Written Answers of 24 June 1991

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Kurdistan
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of the armed forces of each of the allied coalition countries have been stationed in Iraqi Kurdistan on a week-by-week basis since 6 May.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The information requested is not available.

  Paraguay
  Mr. Adley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British-Paraguayan relations.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  We enjoy friendly relations with Paraguay and maintain an embassy in Asuncion. British-Paraguayan trade is on the increase. I welcome the current visit to United Kingdom of a Paraguayan parliamentary delegation.

  Caribbean Dependent Territories
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Chief Ministers of(a) British Virgin Islands, (b) Turks and Caicos Islands, (c) Anguilla, (d) Montserrat, (e) Bermuda and (f) Cayman Islands; and what subjects were discussed in each case.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  During my time in office I have met all the Chief Ministers of the Caribbean Dependent Territories. The Cayman Islands do not have a Chief Minister. I met Executive Council Members during my visit to Grand Cayman on 6 December 1990. I look forward to meeting the recently elected Chief Minister of Turks and Caicos Islands in London on 10 July. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met the Premier of Bermuda on 27 November 1990 in London.

  The United Kingdom's commitment to the good government of the territories and the ways in which we can assist the local governments with their economic and social developments were discussed at all these meetings.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had or proposes with the Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands about the appointment of the new governor.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Following normal procedure Mr. Stoutt has already been advised of the appointment of the next governor in advance of the official announcement which is expected shortly.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations have been 362
  undertaken with the Government of the British Virgin Islands on capital punishment; what was their result; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The views of the Governments of all the Caribbean Dependent Territories on capital punishment are well known and were carefully considered before the decision to abolish capital punishment for murder in the Caribbean Dependent Territories was taken. I discussed them with the Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands in London in March and when I visited the islands in April.

  European Political Union
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the latest draft treaty on political union submitted by the Luxembourg presidency.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  The presidency circulated on 20 June a revised draft treaty text updating the version circulated on 17 April and taking account of discussions in the inter-governmental conference since then. This is an interim working document which will simply be a basis for the next phase of the negotiations. I understand the Library is taking steps to obtain a copy.

  Hong Kong
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the People's Republic of China has ever suggested that it be allowed to construct the new airport or any part of it for Hong Kong.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No.

  Information Services
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the costs of administering the market information inquiry service and the overseas status report service were in each of the last two financial years.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  Information on the costs of supplying these individual export services is not, at present, separately identified.

  Kuwait
  Mr. David Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with the Government of Kuwait the most recent death sentences on alleged collaborators imposed by the military court in Kuwait.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We shall continue as necessary both bilaterally and with our EC partners to urge the Kuwaiti authorities that trials should be conducted in accordance with due process of law and respect for the fundamental human rights of the defendants.

  China
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 19 June, if he will ask the Chinese authorities to produce Lee Bun and her
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  husband to demonstrate that they have not been executed; and if he will seek an account of the circumstances in which the couple are now living.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  No. The Chinese authorities have told us that the couple are under investigation, accused of engaging in illegal petroleum transactions.

  Gibraltar
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last carried out a review of the financial consequences for Gibraltar of their joining the EC customs union; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  At the request of the Government of Gibraltar we carried out such a review earlier this year. It has been passed, in confidence, to the Gibraltar Government.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there will be anything pertaining to Gibraltar at the British pavilion at Expo 92 in Seville.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10 June at col.417. The theme of the British pavillion at Expo 92 will be "Original Britain". There is no plan to include exhibits based on specific geographical areas.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Development Issues
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each year since 1979 Overseas Development Administration funding for research and development into development issues, in real and nominal terms.

  Mrs. Chalker
  [holding answer 19 June 1991: The amount spent by the ODA on funding for research and development into development issues since 1979 is as follows:

  Cash terms £ 000

  Real Terms(1990 Prices)£ 000

  1979–80

  25,800

  51,771

  1980–81

  27,333

  46,349

  1981–82

  26,474

  40,940

  1982–83

  29,358

  42,389

  1983–84

  32,588

  44,973

  1984–85

  33,861

  44,471

  1985–86

  32,875

  40,950

  1986–87

  36,056

  43,409

  1987–88

  48,906

  55,897

  1988–89

  53,058

  56,439

  1989–90

  58,486

  58,486

  Source: Statistics of the British Aid Programme

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecutors
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Attorney-General what research the Government have carried out on whether the quality of service to the public would be better and costs lower if Crown prosecutors were granted extended rights of audience; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  Research is at present confined to an initial assessment of the potential costs and savings to the CPS according to the range of options open to the Lord Chancellor's advisory committee on legal education and training. No research is feasible as regards the qualitative effect of any decision by the advisory committee.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Attorney-General what is his latest estimate of the full costs to public funds involved in providing the services for a full year of(a) a Crown prosecutor, (b) a senior Crown prosecutor and (c) a chief Crown prosecutor.

  The Attorney-General
  The latest estimates of the full costs to public funds involved in providing the services of Crown prosecutors for a full year, including accommodation costs and notional superannuation contributions are as follows:

  In London

  Outside London

  (a) a Crown Prosecutor

  £36,868

  £29,404

  (b) a Senior Crown Prosecutor

  £42,225

  £34,306

  (c) a Grade 4 Chief Crown Prosecutor

  £67,424

  £59,281

  a Grade 5 Chief Crown Prosecutor

  —

  £53,056

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Attorney-General what is his estimate of the number of salaried Crown prosecutors who appear in court as advocates on each sitting day.

  The Attorney-General
  No collected figures are available in respect of the number of salaried Crown prosecutors who appear in court each sitting day. In the financial year 1990–91 some 246,000 sessions in the magistrates' courts were covered by salaried Crown prosecutors. Assuming 250 sitting days in a year, the estimated average number of salaried Crown prosecutors appearing as advocates each day is 1,000.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the current annual cost of the Crown prosecution service; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  The current estimated annual cost of the Crown prosecution service for 1991–92 is £229,923,000. Further details were published in "Supply Estimates 1991–92" class X, votes 5 and 6.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Attorney-General if he is able to give an estimate of the number of hours per week spent in court, excluding waiting time, on average, by a Crown prosecutor and a senior Crown prosecutor respectively.

  The Attorney-General
  No specific figures are available of the average number of hours per week spent in court by Crown prosecutors. The best estimate that can be made is a figure of about 15 hours per week for both Crown
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  prosecutors and senior Crown prosecutors. Waiting time is not a significant factor—full list advocacy by Crown prosecutors results in efficient use of resources and reduces waiting time to a negligible level.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of advocates appearing in magistrates' courts on behalf of the Crown prosecution service on an average day are(a) counsel from the independent Bar instructed (i) on a case-by-case basis and (ii) otherwise, (b) solicitors in private practice instructed (i) on a case-by-case basis and (ii) otherwise, (c) salaried members of the Crown prosecution service and (d) other advocates.

  The Attorney-General
  Exact figures giving the proportions requested are not available. The estimated proportions for the financial year 1990–91 are:

  (a) (i) 2 per cent.

  (ii) 15 per cent.

  (b) (i) and (ii) 17 per cent.

  (c) 66 per cent.

  (d) 0 per cent.—an insignificant number of cases is handled by advocates from other Government Departments on behalf of the Crown prosecution service where a joint prosecution arises.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Attorney-General what additional cost to public funds is involved in providing the services of a Crown prosecutor stationed in central London as against one stationed in Manchester.

  The Attorney-General
  The latest estimate of the additional cost to public funds involved in providing the services of a Crown prosecutor stationed in central London as against one stationed in Manchester is £7,464.

PRIME MINISTER

  Baltic Republics
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Prime Minister when representatives of the Government of the United Kingdom will next meet representatives of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia and what plans they have to discuss improved trade relations with the Baltic republics.

  The Prime Minister
  My hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office will meet the Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Mr. Saudargas on 25 June. My hon. and learned Friend expects to discuss a wide range of topics of mutual interest with Mr. Saudargas. We have regular contacts with Baltic representatives in London and Moscow, and in the Baltic republics. These contacts cover a wide range of bilateral political and economic issues.

  Solvent Abuse
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Prime Minister which Department is responsible for the co-ordination of Government policies on solvent abuse; and what policies there are to reduce solvent abuse.

  The Prime Minister
  The Department of Health takes the lead on Government policies against solvent misuse. These policies are directed primarily towards education and prevention and, where practicable, the restriction of sales of products containing volatile substances to young people. We have supported a number 366
  of initiatives to educate young people at risk and to inform adults, including parents, professional workers and retailers who may become involved.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Shops (Golders Green Road)
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, how many shops the Church Commission owns in Golders Green road; and what is their rent.

  Mr. Alison
  Forty shops producing nearly £850,000 per annum.

  Property Holdings
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what were the reasons for the reduction in the value of the Commissioners' holding in the Grange Precinct, Birkenhead between 1989 and 1990.

  Mr. Alison
  The value dropped by 13 per cent. in line with general market trends at a time of recession.

WALES

  Mail Services
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the intention of the Post Office to combine south Wales with south-west England for Royal Mail purposes; what discussions he has had with the Post Office concerning this matter; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  We have received representations from the hon. Member for Ceredigion and Pembroke, North (Mr. Howells) and from the Gowerton branch of Plaid Cymru concerning the location of the Royal Mail administrative headquarters for the combined south Wales and south-west England area. We understand that Royal Mail will not be transferring its total divisional administrative base into one location. There will be several outstanding administrative units. We have written to the chairman of the Post Office pressing the case for Wales as a location for the administrative staff. The chairman has assured me that the location of the divisional headquarters and its outstations will be carefully considered.

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the members of the Cardiff Bay development corporation.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Current members of Cardiff Bay development Corporation are:

  Geoffrey Inkin OBE (Chairman)

  Councillor Lord Brooks of Tremorfa (Deputy Chairman)

  Mrs. Mair Barnes

  Mrs. Honor Chapman

  Alan Cox CBE

  Hugh Hudson-Davies

  Councillor Paddy Kitson

  Professor Richard Silverman MSc(Edin) Dip Arch ARIBA ARIAS

  James Beveridge MA FCA

  Brian Thomas

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  At present there are three vacancies following recent district council elections.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prevention of Terrorism Act
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of people held under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 in connection with Northern Ireland affairs were not allowed to contact a solicitor for the first 48 hours;

  (2) what proportion of people held under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 in connection with Northern Ireland affairs exercised their right under (a) 56 and (b) section 58 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act;

  (3) what proportion of people held under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 in connection with Northern Ireland affairs were not allowed to contact another person for the first 48 hours.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  This information is not available.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many searches were made of the records held by the national joint unit at Scotland Yard in each year from 1987 to 1990, respectively.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The number of inquiries made of the records held by the national joint unit was as follows:

  Number

  1987

  81,060

  1988

  77,472

  1989

  101,766

  1990

  83,753

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many computerised records the national joint unit holds on individuals for the control of terrorism in connection with Northern Ireland affairs.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men and how many women have been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Acts in connection with Northern Ireland affairs each quarter since 22 March 1984(a) at ports and airports and (b) elsewhere.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The information requested is given in the tables.

