

  1989–90 prices

  Arts and Libraries

  4

  9

  Health and Social Work

  876

  2,051

  Other Public Services

  54

  126

  Grants to Local Authorities

  1,222

  2,860

  Net Capital Allocations

  533

  1,248

  Nationalised Industries

  50

  117

  Total

  3,406

  7,973

  The major changes to the responsibility over the period 1978–79 to date include the transfer of the regional development grant scheme in 1984 from the Department of Trade and Industry, the responsibility for the Training Agency in Scotland and the technical and vocational education initiative in April 1991 from the Department of Employment and also, from April 1991, the Nature Conservancy Council, Scotland from the Department for the Environment.

  Housing
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how much was paid out in hostel deficit grant to housing associations in the last five financial years; and how many units of accommodation this covered;

  (2) if he will introduce to Scotland the special needs management allowance currently available in England and Wales.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on Thursday 13 June, c.652, to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke).

  Video Recordings
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. Lang
  There is no centrally held record of all the video recordings purchased by the Scottish Office. A number of training videos have been purchased including:—

  "Next Steps: First Agencies"

  "Team building"

  "How to give exceptional customer service"

  "A common sense guide to office safety"

  "The Art of Negotiating"

  Rent-to-mortgage Scheme
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the percentage target figure his Department has set, in respect of the rent-to-mortgage pilot scheme for council house tenants in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The pilot rent-to-mortgage scheme is demand-led and no such targets have therefore been set.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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.
  282
  Mr. Lang
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman) on 14 March 1991, at columns 584–616.

  Doctors
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each year since 1973 the number of doctors employed by the national health service in Scotland.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is not available centrally for 1973–75. Data relating to each year from 1979 to 1989 are contained in editions of "Scottish Health Service Statistics", copies of which are available in the Library. Figures for 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1990, the latest year for which information is available centrally, are shown in the table:

  Doctors in post in the National Health Service in Scotland: Numbers at 30 September

  1976

  1977

  1978

  1990

  Hospital and Community

  6,226

  6,423

  6,480

  7,302

  General medical practitioners

  3,041

  3,089

  3,161

  13,735

  TOTAL

  9,267

  9,512

  9,641

  111,037

  1 Provisional.

  Woodlands (Access)
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Forestry Commission woodlands have been sold to the private sector during the last two full years and the current year to date; and how many of these were subject to(a) voluntary and (b) legally binding access agreements.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Forestry Commission sold 184 woodlands in 1989 and 138 in 1990. It has sold 93 so far this year.

  As regards access agreements, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 5 June, Official Report, columns 262–63.

  National Football Stadium
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he has received any formal proposals for the creation of a national stadium, other than at Hampden Park; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement on proposed levels of Government support for the refurbishment of Hampden Park.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government have consistently made it clear that they are ready to consider funding support at the margin for a national football stadium. That remains our position. The National Stadium Committee is, however, looking for £15·5 million from central Government towards a £34·5 million scheme for the refurbishment of Hampden Park costed at January 1991 prices. A large proportion of the remaining funding is also expected to come from the public sector. This proportion of support goes beyond what the Government would be prepared to contribute and the committee has been informed of this. Although other proposals for a national stadium have
  283
  been made for several sites throughout the central belt of Scotland, the only specific request for Government funding has been that of the National Stadium Committee. It is for the football authorities to decide where such a stadium should be located.

  School Meals
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children in Scotland received free school meals for each of the years from 1979–91.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested, taken from annual school meals census returns, is as follows:

  Pupils receiving free school meals

  Number

  1979

  142,989

  1980

  122,618

  1981

  114,713

  1982

  124,547

  1983

  132,953

  1984

  129,335

  1985

  136,669

  1986

  136,627

  1987

  143,194

  1988

  145,219

  1989

  105,232

  1990

  99,303

  Figures for 1991 are not yet available.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the costs in terms of civil service administration of grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) on 2 May 1991—Official Report column 321.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of secondary school children are receiving their education in grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Eggar
  About 1·7 per cent. of pupils educated in secondary schools and middle-deemed secondary schools in England are attending schools approved for grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many Department of Education and Science staff are engaged for the majority of their time on work connected with grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Eggar
  There are 30 staff engaged for the majority of their time on work connected with grant-maintained schools.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out the capital allocation for each grant-maintained school for(a) 1990–91 where appropriate and (b) 1991–92 and the purpose for each capital allocation.
  284
  Mr. Eggar
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 June 1991, c. 644–48]: On 23 January I announced at column 201 allocations for named capital projects at grant-maintained schools. Nine schools which were approved for grant-maintained status towards the end of 1990 submitted capital bids in 1991. These schools will receive allocations for named capital projects with a total value of £778,000 to begin in 1991–92. It is assumed that about £579,000 of this sum will be spent in 1991–92.

  The bids were considered on the same basis as those submitted earlier. Priority has been given to schools' most pressing needs, including projects related to the health and safety of pupils, and to projects concerned with the introduction of the national curriculum, especially in science and technology.

  The following is a list of the named capital allocations.

  Capital allocations for grant-maintained schools in 1991–92 named project allocations

  All figures are in £000s

  School and project

  Total named project allocation

  Chalvedon School Cladding block W

  150

  Hardley Secondary School Re-roofing

  30

  Lancaster Girls Grammar School Design and Technology extension

  379

  North Halifax High School Health and Safety

  100

  Stratford School

  First science laboratory

  51

  Windows

  34

  Spandrel panels

  34

  119

  Performance Indicators
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps his Department has taken to involve consumer views in the development of performance indicators.

  Mr. Eggar
  In developing preformance indicators the Department bears in mind the needs of users and parents of the users of the education system. Schools are required to publish a variety of data relating to their performance. From this autumn, secondary schools will be required to publish examination results in a common and consistent form in their prospectuses and in governing bodies' reports to parents. These requirements were the subject of an earlier consultation which stressed the importance of taking the views of parents into account.

  Primary schools have been encouraged to publish their school-level results of the tests on seven-year-olds this summer. Regulations will be made to require schools to publish the aggregated results of formal assessments at ages 11, 14 and 16.

  We are consulting about how further education colleges should publish their results. In higher education, the statutory funding councils are working with other interested groups to develop performance indicators within their sectors. My right hon. and learned Friend also publishes reports by Her Majesty's inspectorate on educational provision in individual schools and colleges.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what performance indicators are published for his Department.
  285
  Mr. Eggar
  A range of performance indicators has been included in the departmental report on the Government's expenditure plans 1991–92 to 1993–94 (Cm 1511), a copy of which is in the Library.

  Research Projects
  Sir Gerard Vaughan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will place in the Library a copy of the study carried out at his request jointly by the Committee of Vice-chancellors and Principals and the research councils into the costs of research projects funded by research council grants.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  My right hon. and learned Friend is at present considering the report of this study and he expects the report to be made available to the House.

  School Visits
  Mr. Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list the schools that he has visited since his appointment as Secretary of State for Education and Science.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have visited the following schools since my appointment in November 1990:

  26 November 1990: Ribston Hall GM grammar school

  30 January 1991: Stockingford first and middle schools and Alderman Smith high school, Warwickshire

  1 May 1991: Jewish Free school, Camden

  9 May 1991: Chaucer technical school and Canterbury High school, Canterbury

  17 May 1991: St. Pauls CE VA school and Hills Road 6th form college, Cambridge

  St. Ivo secondary school, Huntingdon

  1 June 1991: Bourne GM primary school, Lincolnshire

  7 June 1991: Rushcliffe school, Nottinghamshire

  12 June 1991: Valley End CE school, Chobham

  19 June 1991: Chestnut Grove school, Balham

  On 21 June 1991 I shall visit Harry Carlton school and Djanogly city technology college, Nottingham.

  Examinations
  Mr. Bowls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the most recent figures available on pupils' attainments in public examinations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The results from the 1989–90 school examinations survey are the most recent data which we have available on pupils' attainments in public examinations.

  The survey shows that for 1989–90 there have been significant improvements in the examination results obtained by candidates both at 16 and at 18. There is also a decrease in the proportion of 16-year-olds achieving no GCSE qualifications. The key statistics which are available from the survey are:
  the proportion of 16-year-olds with five or more GCSEs at grades A-C has increased from 33 per cent. in 1988–89 to 35 per cent in 1989–90;
  the percentage of 16-year-olds with no graded result in GCSE has continued to fall: from 7·5 per cent. in 1988–89 to 7·3 per cent. in 1989–90;
  the proportion of school leavers gaining two or more A levels has increased from 17 per cent. in 1988–89 to 20 per cent. in 1989–90. this is an increase of seven percentage points on the 1978–79 figure of 13 per cent.

  Furthermore, the overall participation rate for 16-year-olds has increased to 60 per cent. from 55 per cent.
  286
  in 1989–90 and 47 per cent. in 1986–87. There is evidence that the introduction of the GCSE has had, and continues to have, a beneficial impact in raising expectations and standards of attainment.

  Under-fives
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his projection of the number of places available for under-fives at(a) nurseries and (b) play centres in inner London during each of the next five years.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Department does not set norms about levels of day nurseries or play centres for young children and we cannot make realistic projections based on the statistics we do collect.

  The Children Act 1989, which comes into force on 14 October 1991, introduces a new review duty for local social services authorities and local education authorities jointly to review every three years the day care services in their area available for children aged under eight, to consult and publish a report.

TRANSPORT

  British Rail (Punctuality)
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the punctuality performance targets which have been set for(a) InterCity and (b) other British Rail services.

  Mr. Freeman
  The following table shows the punctuality targets for British Rail's InterCity, Network SouthEast and regional passenger sectors:

  Targets

  (a) InterCity

  90 per cent. Of all trains to arrive plus or minus 10 minutes

  (b) Network SouthEast

  88 per cent. of peak trains to arrive plus or minus 5 minutes

  92 per cent. of all trains to arrive plus or minus 5 minutes

  Regional

  90 per cent. of express and longer distance rural trains to arrive plus or minus 10 minutes

  90 per cent. or urban and shorter distance rural trains to arrive plus or minus 5 minutes

  Group Transport 2000 Plus Report
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications for the United Kingdom of the recommendations of the Group Transport 2000 Plus report on transport options for the future, released by the European Commission in January.

  Mr. Freeman
  The report of the Group Transport 2000 Plus is one of a number of sources being used by the EC Commission to prepare a paper on future Community transport policy. We will assess the implications of that paper as a whole when it has been completed.

  Rail Tickets
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to end the exclusivity clause as a condition for the issuing of British Rail tickets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The conditions of carriage are British Rail's responsibility. I understand that British Rail is considering a number of changes, in line with the Prime Minister's citizen's charter initiative which aims to make public services more responsive to the consumer.

  Aircraft Emissions
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport ( I) what progress has been made in the study of aircraft emissions foreshadowed in the 1990 White Paper on the environment; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what assessment has been made by his Department of the effects of atmospheric pollution and global warming of the airborne discharges of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide from aircraft.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  Emissions of CO2 from civil aircraft amount to about 3 per cent. of total man made CO2 emissions and contribute in that proportion to the overall effects of these emissions. Aircraft NOx emissions have only a marginal effect on pollution in areas in the vicinity of airports. The effects of these emissions in the upper atmosphere are more complex to assess, and the results of studies to date are not conclusive. My Department will be participating in a proposed European-wide research study

  Date

  Location

  Region

  Train type

  1986

  Fatalities

  4 January

  Carronbridge

  Scottish

  —

  19 January

  Attleborough/Shilton

  London Midland

  —

  1 March

  Temple Hirst

  Eastern

  —

  14 March

  Mellis

  Eastern

  —

  3 May

  Tollerton

  Eastern

  —

  16 May

  Croy Station

  Scottish

  —

  26 May

  Earlswood

  Southern

  —

  27 May

  Northampton

  London Midland

  —

  29 June

  Pencoed

  Western

  —

  7 August

  Marks Tey

  Eastern

  —

  29 August

  Plawsworth

  Scottish

  —

  27 December

  Pyle

  Western

  —

  1986

  Seriously Injured

  25 January

  Upminster

  Eastern

  —

  19 February

  Greenwich

  Southern

  —

  2 March

  Broadstairs

  Southern

  —

  4 April

  London Bridge

  Southern

  —

  5 April

  Pangbourne

  Western

  —

  23 May

  Victoria

  Southern

  —

  26 May

  Datchet

  Southern

  455 EMU (sliding doors)

  26 May

  Boreham

  Eastern

  —

  14 July

  Goring Station

  Western

  —

  15 August

  Redruth Viaduct

  Western

  —

  16 August

  Church Fenton/Peckfield

  Eastern

  —

  13 September

  Rhosneiger Station/Ty-Croes

  London Midland

  —

  27 September

  Chorley Station

  London Midland

  —

  7 November

  Kelvedon

  Eastern

  —

  7 November

  Pontypool Station

  Western

  —

  1986

  Minor Injuries

  3 January

  Windsor Station

  Southern

  —

  17 January

  Purley Oaks/South Croydon

  Southern

  —

  8 March

  Markinch Station

  Scottish

  —

  13 March

  Gloucester Station

  Western

  —

  7 April

  Bodmin Parkway

  Western

  —

  14 May

  Cambourne Station

  Western

  —

  14 July

  Newton Abbott Station

  Western

  —

  288
  under the aegis of ECAC into the effects of aircraft emissions in the upper atmosphere. Results from the study of water vapour in the upper atmosphere referred to in the White Paper on the Environment are expected in the near future.

