Written Answers of 25 June 1991

TRANSPORT

  Channel Tunnel
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the environmental assessment report on the proposed high-speed rail link; and if he will then publish it.

  Mr. Freeman
  The environmental assessment which British Rail has been carrying out of the safeguarded section between Cheriton and Upper Hailing may need revision, depending on the choice of a preferred route for the whole rail link. However, before embarking on the formal approval process for the rail link, British Rail intends to prepare and publish a full environmental statement for the complete route between the channel tunnel and London.

  Motorways (Litter)
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has paid Warwickshire county council as its agent for clearing litter from the M6 in Warwickshire each year for the last five years.

  Mr. Chope
  Separate figures for litter clearance on the M6 in Warwickshire are not available. The amounts paid by the Department to Warwickshire county council for sweeping and cleansing, including litter clearance, on those stretches of the M6 in Warwickshire and the west midlands for which it is the Department's agents were:

  £

  1986–87

  28,665

  1987–88

  30,004

  1988–89

  1142,480

  1989–90

  97,194

  1990–91

  242,906

  1 Including £70,000 additional litter scavenges.

  2 Latest available figure.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he has for ensuring value for money in payments made to his agents for clearing litter from motorways.

  Mr. Chope
  Agent authorities are required to expose litter clearing on motorways to competitive tendering in the same manner as their own highway work. Private sector agents let all this work by competiton.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who is responsible for monitoring the application of the code of practice on litter under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to motorways.

  Mr. Chope
  The application of the code to motorways is being monitored both by the Department of Transport and by its agents.

  Air Passenger Breathing Equipment
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Eurocae standard on passenger protective breathing equipment has now been published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The Eurocae minimum operational performance specification for passenger protective breathing equipment (PPBE), document Eurocae ED-65, was approved for publication by the Eurocae Council on 30 April 1991. I understand that publication is expected by mid-July 1991.

  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will call for a report from the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority on its policy on the use of smoke hoods by its staff when travelling by air.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I am advised that the Civil Aviation Authority does not issue smoke hoods to its staff and has no policy concerning the use of smoke hoods by its staff when travelling by air. It is open to all individuals, including CAA staff, to buy a smoke hood for themselves if they so choose; but I understand that the smoke hoods currently on the market do not meet the CAA's specification for aircraft smoke hoods, being primarily designed for escape from fires in buildings.

  Planning Decisions, East London
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce decisions on the extension of the runway at London City airport and the east London river crossing.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Transport expect to receive the inspector's report into the east London river crossing when he has completed it and to make decisions after they have considered it carefully. As regards London city airport, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Summerson) yesterday at col.393.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding London city airport planning application; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  I have received a number of representations pressing for a speedy decision on the London city airport planning application.

  This decision is for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment; I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Summerson).

  Crash Cushions
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he anticipates the production of a British or equivalent European performance specification for roadside crash cushions, following the recent submission of a draft specification to the CEN 226 committee.

  Mr. Chope
  [holding answer Monday 24 June 1991]: Harmonised European standards covering terminology,

  417
  performance specification and impact testing procedures for vehicle safety restraint systems, including crash cushions, are now being prepared by working group 1 of CEN technical committee No. 226 ("Road Equipment").

  The current target date for the draft standards is December 1991 with the publication stage in late 1993.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was discussed, and what agreements were reached, with other European Community ministers during his talks on 13 June with the ad hoc group on immigration; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to a question from my hon. Friend the member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler) on 20 June 1991 at columns 242–43.

  Mr. Gordon Warren
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on when the review of the case of Mr. Gordon Warren will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  I understand that the review has been completed and the matter is now under consideration by the commissioner.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to increase fines on airlines carrying asylum seekers.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The level of the charge payable under the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 in respect of inadequately documented passengers is under review.

  Prisoners
  Mr. John Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions prison inmates have been offered ex gratia payments if they would cease making allegations of improper treatment in prison and would undertake not to seek further publicity.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  Payments are sometimes made, on legal advice in the normal course of litigation, in settlement of claims by prison inmates. In a few cases, the agreement to settle has been subject to an undertaking that the prisoner would not take any further legal proceedings on the claim or seek publicity about the terms of the settlement. Records are not kept of the number of cases in which "no publicity clauses" have been used, but they are believed to be rare, and their use is being reviewed.

  Mr. Karamjit Singh Chahal
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will cancel the deportation notice issued against Mr. Karamjit Singh Chahal, allow him to 418
  remain in the United Kingdom with his wife and family, and release him from prison immediately; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Peter Lloyd
  The three advisers have now tendered their advice on Mr. Chahal's case. My right hon. Friend will give full and careful consideration to their recommendation and to all representations received on Mr. Chahal's behalf before deciding whether to make a deportation order. If it is decided to make a deportation order, Mr. Chahal will have a right of appeal against destination to the independent appellate authorities.

  Castington Youth Custody Centre
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many uniformed staff, other than night patrols and auxiliary officers, were in post at Castington youth custody centre when it commenced Fresh Start working in August 1987; and how many are currently in post.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The number of prison officers, including principal and senior officers and specialists, in post at Her Majesty's young offender institution Castington was 118 when it commenced "fresh start" working in August 1987. There are currently 136 officers in post.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional staff were due to be provided to Castington youth custody centre by April 1991 and April 1992, respectively; and what steps are being taken to meet their staffing requirements.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  The target for the number of prison officers, including principal and senior officers and specialists, to be in post at Her Majesty's young offender institution Castington by 31 March 1991 was 136, an increase of three on the number of officers who were in post on 1 April 1990. This target was achieved. The current target staffing figure is 137 and during 1991–92 the area manager will be keeping this figure under review taking into account factors such as the work load of the establishment and the scope for achieving improvements in efficiency.

  Young Prisoners
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people are now imprisoned in Cardiff and Swansea prisons because no other appropriate accommodation is available to them; and how many young people are in prisons elsewhere in England and Wales for the same reason.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  On Friday 21 June, there were 61 males under the age of 21 at Swansea prison and 87 at Cardiff prison in remand centres which are separate from adult accommodation. Due to industrial action by prison officers at Cardiff, a further 45 young men were held in police cells in Gwent, South Wales and Avon and Somerset forces.

  On the same date, throughout England and Wales a total of 3,245 young men under the age of 21 who were remanded for further appearances or sentence by the courts were held in prison service establishments, of whom 1,188 were in local prisons.
  419
  Young female prisoners are not held in separate establishments and on 21 June there were a total of 108 young women in custody in prison service establishments in England and Wales.

  Information on young persons in prison custody in other parts of the United Kingdom is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.

  Prison Service
  Ms. Richardson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what are the latest available figures for the total numbers of people employed in the prison service broken down by(a) occupation and grade, (b) gender and (c) ethnic background;

  (2) what has been the percentage increase of (a) women and (b) ethnic minorities employed in the prison service between 1978 and the latest available figures broken down by occupation and grade.

  Mrs. Rumbold
  [holding answer 18 June 1991]: The available information is as follows:

  Grade

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Grade 2

  1

  —

  1

  Grade 3

  4

  2

  6

  Grade 4

  1

  —

  1

  Assistant Director

  6

  —

  6

  Grade 5

  8

  5

  13

  Governor 1

  39

  —

  39

  Grade 6

  17

  1

  18

  Governor 2

  63

  6

  69

  Grade 7

  85

  16

  101

  Governor 3

  96

  6

  102

  Governor 4

  289

  29

  318

  Governor 5

  370

  54

  424

  Governor 5 (works)

  52

  —

  52

  Governor 5 (catering)

  7

  —

  7

  Governor 5 (PE)

  8

  —

  8

  Governor 5 (hospital)

  12

  —

  12

  Principal Officer

  1,036

  36

  1,072

  Principal Officer (works)

  209

  1

  210

  Principal Officer (catering)

  47

  2

  49

  Principal Officer (PE)

  65

  1

  66

  Principal Officer (hospital)

  67

  —

  67

  Principal Officer (dog handler)

  2

  —

  2

  Principal Officer (instructor)

  7

  1

  8

  Senior Officer

  2,227

  83

  2,310

  SO (works)

  200

  1

  201

  SO (catering)

  92

  2

  94

  SO (PE)

  105

  5

  110

  SO (hospital)

  172

  1

  173

  SO (dog handler)

  20

  —

  20

  SO (instructor)

  42

  1

  53

  Prison Officer

  14,149

  1,341

  15,490

  Prison Officer (works)

  585

  7

  592

  Prison Officer (catering)

  360

  15

  375

  Prison Officer (PE)

  294

  16

  310

  Prison Officer (Hospital)

  626

  71

  697

  Prison Officer (Dog handler)

  332

  1

  333

  Prison Officer (Instructor)

  234

  4

  238

  Temporary Officer

  —

  25

  25

  Senior Executive Officer

  65

  13

  78

  Higher Executive Officer (D)

  —

  1

  1

  Higher Executive Officer

  191

  118

  309

  Executive Officer

  277

  340

  617

  Administrative Officer

  560

  1,451

  2,011

  Administrative Assistant

  167

  585

  752

  Principal Medical Officer

  9

  3

  12

  Senior Medical Officer

  30

  4

  34

  Medical Officer

  71

  10

  81

  P/T Medical Officer

  111

  7

  118

  Senior Professional and Technical Officer

  115

  1

  116

  420

  Grade

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Higher Professional and Technical Officer

  122

  2

  124

  Professional and Technical Officer

  58

  3

  61

  Senior Psychologist

  19

  23

  42

  Higher Psychologist

  2

  5

  7

  Psychologist

  12

  15

  27

  Psychological Assistant

  17

  19

  36

  Psychological Graduate Trainee

  —

  1

  1

  Chaplain General

  1

  —

  1

  Deputy Chaplain General

  1

  —

  1

  Assistant Chaplain General

  5

  —

  5

  Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain

  1

  —

  —

  Senior Roman Catholic Chaplain

  2

  —

  2

  Church of England Chaplain

  95

  1

  96

  P/T Church of England Chaplain

  23

  3

  26

  Roman Catholic Chaplain

  12

  —

  12

  P/T Roman/Catholic Chaplain

  84

  5

  89

  Chief Education Officer

  1

  —

  1

  Senior Principal Nursing Sister

  1

  —

  1

  Principal Nursing Sister

  —

  4

  4

  Senior Nursing Sister

  1

  22

  23

  Nursing Sister

  3

  78

  81

  Nursing Officer

  —

  5

  5

  Senior Enrolled Nurse

  —

  6

  6

  Enrolled Nurse

  5

  48

  53

  Sister (Midwife)

  —

  2

  2

  Nurse (Occupational Health)

  —

  1

  1

  Nursing Auxiliary

  —

  10

  10

  Head Pharmacist

  1

  —

  1

  Principal Pharmacist

  4

  4

  8

  Senior Pharmacist

  1

  —

  1

  Pharmacist

  —

  1

  1

  Staff Principal Pharmacist

  13

  —

  13

  Pharmacist Technician

  2

  13

  15

  Senior Farms and Gardens Officer

  2

  —

  2

  Farms and Gardens Officer

  4

  —

  4

  Farm Manager

  51

  —

  51

  Landscape Gardening Officer

  2

  —

  2

  Higher Instructional Officer

  30

  1

  31

  Instructional Officer

  970

  134

  1,104

  Senior Personal Secretary

  —

  7

  7

  Personal Secretary

  1

  150

  151

  Typing Manager

  —

  11

  11

  Typist

  —

  440

  440

  Auxiliary Officer

  1,052

  267

  1,319

  Night Patrol

  954

  82

  1,036

  Stores Officer grades

  19

  3

  22

  Storesperson

  448

  19

  467

  Assistant Storesperson

  136

  12

  148

  Support grades

  28

  206

  234

  Librarian

  —

  1

  1

  Tracer

  —

  1

  1

  Industrial staff

  2,744

  185

  2,929

  Total

  30,452

  6,056

  36,508

  Note: Figures including staff in the Directorate of Works and the Supply and Transport Branch, both of which perform some functions for other parts of the Home Office.