  Men

  Women

  Total

  (a) Ports

  1984

  Q1 1

  —

  —

  —

  Q2 1

  —

  —

  20

  Q3 1

  —

  —

  19

  Q41

  —

  —

  16

  1985

  Q1

  12

  0

  12

  Q2

  18

  4

  22

  Q3

  17

  5

  22

  Q4

  14

  0

  14

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  Men

  Women

  Total

  1986

  Q1

  30

  2

  32

  Q2

  6

  1

  7

  Q3

  14

  1

  15

  Q4

  19

  1

  20

  1987

  Q1

  41

  2

  43

  Q2

  38

  2

  40

  Q3

  26

  3

  29

  Q4

  21

  1

  22

  1988

  Q1

  22

  1

  23

  Q2

  17

  0

  17

  Q3

  42

  2

  44

  Q4

  25

  1

  26

  1989

  Q1

  19

  1

  20

  Q2

  19

  0

  19

  Q3

  21

  0

  21

  Q4

  17

  1

  18

  1990

  Q1

  14

  0

  14

  Q2

  16

  2

  18

  Q3

  9

  1

  10

  Q4

  9

  2

  11

  (b) Elsewhere

  1984

  Q1

  1—

  —

  Q2

  10

  Q3

  9

  Q4

  29

  1985

  Q1

  10

  2

  12

  Q2

  36

  10

  46

  Q3

  11

  2

  13

  Q4

  44

  8

  52

  1986

  Q1

  0

  0

  0

  Q2

  14

  3

  17

  Q3

  11

  1

  12

  Q4

  43

  1

  44

  1987

  Q1

  15

  2

  17

  Q2

  12

  0

  12

  Q3

  14

  3

  17

  Q4

  4

  0

  4

  1988

  Q1

  6

  4

  10

  Q2

  11

  0

  11

  Q3

  14

  2

  16

  Q4

  21

  2

  23

  1989

  Q1

  12

  4

  16

  Q2

  14

  2

  16

  Q3

  17

  0

  17

  Q4

  31

  5

  36

  1990

  Q1

  15

  1

  16

  Q2

  27

  4

  31

  Q3

  24

  2

  26

  Q4

  37

  6

  43

  1 From 22 March 1984. Figures not available in the form required.

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  This information is in respect of detentions in Great Britain only. Information in respect of detentions in Northern Ireland is not available by sex and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the role of the national joint unit at Scotland Yard; and how many people work in this unit.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The role of the national joint unit at New Scotland Yard is to prepare, on behalf of all police forces in Great Britain, applications to the Secretary of State for extensions of detention and exclusion orders under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989, and to provide advice to police forces on the operation of the Act. The unit is staffed by 17 police officers, most of whom are seconded to it for short periods from provincial forces.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average length of time from the initial arrest to the first interview under paragraph 3(2) of schedule 3 for all those arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 in connection with Northern Ireland affairs;

  (2) what was the average length of time from the moment they were stopped to the first interview under paragraph 3(2) of schedule 3 for all those people stopped

  Number of people

  Offence

  Where charged

  Outcome

  3

  Conspiracy to cause explosions

  London

  In two cases the charges were dropped. The third is awaiting trial.

  2

  Conspiracy to murder

  London

  Awaiting trial.

  1

  Possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life

  London

  9 months in young offenders' institution.

  1

  Possession of a firearm in an aerodrome

  Bedfordshire

  Awaiting trial.

  2

  Assault occasioning actual bodily harm

  1 Wiltshire

  Fined

  1 London

  4 months' imprisonment.

  1

  Driving with excess alcohol

  Essex

  Fined.

  1

  Driving whilst disqualified

  Warwickshire

  6 months' imprisonment suspended for 2 years.

  4

  Various offences under Theft Acts 1968 & 1978

  2 London

  1 Failed to appear—warrant issued

  1 Fined.

  1 Essex

  Conditional discharge.

  1 Surrey

  6 months' imprisonment suspended for one year.

  1

  Possession of forged passport and driving licence

  Greater Manchester

  Fined.

  1

  Criminal damage

  Belfast

  1 month in young offenders' institution.

  The table relates to those detained in Great Britain only. In addition 262 people who were detained in Northern Ireland between 22 March and 31 December 1990 were charged with offences in Northern Ireland. Details of the offences and the outcome of the charges are not available.

  Police (Misconduct)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the amount of compensation paid to civilians by the Metropolitan police in each of the last three years following complaints.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  Compensation payments may be made as the result of court proceedings or in out-of-court settlements, or when civil action has been suggested but 370
  and examined at ports and airports and detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 in connection with Northern Ireland affairs;

  (3) in how many cases special arrangements for children have had to be made as a result of their parents or guardians being examined or detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Acts in connection with Northern Ireland affairs in each quarter since 22 March 1984;

  (4) how many children have been taken into care as a result of their parents or guardians being detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Acts in connection with Northern Ireland affairs in each quarter since 22 March 1984.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Acts in connection with Northern Ireland affairs have been charged only with criminal offences other than under the Act, shown by(a) principal offences and (b) where charged; and the outcome of the charge between 22 March and 31 December 1990.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  The information requested is given in the table:

  not pursued. The matter concerned may not be such as to provide grounds for a complaint made under the terms of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

  Compensation payments totalling £388,000, £523,000 and £836,000 were paid in 1988, 1989 and 1990 respectively.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of police officers dismissed from the Metropolitan police force for breaches of discipline, in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of officers dismissed from the Metropolitan police following disciplinary proceedings is published each year in the annual report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present number of police officers
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  serving in the Metropolitan police force who are now suspended from duty pending inquiries as to their conduct as police officers.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand that there are at present 72 officers suspended from duty in the Metropolitan police.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of official complaints made against police officers serving in the Metropolitan police force, in each of the last three years; and how many have been upheld after inquiries.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The number of complaints made against officers of the Metropolitan police under the terms of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, together with the number of complaints completed, are published in the annual report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. The Commissioner's 1990 report contains figures for the last three years.

  The number of complaints substantiated in 1988, 1989 and 1990 are 184, 103 and 172 respectively.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of(a) project licence and (b) personal licence applications rejected since the provisions of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 came into operation.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The vast majority of project licence applications and many personal licence applications are discussed in detail at an early stage with the Home Office animals (scientific procedures) inspectorate. Many are revised and redrafted as necessary into a form which the inspector considers acceptable.

  The normal procedure is for applications, mainly for project licences, to be withdrawn or not to be proceeded with in those cases where their justification is considered insufficient or where the applicant feels unable to refine the proposed procedures to an extent that the inspector is satisfied that it would be appropriate to advise my right hon. Friend that a licence should be granted. This means that it is only very rarely necessary to refuse an application formally.

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

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Consumer views are taken into account, either directly or indirectly, in developing performance indicators, particularly those which measure quality of service to the public.

  Of those operational services which the Home Office does not control, police forces consult local communities, often through opinion surveys, to obtain public views on police performance and worries about crime; fire brigades take pains to ensure that they have the views of the communities they serve and the fire service is currently looking at a scheme for introducing performance measures nationally, some of which will include measures of public satisfaction.
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  Of those services which the Home Office provides itself, the immigration service and the nationality division take account of consumer views, albeit less directly, in setting their performance targets; an opinion survey conducted last year by the Passport Agency led to the setting for this year of a target for customer satisfaction; Forensic Science Service Agency targets for turnround times for cases were set in consultation with its customers.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what performance indicators are published for his Department.

  Mr. Kenneth Baker
  Details of performance indicators for Home Office departments and services are published in the Home Office annual report 1991 (Cm 1509). For details of performance indicators for Home Office agencies (the Passport Agency and the forensic science service) I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to questions from my hon. Friends the Members for Cornwall, North (Sir G. Neale) and for Stockton, South (Mr. Devlin) on 27 March at columns 469–70.

  Foreign Countries (Entry of British Citizens)
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the Government's policy on the passing of names of British citizens to foreign Governments for the purpose of warning those Governments that these citizens should not be granted entry to those countries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  In the interests of international co-operation on law enforcement the names of people of whatsoever nationality may be passed to the authorities in other countries, for example for the purpose of taking forward an extradition request. All decisions over the granting of entry are the responsibility of the country concerned.

  Victim Support
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide the financial help needed by Manchester's victim support schemes to avert closure; what representations he has had about their urgent need for alternative funding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Patten
  The Home Office grant for local victim support schemes, which has increased by 20 per cent. from £4·5 million last year to £5·4 million this year, is administered by Victim Support under criteria which have been revised this year to allow grants for both salaries and running costs to be paid to schemes which are in danger of closure. Applications from a number of Manchester schemes are being considered by Victim Support nationally.

  We have received representations about the funding of Manchester schemes from local Members of Parliament, district councils, representatives of Victim Support and the police.

  Immigration
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now in a position to determine the application for British citizenship, reference
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  IMPH330480/4 (S) which was first raised with his Department on 27 April 1989; on what date he requested from the embassy in Islamabad the confirmation that entry clearances for settlement had been issued and when that confirmation was received; whether all outstanding routine inquiries in this cases have now been completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  A final decision on this application was delayed while we obtained evidence that the applicant met the statutory requirements regarding residence in the United Kingdom. With this in mind we wrote to the British High Commission in Islamabad on 21 December 1990 for details of entry clearances issued to the applicant and her daughter in 1982. This information was received at the beginning of February 1991. From that and from information supplied by her solicitors we are now satisfied that the application may be granted, subject to her making an affirmation of allegiance. Her daughter will also be registered as a British citizen.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he intends to publish guidelines concerning remission for people imprisoned for poll tax non-payment; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will (a) outline what guidance his Department has circulated to prison governors concerning poll tax imprisonment, (b) list the circulars and the dates of their distribution and (c) place a copy of each in the Library.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Guidance circulated to governors on 12 June advised that terms of imprisonment for non-payment of the community charge are not eligible for reduction by remission or remand time. A copy of this instruction is being placed in the Library together with prison standing order 12 which gives full details of the terms of imprisonment that do not attract remission on remand time. A revised version of the standing order, to be published in a few months' time, will include reference to the community charge.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which categories of prisoners are allowed access to a telephone while in prison; and if he will list those of Her Majesty's prisons which have(a) payphones and (b) cardphones; what plans he has to improve access to phones; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Cardphones for use of convicted inmates have been installed in the category C and D, and equivalent female and young offender, establishments listed in the following table.

  At all establishments inmates may have access to an official telephone with the permission of the governor in special circumstances.

  On 25 February my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, announced on publication of the Woolf inquiry report that cardphones would be provided in all those establishments which do not already have them. This programme is being taken forward as quickly as resources permit.

  There are no ordinary payphones designated for inmates' use except at Haslar in respect of those persons detained under the Immigration Acts.
  374

  Prisoners with cardphones for convicted inmates' use

  Prison

  Category

  Acklington

  C

  Aldington

  C

  Ashwell

  C

  Askham Grange

  Female

  Aylesbury

  Young Offenders Institution

  Blantyre House

  C

  Bullwood Hall

  Female/Young Offenders Institution

  Camp Hill

  C

  Castington

  Young Offenders Institution

  Channings Wood

  C

  Cookham Wood

  Female

  Deerbolt

  Young Offenders Institution

  Dover

  Young Offenders Institution

  Down view

  C

  Drake Hall

  Female

  East Sutton Park

  Female/Young Offenders Institution

  Eastwood Park

  Young Offenders Institution

  Erlestoke House

  C

  Everthorpe

  Young Offenders Institution

  Featherstone

  C

  Feltham

  Young Offenders Institution

  Ford

  D

  Glen Parva

  Young Offenders Institution

  Guys Marsh

  Young Offenders Institution

  Haslar

  Immigration Custody-payphones

  Hatfield

  Young Offenders Institution

  Haverigg

  C

  Hewell Grange

  Young Offenders Institution

  Highpoint

  C/D

  Hollesley Bay

  Young Offenders Institution

  Holloway

  Female

  Huntercombe

  Young Offenders Institution

  Kirkham

  D

  Kirklevington Grange

  Young Offenders Institution

  Lancaster

  C

  Latchmere House

  C

  Leyhill

  D

  Lindholme

  C

  Littlehey

  C

  Low Newton

  Female/Remand

  Morton Hall

  D

  The Mount

  C

  New Hall

  Female

  Northallerton

  Young Offenders Institution

  Northeye

  C

  North Sea Camp

  D

  Norwich

  C/D prisoners only

  Onley

  Young Offenders Institution

  Portland

  Young Offenders Institution

  Pucklechurch

  Female/Young Offenders Institution

  Ranby

  C

  Risley

  C

  Rochester

  C

  Rudgate

  D

  Send

  C

  Shepton Mallet

  C

  Spring Hill

  D

  Stafford

  C

  Standford Hill

  D

  Stocken

  C

  Stoke Heath

  Young Offenders Institution

  Styal

  Female

  Sudbury/Foston

  D

  Swinfen Hall

  Young Offenders Institution

  Thorn Cross

  Young Offenders Institution

  Thorpe Arch

  C

  Usk and Prescoed

  Young Offenders Institution

  The Verne

  C

  Wayland

  C

  Wellingborough

  C

  Werrington

  Young Offenders Institution

  Wetherby

  Young Offenders Institution

  Whatton

  C

  Winchester

  Local

  Wymott

  C

  375
  Notes:

  1. Prisoners in female and young offender establishments who are on remand or who are being held in category A conditions are not permitted at present access to cardphones.