  Train Doors (Safety)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by year for the past five years, and for the current year to date, the locations of passengers who have fallen from passenger trains; and what type of train set was involved.

  Mr. Freeman
  The list gives the locations of fatal accidents, those resulting in serious injuries, and those resulting in minor injuries where this information is available. Details of the types of train are also shown, where available; with numbers representing the class of the stock or locomotive involved. Not all the information is readily available for earlier years. The details given for 1990 and 1991 are provisional.

  The following abbreviations are used:

  EMU = Electric multiple unit

  DMU =Diesel multiple unit

  (SD)=Slam door stock

  LM = London Midland

  W = Western

  S = Southern

  E = Eastern

  Sc = Scottish

  A = Anglia

  HST = High speed train

  LHT = Locomotive hauled train

  289

  Date

  Location

  Region

  Train type

  14 July

  Atherstone

  London Midland

  —

  28 July

  Brighton

  Volks Electric Railway

  Toastrack Tram

  15 July

  Doncaster/York

  Eastern

  43 HST

  6 December

  Skew Bridge Junction

  London Midland

  —

  1987

  Fatalities

  4 January

  Summit East Tunnel

  London Midland

  —

  21 February

  Great Bridgeford

  London Midland

  —

  22 February

  Kettering

  London Midland

  47 LHT (SD)

  27 February

  Trent Valley Junction

  London Midland

  304 EMU (SD)

  12 April

  Backwell

  Western

  43 HST (SD)

  14 April

  Highnam Bridge

  Western

  —

  15 May

  Wylde Green

  London Midland

  —

  13 June

  St. Annes, Bristol

  Western

  —

  27 July

  Carpenders Park

  London Midland

  —

  8 August

  Wootten Bassett

  Western

  43 HST

  8 August

  Carlisle

  London Midland

  86 LHT (SD)

  12 August

  Micheldever/Basingstoke

  Southern

  —

  13 August

  Micheldever/Basingstoke

  Southern

  —

  19 August

  Leighton Buzzard

  London Midland

  —

  19 August

  Colton

  Eastern

  —

  20 August

  Stevenage

  Eastern

  —

  5 September

  Chathill

  Eastern

  —

  6 September

  Pangbourne/Goring

  Western

  —

  10 September

  Winchburgh/Newbridge

  Scottish

  —

  12 September

  Streatham Common/Norbury

  Southern

  —

  21 September

  Waterloo

  Southern

  —

  23 October

  Wolverton/Coseley (3 died)

  London Midland

  304 EMU (SD)

  24 October

  Bentley

  Eastern

  —

  13 November

  North Harrow

  London Midland

  —

  1987

  Seriously Injured

  21 January

  Eastfield

  Scottish

  101 DMU (SD)

  21 January

  Stirling North

  Scottish

  101 DMU (SD)

  4 February

  Stafford Station

  London Midland

  —

  5 February

  Appleby Station

  London Midland

  —

  5 March

  Craigenhill

  Scottish

  LHT (SD)

  12 April

  Fareham/Portchester

  Southern

  —

  6 June

  Bethnal Green/Wheeler Street

  Eastern

  312 EMU (sliding door)

  9 June

  Treforest

  Western

  —

  19 July

  Micheldever

  Southern

  —

  29 August

  Balcombe/Three Bridges

  Southern

  —

  6 September

  Fratton

  Southern

  —

  7 September

  Salisbury

  Southern

  —

  25 September

  Sutton Coldfield

  London Midland

  —

  26 September

  Lower Sydenham/Catford

  Southern

  415 EMU (SD)

  21 November

  Chorley/Adlington

  London Midland

  116 DMU (SD)

  22 November

  Foxeswood Tunnel, Bristol

  Western

  43 HST

  26 November

  Streatham Common

  Southern

  —

  1987

  Minor Injuries

  20 January

  Bedminster

  Western

  —

  14 March

  Micheldever

  Southern

  —

  1988

  Fatalities

  25 January

  Faversham/Teynham

  Southern

  411 EMU (SD)

  6 March

  North York Moors Railway

  —

  LHT (SD)

  17 March

  Shifnal

  London Midland

  —

  16 April

  Essendine

  Eastern

  —

  21 May

  Banbury Lane

  London Midland

  —

  1 June

  Horley

  Southern

  423 EMU (SD)

  4 June

  Cock fosters

  London Underground —Piccadilly Line

  —

  12 July

  West Drayton

  Western

  43 HST

  13 July

  Inverkeilor

  Scottish

  —

  15 August

  Esher/Hampton Court Junction

  Southern

  —

  26 August

  Temple Hirst/Hambleton

  Eastern

  43 HST

  26 August

  Linlithgow

  Scottish

  —

  29 August

  Hersham/Esher

  Southern

  —

  2 September

  Uffington Loop

  Western

  43 HST

  13 September

  Madeley

  London Midland

  —

  27 October

  Pluckley/Ashford

  Southern

  —

  3 November

  Congleton

  London Midland

  —

  11 November

  Elvanfoot

  Scottish

  —

  9 December

  Finchdean

  Southern

  —

  1988

  Seriously Injured

  290 291

  Date

  Location

  Region

  Train type

  29 January

  Northchurch Tunnel

  London Midland

  —

  1 March

  Abington

  Scottish

  —

  10 March

  Stockport

  London Midland

  304 EMU (SD)

  17 April

  Winchester

  Southern

  423 EMU (SD)

  21 May

  Swindon

  Western

  —

  15 June

  Leagrave/Luton

  London Midland

  319 EMU (sliding door)

  7 July

  Brentwood

  Anglia

  312 EMU (SD)

  12 August

  Litchfield Tunnel

  Southern

  423 EMU (SD)

  22 September

  Swindon

  Western

  43HST

  30 October

  Cradley Heath

  London Midland

  —

  19 December

  Cardiff Central/Bridgend

  Western

  43HST

  27 December

  Petts Wood/Orpington

  Southern

  415 EMU (SD)

  28 December

  Linlithgow

  —

  —

  1988

  Minor Injuries

  10 January

  Polmont

  Scottish

  —

  22 January

  Kettering

  Eastern

  —

  21 March

  Allerton

  London Midland

  304 EMU (SD)

  29 March

  St. Helier

  Southern

  415 EMU (SD)

  15 April

  Church Minshull

  London Midland

  LHT (SD)

  1989

  Fatalities

  19 January

  Selhurst

  Southern

  —

  27 February

  Finedon Road

  London Midland

  —

  4 March

  Sturry/Grove Ferry

  Southern

  423 EMU (SD)

  5 March

  Wembley Central

  London Midland

  —

  18 April

  East/South Croydon

  Southern

  423 EMU (SD)

  29 May

  Forest Hill/Sydenham

  Southern

  —

  28 July

  Winwick

  London Midland

  —

  29 July

  Esher

  Southern

  423 EMU (SD)

  30 August

  Bruton/Castle Cary

  Western

  43 HST

  1 September

  Scorton

  London Midland

  —

  4 September

  Northwood

  London Underground —Metropolitan Line

  EMU

  5 September

  Darlington

  Eastern

  143 DMU (power doors)

  15 September

  Gatwick Airport

  Southern

  421 EMU (SD)

  17 October

  Polehill Tunnel

  Southern

  411 EMU(SD)

  27 October

  Severn Tunnel

  Western

  43 HST

  8 November

  Grantshouse

  Scottish

  43 HST

  1 December

  Marks Tey/Witham

  Anglia

  81 LHT (SD)

  5 December

  Chelmsford

  Anglia

  86 LHT (SD)

  14 December

  Penge Tunnel

  Southern

  —

  1989

  Seriously Injured

  4 January

  Stockport

  London Midland

  LHT (SD)

  27 January

  Denmark Hill

  Southern

  411 EMU(SD)

  4 March

  Llandudno Junction

  London Midland

  —

  14 April

  Crofton Park/Catford

  Southern

  411 EMU (SD)

  29 April

  Vauxhall/Waterloo

  Southern

  423 EMU (SD)

  2 May

  Cardiff Central Station

  Western

  43 HST

  3 May

  Cheshunt Station

  Anglia

  310 EMU (SD)

  1 June

  Woodgrange Park

  Anglia

  302 EMU (SD)

  14 June

  Castle Cary

  Southern

  —

  10 August

  Doncaster

  Eastern

  43 HST

  1 September

  Orpington/Petts Wood

  Southern

  415 EMU (SD)

  6 September

  Maida Vale

  London Underground —Bakerloo Line

  EMU

  7 September

  Chadwell Heath

  Anglia

  —

  15 September

  Craigentinny Depot

  Scottish

  —

  25 September

  Newbridge

  Scottish

  —

  1989

  Minor Injuries

  13 September

  Tonbridge

  Southern

  411 EMU (SD)

  18 November

  Branksome

  Southern

  —

  1990

  Fatalities

  4 January

  Hartshill

  London Midland

  87 LHT (SD)

  10 January

  Liphook/Haslemere

  Southern

  412 EMU (SD)

  28 February

  Chatham

  Southern

  412 EMU (SD)

  28 February

  South Wingfield

  London Midland

  HST

  11 March

  Oxted Tunnel

  London Midland

  LHT (SD)

  27 April

  Wilmslow

  London Midland

  90 LHT (SD)

  17 May

  Weedon

  London Midland

  LHT (SD)

  31 July

  Lambrigg/Oxenholme

  London Midland

  LHT

  9 August

  Kilburn

  London Midland

  86 LHT

  23 August

  Tamworth Low Level (2 deaths)

  London Midland

  —

  3 September

  Armitage

  London Midland

  90 LHT

  292 293

  Date

  Location

  Region

  Train type

  29 September

  Tamworth

  London Midland

  90 LHT

  26 October

  Fletton

  Eastern

  43 HST

  5 November

  Petersfield

  Southern

  421 EMU (SD)

  1 December

  Goring/Streatley

  Western

  43 HST

  3 December

  Carpenders Park

  London Midland

  LHT (SD)

  18 December

  Strechford

  London Midland

  LHT (SD)

  21 December

  Weedon

  London Midland

  87 LHT (SD)

  1990

  Seriously Injured

  6 February

  Ladybank

  Scottish

  —

  24 May

  North Kent East Junction

  Southern

  416 EMU (SD)

  7 June

  Heaton Park Tunnel

  London Midland

  504 EMU (SD)

  14 July

  Waterloo East

  Southern

  415 EMU (SD)

  23 August

  Lancaster North Junction

  London Midland

  86 LHT (SD)

  12 October

  Chelmsford Station

  Anglia

  312 EMU (SD)

  18 October

  Eden Park

  Southern

  415 EMU (SD)

  19 October

  Bathampton Junction

  Western

  43 HST

  5 December

  Wimbledon

  Southern

  EMU (SD)

  10 December

  Wanstead Park

  Anglia

  DMU (SD)

  1990

  Minor Injuries

  27 May

  Knighton/Leicester

  London Midland

  —

  4 August

  Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway

  Minature railway

  Open toastrack

  4 October

  Metropolitan Junction/ Waterloo East

  Southern

  416 EMU (SD)

  1991

  Fatalities

  26 January

  Canley

  Anglia

  LHT (SD)

  8 March

  Deal/Sandwich

  Southern

  411 EMU(SD)

  9 March

  Norwich Trowse

  Anglia

  —

  28 March

  Sole Street

  Southern

  413 EMU (SD)

  6 April

  Hampton in Arden

  London Midland

  86 LHT (SD)

  12 April

  Marshfield

  Western

  43 HST

  20 April

  Brookwood/Woking

  Southern

  421 EMU (SD)

  27 April

  Potters Bar

  Eastern

  43 HST

  28 April

  Hartshill/Atherstone

  London Midland

  87 LHT (SD)

  1991

  Seriously Injured

  19 January

  Barking

  Anglia

  305 EMU (SD)

  9 March

  Preston

  London Midland

  LHT (SD)

  London Underground
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of London Underground trains run on time.