  A total of 16·6 per cent. of prison service staff are women. The proportion of female prison officers is 8·8 per cent., compared with 3·5 per cent. in 1978.

  Comparably detailed figures are not available in relation to ethnic background, because of an incomplete response by staff to voluntary monitoring, but it is estimated that fewer than 1 per cent. of the prison service unified grades are from the ethnic minorities. Efforts are being made to improve the response rate and to increase the number of members of the ethnic minorities recruited to the service.

ENVIRONMENT

  Homelessness
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he proposes to extend his policies to help homeless people in London and the South East to the rest of the country; and if he has any plans to make available grants to match money raised by local voluntary organisations to establish hotels for the homeless; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  My Department is pursuing two initiatives to help homeless people in the particularly hard-pressed areas of London and the south-east: £96 million has been provided over three years to provide permanent and hostel accommodation and support for rough sleepers in central London; £300 million is available over two years to provide permanent housing for homeless families in London and the south-east. These special initiatives are additional to the Housing Corporations's special needs programme, which funds the provision of 3,000 places a year for homeless and other special needs. Under its hostels initiative the corporation has funded the provision of over 25,000 hostel places in the past 10 years. This year we have again doubled the amount available to voluntary organisations concerned with homelessness to over £4·5 million.

  Caledonian Forest
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given in the negotiations on the European Environment directive to the designation of areas of the ancient Caledonian forest as world heritage sites.

  Mr. Yeo
  Although the Secretary of State for the Environment takes the lead in matters concerning the world heritage convention, it is for the Secretary of State for Scotland to decide which Scottish sites should be nominated for inclusion on the world heritage list. The draft EC directive on flora and fauna habitats lists in annex 1 the Caledonian forests as a type of habitat of Community interest.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if there have been any shipments of hazardous waste to England for disposal that have not been reported under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations.

  Mr. Trippier
  My Department has no information on this. Responsibility for enforcing the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations lies with disposal authorities. There is no requirement that they report any breaches of the regulations to my Department.

  Households
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the change in the numbers and proportions of households in shared occupation since 1981 in Greenwich, Wandsworth and Lewisham.
  422
  Mr. Yeo
  Up-to-date information on households in shared occupation in these areas will not be available until figures from the 1991 census of population are published next year.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the increase in the numbers of children in lone-parent households since 1981 in Greenwich, Wandsworth and Lewisham.

  Mr. Yeo
  Up-to-date information on the number of children in lone-parent households in these areas will not be available until results from the 1991 census of population are published next year. However, the Department's estimate of the numbers of lone-parent households, which are based on mid-year population estimates by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, are given in the following table.

  Lone-parent households

  Increase

  Mid 1981

  Mid 1989

  Increase

  Thousands

  Thousands

  thousands

  Per cent.

  Greenwich

  8·3

  10·6

  2·3

  28

  Wandsworth

  12·0

  15·1

  3·1

  26

  Lewisham

  10·6

  13·0

  2·4

  23

  East London Planning Decisions
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the reports of the inspectors considering the proposed extension of the runway at London City airport and the proposed east London river crossing; and when he expects to make decisions on these matters.

  Mr. Yeo
  As regards London city airport, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on Monday 24 June to my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Summerson),Official Report, column 393.

  As regards the east London river crossing, I and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Transport expect to receive the inspector's report when he has completed it, and to make decisions on it after we have considered all the relevant matters carefully.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now ready to publish a timetable for legislation on waste disposal on land; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Trippier
  I have today placed in the Library copies of our target timetable for implementation of legislation on waste disposal on land. This covers part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and now substantially completes our implementation plans for the Act as well as for the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989. It should allow the local authorities sufficient time to make the necessary arrangements; I shall consult the local authority associations as to whether there are any detailed problems.

  This legislation brings a complete overhaul of the regulation of waste management. It provides opportunities

  423
  and responsibilities for all those concerned with waste management to contribute to a better environment for tomorrow.

  As I told the Select Committee on the Environment on 17 May, we are considering whether HMIP might be given responsibility for waste regulation as suggested in paragraph 18·17 of the Environment White Paper. Whatever the outcome, we need to make progress on the framework of the new regulatory system.

  The proposed timetable for implementing the new regulatory system is as follows:

  Waste Disposal Legislation Implementation Timetable

  Target Date

  Task

  Summer 1991

  Lay regulations and issue circular on the registration of waste carriers and seizure of vehicles. Waste regulatory authority powers to seize vehicles used for fly tipping come into effect.

  Consult on draft regulations to implement a duty of care of waste producers and holders.

  November 1991

  Issue circular and code of practice giving guidance on compliance with the duty of care. Lay regulations implementing duty of care.

  April 1992

  Duty of care regulations and provisions on the registered carrying of waste come into effect.

  Early summer 1992

  Consult of regulations and statutory guidance for the licensing of waste disposal.

  Summer 1992

  Consult on a scheme of charges for licensing.

  December 1992

  Lay regulations, announce charging scheme and statutory guidance, issue circular on licensing.

  April 1993

  Licensing regulations and charging scheme come into effect.

  The Gulf
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a further statement on the compensation he is giving to local authorities who release service personnel serving in the Gulf from their poll tax registration;

  (2) if he will make a statement on refunds from the Ministry of Defence to his Department in relation to service men returning from the Gulf.

  Mr. Key
  [holding answer 24 June 1991]: This Department issued further advice to local authorities on the community charge treatment of people serving in the Gulf and the reimbursement scheme on 16 May. A copy of this advice has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Gipsy sites in Wales on 16 January 1991

  Location

  Authorised

  Unauthorised

  Local authority

  Private

  CLWYD

  1

  2

  4

  Alyn and Deeside

  —

  —

  (i) Deeside Industrial Park

  (ii) Dirty Mile, Buckley

  Colwyn

  —

  —

  —

  Delyn

  —

  (i) Milfords, Tyn yr Morfa, Gronant

  —

  (ii) Dee Banks, Bagillt

  Glyndwr

  —

  —

  —

WALES

  Travellers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit the proposed itinerants' camp at the Gresford-Pulford bypass to meet residents to discuss plans to establish an itinerants' camp; and what representations he has received on this matter.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The proposal has been referred to my right hon. Friend for determination. It would not therefore be appropriate for him to visit the site or meet the local residents. They will however have the opportunity at the inspector's discretion, to express their views at the public local inquiry to be held on 16 July.

  My right hon. Friend has received 27 representations, one of which included a petition of 770 signatures and 22 letters, all opposed to the proposals.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many teachers in full time employment with seven years experience are earning(a) £10,000 to £12,000, (b) £12,000 to £14,000, (c) £14,000 to £16,000, (d) £16,000 to £18,000, (e) £18,000 to £20,000, (f) £20,000 to £22,000, (g) £22,000 to £24,000 and (h) £24,000 to £26,000 per annum, or the nearest convenient salary breakpoints.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information on the number of teachers in full-time employment in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in Wales with seven years' experience as at 31 March 1988 is given in the following table. Information for more recent years is not yet available.

  £ per annum

  Number1

  10,000–12,000

  400

  12,000–14,000

  141

  14,000–16,000

  89

  Over 16,000

  13

  TOTAL

  643

  1 Includes teachers with completed service of seven but less than eight years at 31 March 1988.

  Travellers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many existing sites there are; and in what locations there are itinerant camps in each of the counties of Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  The information requested, which has been provided by local planning authorities in Wales, is given in the following tables:
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  Location

  Authorised

  Unauthorised

  Local authority

  Private

  Rhuddlan

  —

  —

  —

  Wrexham Maelor

  Ruthin Road, Wrexham

  —

  (iii) Croesnewydd Road, Wrexham

  (iv) Alyn Waters Park, Llay

  DYFED

  6

  2

  6

  Carmarthen

  —

  —

  (i) A482 Cwmann Junction

  (ii) Old Alltycnap Road, Johnstown

  (iii) Cillefwr Industrial Estate (WDA land)

  Cerèdigion

  —

  —

  (iv) Layby, Ffostrasol

  (v) Quarry Villa, Gorsoch

  Dinefwr

  —

  (i) Pontrhyd y Bishell, Cwmgwili

  —

  (ii) Thornhill, Cwmgwili

  Lianelli

  (i) Morfa

  —

  —

  Preseli

  (ii) Under the Hills, Haverfordwest

  —

  —

  (iii) Withybush, Haverfordwest

  South Pembrokeshire

  (iv) Waterloo, Pembroke Dock

  —

  (vi) Kingswood Industrial site, Pembroke Dock

  Kingsmoor Common, Kilgetty

  Catshole Quarry

  GWENT

  2

  —

  4

  Blaenau Gwent

  (i) Cwmcrachen, Nantyglo

  —

  —

  Islwyn

  —

  —

  —

  Monmouth

  —

  —

  —

  Newport

  —

  —

  (i) Coldra, Newport

  (ii)Broad St. Common, Nash

  Torfaen

  (ii) Shepherds Hill, Pontypool

  —

  Upper Race, Pontypool (upper)

  (iv) Upper Race, Pontypool (lower)

  GWYNEDD

  1

  1

  —

  Aberconwy

  —

  —

  —

  Arfon

  Llandegai

  Bethesda

  —

  Dwyfor

  —

  —

  —

  Meirionnydd

  —

  —

  —

  Ynys Môn

  —

  —

  —

  MID GLAMORGAN

  1

  —

  2

  Cynon Valley

  —

  —

  —

  Merthyr Tydfil

  Glynmil, Merthyr

  —

  (i) Heolgerrig Road, Merthyr

  (ii) Cwmbargoed Road

  Ogwr

  —

  —

  —

  Rhondda

  —

  —

  —

  Rhymney Valley

  —

  —

  —

  Taff Ely

  —

  —

  —

  Powys

  1

  —

  1

  Brecknock

  —

  —

  A40 layby near Sennybridge

  Montgomery

  Withybeds

  —

  —

  Radnor

  —

  —

  —

  SOUTH GLAMORGAN

  2

  —

  3

  Cardiff

  (i) Rover Way

  —

  (i) Turner's Yard, Grangetown

  (ii) Shirenewton

  (ii) Brindley Road, Leckwith

  (iii) Spring Meadow, Lamby Way

  Vale of Glamorgan

  —

  —

  —

  WEST GLAMORGAN

  3

  —

  14

  Lliw Valley

  —

  —

  (i) Rear of Alltywerin Road, Pontdardawe

  Neath

  (i) Briton Ferry Industrial Estate

  —

  (ii) Briton Ferry, Industrial Estate

  (iii) Site adjacent to above

  Port Talbot

  (ii) Caegarw, Margam

  —

  —

  426 427

  Location

  Authorised

  Unauthorised

  Local authority

  Private

  Swansea

  (iii) Pantyblawd

  —

  (iv) Jersey Road, Bonymaen

  (v) Morris Bros. Depot, Bonymaen

  (vi) Morris Bros. Depot (rear), Bonymaen

  (vii) Waunarlwydd

  (viii) Ffordd Cynone, Fforestfach

  (ix) Smiths Crisps, Fforestfach

  (x) Enterprise Zone, Fforestfach

  (xi) Near Hilton Hotel, Morrision, Enterprise Zone

  (xii) Slip road, Morganite, Enterprise Zone

  (xiii) Above official Pantyblawd site

  (xiv) Below official Pantyblawd site

  WALES

  17

  5

  34

  Education (Special Needs)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each of the last 10 years, and for each local education authority area in Wales, the number of statements of special educational need issued, separately distinguishing between primary and secondary schools.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The number of children for whom statements of special educational need were made for the first time are given in the following table. Information on the number of new statements issued is not available by sector nor for years prior to 1986.