  2. Winchester is a local prison, holding all categories of prisoner, including those on remand. Cardphones have been operational at Winchester since December last year in order to test the conditions under which category B and remand prisoners may have access to them.

  Bailiffs
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman), 17 May 1991,Official Report, column 284, he is now in a position to place a copy in the Library of the guidance notes for use of bailiffs by magistrates courts.

  Mr. John Patten
  Best practice guidance on the use of bailiffs by magistrates courts should be available shortly, and I shall arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.

SCOTLAND

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

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  There are two licensed mink farms in Scotland, one in Strathclyde region and the other in Grampian region. More precise information is not published.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of fishing vessels by port(a) over 400 hp and (b) below 400 hp.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is given in the table for the base districts of active Scottish-based fishing vessels. Base districts are defined as the district in which the majority of the owners of the vessels live. District figures include vessels from a number of small ports and creeks in addition to those from the main port on which the district is centred.

  Horse Power

  Base district of vessel

  Under 400

  400 or above

  Not Known

  All

  Eyemouth

  117

  14

  2

  133

  Pittenweem

  110

  18

  —

  128

  Arbroath

  81

  4

  —

  85

  Aberdeen

  34

  16

  1

  51

  Peterhead

  58

  90

  —

  148

  Fraserburgh

  84

  89

  —

  173

  MacDuff

  40

  57

  —

  97

  Buckie

  56

  51

  —

  107

  Lossiemouth

  45

  53

  —

  98

  Wick

  87

  3

  —

  90

  Orkney

  87

  14

  —

  101

  Shetland

  55

  37

  —

  92

  Stornoway

  298

  4

  3

  305

  Ullapool

  52

  —

  —

  52

  Mallaig

  216

  3

  5

  224

  Oban

  142

  1

  1

  144

  Campbeltown

  182

  —

  7

  189

  Ayr

  108

  20

  1

  129

  376

  Horse Power

  Base district of vessel

  Under 400

  400 or above

  Not Known

  All

  Kinlochbervie

  14

  1

  —

  15

  Lochinver

  25

  5

  —

  30

  ALL

  1,891

  480

  20

  2,391

  Salmon
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the consequences to the Scottish salmon farming industry of uncontrolled imports from Norwegian producers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  We have received representations from a number of hon. Members and from salmon farming companies in Scotland.

  The Government understand the industry's concern about the current state of the market for farmed salmon. We are anxious to ensure a satisfactory and stable long-term future for the industry and are working closely with it to that end.

  A74 (Archaeological Sites)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what steps are being taken to safeguard archaeological sites identified in the course of development of the M74 —A74;

  (2) what funds his office has made available, and to which organisations, in connection with emergency archaeological investigation of sites along the proposed development of the A74;

  (3) for how long the Lintshie Gutter site will be available to archaeologists engaged in emergency investigation of the site.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The upgrading of the A74 to motorway standard has provided an unexpected opportunity to discover some of Scotland's past. Throughout the development of the project the Scottish Office's roads directorate has liaised closely with Historic Scotland, an executive agency within the Scottish Office responsible among other things for the protection of ancient monuments. Every effort has been made in determining the line of the motorway to avoid disturbing sites of archaeological importance. In eight locations where this has not been possible, archaeological surveys and excavations have been carried out in advance of the road construction. Without the impetus of the motorway these important examples of Scotland's heritage might have remained hidden for many years to come.

  Funds amounting to 100,000 have been granted by the Scottish Office towards archaeological surveys and excavations along the line of the motorway. In addition, Historic Scotland has made a contribution of £75,000. Apart from a small element of survey and monitoring carried out by the Biggar Museum trust, all the work has been undertaken by Archaeology Projects Glasgow (APG) which is a research group set up within Glasgow university archaeologist department to manage fieldwork and consultancy studies for Government and industry.

  It is expected that the excavation of the Lintshie Gutter site will be completed by the end of June. The site will remain available for some months beyond that.

  Waste Incineration
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, further to his replies to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan,Official Report, 14 June, column 713, what information he has on whether clinical waste incinerators in the national health service in Scotland are effectively complying with current pollution control legislation; and when the last report of inspection of the clinical waste incinerators was submitted to him.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I am aware that three clinical waste incinerators in the national health service in Scotland are experiencing difficulty in complying with current pollution control legislation. No report of inspection of clinical waste incinerators has been submitted to my right hon. Friend; powers to control emission standards are vested in local authorities.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations took place with the chairmen of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, English Nature and the Countryside Council for Wales, and the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland, in advance of the introduction of provisions for the establishment of an advisory committee on sites of special scientific interest in the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Bill.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Consultations took place between the Scottish Office Environment Department and the chairman of the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland, the Government's statutory adviser on nature conservation in Scotland, before the amendments introducing these provisions were tabled. Since the committee relates exclusively to Scotland and its establishment does not affect the SSSI procedures laid down in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, no consultation with English Nature and the Countryside Council for Wales was necessary. As the advisory committee can deal only with individual cases within the site guidelines overseen by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and there will be no overlap in membership, it was not necessary to consult the JNCC chairman.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland of the total number of sites of special scientific interest in Scotland(a) how many were objected to at the point of notification and (b) how many were objected to subsequent to notification; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 21 June 1991]: As at 31 March 1991, 1,319 sites of special scientific interest had been notified in Scotland. A right of objection was introduced by the Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1985, which came into effect on 26 August 1985. The Nature Conservancy Council's latest available figures are that 541 sites were confirmed during the period from 1 August 1985 to 30 November 1990 and that representations or objections were received in respect of 153 of those sites. The detailed information about the stage at which objections were received is not available.

  Scottish Action on Dementia
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Scottish Action on Dementia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have this week received a report "Dementia in Scotland: Agenda for Action 1991–95".

  Since the publication of the report "Scottish Health Authorities Priorities for the 80s" (SHAPE) in 1980, which drew attention to the need to develop services for this care group, the Government have given high priority to the development of such services in Scotland and now accord their development top priority. Since 1981 health board expenditure on services for elderly people with dementia has increased by 61·5 per cent. in real terms and it continues to rise.

  Local Authority Housing
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses were available for rent by local authorities in Scotland in each year since 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 20 June 1991]: Information on the numbers of dwellings owned by local authorities is given in table 2 of statistical bulletin HSG/1991/4, "Housing Trends in Scotland—Quarter ended 31 December 1990". Copies were sent to all Members representing Scottish constituencies and are available in the Library.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list(a) the total number of domestic customers of Scottish Power and Scottish Hydro-Electric, respectively (b) how many of those individual customers, not including other members of their family or household, have bought shares in the recent privatisation and (c) how many of those customers have given postal addresses outside Scotland for correspondence about shares.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  [holding answer 21 June 1991]: Scottish Power plc and Scottish Hydro-Electric plc respectively have around 1,600,000 and 530,000 domestic customers. Information on the numbers of those individuals who have purchased shares in the two companies or have given correspondence addresses outwith Scotland is not separately available, since customer preference under the share offers extended to include other members of their family or household. The share registers of both companies will be publicly available from 3 July.

NORTHERN IRELAND

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

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information in respect of Northern Ireland departments and the Northern Ireland Office is as follows:

  Video Recordings

    Department of Finance and Personnel
    1990–91

    The Survival Game

    Viruses on Personal Computers

    Telephone Courtesy Pays Off

    Inside Organisations

    Counter Action II/III

    Effective Management and Leadership

    The Grapevine

    Take it from the Top DF1

    Take it from the Top DF2

    Take it from the Top DF3

    The Unorganised Manager

    A Women's Place

    Excellence in the Public Sector

    Partners in Training

    It's up to You

    Let's be Fair

    Let's be Fair (2)

    Nobody's Perfect

    The Customer Revolution

    The Right Fit

    The Tough Ones

    Sense and Nonsense in Stress

    Management

    Take It From The Top

    Team Building

    Team Building Volume 1

    Team Building Volume 2

    Total Fitness

    The Successful Manager Executive

    Time Management

    The Telephone Sting

    Meeting the Challenge of the 90's

    The Management of Time

    1991–92

    The Professional Development Scheme

    Making Customer Service Happen

    Meeting to Build a Team

    Meeting to Decide

    Meeting to Negotiate

    Department of Agriculture
    1990–91

    Rabbit production … naturally

    Grime goes green: your business and the environment Say what you want

    Preview—COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)

    Working with Internal Audit

    When letters work

    Guide to Health and Safety

    The Formal Meetings video

    If looks could kill

    The Technique of Volumetric Analysis

    Hygiene at Work

    Pests on the Menu

    Fight against Bacteria

    Microbes and their Control

    Marketing Support for the '90s—Business Pack

    A Vous la France

    Hygiene in Practice

    The Shooting Year

    A Calf per Cow per year

    Dairying—A Blueprint for Success

    Wild Oats Control

    Potato Production

    Planning for Profit

    Business Farming

    MIG Welding (mild steel with low current sets)

    Manual Metal Arc (Stick) Welding (mild steel with low power sets)

    BBC RSPB—Video Guide to British Garden Birds

    BBC—A Vous la France (parts 1–4)

    Reproduction in Pigs (Lothian and Borders)

    Royal Agriculture Society—Pigs

    An Ounce of Prevention (CFL Vision)

    380

    Dog and Stick. Essential Dog Skills (A. Cooper)

    Whatever happened to the Countryside (CFL Vision)

    Carcase Quality

    1991–92

    Organic farming—is there a market?

    Environmental enrichment: advancing animal care

    Farming and Food Production

    Dairy Farming

    Pig Production

    Pregnancy Detection of Pigs

    Pregnancy Detection of Cattle

    Pregnancy Detection of Sheep

    Royal Agricultural Society—Beef Production

    A Vous la France (parts 1–4)

    Deutsch Direkt (parts 1–4)

    Farm Diversification (NFU, RASE)

    How to deal with Difficult People (volumes 1 and 2)

    How to give exceptional Customer Service (volumes 1 and 3)

    Team Building (volumes 1 and 2)

    The Changing Countryside

    The Medata Pregnancy Test for Cattle

    The Medata Pregnancy Test for Sheep

    Department of Economic Development
    1990–91

    AC Motors Part 1 and 2

    Be Alive to Safety

    Blind Man's Buff

    Cables and Considerations

    Car Bodywork Repairs (Welding)

    Casebook Video Pack

    Client and Professional

    DC Motors Part 1 and 2

    Electricity at Work

    Inspection and Test

    Isolation and Switching

    Flying Start

    Help Yourself—Careers Occupation Information Centre

    I Can't See

    Lights and Lighting Circuits

    Made to Measure

    Managing Energy—Burners for Boilers

    Managing Energy—Exercise Control

    Managing Energy—Hotels

    Managing Energy—Insulation of Industrial Buildings

    Managing Energy—Look at Lighting

    Managing Energy—Pipe Insulation

    Managing Energy—Refrigeration

    Managing Energy—Retail Shops and Stores

    Managing Energy—Small Firms

    Managing Energy—Steam

    Managing for Customer Care

    Meetings Bloody Meetings

    Moving On

    Murder by Mixed Messages

    PES Safety Computer Control

    Routes—Wiltshire Careers Service

    Take It From The Top

    Timber Frame Housing

    The Protection Factor

    Tom Peters Experience Part 1

    Tom Peters Experience Part 2

    Tough Jobs/Problems

    1991–92

    Classical Change

    Effective Business Reports

    Snow Monkeys

    Sun Cats

    Department of Education
    1990–91

    Finance for Non-Financial Managers

    Introduction to Assertiveness

    A Matter of Time

    Delegation

    Performance Review

    Are You Getting the Message

    Making Belfast Work

    381

    Art in the Primary School

    Simple Print Making in the Primary School

    1991–92

    NIL

    Department of Health and Social Services
    1990–91

    Changing to Primary Nursing

    Data Protection Training Package

    1991–92

    Something You Can Do

    Training Video: Interviewing for Information

    Healthy Eating in Later Life

    Flora Project for Heart Disease

    Affairs of the Heart

    Finally Fitness for Men

    Meetings

    Department of the Environment
    1990–91

    Stranmillis Learning Resources Unit—Nendrum

    Stranmillis Learning Resources Unit—Greyabbey

    To see another day

    Watch this space

    I can't hear

    COSHH in practice

    What everyone should know about toxicology

    Understanding material safety data sheets

    PSA pacesetter in QA

    CPI in the PSA

    Managing for customer care

    The helping hand

    Data Insecurity

    Next Steps—First Agencies

    Let's be fair

    The noise was deafening

    Drive in total safety with Barry Lee

    Radiodetection CAT and GENNY User training programmes

    Water Pollution—1st Film

    Biological Science—Ecological Biology

    How flowers make seeds

    Ecological Agriculture

    Acid Rain the silent crisis

    Saving the plants Planning for survival

    The life cycle of insects part III

    Fungi

    Fungi and Man

    The process of pollination

    The dispersal of seeds plus fruits

    Discovering the Wild Bogland

    Second Nature

    Farming and Conservation

    Safety Side Up

    Round Robin

    Early One Morning

    1991–92

    What's it all about?