  Mr. Freeman
  Because of the very high frequency of many underground trains, comprehensive data on performance against timetables is not compiled. The Government monitor the average times that passengers wait for trains. In the first quarter of 1991, the average scheduled wait for a train was 2·5 minutes, the actual wait was 3·4 minutes.

  Rail Link (Heathrow)
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that sufficient investment is provided for a fast rail link to be constructed between Heathrow and central London; when he expects it to be open for business; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  A total of 80 per cent. of the funding for the Heathrow express will be provided by the British Airports Authority (BAA), the remaining 20 per cent. by British Rail (BR). The timing of BR's contribution is a matter for the board. The expected date of opening of the Heathrow express is now November 1995. This delay is principally attributable to additions agreed with petitioners when the Heathrow Express Railway Act was considered in Committee.

  Manchester Airport Rail Link
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he expects the freeze on investment by British Rail to affect the date of completion of the Manchester airport rail link; what representations he has received on this matter; if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  No; I have received five letters on this matter.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Domestic Accidents
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many fatal accidents occurred in the home in 1987, 1988 and 1989; and how many of these took place in (a) the kitchen and (b) householders' gardens.

  Mr. Leigh
  The total of fatal accidents in the home for the years 1987–89 are:

  Accidental deaths in the home and residential institutions

  Year

  Number

  1987

  4,208

  1988

  4,272

  1989

  4,080

  295
  The numbers of accidental deaths in the kitchen and the garden for these years are not available.

  Sound Diffusion (Directors)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to disqualify any of the directors of Sound Diffusion from acting as directors.

  Mr. Redwood
  I am considering the possibility of application to the court under section 8 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.

  Newspapers
  Mr. Gerald Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will amend section 58(1) of the Fair Trading Act 1973 so that sales of newspapers with an average circulation of 500,000 copies or more outside the United Kingdom will be included in the calculation of a newspaper proprietor's circulation with regard to the need for obtaining this prior consent to make any further newspaper acquisitions.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have no plans to amend section 58 of the Fair Trading Act 1973. The Government's merger control policy is primarily concerned with the effects on competition in UK markets. The newspaper merger provisions are in addition concerned with the accurate presentation of news and free expression of opinion. Acquisitions by persons owning no newspaper interests in the UK should not raise the same concerns as acquisitions by those who already have a substantial share of the UK newspaper market.

  Redwood Publishing Limited
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he intends to refer the acquisition of Redwood Publishing Ltd. by BBC Enterprise to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I understand that this acquisition took place in 1988. Under the provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973 it is not open to me to make a merger reference if more than six months have elapsed since the acquisition took place unless previously concealed facts have emerged. I understand that the merger did not meet the criteria for reference under the Fair Trading Act. However, if the hon. Member has any new information about the acquisition he should bring it to the attention of the Director General of Fair Trading, who advises me on merger cases, so that his office can establish whether there is a merger situation qualifying for investigation under the Act.

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases the Insolvency Service has decided not to prosecute; and for what reasons.

  Mr. Redwood
  Official receivers in the Insolvency Service submit reports to the Department of Trade and Industry where investigations have shown that criminal offences appear to have been committed. After vetting by the service they are forwarded to the investigation division of the Department with a view to prosecution. Criminal 296
  proceedings are normally instituted by the Secretary of State although a small number of cases are referred to the Serious Fraud Office or the Crown prosecution service. In considering whether criminal proceedings should be instituted, the principles and criteria laid down in the code for Crown prosecutors are applied, and the prosecutor considers whether he is satisfied that there is admissible, substantial and reliable evidence that a criminal offence known to the law has been committed by an identifiable person and, if he is so satisfied, whether the public interest requires a prosecution. In cases where these criteria are not met, criminal proceedings will not be instituted.

  During 1990 official receivers submitted 569 reports —627 in 1989—alleging that criminal offences had been committed. During the year convictions were obtained in 290 cases—352 in 1989—resulting in 309 persons being convicted—388 in 1989—of 769 different offences—67l in 1989. Additionally 94 warning letters were issued—107 in 1989—to individuals where there was evidence of an offence having been committed but where it was not considered that proceeding with a prosecution would be in the public interest During 1990 official receivers also assisted the police or other investigatory authorities in 412 criminal investigations. There were 166 persons convicted during the year in such cases.

  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many officials in the Insolvency Service are qualified in(a) law and (b) accountancy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The latest figures available show that 632 officials in the Insolvency Service have studied for accountancy or allied qualifications. Of these, 84 are fully qualified, 14 will be shortly sitting their final examinations and others are still studying. Additionally, a number of officers are also members of the Insolvency Practitioners Association. Some entrants to the Insolvence Service have law degrees, but there are no fully qualified lawyers. Such legal expertise as is required is provided by the solicitors division of the Department of Trade and Industry.

  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average time period taken by the Insolvency Service before it initiates legal action; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Insolvency Service initiates legal action based on reports submitted by official receivers where the reports allege that criminal offences have been committed or where a director's conduct is such that he is unfit to be a director of a company and an application should be made for him to be disqualified. In both cases official receivers are targeted to submit reports within 10 months of the winding-up orders in at least 80 per cent. of cases identified for investigation.

  Where reports alleging criminal offences are submitted by the Insolvency Service to the investigations division of the Department of Trade and Industry with a view to prosecution, further investigation to establish whether there is admissible, substantial and reliable evidence that a criminal offence known to the law has been committed by an identifiable person is frequently necessary. In all cases where it is decided that the criteria for prosecution laid down in the code for Crown prosecutors are met, the objective is to institute criminal proceedings within four

  297
  weeks of that decision being taken where the case is to be taken summarily. Where the case is to be taken on indictment, the period is eight weeks.

  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the average age of staff employed in the Insolvency Service.

  Mr. Redwood
  This information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Next Steps Agencies
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has identified any further candidates for agency status under the next steps initiative.

  Mr. Lilley
  As I told the House on 22 May,Official Report, column 475, I continue to consider the possibility of establishing further agencies in the DTI. I have now identified the DTI accounts branch, Newport, as a candidate for agency status, with a view to its becoming operational later this year.

  Total revenue expenditure by health authorities

  1985–86 £000 (Cash)

  1985–86 £000 (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90 £000 (Cash)

  Increase/ (decrease) in cash terms per cent.

  Increase/ (decrease) in real terms per cent.

  Northern RHA

  22,431

  27,921

  25,813

  15·1

  (7·5)

  Hartlepool

  16,980

  21,135

  26,858

  58·2

  27·1

  North Tees

  26,751

  33,297

  37,472

  40·1

  12·5

  South Tees

  60,693

  75,545

  86,059

  41·8

  13·9

  East Cumbria

  34,282

  42,672

  47,772

  39·3

  12·0

  South Cumbria

  24,433

  30,413

  35,090

  43·6

  15·4

  West Cumbria

  22,998

  28,626

  31,506

  37·0

  10·1

  Darlington

  26,771

  33,322

  37,285

  39·3

  11·9

  Durham

  29,999

  37,340

  37,981

  26·6

  1·7

  North West Durham

  15,713

  19,558

  22,496

  43·2

  15·0

  South West Durham

  29,209

  36,357

  40,337

  38·1

  10·9

  Northumberland

  57,893

  72,060

  77,989

  34·7

  8·2

  Gateshead

  29,795

  37,087

  40,496

  35·9

  9·2

  Newcastle

  121,728

  151,517

  173,702

  42·7

  14·6

  North Tyneside

  21,950

  27,322

  31,906

  45·4

  16·8

  South Tyneside

  20,879

  25,989

  30,098

  44·2

  15·8

  Sunderland

  57,580

  71,671

  79,543

  38·1

  11·0

  Northern region total

  620,085

  771,832

  862,403

  39·1

  11·7

  1985–86 £000 (Cash)

  1985–86 £000 (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90 £000(Cash)

  Increase/ (decrease) in cash terms per cent.

  Increase/ (decrease) in real terms per cent.

  Yorkshire RHA

  27,045

  33,663

  34,349

  27·0

  2·0

  Hull

  59,783

  74,413

  86,700

  45·0

  16·5

  East Yorks

  36,018

  44,832

  47,005

  30·5

  4·5

  Grimsby

  28,084

  34,957

  38,786

  38·1

  11·0

  Scunthorpe

  25,215

  31,386

  38,127

  51·2

  21·5

  Northallerton

  13,017

  16,203

  18,883

  45·1

  16·5

  York

  51,379

  63,953

  66,508

  29·4

  4·0

  Scarborough

  19,615

  24,415

  29,336

  49·6

  20·2

  Harrogate

  24,646

  30,677

  33,086

  34·2

  7·8

  Bradford

  61,573

  76,641

  85,863

  39·4

  12·0

  Airedale

  29,333

  36,511

  40,280

  37·3

  10·3

  Calderdale

  30,830

  38,375

  42,794

  38·8

  11·5

  Huddersfield

  41,492

  51,646

  55,671

  34·2

  7·8

  Dewsbury

  22,908

  28,514

  31,135

  35·9

  9·2

  Leeds Western

  83,463

  103,887

  118,493

  42·0

  14·1

  Leeds Eastern

  77,018

  95,866

  113,694

  47·6

  18· 6

  Wakefield

  43,721

  54,421

  56,459

  29·1

  3·7

  Pontefract

  24,386

  30,354

  34,477

  41·4

  13·6

  Yorkshire region total

  699,526

  870,714

  971,646

  38·9

  11·6

HEALTH

  Health Authority Spending
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in revenue spending in both cash and real terms between 1985 and the latest year for which figures are available for each of the regional and district health authorities in England.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Figures of total revenue expenditure derived from the annual accounts of regional and district health authorities in England for 1985–86 and 1989–90 (the latest available) are shown in the table.

  Although their expenditure cannot be attributed to particular regions, figures for the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals have been included for completeness.
  299

  1985–86 £000 (Cash)

  1985–86 £000 (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90 £000(Cash)

  Increase/ (decrease) in cash terms per cent·

  Increase/ (decrease) in real terms per cent·

  Trent RHA

  21,453

  26,703

  29,354

  36·8

  9·9

  North Derbyshire

  42,151

  52,465

  65,289

  54·9

  24·4

  South Derbyshire

  86,730

  107,955

  124,701

  43·8

  15·5

  Leicestershire

  145,232

  180,773

  210,723

  45·1

  16·6

  North Lincolnshire

  52,135

  64,894

  72,592

  39·2

  11·9

  South Lincolnshire

  41,696

  51,900

  62,536

  50·0

  20·5

  Bassetlaw

  14,149

  17,611

  20,767

  46·8

  17·9

  Central Nottinghamshire

  46,598

  58,001

  68,476

  47·0

  18·

  Nottinghamshire

  134,470

  167,378

  184,313

  37·1

  10·1

  Barnsley

  32,606

  40,585

  47,294

  45·1

  16·5

  Doncaster

  45,363

  56,465

  68,696

  51·4

  21·7

  Rotherham

  34,459

  42,892

  50,647

  47·0

  18·1

  Sheffield

  146,114

  181,871

  206,517

  41·3

  13·6

  Trent region total

  843,156

  1,049,493

  1,211,905

  43·7

  15·5

  1985–86 £00 (Cash)

  1985–86 £000 (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90 £000 (Cash)

  Increase/ (decrease) in cash terms per cent·

  Increase/ (decrease) in real terms per cent·

  East Anglia RHA

  8,176

  10,177

  14,103

  72·5

  38·6

  Cambridge

  64,418

  80,183

  93,403

  45·0

  16·5

  Peterborough

  34,457

  42,889

  54,307

  57·6

  26·6

  West Suffolk

  32,917

  40,972

  49,164

  49·4

  20·0

  East Suffolk

  56,543

  70,380

  79,085

  39·9

  12·4

  Norwich

  86,543

  107,722

  122,587

  41·6

  13·8

  Great Yarmouth and Waveney

  30,044

  37,396

  43,579

  45·0

  16·5

  West Norfolk and Wisbech

  25,168

  31,327

  38,836

  54·3

  24·0

  Huntingdon

  19,981

  24,871

  33,130

  65·8

  33·2

  East Anglia regional total

  358,247

  445,917

  528,194

  47·4

  18· 5

  1985–86 £000 (Cash)

  1985–86 £000 (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90 £000 (Cash)

  Increase/ (decrease) in cash terms per cent.