  Calendar year

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  Clwyd

  377

  187

  213

  264

  318

  Dyfed

  160

  104

  121

  193

  225

  Gwent

  272

  235

  463

  338

  402

  Gwynedd

  80

  70

  99

  133

  130

  Mid Glamorgan

  537

  575

  643

  543

  490

  Powys

  17

  16

  30

  78

  120

  South Glamorgan

  217

  201

  174

  243

  184

  West Glamorgan

  274

  234

  304

  307

  358

  £ thousands

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  INSET

  ESG

  INSET

  ESG

  INSET

  ESG

  Clwyd

  26·7

  16·9

  95·9

  54·5

  195·6

  57·1

  Dyfed

  38·9

  17·3

  128·6

  56·1

  246·7

  58·8

  Gwent

  19·6

  17·1

  200·2

  55·3

  452·0

  57·9

  Gwynedd

  56·3

  15·7

  124·6

  49·2

  192·3

  51·5

  Mid Glamorgan

  30·1

  18·3

  153·6

  48·8

  310·4

  63·7

  Powys

  12·8

  14·4

  65·5

  43·4

  143·5

  45·5

  South Glamorgan

  20·2

  16·1

  138·1

  50·9

  229·0

  53·3

  West Glamorgan

  18·6

  16·2

  93·5

  51·3

  206·5

  53·7

  WJEC

  —

  28·0

  —

  88·5

  —

  92·7

  TOTAL

  223·2

  160·0

  1,000·0

  498·0

  1,976·0

  534·2

  INSET—In-service training grant.

  ESG—Education support grant.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many qualified teachers of Welsh at (i) primary and (ii) secondary level there were in(a) 1988 and (b) the latest date available; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  Information on the number of qualified Welsh teachers at primary and secondary schools is available from a range of tables presented in the 1987
  428
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for the most recently available date and for each local education authority, the number of applications for statements of special educational need that are still pending; and if he will identify the mean, median and mode of waiting times for those applications.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent by each local education authority in Wales in each year since 1989 on teacher training courses for Welsh in the national curriculum

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The total amount which local education authorities spend on training for Welsh language teaching is not collected centrally. However, we have approved the following levels of expenditure for specific grants in support of local education authority training of teachers in Welsh.

  primary school staffing survey and the 1989 secondary school staffing survey, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  (i) Primary level

  Information about teachers who teach Welsh as a subject is not held centrally but the number of primary school teachers with a qualification in Welsh is as follows:
  429

  Subject of qualification1

  Number of teachers

  Welsh

  2,300

  Teaching Welsh as a second language

  400

  1 Main/subsidiary/related subject qualification.

  (ii) Secondary level

  In secondary schools the qualifications of teachers who teach Welsh as a subject are as follows:

  Subject

  Main/subsidiary subject1 per cent.

  No qualification per cent.

  Number of teachers

  Welsh as a first language

  83·1

  16·9

  300

  Welsh as a second language

  69·9

  30·1

  600

  1 Main/subsidiary/related subject qualification.

  In order to increase the supply of teachers of the language in secondary schools, Welsh has been added to the list of shortage subjects for which a bursary of £1,500 is paid to students on initial teacher training courses. As part of the monitoring of the national curriculum, schools will be supplying the Department with information about the number of qualified teachers capable of teaching Welsh in the classroom. The Department is also shortly to consult with interested groups on a limited survey of staff in primary schools in 1992.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Alex Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will carry out an epidemiological survey into the incidence of myalgic encephalomyelitis in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Bennett
  No. Myalgic encephalomyelitis is not a clearly defined disease. Diagnosis rests upon identification of a cluster of symptoms for which there is no diagnostic test. The views of doctors vary widely about diagnosis and treatment, there could be no agreed case definition, and it would thus not be practicable to collect data for an epidemiological study.

  Radioactivity
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the time it will take before the radioactive products from the 1986 nuclear accident at Chernobyl will be reduced to a level to permit normal hill farming to resume.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  It is not possible to estimate how long radioactivity from the Chernobyl nuclear accident will require those hill farms within the restricted area in Wales to remain subject to controls on the sale and movement of their sheep. Our "mark and release" arrangements and associated compensation payments are designed to ensure minimum disruption to normal farming practices.

  Following an intensive monitoring programme my right hon. Friend was able to announce in January this year the lifting of controls from an area near Harlech in Gwynedd. We are continuing with our monitoring and assessment programmes in the remaining restricted area with a view to lifting controls as soon as it is possible to do so without comprising food safety.

EMPLOYMENT

  Earnings
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate for 1991–92(a) the level of median weekly earnings for all full-time adult employees and (b) median hourly earnings for part-time employees.

  Mr. Jackson
  The results of the NES 1991 survey will begin to be published on 26 September 1991 and publication will be complete by the end of this year. The estimates called for in the question are, therefore, not yet available.

  Company Debts
  Mr. Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to require all registered companies in Britain to meet their debts within six weeks of those debts being invoiced.

  Mr. Forth
  No. The existing legal framework already provides avenues to pursue commercial debt. Rather than add to the burden of legislation, much can be achieved to speed up payments by the education of both suppliers and providers. To this end, the Government will be launching, later this year, a revision of the booklet for suppliers, "Prompt Payment Please", and a new booklet aimed at larger purchasing organisations.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  International Tropical Timber Organisation
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure that the United Kingdom Government only approves activities of the International Tropical Timber Organisation which incorporate strict environmental safeguards.

  Mrs. Chalker
  Following the International Tropical Timber Organisation's bi-annual meeting in Quito—28 May to 7 June 1991—independent consultants will be appointed to draft a manual on project preparation for the International Tropical Timber Organisation. The consultant's terms of reference will include making proposals to take full account of environmental impacts of projects. The British Government called for and fully support these and other reforms in the International Tropical Timber Organisation's project cycle.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Housing Benefit
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much the capital disregard for housing benefit would be if it had been uprated in real terms since 1988.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Based on a rise in the retail prices index of 25·8 per cent. between April 1988 and April 1991, the level at or below which capital is disregarded would now be £3,774.

  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of restoring to its real term 1988 value the £3,000 capital disregard for housing benefit.
  431
  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest available estimates suggest that the cost in 1991–92 would be around £20 million.Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1986, 1987 and 1988 Family Expenditure Surveys.

  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of changing the rules on tariff income on capital disregards for housing benefit to assume £1 of income from every £500 above the lower limit; and if he has any plans to do so.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest available estimates suggest that the cost in 1991–92 would be around £60 million. We have no plans to change the rules in housing benefit or any of the other income-related benefits.Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1986, 1987 and 1988 Family Expenditure Surveys.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the dates and areas in the United Kingdom in which the temperature averaged 0 deg C. or below for a period of seven days between 1 November 1990 and 30 April 1991.

  Net income at which entitlement to community charge benefit ceases

  Average Community charge

  Average Weekly Charge

  Maximum 80 per cent. Benefit

  Single Under 25

  Single Over 25

  Pensioner Couple 60–74

  Pensioner Couple 75–79

  Pensioner Couple 80

  Single Parent Child U/11

  Couple 2 Children U/11

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  £

  England

  214·00

  4·09

  3·27

  57·98

  66·48

  126·81

  129·26

  132·11

  117·83

  150·56

  Scotland

  241·00

  4·61

  3·69

  60·73

  69·23

  132·32

  134·77

  137·62

  120·58

  156·07

  Wales

  92·00

  1·76

  1·41

  45·53

  54·03

  101·92

  104·37

  107·22

  105 38

  125·67

  Notes:

  1. The average community charge figures for England, Scotland and Wales take account of the £140 reduction in charge levels and also of the effect of the Community Charge Reduction Schemes (CCRS).

  2. The effect of the Community Charge Reduction Schemes (CCRS) on the average community charges for England, Scotland and Wales is based on Budget estimates of projected CCRS spending and not on actual subsidy returns, since these are not yet available.

  3. An average community charge figure taking account of CCRS is currently not available for inner London. This is because the Budget estimates of CCRS spending are "modelled" on an England wide basis. A figure will become available once subsidy returns are analysed.

  4. The average community charge figure for England takes account of charge substitution.

  Local Authority Housing (Transfers)
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether residents of former local authority part III homes, which are transferred to the private or voluntary sectors, are eligible for the higher levels of income support; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  Local authorities in England and Wales have a duty under the National Assistance Act 1948 to arrange for the provision of residential accommodation for those in need. They can exercise this by providing accommodation in their own homes or by arranging accommodation in an independent home. In either case, the local authority meets the full cost of the accommodation and care. Similar arrangements apply in Scotland.

  My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Health, for Scotland and for Wales, and I are fully committed to the principles of community care as outlined in the White Paper "Caring for People" (Cm. 849) and the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990. These include encouraging local authorities to act as enablers rather than providers and to promote and stimulate the development of the independent and voluntary sectors in the provision of care.
  432
  Mr. Scott
  Information on weather station seven-day mean temperatures is held in the Library for the period 1 November 1990 to 11 April 1991. Information after 11 April is not available. Information relating to Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Community Charge
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the lion. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey,Official Report, 1 May 1991, columns 249–50, if he will publish a similar table showing the net income at which community charge benefit runs out taking account of the community charge reduction scheme.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested is in the table.

  We are aware, however, that some local authorities may have sought to dispose of some or all of their residential homes to the private or voluntary sector in order to enable the residents to qualify under present regulations for the higher level of income support and so to reduce financial support by the local authority. While the Government favour a mixed economy in the provision of care, the balance between voluntary, private and public ownership should be determined by the long-term needs of those needing care rather than by short-term financial considerations.

  We therefore intend to introduce as soon as possible amending regulations regarding entitlement to income support in such cases. They will make it clear that the benefit position for existing residents who continue to receive residential care under arrangements made by their local authority remains unchanged by a transfer of ownership.

  I understand that at the same time as these regulations come into force, my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Health, for Scotland and for Wales also intend to issue directions to local authorities to make clear the status of residents in a home which is transferred to private ownership by a local authority.
  433
  The draft regulations that I have outlined will shortly be considered by the Social Security Advisory Committee. It is our intention that they will take effect at the earliest possible date.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the goods and services which he assesses correspond with the European Community's social or cultural objectives so as to make them eligible for a reduced or zero rate of VAT should the Council of Ministers' proposals to approximate rates of VAT applied by members of the Community be adopted.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  On Friday 21 June I placed in the Library my letter of 19 June to the honourable Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) to which was attached 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.

  These attachments include the list of essential products and goods and services "which correspond to social or cultural policy objectives" which was agreed as a basis for discussion at ECOFIN on 18 March.