    A worker's overview of COSHH

    What the window cleaner saw

    Managing stress

    I'm sorry. What's that you said?

    You and your workforce

    Northern Ireland Office
    1990–91

    Constructive Criticism Part 1 and 2

    The Formal Meeting

    Let's be Fair

    An insider's guide to the European Community

    What's it all about?

    Don't let him Die

    What Everybody should know about Toxicology

    Taking to the Hills

    The Professional Kitchen

    382

    The Human Factor

    For children's use at the Visitors' Centres in Prison Establishments:

    Fireman Sam

    Children's Picturehouse

    Flintstones

    Cartoon Superstars II

    Jetsons 1st Episode

    Magic Roundabout

    Tom and Jerry

    Children's Cartoon Favourites

    Postman Pat

    Magic of Fairies

    Fraggle Rock

    Noah's Animals

    Cartoon Superstars

    Sooty Out and About

    Waterbabies

    Rainbow Music

    Mickey's Christmas Carol

    Snoopy and the Peanut Gang

    Button Moon

    Muppets

    Mickey and the Gang

    Mr. Ben

    Children's Summer Stories

    Children's Favourites Vol. II

    The Carebears

    Hillcraft and Navigation

    Alf

    Big

    Goonies

    Nursery Rhymes

    Pinnochio

    Count Duckula

    Bill and Ben

    Yogi's First Christmas

    Tales of Button Moon

    Neigbhours—Scott and Charlene's Love Story

    For catering-based training:
    1991–92

    Meat

    Fish

    Poultry and Game

    Vegetables

    Cakes

    Pastries

    Catering for Health

    Eggs

    Flour and Yeast

    Desserts

    Positive Time Skills

    Put it in Writing

  Civil Service Transfers
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many employees of the Northern Ireland civil service have applied for a job transfer and have stated Newry (i) as their first preference or (ii) as a preference other than first preference.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The number of non-industrial staff in the Northern Ireland civil service who have applied for a transfer and have stated Newry as:

  (i) first preference is 159; and

  (ii) as preference other than first preference is 66.

  Social Security Agency
  Sir John Wheeler
  To ask the Secretary of State For Northern Ireland when he will make an announcement about the establishment of the social security agency.

  Mr. Brooke
  The social security agency was launched this morning and will be formally established on 1 July
  383
  1991. I have made arrangements for copies of the framework document and the business plan, which includes challenging quality of service and efficiency targets, to be placed in both Houses of Parliament.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Child Protection
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the amounts allocated to local education authorities to enable them to carry out the training initiatives on child protection and child abuse under the new Children Act 1989, as described in consultative paper No. 22 "Working Together".

  Mr. Fallon
  The consultation paper is concerned with inter-agency co-operation, and emphasises the importance of joint training under the auspices of area child protection committees. Local education authorities and schools may choose to make specific provision for training teachers and certain other education staff in matters relating to child protection, drawing as appropriate on the support available under our programme of grants for education support and training. However, their allocations for this purpose cannot be readily quantified.

  Polytechnics and Colleges Employers Forum
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the total expenditure of the polytechnics and colleges employers forum for 1989–90 and 1990–91 was spent on entertainment.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  This is not a matter for Her Majesty's Government.

  TUC Courses
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the level of departmental funding of the Trades Union Congress for educational purposes; what criteria determine the continuity of that funding; which section of his Department is responsible for vetting materials used on TUC training or education courses which use departmental funding; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  This Department does not provide any funds for the TUC for educational purposes.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in respect of the student loans scheme, (i) the most recent figure for loan applications received, (ii) the number of loans made, (iii) the value of loans made and (iv) total costs incurred administering the scheme.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  As at 20 June 1991 over 181,000 students had applied for a loan from the Student Loans Company Ltd. Over 153,000 loans had been issued, with a total value of £59·2 million.

  Between September 1990, when the scheme became operational, and 31 May 1991, the company's running costs were £7·73 million, exclusive of VAT.

  Football
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures he has taken following his letter of 31 May to the Professional Footballers Association to bring together the Football Association, the Football League and the Professional Footballers Association to discuss plans for the future of football; what further measures he intends to take; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 21 June 1991]: I have had detailed discussions with each of the three bodies and have indicated to all of them that I stand ready to help, in an impartial manner, if the three organisations wish me to do so. In pressing the need for unity and for football to speak with one voice I have made it quite clear that the resolution of the various differences is for football alone.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Building Societies
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Inland Revenue in court challenged the Woolwich tax model of the effects of regulations 3 and 11 (1985).

  Mr. Maples
  Yes. The Inland Revenue did not accept the conclusions of the Woolwich building society based on its hypothetical tax model.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the dates beginning and ending the financial years for which building societies' payments of members' income tax in(a) January 1984, (b) January 1985 and (c) January 1986 satisfied the Inland Revenue and the dates beginning and ending the period of deduction of tax to which the 1985, 1986 and 1991 legislation and regulations are directed; and if he will now add the information to a simple chart and place it in the Library.

  Mr. Maude
  [holding answer 21 June 1991]: Payments of tax by building societies in January 1984, 1985 and 1986 under the former annual accounting arrangements satisfied their liability under those arrangements for the tax years 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86 respectively.

  The Building Societies Regulations 1986, to which the 1985, 1986 and 1991 legislation relates, required societies to account for tax from 1986–87 onwards at the end of each quarter. In addition, under transitional provisions, societies were required to account for the tax on interest paid to their investors in the gap period between the end of their accounting period in 1985–86—which formed the basis for the January 1986 payment under the annual arrangements—and 5 April 1986.

  I have placed a chart explaining the sequence of events in the Library.

  Balance of Trade
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the balance of trade with(a) the other countries of the EC and (b) the rest of the world in (i) visible and (ii) invisibles in 1990 as a balance of payments basis; and if he will add the figures for imports and exports.
  385
  Mr. Mellor
  Information about visible trade with the EC and the rest of the world in 1990 on a balance of payments basis can be found in the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics", available in the Library of the House, or on the Central Statistical Office database which may also be accessed through the Library. Comparable information about invisible trade will be published on 4 September in the 1991 edition of "The CSO Pink Book."

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list his responsibilities in respect of the Insolvency Service.

  Mr. Maples
  Department of Trade and Industry Ministers determine and answer to Parliament on the general policy framework within which the Insolvency Service executive agency operates. The Treasury has a number of specific responsibilities as set out in the Insolvency Act 1986 for certain issues of finance, accounting and investment (part XIV sections 404–5 and 407–9) and for certain fees (part XV sections 414–5). The Treasury also has certain other order-making powers (part XV section 422); and the Insolvency Service executive agency is subject to Treasury staff inspection.

  Tour Operators
  Sir Dudley Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what considerations underlay his decision to continue to operate the tour operators' margin scheme.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The United Kingdom is obliged, under article 26 of the EC sixth VAT directive, to have a special scheme for taxing tour operators' margins.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on Treasury revenues in 1991–92 and in a full year of the introduction of a 50 per cent. top rate of income tax on annual taxable income above(a) £42,000, (b) £47,000, (c) £52,000 and (d) £57,000.

  Mr. Maude
  The yield in a full year at 1991–92 levels of income is estimated to be(a) £1·7 billion, (b) £1·5 billion, (c) £1·4 billion and (d) £1·2 billion. The corresponding yields in 1991–92 are (a) £0·9 billion, (b) £0·8 billion, (c) £0·7 billion and (d) £0·6 billion.

  No account is taken of possible behavioural changes or of any effect on receipts of capital gains tax.

  Lloyd's Underwriters
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all the tax concessions available to members of Lloyd's insurance syndicates which may be set against income from sources other than underwriting profits; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  A Lloyd's underwriter carries on the business of insurance, and if he makes a loss in that business, he is entitled to effectively the same reliefs for a trading loss as any other trader. He may set the trading loss against his income from other sources of the same year
  his income from all sources of the previous year
  his income from underwriting in a later year.
  386
  The Government have proposed that in common with all other traders, trading losses for 1991–92 and later years may be set against capital gains.

  The only difference between the reliefs for losses of Lloyd's underwriters and those of other unincorporated traders is that Lloyd's is able to set off losses against total income of the same year and the previous year. Other traders are able to set off losses against total income of the same year and the succeeding year. This difference merely reflects the fact that Lloyd's is taxed on a current year basis whereas other trades are taxed on the preceding year basis.

  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the cost of annual premiums for stop-loss insurance policies available to Lloyd's underwriters are set against tax; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  An underwriter is entitled to deduct the cost of stop-loss policies in computing his taxable profits. He is also required to include any recoveries under a stop-loss policy as income in computing his profits. The position is no different from the tax treatment of comparable insurance policies taken out by other trades.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of any recent proposals of the presidency of the Council of Finance Ministers of the European Communities relating to the harmonisation of value added tax.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I wrote to the hon. Gentleman on Wednesday 19 June to bring him up to date on the position we have reached in the indirect tax negotiations in Europe. I attached to my letter a note summarising the previous proposals for the approximation of indirect taxes and the compromise proposals to be presented by the Luxembourg presidency to ECOFIN on 24 June, and an annex giving full details of the presidency proposals.

  My letter and its attachments were placed in the Library on Friday 21 June. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will report the meeting of the ECOFIN in Council on 24 June to the House in the normal way.

HEALTH

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are awaiting radiotherapy treatment in the Sunderland, Hartlepool and Durham area health authorities; how many were on the lists for treatment in each year since 1986; and what is the average waiting time for treatment in each of these years.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There have been no in-patients waiting for radiotherapy treatment at hospitals in these three districts since 1986. Figures on patients waiting for out-patient treatments are not held centrally.

  Aflatoxin
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the scientific evidence held by his Department on whether aflatoxin is a human carcinogen; and if he will make a statement.
  387
  Mr. Dorrell
  The most recent scientific publications held by the Department on the human carcinogenicity of aflatoxins are:

  1. WHO (1979). Environmental Health Criteria 11, Mycotoxins. World Health Organisation, Geneva.

  2. Linsell A, (1982). Carcinogenicity of Mycotoxins. Environmental Carcinogens Selected Methods of Analysis. Volume 5—Some Mycotoxins. Egan H, Stoloff L, O'Neill IK, Scott P, Castegnaro M, Bartsch H, Davis W (Eds.). International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon.

  3. IARC (1987). Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Humans. Suppl. 7, 82–88. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon.

  4. IARC (1988). Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. 44. —International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon.

  5. Ivana Dvorackova (1990). Aflatoxins and Human Health. Published by the CRC Press, Florida.

  Wheelchairs
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements there are for the repair of wheelchairs for a disabled person staying away from his or her home area; and whether he will provide a list of approved repairers for each regional health authority.

  Mr. Dorrell
  As individual contracts are negotiated by health authorities, a list of approved repairers is not held centrally. All contracts with approved repairers cover work on NHS-supplied wheelchairs for both resident users and those visiting the area. Visitors may, however, need to contact the local disablement services centre to obtain details of the appropriate approved repairer.

  Perinatal and Infant Mortality
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the rates of perinatal mortality and infant mortality for Greenwich, Wandsworth and Lewisham in 1981 and for the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The table lists the perinatal and infant mortality rates for the London borough's of Greenwich, Wandsworth and Lewisham in 1981 and 1990.