  Increase/ (decrease) in real terms per cent·

  North West Thames R.H.A.

  23,531

  29,290

  14,529

  (38·3)

  (50·4)

  North Bedfordshire

  33,936

  42,241

  47,610

  40·3

  12·7

  South Bedfordshire

  39,211

  48,806

  57,034

  45·5

  16·9

  North Hertfordshire

  23,349

  29,063

  35,899

  53·8

  23·5

  East Hertfordshire

  28,513

  35,490

  44,191

  55·0

  24·5

  North West Hertfordshire

  50,752

  63,172

  89,881

  77·1

  42·3

  South West Hertfordshire

  38,540

  47,971

  39,198

  1·7

  (18·3)

  Barnet

  65,574

  81,621

  100,785

  53·7

  23·5

  Harrow

  36,573

  45,524

  52,870

  44·6

  16·1

  Hillingdon

  54,951

  68,399

  81,347

  48·0

  18·9

  Hounslow and Spelthorne

  51,572

  64,193

  73,745

  43·0

  14·9

  Ealing

  40,265

  50,119

  58,157

  44·4

  16·0

  Riverside

  128,455

  159,890

  171,387

  33·4

  7·2

  Parkside

  113,626

  141,433

  158,079

  39·1

  11·8

  North West Thames region total

  728,848

  907,212

  1,024,712

  40·6

  13·0

  1985–86 £000 (Cash)

  1985–86 £000 (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90 £ (Cash)

  Increase/ (decrease) in cash terms per cent.

  Increase/ (decrease) in real terms per cent.

  North East Thames RHA

  28,508

  35,484

  22,791

  (20·1)

  (35·8)

  Basildon and Thurrock

  43,163

  53,726

  65,015

  50·6

  21·0

  Mid Essex

  42,665

  53,106

  68,785

  61·2

  29·5

  North East Essex

  55,571

  69,170

  74,673

  34·4

  8·

  West Essex

  36,868

  45,890

  55,172

  49·6

  20·2

  Southend

  42,657

  53,096

  64,492

  51·2

  21·5

  Barking, Havering and Brentwood

  72,033

  89,661

  98,707

  37·0

  10·1

  Hampstead

  55,633

  69,247

  80,152

  44·1

  15·7

  Bloomsbury

  122,450

  152,417

  164,928

  34·7

  8·2

  Islington

  49,194

  61,233

  69,701

  41·7

  13·8

  City and Hackney

  81,517

  101,466

  112,469

  38·0

  10·8

  Newham

  41,765

  51,986

  56,489

  35·3

  8·7

  Tower Hamlets

  67,183

  83,624

  96,389

  43·5

  15·3

  300 301

  1985–86 £000 (Cash)

  1985–86 £000 (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90 £000 (Cash)

  Increase/(decrease) in cash terms per cent.

  Increase/(decrease) in real terms per cent.

  Enfield

  38,144

  47,478

  52,316

  37·2

  10·2

  Haringey

  46,312

  57,646

  64,093

  38·4

  11·2

  Redbridge

  37,799

  47,049

  54,559

  44·3

  16·0

  Waltham Forest

  52,726

  65,629

  76,089

  44·3

  15· 9

  North East Thames Region

  914,188

  1,137,908

  1,276,820

  39·7

  12·2

  1985–86 £000 (Cash)

  1985–86 £000 (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90 £000 (Cash)

  Increase/ (decrease) in cash terms per cent.

  Increase/ (decrease) in real terms per cent.

  South East Thames R.H.A.

  22,014

  27,401

  25,964

  17·9

  (5·2)

  Brighton

  55,475

  69,051

  79,969

  44·2

  15·8

  Eastbourne

  40,508

  50,421

  57,338

  41·5

  13·7

  Hastings

  27,412

  34,120

  39,727

  44·9

  16·4

  South East Kent

  34,369

  42,779

  51,820

  50·8

  21·1

  Canterbury and Thanet

  57,195

  71,192

  77,325

  35·2

  8·6

  Dartford and Gravesham

  44,350

  55,203

  54,245

  22·3

  (1·7)

  Maidstone

  34,565

  43,024

  47,560

  37·6

  10·5

  Medway

  45,252

  56,326

  66,983

  48·0

  18·9

  Tunbridge Wells

  44,976

  55,983

  59,360

  32·0

  6·0

  Bexley

  35,608

  44,322

  48,473

  36·1

  9·4

  Greenwich

  61,135

  76,096

  79,534

  30·1

  4·5

  Bromley

  51,136

  63,649

  73,192

  43·1

  15·0

  West Lambeth

  78,949

  98,270

  110,218

  39·6

  12·2

  Camberwell

  65,562

  81,606

  96,741

  47·6

  18·5

  Lewisham and North Southwark

  109,019

  135,699

  147,141

  35·0

  8·4

  South East Thames/Thames region

  807,525

  1,005,142

  1,115,590

  38·1

  11·0

  1985–86 £000 (Cash)

  1985–86 £000 (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90 £000 (Cash)

  Increase/ (decrease) in cash terms per cent.

  Increase/ (decrease) in real terms per cent.

  South West Thames RHA

  21,797

  27,131

  72,403

  232·2

  166·9

  North West Surrey

  38,359

  47,746

  54,029

  40·9

  13·2

  West Surrey and North East Hants

  37,912

  47,189

  46,466

  22·6

  (1·5)

  South West Surrey

  33,733

  41,988

  59,690

  76·9

  42·2

  Mid Surrey

  39,694

  49,408

  54,934

  38·4

  11·2

  East Surrey

  45,661

  56,836

  62,004

  35·8

  9·1

  Chichester

  29,626

  36,876

  43,302

  46·2

  17·4

  Mid Downs

  41,518

  51,678

  60,602

  46·0

  17·3

  Worthing

  31,931

  39,745

  49,875

  56·2

  25·5

  Croydon

  58,042

  72,246

  82,053

  41·4

  13·6

  Kingston and Esher

  40,135

  49,957

  54,258

  35·2

  8·6

  Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton

  34,799

  43,315

  48,141

  38·3

  11·1

  Wandsworth

  88,156

  109,730

  125,594

  42·5

  14· 5

  Merton and Sutton

  66,913

  83,289

  89,873

  34·3

  7·9

  South West Thames region total

  608,276

  757,134

  903,224

  48·5

  19· 3

  1985–86 £ thousands (Cash)

  1985–86 £ thousands (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90 £ thousands (Cash)

  Increase/(decrease) in cash terms per cent.

  Increase/(decrease) in real terms per cent.

  Wessex RHA

  8,584

  10,684

  11,992

  39·7

  12·22

  East Dorset

  66,703

  83,027

  101,743

  52·5

  22·5

  West Dorset

  35,419

  44,086

  46,916

  32·5

  6·4

  Portsmouth and South-East Hampshire

  77,200

  96,092

  111,011

  43·8

  15·5

  Southampton and South-West Hampshire

  92,872

  115,600

  129,484

  39·4

  12·0

  Winchester

  34,358

  42,766

  52,061

  51·5

  21·7

  Basingstoke

  37,284

  46,408

  51,103

  37·1

  10·1

  Salisbury

  29,021

  36,123

  40,130

  38·3

  11·1

  Swindon

  39,474

  49,135

  57,393

  45·4

  16· 8

  Bath

  63,564

  79,119

  90,425

  42·3

  14·3

  Isle of Wight

  22,462

  27,959

  32,518

  44·8

  16·3

  Wessex region total

  506,941

  630,999

  724,776

  43·0

  14·9

  302 303

  1985–86 £000 (Cash)

  1985–86 £000 (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90 £000 (Cash)

  Increase/ (decrease) in cash terms per cent.

  Increase/ (decrease) in real terms per cent.

  Oxford RHA

  12,949

  16,119

  13,189

  1·8

  (18·2)

  East Berkshire

  50,361

  62,685

  74,578

  48·1

  19·0

  West Berkshire

  67,196

  83,640

  95,085

  41·5

  13·7

  Aylesbury

  38,457

  47,868

  55,015

  43·1

  14·9

  Wycombe

  27,751

  34,543

  42,123

  51·8

  21·9

  Milton Keynes

  18,580

  23,127

  32,046

  72·5

  38·6

  Kettering

  30,846

  38,394

  46,867

  51·9

  22·1

  Northampton

  53,389

  66,454

  74,155

  38·9

  11·6

  Oxfordshire

  102,845

  128,013

  154,322

  50·1

  20·6

  Oxford region total

  402,374

  500,843

  587,380

  46·0

  17·3

  Total revenue expenditure by health authorities

  1985–86 £000 (Cash)

  1985–86 £000 (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90 £00 (Cash)

  Increase/ (decrease) in cash terms per cent·

  Increase) (decrease) in real terms per cent·

  South Western RHA

  10,119

  12,596

  15,612

  54·3

  23·9

  Bristol and Weston

  81,977

  102,039

  110,609

  34·9

  8·4

  Frenchay

  51,638

  64,275

  64,872

  25·6

  0·9

  Southmead

  46,786

  58,235

  64,700

  38·3

  11·1

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  68,393

  85,130

  98,584

  44·1

  15· 8

  Exeter

  73,958

  92,057

  87,392

  18·2

  (5·1)

  North Devon

  21,030

  26,177

  36,456

  73·4

  39·3

  Plymouth

  65,265

  81,236

  91,788

  40·6

  13·0

  Torbay

  35,258

  43,886

  63,313

  79·6

  44·3

  Cheltenham

  28,340

  35,276

  48,973

  72·8

  38·8

  Gloucester

  52,981

  65,946

  74,855

  41·3

  13·5

  Somerset

  67,521

  84,044

  94,943

  40·6

  13·0

  South Western region total

  603,266

  750,897

  852,097

  41·2

  13· 5

  1985–86 £000 (Cash)

  1985–86 £000 (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90 £ (Cash)

  Increase/ (decrease) in cash terms per cent.

  Increase/ (decrease) in real terms per cent.

  West Midlands RHA

  33,075

  41,169

  47,625

  44·0

  15·7

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  23,196

  28,872

  33,176

  43·0

  14·9

  Herefordshire

  25,400

  31,616

  34,993

  37·8

  10·7

  Kidderminster

  23,928

  29,784

  31,512

  31·7

  5·8

  Worcester

  42,840

  53,324

  55,121

  28·7

  3·4

  Shropshire

  61,269

  76,263

  90,752

  48·1

  19·0

  Mid Staffs

  40,503

  50,414

  56,768

  40·2

  12·6

  North Staffs

  85,660

  106,623

  124,025

  44·8

  16·3

  South East Staffs

  32,753

  40,769

  54,062

  65 ·1

  32·6

  Rugby

  11,043

  13,745

  15,667

  41·9

  14·0

  North Warwickshire

  30,538

  38,012

  44,789

  46·7

  17·8

  South Warwickshire

  40,296

  50,157

  56,635

  40·5

  12·9

  Central Birmingham

  77,172

  96,057

  117,036

  51·7

  21·8

  East Birmingham

  36,015

  44,829

  50,430

  40·0

  12·5

  North Birmingham

  35,914

  44,703

  43,488

  21·1

  (2·7)

  South Birmingham

  57,549

  71,633

  84,331

  46·5

  17·7

  West Birmingham

  58,768

  73,150

  77,116

  31·2

  5·4

  Coventry

  58,592

  72,930

  82,969

  41· 6

  13·8

  Dudley

  48,093

  59,862

  69,667

  44·9

  16·4

  Sandwell

  36,257

  45,130

  49,421

  36·3

  9·5

  Solihull

  27,498

  34,227

  37,595

  36·7

  9·8

  Walsall

  39,171

  48,757

  55,745

  42·3

  14·3

  Wolverhampton

  48,385

  60,226

  68,249

  41·1

  13·3

  West Midlands Region Total

  973,915

  1,212,252

  1,381,172

  41·8

  13·9

  1985–86 £000 (Cash)

  1985–86 £000 (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90 £000 (Cash)

  Increase) (decrease) in cash terms per cent.

  Increase/ (decrease) in real terms per cent.

  Mersey RHA

  17,385

  21,640

  12,772

  (26·5)

  (41·0)

  Chester

  42,572

  52,990

  57,214

  34·4

  8·0

  Crewe

  36,011

  44,824

  49,407

  37·2

  10·2

  Halton

  13,844

  17,232

  22,060

  59·4

  28·0

  304 305

  1985–86 £000 (Cash)

  1985–86 £000 (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90 £000 (Cash)

  Increase/ (decrease) in cash terms per cent.