  However, the list itself is to be defined more closely, and it is not therefore possible to give a list of the items which might fall under it.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Cartwright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has received from European Community Finance Ministers for the closer approximation of VAT rates and excise duties from January 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  [holding answer 14 June 1991]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 24 June, at column 374.

  Tax-exempt Special Savings Accounts
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the take-up of TESSAs so far.

  Mr. Maude
  TESSA has made a highly successful start. In its first three months, to 31 March this year, over 2 million people invested more than £5 billion in TESSAs.

  Business Rate
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, with regard to the uniform business rate, for each local authority in England and Wales for the financial year 1990–91,(a) the number of appeals that were lodged against its level, (b) the number of appeals that have been heard, separately distinguishing the successful and unsuccessful, (c) the number of appeals that have not yet been heard, (d) the shortest time in days that elapsed between the lodging of an appeal and the decision, (e) the longest time in days that elapsed between
  434
  the lodging of an appeal and the decision and (f) the longest time in days to date between the lodging of an appeal and the actual hearing which is yet to take place.

  Mr. Maples
  The information required could not be provided in the format requested without a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources.

  Nationally some 705,000 appeals had been received by 31 May 1991. About 45,000 of these have been settled—256 at hearings. The arrangements and timing of appeal hearings are the responsibility of the valuation and community tribunal, part of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

  Takeovers
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of takeovers by overseas companies in the United Kingdom for the latest convenient period: and what was the corresponding figure for overseas takeovers by United Kingdom companies.

  Mr. Maples
  The latest information was published in CSO Business Bulletin 23/91, "Cross-border Acquisitions and Mergers" (Fourth Quarter 1990). Information up to the first quarter 1991 will be published on 28 June.

  Monetary Policy
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to relax monetary policy; and what representations he has had to the effect that it is currently over-tight.

  Mr. Maples
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on monetary policy. Interest rates will continue to be set at the level needed to keep sterling within its ERM bands and to bear down on inflation.

  Family Expenditure Survey
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects that the results of the family expenditure survey for 1990 will be available.

  Mr. Maples
  It is expected that the report on the 1990 Family Expenditure Survey will be published in November 1991.

  Building Industry
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from the construction and building industry regarding the recession and high interest rates.

  Mr. Maples
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of such representations.

  ECOFIN
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of the European Community's Economic and Finance Council.

  Mr. Norman Lamont
  The Economic and Finance Council of the European Community met in Luxembourg on 24 June. I represented the United Kingdom.
  435
  Following the meetings on 3 June and 10 June, the Council again discussed the presidency's proposals for the future of VAT and excise duties in the single market. Agreement was reached, subject to Parliament's views, on a set of Council conclusions. The main points are as follows.

  On VAT, all member states declared that they will apply a standard VAT rate of 15 per cent. or more from 1 January 1993. The other member states said that this political declaration should be translated into a directive. I made it clear that the United Kingdom does not believe that a directive is necessary. Statements were made in the minutes of the Council, reflecting these points of view. I also reiterated that the Government have no present intention of making any change to the current United Kingdom rate of 17·5 per cent.

  Agreement was also reached on the key aspects of the VAT regime which will enable fiscal frontiers to be abolished after 1992.

  There was acceptance in principle of a move at the end of 1996 to the origin system, under which the VAT rate applied to goods and services is that of the country in which they are produced, rather than where they are sold; but this would require a unanimous decision by the Council.

  The agreement provides for the retention of all United Kingdom zero rates during the period before any move to the origin system, without prejudice to what happens thereafter.

  It was also agreed that member states should have the option of applying one or two reduced rates, not lower than 5 per cent. The United Kindom Government have no present intention of introducing reduced rates.

  On excises, agreement was reached on specific minimum rates for petrol, derv, heavy fuel oil, beer and cigarettes. It was agreed that these would be reflected in a directive in due course. The rates agreed are shown in the table.

  Excise Duties: Minimum rates in ECUS

  Minimum rate agreed (ecus)

  Leaded petrol(1,000 litres)

  337

  Unleaded petrol (1,000 litres)

  287

  Diesel (1,000 litres)

  245

  Heavy fuel oil (1,000 kg)

  13

  Cigarettes (specific plus ad valorem duties, but excluding VAT)

  57 per cent. of retail price (including tax) of cigarettes in the most popular price category1

  Beer (hl of end product)

  21·87

  1 Specific duty element to be between 5 and 55 per cent. of total duty.

  2 Per degree of alcohol.

  None of these requires any change in United Kingdom rates of excise duty.

  A provisional agreement was reached on a zero rate for wine, heating kerosene and heating gas oil, pending a further report from the Commission on whether a satisfactory control system could be operated in the absence of a positive rate for these products.

  Agreement was also reached that rules will be devised to distinguish between commercial and private alcohol and tobacco transactions, which will include minimum indicative levels above which the transactions will be taken
  436
  to mean, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that they are of a commercial nature. A directive to cover these will be brought forward to accompany the directive on minimum rates of excise duties.

  There was no agreement on a minimum rate for spirits. With a nil rate proposed for wine, the proposed rate for spirits would have worsened the current discrimination against, for example, Scotch whisky exports. I argued strongly that this was not acceptable, and secured agreement that the Commission's report should be extended to cover possible distortions in the drinks market. The minimum rate for spirits was therefore left to be decided later on the basis of that report.

  I believe that this is a very good agreement for both the United Kingdom and the Community. For the United Kingdom it fully safeguards our zero rates; it will not require us to change any of our tax rates; it will not prevent future Governments and Parliaments from taking a different view about VAT if they want to; and it shows quite clearly that our Community partners have recognised our concerns. For the Community it provides Governments and businesses with the assurances needed to plan for the abolition of all fiscal frontiers from 1 January 1993.

  Full details of the Council conclusions will be deposited in the Library of the House as soon as they are received.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Farmers (Advice)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list his Department's scale of charges to farmers seeking advice or assistance.

  Mr. Curry
  Advice to farmers and growers from the Department is provided principally by the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service. There is no generalised scale of charges. Contracts and services are largely tailored to the needs of individual clients and priced accordingly. A published price list would not be appropriate.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has completed his review of the set-aside scheme; and if he will make a statement on his proposals for one-year set-aside.

  Mr. Curry
  A review of the EC five-year set-aside scheme is due to be carried out by the Commission before 1993. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Leicestershire, North-West (Mr. Ashby) for details of the one-year set-aside scheme—Official Report, 18 June 1991, c. 125.

  Chernobyl
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the time period it will take before the radioactive products from ithe accident at Chernobyl will be reduced to a level to permit the return of normal hill farming in the areas affected.

  Mr. Curry
  We were able to reduce the size of the Cumbria post-Chernobyl restricted area at the beginning of this year. Monitoring and research continue with a view
  437
  to making further reductions just as soon as it is possible to do so without compromising the safety of the food chain.

  It is not possible to say when the last of the restrictions will be lifted. However, the "mark and release" and associated compensation arrangements are designed to impose the minimum possible disruption of normal farming practices.

HEALTH

  Psychiatry
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by regional health authority(a) the increase or (b) the decrease in hospital bed provision for old age psychiatry for the 12 months ended 31 March.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested in respect of NHS hospitals is given in the table. Health authorities and other statutory agencies also support substantial numbers of elderly mentally ill people in private nursing and residential homes. Further details about NHS bed availability are contained in the Department's annual publication "Summary of Bed Availability", copies of which are available in the Library. March 1990 is the latest date for which this information is held centrally. Details of the number of patients in private nursing and residential homes who are receiving support from the public sector are not collected centrally.

  Average number of beds available daily in mental illness wards designated for elderly patients

  Year ending March

  Region

  1988–89

  1989–90

  Percentage change1

  Northern

  2,057

  2,105

  +2

  Yorkshire

  2,051

  1,802

  -12

  Trent

  2,631

  2,523

  -4

  East Anglian

  1,048

  992

  -5

  North West Thames

  2,454

  2,304

  -6

  North East Thames

  1,963

  1,962

  —

  South East Thames

  2,113

  1,959

  -7

  South West Thames

  1,091

  1,087

  —

  Wessex

  1,337

  1,336

  —

  Oxford

  754

  761

  +1

  South Western

  1,544

  1,528

  -1

  West Midlands

  2,357

  2,348

  -0·4

  Mersey

  1,693

  1,448

  -14

  North Western

  2,162

  2,126

  -2

  Special Health Authorities

  31

  32

  —

  England

  25,287

  24,313

  -4

  Source: KH03/SM12.

  1 No change.

  Long-stay Patients
  Mr. Fearn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the current balance of moneys held by hospitals on behalf of long-stay patients; what advice he intends to give to health authorities to ensure that current practice in handling these moneys will be adopted by directly managed units and by national health service trusts; and if he will outline the reasons for the changes in accumulated balances over recent years.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The balance at 31 March 1991 was estimated at £63·4 million, this being the first significant 438
  decrease in balances which had previously risen from £66·1 million in 1988 to £67·8 million in 1990. The Department proposes to write to health authorities and NHS trusts to ensure that both directly managed units and NHS trusts observe good practice and take steps to secure further reduction in the level of the balances. The recent reduction in the level of accumulated balances is attributed to action taken by the NHS management executive in October 1990.

  Core Services
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will treat the provision of obstetric services and emergency casualty services as core services to be provided by NHS trust hospitals;

  (2) if he will list those core services to be provided by NHS trust hospitals.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  It is not the Government's policy to designate such services centrally. District health authorities are responsible for assessing the health needs of their local population and contracting for health services. NHS trusts largely depend on these contracts for their income. Thus it is unlikely that an NHS trust would refuse to provide a service for which there was a local demand. If such a situation did arise, involving a service which needed to be provided locally, and which could not be provided elsewhere, that trust would be directed to provide the designated service.

  Severely Disabled People
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters and other representations he has received regarding direct payments by local authorities to severely disabled people to make their own personal assistance arrangements.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  We have received a small number of representations regarding direct payments by local authorities.

  Polyscythaemia
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there is any evidence of connections between the disease polyscythaemia and the nuclear industry.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department is not aware of any epidemiological studies which suggest a link between Polycythaemia rubra vera and the nuclear industry.

  Children's Care
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were in care in each Inner London borough in 1981 and at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The table shows numbers of children in care in 1981 and in 1990, the latest date for which figures are generally available. Where figures are not available for these years, the most recent year's return has been quoted and the year of the return shown in brackets.

  Data for 1990 are provisional.
  439

  Numbers of Children in care at 31 March—Inner London boroughs

  Inner London

  1981 Numbers in care

  1990 Numbers in care

  Camden

  379

  338 (1988)

  Greenwich

  567

  387 (1989)

  Hackney

  1,008

  759 (1987)

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  596

  237

  Islington

  769 (1979)

  769 (1979)

  Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

  454

  199

  Lambeth

  1,337

  670

  Lewisham

  877

  587 (1985)

  Southwark

  1,148

  654 (1988)

  Tower Hamlets

  915 (1980)

  390

  Wandsworth

  997

  421

  City of Westminster

  537

  261

  City of London

  8

  4

  Research Ethics Committees
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will issue guidance on the membership and duties of research ethics committees.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We hope to issue this guidance shortly.

  Census
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the enumeration of the population of Great Britain in the 1991 census.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Registrar General for England and Wales and the Registrar General for Scotland have reported to me and to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland that, thanks to a good response from the public and good work by census field staff, the enumeration has gone well over the country as a whole. Initially, census staff were not able to contact around 410,000 households, mainly in city areas; but by the end of May many households had responded to a request to post in their forms to the local census manager and only some 160,000 cases remained unresolved, representing about 0·8 per cent. of all households. Action to reduce this number is continuing, including sending a further request to around 10,000 relevant households in those census districts with the highest proportions of households from whom a form has not yet been received.