  Perinatal and infant mortality rates for the London Borough's of Greenwich, Wandsworth and Lewisham, 1981 and 1990

  1981

  1990

  Perinatal

  Infant

  Perinatal

  Infant

  Greenwich

  11·8

  16·0

  7·1

  8·2

  Wandsworth

  10·6

  10·1

  7·2

  7·8

  Lewisham

  14·5

  14·0

  9·7

  7·3

  Source:

  Local authority vital statistics, Series VS number 8, 1981. VSI statistics, 1990.

  Registered Homes Act
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of owners of private care or nursing homes who had their registrations cancelled under the Registered Homes Act 1984 during 1990.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Department has been notified of 30 residential care home owners and 16 nursing home owners who had their registrations cancelled during 1990.

  Diabetes
  Mr. Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department plans to take to recognise World Diabetes Day on 27 June and to implement the measures agreed in the St. Vincent declaration of October 1989.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department's chief medical officer has sent a message of encouragement to mark World Diabetes Day. The recommendations in the St. Vincent declaration for the care of people with diabetes in Europe have been incorporated in the Government's Green Paper "The Health of the Nation". We have invited comments on these with a view to the possible development of targets for this country.

  GP Lists
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average general practitioner list size; and what it was in 1978–79.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  At 1 October 1990, the latest date for which figures are available, the average general practitioner list size in England was 1,942. The corresponding figure for 1979 was 2,286.

  Food Additives
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he proposes to publicise the adverse effects on many children of sodium salt of benzoate (E211) in view of its use as a preservative in many popular branded drinks.

  Mr. Dorrell
  None. Sodium benzoate (E211) is a permitted preservative listed in schedule I of the Preservative in Foods Regulations 1989 (SI 1989 No. 533). The levels of sodium benzoate in foods are strictly controlled. Studies commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of a number of additives, including sodium benzoate, have found the overall incidence of intolerance reactions to be very low. As its presence as an additive in food must appear on the product label those who consider themselves adversely affected can avoid foods containing this preservative.

  Pregnancy
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the incidence of ectopic pregnancies in each of the last 25 years for which figures are available.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  [holding answer 13 June 1991]: The figures for each year since 1979 are given in the table.

  Estimated number of episodes where Ectopic pregnancy (ICD 633) is the principal diagnosis.

  Ordinary admissions and day cases, NHS hospitals

  Year

  Total

  1979–851

  1979

  4,240

  1980

  3,892

  1981

  4,253

  1982

  4,344

  1983

  4,841

  1984

  4,965

  1985

  4,788

  389

  Year

  Total

  1987–902

  1987–88

  4,941

  1988–89

  5,570

  1989–90

  6,928

  1 Source: Hospital In-Patient Enquiry. Ordinary admissions only until 1985, NHS hospitals for England and Wales until 1982, post 1982 England only.

  2 Source: Hospital Episode Statistics. Figures for 1987–88 onwards are provisional, based on incomplete, ungrossed data and may be subject to revision following analysis.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the unemployment figures for Waveney in(a) May 1987 and (b) May 1991 as a whole and as a percentage of the work force; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jackson
  In May 1991 the number of unemployed claimants, not seasonally adjusted, in the Waveney parliamentary constituency was 3,423. This compares with 5,847 in May 1987, a fall of 41·5 per cent.

  Official unemployment rates are not available for parliamentary constituencies. The smallest areas for which unemployment rates are calculated by the Department are travel-to-work areas. These are broadly self-contained labour markets in which at least 75 per cent. of the people who work in the area, live in the area and vice-versa.

  TUC Publications
  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will obtain a copy of the Trades Union Congress booklet, "Working Women," and place a copy in the Library, marking the passages which were considered by his Department as tendentious; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will list the Trades Union Congress publications designed for education or training courses to which he has objected being part of courses which attract financial support from his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The Government have always made it clear that they are not prepared to provide financial support under the trade union education and training grant for booklets which engage in political controversy. The booklet "Working Women" contained a number of passages which were openly critical of Government policy. When these passages were drawn to the attention of the TUC, it agreed that they were not appropriate in a booklet financed by public money. Since the TUC has now withdrawn the booklet, no purpose would be served by placing a copy in the Library.

TRANSPORT

  Drink-Driving
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the 1991 research findings on the 1990–91 anti-drink driving advertising campaign.
  390
  Mr. Chope
  Copies of the 1991 research findings on the Department of Transport's 1990 anti-drink driving advertising campaign have been placed in the Library.

  Orange Badge Scheme
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to implement the draft regulations published in April 1990, pursuant to the review of the orange badge parking scheme for persons with disability.

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

  Public Transport
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to increase the use of public transport and to reduce traffic congestion.

  Mr. Chope
  The Government are supporting massive investment to improve facilities on British Rail and the London Underground, and are giving grant to two new light rail systems. A network of priority red routes is proposed in London to keep traffic moving. A working group has been set up with the bus industry, the local authorities and the police to encourage bus use and the development of bus priority measures. We are also commissioning wide-ranging research into urban traffic congestion, including the possibility of road pricing.

  Road Proposals Display, Tower Hamlets
  Ms. Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for displaying the proposals for the East India Dock road/Canning Town bridge and A13 flyover scheme at a venue in Tower Hamlets.

  Mr. Chope
  We are investigating the possibility of displaying our proposed exhibition at the Aberfeldy estate after it has been shown at the Mayflower centre, Canning Town.

  Network SouthEast
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investment he has approved for British Rail services on the Eltham and New Eltham lines of Network SouthEast.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. and learned Friend announced approval on 19 June of investment in 188 Networker vehicles at a cost of £127 million. He had previously announced approval for 86 Networker vehicles on 13 May at a cost of over £67 million; 400 class 465 Networker vehicles for Kent link routes were approved in August 1989. The first of these is due to be delivered to British Rail in September this year. The new trains will begin to come into service on Kent link routes, which include Eltham and New Eltham, during the first few months of 1992.

  London Transport (Salaries)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what percentage the salary of (i) the chairman and (ii) the board of directors as a whole of London Transport increased in the year 1990–91 on 1989–90; and what is the projected percentage increase in 1991–92 on 1990–91.
  391
  Mr. Freeman
  The salary of the chairman of London Transport was increased by 25 per cent. and that of the deputy chief executive by 13·7 per cent. from 1 April 1990; these increases reflected additional responsibilities each had previously assumed. Other board members received increases of 8·5 per cent. or 8·6 per cent. My right hon. and learned Friend has not yet considered proposals for pay increases for members from 1 April 1991.

  M40
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the present surface texture of the grooved concrete surface of the M40 between junctions 1 and 2 measured by the sand patch method; and what was the value of the surface texture in 1973.

  Mr. Chope
  The sand patch method of measuring texture is not appropriate to grooved concrete surfaces. The specification for measuring grooved concrete is to measure the depth of the grooves. On the M40 between junctions 1 and 2 the average depth is 3·6 mm.

  The records from 1973 are no longer available.

  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the consultants' report on the proposed widening of the M40 between junctions 1 and 4; when public consultation will begin; and whether the consultants' terms of reference include the submission of measures to ameliorate the noise nuisance from this stretch of motorway.

  Mr. Chope
  We expect the consultants to submit their preliminary report appraising the options for increasing the capacity of this length of motorway towards the end of this year. That appraisal will include measures to mitigate the effects of the improved road on the local environment. A decision on the preferred widening option is expected to follow in the spring of 1992. The procedures to be followed from that stage will depend on the scale and nature of the works proposed.

  Maritime Safety
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which countries are signatories to the international convention on standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers 1978.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  There are now 82 countries which are signatories to the international convention on standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers 1978. I have placed International Maritime Organisation circular STCW/circular 76, which lists the countries concerned together with circulars 77, 79, 80, 81, 82 and 84 which give the most recent accessions, in the Library.

  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of foreign ships inspected in British ports in each of the last five years under the provisions of the 1982 memorandum of understanding to secure compliance of ships with international standards and indicate(a) how many ships were found to have deficiencies, (b) under which flag those ships with deficiencies were flying, (c) how many ships were detained pending the correction of deficiencies and (d) what financial penalties were imposed.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The numbers of foreign ships inspected under the provisions of the memorandum of understanding on port state control 1982 were as follows:392

  Number

  1986

  2,439

  1987

  2,250

  1988

  1,839

  1989

  1,692

  1990

  2,118

  (a) The numbers of the above found to have deficiencies were:

  Number

  1986

  1,309

  1987

  1,228

  1988

  915

  1989

  1,003

  1990

  1,272

  (b) Deficiencies were found on ships flying the following flags during 1989 and 1990:

  Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Antilles (Netherlands), Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma (Myanmar), Canada, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Faeroes, Finland, France, German Democratic Republic, German Federal Republic, Ghana, Greece, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korean Republic, Liberia, Libya, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, St. Vincent and Grenadier, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Togo, Turkey, USA, USSR, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Zaire.

  (c) the numbers of foreign ships detained were:

  Number

  1986

  18

  1987

  17

  1988

  37

  1989

  44

  1990

  79

  (d) Financial penalties cannot readily be measured but usually comprise three main elements: the often considerable loss of revenue arising from delays in sailing, the cost of repairs and the cost of any further inspection to ensure that repairs have been satisfactorily carried out.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate has been made of the impact of the introduction of catalytic converters on total emissions of carbon dioxide from motor vehicles.

  Mr. Chope
  Catalytic converters, which are essential to meet our future air quality objectives, can lead to an increase in fuel consumption and thus CO2 emissions. But this effect will be offset by improved engine control systems which will be required to be fitted to new petrol-engined cars from the end of 1992.

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to respond to the recommendation of the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities that his Department should commission a study of a Berne gauge line from the channel tunnel to the midlands and north-west, to be able to carry a mixture of containers, demountable bodies, and road trailers; and if he will make a statement.
  393
  Mr. Freeman
  The Select Committee's report was debated in another place on 4 March. During the debate my noble Friend, Department of the Minister of State, Transport, said that it was clear that the cost of converting a rail route or routes to a continental gauge would be very high and that British Rail's initial strategy of using small-wheeled wagons for the larger continental containers was the right one. He added that the Government might consider whether a gauge conversion study related to the longer-term future would be sensible. So far we have not seen any case for such a study.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to bring forward legislation to provide financial support to British Rail for routes to and from the channel tunnel which are safe, environmentally acceptable and fast.

  Mr. Freeman
  We have no plans to amend section 42 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987, which prohibits Government subsidy for international rail services. We are prepared to consider subsidy for any non-user benefits arising from the use by commuter services of a rail link between the channel tunnel and London.

  Marchioness Inquiry
  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the recommendations of the marine accident investigation branch inquiry into the Marchioness disaster, indicating which have been accepted and implemented, which have been accepted and not yet implemented and the date by which he intends that they should be implemented; and which have not been accepted and the reasons for such rejection.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  All 27 recommendations listed in the marine accident investigation branch report into the collision between the Marchioness and the Bowbelle were accepted on 24 July 1990 by the then Secretary of State. A copy of the recommendations was placed in the Library at that time. Action on 14 of the recommendations (Nos. 1–3, 6–11, 14, 16, 18, 23 and 25) has been completed. Action to implement the remaining recommendations is well advanced and will be completed as quickly as is practicable. Two of these recommendations (Nos. 26 and 27) require the Department to establish and maintain monitoring processes to ensure that the substance of the report's recommendations continues to be borne in mind in future developments; and this has been set in place.

  Mr. Bowis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action has been taken to review and, where necessary, to improve the procedures of the communications and emergency services as a result of lessons learnt about the Marchioness disaster.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The procedures for communications between ships, the Port of London Authority (PLA) and the emergency services are contained in PLA's combined accident procedure (POLACAP) instructions. Two full-scale POLACAP emergency exercises have been held recently and the lessons learnt have been incorporated in the POLACAP instructions.

  The PLA general directions for navigation have been amended to require:

  1. Ships to be equipped with a VHF radiotelephone capable of communicating with the harbourmaster.

  394

  2. Ships to maintain a continuous watch on the VHF channel appropriate to the part of the Thames in which they are operating.

  3. Ships to be fitted with vertical emergency aerials if main aerials are lowered when passing under bridges.

  4. Ships of more than 40 metres length to be provided with telephone or portable handset communications between the navigating bridge and the lookout forward.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Mobile Abattoirs
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further review the Chief Veterinary Officer has made of the use of mobile abattoirs in remote areas since the answer to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight,Official Report, 17 January 1990, columns 290–91.