  Increase/ (decrease) in real terms per cent.

  Macclesfield

  32,327

  40,238

  43,673

  35·1

  8·5

  Warrington

  43,471

  54,109

  57,775

  32·9

  6·8

  Liverpool

  132,580

  165,024

  184,732

  39·3

  11·9

  St· Helens and Knowsley

  55,248

  68,769

  71,856

  30·1

  4·5

  Southport and Formby

  24,231

  30,161

  35,243

  45·4

  16·8

  South Sefton

  49,699

  61,861

  81,196

  63·4

  31·3

  Wirral

  60,556

  75,375

  83,555

  38·0

  10·9

  Mersey region total

  507,924

  632,223

  699,483

  37·7

  10·6

  Total revenue expenditure by health authorities

  1985–86 £000 (Cash)

  1985–86 £000 (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90 £000 (Cash)

  Increase/ (decrease) in cash terms per cent.

  Increase/ (decrease) in real terms per cent.

  North Western RHA

  37,803

  47,054

  42,576

  12·6

  (9·5)

  Lancaster

  40,593

  50,527

  53,607

  32·1

  6·1

  Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

  48,810

  60,755

  69,926

  43·3

  15·1

  Preston

  65,304

  81,285

  80,794

  23·7

  (0·6)

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  54,427

  67,747

  56,911

  4·6

  (16·0)

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  48,735

  60,661

  77,402

  58·8

  27·6

  West Lancashire

  21,463

  26,715

  28,388

  32·3

  6·3

  Chorley and South Ribble

  13,182

  16,409

  18,986

  44·0

  15· 7

  Bolton

  38,693

  48,161

  55,469

  43·4

  15· 2

  Bury

  21,995

  27,377

  33,892

  54·1

  23·8

  North Manchester

  54,516

  67·857

  73,998

  35·7

  9·0

  Central Manchester

  59,871

  74,522

  84,856

  41·7

  13·9

  South Manchester

  80,731

  100,487

  111,538

  38·2

  11·00

  Oldham

  31,492

  39,199

  44,901

  42·6

  14·5

  Rochdale

  27,193

  33,848

  37,238

  36·9

  10·0

  Salford

  73,500

  91,487

  99,268

  35·1

  8·5

  Stockport

  43,631

  54,309

  60,186

  37·9

  10·8

  Tameside and Glossop

  29,165

  36,303

  45,691

  56·7

  25·9

  Trafford

  26,970

  33,570

  36,224

  34·3

  7·9

  Wigan

  42,262

  52,605

  62,727

  48·4

  19·2

  North Western regional total

  860,336

  1,070,878

  1,174,578

  36·5

  9·7

  1985–86 £000 (Cash)

  1985–86 £000 (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90 £000 (Cash)

  Increase) (decrease) in cash terms per cent·

  Increase! (decrease) in real terms per cent·

  Hospitals for Sick Children

  30,319

  37,739

  49,994

  64·9

  32·5

  National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery

  17,023

  21,190

  25,145

  47·7

  18·7

  Moorfields Eye Hospital

  12,640

  15,733

  17,216

  36·2

  9·4

  Bethlem Royal & Maudsley Hospitals

  17,773

  22,122

  26,051

  46·6

  17· 8

  National Heart & Chest Hospitals

  28,798

  35,845

  43,757

  51·9

  22·1

  Royal Marsden Hospital

  21,514

  26,779

  31,684

  47·3

  18·3

  Hammersmith & Queen Charlottes

  41,921

  52,179

  59,267

  41·4

  13·6

  Eastman Dental Hospital

  4,804

  5,980

  6,283

  30·8

  5·1

  London SHAs total

  174,792

  217,567

  259,397

  48·4

  19·2

  Total-England

  9,609,399

  11,961,011

  13,573,377

  41·2

  13·4

  Notes:

  1. The expenditure and percentage figures for individual authorities can be expected to vary and are influenced by patterns of local service provision, the fact that people do cross authority boundaries for treatment and other factors. Those for regional health authorities (RHAs) in particular, reflect the extent to which they directly manage services.

  2. The balance of service management and accounting responsibility between RHA and districts and between districts varies from region to region and has been subject to changes during the period. For example, in 1989–90 the South West Thames RHA accounted for the total costs of the London ambulance service which in 1985–86 were shared between the four Thames RHAs, and the Mersey RHA devolved responsibility for the Mersey metropolitan ambulance service to the South Sefton (Merseyside) district. Similarly, responsibility for particular hospitals passed from the South West Hertfordshire to the North West Hertfordshire and from the Blackburn to the Burnley district health authorities (DHAs) during the period.

  3. Parkside DLIA was recently created through the merger of former DHAs from which annual accounts comparative figures for 1985–86 are derived.

  4. The figures for 1985–86 have been expressed at 1989–90 prices by the use of gross domestic product deflators.

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in revenue spending in 306
  both cash and real terms between 1985 and the latest year for which figures are available of each of the family health services authorities in England.
  307
  Mr. Dorrell
  Family health services authorities(FHSAs) were established under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990. Figures of total revenue expenditure derived from the annual accounts of

  Total revenue expenditure by family practitioner committees (FPCs)

  1985–86£000

  1985–86£000 (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90£000

  Increase/(decrease) in cash terms

  Increase/(decrease) in real terms

  (Cash)

  (Cash)

  per cent.

  per cent.

  Northern region

  Cleveland

  38,681

  48,147

  56,041

  44·9

  16·4

  Cumbria

  34,734

  43,234

  49,078

  41·3

  13·5

  Durham

  43,327

  53,929

  59,967

  38·4

  11·2

  Northumberland

  20,950

  26,076

  30,774

  46·9

  18·0

  Gateshead

  14,487

  18,032

  19,978

  37·9

  10·8

  Newcastle

  20,815

  25,908

  28,277

  35·9

  9·1

  North Tyneside

  14,457

  17,995

  20,345

  40·7

  13·1

  South Tyneside

  10,467

  13,028

  15,399

  47·1

  18·2

  Sunderland

  20,635

  25,685

  29,972

  45·2

  16·7

  Yorkshire region

  Humberside

  58,050

  72,256

  83,867

  44·5

  16·1

  North Yorkshire

  50,665

  63,063

  72,694

  43·5

  15·3

  Bradford

  31,818

  39,604

  46,166

  45·1

  16·6

  Calderdale

  13,531

  16,842

  19,089

  41·1

  13·3

  Kirklees

  23,334

  29,045

  34,031

  45·8

  17·2

  Leeds

  50,784

  63,211

  73,676

  45·1

  16·6

  Wakefield

  22,086

  27,491

  32,881

  48·9

  19·6

  Trent region

  Derbyshire

  58,527

  72,850

  86,356

  47·5

  18·5

  Leicestershire

  55,857

  69,526

  80,852

  44·7

  16·3

  Lincolnshire

  39,703

  49,420

  61,077

  53·8

  23·6

  Nottinghamshire

  61,736

  76,844

  89,379

  44·8

  16·3

  Barnsley

  16,030

  19,952

  22,683

  41·5

  13·7

  Doncaster

  20,110

  25,031

  29,787

  48·1

  19·0

  Rotherham

  14,760

  18,373

  22,693

  53·7

  23·5

  Sheffield

  36,971

  46,018

  52,560

  42·2

  14·2

  East Anglian region

  Cambridgeshire

  41,397

  51,528

  60,049

  45·1

  16·5

  Norfolk

  51,846

  64,534

  78,408

  51·2

  21·5

  Suffolk

  42,882

  53,376

  62,387

  45·5

  16·9

  North West Thames region

  Bedfordshire

  34,304

  42,699

  47,914

  39·7

  12·2

  Hertfordshire

  68,282

  84,991

  94,745

  38·8

  11·5

  Barnet

  21,336

  26,557

  29,141

  36·6

  9·7

  Brent and Harrow

  36,493

  45,423

  47,640

  30·5

  4·9

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  44,941

  55,939

  63,597

  41·5

  13·7

  Hillingdon

  15,093

  18,787

  21,622

  43·3

  15·1

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  29,982

  37,319

  36,613

  22·

  (1·9)

  North East Thames region

  Essex

  98,721

  122,881

  146,149

  48·0

  18·9

  Barking and Havering

  24,298

  30,245

  33,133

  36·4

  9·5

  Camden and Islington

  27,584

  34,335

  39,041

  41·5

  13·7

  City and East London

  39,673

  49,382

  61,244

  54·4

  24·0

  Enfield and Haringey

  31,533

  39,250

  44,213

  40·2

  12·6

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  30,043

  37,395

  41,973

  39·7

  12·2

  South East Thames region

  East Sussex

  51,956

  64,670

  72,058

  38·7

  11·4

  Kent

  102,493

  127,575

  146,651

  43·1

  15·0

  Greenwich and Bexley

  26,365

  32,817

  39,507

  49·8

  20·4

  Bromley

  18,897

  23,522

  26,473

  40·1

  12·5

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  49,958

  62,184

  69,755

  39·6

  12·2

  South West Thames region

  Surrey

  67,457

  83,966

  93,653

  38·8

  11·5

  West Sussex

  50,789

  63,219

  71,915

  41·6

  13·8

  Croydon

  21,642

  26,938

  28,900

  33·5

  7·3

  Kingston and Richmond

  22,059

  27,457

  29,458

  33·5

  7·3

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  41,548

  51,716

  55,930

  34·6

  8·1

  308
  their predecessor family practitioner committees (FPCs) for 1985–86 and 1986–90 the latest available, are shown in the table.
  309

  1985–86£000

  1985–86£000 (at 1989–90 prices)

  1989–90£000

  Increase/(decrease) in cash terms

  Increase/(decrease) in real terms

  (Cash)

  (Cash)

  per cent.

  per cent.

  Wessex region

  Dorset

  47,542

  59,176

  69,271

  45·7

  17·1

  Hampshire

  106,395

  132,432

  146,368

  37·6

  10·5

  Wiltshire

  33,771

  42,035

  48,847

  44·6

  16·2

  Isle of Wight

  9,712

  12,089

  13,912

  43·2

  15·1

  Oxford region

  Berkshire

  49,560

  61,688

  68,667

  38·6

  11·3

  Buckinghamshire

  40,210

  50,051

  58,406

  45·3

  16·7

  Northamptonshire

  36,162

  45,011

  52,399

  44·9

  16·4

  Oxfordshire

  36,494

  45,425

  52,310

  43·3

  15·2

  South Western region

  Avon

  61,175

  76,146

  87,325

  42·7

  14·7

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  33,441

  41,624

  51,482

  53·9

  23·7

  Devon

  74,748

  93,040

  108,493

  45·1

  16·6

  Gloucestershire

  34,439

  42,867

  50,323

  46·1

  17·4

  Somerset

  31,115

  38,730

  46,583

  49·7

  20·3

  West Midlands region

  Hereford and Worcester

  41,149

  51,219

  61,079

  48·4

  19·3

  Shropshire

  26,047

  32,421

  37,941

  45·7

  17·0

  Staffordshire

  63,573

  79,130

  91,252

  43·5

  15·3

  Warwickshire

  32,060

  39,905

  46,441

  44·9

  16·4

  Birmingham

  75,457

  93,922

  103,200

  36·8

  9·9

  Coventry

  22,339

  27,806

  31,250

  39·9

  12·4

  Dudley

  18,144

  22,584

  26,128

  44·0

  15·7

  Sandwell

  21,700

  27,011

  30,606

  41·0

  13·3

  Solihull

  13,408

  16,689

  19,690

  46·9

  18·0

  Walsall

  18,527

  23,061

  24,767

  33·7

  7·4

  Wolverhampton

  17,253

  21,475

  24,209

  40·3

  12·7

  Mersey region

  Cheshire

  65,170

  81,119

  93,511

  43·5

  15·3

  Liverpool

  37,887

  47,159

  50,581

  33·5

  7·3

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  23,592

  29,365

  34,950

  48·1

  19·0

  Sefton

  20,023

  24,924

  29,574

  47·7

  18·7

  Wirral

  24,545

  30,552

  35,408

  44·3

  15·9

  North Western region

  Lancashire

  99,004

  123,232

  142,826

  44·3

  15·9

  Bolton

  17,398

  21,656

  24,669

  41·8

  13·9

  Bury

  13,119

  16,329

  18,399

  40·3

  12·7

  Manchester

  36,081

  44,911

  51,052

  41·5

  13·7

  Oldham

  14,496

  18,044

  20,983

  44·7

  16·3

  Rochdale

  14,225

  17,706

  21,151

  48·7

  19·5

  Salford

  19,054

  23,716

  26,336

  38·2

  11·0

  Stockport

  20,652

  25,706

  29,582

  43·2

  15·1

  Tameside

  15,064

  18,751

  21,547

  43·0

  14·9

  Trafford

  16,182

  20,142

  22,695

  40·2

  12·7

  Wigan

  21,731

  27,049

  29,045

  33·7

  7·4

  England total

  3,266,729

  4,066,165

  4,663,050

  42·7

  14·7

  Notes:

  1. The figures of total revenue expenditure are primarily demand-led payments for family health services (FHS)—payments to general medical practitioners, phamacists, general dental practitioners and opticians. Expenditure is shown after deduction of charges to patients. Cash limited revenue expenditure by FPCs for their own administrative expenses is also included in the totals: £45·1 million (cash) in 1985–86 and £66·5 million (cash) in 1989–90.