  A preliminary count of the population present on census day, 21 April, in each local authority district will be published in July in preliminary reports for England and Wales and for Scotland.

  RHA Chairmen
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will make a statement about the appointment of regional health authority chairmen from 1 August.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The terms of office of two of the 14 regional health authority chairmen expire on 31 July 1991. I have made one new appointment and one reappointment. The new chairman of the South East Thames regional health authority is Mr. Peter Barker presently chairman of the Lewisham and North Southwark health authority. He has been appointed for three years and succeeds Sir Peter Baldwin who has served with distinction since 1983.
  440
  Sir Colin Walker, chairman of the East Anglian regional health authority, has accepted my invitation to serve for a further term of four years.

  Local Authority Homes (Transfers)
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the local authorities' continuing responsibilities for residents of former local authority part III homes which are transferred to the private or voluntary sectors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has announced today, the Government, while wishing to encourage a mixed economy in the provision of care, are taking steps to clarify the status of residents in homes transferred to the private or voluntary sector by local authorities. Residents in a home at the time of transfer will continue to be the responsibility of the local authority, as long as they remain in the home.

  After consulting local authority interests I intend to issue directions under section 21(1) of the National Assistance Act 1948 and under paragraph 2 of schedule 8 to the National Health Service Act 1977 to make it clear that the status of residents in a home which is transferred to private ownership by a local authority will remain unchanged by the transfer, in that the full cost of the accommodation and care will continue to be the responsibility of the local authority which placed them there subject to the relevant charging provisions. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland intend to issue similar directions.

  It is our intention that the directions will take effect at the same time as the regulations announced today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been spent by his Department in funding research on myalgic encephalomyelitis since 15 October 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department is not directly funding any research on myalgic encephalomyelitis at present, but the Medical Research Council is funding a study at the Institute of Psychiatry which is to investigate chronic fatigue, another term used for ME, in general practitioners' attenders. The MRC and the Department are always willing to consider sympathetically soundly based research proposals in competition with other applications.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis by way of special dietary supplement is available on the national health service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Treatment in individual cases is a matter for the clinician who is treating the patient. Dietary supplements are not normally prescribed under the national health service, but certain nutritional products can be prescribed where necessary for the treatment of a condition.

  Oil Seed Rape
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is issued by the chief medical officers to individuals living in close proximity to flowering crops of oil seed rape.

  Mr. Dorrell
  No such guidance is issued, and there are no plans to do so. Treatment for allergy is a matter for discussion between the patient and his or her clinician.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any evidence of potentially adverse effects on the health of individuals who live or work in the vicinity of flowering crops of oil seed rape during the months of May and June.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Some individuals may be allergic to the pollen and other products of oil seed rape, as they are to other crops and plants. There is no conclusive evidence of increases in allergic conditions in vicinities where this crop is cultivated.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in the Official Report any occupational health studies current, planned or in progress to determine whether flowering crops of oil seed rape cause adverse health effects on those who live or work near fields planted with the crop.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government have given financial support for a project based at Aberdeen university examining the possible effects on public health which might be associated with oil seed rape. The results of this study will not be known for some time.

  Insulin
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) of 23 May,Official Report, columns 595–6, when he expects discussions about the supply of insulin injectors to be completed.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I cannot give an estimate of when the present discussions on making pen systems and needles available on prescription will be completed. The pricing and cost implications of various systems and other technical matters need to be resolved before a decision can be reached.

  "The Health of the Nation"
  Mr. Amos
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisations he has invited to comment on the Green Paper, "The Health of the Nation."

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  More than 7,000 copies of "The Health of the Nation" have been distributed as part of the consultation process. NHS management and staff, the health professions, patients' organisations, the independent health care sector, employers' and employees' organisations and local authorities have been invited to comment. The views of some 200 voluntary organisations have also been sought.

  Registered Homes Act
  Ms. Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward legislation to disqualify any person whose registration under the Registered Homes Act 1984 has been cancelled from being registered under the Act.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  There are no plans to do so. There are various grounds on which registration in respect of a home may be cancelled. They include not only the fitness of the person carrying on the home, but also the adequacy of the accommodation or facilities provided, and of any staffing arrangements. It does not necessarily follow that a person whose registration has been cancelled will never again be fit to run a home of any size or type. The earlier cancellation of registration would, however, be one of the factors which a registration authority would want to take into account when considering whether any later application for registration should be granted.

  Food Premises
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list all the organisations that responded to the consultation concerning the draft regulations on the registration of food premises under the Food Safety Act 1990; and which organisations were in favour;

  (2) if he will identify the main issues of concern raised by organisations consulted about the registration of food premises under the Food Safety Act 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  A list of those who responded to the consultation exercise has been placed in the Library. The issue which caused most comment was which premises should be covered by the regulations.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he can identify the different categories of food premises it is intended that local authorities will be obliged to register under the Food Safety Act 1990; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will give estimates for the number of premises likely to be identified in each category of premises that will be registered under the Food Safety Act 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The draft regulations propose that premises used for a food business for five or more consecutive days, or for eight or more days in any four consecutive weeks, should be registered. They propose an exemption for two main groups of premises; for those already registered or licensed under food legislation and those which local authority officers would not need to include in their regular inspection programmes. Information on the number of premises in each category is not available centrally.

  NHS Spending (Cornwall)
  Mr. Robert Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by how much expenditure on the national health service has increased in real and cash terms since May 1979 in the Cornwall health authority area and the East Cornwall overlap part of the Plymouth health area; and what are the figures when expressed as expenditure per head of population.
  443
  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 10 June 1991]: The annual accounts of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly health authority and those of its predecessor area health authority record total revenue expenditure of £29·11 million (cash) for 1978–79 and £98·58 million cash for 1989–90. Those figures represent increases of 238·7 per cent. in cash terms and 44·7 per cent. in real terms, measured at 1989–90 prices.

  Expressed as average expenditure per head of resident population the figures equate to £70 (cash) per head for 1978–79 and £212 (cash) per head for 1989–90 representing cash and real-terms increases of 202·9 per cent. and 29·3 per cent., respectively.

  Expenditure data for part of health districts are not collected centrally and prior to 1 April 1982 the Plymouth health authority's predecessor health district was included in the larger Devon area health authority. However, for Devon as a whole the annual accounts of the relevant health authorities record total revenue expenditure averaging £89 (cash) per head of resident population for 1978–79 and £271 (cash) for 1989–90 representing cash and real-terms increases of 204·5 per cent. and 30·3 per cent.

  Figures of expenditure per head of resident population tend to vary between individual authorities reflecting patterns of local service provision and the fact that people travel across authority boundaries for treatment.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Burma
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if a date has yet been set for a debate in the United Nations on the resolution on Burma which was co-sponsored by the United Kingdom last November; and what the motion includes on trade sanctions.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The resolution is expected to be reconsidered in the course of debate at the 46th United National General Assembly in New York this autumn. The General Assembly works through a pre-set agenda rather than setting precise dates for each debate. The resolution does not refer to trade sanctions.

  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the European Community has taken in response to the violation of human and political rights in Burma.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The EC suspended all bilateral aid to Burma in 1988. EC countries also refrain from selling military equipment to Burma, and are discussing our proposal for a formal embargo.

  Frequent representations have been made to the Burmese: this year EC statements were issued on 4 January and 27 May, and the joint declaration from the EC-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting in Luxembourg on 30–31 May included a reference to Burma.

  Soviet Research Ship
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the reasons for banning the Soviet research ship Akademick Boris Petrov from British waters.
  444
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Certain elements of the research programme were unacceptable, particularly regarding research in United Kingdom internal waters and in areas where our defence and security interests may be affected.

  Environmental Modification Techniques
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will meet the United Nations Secretary General to discuss the strengthening of the 1977 United Nations convention on the prohibition of military or any other hostile use of environmental modification techniques.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans to meet the United Nations Secretary General to discuss the 1977 United Nations convention on the prohibition of military or any other hostile use of environmental modification techniques.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to press for an early review conference on the 1977 United Nations convention on the prohibition of military or any other hostile use of environmental modification techniques.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The United Kingdom will be sending representatives in a personal capacity to the Canadian conference of experts on the use of the environment as a weapon of war on 10–12 July. This meeting is likely to discuss, inter alia, the 1977 UN convention on the prohibition of military or any other hostile use of environmental modification techniques.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to propose the establishment of a consultative committee under the 1977 United Nations convention on the prohibition of military or any other hostile use of environmental modification techniques to investigate the environmental destruction in the Gulf region.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no such plans.

  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with other signatory states of the 1977 United Nations convention on the prohibition of military or any other hostile use of environmental modification techniques, concerning the possibilities of strengthening the regulations of the convention; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has had no such consultations. UK experts will attend, in a personal capacity, the forthcoming Canadian conference of experts on the use of the environment as a weapon of war which we expect is likely to discuss, inter alia, the 1977 UN convention on the prohibition of military or any other hostile use of environmental modification techniques.

  Kurds
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what military equipment will be deployed by the United Nations forces to protect the Kurds in northern Iraq.
  445
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The UN security guards will be equipped to carry out their mandate.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guarantees of protection have been provided by Her Majesty's Government to the Kurdish population of northern Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have made it clear publicly and to the Kurdish leadership that the deployment of allied forces in northern Iraq was intended as a temporary measure to meet an urgent and overwhelming humanitarian need. We have also made clear that it is our intention to withdraw our forces from Iraq in conditions which will encourage those living in the areas of northern Iraq at present under the control of allied forces to remain.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guarantees of protection were offered by Her Majesty's Government to Kurdish refugees to encourage them to come down from the mountainous regions of northern Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Allied forces were deployed to northern Iraq to encourage the refugees to come down from the mountains to places where humanitarian relief could be provided effectively and in safety. The operation has succeeded in that objective.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has as to the presence of Iraqi Government agents in the camps of the Kurdish people currently under the protection of United Kingdom forces.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are aware of reports that Iraqi Government agents may be present in the area of northern Iraq presently controlled by the allied forces.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many military personnel will comprise the United Nations force envisaged for the protection of the Kurds in northern Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Nations intends to deploy by mid-July 500 security guards throughout Iraq to complement the UN relief effort.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment of the likelihood of the return of the Kurds to the mountainous areas of northern Iraq once United Kingdom and United States forces have withdrawn.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We intend that the withdrawal of the allied forces should be completed in conditions which will enable those living in the area at present controlled by allied forces to remain.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances have been received by his Department from the Iraqi authorities that further military action will not be conducted against the Kurdish population after United Kingdom and United States forces have withdrawn from northern Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We and other members of the Security Council have made clear to Iraq the serious consequences of a renewal of its repression of its civilian population. We expect Iraq to continue to comply with Security Council resolution 688.
  446
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to offer individual guarantees of protection to Kurds who have assisted United Kingdom forces during the course of their presence in northern Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is our intention that the allied forces should withdraw from Iraq in conditions which will encourage those living in the area at present under the control of allied forces to remain.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the information provided by Kurdish refugees to United Kingdom armed forces during their presence in northern Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We take full account of all information reaching us on the situation in Iraq.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards the prevention of further military action by the Iraqi armed forced against its Kurdish population.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Security Council resolution 688 calls on Iraq to end its repression of its civilian population. We expect Iraq to continue to comply with that resolution. We have made clear to Iraq the serious consequences of a repression of its civilian population.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement of his policy on what guarantees of protection will be provided by Her Majesty's Government to the Kurdish population of northern Iraq once United Kingdom forces have been withdrawn.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is our intention that allied forces should withdraw from Iraq in conditions which will encourage those living in the area of northern Iraq at present controlled by allied forces to remain.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding the deployment of United Kingdom forces to protect the Kurds in northern Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The deployment of allied forces to establish safe havens in northern Iraq was always intended as a temporary measure to meet an urgent and overwhelming humanitarian need. Latest reports show that the immediate humanitarian need has been largely met. Those forces whose task is complete are being withdrawn. But no date has been fixed for the complete withdrawal of allied forces which we intend should take place in conditions which will encourage those living in the area now controlled by allied forces to remain.