  Mr. Maclean
  Veterinary staff are working closely with the Humane Slaughter Association to assist it in the development of a mobile abattoir. Any such abattoir will be required to meet the proposed single market standards.

  Food Imports
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of food imports into the United Kingdom came from(a) EEC countries in 1970 and (b) from the original Six in 1990.

  Mr. Curry
  In 1970, 13 per cent. of United Kingdom imports of food, feed and drink by value were from the original six members of the European Community; the comparable figure for 1990 was 43 per cent.

  Hedges
  Mr. Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in what circumstances officials of the Agricultural Development Advisory Service charge for advice on the planting and management of hedges.

  Mr. Curry
  General advice on conservation matters, including advice on hedgerows, is available free of charge from the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service. A charge would be made, at a rate agreed between ADAS and an individual client, for detailed advice specific to a site, including survey and evaluation work and the provision of planting and management programmes.

  Export Refunds
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the percentage change between 1991 and 1990 in export refunds for foodstuffs containing cereals; what is his policy on the level of export refunds on such foodstuffs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Export refunds for processed products containing cereals are derived by applying to the basic refunds, set each month by the Cereals Management Committee, co-efficients related to the cereal content of the processed product. The basic refunds for the principal grains and some example products determined for June 1990 and 1991, and the percentage increase for each, are set out in the table. Full details of export refunds on processed products applying in June 1991 are set out in EC regulation 1461/91 (OJ L138 of 1 June 1991) available in the Library of the House.
  395

  ecu/tonne

  June 1990

  June 1991

  Per cent. increase 1990–91

  Wheat

  74·05

  102·93

  39

  Wheat Pellets

  75·53

  104·99

  39

  Barley

  72·41

  90·22

  25

  Rolled or Flaked Barley

  108·62

  135·33

  25

  Maize

  97·29

  127·47

  31

  Maize Groats

  175·12

  229·45

  31

  Government policy is to seek to ensure that export refunds for processed products containing cereals are set at a level which adequately compensates processors for the cost of their cereals raw materials.

  Farm Budget
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish details of the overall farm budget agreed for 1991–92 with the comparable figures for 1990–91.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) on 13 June 1991,Official Report, col. 669–70.

  Blue Ear Pig Disease
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 17 June,Official Report, column 21, on blue ear pig disease, if he will list in which counties his veterinarians are, or have been, on detached duty as a result of the disease; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  During the current outbreak of blue eared pig disease, detached duty for veterinary staff in the field has so far been confined to Humberside. During the period of disease control 14 other veterinary field staff have had periods of detached duty in this county.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the counties where pigs from the area restricted as a result of blue ear disease have been sent in the last two months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  The counties which have been identified, as a result of the tracing of movements since 1 March, as having received pigs from infected and suspect holdings in the large restricted zone around Humberside are:

  Cambridgeshire

  Norfolk

  Cheshire

  North Yorkshire

  Co. Durham

  Perth

  Cumbria

  Somerset

  Devon

  Suffolk

  Essex

  Tyne and Wear

  Gloucestershire

  Warwickshire

  Lancashire

  West Yorkshire

  Leicestershire

  Wiltshire

  Lincolnshire

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 17 June,Official Report, column 21, on blue ear pig disease, if he will list the number of veterinarians on detached duty, and their usual place of work within his Ministry; and if he will make a statement.
  396
  Mr. Gummer
  There are currently two veterinarians on detached duty in Humberside; one from the Leeds animal health office and one from Carlisle.

  Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of feline spongiform encephalopathy have been confirmed in cats to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  Feline spongiform encephalopathy is not a notifiable disease, but I am aware of 16 confirmed cases in the United Kingdom.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of canine spongiform encephalopathy have been confirmed in dogs to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  No case of a spongiform encephalopathy in a dog has been reported anywhere in the world.

  Food Safety
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to make a response to the report entitled Priorities Board: Food Safety on Applied Nutrition Research Consultative Committee of November 1988; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gummer
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 30 October 1990,Official Report, column 426.

  Salmon
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will take steps to limit the importation of Norwegian salmon; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will discuss with European Community Agriculture Ministers the effect that unlimited imports of salmon from outside the Community will have upon United Kingdom and other European salmon farmers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Argyll and Bute (Mrs. Michie) on 17 June.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Manufactured Goods
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage share of the United Kingdom market for manufacturing goods was filled by imports from the EEC in 1970; and what was the percentage share in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  My Department does not make regular estimates of import penetration ratios for particular groups of trading partners. Estimates broadly comparable to the published statistics for the percentage share of the United Kingdom market for manufacturing goods filled by imports are as follows:
  397

  EC imports as a proportion of home demand (manufacturing):

  percentage

  1970

  5

  1990

  20

  European Single Market
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many EC directives for the single market have been agreed at meetings of the Council of Ministers that he has attended; how many of these directives have been given legislative effect in the United Kingdom; and how many have been put into legislative effect by all member states.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Following the Internal Market Council on 18 June some 202 of the 282 measures in the Commission's single market programme have been adopted, agreed in principle, or had common positions agreed for submission to the European Parliament.

  The Commission presented to the 18 June Council its sixth annual progress report concerning the completion of the single market. This reaffirmed the United Kingdom's excellent record on implementation. Of the 126 individual provisions which are required to have entered into force by the end of May the report recorded the United Kingdom as still needing to implement only 20. This was bettered only by Denmark (12 not implemented) and France (18).

  Although only 33 directives have been implemented in all member states, the Commission report noted an improvement in the overall level of implementation. This has increased from 69 per cent. in December 1990 to more than 73 per cent. in May 1991.

  Bryanston (Report)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby on 22 May,Official Report, column 477, if he is now in a position to make a statement on what representations he has received seeking the publication of the final report on Bryanston.

  Mr. Redwood
  From the papers which are now available, I am advised that there is no indication that my right hon. Friend received any representations seeking publication of the inspectors' final report.

  Disclosure of Non-audit Fees
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the parties who responded to the draft of the statutory instrument relating to the disclosure of non-audit fees and opposed it.

  Mr. Redwood
  A number of responses were received, some of which expressed opposition to the use at the present time of the Secretary of State's power to require the disclosure of non-audit fees paid to a company's auditors and their associates. It would not be appropriate to disclose the views of identified respondents, since they were not told beforehand that their views would be made public.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby on 20 May,Official Report,
  398
  column 333, on what date he intends the statutory instrument relating to disclosure of non-audit fees would come into operation.

  Mr. Redwood
  No date has yet been decided.

  Auditors
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will propose legislation under which the auditing firms criticised by his Department's inspectors will be required to file a statement with the regulators stating that they have read and understood the criticisms made of their practices.

  Mr. Redwood
  No.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will propose legislation under which banks in their annual corporate reports will be required to publish the number of times their auditors have acted as receivers for any of the bank's clients.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have no plans to do so.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will indicate the dates on which his representative has attended the meetings of the Auditing Practices Board.

  Mr. Redwood
  The first meeting of the Auditing Practices Board is due to take place on 3 July.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his representative on the Auditing Standards Board has taken to bring about a reduction in the influence of the six largest auditing firms in setting auditing standards.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department has no role in the selection of voting members of the Auditing Practices Board.

  Recognised Supervisory Bodies
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether under the Companies Act 1989 the recognised supervisory bodies will enjoy any immunities from prosecution.

  Mr. Redwood
  No.

  Bank Loans
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will propose legislation under which banks in their annual corporate report will be required to publish the loans they have advanced to small, medium and large companies.

  Mr. Redwood
  As we made clear during the public consultation on the forthcoming implementation of the bank accounts directive, the Government support the principle of fuller disclosure aimed at benefiting users of accounts. Where possible, however, we prefer to allow the banking industry to develop its own response to the need for disclosure additional to the directive's requirements.

  Bankruptcy
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will bring forward proposals for legislation to ensure that banks rank with all other creditors in bankruptcy and are prevented from imposing conditions which put them in a preferential position.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have no plans to propose any such legislation.

  Recognised Professional Bodies
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what conditions he has laid down as to the number of visits to be made by each regulator to their members in respect of the recognised professional bodies listed in his answer of 22 May,Official Report, column 476.

  Mr. Redwood
  This is a matter for the Securities and Investments Board.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will outline the procedure required for lodging an application for European regional development grant.

  Mr. Leigh
  Applications for European regional development fund (ERDF) grants are made to the secretariat of the monitoring committee of the appropriate ERDF programme. The secretariats for programmes in the north-west are provided by the Department of the Environment's regional offices in Manchester and Liverpool.

  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the North-West region's share of European regional development grant in each year since the United Kingdom joined the EC.

  Mr. Leigh
  The north-west's share of European regional development fund grants is shown in the table.

  North West's per cent. share of England's ERDF Commitments

  North West's per cent. share of United Kingdom ERDF Commitments

  1975

  25·1

  8·5

  1976

  23·7

  11·6

  1977

  19·6

  9·1

  1978

  44·9

  19·8

  1979

  26·3

  9·1

  1980

  23·0

  12·6

  1981

  19·1

  7·1

  1982

  24·3

  11·1

  1983

  38·3

  16·0

  1984

  28·9

  15·5

  1985

  38·1

  21·6

  1986

  24·9

  13·8

  1987

  16·3

  8·4

  1988

  20·5

  9·4

  11989 to 1991

  26·7

  12·5

  21975 to 1991

  26·4

  12·7

  1 Three year allocation from Community Support Framework.

  2 There are no figures for 1973 and 1974 as the ERDF did not start until 1975.

  Data Protection
  Sir Gerard Vaughan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Romsey and Waterside, 3 June 1991 Official Report, column 32, (1) if he will arrange for the study being carried out by Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte to be extended to consider electronic raids on medical data;

  (2) if he will arrange for the study being carried out by Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte to be extended to consider electronic raids on research data compiled by academic institutions as distinct from businesses.

  Mr. Leigh
  The focus of the study is on the requirements of business and the police. It would not be practicable for a relatively short-term study of this kind to collect material directly from all sectors. However, it is expected that the findings of the study would be applicable to the needs of most organisations which use information technology, and would therefore be likely to be relevant to those institutions which hold medical and research data in electronic form.

  Insolvency Reports
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list his responsibilities in respect of the insolvency service.

  Mr. Redwood
  The insolvency service is an executive agency within my Department. Its day-to-day management has been delegated under the terms of its framework document to its inspector general and chief executive. He is accountable to and reports to me on its performance. I remain answerable for the policy governing the service's work generally and determine the policy framework within which it operates.

  A copy of the agency framework document is available in the House Library.

  Synergistic Air-breathing and Rocket Engine
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support his Department is proposing to provide for the research and development of the synergistic air-breathing and rocket engine; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Leigh
  At present my Department has no plans to support the research and development of the synergistic air-breathing and rocket engine. There are many concepts for re-usable space launchers currently under study within Europe. What is clear is that any eventual development of such a vehicle will have to be collaborative, probably on a Europe-wide basis, if it is to be affordable. If, in the context of European collaboration, the European Space Agency were to propose a new optional technology support programme to explore such concepts as the synergistic air-breathing and rocket engine, the Government would be prepared to consider United Kingdom participation in such a programme.

  Health Insurance Companies
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received from United Kingdom health insurance companies in seeking business opportunities in France, Italy and Germany; and if he will make a statement.
  401
  Mr. Redwood
  United Kingdom health insurance companies were among the organisations which responded to my Department's consultative document on the proposed EC third non-life insurance directive published in February this year. They welcome the proposed directive and its liberalising provisions for the marketing of insurance throughout the Community. Our aim is to secure in the directive the maximum possible freedom in the single insurance market.

  Buses
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the number of buses(a) manufactured in the United Kingdom and (b) imported into the United Kingdom for each year since 1980.

  Mr. Leigh
  The available figures are as follows:

  United Kingdom production and imports of buses

  Year

  Production number

  Imports number

  1980

  21,572

  417

  1981

  12,444

  678

  1982

  13,107

  1,041

  1983

  15,616

  1,616

  1984

  4,726

  1,301

  1985

  3,885

  1,174

  1986

  2,514

  1,493

  1987

  2,178

  1,067

  1988

  2,511

  1,045

  1989

  2,171

  1,056

  1990

  1,504

  665

  Notes:

  1. Prior to 1984 production figures include mini buses.

  2. Imports figures are as defined by SITC(R3) 783.11 and 783.19 (New Buses and Coaches.

  Source:

  Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd.