  2. The figures for 1985–86 have been expressed at 1989–90 prices by the use of gross domestic product deflators.

  Operating Theatres
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by regional health authority for(a) 31 March and (b) the latest date he has available, how many operating theatres are closed, listing the reason in each case.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Hospital Statistics
  Sir William Shelton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give both the number of in-patient and out-patients treated by national health service hospitals in 1969, 1979 and 1989, and the number of those employed by these hospitals in each of these years; and if he will also give the percentage change in each case.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information is given in the tables.
  311

  NHS Hospitals England

  Percentage change

  1969

  1979

  1988–89

  1969–79

  1979–88–89

  In-patient cases treated

  4,968,391

  5,400,120

  6,585,982

  +8·7

  +22·0

  New out-patient attendances

  7,462,807

  7,713,465

  8,406,254

  +3·4

  +9·0

  NHS hospital-based medical and non-medical staff England at 30 September1 2

  Change 1969–79

  Whole-time equivalent1 change 1979–89

  31969

  1979

  1989

  WTE

  Per cent.

  WTE

  Per cent.

  Total

  538,900

  733,400

  749,100

  194,600

  36·1

  15,700

  2·1

  1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest hundred (100)· Percentages are calculated on unrounded figures.

  2 These data have not been adjusted to take into account reductions in the standard working week, e.g. the reduction in nurses working hours from 41 to 37·5 per week which took place in 1980–81. There is therefore a discontinuity in the time series and the figures should be interpreted with caution.

  3 Comparability affected by the NHS re-organisation that took place in 1974. Figures include data relating to ambulance personnel employed by the Local authorities.

  Sickness Statistics
  Mr. Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of days lost through sickness by employees of the NHS in the last year for which figures are available; and what is the number of statutory sick days allowed in each section.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Precise details about the number of days lost through sickness and payments made are not held centrally. Control of sickness absence is a matter for local management. It is estimated that in 1989–90 about 4 per cent. of the time of all NHS employees was lost due to sickness.

  NHS employees are eligible for statutory sick pay subject to satisfying certain requirements.

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the reference made by the Minister of State to a new drug for those with Alzheimer's disease, in the debate on 17 April,Official Report, columns 515–16, what is the current position with regard to the testing and possible licensing of this drug.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Section 118 of the Medicines Act 1968 precludes the disclosure of information relating to clinical trials or the processing of product licence applications.

  Pesticides
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has regarding the extent of and dangers posed by the poisoning of people by organophosphate pesticides.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Before pesticides can be used legally in the United Kingdom, they must be approved by Ministers who are advised by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. Approved organophosphate (OP) pesticides must be used in accordance with the directions and conditions specified on the product label in order to safeguard workers, consumers of the treated produce and others.

  The Department has copies of the reports of the Health and Safety Executive's agricultural and factory inspectorates on poisoning incidents attributed to pesticides. The last one was for a 15-month period from January 1989 to
  312
  March 1990 and shows that out of a total of 95 suspected poisoning incidents investigated, 25 have been identified as involving OP pesticides. None related to consumption of food from treated crops. One fatality was reported in circumstances where no evidence was available as to how ingestion occurred and the coroner returned an open verdict. Copies of the report are in the Library. The next one is due to be published on 16 July 1991.

  Child Minders
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate the Department has of the number of child minders who are exempt from registration because they work in the family home.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  This information is not available centrally.

  Children Act 1989
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what he estimates as being the total additional cost that will fall on local authorities in order to implement the Children Act 1989 in full(a) in the present financial year and (b) in a full financial year.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Central Government do not specify in detail how local authorities should allocate the overall resources available to them but rather indicate their view of appropriate spending through standard spending control totals. The total covering personal social services for children (including specific grants) was £1,540·9 million for 1991–92, an increase of £139·9 million (18·4 per cent.) over the equivalent figure for 1990–91. This increase allows for the part-year implementation of the Children Act from October 1991. The equivalent figure for 1992–93 will not be available until details of the settlement are known.

  Terrapins
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the number of reported cases of salmonellosis arising from the handling of terrapins.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No cases of human salmonellosis in England and Wales have been associated with the handling of terrapins.

  East Birmingham Hospital Trust
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with Mr. John Bettinson about the chairmanship of the proposed East Birmingham hospital trust.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  None. No formal appointments can be made in advance of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's decision to approve a unit for NHS trust status.

  Aids
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with publishers and editors of soft porn and gay magazines about their assisting in the educational campaign to warn young people and others of the AIDS risk in promiscuous sex and drug taking.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Health Education Authority (HEA) has since February 1989 run a series of educational advertising campaigns in the gay press to alert homosexual and bisexual men to the risks of HIV infection and how they can be avoided. A further series of advertisements for placement in the gay press and a wider range of publications read by men is in production. The HEA discusses strategy for this series of campaigns with an advisory group drawn from organisations representing gay men and with representatives of the Gay Business Association.

  We welcome the contribution that all sections of the press and media make, to strengthen the effectiveness of the AIDS public education effort.

  Sefton General Hospital
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been spent on refurbishment of Sefton general hospital in Liverpool since 1979; how many patients have been treated at Sefton general hospital since 1979; what timetable has been established for the relocation of services provided at Sefton general hospital; and where the individual clinical specialties will be relocated from Sefton general hospital.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 7 June 1991]: The information about the number of patients treated is given in the table. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Emberton, the district chairman, for the additional information which is not held centrally.

  Number of patients treated at Sefton General Hospital since 1979

  Year

  1In-patients

  1Day cases

  2Out-patients

  1979

  4,419

  159

  30,655

  1980

  3,856

  0

  23,598

  1981

  4,144

  0

  22,678

  1982

  3,522

  0

  22,013

  1983

  2,448

  0

  8,258

  1984

  2,485

  0

  9,693

  1985

  2,478

  0

  8,654

  1986

  1,850

  0

  8,132

  1987–88

  n/a

  0

  n/a

  1988–89

  31,993

  0

  n/a

  1989–90

  32,484

  0

  n/a

  1 Source: 1979—1986 DH Form SH3, 1987–88—Discharges and deaths.

  2 Source: 1979—1986 DH Form SH3

  3 Finished ward stays: Form KP20.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people had been waiting for more than a year for an operation in east Birmingham district on(a) 31 December 1989 and (b) 31 March 1991.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 11 June 1991]: There were 458 people waiting over a year for in-patient operations in east Birmingham district at 31 December 1989 and 456 at 30 September 1990, the latest date for which fully validated waiting list information is held centrally.

  Since March 1979 the number waiting over a year for an operation in east Birmingham has fallen by 78 per cent. whilst numbers treated have increased in the order of 32 per cent.

  This information is on a "provider" basis and does not relate to the districts' resident population.

  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will identify and list the 20 waiting lists for operations in the west midlands region with more than 25 per cent. of cases waiting for a year or more.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 11 June 1991]: The information as at 30 September 1990 is given in the table. In west midlands region as whole 23 per cent. of the total number waiting were waiting over one year. In the 12 months to September 1990 the number waiting over a year for in-patient treatment has fallen by 12 per cent. and by 37 per cent. since March 1979. At the same time more patients are being treated. Two and a half per cent. more in-patients were treated in the region in 1989–90 than in 1988–89 and in the order of 29 per cent. more than in 1979.

  Districts within West Midlands RHA where the percentage of patients waiting for an operation in specific specialties for more than 12 months is greater than 25 per cent. of the total number of patients waiting.

  Position as at 30 September 1990.

  District and Specialty

  Patients waiting over Number

  12 months Percentage of total waiting

  Bromsgrove and Redditch

  Trauma and Orthopaedics

  451

  39

  Oral Surgery

  108

  41

  Obs and Gyn (Gynaecology)

  346

  48

  Herefordshire

  General Surgery

  361

  47

  Trauma and Orthopaedics

  471

  45

  ENT

  213

  45

  Plastic Surgery

  77

  76

  Kidderminster and District

  General Surgery

  95

  28

  Obs and Gyn (Gynaecology)

  67

  29

  Worcester and District

  General Surgery

  330

  41

  Trauma and Orthopaedics

  180

  29

  Shropshire

  Ophthalmology

  418

  37

  Oral Surgery

  211

  60

  Mid-Staffordshire

  Trauma and Orthopaedics

  308

  39

  315

  District and Specialty

  Patients waiting over Number

  12 months Percentage of total waiting

  North Staffordshire

  Neurosurgery

  69

  43

  Plastic Surgery

  215

  60

  South East Staffordshire

  Urology

  95

  37

  ENT

  284

  35

  Rugby

  General Surgery

  134

  38

  Oral Surgery

  93

  52

  North Warwickshire

  Urology

  100

  41

  Plastic Surgery

  515

  55

  South Warwickshire

  General Surgery

  508

  41

  Oral Surgery

  191

  67

  Central Birmingham

  Urology

  133

  33

  Trauma and Orthopaedics

  147

  29

  ENT

  493

  51

  Neurosurgery

  100

  53

  Paediatric Surgery

  75

  35

  North Birmingham

  262

  37

  South Birmingham

  Urology

  110

  48

  Trauma and Orthopaedics

  402

  27

  Oral Surgery

  208

  64

  Plastic Surgery

  105

  31

  Coventry

  Oral Surgery

  216

  62

  Cash prices

  Adjusted by the GDP deflator 1990–91 prices

  Adjusted for change in input unit costs 1990–91 prices

  A

  B

  A

  B

  A

  B

  Net HCHS capital

  1973–74

  236

  1,280

  1,398

  1974–75

  243

  1,101

  1,157

  1975–76

  327

  1,181

  1,192

  1976–77

  356

  1,132

  1,159

  1977–78

  315

  881

  897

  1978–79

  358

  903

  913

  1979–80

  395

  854

  834

  1980–81

  540

  987

  906

  1981–82

  651

  1,085

  1,058

  1982–83

  682

  1,061

  1,091

  1983–84

  692

  1,029

  1,086

  1984–85

  767

  1,085

  1,155

  1985–86

  899

  803

  1,207

  1,078

  1,278

  1,142

  1986–87

  915

  1,187

  1,239

  1987–88

  914

  1,126

  1,177

  1988–89

  922

  1,057

  1,123

  1989–90

  1,206

  1,299

  1,345

  1990–91

  1,458

  1,458

  1,458

  Gross HCHS capital

  1973–74

  236

  1,280

  1,398

  1974–75

  243

  1,101

  1,157

  1975–76

  327

  1,181

  1,192

  1976–77

  356

  1,132

  1,159

  1977–78

  315

  881

  897

  1978–79

  18

  366

  923

  933

  1979–80

  110

  405

  876

  855

  1980–81

  116

  556

  1,016

  933

  1981–82

  120

  671

  1,118

  1,091

  1982–83

  119

  701

  1,091

  1,122

  1983–84

  133

  725

  1,078

  1,137

  316

  District and Specialty

  Patients waiting over Number

  12 months Percentage of total waiting

  Cardiothoracic Surgery

  97

  26

  Dudley

  Urology

  116

  34

  Ophthalmology

  147

  29

  Plastic Surgery

  949

  61

  Sandwell

  Urology

  105

  39

  Neurosurgery

  60

  27

  Wolverhampton

  General Surgery

  274

  27

  Trauma and Orthopaedics

  300

  39

  Oral Surgery

  46

  37

  Source: KHOT SM12 Demand for elective admission.