  Iraq
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the future safety of Iraqi refugees living in camps outside the safe havens.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We expect Iraq to continue to comply with Security Council resolution 688, which calls for an end to Iraq's repression of its civilian population. We would take the gravest view of any renewal of systematic repression.
  447
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment as to the present level of food stocks in Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 15 May the UN published a comprehensive report on the situation in Iraq. This report is available in the Library of the House. The United Nations Secretary-General's executive delegate, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, will lead a multi-agency team to Iraq to reassess the situation in early July.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment as to the potential risks of epidemics of serious diseases in Iraq during the summer.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are aware of reports from the International Committee of the Red Cross that diseases related to drinking water have increased in recent weeks. The ICRC is therefore distributing purified water to vulnerable groups throughout Iraq.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the condition in Iraq of (i) the food distribution system, (ii) the supply of drinking water, (iii) sewerage and (iv) irrigation.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  On 15 May the United Nations published a comprehensive report on the situation in Iraq. This is available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment as to the likelihood of famine in Iraq during the summer months.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Reports from northern Iraq indicate that this year's harvest will be significantly better than last year's. Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan will report on the situation in the rest of the country when he visits Iraq in July.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the objectives of the United Nations force in northern Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Nations guard's mandate is to protect United Nations personnel, assets and operations and to report any significant incidents.

  EC Regulations
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about United Kingdom policy towards the proposals that European Community member states not complying with the directives or regulations are to be subject to fines; and whether this proposal has been discussed by EC foreign ministers.

  Mr. Garel-Jones
  In the intergovernmental conference on political union the United Kingdom has put forward a proposal which would allow the European Court of Justice to impose a financial penalty on a member state which failed to comply with an earlier judgment of the European Court of Justice. This proposal was discussed by EC Foreign Ministers at the IGC ministerial meeting on 17 June.

  Hong Kong
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the percentage of Hong Kong citizens entitled to register to vote at present on the Hong Kong electoral roll; and whether there are any plans to increase it.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  A total of 1,855,443 names have been included in the current final register of electors, representing a registration rate of 50·2 per cent.

  Consideration will be given to improving the registration arrangements in the overall review of the electoral system of Hong Kong to be conducted by the Hong Kong Government after the September election to the Legislative Council.

ENERGY

  Mersey Barrage
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to make a decision on the next stage of funding for the Mersey barrage and its associated design and study programme.

  Mr. Moynihan
  The current phase of the studies is due for completion in July. A decision on work will depend on the assessment of the results of the current phase.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received concerning his decision-making timetable and other aspects of public funding for the Mersey barrage.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My right hon. Friend and I have received a number of representations on a variety of aspects of work on the proposed Mersey barrage system.

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether the target of cutting energy consumption in Government Departments by 15 per cent. over five years relates to(a) energy expenditure in money terms, (b) energy expenditure in real terms or (c) energy use in fuel value terms.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The target of the energy efficiency campaign on the Government estate is to achieve a 15 per cent. reduction in weather-corrected energy consumption per unit of floor area, converted to expenditure using standard fuel prices. Using standard fuel prices eliminates the effect of changing fuel prices; and introducing floor area helps to eliminate the distorting effect of the changing size of Departments' estates.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, columns 117–18, if he will give for (a) 1987–88, ,(v) 1988–89, (c) 1989–90 and (d) 1991–92 estimates, the total costs of electricity privatisation, breaking down the figures for each year into (i) underwriting costs, (ii) selling and broking commissions, (iii) receiving bank costs, (iv) marketing, (v) advisers' fees and (vi) other costs.

  Mr. Wakeham
  Total expenditure on electricity privatisation was as follows:
  449

  Year

  £ million (VAT inclusive)

  1987–88

  0·8

  1988–89

  5·5

  1989–90

  12·5

  Prior to 1990–91 there was no expenditure on items (i) to (iv) inclusive and only £0·2 million on item (vi) in 1989–90. For 1991–92 the Department has sought provision, through the supply estimates, for £116·7 million. Expenditure in 1991–92 is still the subject of commercial negotiation and it would be inappropriate to give further details at this time.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what factors account for the difference in the total underwriting costs given in his answer of 18 June,Official Report, columns 117–18, and the sum of the costs given in his answers of 28 November 1990, Official Report, column 416, and 25 April, Official Report, column 498.

  Mr. Wakeham
  The principal reason for the difference is that, following a re-classification, overseas underwriting is now included under the category "Selling and Broking Commissions". In addition, the underwriting costs referred to in my reply of 18 June also included the lead underwriting costs of £0·4 million on which information was not sought in the question of 28 November 1990.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his answer of 18 June,Official Report, columns 117–18, if he will break down the underwriting total of £51·5 million into (a) United Kingdom primary underwriting for the regional electricity companies, (b) United Kingdom sub-underwriting for the regional electricity companies, (c) overseas underwriting for the regional electricity companies, (d) United Kingdom sub-underwriting for National Power and PowerGen and (e) overseas underwriting for National Power and PowerGen.

  Mr. Wakeham
  A breakdown of the £51·5 million previously reported is as follows:

  £ million

  Regional electricity companies United Kingdom primary underwriting:

  6·7

  United Kingdom sub-underwriting:

  29·5

  United Kingdom lead underwriting

  0·4

  National Power and PowerGen United Kingdom sub-underwriting

  14·9

  Sub-total

  51·5

  Regional electricity companies Overseas commissions

  13·3

  National Power and PowerGen Overseas commissions

  6·0

  Total

  70·8

  Uranium Mines
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether his Department or the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority have offered the assistance of experts to the Governments of(a) Hungary, (b) Czechoslovakia
  450
  and (c) Yugoslavia in the technical clean-up and restoration of (i) formerly used and (ii) currently operating uranium mines.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Neither my Department nor the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority has made any formal offers of such assistance, though the AEA has had informal discussions with Czechoslovakia.

  Biomass Energy
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make an assessment of the opportunities existing for United Kingdom based agro-energy research institutes and organisations for the development of biomass energy development in Hungary.

  Mr. Moynihan
  My Department has no plans at present to make such an assessment.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Auditing Firms
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which auditing firms against which the Government are currently engaged in litigation have supplied his Department's inspectors at any time since 1979.

  Mr. Redwood
  None as far as I am aware.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to abolish the audit requirements for two-shareholder small family-owned limited companies.

  Mr. Redwood
  None.

  Financial Reporting Review Panel
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases he has referred to the financial reporting review panel.

  Mr. Redwood
  None.

  Auditing Practices Board
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make it his policy to place in the Library a copy of all documents obtained by his representative on the Auditing Practices Board;

  (2) whether he will propose legislation under which it will be an offence for the Auditing Standards Board not to provide information to a Member of the House which it provides to auditing firms.

  Mr. Redwood
  No doubt the Auditing Practices Board will bear in mind the hon. Member's interest when deciding its policy on access to its papers.

  European Single Market
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to the number of directives aimed at the creation of a single market within the European Community which have been enacted in the national legislatures of each member state and subsequently implemented; and what percentage of the total number of directives this represents in each case.
  451
  Mr. Sainsbury
  The Commission's sixth report to the Council and European Parliament was presented to the

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  Measures not implemented

  Measures implemented

  Derogations

  Not applicable

  Percentage implemented1

  Denmark

  12

  107

  0

  7

  90

  France

  18

  103

  0

  5

  86

  United Kingdom

  20

  99

  6

  84

  Portugal

  25

  96

  3

  2

  80

  Germany

  25

  95

  0

  6

  80

  Greece

  29

  87

  5

  5

  77

  Belgium

  31

  89

  0

  6

  75

  Netherlands

  34

  86

  0

  6

  73

  Luxembourg

  37

  81

  0

  8

  71

  Spain

  38

  83

  2

  3

  70

  Ireland

  44

  74

  7

  65

  Italy

  69

  52

  0

  5

  45

  1 Includes columns 3 and 4.

  Burma
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether Burma currently receives export credit guarantees.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  Guarantees for medium and long-term credits in connection with exports from the United Kingdom to Burma have not been available from ECGD since September 1988. Guarantees are, however, available for short-term credits normally secured by irrevocable letters of credit.

  Co-operatives
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what United Kingdom organisations his Department has consulted on the proposal for a European statute on co-operatives, mutuals and voluntary organisations.

  Mr. Redwood
  The European statute proposed by the European Commission on co-operatives, mutuals and voluntary organisations is still at draft stage. However, a large number of organisations in the United Kingdom are already aware of it. Should a formal proposal emerge from the Commission, the Government will consult widely among interested organisations, as is the normal practice.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25 June.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25 June.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

  East Timor
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Prime Minister if, at his recent meeting with Indonesia's Minister for Research, J B Habibie, the question of the illegal occupation of East Timor was discussed; and if he will make a statement.
  452
  Internal Market Council on 18 June. The report shows that out of 126 measures due in force on 31 May 1991 member states have the following record:

  The Prime Minister
  East Timor was not discussed. The Indonesian authorities are aware of our views on East Timor.

  Injured Grenadiers
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 4 June,Official Report, column 151, when he expects to complete his examination of the case for making an ex gratia payment to the guardsmen injured at the Batus range on 7 July 1989.

  The Prime Minister
  As I have already indicated the proper grounds for paying compensation is on the basis of legal liability.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will receive a deputation of hon. Members to discuss the case of Guardsmen Sean Povey, Adrian Hicks and John Ray.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 17 June 1991]: No. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Browne) earlier today.

  Oil Seed Rape
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will establish an inter-departmental review of the public health implications of planting crops of oil seed rape near central populations.

  The Prime Minister
  My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Scottish Office announced in the House on 8 February 1990 at columns 1125–32 that financial support had been offered for a project based at Aberdeen university examining the possible effects on public health which might be associated with oil seed rape. I see no reason for further action at this stage.

  Co-operatives
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements he has made to co-ordinate Department's views on the proposed European statute on co-operatives, mutuals and voluntary organisations.

  The Prime Minister
  The European statute proposed by the European Commission on co-operatives, mutuals and voluntary organisations is still at draft stage. Given the wide coverage of the statute, a number of Departments have an interest. There are continuing inter departmental contracts at official level to co-ordinate views as necessary.

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

  The Prime Minister
  [pursuant to his reply, 20 June 1991, c. 235]: The changes I have made will take effect from Friday 28 June.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  City Technology Colleges
  Mr. Holt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to increase the total number of city technology colleges; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  In addition to the seven CTCs already running, a further six will be opening in September this year. I recently announced that CTCs will also be built in Bristol and Derby. These will bring the total number to 15. I am considering the prospects of getting plans for further CTCs under way and I am looking at a number of other interesting ways in which the benefits of CTCs might be spread through the education service.