  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

  Steel
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the rules governing the import and export of steel for British manufacturing companies with subsidiaries in(a) EC countries and (b) non-EC countries with particular reference to the end-user costs.

  Mr. Leigh
  Steel prices within the European Community are governed by the pricing rules in articles 60 to 64 of the treaty of Paris. These rules are enforced by the European Commission and impose certain constraints on producers' pricing policies. However, producers are still free to compete on price. Hence prices for a given product will vary across the Community and within any individual member state, for example: on the basis of the range of products and services provided; on whether metric or imperial standards are involved; and on whether sales are direct from the mill or through a stockholder.

  Enterprise Initiative
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many enterprise initiative consultants also contract for business arising from firms seeking enterprise initiative grants; and what proportion of the total grant allocation funding to these consultants represents.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 20 June 1991]: Of the 3,298 consultancy practices listed with DTI contractors in the
  402
  financial year 1990–91 to carry out work under the enterprise initiative assisted consultancy scheme, 2,239 undertook consultancy projects during that period. Payment of consultancy fees by the DTI represents either one half or two thirds of an individual project's cost, depending upon the location of the client business.

  Shipbuilding
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the legislative basis for the Government's decision to privatise British Shipbuilders; and what parliamentary approval was either required or given before the privatisation took place.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 20 June 1991]: The legislative authority for the privatisation of British Shipbuilders' subsidiaries is the British Shipbuilders Act 1983. No further parliamentary approval was required for these privatisations, but Parliament was informed on each occasion.

  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Government's reasons for closing the North East Shipbuilders Ltd yards in Sunderland as opposed to any other United Kingdom yards at the time of the 1988 agreement with the European Commission to reduce Britain's merchant shipbuilding capacity.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 20 June 1991]: The decision to close the remaining NESL shipyards in Sunderland was taken by the Government in December 1988 because no acceptable bids had been received for them. In contrast, sale negotiations for British Shipbuilders' other remaining shipbuilding subsidiaries had by that time reached an advanced stage.

  The package notification made in December 1988 to the European Commission of the proposed closure aid at NESL, the proposed terms of sale of the other British Shipbuilders' subsidiaries and forecast British Shipbuilders' results for 1988 and 1989 was to seek the Commission's approval of the overall level of subsidy to British Shipbuilders as conforming to the relevant Community shipbuilding aid ceilings, rather than a specific agreement to reduce United Kingdom merchant shipbuilding capacity.

  Exports
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the average annual growth in the volume of exports for the United Kingdom and other EC countries over the period 1979 to 1990.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  [holding answer 20 June 1991]: The information is in the table. There are no data for Luxembourg or Portugal.

  Annual average growth rates of the volume of total exports of goods 1979–90

  Per cent.

  Belgium1

  3·9

  Denmark

  4·8

  France2

  3·6

  Germany

  4·3

  Greece2

  4·7

  Ireland2

  8·7

  Italy2

  3·2

  403

  Per cent.

  Netherlands

  3·9

  Spain

  6·7

  United Kingdom

  3·9

  1 Average for the period 1979–87.

  2 Average for the period 1979–89.

  Source: OECD Monthly Statistics on Foreign Trade.

  Notes:

  (1) The average annual growth rate is the rate which, when compounded over the 11 calendar years from 1979 to 1990, gives rise to the observed change in export volumes.

  (2) 'Total exports' include goods (including oil and erratics) but not services.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will be able to give 1989–90 figures and 1990–91 figures on energy consumption and energy spending to update the 1988–89 figures given in the answers of 14 May 1990,Official Report, columns 277–78, and 30 April 1990, Official Report, column 387.

  Mr. Leigh
  [holding answer 20 June 1991]: Some estimates have been prepared for 1989–90:

  Million

  £ million

  Electricity

  10·4 Kilowatt hours

  3·3

  Gas

  2·6 Therms

  0·8

  Oil

  3·6 litres

  0·4

  However, it should be noted that these figures and previous figures given have been compiled from global billing of the Property Services Agency. This billing was not broken down in a way which readily identified the consumption of individual Departments. The figures are therefore only broad indicators and are not comprehensive.

  From 1990–91 the Department will have figures based on direct billing which will be accurate and comprehensive. The 1990–91 figures will be available in October 1991.

  Public Houses
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many public houses and inns there were in England in 1981 and the last year for which figures are available; and if he expects the number to change significantly during the next two years.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 21 June 1991]: The precise figures are not readily available. The number of full on-licensed premises—about 70 per cent. of which are public houses—in the United Kingdom in 1980 was 76,403. By 1989 there were 83,000 full on-licensed premises in the United Kingdom. I cannot predict whether this figure will change significantly in the next two years. I would not, however, expect it to reduce significantly as a result of the Beer Orders introduced following the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report. These require brewers to free from ties half the pubs they own in excess of 2,000; however pubs which are closed do not count towards the number to be freed.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the brewing industry and the licensees of public houses with regard to the future of their trade.
  404
  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 21 June 1991:] In recent months the Secretary of State and I have had meetings with the Major brewers. I met the National Licensed Victuallers' Association in January this year and the Secretary of State has also recently offered to meet the NLVA. In addition officials are in regular contact with a wide range of representatives of the brewing industry.

ENVIRONMENT

  Energy Use
  Mr. Gould
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the results of the survey on energy use, undertaken as part of the English house condition survey in 1986–87, will be published.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The results will be published this summer.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all consultancy contracts awarded in the past five years without competitive tender.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I have arranged for a list of the contracts awarded to management or computing consultants in the past five years without competitive tender to be placed in the Library.

  Inner City Programme
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will specify the full range of grants currently available under his inner city programme with a brief technical description of each.

  Mr. Portillo
  Very important support is provided for the inner cities through the main programmes of the Home Office and the Departments of Trade and Industry, Employment, Education and Science, Transport, Health and Social Security and through support to local authorities and the Housing Corporation by this Department including the estate action programme.

  My Department promotes inner city regeneration through a variety of programmes and initiatives, including the following grant measures.

  City Challenge
  City Challenge is a new initiative under which local authorities are invited to draw up comprehensive plans in partnership with the private sector, voluntary organisations and local people, to bid for resources for the regeneration of key parts of their areas within a five-year period. Fifteen authorities have been invited to compete for a share in over £250 million from DoE programmes during the five years 1992–93 to 1996–97.

  Urban Development Corporations
  Grant-aid is provided for the ten urban development corporations in England. Some £470 million will be available in 1991–92 to purchase and reclaim land, provide infrastructure, encourage development and improve the environment.

  Urban Programme
  Fifty-seven urban programme (UP) authorities in England receive 75 per cent. grant towards a wide range of projects with an emphasis on economic and environmental improvements as the key to self-sustaining regeneration in targeted inner city areas. In 1991–92, £268 million is available to support almost 9,000 projects.

  City Grant
  City grant is provided to support private sector capital projects which benefit run down urban areas and which

  405
  cannot proceed without grant. Over £56 million has been committed to the city grant programme for 1991–92 and will be available for industrial, commercial, housing and leisure projects.

  Derelict Land Grant
  Derelict land grant (DLG) is available throughout England to local authorities, other public bodies, voluntary organisations, private firms and individuals to promote the reclamation of land which has been so damaged by industrial or other development that it is incapable of beneficial use without treatment. The DLG programme for 1991–92 totals £88 million of which about £81·5 million is expected to be spent on local authority reclamation schemes. About 40 per cent. of the programme will be devoted to schemes in the inner cities.

  City Action Teams
  There are eight city action teams (CATs) operating in Birmingham, Cleveland, Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool, London, Tyne and Wear, Nottingham/Leicester/Derby and Manchester/Salford. The CATs are an important mechanism for co-ordinating and targeting Government programmes and harnessing the support of business and industry. Each CAT has a small budget, a total of £8·1 million in 1991–92, with which to prime action targeted on inner city problems of unemployment, environmental improvement and the need to promote enterprise.

  London City Airport
  Mr. Summerson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report of the public inquiry into the planning application submitted on 12 September 1989 for the extension of the runway and the operation of jet aircraft at London city airport; and when he expects to complete his consideration of the report.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment arising from the planning application dated 12 September 1989 by John Mowlem and Co. plc. to extend the runway at London city airport(a) if he has now received the report of the inspector who conducted the public inquiry and (b) when he expects to be able to announce his decision.

  Mr. Yeo
  The inspector delivered on 14 June his report of the public inquiry into two applications relating to the London City airport. One application to vary the conditions of a permission granted on 23 May 1985 was submitted on 12 September 1989. The second application to carry out development of the runway was submitted on 15 December 1989. My consideration of the report will be completed when I have taken careful account of all relevant matters.

  Refugees
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to provide a per capita per refugee revenue support grant for receiving local authorities.

  Mr. Key
  There are currently no such plans.

  Waveney District Council
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to report his Department's findings into the way Waveney district council assigned its buildings cleaning work contract to its own direct services organisation in March this year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  I am currently considering the response of Waveney district council to my Department's inquiries 406
  about its building cleaning work contract. A decision on whether the Secretary of State should use his powers of sanction under part I of the Local Government Act 1988 will be taken shortly. I shall write to my hon. Friend again at that time.

  3Ds Ltd.
  Mr. Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the application by 3Ds Ltd. for £5 million city grant has been considered; whether all the information required has been provided; whether the identify of all shareholders in 3Ds Ltd. has been ascertained; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  The first phase of 3Ds proposed development is still under discussion and further information is still awaited before a full appraisal of the project can be undertaken. The identity of the shareholders in 3D Ltd. has been ascertained.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to introduce an advisory committee on sites of special scientific interest in England.

  Mr. Baldry
  None.

  Housing Improvement Grant
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has of hardship caused to applicants for housing improvement grants under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 by virtue of (i) the allowance of the notional housing premium for applicants with substantial housing costs being beyond what they can afford and (ii) the lack of an unearned income disregard affecting applicants with small occupational pensions.

  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 21 June 1990]: We have received a number of representations from grant applicants and others on these matters and will be considering them as part of our review of the new grant system later this year.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Lone Parents (Benefits)
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current level of spending on benefits for lone parents.

  Mr. Newton
  In 1990–91 expenditure on income-related benefits for lone parent families was approximately £.3·4 billion.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the weekly additional cost to a married man with a non-working wife and three children earning £26,000 a year of the abolition of the national insurance upper earnings limit.
  407
  Mr. Scott
  If the upper earnings limit for national insurance contributions were removed, a married man earning £26,000 a year would have to pay about £10 a week extra in contributions.

  Mr. Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the impact on a person earning £35,000 per annum, of the removal of the national insurance contributions upper earnings limit.

  Mr. Scott
  If the upper earnings limit for national insurance contributions were removed, a person earning £35,000 a year would pay an extra £1,324·80 a year in contributions; that is over £25 a week.

  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received about the national insurance upper earnings limit.

  Mr. Scott
  It remains the Government's intention to retain the national insurance upper earnings limit and we have received no recent representations about it.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what will be the impact on a typical family with two children of the last two increases in child benefit.

  Mr. Jack
  This year's increases mean that such a family will see their weekly tax-free income from child benefit rise by over 15 per cent. from £14·50 to £16·75.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Alexander
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many new jobs are likely to be created as a result of the establishment of the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Jack
  We anticipate that the proposed Child Support Agency, which becomes operational from April 1993, is likely to create around 2,200 new jobs across the country.

  The majority of these jobs will be located in Belfast, Birkenhead, Dudley, Falkirk, Hastings and Plymouth. Each of the designated locations for these offices will provide around 500 administrative jobs. It is hoped that the majority of these job opportunities can be filled locally.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if any estimate has been made of the potential reduction in spending on benefits for lone parents as a result of maintenance orders following the establishment of the Child Support Agency.

  Sir Robert McCrindle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether any estimate has been made of the possible reduction in spending on benefits for lone parents as a result of improved assessment and enforcement of maintenance orders following the establishment of the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Jack
  We expect spending on benefits to be about £400 million a year lower as a consequence of the full establishment of the Child Support Agency.