  Health Service (Capital Spending)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State For Health what was the total level of hospital and community health services net capital expenditure, excluding receipts from land and property sales in(a) cash, (b) constant prices adjusted by the gross domestic product deflator and (c) constant prices adjusted by the changes in the input unit costs since 1973–74.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 17 June 1991]: The information requested is given in the table. In order to give a complete picture of capital investment in the NHS, spending financed through property and land sales is also shown as this is a valuable extra resource which health authorities are able to retain and spend in addition to their cash limits.
  317

  Cash prices

  Adjusted by the GDP deflator 1990–91 prices

  Adjusted for change in input unit costs 1990–91 prices

  A

  B

  A

  B

  A

  B

  1984–85

  150

  817

  1,156

  1,230

  1985–86

  185

  985

  185

  888

  1,322

  1,192

  1,400

  1,262

  1986–87

  1149

  1,064

  1,380

  1,441

  1987–88

  1201

  1,115

  1,373

  1,436

  1988–89

  1279

  1,201

  1,377

  1,462

  1989–90

  1232

  1,438

  1,549

  1,603

  1990–91

  1220

  1,678

  1,678

  1,678

  1 Capital receipts—mainly from land sales.

  Note:

  Because of transfers between programmes it is not possible to produce a consistent run of figures over the whole period. Figures in presentation A have been adjusted to reflect the transfer to HCHS of FHS administration, disablement services authority and FHS cash limited spending and for the redefinition of capital. The figures in presentation A do not reflect these transfers and are therefore not comparable with those for later years.

ENERGY

  Energy Projections
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to revise the projections set out in Energy Paper 55.

  Mr. Moynihan
  Yes, as part of the review of renewable energy strategy.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy on how many occasions in 1991 the nuclear installations inspectorate has reported on interruptions of fuel supply to valves controlling cooling gases at Hinkley B nuclear power station; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I understand that no such incident has been reported. However, there was an incident at Hinkley Point B, on 1 May, which involved the incorrect closure of a valve controlling fuel supplies to the gas turbines. These turbines provide standby electrical supplies to the site. There was no immediate danger and the error was found and rectified during a routine test. The Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate is considering what enforcement action should be taken.

  Power Line, Canford Heath
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the consent he gave for the construction of an electricity power line across the site of special scientific interest at Canford Heath, Dorset;

  (2) whether an environmental impact assessment was submitted with the application to construct an electricity power line at Canford Heath, Dorset;

  (3) what assessment he made of the effect of the proposed electricity power lines across Canford Heath, Dorset on the site of special scientific interest, prior to granting consent;

  (4) what consultations he had with the European Commission concerning the application of the European Community directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC) to the proposed electricity power line across Canford Heath, Dorset, prior to giving consent.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy, has today placed in the 318
  Library of the House copies of the decision letter and the two consents which were issued on 17 June. As is explained in the decision letter he considered carefully whether to require an environmental statement but decided that he already had sufficient environmental information to enable him to reach a decision. As the decision letter also makes clear he considered very carefully the environmental effects of the proposals, particularly in the light of the requirements of the EC directive on the conservation of wild birds, in reaching his decision. No consultations were held with the European Commission since implementation of the directive is the responsibility of member states.

WALES

  Public Conveniences
  Mr. Grist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what representations have been made to his Department during the last 12 months regarding the provision of public conveniences.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  None, except for those made by my hon. Friend in February and March this year.

  Mr. Grist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what policy guidance is given by his Department to local authorities regarding the provision of public conveniences.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Since the provision of public conveniences is a matter for local authorities, no policy guidance has been issued by the Welsh Office.

  Immunology
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide funding for the appointment of a consultant immunologist in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The funding and appointment of a consultant immunologist in Wales is a matter for the appropriate district health authority. The Department has not received an application for approval or funding of a consultant post in this specialty.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the percentage change in the number of administrative and clerical staff in the national health service in Wales between September 1979 and the latest available date.
  319
  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  It is not possible to give wholly accurate information on this matter. There is uncertainty about the information base. With this proviso it is calculated that between September 1979 and May 1991 there was a 36·5 per cent. increase in whole time equivalent administration and clerical staff employed by the NHS in Wales. This figure includes a large clinically related element.

  Factors leading to growth include:
  Introduction of general management and recategorisation of some staff;
  Strengthening of certain functions (eg finance, IT) associated with White Paper implementation;
  New initiatives, eg health education, drug abuse, administration support for professional staff;
  Organisational developments eg Planning Forum, VFM, HIU.

  Housing Consultancy Contact
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his parliamentary reply of 6 June,Official Report, column 311, if he will give the total amount paid in consultancy fees to Aldbourne Associates Ltd. or its predecessor for each financial year since 1983.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  As promised in my answer of 6 June, I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as this information is available and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Students (Finance)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent estimate he has made of the number of students in Wales who give up courses in further and higher education colleges due to financial difficulties.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Colleges of further and higher education in Wales have been asked to provide information on the number of students who did not start or continue a course for financial reasons. This information is being collected as part of the monitoring of

  Table 1

  Children aged 0–16 years admitted to hospital as result of an accident1

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  Clwyd

  1,582

  1,604

  1,425

  1,390

  1,389

  Dyfed

  1,253

  1,307

  1,241

  1,160

  1,127

  Gwent

  1,842

  1,683

  1,744

  1,507

  1,444

  Gwynedd

  890

  749

  775

  850

  812

  Mid Glamorgan

  2,367

  2,276

  2,450

  1,803

  1,502

  Powys

  48

  55

  50

  50

  34

  South Glamorgan

  1,420

  1,346

  1,419

  1,334

  1,440

  West Glamorgan

  1,018

  1,115

  1,235

  1,241

  1,235

  1 Based on information supplied by hospitals.

  Excludes children seen at an accident and emergency department who were not admitted to hospital.

  Table 2

  Road accident casualties aged 0–16 years

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  11990

  Clwyd

  403

  416

  467

  476

  516

  451

  Dyfed

  326

  336

  289

  277

  349

  389

  Gwent

  394

  399

  344

  362

  407

  434

  Gwynedd

  250

  231

  224

  243

  258

  223

  Mid Glamorgan

  465

  448

  459

  550

  519

  503

  Powys

  87

  100

  107

  79

  86

  118

  South Glamorgan

  366

  317

  340

  345

  375

  382

  West Glamorgan

  335

  326

  323

  311

  392

  357

  1Provisional.

  320
  access funds and relates to students who have been refused support. Information relating to the current academic year will be available this autumn.

  Radon
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many measurements he has made of radon concentrations in dwelling houses in Wales; what plans he has to make further radon measurements and if he will make a statement on radon levels in dwelling houses in Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Over 1,000 dwellings are included in a survey of radon levels in Wales which the National Radiological Protection Board is carrying out on behalf of the Department. Preliminary indications are that most Welsh homes are not adversely affected by radon although a very small perecentage of houses may have levels of radon above the action level.

  The full results of the survey are expected shortly and I will consider the need for further investigation at that time.

  Children (Accidents)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many accidents there were to children in each of the counties of Wales in each of the years 1985 to 1991.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information requested is not available in the exact form requested.

  The information given in table 1 relates to the number of children aged 0 to 16 years admitted to hospitals in each of the counties as a result of an accident, including road traffic accidents, accidents at work, at home or elsewhere. Figures for 1990 and 1991 are not yet available.

  Table 2 gives the numbers of children aged 0 to 16 years who were casualties of road traffic accidents in Wales and includes all severities of injury. Complete data for 1991 are not available. Those casualties of road accidents who were admitted to hospital in Wales, other than at accident and emergency departments, are included in both tables 1 and 2.

  Mental Handicap
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many severely mentally handicapped patients there are in each of the counties of Wales; how many such patients were resettled from hospital into the community accompanied by hospital nurses; what funds he has made available to enable such patients to be resettled; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The following table shows the number of people with a mental handicap who are

  Number of people

  Number resettled by 31 March 1991

  Number planned for 1991–92

  Planned Welsh Office funding under mental handicap strategy in 1991–92

  Clwyd

  1,430

  40

  12

  1,128,000

  Dyfed

  1,290

  —

  —

  —

  Gwent

  1,750

  94

  44

  1,370,000

  Gwynedd

  893

  3

  19

  729,000

  Mid Glamorgan

  2,089

  14

  20

  400,000

  Powys

  674

  13

  24

  140,000

  South Glamorgan

  1,025

  37

  20

  250,000

  West Glamorgan

  1,300

  12

  12

  573,000

  TOTAL

  10,406

  213

  151

  4,590,000

  I congratulate everyone involved in the all-Wales mental handicap strategy on the excellent work being done under this pioneering initiative to resettle people with a mental handicap in the community.

  Children Act 1989
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what he estimates as being the total additional cost that will fall on local authorities in Wales in order to implement the Children Act 1989 in full(a) in the present financial year and (b) in a full financial year.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  My right hon. Friend does not lay down in detail how local authorities should allocate the overall resources available to them but rather indicates his view of appropriate spending through the indicative service distribution of total standard spending. The total covering personal social services (including specific grants) is £224 million for 1991–92, an increase of £37·2 million (19–9 per cent.) over the equivalent figure for 1990–91. This increase allows for the part-year implementation of the Children Act from October 1991. The equivalent figures for 1992–93 will not be available until details of the settlement are announced in the autumn.
  322
  registered with a county joint planning team, registration and service provision not being dependent on the definition of the severity of mental handicap. Also shown are the actual numbers of people resettled by the end of March 1991 and those planned for resettlement during 1991–92. The expenditure shown excludes the funding to be made available by district health authorities.

  Information about the number of people with a mental handicap who have been resettled from hospital into the community accompanied by a hospital nurse is not held centrally.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the answer of 3 June,Official Report, columns 21–22, whether the figures given for 1990–91 are consistent with the figures given for 1988–89 in the answers of 30 April 1990, Official Report, columns 426–27, and 10 May 1990, Official Report, column 191; and when figures for 1989–90 will be available.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The figures for energy consumption are not comparable. Those given in the answer of 30 April 1990 related to total consumption for buildings where my Department was in occupation but not in all cases the sole occupant. Those given in the answer of 3 June related to the precise areas of accommodation occupied by my Department and are a more accurate reflection of its consumption. The energy cost figures given in the answer of 3 June 1991 and 10 May 1991 are consistent, as both relate to areas occupied. Figures are available for 1989–90 but they are unreliable.

  Women Civil Servants
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking to encourage promotion of women civil servants within his Department.

  Mr. David Hunt
  My Department is committed to a policy of equality of opportunity. It has introduced a range of measures to enable women to develop their careers. These include flexible working hours, part-time working, job-sharing, re-instatement, career breaks, holiday play schemes and, shortly, a nursery. Guidance to staff emphasises that there must be no discrimination against women in decisions about recruitment, promotion, staff reporting, allocation to duties or selection for training. An annual report monitors these areas in detail. My Department also runs single-sex training courses for women to improve their opportunities for progression into senior grades.

  Treatment Centres
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he has made for the payment of transport costs of patients attending for surgery, consequential treatment and examination at the three treatment centres set up in 1989–90 and in the proposed new ophthalmology treatment centre.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  Travel arrangements to all the treatment centres is the responsibility of the referring health authority. When an authority is not prepared to accept this cost it is for the patients to decide whether to meet the cost themselves. Patients in receipt of income support, family credit or with a low income entitlement may reclaim their costs under the hospital travel costs scheme.

  Housing
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to issue planning policy guidance on affordable housing for local needs.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  We are today publishing guidance in a circular describing the role the planning system can play in securing the provision of affordable housing, and advising how additional land may be released to meet local needs in rural areas. The circular follows similar advice issued to local authorities in England last month and announced in the House by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning at the Department of the Environment. Copies of the circular have been placed in the Library of the House.

THE ARTS

  Community-based Projects
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Minister for the Arts what assessment he has made of the impact of Government policy on opportunities for(a) adults and (b) young people to be involved in community-based arts projects.

  Mr. Renton
  [holding answer 18 June 1991]: The Government's support for community arts is channelled through the Arts Council of Great Britain and the regional arts associations. Both provide financial support for the
  324
  Arts Development Association which represents those involved in the provision of community-based arts projects. The regional arts associations also support a wide range of individual projects, usually in partnership with local authorities. These provide many opportunities for involvement by all sections of the community.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Income Tax
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate for 1991–92 and for a full year the effect on Treasury revenues of introducing an indexed 1987–88 regime of higher rates and bands of income tax.

  Mr. Maude
  If, for 1991–92, the higher rate of 40 per cent. was replaced by the basic rate limit and higher rate bands indexed from their 1987–88 levels, the yield would be about £2 billion in 1991–92 and about £4 billion in a full year. All other aspects of the 1991–92 income tax regime are assumed unchanged. The rates of tax would be:

  Taxable income (£)

  Per cent.