  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his latest estimate of the total cost to public funds of his city technology college policy.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  To 31 March 1991, the total cost to public funds of the city technology college programme was £103·9 million, including some £12 million in recurrent costs. Current public expenditure plans provide for a total of 250·7 million to be spent on the programme to the end of financial year 1993–94, including both capital and recurrent costs. These figures are net of the private sector contribution, which will represent at least 20 per cent. of the capital cost of the programme.

  Truancy
  Mr. Ashton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the current daily level of truancy among schoolchildren.

  Mr. Fallon
  It is clear from evidence collected by Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools and others that truancy constitutes a major problem in some schools. Our proposals on school attendance will stimulate all schools to give a higher priority to attendance and require figures to be published.

  Standard Assessment Tasks
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received on changes to standard assessment tasks.

  Mr. Nellist
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on standard assessment tasks and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend and I continue to receive and welcome the views of a wide range 454
  of people involved in the recent testing of seven-year-olds. All such representations feed directly into the wider evaluation now under way, and help to inform the development of the tests to be used in 1992.

  School Transport
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received regarding amendments to existing legislation affecting school transport.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend regularly receives representations suggesting various interpretations and amendments to the law on school transport.

  Schools Amalgamation, Wandsworth
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek a report of the views of parents of children attending schools in Wandsworth that Wandsworth council is seeking to amalgamate, before deciding on the council's proposals.

  Mr. Eggar
  If the council wishes to amalgamate some of its schools, it is required to publish proposals under section 12 of the 1980 Act. Parents of children attending schools affected by such proposals will have the opportunity to make their views known during the two-month objection period following publication. My right hon. and learned Friend will take those objections into account in making his decisions on proposals which come before him.

  Sixth-form Colleges
  Mr. Latham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the response to his proposals for the future of sixth-form colleges.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The initial response has been encouraging. Many college principals have indicated that they welcome the opportunity to exercise greater control over their own affairs.

  Secondary Schools
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to change secondary school organisation.

  Mr. Fallon
  The organisation of secondary schools is dealt with in the Education Acts 1980 and 1988. My right hon. and learned Friend has already announced the Government's plans to restructure provision for the 16 to 19 age range, including sixth-form colleges. These are set out in the White Paper "Education and Training for the 21st Century". We shall keep the need for other changes under review.

  Teacher Appraisal
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to ensure teacher appraisal is introduced throughout the school system; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  My right hon. and learned Friend intends to introduce regulations later this summer to require local
  455
  education authorities and the governing bodies of grant-maintained schools to arrange for the appraisal of all teachers starting in September 1991.

  Reading (Teacher Training)
  Mr. Favell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will establish an inquiry into the way teachers are trained to teach reading; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Fallon
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick) on 23 April 1991,Official Report, columns 891–92.

  Local Education Authorities
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he is considering on the role of local education authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he is considering regarding the role of the local education authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have announced proposals for transferring further education colleges and sixth-form colleges out of local authority control. I have also made it clear that I expect grant-maintained status to become over time the natural organisational model for most schools. These changes will have a significant impact on the role of education authorities, transferring responsibility for day-to-day management to individual schools and colleges.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools have now opted for grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  A total of 200 schools have now voted in favour of seeking grant-maintained status. Of these, 155 schools have so far published proposals for grant-maintained status. We have approved 88, rejected 13 and have yet to decide the remaining 54.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the aims of the policy relating to grant-maintained schools.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Grant-maintained schools policy aims to increase parental choice, to make schools more responsive to local needs, to enable resources to be more effectively used for the benefit of pupils and to foster higher educational standards.

  Expenditure Statistics
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the average expenditure per pupil at primary and secondary level in 1979; and what is the latest available figure.

  Mr. Fallon
  In 1978–79, net institutional expenditure per pupil was £365 in nursery and primary schools and 456
  £530 in secondary schools. At 1988–89 prices this represents some £805 and £1,165 respectively. In 1988–89, the latest year for which information is available, the equivalent figures are £1,100 per nursery and primary pupil and £1,695 per secondary pupil.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to encourage schools to purchase private services to deal with special educational needs; and if this includes purchase of the hospital psychologist service for educational psychology.

  Mr. Fallon
  Where schools have delegated budgets under local management of schools they are free to purchase services from anywhere and will be looking to ensure that the services they receive provide value for money and are effective.

  Nuclear Physics
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the nuclear physics section of the laboratories in the 1990s, recently published by the Science and Engineering Research Council.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  The recently published report "The Laboratories in the 1990s" was prepared for the SERC in July 1990. The section on nuclear physics describes the plans for support of the subject, as they then stood, by the council's nuclear physics board. These plans have, however, now been overtaken by SERC's major review of its forward commitments.

  A-levels
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the future of(a) A-levels and (b) the proposed ordinary and advanced diplomas.

  Mr. Eggar
  The White Paper "Education and Training for the 21st century", published last month, makes clear the Government's commitment to maintaining A-levels and the standards they represent. Formal consultation will begin shortly on the new system of ordinary and advanced diplomas.

  Women Teachers
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what the proportion of women in the teaching profession was for the years 1979, 1985 and 1990.

  Mr. Fallon
  Women teachers as a percentage of qualified teachers in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England for the years requested are shownin the table.

  Per cent.

  1979

  60

  1985

  61

  1990

  65

  Inner London
  Sir Michael McNair-Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take powers to enable himself to become involved in the problems of inner London education authorities if such a request is made to him by one third of the elected councillors.

  Mr. Eggar
  My right hon. and learned Friend already has powers to direct any local education authority to operate reasonably and to carry out its statutory responsibilities; and in addition has the power to approve the management structure of, and staff appointments to, the inner London education authorities.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Waste Incineration
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had, when, and with whom regarding the incineration of toxic and hazardous wastes in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Needham
  At a meeting of the Anglo-Irish conference on 31 January 1991, I exchanged views on this and other environmental issues with the Minister for the Environment in the Irish Republic, Mr. Flynn. I have also discussed with the management of Du Pont (UK) Ltd., their proposal for a hazardous waste incinerator and have visited the company's site at Maydown, County Londonderry.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it is intended that plastic and throwaway paper items can be disposed of in the proposed incinerator at Maydown, County Londonderry.

  Mr. Needham
  The incinerator proposed by Du Pont (UK) Ltd. would not be intended for the incineration of general municipal waste. It would be a specialist facility designed to dispose of certain industrial wastes produced in the chemical and allied industries by a process known as high temperature incineration.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to monitor the stack emissions of the proposed incinerator at Maydown, County Londonderry.

  Mr. Needham
  The alkali and radiochemical inspectorate of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland would be responsible for ensuring that the emissions from the stack of any such incinerator, once started, were monitored for compliance with the standards prescribed by the Department. In addition to its own direct monitoring of emissions, the inspectorate would audit the routine in-house monitoring undertaken by the operator.

  Health Service
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the perinatal mortality rate in each of the last 10 years at(a) Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast, (b) Belfast City hospital, (c) Mater hospital, Belfast and (d) Ulster hospital;

  (2) what was the mortality rate for women in each of the last 10 years in the obstetric units at (a) Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast, (b) Belfast City hospital, (c) Mater hospital, Belfast and (d) Ulster hospital.

  Mr. Hanley
  The information is not held centrally, but it should be noted that the perinatal mortality rate for the whole of Northern Ireland has fallen sharply over the past decade from a level of 15·6 in 1980—some 17 per cent. higher than in Great Britain—to 8·2 in 1989 when the rate for England and Wales was 8·3. Despite the improvements the rate still varies significantly within Northern Ireland between socio-economic classes and geographical areas.

  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deliveries were recorded in each year since 1989 in the obstetric unit of the Ulster hospital.

  Mr. Hanley
  The deliveries, including live and still births, recorded were:

  Year

  Deliveries

  1989

  1923

  1990

  1929

  Radioactivity
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the time period it will take before the radioactive products from the Chernobyl accident will be reduced to a level to permit the full use of agricultural land in the province.

  Mr. Hanley
  There has been no change in the use of agricultural land as a consequence of the Chernobyl accident.

  There is a slow fall in the levels of radioactivity in sheep from the restricted areas. Radiocaesium remains available for uptake by plants in the affected upland area due to the absence in the soil of minerals which would render the radiocaesium unavailable to plants.

  It is not possible to predict how long restrictions on movement and slaughter of sheep from these areas will remain in place. Monitoring of sheep continues and restrictions will continue to be lifted when the safety of the food chain can be assured.

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

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:
  459

  Extradition from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland

  Person

  Year

  Outcome

  Dominic McGlinchey

  1984

  Convictions quashed by Northern Ireland Court of Appeal.

  James A. G. Shannon

  1984

  Convictions quashed by Northern Ireland Court of Appeal.

  John McFarland Fletcher

  1987

  Convicted in 1988 for charges relating to possession of firearms.

  Gerard M. Harte

  1988

  Extradited in August 1988 and convicted for a series of offences in December 1988.

  Robert P. Russell

  1988

  Conviction for attempted murder quashed by Court of Appeal. Served sentence for convictions relating to escape from Her Majesty's Prison Maze.

  Paul Anthony Kane

  1989

  Extradited and convicted for offences relating to escape from Her Majesty's Prison Maze.

  Note: These dates are the years on which they were physically extradited not the date on which their extradition was ordered.

  Extradition from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland

  Person

  Year

  Outcome

  Dominic McGlinchey

  1985

  Convicted of offences committed in the Republic of Ireland.

SCOTLAND

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

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The information requested is not held centrally. However, I understand that a number of authorities included an additional sum in their 1991–92 community charge to compensate for shortfall of income caused by non-collection in 1989–90 and 1990–91. These include Lothian (£48) and Strathclyde (£42). I am not aware of any comparable addition to the 1990–91 charges.

  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 7 May,Official Report, column 415–16, what is the Scottish average rate of local income tax required to replace the budget income from the poll tax in 1991–92, including rebates and after receipt of community charge grant.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The rate is 6·0 pence in the pound.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table of Scotland's share of United Kingdom gross domestic product per head of population excluding the continental shelf for each year since 1961.

  Mr. Allan Stewart
  The table gives the information requested for each year since 1971, the earliest year for which this information is available on a consistent basis.

  Year

  Scottish gross domestic product1 per head (UK 3= 100)

  1971

  93·7

  1972

  93·5

  1973

  95·3

  460

  Year

  Scottish gross domestic product1 per head (UK 3= 100)

  1974

  95·8

  1975

  96·8

  1976

  98·3

  1977

  97·0

  1978

  94·7

  1979

  94·6

  1980

  94·2

  1981

  96·3

  1982

  97·1

  1983

  97·.4

  1984

  96·0

  1985

  95·5

  1986

  95·0

  1987

  94·0

  1988

  93·9

  21989

  93·2

  Source: Central Statistical Office.

  1 Income-based measure of GDP at factor cost, current prices.

  2 Provisional estimate.

  3 United Kingdom gross domestic product excluding continental shelf.

  Crofting
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of refusals under the crofter buildings grant and loan scheme in the years 1988 and 1989 to applicants living in council houses, on the grounds that the applicant is already reasonably accommodated within working distance of the croft.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No applicants were refused assistance under the crofters building grants and loans scheme in 1988 and 1989 on the grounds stated.