  Family Credit
  Mrs. Margaret Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current length of time which elapses between receipt of application for family credit and a decision being reached in cases affecting(a) employed and (b) self-employed applicants.

  Mr. Jack
  In May 1991, the average clearance time for family credit claims was 17·7 days for employed cases and 31·5 days for self-employed cases.

  Pensioner Premium
  Mr. Gregory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are estimated to have benefited from increases in the pensioner premium in income support.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Since October 1989 nearly 1·5 million pensioner claimants have gained directly from increases in income support premiums. And this takes no account of the millions who have benefited because improvements in income support levels have increased their entitlement to housing benefit and community charge benefit. We have added some £300 million to pensioner premiums over and above normal upratings in less than two years.

  Healthy Diets
  Dr. Kim Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the measures his Department has taken to ensure that families on social security can pay for a healthy diet.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government do not prescribe what proportion of benefit should be spent on any particular budgetary item, but the social security reforms have made it possible to channel extra help to the most vulnerable groups. Compared with the pre-1988 position, the resources made available to families with children through income related benefits have risen by around £1 billion a year in real terms.

  Personal Pensions
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the total value of the reduction in pension contributions to a man on average earnings with a personal pension if the 2 per cent. special incentive were withdrawn.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Based on average full-time male earnings of about £16,000 per year, the total amount of national insurance contributions payable in the year 1991–92 would be £3,745. The total amount payable from the national insurance fund to an appropriate personal pension scheme would be £1,037. Withdrawing the 2 per cent. incentive would reduce this by approximately £266.

  Sir Bernard Braine
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about personal pensions.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We have received a number of representations about various aspects of personal pensions.

  Local Offices
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been spent in London social security offices during the past 12 months on facilities for clients.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In the financial year 1990–91 £3·5 million was spent on capital refurbishment projects at 30 offices in the London area. Of this amount £1·8 million can be clearly identified as specifically for client facilities. The balance of £1·7 million was on schemes involving both client and staff areas.

  Liable Relatives Officers
  Mr. Grist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the work of his Department's liable relatives officers.

  Mr. Jack
  Liable relative officers work within the current maintenance system to obtain maintenance for people claiming income support so that people are not unnecessarily dependent on income support because someone who can afford to pay maintenance fails to do so. We have carried out a wide-ranging review of the whole system of maintenance for children, and the Child Support Bill now before Parliament contains proposals for a new child maintenance system. Under the new system, assessment of maintenance for children will be by a standard formula. In addition, there will be a Child Support Agency dedicated to the assessment, collection and enforcement of child maintenance. The agency's services will be available to all parents bringing up children where maintenance is an issue.

  Young People
  Mr. Patchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has received a copy of the recent report published by the Coalition on Young People on Social Security.

  Mr. Scott
  I have received a copy of the report by the Coalition on Young People and Social Security. I do not consider that the restoration of general entitlement to benefit for 16 and 17-year-olds recommended by the report is the right solution. However I shall be looking at the report's findings carefully, together with the Department's own research, to ensure that the most vulnerable young people receive the best possible service.

  Performance Indicators
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what performance indicators are published for his Department.

  Mr. Jack
  A wide range of performance indicators are published in the DSS departmental report (cm 1514) most notably in tables 40, 41 and 42.

  In addition each of the Department's agencies include performance targets, covering their most important activities, in their business plans. Targets are typically set for service delivery and for a range of financial indicators. Copies of the departmental report and the business plans are in the Library.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Sittings
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many representations on hon. Members' hours have been received from hon. Members' spouses.

  Mr. MacGregor
  One.

  EC Proposals
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the parliamentary procedures for debate and scrutiny of EC proposals.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The changes leading to the present scrutiny procedures were debated on 28 June 1990, 24 October 1990 and 22 January 1991. The Government are committed to carrying out a full review of the procedures at the end of this parliamentary Session.

  In addition, I keep the arrangements constantly under review and I have recently tabled a proposal to deal with one technical point that has arisen from the operation of the European Standing Committees.

  Regional Sittings
  Mr. Hind
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will bring forward proposals to permit the House of Commons to meet in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Edinburgh; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  No.

  Ibbs Report
  Sir Gerard Vaughan
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the several outbuildings to the precincts of the Palace of Westminster showing who is in charge of each building and what changes in these arrangements will follow from the Ibbs report.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The following House of Commons outbuildings form part of the parliamentary estate:

  Number 1 Canon Row

  Norman Shaw (North) and (South)

  St. Stephen's House

  Number 1 Parliament street

  Number 1 Derby Gate

  Number 3 Dean's Yard

  Number 6–7 Old Palace Yard

  Number 2 the Abbey Garden

  In addition, Palace Chambers and Nos. 1 and 2 Bridge street are either vacant or occupied temporarily pending redevelopment as part of phase II of the new parliamentary building project.

  No. 1 The Abbey gardens is occupied by the House of Lords.

  Accommodation in these buildings is managed by the respective House authorities with works services being undertaken by the DOE Property Holdings, parliamentary works organisation. Implementation of the Ibbs report will transfer responsibility for the latter to the Houses.

  Energy Conservation
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to maximise energy conservation and efficiency in the House during the current year.
  411
  Mr. MacGregor
  Energy conservation work is treated both as a specific task and as integral part of both the maintenance of the fabric of the buildings and services on the parliamentary estate and the design of new facilities. During the year the coverage of the building energy management system will be extended, further energy efficient lighting will be installed, another major step in the modernisation of the heating system will be completed and other minor work will be carried out as the opportunity arises.

  Staff of the parliamentary works office have a continuing brief to draw the attention of energy liaison officers where lighting is left on repeatedly, and security staff are asked to switch off lighting in empty rooms. It is, of course, incumbent upon all occupants of the parliamentary buildings to adopt a commonsense approach to the use of lighting and other energy consuming equipment.

  Library
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the books offered by a Member of the House in the last month for inclusion in the Library.

  Mr. MacGregor
  Members who are authors often present a signed copy of their book to the Library for its special collection. From time to time Members also offer books to the Library written by authors other than themselves. It is not, however, Library practice to reveal the names of Members who present books in this way without the agreement, in each case, of the Member concerned.

  Millbank
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what progress he has been able to achieve on improving safety for hon. and right hon. Members crossing Millbank to and from their offices.

  Mr. MacGregor
  I have little to add to the information I gave the hon. Member on 11 February last. Both Houses and Westminster city council have agreed to the installation of an additional island refuge outside the entrance to the Lords' car park. They are all agreed,

  Date

  Location

  Aircraft involved

  5 March 1980

  15 NM1 E of York

  Starfighter/Schweizer AG-Cat

  29 September 1980

  7 NM S of Pitlochry

  Buccaneer/Lama SA315B

  22 September 1981

  21 NM N of Dundee

  Buccaneer/Lama SA315B

  15 April 1982

  5.5 NM NE of Leconfield

  Lightning/Schweizer AG-Cat

  23 February 1983

  Foulsham Airfield

  Caberra/Schweizer AG-Cat

  14 June 1984

  4 NM SW of Eshott

  Jaguar/Sioux Trooper

  15 January 1985 (11.35 am)

  18 NM SW of Wick

  Harrier/Hiller 360 UH12E

  15 January 1985 (12.15 am)

  18NM SW ofWick

  Untraced military aircraft/Hiller 360 UH12E

  25 February 1985

  11 NM NE of Cottesmore

  Untraced military aircraft/Pawnee

  12 April 1988

  5 NM N of Dalwhinnie

  Buccaneer/Hughes 500

  13 April 1988

  4 NM SW of Newtonmore

  F16/Hughes 500

  412
  however, that it would be impracticable to install an extra pedestrian crossing between those at the south-east corner of Parliament square and at Great College street.

DEFENCE

  Civil Aircraft Notification Procedure
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures exist for the reporting and recording of breaches by military aircraft of areas notified under the civil notification procedure, other than those incidents in which an air miss was reported.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Complaints made to my Department relating to civil aircraft notification procedures, other than air miss reports, would be handled in the same way as other complaints about military low flying.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of notifications made under the civil aircraft notification procedure in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Records are not available for notifications made under the civil aircraft notification procedure before August 1983. The number of notifications since then is as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1983

  1775

  1984

  5,976

  1985

  7,183

  1986

  4,598

  1987

  4,604

  1988

  3,213

  1989

  548

  1990

  412

  1991

  251

  Notes:

  1 Figure is for August to December inclusive.

  2 Figure is for January to May inclusive.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates and locations of all air misses since 1979 in which a military aircraft breached an area notified under the civil aircraft notification procedure.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Following is the information requested:
  413

  Date

  Location

  Aircraft involved

  15 April 1988

  5 NM S of Newtonmore

  Hunter/Jet Ranger

  11 October 1988

  1 NM W of Fort William

  Tornado/Jet Ranger

  1 NM—Nautical mile.

  Low Flying
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of booked low-flying movements at less than 250 ft over the United Kingdom in each year since 1979, broken down by aircraft type.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  I refer the hon. Member to my Department's evidence to the recent inquiry by the Select Committee on Defence (HC 120/90, page 141) and to the written answers to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 19 December 1990 at column 208 and to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 8 March 1991 at column 332.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the flow control regulations in the United Kingdom low-flying system apply to traffic at all altitudes within the system.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  Yes, except for some helicopter operations and above certain flowed valleys.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects that the official board of inquiry into the incident in which British soldiers in Iraq were killed by friendly fire will be completed.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Winchester (Mr. Browne) on 19 June at column 226.

  Grenadier Guardsmen (Accident)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many documents requested by the solicitor acting for Guardsmen Povey, Hicks and Ray have been(a) withheld and (b) withheld in part; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None of the documents which the solicitors have requested has been withheld. Their outstanding request for the 1984, 1985 and 1989 editions of the Batus range standing orders will be met if they are still available.
  414
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many special socks have been provided to Guardsmen Povey, Hicks and Ray; and if he will make it his policy to supply such special socks free on demand.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health will reply shortly.

  Charter Technologies (Liquidation)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has had from Muras, Baker, Jones and Co., liquidators of Charter Technologies.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  None.

  Submarines
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the operation of the scheme under which the Royal Navy notifies details of planned activity by submerged submarines in the inner Clyde.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Clyde submarine movements notification scheme was introduced on 17 December 1990. Under this scheme the Royal Navy gives notice of the sea areas and times of planned submerged submarine activity in the inner Clyde. The information is broadcast by the Clyde coastguard every four hours on VHF and is also available by telephone from the operations room a1 the Clyde submarine base. Local fishermen have also undertaken to inform the Navy in advance of those times and locations when fishing activity is expected to be heavier than usual. The scheme does not preclude fishing in notified areas, but alerts fishermen to those areas where dived submarine activity may occur. The operation or the scheme has been monitored closely since its introduction and I believe it is working well and has achieved a worth while improvement in fishing vessel and submarine safety in the areas covered. In the light of this, I have agreed that from 1 July the scheme will be expanded to cover all Clyde submarine exercise areas lying either wholly or partly within the United Kingdom 12-mile limit. The ranges at Rona and Raasay are also to be included in the notification arrangements.

  POLITICAL UNION: INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE
  POLITICAL UNION: INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE
  FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL, 17th—18th JUNE
  FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL, 17th—18th JUNE
  CHILDREN ACT 1989: MONITORING PROVISION
  CHILDREN ACT 1989: MONITORING PROVISION
  SOCIAL FUND EXPENDITURE
  SOCIAL FUND EXPENDITURE
  SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AGENCY BUSINESS PLAN
  SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AGENCY BUSINESS PLAN
  AIRFIELDS ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION: DOE GRANT
  AIRFIELDS ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION: DOE GRANT
  MINISTERS AND MEMBERSHIP OF LLOYD'S
  MINISTERS AND MEMBERSHIP OF LLOYD'S
  NHS HEARING AID SERVICE: COST
  NHS HEARING AID SERVICE: COST
  PRISONERS: RELIGIOUS DENOMINATION
  PRISONERS: RELIGIOUS DENOMINATION
  PRISONERS: RELIGIOUS REGISTRATIONS 1991
  PRISONERS: RELIGIOUS REGISTRATIONS 1991