  1–23,400

  25

  23,401–26,700

  40

  26,701–33,300

  45

  33,301–43,700

  50

  43,701–54,100

  55

  Over 54,100

  60

  Taxable income is income subject to tax from all sources after deducting allowances and reliefs. No account is taken of possible behavioural changes or of any effect on receipts of capital gains tax.

  Business Taxes
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has on the level of business taxes as expressed as a percentage of gross natural product in(a) the United States of America, (b) Germany, (c) Japan and (d) the United Kingdom for 1978–79 and for the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maude
  The latest available information in respect of direct taxes paid by corporations can be obtained from page 92 in the November 1990 issue of "Economic Trends" (No. 445) which is available in the Library of the House. It is not possible to distinguish separately indirect taxes paid by corporations.

  European Community Budget
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the United Kingdom contribution to the EC budget for the current year.

  Mr. Maude
  The latest estimate of the United Kingdom's net contribution to the European Community budget in 1991 is £1,225 million. This was published in the "Statement on the 1991 Community Budget" (Cm. 1490).

  Security Vetting
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many posts in the Inland Revenue in Northern Ireland are subject to counter-terrorist checks under the new procedures for security vetting announced by the Prime Minister on 24 July 1990.

  Mr. Maude
  All new recruits to posts in the Inland Revenue in Northern Ireland are subject to counterterrorist checks. In the period 1 October 1990 to 18 June 1991 a total of 150 posts have been filled.

  Public Information
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will state the reasons for file T160/763/F14755 having been retained to date by the Treasury.

  (2) if he will arrange for the file T160/763/F14755, currently held by the Treasury, to be placed in the Public Records Office;

  (3) if it is open to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North to inspect file T160/763/F14755.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  According to our research this file appears to have been destroyed in 1977. As a result of a clerical error the PRO was not informed.

  Value Added Tax
  Ms. Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reconsider the decision to exclude children's cycle helmets from the exemption from value added tax applied to children's clothing.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Cyclists' safety helmets falling within the provisions of group 17 of schedule 5 to the VAT Act 1983, as articles designed for young children and not suitable for older persons, are and always have been zero-rated for value added tax.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what savings his Department expects to make as a result of the operation of the Child Support Agency after maintenance tax relief in each year from 1993 to 2000.

  Mr. Maude
  The introduction of the Child Support Agency is expected to have a negligible effect on the cost of tax relief for maintenance payments.

DEFENCE

  RAF Finningley
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for the latest date he has available in respect of Royal Air Force Finningley how many service married quarters there are in stock and(a) the number vacant, (b) the number vacant for less than six months, (c) the number vacant for up to a year, (d) the number vacant for up to two years and (e) the number vacant over two years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  As at 31 March 1991 there were 522 service married quarters at RAF Finningley of which 155 were vacant. Of these, 33 had been vacant for up to 326
  one year, 78 between one and two years, and 44 for over two years. The majority of these properties were either undergoing or awaiting major maintentance and modernisation work while the remainder have been identified for disposal. Figures for quarters vacant for less than six months are not separately collated.

  Service Men Overseas
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for 1981 and the latest date he has available the countries in which(a) service men and (b) service women were serving for each of the armed services.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The information requested is in the tables below. The breakdown between service men and service women is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  1981

  Antarctica

  India

  Australia

  Italy

  Bahamas

  Korea

  Bahrain

  Kuwait

  Bangladesh

  Malaysia

  Barbados

  Mauritius

  Belgium

  Nepal

  Belize

  New Zealand

  Bermuda

  Nigeria

  Brazil

  Norway

  Brunei

  Oman

  Canada

  Portugal

  Cyprus

  Qatar

  Denmark

  Sardinia

  Diego Garcia

  Saudi Arabia

  Falkland Islands

  Singapore

  Fiji

  Sri Lanka

  France

  Sudan

  Germany

  Swaziland

  Ghana

  Turkey

  Gibraltar

  United Arab Emirates

  Greece

  USA

  Holland

  Zimbabwe

  Hong Kong

  1991

  Antarctica

  India

  Antigua

  Italy

  Ascension Island

  Jordan

  Australia

  Kenya

  Bahrain

  Korea

  Bangladesh

  Kuwait

  Barbados

  Lesotho

  Belgium

  Malaysia

  Belize

  Mauritius

  Bermuda

  Namibia

  Brazil

  Nepal

  Brunei

  New Zealand

  Canada

  Norway

  Columbia

  Oman

  Cyprus

  Portugal

  Denmark

  Qatar

  Diego Garcia

  Sardinia

  Dominica

  Saudi Arabia

  Egypt

  Sinai

  Falkland Islands

  Singapore

  France

  Spain

  Gambia

  St. Lucia

  Germany

  St. Vincent

  Ghana

  Swaziland

  Gibraltar

  Turkey

  Greece

  Turks and Caicos Islands

  Grenada

  United Arab Emirates

  Holland

  USA

  Hong Kong

  Zimbabwe

  327
  Notes:

  1. Including United Kingdom service personnel on loan to other countries or territories.

  2. Excluding defence attaches and defence advisers.

  VIPER Microprocessor
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to his answer of 23 May,Official Report, column 611, if he will now make a further statement on his assessment of the consequences of his Department's announcements as to the reliability of the VIPER microprocessor and role in its market launch;

  (2) if he will make a statement on his Department's handling of its dealings with Charter Technologies Ltd. in respect of (a) the VIPER microprocessor and (b) other contracts.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I have nothing to add at this stage to the answer that I gave the hon. Member on 23 May at column 611.

  Buccaneer Jet (Near Miss)
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made into investigating the near-miss of a Buccaneer jet and CaledonianMacBrayne ferry "Lord of the Isles" on 30 April; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The investigation into this incident is progressing and should be completed shortly.

  Negligence
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the provisions governing the practice of his Department in making available documents to service men bringing suit against the Government for negligence under the Crown Proceedings (Armed Forces) Act 1987.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Department's practice is to meet all reasonable requests from the legal representatives of service men for the provision of relevant documents or information to assist them in formulating a common law damages claim, subject to any overriding constraints on the disclosure of a document.

  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the requirement to prove negligence by Her Majesty's Government before compensation would be received applies to(a) a civil servant in his Department and (b) a membr of the Territorial Army, injured in circumstances similar to those involving Grenadier Guardsmen at Batus range Canada on 7 July 1989.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Yes.

  Household Division
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give an estimate of the overall financial cost of the Household Divison in fulfilling its public duties role over each of the past five years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) on 19 February 1991 at col.136.

  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate has been made of the contribution 328
  of the public duties activity of the Household Division towards the annual tourist income of the United Kingdom in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  These activities are widely recognised to be a tourist attraction but their value in terms of tourist income is not readily quantifiable.

  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what charge is made per man hour for the ceremonial work, including music, drill and musical rides, that is not directly in the service of the Crown, by members of the Household Division; and how much was generated from this source in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All ceremonial duties undertaken by members of the Household Division are performed directly in the service of the Crown. Other musical and display performances are undertaken in support of approved recruiting and other official activities are charged for at rates to recover costs, which vary according to circumstances. Information about the income generated is not recorded centrally and would require disproportionate effort to produce.

  Gulf War
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the men, equipment and ammunition of the two armoured brigades recently deployed in the Gulf war had to be added to the establishment of those brigades as at 2 August 1990.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The peacetime establishment of 7th Armoured Brigade and 4th Brigade were increased by between two-thirds and three-quarters to bring them to war establishment, adjusted to take account of the circumstances of the Gulf deployment and in particular of the need for greater than normal logistic support. Equipment holdings were also brought up to war establishment and, for certain types, altered to take account of operational requirements in the Gulf; it is not possible to give an overall percentage.

  Gurkhas
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the manpower figure he gave for the British Army in his announcement of 4 June,Official Report, column 143, included the Brigade of Gurkhas; and what allowance he made for the continuation of the Brigade of Gurkhas after 1997;

  (2) what effect his decision to maintain the Brigade of Gurkhas until 1997 has on the number of other battalions of the British Army to be maintained.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The manpower figure given on 4 June included all Regular manpower, trained and untrained. I am not able to comment on the future of individual regiments, which is currently the subject of consultation within the Army.

  Radiation Dosage
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report, the text of the letter of 13 June to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish concerning radiation dosage.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  The text of the letter is as follows:
  329
  "Further to my reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions and my letter to you of 3 May regarding radiation dose exposures, I am now able to supply the final version of the dose information for the dockyards and naval bases. This is attached. I can confirm that it does not differ from the provisional data supplied with my previous letter".

  Table A Annual individual radiation dose equivalents—Rosyth dockyard civilian workers—1990 (Data supplied by BTL Rosyth)

  Figures

  0–15 mSv

  *1,455

  15–20 mSv

  5

  20–30 mSv

  0

  30–40 mSv

  0

  40–50 mSv

  0

  More than 50 mSv

  0

  Number of monitored employees

  1,460

  Collective dose (ManSv)

  2·24

  Average dose (mSv)

  1·53

  Table B Annual individual radiation dose equivalents Devonport dockyard civilian workers—1990 (Data supplied by BTL Rosyth)

  Figures

  0–15 mSv

  *1,716

  15–20 mSv

  0

  20–30 mSv

  0

  30–40 mSv

  0

  40–50 mSv

  0

  More than 50 mSv

  0

  Number of monitored employees

  1,716

  Collective dose (ManSv)

  1·56

  Average dose (mSv)

  0·91

  * Includes written system persons.

  Table C Annual individual radiation dose equivalents all personnel—RNAD Coulport 1990

  Figures

  0–15 mSv

  *226

  15–20 mSv

  0

  20–30 mSv

  0

  30–40 mSv

  0

  40–50 mSv

  0

  More than 50 mSv

  0

  Number of monitored employees

  226

  Collective dose (ManSv)

  0·063

  Average dose (mSv)

  0·28

  * All doses in the 0–5 mSv band.

  Number includes 31 naval personnel (some may only have served at RNAD Coulport for part of the year).

  Table D Annual individual radiation dose equivalents for all personnel at Clyde S/M base—1990

  Figures

  0–15 mSv

  337

  15–20 mSv

  21

  20–30 mSv

  28

  30–40 mSv

  1

  40–50 mSv

  0

  More than 50 mSv

  0

  Number of monitored employees

  387

  Collective dose (ManSv)

  2·093

  Average dose (mSv)

  5·41

  330

  Table E Annual individual radiation dose equivalents for all personnel at HMS Defiance–1990

  Figures

  0–15 mSv

  303

  15–20 mSv

  7

  20–30 mSv

  0

  30–40 mSv

  0

  40–50 mSv

  0

  More than 50 mSv

  0

  Number of monitored employees

  310

  Collective dose (ManSv)

  0·897

  Average dose (mSv)

  2·89

  Aircraft Shelters, Stornoway
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to proceed with the construction of hardened aircraft shelters at RAF Stornoway.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The construction of the shelters is under discussion with the NATO authorities.

  Compensation (Interim Payments)
  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Mr. Dennis Brown of New Park farm, East Anstey, will receive an interim payment in compensation for his free-range chickens, following Royal Air Force low-flying activities.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Mr. Dennis Brown of New Park farm, East Anstey, will receive an interim payment within the next two weeks.

  Mr. Speller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the practice of his Department in respect of making interim payments of compensation to persons whose cases have been taken up by hon. Members.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Interim payments are generally made to claimants where it has been shown that some financial hardship exists. It is departmental policy that all official action is suspended once cases have been taken up by hon. Members, while Ministers review the cases.

  Tigerfish Torpedo
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total cost to date of the Tigerfish torpedo programme; and if he will provide a breakdown of the costs attributable to(a) Tigerfish Mod. 01, (b) Tigerfish Mod. 1 and (c) Tigerfish Mod. 2.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  [holding answer 17 June 1991]: The total cost of development and production of Tigerfish to date is around £1 billion in 1991–92 prices. This breaks down as about £540 million for the MOD O, about £270 million for the MOD 1 and about £200 million for the MOD 2.

  BRITISH RAIL: FINANCE
  BRITISH RAIL: FINANCE
  LONDON TRANSPORT: FINANCE
  LONDON TRANSPORT: FINANCE
  ELECTRICITY GENERATING PROJECTS
  ELECTRICITY GENERATING PROJECTS
  SCIENCE BUDGET
  SCIENCE BUDGET
  HARINGEY COUNCIL BUILDING CLEANING: DIRECTION
  HARINGEY COUNCIL BUILDING CLEANING: DIRECTION