  Tree Preservation Orders
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set a timetable for consultation on and reform of the legislation in Scotland regarding tree preservation orders.
  461
  Mr. Lang
  I hope to issue in the autumn a consultation paper making proposals for improving the present system of tree preservation in Scotland, for implementation when a legislative opportunity is available.

  Severely Disabled People
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland under what provisions regional councils are empowered to make payments to severely disabled people to make their own personal assistance arrangements.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Under section 12 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, local authorities may make payments to severely disabled people only in an emergency. Such payments must reduce the need for social work assistance in other forms.

  Cancer Screening
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made towards shortening the waiting time for cervical smear tests results as proposed in his statement of 3 January; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Health boards have made significant progress. All but one health board—Grampian—have achieved, or bettered, the 14-day target for reporting results which I set in December 1990. Grampian are reporting results in 17 days, a considerable improvement on the position in 1990. The board is continuing to look at ways of further improving its turnaround time.

  I am pleased that all but one board have achieved what was, for many, a stretching target and I applaud the dedication and commitment of staff in boards who have made these improvements. I am glad that many women in Scotland are now having to wait a much shorter period for the results of their tests.

  Radioactivity
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the time it will take before the radioactive products from the accident at Chernobyl will be reduced to a level to permit the return to normal hill farming.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is not possible to offer a reliable estimate of the time by which radioactivity levels in all sheep in the Scottish restricted areas will have fallen below the Government's action level.

  Only a very small proportion of hill farms have been subject to controls on sheep movements, and the administration of these controls is designed to ensure the minimum disruption to normal farming practices on restricted farms. Research and monitoring of radioactivity levels in sheep on restricted farms continues, with the aim of releasing the remaining restricted farms when this can be done without compromising the safety of the food chain.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the answer of 6 June,Official Report, columns 654–5, if he will list the items included in the figure of £148,000 spend on energy efficiency in 1990–91.
  462
  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 20 June 1991]: The figure of £148,000 includes the following items:

  £

  Draughtproofing (including renewal of windows)

  54,000

  Relamping

  31,000

  Survey and design fees

  30,000

  Lighting control system

  11,500

  Heating control improvements including boiler overhaul

  18,000

  Upgrading of electrical equipment

  2,000

  Power Factor Correction

  1,500

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1), pursuant to the answer of 3 June,Official Report, column 221, when and why information on energy consumption and expenditure in the form referred to in his answer of 10 May 1990, Official Report, column 214, ceased to be available for 1989–90;

  (2) when he will be able to provide 1990–91 figures on (a) energy expenditure and (b) energy consumption in units to update those given for 1989–90 in the answers of 10 May 1990, Official Report, column 214.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 20 June 1991]: I regret that the energy consumption figures for 1989–90 given to the hon. Gentleman on 10 May 1990 were based on information which has subsequently been found to be incomplete and inaccurate. Information in the form requested for the period prior to 1 April 1990 is therefore not available.

  The Scottish Office assumed direct responsibility for maintaining these records from 1 April 1990 and I shall be writing shortly to the hon. Gentleman with details for 1990–91.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Broadcasting of Proceedings
  Sir Gerard Vaughan
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will arrange for cabling to be provided so that the broadcasts of parliamentary proceedings will be available throughout the Palace of Westminster and the precincts.

  Mr. MacGregor
  In its fourth report of last Session on "Computer Services for Members" (HC 614), the Services Committee recommended that steps should be taken towards the installation of a single high-capacity cable network in the Commons part of the Palace of Westminster and the outbuildings capable of carrying terrestrial, cable and satellite television signals as well as a full range of information technology services. I am hoping to be able to arrange a debate on that report in the near future. It will be for the House to decide at an appropriate moment whether the services transmitted over such a cable network should include a feed of proceedings in either or both Houses.

DEFENCE

  Parachute Regiment
  Mr. Critchley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that the proposed reduction in the strength of the Parachute Regiment will
  463
  not prevent the officers and non-commissioned officers of this regiment from having a balanced and worthwhile career structure.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Consultation within the Army on the future structure of the regiments and corps is now underway. The need to maintain balanced and worthwhile career structures will be taken fully into account.

  Victory Parade
  Dr. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish details of the estimated costs of the Gulf war victory parade on 21 June.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The welcome home parade and reception which took place last Friday was generously hosted by the Lord Mayor and corporation of the City of London who met the principal costs of the event, including those of the lunch to which all those marching were invited.

  Hawk Aircraft
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards the memorandum of understanding presently being negotiated between British Aerospace and the Indonesian Government for the supply of upgraded Hawk aircraft.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  It is not our practice to comment on defence exports to specific countries.

  Rapier Missiles
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to place an order for 10 rapier 2000 surface-to-air missiles.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  I do not recognise the order to which the hon. Member refers.

  Aviation Support Ship
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to place an order for an aviation support ship; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
  We are committed to maintaining an amphibious capability in the longer term, and plan to order an aviation support ship to provide dedicated helicopter support for our forces. The timing of the order has yet to be decided.

  Sea Harrier
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to place an order for a multi-functional air-to-air launcher rail for the Sea Harrier FRS 2 aircraft.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  No decision has yet been taken on the timing of this order.

  Main Battle Tanks
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is considering as part of "Options for Change" the equipping of territorial units with main battle tanks.
  464
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  No.

  Helicopters
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to place orders for his British Army to acquire the Longbow Apache helicopter; and how many aircraft will be ordered.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  The British Army's future requirement for attack helicopters is currently under review and a number of options, including the Apache, are being studied. We do not expect to make a decision on the choice of helicopter, or the size of any order, in the immediate future.

  Hercules Aircraft
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards the replacement of the Hercules aircraft.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  We plan to replace the Hercules early in the next decade.

  Batus Firing Range
  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a list, with dates, of all United Kingdom and other units who were authorised to fire live 76 mm HESH rounds on the Batus live firing range between January 1984 and January 1986.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  Available records do not contain a comprehensive list of units which fired 76 mm HESH rounds at Batus during the period in question.

  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the relevant documents showing the number of blind 76 mm HESH rounds fired, logged but unlocated and uncleared lying outside designated impact areas on the Suffield, Batus training area for the period January 1984 to January 1986.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  All 76 mm HESH blinds reported at Batus during the period were destroyed by ammunition technicians. However, the essence of training at Batus is the ability to fire and manoeuvre within the whole of a large, live-firing area and it would not necessarily be obvious that a round had failed to explode.

  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the board of inquiry into the Grenadier accident at Batus of 7 July 1989 was(a) ordered to investigate and (b) took any evidence as to how an unexploded round lay uncleared on the Batus range before 7 July 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The board of inquiry was asked to investigate all the circumstances surrounding the accident to the three guardsmen. As part of their investigations the board examined the procedures at Batus for reporting and clearing unexploded rounds.

  Mr. John Browne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the convening order for the Army boa rd of inquiry into events of 7 July 1989 on the Batus range required investigation into the question as to why a round remained uncleared outside an impact area on the Batus live firing range.
  465
  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The convening order directed the board of inquriy to consider all the circumstances that contributed to the accident on 7 July 1989.

  The Gulf
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 3 June,Official Report, column 127, what is his Department's assessment as to the consequences for water supply, public health and food distribution of the damage to Iraqi conventional power stations by coalition bombing during the Gulf war.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The Ministry of Defence has conducted no such assessment, although the former United Nations Under-Secretary General Ahtisaari produced a report on the situation in Iraq after the conflict following his visit to that country in March 1991. It is believed that Iraq continues to suffer power shortages and that, as a consequence, some areas have reduced water supply.

  Grenadier Guardsmen (Accident)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Guardsmen Povey, Hicks and Ray were requested to give evidence before the board of inquiry into the circumstances which led to their serious injuries in July 1989.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The board of inquiry did not take evidence directly from the three Guardsmen. When the board was convened at Batus the soldiers had been returned to the United Kingdom for medical treatment. The board did, however, consider the transcript of an interview with LCpl Ray at Medicine Hat City hospital, Canada.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what informal undertakings were given after the serious injuries affecting Guardsmen Povey, Hicks and Ray in July 1989 that compensation would be paid to them.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  We are aware of none. If any such undertakings were given, they were without authorisation.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what terms of reference the board of inquiry was set up that inquired into the cases of Guardsmen Hicks, Povey and Ray.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The board of inquiry was asked to investigate all the circumstances and record all the evidence relevant to its inquiries. In particular, the board was asked to establish the cause of the accident; how it occurred; whether the soldiers were on duty; whether any person involved, wilfully or by neglect, contravened any recognised orders, procedures or drills; whether a mechanical fault or failure contributed to the accident; whether there was any lack of supervision or other matters which required rectification, the medical attention available, what action, if any, was necessary to prevent a recurrence; whether the accident was correctly reported in line with the Batus Range standing orders; and any other matter which the President of the board considered 466
  relevant. The inquiry was also asked with recording what action had been taken, or would be taken, to prevent a recurrence and to make recommendations to that end.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations have been received from senior officers in the Grenadier Guards urging that compensation be paid to Guardsmen Povey, Hicks and Ray.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  One such representation has been received.

  Fairford Air Tattoo
  Ms. Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what official status has been granted to the Fairford international air tattoo as a Gulf salute; and if he will explain the procedure by which such official status is designated.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  None; events organised by non-governmental organisations, such as the international air tattoo, do not have official status.

  Training Exercises (Accidents)
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for the last five years the individual ex-gratia payments made to service personel for injuries received while on training exercises.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  The following is a list of ex-gratia payments made to date (24 May 1991) for training incidents which occurred between 8 December 1986 and 15 May 1987.

  £9,500

  £4,000

  £45,000

  £3,500

  £15,000

  £116,000

  £675,000

  £3,017

  All these incidents involved MOD negligence.

  Cambodia
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Her Majesty's Government has provided training for the forces of the Cambodian resistance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Archie Hamilton
  From 1983 until 1989 Her Majesty's Government provided training to the armed forces of the Cambodian non-communist resistance, that is the Khmer People's National Liberation armed forces and the Armee Nationale Sihanoukienne. The purpose was to strengthen the position of those forces in relation to the more powerful forces of the Khmer Rouge and in their struggle against the Vietnamese imposed regime in Phnom Penh. There has never been and will never be any British assistance or support, military or otherwise, for the Khmer Rouge. Since 1989 Her Majesty's Government have not been involved in any way in training, equipping or supplying the forces of any of the Cambodian parties. In accordance with normal practice no further details about this training or any information about the nature of this training will be given.

  THE IMMIGRATION RULES: IMPACT ON JEWISH MIGRANTS
  THE IMMIGRATION RULES: IMPACT ON JEWISH MIGRANTS
  BEER PRICES
  BEER PRICES
  BEER: SHORT MEASURE ALLEGATIONS
  BEER: SHORT MEASURE ALLEGATIONS
  BURMA: ADVICE TO COMPANIES
  BURMA: ADVICE TO COMPANIES
  SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORTS: RESPONSE
  SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORTS: RESPONSE
  BEER PRICE INCREASES AND THE RPI
  BEER PRICE INCREASES AND THE RPI
  LONDON UNDERGROUND: ESCALATORS OUT OF SERVICE
  LONDON UNDERGROUND: ESCALATORS OUT OF SERVICE
  WATER UNDERTAKERS: RELATIONS WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT FIRMS
  WATER UNDERTAKERS: RELATIONS WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT FIRMS
  CAMBODIA: TRAINING OF RESISTANCE FORCES
  CAMBODIA: TRAINING OF RESISTANCE FORCES